Browse Sections

• Salford City Reds
• Local football
• Local cricket

We will fight them in midweekers

18/ 2/2001

DIAMOND Albert Park have vowed to fight battles on every front in a bid to bring silverware to Bolton Road this season.

The Bury Amateur League side - currently second in the table, 10 points behind Lord Raglan - lost another game to the elements last Saturday, which leaves them facing a daunting schedule that may stretch to as many as 28 games before they can pack up their boots.

But manager Ian McEvilly has vowed that his troops will not ease up to cut their workload.

The Diamond chief, affectionately known as 'The General', told Advertiser Sport: "We're going for the lot. We are not going out to forfeit any games - we're going to win them."

The club, formerly Eccles & District side Robinsons Timber, have found themselves in the predicament simply by winning games. They have lost only once in the league and are still in four cup competitions - namely the Spencer and Parks Trophies, the Kenyon Cup and the Northern Football Cup.

Club secretary Dave Wilkinson told us: "There are officially only seven Saturdays left for matches on City of Salford pitches this season. We have 14 league games remaining and progressing in the cups could mean a total of 28 to play. The club has had problems with fixture pile-ups in the past, but this season seems to be worse than ever. We have applied to the council for an extension until the end of April and will start playing midweek games, at the rate of at least two a week, from the ninth of that month.

"Despite these drastic measures, that would leave us with 12 games still to play," he added.

Diamonds eventually completed the 2000-2001 league programme on June 2 last year. With the General determined to fill the trophy cabinet again - 2002 promises to be more of the same.

• DIAMONDS have been handed a home draw in the last 16 of the Northern Football Cup. Leigh side Courts will visit Bolton Road on Saturday, March 23.