Saturday 23rd August 2025 ko 17:00

West Lancashire League Division One

ULVERSTON RANGERS 2 (Harrison 23 Lawlor 63)

SLYNE WITH HEST 1 (Hollings 7)

Att 307

Entry £3

Programme £2

If there was one place on the West Lancs Hop I could anticipate is was Ulverston. Other than being where Glaxo SmithKline is based in the UK, Ulverston Rangers play at the Glaxo Sports & Social Club, its also the birthplace of Stan Laurel.

I’ll always remember by previous trip here. My ex-wife wanted to go to some eco-retreat, I wanted to go to the Laurel & Hardy Museum, and for once I won the argument! These days there’s a statue and a mural to the comedy duo too, and we paid those a visit after the game.

We arrived at the ground, and for once parking wasn’t an issue- the works car park could easily cope. From then on it was lovely to admire the club’s quiet efficiency- buy some beers to take home ( I don’t drink on duty) and enjoy a game in the warm evening sun.

Except there was more to enjoy then just the excellent baked potatoes with curry. The ground sits on Morecambe Bay with, I’d have thought, Slyne and Hest both visible. It was a jaw dropping view with the obverse view to the Hoad Monument atop Hoad Hill being equally pretty. It really was an unexpected pleasure.

And for once we didn’t jinx a friendly club either. Slyne with Hest took an early lead but the hosts fought back to deservedly win the game, accompanied by blue pyro. It was an excellent end to an excellent day, and there was the added bonus of a tram ride into Blackpool for a couple of beers. What could be better?