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Lancaster City were a team I had seen on many occasions on my non-County travels around the non-league grounds in Tameside and beyond. But in terms of competitive games, the victory over Southport in the FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round, saw us drawn out of the hat with a first visit to Lancaster in 84 years. Back in 1933 it was for a 1st Round FA Cup game against the then Lancaster Town, some 4 years before city status was conferred.

So it was a first for the County fans who headed to the southern edges of the Lake District on a freezing Saturday 9 days before Christmas. But also a special day for me. It was my first away game since a trip to Tamworth on August Bank Holiday Monday. That was 110 days previously and in the interim I had spent just under three weeks in isolation having undergone a stem cell transplant, and then being required to stay indoors for a couple of months. Having regained much of my strength I was determined to make the trip. Not too far and Julie came with me. Not to the Giant Axe naturally but a fruitful afternoon, in her eyes anyway, mooching around the Christmas markets in the city centre. I was glad I made the trip.

It gave me the chance to catch up with many of the fellow travellers and friends I had grown to like on the trips around the National League North. I was touched how many of them asked how I was, and the welcome I got made me feel I was ‘back home’!

I liked the place as a football ground, and as ever, when visiting so many of the grounds in non-league the general welcome made me feel that they were pleased to see us. So different from times in the League where the treatment by both stewards and police left a lot to be desired.

On the field it was a really comfortable win as Jason Oswell and Gary Stopforth gave us a 2-0 interval lead. Night started to close in after the break and as the temperature fell conditions underfoot for both players and spectators became more than tricky. Lancaster clawed one back from the spot 10 minutes into the second half, and despite a scare or two Bohan Dixon made it secure as the clock wound down.

A victory it was – but more important than that was a reintroduction for me to some semblance of normal life. And it was a good feeling.

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Memories of a trip to the Giant Axe

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THE GAMES

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Where the date is in bold click for highlights of the game

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	Date	Venue	Ground	Competition		F	A	Att:
Sat	16/12/17	a	Giant Axe	FA Trophy (Round 1)	W	3	1	578

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