St Helens Town v Abbey Hulton United 2017-18 by John McKiernan

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Talk of the Town Good evening, and welcome to Ruskin Drive for this our first ever competitive contest at the venue and our first “real” home game back in St Helens for far too long! May I open by welcoming our friends and visitors from Abbey Hulton United, I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the game. Many thanks to tonight's match sponsor David O’Keefe, ball sponsor Johnsons Toyota Liverpool and programme sponsor Beer EnGin. It has felt like a very short off season with the protracted move back to St Helens and all the going on’s with getting the ground completed and the venue for this was in doubt as late as Saturday lunch time when the grading committee visited the ground along with myself to check the ground was up to standard and that the outstanding jobs had been completed, whilst there was/is still a bit of snagging to do thankfully we were able to get permission and the ground signed off to host this evenings visitors and league newcomers Abbey Hulton United. We have had a difficult pre-season schedule where we hosted four NWCFL Premier Division teams here at Ruskin Drive and suffered defeat in each of these contests on the Monday after the final home friendly defeat against Burscough, manager Alan Gillespie tendered his resignation due to work commitments. Both personally I would like to thank Alan for all the hard work and commitment he

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put in over the two seasons of his tenure at the helm, we all know that financially we are unable t compete with the “big boys” in the league and with some of the clubs at lower levels who are able to pay their players and this makes a difficult job even harder. As a committee we moved fast and Alan’s assistant Lee Jenkinson was an ideal candidate to take over in the hot seat and jumped at the chance from his sun bed as he was on holiday at the time! I am sure that Lee will admit that we didn’t have the idea end to the pre-season period and we probably could have done with another week preparation for the first league contest. As it was after all the pre-season comings and going the season got started in earnest on Saturday when we visited New Mills who had suffered two relegations in the previous two seasons. The hosts have retained the majority of last seasons squad and their higher level experience showed at points. They settled earlier in the contest and took the lead midway through the first half when Ed Driver opened the scoring and as Town got back into the game they were caught with a sucker punch as Bobby Lofthouse fired home to double the New Mills lead, Just before the break Town had a good chance to pull a goal back, first when Danny Forrester rattled the crossbar with a free kick but the depleted Town squad missing several starters and with no real front man were unable to get on the scoresheet in the even second half Whilst Town were in Derbyshire, Abbey Hulton were visiting Daisy Hill for their first NWCFL contest. Their first goal was scored by Keeylin Thomas but this was quickly cancelled out when the hosts converted a spot kick but Josh Tune fired home what turned out to be the winner for the new boys. Let’s get behind Town this evening and hopefully cheer them on to our first victory at Ruskin Drive! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

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Chairman’s Welcome Welcome to our new ground at Ruskin Drive and welcome to today’s opponents Abbey Hulton United, newly admitted to the Hallmark Security Football League, where they began the season well with a 2-1 win at Daisy Hill on Saturday. Welcome also to first-time visitors to St. Helens Town Football Club. Saturday saw us embark on our seventyfirst season of league football and although we went down 2-0 at New Mills, there were plenty of encouraging signs in a difficult game against a team who, only two seasons ago, were playing in the Evo-stik First Division. Our new ground was finally given the green light five days ago to stage this fixture: it’s not quite the finished article and there is still further work to be done. However, here we are and we are finally ready to go! It was 7 years ago that St. Helens Town last staged a North West Counties home league game in the town: Congleton Town were the visitors to Knowsley Road on Tuesday, 24th August 2010, a game that

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ended in a 2-3 defeat. The following Saturday, Glossop North End visited Knowsley Road in an FA Cup tie, which ended in a draw and we lost the replay the following Wednesday. Our long-promised “farewell” home game at the former RL ground, against New Mills, on 28th September, had the plug pulled at the last minute by Saints, who decided to hold a training session on the pitch ahead of the Grand Final and we had to hastily find another ground, hence the fixture was played at Atherton Collieries. This Sports Village concept was first mooted some years ago and I represented the club at the first public meeting in February 2013, when it was announced that it would be completed within that calendar year. Plans were revised several times for a number of reasons and delays ensued but, over four years later, here we all are, back in town, with the opportunity to reestablish ourselves and move forwards after so many years of struggle. I have witnessed first-hand the dedication of the committee, management, players and supporters, who have worked so hard and stuck together over all those years, when other clubs in similar circumstances have had to throw in the towel. With this commitment, we will succeed and grow stronger together. Enjoy the game, come back again whenever you can… You won’t find better value for a fiver these days! If you like what you see, get involved, become part of it. Sponsor a match-ball, sponsor a game, ask how you can help. Glyn Jones

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Town News Update St Helens Town have secured a double sponsorship deal with Prabhu Ventures Limited on the eve on the 2017-18 campaign. Ashish Prabhu, a freelance journalist, will become the club’s Player of the Month sponsor and first team training/warm up kit sponsors. The ‘Prabhu Ventures Limited’ Player of the Month award will be presented to the player voted for by supporters and officials at the end of each month between August 2017 and April 2018. Each chosen player will also become the club’s nomination for the monthly Hallmark Security League First Division award. Last season saw Prabhu Ventures Limited take a full page advert in the club’s award winning match day programme along with a pitch side advertising board at Town’s new Ruskin Drive home. Both will be on show again throughout 2017-18. The new extended sponsorship deal will also see the Prabhu Ventures Limited logo adorn the first team training/warm-up kit; further visible evidence of the sponsor’s support.

