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)
Saturday 19th Sept 2015, 3.00pm NWCFL, First Division St Helens Town
Cheadle Town
Red & White Shirts White Shorts, Red & White Socks No
Graham McLoughlin
Gls Y R
Blue Shirts Blue Shorts & Socks No
Stephen Piggott
Gls Y R
Matty Davidson
Jon McLaughlin
Jack Marshall
Luke Pearson
Luke Gibson
Antony Trucca
Dale Sealey
Hospitality: Margaret Wood and Paul Wood
Michael Kennedy
Ant Whelan
James Dunn
Trustees: John McKiernan and Eric Bond
Charlie Duke
Thabiso Magida
David Baines
Luke Hincks
1st Team Joint Managers: Alan Gillespie & Nick Matthews
Andy Gillespie
Darrhyl Mason
Johan Du Toit
Richard Whyatt
U21s Team Manager: John McLaughlan
Stephen Rigby
Chris Sherrington
Marcus Perry
James Horan
Alex Nwachukwu
Nathan MacAuley
U18s Team Manager: Ellis Hawksworth
Jack Golding
Harrison Pegler
Matty Lennon
Anthony Kelly
U18s Assistant Manager: Alex Jardine
Tom Bradley
Liam Tongue
Sunday Team Manager: David Platt
Managers: Alan Gillespie and Nick Matthews
Manager: Terry Hincks Assistant: Antony Trucca
Full Committee: John McKiernan, Jeff Voller, Jim Barrett, Ste Ball, Andy Langley Paul Wood, Margaret Wood, Chris Ford and Glyn Jones.
U21s Assistant Manager: Billy Davies
Club Email: sthelenstownfc@hotmail.co.uk Main Club Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool
Referee: Mr A Brown (Blackburn) Assistants: Mr M Conroy (Clitheroe) & Ms K Davey (Manchester)
Match Sponsor
Shirt Sponsor: EcigUK St Helens Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002
Paul J Pritchard
Company Director: Jim Barrett Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited Cover Photograph: Johan Du Toit in action v Barnton on Saturday 12 September 2015
Match Ball Sponsor
THE COWLEY VAULTS 50 Cooper Street, St Helens Telephone: 01744 750849
Next Home Game: Saturday 10th October 2015 St Helens Town v Chadderton NWCL, Division One Adults £5, Concessions £3
Good afternoon and welcome to Brocstedes Park for this North West Counties Football League, First Division contest against Cheadle Town. 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 has been a strange week since we were last here at Brocstedes Park hosting league leaders and Championship favourites Barnton last Saturday. We could not have started the game better as we were awarded a spot kick after 35 seconds when Andy Gillespie fed Warren Twist and he was felled in the box with Gillespie converting from the spot. Barnton levelled when a long hopeful ball forward was allowed to bounce by Graham McLoughlin in the home goal and it went over his head and was turned in by former Town man Chris Lomax. Substitutes Marcus Perry and Jack Golding turned the tide for Town as Gillespie found Golding on the left who cut inside playing a one, two with Johan Du Toit only being denied by a fine save and a couple of minutes later Perry started a counter attack in the Town half advancing down the right wing linking with Gillespie who played a reverse ball back to him and Perry made no mistake finding the bottom left hand corner from a tight angle. Less than a minute later an almost identical situation saw a similar move this time Gillespie linked with Golding who fed the ball to Perry on the right of the area and again he belied the tight angle to find the net. Town should have added a fourth when Perry advanced into the box and squared along the 6 yard line towards Matty Lennon who couldn’t manage to get a big enough touch to steer to ball into the unguarded net. The hosts were to rue this miss as moments later another former Town man Colin Quirk sent a ball into the box from the left which Lomax converted centrally and deep into added on time Town failed to clear a corner and Robert Kinsella poked the ball home from close range to give Barnton a share of the spoils. We then moved on to a midweek fixture at Rochdale Town, I could not have had a worse trip as it took me over two hours to get to the ground but once we had kicked off another quick start saw us go 1-0 up early doors when Andy Gillespie rounded the keeper to net his 8th goal of the campaign. Rochdale had produced a spirited comeback in August at Brocstedes Park and as Town failed to add to their lead the hosts levelled through Jonny Thomspson on 37 minutes. Rochdale took the lead 12 minutes into the 2nd half and as the visitors poured forward had their two centre halves and goalkeeper to thank for staying in front. As normal time elapsed Thompson sealed the points for the hosts by adding his third in a counter attack as St Helens committed bodies forward to try and level matters. Rochdale will be confident of having Town’s number when the two sides meet again in a couple of weeks for an FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round tie at the same venue.
Onto today’s contest as we look to get back to winning ways as a campaign that started off brightly with a maximum return from the first three league games has seen us veer off track collecting just one point in the last four outings. We welcome a Cheadle Town side who currently sit above us in the table in 7th place having taken 12 points from their opening 8 matches. They have had mixed fortunes of late having lost late on at Ashton Town on Saturday prior to that they had wins over Eccleshall & Staveley Miners Welfare and like ourselves had fell to defeat at Litherland REMYCA so we know we will need to be at our best to get a return from this afternoon’s contest. Let’s get behind Town this afternoon and hopefully cheer them onto victory. Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller
Cheadle Town was formed in 1961 as Grasmere Rovers playing in the Manchester & District Sunday Football League in their Under 16s Division. As the team developed the Under 21 Championship was won in 1968, followed by the Premier Division title two years later.
In 1972 the club made the significant decision to play their football on Saturdays and joined the Manchester Football League. Success on the playing field coincided with the arrival of Albert Pike as manager in 1978. In Albert’s first, full season he led the team to a terrific double of First Division Champions and Manchester Amateur Cup Winners; this was the prelude to even more success as the club won both the Manchester & Derbyshire F.A. Cups. Grasmere Rovers moved into their own ground at Park Road Stadium in 1982 and, a year later, changed their name to Cheadle Town when they also joined the North West Counties Football League. Membership has mainly been in the Second Division but in 1996 the club was promoted to the First Division. Sadly, relegation back to the second tier occurred in 2001, a position they still occupy in the nowCheadle Town 1-3 Town named First Division. 17th March 2001 (Park Road) Park Road Stadium has a fine history with, initially, Cheadle Rovers being the owners. On their demise Manchester City used it as their training ground. Portugal, along with Eusebio trained there during the 1966 World Cup and, in 1993, the world-famous Brazilian player, Jairzinho, hosted a Soccer School for Cheadle Town. Floodlights were installed in 1995 and Manchester United provided the opposition for the official ‘switch-on’ when, on a memorable evening, Town beat United’s youngsters, 3-2 in front of almost 2,000 fans. The biggest gate to watch Cheadle Town on domestic soil came ten years later against FC United of Manchester. Due to the huge interest in the game Town officials moved the fixture to Stockport County’s Edgeley Park, and they were rewarded with a bumper 3,227 attendance that witnessed a pulsating 3-3 draw. The club is famous for its legendry foreign tours, having played 96 games in 30 different countries in front of over 312,000 fans and scoring 111 goals. Playing under their tour name, Manchester AFC, they have played against SEVEN national sides and once played in front of 65,000 people in Mexico City’s world-famous Aztec Stadium. Their epic journeys have taken them just over 210,000 miles all over the world. Alfredo di Stefano, Ronnie Biggs,
Brazilian superstar Jairzinho and Rajiv Ghandi have all met the touring side as exotic locations such as Cannes, Acapulco, Rio de Janeiro, the Bahamas and Phuket have mixed with non-exotic places like Dar es Salaam, Haiti and Guangzhou in China. The club celebrated its 50th birthday in 2011 and, if the next 50 years are anything like the first, then there is a lot of excitement to come. It was at this time that Cheadle Town made the decision to change their kit colours to green which commemorated the colours worn by Cheadle Town 1-3 Town Grasmere Rover 50 years ago. In 2014, 17th March 2001 (Park Road) Cheadle Town secured a Football Foundation grant to fund the renovation of their aging Main Stand which has since been overhauled, including new changing rooms and offices within. The development of Park Road Stadium continues as it looks to make available its new facilities to the community. Cheadle Town are a Charter Standard Club and following a link up with local junior side Cheadle & Gatley, they are in the process of becoming a Charter Standard Community Club acknowledging the most advanced level of club development and football provision.
