St Helens Town v Alsager Town 2017-18 by John McKiernan

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Talk of the Town Good afternoon and welcome to Ruskin Drive for the first time in 2018! May I open by welcoming our visitors from Alsager Town. I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the game. Its been a couple of weeks since we were last here at Ruskin Drive, welcoming Sandbach United for our final home game of the year 2017 and also the last game before the festive period. I think it is fair to say that we did not have much festive cheer as we made our way inside for the half time interval as our visitors had raced into a two goal lead and almost extended this to 3-0 striking the right hand upright with Yong in the home goal beaten before a counter attack from this chance saw Town quickly up the other end of the field with Liam Diggle drawing a save from the visiting stopper and from the resultant corner the keeper spilt and easy claim and Michael Furlong was on hand to find the unguarded net giving the hosts and unlikely lifeline in a game in which they had been outplayed and could have gone in at the interval at least two goals behind. Town started off the second half brightly with Tom Grimshaw firing a left wing cross over the bar before Shaun Brady levelled 10 minutes after the restart. He latched onto a ball down the right got into the box, rounded his marker before firing through the legs of the onrushing keeper and restoring parity. Both teams had chances to take the lead before the fifth goal of the contest came on 81 minutes. A left wing corner was delivered to the far post and turned back into the danger area before being half cleared back to Cliff on the left of the box and his cross

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was met by Hal McHugh who turned the ball on into the 6 yard box again it looked a simple take for the visiting stopper but Diggle got there before him and a touch off his shoulder dropped at his feet and he just got enough contact to prop the ball home for his second goal in two Town games.

As time wore on the seasoned Town fan was waiting for the sting in the tail, a late goal for Sandbach, the mist to roll in off the brook or anything that would scupper Town holding on for all three points but it did not happen and the final whistle was met with much delight in the home ranks and a happier Christmas was had by all concerned! We looked to get right back into things on Boxing Day but the game at Cammell Laird was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and this could have been the same fate for the game at Whitchurch Alport last Saturday the pitch was very heavy in places and borderline unplayable. It certainly wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t suited to the way Town like to play football on the ground, spilt in some ways by a 3G surface at home. The hosts with their larger stature and different game play were not so baulked by the elements and the pitch condition. After a close first half where Danny Lomax had levelled from the spot after an early own goal had sent Alport into the lead the second half was a mismatch with the home side running out 5-1 victors. Onto todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contest and we welcome an Alsager Town outfit who last played on Boxing Day having secured a 2-1 home win over local rivals Eccleshall despite having veteran keeper Matt Conkie sent off as the teams left the field at half time and playing the second period with 10 men. Prior to that game they had lost 3-1 at Cammell Laird and at the start of the month of December had lost 5-1 at AFC Blackpool. They will be looking to get back into form as they look to push on and got at least one better than last season with at least a place in the play-offs at the end of the season. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get behind Town this afternoon and hopefully cheer them on to a much needed victory! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

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From the Chair Welcome to our visitors from Alsager, who open the New Year at Ruskin Drive. After today, we have only 7 home games left and we will have played all other teams in the First Division, with the exception of Cammell Laird. Our Boxing Day fixture was postponed and it will now be played at Kirklands on Tuesday, 6th March. Many thanks to today’s match sponsors Unite the Union (St Helens), our match ball sponsor broadcaster Stuart Pyke and programme sponsor Johnsons Toyota Liverpool - your continued support is greatly appreciated Alsager are currently in fifth place in the Hallmark Security First Division league table, well on target for a play-off berth at the end of the season, five points clear of Sandbach United, who are just outside the play-off positions, having played one game more, so they will no doubt be hoping to

consolidate their good position with a win today. Games between our sides are invariably hard fought, close affairs and today’s should be no exception. Our visitors endured a frustrating December, with a win over Eccleshall on Boxing Day, defeats at Cammell Laird and at AFC Blackpool and three postponements. Having beaten Runcorn Town on penalties, they exited the Macron Cup at Cheadle Town, but they look a good bet for the First Division Cup, in which they have already accounted for New Mills away and Whitchurch Alport away (by an impressive three clear goals). They are drawn to face Cammell Laird at home in the Quarter Finals next month. We wish them well. As for ourselves, last time at Ruskin Drive, we enjoyed a wonderful 3-2 win over Sandbach United, coming back from 0-2 down, then met Whitchurch on one of their better days, when they taught us a lesson in clinical finishing. Let’s hope we can repeat the Sandbach form today, as we enter a tough spell of fixtures that see Town travel to face Sandbach in the return game next Saturday, then Prestwich Heys on Tuesday 16th January and AFC Blackpool on Saturday 20th January, ahead of the return home game against bottom club Nelson at the end of the month. Having exited all the Cup competitions for the season, we can at least concentrate on improving our League position. St. Helens have scored 32 goals in league fixtures and 7 in cups, 39 in total. Our leading scorer is Shaun Brady with 12, followed by Luke Edwards 6, Alex Ashby and Danny Lomax have 4 each and Paul Cliff, Liam Dodd and recent signing Liam Diggle each have two goals. The following players have scored once each: Patrice Kwofie, Joel Douglas, Neil Weaver, Beck Murray, Hal McHugh, Mick Furlong and one own goal. Enjoy the game today and we hope to see you again soon. We’re still looking for match day volunteers. Ask anyone in a hivis jacket this afternoon for information as to how you can help. You’ll be very welcome. Glyn Jones

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Player Awards August Sat 12 New Mills Thu 8 Abbey Hulton Sat 26 Eccleshall Tue 29 Atherton LR Player of the Month

A H A A

Neil Weaver Shaun Brady Shaun Brady Andy Webster Andy Webster

September Sat 02 Silsden Tue 05 Carlisle City Sat 16 Oswestry Town Wed 20 Litherland R Sat 23 Prestwich Heys Sat 30 Daisy Hill Player of the Month

H A A A H A

Luke Edwards Shaun Brady Neil Weaver Neil Weaver Joel Douglas Shaun Brady Shaun Brady

October Sat 07 Chadderton Sat 14 AFC Blackpool Sat 21 Stockport Town Sat 28 Cheadle Town Player of the Month

H H A H

Paul Cliff Alex Ashby Shaun Brady Paul Cliff Liam Dodd

November Sat 04 Eccleshall Thu 16 Holker OB Sat 18 Bacup Borough Sat 25 Oswestry Town Player of the Month

H H H H

Paul Cliff Paul Cliff Danny Lomax Shaun Brady Danny Lomax

A H H H A

Luke Edwards Luke Edwards Kieran Yong Shaun Brady Danny Lomax

December Sat 02 Nelson Sat 09 Daisy Hill Sat 16 Carlisle City Sat 23 Sandbach Utd Sat 30 Whitchurch A

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The Prabhu Ventures Ltd Man of the Match v Holker Old Boys - Paul Cliff with manager Lee Jenkinson

The Prabhu Ventures Ltd Man of the Match v Daisy Hill - Luke Edwards pictured with manager Lee Jenkinson

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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) 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: Jay Campbell U21s Assistant Manager: Joe McCann

