v St Helens Town AFC 1/9/18

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

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

ONWARDS & UPWARDS SEASON 2018 - 2019

PRICE - £1.50

The Buildbase FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round Saturday 1/9/18 KO 3pm

ASHTON TOWN AFC V

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAWN MARSHALL

ST HELENS TOWN AFC

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ASHTON TOWN AFC The Ashton Town 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 Catering - Denise Brady Advertising & Programme Editor - Ian Pomfrett All Advertising enquiries - i.pomfrett@yahoo.com Welfare Officer - Gordon Johnson Groundsmen - David Bourne, Jimmy Cahill www.pitchero.com/clubs/ashtontownafc www.facebook.com/ashtontownafc twitter - @ashtontownafc Life Member - Billy Pomfrett Club Photographer - Dawn Marshall

This Club is Unincorporated FORMED IN 1953 AS MAKERFIELD MILL FC RENAMED ASHTON TOWN AFC IN 1962 FOUNDING MEMBERS OF BOTH THE NORTH WEST COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE & THE LIVERPOOL COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION 2

www.pitchero.com/clubs/ashtontownafc

WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRMAN Good afternoon, and welcome all to this FA Vase Qualifier against St Helens Town.

I truly havenâ€&#x;t been this excited and nervous at the same time for a game, since Wigan played City in the FA Cup Final in 2013 !

For me, due to me running a pub right on the doorstep of our visitors it means much more than just a game, it also means in defeat I am potentially barring a full squad and committee !

No, in all seriousness this is going to be a cracker, and something that I should have bet on early doors, as I just knew this tie would come out in this cup...

Not only do we have our link as we had St Helens playing here a few years back, but we also have them returning today with several ex Ashton Town in their ranks in Paul Cliff, Neil Weaver, Jesse Robinson, Matty Smith, Carl Williams, Ryan Dobney, and Marvin Molyeneux.

I have said before that games like this can be huge triggers for a season. Not only does it give a break from the league, but it also has the incentive of money to be won too.

Our last two games have been very hard, but before them I for sure would have taken 3 points out of the 6. The calibre of the teams that have come into the Counties this term is unreal. Ritchie Allen lined up against us on Monday and his class above was apparant right from the kick off, and he was potentially the best player I have seen at this level.

Last week also actually saw our reserves take on St Helens at the impressive Ruskin Village, and we ran out 2 1 leaders, so hereâ€&#x;s hoping that today we can complete the double.

Onwards and upwards as always, Mark Club Chairman 3

northernpromise@hotmail.com

MATCH REPORT V LOWER BRECK 25/8/18 FT Ashton Town AFC - 1 Lower Breck FC - 0 What huge win that is!

Breck on the back of a 7 - 1, and 5 - 1 wins met a make shift some what Town team who though fought for absolutely everything.

The goal came from fantastic work from Matty Johnson, whose persistence and finish was superb.

Lower Breck came out all guns blazing as expected in the second half and missed a host of chances, and a few to be fair were through outstanding saves from Town keeper Tom Goodwin.

At the other though Town still had chances on the break, both Jack Baker and Brad Smart with decent chances to put the game to bed.

Ashton hung on though, and the man of the match by far was Rob Lamont (right), who came straight from the airport, and in as a make shift centre half and was colossal. #UpTheTown 4

Written by Mark Hayes, Pics by John McKiernan

SOME WORDS FROM THE MANAGER

Good Afternoon.

Well that was a busy bank holiday weekend. 2 games in the space of 3 days and overall despite the result against Longridge there was a lot of positives to come from it.

The weekend started with an extremely tough battle against a strong Lower Breck side in what turned out to be a fantastic performance and result for the lads. The boys dug deep and shown amazing togetherness for the full 90 minutes defending superbly and taking our chance to score. The work rate and endeavour to get the 3 points against Lower Breck took its toll on the group, and against Longridge a poor first 10 minutes and missing 2 excellent opportunities early in the second to pull the game level cost us dearly. However, we roll our sleeves up and go again.

Today we welcome St Helens Town in what is anticipated to be a fantastic game of football with plenty on offer. Financially for both clubs this is a must win game and there's also the local bragging rights to go with it. We have got to start well today and play our football in the right areas. I'm sure our visitors will be looking forward to today just as much as us so we are expecting a battle.

