FEW football grounds offer such a window into both their local community and the past – quite literally.
Neighbours gazed out of their homes to see superstars Gareth Bale and Dele Alli in action at the unique stadium three years ago.
The historic venue somehow nestles in the middle of a housing estate – surrounded by back gardens protected from wayward shots by netting.
Since 1904 it’s hosted a non-league club, now in the sixth tier, who vie with much noisier and bigger neighbours of a different kind – namely Liverpool and Everton.
Rossett Park in Crosby, home to Marine AFC, only has three sides, with the main covered stand behind one goal.
Its sporting pedigree dates back to holding rugby union games from 1884.
But as a football venue it’s seen Marine build a proud tradition in the part-time game – rising in recent years to National League North level.
Houses sit behind the dugout side of the ground.
And all in all it’s is surely the “cosiest” setting encountered by Jose Mourinho as a manager.
That’s what happened in January 2021 – when Marine hosted the iconic manager’s Tottenham in the FA Cup third round.
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The car park at the front of the stadium was too small for Spurs’ luxury team coach.
But on the pitch Marine refused to park a bus as they competed well in a goalless first 24 minutes.
Brazilian Carlos Vinicius then notched a 13-minute hat-trick and Lucas Moura fired home a spectacular free kick.
Tottenham sub Alfie Devine, just 16 at the time, rounded off a 5-0 win.
Mourinho also handed out what by then was a rare chance for England ace Alli, whose playmaking that night hinted at a return to his best.
But what should have been a huge occasion for supporters was undermined by the Covid pandemic.
That meant no fans inside the tight 3,185-capacity ground – costing Marine potentially a £100,000 pay-day from tickets and sponsorship.
But some neighbours still had a visual treat – watching their heroes and lofty Premier League opponents from just a throw-in’s distance away.
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One fan posted: “Watching Gareth Bale while leaning out of my window. Unreal.”
Wales’ all-time great Bale, then on loan back at Spurs from Real Madrid, retired from playing just 12 months later at the age of only 33.
Meanwhile, ex-Chelsea and Manchester United chief Mourinho is now bossing his tenth club – Fenerbahce.
What a contract, then, between those two Prem legends and Marine’s most famous servant.
Roly Howard is in the Guinness World Records for being the longest-running manager ever in English football.
He ended his majestic Marine reign in 2005 at the age of 70 – after 33 years in charge.
