CLUB INFORMATION Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens Vice Presidents: Jim Barrett and Steve Ball Chairman: John McKiernan (07713 339682) Vice Chairman: Glyn Jones Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695)
Tuesday 11th August 2015, 7.45pm NWCFL, Division 1 St Helens Town
Atherton LR
Red & White Shirts White Shorts, Red & White Socks No
Graham McLoughlin
Gls Y R
Orange Shirts Black Shorts & Orange Socks No
Ashley Whittle
Matty Davidson
Neil Unsworth
Sean Kelly
Thomas McNair
Ant Whelan
Ian Frazer
Dale Sealey
Hospitality: Margaret Wood and Paul Wood
Christopher Morris
David Baines
Craig Dickinson
Trustees: John McKiernan and Eric Bond
Jordan Lorde
Sean Nolan
Johan Du Toit
Jonathan Green
1st Team Joint Managers: Alan Gillespie & Nick Matthews
Andy Gillespie
Benjamin Hyde
Alex Nwachukwu
David Moore
U21s Team Manager: John McLaughlan
Jack Marshall
Jordyn Fitton
U21s Assistant Manager: Billy Davies
Dom Whelan
Ben Walmsley
Charlie Duke
Reece Fletcher
U18s Team Manager: Ellis Hawksworth
Alex Russell
Connor Corrigan
Marcus Perry
Stephen Solademi
U18s Assistant Manager: Alex Jardine
Tom Bradley
Joseph Crossley
Sunday Team Manager: David Platt
Managers: Alan Gillespie and Nick Matthews
Full Committee: John McKiernan, Jeff Voller, Jim Barrett, Ste Ball, Paul Wood, Margaret Wood, Chris Ford and Glyn Jones.
Club Email: sthelenstownfc@hotmail.co.uk
Main Club Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool
Gls Y R
Managers: Adam Jones and Craig Jones
Referee: Mr A Beckett (Thornton-Cleveleys) Assist: Mr P Haworth (Bolton) & Mr P Sephton (Warrington)
Match Sponsor
Shirt Sponsor: EcigUK St Helens Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002
PC PROBLEMS Repairs, Upgrades, System Set Up, Hardware/Software Sales
18 St Mary’s Market, St Helens 01744 302330
Company Director: Jim Barrett Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited
Match Ball Sponsor
Cover Photograph: Action from Town’ pre-season friendly at Euxton Villa July 2015
JOHN CAHILL
Next Home Game: Saturday 22nd August 2015 St Helens Town v Irlam NWCL, Division One Adults 35, Concessions £3
Good evening and welcome to Brocstedes Park for this our first ever home game in the second tier of the North West Counties Football League, and our first home contest of the 2015-16 season against our friends from Atherton LR. May I open by welcoming our visitors I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the game. It seems to not be that long ago that we were here with our Premier Division destiny in our own hands, beat Silsden in that final game of the season and we stay up and preserved our unbroken stint in the top flight of the NWCFL. There was more tension in the air both on and off the pitch than at the previous game against Maine Road and thanks to free admission a very healthy crowd in three figures to get behind the lads. A fine first half goal from Aaron Morris who went on to collect Player & Players’ Player of the year awards at the end of season event, put the hosts in the lead and he could have doubled his and Town’s account soon afterwards only to be denied by an excellent save from the visiting stopper. As the second half wore on Town pressed their advantage home as they looked to give themselves as cushion with Hamish Falconer coming closest with a header which grazed the crossbar. 1-0 is always a dangerous lead and so it proved as a rare venture forward by Silsden saw a corner earned and after a spot of pinball in the box the ball was forced home, to the sound of silence in the partisan crowd. There was still time for Town to save themselves and Morris missed an absolute sitter in added on time and was inconsolable after the contest but it was not one moment or chance that saw us relegated it was the amalgamation of 40 games worth of trials and tribulations which sealed our fate. As it is we must look to bounce back as soon as we can and looking on the positives we have new venues to visit and friends to make with seven clubs in the division we have never played competitively before and others we have only played the odd cup contest against. We were given a difficult start to the season with a trip to last seasons play-off semi-finalists in Chadderton and a visit to a venue where we hadn’t ever won, in 9 previous attempts and we got off to a slow start in our First Division life looking listless and went behind on 25 minutes this seemed to shake Town into life and some guile and determination saw Jack Marshall shake off two defenders and fine home from an acute angle.
After the interval it was all St Helens as we created chance after chance but were thwarted by the woodwork, some last ditch challenges and some excellent goalkeeping. Both teams were reduced to 10 men with time running out as Sean Kelly reacted angrily to a reckless challenge from behind and was given his marching orders along with a Chadderton player who ran around 40 yards to get involved! Town were not to be denied however and with a couple of minutes of normal time to play when Jordan Lorde latched onto a through ball advancing before finding substitute Alex Russell centrally and he made no mistake firing home. In added on time the visitors secured the victory when a swift counter attack with Chadderton pressing in an attempt to level caught them on the back foot and Marcus Perry advanced down the right wing drawing the defender before lofting an inch perfect pass over him into the path of Lorde who had a touch before slotting home to take all the points back to Merseyside. This evening we host Atherton LR who fell to a 2-0 home reverse at the hands of Litherland REMYCA on the opening day and will be looking to bounce back this evening. Let’s get behind Town this evening and hopefully cheer them onto victory. Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller
Laburnum Rovers were founded in 1956 by Joe Riley as an under 14s side and after a difficult first season in the local Briarcroft Junior League, they went on to enjoy much success in League and Cup competitions. Joe was persuaded to carry on into Senior football and after a brief spell in the Leigh League the club joined the Bolton Combination. More success followed, but the ground at Hag Fold prevented further progress so a farmers field was found and despite footpath criss-crossing and duck ponds either side, hard work by everyone at the club turned this unpromising field into a football pitch. In 1966 the club moved into its new ground and were able to take their place in Division One of the Combination. Jack Crilly succeeded Joe as Chairman and worked tirelessly for the club, supervising the erection of new changing rooms (an improvement on the old air raid shelters they had been using) and a small social club. Jack died suddenly in 1980 and as a tribute to the work he did the ground was renamed from Greendale to Crilly Park.
In the summer of 1980 the club joined the non-league pyramid when their application to join the Cheshire County League was successful. A stipulation of the League was that the towns name had to be in the clubs title, so links with the past were retained with the new name of Atherton Laburnum Rovers. In 1982 the club became founder members of the North West Counties League, being placed in division two until the league was reorganised in 1987 when ongoing ground improvements saw them placed in division one. 1989 saw floodlights erected and the club enter the FA Cup for the first time, while in 1991 the changing rooms and clubhouse were completely rebuilt. Towards the end of 1990/91 season Dave Morris took over as team manager and it was the start of the best period in the clubs history. In 1992/93 the club won the League title with 106 points from 42 games and also won the League Championship Trophy. Promotion to the Unibond League was denied them because of grading requirements, but undaunted the club repeated their double the following season as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Vase. This time the club was promoted to the Unibond League. Two good seasons saw steady progress, but then financial troubles struck and the club was relegated for the first time in its history. Three seasons of struggle back in the North West Counties League culminated with the relegation to Division Two. However, the appointment of Alan Lord as manager saw a remarkable turnaround in form and nine successive victories helped the club win back promotion to Division One at the first attempt. In November 2002 Tom Foster and Dennis Haslem took over as managers after having to rebuild the team from scratch, they secured Division One football for another season. Dennis moved on in the summer and Ian Street joined the club. A period of stability and success followed but at the end of 2004/05 season Foster and Street left the club to be replaced by Mike Lester and Darren Ford, They set about building a new squad but, in February 2006, Lester and Ford resigned sparking a difficult time for the club on the pitch with no less than six managers at the helm over the next two years. The most successful period came in spring 2007 under Roy Sweeney when the club moved away from the relegation zone after doubling its points total from 21 to 42 in the final two months of the season. Sweeney resigned in December 2007, with Malcolm Anderton taking temporary charge for four months until ex-LR player and Leigh RMI manager Stuart Humphreys was brought in to ensure the club retained its top division status and it was fortunate that
21st place was enough. With changes elsewhere in the pyramid system meaning LR avoided relegation at the end of 07/08 season, the club brought in Dave Hughes as the new manager with a brief to keep the team in the Premier Division while the club was reorganised behind the scenes. Hughes brought in a very experienced coaching team and set about building a squad which has proved very successful. The season ended with one of the highest league placings for several years, victory in the Goldline Trophy and another Reebok appearance in the Hospital Cup final. This season the side had a promising opening to the campaign recording another FA Cup giant-killing before injuries took a severe toll, with the team battling in the relegation dogfight. Victory once again in the Goldline Trophy Final gave the team enough belief to collect the points they needed to stay in the Premier Division.
