The Purps have been building their squad throughout pre season and now is your chance to see them in action.
We have a very limited number of tickets on general sale for the game v Market Drayton tomorrow Tuesday 2nd September, 8pm KO.
Tickets can be purchased at the link below.
Warrington Town and City of Liverpool played out an entertaining five-goal thriller in the first game back in front of spectators at Cantilever Park.
The home side got off to the perfect start as Trialist whipped in an inch perfect free kick for Regan to power home a header after only 48 seconds.
The Yellows could have doubled their advantage in as many minutes, but Bohan Dixon fired narrowly wide after good work from Buckley to tee him up.
The Purps were level after 3 minutes however. Lovely footwork from Dom Reid beat a couple of men and he was brought down by the last man, giving the ref no choice but to point to the spot.
Reid stepped up to coolly place the spot kick home and restore parity in what had been a frenetic first few minutes.
Warrington rallied following Reid’s equaliser, and Purps goalkeeper Owen Wheeler had to be on his toes to intercept a dangerous cross destined for Buckley after a fine cross from Mackreth.
Wheeler produced a magnificent stop minutes later, beating out a fierce long range strike from Trialist which came through a crowd.
Jamie McDonald should have given the visitors the lead after being gifted possession in the Yellows box following a mistake by Regan.
However, the Purps forward fired narrowly wide as the goalkeeper rushed out to narrow the angle down.
As the half closed out, Wheeler produced another magnificent stop in what was already an inspired goalkeeping display, to deny a rasping strike on the turn from Buckley.
It was all square at the interval in an entertaining and even first half.
Only a matter of seconds into the second half the Purps took the lead in another frenetic start.
Good work by Tony Gray released Jamie McDonald in the left hand channel of the area. The Purps forward made no mistake, lifting the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the net.
The visitors almost doubled their lead minutes later courtesy of a fine long range left footed free kick from Trialist. The Yellows goalkeeper was equal to it though, making a great stop.
The home side equalised after 58 minutes, as Duggan robbed the Purps of possession and fed Carney who released Buckley in behind.
The Yellows forward tucked a smart finish beyond the advancing Wheeler and Jordan Barrow who was agonisingly just short of hacking it off the line.
In what was now an end to end affair, the Purps responded instantly as Reid capitalised on a mix up between the Yellows keeper and Grogan to rob possession.
The ball broke to Jamie McDonald who fired it goalwards from 20 yards out only to be denied by Grogan getting back to block on the line.
The Yellows made the Purps pay for their missed chances and took the lead in spectacular fashion.
Trialist picked the ball up 25 yards out and hammered a curling left footed effort into the top corner, giving the impressive Wheeler absolutely no chance.
It was a fine strike from the midfielder.
The Purps had a late half chance as substitute Craig Cairns fired a left footed snap shot from range, but the home goalkeeper was equal to it saving down low.
FINAL SCORE: Warrington Town 3-2 City of Liverpool.
CITY OF LIVERPOOL TEAM: Wheeler, Jeffries (Yates), Brown (Stevens), Barrow, Rigby (Corrigan), Reid (McGrath), Devine, Trialist (Hazlehurst), Kinsella (McEllin), Gray (Cairns), McDonald (Nevitt).
MATCHDAY PHOTO GALLERY:
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Today we are absolutely delighted to reveal our league fixtures for the 2020/21 season after an incredibly difficult and confused period for football generally but the National League System in particular.
We begin with a home game against Marske before travelling to Kendal and Workington in the same week, before a visit from Ramsbottom.
Playing 3 out of last sessons very best sides in the division is a tough ask but one that we are relishing and reminds us of what a very tough start to life in the NPL we had last season!!
As Purps may notice last season’s fixtures have simply been reversed, so there will be lots of recognition.
This means that we will be at home to Marine on Boxing Day and away to Runcorn Linnets on New Year’s Day.
Easter Monday sees us away to Marine and of course we will play host and visit Prescot Cables and Widnes in other local derbies.
