St Helens Town v Holker Old Boys 2015-16 by John McKiernan

CLUB INFORMATION Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens

Saturday 24th October 2015, kick off 3pm

Vice Presidents: Jim Barrett and Steve Ball Chairman: John McKiernan (07713 339682) Vice Chairman: Glyn Jones Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695)

St Helens Town

Holker Old Boys

Red & White Shirts White Shorts, Red & White Socks No

Graham McLoughlin

Gls Y R

Green & White Shirts Green Shorts & Socks No

Oliver Bell

Adam Lawrence

James Bonner

Jack Marshall

Billy Moss

Ant Whelan

Martin Grundy

Matty Lennon

Hospitality: Margaret Wood and Paul Wood

Guy Heffernan

Warren Twist

Phil Coombes

Trustees: John McKiernan and Eric Bond

Charlie Duke

Jamie Pattinson

Johan Du Toit

Bradley Hubbold

Andy Gillespie

Michael Rushton

Declan Gregson

David Swarbrick

U21s Team Manager: John McLaughlan

Jack Golding

Gareth Smith

U21s Assistant Manager: Billy Davies

Stephen Rigby

John-Paul Stanway

David Baines

Jordan Brough

U18s Team Manager: Ellis Hawksworth

Marcus Perry

Craig Redhead

Josh Hoult

Wayne Curtis

U18s Assistant Manager: Alex Jardine

Alex Gillespie

Callum Fawcett

Sunday Team Manager: David Platt

Managers: Alan Gillespie and Nick Matthews

Full Committee: John McKiernan, Jeff Voller, Jim Barrett, Ste Ball, Andy Langley Paul Wood, Margaret Wood, Chris Ford and Glyn Jones.

1st Team Joint Managers: Alan Gillespie & Nick Matthews

Club Email: sthelenstownfc@hotmail.co.uk Main Club Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Gls Y R

Manager: Gary Fawcett Assistant: Stuart Pattinson

Referee: Mr S Rudd (Preston) Assistants: Mr A Claro (Liverpool) & Mr J Jackson (Southport)

Match Sponsor

Shirt Sponsor: EcigUK St Helens Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

St Helens Town AFC Main Sponsors

Company Director: Jim Barrett Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited Cover Photograph: Jack Golding in action v Stockport Town 17/10/2015

Match Ball Sponsors

Next Home Game: Saturday 7th November 2015 St Helens Town v Chadderton NWCFL, Reusch 1st Div Cup Adults £5, Concessions £3

Good afternoon and welcome to Brocstedes Park for this North West Counties Football League, First Division contest against Holker Old Boys. 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. We have had a mixed brace of games since I last wrote this article for the Widnes game here 11 days ago. Taking the Widnes game first where we made it back to back wins with in an end to end contest. Town took the lead when Charlie Duke won the ball in the Town half and spread the ball to Gregson on the left he advanced before playing the ball out to Gillespie on the left wing who pulled the ball back towards Gregson but a defender got to the ball first but could only fire his clearance off Gregson with the rebound falling to Golding and his effort was fumbled into the net by Morrow in the Widnes goal. The lead was short lived as Jack Marshall tried to dribble out of his own box only to be disposed by Davies and he pushed the ball out of his feet before firing and effort across goal into the bottom left hand corner of the net. The visitors took the lead early in the second half after a soft free kick awarded on the Widnes right wing was sent into the box by Edwards and was curled into the box and found the net without a touch from a player on either side. Town almost levelled on 75 minutes when Marcus Perry won a corner which was delivered from the left by Gregson and he sent the set piece to the far post when Du Toit met it with a firm header which gave Morrow no chance. Town were to snatch all three points late when another corner was to prove fruitful Stephen Rigby delivered from the right and found Du Toit at the left post he rose highest and headed the ball down into the six-yard box the ball was prodded goalwards by Gillespie and the ball appeared to be scooped away from goal by a Widnes defender but Gillespie didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait for a decision to be made and poked the loose ball home to secure the spoils for the hosts Last Saturday we failed to score for the first time this season as we went down with a poor performance in Stockport. A slow start saw Stockport take a 6th minute lead when Nathan Neequaye's clever backheel released Ben Brooks and he rounded the keeper to score. The hosts doubled the lead on 70 minutes when Sam Scott tapped home from a corner and the scoring was rounded off late on when Sean Mills fired a right wing cross home to send the hosts into the promotion places. Our attentions move to this afternoons contest as we welcome Holker Old Boys as we renew old acquaintances as we haven't hosted them since 19th August 2008 in an FA Cup reply when we ran out 10 winners in an interesting contest where keeper Andy Lynskey broke his ankle in the first half and without a keeper on the bench centre half Chris Burke went in goal and kept a clean sheet! The last league contest was way back in 1998 on the 19th December and saw Town run out 5-0 winners at Hoghton Road. This term both sides have been in patchy form as we were losing at Stockport on Saturday Holker twice lead at Cheadle Town but were unable to hold on as the hosts twice came from behind to secure a share of the spoils with a 2-2 draw. We also found out our opponents in the Second Round of the First Division Cup on Saturday as Chadderton ran out 2-0 winners over Bacup and we will host them on Saturday 7th November for what will be our first ever game in this competition. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get behind Town this afternoon and hopefully cheer them onto victory. Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

Holker Old Boys AFC was founded in 1936 as an under 16 side from Old Boys of the then Holker Central Secondary School in Holker Street Barrow-in-Furness. The school itself has long since been replaced with a Kwik Save supermarket which has also closed its doors in recent years. In season 1939-40 the club joined the local North Western Open Age League, playing all their games on local playing fields. Junior teams were soon formed thus keeping the links with their roots. 1967 saw the club enter a team in the West Lancashire League whilst retaining a side in the N.W.L. In 1971 a site for a new ground was obtained at Rakesmoor Lane on land which had originally been an isolation hospital then allotments. The club moved from their previous home on Thorncliffe Road to their present one at Rakesmoor. On the formation of the Furness Premier League in 1980 the club entered two teams into this league and still retains two sides, the Reserves and A Team, in the League to date. Having spent years in the shadow of local rivals Vickers Sports Club (now Hawcoat Park FC.) and Dalton United in season 1985/86 they had their best ever season to date finishing Runners-up to BAC. Preston in the West Lancs League Div 1 However in the following season, which was also the Clubs Golden Jubilee season, they went one better and finished Champions ahead of Vickers SC. More success followed as the club won the Adidas Lancashire Junior Shield in 1988/89 beating Walkden Town 2-0 and again in1990/91 when they defeated Park United 1-0.