U18s Team Manager: Graham Arkle U17s Manager: Phil Fisher Sunday Team Manager: David Platt Main Club Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool 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 afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Hallmark Security League game with Alsager Town providing the opposition. May I wish the committee, players and supporters of Alsager a very Happy New Year and hope they enjoy their first visit to our new facilities here at Ruskin Drive Sports Ground. Two games to report on this week with the first game being a fantastic win here at Ruskin Drive against Sandbach United. It was a very even game and with Sandbach taking a well-deserved 2-0 lead but we kept playing the way we know and managed to get a goal back just before half time which totally changed my team talk because once we sat down in the changing rooms I knew by everybody's expression that there was going to be only one outcome and the lads didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let me down by winning the game 3-2. I must give a lot of credit to the manager, coaches and committee of Sandbach who were very gracious in defeat after the game and were a great credit to their club. After that game we were preparing for our Boxing Day clash with Cammell Lairds and after a near tea total Christmas day I was very disappointed that the game was cancelled. We then moved to last Saturday where we played Whitchurch away in a game that should never have been played, but the referee in his wisdom gave the thumbs up. We started poorly giving a goal away in the first 6 minutes which was a very unfortunate own goal. That seemed to wake us up and we deserved to go in at half time level after a Danny Lomax penalty. The second half we came out with all guns blazing and in the first ten minutes we had one cleared of the line and the home goalkeeper made an excellent point blank save. This definitely worried Whitchurch and a change of tactics to a long ball game for them resulted with them taking their chances and winning 5-1. It was never a 5-1 game and we contributed to our own downfall with some badly defended goals. I'm expecting a very strong and physical game today and on their day Alsager are one of the best teams in the league but saying that our young squad are also capable of matching the top sides and I expect no different today. Let's get behind the lads today and may I wish our supporters a very Happy New Year. Enjoy the game . . . Lee Jenkinson

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The launch of Sporting Club St Helens in May 2001. Pictured left to right are Howard Morris (St Helens RLFC Chairman), Bill Foulkes (St Helens Town President), John McKiernan (St Helens Town Vice Chairman) and Alan Walker (Liverpool St Helens RUFC Chairman)

Blast from the Past

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Half Time Quiz Q1. Who scored Everton’s first goal in the Premier League this season? Q2. Who scored Liverpool’s first goal in the Premier League this season? Q3. Which Spanish club were recently forced to play a home game behind closed doors after political unrest in the region? Q4. Which Irish stadium was demolished in 2007 and replaced with the Aviva Stadium?

failed to qualify for the World Cup Finals? Q11. Who is the last player to gain a Full England cap whilst playing for West Ham United? Q12. From which Canadian club did Newcastle United sign Peter Beardsley? Q13. Which player holds the record for the most appearances in the Champions League with 166? Q14. Who is the top scoring Croatian in Premier League history? Q15. Which team have scored the most 90th Minute winners in the Premier League?

Q5. Who was the last player to win a full England Cap whilst playing for Wolves? Q6. Who were the last team to win the English top flight Championship wearing striped shirts? Q7. With which club did Harry Kane make his Football League debut during a loan spell in 2011?

Q9. Prior to this season when was the last time Everton took on Brighton in a competitive game? Q10. When was the last time (prior to this summer) that the US Men’s national team

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1) Wayne Rooney 2) Sadio Mane 3) Barcelona 4) Lansdowne Road 5) Matt Jarvis (2011) 6) Sunderland in 1935/6 7) Leyton Orient 8) Four Times 9) 1983 10) 1986 11) Joe Hart 12) Vancouver Whitecaps 13) Iker Casillas 14) Nikica Jelavic with 29 goals 15) Liverpool (30)

Q8. How many times was Nemanja Vidic sent off against Liverpool?

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Match Day Sponsors

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

Opponents

Match Sponsor

Match Ball Sponsor

Programme Sponsor

AFC Blackpool

Johnsons Toyota

Macron Cheshire

Lanes Trophies

Abbey Hulton

David O’Keefe

Johnsons Toyota

Beer EnGin

Alsager Town

Unite, St Helens

Stuart Pyke

Johnsons Toyota

The Boar’s Head

Johnsons Toyota

ODs Menswear

Atherton LR Bacup Borough

Britannia Taxis

Cammel Laird

The Boar’s Head

Carlisle City

Iddon Transport

Chadderton

Johnsons Toyota

Unite , St Helens

Johnsons Toyota

Cheadle Town

Johnsons Toyota

Iddon Transport

Beer EnGin

A180 Darts

Daisy Hill

Unite, St Helens

Dave Wiggins

Johnsons Toyota

Eccleshall

Johnsons Toyota

Beer EnGin

Toast Cafe

FC Oswestry

Johnsons Toyota

A180 Darts

Beer EnGin

Holker Old Boys

Unite, St Helens

Arcframe

Litherland

Britannia Taxis

Nelson

Dave Ashby

New Mills

Johnsons Toyota Airborne Bathrooms

The Boar’s Head

Prestwich Heys

A180 Darts

Johnsons Toyota

Toast Cafe

Sandbach Utd

Unite, St Helens

Stuart Pyke

Johnsons Toyota

Silsden

Top Car Detailing

Johnsons Toyota

Unite, St Helens

Stockport Town

Iddon Transport

Johnsons Toyota

Whitchurch Alport Hemsworth MW

Dave Wiggins

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Johnsons Toyota

Unite, St Helens

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AFC Blackpool

Alsager Town

Atherton LR

Bacup Borough

Cammell Laird

Carlisle City

Chadderton

Cheadle Town

Daisy Hill

Eccleshall

FC Oswestry Town

Holker Old Boys

Litherland REMYCA

Nelson

New Mills

Prestwich Heys

Sandbach United

Silsden

St Helens Town

Stockport Town

Whitchurch Alport

194

153

101

136

Abbey Hulton Utd

Ave

Played

Team

507

212

178

247

172

187

135

120

312

131

125

410

110

162

253

201

Max

2,917

1,299

1,582

1,837

1,629

1,274

1,286

696

1,223

470

849

667

653

1,317

864

725

912

353

842

1,036

1,053

1,230

Total

101

Min

Home Attendance

1.12

1.81

2.29

1.15

1.74

1.35

2.50

2.27

1.17

2.33

2.25

2.58

2.88

2.04

2.44

1.63

1.74

2.21

1.84

1.63

1.79

1.80

2.20

2.22

1.39

2.48

2.15

2.69

2.27

0.92

2.40

1.41

1.71

1.27

1.38

1.63

1.60

2.00

2.10

1.16

1.48

2.33

2.08

1.36

LLLLW

Away

WDWWL

LLLLW

WWWWW

WWDLW

WLLDW

LDLLW

DLLLL

DWWDW

DLWWD

WWWLW

WDWLL

DLDLD

LWWLW

LLWWL

WLWWL

WWWDW

LWWLL

WWLLL

WWLWW

DLLLL

WLDWL

WLLLL

LWWLL

WWLDW

WLWWL

LLDDW

LLLDW

LLWLW

WWWLL

DLLLL

DLWWW

WLLWD

LLLLL

LDWWW

DLLWL

LLLWL

WWLDL

WLDLL

WWWLW WDDWW

WLWLW

Home

Form

WWWWW WWWWW WLLWW

DWWLL

WLLWL

LWLWL

WDLLW

LDDWW

WLWWL

LLDDW

LDDWW

WLWWD

LWLLW

LLLLL

LDWWW

WWDLW

LWLLL

DWWLW

WWDWL

LLWLL

WLLLL

WDLLW

WWLWW

LLLWW

Clean Players Pens Defence Attack Sheets Used Scored All Games

Average Goals

3.32

4.04

3.68

3.63

3.89

4.04

4.77

3.19

3.57

3.74

3.96

3.85

4.27

3.67

4.04

3.63

3.84

3.37

3.32

3.97

3.88

3.16

Ave Goals a game

4,019

2,476

2,502

3,182

2,717

2,139

2,679

2,004

2,455

1,504

1,938

1,709

1,851

2,378

2,126

1,840

2,219

1,314

1,945

2,383

2,004

3,082

H+A Att

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St Helens Mind

We are working to create links with local businesses that may be able to help. This could be by helping financially, or offering a service like a print run of brochures, printing t-shirts or other promotional goods or offering some time to help us organise events and activities.

How you can help St.Helens Mind?

We have received donations from businesses whose employees have raised money by holding raffles, cake sales, dressdown days and even given us the profits from their team tuck shop. This helps us to nurture relationships with them and ensure they also have resources to provide support for each other in the workplace.