The current management team of Terry Hincks and Antony Trucca have been at the helm since December 2013 following the departure of long serving manager Steve Brokenbrow. Both Terry and Antony have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to build a competitive squad at Cheadle Town and go into the forthcoming season looking to improve on last season’s 10th place finish in the First Division. 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-1 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1
P 42 40 34 38 36 36 34 34 34 32 34 34 34 36 36
W 5 10 10 12 11 14 9 10 16 9 13 13 14 14 13
D 9 8 8 9 7 6 8 6 4 9 7 9 7 7 7
L 28 22 16 17 18 16 17 18 14 14 14 12 13 15 16
F 42 66 39 55 47 55 41 44 54 46 54 60 61 65 68
A 129 85 56 69 80 53 60 80 44 57 62 61 65 74 67
GD -87 -19 -17 -14 -33 2 -19 -36 10 -11 -8 -1 -4 -9 1
Pts 24 38 38 45 40 42 35 33 52 33 46 45 49 46 46
Position 22/22 17/21 13/18 16/20 12/19 14/19 12/18 14/18 7/18 14/17 10/18 8/18 7/18 11/19 10/19
St Helens Town - last 6 matches All Competitions
Most recent
at St Helens Town 27/09; 3-1
Previous Meetings 2000-01
at Cheadle Town 17/03; 3-1
Home
W
D
W
W
L
D
NWC-D1
2001-02
NWC-D2
Away
L
W
L
W
L
L
NWC-D1
2002-03
NWC-D2
Collated
W
L
W
L
D
L
NWC-D1
2003-04
NWC-D2
NWC-D1
2004-05
NWC-D2
NWC-D1
2005-06
NWC-D2
NWC-D1
2006-07
NWC-D2
NWC-D1
2007-08
NWC-D2
NWC-PD
2008-09
NWC-D1
NWC-PD
2009-10
NWC-D1
NWC-PD
2010-11
NWC-D1
NWC-PD
2011-12
NWC-D1
NWC-PD
2012-13
NWC-D1
NWC-PD
2013-14
NWC-D1
NWC-PD
2014-15
NWC-D1
19/09/2015
2015-16
30/01/2016
Cheadle Town - last 6 matches All Competitions
Most recent
Home
D
D
D
W
W
W
Away
L
D
D
L
W
L
Collated
D
W
L
W
W
L
St Helens Town games since...
Cheadle Town games since...
All Competitions
All Competitions
Clean sheet
3
Clean sheet
4
Goal Scored
0
Goal Scored
0
Loss
0
Loss
0
No score draw
40
No score draw
St Helens Town Scores First
21
Games Played
2
St Helens Town Wins
2
Draws
0
Cheadle Town Wins
0 6
Score draw
1
Score draw
5
St Helens Town Goals Cheadle Town Goals
2
Win
3
Win
1
Percentage Town Wins
100.00
Previous Meetings All Competitions P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
Win %
Home
3
3
0
0
8
2
6
100.00
Away
4
2
1
1
9
3
6
50.00
Collated
7
5
1
1
17
5
12
71.43
Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to this NWCFL First Division encounter with Cheadle Town. We extend a warm welcome to their players, officials and supporters along with our own followers and today’s match officials. Many thanks to today’s match sponsor Paul Pritchard and our match ball sponsor The Cowley Vaults, St Helens - your support is greatly appreciated and we hope you enjoy the afternoon with us! It’s been another mixed week on the field for the club with last Saturday’s 3-3 draw with league leaders Barnton still a hot topic of conversation and in particular the amount of added on time played still top of the discussion list! As with all football we quickly moved on to the next game - a midweek trip to Rochdale ended in disappointment with a 3-1 reversal despite a good start and a late rally which saw Rochdale’s ‘keeper in fine form. We will have an opportunity to gain some revenge as we make the trip to the Mayfield Sports ground for the next round of the FA Carlsberg Vase on the weekend of Saturday 3rd October - exact date/kick off time to be confirmed as Rochdale’s ground is not available on the Saturday afternoon. Next Saturday (26th September) it’s more cup action as we make a first time trip to Hanley Town for the 1st Round of the MEN United Cup. We’re eventually back at home on Saturday 10th October when Chadderton are our visitors. We’ve been drawn away to Bootle in the Liverpool County FA Senior Cup Round 1, date to be confirmed (but on or before 31st October)
Both our U18s and U21s continued with the good league starts - the U18s made it 4 wins from 5 with a 2-1 victory over Altrincham Youth (who they visit tomorrow) while the U21s hit four without reply against Winsford United U21s to make it two wins from two. Tomorrow they host league leaders Irlam U21s, 12 noon at Edge Hill University Campus. Don’t forget we’re still on the look out for new members of our Goldline Lottery just £1 per week membership for weekday prizes of £500 plus a Extra Draw jackpot of up to £5000 every week.
We’re also looking for a few match and match ball sponsors from just £50 - get in touch if you can help. Enjoy the game . . . John McKiernan Chairman St Helens Town AFC 07713 339 682 www.sthelenstownafc.com
When I told a friend that I’d sponsored town for £100, they looked at me askance and asked “why? You haven’t got a business, you don’t need the (excellent) publicity” and in a way that summed up one of the main reasons for actually doing it.
I’m a St Helens lad through and through, born and bred and proud of it! The town has taken a few knocks over the years, with probably a few more to come in the current age of austerity, but the town has had its share of highlights especially in the sporting arena. Saints obviously take the limelight in terms press space but we’ve had plenty of other bright spots in many sports. One of these I was privileged enough to witness, at Wembley on the 25th of April 1987 when Town beat Warrington. £5 for a ticket sat just a couple of rows behind the Royal Box, best spec I’ve ever had at Wembley and I’ve been there a few times! A great game, some good goals and a fantastic result! However, as a young lad my first loves were really Saints and, because my dad and his dad were Reds, Liverpool FC. My interest in Town started after visiting my grandmother, who lived on Carnegie Crescent and, as a young lad in the mid 70s, whenever I had spare time on a Saturday, which wasn’t much with my own sporting activities, I’d jump on the 27A, visit “mother” and she’d feed me and give me a couple of bob and I’d make my way home. Until one day on leaving her flat, I heard a bit of noise from past the Boilermakers which drew me down Hoghton Road (and over the fence I have to say). Ever since then I catch the, very, occasional game but would always look out for the results and read match reports. As I grew older and gained responsibilities, work and family, my time became scarce and I stopped watching football as a live spectator and started to become a telepubby! But as my kids got older I started to take them to Anfield, first for the odd European game as a birthday treat and then more regularly. I’ve had some good memories of watching Liverpool with them especially with my son in Istanbul. However, after having a hip replaced earlier last summer during my time off from work recuperating I managed to catch three or four “home” games at Brocstedes Park, even dragging my son for the FA cup game against Atherton Collieries and I got a little bit of a flutter. However normality returned and time constraints and the lure of bright lights of Anfield brought this particular dalliance to a close. This close season as I was paying for my season ticket at Anfield, a mind blowing £834, I started to mull over the situation. How can I, in all sincerity, justify spending that amount of money on a club that, to be honest, doesn’t need to charge those prices in order to maintain its flawed business model. To sit in a stadium that, apart from three or four games a season, is frankly a library, and is increasingly filling with customers who are the cash cows for corporation and don’t really have a connection with the club. My visits to Town have been to watch players who, whilst they may harbour ambitions of playing pro in the Prem, are holding down jobs or getting an education and dealing with real life. Playing a game for love and enjoyment and watched by people who care, not just about their club, but about the game and also the communities that they live. A club like town is so much more than a football club. It provides focus for young and old, players and supporters alike and it provides hope and opportunity. So returning to the question asked in the first paragraph, no, I don’t get publicity from the money I’ve spent, but I do get a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that I’ve helped the club keep its head above water and bring it closer to a return home to St Helens. I could and should probably do more, as should a lot of other people, to be a part of securing the long term future, this is a start for me, hopefully others can do the same. Paul J Pritchard
THE FINAL WHISTLE The final part in my match trilogy is for me one of the best parts of it all. The Post Mortem. I have lost count the number of times I have left a match in my pre-groundhopping days thoroughly disappointed and uttered the words “That’s it. I am never going again. They’ve done me”. Supporting a team that was not the most successful I got used to the losing and poor performances but for that short period when the final whistle has only just gone and the emotions are high, all sense goes out of the window. Your manager’s team selection, even on some occasions when you have won, is pulled apart and questioned. Why did he play him? What is so and so doing on the bench? The keeper’s useless. We have all been there, and we all think we know better than the guy who has spent a lifetime in the game, passed various coaching badges and earned the respect of the board and players at your club; all of a sudden he knows ‘nothing’. If it isn’t the managers or even the dodgy centre-half’s fault then we have another obvious scapegoat to blame, yes, the referee. Rumours have been abound for years in the game that such a referee supports this club and another always gives that club a penalty, I have spread a few! One of the many good things about being a neutral is that total impartiality, I am often sat or stood amongst the fans of various clubs, when they start berating the ref, or the players are screaming at them. Please believe me, more often than not they are right, as a neutral you can see why a decision has been given and it is generally only when I have a leaning that I can sense that I question a performance. Of course they make mistakes, we all do, but it is made in all honesty of trying to do their best. Sometimes, and it is a rare event, we praise the opposition. Why does it hurt so much to compliment their left winger who tore our full back to shreds, their midfield who prowled like Pirlo all afternoon spraying the ball around. We seem to be ok in praising the keeper, as that puts us in a good light. But the rest, nah! Would rather blame something else!