I hope we all leave the ground today planning our trip to Barton in the next round with a FA Vase cup win to celebrate.

Enjoy the day Dave Dempsey 5

By Dave Dempsey www.hallmarksecurityleague.com

THE UNBREAKABLE VASE

A journey from the extra preliminary round in August 2015 through to the FA Vase Final at Wembley Stadium in 2016 Authors: Calvin Wade, Gordon Johnson & Alan Oliver 'The Casual Hopper', aka Alan Oliver, is one of the big characters in the Non-League ground hopping world. Having been to every round of the FA Cup in 2013-14 and the FA Trophy 2014 -15, in 2015-16 he aimed to do every round of FA Vase and the FA Sunday Cup. He has raised over £17,000 for 'The Christie' Hospital in Manchester throughout this journey and has taken his unique, Mancunian charm to the four corners of Britain. There is a lot more to 'The Unbreakable Vase' than simply a footballing journey. It is about the footballing bond Alan has made with fellow football fanatics, Calvin Wade and Gordon Johnson, giving an insight into their lives over a twelve month period when unexpectedly they faced some terrible lows as well as footballing highs. 'The Unbreakable Vase' has the FA Vase as its central focus but it is also about characters they meet on the pitch and at the side of it. There are even a few chance meetings with some of the biggest names in English and even world football along the way. Furthermore, it tells the story of the blossoming football careers of younger members of their families as they battle for football scholarships. 'The Unbreakable Vase' is very different to the previous two parts of this footballing trilogy but hopefully just as interesting for any football fan. 'The Unbreakable Vase' is dedicated to the memory of Steve Garcia and 50p from every full-priced sale (25p on promotional sales) will be passed to his widow, Angela Garcia, to donate to the British Heart Foundation. By Gordon Johnson The back cover shows co-authors Gordon Johnson and Alan Oliver together with ex Wimbledon & Watford player Marcus Gayle in the clubhouse at Camberley Town FC on the day of Camberley Town‟s 5-0 victory over Newton Aycliffe.

6 The front cover shows co-authors Calvin Wade & Alan Oliver standing either side of Morpeth Town‟s Chris Swailes with the FA vase post-match after the final in which Swailes had become the oldest ever player to score in an FA Final at Wembley Stadium.

THE BUILDBASE FA VASE FIXTURES Saturday 1st of September 2018 The Buildbase FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round Abbey Hulton United v Whitchurch Alport AFC Blackpool v Nostell Miners Welfare Alnwick Town v Charnock Richard Ashton Town v St Helens Town Barton Town v AFC Liverpool Burscough v Alsager Town Cammell Laird 1907 v Harworth Colliery Congleton Town v Bootle Coventry Copsewood v Eccleshall Daisy Hill v Whitehaven Ellesmere Rangers v Birstall United Goole AFC v Barnoldswick Town Gornal Athletic v Stone Old Alleynians Harrogate Railway Athletic v Silsden Holker Old Boys v Prestwich Heys Longridge Town v Vauxhall Motors Lower Breck v West Didsbury & Chorlton Maltby Main v Ashton Athletic Ollerton Town v New Mills Parkgate v Chadderton Pershore Town v Hanley Town Sandbach United v Athersley Recreation Shelley v Penistone Church Swallownest v Abbey Hey Wellington v St Martins Winsford United v Liversedge Wythenshawe Town P-P Rylands

Our upcoming fixtures Sat 22/09/18 Sat 29/09/18 Wed 03/10/18 Sat 06/10/18 Tue 09/10/18

Daisy Hill Shelley Garstang Wythenshawe Amateurs Shelley

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A A A H H

15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 (The First Division Cup 2) 19:45

www.hallmarksecurityleague.com/fixtures.php

RESERVES

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ST HELENS RESERVES 25/8/18

St Helens Town Res 1 Ashton Town Res 2 Ashton Town lined up in reserve form in the Cheshire League before the highly anticipated huge FA Vase derby today.

Ex Ashton players Marvin Molyneux and Ryan Dobney played against our young reserve side, whilst St Helens first teamers, and more ex Ashton in Neil Weaver, Jesse Robinson, and Paul Cliff looked on.