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Club official John McKiernan said, ‘The club would like to thank Ashish Prabhu for his support across a broad range of sponsorship packages and the latest additions are a welcome boost to the club as we start a brand new campaign.’ ‘We will continue to promote Prabhu Ventures Limited over the next year with lots of social media coverage, news items and photographs.’ Ashish Prabhu said, ‘Prabhu Ventures Limited is extremely proud and privileged to offer its support to a club with a great past. Hopefully together we can look forward to a much more lucrative future.’ The 2017-18 season will also see the ‘Prabhu Ventures Limited’ Man of the Match award presented to a St Helens Town player in all twenty-one Hallmark Security League First Division home games at Ruskin Drive sports ground. Club official John McKiernan said, ‘Sponsorship is vital for clubs at all levels and it is also important to recognise the excellent performances of players. This sponsorship package works on both levels, bringing income to the club as well as providing an award for individual players. He added, ‘Each recipient will be presented with an engraved boxed medal following each home game and photographs will appear on social media and in the club’s match programme throughout the season.’

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Club Information Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens Vice Presidents: Jim Barrett and Steve Ball Interim Chairman: Glyn Jones Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695) Commercial Manager: Simon Kenyon (07817 767156) Hospitality: Margaret Wood and Paul Wood Other Committee: Andy Langley and Kieran Ford,

1st Team Manager: Lee Jenkinson 1st Team Assistant Manager Nick Robinson 1st Team Physiotherapist Lisa Phillipson Reserve Team Manager: Keith Griffiths U21s Team Manager: Keith Griffiths U21s Assistant Manager: Lee Jenkinson U18s Team Manager: Graham Arkle U17s Assistant Manager: Phil Fisher

Sunday Team Manager: David Platt Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002 Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited Company Director: Jim Barrett

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Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notes Good evening and welcome to the superb facilities here at Ruskin Drive and to an historic evening for St Helens Town Football Club. I have only been with the club for a couple of years and in that short period of time I really do understand how important it is to our board, committee and supporters that we are returning to the town. These are my first notes as manager since the resignation of Alan Gillespie and I must say I was not expecting it to happen while I was on holiday, Alan has given his all to the club for a number of years not only has a manager but also a lot of time behind the scenes and I'm sure he will be missed, Personally, I will miss Alan but I'm sure I will be able to pick you the phone and have a good chat with him, I'm also sure he will be struggling what to do on a Saturday now 50/50 decision between watching Liverpool or watching St Helens. Whatever the decision Alan I wish you all the best.

Back to tonight's game and a big welcome to the committee, players and supporters of Abbey Hulton and I hope they have a lovely evening at our new ground and have a very safe journey home. Also letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope their first season in the league is a good one. Saturday's first game was a 2-0 defeat away to New Mills. Without a recognised striker in the squad we were not at the races for the first half but after that we gave a really good account of ourselves and could have easily come away with something, A few new additions to tonight's squad will hopefully improve us better and I have no doubt we will be a force in this league. Enjoy the game . . . . Lee Jenkinson

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League News It’s that time of year where the mad panic of the preparation of the summer meets the drama of the season start and all of the bedding in that it brings with it. It has been the same at League HQ, and for those who attended the league meetings or who listened to Paul Lawler on a recent podcast you will know that we haven’t really had a break. And that’s the same across the clubs where volunteers, club officials and groundspersons alike have just got on with business as usual over the last couple of months. League Development Officer, Gary Langley has been running all over the region since the AGM meeting clubs, Educational Establishments, FA’s and businesses alike. Charged with creating the latest League Development Plan as well as being involved in a number of initiatives across the League and Regional FA’s, this week has seen a milestone for Gary and the League as this seasons Development Plan reaches a key point.

“Over the last six weeks I have been working on the League's 2017 Development Plan and at the August League Management Committee Meeting last week I’m pleased to confirm that the Committee authorised me to submit the final draft of the plan. To give an overview, like businesses we have to devise a strategy of schemes that we wish to bring in to run the league and to develop it over one, two and three years at a time. “We do this then submit it to the FA for an annual funding grant that is available to leagues, however the amount we get depends on the quality of the plan and scope contained within to spread the ability of the league.

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"We have had some good plans in over recent years and have done well in our discussions with the FA, they see what we are looking to deliver and have backed us. In return I believe we have delivered from those plans and we are in a strong position as a league to this day as a result. This year's plan has been structured and circulated to the clubs who have fed back in to me with their comments. I have also been around some of the County FA’s to speak to some of the superb Development Staff and CEO’s there who have given us some very valuable advice, as well as pledges of support for initiatives and schemes we wish to put on. “There are a number of items on it, but to give a brief summary of some of the things we are keen to work on. We are looking to continue our tie-in with the Grow Your Club initiative that we have been leading the way with over the last two seasons. "We also have a great initiative to appoint Andy Nelson as a Respect ambassador to clubs to work with officials over Respect campaign initiatives. “We will also be looking at various coaching initiatives including an FA Level One Coaching Course and of course we are keen to help clubs with the administration workload and discipline issues. We acknowledge the fact that in the modern game, the workload on Club Secretaries is akin to a full-time Job. There is no quick-fix to it but we are looking to help in various ways to understand and deal with the workload.” So what happens next? Well initiatives will be on-going and pretty seamless from the outside of things but for the Development plan, the League will meet with the FA in late September and talk over the plan. Hopefully the FA will again see what we are trying to do and again back us to deliver on it. Elsewhere the league’s tie-in with the UCFB is structuring well and we will have an announcement on that in a couple of weeks as clubs tap into a working relationship with one of the Country’s leading Sports Development Educational establishments..

