St Helens Town v Nelson 2017-18 by John McKiernan

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Talk of the Town Good afternoon and welcome to Ruskin Drive. May I open by welcoming our visitors from Nelson. I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the game. After the plethora of home games at the end of 2017 and then hosting Alsager here on the first Saturday of 2018 it feels like an eternity since we were here three weeks ago! Alsager came into the game as the favourites with their loft position towards the summit of the table but it was Town who took the lead through Thomas Grimshaw who reacted fastest to turn the loose ball home after the visiting stopper was only able to parry a Liam Diggle shot. The lead was short lived as the visitors levelled four minutes later and the sides when in level at the interval. The second half saw Paul Cliff come off the bench to put Town back in front on 65 minutes and Town looked comfortable until they were reduced to 10 men following a bizarre second yellow card for Diggle. The visitors again drew level on 86 minutes. This time the parity wasn’t to last long as fellow substitute Ben Bolton thundered a well stuck effort home two minutes later but as has happened far too many times this season we conceded in the four minutes of added on time and the sides played out a 33 draw which felt like a loss to the home supporters. We then took the trip to another side near the top of the table in Sandbach United who we had defeated here at Ruskin Drive before Christmas. The game was scrappy in poor conditions and this time it was United who came out on top in a 1-0 victory which saw another debatable red card as Cliff was sent from the field seemingly for getting elbowed

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by a defender! Since then we have been twice frustrated by the inclement weather with the scheduled games at Prestwich Heys and AFC Blackpool falling foul of waterlogged pitches. This afternoon we have something of a reunion happening here at Ruskin Drive as we have a collection of former players attending the game many of whom played for the club under Jimmy McBride. It started with a bit of chat on Facebook and hopefully will culminate in them have a good afternoon watching the game and talking about old times. Jimmy was the manager when I first got involved in the club in the early noughties and always made me feel welcome as a young newcomer around the club and despite some Liverpool, Manchester United banter we have always got on really well and its always good to catch up when our paths cross! Like so many people before him and also currently Jimmy put a great deal of time, love and devotion into St Helens Town when he was involved in several roles and I know he still has a loyalty to his home town club. I am looking forward to having a bit of a catch up with Jimmy and also the former players and coaching staff in attendance and hopefully this can be the start of something we can repeat over the coming months and years for those who have previously pulled on the Town shirt and also helped out on the touchline and behind the scenes. Moving on to todays game we welcome a Nelson side who have been in good form since we visited them for the reverse fixture at the start of December. Whilst Town won that match by a 2-1 scoreline this afternoons visitors will be looking to avenge that defeat and build on the three wins and a draw in their last six outings which have drawn the clubs above them, including ourselves back towards them. I don’t think it is too early to say that this match is probably a “sixpointer” at the bottom of the table and both sides will be eager to secure a maximum return this afternoon to ease their fears at the foot of the table. Let’s get behind Town this afternoon and hopefully cheer them on to a much needed victory! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

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From the Chair Welcome to our visitors from Nelson for today’s reverse clash, Town having already recorded a 2-1 win at Little Wembley on 2nd December, having to fight back from a goal down to grab three vital points in one of our best performances of the season so far. Since that date, St. Helens have recorded another good victory over Sandbach United and gained a hard-fought 3-3 draw at home to Alsager, whereas Nelson have put together some good results of their own, beating AFC Blackpool 2-1, also recording a 3-0 Boxing Day Derby win at Bacup Borough. Today’s game will be a real test for Town as they look to pull away from the bottom two clubs. We say a warm welcome to today’s match sponsors Dave Ashby Plastering and our ball sponsors Ste Lingard and Flat Back Four. Your support is invaluable to the club and we hope you have a great

afternoon with us. We also welcome former manager Jimmy McBride, who enjoyed a long and successful career with the club in two spells over nearly thirteen years and we hope he enjoys the reunion with his many proteges both before and after the game. Today sees our 26th game of the league campaign, as we approach the two-thirds mark of the season. The artificial surface has really come into its own with matches virtually guaranteed to be on. After today, we have only six remaining home games, with 10 away matches yet to play. The last two away games fell victim of the wet weather but one of those, Prestwich Heys, has been allocated a Saturday slot on 17th March and with a little luck, we might only have two midweek evening trips to fit in, Cammell Laird on Tuesday 6th March and AFC Blackpool the following Tuesday. All the others (with the exception of Alsager, set for Easter Monday afternoon) are due to be played on Saturdays so, at least as far as St. Helens Town are concerned, the new policy of keeping Saturday fixture blocks intact has largely worked well this season. Of course, playing home games on a 3G surface and having Macron Cup and First Division Cup ties played in midweek has helped, as has (perversely) our lack of success in those competitions. Next season, with the advent of two divisions at Step 6, it looks like the FA will sanction leagues of 20 clubs instead of the current 22, resulting in four fixtures less for each of the clubs, so there will be even less demand for midweek, floodlit fixtures. As the years go by, artificial surfaces might well become the norm and with games guaranteed to go ahead, regular Saturday football might well mean that floodlit football might become largely surplus to requirements. It certainly gives food for thought when current ground grading criteria demand the provision of floodlights and their regular certified inspection every few years.

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

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

A H H H A

Luke Edwards Luke Edwards Kieran Yong Shaun Brady Danny Lomax

January Sat 06 Alsager Town Sat 13 Sandbach Utd Sat 27 Nelson

H Shaun Brady A Kieron Yong H

February Sat 03 Holker Old Boys A Sat 10 Whitchurch A H Sat 17 Chadderton A March Sat 03 Tue 06 Sat 10

Silsden Cammell Laird New Mills

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A A H

Neil Weaver Shaun Brady Shaun Brady Andy Webster Andy Webster

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

The Prabhu Ventures Ltd Player of the Month - December 2017 - Shaun Brady pictured with manager Lee Jenkinson and Stuart Pyke

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 and Steve Ball Interim Chairman: Glyn Jones Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695) Hospitality: Margaret Wood and Paul Wood Other Committee: Andy Langley and Kieran Ford 1st Team Manager: Lee Jenkinson 1st Team Assistant Manager Nick Robinson 1st Team Physiotherapist Lisa Phillipson Reserve Team Manager: Keith Griffiths U21s Team Manager: Jay Campbell U21s Assistant Manager: Joe McCann

U18s Team Manager: Graham Arkle U17s Manager: Phil Fisher Sunday Team Manager: David Platt Main Club Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002 Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited Company Director: Jim Barrett

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Manager’s Notes Good afternoon and welcome to Ruskin Drive Sports Ground for today's clash with Nelson Football club and may I wish their committee, players and supporters a warm welcome to our new facilities. Two games to report on since my last notes. The first, being at home against promotion chasing Alsager Town, a game in which we lead three times to only come away with a point in the end which was very disappointing but also a very good learning curve for this young squad on how important it is to hold on the our leads and see the games out. The game itself was an excellent encounter for the neutral but also came with a certain amount controversy. The referee for one was not strong enough and he constantly let the Alsager bench and players dictate the way they wanted the game to go and also helped massively in Liam Diggle’s red card.... Rant over. The second game was an away trip to another side hoping to be at the business end if the table come April in Sandbach. The game, it has to be said, was one sided in favour of the home side for most the first half. We only created a couple of half chances but also we had what looked like a good penalty claim penalty waved away. We were a lot better in the second period and I believe really deserved a point and we should have earned that with Alex Ashby’s effort which crossed the line but unfortunately the linesman was still 15 yards behind play and the goal was not given. We have continued to work hard in training to get the lads in shape and we’ve especially been working on their fitness which will definitely come in to play in the second half of the season.

