Purps Member Cycling For Morning Star Fundraiser

City of Liverpool FC member Peter Middleman is taking part in a cycling challenge to raise vital funds for the World’s only English language daily socialist newspaper, The Morning Star.

Pedal4Progress sees ‘the Pollitt Brigade’, a team of six mixed ability riders (and one special guest), cycle roads linking Manchester, Derby, Bedford, Golders Green, Highgate and central London between Wednesday 29th July and Friday 31st July.

Speaking during the challenge, Purps member Peter Middleman said, “I’m really grateful for the support the committee and many others at The Purps have shown for the Morning Star.”

“The Merseyside Readers and Supporters are looking forward to building the relationship which continues – not least through the excellent weekend articles about the club’s community work.”

“This ride to raise funds in the paper’s 90th year is really important for its future survival so any donations to preserve the daily paper of the Left will be greatly valued”

City of Liverpool FC have been greatly supported by The Morning Star through fantastic weekly features on all aspects of our club activities and community work by James Nalton.

The paper also contains match reports for every Purps match, which helps us to keep people informed of our activity on the pitch too.

In the 90th anniversary year, the paper has been impacted by a reduction of sales prompted by the Covid-19 lockdown and requires a special fundraising effort which the Pollitt Brigade are honoured to support.

The club encourages Purps to support Peter and ‘the Pollitt Brigade’ in their challenge and donate if you can.

It’s a great way to say ‘thanks’ to the Morning Star for the fantastic coverage they have given us, and continue to provide.

All info on how to do so can be found on their webpage https://pedal4progress.wordpress.com/

Supporters can keep up to date on the challenge by following @pedal4progress on Twitter and Instagram too.

What We Know

With the first team squad returning to training and new arrivals signing in to join the Purple roller-coaster ride, thoughts are turning to when the football will start, who will be allowed in to watch the games and what going to the match will be like.

Many opinions are being voiced, plenty of confusion is being sown (not least by HM Government), and volumes of guidance are landing at the Purps HQ.

To try to make sense of it all and enable our supporters and volunteers to prepare for the upcoming season, COLFC is letting you know what we know.

First of all, the health and safety of all involved with COLFC, supporters, volunteers, players, officials and our matchday opponents, is paramount.

To this end, the Club Welfare Officer has worked through guidance from the government and the FA in order to produce a comprehensive risk assessment document from which matchday protocols will follow.

Things will be a bit different as we aim to ensure everybody remains safe while still enjoying the best matchday experience in non-league.

More detailed information will be provided as our home fixtures are announced.

As far as the players are concerned, the squad has been attending socially distanced training at the Purple Hub for several weeks now and, on Saturday, began full training in preparation for our pre-season programme.

Due to the extremely tight timescales and uncertainty about FA Cup fixtures, we are currently unable to finalise the pre-season fixture list.

However, confirmed pre-season fixtures at the time of writing are:

Tuesday 11th August – Cammell Laird (a)

Saturday 15th August – COLFC U19s @ Purple Hub

Saturday 22nd August – 1874 Northwich (a)

Tuesday 25th August – Vauxhall Motors (a)

Friday 29th August – Warrington Town (a)

Saturday 5th September – FC United of Manchester (a)

Unfortunately, as things stand, pre-season matches before 1st September will take place with no supporters present.

We are expecting a further announcement on this from the Department for Culture Media and Sport and will update you as soon as any further details are available.

However, current guidance is that supporters can attend matches from 1st September.

This is subject to the host club supplying a risk assessment document and putting appropriate measures in place within the ground in order to protect the public. COLFC will provide supporters with full details of such measures prior to each fixture.

It is unlikely that we will have a home pre-season friendly. A new “hybrid” pitch, which is due to be match ready in mid to late August, has been installed at the Berry Street Garage Stadium.

With Bootle’s NWCFL season due to start on 5th September, and a potential FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round taking place on 1st September, there is little to no opportunity to fit in a friendly match.

With regard to competitive football, our league season is scheduled to commence on 19th September.

This will be three days short of six months since our last match in the NPL, at Prescot Cables in February. Football starved Purps will be glad to know that our FA Cup journey may start earlier.

With 18 Step 4 clubs to be drawn from a pool of 180, there is a 9% chance of COLFC being drawn to play in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on Tuesday 1st September.

If we are not drawn to play in this round we will enter the competition in the Preliminary Round on 12th September.

The Purps’ first step in the 2020/21 FA Trophy will take place on 26th September. As with the FA Cup, there will be no replays in this season’s FA Trophy.

