Gen Chems FC 13 Elton Rigger 0

THE Chemics had learned from their shock defeat by Bollington in the Cheshire Cup and were in no mood for complacency.

Peter Houghton sidefooted the first goal after 10 minutes and the onslaught started, it was actually 9-0 at half-time with Cahill, Wood, Arnold (2), Smith, Robbie Moore, Howard, and Ellams adding the goals.

In the second-half Greg Bradley replaced Cahill and both Kev Jaques and Karl Thomas were introduced.

Thomas helped himself to an easy hat-trick and Mick Smith scored a penalty to make his tally two. It was an easy game for Chemics.

Their league game against Mersey Royal is on Saturday at Port Sunlight. Chemics £100 weekly draw winner was D Robinson with number 107.

Gen Chems are moving home after 50 years at Sandy Lane. The club has agreed to sign the lease for their new home at Picow Farm playing fields and their thanks go to ICI for honouring the agreement that was set up between the two parties in December 1995, without this compensation it would have been very difficult to raise funds for the new home ground.

The agreement was made because of the amount of money spent and development work carried out by Gen Chems at their Sandy Lane home. The agreement stated that they should have use of the ground for 10 years.

Thanks also go to Halton Council for their help in identifying different areas in Runcorn which could be developed to the required standard. The club's main sponsors Maltacourt Ltd have also assisted financially.

Gen Chems home ground has been at Sandy Lane for over 50 years, after the ridiculous situation they found themselves in when Severn Leisure informed them that there were no facilities available, seven days prior to the season starting, Chems had nowhere to play.

Chems previous committee had life made very difficult for them at Pavilions and told the owners (Severn Leisure) that they intended to fold in May 1997.

But within seven days and without resigning from the West Cheshire League or the FA, a new committee was formed and in fact attended the West Cheshire League AGM in May 1997.

This group of individuals in fact rescued the club with the full blessing of the league, players and many ex-players.

Our thanks go also to the West Cheshire League who have also been fully supportive allowing us facilities at the Port Sunlight complex in Bromborough until a new home could be found.

The members clubs had also assisted greatly in travelling to the changed home venue.

Our thanks go to all the above-mentioned who without their help we would undoubtedly found it very difficult to continue and would probably have not survived.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.