St Helens Town v Atherton LR 2017-18 by John McKiernan

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Talk of the Town

game.

Good afternoon and welcome to Ruskin Drive. May I open by welcoming our visitors from Atherton LR. I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the

It has only been a week since we were last here at the AcrOframe Stadium as we hosted a Cammell Laird 1907 side who had beaten us 4-0 at the start of March as we looked to bounce back from the midweek defeat at Holker Old Boys. The early exchanges were quite even and it took until the 27th minute for the deadlock to be broken when Danny Greene netted the first goal of his second spell at Town as his effort squirmed its way past the visiting stopper. The visitors were awarded a spot kick later in the piece but Gage Walsh who had been adjudged to have given the penalty away was able to gain instant redemption as he kept the set-piece out. Lairds were to draw level before the break when Hayden Cooper found the net and the teams went in level at the break but Town were at a disadvantage as they had used all three allowable substitutions due to injuries. Liam Diggle had to be replaced first before Greene was injured moments after scoring and then substitute Luke Edwards had to be replaced himself. Ten minutes into the second period disaster struck as another player who had come off the bench Alex Ashby went down with injury and had to leave the field reducing the hosts to 10 players for the remainder of the contest. Some of the Town fans feared the worst but the lads battled bravely and

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both sides spurned chances to net in the latter stages of the second half with Town happier with the point than promotion chasing Lairds. Especially given the fact that Andy Presho and Jamie Casson would have been replaced had Town had the option to do so as both players completed the 90 minutes carrying injuries. We have got seven games to battle to stay out of the bottom two places although I think no one is too confident at the moment of exactly what is going to happen in relation to the numerical format of the two Division One divisions for next season so our goal must be to stay out of the bottom two places and ensure we maintain our ever-present membership of the North West Counties League. The schedule after today for the next two games couldn’t be any harder as after this afternoons contest we take a midweek trip to league leaders Silsden on Tuesday before welcoming Litherland REMYCA, currently sat on their shoulders in second place to St Helens next Saturday. Silsden put us to the sword here at the start of September winning 4-1 but the two games against Litherland have been closer with Town going down by a single goal in the reverse league contest in September and recording a 2-1 win here in Liverpool Senior Cup action in October. Having said that REMY are top of the current form table so we will have to be at our best next week to add to our points tally. Attentions turn to this afternoons contest as we host an LR outfit who defeated us 2-0 at Crilly Park way back in August and who sit 14th in the table as I write before Wednesday’s league contests and are in a similar position of 16th in the form table with Town a place above in 13th. If we play like we did last week against Cammell Laird keeping the application, grit and tenacity in addition to some of the good play were able to put together at stages whilst we were at a numerical deficit then hopefully we will be able to get a return from this afternoons contest. Let’s get behind Town this afternoon and hopefully cheer them on to victory! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

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From the Chair We can all breathe a huge sigh of relief and finally prepare for next season as members of the new Hallmark Security League First Division. Whilst we all knew at the start of the season that there was to be no relegation at the end of this season, there was the serious possibility that St. Helens Town could be demoted from the North West Counties League because the facilities here at Ruskin Sports Village did not meet FA Ground Grading minimum standards. The threat of losing our league status was a real issue and it took St. Helens Council, our landlords, right up to the 31st March deadline to tick all the boxes and get all the outstanding works done to remove the threat of demotion and finally, on Wednesday evening, at the League Management Committee meeting, our status was confirmed for next season. The only question yet to be decided is whether we’ll be members of the new Division 1 North or Division 1 South and that will

depend on a decision of the FA as to which teams are selected for membership, how many clubs there will be and then where the line will be drawn to separate the two divisions. Whilst it looks a good bet that we’ll be in the North Division, nothing can be taken for granted and we’ll have to wait until June for final confirmation. Welcome to our visitors from Atherton Laburnum Rovers, to give them their full name, for today’s game. It’s been no secret that in recent years, the club has struggled both on and off the pitch and it’s been heartening to see them making real progress in both respects this season. Before today’s game, in my capacity as a member of the League Management Committee I’ll be making a presentation to Atherton L.R. of six match balls by way of a Respect award for the month of March – no mean feat for any club, but especially for this club, who not long ago were in serious danger. They have turned a corner administratively and have begun to move from strength to strength and, from joint bottom place in the First Division table in 2015/16, they climbed 10 points clear of the bottom two last season and this time around sit comfortably in a mid-table position, with 11 wins and 14 draws from 31 games played. In the last two seasons, they have beaten Town 4-2 and 2-0 at Crilly Park, so we have a score to settle today and it promises to be a cracking match, with both teams in fair form. All things being equal, we should lock horns again next season in the First Division North, along with a good mix of existing NW Counties member clubs and new entrants, others from the leagues making up step 7, a couple of relegated sides and maybe a few from other leagues who may join by way of “lateral movement” depending upon the knock-on effect of the introduction of the Midland League at steps 3 and 4 and a re-alignment of the various regional leagues at steps 5 and 6 with clubs moving sideways and downwards to adjust the numbers across the geographical board. It promises to be a very interesting Summer before the new league season kicks off again on Saturday, 4th August, with the FA Cup ties beginning for qualifying clubs a week later. 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

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

A H H H A

Luke Edwards Luke Edwards Kieran Yong Shaun Brady Danny Lomax Shaun Brady

January Sat 06 Alsager Town Sat 13 Sandbach Utd Sat 27 Nelson Player f the Month

H Shaun Brady A Kieron Yong H Luke Edwards Andy Webster

February Sat 10 Whitchurch A Sat 17 Chadderton Player of the Mionth

H Andrew Presho A Carl Wiliams Matty Smith

March Tue 06 Cammell Laird Sat 10 New Mills Tue 13 AFC Blackpool Sat 17 Prestwich Heys Sat 24 Bacup Borough Wed 28 Holker Old Boys Sat 31 Cammell Laird Player if the Month

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A H A A A A H

Matty Smith Danny Lomax Shaun Brady Shaun Brady Dom Whelan Shaun Brady Dom Whelan Dom Whelan

The Prabhu Ventures Ltd Man of the Match v Carlisle City- Kieron Yong with manager Lee Jenkinson and Stuart Pyke

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The Prabhu Ventures Ltd Player of the Month - November 2017 - Danny Lomax pictured with manager Andy Langley and Stuart Pyke

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Club Information Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens Vice Presidents: Jim Barrett, Steve Ball and David Watkins

Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notes Good afternoon and welcome to Ruskin Drive for today's clash with Atherton LR. May I wish the committee, players and supporters of LR a warm welcome on their first visit to our new facilities here in St Helens.

