St Helens Town v Nostell Miners Welfare by John McKiernan

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners Programme Year Five Time Winners of of Programme of of thethe Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Team News Sunday 5th October 2014, kick off 3pm The FA Challenge Vase, 2nd Qualifying Round

CLUB INFORMATION Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens Vice President: Jim Barrett Chairman: John McKiernan (07713 339682) Vice Chairman: Glyn Jones

Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695) Full Committee: John McKiernan, Jeff Voller, Jim Barrett, Ste Ball, Chris Ford and Glyn Jones. Trustees: John McKiernan and Eric Bond Club Manager: Ian Price Assistant Manager: Nick Matthews

Physiotherapists: Nicole Garner Jess Pritchard & Ben Fletcher U21 Team Manager Alan Gillespie U21 Asst Manager: J ohn Whelan

St Helens Town Red & White Shirts White Shorts, Red & White Socks No

Gls

St Helens Town Rory Crowther Aaron Morris Lewis Saunders Hamish Falconer Jack McKay Chris Cottington Karl Bergqvist Paul Cook-Hannah Andy Gillespie James Rushton-Woods Marcus Perry Chad Whyte Neil Hulme Joe Peers Lee Harrison Chris Brinksman

Nostell Miners Welfare Yellow Shirts Black Shorts & Socks No

Gls

Nostell M.W.

Ben Saynor Josh Vamplow Danny Critchlow Tom Brook Matthew Semley Matthew Cunliffe Simon Poole Jamie Moxon Brandon Kane Adam Hayton Richard Dawley Jermaine Moyce Aodhan Brownlee Ben Severn Lee Winslow Jamie Allsop

U18 Team Manager: Steve Wallis U17 Team Manager: Nick Matthews Veterans Team Manager: David Platt Email: sthelenstownfc@hotmail.co.uk Main Club Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Manager: Ian Price Assistant: Nick Matthews

Manager: Darren Holmes Assistant: Gareth Hamlet

Referee: Mr G Hilton (Warrington) Assist: Mr A Ball (Wigan) and Mr L Smith (Wigan) Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Executive Match Sponsor:

Main Shirt Sponsor: Eciguk St Helens Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002 Company Directors: Jim Barrett Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited

Cover: Chris Cottington in action v West Didsbury (27/09/2014)

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Talk of the Town Good afternoon and welcome to Brocstedes Park for this FA Challenge Vase, 2nd Qualifying Round Tie against our friends from Nostell Miners Welfare. 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 just over a week since our last game here at Brocstedes Park when we went down 3-0 to West Didsbury & Chorlton. The early signs were promising as the hosts dominated the opening quarter of an hour. James Rushton-Woods had a good penalty shout refused before Andy Gillespie shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box with the keeper beaten and soon afterwards Chris Cottington shot just over the bar. Town could not turn their possession into goals and the visitors came back into the contest as the half wore on and this culminated in a near miss when Lee Malkin shot into the side netting before Rory Crowther had to be alert to turn another effort from Malkin wide. West open the scoring when Crowther could only parry an initial effort and Bryson was on hand to turn the loose ball home. Two minutes later the visitors doubled their lead when a wonder strike from Matt Eckersley found the top left hand corner of the net from the edge of the box and despite a more even second half where Town's best opportunity fell to Marcus Perry who shot over they could not get back into the contest and a late goal from substitute Tre Baldwin-Willis round off a poor afternoon for St Helens.

We then took the relatively short trip Burscough for a Liverpool Senior Cup First Round Tie against Evo-Stik opposition who we had crossed swords many times in the past in various divisions, most recently in the NWCL. Again after a decent spell of possession in the first quarter of an hour or so we fell behind just before the half hour mark through an excellent effort from the hosts skipper Paul Williams, the Villagers doubled their lead before half time when Will Jones was on hand to turn a loose ball home after a save from Rory Crowther. After the interval Town again pressed looking to reduce the arrears only to be caught on the counter attack with nigh on an hour on the clock to put the result of the tie beyond doubt as Jones doubled his tally. Late on Mark Beesley added a fourth before Town substitute Chad Whyte was hauled down in the area and brushed himself off to net the spot kick to register their first goal for 565 minutes since the same player had netted against Abbey Hey in a 1 -0 victory on 9th September which was also our last win. This afternoon we turn our attention from league matters to Cup action as we welcome Northern Counties East League, Premier Division basement side Nostell Miners Welfare to Ashton. Both sides have been struggling of late and will be looking to put their recent form behind them and advance to the first round proper of the FA Vase. If the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes then there will be two 15 minute periods of Extra Time and if this cannot separate the sides then the replay will be on Tuesday, 7th October at Nostell with a 7.45pm kick off. Finally, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get behind Town this afternoon and hopefully cheer them onto victory you support is vital to the cause! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