There is another part of the post match that the digital age has brought to an end. Trying to find out the final scores. Walking close to the guy with the radio glued to his ear as he shouts out random scores, quite often ones that nobody has any interest in “Northampton beat Port Vale 6-2” who cares? People nipping in “How’ve Arsenal gone on mate” others responding ‘still playing’ ‘he’s not said yet’. Finally we made it back to the car, get Radio Five on, as they go round the country in a division you have no interest in. This was always complimented by the ‘football pink’ or similar paper, stood outside the local newsagents at 6 so you could get your hands on the match reports, often with the last bit missing due to printing deadlines, late results not included, especially Bury who always kicked off at 3:15 when I was a kid. A lot has improved over the years with the beautiful game, a lot has got worse, change is something we have to adapt to and accept, but there is a place for us in the modern game, because as fans of the game, and that includes players, managers, backroom, committee members, we are all fans, the game is ours. Without us, there is no game. Enjoy. It’s yours.
Marcus Perry
Following local government reorganisation in 1974, it was decided to apply to the College of Heralds for a new Coat of Arms, to incorporate those areas joining together to form the new Borough of St Helens.
A design brief was prepared by Councillor G R Parr, a Councillor for East Sutton who had training in graphic design. This was accepted and highly commended by the College of Heralds, with only a small amount of alteration. The silver shield contains:
The black cross of Haydock and Eccleston and the two blue bars of Parr In the top left hand corner is the red diagonal cross of the Gerards, representing Ashton and Seneley Green. In the top right hand corner is the black griffin of Bold, representing Rainhill, Bold and also Whiston RDC. (These were displayed on the previous County Borough of St Helens Coat of Arms issued in 1876). In the bottom left hand corner is the red cross of Pilkingtons, representing Windle. In the bottom right hand corner is the red crosslet of Billinge. The crest above the helmet is that of Lord Newton, representing Newton UDC and Haydock UDC. There is also the addition of two red fleur de lys on the body of the Ram. The supporters, a golden lion and a black griffin are differenced by seven red fleur de lys on the lion and seven black bars on the wing of the griffin, to denote the seven authorities which make up the Borough. The motto "PROSPERITAS IN EXCELSIS" is taken from the Rainford Council badge of office and means "Flourishing Well".
In recent times, and particularly since the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, some local people had advocated that the motto on the St Helens Coat of Arms be changed from 'Prosperitas in Excelsis' (Flourishing Well), to 'Ex Terra Lucem' (Out of the Earth - Light). The Ex Terra Lucem motto had been particularly prominent in 2012 due to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. The writer of the Opening Ceremony was Frank Cottrell Boyce, born locally in Rainhill, who attended local schools. Frank Cottrell Boyce had made it clear that Ex Terra Lucem was a significant influence on the development of the Opening Ceremony. It appeared to be particularly relevant to the development of the cauldron idea from which the Olympic Flame was lit. The Opening Ceremony captured the imagination of people worldwide, but had also led many people locally to question whether we should adopt Ex Terra Lucem as the motto on our Coat of Arms in place of Prosperitas in Excelsis. It was felt that it was more appropriate to the town's history and had more meaning for local people, representing hope for the future. A number of people had raised this and requested that the Council consider replacing the motto. A public consultation commenced on 17 January 2013 and at its meeting held on 17 April 2013, Council resolved to revert back to the original motto of 'Ex Terra Lucem'. The Coat of Arms remained the same.
Irlam Secretary Warren Dodd gives an insight into recent activities at Silver Street . . .sSo what did we do in our summer break?
Lots of good stuff at the ground and lots of frustrations too, but on the whole things are better. We are improving. Summer began with the traditional breaking down of the mowers. The boiler stopped working as well. The boiler is big enough to run Old Trafford, and the bill to fix it made our eyes water. The mower was only £750 to fix . . . an absolute bargain. All the players have returned wearing this seasons IRLAM FC leisurewear. I think if Tesco would allow us to sell IRLAM FC leisurewear we could easily fill an aisle. Why isn’t there a monthly award for best dressed players? The brand new Clubhouse has now been completed, and along with a brand new car park at the ground, it has drawn praise from far and wide. The Clubhouse attracts a steady flow of functions into it, but it's early days and we have to make sure we don’t suffer burnout trying to do too much. We have just “acquired” two benches that sit outside to add to the facility. It’s beginning to look like a Toby Inn. The car park is fantastic, and seeing as it was marked out for 66 cars it always seems very full and very orderly, which all adds to the impression people get when arriving at the Club. We had our ground grading last week, with Geoff Wilkinson and an FA Grading Officer. The result was the usual repaint the yellow lines and put a lock on the pay box. A nice chap actually, but I hoped he was equally as kind to other Clubs he visited. Costs and commitment are the two words that sum up this level of football and must apply to every Club in both Divisions. People’s lives just seem to get busier and busier, and Clubs like ourselves need larger pools of people to share the burden of running the Club. I think we are better off than some Clubs, and when I watched John Maguire, Secretary at Squires Gate, running around last Saturday, doing paperwork one minute, and fagging the ball the next, it really shows that we are thin on the ground. Cost is massive. I do not know how Clubs afford to operate their grounds. I say this because I still do not know how we do it. As for Clubs who ply their trade at another Club's ground, the fight to stay afloat must be brutal. Last season’s victims, Wigan Robin Park and Oldham Boro were both run by competent committee members. In the end though, sheer mental exhaustion must get the better of them. My hat is off to those Clubs who are strong and well supported, a good example being 1874 Northwich, but if you don’t have your own ground it is a massive concern. As always, we are plying our trade in Division One this season and as always we are hoping to climb into the Premier Division. Looking around the Clubs in our Division this season, with the exception of the odd Club, I feel that not many are paying their players. We certainly don’t, so it may be our year this year. With a decent squad assembled, we must be in the play offs as a minimum. We have a different make up to our teams this season, with a new U21’s team replacing last season’s reserve team, and our Youth Alliance side remaining in place at under 18s The U21s have entered the newly for Cheshire U21’s Prem Division, and I’m delighted to report we are top of the league with three wins out of three. The Under 18’s have started well in Div One of the Youth Alliance, and a decent 3-1 win over Ashton Town has begun their FA Youth Cup campaign in style.