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 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

Only the one game to report on since my last notes which was last week's home game against promotion chasing Cammell Laird. It was a game which attracted another healthy crowd to the Arcoframe Stadium and a game in which both teams started on the front foot creating numerous chances. We managed to take the lead through Danny Greene only for Lairds to only equalise just before half time after. Our visitors also missed a first half penalty. Having given it away Gage Walsh recovered to make a great save from the penalty spot. The game will be remember for us having to make all 3 substitutions in the first half (something I can say I have never had to do before) all three down to injuries. At half time we regrouped and set out our plan only for this to go totally pear shaped 10 minutes after the restart when we got another injury which meant we has to play the last 35 minutes with ten men. We defended brilliantly and at times we certainly rode our luck but we could have easily won it at the end with two great chances, It proved to me what I've been saying all season is that this team of players can certainly match the best in this league when we want to and we just need to be more confident and believe in ourselves more. We were due to make the trip to Alsager Town on Easter Monday with a very depleted squad but the weather gods came to our rescue in what become a total washout for the NWCL again this season which has now made the league react by asking the FA for an extension to the league (3g pitches anyone). On the injury front I think Luke Edwards will be out for at least 2 weeks with his hamstring but I'm hoping Danny Greene and Alex Ashby could be involved today; hopefully they will have trained well on Thursday evening, More good news is the return of Thomas Grimshaw to the match day squad, Thomas is a great young talent we signed from Southport and when he's in full flow he is a joy to watch and will strengthen the squad in the run in to the season end. May I take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors for their continued support this season and as always to our supporters whose support means everything to the club and especially the players. Enjoy the game Lee Jenkinson

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Ste Rigby in action v Atherton LR during last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3-0 home win (at Prescot Cables) n the Hallmark Security League First Division

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Q1.

Which was the first country to host two World Cup Finals Tournaments?

Q2.

Which player from the current Liverpool & Everton squads has played in the most Merseyside Derbies?

Q3.

What was the then Manchester United record transfer fee that was paid to sign Jaap Stam in 1998?

Q4.

Which former England manager once said “If you can’t stand the heat in the dressing room, get out of the kitchen”?

Q5.

Which pop group supported Clydebank and were once their shirt sponsors?

Q6.

Who missed England’s last penalty in their 1998 World Cup Finals loss to Argentina?

Q7.

Who netted the quickest ever World Cup Finals goal when he scored after 10.8 seconds in 2002?

Q8.

Against which country did Rio Ferdinand make his full England debut?

Q9.

Who scored the Golden Goal in the Euro 2000 securing France’s win over Italy?

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Q11. Which nation won the first Women’s World Cup Final in 1991? Q12. Which team finished bottom of the Premier League in the 1999/2000 season? Q13. With which part of his body did Ian Rush score his 200th League goal for Liverpool? Q14. Which Premier League ever-presents was Fidel Castro rumoured to be a supporter of? Q15. What is the better known name of Edson Arantes Do Nascimento?

ANSWERS 1) Mexico 1970 & 86 2) Leighton Baines 3) £10.5m 4) Terry Venables 5) Wet Wet Wet 6) David Batty 7) Hakan Sukur for Turkey Vs South Korea 8) Cameroon 9) David Trezeguet 10) Stanley Matthews 11) USA 12) Watford 13) His Nose 14) Arsenal 15) Pele

Half Time Quiz

Q10. Who was the first footballer to be knighted?

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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

Atherton LR

Johnsons Toyota

The Boar’s Head

St Helens Mind

Bacup Borough

Britannia Taxis

Johnsons Toyota

ODs Menswear

Cammel Laird

Unite The Union

Britannia Taxis

#RoyalBeddingDay

Carlisle City

Iddon Transport

Unite , St Helens

Johnsons Toyota

Chadderton

Johnsons Toyota

Beer EnGin

A180 Darts

Cheadle Town

Johnsons Toyota

Iddon Transport

Beer EnGin

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

Johnsons Toyota

Litherland

CWU Mersey & SW Lanc

Dave Wiggins

UglyMan Records

Nelson

Dave Ashby Plastering

Ste Lingard

Flat Back Four

New Mills

Whiston Beer Festival

Airborne Bathrooms

Meadowcroft Group

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 / Unite Union

Boar’s Head

Uglyman Records

Whitchurch Alport

St Helens Mind

Dave Watkins

#sthelens150

Hemsworth MW

Dave Wiggins

Johnsons Toyota

Unite, St Helens

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Commercial Corner Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to the Arcoframe Stadium - a special welcome to today’s match sponsors the Boars Head , St Helens who re-join us this season after sponsoring the club last term. We also welcome St Helens Mind who are today’s Programme sponsors. We’ve already had a great start to next season’s sponsorship and commercial activity with St Helens Mind, CWU Mersey AMAL and Prabhu Ventures Ltd all committing to sponsorship extensions. We have plenty of packages available all of which support the club in operating five teams (and hopefully more in 2018-19). Individuals and businesses can sponsor the club for as little as £50 per season and all of our packages of great social media,

programme and website exposure. Our hard work on behalf of our supporters is second to none. If you can help the club please get in touch. We are also on the look out for more volunteers - could you write a match report, take some photographs or help with our match day activities? Every hour committed helps the club be successful. We say a big thanks to the MHS Juventus U7s who play in the Knowsley Junior Saturday League, who join us today as mascot.

The team consisting of Zach Dunn, Loui Devereux, George Strettle, Ollie MoglioneField, Max Barnet, Jamie Cosgrove, Shachar Cooper will escort the Town players onto the pitch at the start of the game. We’re back in action next Saturday when title chasing neighbours Litherland REMYCA are our visitors. Enjoy the game John McKiernan St Helens Town AFC 07713 339 682 mckiernanj@live.com

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Photographs: Action from St Helens Town U18s 1-2 Altrincham U18s in the North West Youth Alliance League Cup played on Sunday 25th March.

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Photographs: Action from last Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home fixture v Cammell Laird 1907 in the Hallmark Security League 1st Division which finished 1-1.

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The world This week This Week in The World Of 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 1st – 8th April Last Season: World – 1st April 2017 Chinese leaders announce plans to build city in Xiongan New Area, 3x size of New York. Sport – 8th April 2017 Sheffield United and Doncaster Rovers win promotion from League One and League Two respectively, becoming the first league sides to be promoted this season. Rovers had only been relegated from League One the previous year, while United end a six-year absence from the Championship. St Helens Town – 1st, 6th and 8th April 2017 Town start the month with a 3-0 home win over Atherton LR before a Thursday night defeat at home to Whitchurch Alport (2-3) is followed by an 8-0 thrashing at Widnes. 10 Years Ago World – 7th April 2008 The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales recorded a verdict of accidental death, caused by the heavy drinking, drug abuse and speeding of her chauffeur Henri Paul, who died in the crash along with Diana

and Dodi Fayed. Sport – 5th April 2008 161st Grand National: Timmy Murphy aboard Comply or Die wins. St Helens Town – 8th April 2008 Town make it 5 unbeaten with a 2-0 win over Congleton Town at Knowsley Road. 20 Years Ago World – 1st April 1998 The historic counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire are reestablished, 24 years after they merged to form Hereford and Worcester. Sport – 5th April 1998 Arsenal move closer to their second double by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park. St Helens Town – 1st & 8th April 1998 Town draw 1-1 against local rivals Prescot Cables at Knowsley Road before suffering a 7-2 battering at Kidsgrove Athletic. 30 Years Ago World – 4th April 1988 Last broadcast of "Crossroads" on British TV Sport – 4th April 1988 Eddie Hill becomes the world's first driver to cover the quarter mile in under 5 seconds St Helens Town – 1st, 4th & 7th April 1988 Town play 3 games in 6 days with mixed results. A 3-1 loss at Southport is followed by a 2-1 win away to Glossop. This run is ended by a 1-1 draw against Skelmesdale United at Hoghton Road. 50 Years Ago World – 4th April 1968 US civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Sport – 8th April 1968 Baseball's Opening Day is postponed because of Martin Luther King's assassination. St Helens Town – 1st April 1968 St Helens suffer a 31 home loss to South Liverpool

