St Helens Town v Litherland REMYCA 2016-17 by John McKiernan

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Team Line-Ups Monday 26th December 2016, kick off 3pm The Hallmark Security League, First Division

CLUB INFORMATION Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens Vice Presidents: Jim Barrett and Steve Ball Chairman: John McKiernan (07713 339682)

St Helens Town

Litherland REMYCA

Blue Shirts Blue Shorts, Blue & White Socks Gls Y R

Vice Chairman: Glyn Jones

Gage Walsh

Michael Chojnicki

Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695)

Ste Rigby Adam Donohue

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

Andy Webster Andy Presho Danny Greene

Hospitality: Margaret Wood and Paul Wood

Red Shirts Black Shorts & Red Socks No

Sean Lake Anthony Cate

Alex Ryan Chris Tyson Stephen King Lee McConchie Michael Boyle

Alex Gillespie

Thomas Seddon

Trustee: John McKiernan

Andy Gillespie

Colin McDonald

1st Team Manager: Alan Gillespie

Will Threlkeld

Colin Quirk

Luke Edwards

Tom Foley

Interim 1st Team Manager Lee Jenkinson

Eddie Pegler Callum Davies

1st Team Coach: Nick Robinson 1st Team Physiotherapists Ellie Hayes & Paige Marcus U21s Team Manager: John McLaughlan U21s Assistant Manager: Lee Jenkinson

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

Lewis Murphy Leon Williams John Cheetham Manager: Phil Stafford Assistant: Paul McNally

Referee: Mr M Herzog (Liverpool) Assist: Mr A Waring (Swinton) & Mr P Dean (Wigan)

U18s Assistant Manager: Terry Smith Sunday Team Manager: David Platt

James McGrane

Alex Worthington

Manager: Alan Gillespie Assistant: Lee Jenkinson

U18s Team Manager: David McNabb

Niall Gannon

Warren Twist Josh Hoult

Gls Y R

Match Sponsor

Toast Coffee House & Cafe

149 Dentons Green Lane, St Helens WA10 6RG

Shirt Sponsor: Freestart plc

Match Ball Sponsors

Next Home Game:

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

Britannia Cars

Town v Holker Old Boys

Company Director: Jim Barrett

01744 20022

Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited

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Hallmark Security League Saturday 7th January 2016, 3pm Volair Park, Prescot Cables FC

Cover Photograph: Andy Presho and Luke Edwards

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Talk of the Town Good afternoon and Merry Christmas and welcome to Volair Park for this Hallmark Security League, First Division contest against Litherland REMYCA. May I open by welcoming our visitors I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the game. It has been 16 days since we were last here welcoming Bacup Borough to Volair Park and on that afternoon we extended our unbeaten league run to six matches and five wins in a row with a comfortable 2-0 victory over the visitors from Lancashire. The opening period saw the hosts on top but it took the vast majority of the half for Town to open the scoring and it was through one of the usual goal sources as Dale Korie-Butler worked down the left flank turning his pursuing defender before squaring to skipper Andy Gillespie who made no mistake giving his dad Alan returning to the dugout a welcome home present and sending the hosts in 1-0 at the break but not before Bacup were reduced to 10 men after a late challenge on Eddie Pegler saw Wayne Morrison given his marching orders. A quarter of an hour into the second period the lead was doubled as an effort from Gillespie was parried by the visiting stopper but only to Ant Whelan who turned the rebound home his third goal of the current campaign. Whelan was to have an eventful afternoon as he was to get an “early bath” when he was adjudged to have diverted a goal-bound effort with his arm but debutant in goal Adam Fairchild was equal to Anthony Hall’s spot kick and turned the effort away ensuring a clean sheet and three point for the hosts. We then took the trip to league front runners Whitchurch Alport last Saturday in some awful conditions, the phrase “pea souper “ springs to mind and the foggy conditions made the test even more challenging for Town. The Alport outfit is much changed from that of last season which finished at the foot of the table and went down to a 10-0 loss at Town late on in the season. The hosts were in the ascendancy in the opening stages and it was no surprise that they opened the deadlock, Mike Blundell firing home a left wing cross and the lead was doubled when Blundell punished Town on a counter attack to make it 2-0 matters got worse before the break as the hosts added a third through Simon Everall and this was the way the game was to stay. The challenges don't come any easier as we host a Litherland REMYCA outfit who are on the fringe of the promotion places currently in 4th placed and have been in good form recently. The two sides have met twice already this season with Town winning an early league contest 2-1 at Litherland and REMY advancing in the Liverpool Senior Cup at Town’s expense 4-2 last month and so we know that Alan and the lads will be in for a difficult test this afternoon. May I extend all the best wishes of this festive season to you from all at St Helens Town AFC but I hope that this generosity doesn’t extend to our visitors on the pitch this afternoon! I hope you enjoy this the last home game of 2016 and are able to travel and support us at Prestwich Heys on Friday, 30th December with a 7.45pm kick off for the final game of this year and then come back here to Volair Park for the first Saturday in January (7th) as we welcome Holker Old Boys to Prescot. Let’s get behind Town this afternoon and hopefully cheer them on to victory! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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In Town Today Litherland Remyca Football Club started life in the Seaforth area of Liverpool as St Thomas F.C. (1959) playing in the Church of England League. Players were recruited mainly from Seaforth and Bootle and the team later became known as Bootle C.L.B. (Church Lads Brigade). The founder members of Remyca Utd, Bill and Ken Edwards, acted as managers having recently given up their playing careers. The area, predominantly working class, provided an abundance of talented amateur players and links were formed with Bootle YMCA which provided a club base and facilities to train. In 1967 the team again changed its name to REM Social as a local workingman’s club offered to finance the running of the club. One year later REMYCA UTD F.C. came into being, the name derived from connections with both REM Social Club and Bootle YMCA. The team entered the Third Division of the I Zingari Alliance League and became Champions at the first attempt. Thereafter, successive championships followed culminating in acceptance into the I Zingari League that was regarded as a higher standard of football. The First XI made steady progress through the divisions earning a reputation for playing open and attractive football. The I Zingari Challenge Cup was claimed in the 1975/76 season as Remyca Utd began to establish itself as a force within amateur football on Merseyside. The formation of a Premier League led to the club being invited to become inaugural members. This demanded improved playing facilities and the club left its spiritual home at Moss Lane, Litherland to move to Maghull High School. A former player, Steve Smith, became manager and began building a squad capable of competing with the best amateur sides in the region. Remyca Utd became the I Zingari League Champions in the 1987/88 season and in 1991 became one of the few Merseyside Teams to win the all Lancashire FA Amateur Cup. The 1990s was a significant period in the club’s history, and the most successful, as both Premier League and Cup doubles were achieved in seasons 1993/94, 1994/95 and 1995/96 followed by again winning the Challenge Cup in the 1998/99 season. This period of dominance and success resulted in Remyca Utd seeking entry to the Liverpool County Combination League to test itself at a higher level again. The club returned after a while to it’s local level after a number of structural re-organisations. The club over recent years worked its way up to the upper echelons of the local leagues. Under various names and guises, Remyca Utd has been established for close to over 50 years. Special mention must go to Bill and Ken Edwards, founder members who started the original aims of a platform for competitive football for local people of all ages and abilities. Remyca Utd are now based at Litherland Sports Park, which is one of the finest facilities within the region providing a wide range of activities for all ages and abilities, encouraging use by the local community and performance athletes alike. Our midlong term aims though are to work with local councils to identify a site and build a community facility for all sides under the Remyca banner as well as the local area. In 2013 the Management Committee of REMYCA began exploring the potential to grow and develop the club. Social and cultural changes had impacted on grass roots football with many teams, clubs and

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Litherland REMYCA even leagues folding due to lack of support. The basis for a sustainable club was clearly a community based model offering football opportunity with good coaching to all ages from 7 years upwards. The first stage of the new development plan was to add Litherland to the club name so as to identify with the local area and enhance the community ethos of the club. A key appointment was Colin Begbie as head of youth development whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience and network of football contacts has proven invaluable. The longer term plan is to achieve Community Charter Standard status and the journey has commenced extremely well. In line with aspirations to compete at the highest level the club applied to be promoted to step 6 of the Football Pyramid and enter the North West Counties Football League. A tremendous amount of work was undertaken to finance and fabricate a 50 seater spectator stand at Litherland Sports Park. The club got the required league position for admission and last season entered the non-league football pyramid for the first time, reaching 9th in the league and a divisional cup final. An amazing year of development also witnessed the junior section grow and girls and open age womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teams are now being introduced. There are currently 16 teams from under 7s to Veterans playing under the REMYCA banner, a fantastic achievement and testimony to the passion, commitment and hard work of a fantastic group of people. After taking part in the Liverpool Senior Cup for the first time during the 2014/15 season, the 2015/16 season saw Remyca participate in the FA Vase for the first time, another historic first but the club got a tough draw against Runcorn Town and bowed out at the first hurdle. On the league front Litherland improved their record but not their league position as they finished 9th for a second season. The future is looking solid for Litherland Remyca built on historic and lasting foundations and they are looking to push on and secure at least a play off position at the end of the current season.