Dave Brownrigg's side ran out convincing winners in a game that could have had more goals bar some wasted chances and the woodwork.

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Written by Mark Hayes, Pics by John McKiernan

HALF TIME QUIZ QUESTIONS

1. Who were the first NW Counties League team to appear in an FA Vase Final?

2. Which team has won the FA vase the most times?

3. For season 2017-18 how many teams entered the FA Vase Competition?

4. Who were the first team from the NW Counties League to win the FA Vase?

5. How many teams from the NW Counties league have ever won the FA Vase?

6. How many teams from the NW Counties League in total have made it to an FA Vase Final?

7. How many different venues have staged an FA Vase Final?

8. Which team has appeared in three FA Vase finals but never won the trophy?

9. Who are the current Holders of the FA Vase?

10. Of all the NW Counties teams who have won the FA vase which is the only one not to have won the trophy at Wembley Stadium?

11. Which team became the first FA Vase winners to go on and play in the Football League?

12. How many teams have won the FA Vase more than once?

13. In what season was the FA Vase first completed for?

14. Who were the first ever winners of the FA Vase?

15. How many times has the FA Vase Final gone to a replay?

16. In what year did the FA vase Final last go to extra time?

17. What is the record winning score in an FA vase Final?

18. Which team has scored the most number of goals in an FA Vase Final and not won the trophy?

19. Which team has appeared in three FA Vase finals but never at Wembley Stadium?

20. Who are the only team to have won three consecutive FA Vase Finals?

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By Gordon Johnson

MATCH REPORT V LONGRIDGE TOWN 27/8/18 FT Ashton Town 0 Longridge Town 4 A really tough bank holiday weekend for Ashton ends up with a respectable three points from six, as Longridge's quality showed today.

Any team with the likes of Allen, Morrison, Ince, Hart etc in them are always going to be decent, and the away side started very fast with two goals within the opening 15 minutes from Ritchie Allen with the first, and then Phil Doughty.

Ashton then soaked up the pressure and Aron McGrath and Matty Johnson had two great chances, and on the whole Ashton probably had probably most of the possession but just couldnâ€&#x;t make it count in the final 3rd.

A quick well worked free kick though killed the game late in the second half, and the busy Jason Hart slotted home easily for the visitors.

With five minutes to go, between Michael Cushion and John Edgy Ashton gave away a silly penalty, however keeper John Courtney saved well from substitute Tom Ince.

However Longridge did have the last word., a quick break saw another substitute, this time Mitchell Newsham, slot home well.

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Written by Mark Hayes, Pics by Ian Pomfrett

SPONSORS AUGUST 2018

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www.pitchero.com/clubs/ashtontownafc/d/sponsors.html

ABOUT THE BUIL

The FA Vase effectively replaced The FA Amateur Cup in 1974. In that year The FA Council had decided to abolish the official distinction between amateur and professional footballers and this meant the end of The Amateur Cup and Amateur Internationals involving England.

In its first season 220 clubs entered, but they did not include those that had dominated in The Amateur Cup. Enfield, Hendon, Dagenham, Skelmersdale United and others at their level were immediately allocated to The FA Trophy.

For the first time in history, small clubs – even village clubs – had the chance of playing in a national final at Wembley.

The first Vase finalists were Hoddesdon Town from the Spartan League and Epsom & Ewell from the Surrey Senior League. The Hertfordshire side edged home 2-1 before a crowd of 9,000.

Even a competition as democratic as The Vase had its elite clubs in the early years.

Billericay Town, initially of the Essex Senior League, won it three times in four seasons.

Halesowen Town, then in the West Midlands Regional League, appeared in three Finals and were successful in two. They even beat a Southall side that had a young Les Ferdinand leading the attack.

Until the new Wembley opened in 2007 the record attendance for a Vase Final was the 26,489 who saw the drawn 1989 Final between Sudbury Town and Tamworth at the old Wembley. Tamworth won the replay 3-0 at Peterborough and Ian Moores, a former Division One player with Tottenham Hotspur, scored one of the goals.

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http://www.thefa.com/co

LDBASE FA VASE

The 2013-14 Vase competition was the 40th in history. Wembley had hosted 34 Finals, Villa Park and St Andrews two each, Upton Park and White Hart Lane one each. Thirtytwo different clubs have got their hands on The Vase, donated by former FA Councillor Frank Adams. Whitley Bay lead the way with four wins.