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League News Following a meeting of the League Management Committee yesterday evening, it was agreed to extend the League fixtures into Monday 7th May in order to help elevate some of the fixture backlog we face due to the weather. Our request to the Football Association to extend the season until Saturday 12th May has been acknowledged but we have not received a decision from The FA National League’s Committee. However, our own Committee felt that adding games to the

Bank Holiday Monday as an interim measure would help until we receive a response from The FA, and would have little impact on the restructure of the National League System. As a result of this, we have taken the decision to postpone the scheduled LWC Drinks First Division Cup Final, due to be held at Runcorn Linnets FC on Monday 7th May, with the final being rearranged for Wednesday 9th May. The First Division Play Off semi finals, due to be played w/c 7 May will now be played on Saturday 12th May, with the final provisionally set for Thursday 17th May. The Macron League Challenge Cup Final, which is due to be played on Tuesday 15th May at Fleetwood Town FC will continue as planned due to the limited availability of the Football League clubs ground. The League Management Committee would like to thank all of our clubs for their cooperation on this matter, which is the result of unprecedented postponements which has seen 357 matches being postponed this season. Recent League Landmarks Monday 26th March 2018 Prestwich Heys celebrated their 200th League game with a 3-1 win at Atherton LR. Wednesday 28th March 2018 Daniel Smith’s goal for Ashton Athletic in the 3-1 defeat at Runcorn Town was Athletic’s 400th away League goal. Saturday 31st March 2018 West Didsbury & Chorlton's 2-1 win at Charnock Richard was their 50th away League win. Whitchurch Alport's 2-0 win at Daisy Hill was their 50th League win.

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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 (at 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 346 Gary Lowe (1 estimated)

105 Lee Cooper

45 Steve Pennington 1993/94

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 Aug 12 AUG 17 Aug 26 Aug 29 SEP 02 Sep 05 SEP 09 Sep 16 Sep 20 Sep 23 Sep 30 OCT 07 Oct 11 OCT 14 Oct 17 Oct 21 OCT 26 OCT 28 NOV 02 NOV 04 NOV 16 NOV 18 NOV 25 Dec 02 DEC 09 DEC 16 DEC 23 Dec 30 JAN 06 Jan 13 JAN 27 FEB 10 Feb 17 Mar 06 MAR 10 Mar 13 Mar 17 Mar 24 Mar 28 MAR 31 APR 07 APR 14 Apr 17 Apr 21 APR 28 May 05 TBC

Opponents New Mills ABBEY HULTON UTD Eccleshall Atherton LR SILSDEN Carlisle City HEMSWORTH M.W. FC Oswestry Town Litherland REMYCA PRESTWICH HEYS Daisy Hill CHADDERTON Holker Old Boys AFC BLACKPOOL Prestwich Heys Stockport Town LITHERLAND REMCYA CHEADLE TOWN DAISY HILL ECCLESHALL HOLKER OLD BOYS BACUP BOROUGH FC OSWESTRY TOWN Nelson DAISY HILL CARLISLE CITY SANDBACH UNITED Whitchurch Alport ALSAGER TOWN Sandbach United NELSON WHITCHURCH ALPORT Chadderton Cammell Laird 1907 NEW MILLS AFC Blackpool Prestwich Heys Bacup Borough Holker Old Boys CAMMELL LAIRD 1907 ATHERTON LR LITHERLAND REMCYA Silsden Abbey Hulton United STOCKPORT TOWN Cheadle Town Alsager 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 3-3D Yong Presho Young Webster 3.00 1-0L Yong Presho D.Whelan Webster 3.00 2-2D Williams Presho1 Dursley Webster 3.00 1-5L Williams Presho D.Whelan Webster 3.00 4-0L Williams Presho D.Whelan Webster 7.45 4-0L Williams Presho H-O’Connor Webster 3.00 0-2L Williams Presho H-O’Connor Webster 7.45 1-2W Williams Presho H-O’Connor Webster 3.00 4-0L Williams Presho H-O’Connor Webster Presho1 3.00 2-3W Williams H-O’Connor Webster1 7.45 1-0L Williams Presho Casson Webster 3.00 1-1D Walsh Presho Casson Webster 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 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 Lawrence Lawrence Lomax Lomax Lomax D.Whelan D.Whelan D.Whelan D.Whelan D.Whelan D.Whelan D.Whelan

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6 Dodd Presho Lomax Lomax Smith A.Whela Lomax A.Whela McHug Lomax Lomax Lomax Lomax Lomax Smith Lomax Lomax Lomax Lomax Lomax Lomax Baines Baines Baines Lomax Furlong Furlong Furlong Furlong Lomax Furlong Furlong Furlong Lomax Lomax Lomax Lomax Lomax Furlong Lomax

ures

d ho ax ax h elan ax elan gh ax x1 ax ax ax h ax ax ax ax ax x1 es es es ax ng ng1 ng ng ax ng ng ng ax ax ax ax ax ng ax

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 Brady Brady Brady Brady Ashby Furlong Furlong Smith Brady Ashby Lomax 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 Smith Grimshaw Smith Smith1 Smith Smith Smith Furlong1 Furlong Smith McHugh Smith

9 10 11 12 14 Lacey Weaver Smith McHugh9 Young11 Brady Weaver Douglas Kwofie7 Heron Brady1 Kwofie101 Forrester Moody Edzes6 Brady Weaver Moody Edwards11 Edzes2 Brady Weaver Young Norris9 Edzes Brady Dodd Moody Kelly11 McHugh6 Douglas1 Smith Potter Brady7 Heron Brady1 Weaver1 Smith Norris7 H-O’Connor11 Douglas Weaver Brady Norris Heron11 Douglas Brady Presho Norris2 Heron Brady2 Cliff1 Edwards Norris7 Heron Brady1 Cliff Edwards Bolton9 Heron Bolton Cliff Smith Heron5 Hoult10 Brady1 Cliff Edwards Bolton9 Heron Brady Murray Edwards Cliff8 Onhu10 Brady1 Cliff Edwards Murray10 Heron Brady Cliff Edwards Young Heron9 Brady2 Cliff Edwards Smith8 Murray2 Edwards3 Brady Cliff Potter Murray8 Cliff1 Brady Edwards Lawrence Smith8 Brady Cliff Edwards Lawrence4 McHugh Brady Grimshaw Edwards1 Cliff8 Weaver9 Brady1 Grimshaw Edwards Young11 Cliff Brady Grimshaw Edwards Dodd9 Lawrence Brady1 Grimshaw Edwards H-O’Connor6 Presho2 Diggle1 Grimshaw Edwards1 Cliff9 Dursley Diggle1 Grimshaw Edwards Lawrence Baines Diggle Grimshaw Dursley Ashby7 Cliff8 Grimshaw1 Dursley Diggle Cliff31 McHugh Bolton Smith Dursley Edwards11 Cliff5 Diggle Grimshaw Edwards1 Riley7 D.Whelan Diggle Bolton Edwards Ashby7 McHugh11 Diggle Brady Edwards Dursley3 Lawrence4 Diggle Greene Edwards Brady9 Ashby7 Diggle D.Greene Edwards Young7 Lawrence Brady1 Diggle D.Greene Young3 McHugh10 Diggle D.Greene Smith Ashby9 McHugh11 Brady D.Greene McHugh Diggle7 C.Greene9 Brady D.Greene Ashby Edwards9 Diggle8 D.Greene1 Diggle Furlong Ashby10 McHugh

