V AFC Blackpool 20-4-19

FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE NORTH WEST COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE & LIVERPOOL COUNTY FA

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

ONWARDS & UPWARDS SEASON 2018 - 2019

PRICE - £1.50

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAWN MARSHALL

GROUND SPONSOR

HALLMARK SECURITY FIRST DIVISION NORTH Saturday 20/4/19 KO 3pm

ASHTON TOWN AFC V AFC BLACKPOOL

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ASHTON TOWN AFC The Scott Rees & Co Stadium, Edge Green Street, Ashton in Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 8SL

President - Jimmy Cahill Chairman - Mark Hayes Vice President - Stephen Barrett Secretary - Stefan Ochwat Clubhouse Manager - Clare Peters Committee Member - Peter Williams Committee Member - Keith Peacock Committee Member - Kieran Johnson Committee Member - Nikki Dean Committee Member - Joanne Round Committee Member - Joanne Bourne Catering - Denise Brady Advertising & Programme Editor - Ian Pomfrett All Advertising enquiries - i.pomfrett@yahoo.com Welfare Officer - Gordon Johnson Groundsmen - David Bourne, Jimmy Cahill, Keith Peacock www.ashtontownafc.co.uk www.facebook.com/ashtontownafc twitter - @ashtontownafc Life Member - Billy Pomfrett Club Photographer - Dawn Marshall

This Club is Unincorporated PHOTO BY JOHN MCKIERNAN

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www.ashtontownafc.co.uk

WELCOME TO OUR CLUB Good afternoon, and welcome to all to this North West Counties First Division North game against AFC Blackpool.

Not many fixtures left now yet still all to play for.

At the start of the season a dream return to the Counties for me would have been a top 10 finish and a cup, and hats off to Dave Dempsey and his team, with just a few weeks to go we still stand a chance of that.

We have learnt loads from our return to this division and from just one season out it certainly has jumped up a level in quality of which we quickly had to wake up to. When you see the quality of the likes of Avro and Longridge that also came up with us, it soon hits home the level we now need to compete with.

AFC Blackpool are never an easy test, and we both sit comfortably in mid table, but a position of which I am sure we will see two teams going for the points.

May is always an exciting month, and this season its even better. Not only do we have the Legends game, but also the Wigan Cup Final and the chance of silverware. Back in 2013 we won the Atherton Charity Cup which was our first trophy for 35 years. Hereâ€&#x;s hoping come May 1st we add to that, and if the semi has anything to go by with us winning 10-0, then fingers crossed we can finish on a high.

Thanks for your continued support.

Onwards and upwards as always.

Mark Club Chairman

LAST HOME FIXTURE 27/4/19 V CHADDERTON 3

@northernpromise

HALF TIME QUIZ QUESTIONS

Any idea where these current & retired professional footballers began their careers at?

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Which non-league club did Jamie Vardy start out playing for?

Which non-league club did Charlie Austin play for?

Which non-league club did Chris Smalling play for?

Which non-league club did Troy Deeney play for?

Which non-league club did Peter Crouch play for?

Which non-league club did Dean Windass play for?

Which non-league club did Yannick Bolasie play for?

Which non-league club did Glenn Murray play for?

Which non-league club did Andre Gray play for?

Which non-league club did Ashley Williams play for?

Which non-league club did Les Ferdinand play for?

Which non-league club did Ian Wright play for?

Which non-league club did Mark Bright play for?

Which north west counties club did current Bury manager Ryan Lowe start at?

Which non-league club did Kevin Phillips play for?

Which non-league club did Stan Collymore play for?

Which non-league club did Steve Finnan play for?

Which non-league club did Michael Antonio play for?

Which non-league club did Craig Dawson play for?

Which north west counties club did current Derby County goalkeeper Scott Carson start out at as a youth team player?

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By Gordon Johnson

FIXTURES & FORM

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www.hallmarksecurityleague.com

Set up in August 2012 and based at The Ashton Town Football Club, the Radio Club was formed with a view to promoting the fascinating world of Amateur Radio to the wider community. The club is open for training and is also an Examination Centre, as you will need a licence to transmit on the Amateur Radio Frequencies.

As of now our club can boast contacts in the following countries as well as many others: USA, Brazil, the Azores, Falkland Islands and Tasmania.

For more information please visit: Website: www.aimarc.co.uk Or contact us on: Email: mx0htr@gmail.com

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A FEW WORDS FROM THE MANAGER

Good afternoon and thank you for coming to today’s game versus AFC Blackpool.

