PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
STOCKPORT COUNTY AFC LIVERPOOL
EFE SODJE IS HERE! 2016-17 SEASON OFFICIAL PROGRAMME • £2
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Sandbach United Football Club was established in 2004 when Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers joined forces in their quest to improve the football facilities in Sandbach. Hence the R & A on the club badge. On the 18th January 2004, the membership of Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers voted in favour of amalgamation, with the aim of playing as a single club from the start of the 2004/5 season. Sandbach Albion was formerly known as Hays Junior Football Club and was founded in 1994, playing on the pitches of what is now Albion Chemicals. As health and safety issues became more prevalent in the 90’s, they had to leave that site and for 5 years their senior home ground was Sandbach Cricket Club. Their younger sides played their games at junior schools throughout Sandbach, namely Offley Road, Elworth Hall and Elworth C of E Albion. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was re-formed in 1995 to provide access to schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach.
HALLMARK SECURITY LEAGUE FIXTURES Saturday 6 Aug
HOLKER OLD BOYS (H)
3pm
Monday 8 Aug
WIDNES (A)
7.45pm
Saturday 13 Aug
ATHERTON LR (A)
3pm
Thursday 18 Aug
ST. HELENS TOWN (A)
7.45pm
Saturday 20 Aug
DAISY HILL (H)
3pm
Wednesday 24 Aug
ECCLESHALL (A)
7.45pm
Saturday 27 Aug
PRESTWICH HAYES (H)
3pm
Stockport County were established in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, in 1890 the name was changed to Stockport County to reflect the town gaining County Borough status. After winning the Lancashire League in 1900, the County gained admittance to the Football League, drawing their first match 2-2 away to Leicester Fosse (now Leicester City). After finishing in the bottom three in their first four seasons, County failed to gain re-election in 1904 and so spent a season in the Lancashire Combination; they won the League at the first time of asking and made an immediate return to the professional ranks. County would be proud Football League members for more than a century. Hatmaking was an established industry in north Cheshire and south-east Lancashire by the 16th century. By the late 19th century Stockport had become a national centre for the trade, and by 1900 County’s nickname of ‘The Hatters’ had become synonymous with the club Having played in a variety of kit colours in the club’s early years, usually a variation on blue and white, County switched to white shirts and black shorts from the ‘30s until the mid ‘60s. Throughout this period they were often referred to as the Lilywhites. In 1965 flamboyant chairman Vic Bernard, as part of his GO GO GO COUNTY revolution, reintroduced the Hatters’ famous royal blue strip; colours they still adopt today. Promotion came in 1991, and was followed by four visits to Wembley in two years – twice in playoff finals, twice in the Football League Trophy. Unfortunately, County lost on each occasion. Dave Jones took charge in 1995 and gave the club its most memorable season. In 1996/97, the Hatters won four games against Premiership opposition, including a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough in the League Cup semi-final – unfortunately, the tie was lost 2-1 on aggregate. Other runs in the FA Cup and League Trophy meant County played almost 70 games that season, and finished 2nd in the Second Division – the large amount of games almost certainly costing them the title. 26th JULY: SUFC v STOCKPORT COUNTY – 7.00pm Kick Off
EFE SODJE AT SANDBACH UNITED Sandbach United FC strike a non contractual deal which will see Efe Sodje join Manager, Andy Hockenhull, and coaching staff for the pre season training schedule, and matches, in the run up to the club’s first season in the Hallmark Security League. Sodje brings with him a wealth of playing experience not only from his time in the professional football league system at Macclesfield, Bury, Yeovil, Huddersfield and Crewe Alexandra but also international experience from his 12 appearances for Nigeria. Whilst playing for his national side, he was a runner up in the 2000 African Cup of Nations and played in the 2002 World Cup, which included an appearance against England. In recent years, Sodje has gained valuable managerial experience from his time spent at both Bury and Macclesfield Town. It is a great honour for a player of Efe's standard to join us for pre season and we are very grateful. The players and club members look forward to his dynamic input and effervescent personality. There is a real buzz of excitement about the club as the new season approaches and all of this just adds to it as we fast approach our first friendly match against Chester FC at home on 9th July. Sandbach United are keen to highlight the great work Sodje and his brothers have done to help children and charities over the years, raising thousands along the way for some great causes, notably through the Sodje Foundation charity. Sodje is keen to give back to the community clubs and does so as a volunteer and ambassador to the game, which is testament to his character as an individual demonstrating a true passion for the game. We very much look forward to him putting the lads through their paces over the summer months.
AFC Liverpool was formed in 2008, by Liverpool FC fans, who had become increasingly frustrated at the cost and difficulty in obtaining tickets for the Premiership. The supposed ‘39th game’ in which Premier League fixtures would be played in different parts of the world proved to be the final straw, highlighting that top flight football is now more concerned about money than its fans. At the beginning of March 2008 AFC Liverpool was officially formed and it was made clear that the club was not in any way a response to the ownership issue at Anfield or a protest against Liverpool Football Club, more a reaction to issues at the top end of football in general. By May, AFC Liverpool had appointed its first manager in Derek Goulding. The following month the club arranged a ground share with Prescot Cables and had been accepted into the North West Counties Football League. The club’s first game was a 1-1 draw in a friendly with St Helens Town on 16th July 2008 and they began their inaugural league season extremely well, beating Darwen 5-0 in their first competitive game and going on a run of ten wins in the first eleven games. AFC Liverpool started the 2015/16 in fine form, winning five out of their first six games, including a 9-2 away win at Chadderton in the FA Cup and a 3-2 win against NPL side Radcliffe Borough in the following round to send them through to the First Qualifying Round for the first time in their short history. At the end of September 2015 though, manager Paul Moore decided to move on and his place was taken by former midfielder Joe Gibbons, who had been on Moore’s backroom staff firstly as coach and then assistant manager since July 2013. However, after a good start to his tenure, a string of poor performances and results saw Gibbons resign after just nineteen games in charge. First team coach Kevin Dally was then appointed as the interim manager and with most of the squad also having departed, Dally had just five days to bring in almost an entirely new squad before his first match in charge, which was a 2-2 draw away at Alsager Town. Dally’s appointment was made permanent in March 2016. With the luxury of a secure league position Dally was able to use the remaining fixtures to embed his style of play and try out players almost in preparation for the following season. As a result the club finished 17th in the league but were in a much stronger, much more stable position from which to move forward. 30th JULY: SUFC v AFC LIVERPOOL – 2.00pm Kick Off
Name: BRAD COOPER Nickname: Brad! Year joined club: 2015 Position: Right back / centre back Previous clubs: Nantwich Town, Eccleshall Supports: Manchester United Favourite Player: David Beckham Profession: Driver Interests/hobbies: Socialising, football and music
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