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15 Heron8 Moody9 Young7 Smith Forrester10 Forrester3 Weaver11 Forrester Forrester9 Forrester Murray10 Murray101 Onhu8 Murray10 Hoult9 Potter3 Murray10 Heron Smith Bolton10 H-O’Connor Potter Dodd3 McHugh Cliff Smith6 Dursley11 Presho6 Heron Ashby7 Lawrence Young McHugh6 Lawrence Brady9 Casson Lawrence5 Ball Young1 Cliff16

16 Parkinson McHugh Weaver Young7 McHugh11 Hatton Kwofie Young Young2 D.Whelan4 D.Whelan Norris

17 Fairchild Young Bradley Bradley Fairchild Bradley Edzes6 McHugh6 Onhu Edwards7 Bolton9 Young8

Potter2 Dodd Young7 McHugh8 Young7 Bolton10 Potter3 Potter10 Heron McHugh6 H-O’Connor2 McHugh Lawrence10 Smith8 Smith Bolton81 Heron Ashby9 Riley6 Heron McHugh6 Ball Ashby11 Casson Salah

McHugh Lomax Walsh Fairchild Young4 Fairchild Hoult H-O’Connor H-O’Connor Weaver Salah7 H-O’Connor Cliff10 Lawrence McHugh Bolton10 Lawrence Young Salah2 Lawrence C.Greene

Edwards9

Young

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 10-MAN TOWN HOLD OUT FOR A POINT by Glyn Jones Holker Old Boys 1, St. Helens Town 0 St. Helens Town 1, Cammell Laird 1907 1 The Easter fixtures were a little disappointing for St. Helens Town, with a one-goal defeat at Holker on Wednesday, followed by a draw at home to Cammell Laird on Saturday, then

a wash-out at Alsager on Monday, but the scoreline in the weekend game at Ruskin Sports Village belied a performance full of character, as Town lost four players to injury, including two substitutes, playing most of the second half with only ten men. Historically, it was the first time the club had ever avoided defeat against the Birkenhead side. The trip to Barrow last Wednesday was a real let-down, though not for a lack of effort. Neither side stood out in the first half, though Town probably just about edged the play for the first 40 minutes. Then, out of the blue, on the counter-attack, their defence was caught out of position by the classiest player on the park, John-Paul Stanway, so often a scorer against St. Helens in the past. He collected the long through ball and surged forward picking his spot past the already-struggling Carl Williams in the visitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; goal to net the only goal of the game. Shaun Brady looked to be on his way to try a similar move of his own just before halftime, but was unceremoniously scythed down, earning the Holker offender a yellow

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card right on half-time and a similarly agricultural challenge put paid to keeper Williams early in the second half, the Town

replaced by Alex Ashby. At the other end, Lairds attacked and Walsh conceded a penalty, but pulled off a magnificent save to redeem himself and preserve Town’s lead, but just before the interval, the Wirral side equalised through Hayden Cooper, who squeezed his shot just inside the Australian keeper’s near post. Town used their third substitute right on half-time as Edwards had to leave the field. Town were reduced to ten men when Ashby became the second substitute to leave the fray through injury and the visitors had the majority of the possession for the final 35 minutes. Town relied on their ability to break at pace and squandered a couple of opportunities to re-take the lead with Andy Webster going closest on the hour mark when his headed effort was scrambled off the line.

stopper having to undergo lengthy treatment on the field for a nasty head and shoulder injury. Outfield substitute Jake Young deputised in goal and, as in the First Division Cup-tie on the same ground in October, he did the team proud. Brady had a great chance to level the scores with 20 minutes remaining but could only fire straight at the keeper, whilst substitute Luke Edwards was chopped down from behind when trying to get in another opportunity to produce an equaliser in the closing stages, a tackle which, remarkably, went unpunished. Cammell Laird had all the early pressure in Saturday’s match, but Gage Walsh in the Town goal had no questions asked of him. Liam Diggle, vastly improved of late, succumbed to injury early on and was replaced by Edwards and he combined well with Danny Greene to test Lairds’ keeper, John Lynch. Immediately afterwards, Greene fired St. Helens ahead with a shot from 20 yards. Greene then went off injured, to be

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Lairds’ had half chances through Cross and Malkin who both failed to hit the target when in decent positions while MacInnes was denied by the legs of Walsh in the Town goal. MacInnes came closest for the visitors when he struck the crossbar from distance as the game entered stoppage time. Town had stuck to their task and it was a remarkable team effort that held on for a 1-1 draw that keeps them ahead of Bacup in 19th place.

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Forthcoming Fixtures League League League League League League

Town Reserves (Cheshire League Division 2) 10/03/2018 12:15 St Helens Town Res 1-2 17/03/2018 15:00 Moore United FC 3-2 07/04/2018 15:00 Unicorn Athletic JFC v 10/04/2018 19:45 Buxton FC Res v 14/04/2018 12:15 St Helens Town Res v 28/04/2018 12:15 St Helens Town Res v

League Cup Cup League League

Town U18s (North West Youth Alliance League Division One) 11/03/2018 14:30 Colne FC 4-4 St Helens Town 18/03/2018 15:00 St Helens Town AFC 1-2 Altrincham AFC 15/04/2018 15:00 St Helens Town AFC v Tranmere Rovers 22/04/2018 15:00 St Helens Town AFC v Egerton FC 29/04/2018 14:30 Witton Albion v St Helens Town AFC

League League League League League

Town U21s (North West U21s Development League Premier Division) 11/03/2018 15:00 St Helens Town 2-4 Wythenshawe Town 25/03/2018 14:00 Rylands 2-3 St Helens Town 08/04/2018 14:00 Wythenshawe Town v St Helens Town 15/04/2018 14:00 Daten FC v St Helens Town 19/04/2018 19:45 Irlam FC v St Helens Town

League League League League

Town Sunday (Liverpool Business Houses League Division One) 25/03/2018 11:30 St Helens Town 4-3 FC Waterloo 01/04/2018 10:30 West Derby Oaklands 3-4 St Helens Town 08/04/2018 11.30 Seel Arms v St Helens Town 12/04/2018 18.30 St Helens Town v Windy Arbour