Dave Hughes resigned as manager at the beginning of September 2010 and the position was immediately offered to the Head Coach Glenn Moses to ensure stability within the team. Moses led the club to its third Goldline Final in three years and one of our highest league placings for several years but unfortunately further instability followed at the end of that season with the manager and most of the team moving on to pastures new. At short notice former player Phil Priestley took the reins and with barely two weeks to build a squad from scratch before the season began it always appeared an uphill struggle. Despite some battling performances LR succumbed to relegation, and the 2012/13 season in Division One was also a challenge, despite some outstanding performances which saw the team beat all the leading lights including West Didsbury, Formby and Darwen over the course of the campaign. 2013/14 opened under new management as Michael Clegg was appointed and the season brought real encouragement on the pitch as the side secured a top eight finish with some tremendous performances, although off the pitch the club was plunged into mourning following the sudden death of long-term supporter Eddie Taylor - the Man with the Rattle. At the end of the season Clegg departed for Atherton Collieries and the club appointed another former player Ross McNair, to be assisted by the hugely-experienced former Ashton Athletic and Colls supremo Steve Pilling. After an encouraging 2014/15 season where LR spent most of the season in the play off places only to fall away at the business end of the season, Ross had to step down due to work commitments and the club moved to appoint brothers Adam & Craig Jones from Stoneclough into the hot seat.
Season 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
League NWC-2 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1
P 38 44 42 42 42 42 42 38 42 42 42 42 34 36 36
W 24 11 11 17 14 7 11 5 12 10 19 5 8 17 12
D 3 11 12 7 6 8 9 9 15 7 6 6 11 3 7
L 11 22 19 18 22 27 22 24 15 25 17 31 15 16 17
F 88 62 65 77 64 40 65 38 70 53 75 36 37 66 46
A 50 88 86 76 82 115 106 86 77 96 72 116 55 66 70
GD 38 -26 -21 1 -18 -75 -41 -48 -7 -43 3 -80 -18 0 -24
Pts 75 44 45 58 48 29 42 24 51 37 63 21 35 54 43
Position 3/20 20/23 14/22 12/22 15/22 20/22 16/22 19/20 12/22 20/22 10/22 22/22 13/18 8/19 12/19
at St Helens Town
Previous Meetings
at Atherton LR
NWC-D1
2000-01
NWC-D2
30/03; 3-1
2001-02
20/04; 3-0
08/03; 5-2
2002-03
08/04; 2-2
31/01; 0-3
2003-04
29/11; 0-1
05/10; 1-0
2004-05
30/11; 0-3
Atherton LR - last 6 matches
03/09; 2-2
2005-06
08/10; 2-0
All Competitions
03/04; 1-5
2006-07
24/04; 4-3
15/12; 2-1
2007-08
14/08; 1-3
18/11; 3-6
2008-09
24/02; 0-4
08/09; 2-2
2009-10
16/03; 1-0
05/10; 3-0
2010-11
26/03; 0-1
02/01; 3-0
2011-12
09/08; 0-0
NWC-PD
2012-13
NWC-D1
NWC-PD
2013-14
NWC-D1
NWC-PD
2014-15
NWC-D1
11/08/2015
2015-16
14/11/2015
St Helens Town - last 6 matches
All Competitions Home
Most recent
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Most recent
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St Helens Town games since...
Atherton LR games since...
All Competitions
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Clean sheet
2
Goal Scored
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Loss
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No score draw
32
No score draw
40
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Score draw
14
Win
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St Helens Town Scores First Games Played
22
St Helens Town Wins
10
Draws
4
Atherton LR Wins
8
St Helens Town Goals
38
Atherton LR Goals
39
Percentage Town Wins
45.45
Previous Meetings All Competitions P
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Away
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43.48
Collated
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51.06
Good evening and a very warm welcome to Brocstedes Park for this our opening home fixture in the NWCFL Division One. We hope tonight’s opponents Atherton LR have had a safe journey and that the officials and spectators from both clubs are treated to an entertaining encounter. Where has the summer break gone? It seems only a very short while since we lost our top flight status when Silsden’s late, late equaliser consigned us to relegation. That’s football as they say and we now have a task ahead of us to steady the club and look forward to a season of being much more competitive as well as reacquainting ourselves with lots of old friends and meeting new ones. The resignation of manager Ian Price meant we had a vacancy for our top job and just after the completion of last season we interviewed a number of candidates and made the unanimous decision to appoint Alan Gillespie and Nick Matthews as joint managers. Neither are strangers to the club Nick was assistant to ‘Pricey’ while Alan steps up from a successful period with the U21s. I’d like to offer a belated congratulations to the club’s U21s who clinched the Cheshire FA U21s League Championship at the end of last season. We are hoping new manager John McLaughlin and his assistant Billy Davies will continue the development of the team as they look to defend their title. Following the departure to AFC Fylde of U18s boss Cairns Hardie we confirmed the appointment of manager Ellis Hawksworth and his assistant Alex Jardine who are now looking forward to building on last season’s experience in the North West Youth Alliance League. Last season’s Veterans side have been renamed St Helens Town AFC (Sunday) and will continue to play in the Liverpool & District Sunday League under the watchful eye of Dave Platt – they have relocated their home games to the excellent facilities at Rainhill High School. The club will endeavour to offer coverage in the match programme, official website and social media to all our teams as the season unfolds.
Congratulations to Steve Ball who has accepted the position of Honorary Vice President after supporting the club for forty years. We also welcome a couple of new faces to the committee – Margaret and Paul Wood join us and will be looking after our match officials and half time hospitality. More on both these items are in tonight’s match programme. Once again we like to offer our thanks to Jimmy Whyte and his committee here at Ashton Athletic as our period in exile continues for another season – our hosts have put in a huge amount of hard work over the last few months and the ground is a credit to them. Thanks and congratulations must also go to Ben Kay who has the Brocstedes Park playing surface in great condition.
We hope to see some announcements on our proposed move back to St Helens very soon as work is about to commence on the project at Ruskin Drive. I have had very positive meetings with new St Helens North MP Conor McGinn (who has agreed to sponsor a game this season) and St Helens Council’s Chief Executive Mike Palin who were both very supportive. We’ve had another busy summer with increased commercial and sponsorship activity key to the club’s financial and playing success. I would like to thank all our sponsors for their support and we look forward to working with you all over the 201516 season; we will be featuring all sponsors in our programme and on-line – a special thanks goes to Johnson Toyota Liverpool, our Main Sponsors for their brilliant continued support and EcigUK St Helens who have extended their shirt sponsorship deal into 2015-16. We are still looking for match and match ball sponsors from just £50 per game – please contact me on 07713 339 682 if you can help. Many thanks to tonight’s match sponsors PC Problems, St Mary’s Market , St Helens and our match ball sponsor John Cahill – your support is greatly appreciated. Saturday see us travel to Maine Road in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round with the winners picking up £1500 before travelling to Ossett Albion on Saturday 29 th August in the Preliminary Round. In the FA Carlsberg Vase we travel to Winterton Rangers in the 1 st Qualifying Round on Saturday 5th September. There’s always plenty of news, report and photos on-line via our Facebook page, twitter account or the club’s official website www.sthelenstownafc.com Let’s hope the lads can build on opening day win at Chadderton (our first win in ten attempts at Andrew Street) and make home advantage count this evening – thanks for your support and I hope to see some of you at Brantingham Road on Saturday. John McKiernan Chairman St Helens Town AFC 07713 339 682
In Division One, we believe that history was made at the Select Security Stadium, when Ashton Town's Danny Coid scored with a 50 yard effort straight from the kick off in their game against Widnes - the goal timed at three seconds which will take some beating as the fastest goal in league history! Town went on to win 3-2. Barnton signalled that they will be a force to be reckoned with this season after a 6-1 win at Daisy Hill, in which close season signing from Runcorn Linnets Kevin Towey scored a hat trick in the last 19 minutes. The highest scoring match of the day, however, was at the Brian Boys West View Stadium, where a last minute penalty from Luke Pearson secured a 5-5 draw for Cheadle Town at Bacup Borough, after the home side had been 4-1 up at half time. The two league new boys both made good starts to their inaugural NWCFL campaigns, with Stockport Town opening up with an impressive 3-2 win at last season's play-off finalists Hanley Town. Matt German, Sam Scott, and Andrew Mottershead go into the Stockport Town's history books as scorers in their first game, while Theo Stair showed he has lost none of the goalscoring touch he has displayed in the least two seasons with both goals for Hanley.
Whitchurch Alport welcomed Rochdale Town as the first ever NWCFL visitors to Yockings Park, and when Luke Woollam put Alport ahead with 20 minutes to go, it looked like they might start with a win, but an equaliser ten minutes later from Rochdale's Alex Dibley ensured the points were shared. The only home winners of the day in the division were Irlam, who beat Northwich Manchester Villa 3-0, and a goal in each half from Connor Murphy and Craig Marley saw Litherland REMYCA through to a 2-0 win at Atherton LR. Holker Old Boys ensured their long trip down to Eccleshall was not in vain, winning 2-1 thanks to second half goals from Dave Swarbrick and Jamie Pattinson. Top billing in the Premier Division has to go to Colne's Jason Hart, who started the season in grand style with four of his side's goals in the 6-2 win over Winsford United at the XLCR Stadium. The division's leading scorer last season, Danny Boyle, also chipped in with a goal, suggesting that Colne will once again be a match for anyone in the division this season. Pre-season promotion favourites 1874 Northwich and Runcorn Linnets both started with 2-0 wins. Goals from Danny Thomas and Aidan Haughton gave 1874 victory at home to Squires Gate, while the biggest crowd of the day was at the Mechanics to see Freddie Potter and Kyle Hamid score twice in two minutes just before half time to see Linnets home at the expense of AFC Blackpool. Another prolific goalscorer from last season, AFC Liverpool's Ryan Cox, picked up from where he left off with a hat trick in the Reds 4-0 home win over Alsager Town, while Nelson also scored four without reply at Runcorn Town, with Adam Nuttall grabbing a double. Two other sides also scored four times on their way to picking up three points, with Abbey Hey's Ashford Blake scoring twice in their 4-2 win over Cammell Laird 1907, and Congleton Town's Scott McGowan doing likewise in the Bears' 4-3 triumph over Barnoldswick Town. Two first half goals from Connor Hughes set Maine Road on the way to a 3-2 win at Silsden, and there was a dramatic finish to the game at Brookburn Road, where West Didsbury & Chorlton's Ashley Woods opened the scoring with six minutes to go, but two goals in the last two minutes from Nathan Battersby snatched victory for visitors Atherton Collieries. A late goal from Richie Livingston was enough to secure a 1-0 win for Ashton Athletic over AFC Darwen, and the only drawn game of the day was at the Arbories, where Padiham shared the points with Bootle on their return to league with a 1-1 draw.
