Guard of honour to mark milestone

The midfielder, pictured, arrived at Stormy Corner in 2010 as a promising youngster after spending his early years at Manchester United and then Chelsea. He is already the EVO-STIK NPL Premier Division club's current longest serving player and will move up to seventh in their all time list when he runs out for their first qualifying round tie with Kendal Town.

An FA Trophy clash couldn't be more a fitting occasion to mark the versatile 27-year-old's milestone. In 2012-13 he was part of the Skem team which beat Boston United and Guiseley to reach the quarter-finals of the competition before bowing out at at Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road.

As club officials prepared to make a number of presentations to Strickland at the weekend, manager Tommy Lawson paid tribute to a player who's always been happy to play in midfield or marshall his side's rearguard.

He said; “What Kenny has achieved in clocking up 300 appearances is quite remarkable, especially when players move from one club to another at will. He has been an integral part of what we have done at Skelmersdale over the last few seasons, which is good for him personally as local lad from the town, who will able to say ‘I was part of that promotion or cup team long after he has retired'."

He added: "It is a landmark day in his career and his loyalty to the club makes him fully deserving of the plaudits he will get on Saturday."

Image courtesy of Skelmersdale United

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