Inside the M60

Plans for FC United’s return to their home in Newton Heath are advancing as the club have appointed a design team to take the proposed ground and community sports development at Ten Acres Lane to planning stage.

Frank Whittle Partnership(FWP) will oversee the project from start to finish,the club say that they have wide range of previous relevant experience and an understanding for what FC United is seeking to achieve in the development of the community facility.

Planning consultant Kath Ludlam will oversee the planning application as well as managing the local consultation with residents and community groups and one of Manchester’s longest established firms,Taylor Young, have been appointed as architects.

The club has targeted the end of August to submit a full planning application.

FC’s General Manager Andy Walsh said: “We have taken a lot of advice and are satisfied that these appointments mean we now have the necessary expertise in place as we move through the consultation and planning processes to help make the ground development a reality.

“It is important to us that local residents and our club members have a direct input to the design process. We have already got draft timelines in place and while future activity will depend on a successful planning application and our ability to raise the necessary funding, this is another exciting stage of the project development.

The club announced earlier this month that it had raised £270,000 towards its goal of £500,000 for the new home at Ten Acres Lane.

Week eight in the North Manchester Cricket league and Failsworth Macedonia got their second win in a row with a comprehensive defeat of Westleigh Methodists bowling out their opponents for just 25 and passing that total for the loss of just one wicket.L Phelan taking 6-6.

In the same league Blackley winning at Ashton Ladysmith scoring 138-8 in reply to their opponents 134,G Golling taking 5-56.

Newton Heath went down to defeat at Swinton  in the District Premier League after reaching 170-6 off their 48 overs.Opener Baden Wilton getting 89.Swinton reaching their target off just 35 overs.

Stretford also going down to a heavy defeat away at Bury.After winning the toss and batting,they were bowled out for 126,their opponents reaching their target for the loss of just four wickets.

Wickets also tumbled for Whalley Range,chasing a target of 186 against Winton,they were bowled out for 106.

There was a seven wicket victory though for Burnage in Division 1 after they dismissed their visitors Westleigh for 137.

Finally in the Lees Brewery League,Cheetham Hill closed the gap at the top of the table with a 65 run win at Woodhouses.Batting first they reached 238,dismissing Woodhouses for 173,A Saleem taking 5-55

After last week’s intervention by the weather,the rains cleared to give a full programme in our leagues.

It was good news for Failsworth Macedonia who finally got their season under way with a 57 run win over Littleborough.The Holt Lane side reaching 230 all out.Whilst Blackley easily defeated defeated Robinsons by 9 wickets bowling their opponents out for just 94.

After 7 games Blackley sit 7 points behind leaders Rochdale Catholics,whilst Failsworth have lifted themselves up to 1oth with their first win.

In the Manchester and District Premier League,Newton Heath were well beaten at Hindley St Peter’s.Replying to the home teams 245-5,they were dismissed for just 133.

Whalley Range meanwhile claimed a winning draw against Bury.Platts scoring 115 in their total of 232-8,just failing to bowl out their opponents who reached 200-9.

There were two centurions for Stretford in the same league.Andrew Crowhurst finishing on 146 not out and Mitchell Williams getting 124 as they reached 311-2,bowling out their visitors Euxton for 205.

Meanwhile in Division 1,there was a centurion for Burnage as Nadeen Abbas reached 100 in their total of 285-5,in reply Bolton collapsing to 79 all out with  Mahmood and Parvez both taking five wickets

It was week five in the North ManchesterLeague but the heatwave conditions brought little sunshine for our two local teams.

Blackley were well beaten by Rochdale Catholics being bowled out for 182 chasing the home teams 273-7 whilst Failsworth Macedonia were soundly beaten by Fothergill & Harvey at Holt Lane.Batting first , they struggled to 128  all out with Fothergill easily chasing down the target for the loss of just three wickets.

Whilst their 2nd team had a similar day at Rochdale Catholic Club. Fielding first,  they lost their way after an initial goods start, allowing Rochdale to hit 237-9.In reply Failsworth could only hit 128, being dismissed off the last ball of the game.

In the Manchester and District Premier League,Whalley Range won a low scoring game at home to Euxton.Reaching 159-7 in their 48 overs,they dismissed their visitors for 128 winning by 53 runs.

Newton Heath meanwhile were entertaining Bolton Indians and after being put into bat reached 194 all out,Baden Wilton making 76.The Indians easily knocking off the runs with the loss of just two wickets in 37 overs.

In the same Division,Mitchell Williams was the star for Stretford scoring 152 out of his teams 250-7 as they beat Wythenshawe by 146 runs.

In Division 1 Burnage won a tight victory at Deane and Derby scoring 184 to beat their opponents by 2 wickets.

Failsworth Macedonia’s indifferent start to the season continued at the weekend.On their travels to Elton Vale,they were bowled out for 112,their opponents knocking off the required runs with the loss of just four wickets.

Blackley though had a second win on the trot.Hosting Westleigh Methodists,they reached their opponents target of 174 losing just five wickets in the process.

After four games,Blackley stand 6th just two points off the leaders,whilst Failsworth have just one point from their four games.

It was better news for Failsworth’s seconds who won their first game of the season,gaining all 5 points against Westhoughton  3rds reaching 241-9 with  Darren Neil hitting 104 and then dismissing their opponents for 131 with skipper Ian Wilson taking 7-41.

Over in the Manchester and District Premiership,Whalley Range won a tight match against Stretford by two wickets,whilst Newton Heath lost a low scoring match to Bolton Indians by 10 runs.After winning the toss and bowling their opponents out for 104,they could only make 94 all out

In Division 1 Burnage chasing Worsley’s 219 all out reached their target with 3 overs to spare,J Maqsood making 70 no and N Abbas 67.

Failsworth Macedonia’s bad start to the season continued on Saturday after losing to Blackley by one wicket.Failsworth making 183-9 with P Rigney making 57 and G.Shenton 53, Blackley reaching their target with one wicket to spare.C.Bell top scoring with 56

Next Saturday Blackley entertain Westleigh Methodists whilst Failsworth travel to Elton Vale.

Meanwhile over in the Manchester and District  Divisional Trophy Premier,Newton Heath were bowled out for just 88 against Hindley St Peters,the home side knocking off the runs for the loss of just one wicket.

In the same division Whalley Range comprehensively beat Wythenshawe by 49 runs.Scoring 214-9 they bowled out their opponents for 165.

In division one Burnage claimed a wining draw against South West Manchester reaching 227-8 with Mahmood top scoring with 47.In reply SW reaching 226-8.

In the Lees Brewery Lancashire County League,there was an emphatic win for Cheetham Hill reaching 260-7 with Ali Raza getting an unbeaten 110,then bowling out their opponents Roe Hill for 156.

It was the first weekend in the North Manchester League.In Division One Failsworth Macedonia were bowled out for 76 in reply to Totts St John’s 200-6 and in the same division,Blackley(180-3) beat Fothergill and Harvey(178) by 7 wickets.G Collinge taking 5-83.

In the Divisional trophy Premier League Newton Heath’s First’s lost by 80 runs to Stretford after being bowled out for 96.It was their second defeat of the season.

Over in the Lancashire County League Division One,Cheetham Hill lost by 6 runs to Denton West after being bowled out for 200,whilst their seconds lost by five wickets in the reverse fixture.