Ashton Town AFC V AFC Blackpool 31/7/21

ASHTON TOWN AFC PROFILES PARK,

# Onward Onwards s & Upwards

Edge Green Street, Ashton in Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 8SL

COMMITTEE President - Jimmy Cahill Chairman - Mark Hayes Vice Chairman - Gordon Johnson Vice President - Stephen Barrett Secretary - Stefan Ochwat Clubhouse Manager - Clare Peters Treasurer - Peter Williams Committee Members - Kieran Johnson, Joanne Round, Joanne Bourne, Alison Sinnott Catering Manager - Denise Brady Commercial Manager - Jonathan Southward Programme Editor - Ian Pomfrett Welfare Officer - Gordon Johnson Grounds Team - Jimmy Cahill, David Bourne, Keith Peacock, Kit Manager - Keith Peacock Club Covid Officer - Mark Hayes Photographer - Megan Sharples

www.facebook.com/ashtontownafc Twitter - @ashtontownafc This Club is Unincorporated

www.ashtontownafc.com

Welcome to our club Good afternoon and welcome to Profiles Park for this NWCFL First Division North game v AFC Blackpool.

The beautiful game is back !!

I am prouder than ever to lead this club and hopefully this season we will compliment all the hard work with something to celebrate come May.

Two seasons null and void so hopefully this is third time lucky as normality has started to resume.

Surreally since re appointing Dave Dempsey some many, many months ago we have only had one competitive fixture before all things covid and I am sure that game is still etched on his memory and ready to be wiped.

Welcome to all new faces, whether that be a player, a coach, a sponsor or, or a fan.

It's a special little club that we have here and together we can have an impact.

AFC Blackpool is a tough opening test today, as will many fixtures as it will take a while to see how teams have settled, who they have got, and how strong their club has come out of lockdown.

Thank you so much again to all whom are watching today, your support means a hell of a lot and it really does feel like we are on the verge of creating a very special fan base.

We really have developed behind the scenes and come together in recent years, and the time spent with covid only seems to have built us stronger as a club. The commitment from the ground staff, and the daily heart beat of the club has been phenomenal.

Thank you for joining our journey. Stay safe, onwards and upwards as always, and enjoy the ride.

Mark Club Chairman

@northernpromise

HOT & COLd

FOOD & DRINKS O N S A L E I n s i d e o u r

C L U B H O U S e

Who’s played at edge green st Jason Lee Jarrett was born in Bury, Lancashire on the 14th September 1979. He is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. He made 296 appearances in league and cup competitions in a 13-year career in the English Football League.

joined in the venture by their fellow „Class of 92‟ team mate, David Beckham.

Jarrett took an FA refereeing course in 2013 at Lancashire FA, and whilst he continued to play semi-professional football he gained experience refereeing on Jarrett started his career with Blackpool in Sunday mornings in the Lancashire Sunday 1998 before moving onto Wrexham the Football League. He made the decision to following year. He spent 2000 to 2002 with retire from playing football and Bury prior to signing for Wigan Athletic. In concentrate on his refereeing career in 2005, he joined Norwich City, moving on to 2015 but this was a short lived venture with Preston North End the next year. He spent Jarrett dramatically resigning as a referee the first part of 2009 with Brighton & Hove having completed one year as an Assistant Albion after negotiating a release from his Referee at Semi Professional level claiming contract at Preston; he spent the latter that the system is against ex-players half of 2009 playing for Port Vale. In succeeding as match officials in an summer 2010 he signed for Oldham interview with The Telegraph newspaper in Athletic. He then went on to join FC Halifax 2017.

Town in July 2012, before moving onto Chester via Airbus UK Broughton in 2013.

His final club was Salford City who he joined in 2014 and helped the club to the Northern Premier League Division One North title in 2014–15, this was the beginning of Salford‟s rapid rise to the football League after being bought out and financed by the Manchester United „Class of 92‟ including Gary Neville, Jason Jarrett has been an ever present in Ryan Giggs, the Joseph‟s Goal Legends Charity football Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and games here at Edge Green Street appearing Nicky Butt, who in all five games played since Mark Hayes started the venture in 2015. were later

By Gordon Johnson

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Muslim athlete pledge Ahead of the start of the 2021-22 North West Counties League season beginning, Town have signed the Muslim Athlete Pledge to demonstrate its commitment to equality and diversity for all.

With an increase of more Muslim players in football as well as support from Muslim fans, we sought to sign the Muslim Athlete Pledge to listen, learn and adopt good practice to help players to flourish and supporters feel valued and supported.