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In Town Today Records exist that a team from Nostell Colliery won a Wakefield District football competition in the 1890’s. The club has photographs of Nostell Colliery teams from 1915 & 1921. At that time the football field was not in the present location but on two sites fairly close by. The Miners Welfare was formed in 1928 after the purchase of the land by the Miners Trust Fund. The sum of £400 was paid to a local land owner for 4.5 acres which includes the land on which the present ground is situated. A miner’s welfare football team was formed and enjoyed early success. the club owns a medal donated by a former player from the 1930’s and a photograph of the team who won the Wakefield District League in 1938. After the war the welfare provided much needed recreation for the local community and the football team was successful in several annual football competitions. In the late fifties a team from the Welfare visited Belgium to compete against local opposition, a feat unprecedented at that time. The club are proud owners of the trophy won on that successful tour. In the late 60’s the club had a period of sustained success, winning several Wakefield District competitions and eventually being elected in to the West Yorkshire league, lifting the league and Cup double in the 1966/67 season. However the successful team eventually broke up and the club went back to the Wakefield League in the early 1970’s enjoying relative success the club began to develop again, two teams were formed with the first team joining the West Yorkshire league in 1982. Following mining subsidence to the ground, fund raising of over £30,000 allowed the pitch to be levelled off, drainage installed and other ground improvements. However Nostell Colliery was closed. The colliery houses (1st to 7th street) near the ground were demolished and the Welfare Struggled to survive. The football continued through this difficult period and thrived with promotions through the divisions of the West Yorkshire league eventually led us through to their present NCEL Premier Division status. The most successful period in the clubs distinguished history was about to begin with the appointment of Alan Colquhoun in the late 1990’s. After initially struggling in the West Yorkshire Premier League the club gradually improved, eventually being crowned Champions, lifting the corresponding cup and appearing in 3 consecutive finals, 2 County Cup final appearances and lifting 6 Wakefield & District trophies among other successes. Off the field the introduction of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust encouraged other people to invest in the Miners Welfare. Renamed Crofton Community Centre approximately £1.5 million was secured to provide the present facilities with Sport England, Football Foundation and the FA providing substantial sums of money to help the football side of the developments. With the improvements on and off the field a successful application to the Northern Counties East League was made heralding a new and exciting venture for the Club. Since gaining promotion to the NCEL, Nostell finished a respectable 4 th in their first season 2006/7. Due to the Unibond league reforming its structure, along with one NCEL Club going to the wall for financial reasons, Nostell gained promotion to the NCEL Premier Division. A terrific first season in the

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Nostell Miners Welfare Premier League in the 2007/8 season saw Nostell finish 5th, having led the division for the first quarter of the term. This was followed by a disappointing 2008/9 where they finished 13th after a congested run in. However Nostell who were the underdogs beat Scarborough Athletic over 2 legs to win the Presidents Cup, probably the high point of Nostellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent history. During season 2008/9 Nostell had their first player to be signed for a Football League club. Stockport County signed Oli Johnson who impressed during a friendly fixture. After one season at Stockport Oli has since signed for Norwich City and his goals helped Norwich to become League One Champion in the 2009/10 season. A 9th place finish in 2010-11 season was followed in the next two seasons with a 17th place in both seasons. The club now has a very strong youth policy in place and has already seen a few players developing and becoming first team squad members. Following a poor start to the 2013-14 season with the club losing its first five matches and exiting the FA Cup at the first hurdle, long serving manager Alan Colquhoun stepped down with Darren Holmes and Gareth Hamlet jointly taking over at the helm. The Middle Lane outfit still has a torrid season and would have been relegated for the first time in the NCEL tenure after finishing 21st, had it not been for the knock on effect of ramifications higher up the football pyramid. The club has had a difficult start to this season with all their league matches having been played away from home after securing grant funding to carry out ongoing pitch improvement works. The club will be hoping to start hosting games at The Crofton Community Centre soon and will be looking to make home advantage pay as they aim to climb the table. Season 1999-00 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

League WYL-P WYL-P WYL-P WYL-P WYL-P WYL-P WYL-P NCE-1 NCE-P NCE-P NCE-P NCE-P NCE-P NCE-P NCE-P

P 28 30 30 28 26 30 30 32 38 38 38 38 38 42 44

W 15 11 12 16 12 21 21 20 19

D 10 6 9 5 6 7 3 0 7

L 3 13 9 7 8 2 6 12 12

F 64 60 90 91 62 75 72 66 81

A 43 66 62 57 41 23 31 41 64

12 9 16 8 10 6

13 8 8 8 8 4

13 21 14 22 24 34

45 51 60 60 51 46

51 80 66 98 102 134

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GD 21 -6 28 34 21 52 41 25 17 -6 -29 -6 -38 -51 -88

Pts 55 39 45 53 45 70 66 57 64 49 35 56 32 38 22

Position 3/15 7/16 8/16 3/15 5/14 1/16 3/16 4/17 5/20 13/20 18/20 9/20 17/20 17/22 21/23

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How We Compare St Helens Town - last 6 matches All Competitions

Most recent

Home

Away

Collated

Nostell Miners Welfare - last 6 matches All Competitions

FA Vase Round Reached 1995-96

Nostell Miners Welfare Did Not Enter

1QR

1996-97

Did Not Enter

1997-98

Did Not Enter

St Helens Town

Most recent

1998-99

Did Not Enter

2QR

1999-00

Did Not Enter

2000-01

Did Not Enter

2001-02

Did Not Enter

2002-03

Did Not Enter

Home

Away

2003-04

Did Not Enter

2004-05

Did Not Enter

Collated

St Helens Town games since...

Nostell M.W. games since...