As May took hold and the harsh reality of a long close season started to take hold, I realised that I could not face 2 complete months without the beautiful game. So what were my options? Last year I managed to make a diversion whilst on a holiday in Scandinavia to catch a game, this year’s summer break was in Berlin so no options on the table there. A need this year to try and keep it a little cheaper, Ireland was my opener and a quick look into the feasibility ticked all the boxes, cheapish air tickets, hotels reasonable and the two teams in Cork, City and Cobh Ramblers were both at home in the same weekend. The former on the Friday, the latter the following evening. All systems go, booked. Several days later, I looked into the whole matter further, I had made a schoolboy error. I’d not looked at the Europa League qualifying round dates, and it was no surprise when I did to see that Cork City’s game would be moved. Fantastic. Now I decided to do my homework, there was only one serious option open to me and that was to spend Friday night at Waterford United hotel changed for the night and a coach ride across Southern Ireland booked I was back up to my 2 game trip. Fast forward to July, and after Mrs Spoon nearly knocked down John Bishop at the drop-off point at Manchester Airport, I then stood behind the comedian at the check-in. Surely I was not going to be on the same flight, no, I wasn’t, however, I was joined by Granada Reports’ Lucy Meacock. Get me eh? Landing in Cork, straight aboard the coach I was off east to Waterford, a city synonymous for its Crystal, even though no longer produced there. It is however, the place where the Irish tricolour was first raised. That evening was spent at the Waterford Regional Sports Centre, watching Waterford United lose to Finn Harps. The hosts were much the better side up until they found themselves 3-0 at which point the match pretty much petered out. After missing several good chances, United fell behind just before the break to a well worked move on the break.
After the break the game picked up where it had left off and United pressed and pressed, before two quick goals just after the hour finished them off. The major disappointment was that only 250 were present, yet despite the fact that it was only going to be Liverpool’s reserves playing in a friendly the week after and the gate price was doubled, it was on the verge of being a sell-out. Morning brought a coach trip back to Cork, and an evening trip to Cobh Ramblers, just to the east, the club where Roy Keane started his career, Stephen Ireland too. The town was also the last stopping point that the Titanic made before its ill-fated journey across the Atlantic Ocean and just off the coast where the Lusitania was torpedoed. Rambler’s home was a little gem, an old ground tucked away amongst the streets, a very warm welcome awaited on a wet and miserable evening. A sense of Deja Vous as the hosts dominated a match that they would ultimately lose 3-0, this affair a bit bad tempered towards the end as the hosts realised that there efforts were in vain and tackles got tastier and tastier. The third was an effort from the halfway line following a poor clearance from the on rushing keeper.
So the following morning with the sun now shining brilliantly for the first time since I arrived, I left Ireland. Two weeks later I would be venturing north to Scotland, to continue my season and my quest for 100 games. Next year? Quite fancy one of the old Russian annexes, possibly Lithuania.
St Helens Town are delighted to honour one of the club’s long standing supporters. Committee member Steve Ball attended his first Town game over forty years ago – 29th March 1975 when he saw his ‘new team’ record a 3-2 home win over Leyland Motors at Hoghton Road in the Lancashire Combination. Incidentally, Steve attended that first game with his good friend Chris Foy (recently retired Premier League Referee). Club Chairman John McKiernan said, ‘I’m sure Steve didn’t think that forty years on from the Leyland Motors game he’d still be actively involved in supporting the club!’ ‘He’s been a real stalwart, taking on a huge number of roles during the past four decades. He has served on the club’s committee during two spells; one in the late 1970s and a second current stint which started back in 1987.’ ‘This honorary position reflects the hard work put in over a prolonged period of time on behalf of the club and Steve joins former Chairman Jim Barrett in the role.' ‘Steve’s duties have included bingo ticket selling, raising football & rugby posts, working on the pitch and helping out with hospitality back at Hoghton Road. He also had a spell as programme editor/ contributor and undertook commercial work following up programme adverts for 1987/88season. Other roles have included organising supporters’ coaches and filling in as match correspondent for local papers and Liverpool Echo. ‘Steve, along with his partner Lisa, also operated our refreshment bar during the decade we spent at Knowsley Road and more recently continues to sell raffle tickets and help out with hospitality on matchdays.’ Favourite ground: Ramsbottom United Highlights: Obviously the 1987 FA Vase campaign but especially the wins against Colne, Falmouth, Emley and Warrington Town. A cup fixture away at Skelmersdale United when outfield player Paul Kirwan had to go in goal during extra time and then went on to save three penalties in the shoot-out! Best Away Days: FA Vase: Wisbech, Falmouth in the FA Vase winning season and more recently Winterton and Alnwick Town FA Cup: Morecambe FA Trophy: Blyth Spartans Worst Away Days: Being beaten twice at Tow Law Town (in very dubious circumstances)! Best League Town has played in: Cheshire League in late 1970s.
The FA have announced increases in the fines which will be applied for Respect offences, commencing from this coming season. Dissent, abusive language and breaches of discipline during and after games will be punished more severely, with the fines applied dependent on the level of the League within the Non-League Pyramid. Any of our Premier Division clubs involved in 10 incidents of this nature will be fined ÂŁ150,with a fine of ÂŁ75 for clubs in the First Division. For 15 incidents the fine will be doubled, and thereafter if any further occurrences arise, these will result in charges being applied in accordance with FA rules.
League Secretary John Deal said: "The League Management Committee are fully behind the FA's drive to cut down on incidents of this nature. The easiest solution to prevent unnecessary costs to the clubs is for the players, managers and coaches to keep their cool and their mouths closed. "It will be a difficult challenge for some, but the rewards are simple - less cautions and sendings-off, less suspensions, more player availability and less money going out of clubs. "Swearing and poor behaviour is one of the main reasons that families don’t attend matches at our level of football, so any initiative that helps improve the situation will receive our full support. "Four clubs - Colne, Runcorn Linnets, Barnton and Northwich Manchester Villa - managed to complete last season without receiving a single caution for dissent. These clubs are to be congratulated, and we hope to see more clubs following in their footsteps in the coming season". Ashton Town's Danny Coid has earned his place in the league record books, with what we believe is the fastest goal in league history. Town kicked off in their Division One game at the Select Security Stadium against Widnes, and once the referee signalled the start of the game, Town's Sean Robinson touched the ball to Neil Weaver, who in turned passed to Danny Coid, and he unleashed a 50 yard shot from the half way line that beat Widnes goalkeeper - and former Ashton Town trialist - Gage Walsh. The goal was timed at three seconds by those present who had managed to set their stop watches at the start of the game. Although records from the early years of the league are not fully complete, we believe that this will be the fastest goal in league history, and the quickest opening day goal in any season since the league began in 1982 - unless anyone can tell us differently. To mark the start of the new NWCFL season, the League has launched a new League website which aims to improve on its successful predecessor. The new site has been brought up to date with a fresh new look and feel and is also designed to be viewed on tablets and mobiles as well as desktop, improving the website experience of users on the move from which many of you now visit the site. The site includes new some new features, including players details being in the database for the first time. This allows us to bring you features such as teamsheets for every game this season and improved player tables. Further features will be added as the season progresses.