Today‟s game will provide a tough contest as last

time

out

AFC

Blackpool

took away all three

points

and today will prove

another

tough

game.

Both teams have found a new lease of life since Christmas hitting some much needed form and today will male for a great game!

We have recently played a semi-final winning 10 nil and the lads were all buzzing with the result on Friday night.

We are coming to the end of the season and the lads are still working hard to finish the season strongly and hopefully come away with a trophy in the cabinet.

Once again I hope you enjoyed today’s game which will be an exciting fixture to watch.

Best wishes Dave Dempsey 7

By Dave Dempsey

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1ST DIV NORTH FIXTURES

HALF TIME QUIZ ANSWERS 1.

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Stocksbridge Park Steels Poole Town Maidstone United Halesowen Town Dulwich Hamlet North Ferriby United Hillingdon Borough Carlisle United Luton Town Hednesford Town Hayes Greenwich Borough Leek Town Burscough Baldock Town Stafford Rangers Welling United Tooting & Mitcham United Radcliffe Borough Cleator Moor Celtic

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By Gordon Johnson

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SPONSORS

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www.ashtontownafc.co.uk

WORDS ON THE WEEK

Bucks top 20 Bootle's 5-0 win at Charnock Richard on Saturday was their 20th successive league win, in a run stretching back to mid-November.

With City of Liverpool dropping points at Whitchurch Alport, the Bucks are now just three points behind their table topping tenants with three games to play.

The Easter Monday clash between the two teams at the TDP Solictors Stadium is shaping up to be a game not to be missed.

Cup final prize for Vics After coming so agonisingly close to clinching a place in the final of the FA Vase, there was some cup consolation for Northwich Victoria on Thursday, as they moved into the final of the Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup with a 2-0 win over local rivals 1874 Northwich.

A game against fellow Premier Division side Winsford United now awaits, giving Steve Wilkes's men the chance to end a memorable season by picking up some silverware.

More sharp shooting from Rob Not for the first time this season, Carlisle City's Rob McCartney turned in a match winning performance in his side's 5-4 win over Ashton Town on Tuesday night.

Rob scored a hat trick in the game, making it the fifth time this season he has scored three or more goals in a game for City.

He has scored four in a game on three occasions, and Wednesday was the second time he has bagged three in a game.

With 37 goals to his name, it's been a fine season for the City striker.

High five for Rangers One of the eye catching results on Saturday was the 5-4 win by Ellesmere Rangers at Wythenshawe Town.

Rangers have only scored more than two goals in a game on one occasion this season, and it is the first time they have scored five times.

If Rangers had lost they would have been confirmed as finishing in a relegation position but they still have a chance of beating the drop after their impressive win.

Strong finish from Breck Lower Breck's 3-0 defeat of Longridge Town was the latest in an impressive run of results from Breck in recent weeks.

It was the first time that table topping Town had lost since Boxing Day, and it's now just one defeat in the last ten games for Gary Moore's men who are shaping up well for a top four finish - not a bad first season in our league.

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By Ian Templeman

INSIDE THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM We have heard recently in another context that many museums which focus on art have large numbers of items in store which rarely, if ever, get put out on display. This is common to just about all museums and the National Football Museum is no exception to this rule.

The number of items on display at any one time numbers well in excess of 2000, but there are many times that number in store. This affords the opportunity to change the exhibits on a regular basis to refresh the displays. The challenge then becomes how to lay out and theme the on-display items to make a coherent story. This can be done simply along historical lines in date order, but that would miss the opportunity to explore football in a cohesive way involving all participants in the game. As such, we find threads throughout the museum which demonstrate the inclusivity of the game. We could be here for a very long time if I tried to talk about the exhibits within the museum, so I‟ll just pick out one highlight from each level. The ground floor entrance level – the Pitch Gallery – features an opportunity to take photographs of the museum's Premier League and FA Cup trophies. The cups may be held by visitors, but wearing the provided gloves is a must and the trophies cannot be lifted from their positions. Photographs taken here are very popular and provide a reminder of the visit. Many such photographs are shared widely on social media. On the first floor we find the Match Gallery, which really provides the detail of the history of the game. There are many, many memorable exhibits, including the famous Maradona “Hand of God” shirt, but the first thing you see at the top of the escalator is what is known as the handling table. This table is manned by volunteers during the middle part of the day and gives the visitor the opportunity to handle old boots, footballs, playing shirts and memorabilia, and compare them with modern day equivalents – quite a contrast! Go up a level and we find the Play Gallery. In this section we find the ever popular Penalty Shootout game along with many other interactive features: ideal for the younger visitor or even the young at heart. The top level is known as the Score Gallery and is home to changing exhibitions. Opening in this space on April 5th is a new exhibition entitled “Football is Art”. Footballers have often been described as artists on the pitch, but what happens when the game is depicted as art? Can art in all its forms truly capture the emotions of a match?