All Competitions Clean sheet

Goal Scored

Loss

No score draw

Score draw

Win

2005-06

Did Not Enter

2QR

2006-07

Did Not Enter

1QR

2007-08

2QR

2008-09

1QR

2009-10

2QR

2010-11

1QR

2QR

2011-12

2QR

2012-13

1QR

2013-14

1QR

FA Vase - Club Records

1986/87

First Entry

2007/08

Winners 86/7

Best Season

3R 08/9

8-1; 04/09/10

Biggest Win

4-1; 18/11/08

0-4; 15/12/10

Biggest Loss

1-3; 04/09/10

All Previous Meetings All Competitions P

Win %

Home

0.00

Away

0.00

Collated

0.00

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From the Chair Good afternoon and a warm welcome to Brocstedes Park for this FA Carlsberg Vase 2nd Qualifying Round tie against our visitors Nostell Miners Welfare. Let’s hope our visitors have had a safe journey and enjoy their short stay with us. Let’s hope the rarity of a Sunday afternoon fixture sees a decent crowd in attendance. I’d like to welcome today’s match sponsors Rylance Family Fishmongers a new start business in St Mary’s Market, St Helens (opening very soon) - hopefully Colin and his family will enjoy their visit and witness a Town win! We’ve met Nostell Miners before when we made FA Cup progress after two very tight games back in August 2010. A 1-1 (Lee Owens) draw in Wakefield sent the teams back to Knowsley Road where a 2-2 (Liam Pearson 2) draw after extra time sent the game to penalties. A superb save from Town’s Dale Newbrook in the shoot-out was all that separated the two teams and sent Town through 5-4! It’s been a tough few weeks for Town with points and goals hard to come by (most recent match reports are in today’s programme). Today’s visitors are having a similarly tough season and currently prop up the Northern Counties East League Premier Division with just two points from their ten league outings. Our visitors have been on the road for the opening two months of the season as drainage work on their home ground has only recently been completed and should we draw today we may well be the first visitors to the Welfare Ground on Tuesday evening. A belated congratulations to Karl Bergqvist who was voted our Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Player of the Month for August - he gets to choose a brand new Toyota for one week! We will be announcing the September winner this weekend - check out the club’s website www.sthelenstownafc.com later this evening. Don’t forget we’re still looking for new members of our weekly Goldline Lottery - just £1 per week for the chance to win £500 each day Monday to Friday plus a jackpot each Friday of up to £5000. See any club committee member for a membership form. 70p in every £1 stake is returned to club funds. We’re also on the look out for match and match ball sponsors from just £50 - call me on 07713 339 682 for more details. Next Saturday we play host to Squires Gate who have had an excellent start to the season and will provide another stern test before a trio of away fixtures against Congleton Town, AFC Blackpool and Widnes FC. Enjoy the game . . . and hopefully we will be in the draw which will be made tomorrow John McKiernan Chairman St Helens Town AFC

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U21s Photo Action

Liverpool County FA Intermediate Cup Sunday 21st September 2014 Action from Town U21s 3-3 AET Lost 4-5 on penalties at home to Ambrose Ellis FC

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Town in the Vase St Helens Town’s All Time FA Vase Record P

Win %

Home

59.36

Away

51.22

Neutral

100.00

Collated

154

112

55.41

St Helens Town’s FA Vase Record Vs Northern Counties East League Teams Home

77.78

Away

62.50

Collated

70.59

Town's FA Vase v Northern Counties East League Teams Date Round Opp Div Result 1986/87 21/03/1987 Semi Final 1st Leg NCE-P St Helens Town 0-1 Emley 28/03/1987 Semi Final 2nd Leg NCE-P Emley 0-2 St Helens Town, AET AGG 2-1W 1993/94 02/10/1993 Preliminary NCE-1 Hallam 2-0 St Helens Town 1995/96 30/09/1995 2nd Qualifying NCE-1 St Helens Town 4-0 Eccleshill United 1997/98 10/09/1997 1st Qualifying NCE-P St Helens Town 3-1 Ossett Town 1998/99 10/10/1998 2nd Qualifying NCE-1 Hall Road Rangers 1-2 St Helens Town 07/11/1998 1st NCE-P St Helens Town 2-1 Brigg Town 12/12/1998 3rd NCE-P St Helens Town 3-1 Eccleshill United 1999/2000 25/09/1999 1st Qualifying NCE-P Selby Town 4-1 St Helens Town 2000/01 23/09/2000 2nd Qualifying NCE-1 Yorkshire Amateur 3-6 St Helens Town AET 21/10/2000 1st NCE-1 Winterton Rangers 2-3 St Helens Town AET 2004/05 23/10/2004 1st NCE-P St Helens Town 6-2 Hallam 2010/11 04/09/2010 1st Qualifying NCE-1 St Helens Town 8-1 Brodsworth Welfare 18/09/2010 2nd Qualifying NCE-1 St Helens Town 4-0 Worsbrough Bridge Athletic 13/11/2010 2nd NCE-P Winterton Rangers 0-2 St Helens Town 2012/13 04/09/2010 1st NCE-P St Helens Town 2-4 Parkgate AET 2013/14 04/09/2010 1st Qualifying NCE-1 Pontefract Collieries 2-0 St Helens Town

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Nostell MW in the Vase Nostell Miners Welfareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All Time FA Vase Record P

Win %

Home

71.43

Away

-4

11.11

Collated

37.50

Nostell Miners Welfareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FA Vase Record v North West Counties League Teams Home

75.00

Away

-6

0.00

Collated

-2

30.00

Nostell Miners Welfare FA Vase v North West Counties League Teams

Date

Round

Opp Div

Result

08/09/2007

1st Qualifying

NWC-P

Nostell Miners Welfare 2-0 Abbey Hey

22/09/2007

2nd Qualifying

NWC-P

Trafford 2-1 Nostell Miners Welfare

04/10/2008

1st

NWC-P

Ashton Athletic 4-4 Nostell Miners Welfare AET

07/10/2008

Replay

NWC-P

Nostell Miners Welfare 3-1 Ashton Athletic

06/12/2008

3rd

NWC-1

Stone Domines 1-0 Nostell Miners Welfare

2nd Qualifying

NWC-P

Ramsbottom United 1-0 Nostell Miners Welfare

1st Qualifying

NWC-P

Bacup Borough 3-1 Nostell Miners Welfare

15/09/2012

2nd Qualifying

NWC-P

Nostell Miners Welfare 2-1 AFC Blackpool

13/10/2012

1st

NWC-1

Nostell Miners Welfare 1-2 Formby

1st Qualifying

NWC-P

Glossop North End 3-2 Nostell Miners Welfare AET

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10 19/09/2009 2010/11 04/09/2010 2012/13