On signing the pledge, CEO and founder of Nujum Sports, Ebadur Rahman said: “Having signed this pledge Ashton Town is joining a positive movement of solidarity, The Pledge is a commitment and start to equality and recognition of the recognising Muslim needs in the sport as contribution Muslims make to their club well as the club. and its teams. Nujum is here to support both professional and amateur clubs and This pledge is part of our wider work their players and to contribute positively around equality and diversity and an to their equality and diversity agenda. We important aspect gor us to understand, are here to help them aspire to be even grow and adopt good practice. more inclusive and build on the passion and love we have for our respective clubs, The pledge is the beginning of a journey to players and fans” be fully accredited with the Nujum Sports Muslim Athletes Charter which will help us By signing the pledge Ashton Town AFC strengthen our voice and zero tolerance have now started our journey working with towards any form of discrimination.

Nujum Sports and hope to continue working with them to get fully acredited in Club Welfare Officer, Gordon Johnson, the future. commented: “We believe this is a positive step for Ashton Town and integral to our To learn more about Nujum Sports and the work in supporting players and supporters. pledge please visit: By understanding their faith and cultural www.nujumsports.co.uk/pledge needs we can better position ourselves as a club as well as making our players and #ProudToBeTown #football #diversity supporters feel valued and appreciated” #equality #inclusion

By Gordon Johnson

MANAGER’S NOTES Welcome to the first game of the season. Remyca, albeit Litherland occupying a spot This day is one that I always look forward in the league above we felt we were by far to as a manager and one I always thrived the better team but switched off for a long in as a player. These are days that you period of the second half. My players have remember as stand out days win, lose or quickly learned from that and as a group draw and you take these moments with our preparations have been perfect going you for many years. You, as the fans, into this fixture. family and friends make these occasions what they are. We welcome your support today more so than ever and I look forward to my players hopefully putting a smile on your faces come 5pm today.

In terms of this season, I have set my players a target to finish in a top 5 spot.

That would lead to 3 things. The highest place this football team has finished in the NWCFL in the last 20 years, a place in the Welcome to our visitors today, AFC play-offs and finally the potential for Blackpool. Like us, our visitors have had an promotion. I believe in this group more so action packed pre-season schedule whilst than I have any other side I have had at being on the end of some fantastic results along the way. I am always impressed with Ashton over the years and the players believe in that too. the football AFC Blackpool play and playing against them always proves to be a tough encounter. Today I am expecting just that, a close game, a tough contest and hopefully an attractive brand of football from both teams.

My players have been preparing for today for many weeks now, their efforts and commitment to the process during preseason has been phenomenal. This showed in our last outing against a Salford City x11 where we managed to win the game 3-1 scoring 3 wonderful goals. I asked my players for a reaction to last Saturday‟s disappointing draw against Litherland

Thank you to all of our sponsors who have kindly helped out with preparing this team for this season financially and supporting the club in other ways. Thank you to all of the volunteers who have worked tirelessly throughout pre-season to make today happen and thank you to all of you that have supported us over the last few weeks.

Here’s to an exciting campaign and hopefully one filled with plenty of ups rather than downs.

Thank you for your support.

Dave Dempsey - 1st Team Manager

By Dave Dempsey

HALF TIME QUIZ 1.

Who was the first African player to receives a Premier league winners medal?

2.

In total how many African players have won the Premier league?

3.

Name the only South African player to win the Premier league?

4.

Who was the first player from the Ivory Coast to win the Premier League?

5.

Which Premiership winning team had the most African players in its squad?

6.

Name the African player with the most Premier League winners medals?

7.

Name the two African players who have Premier league winners‟ medals with two different clubs?

8.

How many African countries have produced Premier League winners?

9.

Which African country has produced the most Premier league winners?

10.

Which English club boasts the most Premier League winning players from African countries?

ANSWERS 10. Chelsea (6) Drogba, Essien, Geremi, Kalou, Mikel & Moses.

9. Ivory Coast (4) Kolo Toure, Didier Drogba, Saloman Kalou & Yaya Toure.

8. 10 (Liberia, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Guinea, Egypt & Senegal) 7. Kolo Toure (Arsenal & Man City), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City & Man City) 6. Didier Drogba (4) 5. Liverpool 4 in 2020 (Keita, Matip, Salah, Mane) 4. Kolo Toure (Arsenal 2004) 3. Quinton Fortune (Man Utd) 2. 19 (Wreh, Lauren, Kanu, Fortune, Kolo Toure, Drogba, Essien, Geremi, Kalou, Mikel, Yaya Toure, Amartey, Mahrez, Schlupp, Moses, Keita, Matip, Salah, Mane) 1. Christopher Wreh (Arsenal 1998)

By Gordon Johnson

HISTORY OF ASHTON TOWN 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 noone, 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 R.I.P 5/5/20 and

Jimmy Cahill. The latter two who have clocked up over a hundred years service to Town and Jimmy is 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, Ian, Dawn, Peter, Clare, Joanne and more recently, Keith 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.

www.ashtontownafc.com

BRICKWORK - BLOCKWORK -STONEWORK

NEW BUILD - REFURBISHMENT

01695 682 181 Hewitt House, Winstanley Rd, Wigan, WN5 7XA

email: profilesbrickworkltd@outlook.com

www.profilesbrickwork.co.uk

On this day 31ST july 31st July

a player and manager

1971 - In the

Robson is remembered as a widely

Netherlands

respected and much-loved individual

4-time

amongst fans from many clubs.