Aficionados of The Vase competition tend to rate the 1992 Final between Wimborne Town and Guiseley as the best so far. Wessex League Wimborne had a modest record in the competition before then, having never ventured beyond the third round, but they embarked on a spectacular journey that took them all the way from the first round to the Final. A goal down after 14 minutes at Wembley, the Dorset side fought back to win 5-3.

When The Vase Final returned to Wembley, a record 36,232 fans saw Truro City beat AFC Totton 3-1. Whitley Bay, the 2002 winners, achieved a sensational hat-trick of Final victories from 2009 to 2011.

The Northern League‟s dominance continued for two more seasons, with success for Dunston UTS and Spennymoor Town before Sholing, then Wessex League champions, got their name engraved. North Shields then came from behind to win the first Final to go to extra time since 2001-02.

In 2015-16 Wembley Stadium staged the first Non-League Finals Day, which saw both the Vase and the Trophy decided back-to-back in front of almost 47,000 fans. Morpeth Town came from behind to stun Hereford 4-1 with 45-year-old Chris Swailes on the scoresheet to win the Vase with a third different club.

Recent Finals •2017: South Shields 4-0 Cleethorpes •2016: Morpeth Town 4-1 Hereford •2015: North Shields 2-1 Glossop NE (AET) •2014: Sholing 1-0 West Auckland •2013: Spennymoor 2-1 Tunbridge W

ompetitions/fa-vase/about

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HALLMARK SECURITY Eleven of our clubs were in action in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round, and five have booked their places in the next round, with another two facing replays.

Two of our clubs progressed by knocking out Evo-Stik League opponents, and in the case of Irlam, they achieved their 2-1 win on the road at Prescot Cables thanks to two goals from Matty Boland. Ashton Athletic‟s impressive recent record in cup competitions continued with a 2-1 win over Skelmersdale United at Brocstedes Park.

The familiar name of Jason Carey had put Skem ahead, but in a dramatic finale, goals in the last eight minutes from Adam Howard and Christopher Bandell clinched victory for the Yellows.

In the all-Premier Division clash at Victoria Park, Burscough followed up their midweek league win over Northwich Victoria with a 2-0 win in the FA Cup. Matthew Ward and Terry Cummings, who both scored in midweek, were the Linnets‟ scorers.

Two of our clubs progressed with wins at Northern Counties East League opponents, a 50th minute goal from Emini Adegbenro earning Congleton Town a 1-0 victory at Handsworth Parramore, and John Shaw, Ryan Cox and Shaun Weaver were on target for Runcorn Town in the 3-1 win at Penistone Church.

Two more clubs live to fight another day, and Squires Gate were involved in a remarkable game in south Manchester, their game at Droylsden ending in a 4-4 draw.

Ric Seear‟s second goal of the game eight minutes from time earned a replay for Gate on Tuesday 4th September, and Gary Pett and Ryan Charnley were their other scorers.

A Jack Hazelhurst equaliser 19 minutes from time ensured that City of Liverpool‟s tie at home to Glossop North End ended 1-1, meaning the Purps will head to Surrey Street for a replay on Tuesday 28th August.

For four clubs it was the end of the road, although in the case of Prestwich Heys, it was a day in which they enjoyed nationwide exposure with their 2-0 home defeat to Radcliffe being shown live on the BBC's digital platforms.Whitchurch Alport‟s hopes of progress were ended by conceding a late goal at Walsall Wood to lose 2-1, Zack Dale‟s goal for Barnoldswick Town was the only highlight in a 6-1 defeat at Whitley Bay, and AFC Darwen lost 4-1 at home to Trafford.

There were four games in the Premier Division, and Charnock Richard were the highest scorers of the day with a fine 5-1 win at Hanley Town, Ashley Young scoring twice.

Two goals from Lee Spires in the opening 21 minutes set Silsden on the way to a 4-2 home win over Winsford United, following on from their good midweek win at Padiham, who bounced back from that defeat to win 3-1 at 1874 Northwich, Liam O‟Neill grabbing a double for the Storks.