We are looking for additional sponsors on match-days with a host f benefits for both match (£100) and ball (£50) sponsors including free entry & programme; hospitality, programme and social media advertising; pre-match photos, man of the match awards. Contact John McKiernan on 07713 339 682 for more details. Date
Opponents
Match Sponsor
Match Ball Sponsor
Tue 11/08/15
Atherton LR
19:45
PC Problems St Helens
John Cahill
Sat 22/08/15
Irlam
15:00
Anthony Hall
Sat 29/08/15
Holker Old Boys
15:00
Conor McGinn MP
Sat 12/09/15
Barnton
15:00
LM Travel
Sat 19/09/15
Cheadle Town
15:00
Paul Pritchard
Mike Cole
Sat 10/10/15
Litherland REMYCA
15:00
KA Davies Electrical
Danny’s Window Cleaning
Tue 13/10/15
Widnes
19:45
Toy World St Helens Rylance Fishmongers
David O’Keefe
Sat 21/11/15
Daisy Hill
15:00
CelebLook
Kiera’s Occasions
Sat 05/12/15
Hanley Town
15:00
Stillia
Sat 19/12/15
Eccleshall
15:00
Sat 02/01/16
Rochdale Town
15:00
Northern Rags
Sat 16/01/16
Stockport Town
15:00
Michael Allison
Invisible Heroes
Sat 06/02/16
Bacup Borough
15:00
Sat 26/03/16
Chadderton
15:00
Mon 28/03/16
Ashton Town
19:45
Rylance Fishmongers Toy World St Helens
Extra Time Academy
Sat 16/04/16
Northwich Manchester Villa
15:00
Sat 23/04/16
Whitchurch Alport
15:00
All sponsorship fixtures are subject to confirmation
NW Dog Rescue
Town partner with Sweat Fitness St Helens for a training session with a difference at The Dream, St Helens. It was an early start on the morning of Saturday 11th July for the St Helens Town players who took part in an all action fitness session with Sweat Fitness at the iconic Dream statue in Sutton Manor Woodland St Helens. With the impressive Dream sculpture and the surrounding terrain providing an ideal backdrop on a glorious Saturday morning the Rainhill based fitness instructor Ste from Sweat St Helens put the players through their paces with a series of activities which will hopefully build on the players pre-season training to date. Club Chairman John McKiernan said, ‘It was a great gesture from Sweat Fitness to provide the lads with the session and it proved to be a huge success. ‘I hadn’t realised what a great venue Dream is for such an activity. Sweat Fitness are currently running a number of sessions at the venue including the Steve Prescott Foundation Boot Camp and St Helens Triathlon training and I can seeing it going from strength to strength. ‘Despite the lads being well into pre-season training I am sure there will be a few tired bodies today but I witnessed a great session with a professional approach from the trainer taking into account everyone’s individual needs.’ St Helens Town are delighted to welcome Margaret and Paul Wood to the club. After a short period out of North West Counties League football the pair will join Town to take over the club’s match day hospitality arrangements. Paul has been a Wigan Athletic supporter for many years (too many to admit to) and was forced to stop watching them, as Premier League costs were too much. He keeps telling everyone that he is a Lancastrian, but at the couple’s wedding, after looking at his Birth Certificate for the first time in a long time, he found out he was a Cestrian (from Cheshire). Margaret spent many years working at Altrincham Football Club undertaking numerous roles including gate person, supporter’s club administrator and secretary to the Chairman, John Maunders as well as being ‘general dogsbody’. The couple will be familiar faces to club officials throughout the NWCFL having previously provided the half time hospitality during their time at Wigan Robin Park. Club Chairman John McKiernan added, ‘When Margaret and Paul contacted the club I was delighted to accept their offer of help and support. 'Clubs at all levels survive with supporter and volunteer assistance both on match and non-match days and I am sure they will make a great contribution to St Helens Town.' He added, 'We are always looking for more help and volunteers would be made very welcome. It can be anything from turnstile duties, photography, selling raffle tickets or the club's lottery, writing programme articles. There's always lots to do at the club!'
Between 1946 and 1962 the club, like many, didn’t have a ‘manager’. Town officials would liaise with first and reserve team captains over team selection. In 1962-63 ‘First Manager’ Pat Murphy came from Burscough with a nucleus of his team which won the Lancashire Combination Division One title for Burscough but the formulae didn’t work for Town despite financial backing of a brand new 200 seat supporters club opened by John Connelly in spring of 1962. 1963-64 Sam Cottingham came after success with Pilkington's in a move to rebalance the squad with more local players. 1964-66 Jimmy McKiernan became the club's first commercial manager and team boss after arriving from Earlestown via a successful playing career which included a spell on the North Wales circuit. 1966-68 Jackie Dewsnip, cousin of Town player Jimmy Dewsnip who along with the latter’s son Neil meant the Haydock based family served Town well over a couple of decades. 1968-71 Peter Jones took the reigns in the wake of the Northern Premier League being formed which reduced Town’s league (Lancs Combination) to one division. He moved on after three years to a position on the staff of Preston North End. 1971-77 Alan Hampson arrived from South Liverpool after a distinguished playing career at Holly Park and became a mini ‘Messiah’ as Town won the Lancs Combination title in 1972 along with the Bass Charrington and Watson trophy in quick succession. He also oversaw Town’s step into the Cheshire County League in 1975 as by then, the Lancashire Comb had become a pale imitation of its former self. 1977-79 The aforementioned Jimmy Dewsnip took the reigns after ‘Hampy’ had moved on and became the first ex Town player to become manager. He combined this with work for the Liverpool County FA with the latter eventually claiming his services after two years. 1979-80 Player manager Geoff Robinson hailed from the new overspill at Laffak where he also ran the increasingly successful ‘Starting Gate’ pub team in the blossoming new Sunday League. Many of his squad were ‘Town’ players but the ‘conflict’ of interests was seen as detrimental to the senior club. 1980-82 Jack Prytherch had been at Wigan Athletic and he brought in players from that area including new club skipper, his son in law, Steve Murfin. Jack’s reign saw the formation of the North West Counties League and Town’s first season was a struggle in the new league’s top flight resulting in a change in mid-term. 1982-84 Peter Rutherford. After the success of Alan Hampson a decade earlier, the Town board returned to South Liverpool again for their next appointment. Peter Rutherford was number two at Holly Park at the time but he also found it hard going in the NWCFL inaugural season and his charges only escaped relegation on a ‘technicality’. Things got a little better the following season and he bowed out just before glory arrived. 1984-87 Alan Wellens had skippered Town’s Lancs Combination title team and went on to become the club’s top appearances holder after making his debut at Great Harwood in 1966. His playing career was ended by a broken leg against Hyde in 1981 at Hoghton Road.
Allan Wellens receiving the Lancs Combination Championship Trophy from Wesley Bridge in 1972
Alan went on to Town history with the club’s historic journey to Wembley in 1987 before he and the vast majority of the FA Vase winning side sought pastures new. 1987-92 Alan Aspinall (pictured opposite) took over the mantle of manager following the departure of the Vase squad and management team having been Reserve team boss and spent a successful five seasons in charge.
1992-93 Mick Holgate (left) presided over just one season at Hoghton Road before moving on to Leigh RMI. 1993-2002 Jimmy McBride stepped up from his position as Reserve team boss to take the reigns of the first team for almost a decade which saw the club’s move from Hoghton Road to Saints. Took the club to its first cup final since the visit to Wembley but lost out in the League Cup and Floodlit Trophy finals in the mid 1990s. 2002-2003 John Davison and Peter King arrived from Burscough having presided over a very successful period in the ‘Linnets’ history. After a disappointing first campaign despite significant financial backing the club’s need to tighten the purse strings led to the pair’s departure at the start of the 2003 campaign, along with most of the squad. 2003-04 Ex-Everton professional Paul Lodge became Town manager as the club reeled from financial cuts but unfortunately his youthful side struggled at the bottom of the league and he was replaced in January 2004. 2004-05 Former Town ‘keeper Joe Paladino took over the reigns from Lodge and secured the club’s safety from relegation before going to challenge for the title during most of 2004-05. Joe resigned in March 2005. 2005-06 Assistant to Paladino, Joe Gibiliru took over the manager’s position and presided over a period of on the field stability for the club before resigning in September 2006. 2006-07 Alex Wright, who had previously been assistant manager to Paul Lodge returned to the club as manager but his tenure was short-lived as family commitments led to him stepping down in September 2007. 2007-08 John Fletcher, Wright’s assistant, was given managerial responsibility and he steered the club away from the relegation battle with a 19th place finish at the end of 2006-7. Despite the club’s off the field problems and financial difficulties the following season saw Fletcher’s charges finish fourteenth after only one defeat in the last nine games. However Town remained rooted in a relegation spot for most of the following season and Fletcher departed with weeks of the season remaining. 2009 – 2010 Gary Bickerstaffe was appointed in March 2009 and secured the club’s safety with some ease recording six victories from the final eight games. Bickerstaffe’s fine form as manager continued throughout 2009-10 eventually finishing in 9th place. 2010 – 2011 Lee Riley steps up from assistant manager when Gary Bickerstaffe steps down at the end of the 2009-10. Lee resigned in March 2011 due to work commitments and Iain Dyson took over the managerial reigns before he too stepped down at the end of the season. 2011-12 season saw Jimmy McBride make a return to Town but it proved a difficult season and Town parted company with him as we narrowly avoided relegation. 2012 - 2013 Ian Granite became manager following success with neighbours Wigan Robin Park FC. A challenging 2012-13 season saw Town eventually steer clear of relegation, in doing so maintaining their unique 30 year stay in the North West Counties League top division. Despite an excellent start to the 2013-14 season Ian stepped down at the end of November due to business and family commitments and Ian Price took over the managerial reigns. The end of the 2014-15 season culminated in relegation for Town and Ian Price had already informed the club of his intention to step down. U21s boss Alan Gillespie and Ian Price’s long time assistant Nick Matthews were promoted to the joint managers Nick Matthews Alan Gillespie position. Many thanks to Jim Barrett and Eric Bond for their input in compiling the information.