We have Liam Diggle back from suspension but have now lost Paul Cliff for 3 games after his red card at Sandbach United. Some terrible news on the injury front is the loss of our influential skipper Liam Dodd who has undergone a knee operation and he will be out for the rest of the season. I hope that Liam makes a full recovery and wish him all the best - he will be missed. Let's all get behind the lads today in this massive six pointer and has always your support is appreciated. Enjoy the game Lee Jenkinson

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This afternoon we welcome former manager Jim McBride and a number of players who were with Town during Jim’s two spells throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Jim took the helm for over 540 competitive fixtures - 542 games, won 245 (47%), drew 109 (20%) and lost 178 (33%). He will be joined by some club legends including Ste ‘Pellet’ Pennington 216 goals in 352 games; Glenn Walker 101 goals in 345 games and Iain Dyson 94 goals in 276 appearances for the club. I am sure all the lads will enjoy reliving some stories of their time with the club and supporters are more than welcome to join us in the club after the game.

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Half Time Quiz Q1. Who is the top scoring Premier League defender currently still playing in the Division? Q2. Which former Everton player was a Scottish Premier League winner in 2002/3?

Q3. Which player did Steven Gerrard see red for stamping on 38 seconds after coming off the bench against Manchester United in March 2015? Q4. Which player was sent off for Everton in the 1-1 at Manchester City at the start of the season? Q5. Who was Crystal Palace’s manager when they visited Anfield at the start of the season?

appearances? Q10. Sergio Aguero is the all-time topscoring Non-European in the Premier League with 138 goals but who is second on the list? Q11. Who was the last man to win the Premier League Manager of the Month award whilst in the hot seat at Leeds? Q12. Who was the Championship’s top scorer last season netting 27 league goals and securing him a move to Premier League Burnley? Q13. Which player won the Premier League, earned 70 England caps whilst playing for four clubs in the top flight but never cost a transfer fee? Q14. Which Scotsman left Nottingham Forest for Red Bull Leipzig for £13m in August 2016? Q15. In which country was Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke born?

Q6. With which Welsh club is current Liverpool shot stopper Danny Ward begin his career?

Q8. Who scored for England in their 2-1 defeat against Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup Finals? Q9. Who is the only striker to have made more than 500 Premier League

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1) James Milner (48 Goals) 2) Mikel Arteta 3) Ander Herrera 4) Morgan Schneiderlin 5) Frank de Boer 6) Wrexham 7) Scot Gemmill 8) Wayne Rooney 9) Emile Heskey 10) Dwight Yorke with 123 Goals 11) David O’Leary 12) Chris Wood of Leeds 13) Sol Campbell 14) Oliver Burke 15) Zaire (now DR Congo)

Q7. Which former Everton player is the current Scotland U21 Manager?

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Match Day Sponsors

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

Opponents

Match Sponsor

Match Ball Sponsor

Programme Sponsor

AFC Blackpool

Johnsons Toyota

Macron Cheshire

Lanes Trophies

Abbey Hulton

David O’Keefe

Johnsons Toyota

Beer EnGin

Alsager Town

Unite, St Helens

Stuart Pyke

Johnsons Toyota

The Boar’s Head

St Helens Mind ODs Menswear

Atherton LR Bacup Borough

Britannia Taxis

Johnsons Toyota

Cammel Laird

Unite The Union

Britannia Taxis Unite , St Helens

Carlisle City

Iddon Transport

Chadderton

Johnsons Toyota

Cheadle Town

Johnsons Toyota

Iddon Transport

Beer EnGin

A180 Darts

Daisy Hill

Unite, St Helens

Dave Wiggins

Johnsons Toyota

Eccleshall

Johnsons Toyota

Beer EnGin

Toast Cafe Beer EnGin

FC Oswestry

Johnsons Toyota

A180 Darts

Holker Old Boys

Unite, St Helens

Arcframe

Litherland

CWU Mersey & SW Lanc

Dave Wiggins

Nelson

Dave Ashby Plastering

New Mills

Ste Lingard

Flat Back Four

Airborne Bathrooms

The Boar’s Head

Prestwich Heys

A180 Darts

Johnsons Toyota

Toast Cafe

Sandbach Utd

Unite, St Helens

Stuart Pyke

Johnsons Toyota

Silsden

Top Car Detailing

Johnsons Toyota

Unite, St Helens

Boar’s Head

Unite the Union

Johnsons Toyota

Unite, St Helens

Stockport Town

Iddon Transport

Whitchurch Alport

St Helens Mind

Hemsworth MW

Dave Wiggins

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St Helens Mind What people say about us! The Befriending Service provides support for people who feel isolated or alone due to the effects of mental illness. A Befriender is someone who can be there to listen and give some time when it is most needed. “I have found that having a befriender has helped me in so many ways that it has given me the confidence to get out of my house” “How you match people is so wonderful, it is such a good service and people who have a condition like myself really benefit” “I get to go to different places and it’s nice to have a friend to talk to” “I get social interaction and it eases my anxiety”

“I would not be able to see many places go shopping and for coffee. I look forward to my befriendee as we get on great together” “The experience has been so positive for me, and I have been able to address everyday issues better, also discussing thoughts has been good” “Look forward to getting out more. A pick-me -up each week. Meeting up with my befriendee for a cuppa and clothes shopping

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with another woman” “St. Helens Mind is a valuable resource that MUST be kept going” Our Social Groups are for people who are experiencing mental health problems and who would benefit from an enjoyable, safe and welcoming place to meet with others. “Had a really good year of event and groups and it has helped me to get through the year rather than locking myself away. And thanks to all the staff for help and support, I would be lost without them” “I have enjoyed this year’s group very much. I started the year off feeling unwell and depressed but as of today I am I am feeling much better about myself. I feel that the Mind group has played a big part in my recovery because of the happy and enjoyable atmosphere” “I feel so proud knowing that something I have helped to make is now part of the community church gardens, and will be there forever”

Call 01744 647089 or email admin@st.helens Mind for details. You can also follow us on Twitter @sthelensmind or find us on the internet at www.sthelensmind.org.uk Mind for details. You can also follow us on Twitter @sthelensmind or find us on the internet at www.sthelensmind.org.uk

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Photographs: Action from Town’s away trip to Nelson’s Little Wembley. Town ran out 1-2 winners.