Season 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

League LPL-CC2 LPL-CC IZL-2 IZL-1 IZL-2 LCPL-2 LCPL-1 LCPL-1 LCPL-1 LCPL-P LCPL-P LCPL-P LCPL-P NWC-1 NWC-1

P 24 10 20 18 24 32 26 30 28 30 28 24 26 36 34

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W 14 3 18 11 19 27 13 18 15 9 5 10 13 13 16

D 3 1 1 4 4 2 5 6 4 7 1 3 4 8 6

L 7 6 1 3 1 3 8 6 9 14 22 11 9 15 12

F 67 16 74 53 83 120 59 60 59 52 39 40 58 72 63

A 37 28 15 24 25 41 48 37 46 70 88 50 49 73 51

GD 30 -12 59 29 58 79 11 23 13 -18 -49 -10 9 -1 12

Pts 45 10 55 37 61 83 44 60 49 34 16 33 43 47 54

Position 3/7 Resigned 1/11 2/10 1/9 1/17 4/14 4/16 3/15 13/16 15/15 9/13 5/14 9/19 9/18

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Chairman’s Notes Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to Volair Park for this Boxing Day Hallmark Security League First Division One encounter with Merseyside neighbours Litherland REMYCA. Let’s hope their players, officials and supporters along with today’s match officials and our own band of supporters have had a good Christmas and are treated to an entertaining encounter. Many thanks to this afternoon’s match sponsors Toast Coffee House and Café, St Helens who are also our first team training kit sponsors. We also welcome today’s match ball sponsors Britannia Cars who have joined us again this season. Many thanks for your continued supported. My only disappointment in today’s game is that I am not welcoming you to our new ground at Ruskin Drive. We had hoped that having missed the original mid-October deadline we may have been back on track for today’s game but alas, things continue to be delayed and at presence we are awaiting completion of the groundworks for the new changing rooms. The new facility is being built off-site so once in situ we shouldn't be too far away (famous last words!). We will endeavour to keep you updated on any progress and hopefully a new opening date. I’d like to thank Prescot Cables for their continued assistance and support - it is never easy at this time of the year with every game taking its toll on the pitch; especially when we had planned to be here for just a short spell. January 2017 has Town with a home fixture on every Saturday during the month (as we had been scheduled to be back ‘home’) inevitably the delay has meant we have clashes on Saturday 14th and Saturday 28th with our landlords and we must thank Mark Hayes and his committee at Ashton Town for providing us with an alternative ‘home’ for a couple of games. Last Saturday’s trip to Whitchurch Alport was always going to be a difficult encounter with the Shropshire outfit having a superb season. The 3-0 defeat ended our run of five successive league victories but we can look at a number of players who were missing for one reason or another and a poor opening half which left us with too much to do. While our game managed to beat the fog (not sure how to be honest) a number of fixtures were abandoned. We travel to Prestwich Heys on Friday evening (30th December 7.45pm) in a fixture re-arranged from New Year’s Day and we are back here at Volair Park on Saturday 7th January, 3pm when Holker Old Boys make the trip for Cumbria.

Don’t forget we are fundraising for the Melissa Smile Fund and our 2017 Calendar is on sale at todays game - it costs just £5 with all proceeds going straight to the charity thanks to a number of generous sponsors who covered the printing costs. With the move to Ruskin Drive immanent I am looking for pitch-side board sponsors . The one-year package costs £200 and includes the production and installation costs for a 2.7m x 0.9m board plus a programme advert and lots of social media coverage. Interested? Give me a call on 07713 339 682 for more details. Enjoy the game. John McKiernan Chairman St Helens Town AFC

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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The world this week This Week in the World of... Kieran Ford takes a trip down memory and discovers what events happened in the history of St Helens Town, sport in general and provides a reminder of any historical world events that occurred in this week in history. The week of 25th December – 1st January Last Season: St Helens Town –26th December 2015 Town’s proposed away fixture against Ashton Town at Edge Green Street is postponed/ Sport – 29th December 2015 Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino takes the unprecedented step of attempting to ban Sky Sports from televising the club's home game with Derby County, blaming the televising of games for disrupting the club's schedule. Later in the day, Cellino relents and allows the game to be televised. World – 29th December 2015 Ebola epidemic in Guinea declared over by WHO, 2,500 died over 2 years. 10 Years Ago: St Helens Town – Another Town Boxing Day fixture falls foul of the weather, which meant that a 2-1 home victory over Congleton on 23rd December is this last action of 2006. Sport – 30th December 2006 Moritz Volz of Fulham scored the 15,000th goal in the history of the F.A. Premier League, opening the scoring in his side's 2–2 draw away at Chelsea. World –26th December 2006 The 2006 Hengchun earthquake with 7.1 magnitude hit Taiwan. 20 Years Ago: St Helens Town: - 28th December 1996 Town close out 1996 with a 1-0 away defeat to Trafford. Sport – 26th December 1996 The key Boxing Day drama sees Gianfranco Zola score both of Chelsea's goals in a 2–0 away win over Aston Villa, Gordon Strachan lead Coventry City to a 3–1 away win over his old club Leeds United, and Manchester United boost their title hopes and deepen their opposition's relegation worries with a 4–0 win at Nottingham Forest. World – 30th December 1996 Proposed budget cuts by Benjamin Netanyahu spark protests from 250,000 workers who shut down services across Israel. The Vase Year – 1987: St Helens Town – The traditional Boxing Day match for Town is postponed as they are now not in competitive action until 24th January 1988! Sport – 26th December 1987 Boxing Day sees Nottingham Forest win 2–0 at Highbury to overtake Arsenal into second place, while in a London derby Wimbledon beat West Ham 2–1, and David Pleat's tenure as Leicester manager starts with defeat to A.F.C. Bournemouth. World – 30th December 1987 Premier Mugabe elected president of Zimbabwe

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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How We Compare? at St Helens Previous Meet- at Litherland Town ings REMCYA

St Helens Town - last 6 matches All Competitions

Most recent

NWC-D1

2001-02

LPL-CC D2

NWC-D1

2002-03

LPL-CC

NWC-D1

2003-04

IZL-2

NWC-D1

2004-05

IZL-1

NWC-D1

2005-06

IZL-2

NWC-D1

2006-07

LCPL-D2

NWC-D1

2007-08

LCPL-D1

NWC-PD

2008-09

LCPL-D1

Home

Away

Collated

Litherland REMYCA - last 6 matches All Competitions

Most recent

Home

NWC-PD

2009-10

LCPL-D1

Away

NWC-PD

2010-11

LCPL-PD

Collated

NWC-PD

2011-12

LCPL-PD

NWC-PD

2012-13

LCPL-PD

NWC-PD

2013-14

LCPL-PD

NWC-PD

2014-15

NWC-D1

16/02; 2-3

2015-16

09/09; 1-3

26/12/2016

2016-17

20/08; 2-1

St Helens Town games since...

Litherland REMYCA games since...

All Competitions

Clean sheet

Goal Scored

Loss

No score draw

199

Score draw

Win

St Helens Town Scores First Games Played

St Helens Town Wins

Draws

Litherland REMYCA Wins

St Helens Town Goals

Litherland REMYCA Goals

Percentage Town Wins

33.33

Previous Meetings Home League

-1

0.00

Away League

-1

50.00

Home Cup

0.00

Away Cup

-2

0.00

Collated

-4

25.00

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

Ruskin Update

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Tea Break Teasers Q1. Which two Englishmen have scored for Everton in a Merseyside derby since 2010?

Q2. Who was the last Liverpool player to be sent off in a Merseyside derby? Q3. Who has scored the most goals for Newcastle United in the Premier League? Q4. Who is the only Paraguayan to have played in the Merseyside derby? Q5. Which former Everton player was PFA Young Player of the Year in 1987/88?