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Q1. With which London club did John Barnes finish his playing career? Q2. Which five Englishmen have managed Chelsea in the Premier League (including caretakers)? Q3. Which four players have won England caps whilst playing their club football in Germany? Q4. On Saturday who became the first team to score their first Premier League goal via an Own Goal? Q5. Which current Championship club lost the 2014 FA Cup Final? Q6. Which former Premier League striker is the youngest player to score in a Champions League final in 1995? Q7. Who are the only team currently in the EFL Championship never to have played in the English top flight? Q8. Who was the last Englishman to score in a Champions League final? Q9. Who played in a Merseyside derby at Anfield in April 1999 and went on to score in the 2006 World Cup Final?

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Q11. How did Edin Dzekoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal for Manchester City against Cardiff City in January 2014 make Premier League history? Q12. Who is the oldest player to score a Premier League goal for Liverpool aged 36 years 127 days? Q13. Luis Suarez scored 12 goals for Liverpool against Norwich City in how many games? Q14. In which year was the last FA Cup Final replay? Q15. Which striker scored his only Everton goal against Swansea City in a February 2014 FA Cup tie?

ANSWERS: 1) Charlton Athletic 2) David Webb, Glenn Hoddle, Graham Rix, Ray Wilkins & Eddie Newton 3) Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Kevin Keegan (SV Hamburg), Tony Woodcock (1.FC Koln) & David Watson (Werder Bremen) 4) Huddersfield Town 5) Hull City 6) Patrick Kluivert 7) Burton Albion 8) Wayne Rooney 2010/11 9) Marco Materazzi 10) Nicolas Anelka 11) First awarded via goal-line technology 12) Gary McAllister 13) Six 14) 1990 15) Lacina Traore

Half Time Quiz

Q10. Which player missed the decisive penalty in the Manchester United Vs Chelsea 2008 Champions League Final?

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Match Day Sponsors Opponents

We are looking for additional sponsors on match-days with a host of benefits for both match (£100), match ball (£50) and programme (£50) sponsors including free entry & programme; hospitality, programme and social media advertising; pre-match photos, man of the match awards. Contact Simon

Match Sponsor

Match Ball Sponsor

Programme Sponsor

David O’Keefe

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Beer EnGin

Unite, St Helens

The Boar’s Head

AFC Blackpool Abbey Hulton Alsager Town

Atherton LR Bacup Borough Cammel Laird Carlisle City

The Boar’s Head

Chadderton

Cheadle Town

Anthony Hall

St Helens MIND

Daisy Hill

Dave Wiggins

Eccleshall FC Oswestry Holker Old Boys

Litherland

Stuart Pyke

Unite, St Helens

Dent Dynamics

Nelson New Mills

The Boar’s Head

Prestwich Heys Sandbach Utd

Unite, St Helens

Silsden Stockport Town Whitchurch Alport Hemsworth MW

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Photograph: Action from Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening day trip to New Mills in the Hallmark Security League First Division

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Photographs Action from Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening day trip to New Mills in the Hallmark Security League First Division

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Photographs: Action from Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-season games versus Congleton Town, Burscough and Bootle

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Photographs: Action from Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening day trip to New Mills in the Hallmark Security League First Division New Mills 2-0 St Helens Town Saturday 12th August 2017

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This week’s Results Monday 14th August 2017 Premier Division Maine Road 2-1 Congleton Town First Division Nelson 0-4 Carlisle City Stockport Town 2-1 Prestwich Heys Tuesday 15th August 2017 Premier Division 1874 Northwich 3-3 Barnton Barnoldswick Town 5-2 Burscough Bootle 3-3 West Didsbury & Chorlton Charnock Richard 4-1 Padiham Northwich Victoria 3-2 City of Liverpool FC Runcorn Linnets 1-1 Irlam First Division AFC Blackpool 1-3 Silsden Cammell Laird 1907 3-2 FC Oswestry Town Chadderton P-P New Mills Wednesday 16th August 2017 Premier Division Abbey Hey 0-3 Widnes AFC Darwen 0-4 Ashton Athletic AFC Liverpool 1-2 Runcorn Town Hanley Town 1-1 Winsford United

First Division Cheadle Town 1-2 Alsager Town Eccleshall 0-2 Whitchurch Alport Holker Old Boys 0-0 Atherton LR Sandbach United 0-2 Litherland REMYCA

Club Honours 1949George 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 2014-15 South Lancs League U17s Cup Finalists 2014-15 Cheshire FA U21 League Champions Record Attendances: 3012 at Hoghton Road v Burscough (1948) 8000 at Hoghton Road v Man City (1950) 1723 at Knowsley Rd v FC Utd Manchester (2006) 9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (1949) Programme Awards 1993-94, 1995-96, 1997-998, 1998-99, 2000-1 NWCFL Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 NWCFL Premier Division 2015-16, 2016-17 NWCFL First Division Wirral Programme Club National Survey 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 NWCFL Programme of the Year Programme Monthly 2007-08 NWCFL Programme of the Year Soccer Club Swap Shop National Awards 2010-11 28th, 2011-12 8th, 2012-13 7th, 2013-14 8th, 2014-15 5th, 2015-16 8th, 2016-17 2nd NWCFL 2015-16 Awards Player of the Month Oct Andy Gillespie ‘Keeper of the Month Nov Matthew Hodge January 2016 Team of the Month ‘Keeper of the Month Jan Matthew Hodge

