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
All Commercial Enquiries- marketing.atfc@outlook.com
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
www.facebook.com/ashtontownafc Twitter - @ashtontownafc This Club is Unincorporated
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Welcome to our club Good afternoon and welcome to Profiles Park for this afternoons North West Counties North tie against Golcar United. Golcar come in to this game having had an amIng run of form. Yet to be beaten this season, and top of the table which is a huge feat. We will certainly have our work to do today but as in previous seasons sometimes it against the best that we show what we can do and I certainly hope that is the case today.
Sadly I missed our last outing against Chadderton, and from what I hear I missed an entertaining game for one reason or twelve ! Sadly the three points could not be held on to but as always we will take the positives out of the game, especially including Daley Woods penalty save !
Reserve team wise it is also worth mentioning and congratulating Dave Taylor, DJ, and Ennis on what is now three wins on the bounce which is a far shout from when I saw them away at Garswood in pre season. Special thanks to striker Liam Stanley who stepped up from Gerard FC, to now vice captain with our ressies, and whom is also always on the score sheet. He has stepped up and made a huge impact. Well done Liam ! Lastly again thank you to the fans whom keep attending in their numbers. It really is something special to see when the numbers increase through the gate. I saw it back with Atherton Cols and it was literally fan power, and a special manager whom got them up the divisions and there is no reason why we can't do that same here. Stay safe, Mark Club Chairman Ashton Town AFC
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HISTORY OF ASHTON TOWN as St Helens Combination League for three years Ashton Town Association before joining the Football Club originally Warrington and District joined the Div 2 of the Amateur League in 1958. Lancashire Combination in The founder was a persistent 1903 and were promoted to man named Div 1 in their 1st season. Derek „Mick‟ However, quickly relegated Mycock. In 1962 back to Div 2 after finishing the Club was 16th. Towards the end of forced to move 1910/11 season the club from its original withdrew from the league ground at and fixtures were taken over Windsor Road by Tyldesley Albion. due to 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 when the Club purchased a piece of land at Edge Green The Club was reformed in Street which was previously 1953 as Makerfield Mill FC the home of Stubshaw Cross and after a short spell in the Rovers. Wigan Sunday School League. They played in the
the Clubhouse was completed, and was opened by Liverpool and England star Roger Hunt.
Then 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 This became the Club`s new join the Cheshire County home, and development of League for four years. the ground began. In 1969
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ssociation football club Cahill. The latter two who have clocked up over a hundred years‟ service to on quite often a day-to-day Town and Jimmy (pic) is still basis. It would go amiss if I here on a daily basis. didn‟t mention at this point The formation of the North Brian Cunliffe (pic), who has West Counties Football on and off, League 1982 saw Ashton over the years Town join as founder worked behind members, and the Club has the scenes remained in the league ever painting, since with the exception of digging or season 1985-86, when they mending often played in the Manchester without the right resources League while essential for the job…..it‟s people like ground maintenance work this who really make a place was carried out to bring the what it is. ground up to stringent So Many to mention, others ground grading requirements to forget, but we are here for the NWCF League. and that wouldn‟t exist if it Throughout the years there In more recent times, Clare weren‟t for those who give have been many custodians and James Horner made a up their time and effort to of the club, owned by nomassive boost to the club keep the club alive. Our one, powered by volunteers. with the long overdue motto ...... „Onwards & I‟ll surely miss out a host of formation of a Junior Upwards‟, sums us up as we names here but….Notable is section. As did the arrival of now strive for promotion. the involvement of Jack our current Chairman, Mark Longstaffe, Pat Dooney, Hayes, who has helped build Barry & Sandra Longstaffe, the profile of the club both Gordon Ellis, locally and nationally. Les Bailey, Len Other volunteers to mention Riley, Malcolm are Steve, Stefan, Denise, Magrath, Billy Ian, Dawn, Peter, Clare, Pomfrett R.I.P Joanne and more recently, 5/5/20 (pic) Keith whose dedication and and Jimmy work rate is second to none
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HERE IT IS !! THE LAUNCH OF THE OFFICIAL JOSEPH‟S GOAL LATICS LEGENDS SHIRT All sizes available. Postage within the UK £3.50 extra. 14 day turnaround. #wafc #latics #nkh #ProudToBeTown
HOT & COLd FOOD & DRINKS O N S A L E Inside ou
