THE GAFFER 24 MATCH-UP

THE

Good afternoon, and welcome to today’s NWCFL Premier Division match between Squires Gate and Wythenshawe Town. A warm welcome to our visitors and the travelling fans. The games don’t get much easier do they? What a good side Wythenshawe are, and no doubt they’ll be around the top of the table come the end of the season. They will no doubt prove a really tough test for us this afternoon, but we’re scared of nobody at all, and we’re confident we can win this game. We showed our quality and what we can do in Tuesday’s narrow defeat to Bury AFC. Leading 1-0 at half time, we played them off the park at times and were deservedly in front. Bury’s quality off the bench changed the game and we fell to a really unfortunate 2-1 defeat. We showed what a really good footballing side we are and got a lot of praise. This gives us a lot of confidence going into today’s match. We’re also on the back of two home wins on the bounce, including last Saturday’s 2-1 victory in the FA Vase against Easington Colliery AFC. After a low start, we got ourselves level and scored a last minute winner. It wasn't pretty at times but a win is a win in a cup competition, and we progress into the next round of the FA Vase. We’ll be facing West Allotment Celtic away in the next round, it’s a long journey but we hope to see you there getting behind the lads like you do so well. A big thank you to everyone for attending today’s game. We’ve got another home game on Wednesday against Ashton Athletic so we hope to see you there too! Enjoy the game! Gaffer

#WeAreGate

LUKE EVANS

LUKE EVANS (Manager) ANDY BAKER (Asst. Manager)

LIAM ROBINSON (First Team Coach) RHYS DALY (Physio)

SPONSORED BY DENISE GIBSON

JOSH WESTWOOD (Captain)

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NATHAN PENNINGTON

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LUKE HOLDEN

AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR ISAAC ABANKWAH NATHAN BARTRAM

DAN SMITH ALEX WELSH

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ROWAN CHAMBERS

AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR OLLIE BURGESS

AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR WILL EASTHAM

HARRISON KAY

RYAN RILEY

OLLY HESFORD

AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR SAAD MEKKAOUI-ABOUZAID

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JAMES BOYD

AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR JAMES HUGHES

THEO BALL

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GARY PETT RYAN POWELL

COVER STAR // ISSUE SEVEN // ALBERT COOPER C VER STAR

Words by Dan Hayden

Continuing to recognise those at the very heart of Squires Gate FC, our cover star this week is the legend, Albert Cooper.

Those associated with the football club, and even those who aren't will recognise Albert as being a very important figure off the pitch. Before he handed the reigns over to Ian in 2020, the club could not have progressed as well as it did without his continuous efforts.

When I first joined the club back in 2013, Albert was photographer and programme editor and his love for the club was inspiring. He always had time for a chat, and the stories he told of his historic pictures was amazing.

He passed the programme duties on to me and Jay in 2015, and has always been complimentary of the work we have produced he'd always make a joke "picture by accident" if we missed the by line on his photos. But I hope that in the latter years of programme editing he approves of the current standard of the Squires Gate programme.

As you all know, me Jay and James are taking Squires Gate into a new era in terms of media and programme editing, but the whole background to this seasons front covers is to recognise those behind the scenes who have helped Squires Gate Football Club become the friendly, welcoming club that they are today. "Creating new memories. Respecting our past" was the key motto for our campaign. Albert is one of those people and will always be a club legend.

Current Gate photographer Ian officially took over from Albert last season. “Back to summer 2020, I was speaking to the gaffer about my interest in sports photography and immediately he said that I need to come to Gate and meet Albert. So at a pre season game against Garstang in August 2020 I met Albert.

Since then he has been a constant inspiration, mentor and above all else a friend. He has already forgotten what I have learned in my two years taking pics at Gate. But he has been so supportive and generous in his time and feedback I cannot thank him enough. Taking over from Albert was like Moyes following Fergie, but my Fergie has supported me from day one. Thanks Albert, still a way to go but I’ve already lasted longer than Moyes did!”

ALBERT COOPER