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Buxton FC Res St Helens Town Res St Helens Town Res St Helens Town Res Cuddington FC Grappenhall Sports

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On this day In history Town have played 16 times on this date stretching back to 1950 and across three league competitions – the Lancashire Combination, Cheshire League and North West Counties League. On this date in 1950 Town hosted Bolton Wanderers ‘B’ in the Lancashire Combination Division 2 with the visitors running out comfortable 0-5 winners at Hoghton Road. The following season (1951) it was a different matter when Leyland Motors were Town’s visitors to Sutton – goals from Byrne (2), Leadbetter (2) and a Harry McCann hat-trick earned Town a 7-0 home victory. Town were back at home on this date in 1954 when South Liverpool were our opponents in the Lancashire Combination Cup. It proved to be a disappointing exit for Town as they bowed out of the competition 0-3. It was a similar story two season’s later (1956) when Chorley were 0-2 winners at Hoghton Road in the Lancashire Combination Division 1. It was back to Lancashire Combination action on this date in 1958, this time Division 2, when Oldham Athletic Reserves thumped Town 7-1 at home; Jones hitting Town’s solitary goal.

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Into the 1960s (1962) and Town hosted Wigan Rovers in the Lancashire Combination Division 2. The game finished 1-1 with Underdown on the scoresheet for Town. On this date in 1966 Town travelled to Guinness Exports in the Lancashire Combination top flight where despite goals from Hurst and Frodhsam Town went down 4-2. As the world looked towards putting the first man of the moon (1969) Town were in Lancashire Combination Division 1 action with Clitheroe the visitors to Hoghton Road. We don’t have the goal scorer records but Town ran out 4-0 winners. The following season (1970) Town made the short trip to Kirkby Town in the Liverpool Non League Cup 1st Round but they exited the competition 1-0 at the first time of asking. Hoghton Road was the venue on this date in 1973 when Bacup Borough were the visitors in the last of our Lancashire Combination encounters. Town’s Tuft struck in a 1-1 draw. By 1979 Town were in Cheshire League action and travelled to Radcliffe Borough. Richardson was on target in a 1-1 draw. On this date in 1980 Town travelled to New Mills in the Cheshire League top flight where two goals from Larner saw Town return with the spoils courtesy of a 0-2 win. Skelmersdale United were this visitors to Hoghton Road on this date in 1988 as the two sides battled for the points in the North West Counties League. Tony Kelly hit Town’s goal in a 1-1 draw. It was almost 20 years before Town would play on this date and in 2007 Abbey Hey were their North West Counties League top flight opponents. The game too place at Prescot Cables, Hope Street ground with the visitors running out 0-2 winners. Two season’s later (2009) Maine Road were the visitors to Edge Green Street (home of Ashton Town) where they held Town to a 0-0 draw. Last time out on this date (2012) Town travelled to Glossop North End in the North West Counties League Premier Division. The ‘Hillmen’ ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

Thanks to

Dave Wiggins

Match Ball Sponsor Charity Partner 2017-18

Sponsor News Town are delighted to announce that their partnership with St Helens Mind is to continue into season 2018-19. St. Helens Mind is an independent local charity supporting people aged 18+ who are isolated and lonely due to mental health difficulties. In a continuation of this season’s sponsorship of the club, its logo will adorn the squad tracksuits and polo shirts. St Helens Mind will also be the club’s official charity partner for next season as well featuring in our award winning match day programme. Town official John McKiernan said, ‘We are delighted to extend our partnership with St Helens Mind and thank them for their support. We look forward to continuing a fruitful and long term partnership between our two teams. ‘We will continue to provide a number of season passes for use by the charity and look forward to welcoming service users, staff and volunteers to Ruskin Sports Village throughout the 2018-19 season. We have also agreed to support the charity’s fundraising activities over the next year.’ The charity helps people living in St Helens regardless of their cultural, religious and

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lifestyle needs and the services are nonjudgemental and offer opportunities to develop self-esteem and confidence by encouraging and supporting involvement in community life. They do this by providing a befriending service, social groups and activities, volunteering opportunities and signposting to other services. They also promote meant health awareness and resilience as well as challenging stigma. St Helens Mind Manager Gill Ellison said, ‘The last several months have been interesting and colourful for St.Helens Mind. As well as becoming the Mayoral charity for 2017-18 we became the Charity Partner of St.Helens Town AFC. This has been a superb opportunity for us to raise our profile whilst offering support to the Club.’ ‘We encourage our members and volunteers to attend and have enjoyed our time at home games. You may see our logo in the programme and on the training kit. Calendar sales have also been in support of our charity and we are immensely grateful for all the support we have gained as a result of the partnership.’ She added, ‘The partnership will help us to support many of our service users to go out into social settings, and will help us talk about mental health issues with many new people. We look forward to working together very closely in the season ahead.’

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St Helens Mind Mayor's Spring Gala Dinner As the current Mayoral Year nears its final month, St. Helens Mind, as the Mayor's chosen Charity for the year will benefit from the proceeds of a Spring Gala Dinner. This grand event will be held at Haydock Park Golf Club Saturday 21st April at 7pm and will cost ÂŁ35.00 per person. Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite on St. Helens Mind's Facebook page at: facebook.com/ sthelensmind and any queries can be made by calling 01744 520 243. As well as a delicious meal and drinks there will be entertainment, an auction and raffle. If you are a local business owner it isn't too late to offer support, by either donating a prize for the auction or even sponsoring the reception bubbly! The last several months have been interesting and colourful for St. Helens Mind. As well as becoming the Mayoral charity for 2017-18 we became the Charity Partner of St. Helens Town AFC. This has been a superb opportunity for us to raise our profile whilst offering support to the Club. We encourage our members and volunteers to attend and have enjoyed our time at home games. You may see our logo in the programme and on the training kit. Calendar

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sales have also been in support of our charity and we are immensely grateful for all the support we have gained as a result of the partnership. The partnership will help us to support many of our service users to go out into social settings, and will help us talk about mental health issues with many new people. We look forward to working together very closely in the season ahead.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I will be at the match today and hopefully most home matches in the future, please say ,'Hello' and ask away about our remarkable very small, local charity doing massive things in St. Helens for local people. Gill Ellison St. Helens Mind Manager Tel: 01744 647089 Email: admin@sthelensmind.org.uk Facebook: facebook.com/sthelensmind www.sthelensmind.org.uk Twitter @sthelensmind St Helens Mind is registered in England and Wales as a Registered Charity No. 1143292 and Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7659498

Photographs from our home fixture v Cammell Laird 1907 (1-1) including our match sponsors Unite the Union (Cllrs. Bond, McCauley and Charlton and Mike Lindley (Programme sponsors) along with Dominic and @puggyadventures (pictured above left)

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Town Archive In today’s programme we look back to the build-up to the 1987 FA Vase Final itself. Town had had no previous experience of a major cup final, especially not of a national competition, culminating in a Wembley appearance. The FA had been planning the last two stages since the quarter-finals had been completed early in March and a brochure was produced for the semi-finals, with full details of all four clubs involved, namely Emley, St. Helens Town, Collier Row and Warrington Town. Local television in the North West gave much publicity to both Town and Warrington on the build-up to the semi-finals, but in the weeks leading up to the Final, St. Helens Town cut their own record – “Town’s Triumph” - the Wembley kit was sponsored by St. Helens Glass and Pilkingtons cover the cost of the Wembley suits. Warrington Town produced a brochure to mark the occasion.