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HISTORY O Golcar United were established in 1904 in Huddersfield and played in the Huddersfield District League for many years. They won their first piece of silverware in 1920 when they won the Huddersfield Invitation Cup and won it again in 1923. By the 1930s, the club were popular and would often see crowds in excess of 1000, even going as far as to feature on a cigarette card back in 1935. Golcar won their third Huddersfield Invitation Cup a year later in 1936 and their fourth in 1937. Eventually, the club moved to Longfield Avenue in 1955 and it remains their home, although it was quite different in those days though it did boast a small stand. After small successes in the intervening years, such as winning the Huddersfield Invitation Cup in 1971, the Barlow Cup in 1973 and the Groom Cup in 1991, the club joined the West Riding County Amateur League in 1993. The odd cup final appearance and league win followed, namely the Groom Cup in 1999, the West Riding County FA Cup in 2001 and the West Riding League championship in 2005, the club found themselves experiencing success towards the end of the 2010s. This period of success coincided with the appointment of Gavin Connor as manager in 2014, he was quickly joined by his brother Ashley Connor as joint-manager and they both steered Golcar to the Double in the 2017-18 season where they won the West Riding League and the Huddersfield Invitation Cup. The 2018-19 season wasn‟t much different as the Connors replicated their success by retaining both the title and the cup. The second double had seen them win 20 out of 22 league games whilst scoring 105 goals and conceding just
20. With Golcar doing very well on the pitch, the committee decided to try and take the club to a new level and applied to the FA to gain promotion in September 2018. In order to gain promotion, the club had to undertake a great deal of development work. This included fencing of the pitch, obtaining a clubhouse, adding hard standing, installing female changing rooms, applying and installing floodlights and levelling the pitch due to the considerable slope across the field. This work was completed on time and the club were accepted into the North West Counties League in April 2019. Elsewhere, Golcar United boast a ladies team, a U6s to U15s junior section and a new academy, offering a pathway through to the 1st team as the village roots remain at the forefront of the club's thoughts. Around this time, Longfield Rec became the WMS Entrance Systems Park for the club‟s first season as a semi-professional outfit. The club started their first ever season in semi-professional football well with a 2-1 home win against Prestwich Heys in August 2019. This match saw 379 spectators pack into the WMS Entrance Systems Park and saw Ben Burnett score the club‟s first ever semiprofessional goal. The club continued to attract big crowds, culminating in the Shelley game in October 2019. This was the
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OF GOLCAR club‟s first ever game under floodlights and 556 people turned up to watch Dan Stocker fire a 25 yarder into the top corner. Unfortunately, the club wouldn‟t play another game at home until January 2020. Pitch problems, which had plagued the club since the start of the season, forced them to call off a number of games before they finally got one in against Nelson in January. Golcar won the game 5-3 but the pitch was still in trouble and they didn‟t play another game on it. They were forced to ground share with Avro, located in Oldham. Despite the 21 mile trip to home games, over 100 Golcar fans would regularly make the journey until the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed the season in March 2020. Golcar sat in 5th place, 10 points behind 3rd with 3 games in hand. The pandemic was perhaps a blessing in disguise for the club as it allowed them to get to work off the pitch to continue the development work and sort out the pitch. A 100 seater stand was installed in March and
touchline. The clubhouse has been extended, a new toilet block installed and finally, the pitch has been dug up and completely re-laid. The ground has been re-named The Skye Direct Stadium and their first game of the 2020-21 season was in the FA Vase, their first involvement with the competition, where they took on Northwich Victoria in front of a sell-out crowd of 300. Their first home league game saw the official opening of The Brook Johnson Stand, where former Huddersfield Town player Mark Lillis cut the ribbon. The pandemic put paid to the 2020-21 season and it was later cancelled in early 2021. After twiddling their thumbs for a few months, Golcar took part in the inaugural Yorkshire Trophy. The first game saw them take on Liversedge and a club record crowd of 575 saw a 1-1 draw. A 5-2 win over Nostell Miners Welfare saw the club reach the semifinals. Penistone Church prevented Golcar from reaching the final but a well fought third place play-off against Brighouse Town saw Golcar finish 3rd in the competition. The club hope to finally complete a season as a semi-professional club as their first two have been curtailed due to COVID-19! The club have signed a number of new players and there‟s a lot of excitement around the club at the moment, with everyone very much looking forward to the 2021-22 season.
named after Brook Johnson, a former player that passed away in 2012. The club‟s supporters donated £100 each to help build the stand. A new standing section has been installed behind the goal and a third side has been added to the ground, with a walkway and railings being installed on the bottom
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Who’s played at edge green st Kevin Philip Sharp was born on 19th September 1974 in Sarnia, Ontario. He began his career as at French club AJ Auxerre, but left in 1992 for England, where he spent the vast majority of his career. His first English club was Leeds United, joining for £60,000. He made just 17 league appearances in three years at the Yorkshire club, then one of the top clubs in England.
against him, and Peters was forced to drop him from the team at the end of February 2006. He played only two further occasions in the following six weeks before he was released.