The club were now thinking of progressing to a higher standard of football but much work was needed on their Rakesmoor Lane ground to bring it up to the standard required. Committee members, players, friends and their families all worked hard to extend the clubhouse, build new changing rooms and enclose the pitch. The reward for all this hard work was to be accepted into the NWCFL Second Division for the start of the 1991/92 season. Holker Old Boys took a couple of seasons to acclimatise to the new higher standard during which time floodlights were installed but in 1993/94 they finished third in the Second Division behind Haslingden (now defunct) and North Trafford (now Trafford). Haslingden were unable to be promoted because their facilities did not meet the requirements for the First Division so Holker Old Boys filled the second promotion place. Holker gave a good account of themselves for their first three seasons in the First Division and in 1995/96 they finished in their highest ever position of 11th. However the 1997/98 season saw them struggle finishing just two points ahead of relegated Darwen and the 1998/99 season was a disaster seeing them lose all twenty away games and scoring just five goals on their travels. Not surprisingly Holker finished bottom of the Division and were relegated for the first time in their history. After relegation the club restructured its finances and undertook a period of rebuilding which is started to bring returns. The club now has three open age sides and a Junior Section ranging from Under 6ï¿½s to Under 16 plus 1 Girls Team. In season 2002/03 the Club had its best season since 1995/96 finishing fifth in Division 2. In season 2003/04 off the field the club secured over 80,000 in grants for stadium improvements, pitch drainage and car parking. Playing wise seasons 2003/04 to 2007/08 were a disappointment with the side languishing in the lower half of the Division however there have been one or two moments to savour namely reaching the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA. Cup in season 2004/05 and the successful arrangement of the game against FC. United of Manchester in 2005/06 at Craven Park, the home of Barrow Raiders RLFC, in front of a club record attendance of 2303. Both these events raised much welcome finance for the club enabling us to embark on more ground improvements starting with the upgrading of the floodlights for season 2006/07. The club was also rewarded for its efforts at junior level with the commitment and effort of coaches, managers and the Committee helping to attain the FA. Charter Standard Development Club Award for the junior section. Season 2006/07 did bring some success for the U18 side, which was a blend of many of the previous

seasons U16 and U18 sides, when they lifted the LFA Furness Building Society Youth Cup. Because of the loss of several older players, at the end of season 2005/06, to lower levels of the pyramid many of the previous seasons U18 side also played in the First Team in season 2006/07 which may account for their success in the Youth Cup, having gained from the experience of playing Open Age football. The success of the Junior Section in producing quality players was beginning to show in the First Team as was the case in season, 2008/09, when they finished ninth in the renamed Vodkat League First Division our highest League placing since season 2002/03. Having achieved steady progress under the management of Dave Smith and his assistant Maurice Watkin over a season and a half to finish 3rd in the 1st Division in season 2010/11 Dave had to step down because of a job offer in the States at the end of that season and hand the reigns over to new manager Jon Balm for season 2011/12. However things didnt go well for Jon and a run of poor results ended with him resigning in mid November 2011. Dave Smiths job in the states didnt prove to be as good as promised and he and Maurice Watkin stepped back into the fray to steady the ship and finished the season in mid table. Season 2012/13 was a disaster from a League point of view with the Club just managing to avoid the wooden spoon right at the end of the season. The FA Cup provided the only solace with progress to the 1st Qualifying Round netting the Club nearly ÂŁ3000 in prize money.

The 2013/14 season saw new faces in charge with Dave Smith and Maurice Watkin moving on to the Committee and Gary Fawcett and Stuart Roberts taking charge to propel the side to a respectable 6th place and the semi final of the NWCFL 1st Division Challenge Cup with the fresh signings brought in to bolster the nucleus of the squad that they retained. The Reserves benefited from a bigger 1st team pool by winning the Furness Premier League Premier Division and The Terry Clinton Memorial Trophy under the stewardship of Andy Forbes as the strength in depth proved its worth. Further progress on and off the field in 2014/15 ensured another successful year, however the club lost one of its great servants in the passing of John Adams, who was a committee member for over 25 years and secretary of the club for over 15 years. Gary Fawcett again propelled the 1st team to a respectable play-off position of 5th, losing out to Hanley in a very even game. The side also reached the semi-finals of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy after wins against Padiham, AFC Fylde and Daisy Hill. A strong Chorley side winning the tie 3-0 at Leyland and who eventually went on to win the competition. The club is looking to further its progress in 2015/2016 and with the nucleus of senior players and a strong junior set up there is no reason why this cannot be achieved. 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-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 38 40 34 38 36 36 34 34 34 32 34 34 34 36 36

W 14 7 18 15 10 11 6 8 14 13 19 12 7 17 18

D 5 9 7 8 7 8 11 2 8 8 6 9 2 9 6

L 19 24 9 15 19 17 17 24 12 11 9 13 25 10 12

F 67 43 65 82 65 58 47 41 59 50 77 53 31 80 79

A 79 79 42 76 81 74 81 82 61 50 42 64 74 60 50

GD -12 -36 23 6 -16 -16 -34 -41 -2 0 35 -11 -43 20 29

Pts 47 30 61 53 37 41 29 26 50 47 63 45 23 60 60

Position 15/20 19/21 5/18 9/20 15/19 15/19 14/18 16/18 9/18 7/17 3/18 9/18 17/18 6/19 5/19

St Helens Town - last 6 matches All Competitions

Most recent

at St Helens Town NWC-D1

Previous Meetings 2000-01

at Holker Old Boys NWC-D2

Home

NWC-D1

2001-02

NWC-D2

Away

NWC-D1

2002-03

NWC-D2

Collated

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

24/10/2015

2015-16

TBA

Holker Old Boys - last 6 matches

All Competitions

Most recent

Home

Away

Collated

St Helens Town games since...

Holker Old Boys games since...