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2017-18 Fixtures, Facts and Figu Date Opponents Comp KO Result Aug 12 New Mills NWCFL 3.00 2-0L AUG 17 ABBEY HULTON UTD NWCFL 7.45 Aug 26 Eccleshall NWCFL 3.00 Aug 29 Atherton LR NWCFL 7.45 SEP 02 SILSDEN NWCFL 3.00 Sep 05 Carlisle City NWCFL 7.45 SEP 09 HEMSWORTH M.W. FAV 1QR 3.00 Sep 16 FC Oswestry Town NWCFL 3.00 Sep 20 Litherland REMYCA NWCFL 7.45 Sep 30 Daisy Hill NWCFL 3.00 OCT 05 PRESTWICH HEYS NWCFL 7.45 OCT 07 CHADDERTON NWCFL 3.00 Oct 11 Holker Old Boys FDC 1RN 7.45 OCT 14 AFC BLACKPOOL NWCFL 3.00 Oct 17 Prestwich Heys TMC 1RN 7.45 Oct 21 Stockport Town NWCFL 3.00 OCT 28 CHEADLE TOWN NWCFL 3.00 NOV 04 ECCLESHALL NWCFL 3.00 Nov 11 Prestwich Heys NWCFL 3.00 NOV 16 HOLKER OLD BOYS NWCFL 7.45 NOV 18 BACUP BOROUGH NWCFL 3.00 NOV 25 FC OSWESTRY TOWN NWCFL 3.00 Dec 02 Nelson NWCFL 3.00 DEC 09 DAISY HILL NWCFL 3.00 DEC 16 CARLISLE CITY NWCFL 3.00 DEC 23 SANDBACH UNITED NWCFL 3.00 Dec 26 Cammell Laird NWCFL 3.00 Dec 30 Whitchurch Alport NWCFL 3.00 JAN 06 ALSAGER TOWN NWCFL 3.00 Jan 13 Sandbach United NWCFL 3.00 Jan 20 AFC Blackpool NWCFL 3.00 JAN 27 NELSON NWCFL 3.00 Feb 03 Holker Old Boys NWCFL 3.00 FEB 10 WHITCHURCH ALPORT NWCFL 3.00 Feb 17 Chadderton NWCFL 3.00 Mar 03 Silsden NWCFL 3.00 MAR 10 NEW MILLS NWCFL 3.00 Mar 24 Bacup Borough NWCFL 3.00 MAR 31 CAMMELL LAIRD NWCFL 3.00 Apr 02 Alsager Town NWCFL 3.00 APR 07 ATHERTON LR NWCFL 3.00 APR 14 LITHERLAND REMCYA NWCFL 3.00 Apr 21 Abbey Hulton United NWCFL 3.00 APR 28 STOCKPORT TOWN NWCFL 3.00 May 05 Cheadle Town NWCFL 3.00

GK Bradley

2 Presho

3 Whelan

4 Edzes

5 Webster

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6 Dodd

ures

7 Forrester

8 Lomax

9 Lacey

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10 Weaver

11 Smith

12 McHugh9

14 Young11

15 Heron8

16 Parkinson

17 Fairchild

Name1

Player name and number of goals scored

Name

Player name and CAUTION

Name

Player name and DISMISSAL FOR 2 CAUTIONS

Name

Player name and DISMISSAL

Name10

Player name and number of replaced player

Match Report St. Helens Town finally received the goahead on Saturday to play tonight’s (Thursday’s) opening league game against Abbey Hulton United at their new Ruskin Sports Village facility, kick-off at 7.45pm, but it was only a temporary endorsement by the Hallmark Security League and further works will have to be carried out before the ground will be cleared for further fixtures to be held at the new ground.

Meanwhile, Town opened their First Division campaign with a 2-0 defeat at New Mills on Saturday, a difficult fixture against a team which had just returned from two successive relegations after five seasons in the Evo-Stik

First Division. St. Helens had travelled to Derbyshire short of several first- choice players, including Andy Gillespie, Paul Carney, Sean Kelly, Luke Edwards and Joel Douglas and the last encounter seven years ago during the Millers’ promotion season ended in a 9-0 win for the home side. The opening fifteen minutes saw Town under ceaseless pressure and they might easily have gone three or four goals down, but for the heroics of keeper Tom Bradley and a number of wasted chances. However, just as St. Helens settled into the game and began to build their confidence, Ed Driver put the home side ahead from the corner of the box following a move down the right, somewhat against the run of play on 25 minutes. Town fought back and Matty Smith had a good chance five minutes from the break, but hit the ball just as he lost his balance,