Given that we play Glossop North End in the FA Cup and Cleethorpes in the FA Trophy, with potentially another FA Cup tie as well, September is jam packed for the Purps – brilliant!!
You can see our full fixture list here
Sat Sep 12 Emirates FA Cup Prelim – Glossop North End AFC A
Sat Sep 19 Marske United H
Wed Sep 23 Emirates FA Cup 1Q
Sat Sep 26 Buildbase FA Trophy 1Q
Tue Sep 29 Kendal Town A
Sat Oct 3 Workington A / Emirates FA Cup 2Q
Tue Oct 6 Ramsbottom United H
Sat Oct 10 Brighouse Town H
Tue Oct 13 Prescot Cables A
Wed Oct 14 Emirates FA Cup 3Q
Sat Oct 17 Buildbase FA Trophy 2Q – Cleethorpes Town FC H
Tue Oct 20 Trafford H
Sat Oct 24 Colne A / Emirates FA Cup 4Q
Sat Oct 31 Buildbase FA Trophy 3Q
Sat Nov 7 Ossett United A / Emirates FA Cup 1
Sat Nov 14 Mossley A / Buildbase FA Trophy 1
Sat Nov 21 Pickering Town H
Sat Nov 28 Clitheroe A / Emirates FA Cup 2
Sat Dec 5 Dunston H / Buildbase FA Trophy 2
Sat Dec 12 Widnes A
Sat Dec 19 Pontefract Collieries H / Buildbase FA Trophy 3
Sat Dec 26 Marine H
Fri Jan 1 Runcorn Linnets A
Sat Jan 9 Tadcaster Albion A / Emirates FA Cup 3
Sat Jan 16 Colne H / Buildbase FA Trophy 4
Sat Jan 23 Brighouse Town A / Emirates FA Cup 4
Sat Jan 30 Prescot Cables H
Sat Feb 6 Trafford A / Buildbase FA Trophy 5
Wed Feb 10 Emirates FA Cup 5
Sat Feb 13 Tadcaster Albion H
Sat Feb 20 Ossett United H
Sat Feb 27 Buildbase FA Trophy Semi-Finals
Sat Mar 6 Pickering Town A
Sat Mar 13 Mossley H
Sat Mar 20 Dunston A Emirates FA Cup 6
Sat Mar 27 Clitheroe H
Sat Apr 3 Workington H
Mon Apr 5 Marine A
Sat Apr 10 Kendal Town H
Sat Apr 17 Marske United A Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final
Sat Apr 24 Pontefract Collieries A
Sat May 1 Widnes H
Mon May 3 Runcorn Linnets H
Sat May 8 Ramsbottom United A Buildbase FA Trophy Final
Sat May 15 Emirates FA Cup Final
COLFC are pleased to announce a home Pre-Season friendly against our friends from the Everton Academy who will bring a strong youth squad to the Berry Street Garage Stadium for our Pre-Season preparations.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, attendance at this game must be limited to 200 paying spectators in accordance with the FA’s Phase One guidelines for clubs in the National League System.
In order to ensure that we successfully manage our game in Phase One (allowing us to move to Phase Two and 400 paying spectators at our next home game), the game must necessarily be made all-ticket and therefore we have had to make some hard decisions about how the 200 tickets will be allocated.
Our average home attendance last season was 389, so some regular match-goers will miss out on this occasion, but non-league clubs up and down the land with average attendances above 200 in Step 4 are in exactly the same boat.
From that 200 allocation, we have to make some tickets available to players families and Everton FC, so we estimate that there will be no less than 170 tickets available for purchase
Safety measures will be in place before, during and after the game, including temperature checks upon arrival at the ground and no cash being handled at the turnstyles.
After discussions, the Board of Directors have decided that the following criteria will apply:
Purple Package Holders
Anyone who has purchased a Purple Package in July or August and who wants a ticket for this match will be entitled to buy 1 ticket at either £8 for Adults or £4 for concessions as appropriate.
We estimate approximately 70 people will fit this criterion and a 48-hour period to purchase online will be made available to these members initially.