As I write this (last Saturday morning) I am making plans to head off to the ground for the home fixture against Rochdale Town. We have a fairly hit and miss record against them, but we usually do well at home. I've put a tenner on 4-0...
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
PC Problems St Helens
John Cahill
Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Wheel Pro - Alloy Wheel Repairs & Refurbishment
Anthony Hall - Exiled Geordie on Merseyside
Sat 22/08/15
Irlam
Sat 29/08/15
Rochdale Town
Sat 12/09/15
Barnton
Toast Café, St Helens
LM Travel
Sat 19/09/15
Cheadle Town
Paul Pritchard
The Cowley Vaults
Sat 10/10/15
Chadderton
KA Davies Electrical
Conor McGinn MP
Toy World St Helens & Rylance Fishmongers CelebLook Ladies & Girls Fashion
David O’Keefe & Gary Shaw Kiera’s Occasions Venue Dressing & Balloons Airborne Bathroom Services Danny’s Window Cleaning
Tue 13/10/15
Widnes
Sat 21/11/15
Daisy Hill
Sat 05/12/15
Hanley Town
Stillia
Sat 19/12/15
Eccleshall
Northern Rags
Sat 16/01/16
Stockport Town
Michael Allison
Sat 06/02/16
Bacup Borough
Mon 28/03/16
Ashton Town
Sat 16/04/16
Northwich Manchester Villa
Sat 23/04/16
Whitchurch Alport
Mike Cole Web Design
Invisible Heroes Stuart Pyke
Rylance Fishmongers & Toy World St Helens
Extra Time Academy Wilf Marshall & Finding Furever Homes
All sponsorship fixtures are subject to confirmation (Litherland REMYCA, Holker OB dates tbc)
Warrington Motors Man of the Match Awards Andy Gillespie (v Atherton LR), Matty Lennon (v Irlam) and Graham McLoughlin (Rochdale)
Warrington Motors Fiat and Nissan
201 Winwick Road, Warrington Cheshire WA2 7PE Telephone: 01925 669 401
Man of the Match Awards 2015-16
Town v Atherton LR Andy Gillespie/Dale Sealey Town v Irlam Matty Lennon Town v Rochdale Town Graham McLoughlin Town v Barnton Dale Sealey
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
4-1W
Bradley
Davidson
Kelly
A.Whelan
Sealey
Baines
Aug 15
FAC EPR 3.00
2-1L
McLoughlin
Davidson
Marshall
Lennon
Sealey
A.Whelan
AUG 22 IRLAM
NWCFL
3.00
3-1W
Bradley
Davidson
Marshall
Lennon1
A.Whelan
Agbodjan1
AUG 29 ROCHDALE TOWN
NWCFL
3.00
2-3L
McLoughlin
Davidson
Marshall
Lennon
A.Whelan
Griffiths
Sep 05
Winterton Rangers
FAV 1QR
3.00
0-4W
McLoughlin
Davidson
Marshall
Lennon
Sealey
Begley
Sep 09
Litherland REMYCA
NWCFL
7.45
3-1L
McLoughlin
Davidson
Kelly
Lennon
Sealey
Begley
NWCFL
3.00
3-3D
McLoughlin
Davidson
Kelly
Gibson
Sealey
A.Whelan
3-1L
McLoughlin
Davidson
Marshall
Gibson
Sealey
A.Whelan
Maine Road
SEP 12 BARNTON
NWCFL
7.45
SEP 19 CHEADLE TOWN
Sep 15
NWCFL
3.00
Sep 26
Hanley Town
MUC 1R
3.00
Rochdale Town
FAV 2Q
3.00
OCT 10 CHADDERTON
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
Ashton Town
NWCFL
3.00
Jan 09
Northwich Manchester Villa NWCFL
3.00
Oct 2
Rochdale Town
Bacup Borough
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 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
TBA
HOLKER OLD BOYS
NWCFL
TBA
TBA
LITHERLAND REMYCA
NWCFL
TBA
TBA
Chadderton or Bacup B’
FDC 2R
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
Lorde1
Du Toit
Andy Gillespie2
Nwachukwu
Marshall
Lennon
Russell11
Perry71
Duke10
McLoughlin
Baines
Du Toit
Andy Gillespie1
Lorde
Kelly
Perry10
Nwachukwu7
Duke
D.Whelan3
Bradley
Duke
Griffiths
Andy Gillespie1
Nwachukwu
Golding
Lorde6
Perry11
Rooney
Rigby10
McLoughlin
Perry
Du Toit1
Andy Gillespie1
Rigby
Agbodjan
Golding10
Lorde7
Nwachukwu
Duke11
Rooney
Agbodjan111
Golding10
A.Whelan
Rooney
Twist
Du Toit
Andy Gillespie1
Nwachukwu
Rigby1
Perry91
Twist1
Du Toit
Andy Gillespie
Nwachukwu
Marshall
Perry12
Gibson11
Golding
Baines10
Bradley
Du Toit
Baines
Andy Gillespie1
Twist
Rigby
Perry102
Duke
Lennon5
Begley
Golding11
Duke
Baines
Andy Gillespie1
Du Toit
Rigby
Perry11
Nwachukwu6
Golding
Lennon2
Bradley
St Helens Town Player Sponsors 2015-16 Matty Lennon Premier Parking Luke Gibson Leech Bedrooms & Kitchens Dale Sealey Leech Bedrooms & Kitchens Jordan Lorde Gibney's Jewellers David Baines SG Specialist Roofing Johan du Toit Total Building Care Tom Bradley Kealshore Graeme Begley Focus Windows & Doors Ltd Graham McLoughlin Electrician's Direct Alex Russell Rob Thompson Auto Repairs Alex Nwachukwu Curtain Wizard North West Marcus Perry North West Piling Matty Davidson Kiera's Occasions Ant Whelan The Daily Grind Andy Gillespie Arco Frame Warren Twist Cornerstones Ste Rigby Airborne Bathroom Services Charlie Duke Warrington Motors Jack Marshall Danny's Window Cleaning Alan Gillespie (Manager) Star Physio Nick Matthews (Manager) Foxwood Joinery Name1 Name Name Name Name10
Player name and number of goals scored Player name and CAUTION Player name and DISMISSAL FOR 2 CAUTIONS Player name and DISMISSAL Player name and number of replaced player
Widnes
Whitchurch Alport
Stockport Town
St Helens Town
Rochdale Town
Northwich Man Villa
Litherland REMYCA
Irlam
Holker Old Boys
Hanley Town
Eccleshall
2-3
2-1
0-2
0-4
2-2
4-1
3-0
3-0
3-2
5-2
0-1
1-6
3-3
1-4
1-6
Barnton
Daisy Hill
Chadderton
1-1
2-1
1-1
1-1
1-1
2-1
Daisy Hill
1-1
2-2
4-0
5-1
0-3
4-2
1-2
1-2
0-3
3-1
2-1
1-0
1-3
2-1
3-0
2-1
1-1
2-3
4-0
1-2
3-1
3-1
1-3
1-2
1-0
1-2
2-1
4-1
3-3
1-0
0-0
5-3
Whitchurch Alport
Cheadle Town
Bacup Borough
0-0
Hanley Town
0-1
4-2
2-1
St Helens Town
Chadderton
5-5
0-2
5-1
Stockport Town
Barnton
Atherton LR
2-3
Holker Old Boys 3-2
Litherland REMYCA
Bacup Borough
Ashton Town
1-1
Cheadle Town
0-1
Rochdale Town
Atherton LR
Eccleshall
4-3
Irlam
3-2
Northwich M Villa
Ashton Town
North West Counties Football League Division One Season 2015-16 Wednesday 16/09/15
2-2
2-3
4-1
4.3
0-1
Widnes
ST. HELENS TOWN AFC – A STATISTICAL HISTORY by Glyn Jones Part 58 - Season 2004-05 North West Counties League Team Fleetwood Town Newcastle Town St. Helens Town Curzon Ashton Ramsbottom United Skelmersdale United Alsager Town Maine Road Bacup Borough Colne Stone Dominoes Trafford Glossop North End Abbey Hey Atherton L.R. Nantwich Town Squires Gate Salford City Congleton Town Formby Atherton Collieries Great Harwood Town (-4) Opponents Abbey Hey Alsager Town Atherton Collieries Atherton L.R. Bacup Borough Colne Congleton Town Curzon Ashton Fleetwood Town Formby Glossop North End Great Harwood Town Maine Road Nantwich Town Newcastle Town Ramsbottom United Salford City Skelmersdale United Squires Gate Stone Dominoes Trafford
P 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 Home Aug 21 Mar 22 May 3 Oct 5 Oct 16 Jan 8 Aug 31 Mar 26 Feb 19 Aug 17 Sep 28 Mar 5 Feb 5 Apr 19 Dec 4 Apr 23 Jan 15 Sep 14 Oct 9 Mar 8 Dec 18