As a small local charity, St.Helens Mind relies on donations and grants to help us to maintain and develop our services for vulnerable local people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Money we raise helps us to continue our core work; a Befriending Service and Social Groups. It helps us to maintain leisure and recreational sessions, develop new activities such as a choir, and allows us to maintain good standards of training and support for volunteers. Without funds we couldn't attract and train new volunteers to meet the increasing demands for our support.

If you are feeling energetic you can run a half marathon, or if you feel inspired, you could host a concert (just two examples of different ways to offer support). Previous fundraisers have organised a Ball, taken part in a craft fair and even togged up in fancy dress to pound the streets to raise funds.

We raise money in many ways: Having regular donors reassures us that we have a regular amount of money coming in to help us to maintain aspects of our work.

Every donation helps us reach out to people who need us, ensuring that no one is left to cope alone with a mental health problem.

Donating online is the easiest and quickest way to support St. Helens Mind. This can be done via Virgin Money Giving. Donors can choose to make a one-off donation or set up a regular direct debit which helps us to plan for the future.

Every donation, no matter how big or small can go a long way to helping someone. We aim to respond to every cry for help and you could make this happen.

Some people choose to pledge a gift to us in their Will, or choose to donate in memory of someone special, as a personal way of remembering them.

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Email: admin@sthelensmind.org.uk Phone: 01744 647089

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Photographs: Action from Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s away trip to Alsager Town last season. Our hosts ran out 3-1 winners

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The world This week Kieran Ford takes a trip down memory lane and discovers events that happened this calendar week in the history of St Helens Town, sport in general and world news. The week of 31st December – 7th January Last Season: World –7th January 2017 The British Red Cross describes the current situation in England's NHS hospitals as a "humanitarian crisis". Sport – 7th January 2017 The third round of the FA Cup sees three Premier League sides fall to lower-league opposition, with Bournemouth being eliminated by EFL League One side Millwall and Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion falling to Championship teams Wolverhampton Wanderers and Derby County. St Helens Town – 7th January 2017 St Helens secure victory in their 1st game of the year by beating Holker Old Boys 4-2 at home, featuring a brace from Luke Edwards.

10 Years Ago World – 1st January 2008 Malta and Cyprus officially adopt the Euro currency and become the fourteenth and fifteenth Eurozone countries. Sport – 7th January 2008 Fabio Capello officially takes over as England manager.

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St Helens Town – 5th January 2008 Town start the new year in the worst possible fashion, conceding 5 without reply at Silsden. 20 Years Ago World – 5th January 1998 The UK takes over the Presidency of the EC's Council of Ministers until 30 June. Sport – 3rd January 1998 Holders Chelsea suffer a first hurdle defeat in the FA Cup when they lost 5–3 to Manchester United, while Conference club Stevenage Borough achieve a shock 2-1 away win over Division One Swindon Town. St Helens Town – Town aren’t in action this week, as they have to wait until 10th January to begin 1998.

30 Years Ago World – 3rd January 1988 Margaret Thatcher becomes the longest-serving UK Prime Minister this century, having been in power for eight years and 244 days. Sport – 1st January 1988 Out of favour Arsenal striker Charlie Nicholas returns to his native Scotland in a £500,000 move to Aberdeen. St Helens Town – 2nd January 1988 St Helens pick up a victory over Leyland Motors with a 3-0 win as the Blues start 1988 in style. 50 Years Ago World – 1st January 1968 Evel Knievel fails in his attempt to jump Caesar's Palace Fountain. Sport – 1st January 1968 Rose Bowl (1967 Season) The Southern California Trojans won 14-3 over the Indiana Hoosiers to win the college football national championship. St Helens Town – 6th January 1968 Town defeat Prescot Town 2-1 at Houghton Road to open up 1968.

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Match Report Whitchurch Alport 5, St. Helens Town 1 by Glyn Jones This was the proverbial “Game of Two Halves” as St. Helens Town turned in a magnificent performance to go in level at 1-1 at half-time, only for the wheels to come off in the second half as the home side delivered an object lesson in clinical finishing, to hand St. Helens their heaviest league defeat of the season. That the match went ahead at all was a tribute

the scores.

The game was an even contest for the remainder of the half, though Yong pulled off a great double save in the closing moments, denying Sean Griffiths, then recovering to tip the rebound wide of the post and at 1-1, there was no indication of the second-half onslaught in store for St. Helens. Whitchurch took the lead 10 minutes after the restart, with a superb curling effort which beat Yong all ends up from out near the touchline then, in the 64th minute, the referee failed to see a blatant shove in the back of a Town defender which created the space for veteran defender Elliot Ledwards to bury the ball in the back of Yong’s net and, with that, the game was effectively over at 3-1.

to the Shropshire side’s hard-working ground staff, who had put in many hours of hard work to beat the wet weather. The pitch was very heavy in one corner and, had it rained during the game, an abandonment would have been on the cards. The showers kept away, the match began and the first chance fell to St. Helens when a cross from Hal McHugh caused panic in the home box which Danny Read did well to save. However, the home side took an early lead after a mix-up in the St. Helens defence saw Jake Young fire an illjudged ball past stranded keeper Kieran Yong to put Alport 1-0 up in the sixth minute. Town got themselves right back into the game and Andy Webster, captain Danny Lomax and Dom Whelan all figured prominently in the visitors’ solid defensive line, whilst Shaun Brady and Liam Diggle in particular caused the Whitchurch back four plenty of problems up front. Brady’s pace caught out Read in the Alport goal in the 20th minute and the keeper’s late tackle earned him a yellow card and gave Town a penalty kick, which skipper Lomax despatched straight down the middle to level

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Alport added to their lead with a near post header from Griffiths in the 73rd minute, then Dean Twigg scored the fifth and final goal six minutes from time to give the home side a rather flattering four-goal winning margin. Town had not played that badly, it was more a question of excellent finishing from a side well in the hunt for a promotion place. Match photos by kind permission of Ellen Elder from A Moment in Sport

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Club Honours 1949 George Mahon Trophy Winners 1951 Lancashire Comb Division 2 Champions 1972 Lancashire Combination Champions 1973 Bass Charrington Cup Winners 1974 Watson Trophy Winners 1978 St Helens Hospital Cup Winners 1979 St Helens Combination Div 1 Runners Up 1979 St Helens Hospital Cup Runners Up 1980 St Helens Combination Div 1 Champions 1985 NWCFL Reserve Division 2 Runners Up 1986 NWCFL Reserve Division 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 2015-16 Cheshire FA U21 Premier Cup Finalists 2016-17 Cheshire FA U21 League Cup Finalists 2016-17 Cheshire FA U21 Premier Div Runners Up

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 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1993-94, 1995-96, 1997-998, 1998-99, 2000-1 NWCFL Premier Division 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 NWCFL First Division 2015-16, 2016-17 Wirral Programme Club National Survey NWCFL Programme of the Year 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 Programme Monthly NWCFL Programme of the Year 2007-08 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

St Helens Town AFC - Player Records 1946-2016 Goals in a Career

Goals in a Season

Career Appearances (Qualification 250 games)