These members will be able to add any children who are also members of the club for free, but please be aware that a child whilst being free to enter the game itself, does count towards the 200 spectators total and there will be strict guidelines in place regarding social distancing inside the Berry Street Garage Stadium, so this perhaps may not be the best game to bring a child to.
Purple Package members will receive an email containing a link to purchase a ticket later this week.
Other Package Purchases and 2020/21 Season Members
Following the initial sale to Purple Package members, there will then be a further 48 hour online selling period to all other package holders and people who have bought or renewed their annual share membership in July or August 2020.
There approximately 120 members whom this criteria applies to.
These people will also be able to purchase 1 ticket at either £8 for Adults or £4 for concessions and will be able to add any children who are also members of the club for free, but please be aware that a child whilst being free to enter the game itself, does count towards the 200 spectators total and there will be strict guidelines in place regarding social distancing inside the Berry Street Garage Stadium, so this perhaps may not be the best game to bring a child to.
These members will receive a link to the ticket purchase software later this week.
General Sale
Following the initial online sale to the above 2 groups, there will then be a general sale online of any available tickets on a first come, first served basis, please watch our social media channels for further details if indeed we reach this point.
PLEASE NOTE
We appreciate that everybody will just want to get back to watching the Purps and some people may be miss out on a ticket this time and be disappointed, but there is no way of pleasing everybody in these Phase One circumstances.
It is vitally important that our club and indeed all Non-league clubs take this Phase One seriously in an attempt to show DCMS that we can be trusted to operate match days in a safe and secure manner, in order that we can move on to Phase 2 and a doubling of the crowd, before hopefully restrictions can be lifted completely and we can all return to pre-lockdown conditions, but for now we ask all Members and Supporters of COLFC to work with the club.
Due to NHS track and Trace requirements, there can be no transferring of tickets for this match. If you purchase a ticket for this game, only you will be granted entry to the ground – there can be no exceptions to this rule. If somebody else arrives trying to use your ticket they will be refused entry.
Temperatures will be taken before entry to the ground and anybody who’s temperature is outside normal ranges will not be granted entry to the ground.
City of Liverpool FC produced a professional performance to overcome a spirited display from Liverpool Football College’s talented U19’s team.
The fixture was the first the club has hosted at the new Purple Hub complex and was a good workout for Craig Robinson’s team in our third pre-season outing.
The u19’s started well and showed glimpses of their promise early on with #10 firing over from range after Stephen Rigby had headed a deep cross clear.
It didn’t take the Purps first team long to take the lead, however.
Former College graduate John McGrath played a delightful ball over the backline and Craig Cairns took it around the keeper with a magnificent first tough before tapping into the empty net.
It was a fine goal from the returning goal-machine Cairns, evoking comparisons with a Luis Suarez strike against Newcastle in 2013.
The U19s continued to look lively and were confident in possession. College forward Tyler Magee raced clear after some good build up play but was denied by fine defending from Anthony Brown who nicked the ball off his toe as he attempted to get a shot away.
The first team doubled their advantage courtesy of another poacher’s finish from marksman Cairns.
Jamie McDonald slid in for a loose ball with the College goalkeeper, with the ball breaking loose after a fortuitous deflected clearance for Cairns to tap into the unguarded net to make it 2-0.
The U19’s hit back minutes later and scored a fine goal to get back in the game.
The Purps half cleared but the ball broke to Tyler Magee who hit a first time effort from 25 yards which curled beyond Owen Wheeler and into the back of the net.
It was a brilliant opportunistic finish from Magee and no more than he deserved following an impressive performance on the night.
The U19s resurgence was short lived however as moments later, Jamie McDonald pick pocketed possession from a defender in their own box, before squaring to give Craig Cairns the easiest of finishes to complete his hat trick.
It was yet another example of Cairns’ goalscoring qualities on his first start since returning from Runcorn Town, as if anyone needed a reminder.
The Purps siege on goal continued with John McGrath denied by a fine goal line clearance after slaloming past a couple of defenders.
Ethan Devine also smashed the bar from range in a frenetic end to the half.