St. Helens Town had never attracted huge crowds and, when the Saints also qualified for the RL Challenge Cup Final (eventually losing to Halifax by a single point), the hard-pressed fans, in the middle of a recession, had the choice of only one Wembley visit, either to follow Town on 25th April, or the Saints the following Saturday. St. Helens, like Warrington, has always been a rugby town, so the great majority chose to follow the Saints on 2nd May, to the detriment of Town. The crowd, 4254, was to be the smallest in FA Vase Final history. The squad assembled early on the day before the final, first visiting Pilkingtons’ head office, then on to the Town Hall, where the mayor gave them a civic blessing before the team coach departed at 10.30am for the journey to the team hotel at Watford. Those selected to play in the Final retired early to bed, whilst the unsuccessful players had a quiet night out. Come the day of the Final, the squad had a late breakfast and then set off for the Empire Stadium, where they arrived at 1.45pm. Whilst the St. Helens team had been settled for some time, there was uncertainty in the Warrington camp and one question to be decided was whether former Town player Jimmy Woodyer would be lining up against his former teammates.

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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

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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 Laburnum Rovers were founded in 1956 by Joe Riley as an under 14s side and after a difficult first season in the local Briarcroft Junior League, they went on to enjoy much success in League and Cup competitions. Joe was persuaded to carry on into Senior football and after a brief spell in the Leigh League the club joined the Bolton Combination. More success followed, but the ground at Hag Fold prevented further progress so a farmers field was found and despite footpath criss-crossing and duck ponds either side, hard work by everyone at the club turned this unpromising field into a football pitch. In 1966 the club moved into its new ground and were able to take their place in Division One of the Combination. Jack Crilly succeeded Joe as Chairman and worked tirelessly for the club, supervising the erection of new changing rooms (an improvement on the old air raid shelters they had been using) and a small social club. Jack died suddenly in 1980 and as a tribute to the work he did the ground was renamed from Greendale to Crilly Park. In the summer of 1980 the club joined the non-league pyramid when their application to join the Cheshire County League was successful. A stipulation of the League was that the towns name had to be in the clubs title, so links with the past were retained with the new name of Atherton Laburnum Rovers. In 1982 the club became founder members of the North West Counties League, being placed in division two until the league was reorganised in 1987 when ongoing ground improvements saw them placed in division one. 1989 saw floodlights erected and the club enter the FA Cup for the first time, while in 1991 the changing rooms and clubhouse were

completely rebuilt. Towards the end of 1990/91 season Dave Morris took over as team manager and it was the start of the best period in the clubs history. In 1992/93 the club won the League title with 106 points from 42 games and also won the League Championship Trophy. Promotion to the Unibond League was denied them because of grading requirements, but undaunted the club repeated their double the following season as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Vase. This time the club was promoted to the Unibond League. Two good seasons saw steady progress, but then financial troubles struck and the club was relegated for the first time in its history. Three seasons of struggle back in the North West Counties League culminated with the relegation to Division Two. However, the appointment of Alan Lord as manager saw a remarkable turnaround in form and nine successive victories helped the club win back promotion to Division One at the first attempt. In November 2002 Tom Foster and Dennis Haslem took over as managers after having to rebuild the team from scratch, they secured Division One football for another season. Dennis moved on in the summer and Ian Street joined the club. A period of stability and success followed but at the end of 2004/05 season Foster and Street left the club to be replaced by Mike Lester and Darren Ford, They set about building a new squad but, in February 2006, Lester and Ford resigned sparking a difficult time for the club on the pitch with no less than six managers at the helm over the next two years. The most successful period came in spring 2007 under Roy Sweeney when the club moved away from the relegation zone after doubling its points total from 21 to 42 in the final two months of the season. Sweeney resigned in December 2007, with Malcolm Anderton taking temporary charge for four months until exLR player and Leigh RMI manager Stuart Humphreys was brought in to ensure the club retained its top division status and it

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was fortunate that 21st place was enough. With changes elsewhere in the pyramid system meaning LR avoided relegation at the end of 07/08 season, the club brought in Dave Hughes as the new manager with a brief to keep the team in the Premier Division while the club was reorganised behind the scenes. Hughes brought in a very experienced coaching team and set about building a squad which has proved very successful. The season ended with one of the highest league placings for several years, victory in the Goldline Trophy and another Reebok appearance in the Hospital Cup final. This season the side had a promising opening to the campaign recording another FA Cup giant-killing before injuries took a severe toll, with the team battling in the relegation dogfight. Victory once again in the Goldline Trophy Final gave the team enough belief to collect the points they needed to stay in the Premier Division. Dave Hughes resigned as manager at the beginning of September 2010 and the position was immediately offered to the Head Coach Glenn Moses to ensure stability within the team. Moses led the club to its third Goldline Final in three years and one of our highest league placings for several years but unfortunately further instability followed at the end of that season with the manager and most of the team moving on to pastures new. At short notice former player Phil Priestley took the reins and with barely two weeks to build a squad from scratch before the season began it always appeared an uphill struggle. Despite some battling performances LR succumbed to relegation, and the 2012/13

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season in Division One was also a challenge, despite some outstanding performances which saw the team beat all the leading lights including West Didsbury, Formby and Darwen over the course of the campaign. 2013/14 opened under new management as Michael Clegg was appointed and the season brought real encouragement on the pitch as the side secured a top eight finish with some tremendous performances, although off the pitch the club was plunged into mourning following the sudden death of long-term supporter Eddie Taylor - the Man with the Rattle. At the end of the season Clegg departed for Atherton Collieries and the club appointed another former player Ross McNair, to be assisted by the hugelyexperienced former Ashton Athletic and Colls supremo Steve Pilling. After an encouraging 2014/15 season where LR spent most of the season in the play off places only to fall away at the business end of the season. Ross had to step down due to work commitments at the end of the campaign and the club moved to appoint brothers Adam & Craig Jones from Stoneclough as joint managers but the club struggled and finished the campaign second bottom of the table.

Shaun Lynch took over for the 2016-17 season and along with his coaching team of Jimmy McMullen, John Brannigan and Dave Potter. Lynch was in charge until midDecember when he left with Potter taking charge on a interim basis until LR appointed Warren Jones as their new manager in January 2018.