Date
Opponents
Comp
KO
Result
GK
2
3
4
5
6
Aug 08
Chadderton
NWCFL
3.00
1-3W
McLoughlin
Davidson
Kelly
A.Whelan
Sealey
Baines
AUG 11 ATHERTON LR
NWCFL
7.45
Aug 15
FAC EPR 3.00
Maine Road
AUG 22 IRLAM
NWCFL
3.00
AUG 29 HOLKER OLD BOYS
NWCFL
3.00
Sep 05
Winterton Rangers
FAV 1QR
3.00
Sep 09
Litherland REMYCA
NWCFL
7.45
SEP 12 BARNTON
NWCFL
3.00
Sep 15
NWCFL
7.45
SEP 19 CHEADLE TOWN
NWCFL
3.00
Sep 26
Hanley Town
MUC 1R
3.00
OCT 10 LITHERLAND REMCYA
NWCFL
3.00
OCT 13 WIDNES
NWCFL
7.45
Oct 17
Stockport Town
NWCFL
3.00
Oct 27
Holker Old Boys
NWCFL
7.45
Oct 31
Daisy Hill
NWCFL
3.00
Nov 14
Atherton LR
NWCFL
3.00
NOV 21 DAISY HILL
NWCFL
3.00
Nov 28
NWCFL
3.00
DEC 05 HANLEY TOWN
NWCFL
3.00
DEC 19 ECCLESHALL
NWCFL
3.00
Dec 26
NWCFL
3.00
NWCFL
3.00
Northwich Manchester Villa NWCFL
3.00
Rochdale Town
Bacup Borough
Ashton Town
JAN 02 ROCHDALE TOWN Jan 09
JAN 16 STOCKPORT TOWN
NWCFL
3.00
Jan 23
Eccleshall
NWCFL
3.00
Jan 30
Cheadle Town
NWCFL
3.00
FEB 06 BACUP BOROUGH
NWCFL
3.00
Feb 13
Whitchurch Alport
NWCFL
3.00
Mar 05
Hanley Town
NWCFL
3.00
Mar 12
Widnes
NWCFL
3.00
MAR 26 CHADDERTON
NWCFL
3.00
MAR 28 ASHTON TOWN
NWCFL
3.00
Apr 02
NWCFL
3.00
APR 16 NORTHWICH M.V.
NWCFL
3.00
APR 23 WHITCHURCH ALPORT
NWCFL
3.00
Apr 30
Barnton
NWCFL
3.00
Chadderton or Bacup B’
FDC 2R
TBA
TBA
Irlam
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
17
Lorde1
Du Toit
Andy Gillespie
Nwachukwu
Marshall1
D.Whelan
Duke10
Russell21
Perry11
Bradley
Name1
Player name and number of goals scored
Name
Player name and CAUTION
Name
Player name and DISMISSAL FOR 2 CAUTIONS
Name
Player name and DISMISSAL
Name10
Player name and number of replaced player
2-3
Ashton Town
Widnes
1-1
Rochdale Town
Whitchurch Alport
Stockport Town
St Helens Town
Rochdale Town
Northwich Man Villa
Litherland REMYCA
3-0
Northwich M Villa
Irlam
Holker Old Boys
1-2
Stockport Town
Hanley Town
1-2
Holker Old Boys
Eccleshall
1-6
Barnton
Daisy Hill
Cheadle Town
1-3
St Helens Town
Chadderton
Barnton
5-5
Cheadle Town
Bacup Borough
0-2
Litherland REMYCA
Atherton LR
Ashton Town
North West Counties Football League Division One Season 2015-16 Widnes
Whitchurch Alport
Irlam
Hanley Town
Eccleshall
Daisy Hill
Chadderton
Bacup Borough
Atherton LR
ST. HELENS TOWN AFC – A STATISTICAL HISTORY by Glyn Jones Part 534- Season 2000-01 North West Counties League Team Rossendale United Clitheroe Ramsbottom United St. Helens Town Fleetwood Freeport Kidsgrove Athletic Salford City Prescot Cables Newcastle Town Mossley Curzon Ashton Skelmersdale United Woodley Sports Abbey Hey Maine Road Nantwich Town Atherton Collieries Glossop North End Great Harwood Town Flixton Leek C.S.O.B. Cheadle Town
P 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42
W 29 27 28 26 26 24 23 24 20 19 18 17 16 15 15 10 11 9 7 5 5 5
Opponents Abbey Hey Atherton Collieries Cheadle Town Clitheroe Curzon Ashton Fleetwood Freeport Flixton Glossop North End Great Harwood Town Kidsgrove Athletic Leek C.S.O.B. Maine Road Mossley Nantwich Town Newcastle Town Prescot Cables Ramsbottom United Rossendale United Salford City Skelmersdale United Woodley Sports
Home Date Jan 3 Dec 2 Sep 27 Dec 16 Apr 11 Mar 21 Dec 20 Mar 24 Oct 13 Apr 26 Mar 30 Jan 13 May 3 Jan 31 Feb 21 Apr 23 Mar 10 Apr 18 Oct 25 Aug 23 Oct 4
D 5 8 4 9 4 10 10 5 7 7 9 8 9 6 3 9 6 4 9 13 12 9 Result Won 10-2 Won 2-0 Won 3-1 Lost 1-2 Won 5-2 Won 2-0 Won 5-0 Won 9-2 Won 4-0 Lost 0-2 Drew 0-0 Won 2-0 Drew 1-1 Drew 1-1 Won 2-1 Won 3-1 Lost 1-2 Won 3-0 Drew 1-1 Won 2-1 Lost 1-2
L 8 7 10 7 12 8 9 13 15 16 15 17 17 21 24 23 25 29 26 24 25 28
F 114 105 85 98 90 81 87 94 69 73 67 69 69 76 75 46 43 41 44 47 39 42 Away Date Nov 25 Mar 13 Mar 17 May 5 Sep 30 May 7 Aug 28 Sep 19 Apr 9 Sep 2 Apr 28 Aug 19 Dec 12 Sep 5 Mar 3 Jan 6 Mar 27 Apr 14 Sep 9 Feb 3 Mar 6
A 44 47 44 40 50 46 41 54 45 56 66 69 69 92 102 79 88 111 93 100 89 129
Pts 92 89 88 87 82 82 79 77 67 64 63 59 57 51 48 39 39 31 30 28 27 24 Result Won 4-0 Lost 0-1 Won 3-1 Drew 0-0 Won 3-1 Won 2-1 Drew 4-4 Won 3-0 Won 1-0 Drew 0-0 Drew 0-0 Won 2-1 Won 2-1 Won 4-0 Lost 0-1 Won 2-0 Won 4-2 Won 2-1 Drew 1-1 Won 3-2 Lost 0-2
Aug 26 Sep 23 Oct 21 Nov 11 Dec 9 Jan 27 Feb 17 Dec 23 Feb 13 Oct 18 Dec 5 Jan 23
FA CUP Tow Law Town FA VASE 2nd Qualifying Round Yorkshire Amateur 1st Round Winterton Rangers 2nd Round Skelmersdale United 3rd Round Squires Gate 4th Round Consett 5th Round Berkhamsted Town NWCFL CHALLENGE CUP 1st Round Bacup Borough 2nd Round Curzon Ashton NWCFL FLOODLIT TROPHY 1st Round LEEK C.S.O.B. 2nd Round Flixton LIVERPOOL SENIOR CUP 1st Round Prescot Cables 2nd Round Southport Preliminary Round
Player
App
Sub
Total
Goals
Away
Lost
0-2
Away Away Away Away Away Away
Won Won Won Won Won Lost
6-3 AET 3-2 AET 2-1 AET 3-0 1-0 1-3
Away Away
Won Lost
3-2 1-2
Home Away
Won Cancelled*
2-0
Away Away
Won Lost
2-1 1-4
Hayes, Danny
16
-
16
Allison, Mike
2
-
2
Hennigan, Ged
33
5
38
Ashton, Mark
44
4
48
Johnson, Alan
10
-
10
Ashton, Steve
9
2
11
Jones, Gary
25
5
30
6
Bell, Karl
29
4
33
Jones, Mick
1
-
1
Blasbury, Paul
4
-
4
Kelsey, Darren
3
-
3
Burke, Jordan
6
-
6
Kirwan, Paul
10
4
14
Clarke, Paul
36
8
44
Laird, Gary
17
10
27
10
2
Cooper, Lee
38
6
44
28
Morgan, Joe
27
6
33
6
Cowley, Robbie
14
18
32
12
Nestor, Terry
47
5
52
8
Doolan, John
1
2
3
Phoenix, Stu
31
1
32
Dooner, Gary
33
3
36
Quirk, Chris
40
1
41
Dunn, Lee
11
20
31
Reilly, Adie
6
4
10
Earley, Dean
1
1
2
Scott, A (Tony)
3
2
5
Fearns, Terry
36
10
46
Walker, Glenn
-
2
2
Gayle, Andy
2
2
4
Waring, Chris
3
-
3
Glendenning, J
4
-
4
Wood, Phil
48
-
48
Glover, Allan
-
1
1
Own Goals
1
Totals
594
126
720
Hatton, Brian
1
-
3 38
1
2 1
2 123
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 prisoner-of-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 7 th May 1949. Crowds averaged over 2000 that season, peaking with a league record attendance of 3102 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 their ambitions, it moved to the former St. Helens Recs. 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 Karl Ledsham is now playing his football at Conference level, initially with Southport, then at Lincoln City. 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. This season is a momentous one for St. Helens Town: not only do they have to fight to regain their Premier Division status, but also they are looking to return to a new base, back in the town at Ruskin Drive. The Hoghton Road facilities had fallen into disrepair and the site was sold for housing in 2002, Town having gone into partnership with Saints Rugby League club, ground-sharing at the old Knowsley Road ground for 10 years, but the intended relocation to the new Langtree Park ground did not materialise and the club embarked on a nomadic existence, first at Ashton Town, now at Ashton Athletic. Construction work at the Council-owned multi-sports facility at Ruskin Drive has been delayed, but is now under way and Town are looking to move in at the start of the 2016-17 season, hopefully back in the Premier Division.