Drawn matches in both FA competitions will go to extra time and, if necessary, penalties to ensure a result at the first time of asking.

We have not yet received confirmation from the County FA regarding the status of the Liverpool Senior Cup.

Since this competition was not declared null and void, we are assuming that the 2019/20 competition is still “live” and that we will face Bootle in a semi-final at some point.

We hope that you have kept safe and well since we were last together at the Purps, please continue to look after yourselves and keep an eye on our more vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours.

As the government ducks and dives its way with impunity through this crisis, our famous Scouse Solidarity is as important as it has ever been.

Up The Purps, renew you membership, buy a season ticket and book a 5 aside pitch at the PurpleHUB!  

 

Purps Begin Pre-Season Preparations

Pre-season training for City of Liverpool FC’s first team squad begins from today in earnest.

Craig Robinson’s squad will begin their preparations for the start of the next campaign from our new facility the Purple Hub @ KGV in Huyton.

It has been a busy few weeks with the acquisition of our new training and community base, launch of our new membership schemes, intermittent socially distanced training sessions being held, and changes to the squad beginning to take place.

The club can now reveal its retained and released list.

New signings:

Craig Cairns (Runcorn Town)

Tony Gray (Warrington Town)

Dominic Reid (Warrington Town)

James Yates (Witton Albion)

Louis Corrigan (Runcorn Linnets)

Jordan Barrow (Flint Town United)

Marcus Hynes

Retained players:

Andy Marshall

Karl Wills

Owen Wheeler

Stephen Rigby

Tom Stevens

Jay Jeffries

Liam Hynes

Danny Dalton

Anthony Brown

Ian Kearney

Gerard Kinsella

John McGrath

Jamie McDonald

Karl Clair

Ethan Devine

Kev McEllin

Jack Hazlehurst

James McCarten

Liam Dawson

Elliott Nevitt

Released players:

Franny Foy

Tom Peterson

Luke Denson

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Memberships:

With preparations for the new season gathering pace, supporters are encouraged to sign up for one of the great new membership packages the club announced a few weeks ago.

All the relevant information is available by clicking on the following images.

The sign up/renewal process is easy and straightforward, and we urge members to take up the season ticket offer.

This will help with our Covid-19 mitigation plans, as we seek to remove as much cash handling from our matchday operation as is possible.

Denson Leaves COLFC

Luke Denson has left the Purps after three years at the club.

The former Tranmere Rovers defender signed for the club in August 2017 and made an immediate impact to then-manager Simon Burton’s side.

Denson caught the eye of Purps fans early on with his fine delivery from set pieces and eye for goal.

Having only recently signed for the club, Denno scored a blistering free kick to equalise against Nantwich Town in the FA Cup tie, as fans got an early hint of his ability from dead ball situations.

 

Denson was later appointed skipper and led Craig Robinson’s side to the NWCFL Premier Division title after a dramatic final day in Irlam.

Making most of his appearances at right back, Denson amassed 134 games for the Purps, scoring 19 goals in total.

We are sure all supporters will join us in thanking Luke for his time at the club and wishing him well in the future.

 

Peterson Departs Purps

City of Liverpool FC can confirm that forward Tom Peterson is to leave the Purps.

With the club having bolstered its attacking options during the off season with the signings of Tony Gray and Craig Cairns, Peterson has opted for a change in order to secure regular playing time.

Peterson signed in 2016 from Bootle and was immediately a fan favourite with his hard working attitude and eye for goal.

The forward wrote himself into Purps folklore with 158 appearances and 64 goals making him the current club record goal scorer and appearance maker.

Tom was a part of the side which won the NWCFL Play Offs, Reusch Cup, Macron Cup and Champions Cup in 2017 under Simon Burton’s tenure as manager.

In 2019 Peterson scored the all-important opening goal away at Irlam on the final day of the season, as the Purps eventually won 2-0 to clinch the NWCFL Premier Division title in dramatic fashion.

 

Tom is highly regarded by all at the club, and we wish him the best in the future.

Foy Says Farewell To Purps

City of Liverpool FC can confirm that left back Franny Foy is to leave the club.

Foy was signed by Simon Burton from Prescot Cables in 2017 and went on to play 144 times, scoring 3 goals.

He made the left back slot his own during his time with the Purps, and was an integral part of the side which won the NWCFL Division 1 Play Offs, Macron Cup, Reusch Cup and Champions Cup in 2017.

In 2019 Foy experienced the joy of *THAT* afternoon in Irlam as the Purps won the NWCFL Premier Division on a dramatic final day of the season.