2013/14 07/09/2013

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NWCFL News Congleton Town - a minute's silence was held before the home game with AFC Liverpool, in memory of former Town Chairman Terry Fleury, who passed away last Monday at the age of 72. Terry was Chairman at Booth Street in the 1980s, and was involved in the club in various ways over the last 30 years, mostly as a fan. AFC Liverpool - Reds striker Ryan Cox notched up his fiftieth appearance for the club in the 3-0 home win over Bacup & Rossendale Borough. During his period at the club, he has enjoyed some excellent goalscoring, and currently leads the list of the Premier Division 's leading goalscorers with 15 goals. AFC Liverpool manager Paul Moore said: "He's been a great addition to this football club, scoring a remarkable 35 goals, which is phenomenal. I think the kid's got a bright, bright future and from a selfish point of view I hope he has a long stay at AFC Liverpool, though hopefully he'll get that bit of luck and move to a higher league, because he will score goals wherever he plays". Holker Old Boys - 34 year old striker Wayne Curtis has returned to Rakesmoor Lane, 16 years after leaving the club to progress his career.

Wayne played over 300 times for Morecambe, scoring 80 goals, and also had spells at Fleetwood Town and Kendal Town. Wayne has now returned to the club he left in 1998, and Holker manager Gary Fawcett is delighted to have Wayne on board, albeit his availability may be affected by work commitments. "It's a cracking signing", Gary said. "He signed a couple of weeks ago, and he is a player we have been monitoring". Runcorn Town - the club are launching a brand new Ground Fund Lottery on Saturday 4th October to raise money to purchase their home ground at the Pavilions. Participants choose two numbers between 1 and 49 at a cost of ÂŁ1, and winning numbers are the first ball and bonus ball on the main National Lottery draw every Saturday night. Glossop North End - visitors to Surrey Street can ensure they don't miss out on their match day pie by reserving one in advance through a new Facebook page set up by the "Pie Fairies", who look after the tea bar and catering for spectators. Facebook users should visit "The Pie Hut at Glossop North End AFC" and catch up on all the latest pie news and availability before getting to the ground, as well as giving feedback afterwards once the fare on offer has been sampled.

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FA Vase Preview 25 of our clubs hit the cup trail this weekend, in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Vase. Like the last round, the draw has largely paired our clubs with teams from other leagues, with only three all-NWCFL ties. Candidate for game of the day is at Alder House, where Atherton Collieries, top of Division One with a 100% record, host AFC Liverpool who sit in fourth place in the Premier Division. In the other two ties Abbey Hey make the short trip to Chadderton and on Sunday 1874 Northwich meet Wigan Robin Park for the first ever time. 12 of our clubs face opponents from the Northern Counties East League, eight at home and four away, and there’s a mixture of familiar and not so familiar names. If form was anything to go by, the club with the best chance of progress would be Ashton Town, who travel to face Hallam, currently bottom of the NCEL Division One with no points from ten games. But history is on the side of the Sheffield club, who in 2007-08 travelled to Ashton at the same stage of the competition and emerged with a 3-1 win. Rochdale Town travel to Bottesford Town, mindful that they lost 2-1 at the same venue in the First Round in 2012-13, and Widnes make their first ever appearance in the competition at AFC Emley, who keep up a remarkable run of drawing our clubs at home in FA competitions. Widnes’s visit will be the seventh time in seven years that one of our clubs has travelled to the Welfare Ground on Vase business, and for good measure, in the same period six of our clubs have gone there in the FA Cup too.

Runcorn Town’s good record of success in the Vase in recent years will be tested at Athersley Recreation, who knocked Winsford United out of the FA Cup at the Barton Stadium a few weeks ago, and after knocking Stockport Sports out of the competition in the previous round, Selby Town will be looking to repeat the dose when Bacup & Rossendale Borough visit North Yorkshire. Armthorpe Welfare host Bootle looking for a Merseyside “hat trick”, with the Doncaster club having knocked AFC Liverpool out of the Vase in each of the past two seasons. In the games where our clubs host NCEL opponents, there’s a West Yorkshire derby at the Angel Telecom Stadium where Silsden host Garforth Town. The Cobbydalers won their first Vase tie in six years when they beat Brandon United and can look to finally get revenge for a 3-0 defeat at Garforth in the First Round in 2006-07. Ashton Athletic host Shaw Lane Aquaforce and a few miles away Daisy Hill welcome Albion Sports. In both instances the visitors are doing well in the NCEL Premier Division and are playing NWCFL opponents in FA competitions for the first time. Conversely, Rossington Main's trip to West Didsbury & Chorlton sees them face NWCFL opponents for the fourth time in five consecutive FA Vase ties, and having been knocked out of the competition by West on their own ground last season the Doncaster side will need little motivation for their trip to Brookburn Road. Winsford United welcome Hemsworth Miners Welfare and should be mindful that Pontefract club's away form has been far better than their home form this season, while St Helens Town play on Sunday against Nostell Miners Welfare who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Stockport Sports in August. Colne's reward for beating another Northern League club Penrith in the last round is a home tie against Heaton Stannington, who travel down from Newcastle to face NWCFL opponents for the first time in an FA competition, and indeed are playing their first Vase tie since 1993-94.

Unlike many of the other clubs already mentioned, Washington have managed to avoid NWCFL opposition in the Vase for 10 years, but they reacquaint themselves with a trip to AFC Darwen. Nelson's record in the FA Vase last season was won one and lost one in the North East, and they will fancy their chances against West Allotment Celtic, who are third bottom of the Northern League Division One. Likewise, fellow East Lancastrians Barnoldswick Town will start as favourites when they travel to Sunderland to take on Ryhope CA, who are 13th in the Northern League Division Two.

