General Information
During the year 2000 D J Clark built a visual record of the Lancaster &
Morecambe district using photographs and information submitted by those that
feature in the pictures. The project was conducted in association with Lancaster
Museum and has been archived for future generations to look back at the district
at the turn of the new Millennium. For more information on the project visit
the information page. If you find a caption is
wrong or there is a fault with the page please e-mail D
J Clark.
Date:
April 11th 2000
Location: Staley Bridge
Photographer's Diary
11th April - Lancaster City
"Oh I'd rather be a City than a Town" the 200 or so Lancaster fans taunted Worksop Town who came up with far cruder and far louder chants from across the pitch. It all happened very fast, I saw an advertisement for what was billed up to be the biggest game of Lancaster city's 95 year history. It was in Staley Bridge, though so I phoned the club to try and get a ticket. Well I should have possibly realised that getting advance tickets is not the done thing in the Uni-bond league, but I did get a ticket for the supporters bus that picked me up at the top of the road and whisked me off to the match.
The thoughts of not getting lost and having to find parking were two advantages of the coach. We did get lost though and just managed to rush in before kick off. I had not had time to get permission this time - so I winged it hoping I wouldn't be asked to leave. There was never a question of that they were just pleased to see someone interested.
The first half was slow. A wet pitch and some awful passing left both teams with hardly a shot on goal. Switching to the other end at half time and grabbing a boiled burger the action started with more determination. I shyly kept looking at the bloke standing next to me only to realise it was an old friend. Half embarrassed to be at such an event we made our excuses and then started to join the cheering crowd. A goal, and the player dashed to a spot right in front of me ripping his shirt off. I shot wildly but realised I would have been better with flash. It was disallowed, I put my flash on and as if for me alone another player repeated the action this time putting Lancaster 1-0 in the lead.
They hung on to the end and we dashed on to the pitch as if it was Wembley. I snapped the jubilant players and got the cup lifting football shot every photographer dreams of. The coach was quiet on the way home, in spite of victory. We were instead subjected to continuos special offers by the supporters club many of which people surrendered to. I ended up with a Lancaster City, Uni-bond League Challenge Cup Champions T shirt.