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The world This week Kieran Ford takes a trip down memory lane and discovers events that happened this calendar week in the history of St Helens Town, sport in general and world news. The week of 21st – 28th January Last Season: World – 24th January 2017 The UK Supreme Court rules against the Government's Brexit appeal case by an 8 to 3 decision, stating that Parliament must vote to trigger Article 50. Sport – 28th January 2017 The fourth round of the FA Cup sees National League leaders Lincoln City upset the odds again by dumping Championship leaders Brighton & Hove Albion out 3–1, becoming the eighth post-War non-League club to reach the fifth round.

St Helens Town – No game this week for the Blues, who next return to action on 4th February.

St Helens Town – 26th January 2008 Town lose 4-2 at Abbey Hey, with goalkeeper Graham McCall getting sent off for St Helens, a feat also repeated in the very next match! 20 Years Ago World – 25th January 1998 David and Victoria Beckham announce their engagement. Sport – 27th January 1998 Newcastle United sign Swedish striker Andreas Andersson from AC Milan.

St Helens Town – 24th & 28th January 1998 2 home matches in 4 days for Town sees them lose 2-1 against Chadderton before beating Bootle 1-0. 30 Years Ago World – 24th January 1988 Arthur Scargill is re-elected as Leader of the National Union of Mineworkers by a narrow majority. Sport – 24th January 1988 “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan wins the 1st WWF Royal Rumble match.

St Helens Town – No match this week as the postponements continue. 50 Years Ago World – 22nd January 1968 Apollo 5 launched to Moon; unmanned lunar module tests made. Sport – 22nd January 1968 NBA announces it will expand to Milwaukee & Phoenix. St Helens Town – 27th January 1968 Town play out a 2-2 draw at Clitheroe.

10 Years Ago World – 24th January 2008 Peter Hain resigned as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions over irregular donations. Sport – 24th January 2008 George Burley quits Southampton to take over as Scotland manager.

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Match Report Town edged out in scrappy affair Sandbach United 1-0 St Helens Town Town travelled to Sandbach United looking for a much needed three points against a side they had defeated at Ruskin Drive just before Christmas. On that occasion Town had recovered from a two goal deficit to record a superb 3-2 victory. The visitors arrived at a very cold Hind Heath Road ground without the services of front man Liam Diggle who was serving a one game suspension and he was replaced by Ben Bolton who was making his first start since early November following injury. The game started at a frantic pace and the first chance fell to Town when Andy Presho’s through ball set Shaun Brady in on goal but his right foot drive was saved well by the home ‘keeper Ryan Moss. The ball broke outside the six yard box and as Town’s Matty Smith looked to force the ball home he was tumbled to the ground but the referee waved play on for the first of a number of strange decisions which littered the ninety minutes.

of the contest and Town were in a game of attack versus defence for the next half hour. While there was little goal mouth action the constant Sandbach pressure stifled any opportunities at the other end until two minutes before the break; another route one pass from Tom Grimshaw found Bolton but his early strike went wide of the Sandbach goal. The second half was a much more even affair but again lacked real quality as well as any clear goal chances; with the referee’s whistle a constant interruption throughout. Both sides picked up three second half cautions with Town also seeing substitute Paul Cliff dismissed following a clash with Pearson in stoppage time.

There was some injury time drama as Alex Ashby’s 25 yard free kick almost caught out the home stopper Moss who took the ball high under the cross bar before stumbling backwards leading to claims from the visitors that the ball had been carried well over the line. The referee, who wasn’t helped by his assistant who had taken up a poor position, waved away the claims and shortly afterwards brought the game to an end. John McKiernan

The only goal of the game arrived after just 11 minutes and it came from a floated free kick which found Sandbach defender Matthew Pearson unmarked and he headed past Yong in the Town goal. It was a catalyst for the home side to take control

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Club Honours 1949 George Mahon Trophy Winners 1951 Lancashire Comb Division 2 Champions 1972 Lancashire Combination Champions 1973 Bass Charrington Cup Winners 1974 Watson Trophy Winners 1978 St Helens Hospital Cup Winners 1979 St Helens Combination Div 1 Runners Up 1979 St Helens Hospital Cup Runners Up 1980 St Helens Combination Div 1 Champions 1985 NWCFL Reserve Division 2 Runners Up 1986 NWCFL Reserve Division 1 Runners Up 1987 FA Vase Winners (Wembley) 1994 League Challenge Cup Finalists 1994 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1995 NWCFL Reserve Division Champions 1996 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1998 Floodlit Trophy Finalists 1999 REALCO Fair Play Award Winners 2009 Bert Trautmann Trophy Winners 2014-15 South Lancs League U17s Cup Finalists 2014-15 Cheshire FA U21 League Champions 2015-16 Cheshire FA U21 Premier Cup Finalists 2016-17 Cheshire FA U21 League Cup Finalists 2016-17 Cheshire FA U21 Premier Div Runners Up

Record Attendances: 3012 at Hoghton Road v Burscough (1948) 8000 at Hoghton Road v Man City (1950) 1723 at Knowsley Rd v FC Utd Manchester (2006) 9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (1949) Programme Awards NWCFL Programme of the Year 1993-94, 1995-96, 1997-998, 1998-99, 2000-1 NWCFL Premier Division 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 NWCFL First Division 2015-16, 2016-17 Wirral Programme Club National Survey NWCFL Programme of the Year 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 Programme Monthly NWCFL Programme of the Year 2007-08 Soccer Club Swap Shop National Awards 2010-11 28th, 2011-12 8th, 2012-13 7th, 2013-14 8th, 2014-15 5th, 2015-16 8th, 2016-17 2nd

NWCFL 2015-16 Awards Player of the Month Oct Andy Gillespie ‘Keeper of the Month Nov Matthew Hodge January 2016 Team of the Month ‘Keeper of the Month Jan Matthew Hodge

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

Goals in a Season

Career Appearances (Qualification 250 games)