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Town Managers 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. Alan went on to Town history with the club’s historic journey to Wembley in 1987 before he and the vast majority of Allan Wellens receiving the Lancs the FA Vase winning side sought pastures new. 1987Combination Championship Trophy 92 Alan Aspinall (pictured opposite) took over the from Wesley Bridge in 1972 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.

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Past & Present 1992-93 Mick Holgate 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 (left) took over the managerial reigns with Paul Jones as his assistant. Many thanks to Jim Barrett and Eric Bond for their input in compiling the information.

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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2014-14 Fixtures, Facts an Date Aug 2 Aug 5 Aug 9 Aug 13 Aug 16 Aug 18 Aug 23 Aug 26 Aug 30 Sep 6 Sep 9 Sep 13 Sep 16 Sep 20 Sep 23 Sep 27 Sep 30 Oct 5 Oct 11 Oct 18 Oct 21 Oct 25 Oct 28 Nov 4 Nov 8 Nov 15 Nov 19 Nov 22 Dec 6 Dec 13 Dec 20 Dec 26 Jan 3 Jan 17 Jan 24 Feb 7 Feb 14 Feb 28 Mar 7 Mar 14 Mar 21 Apr 4 Apr 6 Apr 11 Apr 18 Apr 25

Opponents Maine Road AFC BLACKPOOL ALSAGER TOWN Bacup & Rossendale Boro’ ATHERTON COLLIERIES Runcorn Town Colne STOCKPORT SPORTS BARNOLDSWICK TOWN Irlam ABBEY HEY AFC LIVERPOOL RUNCORN LINNETS Winsford United Bootle W DIDS & CHORLTON Burscough Nostell Miners Welfare SQUIRES GATE Congleton Town AFC Blackpool Widnes or Barnton RUNCORN TOWN Stockport Sports COLNE Runcorn Linnets AFC Liverpool SILSDEN Alsager Town 1874 NORTHWICH Nelson ASHTON ATHLETIC Silsden Squires Gate West Didsbury & Chorlton BOOTLE GLOSSOP NORTH END NELSON Abbey Hey CONGLETON TOWN Glossop North End WINSFORD UNITED Ashton Athletic BACUP & ROSS’ BORO’ MAINE ROAD Barnoldswick Town

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Comp NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FAC EPR NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FAV 1QR NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL LSC 1 FAV 2QR NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL Lge Cup 2 NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL

KO Result GK 3.00 1-2W Brinksman 7.45 3-0W Brinksman 3.00 0-4L Brinksman 7.45 2-6W Brinksman 3.00 2-5L Brinksman 7.45 7-2L Brinksman 3.00 4-0L Brinksman 7.45 2-4L Brinksman 3.00 4-3W Crowther 3.00 1-2W* Crowther 7.45 1-0W Crowther 3.00 0-9L Crowther 7.45 0-1L Crowther 3.00 3-0L Crowther 7.45 3-0L Crowther 3.00 0-3L Crowther 7.45 4-1L Crowther 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 7.45 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00

2 Cottington Cottington Cottington Cottington Cottington Cottington Cottington Morris Saunders Morris Cottington Saunders Duffy Cottington Duffy Duffy Whelan

3 4 5 6 7 Saunders Falconer Morris1 McKay Lightbody Saunders Falconer Morris1 McKay Lightbody1 Saunders Falconer Morris McKay Lightbody Houghton Falconer Morris1 McKay Rushton-Woo Houghton Falconer1 Morris McKay Andy Gillesp Houghton Falconer Morris McKay1 Peers Morris Falconer Ogden McKay Andy Gillesp Richardson Falconer Ogden Cottington1 Coulter Richardson Falconer Morris1 Cottington Bergqvist1 Saunders Falconer Ogden1 McKay Bergqvist1 Morris Falconer Ogden McKay Bergqvist Richardson Falconer Morris McKay Andy Gillesp Morris Falconer Grant McKay Perry Morris Falconer Grant McKay Perry Richardson Falconer Morris Cottington McKay Saunders Falconer Morris McKay Cottington Morris Falconer Ogden McKay Saleh

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

nd Figures

8 Hulme 1 Hulme Coulter ods Hulme pie1 Hulme Hulme pie Hulme Hulme 1 McKay1 1 Cottington Hulme pie Cottington Alex Gillespie Ashton Ashton Ashton Ashton

9 10 11 12 14 15 16 Whyte1 Rushton-Woods Perry Pullinger Alex Gillespie7 Bergqvist11 Cook-Hannah9 Cook-Hannah Rushton-Woods Perry1 Pullinger Alex Gillespie Houghton Bergqvist9 Cook-Hannah Rushton-Woods Perry Pullinger Houghton3 Alex Gillespie8 Bergqvist11 Cook-Hannah Bergqvist3 Perry1 Pullinger Coulter10 Barton11 Andy Gillespie91 Cook-Hannah Rushton-Woods Perry Barton11 Pulling/Saunder Whyte9 Peers/Crowther Whyte1 Rushton-Woods Andy Gillespie Pullinger Coulter6 Perry7 Cook-Hannah Whyte Rushton-Woods Perry Pullinger10 Bergqvist11 Cook-Hannah Richardson7 Whyte Rushton-Woods1 Andy Gillespie Bergqvist7 Cook-Hannah3 Alex Gillespie Perry9 Cook-Hannah Rushton-Woods Andy Gillespie1 Harrison10 Alex Gillespie Peers Brinksman Cook-Hannah Rushton-Woods Perry Peers5 Hulme11 Whyte9 Harrison Cook-Hannah Rushton-Woods Andy Gillespie Peers Whyte91 Perry11 Alex Gillespie Whyte Rushton-Woods Perry Peers3 Alex Gillespie11 Cook-Hannah9 Cook-Hannah Rushton-Woods Andy Gillespie Peers Ogden Whyte9 Saunders Cook-Hannah Rushton-Woods Andy Gillespie Saunders Harrison9 Barton7 Whelan Whyte Rushton-Woods Andy Gillespie Cook-Hannah Bergqvist9 Whelan10 Bergqvist Rushton-Woods Andy Gillespie Cook-Hannah10 Saleh11 Perry7 Cook-Hannah Rushton-Woods Bergqvist Andy Gillespie9 Lightbody10 Whyte91