On the stroke of half time, the Purps finally got their fourth as Dom Reid hammered into the net from the left-hand side of the area after good work from Jamie McDonald.
The Purps made a number of changes at the interval and sub keeper Andy Marshall was called into action early on, doing well to hold a fizzing long range effort from the U19s.
New signing Jordan Barrow, playing the second period in midfield, threatened from long range with a daisy cutter but it was well held by the U19s keeper under pressure from Nevitt following in.
The keeper did well again moments later, as a whipped ball in from TRIALIST was met by the head of Hazlehurst, but the College custodian was more than equal to it.
Barrow again threatened from close range but was again thwarted by a magnificent stop as the goalkeeper spread himself to make the block and prevent a certain goal.
The 5th goal did come soon after, however.
In-form forward Elliott Nevitt beat the offside trap on the right hand side of the area before hammering a powerful effort beyond the outstretched left hand of the keeper to grab his third goal of pre-season.
Both Nevitt and TRIALIST threatened to add to the Purps tally late on but were denied by committed blocks from the U19 defenders.
In truth it was a convincing win for the first team, but the U19s gave a good showing of their undoubted talents against superior and more experienced opponents.
Particularly, Tyler Magee who scored a fine goal and Derrick Amankwah in midfield who put in an assured and composed performance which belied his years.
We wish the U19s squad and staff the very best for the season ahead.
COLFC First Half XI: Wheeler, Kinsella, Jeffries, Brown, Rigby, Reid, Devine, Hynes, McGrath, McDonald, Cairns
COLFC Second Half XI: Marshall, Yates, Hynes, Stevens, Corrigan, TRIALIST, McEllin (TRIALIST), TRIALIST, Barrow, Hazlehurst, Nevitt
MATCHDAY GALLERY:
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City of Liverpool came from a goal down to secure a good victory away at Warrington Rylands in our second pre-season outing.
Following on from Tuesday’s convincing win away at Cammell Laird, manager Craig Robinson gave further opportunities for players to impress, fielding different sides in each half.
In a frenetic start, Purps custodian Owen Wheeler was twice called into action early on.
The goalkeeper made a fine stop low down within the first two minutes as a Rylands forward raced clear.
Wheeler was also off his line quickly to intercept with a sliding challenge outside of his area as the home side again threatened.
The Purps went close when the impressive A. Trialist hammered a left footed effort from fully 30 yards out which whistled past former Purps keeper Graeme McCall’s left hand post.
Rylands took the lead from the spot after a very generous penalty was awarded.
The home forward went down under pressure from Jordan Barrow and the ref quickly pointed the spot, much to the bemusement of the away team.
Freddie Potter stepped up to dispatch a well taken spot kick into the corner of the net.
The away team rallied and were level only a matter of minutes later following a swift counter attack.
A Rylands free kick was cleared by a towering header from Tom Stevens, with Jack Hazlehurst then lofting a ball over the Rylands backline for Elliott Nevitt to chase.
The home defenders couldn’t cope with Nevitt’s physical presence and the Purps forward raced clear following a miscued header to tuck a tidy finish beyond Graeme McCall and into the net.
The visitors went in level at the break, and it was no more than they deserved in an entertaining game.
The home side started the second half well, with substitute Purps goalkeeper Andy Marshall making a fine stop diving full stretch to his left, pushing away a fierce drive from the edge of the area.
Marshall was again called into action a few minutes later as he plucked the ball from the feet of an advancing Rylands attacker. The home side’s forward again screamed for a penalty but it was fine goalkeeping from the Purps stopper.
The visitors were reduced to ten men midway through the second half as Jay Jeffries was harshly dismissed following an off the ball incident involving McDonald and a Rylands defender.
Following the dismissal the Purps rallied and were much the better side with the impressive Ethan Devine and Kev McEllin covering every blade of grass. Devine in particular stole possession from the opponents on a number of occasions with some fine challenges and quickness in the press.