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then once again, as St. Helens looked dangerous, Bobby Lofthouse found himself in space 20 yards out and drilled home an excellent shot just out of Bradley’s reach for New Mills’ second goal in the 43rd minute. The half ended with a foul on Danny Lomax and Danny Forrester’s superb free kick rattled the home cross-bar just before the whistle blew for the break. The second-half was a very even affair, with Town giving every bit as good as they got, with Andy Webster masterful at the back, ably supported by full-backs Dom Whelan and Andy Presho, Danny Lomax played the anchor role in midfield and Neil Weaver turned in a lively, man-of-the-match performance in the number 10 position. A little more penetration up front would have provided more of a threat on the home goal but, at this early stage of the season, it is difficult to say how good the opposition were and where the sides are likely to finish the season relative to each other, when it comes down to assessing just how good this performance actually was. Abbey Hulton recorded an opening 2-1 win at

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Daisy Hill on Saturday, so they will be no pushovers on Thursday but, with a big crowd expected, it could be an interesting night down at Ruskin Drive and certainly not one to miss! Glyn Jones

Thanks to

Dave Wiggins

Match Ball Sponsor Season 2017-18

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Photograph: Action from Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening day trip to New Mills in the Hallmark Security League First Division

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Charity Partners Town’s return to St. Helens after such a long absence is one of the highlights of the club’s long history. We are very pleased to be a part of it, as Town’s new charity partners. We have something fundamental things in common with Town: we are both St. Helens to the core; we depend on a small, hardworking team of staff and volunteers; and we both have big things happening this year: Town returning to the Borough and St. Helens Mind being the Mayor of St. Helens’ Charity. It is a natural partnership, at an ideal time. Local people experiencing mental health issues can find themselves isolated. They can become reluctant to go out and to meet others, because they often feel selfconscious and concerned that people are looking at them or judging them. Even leaving the house can seem impossible at times. This cuts people off from friends, family and other support, and prevents them doing many essential day to day things, such as going shopping. Physical isolation fosters further mental isolation, often with serious consequences for wellbeing. Supporting people to overcome isolation is central to what we do. Our befriending service and social groups are all about helping people talk to others and to go outside. Our new partnership with Town will strengthen our ability to do this: we are encouraging service users, volunteers and staff to attend matches, starting tonight against Abbey Hulton United. A group of us will be there, and we hope more of our friends and colleagues will be able to join us in the coming weeks.

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I am also very pleased about the partnership on a personal level: my own connection with Town goes back to my Dad, John, who played for the club in the early 70s and encouraged me to go to Hoghton Road when I was growing up. Over the years I saw many matches at the old place, including the home leg of the semi-final against Emley in ’87, and the visits of Manchester United, Everton and Blackburn Rovers. My Town highlight was the trip to Wembley for the F.A. Vase victory over Warrington in ’87, along with my then team-mates at Parr & Hardshaw J.F.C. It remains the most famous day in the club’s history – so far – but tonight will be up there, and we are really chuffed to be a part of it. Thank you to John McKiernan and Simon Kenyon for their work with us so far, and we look forward to working together during the season ahead. Ste Lingard Vice-Chair, St. Helens Mind

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Ruskin Drive Update Work at Ruskin Drive Sports Village is almost complete and recently saw the official opening of the site as part of the St Helens Sports Festival. The new Pavilion dressing rooms have been handed over and the new turnstiles and refreshment buildings arrived this week. There is still some final touches which will be completed over the next couple of weeks.

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Brief History Of Town 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 7th May 1949. Crowds averaged over 2000 that season, peaking with a league record attendance of 3012 against Burscough in October 1948. The following season, 1949/50, Town entered the Lancashire Combination and,

despite losing Trautmann to Manchester City in October 1949, they won the Second Division title in some style the following season, three players, Albert Leadbetter (36), Harry McCann (32) and Terry Garner (31) all netting over 30 goals apiece. An all -time club record attendance of “between 8000 and 9000” witnessed a friendly game against Manchester City, arranged as part of the Trautmann transfer deal, in April 1950 and another 4000 witnessed a second match with City the following season. Although relegated by a slender margin from the First Division in 1951/52, the club continued to look forward, even contemplating Football League status and, in order to further its ambitions, moved to the former St. Helens Recs. rugby league 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

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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 in the last few years, Karl Ledsham, who had a productive career at conference level with Southport, Lincoln City, Barrow and Stockport County before moving to the USA. Following a second relegation in 1956, St. Helens Town continued to play in the Lancashire Combination, winning the Championship in 1971/72, by nine points ahead of Accrington Stanley. However, the formation of the Northern Premier League in 1968 led to a gradual drain of stronger clubs from the Combination and St. Helens joined the Cheshire League in 1975, becoming founder members of the North West Counties League seven years later. They held the proud record of being the only club to play in the NW Counties’ top flight every season until they were relegated in April 2015, conceding an injury-time equaliser to Silsden in the last game of the season, a match they had to win to stay up. Town enjoyed a golden era in the late 1980s, just missing out on an appearance in the First Round proper of the FA Cup in 1985/86, losing to Morecambe in a Fourth Qualifying Round Replay, but they obtained ample compensation by winning the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987, beating near neighbours Warrington Town 3-2, with two goals from Phil Layhe and one from Brian Rigby. They were regular promotion candidates for many years, largely due to the scoring exploits of Steve “Pellet” Pennington, who grabbed 216 goals in 351 games, his season’s best hauls of 45 in 1993/94 and 46 in 1997/98 just failing to beat the club record

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of 47 scored by Phil Stainton in 1963/64. Current club captain Andy Gillespie won the NW Counties’ golden boot with 34 goals in the 2015/16 season and netted another 24 times last season. This season sees Town in their third season in the Hallmark Securities League First Division, aiming to put behind themselves two seasons of inconsistent performances which have seen them finish some way short of the promotion places, despite some excellent results. New manager Lee Jenkinson, who served his time under the experienced Alan Gillespie, now has a settled first team squad and with the club having endured seven years of a nomadic existence, ground-sharing at Ashton Town, Ashton Athletic and Prescot Cables, the excellent 3G facilities at Ruskin Drive are now up and running and backed up by a strong development system, featuring Under-18s, Under-21s and Reserves managed by a top -class coaching team, St. Helens Town are looking forward once again to a great future.

