Preston Pulse Issue 29

PULSE Preston Chorley&Leyland January 2020 19 SPORT BAMBER Bridge are set to name their new man- ager after the departure of Joey Collins for personal reasons. The club is looking to an- nounce its new management team after Collins’ left the Sir Tom Finney Stadium by mutual consent. In a statement Brig said: “The club would like to thank Joey for all his efforts over the last eight months as first team manager and previous- ly as a member of the club’s coaching staff, and wish him all the best for the future.” Director of football Neil Crowe said that the club was in final discussions in its search for a new man- ager, with former Everton midfielder Jamie Milligan understood to be the front- runner, according to reports. Crowe also confirmed that Matt Lawlor is to step down from his role as assistant manager/coach and will con- tinue with the club as a player and first team captain. Former Blackpool and Fleetwood Town star Milligan is a former Brig player and was part of former boss Neil Reynold’s coaching team. Director of football Neil Crowe and goalkeeper coach Stu Barton were placed in caretaker charge of Brig af- ter Collins’ departure and saw them record a 3-2 home win over Mickleover Sports. Brig will face North West Counties side PrestwichHeys in the semi-final of the Lan- cashire FA Challenge Trophy. The tie will be played at the LFA’s County Ground in Ley- land on Wednesday February 26 (kick off 7.45pm). MORE than 550 schoolchildren from across the Preston area put their sport- ing skills to the test at the annual pri- mary school indoor athletics finals. Years five and six pu- pils from over 30 prima- ry schools challenged each other in various track and field events at UCLan’s Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre. And at the end of the competition, Broughton C of E Pri- mary School emerged as the overall winner. AFC Fylde striker Danny Philliskirk says new boss Jim Bentley has brought a fresh approach to the club that is starting to pay off. Since Bentley’s arrival at Mill Farm from Morecambe the Coasters have tight- ened up at the back and are starting to deliver clean sheets. Philliskirk told the Na- tional League’s official web- site: “One of the problems we were struggling with is that we were conceding too many goals and in the last few games we’ve kept five clean sheets. “We’re one of those teams where if we keep a clean sheet, I fancy us to always score so that’s the main positive.” Splitting with long-term boss Dave Challinor was nev- er going to be easy for the club, but results are now going in the right direction. Philliskirk said: “Under Challinor we were under- achieving and as a group we knew we should have been doing better. “We’re part responsible for what happened. But since the new gaffer has come in, he’s brought a fresh feel in and a new philosophy. “It’s a fresh start for every- one and everybody is chomp- ing at the bit to be playing. He’s come in with a positive energy and the staff have all been brilliant and now we’re picking up some good results. “Chally did a great job here but sometimes when a new manager comes in with new ideas, people buy into it. We’ve all bought into what Jim’s been about since he’s arrived.” LEE Ashcroft’s Longridge Town still have Wem- bley in their sights. His side pro- gressed to the fourth round of the FA Vase thanks to a 2-0 win against Cheshire side Congleton. The sides fought out a 2-2 draw in Cheshire with extra-time not able to sepa- rate the teams. So it was back to the Mike Riding ground for the replay, with Ridge run- ning out win- ners against their fellow NWCL visitors. Victory means that they will host Newark Flowserve in the next stage of the com- petition on January 11. Their Nottinghamshire opponents are members of the Midland League Pre- mier Division. Meanwhile Ashcroft has praised striker Paul Turner, say- ing he is capable of playing at a higher level. Ashcroft said: “I’d seen him playing for Pres- ton Wanderers. Last season he was in and out of the team but I told him before the start of this campaign that he would be my striker. “There have been clubs down here watching him and I’ve no doubt he can go on to play higher up. “Paul has that knack of being in the right place at the right time. He works hard, his attitude is brilliant.” NWCFL Premier Division side Charnock Richard have been deduct- ed three points for playing an ineligible player whilst under suspension during their 3-1 victory over Boo- tle in November. LOCAL FOOTBALL ROUND UP Town on the Vase trail Feel-good factor is back at Fylde Brig poised to name new boss Pupils competing at the Indoor Athletics Championship at UCLan’s Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre Children take on sporting challenge ton Harriers and Ashton Community Science College Sports Leaders to deliver the programme. Each of the schools took part in events including hurdles, javelin, long jump and relay racing, with chil- dren from Preston Harriers providing demonstrations of some of the sports. St Andrews Church of Eng- land Primary l in Ashton was among the competing schools. Head Scott Martland said: “This is a great opportunity for us to be involved in an event that brings children together from right across the Preston area, mixing dif- ferent cultural backgrounds in a way that will hopefully inspire many of the pupils to do more sport at school.” St Andrews’ pupil Har- vey Forbes, aged 10, added: “Kids should have a passion for sport and maybe try ac- tivities that they haven’t done before. “I love the competitive edge that comes with the games and the fact that it encourages you to try your hardest.”Laura Shepherd, head of sports at Goosnargh CofE Primary School said: “With our school being in a rural environment fitness and sports features promi- nently in our activities from an early age. “This event is a perfect opportunity to remind pu- pils of the importance of that message.” Olivia Leech, a pupil at Broughton C of E Primary, said: “I’ve never been to this event before and it really inspires you to do your best for your school. I love the fact you can do some of the more traditional events like javelin throwing as well as more unusual ones like the obstacle relay.” The event, now in its third year, has become a key fix- ture in the Preston primary school sports calendar. Staff and students from UCLan’s School of Sport and Wellbeing teamed up with volunteers from Pres-