Eredivisie soccer champions Go Ahead from Dutch city of Deventer add 'Eagles' to their club name and have been known as the 'Go Ahead Eagles' ever since.

31st July 2012 - Not football related but worthy of note, on this date American swimmer Michael Phelps became the greatest medal winner in Olympic history as part of the winning American 4 x 200m freestyle relay team at the London 31st July 2009 - The footballing world mourned the death of Sir Bobby Robson who lost a long battle with cancer. As both

Olympic games. This was Phelps' 19th career Olympic medal and his 15th overall gold medal.

By Gordon Johnson

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THE Billy Pomfrett & TafFY Roberts Memorial Cup Ashton Town took the inaugural Billy Pomfrett-Taffy Roberts Memorial Cup with a 2-1 victory over near neighbours Ashton Athletic. The game was held at their Brocstedes Park home on Saturday 10th July 2021, in what is set to be an annual pre-season encounter between the two clubs in honour of their respective club stalwarts Billy and Taffy.

Jay White opened the scoring for Town midway through the first half with a low shot from just inside the Athletic penalty area, sending Town into the half time break with a one goal advantage. Leon Wright then doubled the advantage on the hour mark giving Town a stranglehold on the game.

Athletic were not rolling over though and Josh Nicholson pulled a goal back for the hosts from the penalty mark, following what looked like a rather dubious decision being given in favour of an Ashton Athletic Trialist. This set up a grandstand finish to the game as Athletic pushed hard for the equaliser but Town held on to secure custody of the new trophy for the next twelve months.

At the end of the game Billy Pomfrett's son Ian is pictured presenting the Trophy to

Town captain Carl Lownsbrough.

Ian was quoted post-match as saying, "A derby win feels so much better with some silverware in the cabinet. Billy would be proper chuffed to bits with the lads. Well done to all involved".

Ashton Athletic responded on twitter with a message, "Congratulations to the visitors on winning the trophy".

A great start to Manager Dave Dempsey's pre-season preparations and we all look forward to the next Billy Pomfrett-Taffy Roberts Challenge Trophy game between the two clubs here at Profiles Park on a date to be arranged in July 2022.

By Gordon Johnson

PRESEASON Town were scheduled to finish our pre-season build up with two consecutive home games, the first on Saturday 24th July versus North West Counties League Premier Division side Litherland Remyca United and the second on Tuesday 27th July against EFL side Salford City.

Due to a change in diary commitments the game versus Litherland Remyca was switched to a neutral venue, JMO Sports Park, Skelmersdale, allowing our ground sponsors Profiles Brickworks to build our two new pitch-side dugouts and adjoining perimeter wall. The Remyca side lining up against Town included a few familiar faces in former player Harry Nevitt and former Assistant manager Neil 'Jocky' Hanson.

The second half start as the first had ended with Town still on top and it was no surprise when Jay White extended the lead with a low shot beyond the Remyca keeper and in at the far post. Midway through the half manager Dave Dempsey made a number of changes, using the opportunity to look at more of his squad and vary a few playing positions. The changes obviously brought about some disruption in proceedings allowing Litherland to snatch two goals back and level the score. Once re-settled though Town again took a hold on the game, finishing strongly again but settling for a two all draw against our higher division opposition.

As the game started it would have been difficult for a neutral to decide which was the higher division side with Town certainly starting the stronger of the two and going into the half time interval with a one nil lead courtesy of a goal from Dave Moore but the lead could quite easily have been more with the chances Town created against our opponents from Liverpool.

By Gordon Johnson

FRIENDLIES centre back Kian Bell.

Almost straight from the restart Salford lost possession of the ball and within a minute Noah Robson doubled the score. The young Salford side the reThe following Tuesday, 27th July, Town grouped and welcomed a very young Salford City side to began pushing Profiles Park for the final pre-season game for a goal of of the summer. Town more than held their their own own against our full-time opposition and before Kian were unlucky not to score and to go in Bell pooped up level with no goals scored at Half time. again to score his second of the evening Town came out very strongly for the second half and following a corner that the and put Ashton into a three-goal lead. The scoring wasn't over though with Salford visitors failed to clear Town were given a one nil lead with the surprise scorer being pulling a goal back from the penalty spot with the game finishing in a feisty manner with the over exuberance of the youthful Salford side spilling over in the last few minutes of the game.