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In Town Today Abbey Hulton United Football Club was formed 70 years ago in 1947, making it one of the oldest formed clubs still playing Saturday football in North Staffordshire During its very early days the club played on Council land in the Abbey Hulton area. It continued to use this facility for the first 15 years, despite the fact that the changing facilities were more than a mile away from the actual pitch. In 1962 it was decided that the team should move to the Parks facility at Bucknall park, which was complete with its own changing rooms and showers adjacent to the pitch. What a luxury. The team continued to use Bucknall Park for another 23 years, until 1985.

During the period from 1947 to 1985 the team played in many local junior leagues such as: The Longton League Fenton and District League Burslem and Tunstall League Newcastle and District League They graced all the above leagues with great distinction. Over the years the club became more financially stable and grew in ambition. Finally in 1985 they acquired a piece of land at Birches Head Road on which it was able to obtain a 99 year lease. This is the clubs current address. Immediately, a clubhouse was built containing a bar and changing rooms for both teams and officials. At the same time an outside 5 aside football facility was built, complete with floodlights. Having moved to this new facility the club opted to join the North Staffs Alliance League. It completed in this leauge before seeking election to one of the top leagues in the area, The Staffs County League (North), in 1987 The

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team played in this league and finally had a momentous season in 1997-1998 by winning the league, the cup and also the fair play award all in one season. Having achieved this feat the club applied to join what is the top junior league in North Staffordshire, the Staffordshire County Senior League. In the season 2016-2017 Abbey Hulton United FC won the Leek Cup and were the Staffordshire County Premier League champions. We felt that it was the right time to apply to go into the Hallmark Security League. Major ground improvements had to be achieved to allow us to enter the League. With great support form Club members and local volunteers this has been achieved. After all the hard work we were proud to be accepted into the League.

Abbey Hulton United Football Club is named after the Scheduled Monument of Hulton Abbey. The abbey was founded by Henry de Audley in the early 13th century. Throughout its life, the abbey was relatively small and poor, with one of the lowest incomes of all Staffordshire religious houses. The abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538, with its land and assets being sold. Hulton Abbey was surrendered to the Crown on 18th September 1538 by which time it was worth only £200 per year and had only nine monks including the abbot. Little remains of the abbey today, but continued excavations have revealed the foundations of a number of the principal cloistral buildings, as well as human burials. In 1963, Hulton Abbey was designated a Scheduled Monument, under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, however due to its poor condition it is considered Heritage at Risk. The site is now owned and managed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. In the Domesday Book, Hulton is recorded as ‘Heltone’ meaning ‘hill town’.

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Town Latest news St Helens Town are delighted to welcome Unite the union, St Helens Branch as the club’s new kit sponsors for the start of the new Hallmark Security League campaign. The two year sponsorship deal covering seasons 2017-18 and 2018-19 will see the Unite the union logo take pride of place on the front of the brand new home and away Macron kits which will be worn at the club’s new Ruskin Drive Sportsground home for the first time this summer. Unite the union will also have a significant presence in the club’s multiaward winning match programme, official club website and social media outlets as well as at the club’s new home. Club Commercial Manager Simon Kenyon, said, ‘We are thrilled to welcome Unite the union to the club and we are looking forward to a partnership which will reap benefits for both parties.’ ‘The market for sponsorship of non-league clubs is always tough but we feel our

experience over recent seasons with a range of partners has shown we offer great value and a superb potential return on investment.’ He added, ‘We work hard for all our sponsors and I am confident the club will prove to be an excellent partner in promoting the work undertaken by Unite. ‘The two year sponsorship deal is a real boost for the club and provides us with an excellent platform as we look forward to a bright future at our new home.’ Unite the union is Britain's biggest trade union with 1.42 million members. It is a democratic and campaigning union standing up for equality for all. Unite is dedicated to serving the best interests of its members, protecting workers rights and improving the quality of life by negotiating with employers and government. As a primarily industry-based union, its structure means it can effectively represent member’s interests in the workplace. Martin Bond, Branch Secretary said, ‘Our Branch of almost 1000 members is rooted in St Helens. Most of our members live and/or work in St Helens and for the Branch to be sponsoring St Helens Town as they return home is particularly pleasing. We are proud to become Shirt Sponsors for the next 2 years and are looking forward to a successful season’ Richard McCauley Branch Chair continued, ‘We are thrilled to be partnering up with an iconic local club with a such proud history, similar to ourselves and we look forward to promoting both as we continue to represent the best interests of our members right across the borough.’

