REGULAR readers of this column will know I have nothing against referees (!) so I am sure former ref Kevin Lynch will feel right at home at Accrington Stanley's next Sportsman's Dinner in November. He is the guest speaker and will feel right at home sat next to your's truly!

I must say a big thank you to Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Dunn, who at the recent Great

Harwood Sportsman's Dinner successfully bid for a Southampton shirt that had been signed by the entire squad, including Brett Ormerod, and then donated it to Accrington Stanley. The shirt will now be auctioned at the Stanley Sportsman's Dinner.

I was pleased to see that Ramsbottom have made a good start under their new manager Andy Grimshaw and I am sure that he and Jimmy Clarke will both do well in charge.

Bacup Borough have had a topsy turvy season so far, but with playing all their games away from home they must be quite pleased with their position of seventh in the North West Counties League second division.

Their manager Brent Peters used to be a director at Stanley, and has always had a good reputation for signing good players and his CV would almost certainly get him a job in the Premier League!

It will be interesting to see the new developments at West View. I am sure that Brent will soon get a good side together and start moving up the non-League pyramid.

The Lancashire FA Marsden Cup draw was made last Friday live on Radio Lancashire and a lot of our local clubs have got good ties. Both Great Harwood and Ramsbottom play Conference sides with Great Harwood away at Southport and Ramsbottom travelling to my old club Morecambe. Darwen have had a good draw at home to Lancaster and will fancy their chances after beating Morecambe last year.

Rossendale United must be favourites to go through to the next round with a home tie against Colne and the game between Nelson and Bacup promises to to be very close. Chorley travel to Castleton Gabriels who Stanley beat 7-1 last year.

We, as the holders, have a bye in the first round along with beaten finalists Barrow, and Clitheroe.

This year there are 29 clubs in the competition, which includes three Conference sides and four UniBond League Premier Division sides so the cup is certainly very competitive.

David Dunn has just opened our new shop at Oswaldtwistle Mills and I must say a big thank you to Peter Hargreaves and the other directors there for their kind sponsorship.

Visitors will be amazed at the developments within the complex in the last few months, and you could always pick up a few Stanley items ready for Christmas!

When I left the post of manager of Accrington Stanley in 1986 I never thought I would become chairman. I went on to manage Morecambe, which was a disappointing time in my footballing life as the team I inherited was not good enough for the Northern Premier League.

The chairman and directors were very supportive but I felt it would be better if I left the club and

let someone else bring in new players. Since I left I have never looked back so I think I made the right decision.

Stanley did well in the 1986/87 season, finishing second and the following season we went into the newly formed UniBond second division, just missing out on promotion in the first year! Lots has happened since then, we are now still eight points clear at the top of the UniBond Premier Division, and after all there are only 29 more games to play!