Blackpool and District Youth League match of the week: FC Rangers Under-9s v Kirkham Juniors Lightning U9

Our photographer was at Blackpool’s Boundary Park on Saturday for a thrilling Under-9s match between hosts FC Rangers and Kirkham Juniors Lightning.

It’s a big season for both teams as they step up from five-a-side football to seven-a-side games but they are adapting admirably.

It’s another landmark season for FC Rangers manager Glenn Farbrother and his Lightning counterpart James Conway, both of whom could continue to coach these players through the various age groups and are keen to do so.

Glenn told The Gazette: “The team is definitely coming together, 100 per cent.

“Some of them are in their third season with us. We have some new ones too and they are all learning quickly.

“We are lucky to play on a big, open field here, so the restrictions don’t cause too many problems and we’re all enjoying it while we can.”

As for Lightning, team boss Conway said: “We came together in February last year, so this is our second full season. It’s a new challenge on bigger pitches but the players are really coming on.

“When I first took my lad to training we found there were enough players for three teams but not enough managers, so I agreed to get involved and I love it.

“I hadn’t done this before but I love to see the smiles on the players’ faces. We have a good set of boys and a good set of parents.”

Unlike our usual match of the week feature, we won’t go into details of the game itself as the emphasis at this level is on enjoyment and developing skills.

Suffice to say it was a cracking, close-fought contest, summed up by James, who said: “It was a rollercoaster game that had everything. It felt longer than the 50 minutes.”

He named Nate Schwandt as man of match in a team well led by captain George Conway and added: “It’s great to see the bond between the players and they all enjoy it.”

FC Rangers boss Glenn said: “Seven-a-side has been a spanner in the works but the players are getting used to playing in new positions.

“It was definitely an entertaining one – a good, competitive game.”

The U7’s and U8s played some great football, showing how much they had improved their skills as they had lots of fun in their development matches.

Only one U16 match went ahead due to school isolations. This was an inter-club derby between St Annes Yellows and St Annes Diamonds. As expected, it was a great match with both teams giving their all, but in the end the Yellows took the honours through goals from Lewis Hiley, Harry Fowler, Owen McConnell and Harry Birkman