This exhibition shows how artists from Paul Nash to David Hockney have depicted the beauty, drama and passion of football and invites you to create your own 3D artworks using Google Tilt Brush.

In short, we can confidently say that the museum provides a great resource for all interested in the history of the game and the role the game has in current society.

One of the most popular exhibits in the museum - George Best's mini.

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By Stewart Taylor

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CLUB NEWS 12/4/19

14/4/19

16/4/19

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www.hallmarksecurityleague.com www.ashtontownafc.co.uk

WHO'S PLAYED AT Neil Andrew Mellor was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire on 4th November 1982.Mellor is a retired professional footballer who began his career at Liverpool in the Premier League and most recently played as a striker for Preston North End. He first made his name in 2004 by scoring a stunning last-minute goal from long range to give Liverpool a 2–1 victory over Arsenal at Anfield. Mellor also scored a vital goal and set up a second during Liverpool's match with Olympiacos at Anfield during the group stage of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, the year in which Liverpool famously went on to win the competition for a fifth time in their history in Instanbul. In December 2011, a knee injury sustained following a tackle by Milton Keynes striker JaboIbehre resulted in Mellor being forced into announcing his retirement on 9 May 2012. Since his retirement, Mellor has been doing media work, including match updates for Sky Sports News and work for LFC TV. Mellor is the son of former Manchester City, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton and Hove Albion player Ian Mellor. A strong, physical, centre forward, Neil Mellor was top scorer in Liverpool's run to the FA Youth Cup semi-final during the 2000–01 season scoring eight goals in four games. He was also the top scorer for the under-19 team and Joe Corrigan's reserves during the 2001–02 season and in total scored 46 goals, 56 including friendlies, during that particular season. Mellor managed to progress through the ranks at Liverpool and during the 2002–03 playing season he scored 20 goals for the reserve team. He made his first team debut in the same season and played a total of six games and scored in a Worthington Cup semi-final match against Sheffield United. Although Liverpool lost the match 2–1, Mellor showed promise and was rewarded in March 2003 with a new three-year contract running to 2006. Despite his goal however he was not included in the squad that beat Manchester United 2-0 in the 2003 Football League Cup Final played at Cardiff‟s Millennium Stadium. Manager Gérard Houllier sent Mellor on a year-long loan to West Ham United in August 2003 where he scored two goals in the 3–0 win over Crystal Palace at the end of September, but an injury hit spell at Upton Park, in addition to playing under three different managers and being forced to play out of position, proved unsettling. Mellor was soon back at Anfield and hit 10 goals in just four games for the reserves.

Before the start of the 2004–05 playing season, Mellor suffered a knee injury but on regaining his fitness made a return to the first team in a 3–0 League Cup victory away at Millwall. In the next round Mellor scored two goals to knock out holders Middlesbrough, and in late November he made the Liverpool starting XI for a UEFA Champions League game away at Monaco.

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By Gordon

T EDGE GREEN ST? After becoming a regular fixture in first team squad, as already mentioned, Mellor burst into the Liverpool starting XI with some style. With Liverpool and Arsenal level at 1–1 with 90 minutes gone at Anfield in November 2004, he cracked in a sensational 30-yard volley to win the game for Liverpool. Things got better still for Mellor ten days later when Liverpool were being held 1–1 by Olympiacos in a game they had to win by two clear goals to progress to the Champions League knock out stages. He was brought into the game to replace Milan Baroš and within two minutes, he scored with a typical goal poacher's finish. A deft cushioned header set up Steven Gerrard to rifle in the third Liverpool goal and seal Liverpool's place in the last 16. He scored his second and what proved to be his final league goal for Liverpool in December 2004 in a 3–1 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield. In March 2005, Mellor was ruled out for the remainder of the 2004–05 season after undergoing surgery on both knees. Mellor returned to action for the Liverpool reserve side in the 2005–06 season coming on as a substitute in their 2 –0 victory at Manchester United in December 2005. He was back on the scoresheet in his first start in a year as Liverpool cruised into the quarter-finals of the Liverpool Senior Cup after a 3–0 win over Runcorn. In January 2006, Mellor joined Wigan Athletic on loan for the remainder of the season. In his first match against Middlesbrough, he scored the winner during injury time in a 3–2 victory for the Latics However, further knee injuries that required more surgery ended his spell at Wigan after three games. In 2006, despite a relative lack of first-team football at Liverpool, Mellor was voted into 90th position in a poll to find 100 Players Who Shook the Kop, ahead of such players as Mohamed Sissoko and Nigel Clough.