Sharp then joined Hamilton Academicals, in the Scottish Football League First Division, on an amateur basis in November 2006. He made his debut against Livingston in December 2006. Kevin was released by the club at the end of January 2007 due to the return of other experienced players in his Moving to Wigan Athletic in November 1995 position. for a £100,000 fee, he made 217 Sharp first appeared appearances in six years. Wigan won here at Edge Green promotion to Division Two in 1997. Whilst at Street on 22nd May Wigan he also played in the final as they 2015 when he was a won the 1998–99 Football League Trophy. member of the In November 2001 he joined Wrexham on a Latics Legends team that took on a free transfer. He played just 15 times for Hollyoaks all-star team in the inaugural the Welsh club, and Wrexham were Joseph‟s Goal charity fund raising game and relegated from Division Two that season. In has been a regular participant every year August 2002, Sharp left for Huddersfield since that date, appearing here a total of Town on another free transfer. Sharp played five times to date. regularly, but again his club were relegated from Division Two. Yet again moving to a Division 2 club on a free transfer this time to Scunthorpe United. A season in the newly renamed fourth tier of English football, Football League Two, ended in promotion for Scunthorpe, but Sharp was to stay in the division. He had made 46 league appearances - exactly half of Scunthorpe's league matches over the two years with the club. Sharp joined Shrewsbury prior to the 2005-06 season, with manager Gary Peters installed him as club captain. However, in early 2006, loss of form resulted in Shrewsbury fans turning
By Gordon Johnson
League table
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HALF TIME QUIZ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Who scored the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and The Netherlands? Which nation won all three of their group games without conceding a goal in the 2018 World Cup? What was the name of the infamous 2010 FIFA World Cup Official Ball? How many times have Brazil won the FIFA World Cup? Who scored England‟s winning penalty versus Colombia at the 2018 World Cup? What year was the first FIFA World Cup that Lionel Messi played in? Who scored the winning goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final between Germany & Argentina? Who won FIFA‟s online poll to decide the best goal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup? Who holds the record for the most FIFA World Cup appearances? Who was the top scorer at the 1998 FIFA World Cup?
ANSWERS
8.Benjamin Pavard 9.Lothar Mattaus (25) 10.Davor Suker (6 goals) 6.2006 7.Mario Gotze (In the 113th minute) 3.Adidas Jabulani 4.Five 5.Eric Dier 1.Andres Iniesta 2.Uruguay
By Gordon Johnson
Sat 04/09/21 Sat 11/09/21 Sat 25/09/21
Golcar United H, Runcorn Town A, Daisy Hill H,
Thu 09/09/21 Tue 21/09/21 Sat 02/10/21
St Helens Town A Bury AFC A Steeton H
FIXTURES &
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SLOBBERYCHOPS A SHOP FOR DOGS
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& RESULTS
Photos 30/8/21 v Chadderton FC by Dawn Marshall
MaNAGERS NOTES Good afternoon. Welcome to our visitors Golcar FC. This is a team that I have been massively impressed with since they joined this division. They have had some really good results so far this season and sit in a very healthy position at the top of the table.
It‟s been a frustrating last couple of games but nothing that we won‟t put right and what better game to do it against a team tipped for the league today. My players are showing all the right signs and giving me all the right messages. We remain as hungry as ever to keep improving and we are positive of of success this season. I am delighted to see so many regular faces at the ground, this fan base the club are Last time out saw us share the points with building will be key to our success and I Chadderton in a game that I personally personally want to thank thought we were in control of before our 1st each and every one of you sending off. The players did everything I that return week in week asked of them and with a slight change of out. shape early doors we managed to get the Let’s hope today we can game by the scruff of the neck and created talk about football after enough chances to put the game to bed the game and we are before half time. It was a similar story to celebrating a massive the Holker game in that we ended up talking 3pts. about the officials incompetence rather Cheers than the work the players put in to see the game out. Demps
By Dave Dempsey
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Match photography
Photos 30/8/21 v Chadderton FC by Dawn Marshall
FOOTBALL READING What does it take to thrive in one of the most pressurised leadership roles in modern times? What is the real story behind the men in the football hotseat who shape the dreams and ambitions of millions?