Name1

17 Crowther Crowther Crowther Crowther Coulter7 Crowther Crowther Crowther Brinksman Saunders

Player name and number of goals scored

Name

Player name and CAUTION

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Player name and number of replaced player

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Match Report Town slip to Liverpool Senior Cup exit Tuesday 30th September 2014 Burscough 4-1 St Helens Town St. Helens Town faced a tough draw in the First Round of the Liverpool Senior Cup when they were paired with Evo Stik North 1 side Burscough at Victoria Park and they duly crashed out 4-1 in the game on Tuesday. Burscough are a well-organised, efficient side, who give nothing away, yet Town started well and appeared to have most of the attacking play in the opening quarter, Paul Cook-Hannah having the only early chance, but his header sailed over the home bar after 18 minutes. Karl Bergqvist was a real livewire and caused the Burscough defence plenty of problems, as did James Rushton-Woods, but the home side took the lead on 28 minutes when, following a short corner, captain Paul Williams launched a curving shot from a tight, wide position and the ball fizzed past Rory Crowther for the opening goal. Dominic Whelan came in at right back for his full debut and the youngster showed good promise. Jamil Saleh made his seasonal full debut, but was out of luck on 39 minutes when Anthony Brown cleaned him out with a brutal challenge which escaped punishment and, from the resulting long ball, Will Jones scored with a header, albeit seemingly from an offside position. Neither the referee nor the linesman was up with play and, despite a reasoned protest from Hamish Falconer, referee Ben Speedie took time out to explain his decision and the goal was allowed to stand. 2-0 down at half-time, Town looked distinctly second best in the second half and the only efforts of note were a strong header from the returning Nathan Ogden and three free kicks, struck sweetly by Rushton-Woods, all of which went straight into keeper Dean Pyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hands. Will Jones scored his second goal on 59 minutes, following a break from the other end of the field and Mark Beesley netted a fourth for Burscough with ten minutes remaining. The introduction of substitutes Andy Gillespie, Chad Whyte and Tom Lightbody, who was returning to the side following a painful toe injury, gave some renewed impetus and Whyte had the satisfaction of scoring with a penalty in the last move of the game, following a double foul on the same player. Consolation it might have been, but this was Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first goal for 563 minutes and, hopefully, it will instil some much-needed confidence in the team in the run-up to the FA Vase Second Qualifying Round clash with Nostell Miners Welfare this coming Sunday at Brocstedes Park, kickoff 3pm.

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Statistical History ST. HELENS TOWN AFC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A STATISTICAL HISTORY by Glyn Jones Part 38 - Season 1984-85 North West Counties League Radcliffe Borough Caernarfon Town Burscough Stalybridge Celtic Eastwood Hanley Curzon Ashton Winsford United Fleetwood Leek Town Congleton Town Leyland Motors St. Helens Town Prescot Cables (-2) Bootle Accrington Stanley Glossop Formby (-2) Netherfield Lancaster City Penrith Opponents Accrington Stanley Bootle Burscough Caernarfon Town Congleton Town Curzon Ashton Eastwood Hanley Fleetwood Formby Glossop Lancaster City Leek Town Leyland Motors Netherfield Penrith Prescot Cables Radcliffe Borough Stalybridge Celtic Winsford United

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P 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38

W 24 23 23 21 20 21 20 18 16 13 13 12 13 10 11 8 9 7 8 4

Home Sep 4 Apl 8 Sep 22 Apl 16 Jan 26 Feb 23 Mar 23 Apl 2 Aug 28 Apl 5 Apl 13 Mar 30 Dec 22 Aug 18 Oct 6 Mar 9 Nov 17 Aug 25 Dec 15

D 10 9 7 10 12 6 7 8 11 11 8 9 7 11 8 11 9 9 5 4 Result Lost 0-2 Won 2-1 Drew 2-2 Drew 1-1 Drew 1-1 Won 3-1 Lost 1-2 Won 1-0 Lost 1-2 Lost 1-2 Won 1-0 Won 4-2 Won 2-0 Drew 1-1 Won 2-0 Drew 1-1 Lost 0-2 Lost 0-3 Lost 1-2

L 4 6 8 7 6 11 11 12 11 14 17 17 18 17 19 19 20 22 25 30

F 67 73 81 89 72 85 58 84 52 43 52 64 64 34 45 46 41 42 46 36

A 33 40 46 40 42 60 37 57 38 46 67 75 68 48 59 70 79 80 90 99

Away Oct 20 Dec 8 Feb 2 Aug 22 Aug 14 Oct 13 Nov 24 Apl 14 Apl 6 Mar 16 Mar 18 Sep 18 Aug 11 Mar 10 Feb 16 Oct 27 Apl 29 Dec 1 Apl 20