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I was there . . . I spent last Sunday evening wisely, making memories in The George. Landlords Al and Chelle are leaving, and it was their last big party. I enjoyed it. After falling out of the door I stumbled toward Shaw St., quite innocently, when a large sign on the corner of a building caught my eye: 'LIVERPOOL ECHO and DAILY POST'. Given the faded, peeling, paint and the fact that the printed Post bit the dust five years ago it was clearly of some antiquity. It dawned upon me that it had until recently been covered by an advertisement for "George Street Suites". The streets thereabouts are studded with memories. The site of the former Railway Inn reminds me of my parents’ tale of peering through one of its windows on one of their first nervous ventures out together (long before the pub blew up). The faded livery of the Carlton Billiard Hall above Hampson’s ironmongers, visible within my adult memory, hinted at late night sporting wagers. Sight of The Royal Alfred, now tinned up, still invokes a swell of pride at my best youthful form on a pool table, lubricated with The Cream of Manchester. New buildings, streetscapes and spaces are a memory blank, in comparison. Nothing much has happened there; the ghosts haven't moved in. Town's new home is a case in point: to the aged Hoghton Roaders

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and venerable band of nomads, Ruskin complete with sponsors' naming rights - is a modern curiosity. A football ground framed by trees instead of cooling towers? No kiosk fare dispensed direct at the back of a terrace? And what’s with the heated toilet block?? Harrumph. In time, that will change. Just look at the St. Helens Central station building: it may be “new” to me, but it is already ten years old. Half a generation of Sintelliners has already commuted and revelled through its glass halls, trigger-happy automatic doors, and (lately) metropolitan ticket barriers, dashing for illicit relief in the Alf when the station toilets are out of order. It is the only station building that many of them have known. (Remember when Dave did a Michael Jackson over the barrier? Or when Nat dropped the Hooch on platform 2?) Ruskin’s pitch is the envy of many sides in the league, gradually improving facilities and – importantly - a St. Helens address. Attendance is respectable and growing. The memories will come: people already talk of the drama on opening night, when the floodlights conked out in injury time, just as Abbey Hulton's top-knot was about to strike a clinching penalty. In years to come they will say: “Remember when we beat Atherton 8-2, having conceded an own goal after 20 minutes and had two men sent off? I was there.” COYB Ste Lingard (@stelingard)

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

Atherton LR games since... All Competitions

Clean sheet

Goal Scored

Loss

No score draw

Score draw Win

0 2

Loss No score draw Score draw Win

Home League Away League Home Cup Away Cup Collated Away Collated

P 23 24 3 2 52 3 4

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W 14 10 2 1 27 1 2

at St Helens Town 08/03; 5-2

Previous Meetings 2002-03

at Atherton LR 08/04; 2-2

31/01; 0-3

2003-04

29/11; 0-1

05/10; 1-0

2004-05

30/11; 0-3

03/09; 2-2

2005-06

08/10; 2-0

03/04; 1-5

2006-07

24/04; 4-3

15/12; 2-1

2007-08

14/08; 1-3

18/11; 3-6

2008-09

24/02; 0-4

08/09; 2-2

2009-10

16/03; 1-0

05/10; 3-0

2010-11

26/03; 0-1

02/01; 3-0

2011-12

09/08; 0-0

NWC-PD

2012-13

NWC-D1

NWC-PD

2013-14

NWC-D1

NWC-PD

2014-15

NWC-D1

11/08; 4-1

2015-16

27/02; 4-1

01/04; 3-0

2016-17

03/09; 2-4

07/04/2018

2017-18

29/08; 0-2

St Helens Town Scores First Games Played

St Helens Town Wins

Draws

Atherton LR Wins

St Helens Town Goals

3 2

Atherton LR Goals

Percentage Town Wins

44.00

Previous Meetings D L 6 3 4 10 0 1 1 0 11 14 0 2 0 2

F 52 32 5 3 92 3 6

A 30 37 3 2 72 7 8

GD 22 -5 2 1 20 -4 -2

Win % 60.87 41.67 66.67 50.00 51.92 33.33 50.00

League News Squires Gate – Gate’s 7-0 recent win at Barnton was their highest league win in almost nine years. The last time they posted a seven goal winning margin was on the 1st September 2009, when they won 8–1 at home to Colne in a Premier Division game. The last time we saw a 7-0 away win in a league game was just over a year ago on the 25th March 2017, when Charnock Richard fired in seven without reply at Daisy Hill. Daisy Hill – Craig Haynes, who has made 30 appearances in goal for Daisy Hill this season, took a step back in time against Holker Old Boys recently, when he lined up at centre half.

Craig is no stranger to playing outfield, having played outfield both for Daisy Hill and Wigan Robin Park in the past before converting to a goalkeeper a few years back, and Daisy manager Phil Roberts said that he was pleased at how Craig played. “Obviously I knew Craig had been an outfield player in the past in this league, and we just thought it might help with the organisation on the field, as we were short of players in a couple of areas”, said Phil.

“I thought Craig was one of our better players, although obviously he tired a bit in the last 20 minutes. But we then stuck him up front, and I thought he did a bit of damage there too. It might not be the last time we use him outfield this season”. Carlisle City - Henry Walker became the third generation of his family to play for Carlisle City after his senior debut last Saturday in the game at Sandbach United. Henry, who also plays senior cricket for Carlisle CC, follows in the footsteps of his father Andy and grandfather George, one of the founder members of the club. Stockport Town manager Dave Wild has left the club to join Evo-Stik League outfit Mossley. The move took place with immediate effect and he was joined by assistant manager Phil Carratt and first team coach Liam Hudson. Lions U21s Manager Jake Davies will take on the first team managerial role on an interim basis. Dave Wild joined the club in January 2017 following the resignation of Calum Sykes. In what was his first managerial job, Wild led the team to a 10th place finish which included the club’s longest unbeaten run of 12 games. This season the team have excelled in cup competitions, reaching the quarter-finals of the Macron Cup and semifinals of the Cheshire Senior Cup. Speaking on Stockport Town website, Wild said: “It’s with a huge sadness that I bid farewell to Stockport Town. I have been given the opportunity to manage at Mossley Football Club and after discussions with Seb and the board we all

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“As a club, we’re proud that their talents have been recognised. We exist to provide young ambitious, people with the platform to excel. Good luck at Mossley lads!”

agreed that it is too good an opportunity for me to turn down. “I have absolutely loved every single minute of my time at Stockport Town and can’t thank everyone players, board and fans enough for their incredible support and backing along the way.

Rowe added: “As the saying goes, when one door closes another one opens. Dave leaving presents Jake Davies (U21s Manager) with an opportunity. Jake will take the reins on an interim basis and we wish him the best of luck. He has already supported several younger players through their transition from U21s to First Team.

“I have learnt some valuable lessons in my time at the club and can safely say that Town will always have a place in my heart”.

"Jake has been involved in the first team set-up on a regular basis this season so will be a familiar face to many”.

Town Chairman Seb Rowe said: “We’d like to thank Dave, Phil and Fessi for the time and effort they have put into running the first team. When Dave and Phil joined the club back in January last year there was a real repair job required and they did a sterling job in steadying the ship. "This season hasn’t panned out quite as we’d liked, but there has been plenty of positives and much of this has been down to their hard work.