Club Honours: 1949 George Mahon Trophy Winners 1951 Lancs Comb Division 2 Champions 1972 Lancs Combination Champions 1973 Bass Charrington Cup Winners 1974 Watson Trophy Winners 1978 St Helens Hospital Cup Winners 1979 St Helens Comb Div 1 Runners Up 1979 St Helens Hospital Cup Runners Up 1980 St Helens Comb Div 1 Champions 1985 NWCFL Reserve Div 2 Runners Up 1986 NWCFL Reserve Div 1 Runners Up 1987 FA Vase Winners (Wembley) 1994 League Challenge Cup Finalists 1994 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1995 NWCFL Reserve Division Champions 1996 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1998 Floodlit Trophy Finalists 1999 REALCO Fair Play Award Winners 2009 Bert Trautmann Trophy Winners Record Appearances: Alan Wellens Record Goal Scorer: Steve Pennington Record Attendances: 4000 at Hoghton Road v Manchester City 1723 at Knowsley Rd v FC Utd Manchester 9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (1949)
Programme Awards 1993-94 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1995-96 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1997-98 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1998-99 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1999-00 NWCFL Programme of the Year 2000-01 NWCFL Programme of the Year 2009-10 NWCFL Premier Division 2010-11 NWCFL Premier Division 2011-12 NWCFL Premier Division 2012-13 NWCFL Premier Division 2013-14 NWCFL Premier Division 2014-15 NWCFL Premier Division Wirral Programme Club National Survey 1996-97 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1997-98 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1998-99 NWCFL Programme of the Year Programme Monthly 2007-08 NWCFL Programme of the Year Soccer Club Swap Shop National Awards 2010-11 Placed 28th 2011-12 Placed 8th 2012-13 Placed 7th 2013-14 Placed 8th 2014-15 Placed 5th
Good evening and welcome to Brocstedes Park for our first home game of the season. As most of you will know both myself and Alan where appointed as joint managers post after Ian price decided to step down at the end of last season. The club held open trials starting June 16th and Alan and I were pleasantly surprised at the numbers that attended. We continued with a series of trial game over the following two weeks. We retained only three first team regulars last season, club Skipper Andy Gillespie, U21 Player of the Year Marcus Perry and right back Matt Davidson. The quality in the preseason training was excellent, concentrating mainly on fitness, something we lacked at times last season. Our first game against Fleetwood Hesketh was a very tough test and in honesty was probably a game too soon. Our opponents have a very good squad that have played together for a number of seasons; we on the other hand played like we were strangers and subsequently we were lost that game 3-1. The Helsby game saw a couple of new signings added and everything seemed to click and we ran out comfortable 1-5 winners. The next two games at Coppull United and Prescot Cables saw a little bit of tinkering with formations and personnel and we lost 4-2 and 3-1 respectively. There were good wins at Leyland United, Anchorsholme and Hesketh Bank before two very tough games to complete the pre-season fixtures at Euxton Villa (2-2) and Blackpool Wren (0 -1. The Euxton games saw us take a well-deserved two-nil lead before being pegged back in the final moments. The final preseason game we travelled to Blackpool Wren and it was obvious why they don't lose many games; our patience, fitness and well timed substitutions allowed us to dig-out a late winner. The lads have worked really hard and I definitely think we will offer the supporters something different this season. We have a good size squad with at least two players in each position; something both me and I felt was important. Our Youth and U21 set up looks great and I would like to welcome U21 duo John McLaughlin and Billy Davies to the club along with Ellis Hawksworth and Alex Jardine who will manage the U18s team. All four are a fantastic coup for the club. I have spoken lots over the summer and we are excited about the quality of youth players the club has at present. Saturday's encounter at Chadderton was a very good test; Chadderton reached last season’s playoff games and started the better, and we conceded a very poor goal for us. Jack Marshall levelled out of nothing and from that moment we gained confidence and started to retain the ball. We started the second half very well, missed a couple of good chances. With time running out we made a few attacking changes as Chadderton visibly tired. Alex Russell scored a great individual goal and then the other substitute Marcus Perry broke clear before finding Jordan Lorde, who slotted past the home ‘keeper and earning a first win in ten attempts at Chadderton. Looking forward to tonight’s game against my old club LR it was the first fixture I looked for! I was there for 2 seasons back in 2011 and 2012 as assistant manager to Phil Priestley. I really enjoyed my time up at the club but we struggled financially and with a very young team; many have moved on to play in the EvoStik and for top NWCFL sides, inluding Chris Lomax, Luke Gibson, Adam Parkhouse, Chris Cheetham who all benefitted by playing 30 plus league games. LR have a small but very loyal fanbase, guys like Carl Waldie, Alan Lowe and kit man Dave ‘Finchy’ Finch live and breathe for the club. Let’s not forget Eddie "the rattle" Taylor who followed the club everywhere (RIP). I still look out every week for their results and I still chat to the fans via social media. Although we want three points, I wish my old club the best of luck for the up and coming season. Regards Nick
In what is fantastic news for the club, the St Helens town centre based specialist supplier of electronic cigarettes, e-liquids and accessories will continue as the club’s 2015-16 playing kit sponsors.
The sponsorship deal will see the Eciguk St Helens company logo adorning the front and back of the Town playing kit and the sponsor will continue to have a significant presence on the club’s website, social media outlets and in the award winning match day programme. An Eciguk St Helens spokesman commented on the deal, stating "We’re delighted to continue our sponsorship of St Helens Town and are looking forward to developing our partnership. ‘Our store was opened in October 2012 and was the first of its kind in St Helens and we have built a strong customer base. We are focused on providing high quality service and customer satisfaction.’ John McKiernan, Chairman of St Helens Town Football Club couldn't hide his delight when speaking about the deal and said ‘It's fantastic for the club to be able to retain such a sponsorship deal from a local company of the calibre of Eciguk St Helens. ‘So once again we would like to offer our thanks and gratitude to everyone at Eciguk St Helens for their superb support of the club and we look forward to developing our partnership throughout next season. ‘Remember to visit them at their retail store in George Street, close to St Helens Central railway station or on-line at www.ecigsthelens.vpweb.co.uk. The company believe that the customer’s needs are of the utmost importance and while product information is available on-line Eciguk St Helens prefer to meet the customer to give them the opportunity to try out products before deciding to make a purchase. As a result, a high percentage of the company’s business comes from repeat customers and referrals. Eciguk St Helens 32 George Street St Helens WA10 1BU Telephone: 01744 750800 Mobile: 07773 007731 Freephone: 0800 2707331 www.ecigsthelens.vpweb.co.uk
Q1. Who was the last England goalscorer at the old Wembley Stadium? Q2. Which South American has made the most Premier League appearances? Q3. Who were the last two British coaches to have managed Real Sociedad prior to David Moyes? Q4. Which three clubs were relegated in the first Premier League season (1992/3)? Q5. Which player did Liverpool purchase for a then record British fee of £8.5m in June 1995? Q6. Which five teams have reached the Champions League Final but have never won the competition? Q7. Which record did Louis Saha set playing for Everton in 2009? Q8. Who is the England’s youngest goalscorer in a World Cup Qualifying match? Q9. Which World Cup winner was the last player to score six goals in an English Football League match? Q10. Which player has won the African Cup of Nations title the most times? Q11. Which player has scored the most Premier League goals against Liverpool? (Clue: 4 for Newcastle, 4 for Man Utd, 2 or Blackburn & 1 for Fulham) Q12. Which team finished bottom of the Premier League last season?
Q13. What was the score in England’s heaviest home defeat in a full international (against Scotland in 1881)? Q14. Prior to Arsenal in May who was the last team to score more than three goals in an FA Cup Final (excluding penalty shoot-outs)? Q15. Which player has scored the most goals for Liverpool against Manchester United?
1) Tony Adams Vs Ukraine May 2000 2) Nolberto Solano (Peru) 302 3) John Toshack & Chris Coleman 4) Crystal Palace, Middlesborough & Nottingham Forest 5) Stan Collymore 6) Valencia 2000 & 2001, Bayer Leverkusen 2002, Monaco 2004, Arsenal 2006 & Atletico Madrid 2013+ 7) Fastest FA Cup Final goal (25 Seconds) 8) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 9) Geoff Hurst 10) Samuel Eto’o 11) Andy Cole 12) QPR 13) 6-1 14) Manchester United in 1994 Vs Chelsea 15) Steven Gerard with 9.