All Competitions

Clean sheet

Goal Scored

Clean sheet

Goal Scored

Loss

No score draw

Score draw

Win

St Helens Town Scores First Games Played

St Helens Town Wins

Draws

Holker Old Boys Wins

St Helens Town Goals

Holker Old Boys Goals

Percentage Town Wins

0.00

Previous Meetings All Competitions P

Win %

Home

85.71

Away

57.14

Collated

71.43

Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to Brocstedes Park for this NWCFL First Division encounter with Holker Old Boys. Let’s hope their players, officials and supporter have had a safe journey and along with our own following are treated to an entertaining encounter. Thanks to today’s Match Sponsors Johnsons Toyota Liverpool for their continued support and our new Match Ball sponsors Britannia Taxis who have 400+ vehicles covering Liverpool, St Helens and Warrington - give them your support. It’s seventeen years since our two clubs last met in league action and that season Town recorded home (5-0) and away (1-4) wins. Since then we’ve met four times in Cup action - once in the League Challenge Cup and three occasions in the FA Cup - all seeing Town progress at the expense of today’s visitors. Looking back through the archive it was great to see lots of familiar names, in particular Steve Pennington who scored 11 goals in ten league games between 1994 and 1998 against today’s visitors! The lads will be hoping to continue their decent home form and put behind them the disappointing performance at Stockport Town which saw the league newcomer run out 3-0 winners. Last weekend saw the Sunday team lose out 3-4 at home to Hunting Lodge Athletic in the Liverpool & District Sunday League. The U21s hosted Cheshire FA U21s League leaders Irlam Town U21s in the League Cup and bowed out following a 2-4 defeat at Edge Hill. On a brighter note the U18s continued their excellent start to the NW Youth Alliance League with a 1-3 win at Vauxhall Motors, recovering from 1-0 down at half time to record their 8th win (and a draw) from 9 league games. All three teams are in action tomorrow - full details are in today’s programme and on the club website, We continue to work hard on the club’s commercial and sponsorship activities and we are still looking for a number of Match and Ball sponsors - packages start at £50 and we offer a great matchday experience and lots of sponsor promotion via social media, website and programme. We also have a couple of Player sponsorship packages available - please get in touch with me if you can help in any way. I’d like to make mention of the First team’s disciplinary record this season - the lads currently sit joint-bottom of the disciplinary table (which is a good thing) with just nine cards in 15 games - four of the cards were issued in the season’s opener at Chadderton. Well done, Alan, Nick and all the players - keep it going! Next up for Town is a trip to Bootle on Tuesday in the Liverpool Senior Cup 1st Round. John McKiernan Chairman, St Helens Town AFC 07713 339 682

After some inconsistent form early in the season, Hanley Town manager Dean Owen believes that his squad are ready to launch an assault on promotion once again. Dean arrived at the club in February of this year when previous manager Dave Price was still in charge, and took over managerial duties in the summer, appointing Nick Ward as his assistant, and a new coach in Steve Booth to start the season. However, as Dean explained, although there was a new team off the field, he was keen to ensure that the same squad of players stayed at the club to have another crack at promotion, after missing out narrowly last season when they lost in a thrilling play off final at AFC Darwen. “We wanted to try and keep the core of the team together”, he said. “We knew how close we came last year, they all knew how close they came last year, and we all had the same hurt together. They are a good bunch of lads, they have been together since school most of them, and they felt they had a point to prove this year, although they are also there to be shot at as well, after finishing highest in the league of the teams that didn't go up last season”. Once the season began, results were a bit mixed in the early weeks, although Dean believes that the rub of the green deserted them a few times. “In the games we have lost, I think we probably only deserved to lose about two”, he said. In the others, such as the FA Cup away at Tividale, we should have got at least a replay, then in the Vase (away to Coventry United) we had a lot of players missing, but the players who came in did well, and we should have won but we gave two silly penalties away. We have been a bit inconsistent, but now we have lads back from injury and the team is getting a bit more settled. The lads we have brought in, Leigh Skellern from Norton United and Joe Hemmings from Kidsgrove Athletic, have strengthened the side too. Last year we had a good eleven and after that we didn't have enough strength in depth, whereas this season we have got a bit more depth, and better lads coming through the seconds as well. We have got a bit of momentum going in the league, and I only expect them to get stronger now that confidence is building, and the results will come”. Despite his confidence in his squad, Dean is also aware that they need to guard against complacency in a league that he knows very well both as a player and now as a manager. “I played in this league for Leek CSOB and Norton United years ago and I keep trying to drum into them, it doesn't matter whether you are playing bottom or top, you have got to put the work rate in or you won't get the result. Anyone in this league can turn anyone else over, it's probably one of the most competitive leagues around. But it's not looking too bad at the moment for us, we just have to keep the pressure on the teams around us and above us. “We want promotion this year, that is our aim, and anything else, any cup runs are a bonus. The league is the main target. The fundamentals and the base of the team is there, I don't think there is a lot wrong.’

HOLIDAY FOOTBALL Around this time of the year, Mrs Spoon and I like to take a week or so off, recharge the old batteries ready for winter. It’s rare for us to venture away from Britain during autumn and over the years we have been to some wonderful places, normally very quiet, no kids or normal tourist traffic. I have for the last three years managed to persuade my long suffering significant other to let me attend a match; last year whilst in the Borders region, I witnessed Peebles Rovers win at Eyemouth United 4-1, a level of football akin to Step 8 or 9. Previous to that, I was lucky enough that we were in the New Forest. Brockenhurst were my hosts in their derby match against Lymington Town. Grigg Lane, their home, is still one of my all-time favourites, in the middle of the village, with the feeling that you are still in the middle of the forest. I am certain it is still the only match I have been to where 3 donkeys have stopped the traffic on the way to (or from for that matter) the match. There is a wonderful old raised main stand and a very warm welcome to boot. The match itself was a cracker, finishing 3 -3, the hosts having an early penalty saved before going 2-0 down; after pulling one back they then found themselves behind by 2 goals quite quickly. In the last 10 minutes they scored twice, one a penalty, and should have won, only some great saves by the visitors #1 ensuring his team left with a point. A couple or so weeks later, the Badgers were involved in a County Cup match, 0-0 at the end of normal play, they went to a penalty shoot-out against Andover Town. The first 29 were scored before a Town player missed, Brockenhurst won 15-14 on penalties. I am writing this whilst in South Wales, the fixtures have not fell kindly this year and I only have one option, Friday night I am off to Garden Village v Afan Lido, it takes place on Friday night, I cannot wait. Next week, we are off to Glasgow; it is the World Gymnastics Championships, ‘lucky Spoon’ I hear you cry, my sentiments too. I have however secured a pass for the Saturday and will be heading off to a ground nearby to watch a match, Clydebank are at home, but then again so are Shotts Bon Accord, choices, choices. No plans made for next year, any ideas?

www.footballspoon.net

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.

The Runcorn Town Ground Fund Lottery will reach a significant landmark this coming weekend, when the Jackpot will exceed £1,000 for the first time.

The Lottery, which is a weekly fundraising scheme to help raise funds for the club to buy its own ground at Pavilions, is in its 55th week and has been a resounding success so far, with 8 previous winners picking up over £2,500 in prize money. The fund has raised over £4.5k in its first year, through a combination of lottery proceeds, donations and fundraising activities. Entrants choose 2 numbers between 159 each week, with the winning numbers being the first number drawn and the bonus ball in the main National Lottery draw on a Saturday night. 50% of all money taken each week goes into the Ground Fund with the other 50% into the prize pot, with the current prize pot eclipsing the record of £580.50 earlier this year. Glyn Davies, Town Lottery organiser said: “We have been overwhelmed with the continued support we are getting from supporters and friends of the football club each week playing the Lottery. It is a vital source of income for the Ground Fund Appeal, and we are delighted that we will be handing over a cheque for over £1,000 for the first time.

