AFC FYLDE MAKE THEIR PITCH
VINCE TAYLOR REPORTS ON THE OPENING OF MILL FARM
After more than a century as the biggest name on the Fylde and Wyre coast, Blackpool FC
currently find themselves playing second fiddle to neighbours Fleetwood Town, who as
members of League One rank one division higher than recently relegated Blackpool. If
that wasn't bad enough for the Tangerines' long suffering fans, a few miles east of Bloomfield Road, AFC Fylde are another club threatening to upset the local pecking order. Indeed, with the opening of their new 6,000 capacity Mill Farm ground in August, AFC
Fylde's much trumpeted Football League ambitions have advanced several steps further.
That Blackpool should suddenly have two rivals snapping at their heels is no coincidence,
for both AFC Fylde and Fleetwood Town are owned by millionaire businessmen who have
previously been rebuffed in their attempts to take a financial stake in Blackpool.
Whereas Fleetwood Town's Andy Pilley revitalised and rebuilt a club that already had a
stadium and a strong football tradition, the same could not be said of Kirkham & Wesham,
who were playing in the West Lancashire League when David Haythornthwaite became
involved ten years ago. Extremely successful at their level, with a run of seven West Lancashire League titles in eight seasons, it was only when the club moved from their basic Coronation Road ground in Kirkham to Kellamergh Park in Warton in 2007 that the club was
able to progress to the North West Counties League. When David Haythornthwaite took
over as chairman in 2007, the effect was instant, for not only was promotion to the Northern Premier League achieved, Kirkham & Wesham also won the FA Vase after beating Lowestoft Town 2-1 at Wembley.
www.groundtastic.co.uk | Facebook/Groundtastic | Twitter@groundtastic
3