 

 

Everyone at COLFC wishes Franny the best at his next club. #UTP

Barrow Completes Purps Move

City of Liverpool FC have signed central defender Jordan Barrow from Flint Town United.

Barrow started his career within the youth set up at Everton and after leaving the Toffees has played for Stalybridge Celtic, Caernarfon Town, Airbus Broughton, Cefn Druids and Rhyl.

The 26 year old defender also had a period playing in Australia for Goulburn Valley Suns as an overseas player.

“Jordan is another great addition to the squad” Purps manager Craig Robinson explained.

“He’s a player who started his career at Everton then went on to have a really good career in the Welsh league, as well as overseas.”

“He’s a versatile player who will bring strength and quality to the squad. He showed great desire to sign once we spoke, he is excited to get started and matches our ambitions”.

Welcome to the club, Jordan.

Corrigan Signs For COLFC

City of Liverpool FC have completed the signing of Louis Corrigan from Runcorn Linnets.

Corrigan came through the ranks at Tranmere Rovers before spells at Colwyn Bay, Warrington Town, Skelmersdale United, Marine, Trafford and Linnets.

Louis also had a period playing out in Australia for Shepparton United before returning to the UK and signing for Marine.

The left back is renowned for his dangerous delivery from set pieces and scored 9 goals in 35 competitive games last season, including a goal from the spot against the Purps in the game at the Millbank Linnets Stadium.

Purps manager Craig Robinson was pleased to finalise Corrigan’s signing, “I’m delighted to welcome Louis to the football club.”

“He’s a player with quality that brings a lot of experience at this level, as well as goals and assists to the squad”.

We are sure all fans will join us in welcoming Louis to the club.

Purple Messi Signs For Season 2020-21

City of Liverpool FC are delighted to confirm that Jack Hazlehurst has signed for season 2020-21.

The Purple Messi, as he is affectionately known amongst supporters, started last season in typically fine style by bagging an eye catching brace against both Skelmersdale United and Warrington Town in the FA Cup.

 

Jack’s finished up with 6 goals in 27 appearances in a campaign disrupted by injury, however he has now returned to full fitness and is pleased to commit his future to the club for the forthcoming season.

We are sure all supporters will be delighted by this news!

Purps Announce Legends Team

City of Liverpool FC are delighted announce the formation of a ‘Legends’ team which will form part of a brand new Veterans section of the club.

Teams within the Veterans section will play home fixtures at the club’s new Purple Hub @ King George V playing fields in Huyton.

We are pleased to welcome back Tom Spearritt, who will manage the Legends team. Tom will be a familiar face to most Purps, having been a member of the coaching staff for 3 years since our debut season.

Tom initially held the role of Assistant Manager under Simon Burton, helping the Purps to four trophies in that time.

Spearritt then stayed on as a physio and coach during Craig Robinson’s 1st season in charge, in which the Purps won the NWCFL Premier Division on a dramatic final day at Irlam.

Spearritt will be assisted by former Purps forward Daley Woods and is extremely excited to return to the club, “When the Chairman approached me about taking up the role it was something that I was keen to discuss. A few phone calls later and I was on board.”

“I’ve asked Daley to come in and assist with the team, although I’m still expecting him to be putting the ball in the net as well!”

Tom’s squad will comprise of an exciting array of former Purps stars mainly from that famous first season where we achieved promotion from the NWCFL Division One via the Play Offs and won the Reusch and Macron cups.

Spearritt explained, “Thankfully the majority of the lads who are well known from the 2016/17 team have committed to the cause”.

Initially the Legends side will play a number of friendlies throughout the year with a view to placing them into a local league from 2021/2022.

“Going forward we are looking to arrange several games over the season against various teams, ex pro players, hospital and key worker teams. Each match will be dedicated to a local charity and support the growth of the Purple Hub.

Spearritt continued, “We are hoping the fans will get on board once again and we can all reminisce about our treble winning season.”

“Me and the lads are looking forward to getting the purple shirts back on, although it’ll be a coat for me!”

Legends Squad: Stephen Longrigg, Tom Spearritt, Sean Kelly, Tony Dunne, Allen Weston, Todd Blayney, Mike Smith, John Connolly, Phil McDiarmid, Ant Daniels, Declan Gregson, Billy Webb, Leon Williams, Rob Ablewhite, Aaron Rey, Daley Woods.

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There will be a further announcement this week regarding the formation the Veterans section of the club, which has been planned and led by member Francis Stanton.