W 31 28 21 23 22 21 19 20 19 18 17 16 15 16 14 12 12 11 9 8 8 8
D 6 8 13 7 9 11 11 7 8 10 12 8 10 6 6 8 8 9 7 8 7 9 Result Won 5-1 Drew 1-1 Drew 2-2 Won 1-0 Drew 0-0 Won 3-0 Lost 1-2 Lost 2-3 Lost 0-1 Drew 1-1 Won 3-2 Won 1-0 Won 2-0 Won 5-0 Drew 1-1 Won 2-1 Won 2-1 Drew 0-0 Won 1-0 Drew 3-3 Won 2-0
L 5 6 8 12 11 10 12 15 15 14 13 18 17 20 22 22 22 22 26 26 27 25
F 107 94 75 66 70 94 65 76 52 75 73 69 79 51 64 71 38 68 54 47 57 48 Away Apr 9 Aug 14 Jan 3 Nov 30 Sep 18 Aug 25 Oct 2 Oct 11 Oct 19 Oct 30 Nov 13 Nov 27 Mar 19 Feb 12 Sep 21 Mar 12 Mar 28 Apr 30 Jan 22 Apr 2 Nov 2
A 42 51 48 45 47 57 47 69 47 61 64 59 75 69 82 91 64 90 88 99 102 96
Pts 99 92 76 76 75 74 68 67 65 64 63 56 55 54 48 44 44 42 34 32 31 29
Result Lost 0-3 Won 2-0 Won 3-0 Lost 0-3 Drew 0-0 Won 1-0 Won 4-1 Won 2-1 Lost 0-3 Won 5-2 Won 4-2 Drew 3-3 Lost 1-2 Won 3-2 Drew 3-3 Lost 1-2 Won 2-0 Drew 2-2 Drew 0-0 Drew 0-0 Won 1-0
Aug 28 Sep 4
Ex-Preliminary Preliminary
Sep 11 Sep 25 Oct 23 Nov 20 Dec 11
1st Qualifying 2nd Qualifying 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round
Nov 6 Jan 29 Feb 26
2nd Round 3rd Round 4th Round
Nov 9 Feb 16
1st Round 2nd Round
FA CUP NEWCASTLE BENFIELD SAINTS WEST AUCKLAND TOWN FA VASE Murton Kennek Ryhope CA HALLAM Fleetwood Town Billingham Town NWCFL CHALLENGE CUP Newcastle Town Atherton L.R. Skelmersdale United LIVERPOOL SENIOR CUP SKELMERSDALE UNITED LIVERPOOL
Sub Prov Total Goal App App App 1 5 25
Player
App
Barnes, David
19
Burke, Chris
9
-
-
9
Cliff, Paul Cunningham, Craig
8 31
1 -
2 2
11 33
Cushion, J Dahl, Paul
2 42
2 -
2
4 44
Davies, L Dowling, L
4
1 -
2
1 6
1
Earley, Dean
5
-
-
5
2
Fairbrother, Brian Fairhurst, Keith
28 8
3 -
5 -
36 8
Flood, Andy Forrester, Paul
39 -
1 1
4 -
Gibiliru, Joe (Jun.)
41
-
Gibiliru, Joe (Snr.) Gregson, N
15 2
Heron, Shaun Hilton, Stuart
1 8
Player Johansen, John McAllister, John
H H
Won Lost
4-3 0-3
A A H A A
Won Won Won Won Lost
2-0 5-0 6-2 3-2 3-4
A A A
Won Won Lost
2-1 AET 2-1 2-3
H H
Won Lost
4-3 0-1
Sub Prov Total Goal App App App 4 1 5 11 3 1 15 5
App
McDiarmid, Phil McGuire, Neil McMullen, A (Tony)
3 25
1 1 -
1
1 4 26
5
Madin, Lee Milson, Jordan
4 29
2
-
4 31
2 9
2
Molyneux, Dave Nelson, Anthony Nezianya, Chris
2 1 2
6 1
-
8 1 3
1
1
20 2
2
1 2
21 6
4
44 1
Nolan, David Oldham, Ian
44
19
1 -
1 1
17 3
Pegram, Lee Pomford, Paul Riley, Lee
4 36 3
8 1 -
1 5 -
13 42 3
4
3
1 16
3 8
3
4 27
Robinson, Karl Roscoe, Chris
34 2
2 3
1
36 6
14 1
1
Holcroft, P
2
-
-
2
1
Hughes, Lee Hughes, L
2 1
1
-
2 2
Scully, Mike Semmens, Chris Sheppard, Chris
6 3 8
3 -
1
6 6 9
1 1 2
1 28
2
4
1 34
Showers, Mischa Spellman, Adam
7 1
4
-
7 5
4
James, A Jennings, Eddie
2
-
11
27 547
65
47
27 13 659 108
Townsend, Richie Own Goals Totals
9
Jensen, Gary Totals
547
65
47
2 4 659 108
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 Tommy O’Neil in October 1948. Wembley,1987 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
St Helens Town 1948
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 afternoon everybody and welcome to Brocstedes Park the temporary home of St Helens Town FC for today’s NWCFL First Division game against Cheadle Town.
Our opponents have had a good start to the season sitting in 7th place with 12 points from their 8 games so far. Their record of 23 goals scored suggests a free scoring side so I'm sure it will be another exciting encounter. I felt our overall performance against high flying Barnton last weekend was excellent and deserved to take the 3 points. Our plan of defending deep with a combative midfield whilst looking to launch quick counter attacks from wide areas worked really well and we took the lead in the first 2 minutes from a quick break down the left which saw Ste Rigby brought down in the penalty area with the penalty converted. We held that lead despite being under pressure until the 63rd minute when GK Graham McLoughlin misjudged a high bouncing ball to gift the visitors an equaliser and a way back into the game. Very disappointing but Graham more than made up for it with a number of brave stops. We introduced substitutes Marcus Perry and Jack Golding to provide fresh kegs out wide and Marcus quickly made his mark with two lightning breaks and two neat finishes. It looked as if we would win the game but Barnton never gave up and scored wo late goals levelling the score at 3-3 in the 96th minute .Why we were still playing with only 3 minutes added only the Referee seemed to know. The dressing room felt like we had lost but in fact we gained a lot from the game in terms of confidence and belief. Tuesday night saw us face a return game with Rochdale Town who had overturned a 2 goal deficit to inflict a 3-2 defeat on us at the end of August so revenge was high on our agenda. Disappointingly it was not to be despite us again racing into an early lead with a great run from deep by Jack Marshall being finished off by Andy rounding the GK and slotting ball home. Rochdale again showed great character with a barrage of long balls to target man Berg who with a flick put Thompson in down our right where he got away from substitute Matty Lennon and hit an unstoppable shot past GK Mcloughlin to level things at half time. Second half we struggled to find rhythm and 10 mins into 2nd half we went behind to another Thompson strike. Despite an avalanche of pressure we couldn't find a way past their GK who made some great stops which aided by goal line clearances kept us out and with everybody pushed up looking for an equaliser we got caught again last minute. Very disappointing result as we felt very confident after the Barnton result. On the player front we have lost one of our key defenders Sean Kelly to Runcorn Town and we all wish him the best of luck but on the positive side we gave recruited Luke Gibson from Ashton Athletic and we will be looking to strengthen the squad further in the coming weeks. We are also very pleased with the progress made by our youngsters Warren Twist, Ste Rigby, Jack Golding, Marcus Perry and Charlie Duke who are all featuring regularly in our 1st team line ups and they will only get better as the season progresses but we must use them wisely. As recent results have shown this Division is proving equally balanced with plenty of evenly matched sides with the promotion race likely to go to the wire so it is vital that we start putting results on the board and get ourselves back up the table starting today. As ever, enjoy the game and get behind the players from the first whistle to the last.
