Pre-season injury....

The club would like to send their best wishes to James Smith who suffered a broken bone in a leg injury on Tuesday evening
whilst playing for Saturday side TARLETON F.C in a pre-season friendly.

"Smigger" will be out of action for several weeks and will miss the start of the season with newly promoted PORTLAND F.C.

A squad of 17 players arrived at Ferryside Lane for Portlands opening pre-season friendly against Lancs League side Southport Amateurs and although a host of new signings put on a decent performance it wasn't enough to avoid defeat,and the home side ran out winners by 5 goals to 3.

Managers DAVE MIDDLETON and DAZ TAYLOR gave debuts to no fewer than 11 players that included a couple of Polish lads,
one of whom has played in the Polish third Division and
could well turn out to be a decent signing.

Due to holidays and work commitments Portland had to play without a recognised keeper,but Armatures to had problems with several early morning cry-offs that lead to manager MIKE LANGFORD moving in swiftly and "loaning" Portland skipper ANDY RIMMER to play in the home sides midfield Andy took no prisoners and put in a useful 90 mins that included a "peach" of
a goal against his team mates!!!

Portlands scorers........O.G, LIAM SELLS,and JOSH TAYLOR.



LIAM SELLS puts pen to paper with manager DAVE MIDDLETON.
while the rest of the squad warm up(and believe me,it was warm!! )

Another good workout tonight at Portland Street against Ray Staffords Herald F.C. with the home side running out winners by 4-2....Manager DAVE MIDDLETON gave all 15 players that made the effort to turn up a decent run out and was impressed with several performances from some of the clubs latest signings....

There will be no training at Bedford Park this sunday due to the
pre-season game that has been arranged away at Lostock Hall..
Manager DAVE MIDDLETON and assistant MAL RIMMER have selected a 16 man squad for the trip to Preston Sunday Premiership side A.F.C. LOSTOCK HALL.who finished runners-up in their domestic league last season.

All players,officials,and supporters are asked to meet at the Portland pub at 10.30am for travel arrangements.

Squad for game at A.F.C. LOSTOCK HALL.....

D.BIRKBY
S.COOPER
L.CROSSEY
C.GREEN
H.HIGHTON
L.JONES
A.LENNIE
J.MIDDLETON
M.MORAN
P.RIMMER
A.RIMMER
T.SWIFT
D.SIMMS
A.TAYLOR
C.TAYLOR
R.TAYLOR

DAVE MIDDLETONS fist team squad travelled to Lostock Hall for
this attractive pre-season friendly against their Preston Premier League hosts and found themselves on the wrong end of a 14 goal thriller that would have given any defensive coach nightmares!!........
For Portland to have any chance in the Southport and District
Premiership this season they will have to improve dramatically on defensive set pieces and basic man marking after they gifted 6 goals with basic defensive errors,that included 2 penalty's!

Going forward and attacking sides is not a problem and they matched their opponents and would have added more goals but for some vital saves from the home side keeper,but defensively they were all over the place and could not contain Lostocks tall centre forward who helped himself to 5 of his teams 9 goals and gave a fine display that has drawn the attention of UNI BOND
DIV 1 outfit BAMBER BRIDGE F.C.

Portland scorers.....A.RIMMER,LENNIE,C.TAYLOR,JONES,ROSS.