Q6. Who became the first player to play for four British clubs in the Champions League? Q7. Who is Manchester Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top scorer in the Premier League? Q8. Who is the only Goalkeeper to have scored a goal had an assist and won a penalty in the Premier League? Q9. Which team has scored the most own goals in the Premier League? Q10. Which two Colombians have won the Champions League? Q11. Which striker has the best goals to minutes ratio in Premier League history? Q12. Which former Liverpool player was Hull City manager from November 2011 to May 2012? Q13. Who has made the most appearance for Spurs in the Premier League? Q14. Which player in 1993 and 1994 became the first to win the Champions League in successive seasons with different teams? Q15. Which former Everton player has played in the Premier for 16 seasons and made more than 450 appearances the most of any foreign outfielder? 1) Phil Jagielka & Jermain Beckford 2) Sotirios Kyrgiakos 3) Alan Shearer 4) Antolin Alcaraz 5) Paul Gascoigne 6) Kolo Toure (Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool & Celtic) 7) Sergio Aguero 8) Paul Robinson 9) Everton 10) Ivan Cordoba & James Rodriguez 11) Sergio Aguero 12) Nicky Barmby 13) Darren Anderton 14) Marcel Desailly 15) Sylvan Distin

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Ruskin Drive St Helens Town’s return ‘home’ took another step closer recently with the opening of the new 3G pitches at Ruskin Drive Sportsground. While Hallmark Security League Division One football on the site is still a little way off for Town, players across all the club’s teams have now start to train at the St Helens Council owned venue. The club’s Sunday team and Under 21s outfit will made their new home debuts last Sunday afternoon in the Liverpool and District Sunday League and Cheshire FA U21s League respectively. With the U18s having to wait a little longer for their North West Youth Alliance first appearance at the impressive new facility as their next home fixture doesn’t take place until next month. The club is unable to confirm a start date for first team football at their new home which they will share on match-days with Cheshire League neighbours Pilkington FC. Club Chairman John McKiernan said, ‘It’s great to finally see the facility up and running and we’re delighted to be part of a project that will mean so much to development of sport in the borough. ‘It’s been a long time in the planning and construction but I am sure it will all be worth it for those involved now and in the future. We are extremely grateful to St Helens Council and the Liverpool County FA for their support in ensuring our recent nomadic existence is almost over.’ He added, ‘Our first team will have to wait a little longer before Hallmark Security League football can be played at Ruskin Drive as the new changing room facilities are yet to be completed along with the required on-site hospitality and catering amenities. ‘We now need to make the most of our return home and having a base in the town to ensure that we’re successful on and off the pitch.’

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Andy Gillespie in action v Cheadle T (Hallmark Security League) on Saturday 12th August 2016 www.sthelenstownafc.com

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

Andy Gillespie in action v FC Oswestry Town on Saturday 24th September 2016

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Match Sponsors We are looking for additional sponsors on match-days with a host of benefits for both match (£100) and match ball (£50) sponsors including free entry & programme; hospitality, programme and social media advertising; pre-match photos, man of the match awards. Contact John McKiernan on 07713 339 682 for more details. Date

Opponents

Match Sponsor

Match Ball Sponsor

Thu 18/08/16

Sandbach United

Beer EnGin, Whiston

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Thu 01/09/16

Prestwich Heys

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Cuncannon

Sat 10/09/16

Chadderton (FAV)

Top Car Detailing

Cuncannon

Thu 15/09/16

Widnes

Thatto Heath Tech Shop

Beer Engin, Whiston

Sat 26/11/16

FC Oswestry Town

Toast Café

Live Wire Electrical

Sat 01/10/16

AFC Darwen (Macron Cup)

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

MLR Heating Supplies

Sat 15/10/16

Carlisle City

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Excell Painting & Decorating

Sat 05/11/16

Daisy Hill

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Beechley Stables, RDA

Thu 10/11/16

Cheadle Town

Beer EnGin, Whiston

Toast Café, St Helens

Thu 01/12/16

City of Liverpool (Reusch Cup)

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Dave Wiggins

Sat 10/12/16

Bacup Borough

Kiera’s Occasions

Dave Wiggins

Toast Café, St Helens

Britannia Taxis

Michael Allison

LM Travel

Mon 26/12/16 Litherland REMYCA Sat 07/01/17

Holker Old Boys

Sat 14/01/17

Eccleshall

Connor McGinn

Sat 21/01/17

AFC Blackpool

Action Coach NW

Sat 28/01/17

Whitchurch Alport

Dave Wiggins

Sat 11/02/17

Silsden

North West Dog Rescue

Sat 18/03/17

Daisy Hill

The Track King

Sat 25/03/17

Stockport Town

Stuart Pyke

Sat 01/04/17

Atherton LR

John Cahill

Sun 16/04/17

City of Liverpool

The Boar’s Head

Sat 29/04/17

Charnock Richard

Toast Café , St Helens

TBC

Ashton Town

TBC

Alsager Town

TBC

Chadderton

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Stillia

Action Coach NW The Track King

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Team Fixtures St Helens Town Sunday Liverpool &District Sunday League 08/09/16 18:30 Hunting Lodge 3-0 Town 11/09/16 11:00 Fulwood Arms 2-0 Town 18/09/16 11:00 Birkdale United 4-3 Town 25/09/16 13:00 Fazakerley Athletic 3-2 Town 02/10/16 12:45 Town 3-2 Mr Smiths 09/10/16 12:45 Western Approaches 1-4 Town 16/10/16 12:45 Town 2-4 The Claremont FC 23/10/16 12:45 Town 5-5 The Masons 30/10/16 12:45 Town 2-4 Bootle Wanderers 06/11/16 12:45 Picton Athletic 2-3 Town 13/11/16 12:45 The Georgies 3-1 Town 20/11/16 12:45 Town 1-3 The Georgies 27/11/16 12:45 Town 2-8 MBS Woolton Fixtures To be confirmed St Helens Town U21s Cheshire FA U21s League Premier Division Lge 24/08/16 Manchester Central Reserves 0-4 Town Cup 21/08/16 Atherton Town 2-2 Town (Town won 1-3 on pens) Lge 18/08/16 Southport 2-2 Town Cup 11/09/16 11:00 Glossop North End 1-9 Town Cup 18/09/16 11:00 BRNESC Reserves 4-7 Town Lge 25/09/16 14:00 Atherton Town 1-6 Town Cup 02/10/16 12:30 Abbey Hey 2-0 Town Cup 09/10/16 12:45 Town 6-3 MSB Woolton Lge 23/10/16 12:45 Town 6-2 Stockport Town Cup 06/11/16 11:00 Clay Brow 5-0 Town Cup 13/11/16 12:45 Town 6-5 Litherland REMYCA Lge 20/11/16 12:45 Town 4-1 Manchester Central Lge 11/12/16 12:30 Stockport Town v Town Fixtures Lge 08/01/17 12:45 Town v Irlam St Helens Town U18s North West Youth Alliance League Lge 21/08/16 14:30 Town 3-5 Chester Colts Lge 04/09/16 14:30 Chester Colts 1-3 Town Cup 08/09/16 19:45 AFC Blackpool 3-4 Town Lge 11/09/16 14:30 Town 2-8 Marine Lge 18/09/16 14:30 Witton Albion 1-3 Town Cup 21/09/17 19:30 Chadderton 1-2 Town Cup 25/09/16 11:00 Prescot Cables 1-2 Town Lge 02/10/16 14:30 West Kirby & Wasps 1-2 Town Cup 07/10/16 Town 1-2 Newcastle Benfield Cup 23/10/16 14:00 Chester FC 12-1 Town Lge 30/10/16 14:30 Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Town Lge 06/11/16 14:00 Town 11-0 Witton Albion Lge 13/11/16 14:00 Town 2-2 Newton Lge 04/12/16 15:00 Town 2-1 Tranmere Rovers Lge 18/12/16 15:00 Town 1-0 Southport Fixtures Lge 08/01/17 15:00 Town v Vauxhall Motors

