Colour combinations

Prescot Cables opened their pre season programme with a visit from Charnock Richard, recently admitted to the Hallmark Security (North West Counties) League. In previous seasons we visited them, but this was more convenient for an evening game, as the bus service through their village finishes at 5.30. I was pleased to see a good turnout from last season's squad, which I was anticipating, as a number of players tweeted earlier in the month that they were enjoying training sessions, but feeling it the following morning.

We planned a different Prescot team in each half. The first half team were sporting the new season's home kit. We have the Puma kit from last season, tending towards the orange end of amber, sponsored again by PMB Tools, with a shirt back sponsor, Britannia Taxis. A priority of the match day photographer is not just to capture the action, or make the players look good, but also to give the sponsors the exposure they are paying for. So, we can expect more shots from this angle!

Joe Nicholson take a free kick

The side for the first half was the stronger of the two, and we were quickly ahead through another Joe Nicholson free kick. I was then in just the right position for Lloyd Dean to score from a penalty into the neat new goal nets.

I once worked with some French people, who wore coloured socks socks matching their shirts or ties. One gentleman, noticing on the way to work that his socks did not match his shirt, went home to change. This thinking seems to have affected the compilers of the Laws of Association Football, who have tightened up on colour matching: undershirts and undershorts must match the dominant colour of shirts or shorts; and sock tape needs to match the dominant colour of socks. I am not sure what the rule was before, but practice was to match a colour, so ours allowed for black undershirts. Not only that, but undergarments and tape must also match the rest of the team. I can see the point of this in professional competition rules, but it seems excessive to incorporate it into the Laws. Those who move clubs will accumulate a large wardrobe. They have not stipulated matching boots yet, but watch this space.

Jacob Jomes

The management were kitted out in neat new training kit.

Tony Carrroll and Roy Grundy

Tony Carroll has returned as Injury Assessor, after a couple of years accumulating stories about working with Shaun Reid - which he seems unfortunately reluctant to tell us!

The visitors' goalkeeper was injured after about 20 minutes, and, without a replacement, I think the teams decided it would be good experience for all concerned if we lent them one of ours.

The second half team was composed of a mixture of younger players with First team experience, some from trials, and some who were unable to play many games last season due to long term injuries. This team used the new away kit. Both are available from the new online club shop (and the table in the bar when the season gets under way).

Connor Grainger advertises the new away kit

There was an encouraging performance from both teams, winning 4-1 in the first half and 2-1 in the second.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here and on Google Photos here.