LAST week I spoke about Stanley's best ever season when they were in the Football League in 1954-55.

This season we have also broke a record when we won nine consecutive games at the start of the campaign which is a Northern Premier League best. Let's hope we can carry on breaking them.

Last Thursday we held a successful Sportsman's Dinner with former Football League referee Kevin Lynch. If anybody is looking for a good after-dinner speaker I can really recommend Kevin, he has many stories about his experiences in football, some of which are very close to the bone!

The draw for the Lancashire FA Marsden Challenge Trophy was made last Friday and as holders we were invited to make the draw in the Radio Lancashire studio.

The draw brought out a lot of plum ties, with Stanley being drawn at home January 8 to either Southport or Great Harwood, depending on the result of the first round match.

Incidentally, Stanley entertained Everton at Peel Park in the 1954/55 season and won 3-2 with Les Cocker

scoring all three goals. The attendance for the match was 8,000, I wish we had gates like that now!

As most people are aware Bacup Borough are playing most of their games away from home at the moment and we have agreed to allow them to use our ground for several 'home' fixtures over the Christmas period. These games will take place on Tuesday December 17, Boxing Day and Sunday December 29.

Rossendale United had a good win last Saturday when they defeated one of the promotion favourites North Ferriby United. The winning goal was scored by ex-Stanley player Mark Patterson who has returned to Rossendale after a

spell with Conference side Scarborough, and with new signings from Lancaster Kevin Holiday and Cris Perkins I am sure that Jim McBride will soon have Rossendale back on track.

Rossendale have got a plum tie in the UniBond League Challenge Cup in which they entertain Lancaster City at Dark

Lane tonight with extra time and penalties if required.

Saturday December 14 sees Stanley's last home game before Christmas when we entertain Bradford Park Avenue, and the game should be a real Christmas Cracker with both sides at the top of the UniBond League Premier Division

table.

I am sorry that I haven't mentioned our FA Trophy exit at Tamworth but I can't think of anything to say except that their hospitality was brilliant.

Only 21 games left!