Pts 58 55 53 52 52 48 47 44 43 37 34 33 33 31 30 27 25 23 21 12 Result Drew 3-3 Drew 1-1 Lost 1-3 Lost 1-2 Won 3-2 Lost 2-5 Lost 1-4 Lost 2-4 Won 2-1 Lost 2-6 Won 6-2 Lost 0-3 Drew 2-2 Won 3-1 Won 5-2 Lost 1-2 Lost 1-3 Drew 2-2 Lost 1-2

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Season 1984-85 Sep 1 Sep 15 Sep 29 Sep 8 Nov 10 Mar 2 Nov 3

FA CUP COLESHILL TOWN CONGLETON TOWN Formby FA TROPHY 1st Qualifying Round Colwyn Bay NWC LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP 2nd Round Lancaster City 3rd Round FORD MOTORS LIVERPOOL SENIOR CUP 1st Round Bootle

Preliminary Round 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Qualifying Round

Player Aspinall, Dave Bendon, John Bretherton, Phil Brunt, R. (Bobby) Collins, Dave Collins, Jimmy Corns, Simon Farnsworth, Derek Gibbons, P Gledhill, Mark Hamilton, Brian Kerr, Ian Kinsey, Ian Layhe, Phil Lowe, Barry McGuinness, Peter Maguire, John Murfin, Steve Nolan, Terry O’Donnell, Dave O’Neil, Tommy Paladino, Joe Pinder, Paul Shaw, Mark Tyrrell, Kieran Waugh Woodyer, Jimmy Totals

App 3 23 25 22 28 28 6 23 4 2 18 1 28 11 14 13 5 30 3 4 38 20 5 32 2 4 34 426

Prov. 1 2 2 4 3 4 1 1 1 4 1 3 2 2 3 3 6 1 2 5 1 7 2 1 7 69

Sub App 1 1 2

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Home Home Away

Won Won Lost

6-1 2-0 0-1

Away

Lost

1-2

Away Home

Won Lost

2-0 1-2

Away

Lost

1-2

Total App 3 24 27 24 33 31 10 24 5 3 22 2 32 13 16 16 8 36 4 6 43 21 5 39 4 5 41 497

Goals 1 12 6 1 3 1 3 3

13 4 2 1 4 2 2

3 77

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A Brief History The original Town club was in existence from 1901 to 1928, but George Fryer and a number of local businessmen decided to re-form the club in 1946. They obtained a lease on the Hoghton Road ground in Sutton, adjacent to St. Helens Junction station on the Liverpool to Manchester railway line, took over a local St. Helens Combination team, Derbyshire Hill Rovers, signing a number of players from other clubs and entered the Liverpool County Combination in the 1947/48 season, playing against Everton “A” and Liverpool “A” and several reserve sides from the leading non-league clubs in the Merseyside area. Success was first attained in May 1949 when Runcorn were defeated in the final of the George Mahon Cup, played at the Prescot Cables ground. The following season, 1949/50, Town were elevated to the Second Division of the Lancashire Combination and they were promoted as Champions in only their second season to the First Division, where they ran up against teams such as Ashton United, Nelson and New Brighton, newly relegated from the Football League. Sadly, Town were themselves relegated in their first season and although promoted briefly again for the 1955/56 season, they spent most of their early years in the Second Division. Improvements were quickly made to the facilities at Hoghton Road in the early years, but in November 1952 the decision was taken to re-locate to the former St. Helens Recs’ rugby league ground at City Road in order to further their ambitions of reaching the Football League. Initially, the move resulted in some encouraging crowds, but the club had a change of heart and returned to Sutton in the October 1953. The ground was purchased and further developed and a social club and floodlights were added in later years. Town were Champions of the Lancashire Combination in 1971/72 season, losing only one game, finishing 6 points clear of Accrington Stanley. 1975 brought a switch to the Cheshire League, where they remained until the formation of the North West Counties League in 1982 and St. Helens Town is still the only club to feature in the top division of that league throughout its existence. The club’s major achievement was to win the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987. After a stuttering start in the Preliminary Round with a 5-4 extra-time win over Colne Dynamoes, further home successes over General Chemicals, Wren Rovers, Guisborough Town and Wythenshawe Amateurs, led to wins at Wisbech Town, at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare, away to Falmouth Town (after a replay) and in the away leg at Emley when, following a 1-0 home defeat in the first-leg, a 2-0 win in Yorkshire secured a Wembley Final against local rivals Warrington Town, who were dispatched 3-2 with goals from Phil Layhe (2) and Brian Rigby.

St. Helens Town boast an impressive “Hall of Fame”, including legendary goalkeeper and former German Prisoner-of-War Bert Trautmann, who signed for Manchester City over 60 years ago and who went on to play the game of his life in the 1956 FA Cup Final, despite breaking his neck in the latter stages. Bill Foulkes was transferred to Manchester United, where he had a glittering career, surviving the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, in which he bravely rescued some of his stricken team-mates. John Connelly, an England squad member in the victorious 1966 World Cup campaign, was sold to Burnley and he later moved to join Foulkes at Old Trafford. Sadly, all three have passed away in the last few years. Other future stars, groomed at St. Helens Town, include John Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Geoff Nulty (Burnley, Newcastle United and Everton) and, most recently, ace goalscorer Dave Bamber, who began and ended his league career at Blackpool and who played in all four divisions of the Football League. Captain of the FA Vase winning team was Tommy O’Neil, who began his league career playing alongside George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton at Manchester United.