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

Guest Writer An end to rivalry They were always bigger than us. They were usually more successful than us. Their ground was better than ours. And they got bigger crowds than us. They brought more supporters to our ground than we did to theirs. But, Chorley were always the club that, when I was growing up in the 1970s, my club, Horwich RMI, would class as our rivals. Rivalry is a funny thing. With some it’s poisonous. With others it’s milder. It’s usually rooted in particular historic circumstances, the geographical proximity of two clubs and divided experiences of the fans. Although it was no match for the Auld Firm, Horwich RMI v Chorley had its own intensity and history. The two towns are only 5 miles or so apart. Horwich Loco Works, which closed in 1983, throughout the twentieth century employed thousands of people from Horwich and surrounding areas, including Chorley and Wigan. Rivalry came from the proximity of the two towns, a shared workplace and also a historical era when people didn’t travel as much as they do now and where they sought out their work and their leisure in highly localised and circumscribed ways. By the time I started watching RMI in 1978 Wigan were in their final season in the Northern Premier League and about to join the Football League. That rivalry was never the main one and it had faded since the 1960s. RMI and Chorley, however, were both in the Cheshire League at that time and in traditional Christmas and Easter fixtures they often played each other. It was Boxing Day 1994 the last time we played Chorley. So, trying to recall matches is inevitably through the fog of time. There was always a big crackle of anticipation about playing Chorley. When I first started watching in the late 1970s and through to the mid-1980s derby games were fiercely contested and we gave as good as we got in them. Crowds were usually significantly larger than normal league crowds. These, of course, in legend (and probably in reality too) were not as big as in times gone by, notably the glory days of the 1950s. Indeed, in 1958 Horwich and Chorley reached the Lancashire Junior Cup Final. The match was played at Blackburn Rovers’ Ewood Park in front of a derby crowd of over 7,000.

The rivalry was, in these times, bound up with a notion of civic pride; pride in and attachment to one’s hometown and all that went with it including its industry, people and its sports clubs. Everyday life was much more ‘local’, more proximate, less mobile, but also, certainly by the 1970s, much more economically equal than has been the case in the years since. The flip side of this was that, generally, societal views were probably more parochial and less outward looking. By the late 1970s and into the early 1980s games against Chorley were still a big deal. Maybe some of this was a hangover from days recounted by those who still remembered and talked about the matches in the 1950s and 1960s. Between 1978 and 1982 RMI enjoyed a relatively successful time. We won the Cheshire League championship at a canter in 1979 and in 1982 we finished third in the first season of the new North West Counties League and were promoted to the Northern Premier League. In the non-league hierarchy of the time this was just two steps away from the Football League. RMI had a very good team in the early 1980s. We had a procession of lethal goal scorers. Tony Caldwell in the 1982-83 season scored 44 league and cup goals, before Bolton Wanderers snapped him up. Ray Redshaw and Paul Moss continued the flow of goals; the former ending up at Wigan. And by the mid1980s Tony Ellis, having fired goals in for RMI, had signed for Oldham and then conducted a tour around a host of league clubs, including Stoke and Preston North End. This relative golden age for RMI commenced when, in 1982 we brought in former player, Ken Wright, as our new manager. Wright had finished as a player at RMI in 1973 and had returned from neighbours Daisy Hill, where he had been manager. Wright assembled a terrific side, including those strikers mentioned. As well as gaining promotion to the Northern Premier League, Wright had guided RMI to the First Round Proper of the FA Cup and an away tie at Blackpool in 1982. To get there, RMI had knocked out the best non-league team in England of the previous season, Runcorn. If not operating quite at that level, RMI were certainly mixing it with some of the bigger northern English non-league clubs, slugging it out with Macclesfield, Southport, Morecambe and Barrow on numerous occasions. The RMI line up at this time included some impressive players, in addition to those above, such as Dave Liptrot, Charlie Cooper and Neil McLachlan.

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Mike Hodson Rivalry is something that manifests both on the pitch and in dealings off the pitch. On the pitch, we were upwardly mobile. We’d had a series of fine players, including multiple goal machines. We were respected by much bigger clubs. The momentum was with RMI. Our success meant that we were getting on top in our rivalry with Chorley on the pitch. But this ignored the rivalry off the pitch. In October 1984, Chorley stopped our momentum, going straight for the motor driving it. They approached RMI for the services of our manager and Ken Wright committed the unforgivable sin, in the eyes of some fans, of leaving RMI for Chorley. Now, movement between the two clubs wasn’t unusual. In fact, in the years from when I’d started watching RMI in the late 1970s til Wright jumped ship, there had been steady movements of players both ways. The difference here was that Wright was the manager and he’d presided over a period of relative success for RMI, reaching our highest place in the non-league hierarchy. RMI had had both league success and FA Cup success. Mixing it with big non-league teams, usually while pulling just a few hundred supporters to home games. So, when Wright moved to Chorley there was uproar among some RMI fans. Indeed, for fans of a certain vintage, mention of this episode is certain to provoke an acidic response even now. More than this, many of the team that Wright had built at Horwich followed him to Chorley either pretty shortly after or in the months following. At the time many of these players were presumably on non-contract terms or short term contracts. The effect was devastating. Arguably, RMI never really fully recovered. Though there was success in winning the national GMAC Cup in 1987, league form remained a struggle for many years after, perhaps even until the demise of the club in 1995. The rupture caused by Wright leaving and players following him was profound. Even more salt was added to the wound two seasons later when Wright and many of the former RMI players took Chorley on an epic FA Cup run; overcoming Wolves over three games, two of which were at Bolton’s Burnden Park. Two games against local rivals Preston North End, followed, at Ewood Park watched by over 15,000 and at Deepdale in front of a crowd of over 16,000. It felt like it could have been us. It felt like it should have been us. In fact, by the end of the 1987-88 season Chorley were promoted to the top tier of non-league football, the Vauxhall Conference. Yet, by the end of the 1989-90 season Chorley had been relegated from the Conference. And, so, derby service was resumed again in the 1990-91 season. The added twist was that by the end of 1990 RMI had a new manager in the Grundy Hill dugout. Wright had returned! There appeared to be something of a split between those involved with club. There were those who welcomed Wright back like a forgiving ex-partner, who had been jilted but was just happy to have their partner back. On the other hand, another section of RMI’s support couldn’t get beyond the damage that Wright had wrought in the way he had departed in 1984. There was to be no reprise of the 1980s success. And before the 1993-94 season Wright left to become assistant manager at Accrington. In the first half of the 1990s, both clubs struggled. Crowds at both clubs were poor and, at derby games, had dropped considerably. Many of these games ended in stalemate. Although it is something of a celebratory marker that the last time that we ever played Chorley at Grundy Hill we beat them 6-0, going on to do the double over them. Rivalry is complicated. It is also fluid. It can be more and less intense at particular times and can be fuelled by controversies. 1995, and the death of RMI, saw the enforced end of rivalry. It had undoubtedly been a rivalry that had been changing and weakening since the 1960s. The defection of Ken Wright re-ignited that rivalry, for a brief period, from 1984. The slow decline of that rivalry, though, continued from the early 1990s. This was in many ways largely due to changing societal factors that neither club could do much about. To be honest, I’ve always quite liked Chorley as a club! It was always special to beat them. The Wright saga left a sour taste at the time and afterwards. But in recent years I have enjoyed going to Chorley. I have always found the people and officials there very friendly and it’s a club I have some affinity for. A big match at Chorley feels like football used to feel like. This rivalry had joy and pain. The best rivalries are about a struggle to get in front on the pitch. When Horwich achieved this then it became off-pitch rivalry that took over. And we didn’t stand a chance. (follow on Twitter @mhod71 for notification of future blog posts)

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

Match Statistics 201 Date Aug 06 Aug 13 AUG 18 Aug 20 Aug 27 SEP 01 Sep 03 Sep 06 SEP 10 SEP 15 Sep 17 SEP24 OCT 01 Oct 08 Oct 11 OCT 15 Oct 18 OCT 22 Oct 29 NOV 05 NOV 10 Nov12 Nov 16 Nov 19 DEC 01 Dec 03 Dec 06 DEC 10 Dec 17 DEC 26 Dec 30 JAN 07 JAN 14 JAN 21 JAN 28 Feb 04 FEB 11 Feb 18 Mar 04 Mar 11 MAR 18 MAR 25 APR 01 Apr 08 APR 16 Apr 22 APR 29

Opponents Carlisle City Cheadle Town SANDBACH UNITED Litherland REMYCA Charnock Richard PRESTWICH HEYS Atherton LR City of Liverpool CHADDERTON WIDNES Daisy Hill FC OSWESTRY TOWN AFC DARWEN Alsager Town AFC Blackpool CARLISLE CITY FC Oswestry Town Bacup Borough Eccleshall Daisy Hill CHEADLE TOWN Silsden Litherland REMYCA Eccleshall CITY OF LIVEPOOL Ashton Town Bootle BACUP BOROUGH Whitchurch Alport LITHERLAND REMCYA Prestwich Heys HOLKER OLD BOYS ECCLESHALL AFC BLACKPOOL WHITCHURCH ALPORT Bacup Borough SILSDEN Sandbach United Chadderton Holker Old Boys DAISY HILL STOCKPORT TOWN ATHERTON LR Widnes CITY OF LIVERPOOL Stockport Town CHARNOCK RICHARD

