New year, new hope

AMATEUR FOOTBALL:

JOHN GILDER focuses on two sides hoping for improved fortunes in 2011
LOCAL sides Hollinwood and Failsworth Athletic will be hoping for a happy and prosperous 2011, with the fight to avoid relegation in their respective leagues at the top of their agendas.

Hollinwood are four points adrift at the foot of the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League Premier Division table, with just two wins all season and a goal difference of an alarming minus 46.

For a club which has been used to steady progress over the last decade or so, to be sitting not so pretty is something of a culture shock for Hollinwood.

The club’s troubles have already been well chronicled.

But can manager Fred Hardicre’s patched together troops pull off what would be a spectacular avoidance of the relegation trap door.

Hardicre said: “The difference between now and the start of the season is that we have signed quite a few new players and we have a settled side. Our season really does start here.”

Hollinwood resume their campaign tomorrow with a tough trip to mid-table Bury Amateurs, who have lost just once in the league all season.

And Hardicre’s men will be in the spotlight on January 15 when they take on local rivals Avro in the semi-final of the Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy at the Lancaster Club, Failsworth, (2.30pm).

Springhead aren’t out of the relegation woods just yet, with only four wins and three draws from their first 16 matches.

And it’s a tough-looking return to action for Lee McAllister’s side as they entertain second-placed Hindsford at Ashfield Crescent (2pm).

Title holders Avro are at home to fifth-placed Walshaw Sports at the Lancaster Club, (2pm).

Royton Town can get their new year off to a good start with a win at second-from-bottom Atherton Town.

Meanwhile, Failsworth Athletic have also hit on hard times after years of on-field achievement in the D&J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League.

Staring relegation from the league’s top flight firmly in the face, Athletic resume their fixtures on Sunday when they host Chaddy End FC at Mabel Road (2pm).

Off the field, however, Athletic are celebrating a major achievement in becoming the only club in the Oldham Sunday League to be awarded FA Charter Standard Adult Club status.

Club secretary Graham Speakman said: “This is a culmination of a lot of hard work from a lot of people and we are obviously delighted at the award.”