SLOUGH TOWNS DREAMING

To be printed in the National League South game v Bath City Tuesday 3rd November 2025

There were tears of joy from some of our supporters as the final whistle blew on Saturday. Little old Slough had done it again – comprehensively beating a higher league side and into the second round for the ninth time ever. As I clinked glasses with co-owner Ash I said how he and the board deserved this for all the work they put in behind the scenes.

I arrived in Slough Friday night after spending the previous days in Liverpool with my family visiting our eldest now at University. Liverpool is a place I hadn’t visited since 1995 when I joined the picket lines to support the dockers They had been sacked en masse for refusing to cross a picket line and refusing to work for worse pay and conditions. Unfortunately I also got arrested for walking down the street later that afternoon by the riot police. This did mean – as the court case rumbled on - I visited Liverpool and got to know the people who I found to be kind, friendly and funny. Younger striking dockers used to visit Brighton to tell their stories and galvanise support, and lets just say they always received a warm welcome.

The Dock Strike became even more pertinent to us as one of our friends had been sent to Shoreham docks by the Job Centre. Sent with no training, doing one of the most dangerous jobs in the country he was killed on his first day – decapitated by a chain that wasn’t properly secured. We went to the funeral and seeing his heart broken parents we vowed to fight for justice for their son.

Having lunch on the rejuvenated Albert Docks. Eating halloumi off a piece of wood rather than a plate. I wonder what former dockers would have thought about all this? And should i go and have a peek at Everton's impressive looking new ground? No thanks, instead I jumped on a bus to go and find South Liverpools ground.

South Liverpool had a rich history and hoped to compete with the city's other league clubs at one time – but like so many, their attempts to get voted into the league were thwarted by a closed shop. They still managed some memorable moments, like persuading the famous Hungarian striker and one of the worlds best ever players Puskás to play at the ground for a charity match, while John Aldridge and Jimmy Case played for them before signing for Liverpool.

When their clubhouse got burnt down they finally gave up the ghost and the club was no more. The club's historic ground, Holly Park, is now the location of the Liverpool South Parkway railway station.

However, some determined people decided they weren't giving up and resurrected the team, playing their games at North Field in the Liverpool County Combination League. You can still see the railings, dug outs and a container with the faded club lettering on it. Then in 2019 they moved into Jericho Lane a modern facility on a site that was developed in partnership with Liverpool City Council and the Football Association. They were promoted to the North West Counties League in season 2021/22 returning to the National League System after a 30 year gap. South Liverpool's new ground won't win any architectural awards, but its supporters who never gave up certainly deserve to win some for their perseverance.

The next day I decided to visit my mates Brian's pub. Well not, his, its community owned – like over 200 others across the country. The Lock and Quay is a pub that is part of the safe regeneration project which packs a serious punch in one of the poorest areas of the country. Safe Regeneration are involved in everything from housing to business support and training to helping people start their own companies. The pub was bought back to life in 2016. It brews its own beer, hosts its own music festivals, has a paddle club, even cheese and wine nights; puts on children's activities – there was a Halloween party going on under a massive marquee in the garden when I was there – and so much more. With every penny raised going back into making Bootle a better place.

And finally, as i waited for my train home it felt fitting to have a last pint with my eldest in the CASA Club – a place that is charitable trust set up by the dockers during the strike. A packed Friday night, the club is in the middle of town with walls plastered with trade union history. As well as the bar, it has a spacious hall used from everything from theatre to weddings and an advice centre supporting some of the most marginalised people.

I left Liverpool full to the brim of these amazing projects and people and ready for Sloughs biggest game of the season. The build up and the game and then the after party with a Madness cover band, didn’t disappoint and once again the FA Cup is sprinkling its magic.

I count Slough Town as one of those amazing organisations making a massive difference to their communities. Its like an unstoppable juggernaut with so many fingers in so many pies. Its easy to forget that it’s just 9 years since we moved to Arbour Park, after being a homeless basket case for 14 long years. I think this FA Cup journey with all its rich rewards – not just money in the bank, but memories and exposure – will help turbo charge the club and help support its ambitions not just on the pitch but off it.

A massive shot in the arm financially and who knows what next to get Slough Town dreaming. That’s definitely worth shedding a tear or two for.