Litherland REMYCA have secured a block booking on the New Anfield ASCC 3G Football Facility for training. A Club Spokesperson said: "We are delighted to have secured a commitment to use these fine facilities at the ASCC. The pitch is state of the art technology. The construction of this ‘Cruyff Court’ provides young people with a safe place to play sports as well as health and personal development support, funded by Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff’s Foundation. "It is the third such facility in the UK and the first outside London. The facility is part of the wider "Anfield Project" but it will benefit a number of clubs of all ages and abilities and even here tonight whilst we were waiting for our slot there are clubs here from Mossley Hill, Sefton, and Speke which is testament to the appeal of this place. "Our Manager Phil Stafford is delighted to get Litherland Remyca on here and we will be using this facility for a number of our teams from the firsts down to the Youth team".

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

John Cahill

Sat 22/08/15

Irlam

Sat 29/08/15

Rochdale Town

PC Problems St Helens Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Wheel Pro - Alloy Wheel Repairs & Refurbishment

Sat 12/09/15

Barnton

Toast Café, St Helens

Anthony Hall - Exiled Geordie on Merseyside LM Travel

Sat 19/09/15

Cheadle Town

Paul Pritchard

The Cowley Vaults

Sat 10/10/15

Chadderton

KA Davies Electrical

Conor McGinn MP

Tue 13/10/15

Widnes

Rylance Fishmongers

David O’Keefe & Gary Shaw

Sat 24/10/15

Holker Old Boys

Sat 07/11/15

Chadderton (Cup)

Britannia Taxis The Track King

Sat 21/11/15

Daisy Hill

CelebLook Ladies & Girls Fashion

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 Northwich Manchester Villa Whitchurch Alport

Sat 16/04/16 Sat 23/04/16

Mike Cole Web Design

Kiera’s Occasions Venue Dressing & Balloons Airborne Bathroom Services Danny’s Window Cleaning Invisible Heroes Stuart Pyke

Rylance Fishmongers

Extra Time Academy Wilf Marshall & Finding Furever Homes Invisible Heroes

All sponsorship fixtures are subject to confirmation (Litherland REMYCA date tbc)

Warrington Motors Man of the Match Awards Matty Lennon (v Irlam) and Graham McLoughlin (Rochdale) & Dave Dempsey (Cheadle T)

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 Town v Cheadle Town Dave Dempsey Town v Chadderton Adam Lawrence Town v Widnes Jack Marshall

Town 3-1 Chadderton Man of the Match

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

Result

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

Maine Road

SEP 12 BARNTON

Sep 15

Rochdale Town

SEP 19 CHEADLE TOWN

NWCFL

7.45

3-1L

McLoughlin

Davidson

Marshall

Gibson

Sealey

A.Whelan

NWCFL

3.00

2-2D

Bradley

Baines

Marshall

Gibson

Lennon

A.Whelan

Sep 26

Hanley Town

MUC 1R

3.00

4-1L McLoughlin A.Whelan

Rigby

Gibson

Lennon

Begley

Oct 03

Rochdale Town

FAV 2QR

3.00

6-2L McLoughlin Lawrence

Rigby

Garcia

Gibson

Begley

OCT 10 CHADDERTON

NWCFL

3.00

3-1W Hawksworth Lawrence

Marshall

A.Whelan

Gibson

Davies

OCT 13 WIDNES

NWCFL

7.45

3-2W Hawksworth Lawrence

Marshall

A.Whelan

Gibson

Davies

Oct 17

NWCFL

3.00

3-0L McLoughlin Lawrence

Marshall

A.Whelan

Lennon

Twist

NWCFL

3.00

Stockport Town

OCT 24 HOLKER OLD BOYS Oct 27

Bootle

LSC 1R

7.45

Oct 31

Daisy Hill

NWCFL

3.00

NOV 7

CHADDERTON /BACUP

FDC 2R

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

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

LITHERLAND REMCYA

NWCFL

TBA

Holker Old Boys

NWCFL

TBA

Irlam

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 Jack Golding Rob Thompson Auto Repairs Declan Gregson 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

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

Nwachukwu7

Duke

D.Whelan3

Bradley

Perry11

Rooney

Rigby10

McLoughlin

Baines

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie1

Lorde

Kelly

Perry10

Duke

Griffiths

Andy Gillespie1

Nwachukwu

Golding

Lorde6

Perry

Du Toit1

Andy Gillespie1

Rigby

Agbodjan

Golding10

Lorde7

Nwachukwu

Duke11

Rooney

Twist

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie1

Nwachukwu

Rigby1

Perry91

Agbodjan111

Golding10

A.Whelan

Rooney

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

Duke10

Rigby

Golding5

McLoughlin

Du Toit

Twist

Andy Gillespie2

Dempsey

Sealey

Perry8

Baines

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie

Gregson

Twist

Perry11

Golding81

Hoult

Duke6

Bradley

Golding10

Hoult11

Graham

Bradley

Baines

A.Whelan

Andy Gillespie1

Du Toit

Gregson1

Lennon8

Duke

Gregson1 Andy Gillespie1

Golding

Du Toit

Rigby10

Lennon

Perry71

Hoult

Twist8

Duke

Gregson

Andy Gillespie1

Golding1

Du Toit1

Rigby8

Lennon

Perry7

Hoult

Twist10

Duke

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie

Gregson

Golding

Rigby11

Baines8

Perry2

Hoult

Al Gillespie

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

Daisy Hill

2-3

2-1

0-2

0-4

2-2

4-1

3-0

3-2

0-3

5-2

0-1

2-1

1-1

1-6

1-1

3-3 3-1

3-3

1-2

1-4

1-6

Chadderton

1-1

2-2

2-1

Daisy Hill

1-1

2-2

0-2

4-0

5-1

4-3

0-3

4-2

0-2

1-2

0-1

2-1

2-2

1-2

0-3

2-2

3-1

1-1

0-4

2-1

1-0

1-1

1-3

1-1

2-1

0-2

2-3

2-1

3-0

2-0

2-1

4-2

1-3

1-1

2-3 3-0

3-1

2-2 3-1

4-0

1-2

0-3

2-1

3-2

6-1

1-2

1-0

1-2

2-1

4-1

1-1

0-0

3-3

4-1

1-0

0-0

4-3

5-3

Whitchurch Alport

Cheadle Town

Bacup Borough

0-0

5-5

3-2

5-1

St Helens Town

Chadderton

Ashton Town

Barnton

Atherton LR

2-3

Hanley Town

1-3

Holker Old Boys

1-4

Litherland REMYCA

Bacup Borough

Barnton

1-1

Cheadle Town

0-1

Stockport Town

Atherton LR

Eccleshall

4-3

Irlam

3-2

Northwich M Villa

2-3

Rochdale Town

Ashton Town

North West Counties Football League Division One Season 2015-16 Saturday 17/10/15