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BY IAN TEMPLEMAN

www.hall

WEEKEND ROUND UP In the other game, West Didsbury & Chorlton shared a 2-2 draw with Bootle after Merizel Dos Santos and Saul Henderson had given West a two goal lead at half time, but Carl Peers and Johnny Foy rescued a point for the Bucks.

In the First Division North, Carlisle City kept up their 100% start to the season, with a 1-0 home win over Chadderton, although it took until the 85th minute before Aaron Bradbury scored the decisive goal.

Avro are tucked in behind in second place after a 6-0 win over Holker Old Boys, a score all the more remarkable given that the game was goalless until Joe Bevan opened the scoring in the 51st minute, before going on to complete a hat trick.

Longridge Town moved into third place with a 4-2 win over Shelley at the MRG, Thomas Ince scoring twice for Town, and there was also a double for Ben Clarkson of Steeton, who moved into fourth place with a 5-3 win over Atherton LR. AFC Blackpool are fifth after a Ben Bradley equaliser ten minutes from time rescued a point from a 2-2 draw at home to Daisy Hill, and first half goals from Harry Avis and James McGrane earned a third straight win for AFC Liverpool, this time by 2-0 at Nelson.

Ben Boyce scored twice in Bacup Borough‟s 3-1 win over Garstang, Borough‟s first league win of the season, and a 20th minute goal from Matthew Johnson sealed Ashton Town‟s 10 win over Lower Breck.

First Division South is still headed by New Mills after two late goals from Aaron Dwyer saw them to a 3-2 victory at Cheadle Heath Nomads to keep up their 100% start to the season, and Cheadle Town are a point behind after coming from behind to win 3-1 at Rylands.

Jimmy Green‟s early goal sealed Wythenshawe Amateurs‟ 1-0 win over Sandbach United to keep them in third place, and St Martins are fourth after a 2-1 win at Abbey Hulton United, Karl Bailey and Brendon Price both scoring in the first half for Saints.

Goals from Christy O`Brien and Rhys Jones earned Maine Road a welcome first win of the season, 2-1 at Wythenshawe Town, and there were also away wins for Stone Dominoes by 1-0 at Eccleshall, thanks to an 80th minute goal from Ryan Baxter, and an 89th minute winner from Damace Kiwawoa earned Vauxhall Motors all three points with a 2-1 win at Ellesmere Rangers.

An Adam Rooney equaliser 10 mins from time ensured Cammell Laird 1907 picked up a point from a 3-3 draw at Alsager Town and there were home wins for Stockport Town who beat FC Oswestry Town 3-0, and Stone Old Alleynians, who beat Barnton 1-0 with a Matt Thomas penalty.

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WHO'S PLAYED AT Did you know Mancunian actor Ralf Little has played at Edge Green Street? Ralph was recruited by Kevin Davies for his select XI to face the Team GB Deaf team. Little, who is famously known for his role as Anthony Royle in “The Royle Family�, Wanderers

joined

the

Bolton

legend

and other ex professional players to help raise money to send Team GB to the Deaf Olympics. Unfortunately, Team GB must self fund to be able to compete on the world stage and here at Ashton Town we like to support the team the best we can by hosting these events. This is something that is close to our hearts here at Ashton Town as one of our own, Gino King, has competed on the international stage for Team GB Deaf.

Ralf may have made a name for himself playing Jonny Keogh in BBC's sitcom, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, but he also had a brief career in football playing for a number of southern non-league clubs. In 2003, he was training with semiprofessional side, Staines Town and struggled with balancing his acting and football career. Ralf says he will go anywhere for a decent game of football and turned out for Maidstone United in a one off game against AFC Wimbledon winning 3-1.

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BY KIERA

T EDGE GREEN ST? In 2004 he signed for Isthmian League side, Edgware Town and made his debut in the FA Vase against Waltham Abbey, helping his side secure a place in the next round with a 21 victory. Unfortunately for Little, Edgware Town were fell at the next hurdle, suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat at home to Pottom United. After a season at Edgware town, Little had to take a break from semi-professional football to focus on his acting career but was able to pick up where he left off in 2007 when he signed for Chertsey Town midway through the season and ended his playing career a little closer to home, signing for Stone Dominoes in the North West Counties in July 2008.