NIGHT OF DISAPPOINTMENT FOR TOWN Rochdale Town 3–1 St. Helens Town
by Glyn Jones The early season euphoria of three straight wins has vanished and St. Helens Town are beginning to learn some harsh lessons in the fight to regain their Premier Division status at the first attempt. This defeat was their second to a workmanlike Rochdale side who, as in the match at Brocstedes Park in August, came from behind with three unanswered goals, on this occasion, all spectacular efforts scored from the corner of the box by Jonny Thompson. However, St. Helens ought to have levelled at 2-2 in the final 10 minutes, when a number of great chances were not taken. St. Helens began brightly and Gillespie waltzed through the home defence, side-stepping Andrew Foster, before rounding keeper Mike Smith and firing into the empty net after only 4 minutes. Town looked to have sprung the Rochdale off-side trap on a number of occasions only for the hosts to be saved by the flag of the enthusiastic assistant. The rest of the half was end to end football and Rochdale’s Thompson scored the first of his goals to level the scores in the 36th minute following a long punt downfield which was superbly flicked on leaving the hot-shot to finish from a tight angle. The second-half possession was dominated by the Rochdale side for the opening half hour and they took a deserved lead on 55 minutes when Thompson again found space on the Town right a finished with some power leaving McLoughlin grasping thin air. However, St. Helens made a fight of it in the last 15 minutes, as wave upon wave of attacks were launched to try to salvage the game. Charlie Duke was the first to break through and he lobbed Smith, but his effort went just over the bar. Gillespie then set up substitute Marcus Perry who fired on goal from just inside the box forcing home ’keeper Smith into a great save, turning the shot round the post. This was followed by Gillespie’s pile-driver, which was blocked on the goalline by the substitute and Dale Sealey’s drive was tipped by Smith over his bar, to cap a magnificent display between the home sticks. The visitors’ misery was complete when the home side broke in the final minute and Thompson sealed his hat-trick with another identical shot past Graham McLoughlin, just inside the far post. The two teams will meet again in two week’s time on the weekend of Saturday 3rd October in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Carlsberg Vase with Town hoping to make it third time lucky. Andy Gillespie
Town 3-3 Barnton Saturday 12th September 2015
St Helens Town are delighted to announce that their on-line match programme ‘The Marksman’ will be produced in association with OD’s Designer Clothing, St Helens throughout the 2015-16 season. Town’s award winning match programme, which secured a sixth successive NWCFL Programme of the Year award this summer, has been made available in a digital format for the past six seasons and last season saw a record numbers with over 16000 views via mobile, tablet and desktop PCs.
As well as taking a range of advertising space within the printed programme OD’s have taken a four page ‘wrap-around’ for the digital version giving them immediate access to all our readers. Club Chairman John McKiernan said, ‘ODs are a hugely successful business based in St Helens and we are delighted they have chosen to partner with us on this project. ‘Our digital match programme offers a great way of offering additional on-line exposure to the full range of ODs Men’s, Women’s, Children’s and Jewellery and Watch stores. OD’s will also be supporting our Annual Presentation evening, providing store vouchers for our Player of the Year category winners. www.odsdesignerclothing.com OD’s MENSWEAR 44 Barrow Street St Helens WA10 1RY OD’s WOMEN & JUNIOR 12-16 Cotham Street St Helens WA10 1SA OD’s WATCH & JEWELLERY 8-10 Cotham Street St Helens WA10 1SA Liverpool County FA Senior Cup Round 1 Bootle v St Helens Town Burscough v Litherland REMYCA Marine v Skelmersdale United Prescot Cables v AFC Liverpool Widnes v Ashton Town Southport, Tranmere Rovers and Everton will join the competition in Round 2
Jack Marshall
Q1. Who is the only player to have played for England C(Semi-Pro), England B, England U21’s & the Senior side?
Q2. Which team with 13 Belgian Top-Flight Championships is second most successful club behind Anderlecht on 33 titles? Q3. Which Scottish top-flight team are unofficially known as “The Dossers” Q4. Which unwanted Ligue 1 record did French side Montpellier claim during the 2013-14 season? Q5. Out of the 90 national teams Brazil have played in their history which is the only one they have failed to beat at least once? Q6. Which two teams did England beat In their group at Euro 2004 to advance to the knockout stages? Q7. Which World Cup winning goalkeeper did Andy Carroll score his first senior goal past? Q8. Which chart position did Andy Cole reach with his 1999 song Outstanding? Q9. Which manager has the unwanted record of being the first to lose his job from a Premier League club? Q10. Which Swedish city can boast the most Allsvenskan League titles collectively between their clubs? Q11. How many of the 1994 Republic of Ireland World Cup squad were born in the country? Q12. Which football league club were sponsored by their local steel company from 2007-2015 and are now bear the NWCFL charity partner Prostate Cancer UK on their shirts? Q13. What was Bill Shankly’s first job after leaving school? Q14. Who was the only member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning squad that was born in a former East German city? Q15. Who are the most westerly club in League Two?
1) Steve Guppy 2) Club Brugge 3) Motherwell 4) Most Red Cards (14) 5) Norway 6) Switzerland & Croatia 7) Gianluigi Buffon against Juventus in a friendly 8) 68 9) Ian Porterfield of Chelsea 10) Malmo 11) Seven 12) Scunthorpe United 13) Miner 14) Toni Kroos 15) Plymouth Argyle
Back in 2002 St Helens born Lily Parr became the first female footballer to be inducted into the inaugural National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. Ray Gent wrote the following article which celebrates her achievements at a time when women's football threatened the establishment. It wasn’t just the Northern Rugby Football Union and later Rugby League that faced groundless and appalling treatment. Back in the late 19th century, women’s football was gathering momentum, though riling the Gentlemen presiding over the Football Association. Up in Scotland in 1892, the first women’s football match taking place under SFA guidelines was condemned by the Scottish Sport: “It was the most degrading spectacle we have ever witnessed in connection with football.” Pressing on regardless, Crouch End Athletics Ground hosted the first-ever “official” women’s match on 23 March 1895, in a contest between North and South London. Incidentally, the year the Northern Rugby Football Union was founded. Organised by middle-class activist Mary Hutson (pseudonym Nettie Honeyball and founder of the British Ladies’ Football Club), a rather nettled female journalist working for the Manchester Guardian wasn’t too praiseworthy in her reporting: “Their costumes came in for a great deal of attention…. one or two added short skirts over their knickerbockers…. when the novelty has worn off, I don’t think women’s football will attract the crowds.” and despite 10,000 turning up.