Mellor‟s one and only appearance to date at Edge Green Street came on the 12th March 2017 when he was part of the Kevin Davies Select XI that beat the GB Deaf Olympic team 3-2 in a charity fund raising game ahead of their appearance at the Deaf Olympics in Turkey later that year.

n Johnson

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LEAGUE TABLE 1ST DIV NORTH

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HISTORY OF ASHTON TOWN AFC Ashton Town Association Football Club originally joined the Div 2 of the Lancashire Combination in 1903 and were promoted Div 1 in 1st season.

However, relegated back to Div 2 after finishing 16 in first season of Div 1. Towards the end of 1910/11 season club withdrew from league and fixtures taken over by Tyldesley Albion. The Club was reformed in 1953 as Makerfield Mill FC and after a short spell in the Wigan Sunday School League, they played in the St Helens Combination League for three years before joining the Warrington and District Amateur League in 1958. The founder was a persistant man named Derek „Mick‟ Mycock.

In 1962 the Club was forced to move from its original ground at Windsor Road because of land development and it was at this point the Club name was changed to Ashton Town AFC. Home games were played on a public park pitch at Whithill Street Recreation Ground in Bryn until 1964, at which point the Club purchased a piece of land at Edge Green Street, previously the home of Stubshaw Cross Rovers. This became the Club`s new home, and development of the ground began. In 1969 the Clubhouse was completed, and was opened by Liverpool and England star Roger Hunt, and in 1975 the present dressing room facilities were built. During this period the Club joined the Lancashire Combination in 1971, and then in 1978, they left to join the Cheshire County League for four years.

The formation of the North West Counties Football League 1982 saw Ashton Town join as founder members, and the Club has remained in the league since then with the exception of season 1985-86, when they played in the Manchester League while essential ground maintenance work was carried out to bring the ground up to stringent ground grading requirements for the NWCF League.

Throughout the years there have been many custodians of the club, owned by no-one, powered by volunteers. I‟ll surely miss out a host of names here but….Notable is the involvement of Jack Longstaffe, Pat Dooney, Barry & Sandra Longstaffe, Gordon Ellis,, Les Bailey, Len Riley, Malcolm Magrath, Billy Pomfrett and Jimmy Cahill. The latter two who have clocked up over a hundred years service to Town and are still here on a daily basis.

In more recent times, Clare and James Horner made a massive boost to the club with the long overdue formation of a Junior section. As did the arrival of our current Chairman, Mark Hayes, who has helped build the profile of the club both locally and nationally. Other volunteers to mention are Steve, Stefan, Denise, Peter, Clare and more recently, Keith (Kitman/Physio) whose dedication and workrate is second to none on quite often a day to day basis. It would go amiss if I didn‟t mention at this point Brian Cunliffe, who has on and off, over the years worked behind the scenes painting, digging or mending often without the right resources for the job…..it‟s people like this who really make a place what it is. So Many to mention, others to forget, but we are here and that wouldn‟t exist if it weren‟t for those who give up their time and effort to keep the club alive. Our motto „Onwards & Upwards‟ sums us up as we now strive for promotion.

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HISTORY OF AFC BLACKPOOL The club was founded as Blackpool Metal Mechanics in 1947 before changing the name to Blackpool Mechanics.

Walter Jepson, after whom Jepson Way was named, was a founding member and long serving club secretary. The club started out playing at Stanley Park Arena, before moving to the present ground in 1949. The club started out in the Fylde District Football League, playing in Division Two. They won the Division Two title in the 1950–51 season and were promoted to Division One, where between 1953–54 and 1957–58 they were champions twice and runners-up three times in five consecutive seasons. They also won a number of local cup competitions, including the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield in 1957–58. In 1959 the club took the decision move up the leagues and joined the West Lancashire League.