216 Steve Pennington

47 Phil Stainton 1963/64

448 Alan Wellens (inc. 207 estimated)

118 Terry Garner

46 Steve Pennington 1997/98

359 John Critchley (16 estimated)

108 Gary Laird

45 Jackie Kendrick 1973/74

352 Steve Pennington

105 Lee Cooper

45 Steve Pennington 1993/94

346 Gary Lowe (1 estimated)

101 Glenn Walker

40 Bob Potter 1952/53

345 Glenn Walker

94 Iain Dyson

38 Terry Fearns 2000/01

327 Jackie Atherton (122 estimated)

83 Harry McCann

36 Albert Leadbetter 1950/51

300 Jackie Cooke (1 estimated)

81 Ray Fairweather

35 Arthur Tyrer 1957/58

287 Gary Laird

72 Arthur Tyrer

34 Lee Cooper 2001/02

280 Kevin Grice (147 estimated)

68 Phil Stainton

33 Ronnie Rigby 1952/53

278 Jimmy Woodyer (67 estimated)

63 Mervyn Bull

32 Harry McCann 1950/51

276 Iain Dyson

31 Terry Garner 1950/51

272 Ray Fairweather (3 estimated) 265 Larry Redmond (134 estimated)

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

Comp NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FAV 1QR NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FDC 1RN NWCFL TMC 1RN NWCFL LSC 1R NWCFL FDC 2RN NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL 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 2 3 4 3.00 2-0L Bradley Presho Whelan Edzes 7.45 0-0A Fairchild D.Whelan Dursley Webster 3.00 3-2L Fairchild D.Whelan Presho Webster 7.45 2-0L Fairchild Presho Dursley Webster 3.00 1-4L Bradley Presho Dursley Webster 7.45 3-0L Fairchild Hope-O’Connor Heron Webster 3.00 1-2L Fairchild Presho Dursley Dodd 3.00 0-3W Fairchild Presho Dursley Webster 7.45 1-0L Fairchild Presho Dursley Webster 3.00 0-2L Fairchild Young Dursley Webster 3.00 3-4W Fairchild Presho Dursley Webster 3.00 3-1W Fairchild Presho Dursley D.Whelan 7.45 1-2W Young Presho H-O’Connor Dodd1 3.00 2-3L Fairchild Presho Dursley D.Whelan 7.45 4-0L Fairchild Young Potter Webster 3.00 1-1D Walsh Hope-O’Connor Dursley Dodd 7.30 1-2L Fairchild Hope-O’Connor Whelan Dodd1 3.00 2-3L Walsh D.Whelan Dursley Dodd TBC 3-3D# Fairchild D.Whelan Dursley Dodd 3.00 1-2L Walsh Young Dursley Heron 7.45 1-3L Fairchild Young Dursley D.Whelan 3.00 1-2L Fairchild Young Dursley Lomax 3.00 2-3L Walsh D.Whelan Dursley Lomax 3.00 1-2W Walsh Young Dursley Webster 3.00 1-3L Fairchild Young Dursley Webster 3.00 2-3L Yong Young D.Whelan Webster 3.00 3-2W Yong Young D.Whelan Lomax 3.00 5-1L Yong Young D.Whelan Webster 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 Name1 Player name and number of goals scored 3.00 Name Player name and CAUTION 3.00 Name Player name and DISMISSAL FOR 2 CAUTIONS 3.00 3.00 Name Player name and DISMISSAL 3.00 Name10 Player name and number of replaced player 3.00

5 Webster Dodd Dodd D.Whelan D.Whelan Edzes Webster Dodd Dodd Dodd Dodd Dodd D.Whelan Dodd Heron Webster Webster Webster Webster D.Whelan Heron Lawrence Lawrence D.Whelan D.Whelan Lomax Webster Lomax1

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6 Dodd Presh Loma Loma Smit A.Whe Loma A.Whe McHu Loma Loma Loma Loma Loma Smit Loma Loma Loma Loma Loma Loma Baine Baine Baine Loma Furlon Furlon Furlon

ures

dd ho ax ax th elan ax elan ugh ax ax1 ax ax ax th ax ax ax ax ax ax1 es es es ax ng ng1 ng

7 Forrester Forrester McHugh Douglas Edwards1 Potter HO’Connor Ashby Ashby Ashby Ashby Ashby1 Ashby Ashby1 Ashby Ashby Ashby Ashby Ashby Ashby Ashby Ashby Ashby1 Ashby1 Baines Brady Brady1 Brady

8 Lomax Smith Smith Kwofie Kwofie Smith A.Whelan Lomax1 Lomax McHugh McHugh Smith McHugh1 Smith Presho Smith Smith McHugh McHugh McHugh Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith Presho McHugh McHugh

9 Lacey Brady Brady1 Brady Brady Brady Douglas1 Brady1 Douglas Douglas Brady2 Brady1 Bolton Brady1 Brady Brady1 Brady Brady2 Brady Brady Brady Brady Brady1 Brady Brady1 Diggle1 Diggle1 Diggle

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10 Weaver Weaver Forrester Weaver Weaver Dodd Smith Weaver1 Weaver Brady Cliff1 Cliff Cliff Cliff Murray Cliff Cliff Cliff Cliff Cliff1 Cliff Grimshaw Grimshaw Grimshaw Grimshaw Grimshaw Grimshaw Grimshaw

11 12 14 Smith McHugh9 Young11 Douglas Kwofie7 Heron Kwofie101 Moody Edzes6 Moody Edwards11 Edzes2 Young Norris9 Edzes Moody Kelly11 McHugh6 Potter Brady7 Heron Smith Norris7 H-O’Connor11 Brady Norris Heron11 Presho Norris2 Heron Edwards Norris7 Heron Edwards Bolton9 Heron Smith Heron5 Hoult10 Edwards Bolton9 Heron Edwards Cliff8 Onhu10 Edwards Murray10 Heron Edwards Young Heron9 Edwards Smith8 Murray2 Edwards3 Potter Murray8 Edwards Lawrence Smith8 Edwards Lawrence4 McHugh Edwards1 Cliff8 Weaver9 Edwards Young11 Cliff Edwards Dodd9 Lawrence Edwards H-O’Connor6 Presho2 Edwards1 Cliff9 Dursley Edwards Lawrence Baines Dursley Ashby7 Cliff8

15 16 17 Heron8 Parkinson Fairchild Moody9 McHugh Young Young7 Weaver Bradley Smith Young7 Bradley Forrester10 McHugh11 Fairchild Forrester3 Hatton Bradley Weaver11 Kwofie Edzes6 Forrester Young McHugh6 Forrester9 Young2 Onhu Forrester D.Whelan4 Edwards7 Murray10 D.Whelan Bolton9 Murray101 Norris Young8 Onhu8 Murray10 Potter2 McHugh Hoult9 Dodd Lomax Potter3 Young7 Murray10 McHugh8 Walsh Heron Young7 Fairchild Smith Bolton10 Young4 Bolton10 Potter3 Fairchild H-O’Connor Potter10 Hoult Potter Heron H-O’Connor Dodd3 McHugh6 H-O’Connor McHugh H-O’Connor2 Weaver Cliff McHugh Salah7 Smith6 Lawrence10 H-O’Connor Dursley11 Smith8 Cliff10 Presho6 Smith Lawrence

Match Report Magnificent Town Fightback St Helens Town 3-2 Sandbach United Town hit back from two-nil down to record their best win of the season. St. Helens Town won their first home game since 7th October and only their second win at Ruskin Drive all season on Saturday, in remarkable circumstances, recovering from 0 -2 down against one of the First Division’s promotion favourites Sandbach United. The result was no fluke and the three points were

thoroughly deserved, thanks to a resolute display in defence and a trio of well-taken goals. Still missing skipper Liam Dodd and wingman Alex Ashby, both serving their last game of a three-match suspension for dismissals in the win at Nelson and with three recent new starters Kieran Yong, Mick Furlong and Liam Diggle finding their feet, on paper Town looked stretched against a Sandbach side well placed for a promotion push, with matches in hand on their rivals at the top of the Hallmark Security League table and it came as no surprise when the visitors took the lead through James Kirby in the 21st minute, placing his effort just out of Yong’s reach at his right-hand post. Town responded with a quick break up the right flank through the lively Shaun Brady, who found Liam Diggle bursting through the middle of the Sandbach defence, but Ryan Moss in the visitors’ goal saved well at his feet. St. Helens went further behind on the halfhour after Frank Puemo collected the ball 35 yards out and broke easily through a gap in

