Marine FC v Darlington

Tuesday 2nd September 2025, 7.45pm
Enterprise National League North

 

Marine FC, Marine Travel Arena, Rossett Park, Crosby, L23 3AS Tel: 0151 924 1743; Twitter: @MarineAFC History: Founded in 1894 and named after a pub on the banks of the River Mersey, north of Liverpool. Marine have been at their Rossett Park stadium since 1903. Early successes in local leagues culminated in a FA Amateur Cup final appearence in the early 1930s. In 1972, Roly Howard started a 33-year record-breaking stint as manager - which was trophy laden, in the Cheshire and Northern Premier leagues. Further success followed later under Alvin McDonald. The year 2019 saw Marine were relegated to the NPL Division One North West, the first relegation in their history and after 40 consecutive seasons in the Northern Premier League. The Quakers won 1-0 here back in 2016 and then threw away a 2-0 lead to lose later when the teams were drawn in the FA Trophy. In 2021, Marine faced Spurs in the third round of the FA Cup and lost 5-0 but managed to sell 32,000 "virtual" tickets to bring in much-needed revenue, despite Covid lockdown restrictions. After winning promotion back to the Northern Premier in the play-offs, a second promotion saw them reach the Conference North after another play-off win in 2023-24 and the club has been building attendances and has plans for a 5,000-seater new ground. Record Attendance: 6,000 (August 1949, v Nigeria) Capacity: 3,058 Last season: 15th Honours: Northern Premier Division champions: 1993–94, 1994–95; Zingari League first division champions: 1902–03, 1903–04, 1909–10, 1919–20, 1920–21, 1922–23 Record victory: Defeat: Nickname: The Mariners, Lilywhites Colours: White shirts and black shorts Chairman: Paul Leary Manager Bobby Grant Click for Streetmap of ground Ticket prices (2025/26): Prices have risen slightly compared to last season - Adults £16.50, £11.50 concessions and 16-17-year-olds, £7.50 for 11–15s, under 11s free with a paying adult. Tickets online here	From the North (146 miles from Darlington, approx 2hr 30 mins): Take the A1 and join the A66 to Cumbria, to join the start of the M6. Leave the M6 at junction 26 and join the M58. Travel along the M58 to Switch Island at the end. Follow signs for A5758 (signposted Southport). Remain on this road through Switch Island and go straight across the traffic lights at the junction with the B5422, remaining on A5758. At roundabout, turn left on A565 (signposted Liverpool, Bootle & Crosby). Remain on this road through Thornton, straight on at three sets of traffic lights and at the roundabout remain on the A565, signposted Bootle & Liverpool. At the traffic lights in Crosby village, turn left onto the A565 (signposted Bootle & Liverpool). After half a mile you will pass Merchant Taylors school on your right hand-side. Turn right at the traffic lights onto College Road. The ground is half a mile on your left. Parking There is plenty of parking available in the nearby streets. However, College Road has restricted parking for a maximum of two hours – this is patrolled by traffic wardens. For bigger games, the club will announce details of additional parking facilities.   Darlington FC Supporters' Club Coach Coach leaves at 2.45pm; cost £25 adult member, £13 junior member. Contact: Darlington FC Supporters Group, go online to book a seat. Details of the supporters' group travel can be found here. One Call 0151 928 3535 LiverpoolTaxis 0151 329 2673 Metro Radio Cabs 0151 933 6000	Blundellsands and Crosby station The nearest station to The Marine Travel Arena is on the Northern Line (Hunts Cross to Southport) of Merseyrail. Trains run every 15 minutes from Liverpool city centre and Southport. The station is a 10 minute walk from the ground, right along Blundellsands Road East, right again into Eshe Road and then into College Road and across the roundabout. The ground can also be reached from Waterloo station For more details, go to National Rail Planner   The official Marine FC website has the basic information, including a matchday guide. Around Sefton has details of local attractions in Crosby and nearly Southport. The most eye-catching is on Crosby beach, which has 100 cast iron figures - the Another Place artwork by Antony Gormley, the sculptor behind the Angel of the North. For news and sport there is the Liverpool Echo
At the ground: The clubhouse bar, The Carlsberg Suite, can be reached once inside the ground. It has two TV screens. Near ground: The Edinburgh 119 College Rd, Waterloo, Liverpool L23 3AS Closest pub to the ground - traditional two-room boozer. The Royal Oak, 16 Warrenhouse Road, Liverpool L22 6QN Trad pub with sport on TV and a beer garden. Real ales Stamps Bar 4 Crown Buildings, Coronation Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 5SR. Well established cask ale bar, the other side of Coronation Park, away from the ground. The Coop, 84 College Rd, Liverpool, L23 0RP Fairly new micro pub near the ground, serving cask beer choices, promising five changing beers. Should be open from 12pm. Homebrew Tap, 14 Endbutt Lane, Crosby, L23 0TR Recently opened craft bar, a 15-minute walk from the ground. Two cask beers and 11 craft keg, open from 1pm. Old Tap, 40 Crosby Rd North, Crosby L22 4QQ Seven beers, cask and keg, at this converted old clothes shop. Open from 1pm. A 15-minute walk to the ground. Get off at Waterloo station if coming here first. Waterpudlian, 99 South Road, Crosby, L22 0LR Another pub south of the ground and close to Waterloo station. Mainly beers from Liverpool Brewing Company, with five handpull ales. Open from 12pm.	There are catering kiosks behind the main stand and the Crosender Road end, with pies, pasties and hot drinks.