Comp NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FAV 1QR NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL TMC 1R NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL TMC 2R RFDC 2R NWCFL NWCFL LS Cup NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL TMC 3R NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL

KO 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00

Result 4-3L 3-3D L2-4 W1-2 W1-3 2-2D 4-2L 5-1L 3-5L 1-1D 2-2D 2-1W 4-2W 3-1L 1-3W 3-4L 3-2L 1-1D 3-5W 2-0W 4-2W 1-4W 4-2L 0-4W 0-3L 0-2W 5-1L 2-0W 3-0L

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

GK 2 Novak D.Brady Novak Presho Novak Greene Novak Greene Novak Greene Hodge Greene Hodge Greene1 Hodge D.Brady Taylor D.Brady Taylor D.Brady Taylor D.Brady Taylor Greene1 Walsh Presho Walsh Presho Walsh Presho1 Walsh Pegler Walsh Tserpes Novak Presho Hodge Presho Walsh Presho Walsh Presho A.Whelan Chojnicki Brinksman Presho Walsh Presho1 Walsh Presho Walsh Chojnicki Walsh Chojnicki Fairchild Presho Fairchild Presho

3 Williams A.Whelan Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Presho Presho Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Carney Carney Carney Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby Rigby

4 Rawsthorne Falconer Presho Webster Webster Webster Falconer Falconer Webster Pegler Ball Donohue Pegler Pegler Pegler Webster1 Webster Donohue Webster Webster Webster Donohue Donohue1 Donohue Donohue Donohue Donohue Donohue Webster

5 Falconer Rigby An Gillespie Falconer Falconer Falconer Webster Webster Donohue Webster Ogden Falconer Donohue Donohue Webster A.Whelan A.Whelan1 A.Whelan A.Whelan1 Donohue Donohue Webster Webster Webster Webster Webster Webster Webster Donohue

6 Presho As Sheen Gre Pegler D.W Presho S Presho S Presho S Presho As Ashton Wi Davies P Donohue S Pegler S Ball Sh Carney Gr Carney Gr Tserpes Gr Rigby Gr Pegler Gr Webster K-B Carney Gre A.Whelan Gr A.Whelan Gr Presho1 Gr A.Whelan Gr A.Whelan Gr Al Gillespie Gr Pegler Gr Presho Gr A.Whelan1 Gr Davies P

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16-17

7 8 Ashton Pegler1 reene1 Pegler Whelan Sheen1 Sheen Pegler1 Sheen Ashton Sheen Ashton Ashton Sheen Williams Sheen Pegler Sheen Sheen Davies Sheen Presho heen1 Pegler Greene Sheen Greene Cliff Greene Rigby Greene Tserpes Greene K-Butler1 Butler1 Pegler reene1 Pegler Greene Carney Greene Carney Greene Carney Greene Carney Greene Carney1 Greene Carney Greene Carney Greene Al Gillespie Greene Pegler Pegler Greene

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

9 Andy Gillespie1 Andy Gillespie1 Williams Andy Gillespie1 C.Lomax C.Lomax1 G.Lomax1 Andy Gillespie Andy Gillespie2 Andy Gillespie Andy Gillespie2 Andy Gillespie Andy Gillespie2 Andy Gillespie Andy Gillespie1 Andy Gllespie1 Andy Gillespie Andy Gillespie McDonald1 Andy Gillespie1 Andy Gillespie1 Andy Gillespie2 Andy Gillespie1 Andy Gillespie1 Andy Gillespie Korie-Butler1 Andy Gillespie1 Andy Gillespie1 Korie-Butler

10 C.Lomax G.Lomax1 G.Lomax1 G.Lomax G.Lomax1 G.Lomax C.Lomax Pegler Greene Presho Greene S.Brady McDonald2 McDonald1 McDonald McDonald McDonald Edwards K-Butler2 K-Butler1 K-Butler1 K-Butler1 Korie-Butler Korie-Butler Korie-Butler Threlkeld Threlkled Korie-Butler Threlkeld

11 G.Lomax1 C.Lomax C.Lomax Williams Williams2 Williams1 Williams Rigby Rigby Williams1 Williams Presho Edwards Edwards Edwards1 Edwards1 Edwards Carney Edwards Edwards Edwards2 Edwards Edwards Edwards1 Edwards Edwards1 Edwards Edwards Muscart

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12 14 15 Greene10 Alex Gillespie6 Threlkeld3 Williams10 C.Banasko Al Gillespie Threlkeld11 Alex Gillespie Tingay Threlkeld10 Alex Gillespie D.Whelan Davidson Mavers9 S.Brady Ball Mavers D.Brady D.Brady6 An Gillespie11 Pegler7 7 Greene C.Lomax G.Lomax61 Ball Williams71 Rowe5 10 2 Greene Rowe S.Brady11 Al Gillespie Bradley11 S.Brady4 10 Hoult Alex Gillespie Williams D.Brady S.Brady Rawsthorne Tserpes8 Ball5 Falconer Cliff8 Ball2 K-Butler11 Ball7 Ashton K-Butler10 Presho2 Rigby7 Donohue3 Cliff8 Alex Gillespie Cliff8 Donohue Threlkeld11 11 9 Cliff McDonald Threlkeld7 Chojnicki Ball7 Pegler Threlkeld2 Ball3 Al Gillespie9 Al Gillespie8 D.Whelan2 Pegler McDonald Chojnicki2 Threlkeld9 Chojnicki2 Pegler D.Brady A Gillespie9 Woods11 Al Gillespie6 Pegler6 Davies8 Twist Chojnicki2 Al Gillespie10 Hoult Hoult10 Worthington11 Cullen7

16 17 D.Whelan D.Whelan2 Threlkeld11 C.Banasko2 Tingay11 Ball2 Hodge1 S.Brady Al Gillespie Ball Dutton Ball4 Donohue Rawsthorne10 Hodge Mavers Novak Jones Ball Jones Al Gillespie Jones A.Whelan Novak Donohue Cliff6 Walsh An Gillespie9 Ball Ball Chojnicki Alex Gillespie Threlkeld10 D.Whelan Chojnicki D.Brady Al Gillespie D.Brady7 Twist8 Threlkeld10 Worthington Hoult Worthington11 Hoult Threlkeld11 Worthington Heron

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Photo Gallery

Litherland REMYCA 1-2 Town Hallmark Security League Division 1 Saturday 20th August 2016

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

Danny Greene in action Ste Rigby in action vvCharnock Ecceshall (Hallmark (Hallmark Security Security League) League) on 2016 onSaturday Saturday27th 29thAugust October 2016

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Club News

The St Helens Town 2017 Calendar Raising Funds for Melissa’s Smile Fund

on sale at today’s game £5 with all proceeds going to Melissa

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

A Brief History 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 Tommy O’Neil over 2000 that season, peaking with a league record Wembley,1987 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 alltime club record attendance of “between 8000 and 9000” witnessed a friendly game against Manchester City, arranged as part of the Trautmann transfer deal, in April 1950 and another 4000 witnessed a second match with City the following season. Although relegated by a slender margin from the First Division in 1951/52, the club continued to look forward, even contemplating Football League status and, in order to further its ambitions, moved to the former St. Helens Recs. rugby league ground at City Road. Initial crowds were encouraging but, despite success, the club decided to move back to Hoghton Road in October 1953, where they remained until April 2000. Town produced a number of fine players who joined Football League clubs, including Bill Foulkes (Manchester United), John Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday) and John Connelly who joined Burnley, later transferring to Manchester United and who played in the England 1966 World Cup winning squad. More recently, Dave 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

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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of St Helens Town