216 Steve Pennington

47 Phil Stainton 1963/64

448 Alan Wellens (inc. 207 estimated)

118 Terry Garner

46 Steve Pennington 1997/98

359 John Critchley (16 estimated)

108 Gary Laird

45 Jackie Kendrick 1973/74

352 Steve Pennington

105 Lee Cooper

45 Steve Pennington 1993/94

346 Gary Lowe (1 estimated)

101 Glenn Walker

40 Bob Potter 1952/53

345 Glenn Walker

94 Iain Dyson

38 Terry Fearns 2000/01

327 Jackie Atherton (122 estimated)

83 Harry McCann

36 Albert Leadbetter 1950/51

300 Jackie Cooke (1 estimated)

81 Ray Fairweather

35 Arthur Tyrer 1957/58

287 Gary Laird

72 Arthur Tyrer

34 Lee Cooper 2001/02

280 Kevin Grice (147 estimated)

68 Phil Stainton

33 Ronnie Rigby 1952/53

278 Jimmy Woodyer (67 estimated)

63 Mervyn Bull

32 Harry McCann 1950/51

276 Iain Dyson

31 Terry Garner 1950/51

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

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

Comp NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FAV 1QR NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FDC 1RN NWCFL TMC 1RN NWCFL LSC 1R NWCFL FDC 2RN NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL

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

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

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

ures

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

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

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

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15 16 17 Heron8 Parkinson Fairchild Moody9 McHugh Young Young7 Weaver Bradley Smith Young7 Bradley Forrester10 McHugh11 Fairchild Forrester3 Hatton Bradley Weaver11 Kwofie Edzes6 Forrester Young McHugh6 Forrester9 Young2 Onhu Forrester D.Whelan4 Edwards7 Murray10 D.Whelan Bolton9 Murray101 Norris Young8 Onhu8 Murray10 Potter2 McHugh Hoult9 Dodd Lomax Potter3 Young7 Murray10 McHugh8 Walsh Heron Young7 Fairchild Smith Bolton10 Young4 Bolton10 Potter3 Fairchild H-O’Connor Potter10 Hoult Potter Heron H-O’Connor Dodd3 McHugh6 H-O’Connor McHugh H-O’Connor2 Weaver Cliff McHugh Salah7 Smith6 Lawrence10 H-O’Connor Dursley11 Smith8 Cliff10 Presho6 Smith Lawrence Heron Bolton81 Ashby7 Heron McHugh

Match Report St Helens Town 3-3 Alsager Town This was the game that had everything. Plenty of goals, incidents, controversy and a rousing finish and St. Helens Town were unlucky not to hold out for a win, as visitors Alsager levelled the scores deep into injury time to salvage a 3-3 draw. On a very cold, sunny day, the match started as a slow burner, with few chances in the first half. Tom Grimshaw should have given Town an early lead when he narrowly failed to get

his head to an excellent cross from Liam Diggle. Grimshaw did eventually put St. Helens 1-0 up with his first goal for the club after 20 minutes when the impressive Diggle shot from distance which the visiting stopper could not hold and Grimshaw slotted home the rebound. Typical of their play this season, Town allowed their guests to equalise four minutes later, when the home defence failed to clear a seemingly harmless ball and Paul Taylor netted at the third attempt to level the score at 1-1. The second half built up a head of steam mid -way through as substitute Paul Cliff scored a fine goal from a tight angle from wide out on the left wing and Town had two or three good chances to make the game safe, through Cliff and Liam Diggle. Before long, a number of hefty challenges, principally from the visitors, were allowed to go unpunished by the referee, who lost control and players from both sides saw yellow cards in the ensuing confrontations as the match deteriorated into a series of midfield squabbles. Diggle was cautioned and shortly afterwards, was the victim of a

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who chested the ball and in one move turned and fired past Mellor from a tight angle to restore the home side’s lead in the 88th minute, a score which all ten players celebrated wildly. The game erupted again into more mayhem as Owen Dursley was cleaned out on the touch line and he was fortunate to escape serious injury, but no action was taken by the officials as the players ran in to protect him. heavy shove from Matt German. Diggle appeared to do no more than stand his ground while is opponents kicked the ball against him, but both players received yellow cards with Diggle deemed to have kicked the ball away and was immediately sent off, a decision which appeared completely wrong, leaving Town down to ten men for the last 20 minutes, with Alsager in the ascendency at full strength. German was involved in the next incident as Alsager had an equaliser chalked off for offside, the assistant raising his flag immediately before the ball hit the back of the net. Referee Perkin went over to consult his linesman and confirmed the goal had been disallowed, whereupon the Alsager forward abusively accused the official of being a “cheat” but escaped even a talking to, let alone a second yellow card. With four minutes remaining, veteran striker Mickey Lennon grabbed an equaliser to make the score 2-2 but, with feelings running high, almost from the re-start, St. Helens swept the length of the field and substitute Ben Bolton

Alsager’s equaliser duly came five minutes into added time, from the villain of the piece, Matt German, who tucked away his neat header just inside Kieran Yong’s left post, to send the visitors into raptures and send them back down the M6 with a point to add to their promotion ambitions. Town should have taken the spoils with almost the last kick of the game when Shaun Brady broke clear but he failed to hit the target when one on one with Mellor. Everything considered, it was a great performance from St. Helens Town, against strong opposition, a point manager Lee Jenkinson would probably have settled for before the start of the game. Glyn Jones