Goalkeeper Graham McLoughlin joined the club this summer and includes former NWCFL outfit Formby FC among his previous clubs. At 30 years old Graham is a vastly experienced stopper with a great kick and superb distribution skills. The lads in front of ‘Grumpy’ will gets lots of talk and direction as the season progesses. Matthew Davidson one of a small number of players returning from last season ’s squad. The 23 year old, who hails from Standish, is a strong right back with a superb engine and a good passing range. Formerly with Warrington Town Youth and Reserves. Twenty year old Jack Marshall joined the club at the back end of last season and he will be looking to terrorise opposition defences with his pace and crossing ability. Based in Astley, Manchester his former clubs include Atherton Town (part of their promotion winning season) and Runcorn Linnets. Living in Rainford Anthony Whelan is one of our local players who has broke into the first team having been captain of last season’s Cheshire FA U21s Championship winning side. He can play at the heart of the defence or in central midfield and he is a great competitor. Anthony’s former clubs include Ashton Athletic, Burscough, Wrexham (1 year) and Tranmere Rovers (3 years).
Andy Griffiths is strong in the air and will chip in with his f air share of goals either from right back or central midfield. The twenty two year old joins from Prescot Cables but includes Stafford Rangers and Clitheroe among his former clubs alongside Skelmersdale United where he won the Evostik North title and Atherton LR where he was captain at 17 years old. Twenty two year old Matty Lennon joins this season from Widnes FC where he was part of the team that sent Town crashing out of the League Cup last season. He is a great organiser and great in the air from his position at centre half. Matty is a former captain and championship winner with Burscough Youth. Davey Baines in the elder statesman of the side at 29 years old and joins from St Helens outfit Penlake FC. A hardworking, energetic player with lots of composure and a great passer of the ball either a right back or central midfieldh. His former clubs include Kirkby Town and Kennelwood. He was in the Liverpool Echo Team of the Year in season 2013-14 having been Kennelwood Manager’s Player of the Year in the same season; a feat he repeated with Penlake last term. Alex Nwachukwu (Chu) is another youngster joining the club this season. He hails from Preston and includes Burscough, Burnley FC and Across College among his previous clubs. 20 years old Alex is a strong midfield player with lots of skill and power with an eye for the long pass as the basis of his game. He captained the Lancashire Colleges U18s side. Whiston based Sean Kelly arrived at the club this summer from Waterloo Dock where he had been for three seasons along with high flying Sunday outfit Canada FC. While ferocious in the tackle the 21 year old also has an eye for goal, even from left back and will bag two or three spectacular efforts in a campaign. Twenty four year old Johan du Toit joined this summer from the Wigan League and is already proving to be a popular edition to the team. The Wigan based player has a superb engine and is strong in the air and in the tackle with a deft touch and great vision. Coppull United an Standish St Wilfrid’s are among Johan’s previous clubs; winning the League and Cup double and Wigan League Player of the Year last season with the latter. Another youngster making his debut for the club is 18 year old Stephen Rigby. Good with both feet he can play on either side of midfield and has excellent fitness levels
and is known to take the odd penalty. Most recently been with Marine Youth but also includes Lydiate FC, Blackpool FC and Ormskirk West End among his previous teams. Stephen was top scorer for Lydiate FC for ten consecutive seasons and represented Merseyside Schoolboys U18s last season and the Liverpool County FA side during 2013-14. Twenty one year old Jordan Lorde is another new face at the club this season. He can play up front or our out on either wing and has impressed during the pre-season games. A dead ball specialist with great pace and engine his recent clubs include Burscough Richmond, Ashton Town, Maghull and Burscough FC. Jordan has also played at Youth level for Everton, the Lancashire County side and represented his University 1st team.
Tough tackling full back Sam Stock joined in the summer having previously been with Tideswell United, Tintwistle Athetic and his hometown team Glossop North End Reserves. The twenty one year old has a fine left foot and pace. Skelmersdale based Dale Sealey is nother new recruit who includes Ashton Town, Skelmersdale United, Ashton Athletic and Wigan Athletic among his previous clubs. The 28 year old is able to play at centre half or in midfield and is very strong in the air and on the floor with a good touch for a big unit. Dale is a former England Schoolboy trialist. Alex Russell joined from Winsf ord United in the summer and includes Burscough, Port Vale, Burnley and Middlewich Town on his list of former clubs. Another strong player who is only twenty years old but has shown he can be an all rounder with pace, good use of both feet and a decent strike. Alex has played and scored for Port Vale in the FA Yoth Cup and represented Cheshire at County level.
Club captain Andy Gillespie has been the club’s top scorer for the past two seasons. A strong centre forward who gives defenders a tough time; Andy looks sharp after a good preseason and will be looking to lead the scoring charts again this term. A seasoned campaigner despite only being 24 years old and includes Ashton Athletic, Atherton LR and Burscough among his previous clubs. Twenty five year old Gavin O’Keefe joined in the summer from Oldham Boro. A strong central midfield player who has great positional awareness and good passing skills. Includes Wigan Robin Park, Cammel Laird and Burscough as previous clubs. Twenty two year old goalkeeper Tom Bradley hails from Liverpool and is another player joining from St Helens based Penlake FC. A great shot stopper who has previous experience with Litherland REMYCA and Lower Breck FC. St Helens based 17 year old Charlie Duke joins the club this summer on work experience from Torquay having previously been with Port Vale. He is a holding central midfield playmaker with a career in the professional game ahead of him. Charlie is a former winner in the St Helens Cultural Awards. Nineteen year old Jack Golding returns this summer having broken into the first team last season. Great from the dead ball situation with good pace and delivery from wide, Jack is a former Everton, Notts County and Skelmersdale United player.
St Helens Town are delighted to confirm the appointment of Alan Gillespie and Nick Matthews as the club’s First Team joint-Managers. Both are well known to the club with Alan having taken a succession of management positions across the club’s Youth and Reserves teams before taking charge of the highly successful Under 21 last season which culminated in lifting the Cheshire FA Under 21s League title. Nick has also been with the club for some time stepping up from First Team coach under Ian Granite to Assistant Manager alongside Ian Price. Nick also managed the last season’s U17s team who had a strong campaign in the South Lancashire Counties League Youth Division and reached the final of the Wilf Hickson Memorial Cup, losing our narrowly to Southport U17s 2-3 in the final. Club Chairman John McKiernan said, ‘I’d like to thank the significant number of candidates who applied for the position of manager and those that attended Langtree Park for interview last night. ‘The committee agreed unanimously that a joint appointment on this occasion was a natural course of action with both Alan and Nick bringing complimentary skill-sets and experience to the role.
‘They are both enthusiastic about working with us in taking the club forward and building a team based long term on player development through the youth and U21s set-up but both have a good understanding of the rigours of North West Counties League Football and will be recruiting accordingly. He added, ‘Last season proved to be a difficult one for the First Team but there’s plenty to be positive about. Relegation was disappointing but something we can recover from and the manner in which we undertake this will be led by the new management in conjunction with the committee. The North West Counties Football League AGM and Dinner saw Town winners once again as they collected the Premier Division Programme of the Year award. The programme award was Town’s sixth successive victory in the category and their 12th since 1994 in the NWCFL. More recently the club’s programme ‘The Marksman’ has gained national recognition in the Annual Soccer Club Swap Shop programme awards – earning the top award for the NWCFL as well as taking joint 5th (and a third consecutive top 10 placing) in the overall national awards from over 800 nonleague club entries.