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at St Helens Town NWC-D1

Previous Meetings 2001-02

at Abbey Hulton Utd MIDL

NWC-D1

2002-03

MIDL

NWC-D1

2003-04

MIDL

NWC-D1

2004-05

MIDL

NWC-D1

2005-06

STF CS-P

NWC-D1

2006-07

STF CS-P

NWC-D1

2007-08

STF CS-P

NWC-PD

2008-09

STF CS-P

NWC-PD

2009-10

STF CS-P

NWC-PD

2010-11

STF CS-P

Abbey Hulton United - last 6 matches All Competitions Most recent Home L W W W L L Away W W W D D W Collated W L D L D W

NWC-PD

2011-12

STF CS-P

NWC-PD

2012-13

STF CS-P

NWC-PD

2013-14

STF CS-P

NWC-PD

2014-15

STF CS-P

NWC-D1

2015-16

STF CS-P

St Helens Town games since... All Competitions Clean sheet 4 Goal Scored 1 Loss 0

NWC-D1

2016-17

STF CS-P

How do we Compare? St Helens Town - last 6 matches All Competitions Most recent Home L W L D W Away L L W L L Collated D W L L L

No score draw Score draw Win

Home League Away League Home Cup Away Cup Collated

L L L

Abbey Hulton Utd games since... All Competitions Clean sheet 5 Goal Scored 0 Loss 2 No score 31 draw Score draw 1 Win 0

117 5 4 P 0 0 0 0 0

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W 0 0 0 0 0

St Helens Town Scores First Games Played

St Helens Town Wins

Draws

Abbey Hulton United Wins

St Helens Town Goals

Abbey Hulton United Goals

Percentage Town Wins

0.00

Previous Meetings D L 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

F 0 0 0 0 0

A 0 0 0 0 0

GD 0 0 0 0 0

Win % 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

League News Abbey Hulton off and running It's always nice to welcome new faces into the league, and new boys Abbey Hulton United hit the ground running on the opening day with a 2-1 win at Daisy Hill. With the majority of the playing squad never having played at this level before, this season was always going to be a learning curve for the club, who won the Staffordshire Senior League comfortably last season. But winning away from home on the opening day is a more than tidy start to the first campaign in a higher division. Linnets looking good When it comes to tipping potential winners of the Premier Division each season, it's fair to say that Runcorn Linnets have been many people's favourites for a number of years, as befits a team that have finished as runners-up for three of the last four seasons. Once again, Linnets are looking good, with two wins out of two, six goals scored and none conceded, and it certainly looks like they will be up among the promotion contenders again this time out, if early form is maintained.

Dan the man for Hanley Town Another team that has made a solid start are Hanley Town, who scored four goals for the second Saturday in a row when they beat Squires Gate 4-0 at Potteries Park. A key man in the good start to the season has been Dan Cope, who followed up his hat trick last week with two more goals on Saturday. With the always prolific Theo Stair also back in the ranks again, it looks like Town won't be short of firepower for the coming campaign. A good start for Declan Last season's Premier Division Player of the Year, Declan Fletcher of Congleton Town, has picked up where he left off last season, with an impressive five goals in his first two games. The Bears faithful have had good value for money in the opening two games, with two good home wins and ten goals in the process, and with Declan back in the grove straight away, hopes will be high that new manager Ian Street will have Declan and his Bears colleagues challenging at the top of the table this season. Chaddy start well One of the features of last season's Division One campaign was the away form of Chadderton, who turned in some impressive and high scoring performances on the road. It looks like the squad are still enjoying their away days, as they opened up their league campaign with a fine 4-0 win up at Carlisle City on Saturday. After a strong end to last season, it could be that Mark Howard's men will be dark horses in this season's Division One promotion chase.

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Abbey Hulton United made a winning start to their inaugural campaign in the Hallmark Security League with a hard fought 2-1 win at Daisy Hill. A goal from skipper Joshua Tune clinched victory nine minutes from time clinched victory for the Staffordshire side, although they were made to work hard for the win by a determined Daisy Hill outfit who played for over an hour with ten men after the dismissal of right back Josh Fairhurst for a professional foul. Fairhurst was dismissed on the half hour after the referee ruled he had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity when brought down Abbey's Joshua Graham as he homed in on goal, and it was the big centre forward who set the opening goal seven minutes from half time.

Graham found space down the inside left channel before driving a croos low across the face of goal where Keeylin Thomas (pictured below) was on hand to fire the ball high into the net, and write his name in the club history books as the scorer of their first ever goal in the League. However, the lead lasted only 90 seconds before Daisy were level, with the referee awarding a penalty after Michael Gervin was tripped on the edge of the box, and Jordan Donnelly tucked away the resulting spot kick low into the bottom corner of the net. in the second half Abbey Hulton enjoyed plenty of possession and territory but failed to break through a determined Daisy rearguard until nine minutes from time, when Joshua Graham slipped a ball through to his captain Joshua Tune whose angled drive beat the outstretched hand of Daisy keeper Craig Haynes and crept over the line for what proved to be the winner. Abbey Hulton United manager David Riley was naturally delighted after the game to get off to a winning start.

"We've come up as champions, but in a new league no one know anything about us and we know nothing about them. There were a few nerves and excitement, and to

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come here on the opening day of the season and get three points is just absolutely fantastic. "It was a bit of a dog fight as they tried to make the pitch as narrow as possible, and we tried to get the ball out wide, but it wasn't going to plan at all and they battled really well with ten men. "It looked like it was going to be a 1-1, but luckily we got the winner in the end. "We've got nothing to lose. Everyone has been telling us just to get in and find out feet, but we don't want to just make the numbers up in the league. We have come in with intent, looking to finish as high as possible and challenge for the top spots. "We were buzzing on the way up, and now we have got the 2-1 win the atmosphere on the bus will booming on the way back home and rightly so. I want to enjoy the moment tonight and hopefully the lads will too". Pictured below is Keeylin Thomas, scorer of Abbey Hulton's historic first ever goal in the Hallmark Security League.