Davies will be unavailable for the home game against Bacup Borough so his first game will be on Wednesday 4th April against local rivals Cheadle Town, 7.45pm kick off at Park Road Stadium.

Atherton LR League positions over recent seasons Season

League

Pts

Position

2002-03

NWC-1

-21

14/22

2003-04

NWC-1

12/22

2004-05

NWC-1

-18

15/22

2005-06

NWC-1

115

-75

20/22

2006-07

NWC-1

106

-41

16/22

2007-08

NWC-1

-48

19/20

2008-09

NWC-P

-7

12/22

2009-10

NWC-P

-43

20/22

2010-11

NWC-P

10/22

2011-12

NWC-P

116

-80

22/22

2012-13

NWC-1

-18

13/18

2013-14

NWC-1

8/19

2014-15

NWC-1

-24

12/19

2015-16

NWC-1

103

-71

17/18

2016-17

NWC-1

-51

20/22

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Premier Division Fixtures

Premier Division Table Thurs 05/04/2018

GD Pts

Runcorn Linnets

36 25

4 102 31

Widnes

36 22

Hanley Town

Runcorn Town

Bootle

34 18

Charnock Richard

City of Liverpool

1874 Northwich

Squires Gate

-13

Padiham

Ashton Athletic

30 13

13 60

Saturday 7th April 2018 Charnock Richard v Congleton Town Hanley Town v Barnoldswick Town Irlam v 1874 Northwich Maine Road v Runcorn Linnets Padiham v Bootle Runcorn Town v AFC Darwen Widnes v AFC Liverpool Winsford United v Northwich Victoria Monday 9th April 2018 AFC Darwen v 1874 Northwich Winsford United v Congleton Town Tuesday 10th April 2018 AFC Darwen v Widnes Barnoldswick Town v Ashton Athletic Bootle v Burscough Squires Gate v Northwich Victoria West Didsbury & Chorlton v Padiham Wednesday 11th April 2018 Abbey Hey v City of Liverpool FC Runcorn Town v Irlam Winsford United v Maine Road Thursday 12th April 2018 Barnoldswick Town v Congleton Town Charnock Richard v 1874 Northwich West Dids & Chorlton v AFC Liverpool Saturday 14th April 2018 1874 Northwich v Widnes AFC Darwen v Abbey Hey Ashton Athletic v Squires Gate Barnoldswick Tn v City of Liverpool FC Charnock Richard v Runcorn Linnets Maine Road v Winsford United Northwich Victoria v West D & Chorlton Padiham v Congleton Town Runcorn Town v AFC Liverpool

12 Barnoldswick Town 30

14 63

-13

Monday 16th April 2018 Winsford United v 1874 Northwich

15 West Did & Chorlton 33

16 70 96

-26

Winsford United

-10

Irlam

14 50

-4

Abbey Hey

-14

Tuesday 17th April 2018 AFC Liverpool v West Dids & Chorlton Ashton Athletic v Charnock Richard Barnoldswick Town v Abbey Hey City of Liverpool FC v Hanley Town Irlam v Bootle Northwich Victoria v AFC Darwen Squires Gate v Maine Road

Burscough

20 58

-27

Wednesday 18th April 2018 Padiham v 1874 Northwich

Maine Road

23 50

-45

AFC Liverpool

20 65

-17

AFC Darwen

22 33 103 -70

Barnton (R)

30 53 150 -97

Congleton Town

14 Northwich Victoria

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Thursday 19th April 2018 Bootle v Barnoldswick Town Burscough v Ashton Athletic Runcorn Town v 1874 Northwich Winsford United v Irlam Friday 20th April 2018 Barnton v AFC Liverpool Widnes v Northwich Victoria

First Division Table Thurs 05/04/2018

First Division Fixtures

A GD Pts

Litherland REMYCA

34 26

96 30 66 82

Silsden AFC

33 26

84 29 55 81

Prestwich Heys

89 38

Whitchurch Alport

Sandbach United

33 20

68 49 19 62

Alsager Town

69 53 16 55

Cammell Laird 1907

67 52

AFC Blackpool

13 66 60

Holker Old Boys

52 66 -14 48

Stockport Town

61 59

Carlisle City

54 52

New Mills

53 66 -13 40

Abbey Hulton Utd

30 10

43 47

Atherton LR

31 11

16 50 61 -11 37

FC Oswestry Town

Cheadle Town

14 46 61 -15 34

Chadderton

61 79 -18 32

Eccleshall

40 81 -41 30

St Helens Town

23 44 82 -38 26

Bacup Borough

38 65 -27 25

Nelson

37 75 -38 20

Daisy Hill

20 35 78 -43 19

51 69

24 47 69

-4

52 69 -17 35

Saturday 7th April 2018 AFC Blackpool v FC Oswestry Town Bacup Borough v Stockport Town Carlisle City v Eccleshall Holker Old Boys v Whitchurch Alport Litherland REMYCA v Abbey Hulton Utd Nelson v Alsager Town Silsden AFC v New Mills St Helens Town v Atherton LR Monday 9th April 2018 Cheadle Town v Carlisle City Daisy Hill v Atherton LR Whitchurch Alport v AFC Blackpool Tuesday 10th April 2018 Alsager Town v Abbey Hulton United FC Oswestry Town v Prestwich Heys Silsden AFC v St Helens Town Wednesday 11th April 2018 Atherton LR v Whitchurch Alport Cammell Laird 1907 v Daisy Hill Eccleshall v Cheadle Town Thursday 12th April 2018 Abbey Hulton United v Chadderton Bacup Borough v Litherland REMYCA New Mills v Prestwich Heys Friday 13th April 2018 Nelson v Silsden AFC Saturday 14th April 2018 AFC Blackpool v Sandbach United Atherton LR v Alsager Town Carlisle City v Abbey Hulton United Chadderton v Cammell Laird 1907 Daisy Hill v Cheadle Town Eccleshall v Bacup Borough FC Oswestry Town v Holker Old Boys New Mills v Whitchurch Alport Prestwich Heys v Stockport Town St Helens Town v Litherland REMYCA Monday 16th April 2018 Bacup Borough v Holker Old Boys Cheadle Town v Eccleshall New Mills v Sandbach United Tuesday 17th April 2018 Abbey Hulton Utd v Whitchurch Alport Alsager Town v Litherland REMYCA Atherton LR v Silsden AFC Chadderton v Daisy Hill Stockport Town v Nelson Wednesday 18th April 2018 Prestwich Heys v Carlisle City Sandbach United v FC Oswestry Town Thursday 19th April 2018 Bacup Borough v Cheadle Town Chadderton v Alsager Town

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Next up at RUSKIN DRIVE Sat 14th April 2018 Kick Off 3.00pm

Today’s Team Line-up

versus LITHERLAND R Hallmark Security League Division One

Next AWAY FIXTURE

Tuesday 17th April 2018 Kick Off 7.45pm

versus Silsden AFC Hallmark Security League Division One

Today’s SPONSORS Match: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Match Ball: Boars Head Programme: St Helens Mind

Main Club Sponsors

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Charity Partner 2017-18

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