It’s been 2 months since the 10-men of Mersey Valley ended their 2024/25 season with a brilliant away win at champions St Helens Town – inflicting their only league defeat of the season.
It confirmed a 3rd place finish, just 1 point behind runners up Stretford Paddock. We’d heard rumours about a possible league restructure and about possible resignations from the league, but we had to wait patiently for a month before news of our promotion to Cheshire League 1 was confirmed.
It has been a very different summer at Mersey Valley compared to the previous two years. In the summer of 2023, the club appointed a new manager when Leo Kirk left to take over at Cheadle Heath Nomads Reserves.
It was the former Nomads Reserves Manager that replaced him as Jon Hudson took on the challenge of rebuilding Valley after a abysmal campaign under Kirk which saw the team concede over 100 goals and finish 13th in League Two just one place above the bottom side.
Sam Deering…one of the players to progress and play higher up the pyramid
After a difficult start to the season performances started to improve but losing two key players to North West Counties teams and some internal problems they side eventually finished exactly halfway in the table – 13 wins and 13 defeats.
Another summer rebuild, 6 key players all left the club, and the first pre-season session saw more new players than existing, but this proved to be a huge turning point as a strong squad was put together – by Christmas the side sat top and had enjoyed a club record 7 straight wins in the league.
But a combination of injuries, suspensions and bad luck the team found themselves in a battle with St Helens and Stretford Paddock for the promotion places. The 2-1 defeat at Banky Lane to Paddock proved to be vital followed by a shock 1-0 defeat at Warrington Rylands Development team.
When things looked lost the side pulled together again, a change in system and an in-form goal machine Owen Adams put together 5 straight wins at the end of the season – including a brilliant victory over Lymm Rovers and that final day success at St Helens.
Owen Adams…20 goals for the season including 11 in the last 5 games.
Adams, who has played in literally position for the club (including a Northern Cup game in goals), was played further forward and in those final 5 games scored 11 goals – including 2 hat-tricks, a goal from the half-way line and key goals at Lymm and St Helens.
With league status unsure it has been a quiet summer so far. Only one new player has been added so far but with a strong squad in place, a new Chairman taking charge and a feel good factor around the club everyone is looking forward to the challenges of 2025/26.