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

of St Helens Town AFC

Town sold their Hoghton Road ground in 2000 to move in with St. Helens Rugby League Club at their Knowsley Road base. Their farewell appearance at Sutton produced a 1-0 win over Champions Vauxhall Motors and the initial campaign at Knowsley Road got off to a cracking start, with Town leading the table for most of the season, before finishing in a rather disappointing fourth place. Recent seasons have been more of a struggle, ninth place in 2009/10 being the best finish since. Season 2010-11 saw Town slide to 16th and next to bottom in 2011-12, when they would have been relegated, but for Flixton’s decision to resign from the league. Town began the 2012-13 season under new manager Ian Granite, who brought in a new team and coaching set-up and they battled well to avoid relegation, their status being confirmed with a couple of games remaining. 2013-14 was a mirror-image of the previous campaign, with a 14-game unbeaten run between September and December putting the club just behind the front runners for two thirds of the campaign. Granite resigned in November 2013 due to work and family commitments and his assistant Ian Price took over the reins, assisted by Paul Jones and Nick Matthews, but the long breaks caused by the winter weather interrupted their earlier rhythm and Town finished the season once again in the lower reaches, although never in any serious danger of the drop.

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 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

Following the demolition of the Knowsley Road ground in Soccer Club Swap Shop National Awards 2010, Town have led a nomadic existence up the road in 2010-11 Placed 28th Ashton-in-Makerfield, sharing Ashton Town’s Edge Green 2011-12 Placed 8th Street ground for three seasons before moving across town 2012-13 Placed 7th to Brocstedes Park as the guests of Ashton Athletic in 2012. 2013-14 Placed 8th The current season is scheduled to be the club’s last in exile, as plans are in place for re-location back to St. Helens for the 2015-16 season at the Council-owned Ruskin Park site, currently undergoing massive redevelopment and a brand-new facility awaits. In readiness for the move, the club is undergoing a radical re-branding, adopting the town’s coat of arms as their badge once again and reverting next season to their traditional blue and white colours in preparation for a return to the town in 2015.

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

North West Counties Football League Premier Division

Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 3-0 1-1

Silsden

Winsford United

West Dids & Chrltn

Stockport Sports

St Helens Town

Squires Gate

0-2 4-1

1-0 3-0 0-9 0-4

5-0

2-1

0-2

7-2 1-2

4-3

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2-3

4-0

Runcorn Town 4-1 2-0

2-0 1-0

2-0

x x

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6-0

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0-1

5-5 0-8

2-2 0-6

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0-1

1-1

2-0

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x x

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3-0 4-0 3-0

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1-2 3-4 2-6

3-4

1-2 1-0 4-2 0-0

1-4 1-1 1-1

1-1 1-2 3-1

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1-1

2-1 1-1

2-1

1-0 4-2 0-4

4-1

2-3

1-2

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Runcorn Linnets

Nelson

Maine Road

Glossop NE

Congleton Town

Colne

Bootle

1-1

Congleton Town

3-2 1-1

4-0

1-2 0-2

0-1 3-0 0-5

Squires Gate

Barnoldswick Town

0-1

Glossop NE

0-4

1-0

1-1 3-0

1-2

St Helens Town

Bacup & Rossendale

1-1

Abbey Hey

Ashton Athletic

Alsager Town

AFC Liverpool

1-4

Colne

4-1

Bacup & Ross

1-1

Silsden

Ashton Athletic

AFC Blackpool

0-0

3-0

1-4

4-2

2-2

2-1

2-2

Winsford Utd

AFC Liverpool

Alsager Town

4-2 2-4

Barnoldswick T

Maine Road

Nelson

0-3

Runcorn Linnets

0-4

Bootle

3-1 1-0

Runcorn Town

3-0 0-1

Stockport Sports

Abbey Hey

1874 Northwich

WD&C

AFC Blackpool

1874 Northwich

North West Counties Football League Premier Division 2014-15

Head 2 Head Results

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Tea Break Teasers Q1. Which two Englishmen have scored hat-tricks at World Cup Finals tournaments? Q2. Who was the last Brazilian to win the Pitchichi Trophy as top scorer in La Liga? Q3. Who were the last two teams to beat Arsenal in FA Cup Finals?

Q4. Who were the last team to win the English top flight whilst not competing in European competition? Q5. Who was the Premier Leagues top goalscorer last season? Q6. Which Everton player scored his first goal for the Blues in a Merseyside derby at Anfield? Q7. Which team has done the Premier League double over Manchester United the most times in the Premier League era? Q8. Which country were the first to be eliminated from the World Cup Finals tournament without losing a game? Q9. Which England player became the World Cup Finals oldest debutant at the age of 39 in 2010? Q10. Who was the first player to score for Everton in 10 successive Premier League seasons? Q11. Which six English players have netted in the Champions League Final (not penalty shoot-outs)? Q12. Who did Steven Gerrard take over the Liverpool captaincy from? Q13. Which World Cup Finals tournament was the first to be broadcast in colour? Q14. Which two clubs have won eight League Titles but none in the top flight? Q15. Which player made the most full international appearances for England without every playing at a World Cup or European Championship Finals tournament?

1) Geoff Hurst 66 & Gary Lineker 86 2) Ronaldo 2003/4 3) West Han 79/80 & Liverpool 2000/1 4) Leeds United 1991/2 5) Luis Suarez 6) Sylvan Distin 7) Liverpool (4, 2000/1, 01/2, 08/9 & 13/14) 8) Scotland in 1974 9) David James 10) Leon Osman 11) Sol Campbell, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Steve McManaman, Wayne Rooney & Teddy Sheringham 12) Sami Hyypia 13) Mexico 1970 14) Leicester City & Notts County 15) Emlyn Hughes (62 Caps between 1969 & 80)

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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Meet the Players

Alex Gillespie 06/08/1997 Midfield

Rory Crowther 29/12/1996 Goalkeeper

Tom Barton 21/03/1997 Full Back

Marcus Perry 16/08/1996 Forward

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