The Purps took the lead courtesy of substitute Dom Reid who cut in from the left hand side and arrowed a low right footed effort across the Rylands keeper into the far corner of the net, following a lovely reverse pass from Ste Rigby.
However, the pick of the goals was saved for the final minutes. The Purps were awarded an indirect free kick in the Rylands box after the keeper comically picked up a back pass in his own 6 yard box.
Stephen Rigby played the free kick to the edge of the area where Kev McEllin met it first-time with a thunderous right footed effort which flew past the keeper and rippled the net.
A fine strike to cap off a good victory on the road as we made it two wins out of two in pre-season so far.
FINAL SCORE: Warrington Rylands 1-3 City of Liverpool
First Half XI: Wheeler, Yates, Barrow, McCarten (Stevens), Corrigan, McGrath, TRIALIST, Kinsella, Hazlehurst, Gray, Nevitt
Second Half XI: Marshall, Jeffries, Brown, Stevens, Rigby, TRIALIST, McEllin, TRIALIST (Hazlehurst), Devine, Reid, McDonald
MATCHDAY PHOTO GALLERY:
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City of Liverpool FC and main sponsors Regenda Homes are pleased to announce a donation of four season ticket packages to four local good causes.
The ‘Purple Package’, as it will be known, comprises of a Purps season ticket, monthly COLLOTTO entry and a Pingo game line.
The four local good causes chosen by the club and Regenda Homes are:
Rotunda Inclusive Hub – The Hub is an extension of Rotunda Boxing Club which was started as a charity aiming to help local children on the autistic spectrum, with ADHD and deafness as well as assisting with mental health.
Silcox Villa JFC u13’s – Silcox Villa JFC are a local grassroots football team for children, playing in the Bootle JFL.
Damien John Kelly House – DJK House is an innovative support and accommodation scheme helping male recovering drug and alcohol addicts to rebuild their lives. Based in Wavertree, the scheme is run by Vitality Homes and currently houses 17 people.
Centre 56 – Part of The Regenda Group, the charity provides childcare, information and support for families who have suffered or who are at risk of suffering domestic abuse or a crisis situation.
Each beneficiary will also be invited to hold a bucket collection at a COLFC match as soon as it is safe to do so.
Regenda Homes has a strong relationship with City of Liverpool FC and both have shown a longstanding commitment to assisting local organisations, good causes and young people.
Last season saw a number of local charities, junior sports teams and youngsters benefit from Regenda and COLFC’s matchday experience through bucket collections and mascot duties.
The club’s partnership with our main sponsor was also evident during the recent lockdown, as we worked together to set up essential food item deliveries to elderly and vulnerable members of the community.
Food item donations were also made to good causes like Damien John Kelly House, with deliveries being facilitated from COLFC’s Food Union ‘The Purple Pantry’.
City of Liverpool FC Chairman Paul Manning said, “This is a great initiative and one which we support wholeheartedly.”
“All four organisations are doing great work within our communities that have actual social impact and hopefully, these Purple Packages can help develop that impact over the course of next season.”
Kevin Short, Housing and Neighbourhood Services Team Leader for Regenda Homes, added, “This is a fantastic idea and it will certainly help raise money for some really good causes. It’s just goes to show that working together can get you results on the pitch and off it. That’s what community spirit is all about!”
City of Liverpool opened their pre-season campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory against Cammell Laird 1907, on a warm evening at the Prabhu Ventures Ltd Arena.
Purps manager Craig Robinson opted to field different XI’s in each half, as he gave opportunities to a number of new faces.
The first half saw Tom Stevens, Ste Rigby, Dom Reid and Tony Gray make their first starts for the club, with all four impressing on the night.
The Purps started well, with new signing Gray finding pockets of space immediately.
The former Southport and Chester FC forward almost forced the opener early on, as he played in a devilish left footed cross which the Lairds defender did well not to slice into his own net, with Jamie McDonald lurking for a tap in.
From the resulting corner, Dom Reid’s whipped ball in was met by the head of centreback Tom Stevens who rose like a salmon to power a header inches over the bar.