St Helens Town 1948 2015, conceding an injury-time equaliser to Silsden in the last game of the season, a match they had to win to stay up. Town enjoyed a golden era in the late 1980s, just missing out on an appearance in the First Round proper of the FA Cup in 1985/86, losing to Morecambe in a Fourth Qualifying Round Replay, but they obtained ample compensation by winning the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987, beating near neighbours Warrington Town 3-2, with two goals from Phil Layhe and one from Brian Rigby. They were regular promotion candidates for many years, largely due to the scoring exploits of Steve “Pellet” Pennington, who grabbed 216 goals in 351 games, his season’s best hauls of 45 in 1993/94 and 46 in 1997/98 just failing to beat the club record of 47 scored by Phil Stainton in 1963/64. The 2015/16 season saw St. Helens Town in the First Division of the North West Counties League and despite some inconsistent mid-season form, they finished the season with an outside chance of making the promotion play-off places, only to fall short in the final match, losing at home to eventual champions Hanley Town in a game they needed to win thereby missing out for the first time on a place in this season’s FA Cup competition. Nevertheless, team captain Andy Gillespie landed the First Division Golden Boot Trophy with 29 league goals, 34 in all matches. At the start of the 2016/17 season, Town are looking to return to the borough and the new ground at Ruskin Drive will at last be ready in early October. In the meantime, early -season games will be played at Prescot Cables and with nearly all of last season’s squad staying on, boosted by new signings in key areas, they will be hoping to be among the front-runners for promotion in the club’s 70th year since their reformation, coincidentally, the 30 th year since their FA Vase success. The nomadic years since the loss of their Hoghton Road base in 2000 are now behind them, the return to their traditional blue and white colours herald a new beginning and the future once again looks bright.

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Club Honours: 1949 George Mahon Trophy Winners 1951 Lancs Comb Division 2 Champions 1972 Lancs Combination Champions 1973 Bass Charrington Cup Winners 1974 Watson Trophy Winners 1978 St Helens Hospital Cup Winners 1979 St Helens Comb Div 1 Runners Up 1979 St Helens Hospital Cup Runners Up 1980 St Helens Comb Div 1 Champions 1985 NWCFL Reserve Div 2 Runners Up 1986 NWCFL Reserve Div 1 Runners Up 1987 FA Vase Winners (Wembley) 1994 League Challenge Cup Finalists 1994 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1995 NWCFL Reserve Division Champions 1996 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1998 Floodlit Trophy Finalists 1999 REALCO Fair Play Award Winners 2009 Bert Trautmann Trophy Winners 2014-15 South Lancs League U17s Cup Finalists 2014-15 Cheshire FA U21 League Champions Record Appearances: Alan Wellens (448) Record Goal Scorer: Steve Pennington (216) Record Attendances: 3012 at Hoghton Road v Burscough (1948) 8000 at Hoghton Road v Man City (1950) 1723 at Knowsley Rd v FC Utd Manchester (2006) 9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (1949)

Programme Awards 1993-94 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1995-96 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1997-98 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1998-99 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1999-00 NWCFL Programme of the Year 2000-01 NWCFL Programme of the Year 2009-10 NWCFL Premier Division 2010-11 NWCFL Premier Division 2011-12 NWCFL Premier Division 2012-13 NWCFL Premier Division 2013-14 NWCFL Premier Division 2014-15 NWCFL Premier Division 2015-16 NWCFL First Division Wirral Programme Club National Survey 1996-97 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1997-98 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1998-99 NWCFL Programme of the Year

Programme Monthly 2007-08 NWCFL Programme of the Year Soccer Club Swap Shop National Awards 2010-11 Placed 28th 2011-12 Placed 8th 2012-13 Placed 7th 2013-14 Placed 8th 2014-15 Placed 5th 2015-16 Placed 8th NWCFL 2015-16 Awards Player of the Month Oct Andy Gillespie ‘Keeper of the Month Nov Matthew Hodge January 2016 Team of the Month ‘Keeper of the Month Jan Matthew Hodge

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League News FC Oswestry Town - club director Nick Maguire has been nominated for the Oswestry Advertizer's Community and Business Awards, which are run in association with Oswestry Town Council. Speaking to the newspaper Nick, who as first team manager led the club to four trophies last season, said: "It's good to be nominated and nice to see that other people are recognising what's happening here. We introduced a reserve team last year, and this year we have set up the under 21s, so the club is moving forward at pace". Bootle - the Bucks are the latest club to organise a collection day for their local food bank. The club are asking supporters who attend the game against Squires Gate on Saturday to bring along a donation for South Sefton Food Bank, which is based locally in Bootle. The food bank have said that any of the follwoing items would be welcomed as donations: Tinned Tomatoes, Tinned Potatoes, Instant Mash, Tinned Fruit, Biscuits and UHT Milk.

Runcorn Linnets - the club has produced an official 2017 calendar. Designed by vice-chairman Mark Buckley, also the Linnets’ programme editor, with pictures by club photographer James Eastup, the calendar is a first-time production for the Hallmark Security League Premier Division outfit. The calendar costs £10, and has been funded by “Trekkin’ with Tracy”, the fundraising scheme headed by fan Tracy Ryder, who earlier this season led Runcorn Linnets’ sponsored climb of Mount Snowdon. It is hoped that sales of the calendar will increase the amount raised by this initiative to more than £2,000. The calendars will be on sale at upcoming home games, and can also be purchased through the club website.

the Lancashire FA headquarters.

Ashton Athletic - the Yellows have been drawn against Chorley in the semi -final of the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy. The game has been scheduled for 21st February 2017, and will be played at the County Ground in Leyland,

Carlisle City - City have been given a home tie against Netherhall in the quarter final of the Cumberland Senior Cup. The tie will take place sometime in February, with a date to be confirmed in due course. Whitchurch Alport - the draw for the semi final of the Shropshire FA T J Vickers Premier Cup has given Alport an away game at Market Drayton Town. The tie will be played in the New Year on a date to be arranged in the near future.

West Didsbury & Chorlton - after their fine win at Glossop in the quarter final on Tuesday, West have been drawn away to FC United of Manchester in the semi-final of the Manchester Premier Cup. The tie will be played on Tuesday 7th February.

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

Match Report v Town Mist Chance to Make It 6 in a Row by Kieran Ford St Helens go down to Whitchurch Alport on a foggy day in Shropshire. Upon reflection of last season’s meetings between St Helens Town and Whicturch Alport, an aggregate score of 15-0 to St Helens would suggest that it would be an easy win for the away side today. However, a huge squad overhaul had saw Whitchurch in the automatic promotion places after their bottom placed finish last season. Town were also continuing a surge up the table as 5 successive wins had saw them in 11th place, meaning that Alport were going to be in for a tough test according to the form book. Immediately from kick off Whitchurch piled on the pressure against a Town side that had saw 3 changes from the team that had beaten Bacup last Saturday. Both Andy Gillespie and Ant Whelan were away enjoying the festive season and Luke Edwards was unavailable. This meant that Callum Davies was handed his 1st start in 3 months and Will Threlkeld returned to the starting 11 in attack. There was also a debut for Wade Muscart who replaced Edwards on the left wing. Town had struggled against Bootle’s counter attacking a few weeks ago and they faced a similar problem here due to Whitchurch’s speed when transitioning between defence and attack. They threatened early on through Matt Ashbrook who beat Andy Presho on the left but could only fire his

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Whitchurch Alport shot wide in the first 2 minutes. Alport then attacked down the right as Captain Simon Everall beat Ste Rigby and crossed to Mike Blundell but Adam Fairchild produced a fine save to keep him out. St Helens continued to be under the cosh as a header from Steve McNichol was well headed off the line from Andy Presho, soon after Everall produced a backheeled effort that resulted in a fantastic reflex save from Fairchild. The deadlock was eventually broken on 20minutes as a deep cross from Alport left back Louis Sames found Blundell with a powerful effort back across goal to make it 1-0. 1 soon became 2 as Town lost possession high up the pitch which resulted in a counter from the hosts. Everall found Blundell who slotted past Fairchild to put breathing space between the two sides. Everall then turned Ste Rigby inside out and fired in at the near post to complete a game changing quarter of an hour. HT: Whitchurch Alport (Blundell, 20, 26) (Everall, 35) 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 0 St Helens Town The fog that had been teasing all day in England had its say 10 minutes into the second half as the visibility of the pitch for both the players and officials became nonexistent during a bizarre 5 minute spell. The referee temporarily halted the game for 5 minutes until the fog had cleared from the pitch. There was a risk that the game may be abandoned at some point however the fog cleared quick enough for the game to be restarted. This may have had an effect on the players as there was no meaningful chances created by both teams in the second half as the game seemed dead and buried. This was except some chances in favour in St Helens as they started to attack with more positivity and purpose. Danny Greene (from what I could see, which was limited!) was causing trouble down the right hand side and put in a dangerous cross that Wade Muscart was close to getting on the end of. Dale Korie-Butler also had a shot from range that whistled past the post. The game ended on a sour note for Whitchurch as Matt Ashbrook received a straight red card for an off the ball scuffle with Andy Presho but the home side climb to the top of the tree at Christmas whereas

