Crossing the barrier

There is always something special about the first day of the season, people emerging from where they have been over the summer, and, without needing to be guided, taking familiar places on the terraces and in the stands and the bar. Some have returned from our summer sports or walks in the countryside, some have made the journey specially, whilst others have been at the club already, with tales to tell of the pre season programme, or looking forward to people seeing the results of a summer's work on the ground.

With the start seeming to be earlier every year, some are still away. With our manager and captain both being teachers, it is impossible for holidays not to intervene, and we would be without James McCulloch for the first two games. A recently returned Brian Richardson greeted me with the news that my reputation for an inability to capture goals (worse than usual in pre season) was spreading, with the players starting a sweep on whether I would get one. We will come back to that later.

We were sporting a new kit, the same Puma design as the last couple of seasons, but in the yellow with which we are more familiar.

Chris Almond

I too had been issued with new kit: Garry Williams, our goalkeeping coach, supplied me with a high vis bib for use pitchside. I did not try it in pre season, but as I was on the pitch taking the initial line up for our opening game against Ossett Town, I decided to give it a go. I made a makeshift seat near the Safari Park End. getting the low position that is particularly good for still sports photography.

Lloyd Dean

My initial location is also where the substitutes often warm up (it seems to depend whether the assistant referee wants to keep an eye on them, in this case he did not). To avoid photographing round them, I moved to the other side of the corner flag, leaning against the famous fence. It held my weight, although that was not the direction in which it collapsed in the first place.

Louis Coyne

I also got a decent view of the crowd.

The Dugout Irregulars

For the second half, we were attacking towards the Hope Street end, sponsored by North West Roadshow.

Jordan Wynne

There are some concrete protrusions from the base of the terrace at this end, providing a handy seat for a good view.

Baba Conteh

We had not performed well in the first half, giving away a penalty and conceding a second goal. We were much better in the second half, but we could not convert this to goals until Jordan Southworth scored in injury time.

Jordan Southworth shoots for goal

I am not sure how this works in the players' sweepstake, but it is definitely the shot for goal. The team showed impressive discipline, not wasting time with celebrations but getting straight back for the kick off to try for an equaliser. Unfortunately time was too short, but this was a good performance against last year's play off runners up, who may be looking forward to another good year.

Valter Fernandes was the season's first Man of the Match, being presented with the award by Alan McNally of Joseph's Joinery, who supplied the new woodwork around the ground and helped the volunteers to fit it.

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

Whilst my new photography position is good for pictures, it is not necessarily sociable - my friend Dr Luke was visiting us, something that, due to spending most of the game below the perimeter fence, I only found out as we exchanged a cheery handshake as he left at the end.

Final score: Prescot Cables 1 (Southworth) Ossett Town 2.