In their first season, 1959–60, they were runners-up. In 1960–61 they were champions and also won the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield again. The following season they were again West Lancashire League champions. In 1962 they joined the Lancashire Combination, and were placed in Division Two. This division was disbanded in 1968, with the league becoming a single division. The 1971-72 season saw a third-place finish. In the 1972–73 season they won the Lancashire Combination Bridge Shield and in 1974–75 finished as runners-up in the league, just one point behind champions Darwen. In 1982 the Lancashire Combination merged with the Cheshire League to form the North West Counties Football League and the club were placed in Division Three, finishing sixth in 1982-83, their first season in the new League. They were promoted as champions to Division Two in 1985-86. Then were briefly promoted to Division One in 1991-92 before being relegated back to Division Two the following season. In May 2005 Lytham St. Annes FC, who had just won the West Lancashire League Division One title, merged into the Mechanics after resigning from the West Lancashire league. In May 2008 the Mechanics merged with Squires Gate Junior FC, with the club renamed AFC Blackpool. As First Division champions in 2010-11, the club were promoted to the Premier Division in what was quite possibly the clubs most successful season. A record breaking 28 wins, three draws and just three defeats out of 34 League games. They also reached the semi-finals of the First Division Cup and the League Cup. The Junior section also saw notable successes. The under-16's did the League and Cup double, the under-10's and under-11's won their respective divisions whilst the under'14's won promotion. After four seasons the club were relegated to the North West Counties League First Division at the end of the 201516, in which they finished bottom of the table.

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www.afcblackpool.org.uk/clubinfo/club-history

OUR CHOSEN CHARITY The Joseph’s Goal charity was set up in October 2012, by Paul and Emma Kendrick, to raise funds for research into NKH, (Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia), the life-limiting genetic condition that their son, Joseph, was born with. NKH is caused by an excess of glycine on the brain. Joseph was given five days to live but reached his ninth birthday in May this year. He is severely disabled and suffers from seizures. But he is resilient and is a fighter, and we, in turn, are fighting to find better treatments and, hopefully, a cure for NKH, which is very rare, with only fifteen children still surviving in the UK, and less than five hundred worldwide.

Joseph’s Goal is a Wigan-based charity, run by a small group of family and friends, who all volunteer their services. No-one is paid. We have received support from Wigan Council, Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic, as well as schools, local organisations and the business community.

In four years we have raised over £340,000, largely from charity balls, football matches, bike rides, marathons and 10-Ks, swimathons, spinathons, Xmas jumper days, numerous other fundraising events, and hundreds of donations from generous people.

The funds raised have been sent to Dr Johan Van Hove at Colorado University, Denver, USA, and Professor Nick Greene at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health in London. Both have presented their research findings to NKH families at conferences in the North West organised by Joseph‟s Goal, and trustees of Joseph‟s Goal have twice attended NKH conferences at Harvard University in Boston, USA. The many varied defective genes that have been found in different children/families in the brain that causes NKH have been identified, and the task now is to find a route to replace it with a healthy gene. There is, at last, some light at the end of a very dark tunnel, with real grounds for optimism that better treatments for NKH are not far away.

Since Joseph‟s Goal began, Joe has become a little celebrity locally: - in 2013, he was the mascot for Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Final and was carried out onto the pitch at Wembley by the captain, Emmerson Boyce, which resulted in television appearances on BBC NW, Granada, and Sky News; - in 2013, Joseph‟s family were the WISHFM „Local Heroes Family of the Year‟; - in 2014, Joseph switched on the Xmas Lights in Wigan Town Centre; - in 2014, Joseph‟s Goal was recognised by Wigan Council as contributing to the „Believe in Wigan” campaign; - and in 2016, Joseph‟s Goal was a Finalist in the GM Chamber of Commerce Wigan Business Awards.

If you are looking for a charity to support, then please consider our charity, and help Joseph to achieve his Goal.

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www.josephsgoal.org

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JOHN COURTNEY JACK BROMILOW ANTHONY POTTS ANTHONY SHINKS LUKE EDWARDS JOHN EDGERTON CHRIS HILL CHARLIE DUKE BRADLEY SMART DALEY WOODS DYLAN GLASS JAMES SIGSWORTH JACK RICHARDS BRAD ASPINALL MATHEW JOHNSON ALEX NOONAN

ALEX CAMERON SAMUEL MADDOX RYAN MCLEAN ALEXANDER PICKERING CAMERON GOURLEY TOM PRESTON JORDAN SALTHOUSE JAMIE MILLIGAN BENJAMIN DUFFIELD CONAH BISHOP RYAN WHITE STEPHEN BETTERIDGE JACK WEBSTER DANIEL MORRIS BEN TURTON MATTHEW GRIFFITHS

Manager: David Dempsey Asst. Mgr & Coach: Lee Bignell Coach: Michael Smith Coach: Lee Thompson Physio: Keith Peacock Colours: Red & White Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks GK: Purple

Manager: Martin Baird Colours: White/Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks GK: Green or Lime Green 24

Referee: Daniel Sims, Assistant 1: Morgan Yardley, Assistant 2: Lewis Walters