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Alsager Town

Abbey Hey

Alsager Town

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3-1

0-1

1-3

1-2

1-1

03/02 21/04

02/04 23/02

2-1

14/04 27/02

1-3

08/02

2-1

1-0

1-2

Cammell Laird

Carlisle City

Chadderton

Cheadle Town

Daisy Hill

2-1

17/02

TBC

3-1

0-0

Stockport T

Whitchurch A

2-0

0-1

2-1

2-0

3-1

31/03

2-1

1-2

7-1

17/02 27/01

0-1

2-1

3-3

07/04

2-3

28/04

0-1

3-2

3-0

2-2

17/02

0-3

3-2

4-2

3-4

3-0

2-0

1-1

2-1

31/03

2-3

1-2

1-3

3-2

24/02

02/04

2-2

2-0

2-2

3-0

17/04

2-3

2-1

0-1

3-2

24/02

4-2

6-0

3-1

4-2

3-3

4-2

2-1

0-0

2-3 1-2

2-0

2-2

5-2

2-3

1-3

24/03

06/02

07/04

5-1

3-0

2-1

05/05

3-0

1-1

1-2

0-1

2-1

3-2

17/02

27/01

3-1

2-2

4-3

5-2

0-4

0-2

4-2

5-0

2-0

0-3

2-1

3-2

4-2

10/03

1-3

28/04

2-1

5-1

1-2

2-0

3-2

6-0

2-3

02/04

21/04

5-1

3-2

0-3

2-4

0-2

1-1

31/03

21/04

2-1

2-3

6-0

5-0

7-2

1-1

4-1

2-2

2-0

1-3

5-1

1-3

24/03

07/04

21/04 03/02

3-0

1-2

20/03

06/02

1-1

1-4

2-1

1-4

5-0

2-2

2-0

03/02

3-0

0-1

17/03

03/04 06/03 05/05 27/01

2-4 3-5 1-1

TBC

31/03

1-2

0-2

2-1

1-2

0-2

0-6

2-0

0-1

2-1

TBC

0-5

0-3

2-4

13/04

14/04

0-2

3-2

3-2 05/03 19/03

05/05

5-1

1-1

03/03

1-0

21/04

1-3

1-4

3-1

3-0

02/04 17/02 17/03 0-4

2-0

1-2

03/02 1-0

0-3

3-2

3-4

12/12

10/03

1-4

13/02

1-4

1-3

3-1

2-2

0-1

0-2

14/04

05/05

2-1

1-0

3-0

03/02

24/03 1-2

28/04 10/02

1-0

4-0

14/04 03/03

4-2

0-4

10/03 07/04

1-5

24/02

05/03 31/03

07/04 05/05 31/03 04/04

10/04 03/02 27/02

0-6

3-2

1-4

0-2

0-5

07/04 10/02 27/01 1-0

6-1

27/02 02/04 10/03

2-0

2-1

3-3

07/04 10/03 05/05 17/02 0-2 10/02

0-3

3-0

17/03 21/04

05/05

2-0

27/01 10/03 02/04 1-0

1-3

10/03 12/04 21/04 24/03 24/02 22/02 17/03

2-3

13/02 03/02 31/03

28/04 03/03 14/04 03/02

24/02

24/02 31/03 17/03 14/04 13/03 1-3

24/03 12/03 27/01 05/05

17/02

2-2

20/02

5-1

10/02 29/01

21/04 27/01

4-0

1-1

14/02

5-2

10/02

05/05 01/03

2-1

0-1

1-2

0-3

03/03 10/03 11/04 28/04 24/02

4-0

8-0

1-5

26/03

1-0

5-0

3-0

10/02 07/04

27/02 27/03

17/03 03/02

14/04

2-0

2-2

31/03 TBC 05/02

1-1

10/03 07/04

19/04

17/02 02/04 10/02

0-4

2-1

10/03 28/04

2-1

10/02

03/03

0-4

3-0

4-3

05/05 24/03 27/01 21/04

1-4

07/02 24/03

28/04 03/03 31/01

0-0

28/04 1-0

Silsden

19/03

07/03

06/03 28/04

2-2

St Helens T

Sandbach

1-4

28/04 24/02

3-3

0-1

2-2

27/01

4-1

24/03

Nelson

New Mills

0-0

02/04 03/03

0-0

03/03 20/03

1-4

2-1

0-1

Litherland

1-7

1-2

0-3

2-3

Holker Old Boys

1-1

10/02

3-0

2-1

27/01 03/03 28/04

17/03 03/02 14/04 21/04

2-3

3-1

07/04 21/04

1-3

FC Oswestry

Prestwich Heys

2-2

0-0

31/03

Eccleshall

X 2-5

21/03 31/03 14/04

1-0

17/02

10/02 27/03

Atherton LR

Bacup Borough

14/04 30/01

Cammell Laird

Carlisle City

24/03

Chadderton

2-1

Cheadle Town

27/01 27/03 17/02 02/04

Daisy Hill

1-1

Eccleshall

3-2

FC Oswestry Town

03/03

Holker Old Boys

1-2

Litherland Remyca

4-1

Nelson

5-1

New Mills

1-6

Prestwich

2-4

AFC Blackpool Atherton LR

05/05 17/03

Sandbach United

Silsden

3-1

St Helens Town

Abbey Hulton

Stockport Town

AFC Blackpool

Up to & including 24/01/18

Hallmark Security League 1st Div RESULTS GRID

Whitchurch Alport

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On this day In history Town have played just seven times on this date (27th January) with games covering a period of almost seventy years since the opening game on this date in 1951. Fixtures have taken place across the Lancashire Combination (both Divisions), North West Counties Football League, FA Vase and NWCF League Challenge Cup. It was Lancashire Combination Division Two action back at the start of the 1950s and Town recorded a fine home victory over Lomax at Hoghton Road. Goals from Garner, Bryne, McCann and Leadbetter secured the points courtesy of a 4-0 scoreline. Seventeen years later (1968) Town were in Lancashire Combination top flight action at Shawebridge, home of Clitheroe. Although we hold no details of the scorers the game ended in a 2-2 draw. It was in 1973 and more Lancashire Combination action for Town as they travelled to Maghull where they secured 0-2 win with goals from Tuft and

Hickson. The start of the 1990s saw Town travel to neighbours Prescot Cables in the North West Counties Division One and it proved to be a disappointing after as the team in amber and black ran out 3-0 winners. As the century entered its final year (1999) Town would entertain Cheadle Town in the North West Counties League and goals from Walker, Laird (2) and Jones saw Jimmy McBride’s charges run out 4-1 winners at Hoghton Road. It’s strange to think that almost 20 years later at least two of the scorers that day (Glen Walker and Gary Jones) are with us this afternoon as part of long overdue reunion! The team that day was: Mike Allison, Adie Reilly, Stu Phoenix, Gary Dooner, Gary Jones, Gary Bickerstaffe, Gary Lowe, Bryan Griffiths, Glenn Walker, Gary Laird, Franny Hill, Neil Shaw, Neil Collins and John McGivern January 27th 2001 saw Town under Jimmy McBride in FA Vase Fourth Round action and a trip to Northern League outfit Consett. It was a really tight game which looked like heading for extra time until Robbie Cowley popped up with an 88th minute winner to ensure the long journey back was a happy one. Saints’ Knowsley Road was the venue the last time we played on this date as Town welcomed Padiham to the St Helens in the North West Counties League Challenge Cup 3rd Round. Out visitors proved too strong and progressed courtesy of 0-2 win. John McKiernan

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Thanks to

Dave Wiggins

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Town in action at Consett (Northern League) in the FA Vase 4th Round on this day in 2001. Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Robbie Cowley hitting an 88th minute winner.

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

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Town Archive HALL OF FAME PLAYERS 1990’s Steve Pennington As the century’s final decade began, Steve Pennington had been given few opportunities in a Town shirt and reverted back to local football where he regularly scored ‘hat-tricks’ for fun! It was not until Jimmy McBride took over as manager that ‘Pellet’ got his chance and over an eight year period he wrote himself into our record books and non-league folklore. ‘Pellet’s’ first ever goal was a late tap in winner against Skelmersdale United at the ‘Moss End’ of Hoghton Road and it was into the same net that he scored the last ever goal at our old ground when we beat Vauxhall Motors 1-0 on that memory charged occasion in the year 2000. In between, Steve’s goals lit up every season

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and despite brief flirtations into the Vauxhall Conference with Altrincham and the Unibond League with Trafford, he always spent enough time with his home town club to top our goal scoring charts. It is fair to say that Pellet’s goals kept us a regular NWCFL top eight club and it is unlikely that his total haul will ever be bettered in Town’s cause, although ironically he never managed to beat our record for goals scored in a season. His tally of 45 in season 97-98 matched Phil Stainton’s 1965 haul but fell one short of Jackie Kendrick’s benchmark of 46 achieved in our latter Lancashire Combination days in 1974. ‘Pellet’ was a larger than life character both on the field and off it and was well respected both by team-mates and opponents alike but his ‘cavalier’ lifestyle made him ‘not suitable’ for the pro game though his goal scoring talents undeniably were. Perhaps it is fitting that Mal Thacker’s photograph of that final goal in Hoghton Road’s final game depicting ‘Pellet’ at what he does best, should be the sporting epitaph on the ground he scored ‘bag-fulls’ for St Helens Town and in local cup finals.