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Litherland REMYCA 1-2 Town Hallmark Security League Saturday 20th August 2016

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

Match Report v Al Be Back! by Kieran Ford Town notch 5th straight league win as Alan Gillespie returns to the dugout. St Helens Town went into Saturday’s game against Bacup Borough in good spirits despite a midweek defeat to Bootle. This is largely down to the excellent management of Lee Jenkinson and Nick Robinson who have steadied the ship since Nick Matthews’ departure to Widnes. This meant that a lot had changed since Alan Gillespie was last in the dugout a few months ago. However, his return was made easier by the fact Town had won their last 4 games in the league, seeing them rise to 12th in the table 6 places above today’s opponents. The game started in relation to the form book as St Helens quickly took the game for Bacup as they seemed

too quick for the Borough in attack and looked to hassle the away side’s defence at every opportunity. The ever impressive Danny Greene helped create Town’s first chance as he surged down the right hand side before pulling back to Ed Pegler in space at the edge of the box. His cross was well weighted but just too high for the head of Andy Gillespie.

St Helens were allowed far too much space between Bacup’s midfield and defence and this was evident as Ste Rigby played the ball inside from the left to Luke Edwards, he was left in acres of room but his long range shot sailed past the near post. Edwards was then presented with a glorious opportunity to give the hosts the lead as a mix up between Bacup veteran Adrian Bellamy and goalkeeper Aaron Ashley saw Edwards with a chance to score but his poor first touch saw the ball trickle out for a goal kick. It was then time for Danny Greene to turn on the style as he superbly nutmegged Leon O’Malley which saw the crowd in awe. His shot at the near post was saved by Ashley but the

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Bacup Borough rebound made its way to Ant Whelan; however he could only shoot wide. Whelan then had a header from a corner well saved before central defender Adam Donohue also had an aerial effort this time denied by the bar. Whelan saw his 3rd effort on goal again denied by the crossbar as he launched a spectacular overhead kick on goal. The deadlock was eventually broken just before half time, an ironic simple goal in relation to Town’s spectacular dominance. It was Dale Korie-Butler’s turn to torment the Bacup left hand side, he did so by driving to the by line and pulling back for Andy Gillespie to remind his dad in the dugout that he is still a consistent goalscorer.

meant his side would have to play the second half a man down.

Bacup were then reduced to 10 men just before the half time whistle as a late challenge from number 9 Wayne Morrison on Ed Pegler gave him a straight red card and

HT: St Helens Town (Andy Gillespie, 43) 1 – 0 Bacup Borough The second half started similarly to the first in that the home side were dominating proceedings; however Bacup did start to take more of a gung ho approach to the match and crafted out a few chances for themselves. The first of these was a cross from Michael Gervin that found Bellamy but he could only get his knee to the ball as it sailed wide. Bacup winger Anthony Hall then put a freekick over before putting in a good cross for James Constantine whose header also went wide. This was all in vein as St Helens wrapped the game up on the hour mark as an Andy Gillespie shot was well saved by Ashley in the Bacup goal; the resulting rebound fell to an onrushing Ant Whelan who fired in his 1st goal of the season. However Whelan received his marching orders 9 minutes from time as he blocked a goalbound header with his arm. This sacrifice may have helped his team win the game as Anthony Hall’s penalty was fantastically saved by St Helens’ debutant goalkeeper Adam Fairchild. This capped off a fine performance from the man promoted from the U21’s set up. FT: St Helens Town (Andy Gillespie, 43) (Anthony Whelan, 60) 2 – 0 Bacup Borough

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Tony Incenzo PLEASE SUPPORT THE NON-LEAGUE NEWS ROUND-UP ON talkSPORT 2 by Tony Incenzo (Twitter: @TonyIncenzo) AS an avid Non-League follower myself, I am delighted to have launched a weekly national radio Non-League News Round-Up on talkSPORT 2 this season. The feature is broadcast for 10 to 15 minutes every Monday afternoon around 2.40pm when I discuss all the latest NonLeague headlines with legendary broadcaster Ray Stubbs. I usually start by analysing the National League stories. We’ve chatted about the proposed new eco-stadium for Forest Green Rovers and the huge attendance of 7,790 for the local derby between Tranmere Rovers and Chester.

on the national cup competitions.

Then I announce the talkSPORT 2 Non-League Team Of The Week. I like to share these awards around the country and focus

Winners so far have included Shoreham, Westfields, Tiverton Town, Northallerton Town, Eastbourne Town, North Leigh, Horsham YMCA and Truro City. There was even a joint Team Of The Week award to South Shields & North Shields for their bumper local derby crowd of 2,651 in the Northern League, which was magnificent for step 5. My favourite part of the Round-Up is looking at some of the quirky stories that so often grace NonLeague football. My favourite so far was in Kent where Charles Dickens of Ashford United scored against Lordswood goalkeeper Harry Potter! Other whimsical tales that I have broadcast this season have included a cow on the pitch at Kirby Muxloe, fox droppings that stopped a game at Hitchin Town, a player getting sent-off for overcelebrating in a penalty shoot-out, a referee who blew for full-time nine minutes too early and a ‘ghost’ goal for Romford. After the quirky stories, we usually have a chat about which Non-League matches I have been to over the past week. So far this season I have travelled as far afield as Marske United in the NorthEast, Llandudno in Wales, Cromer Town in Norfolk and Lydney Town in Gloucestershire to watch Non-League action. I have reached 2,099 football grounds visited but there are still plenty more to go to on my radar.

I’ve been watching Non-League football on a regular basis since I was 10 years old in the mid1970’s. What I like most is that the players, club officials and supporters are involved purely for the love of the game. The true spirit of football exists at Non-League level. I started off by going to watch my local Non-League clubs in North London – Hendon primarily, but also Finchley, Barnet and Edgware Town. Then I eventually embarked on the fantastic adventures that football groundhopping around the country can bring. It is a great privilege for me to now have the opportunity to promote the wonderful world of NonLeague football on national radio so I hope that everyone can get behind the talkSPORT 2 RoundUp. Non-League clubs and supporters who would like to have their news stories broadcast on talkSPORT 2 are welcome to send me details on Twitter at @TonyIncenzo - I look forward to hearing from you!

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notes I would like to welcome everybody to today's Boxing Day Merseyside Derby with neighbours Litherland REMYCA. Our visitors are continuing last seasons good form and are currently well placed in the play off places for another promotion challenge this season. Our 2 meetings this season Town have been close fought affairs We came out on top in an early season league fixture 2-1 only REMYCA to get their revenge in LCFA Senior Cup fixture winning 4-2. Our last home game with Bacup was a tough affair I thought we were well on top 1st half and were very unfortunate to go in only 1-0 at HT. With our visitors down to 10 men the second half was a different game. Bacup made some tactical changes which transformed them. Fortunately an Ant Whelan strike notched a 2nd although it took a fantastic penalty save from debutant GK Adam Fairchild to secure the victory. Last Saturday saw us make the trip to league leaders Whitchurch Alport. After a straight 5 league victories there was good reason to feel confident. Unfortunately a very flat start to the game in which we conceded 3 1st half goals to opponents who were up for it from 1st minute to last saw them earn fully deserved 3-0 victory. Hopefully we can get a full squad available for the return fixture in 4 weeks. On the playing side we have signed Wade Muscart from Barnton Wade made his debut at Whitchurch last week and showed some great touches and was unlucky not to score.