2-2

3-2

2-3

4-1

4.3

4-3

0-1

Widnes

ST. HELENS TOWN AFC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A STATISTICAL HISTORY by Glyn Jones Part 61 - Season 2007-08 North West Counties League Team Trafford Salford City Newcastle Town Maine Road Colne Squires Gate Glossop North End Flixton Congleton Town Winsford United Silsden Runcorn Linnets Formby (-3) St. Helens Town Atherton Collieries Ramsbottom United Abbey Hey Bacup Borough Atherton L.R. Nelson Opponents Abbey Hey Atherton Collieries Atherton L.R. Bacup Borough Colne Congleton Town Flixton Formby Glossop North End Maine Road Nelson Newcastle Town Ramsbottom United Runcorn Linnets Salford City Silsden Squires Gate Trafford Winsford United

P 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 Home Oct 9 Mar 15 Dec 15 Sep 15 Dec 1 Apr 8 Dec 22 Mar 11 Jan 12 Oct 27 Dec 29 Feb 26 Nov 17 Sep 11 Feb 12 Oct 20 Apr 26 Feb 23 Mar 25

W 30 26 24 20 19 19 20 17 17 16 15 14 14 11 10 9 6 5 5 5

D 5 6 7 8 11 9 5 7 6 8 10 6 3 8 10 10 9 11 9 8 Result Won 5-1 Won 5-0 Won 2-1 Lost 1-3 Lost 0-4 Won 2-0 Drew 2-2 Won 4-2 Lost 0-5 Won 2-1 Won 4-1 Drew 1-1 Drew 1-1 Lost 1-3 Lost 1-5 Drew 4-4 Drew 0-0 Lost 1-6 Drew 2-2

L 3 6 7 10 8 10 13 14 15 14 13 18 21 19 18 19 23 22 24 25

F 102 75 95 75 69 52 72 65 73 60 65 53 52 64 44 41 45 35 38 42 Away Jan 26 Sep 29 Aug 14 Apr 16 Aug 25 Feb 16 Feb 20 Oct 13 Mar 1 Mar 18 Nov 3 Nov 24 Oct 6 Nov 20 Sep 22 Jan 5 Dec 26 Oct 16 Aug 28

A 35 35 45 45 45 43 46 65 60 47 57 64 60 93 67 59 106 69 86 90

Pts 95 84 79 68 68 66 65 58 57 56 55 48 42 41 40 37 27 26 24 23

Result Lost 2-4 Lost 1-3 Lost 1-3 Drew 2-2 Lost 0-5 Lost 2-5 Won 3-1 Lost 1-3 Lost 1-3 Drew 1-1 Lost 0-1 Won 4-2 Lost 1-2 Won 4-2 Lost 0-3 Lost 0-5 Lost 1-2 Lost 0-3 Won 2-1

FA CUP Aug 18

Ex-Preliminary

Holker Old Boys

Away

Won

3-2

Sep 1

Preliminary

Clitheroe

Away

Lost

2-3

Away

Lost

0-1

Away

Lost

1-6

Away

Lost

0-1

FA VASE Sep 8

1st Qualifying

Nov 10

2nd Round

Oct 30

1st Round

Cheadle Town VODKAT LEAGUE CUP Winsford United

LIVERPOOL SENIOR CUP

Player

App

Appleton, Andy

Bermingham, Chris Bickerstaffe, Chris Cameron, Aaron

Formby

Sub Total Goals

Player

App

Sub Total Goals

Jones, Neil

Kneale, Karl

Latham, Ste

Leather, Steve

Carroll, Anthony

Ledsham, Karl

Cliff, Paul

Lynskey, Andy

Crewe, Paul

Mahama, Mukhtar

Cushion, Craig

McCall, Graeme

Davies, Craig

McVey, Danny

Dempsey, Dave

Phillips, Peter

Reilly, Adie

Rudkin, Paul

Sumner, Tom

Walker, Andy

Warriner, Anthony

Webster, Andy

Whyte, Rob

Williams, Steve

Wilson, Colin

Dyson, Iain

Edwards, Rob

Evans, Mark

Ferguson, Joe

Firjani, Khalid

Fletcher, John

Freeman, Vinnie

12 1

Gilchrist, Adam

Hatton, Brian

Heavey, Paul

Woods, Kevin

Hilton, Neil

Own Goals

Johnson, Phil

Totals

4 473

104

577

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

Welcome to Brocstedes Park for this afternoonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Division game against today's opponents Holker Old Boys .

Let's hope today's game is as exciting as our last home fixture v Widnes FC where a spirited 2nd half comeback saw us clinch all 3 points with a last minute winner. It was a game everybody was really up for and the 3-2 win pushed us back into the top 6 in the table. Our Home form has generally been good so far with 4Wins 2Draws and just 1defeat so let's hope the lads can keep it going today. In stark contrast our performances Away from Home with the exception of the opening day win at Chadderton do not make such happy reading with defeats at Rochdale, REMYCA and last Saturday at Stockport. The reason for our poor away form is something we must establish and address if we are to get something out of this season. Saturday at Stockport was a very disappointing performance from start to finish. We never got out of 1st gear on the 3G pitch which was strangely not suited to a short passing game. Yes we had a couple of players missing but collectively we just did not compete. The only bright spot for me was the performance of Warren Twist in an in unfamiliar Central role in midfield. Behind the scenes we are hoping to get Matty Davidson and Luke Gibson back fit and playing soon. Alex Gillespie continues his long road to recovery with games for our u21 side. We have also signed Connor Simpson our u21 central defender. We are also working hard to conclude the signing of a couple of other players to further reinforce the squad. Thanks for your support