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 Think of a club that was the first English side to beat Real Madrid away from home. A side that also won away at Old Trafford in the same season. A side that has obtained positive results against six current Barclays Premiership clubs in league games (Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Hull City, Fulham, Southampton and Stoke City). A side that played in the Football League for ten seasons and has played competitive games against 34 current sides in the top four divisions. A side that has played many FA Cup ties in the competition proper with a record home attendance of over 14,000. All this, and more, has been achieved by ‘The History Boys’ of Nelson FC, also known as ‘The Admirals’. The origins of Nelson FC can be reputedly traced to a group of townspeople who in 1881, on witnessing a local football match between Burnley and Blackburn, were inspired to form their own team. However, it wasn’t until 1889-90 that they competed in a senior competition, joining the Lancashire League upon its formation. The Blues started well, with a series of top six finishes, and claimed the title in great style in 1895/96, winning 22 of their 30 games and scoring 105 goals. However in 1898-99 the original club was disbanded. Just a few months after their demise, Nelson were reformed and accepted into the North East Lancashire League, later joining the Central League. When football resumed after the First World War, Nelson embarked upon the most remarkable adventure of their history. In 1921 the thirteen non-reserve teams of the Central League were voted into the Football League`s newly formed Third Division North. The first league match, on August 27th 1921, brought a record attendance at Seedhill of 9,000. The next season, 1922-23, saw the Blues lead a close race for much of the season,

and five wins in a row during April saw them romp away to the title. One team was promoted from each of the Third Division North and South of the Football League at that time, and it meant Nelson were entering a nationwide league for the very first time. On the back of their title triumph, and in preparation for life in Division Two, Nelson took the remarkable step of an overseas tour to Spain, in May 1923. They performed with some success, winning two of their four games - a 2-1 success against Real Oviedo and a 4-2 victory at Real Madrid. Unfortunately Nelson`s time in Division Two was to be short-lived, lasting just the one season in which they finished second-bottom of the table. A return to Division Three North brought a drop in attendances, though big games saw new records established, such as 13,500 for the visit of table-topping Darlington. That first season back in the third tier of the Football League saw a second-place finish to the North-Eastern side. The next season brought a new and never beaten record attendance at Seedhill of 14,143 for the visit of leaders Bradford Park Avenue. A rock-bottom finish meant a reelection application which was granted in 1928, but three seasons later was to be their final season as a League club. Nelson struggled on in the Lancashire Combination without winning any honours, and things became much bleaker in 1936. A big loss was incurred that season and the club disbanded on 7th August. Following the war, Nelson returned to action and to the Lancashire Combination. They were involved in some terrific tussles for the title with Wigan Athletic over the next few seasons, winning it twice in 1949/50 and 1951/52. The first title season saw Nelson clinch the Lancashire Combination Cup to seal an historic Double in what was at the time one of the premier leagues in the country outside of the Football League. The men at the forefront of this period of success were two young player-managers. Centre-half Bob Johnson moved from Burnley for the start of the 1949/50 season and, when his contract expired, the Blues landed a young man from Manchester City, 30-year-old Joe Fagan. The team built by ‘Uncle Joe’ romped to the title in his first season in 1951/52. Joe left to join Liverpool`s boot room team in 1958 and 25 years later he was the manager who took the Reds to a

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European Cup, League Championship and League Cup treble.

members that reflect the diversity within the town in the modern era.

As Fagan was beginning his long association with the Merseysiders, Nelsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fortunes were to move, quite markedly, in the opposite direction. A third Combination Cup arrived in 1959/60, but a second place finish in 1960/61 was to be the nearest they came to winning the Combination title again. A third place was collected in the final season of that League in 1981/82.

The 2012/13 season started with a new young management team of Robert Grimes and Michael Morrison and things started well with The Admirals racing to the top of the table. However cracks soon started to appear and a couple of months in the management team departed along with most of the squad. Nelson limped along for a few weeks taking some heavy defeats due to fielding what was effectively the clubs reserve team before manager Mark Fell arrived. He immediately brought stability to the club and an upturn in fortunes along with a host of new signings and the side recovered to a mid-table 10th position. Fell's first full season brought long awaited success back to the town, a first league title in 62 years. Fell's Nelson were outstanding, scoring a remarkable 157 goals in 45 games and winning the NWCFL division 1 by 5 clear points. Nelson's Peter Wright became the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top scorer with 38 goals.

Nelson joined the Third Division of the newly created North West Counties League in 1982. During that era, The club were transferred into the Second Division of the North West Counties League when the Third Division was dropped six seasons later. However, after one more season, the club`s new ground was deemed not to be up to league standard, and the team were forced to play in the Second Division of the West Lancashire League for four seasons. After much hard work, the new ground at Victoria Park was brought up to scratch, and the club were re-admitted to the North West Counties League. Former Blackburn Rovers coach David Hall took over the manager`s role at the start of the 2004/05 season, and set about rebuilding a fresh young team. Hall was to leave after a poor start to the following season, but his assistant Graham Howarth took over and oversaw an incredible late run which propelled the Blues to a third place finish, bringing with it a first promotion for the club in 83 years. The club fought off relegation threats and maintained a place in the Premier Division for four seasons before administrative troubles forced the club to resign from the NWCFL in the summer of 2010. After a year out to regroup, Nelson re-joined the First Division under new ownership. With a mixed board containing English and Asian board

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Ahead of the 2016/17 season ex Burnley player Phil Eastwood was appointed Manager however after only 1 win in the first 10 league games Eastwood stood down in October. The Admirals decided to promote Youth Team manager Alex Norwood to First Team Manager as the club look to avoid relegation from the Premier Division. Unfortunately relegation was confirmed and now the club are looking to bounce back and fight at the top end of Division One. After a poor start to the 2017/18 season Alex Norwood left the club, former manager Paul Fildes stepped in for a brief spell of 3 games however after 3 defeats the club Chief Executive Adam Keizer has taken over the management of the first team while The Admirals look to turn around their fortunes. Steve Cunningham took over in December and form has been much improved as Nelson look to get out of the relegation zone.