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Premier Division Fixtures

Premier Division Table Wed 16/08/2017

Saturday 19th August 2017 AFC Darwen v AFC Liverpool Bootle v Barnton Charnock Richard v Squires Gate Northwich Victoria v Winsford Utd GD Pts

Charnock Richard

Northwich Victoria

Runcorn Town

Hanley Town

Runcorn Linnets

6 West D & Chorlton

1874 Northwich

Bootle

Winsford United

City of Liverpool

Congleton Town

Ashton Athletic

Barnoldswick Tn

Widnes

Maine Road

Barnton

-2

Irlam

-5

AFC Liverpool

-1

Burscough

-4

Squires Gate

-4

Padiham

-5

Abbey Hey

-7

AFC Darwen

-8

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Saturday 26th August 2017 1874 Northwich v Padiham AFC Darwen v Burscough AFC Liverpool v Barnton Barnoldswick Town v Runcorn Tn Bootle v Hanley Town Congleton Tn v West D & Chorlton Irlam v Squires Gate Maine Road v City of Liverpool FC Northwich Victoria v Abbey Hey Runcorn Linnets v Winsford United Widnes v Ashton Athletic Monday 28th August 2017 West D & Chorlton v Runcorn Lin Winsford United v Widnes Tuesday 29th August 2017 Abbey Hey v Hanley Town Ashton Athletic v Maine Road Burscough v Bootle City of Liverpool v Charnock R Irlam v AFC Liverpool Padiham v AFC Darwen Squires Gate v Barnoldswick Town Wednesday 30th August 2017 Barnton v Congleton Town Runcorn Town v Northwich Victoria

Saturday 2nd September 2017 Abbey Hey v 1874 Northwich AFC Darwen v Maine Road Ashton Athletic v Barnton Bootle v Widnes Congleton Town v AFC Liverpool Hanley Town v Charnock Richard Northwich Victoria v Burscough Runcorn Linnets v Padiham Squires Gate v Runcorn Town West D & Chorlton v Barnoldswick Winsford United v City of Liverpool Monday 4th September 2017 Maine Road v Abbey Hey Widnes v Congleton Town

First Division Table Wed 16/08/2017

First Division Fixtures Thursday 17th August 2017 Bacup Borough v Daisy Hill St Helens Town v Abbey Hulton

A GD Pts

Whitchurch Alport

Litherland REMYCA

Silsden

Alsager Town

Chadderton

Bacup Borough

Prestwich Heys

New Mills

Abbey Hulton Utd

AFC Blackpool

Carlisle City

Cheadle Town

13 Cammell Laird 1907

-2

Stockport Town

-3

Atherton LR

-1

Holker Old Boys

-4

Daisy Hill

-1

St Helens Town

-2

FC Oswestry Town

-3

Sandbach United

-3

Nelson

-5

Eccleshall

-5

Saturday 19th August 2017 AFC Blackpool v Bacup Borough Alsager Town v Sandbach United Atherton LR v Nelson Carlisle City v Silsden Cheadle Town v Daisy Hill Holker Old Boys v Abbey Hulton New Mills v Eccleshall Prestwich Heys v FC Oswestry Tn Whitchurch Alport v Stockport T Saturday 26th August 2017 Abbey Hulton Utd v Stockport T AFC Blackpool v Whitchurch Alport Atherton LR v Cammell Laird 1907 Carlisle City v Bacup Borough Daisy Hill v Sandbach United Eccleshall v St Helens Town FC Oswestry Town v Cheadle Town Litherland REMYCA v Chadderton New Mills v Nelson Prestwich Heys v Holker Old Boys Silsden v Alsager Town

Monday 28th August 2017 Nelson v Bacup Borough Stockport Town v Eccleshall Whitchurch Alport v Abbey Hulton Tuesday 29th August 2017 Alsager Town v FC Oswestry Town Atherton LR v St Helens Town Cammell Laird 1907 v Litherland R Carlisle City v Daisy Hill Chadderton v Silsden Wednesday 30th August 2017 Cheadle Town v Prestwich Heys Holker Old Boys v AFC Blackpool Sandbach United v New Mills Saturday 2nd September 2017 Alsager Town v Atherton LR Bacup Borough v Cammell Laird Daisy Hill v Litherland REMYCA Eccleshall v Chadderton FC Oswestry Town v Stockport T Nelson v Abbey Hulton United New Mills v Holker Old Boys Prestwich Heys v AFC Blackpool Sandbach United v Cheadle Town St Helens Town v Silsden Whitchurch Alport v Carlisle City

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Next up at RUSKIN DRIVE Sat 2nd Sept 2017 Kick Off 3.00pm

Today’s Team Line-up

versus SILSDEN AFC Hallmark Security League Division One

Next AWAY FIXTURE Sat 26th August 2017 Kick Off 3pm

versus ECCLESHALL Hallmark Security League Division One

Today’s SPONSORS Match: David O’Keefe Match Ball: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Programme: Unite St Helens

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