Commenting in the Daily Sketch on 6 February 1895, Honeyball explained at length why women’s football should be taken seriously, rather than women being considered ‘ornamental dolls’ and ‘useless creatures’ men portrayed them as. Of course, there were also grumblings in Victorian society. “Novelty” women’s matches had no place in a man’s game, it was suggested. The medical profession weren’t too impressed either, saying it could be a health hazard to women and actually called for a total ban in 1894. Of the match, it was an unequivocal success for the enigmatic Miss Honeyball. Through her high principles and stubborn stance, she became an inspiration to her fellow dissenters. It was a period where educated women fought for equality through force of argumentative challenge. Following the baptism at Crouch End, the game spread to such places as Preston Park, Brighton and which attracted 5,000 spectators on a wet and blustery afternoon. The Green Man public house in Wigan offered its facilities for a match at Coppull Lane. Summing up, the Wigan Observer thought their attire “less than becoming”. The weather that day was appalling, the rain coming down in torrents, and the potential spectators waited outside the ground unwilling to hand over their money until they were sure the ladies would turn out. When they did, just after 3pm, there was a sudden rush to gain entry.
Elsewhere, the crusade continued with games at Valley Parade in Manningham, Hendon in Sunderland, Falcon Cliff on the Isle of Man, Taff Vale Park over in Pontypridd as well as Aberdeen’s Victoria Bridge Grounds. Horrified and appalled at the grotesque antics, the Football Association forewarned in 1902: “That charitable matches against ladies’ teams wouldn’t be tolerated.” The idea of women’s football challenged male domination in the sport. There was to be a brief revival during and after the First World War. With men sent marching to the frontline and dug in the trenches, the ladies shed their apron strings to work the farms, drive buses, employed in munitions factories and other occupations to help the war effort. Understandably, this huge influx of women workers created problems for the factory bosses. Trying best to cater for the women, they provided recreational huts where they could darn or knit. However, those women with a tougher upbringing wanted to let off steam – and what better way than a kick-about. This was the start of something remarkable as women’s football spread to many factories across the country. In particular, the Dick Kerr’s Ladies team formed in 1917 set extremely high standards and success along the way. Dick and John Kerr manufactured tramways and railway equipment in Preston, Lancashire, but were requisitioned by the War Office to manufacture munitions equipment. Managed by Alfred Frankland, the side attracted huge crowds wherever they played, in an effort to raise money for Wartime Charities and ‘good causes’. One such match held at Everton’s Goodison Park in December 1920 attracted 54,000, and rumour has it that a further14,000 were stuck outside trying to get in. The
opposition that day were the St Helens Ladies, the second best team at the time, with the match going to Dick Kerr’s Ladies 4-0. Out of interest, the crowd dwarfed that of what the top Football League sides attracted. Prior to this game, Frankland had taken a shine to 14-year-old Lily Parr and her fellow St Helens teammate Alice Woods on the conclusion of a match. For whatever reason, young Parr had left early and so Frankland asked Woods to contact her with a view to signing for his club and not a bad offer at ten-bob a game (worth £100 today), expenses and job. Born on 26 April 1905, Parr was brought up in Pocket Nook, St Helens, and an unforgiving and tough district in the town. Pickpockets, rough sleepers and drunkards made everyday life miserable. Parr eventually preferred football to rugby league and would spend untold hours kicking a football against a lamppost. A fourth child of seven, her dad George earned his keep working at the local glass factory, as well as the family taking in lodgers and renting out backyard storage space. The wider world seemed a million miles away until one crisp November evening when Alice Woods caught up with her team-mate to give her some sensational news. Alice could hardly contain her excitement that Alfred Frankland wanted to sign them on. “Tha’d best ask me mam, then,” replied Lily, somewhat gruffly. “Come on! Watch out fer ’t pigs, and mind you don’t step in t’ shit.”(forever mindful of the family’s pigs) Lily’s mother shuffled in wearing her usual neat, clean pinafore. Lily tentatively asked if she could leave home for hopefully a better future. Mum smiled before nodding her approval.
Now established in the Dick Kerr’s Ladies team, Lily Parr returned the faith Frankland saw in her. Standing almost six feet tall and with silky jet black hair, she eventually demonstrated her repertoire of skills at home and on tour in France. Previously, Dick Kerr’s Ladies entertained the French Ladies at Deepdale, Preston NE (25,000 att.), Stockport (12,000 att.) and Stanford Bridge, Chelsea (10,000 att.). She is reputedly to have had a harder shot than men. In her first season alone, she knocked in 43 goals. A local newspaper reported: “There is probably no greater prodigy in the whole country. Not only has she excellent speed and ball control, but her admirable physique enables her to brush of challenges from defenders who tackle her. She amazes the crowds wherever she goes by the way she swings the ball clean across the goalmouth to the opposite wing.” Scoring over 900 goals in her career is an outstanding achievement and she is the only female footballer to date to be inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. Sadly, the English FA eventually banned women in 1921 from playing on their affiliated grounds and lasting for 50 years. “…the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not be encouraged.” The fighting spirit though could not be diminished. In strong defiance, Frankland took his team on tour to Canada and the US. On arriving in Canada, the extraordinary prolific Dick Kerr’s Ladies found out that the FA, having snorted at their unsanctioned stardom, had asked that the association boycott them, in which they agreed. The US was more welcoming, but, to the ladies surprise, their opponents were men. Of the nine matches, they won three, drew three and with three defeats. The enforced ban eventually took its toll on women’s football to decline from its heady days, although they still played football on village greens and non-affiliated grounds. As for Lily Parr, it seems that the town has never got round to acknowledging her amazing achievements! Lily died in 1973 of breast Cancer and buried in St Helens Cemetery. Lily was the only woman inducted in the inaugural Hall Of Fame ceremony back in 2002.
U21s 4-0 Winsford United U21s Sunday 13th September 2015
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 RES 23/08/2015 W 2-1 30/08/2015 P-P 06/09/2015 W 6-1 13/09/2015 W 4-0 20/09/2015 12:00 27/09/2015 12:00 04/10/2015 14:00 15/10/2015 19:45 18/10/2015 12:00 25/10/2015 11:00 01/11/2015 12:00 08/11/2015 11:00 15/11/2015 14:00 22/11/2015 11:00 29/11/2015 14:00 06/12/2015 12:00 20/12/2015 12:00
HOME St Helens Town St Helens Town Claybrow FC 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
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
RES W 1-3 W 3-1 W 4-5 D 0-0 W 2-1 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
ANOTHER FORMER STAR RETURNS TO HAUNT TOWN St. Helens Town 3-3 Barnton by Glyn Jones After the flat performance at Litherland on Wednesday, which saw St. Helens Town on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline, due in no small part to former Town wingman Karl Bergqvist, who scored twice and made the other goal, the visit of league leaders Barnton to Brocstedes Park on Saturday was welcomed with more than a hint of concern, yet a draw was an outcome most would have found acceptable before kick-off. However, the 3-3 draw against league leaders Barnton had St. Helens Town and their spectators reeling in disbelief. On the face of it, this was a great result, but Town should have wrapped up the points long before the visitors scored twice in the last few minutes. An early penalty from Andy Gillespie, awarded after a trip on Ste Rigby, gave St. Helens a second minute lead and, although Barnton were on top for almost the next hour of play, Town defended resolutely to see out the first half. As absorbing as the first period had been, the second half burst into life following the introduction of three substitutes by each side. Town continued to withstand Barnton’s pressure until the Northwich side equalised in bizarre fashion on 63 minutes. A long punt upfield was held at full stretch by McLoughlin in the home goal, but the ball squirmed out of his grasp and another former St. Helens player, Chris Lomax, could not believe his luck as he dispatched the leather into the empty net. As the game moved into its closing stages, Marcus Perry used his lightening pace to score two unbelievable goals in the 78th and 79th minutes, the first one after an audacious one-two with Gillespie, to put Town 3-1 ahead then, having the game of his young life, he ghosted past three defenders and played a perfect ball across the goal-line, which Matty Lennon only had to touch to put his side 4-1 up, but he failed to react in time. Back roared Barnton, as they threw the proverbial kitchen sink at St. Helens and Lomax scored his second in the 89th minute, then with a wave of attackers besieging the home goal, substitute Robert Kinsella got the all-important last touch as the ball ricocheted back and forth amid the legs of the defence.