Although Little has retired from non-league football, he has never hung up his boots. Little looks for any opportunity to lace up his boots, especially when there is a charity involved. He's participated in a number of high profile charity football matches and even represented England in the 2010 Soccer aid against the rest of the world. Although his international debut did not go as planned when he missed his penalty in the dreaded shootout, live on ITV. In 2012, Ralf Little made his debut for another nation on the international stage. Ralf was appointed as captain for the The Principality of Sealand national team in a friendly against the Chagos Islands, Sealand is a micronation in the North Sea, approximately 7 miles off the coast of Suffolk who founded their own football association in 2004. As they are not recognised as a country, they are not a member of FIFA or UEFA but do compete against other smaller nations. Ralf was capped 3 times for the Principality of Sealand and won only one game.

AN JOHNSON

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THE CHESHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 2 LEAGUE TABLES & FIXTURES

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fulltime-league.thefa.com

HALLMARK SECURITY 1ST DIV NORTH LEAGUE TABLE

HALF TIME QUIZ ANSWERS

1.Fleetwood Town (1984/85 lost to Halesowen Town 3-1), 2.Whitley Bay (4), 3.619, 4.St Helens Town (1986/87 beat Warrington Town 3-2), 5.Four (St Helens Town 1987, Colne Dynamoes 1988, Nantwich Town 2006 & Kirkham &Wesham 2008), 6.Nine – St Helens Town, Colne Dynamoes, Nantwich Town, Kirkham &Wesham, Fleetwood Town, Warrington Town, Clitheroe & Glossop North End (x2), 7.Ten – Wembley Stadium (Original), City Ground, London Road, Elland Road, Bramhall Lane, Villa Park, Boleyn Ground, St Andrews, White Hart Lane & Wembley Stadium (New), 8.AFC Sudbury, 9.Thatcham Town, 10.Nantwich Town – Beat Hillingdon Borough 3-1 at St Andrews, 11.Forest Green Rovers (2017), 12.Five – Whitley Bay, Billericary Town, Tiverton Town, Halesowen Town & Brigg Town, 13.1974-75, 14.Hoddesdon Town – beat Epsom & Ewell 2-1 in front of a crowd of 9000, 15.Four (1977, 1989, 1990 & 1991), 16.2014-15, North Shields beat Glossop North End 2-1, 17.Whitley Bay 6-1 Wrexham, 2009/10, 18.Gresley Rovers, 1889/91 drew four all with Guiseley & lost the replay 3-1 at Bramhall Lane, 19.AFC Sudbury ( 2003 Boleyn Ground, 2004 St Andrews & 2005 White Hart Lane), 20.Whitley Bay ( 2009, 2010 & 2011) 19

www.hallmarksecurityleague.com/league-tables.php

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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www.pitchero.com/clubs/ashtontownafc/a/history-24589.html

HISTORY OF ST HELENS TOWN FC The original St. Helens Town club was formed in 1901 and played at Park Road, behind the Primrose Vaults public house. Although it was known as the Primrose Ground, the players changed further down Park Road at the Black Horse pub.