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the other end, St. Helens taught their guests how to take their chances under pressure. Leading scorer Brady netted Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equaliser in the 57th minute and new boy Diggle scored again nine minutes from time heading in past Moss after latching on to a sliced shot from out on the right which caused confusion in the Sandbach ranks. Town stuck to their task right to the end the home midfield and, unchallenged, drew Yong and placed the ball against the inside of the keeperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left post, the leather just having enough momentum to cross the goalline and wind up in the Town net. At this stage, the outcome looked like a procession but the turning point came out of the blue in the minutes leading up to half-time. A similar chance fell to the visitors but this time, the ball hit the post and bounced the wrong way for the Cheshire side and, against the run of play, St. Helens earned a corner. From the ensuing in-swinging kick, Moss fumbled the ball and Furlong was on hand to tap home and give St. Helens a 38th minute life-line. The second-half saw a remarkable turnaround. The Town defence held steady throughout against wave after wave of Sandbach attacks and, to a man, they were heroes all, not least substitutes Owen Dursley and Paul Cliff who played their part too. On the occasions the visitors got through, Yong pulled off some great saves and there were some terrible misses but, at

of the game, something which they have found very hard to do in games at Ruskin Drive this season. Although they have lost a number of games from winning positions, no opponents have won easily and St. Helens are by no means a bad side, just perhaps short on confidence. Expectations were lower today, they went two goals down and perhaps the pressure was lifted and they played with a lot more freedom. This win will have done their confidence a great power of good and they can now look forward to bigger challenges ahead. Glyn Jones

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Abbey Hey

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3-1

0-0

Stockport Town

0-0 2-3

Whitchurch Alport

St Helens Town

1-4

3-3

2-0

0-1 2-1

1-0 2-1 2-0

1-2 1-4 2-2

Silsden

Sandbach United

4-1

2-2 0-1

0-1

2-3 0-3 0-0 0-0

Prestwich Heys

New Mills

Nelson

Litherland Remyca

Holker Old Boys

1-3

1-7

1-2

0-0 2-2

Daisy Hill

Eccleshall

FC Oswestry Town

1-2

1-0

Cheadle Town

1-3

2-1 1-3

Chadderton

3-1 3-1 2-3 1-2

1-1

3-4

3-0

0-1

2-2

1-2

7-1

2-0

2-2

0-4

3-0

0-4

2-1

0-0

2-1

1-2

8-0

1-5

4-0

1-0

1-1

X 4-3 6-0

5-2 5-0 5-1

2-0

0-1 4-2 2-2 2-1 3-2

0-2

5-1

0-2

4-2

0-2

0-6

1-0

4-1

2-2

1-1

1-3

1-2

0-2 3-4

0-1 3-0

2-0

1-1

1-2 1-0

0-2

2-2

0-2

1-4

3-1

2-2

2-1 1-4

3-3

0-3 1-5 0-1

3-5 2-1 0-5 3-2

2-4

0-3

3-0

1-4

1-3

X X 1-0

6-1 2-1 5-0 0-1

1-2 0-4

3-1

0-4

X 5-1 3-0

1-3 1-1

X X

1-0 2-1

2-4 2-0 4-2

0-2 3-2 1-4

3-0 0-6

1-2 2-0 3-2 3-0 1-0 4-0 1-0

2-0

1-1

0-3 2-1

3-2 2-0

1-4

3-2 2-1 2-3 2-3 1-1 3-2

2-1 5-0

1-4

2-4 0-2

2-2

3-1 0-4 7-2

2-2

1-1

1-2

2-1

2-3 3-1 2-3 1-3 1-2 2-3 1-3 2-0 2-1

1-1

2-1 5-2 0-1

5-1 3-2 5-1

1-1 3-0

2-3 5-0 4-0

2-0

4-2 1-3

4-2

3-3

2-1 2-2

4-3

2-1 3-2 6-0 5-2 5-1

3-1 3-0

0-1

2-0 3-2

1-1

2-1

Litherland Remyca

Carlisle City

Cammell Laird

2-1

AFC Blackpool

2-1 1-4 2-3 1-2 1-3

Chadderton

Cheadle Town

1-2

Atherton LR

1-0 3-0 3-2

Daisy Hill

Bacup Borough

Cammell Laird

Eccleshall

2-1

4-2

Nelson

1-2

3-0 0-3

St Helens Town

Atherton LR

Alsager Town

1-1

Prestwich

Alsager Town

Bacup Borough

4-1

Silsden

5-1 1-6 1-2 3-2

Carlisle City

2-4

FC Oswestry Town

Holker Old Boys

New Mills

3-1

Sandbach United

AFC Blackpool

Stockport Town

Abbey Hulton United

Up to and including Sat 30th Dec 2017

Hallmark Security League First Division RESULTS GRID

Whitchurch Alport

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On this day In history Town have played on just six occasions on the 6th January with three wins and three defeats from the four away and two home fixtures. The first game took place on this date in 1962 when Town travelled to Glossop in the Lancashire Combination Division Two. Despite goals from Fairweather the Surrey Street outfit ran out 2-1 winners. The teams met at Hoghton Road on the last day of the season and the Hillmen completed the ‘double’ over Town with a 0-1 win. Six seasons later (1968) Hoghton Road hosted near neighbours Prescot Town and although there is no record of the goals scorers it was a 2-1 home win for Town in the Lancashire Combination Division One. The win provided some revenge for a 1-3 defeat at Hope Street back in early September 1967. Nelson were the visitors on this date in 1973. It was Lancashire Combination top flight action with Town the reigning Champions but

their East Lancashire rivals ran out 1-2 winners. Poole was the scorer for Town and he was on target once again when the two teams met at Little Wembley in May the same year. Mervyn Bull was also on the scoresheet at Town earned a 0-2 win. The opening Saturday of 1989 saw Town in North West Counties Football League Division One action making the short trip to Skelmersdale United’s White Moss Park. Gary Laird hit both goals for Alan Aspinall’s side who ran out 1-2 victors. The win saw Town complete a league ‘double’ over Skem’ having won 3-1 at Hoghton Road in August. Town ousted Skem’ from the Liverpool Senior Cup in between the two league games with a 0-1 away victory. A trip to Andrew Street, home of Chadderton on this date in 1996 saw the home side take the spoils in the NWCFL Division One. A single goal was all that separated the sides as Town started the New Year with a defeat. The two sides had battled out a 4-4 draw at Hoghton Road earlier in the season. It’s been sixteen years since Town last played on this date (2001) on that occasion it was ‘derby day’ in the NWCFL top flight as we made the journey to Prescot Cables. First half goals from Terry Nestor and Terry Fearns secured the points as Town kept their hosts goalless. In their previous game at Knowsley Road (3rd Jan) Town had recorded their record win courtesy of a 10-2 victory over Abbey Hey with goals from Morgan, Fearns (3), Cooper (3), Cowley, Bell and an own goal. John McKernan

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Thanks to

Dave Wiggins

Match Ball Sponsor Charity Partner 2017-18

Blast from the Past: Town in action at home to Alsager Town at the start of the 2014-15 season. Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tom Lightbody pictured

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Charity Partners The club has produced a 2018 Calendar which will be on sale very soon. At just ÂŁ5 each with all monies going to St Helens MIND. The costs of production have been supported by our programme printers Willow Design and Print Ltd along with 12 monthly sponsors. Our thanks go to: Abbey Plaster & Construction Total Building Care St Helens Gutter Valet Prabhu Ventures Limited David Scott Kealshore Limited SG Roofing Limited Sporting Juniors Charity TWC Consulting RT Diamond Drilling PJC Decorating Solution St Helens NOW