Town 3-3 Barnton Saturday 12th September 2015
Bears The Cup Kings In the middle of September it's fairly unusual for a team to have only played four league games, but that is the position Congleton Town find themselves in. The reason of course is that so far the Bears have played five game in FA competitions, the latest on Saturday with a 4-3 win up at Jarrow, and there has been no shortage of excitement in the games played so far. Saturday's game was the third FA Cup match in succession where the Bears have scored 4, and the second in a row where they have gone 2-0 down, fought back magnificently to lead 4-2 and then have to hold on for a 4-3 victory. Throw in a 3-1 win over Nostell Miners Welfare in the FA Vase, and already the pattern is emerging - for cup thrills, follow the Bears. Alport still the draw specialists In the days when everyone filled in pools coupons, the form guides on the sports pages always highlighted the teams who were draw specialists. We don't have NWCFL pools of course, but if we did, Whitchurch Alport would be the first team to have a cross against their name on many a coupon. The 1-1 draw with Daisy Hill at Yockings Park on Saturday was their fifth in eight games this season - clearly a team with a special kind of "X Factor". Ashton Town's bouncebackability Already this season in this feature we have highlighted outstanding performances from teams who have battled against the odds and refused to throw in the towel. However, one of the best examples so far of an impressive late comeback must be Ashton Town's effort at home to Cheadle Town on Saturday. Two down with nine minutes left, Town hit back with goals from David Worsley (81 minutes), Karl Dailey (83 minutes) and a last gasp winner from Daniel Griffiths on 90 minutes - clearly demonstrating that they are a team that don't give up easily. Impressive form from Irlam One team going quietly about their business this season so far is Irlam, whose 4-0 win over Rochdale Town on Saturday moved them into third place in the Division One table.
The Blues are a team that has shown steady improvement in the league, with five wins in seven games, and with the boost of a new clubhouse providing valuable revenue for the club, it could be that this is the season we see them emerge as serious promotion contenders.
First Division Table as at Wednesday 16th September 2015 First Division
P
W D
L
F
1
Barnton
9
6
1
2
26 10 16 19
2
Ashton Town
9
6
1
2
23 12 11 19
3
Stockport Town
9
5
1
3
17 17
0
16
4
Irlam
7
5
0
2
15
6
9
15
5
Litherland REMYCA
7
5
0
2
12
7
5
15
6
Hanley Town
6
4
1
1
12
7
5
13
7
Cheadle Town
8
3
3
2
23 17
6
12
8
Holker Old Boys
6
4
0
2
15 11
4
12
9
Atherton LR
9
3
2
4
12 20 -8 11
10
St Helens Town
7
3
1
3 17 15
2
10
11
Chadderton
8
2
4
2
12 10
2
10
12
Rochdale Town
7
3
1
3
11 13 -2 10
13
Widnes
8
2
3
3
16 19 -3
9
14
Bacup Borough
7
2
2
3
16 18 -2
8
15
Whitchurch Alport
9
0
6
3
12 20 -8
6
16
Daisy Hill
10 1
2
7
8
17
Eccleshall
8
1
1
6
12 16 -4
4
Northwich Manchester 8 Villa
1
1
6
12 21 -9
4
18
* points deducted for a breach of league rules
A GD Pts
32 -24 5
Saturday 19th September 2015 1874 Northwich v Maine Road Abbey Hey v AFC Darwen Alsager Town v AFC Blackpool Barnoldswick Town v Runcorn Town Bootle v Ashton Athletic Cammell Laird 1907 v Nelson Colne v AFC Liverpool Runcorn Linnets v Atherton Collieries Silsden v Winsford United Squires Gate v Congleton Town West Didsbury & Chorlton v Padiham Ashton Town v Barnton Atherton LR v Stockport Town Bacup Borough v Hanley Town Chadderton v Litherland REMYCA Daisy Hill v Irlam Northwich Manchester Villa v Eccleshall St Helens Town v Cheadle Town Whitchurch Alport v Holker Old Boys Monday 21st September 2015 Maine Road v Ashton Athletic
Tuesday 22nd September 2015 Bootle v Alsager Town Congleton Town v Cammell Laird 1907 Nelson v Padiham Silsden v Barnoldswick Town Squires Gate v Colne Wednesday 23rd September 2015 AFC Liverpool v Runcorn Town Friday 25th September 2015 Nelson v Atherton Collieries Saturday 26th September 2015 Abbey Hey v Ashton United Whitley Bay v Congleton Town Saturday 26th September 2015 Atherton LR v Daisy Hill Barnton v Northwich Manchester Villa Cheadle Town v Stockport Town Eccleshall v Chadderton Hanley Town v St Helens Town Irlam v Widnes Litherland REMYCA v Holker Old Boys Whitchurch Alport v Ashton Town
Premier Division Table as at Wednesday 16th September 2015 Premier Division
P
W D
L
F
A GD Pts
1
Barnoldswick Town
9
6
1
2
24 10 14 19
2
Runcorn Linnets
7
6
0
1
14
5
9
3
Colne
7
5
2
0
23
9
14 17
4
Nelson
9
5
2
2
20 12
8
17
5
1874 Northwich
8
4
2
2
14 11
3
14
6
Bootle
10
4
2
4
14 17 -3 14
7
AFC Darwen
11
3
4
4
25 30 -5 13
8
AFC Liverpool
7
3
3
1
19 12
7
12
9
Ashton Athletic
8
3
3
2
8
3
12
10
Winsford United
9
3
3
3
16 20 -4 12
11
Padiham
8
3
2
3
16 15
1
11
12
Abbey Hey
7
3
2
2
13 13
0
11
13
Cammell Laird 1907
8
2
4
2
19 18
1
10
14
Atherton Collieries
7
3
1
3
14 16 -2 10
15
Runcorn Town
8
2
3
3
13 16 -3
9
16
Silsden
7
2
3
2
13 17 -4
9
17
AFC Blackpool
7
2
2
3
15 15
0
8
18
Maine Road
9
2
1
6
16 25 -9
7
19
West Didsbury & Chorlton
10
2
1
7
11 21 -10 7
20
Congleton Town
5
1
2
2
9
11 -2
5
21
Squires Gate
8
0
4
4
8
15 -7
4
22
Alsager Town
7
0
1
6
5
16 -11 1
* points deducted for a breach of league rules
5
18
Saturday 26th September 2015 1874 Northwich v Bootle Alsager Town v Colne Ashton Athletic v AFC Liverpool Barnoldswick Town v Maine Road Cammell Laird 1907 v Silsden Padiham v Winsford United Runcorn Town v Squires Gate West Didsbury & Chorlton v Runcorn Linnets Saturday 26th September 2015 Rochdale Town v Bacup Borough Tuesday 29th September 2015 1874 Northwich v Runcorn Town Abbey Hey v Congleton Town Runcorn Linnets v Cammell Laird 1907 Saturday 3rd October 2015 AFC Darwen v West Auckland Town AFC Emley v Congleton Town Alsager Town v Maine Road Armthorpe Welfare v Ashton Town Atherton Collieries v Atherton LR Bacup Borough v Hemsworth Miners W Bishop Auckland v Holker Old Boys Dronfield Town v Bootle Eccleshall v Haughmond Handsworth Parramore v Cheadle Town Nelson v Team Northumbria Newton Aycliffe v Barnoldswick Town Northwich Manchester Villa v Rossington Main Rochdale Town v St Helens Town Runcorn Town v Barnton Silsden v Daisy Hill Squires Gate v Winsford United Vauxhall Motors v Abbey Hey West Didsbury & Chorlton v Dinnington T
Saturday 3rd October 2015 1874 Northwich v Padiham AFC Liverpool v AFC Blackpool Ashton Athletic v Runcorn Linnets Cammell Laird 1907 v Colne Saturday 3rd October 2015 Chadderton v Widnes Litherland REMYCA v Hanley Town Stockport Town v Whitchurch Alport