21 Questions With... Young Liam

Next up is ex-leader of the shoot-fruits crew and current Don of the Dark Fruits lot: Liam Maguire aka Young Liam aka blue bag Liam aka Cider Liam...

Favourite game:

There’s so many, Clitheroe away a couple of seasons ago was unreal, Colwyn Bay Away on that Thursday night when we needed a point to push for playoffs, the home game against Kendal a few days later when we achieved playoffs in a packed Shawe View. Favourite game this season has to be Mossley away though.

Best moment:

Colwyn Bay Away coach journey home was unreal, the new chant us young lot made in a business class- the same day going mental on a buzzing coach, ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ! Either goals in the final against Farsley were class aswell, we expected to get thrashed but a great finish from the cup merchant himself Adam Farrell and a big of magic from Daz Palma sent everyone in our end mental.

Worst moment:

Losing to Ashton away in the FA cup was tough to take, I felt we definitely could have gone a bit further in that, we looked class against Lancaster. That red card probably lost us the game but if I remember correctly, the same player played against Lancaster alongside Keil and looked unreal. 

Most dangerous moment:

Probably going headfirst over the advertisement boards after a Rossy D screamer away at Clitheroe, same kind of thing happened when Daz scored against Farsley I was getting trampled on everywhere, all worth it though.

Funniest moment:

The whole of Colwyn Bay Away was hilarious, we ended up at some rugby club miles away from the ground where my mate got attacked by seagulls, had a few antics walking to the ground and then thankfully we found Paul Faulkner and co who lead us to the ground. Of course the antics throughout the game and after the game were hilarious too, Tommy Schofield had the entire home end rattled.

Favourite fan:

My lot are top apart from when they ring me 2 minutes before the coach is setting off saying they can’t make it. Apart from one of them it has to be Paul Faulkner, what a man he is.

Worst Fan:

One of my mates Mack Young. Unreal. It got to a point where I had to start taking deposits off him for coaches, he’d pay me and still not turn up, I must be atleast £50 up just off his deposits, only been to one away game after claiming he’s a massive fan. Disgraceful.

Favourite player:

There’s so many that have been popular amongst us younger lot; Shents, Burnzy, Keil, Darbo, even Mason Mostyn. Personally I like Darius and Lozzy T, both great players and even better lads.

Why:

First few Trafford games we went to we stood behind Shents’ net in the first half so we got to know him a bit. Burnzy for obvious reasons, he’s class on and off the pitch. When someone scored at Lancaster he swigged my pint and then gave me a can after the game because he felt he owed me one. Keil's always mint on the coach, top laugh and can imagine him being a leader in the changing rooms. Mason Mostyn is a proper laugh. Daz and Loz are just personally favourites of mine from conversations I’ve had with them and what they show on the pitch, they’ve also been at Trafford for a while now.

Least favourite player:

There’s been a few, can’t think of any of the top of my head but if you’re boring and sh*t on the pitch then you’ll never be a fan favourite at Trafford.

Best goal:

Dorney vs Ossett at home was crazy, that alone made us lot want to go to our first away game, the rest is history. Ross Davidson Away at Clitheroe and Daz Palma vs Farsley both sent out end into chaos, both magical moments.

Best song:

Trafford all over the world, 20 miles or 30 miles and I WANNA BE TRAFFORDDDD. Also one that hasn’t kicked off yet but definitely should: ‘shall we take a trip down Pennybridge Lane’.

Worst song:

We probably have the best songs for any club in the whole of England. Some different ones in the past which are the best in my eyes. But we have made some awful ones aswell, the ‘sometimes all I need is the beer that I drink and the Trafford’ one is our worst current one for me though.

Best ground:

Workington Away would be class if we brought as many as we did to the playoffs etc. I can’t think of many other decent ones I’ve been to, Sheffield wasn’t bad but that’s probably just because it’s a bit different. I’m not being biased but Trafford probably have the best ground that I’ve been to, I feel like a load of teams that have come away to us would say the same too.

Worst ground:

I’ve heard Widnes is awful for obvious reasons. I hated Market Drayton's ground, it’s still made of wood in 2020. Pontefract was horrible just because of the pitch and bomb shelter of a clubhouse. Newcastle Town and Goole were awful because of how far the pitch is away from the stands.

Most hated team:

Pontefract, Brighouse, Workington, Colwyn Bay.

Hope for:

To see Trafford gain promotion in a dramatic way and become a decent side in the division above. I couldn’t even imagine what a promotion push would be like nowadays, the last one we had was crazy!

Best fans:

Got to be us surely, the fans in our league this season have been so poor. From what I’ve seen us lot, Colne and Prescot have the best fans in the league for the size of the clubs and should be playing football at a higher level. 

Future long term plans for Trafford:

I think it’s been said a few times before but the new stand is vital, after that I’d say a new clubhouse is required. Once that’s done our ground would be one of the best in non league. Would love to see our fan base continue to grow aswell, bigger home attendances which are hard to get with United and City being local and I’d love to see more fans going to Away games like we did to Bamber Bridge etc...

Pre-match routine:

Love waking up to a home game. Can have a bit of a lie in. My Dad usually makes me eat and be sensible before opening a can so I’m accompanied by a lovely breakfast dish which usually includes egg alongside a strongbow original. Then I have a few more cans and set off around 2pm where I usually find someone in my area to walk up to the game with and get a pint in the clubhouse before kickoff.

Pre match meal/drink:

Answered this one above but you’ll always find me with some sort of cider, usually a Strongbow.

Nominate next:

Paul Faulkner’s a Trafford hooligan (expect many typos).