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Town Archive Cash Book in the Attic: The First St. Helens Town 1901-1928 A cash book from the original club covering season 1912-13 and some matches during the First World War was loaned to the club by the late Town stalwart and President of the St. Helens Football Combination, Eric Bond and according to club official Glyn Jones it makes very interesting reading. He said, ‘The book lists the financial accounts on a match-bymatch basis and bears auditors markings to verify the figures. Season 1912-13 is covered in full, but not 1913-14. Curiously, a number of matches from 1914-15 are also included, but I do not know whether they amount to a full season. Nevertheless, the information contained in the book is fascinating. In 1912-13, St. Helens Town were members of

the Lancashire Combination, Division 1. They finished 14th of 18 teams, played 34, won 12, drew 5 and lost 17 games, scoring 49 goals and conceding 75. Local rivals St. Helens Recs., in their final season as a soccer club, ended the season in 8th place. Glyn added, Results of games are not given in the cash book, but the two St. Helens clubs met at Park Road on Christmas Day, when gate receipts were £41 9s. 2d (£41.46) and a further £1 was made in the Refreshment Tent, the only occasion it appears in the accounts. The Police were paid 9s. (45p), gatemen 4s. 6d. (22p) and sawdust cost 6d. The return game took place on Good Friday, 21st March 1913. Looking at 1912-13 as a whole, a pre-season friendly was played at Barrow on 2nd September (a Monday), producing half gate receipts of £27 3s. (£27.15), which were the best receipts other than those for the Recs. derby game on Christmas Day. Over £10 was taken as a half-share of a cup-tie gate at Macclesfield and the only other gate over £10 was for the home game with Tranmere Rovers on 16th November, £16 8s 1d (£16.40). All the other home gates were significantly below £10, many around £2. The lowest was £1 18s 3d. (£1.91) against Chester on 5th April. Most players went unpaid through the season, but there were several instances of some players receiving between five shillings (25p) and twelve and sixpence (62p). There were several instances of the payment of lost time: this arose as a result of players missing a Saturday morning in work, in order to play football. The usual working week in the North of England was five and a half days. Payment of lost or broken -time money was prevalent after 1895. That

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date was significant in that it was the year of the split between the Rugby Football Union and the Northern Union (later the Rugby League), which came about as a direct result of Northern Union clubs wishing to compensate their players in the industrial North for time lost from work. The book shows several instances of players receiving amounts varying from 2s. 6d. (12p) to 10s. (50p), in lost time payments. Other overheads included train fares for away travel and for a few players travelling from out of town to St. Helens. The whole team travelled to Barrow for £3 12s (£3.60). Two shillings was incurred for repairing pipes at the home game with Eccles in February and rates of £5 10s. 3d. (£5.51) were paid in March. Printing of posters etc., regularly came to 10s. or 15s. The game with Haslingden on 11th January was postponed due to an ice and snow storm and it would appear that the game with Heywood on 26th October was abandoned, as it had to be played again on 7th December, when £1 18s. (£1.90) was paid out to the visitors for their expenses. The cost of running a football club was an enormous burden on the directors. There were many instances of the Chairman, Peter Phythian, and his fellow directors, dipping into their own pockets to make up the income to cover the expenditure. This was

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particularly prevalent during the 1914/15 season. If the cash book covers the whole season, then only 11 games were played. Fixtures appear to start on 28th November 1914 and finish on 19th April 1915. The opening game v Skelmersdale yielded just over £5 in gate receipts and the other three home games (against Everton, South Liverpool and Burscough) just exceeding £4 in total. Glyn noted, ‘The directors subsidised the club in 8 of the matches to the tune of over £11. Perhaps optimistically, one of the last credit entries appeared as Season Tickets £9 19s. 1d. (£9.95), which I suspect might have been a bookkeeping exercise to give the directors their money back. I wonder if they ever did get their season tickets as I have yet to see what happened to the club in the 1915-16 season. If you have any information relating to the original St. Helens Town (19011928) please contact Glyn at glynjones1@sky.com

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

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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 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

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compensation by winning the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987, beating near neighbours Warrington Town 3-2, with two goals from Phil Layhe and one from Brian Rigby. They were regular promotion candidates for many years, largely due to the scoring exploits of Steve “Pellet” Pennington, who grabbed 216 goals in 351 games, his season’s best hauls of 45 in 1993/94 and 46 in 1997/98 just failing to beat the club record of 47 scored by Phil Stainton in 1963/64. 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. Glyn Jones

In Town Today The merger of Alsager Institute and Alsager United formed Alsager AFC in 1965. The merger came about due to lack of pitches in the village. They acquired Wood Park in 1967 that was then seeded ready for the following season and it was first played on in 1968/69. Alsager AFC were playing in the Crewe League at this stage. In the early 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the club decided they would like to try for the MidCheshire League which they were successful in doing by bringing the ground up to a higher standard. They remained in this league and in 1985/86 they were Runners Up. The club folded due to the lack of funds and support. They then re-formed with just a youth team playing in the Crewe Premier League for two seasons. In 1991/92 they managed to regain entry in to the Mid Cheshire League Division Two where they remained until 1998/99 when the committee decided to try for the Springbank Vending League, where most of the Potteries teams were based. Steve Booth built a strong squad which was able to challenge for the title in their first season, but unfortunately Alsager were pipped at the post by Norton FC. The team were doing well enough and the committee decided to apply for the North West Counties Football League and after a lot of hard work by the committee Alsager AFC successfully passed the criteria necessary to gain entry, and a second place finish in the Staffs County Senior League was enough to gain promotion. Bad form after Christmas 1999 and the decision by Steve Booth to leave the club saw a new management team step in to the fold. Greg Clowes and his assistant Dorian Garner were welcomed to the club. They were in charge for the remaining 10

games of the season and managed to finish in a creditable 12th position. Their first full season in charge saw them achieve 7th place in the league and along with Warrington Town they kept the most clean sheets. Floodlighting was erected in August 2001 and then the addition of a new stand by the end of the season saw Alsager in prime position to challenge for promotion. During the summer of 2001 it was decided to change the name of the club back to Alsager Town and to run a side in the Springbank Vending League under the name of Alsager AFC A runners up spot in the 2001/02 season was enough to see Alsager Town FC promoted to the NWCFL Division 1. During the close season resurfacing of the pitch, decoration of the club house and changing rooms and a new toilet block and tea bar gave Alsager Town an air of aristocracy as they aimed for success in the NWCFL. They remained in N.W.C.F.L. until the end of the 2005/06 season when they finished in third place. Due to THE changes being made by the FA to the nonleague pyramid system Alsager were invited to step up to the Northern Premier League Division One which they did, they finished their first season in a creditable 14th place. Further changes were to be made by. With further changes to the Northern Premier League, Alsager Town were placed in to the Unibond League Division One South. Another 14th place finish was the outcome but the club fell foul to the ground grading regulations and with required work not completed in the required time given by the League they were relegated back to the North West Counties League Premier Division. Due this set back the management walked out. Former chairman Peter Clegg stepped in to take control of the club . Former Witton Albion reserves coach Neil Gill was appointed as manager and for two seasons kept Alsager Town in the Premier Division and then in early 2011 with finances tight the players expenses budget was cut and then later stopped completely. This was followed by the news that there were to be major changes at the club at the end of the

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season. Neil Gill, his assistant, the players and the committee walked away. Acting Chairman Mike Cross acted very quickly and the remaining committee members voted for change. Terry Greer the former Chairman of Biddulph Victoria was elected to become the new Chairman of Alsager Town F.C. Terry’s first job was to appoint a new management team. Damian Grocott and Andy O’Connor stepped into the position, they signed a new squad of players and began the job of securing Alsager Town’s place in the N.W.C.F.L. Premier Division. They worked hard to keep the status of the club securing it with three games in hand. For the 2011/12 season the club looked to move forward run by a new committee which was installed at the AGM in the May their aim being to improve the club in all aspects both on and off the pitch. The changing rooms and showers were upgraded, some of the club house had been redecorated and the ground in general had been given a face lift when on the night of the Monday 11th July a catastrophic fire destroyed the office and part of the dressing rooms and club house. The whole building had to be demolished due its asbestos construction and the electricity was cut off due to the damage caused to the switch boxes. Following the disaster the committee worked very hard to get things in to place so that football could return to The Town ground. The league committee helped where they could switching fixtures for The Bullets and 99% of their games were played away from home until the November. A rebuilding programme immediately got underway and things went well, both on and off the pitch. Massive help from BAE Systems and their contractors followed and they had helped to rebuild the changing rooms so that football could return. A new manager in former coach John Brown was installed as manager At the end of the season John Brown, resigned and Chairman Terry Greer soon had replacements with former Tottenham Hotspur player Andy Turner taking over the reigns of the first team. Terry’s gang (The workers) set about completing work around the new changing room complex, planning permission was