Playing in the Lancashire League and Lancashire Combination, the team enjoyed some early success, but struggled after the Great War and appears to have folded midway through the 1928/29 season. The club was re-formed by George Fryer and a group of local businessmen in 1946. They took out a lease of the former cricket ground at Hoghton Road, Sutton, adjacent to the St. Helens Junction railway station and, although it entered in the FA Cup in the 1946/47 season, a team could not be raised in time to fulfil its tie with Prescot Cables. Friendly games were played, then local team Derbyshire Hill Rovers were taken over in April 1947, those players forming the nucleus of the team which entered the Liverpool County Combination at the start of the 1947/48 season. St. Helens Town soon began to prosper and early results included a sensational 10-4 win over Everton “A” on 6th December 1947. Former German prisonerof-war Bert Trautmann joined the club in the Summer of 1948, the strapping goalkeeper helping the team to win its first trophy, the George Mahon Cup, which was secured with a 2-1 win over Runcorn at Prescot on 7th May 1949. Crowds averaged over 2000 that season, peaking with a league record attendance of 3012 against Burscough in October 1948. The following season, 1949/50, Town entered the Lancashire Combination and, despite losing Trautmann to Manchester City in October 1949, they won the Second Division title in some style the following season, three players, Albert Leadbetter (36), Harry McCann (32) and Terry Garner (31) all netting over 30 goals apiece. An all-time club record attendance of “between 8000 and 9000” witnessed a friendly game against Manchester City, arranged as part of the Trautmann transfer deal, in April 1950 and another 4000 witnessed a second match with City the following season. Although relegated by a slender margin from the First Division in 1951/52, the club continued to look forward, even contemplating Football League status and, in order to further its ambitions, moved to the former St. Helens Recs. rugby league ground at City Road. Initial crowds were encouraging but, despite success, the club decided to move back to Hoghton Road in October 1953, where they remained until April 2000. Town produced a number of fine players who joined Football League clubs, including Bill Foulkes (Manchester United), John Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday) and John Connelly who joined Burnley, later transferring to Manchester United and who played in the England 1966 World Cup winning squad. More recently, Dave Bamber scored goals in all four divisions of the league with a host of different clubs, starting and ending his league career at Blackpool and in the last few years, Karl Ledsham, who had a productive career at conference level with Southport, Lincoln City, Barrow and Stockport County before moving to the USA. Following a second relegation in 1956, St. Helens Town continued to play in the Lancashire Combination, winning the Championship in 1971/72, by nine points ahead of Accrington Stanley. However, the formation of the Northern Premier League in 1968 led to a gradual drain of stronger clubs from the Combination and St. Helens joined the Cheshire League in 1975, becoming founder members of the North West Counties League seven years later. They held the proud record of being the only club to play in the NW Counties‟ top flight every season until they were relegated in April 2015, conceding an injury-time equaliser to Silsden in the last game of the season, a match they had to win to stay up. Town enjoyed a golden era in the late 1980s, just missing out on an appearance in the First Round proper of the FA Cup in 1985/86, losing to Morecambe in a Fourth Qualifying Round Replay, but they obtained ample compensation by winning the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987, beating near neighbours Warrington Town 3-2, with two goals from Phil Layhe and one from Brian Rigby. They were regular promotion candidates for many years, largely due to the scoring exploits of Steve “Pellet” Pennington, who grabbed 216 goals in 351 games, his season‟s best hauls of 45 in 1993/94 and 46 in 1997/98 just failing to beat the club record of 47 scored by Phil Stainton in 1963/64. Current club captain Andy Gillespie won the NW Counties‟ golden boot with 34 goals in the 2015/16 season and netted another 24 times last season. This season sees Town in their third season in the Hallmark Securities League First Division, aiming to put behind themselves two seasons of inconsistent performances which have seen them finish some way short of the promotion places, despite some excellent results. Manager Alan Gillespie now has a settled first team squad and, having endured seven years of a nomadic existence, ground-sharing at Ashton Town, Ashton Athletic and Prescot Cables, the excellent 3G facilities at Ruskin Drive are now up and running and backed up by a strong development system, featuring Under-18s, Under-21s and Reserves managed by a top-class coaching team, the club is looking forward once again to a great future.

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www.hallmarksecurityleague.com/clubpage.php?id=20

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 HARRIS SAUNDERS DALEY WOODS ADAM REYNOLDS HARRY GASKELL LIAM WILKINSON JOHN EDGERTON MATTY JOHNSON CHRIS HILL JACK RICHARDS JAMES LUDGATE BRAD SMART GINO KING ARON MCGRATH ROB LAMONT DYLAN GLASS GEORGE ATKINSON

1 CARL WILLIAMS 2 JESSE ROBINSON 3 PAUL CLIFF 4 DOMINIC WHELAN 5 ANDREW WEBSTER 6 DANIEL LOMAX 7 SEAN RICHARDS 8 MICHAEL FURLONG 9 LIAM DIGGLE 10 DANIEL GREENE 11 NEIL WEAVER 12 THOMAS GRIMSHAW 14 LUKE EDWARDS 15 HAL MCHUGH 16 ANTHONY WHELAN 17 THOMAS POTTER

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: Lee Jenkinson Assistant: Nick Robinson Colours: Blue

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Referee: Sam Orritt, Asst 1: Keith Davenport, Asst 2: Joel Worrall