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Being a bit of a Walker In world of stunts and extremes, I strive for normality: no ice buckets, gallons of milk or blazing chest hair for me. Being a bit of a walker (that’s “WALKER”), I have once again accepted the ‘Walk 1,000 miles’ challenge, however. I completed it last year by hot-footing it to Ruskin via a circuitous route on possibly the coldest and most miserable day in December, arriving just in time to shiver my way through the match against Daisy Hill. This year I intend to avoid the Christmas rush by completing the thing a tad earlier in the year, to give me half a chance of enjoying the home straight without suffering sleet and slush. At the time of writing, I have a sporting chance of passing the 100-mile mark before kick-off against Nelson. At the same stage last year I had covered a mere 74 miles, so I am making decent progress. The highlight so far was a walk last Sunday along the length of the Sankey Canal, from Spike Island in Widnes to St. Helens town

centre, in bloody awful conditions: heavy rain, with periodic sleet and snow, stirred by a freshening wind. (“Highlight” is a subjective word.) I was accompanied by fellow fools, with a shared interest in walking, canals, local history and elementary first-aid.

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Even on a rotten day, walking the canal is the best way to appreciate some of the different landscapes within walking distance of home: the riverine views at Spike Island and Fidler’s Ferry; the 1970s suburban greenway from Sankey Bridges to Winwick Quay; the agricultural hinterland of Burtonwood and around Newton; and the reclaimed industrial landscape through Parr to town. The most spectacular section is undoubtedly at Emmet’s Brow, Earlestown, where the route of the canal (England’s first modern cut) passes beneath the Nine Arches (the first major railway viaduct in the world). The second most spectacular spot is the five yards between the door and bar in the Fiddle I’th Bag, where I picked my way between items of vintage military uniform clothing, stuffed pike and a saucy Clock Face Crisps calendar then had to taste all three cask ales before I could buy a pint of the one I wanted to start with. I love the place, and recommend it to all comers. Numbers dwindled rather by the closing stretch of the walk, leaving only the hardiest enthusiasts to enjoy Matalan’s flank and the flooded underpass behind the World of Glass – the others missed out, truly. It is attractions such as these that my guest at today’s match can look forward to: I am pleased to welcome Mike Rüschoff, who is visiting from Bielefeld in NordrheinWestfalen, Germany. Mike leads a fan club for DSC Arminia Bielefeld, currently playing in Bundesliga 2. They also play in blue and know what it is like to face a wrong-end-of-the-table battle, so we can expect a sympathetic hearing. Mike has long been a good friend to me, Flat Back Four and many other British visitors to his town. I know he will have a good time this afternoon. Let’s hope we can entertain him with a home win. COYB Ste Lingard (@stelingard)

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

Nelson - last 6 matches All Competitions Most recent Home D L L L L W Away L L D D W L Collated L D D W L W St Helens Town games since... All Competitions Clean sheet 21

Nelson games since... All Competitions Clean sheet 2

Goal Scored

Loss

No score draw

Score draw Win

1 2

Loss No score draw Score draw Win

Home League Away League Home Cup Away Cup Collated Away Collated

P 15 16 2 2 35 3 4

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W 7 7 1 1 16 1 2

at St Helens Town NWC-D1

Previous Meetings 2002-03

NWC-D1

2003-04

NWC-D2

NWC-D1

2004-05

NWC-D2

NWC-D1

2005-06

NWC-D2

26/04; 4-4

2006-07

16/12; 0-0

at Nelson NWC-D2

29/12; 4-1

2007-08

03/11; 0-1

27/04; 0-3

2008-09

28/02; 1-1

17/10; 4-0

2009-10

13/03; 2-1

NWC-PD

2010-11

N/A

NWC-PD

2011-12

NWC-D1

NWC-PD

2012-13

NWC-D1

NWC-PD

2013-14

NWC-D1

28/02; 1-6

2014-15

20/12; 0-4

NWC-D1

2015-16

NWC-PD

NWC-D1

2016-17

NWC-PD

27/01/2018

2017-18

02/12; 2-1

St Helens Town Scores First Games Played

St Helens Town Wins

Draws

Nelson Wins

St Helens Town Goals

3 0

Nelson Goals

Percentage Town Wins

36.36

Previous Meetings D L 3 5 3 6 1 0 1 0 8 11 0 2 0 2

F 40 18 5 3 66 3 6

A 32 24 1 2 59 7 8

GD 8 -6 4 1 7 -4 -2

Win % 46.67 43.75 50.00 50.00 45.71 33.33 50.00

League News Away day at last for 1874 At last on Saturday, 1874 Northwich played an away league fixture, when they travelled to Maine Road and emerged victorious with a 32 victory. Last Wednesday's postponed league game at Runcorn Town was the 9th consecutive - and unsuccessful - attempt by 1874 to play an away game in the league. Prior to Saturday, their last league game away was on November 1st and during this spell they also had two cup games postponed away from home. Let's hope that Saturday is the start of a change of weather fortunes for the Greens, as they battle to catch up on their congested fixture schedule. Hats off to Holker We all know that players and officials at non -league clubs often display impressive commitment to the cause, and we must make mention of the travelling group representing Holker Old Boys, who made the journey down on Thursday night to face AFC Liverpool in the Macron Cup. The round trip from Barrow-in-Furness to

Crosby is approximately 200 miles, and having to travel that distance, on a night of poor driving conditions across the region, to play a game of football would test the resolve of many. But make it they did, despite some travel problems hampering pre-match preparations, and then had the misfortune to face an on-song home side, who beat them 7-2. It obviously didn't affect morale too much, as the Stags bounced back on Saturday to win 2-1 at home to Bacup Borough, a result that moved them to within four points of a play off place - a reward for everyone who battled through adversity less than 48 hours earlier. Straight eight for Alport There's a fair amount of momentum building up around Yockings Park at the minute, with Whitchurch Alport bagging their eighth successive win on Saturday, and at the same time ending league leaders Silsden AFC's 100% home record, with a 2-1 victory at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium.

Four defeats in five games during October and November left Luke Goddard's men a little off the pace at the top of Division One, but recent form has seen them return to the promotion race with a vengeance. Now 16 points behind Silsden at the top but with four games in hand, success in the two scheduled home games this week will further cement Alport as serious contenders in the shake up at the end of the season.