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sort to build a new club house and virtually 12 months to the day that permission was granted. In October 2012 the club received the news that they had been granted a massive £85,860 from the Football Foundation. Work was commenced on building a new car park and clubhouse. The modular building was delivered just 9 days before Christmas 2012, the contractors and Alsager’s committee worked, tirelessly to get the club open for the Boxing Day game of 2012. The season went quite well for the new management, the team finishing in 15th place with 50 points. Their first season with the club gave them the necessary experience of the league which they got and everyone at the club was looking to the new season. There were many new signings with some of last years squad having decided to stay. Things didn't go well for the first XI and they spent most of their time in the lower reaches of the league and then unexpectedly Andy Turner resigned in the new year. Phil Parkinson stepped into the breach bringing in his own team. They avoided relegation by winning the last three games of the season. Just before the start of pre-season training Phil tendered his resignation after getting a promotion at work. He was succeeded by the his two assistants Craig Dove and Danny Griggs they steered the club to an 18th placed finish and the following term the Bullets improved to finish in 17th place albeit with only 21 teams in the division.

The 2015/16 season saw the Bullets finish in 20th position and they were relegated to the First Division. Wayne Brotherton took the reins at the end of the 2015/16 campaign and quickly set about rebuilding in readiness for a first season in the First Division. The 2016/17 season started very well for the Bullets as we quickly established ourselves at the top end of the table. However, a disastrous end to the season saw us tumble down the table and miss out on the play-offs. Off the pitch, the club continues to explore the potential of securing new or improved facilities, which they hope will secure the long-term future of the club.

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Christmas in Yorkshire For the first time in many years, I found myself abroad for Christmas - in Yorkshire. Between enjoying the local delicacies (especially Black Sheep, Theakston and Leeds Best), I had my first taste of nonleague on that side of the Pennines: the Toolstation Northern Counties East Football League (Premier Division), to be specific. My festive fixture was Pickering Town v Liversedge F.C., at Mill Lane, Pickering. Many aspects of the matchday experience were reassuringly familiar: enthusiastic, longsuffering volunteers; incomprehensible announcements on the public address system (I have never yet heard the result of a raffle at a non-league ground); and speccies mercifully free to enjoy a Mann’s Brown Ale whilst stood by the pitch. There were, however, some notable points of contrast with the situation in St. Helens: the Mill Lane pitch, though liberally covered with fine looking grass (despite the less than tropical weather) features prominent humps and hollows, resembling a scale model of the Eurasian steppe; Pickering Town are The Big Thing in their parish, free from the shadow of a large sporting rival; and the tone of the abuse aimed at opposing players and match officials was darker and more direct than usually heard at Ruskin.

The football itself was pretty good. Pickering are flying high in the league and I could see why: they kept the ball largely on the deck, and sought to release star striker Ryan Blott at every opportunity – so Liversedge went two up, thanks to a well-taken penalty and a lob that brought a tear to my goalkeeping

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eye. Part way through the second half, a vigorous visiting defender intervened: whilst shepherding a local wide man down the side of the penalty area he ventured an ambitious sliding effort (I hesitate to call it a ‘tackle’), from a great distance; he appeared to move in slow-motion, like Inspector Clouseau ambushing Cato, manic glee all over his plate. When his lunge was about half-way to its target, the victim sensed opportunity: he decelerated sufficiently to allow his assailant to catch him from behind, and went down in a chaos of smashed crockery and billowing flour - just outside the penalty area. The ref pointed to the spot. The Liversedge players and supporters pointed at the ref, and uttered blood-curdling threats. Blott put the penalty away, deftly. He followed it up minutes later by getting himself a straight red for his part in an altercation with the Liversedge right back whilst the ball was 50 yards away. The Pickering players and supports pointed at the ref, and uttered blood curdling threats. Some of them also targeted a bloke on the far touchline wearing a black jersey and shorts and wielding a flag – he had the temerity to assist the ref in reaching his decision, when it was plainly none of his business. Thankfully, the 10 men of Pickering mustered a closing assault that resulted in a late equaliser (a flicked header of some technical merit), thus saving the ref from the full attention of his critics and paving the way for a round of full-time handshakes and muttered good wishes. In this period of strained international relations, it came as a blessed relief to find that one can still cross a contentious border under flag of truce, move amongst those of different beliefs and find common solace in the old Corinthian spirit. Happy New Year Ste Lingard (@stelingard)

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

Alsager Town - last 6 matches All Competitions Most recent Home D W W L W W Away L W L D L L Collated L W D L L W St Helens Town games since... All Competitions Clean sheet 19

Alsager Town games since... All Competitions Clean sheet 9

Goal Scored

Loss

No score draw

Score draw Win

8 1

Loss No score draw Score draw Win

Home League Away League Home Cup Away Cup Collated Away Collated

P 12 12 2 1 27 3 4

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W 1 6 0 1 8 1 2

at St Helens Town 22/03; 1-1

Previous Meetings 2002-03

at Alsager Town 19/10; 1-0

11/11; 1-2

2003-04

15/10; 0-1

22/03; 1-1

2004-05

14/08; 2-0

16/08; 1-4

2005-06

28/02; 1-0

NWC-D1

2006-07

NPL-1

NWC-D1

2007-08

NPL-1S 09/08; 3-2

22/11; 0-1

2008-09

02/03; 1-1

2009-10

13/04; 3-1

27/04; 5-1

2010-11

07/08; 1-2

28/02; 0-3

2011-12

05/11; 2-3

20/10; 2-2

2012-13

19/03; 0-2

31/08; 0-3

2013-14

05/04; 2-1

09/08; 0-4

2014-15

17/01; 2-4

NWC-D1

2015-16

NWC-PD

09/03; 2-2

2016-17

08/10; 1-3

06/01/2018

2017-18

02/04/2018

St Helens Town Scores First Games Played

St Helens Town Wins

Draws

Alsager Town Wins

St Helens Town Goals

3 0

Alsager Town Goals

Percentage Town Wins

29.17

Previous Meetings D L 5 6 0 6 0 2 0 0 5 14 0 2 0 2

F 14 18 2 2 36 3 6

A 25 19 5 1 50 7 8

GD -11 -1 -3 1 -14 -4 -2

Win % 8.33 50.00 0.00 100.00 29.63 33.33 50.00

League News Cheadle Town FC have been acquired by the Little Sports Group. The deal was completed before their home match with Cammell Laird on Saturday, and has been in the pipeline for some time.

“Cheadle Town is a club with a rich history, amazing staff & volunteers and so much potential. Today the hard work starts to take this club on the journey it deserves. After the performance today I am confident we can have a strong finish to the season.

It will mean a raft of improvements at the club, including better facilities at Park Road, a robust infrastructure, the integration of the current junior teams currently operated by the Little Sports Group and the introduction of a full time education programme for their U18 squad, thus providing children with a direct path to a football club within the league pyramid.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the committee, staff and volunteers for keeping the club going in a difficult few years, they have done an amazing job with very few resources! Now we move forward”.

Ex-Cheadle Town player Craig Brennan is the CEO & Chairman of The Little Sports Group and has built a range of sports companies including children’s sports coaching, further education, junior football clubs and sports recruitment to name a few. Craig’s tenure couldn’t have got off to a better start as he witnessed Cheadle Town register a comfortable 3-0 victory over Cammell Laird.