New GK Adam Fairchild has been promoted from our u21 team having previously played for Bootle. Adam has certainly seized his opportunity and the fact that Whitchurch supporters nominated him as MOM speaks volumes for his performance. Adam has done brilliantly in his first 2 games and fully deserved the accolade. The Whitchurch game also saw 1st team appearances for u21s Ste Cullen and Alex Worthington proving the importance of our u 21 set up which is going extremely well at present. That just leaves me to say a massive thanks to Jenko, Andy and Nick Robinson for looking after things during my absence and to wish everybody a great Christmas and very happy New Year! Enjoy the game Alan Gillespie

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League News Hanley Town are gearing up for one of the biggest games in their history, as they prepare to host Stoke City in the Staffordshire Senior Cup this coming Tuesday, December 20th. It’s the first tie that Town have ever played in the competition, having been given a bye in the First Round, and they landed a plum draw when they were paired with their local Premiership neighbours. Secretary Ian Evans says there has been a great deal of interest locally in the tie since the draw was made. “As soon as a date was agreed for the tie, we advertised some sponsorship packages to local companies and all 100 tickets were snapped up within 24 hours”, said Ian. “We have mascots lined up for the evening from the club’s junior football teams, and we are hoping that we will have a good turn out on the night. “We understand that in the past Stoke City have fielded their Under 23 side in the competition, and they have confirmed that will be the case again. This should mean there will be players playing for them on the night who have featured in the Premier League with the First team . “We will be producing a special match programme for the night, and we are hoping there will be interest in that from supporters from both sides and also the “neutrals”. “As far as we know, it’s the first time that we have ever hosted Stoke City at our ground, so it’s a big night for us, and a fabulous opportunity for us to show local supporters who maybe haven’t been to the ground before what our facilities are like at Abbey Lane. “Since our new Chairman John Powell took over earlier this season, he has been the driving force behind developments at the ground, and through his leadership there have been a lot of improvements carried out recently. “We now have a new perimeter fence and spectator access is available on all 4 sides of the pitch. The resurfacing of the car park is complete, and we have a new café /catering facility and also a new Corporate suite which also houses a designated physiotherapy room . So we are geared up and ready to welcome a good crowd. “It’s a great tie to have for our first ever game in the competition, and everyone at the club is really looking forward to it”. League Landmark Saturday 17th December 2016 Atherton Collieries' fifth goal in the 6-2 win at Cammell Laird 1907, scored by Mark Battersby in the 83rd minute, was Colls' 1,000th away League goal.

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League News Festive spirit in abundance around the league It’s been great to see so many of our clubs involved in charitable work and fund raising for good causes recently. In the past week alone, Atherton Collieries have released a video to raise money for local charity Ben's Wish, Barnton players have reached their fundraising target for Ward 77 at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and a number of clubs have been organising collections at games for their local foodbanks. In the season of peace and goodwill to all men, it’s very heartening that so many of our clubs are committed to working hard to help the less fortunate among their local communities. Go West West Didsbury & Chorlton are the latest of our clubs to move into the semi-final of a County Cup competition, and they did so in fine style with a 4-2 win at Glossop North End in midweek to secure a place in the last four of the Manchester Premier Cup. West now have a plum tie against FC United of Manchester to look forward to in the New Year, and having shown some fine form away from Brookburn Road this season, the game will hold no fears for Steve Settle’s men. LR’s lucky thirteen One team who will go into Christmas in good cheer are Atherton LR, who ended a run of 12 games without a win (if you discount a penalty shoot win in the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy) at the thirteenth attempt with a 1-0 victory over Carlisle City at Crilly Park on Saturday. It’s not been an easy season for Shaun Lynch’s men, but they will be hoping that Saturday’s hard fought win will give them a much-needed boost as we enter the festive season. Golden Gate The glorious unpredictability of football was demonstrated once again with Bootle’s 2-0 home defeat to Squires Gate on Saturday. It’s fair to say that it was a result that turned the form book upside down, given that it was only the second time this season that the high scoring Bucks have failed to score in a home game, only their second home defeat of the season, and this against a Gate side who had won only once in 12 games, albeit they had already won the earlier fixture between the two sides on home soil. Gate may be in the lower half of the table, but their ability to pull off a result like that against one of the form teams in the league will not have gone unnoticed by their future opponents in the coming weeks. Storks on a roll They may have been a little bit under the radar up to now after a slow start to the season, but when you look at league fixtures only, Padiham are on a hot streak of form at the moment. Saturday's win over Congleton Town was their eighth successive league win and their tenth in eleven league games, and not surprisingly it's a run that has moved them up into 6th place and on to the fringes of the promotion race. Slowly but surely, the Storks are becoming a Premier Division force to be reckoned with.

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League Tables First Division Table as at Monday 19/12/2016 First Division

W D

A GD Pts

Whitchurch Alport

24 16 3

56 26 30 51

Charnock Richard

21 16 2

63 27 36 50

City of Liverpool FC

25 15 4

61 31 30 49

Litherland REMYCA

23 13 6

60 40 20 45

Alsager Town

21 13 4

52 27 25 43

Sandbach United

21 13 3

46 28 18 42

Widnes

20 11 4

47 35 12 37

FC Oswestry Town

23 11 4

44 43

Stockport Town

22 10 3

58 53

Prestwich Heys

19 10 2

46 27 19 32

St Helens Town

22 9

49 46

Carlisle City

22 9

10 42 46 -4 30

Daisy Hill

21 9

47 52 -5 30

Chadderton

19 7

42 43 -1 26

Cheadle Town

24 7

12 47 61 -14 26

Holker Old Boys

21 7

10 34 43 -9 25

Silsden

19 7

11 45 42

Bacup Borough

22 6

12 26 41 -15 22

Atherton LR

23 5

15 28 56 -28 18

AFC Blackpool

24 3

15 26 59 -33 15

Eccleshall

22 2

17 31 77 -46 9

Ashton Town

20 1

18 17 64 -47 4

St Helens Town Player Sponsors 2016-17 Anthony Whelan Focus Windows & Doors Limited Luke Edwards Airborne Bathroom Services Andy Gillespie Arcoframe Danny Greene Danny’s Window Cleaning Jake Ball Kiera’s Occasions Andrew Presho Total Building Care Eddie Pegler Gibney’s Jewellers Lee Novak Howdens, Leigh

Phil Williams Kreative Kirsty Ste Rigby Kealshore Ltd Dale Korie-Butler Live Wire Electrical Alex Gillespie Walton Carpets Dom Whelan Walton Carpets Will Threlkeld Beer Engin, Whiston Stu McDonald MLR Heating Supplies Andy Webster Johnsons Toyota Liverpool We are still looking for a number of additional Player sponsors. Contact John McKiernan on 07713 339 682 for further details

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

League Tables Premier Division Table as at Monday 19/12/2016 W D

Premier Division Runcorn Town

23 18 0

70 27 43 54

Runcorn Linnets

24 15 5

58 27 31 50

Bootle

23 16 1

72 33 39 49

Atherton Collieries

22 15 4

61 25 36 49

1874 Northwich

22 15 4

45 24 21 49

Padiham

22 13 2

51 35 16 41

AFC Liverpool *

25 12 5

50 42

West Dids & Chorlton 23 11 3

59 48 11 36

A GD Pts

26 10 6

10 54 48

Hanley Town

Irlam

Abbey Hey

23 10 2

11 41 42 -1 32

Maine Road

44 37

Ashton Athletic

50 44

Congleton Town

10 46 50 -4 29

Squires Gate

13 54 66 -12 28

Barnoldswick Town

10 35 34

Winsford United

10 35 47 -12 25

Barnton

16 31 71 -40 24

AFC Darwen

12 25 62 -37 22

New Mills

15 33 57 -24 15

Nelson *

14 28 50 -22 12

Cammell Laird 1907

20 20 91 -71 6

38 36

32 34 -2 34

Monday 26th December 2016 Premier Division 1874 Northwich v Winsford United Abbey Hey v Irlam AFC Darwen v Padiham Atherton Collieries v New Mills Barnoldswick Town v Nelson Barnton v Cammell Laird 1907 Bootle v AFC Liverpool Congleton Town v Hanley Town Runcorn Linnets v Runcorn Town Squires Gate v Ashton Athletic First Division Alsager Town v Eccleshall Ashton Town v Daisy Hill Carlisle City v Holker Old Boys Chadderton v Sandbach United Charnock Richard v AFC Blackpool Cheadle Town v Stockport Town Prestwich Heys v Atherton LR Silsden v Bacup Borough St Helens Town v Litherland REMYCA Whitchurch Alport v FC Oswestry Town Tuesday 27th December 2016 Premier Division West Dids & Chorlton v Maine Road Thursday 29th December 2016 First Division Carlisle City v Ashton Town Friday 30th December 2016 Premier Division Cammell Laird 1907 v 1874 Northwich Hanley Town v Barnton Irlam v Runcorn Linnets Maine Road v AFC Darwen New Mills v Abbey Hey Padiham v Atherton Collieries

Friday 30th December 2016 First Division Holker Old Boys v Daisy Hill Prestwich Heys v St Helens Town

Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016

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Celebrating 70 years, 1946-2016