In addition to our North West Counties League side the club has an U18s team playing in the North West Youth Alliance League Division One and an U21s team playing in the Cheshire FA U21s League Premier Division (both Sunday Leagues) U21s L L L L L L L L Cup L Cup L L L L L L
DATE 23/08/2015 30/08/2015 06/09/2015 13/09/2015 20/09/2015 27/09/2015 04/10/2015 15/10/2015 18/10/2015 25/10/2015 01/11/2015 08/11/2015 15/11/2015 22/11/2015 29/11/2015 06/12/2015 20/12/2015
TIME 12:00 12:00 11:00 12:00 12:00 12:00 14:00 19:45 12:00 11:00 12:00 11:00 14:00 11:00 14:00 12:00 12:00
HOME St Helens Town St Helens Town Southport St Helens Town St Helens Town St Helens Town Bootle Irlam St Helens Town Winsford United St Helens Town Rochdale Manchester Central Abbey Hey Stockport Town St Helens Town St Helens Town
AWAY Bootle Manchester Central St Helens Town Winsford United Irlam Stockport Town St Helens Town St Helens Town Irlam St Helens Town Irlam St Helens Town St Helens Town St Helens Town St Helens Town Rochdale Abbey Hey
VENUE Edge Hill University #2 Edge Hill University #2 Edge Hill University #1 Edge Hill University #2 Edge Hill University #2 Edge Hill University #2 JMO Sports Park Irlam FC Edge Hill University #2 Winsford United FC Edge Hill University #1 Hyde United FC Belle Vue Sports Centre Abbey Hey FC Stockport Sports Village Edge Hill University #2 Edge Hill University #2
U18s L L L L L L L Cup L L Cup L L L L L L L L L L L L L
DATE 16/08/2015 23/08/2015 30/08/2015 06/09/2015 13/09/2015 20/09/2015 27/09/2015 04/10/2015 11/10/2015 18/10/2015 25/10/2015 01/11/2015 08/11/2015 15/11/2015 29/11/2015 06/12/2015 13/12/2015 20/12/2015 10/01/2016 17/01/2016 31/01/2016 07/02/2016 21/02/2016 28/02/2016
TIME 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:00 14:30 14:30 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00
HOME Egerton FC St Helens Town Marine St Helens Town St Helens Town Altrincham St Helens Town Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Town St Helens Town West D & Chorlton Chorley St Helens Town St Helens Town Irlam FC St Helens Town Nelson St Helens Town AFC Blackpool St Helens Town Bolton Wyresdale St Helens Town Vauxhall Motors Chester Colts
AWAY St Helens Town Nelson St Helens Town Chester Colts Altrincham St Helens Town AFC Blackpool St Helens Town St Helens Town Bolton Wyresdale St Helens Town St Helens Town Vauxhall Motors Irlam FC St Helens Town Egerton St Helens Town MARINE FC St Helens Town Macclesfield Town St Helens Town Chorley FC St Helens Town St Helens Town
VENUE Egerton FC Edge Hill University JMO Sports Edge Hill University Edge Hill University Hale Country Club Edge Hill University Platt Lane Platt Lane Edge Hill University HARDY FARM Bishops Rawsthorne Edge Hill University Edge Hill University Silver Street Edge Hill University VICTORIA PARK Edge Hill University Mechnics Ground Edge Hill University Little Lever School Edge Hill University Rivacre Park Cheshire County Sports
PACE AND PERSISTANCE PAY OFF FOR TOWN Chadderton 1-3 St. Helens Town St. Helens Town began life in the North West Counties First Division on Saturday with a testing trip to Chadderton, who finished last season in the play-off positions, so this was an early indication as to the task ahead to regain their Premier Division status. The home side began in strong fashion, taking the game to Town, who began with only four of last season’s players in Andy Gillespie, Jack Marshall, Matt Davidson and Ant Whelan and after an even first half, the teams went in level at 1-1. Chadderton took the lead after 25 minutes when a low cross from the right emerged through a sea of legs, giving unsighted keeper Graham McLoughlin little chance of smothering the ball and Macauley Harewood had the simple task of tapping home from close range. The lively Johan du Toit, who had earlier hit the bar from 25 yards, narrowly failed to equalise shortly afterwards when he again found the woodwork with a header. However, the leveller arrived on the half-hour when Marshall rode two tackles in the home box before driving home from a narrow angle. The Oldham side missed a glorious chance on the resumption when a defensive error led to a shot from 20 yards just cleared the bar, but that was the only opportunity Chadderton had in the entire second-half.
The injection of pacy substitutes Marcus Perry and Alex Russell, together with the craft of Charlie Duke in midfield, was more than the home team could cope with and after a string of near misses, Town took control and secured the points in the closing stages with two wonderfully worked goals, both of which were set up by Perry. The game turned a little ugly when five minutes from time Town defender Sean Kelly was dismissed for retaliation having been scythed down from behind. The Chadderton front man Morris escaped with a caution but the home side were also reduced to 10 men when Niall Sultan was dismissed following an incident in the aftermath of the foul. In the 88th minute, Russell broke through the defence and played a swift one-two with Perry, drew the Chadderton keeper and slotted home then, in injury time, Perry again was the provider for Jordan Lorde, who netted in similar fashion to allow St. Helens to lay down an early-season marker as to where they want to be, come the end of the season. Following on from Tuesday’s home game with Atherton L.R., Town take a quick break from league action this weekend, with a trip to Maine Road in the Extra-Preliminary Round of the FA Cup. St. Helens will be going into the tie with great confidence, not least as they beat the Manchester side home and away last season. The prize for the winners is a Preliminary Round trip to Ossett Albion. If Saturday’s match ends in a draw, the replay will be at Brocstedes Park on Wednesday next, kick-off 7.45pm, otherwise Town have no midweek game. Glynn Jones
Premier Division Table as at Monday 10th August 2015 Premier Division
P
W D
L
F
A GD Pts
1
Colne
2
2
0
0
9
3
6
6
2
Padiham
2
1
1
0
5
3
2
4
3
AFC Liverpool
1
1
0
0
4
0
4
3
4
Nelson
1
1
0
0
4
0
4
3
5
Abbey Hey
1
1
0
0
4
2
2
3
6
1874 Northwich
1
1
0
0
2
0
2
3
7
Runcorn Linnets
1
1
0
0
2
0
2
3
8
Congleton Town
1
1
0
0
4
3
1
3
9
Ashton Athletic
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
3
10
Atherton Collieries
2
1
0
1
4
5
-1
3
11
Maine Road
2
1
0
1
4
5
-1
3
12
Winsford United
2
1
0
1
4
7
-3
3
13
Bootle
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
14
Barnoldswick Town
1
0
0
1
3
4
-1
0
15
Silsden
1
0
0
1
2
3
-1
0
16
West Didsbury & Chorlton
1
0
0
1
1
2
-1
0
17
AFC Darwen
1
0
0
1
0
1
-1
0
18
Cammell Laird 1907
1
0
0
1
2
4
-2
0
19
AFC Blackpool
1
0
0
1
0
2
-2
0
20
Squires Gate
1
0
0
1
0
2
-2
0
21
Alsager Town
1
0
0
1
0
4
-4
0
22
Runcorn Town
2
0
0
2
1
6
-5
0
* points deducted for a breach of league rules
Friday 14th August 2015 Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary 1874 Northwich v West D & Chorlton Saturday 15th August 2015 Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Abbey Hey v Worksop Tiwn AFC Darwen v Washington Alsager Town v Athersley Rec Ashton Athletic v Maltby Main Barnoldswick Town v Colne Barton Town OB v Squires Gate Bootle v Atherton Collieries Chadderton v AFC Liverpool Congleton Town v Nostel MW Glasshoughton v Runcorn Linnets Hanley Town v Shawbury United Holker Old Boys v Liversedge Maine Road v St Helens Town Nelson v Newton Aycliffe Silsden v West Allotment Celtic Winsford United v AFC Blackpool Sunday 16th August 2015 Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Whickham v Padiham Saturday 5th September 2015 FA Carlsberg Vase 1st Qualifying AFC Blackpool v Maltby Main Ashton Athleti v Atherton Collieries Bacup Borough v Worsborough BA Congleton Town v Nostell MW Handsworth MW v Cammell aird Morpeth Town v Padiham Rochdale Town v Parkgate Runcorn Town v Litherland REMYCA Silsden v Thornaby Squires Gate v Irlam Steveley MW v Cheadle Town West D & Chorlton v Barton Town OB Winterton Rangers v St Helens Town
Premier Division Table as at Saturday 8th August 2015 Division One
P
W D
L
F
A GD Pts
1
Barnton
1
1
0
0
6
1
5
3
2
Irlam
1
1
0
0
3
0
3
3
3
St Helens Town
1
1
0
0
3
1
2
3
4
Litherland REMYCA
1
1
0
0
2
0
2
3
5
Ashton Town
1
1
0
0
3
2
1
3
6
Stockport Town
1
1
0
0
3
2
1
3
7
Holker Old Boys
1
1
0
0
2
1
1
3
8
Bacup Borough
1
0
1
0
5
5
0
1
9
Cheadle Town
1
0
1
0
5
5
0
1
10
Rochdale Town
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
11
Whitchurch Alport
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
12
Hanley Town
1
0
0
1
2
3
-1
0
13
Widnes
1
0
0
1
2
3
-1
0
14
Eccleshall
1
0
0
1
1
2
-1
0
15
Chadderton
1
0
0
1
1
3
-2
0
16
Atherton LR
1
0
0
1
0
2
-2
0
17
Northwich Manchester Villa
1
0
0
1
0
3
-3
0
18
Daisy Hill
1
0
0
1
1
6
-5
0
* points deducted for a breach of league rules
Tuesday 11th August 2015 Division One Ashton Town v Irlam Holker Old Boys v Bacup Borough St Helens Town v Atherton LR Wednesday 12th August 2015 Division One Barnton v Hanley Town Cheadle Town v Chadderton Litherland REMYCA v Whitchurch A Northwich Man Villa v Daisy Hill Saturday 15th August 2015 Divison One Ashton Town v Northwich Man Villa Atherton LR v Rochdale Town Barnton v Irlam Cheadle Town v Whitchurch Alport Daisy Hill v Eccleshall Stockport Town v Widnes Monday 17th August 2015 Division One Daisy Hill v Holker Old Boys Widnes v Cheadle Town Tuesday 18th August 2015 Division One Irlam v Stockport Town Wednesday 19th August 2015 Division One Bacup Borough v Atherton LR Eccleshall v Hanley Town Saturday 22nd August 2015 Division One Cheadle Town v Daisy Hill Eccleshall v Rochdale Town Hanley v Widnes Holker Old Boys v Barnton Litherland REMYCA v Ashton Town Northwich Man Villa v Atherton LR St Helens Town v Irlam Stockport Town v Bacup Borough Whitchurch Alport v Chadderton Monday 24th August 2015 Division One Daisy Hill v Litherland REMYCA