PREMIER DIVISION - WIDNES 02.12 - Hanley Town (home) won 3 - 0 04.12 - Southport FC (home) won 5 - 1 (Liverpool Senior Cup Quarter Final) 09.12 - Barnoldswick T(home) won 2 - 0 11.12 - Winsford United (home) won 3 - 1 16.12 - Charnock Richard (away) won 1 - 4 23.12 - Congleton Town (away) won 0 - 1

Craig had the following to say after the victory…

Macron Club of the Month Awards for December 2017

DIVISION ONE - DAISY HILL 02.12 - New Mills (away) won 1 - 5 09.12 - St. Helens Town (away) won 1 - 3 27.12 - Atherton LR (away) won 1 - 3

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Hallmark Security League 1st Division Man of the Match Awards Player Simon Everall

Training Kit Sponsors 2017-18

Alsager Town recent League standings

Season 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

League NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NPL-1 NPL-1S

2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-1

P 42 42 42 42 46 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 40 42 42

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Club Whitchurch A

MoM 9

Joseph Gaughan

Silsden AFC

Shaun Brady

St Helens Town

Luke Birkenshaw (GK) Abbey Hulton U George Blackwell New Mills Rio Wilson-Heyes Prestwich Heys

6 6 6

George Blackwell

Stockport Town

Louis Downs Jacob Farleigh Lennon Whewell

Eccleshall FC Oswestry T Litherland R

5 5 5

Josh Lane Daniel Illingworth

Sandbach Utd Silsden AFC

5 5

Kieron Ball Billy McKenna

Abbey Hulton U AFC Blackpool

4 4

Gregory Hartley (GK) Joseph Malkin

4 4

Michael Gervin

Atherton LR Cammell Laird Daisy Hill

Hovik Nersesyan Joseph Newton

Eccleshall FC Oswestry Tn

4 4

Paul Cliff Arron Kirk

Litherland R New Mills

4 4

Niall Sultan

Silsden AFC

Paul Cliff Hovik Nersesyan

St Helens Town Whitchurch A

4 4

Luke Edwards Neil Weaver

St Helens Town St Helens Town

3 3

W 15 16 19 27 18 12

D 11 15 11 7 7 7

L 16 11 12 8 21 23

F 61 54 65 87 72 58

A 67 47 47 43 75 88

18 11 10 16 14 11 12 11 23

5 7 8 9 8 7 6 6 5

19 24 24 17 20 24 22 25 14

66 60 57 63 66 57 64 56 98

72 79 94 65 78 85 87 101 66

GD -6 7 18 44 -3 -30 -6 -19 -37 -2 -12 -28 -23 -45 32

Pts 56 63 68 88 61 43 59 40 38 57 50 40 42 39 74

Position 11/22 9/22 7/22 3/22 14/24 14/18 7/22 18/22 20/22 13/22 15/22 18/22 17/21 20/22 7/22

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Premier Division Fixtures

Premier Division Table Sat 30/12/2017

GD Pts

Runcorn Linnets

Runcorn Town

Widnes

Hanley Town

Charnock Richard

Bootle

Padiham

20 10

Winsford United

38 40

-2

Northwich Victoria

10 42

-7

City of Liverpool

Ashton Athletic

12 Barnoldswick Town 21

Congleton Town

46 39

Squires Gate

37 60

-23

Burscough

14 40

-21

1874 Northwich

17 West Did & Chorlton 21

-18

Abbey Hey

32 46

-14

Maine Road

-30 24

AFC Liverpool

-4

Irlam

30 39

-9

AFC Darwen

-43

Barnton

-56

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Saturday 6th January 2018 Abbey Hey v Charnock Richard AFC Darwen v Northwich Victoria AFC Liverpool v Squires Gate Ashton Athletic v Padiham Burscough v Widnes City of Liverpool v WD & Chorlton Hanley Town v Bootle Maine Road v Irlam Runcorn Town v Barnoldswick T Winsford United v Runcorn Linnets

Tuesday 9th January 2018 Ashton Athletic v City of Liverpool Congleton Town v Runcorn Town Saturday 13th January 2018 1874 Northwich v AFC Liverpool Barnoldswick v Northwich Victoria Barnton v Maine Road Bootle v AFC Darwen Charnock Richard v Ashton Athletic Hanley Town v Widnes Irlam v Burscough Padiham v Runcorn Town Runcorn Linnets v Congleton Town Squires Gate v Abbey Hey West D & Chorlton v Winsford Utd Tuesday 16th January 2018 Abbey Hey v City of Liverpool FC Ashton Athletic v Maine Road Wednesday 17th January 2018 Runcorn Town v 1874 Northwich Saturday 20th January 2018 AFC Darwen v Padiham AFC Liverpool v Barnoldswick T Barnton v Squires Gate Burscough v Ashton Athletic City of Liverpool FC v Hanley Town Congleton T v Northwich Victoria Irlam v Bootle Maine Road v 1874 Northwich Runcorn Linnets v Charnock Rich Runcorn Town v West D & Chorlton Winsford United v Abbey Hey Tuesday 23rd January 2018 Northwich Vics v Charnock Richard West D & Chorlton v AFC Darwen Widnes v Runcorn Town

First Division Table Sat 30/12/2017

First Division Fixtures

A GD Pts

Silsden AFC

60 20 40 57

Litherland REMYCA

59 21

Prestwich Heys

60 28 32 44

Whitchurch Alport

Alsager Town

21 12

47 34 13 40

AFC Blackpool

45 38

Sandbach United

44 38

Cammell Laird 1907

Carlisle City

20 10

38 29

Stockport Town

44 38

Holker Old Boys

51 -18 31

FC Oswestry Town

Abbey Hulton Utd

32 36 -4

Cheadle Town

28 34 -6

New Mills

10 38 52 -14 24

Atherton LR

33 37

Bacup Borough

20 33 -13 20

Chadderton

37 53 -16 20

St Helens Town

16 32 52 -20 17

Eccleshall

26 52 -26 17

Daisy Hill

28 54 -26 16

Nelson

20 50 -30 9

38 48

29 41

-9 28

-4

Saturday 6th January 2018 Abbey Hulton Utd v Cheadle Town AFC Blackpool v Daisy Hill Bacup Borough v Litherland R Cammell Laird 1907 v Nelson Carlisle City v Atherton LR Chadderton v FC Oswestry Town New Mills v Prestwich Heys Silsden AFC v Eccleshall St Helens Town v Alsager Town Stockport Town v Holker Old Boys Whitchurch Alport v Sandbach Utd Wednesday 10th January 2018 Litherland R v Cammell Laird Saturday 13th January 2018 Abbey Hulton Utd v Prestwich Heys Atherton LR v Stockport Town Bacup Borough v Alsager Town Chadderton v Whitchurch Alport Cheadle Town v New Mills Daisy Hill v Silsden AFC Eccleshall v FC Oswestry Town Holker Old Boys v Cammell Laird Litherland REMYCA v Carlisle City Nelson v AFC Blackpool Sandbach United v St Helens Town Tuesday 16th January 2018 Prestwich Heys v St Helens Town Thursday 18th January 2018 Bacup Borough v Cheadle Town

Saturday 20th January 2018 Abbey Hulton United v Chadderton AFC Blackpool v St Helens Town Alsager Town v Litherland REMYCA Atherton LR v New Mills Carlisle City v Cheadle Town Eccleshall v Cammell Laird 1907 FC Oswestry T v Prestwich Heys Holker Old Boys v Bacup Borough Nelson v Daisy Hill Silsden AFC v Whitchurch Alport Stockport Town v Sandbach United Tuesday 23rd January 2018 Silsden AFC v Bacup Borough Wednesday 24th January 2018 Cheadle T v Litherland REMYCA

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Next up at RUSKIN DRIVE

Sat 27th January 2018 Kick Off 3.00pm

Today’s Team Line-up

versus Nelson FC Hallmark Security League Division One

Next AWAY FIXTURE Sat 13th Jan 20178 Kick Off 3.00pm

versus Sandbach Utd Hallmark Security League Division One

Today’s SPONSORS Match: Unite the Union St Helens Match Ball: Stuart Pyke

Programme: Johnsons Toyota

Main Club Sponsors

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Charity Partner 2017-18

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