So, the game finished Ashton Town 3 v 1 Salford City in front of a very healthy crowd of 104 spectators who we look forward to welcoming back to Profiles Park during the forthcoming North West Counties season. #ProudToBeTown

By Gordon Johnson

OUR CHOSEN CHARITY Joseph‟s Goal is a Wigan-based charity, ran by a small group of family and friends who all volunteer their services. The charity has received support from Wigan Council, Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic, as well as schools, local organisations and the business community.

Joseph‟s Goal have raised most of their funds through 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. Ashton Town AFC now host an annual charity legends football match, after the huge success of the inaugural match in May 2015, with the Latics Legends thumping a Hollyoaks XI 10-0 with a sensational performance.

Town chairman, Mark Hayes was touched by Joe‟s story and has been actively involved in the charity‟s fundraising efforts for several years. This years event is the fifth annual Joseph‟s Goal legends game and is set to be another classic with the likes of Bryan Robson, Emmerson Boyce and Arjan De Zeeuw gracing the Ashton Town turf. Since Josephs story was shared publicly, the 10-year-old has become a little star in the local area and recognised throughout the United Kingdom for his fantastic story in defying all the odds. Joseph‟s Goal has

also received support from multiple football, rugby and television stars over the years including Pep Guardiola, Harry Redknapp and Joe Calzaghe.

lights in Wigan Town Centre.

Joseph‟s Goal was recognised further in 2014 by the Wigan Council for contributing to the “Believe in Wigan” campaign.

In April 2019, Joe returned to his role as Wigan Athletics‟ lucky charm as he featured pitchside at half-time during Wigan‟s shock victory against Leeds United. This was after more than 70 Latics fans heroically walked 58-miles over three days for the charity from Wigan‟s Euxton training ground to Elland Road, In 2013, Joe was the mascot organised by Martin Tarbuck for Wigan Athletic in the FA from the Mudhutter fanzine.

Cup Final and was carried out Joseph‟s story has inspired onto the pitch at Wembley by thousands of people to help skipper, and charity fundraise for NKH and ambassador Emmerson Boyce, contribute to their bid in which led to television finding a cure for the very rare appearances on BBC North condition.

West, ITV, Granada and Sky News. Many Latics fans believe Help us to raise money for that Joe was a lucky charm as further research and hopefully Wigan defied the odds to edge closer to the end goal of beat Manchester City 1-0 and helping Joe and other children claim their first major trophy in with the same condition. the club‟s history, similar to how Joe managed to defy all the odds given by the doctors to reach his 10th birthday on Thursday May 9th 2019. Joe‟s father Paul Kendrick, a life-long Wigan Athletic sup-porter and the Latics correspondent for Wigan Today, was gobsmacked that Joe was given the opportunity to be a mascot. In 2014, Joseph‟s family were the Joseph's Goal is a registered charity in WISH FM “Local Heroes Family England and Wales of the Year” and Joseph Charity number: 1151548 switched on the Christmas

www.josephsgoal.org

KIERAN ALLEY KIAN BELL JOHN EDGERTON THOMAS GOODWIN (GK) THOMAS GRINDROD CHRISTOPHER HILL CARL LOWNSBROUGH JAMES LUDGATE JAMES MCCLENAGHAN (GK) THOMAS MCNAMARA DAVID MOORE THOMAS PARRY JACK RICHARDS NOAH ROBSON LIAM SMITH JAMES STANLEY RUSTAM STEPANS JAMIE WHITE DALEY WOODS LEON WRIGHT David Dempsey - Manager Karl Bell - Asst. Manager Adam James - Coach Daley Woods - Asst. Coach Richard Eaves - Physio Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks GK: Grey

DAN HALL (GK) MATTHEW LAWLOR (GK) MARK BUCHAN CARNAN DAWSON DJAY DELA CRUZ FRAN DONAGHY BEN DUFFIELD KYLE HIGHAM JAMES HUGHES JACOB ASPINALL BILLY MCKENNA RYAN MCLEAN ALEX MCLOUGHLIN JOHN JO MORRIS DANIEL PICKERING (C) SAM STAUNTON-TAYLOR ADAM SUMNER KYLE WHITE ELLIS WILSON CONAH BISHOP Manager: Martin Baird Colours: White Shirts, White Shorts, Orange Socks GK: Green

Referee: Ashton Wroe, Asst. 1: James Birch Birch--Ford, Asst. 2: Lewis Walters

NEXT HOME GAME V ILKLEY TOWN AFC -3PM - 7/8/21