Alan Gillespie Joint First Team Manager

Sunday 18th October - Vauxhall Motors 1-3 St Helens Town come from behind to win at Rivacre Park, a young depleted Town side recovered from a 1-0 HT deficit to win 3-1 away at Vauxhall Motors. The away side who were without 6 players through injury and suspension delivered a first half performance that manager Ellis Hawksworth described as completely unacceptable and they deservedly went in at the break a goal behind. The game started off as a fairly even contest but soon began to look like it could be a struggle for Town as they couldn't keep the ball, the usual free flowing football and domination of possession was non existent and the home side started to get on top of St Helens! It was no real surprise when Vauxhall Motors went ahead, a move down the left was initially stopped but when the ball went back out wide no St Helens player went to close the winger down, instead the winger was allowed to deliver a cross to an unmarked striker to head home the games opening goal! Town offered very little going forward but could of been level when striker Lee Grice beat the offside trap and was through on goal, with a defender breathing down his neck he tried to lob the onrushing keeper but his attempt was read by the home keeper and the score remained 1-0. Town re-emerged for the second half showing 2 changes of personnel and a change of system. Liam Murray and Daniel Cull were replaced by George McManus and Jordan Patterson as Hawksworth's side lined up in a 3-5-2. The players responded to this and began the second half in determined fashion, they looked hungrier, had more desire and worked far harder then they did in the first half. Vauxhall didn't seem to deal with the change in formation and struggled to cope as the away side started turning there possession into chances. Lee Grice should of equalized when another great bit of movement by the striker left him in down the right side of the box, to be fair to the goalkeeper he was out quickly and did well to block the shot with his chest. But on 63 minutes Town were deservedly level, a pass down the left set wing back Thomas Gibbings free, he put on the after burners to get away from the right back and deliver a low cross to the back post where Reece Hughes was perfectly placed to drill the ball into the top of the net for Town's equaliser. Confidence began to pump through the away side who were now showing why they were top of the table, and only 6 minutes later the home side cracked under the pressure. Gibbings won a corner on the left and Grice went over to take it, his wicked and pacey delivery was whipped in to the near post and Reece Hughes got across his man and flicked the ball across goal to the back post, steaming in was right wing back Jordan Patterson who crashed home Town's second goal. His first goal for Saints! The performance levels of St Helens were a total contrast to the first half, they used the ball really well defended on the front foot and attacked with purpose. Chances followed, Grice again, Gibbings and Hughes but non were taken and on 75 minutes Vauxhall Motors came close to making the away side pay, good play down the home side right saw number 9 released in behind Town's left side and with a defender closing him down the striker pulled a great ball back to the edge of the box, a home midfielder hit a curling shot first time that looked like it was heading into the top corner but fortunately for Town it dropped an inch wide of the left hand post- huge let off for Town who went to sleep. However on 79 minutes it was well and truly game over another corner was won and it was taken short and worked back to Daniel Cull who had come back on for Lee Grice, Cull delivered a delightful ball to the back post and centre back Sam Rawsthorne rose highest to plant a header into the top corner to seal all 3 points for Town. Further chances went begging for Town in the last 11 minutes but they weren't threatened anymore and despite a real poor performance from the officials they made it 8 wins from 9 to remain top of the league!

Above: Warrington Motors sponsored Man of the Match Award v Widnes Jack Marshall Below: Town v Widnes (13/10/2015) Match Sponsors: Rylance Fishmongers and Match Ball Sponsors: Gary Shaw & Chris Walker (MerseyFighters: 3) and David Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keefe

TOWN SNATCH WIN IN LAST MINUTE St. Helens Town 3, Widnes 2 by Glyn Jones

St. Helens Town snatched three vital points from Widnes in a rousing finale on Tuesday night at Brocstedes Park, in a game they looked likely to lose for most of the second half, moving into the promotion play-off zone as a result. It was a battling performance which, coming hot on the heels of Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home win against Chadderton, restored the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confidence, following a difficult run of late. The first half was a very even affair, with neither side in control. However, Town took the lead in the 10th minute, in spectacular fashion. Declan Gregson took the ball down the left flank and played a quick one-two with Andy Gillespie, before firing in a strong shot, which the Widnes defence could not clear and Jack Golding, seizing upon the loose ball, drove hard against visiting keeper Ben Morrow, who was unable to prevent it from crossing the line. Widnes were soon level, Alex Davies netting on 14 minutes, but the best chance in the period up to half-time fell to Golding again on the half hour, Jack Marshall carving open the defence on the left before setting up the midfielder, but his shot went just to the side of the right post. The visitors took advantage of slack defence two minutes into the second half and Luke Edwards slotted home a free kick to put Widnes 2-1 ahead. From that point onwards, Widnes took the initiative, with strong defence stifling the Town midfield, cutting off the supply to leading scorer Gillespie up front.

Something special was needed and, not for the first time, the substitutions were to prove the key to turning the game around. First Marcus Perry replaced Charlie Duke and his direct running style began to test the Widnes resolve. Several hefty challenges were made as Tom Mitchell and Braian Strutz-Ravelli in particular found the injection of pace hard to cope with and a minor set-to between Gillespie and the latter led to yellow cards for both players. With Widnes beginning to look a little stretched, Ste Rigby and Warren Twist entered the fray and vital openings began to emerge. Town levelled the score at 2-2 with fifteen minutes remaining after Gregsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corner found Johann du Toit running in at the far post and his pin-point header flew into the top of the net and, having thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at the visitors in the closing exchanges, Gillespie scored his 13th goal of the campaign when he forced the ball over the line through a crowd of Widnes defenders with less than a minute remaining.

Andy Gillespie

Q1. Which team sold Thibaut Courtois to Chelsea in 2011? Q2. What have Altrincham done 16 times, more than any other non-league club? Q3. Who are the most recent five clubs to have won the Scottish top flight? Q4. What unwanted record did Martin Skrtel set in the 2013-14 season? Q5. Which colours did Borussia Dortmund play in until 1913? Q6. Which 5 players from the 1966 World Cup Final team stared the Quarter Final against West Germany in 1970? Q7. What was special about Alvin Martin’s hat-trick in West Ham’s 8-1 win at Newcastle in April 1986? Q8. Which two A-League teams contest the Big Blue derby?

Q9. Which Football League team play at Field Mill? Q10. Which Footballing “Sir” was once described as “The Spencer Tracy of football” by Corrierre dello Sport? Q11. Which country do FC Ufa play in domestically? Q12. Which are the only two European cities to have hosted two World Cup Finals? Q13. Which Brazilian keeper ended his career because he regarded his car’s breakdown on the way to a contract signing as “a sign from God”? Q14. Who is the only footballer to have played in the Bundesliga in four separate decades? Q15. Who scored the quickest debut cap England goal in history?

1) Genk 2) Giant Killing a Football League team 3) Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Dundee United & Kilmarnock 4) Most Own Goals in a Premier League season (4) 5) Blue & White with a Red Sash 6) Ball, Bobby Charlton, Hurst, Moore, Peters. 7) He scored it against three different keepers 8) Melbourne Victory & Sydney FC 9) Mansfield Town 10) Sir Bobby Robson 11) Russia 12) Rome (1934 & 90) & Paris (1938 & 98) 13) Claudio Taffarel 14) Lothar Matthaus (1979-2000) 15) Bill Nicholson (19 seconds Vs Portugal in 1951)

The present St. Helens Town club is in its 69th league season. The first two 1947-49 were spent in the Liverpool County Combination, the period 1949-75 in membership of the Lancashire Combination, followed by 7 years in the Cheshire League and the last 30 in the North West Counties League, where they are the only club in permanent membership of the top division. During the early years, the newly reformed club had lofty ambitions, just as the original club had harboured in the early years of the last century. Success in the Liverpool County Combination culminated in the club’s first trophy, the George Mahon Cup, which was won in a thrilling final against Runcorn at Prescot on 7th May 1949. The following season, 1949/50, Town joined the Second Division of the Lancashire Combination, gaining promotion at the second attempt. Big crowds at Hoghton Road during the late 1940's and early 1950's

Back in 1951, long before the establishment of the football pyramid, the Lancashire Combination and the Cheshire League were widely regarded as the Football League’s Fifth Division. Leading clubs from both competitions vied for membership of the Football League. New Brighton had just failed to be re-elected to the Third Division (North) and dropped into the Lancashire Combination, where they came up against Town on 20th October at the Tower Grounds, Garner and Sumner each scoring in a creditable 2-2 draw.