The move was repeated again a few minutes later, this time Stephen Rigby played a left footed corner in where Stevens again met it, however his header was deflected narrowly over.
It didn’t take long for the visitors to make the pressure pay, as the lively John McGrath cut in from the right on his trusty left foot, feigned a shot and fired a low effort which took a slight deflection to nestle in the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Moments later the Purps almost doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion, as Dom Reid hammered a curling effort from 25 yards which smashed against the upright and bounced clear, after great work from Tony Gray.
The Purps looked a danger from set pieces and again the pressure told as Lairds failed to deal with Jay McCarten’s header across goal from John McGrath’s corner.
As his team mates appealed for a handball Tom Stevens finally got his goal, nonchalantly lofting the ball over the home keeper and into the top corner of the net.
Just before the interval former Purps hero (and current Legends team forward) Daley Woods, on from the bench for Lairds, almost reduced the arrears for the home side but his first time effort was narrowly wide of Owen Wheeler’s goal.
Wheeler was then called into action to make a fine stop low down with his feet on the stroke of half time as Lairds threatened on the break.
Robbo started the second half with an entirely different XI, giving debuts to Jay Yates, Jordan Barrow, Louis Corrigan and the returning hero of 2019 Craig Cairns. There were also cameos for two trialists.
Elliott Nevitt, also on at the break, started his pre-season campaign in typically energetic fashion and didn’t take long to increase the visitors’ lead within minutes of the restart.
A fine through ball from Jack Hazlehurst released A. Trialist down the right who played an inch-perfect whipped ball in for Nevitt to power a thunderous header across Cowderoy in the Lairds goal and into the far corner of the net.
A fine finish from last season’s top scorer to make it 0-3.
Nevitt had a number of other opportunities to add to his tally owing to great service down the right from A. Trialist and Jay Yates, but he was denied by a combination of inspired goalkeeping from Richie Cowderoy and last ditch defending.
FIRST HALF XI – Wheeler, Jeffries, McCarten, Stevens, Rigby, McGrath, McEllin, Kinsella, Reid, Gray, McDonald.
SECOND HALF XI – Marshall, Yates, Brown, Barrow, Corrigan, Trialist, Devine, Trialist, Hazelhurst, Nevitt, Cairns.
Cammell Laird 0-3 City of Liverpool – Matchday Photo Gallery:
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COLFC in the Community’s ‘Social Footy’ sessions have resumed at our new community base, the Purple Hub @ KGV in Huyton.
Social Footy is our community arm’s regular kickabout, aimed at promoting positive mental health, wellbeing and friendships in a slower paced, laid back game.
Ian Brocklehurst is a regular participant at Social Footy who was keen to get back to sessions, “I was made up when I heard that Social Football was starting up again.”
“Not only because lockdown had made me more sedentary than usual, but I’d missed the good natured back and forth with the lads.”
“The WhatsApp group is good, but it doesn’t replace the face to face camaraderie we have.”
COLFC Community volunteer Michael Meadows added “It’s great to see so many of our regular participants back enjoying the sessions after the forced break due to COVID”
“It’s obviously been a difficult time for everyone across the city and country as a whole, with mental health being a particular concern, so we’re pleased to be able to resume this initiative promoting wellbeing within our community.”
“We now have the added bonus of being able to utilise the fantastic new club facilities at the Purple Hub.”
“The lads have all been blown away by the standard of this venue, so we’re looking forward to fully benefitting from this in the coming months.”
Sessions will now take place at 12pm on Sunday and 7pm on Wednesday evening and participants are encouraged to join the Whatsapp group where arrangements are made.
If anyone wishes to find out more or wants to enquire about joining in, please follow @COLFCCommunity on Twitter, send a message and one of our volunteers will get back to you.
The following image gallery was taken at Social Footy on 02/08/2020 by the Purps Matchday media team.
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Further examples of our community coverage can be found on @colfccommunity and @purpsmatchday on Instagram.
For anyone looking to utilise the Purple Hub @ KGV for great rates on pitch bookings and our other facilities please visit www.purplehub.co.uk