self-help manual for those embarking on a leadership challenge of their own. A host of top football managers including Manchester United‟s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, former England boss Sam Allardyce, West Ham no. 1 David Moyes and Burnley chief Sean Dyche reveal the inside story of their first days in the job and explain the secret strategies that enabled them to lay the all-important foundations for success. This book is also a personal odyssey. When school headteacher and football fan Phil Denton bumped into former Dundee United manager and Tranmere Rovers boss Micky Mellon, the two started swapping stories about their own leadership roles. The pair embarked on a journey of discovery, meeting the top managers, talking to experts and formulating theories, with reference to contemporary thought on the psychological, sociological and philosophical elements that go to make a successful leader. The result is a rich and unique book packed with thought-provoking anecdotes and observations that will both inform and entertain. The first 100 days are crucial for a new leader in any walk of life but for a football manager, get it wrong and you will be lucky to last that long. This is a rare and revealing glimpse inside that extraordinary world.
The First 100 Days: Lessons In Leadership From The Football Bosses is both an entertaining book for football fans and a
The authors are donating their proceeds from the book to charity, The Len Johnrose Trust.
By Gordon Johnson
MAN OF THE MATCH AWARDS
21st August v Holker Old Boys FC LRL - Specialist Recruitment Consultancy Partnering the UK Man Of The Match is Tommy Grindrod.
30th August v Chadderton FC LRL - Specialist Recruitment Consultancy Partnering the UK Man Of The Match is Daley Woods.
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On this day 4th september 4th September 1867 At a meeting at the Adelphi Hotel in Sheffield members of the Wednesday Cricket Club formed a football club to keep fit during the winter months. That club still plays in the Football League, Sheffield Wednesday. 4th September 1905 Chelsea played their first match at Stamford Bridge on this day in 1905. Chelsea's early history was a bit unusual. They were elected to the Football League without having kicked a football in anger and didn't play a match of any kind at home until after they had made their debut in the Football League. Their League debut was a 1-0 defeat at Stockport County on September 2nd 1905 and
two days later Chelsea played their first match at Stamford Bridge, a 4-0 victory in a friendly against Liverpool. Almost exactly a century later the same two clubs were playing at the same venue in a Champions League semifinal watched live by millions worldwide on something called a television, who would have guessed that in 1905! 4th September 1976 The attendance at Craven Cottage for a Second Division fixture between Fulham and Bristol Rovers was 21,127 which was well over double the number that were at their previous home League match. The reason for this was that it was the debut of one George Best in the Fulham side. Also, in the Fulham side that day were Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh but it was Best who stole the show scoring the only goal of the match after just 71 seconds.
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
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KIAN BELL JOHN EDGERTON THOMAS GOODWIN (GK) THOMAS GRINDROD CHRISTOPHER HILL CARL LOWNSBROUGH JAMES LUDGATE JAMES MCCLENAGHAN (GK) THOMAS MCNAMARA DAVID MOORE ALEX NOONAN THOMAS PARRY JACK RICHARDS NOAH ROBSON LIAM SMITH JAMES STANLEY RUSTAM STEPANS JAMIE WHITE DALEY WOODS LEON WRIGHT KIT SPONSOR
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David Dempsey : Manager Karl Bell : Asst. Manager Adam James : Coach Daley Woods - Asst. Coach Alice Walker : Physio Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks GK: Grey
JAKE BARRETT JOSIMAR BRADSHAW LEE BRADSHAW JACOB BUCHANAN BEN BURNETT BUDDY COX NICK CRANE ADAM DAFFERN MIKE FISH ASH FLYNN ALEX HALLAM LEON HENRY ADRIAN IGIELSKI KARL JONES KIERO LAWRENCE FRANKY MCLACHLAN (GK) DANIEL NAIDOLE GREGG PORTER JOE SKARZ HARRY STEAD (GK) DAN STOCKER MATTY STOR JORDAN TOWNEND OLIVER WILLITTS Managers: GAVIN CONNOR & ASHLEY CONNOR Player-coach: JOE SKARZ Sports Therapist: CONNOR KAVANAGH Colours: Green & Black GK: Lime or Blue
Referee: Daniel Barclay, Assistant 1: Ciaran Gallagher, Assistant 2: Anthony Claro
NEXT HOME GAME V DAISY HILL FC - SAT 25/9/21 - 3PM