Bert Trautmann in goal at Hoghton Road

Wigan Athletic were prominent members of the Combination (and, later on, the Cheshire League) and many St. Helens Town supporters were of the opinion that, whatever Wigan could do, Town could also do. There was a great deal of ambition around the Town club, built on the back of early successes, that a Football League place could be an achievable aim. After all, despite the competition from the Saints at Knowsley Road, several thousand men travelled from St. Helens every week to watch Everton and Liverpool. Success on the football field might well persuade a good number of those people to watch their football on their St. Helens doorsteps. Town’s first season in the First Division of the Lancashire Combination was an uphill struggle. Nevertheless, three wins from the last five games almost secured their status and they finished just two points adrift of Rossendale United in 20th place. 1952/53 began well enough and there were 6 wins and a draw from the first 7 games. However, there was unrest at Hoghton Road, where crowds were not as good as many thought they should be. It was generally thought that a move to a ground nearer the town centre would result in bigger support and with the bigger gates, the club would be able to attract better players and further its ambitions for Football League status. St. Helens Recs. Rugby League club had played professional rugby at City Road between the wars, but the Pilkingtons company had withdrawn their financial support in April 1939 and the ground had stood empty until 1949, when Pilkington Recs. were re-born as an amateur rugby league club. Pilkingtons were approached and the company’s board agreed to make City Road available to St. Helens Town.

The Town Chairman, W. P. Smith, told the local press that the club had come to the cross-roads and a drastic solution to the club’s financial problems had to be found. It was a question of raising income or disband. Not enough people were willing to pay their shilling at the gate. It was announced that a meeting would be held in the refreshment hut following the Droylsden game on 22nd November to discuss the proposed move. The momentous decision was taken to re-locate to City Road and the first game, a Liverpool Non-League Cup game against Stoneycroft, resulted in an 8-1 victory. The following week, 6th December, Morecambe Reserves were dispatched 8-0. Ronnie Rigby scored 4 goals in each match. Crowds were encouraging at first, although they were a little disappointing if Saints were at home the same day. The season was quite successful, but Town ran out of steam towards the end, finishing in fourth place and just missing out on promotion.

St Helens Town 2-1 Runcorn Town George Mahon Trophy Final Saturday 7th May 1949

1953/54 season began at City Road but, by the end of October, Town were back at Hoghton Road and the ground was taken off the market. A renewed appeal was made for more volunteers to assist the club and for supporters to be militant, rather than passive and to back the club’s ten shilling shares scheme to secure the club’s financial future. Part-way through the season, First Division Bootle folded and Town made application to take over their fixtures. However, their application was rejected and the season ended with some poor results. The following campaign, 1954/55, was worse and the club finished in eighteenth position yet, curiously, were promoted back to the First Division. Predictably, 1955/56, in the First Division, was a bridge too far. Three wins and three draws from 38 games (conceding 110 goals) resulted in a last place finish and, more importantly, the bitter realisation that ambitions for higher status were further away than ever before. Glyn Jones

Town 3-1 Chadderton NWCFL Division One Saturday 10th October 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 Cup L L Cup L Cup L L Cup L L L L L

DATE RES HOME AWAY VENUE 23/08/2015 W 2-1 St Helens Town Bootle Edge Hill University #2 06/09/2015 W 6-1 Claybrow FC St Helens Town Edge Hill University #1 13/09/2015 W 4-0 St Helens Town Winsford United Edge Hill University #2 20/09/2015 W 0-0* AFC Sefton St Helens Town Edge Hill University #2 27/09/2015 L 1-2 St Helens Town Stockport Town Edge Hill University #2 04/10/2015 L 3-1 Bootle St Helens Town JMO Sports Park 11/10/2015 W 0-5 The Highwayman St Helens Town 15/10/2015 L 3-0 Irlam St Helens Town Irlam FC 18/10/2015 L 2-4 St Helens Town Irlam Edge Hill University #2 25/10/2015 11:00 Winsford United St Helens Town Winsford United FC 01/11/2015 12:00 St Helens Town Irlam Edge Hill University #1 08/11/2015 12:00 Churchtown Jaguars St Helens Town 15/11/2015 14:00 Manchester Central St Helens Town Belle Vue Sports Centre 22/11/2015 11:00 Abbey Hey St Helens Town Abbey Hey FC 29/11/2015 14:00 Stockport Town St Helens Town Stockport Sports Village 06/12/2015 12:00 St Helens Town Rochdale Edge Hill University #2 20/12/2015 12:00 St Helens Town Abbey Hey Edge Hill University #2 *0-0 after extra time St Helens Town won on penalty kicks 2-4

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

RES W 1-3 W 3-1 W 4-5 D 0-0 W 2-1 W 1-3 W 4-1 L 2-1 W 1-6 W 1-3 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 Vauxhall Motors 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 St Helens Town 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 Riveacre Park 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

TOWN NEVER IN GAME AT STOCKPORT Stockport Town 3, St. Helens Town 0 by Glyn Jones

The first ever meeting between new club Stockport Town and St. Helens Town at Lambeth Grove on Saturday ended in a 3-0 defeat for St. Helens, who simply never got going. It was just one of those days when nothing went right for the visitors but, frustratingly, the home side were little better until they scored their second goal twenty minutes from time. Stockport opened the scoring on 6 minutes when Ben Brooks latched on to a back-heeled pass on the edge of the six yard box and sent St. Helens’ keeper Graham McLoughlin the wrong way to put his side ahead. Apart from a scuffed shot from Andy Gillespie towards the end of the first half, which went straight into home stopper Aaron Ashley’s hands, St. Helens did not produce any sort of chance on goal in the opening 45 minutes. Quite why St. Helens never got into the match was a mystery, especially given the way they finished so well to snatch the points from Widnes on Tuesday evening. Perhaps it was the artificial surface which caused them difficulties, but they could hardly string two passes together. David Baines came on for Charlie Duke and Ste Rigby took Declan Gregson’s place, but the home side had gone 2-0 up on 70 minutes through a Sam Scott tapin from a corner which nobody in the visitors’ defence dealt with, before Marcus Perry took the field and, by that stage, it was too late. Substitute Sean Mills scored the third goal with eight minutes left, having found himself unmarked in front of goal, with three defenders facing the wrong way. St. Helens’ sole chance in the second half fell to Andy Gillespie, but he was at full stretch between two defenders and could not get any power behind his shot as Ashley easily collected the ball from the striker’s feet. The only positive for St. Helens was the return to fitness of Andy’s younger brother, Alex Gillespie, who was an unused substitute on his return from over 12 months absence due to a broken leg. Town are next in action today as they face Holker Old Boys here at Brocstedes Park in a rearranged fixture, the first meeting between the clubs in league football since December 1998. The clubs were due to meet again in Barrow next Tuesday evening, but Town will travel to Bootle that night in a Liverpool Senior Cup tie, with the game at Rakesmoor being postponed until later in the season.

