BY FEARGAL BRENNAN
City of Liverpool FC are on the brink of promotion to the Hallmark Security League Premier Division, following a fantastic breakthrough season for The Purples.
Their first season as a club could not have gone any better, currently in the play-off mix of the Hallmark Security League First Division, and through to the semi-final of the Macron Cup and the final of the Reusch Cup.
With three games of the season remaining, the Purples are involved in a multi-team battle for automatic promotion to the Premier Division, however, according to manager Simon Burton the pressure is not affecting his squad.
He said: “The lads are not really feeling the pressure at the moment. We are looking at taking it one game at at a time.
“We are top of the league and the pressure is more on the teams around us, Charnock and Widnes have to go and win their games. To have our destiny in our own hands is fantastic.
“I am really pleased with the players this season, and it is the best squad that I have had in eight years of non-league management.”
Based at the Delta Taxis Stadium in Bootle, in a ground share with Bootle FC, the club has developed a real affinity with local fans, attracting crowds of over 500 for large parts of the season.
The club is completely owned by its supporters with membership available for an annual fee of £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and £1 for U15’s.
Chairman Paul Manning believes that this closeness to their supporters has help to propel their meteoric rise this season.
He said: “Our supporters are vitally important. Apart from being a great and friendly bunch of people, they are the 12th man to the team and the 90 minute support they give really drives the team on.”
Manager Burton also thanked the fans for the support they have shown the club over the course of the season.
He said: “The number of fans that we get at games is phenomenal. You do not really see that amount of fans at games two, three divisions higher than us, it has been really unbelievable.”
The progress of the team and the increased interest has encouraged more and more supporters from across the city to attend games in Bootle.
Purples fan Mark Byrne said: “I have been attending home games all season, and the performances and support for the lads has been tremendous. It is a real family atmosphere at the ground, and I have every faith that the team can finish the season on a high with promotion.”
The club also works hard to fulfil a vital role within the community, helping with homeless and food bank projects, something Mr Manning is particularly passionate about.
He said: ” Off the field we have grown our community outreach with regular food banks and have supported numerous local charities, plus our main sponsor Regenda Homes have also worked closely with us helping the less fortunate in the city.”
Full ticket and match day information for the Purples remaining fixtures for the 2016-17 season is available at https://www.colfc.co.uk/matchday-information/.
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