Stockport Town 3-0 Town NWCFL Division One Saturday 17th October 2015

Town on fire Runcorn Town moved into second place in the Premier Division table, with the 4-2 win over AFC Blackpool being their fifth win in a row. The inconsistent early season form is now well and truly forgotten, and Simon Burton's decision over the summer to freshen up his squad appears to be now paying dividends. Whitchurch Alport break their duck We've billed them before as the league's draw specialists, but at long last Whitchurch Alport have a win under their belts, with Mike Blundell's 87th minute goal earning them a 1-0 win over Ashton Town at Yockings Park. A win over a team sitting second in the table was a decent first win to collect, so the challenge now for Alport is to make sure they don't wait so long for the next one. Colls on form After taking time to find their feet this season, Atherton Collieries are now moving up the Premier Division table, and scoring plenty of goals. The 4-2 win over Alsager Town on Saturday means they have four wins and two draws from the last six games, and have scored 21 goals in the process. With the likes of Mark Battersby, Jordan Cover, Ben Hardcastle and Mark Truffas all starting to pick up from where they left off last season, it looks like Colls will continue to test opposing defences in the Premier Division in the months ahead. Hanley back on track Another side that appear to have overcome their early season inconsistency are Hanley Town, who recorded their fourth straight league win at Atherton LR. With new manager Dean Owen keeping the bulk of last season's squad of local players together, Town are once again shaping up to be among the promotion challengers again this season. Impressive comeback from Bucks Despite just two wins in the last six games, Bootle still sit in fifth place in the Premier Division, in touch with the promotion chasers above. Although recent results maybe weren't as good as they would have liked, against Ashton Athletic at Brocstedes Park on Saturday, they were two goals down after six minutes, but staged a comeback to eventually win 3-2, and that against a side who had scored four goals in each of their last two home games. The Bucks are clearly a side that don't give up easily.

First Division Table as at Saturday 17th October 2015 First Division

W D

A GD Pts

Barnton

34 16 18 26

Stockport Town

26 25

Ashton Town

28 18 10 22

Hanley Town

20 10 10 22

Irlam

21 11 10 19

Bacup Borough

24 21

Litherland REMYCA

17 15

Cheadle Town

31 25

St Helens Town

4 25 23

Holker Old Boys

2 20 16

Chadderton

18 17

Rochdale Town

18 21 -3 14

Widnes

29 30 -1 12

Atherton LR

14 27 -13 12

Northwich Manchester 12 Villa

22 31 -9 11

Whitchurch Alport

20 31 -11 11

Daisy Hill

14 39 -25 11

Eccleshall

15 20 -5

* points deducted for a breach of league rules

Saturday 24th October 2015 League Challenge Cup 2nd Round 1874 Northwich v Winsford United Abbey Hey v Silsden AFC Darwen v AFC Blackpool AFC Liverpool v Padiham Alsager Town v Stockport Town Ashton Town v Runcorn Town Barnoldswick Town v Ashton Athletic Barnton v Bootle Daisy Hill v Cammell Laird 1907 Hanley Town v Bacup Borough Irlam v Runcorn Linnets Maine Road v Squires Gate Nelson v Congleton Town West Didsbury & Chorlton v Eccleshall

Saturday 24th October 2015 First Divison Atherton LR v Northwich Man Villa Chadderton v Cheadle Town St Helens Town v Holker Old Boys Whitchurch Alport v Widnes Tuesday 27th October 2015 Premier Division AFC Blackpool v Ashton Athletic Tuesday 27th October 2015 First Division Chadderton v Northwich Manchester Villa Stockport Town v Cheadle Town

Tuesday 27th October 2015 Liverpool Senior Cup 1st Round Bootle v St Helens Town Burscough v Litherland REMYCA Prescot Cables v AFC Liverpool Tuesday 27th October 2015 Shropshire Cup 1st Round Shifnal Town v Whitchurch Alport Wednesday 28th October 2015 First Division Bacup Borough v Rochdale Town Wednesday 28th October 2015 Mid Cheshire Senior Cup Quarter Finals Barnton v Winsford United

Premier Division Table as at Wednesday 21st October 2015 Premier Division

W D

A GD Pts

Colne

16 12 3

48 19 29 39

Runcorn Linnets

15 11 0

31 16 15 33

1874 Northwich

40 33

Runcorn Town

38 24 14 30

Bootle

33 30

AFC Liverpool

47 31 16 28

Atherton Collieries

38 30

Barnoldswick Town

35 26

Cammell Laird 1907

39 35

Nelson

31 26

Abbey Hey

28 25

West Didsbury & Chorlton

34 32

Ashton Athletic

25 24

Padiham

34 35 -1 21

Winsford United

23 31 -8 19

AFC Darwen

36 53 -17 19

Congleton Town

25 27 -2 18

Maine Road

29 40 -11 17

Silsden

22 35 -13 15

AFC Blackpool

25 43 -18 11

Squires Gate

10 17 41 -24 10

Alsager Town

12 19 41 -22 5

* points deducted for a breach of league rules

Saturday 31st October 2015 F.A. Carlsberg Vase 1st Round Alsager Town v Borrowash Victoria Athersley Recreation v Colne Atherton Collieries v Newcastle Benfield Congleton Town v Marske United Northwich Manchester Villa v Whitley Bay Rochdale Town v 1874 Northwich Runcorn Linnets v Winsford United Runcorn Town v Abbey Hey Silsden v Sunderland RCA West Dids & Chorlton v Morpeth Town Saturday 31st October 2015 Premier Division Ashton Athletic v Maine Road Barnoldswick Town v Cammell Laird 1907 Bootle v AFC Blackpool Nelson v AFC Liverpool Squires Gate v Padiham Saturday 31st October 2015 First Division Ashton Town v Whitchurch Alport Atherton LR v Chadderton Barnton v Bacup Borough Cheadle Town v Widnes Daisy Hill v St Helens Town Hanley Town v Litherland REMYCA Holker Old Boys v Eccleshall Stockport Town v Irlam Monday 2nd November 2015 Cheshire Senior Cup 1st Round Hyde United v Stockport Town Tuesday 3rd November 2015 Premier Division 1874 Northwich v West Didsbury & Chorlton Colne v Atherton Collieries Congleton Town v Abbey Hey Squires Gate v AFC Darwen Cheshire Senior Cup Preliminary Round Cammell Laird 1907 v Nantwich Town Stalybridge Celtic v Northwich Man Villa West Riding County Cup 2nd Round Barnoldswick Town v Harrogate RA Silsden v Guiseley