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County cup success for FC Oswestry Town It's always good to celebrate our clubs enjoying success in their respective county cup competitions, so it's a well done to FC Oswestry Town for reaching the semi final of the Shropshire FA's TJ Vickers Premier Challenge Cup. Town booked their place with a 4-1 win over Ellesmere Rangers of the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division last Tuesday, and now join Whitchurch Alport in the last four, doubling the League's chances of us having a winner in the competition this season. Two in a row for Eccleshall All of a sudden, fortunes have begun to pick up for Eccleshall, whose 4-2 win over Cammell Laird 1907 on Saturday saw them record back to back wins for the first time this season. What's more the wins over Lairds and FC Oswestry Town - teams above them in the league table - ended a run of seven successive defeats stretching back two months.

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The Eagles also bagged seven goals in the process, so it does appear that there are some green shoots of recovery sprouting down at Pershall Park. Nelson recent League standings

Season 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 2016-17

League NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-P NWC-P N/A NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P

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P 34 38 36 36 42 38 42 42

W 13 14 16 23 7 5 11 12

D 12 11 11 5 7 8 12 8

L 9 13 9 8 28 25 19 22

F 50 54 75 82 39 42 68 47

A 40 64 52 53 110 90 86 87

GD 10 -10 23 29 -71 -48 -18 -40

Pts 51 53 59 74 28 23 45 44

34 34 36 40 42 42

9 11 29 16 13 5

5 9 2 7 9 11

20 14 5 17 20 26

40 64 135 69 69 55

83 76 51 64 70 87

-43 -12 84 5 -1 -32

32 42 89 55 48 25

Position 7/18 10/20 6/19 3/19 20/22 20/20 17/22 17/22 N/A 15/18 10/18 1/19 11/21 16/22 21/22

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Premier Division Fixtures

Premier Division Table Wed 24/01/2018

GD Pts

Runcorn Linnets

Runcorn Town

23 16

Widnes

28 15

Charnock Richard

Bootle

66 34

Hanley Town

50 30

City of Liverpool

Padiham

9 Barnoldswick Town 24 10

10 49

10 Northwich Victoria

-9

Ashton Athletic

Winsford United

-7

1874 Northwich

Congleton Town

15 West Did & Chorlton 24 10

-19

Squires Gate

40 62

-22

Maine Road

39 68

-29

Burscough

-23

Irlam

-10

Abbey Hey

-16

AFC Liverpool

-8

AFC Darwen

-56

Barnton

20 44 100 -56

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Saturday 27th January 2018 1874 Northwich v Burscough Abbey Hey v Congleton Town Ashton Athletic v Irlam Barnoldswick Town v Winsford Utd Bootle v Maine Road Charnock Richard v Barnton Hanley Town v West D & Chorlton Northwich Victoria v AFC Liverpool Padiham v Squires Gate Runcorn Linnets v AFC Darwen Tuesday 30th January 2018 Congleton Town v City of Liverpool Irlam v Winsford United Northwich Vics v 1874 Northwich Runcorn Town v Charnock Richard Wednesday 31st January 2018 Hanley Town v Ashton Athletic

Saturday 3rd February 2018 AFC Darwen v City of Liverpool FC Ashton Athletic v Barnoldswick T Barnton v Runcorn Linnets Bootle v Congleton Town Burscough v Hanley Town Maine Road v AFC Liverpool Runcorn Town v Irlam Squires Gate v Northwich Victoria West D & Chorlton v Charnock Rich Widnes v Padiham Monday 5th February 2018 Winsford United v Maine Road Tuesday 6th February 2018 Barnoldswick Town v Abbey Hey Congleton Town v 1874 Northwich Northwich Victoria v Runcorn Town Runcorn Linnets v Ashton Athletic Wednesday 7th February 2018 Hanley Town v Bootle

Saturday 10th February 2018 AFC Darwen v 1874 Northwich AFC Liverpool v West D & Chorlton Charnock Richard v Barnoldswick City of Liverpool FC v Abbey Hey Congleton Town v Padiham Irlam v Hanley Town Northwich Vicsv Runcorn Linnets Runcorn Town v Ashton Athletic Widnes v Barnton Winsford United v Bootle

First Division Table Wed 24/01/2018

First Division Fixtures

A GD Pts

26 22

72 23 49 66

Silsden AFC

Litherland REMYCA

67 21

Prestwich Heys

63 28 35 47

Whitchurch Alport

48 16

Alsager Town

55 39 16 44

AFC Blackpool

49 42

Cammell Laird 1907

10 54 45

Sandbach United

10 47

Holker Old Boys

10 38 56 -18 37

Stockport Town

10 48 45

Carlisle City

10 40 35

FC Oswestry Town

26 10

43 54 -11 31

Atherton LR

36 37

-1

Abbey Hulton Utd

32 39

-7

New Mills

10 40 52 -12 27

Cheadle Town

10 30 43 -13 25

Eccleshall

33 60 -27 23

Bacup Borough

24 42 -18 20

Chadderton

38 57 -19 20

St Helens Town

17 35 56 -21 18

Daisy Hill

Nelson

16 22 53 -31 12

46 54

32 47

30 60 -30 16

Saturday 27th January 2018 Abbey Hulton United v Chadderton AFC Blackpool v Carlisle City Alsager Town v Cheadle Town Cammell Laird 1907 v Stockport T Daisy Hill v New Mills Holker Old Boys v FC Oswestry T Prestwich Heys v Eccleshall Sandbach United v Atherton LR Silsden AFC v Litherland REMYCA St Helens Town v Nelson Whitchurch Alport v Bacup Boro

Monday 29th January 2018 Nelson v Holker Old Boys Tuesday 30th January 2018 Atherton LR v Bacup Borough Wednesday 31st January 2018 Litherland R v Cammell Laird 1907 Saturday 3rd February 2018 Abbey Hulton United v Silsden AFC Atherton LR v Prestwich Heys Carlisle City v Sandbach United Chadderton v Bacup Borough Cheadle Town v AFC Blackpool Eccleshall v Daisy Hill FC Oswestry Town v Nelson Holker Old Boys v St Helens Town New Mills v Litherland REMYCA Stockport T v Whitchurch Alport Monday 5th February 2018 Nelson v Chadderton

Tuesday 6th February 2018 Alsager Town v Litherland REMYCA Prestwich Heys v Cheadle Town Wednesday 7th February 2018 Sandbach td v Cammell Laird 1907 Thursday 8th February 2018 Bacup Borough v Abbey Hulton U Saturday 10th February 2018 AFC Blackpool v Eccleshall Alsager Town v Abbey Hulton Utd Atherton LR v Holker Old Boys Cammell Laird 1907 v Bacup Boro Chadderton v Stockport Town Daisy Hill v Carlisle City Nelson v FC Oswestry Town New Mills v Cheadle Town Silsden AFC v Prestwich Heys St Helens T v Whitchurch Alport

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Next up at RUSKIN DRIVE

Sat 10th February 2018 Kick Off 3.00pm

Today’s Team Line-up

versus Whitchurch A Hallmark Security League Division One

Next AWAY FIXTURE

Sat 3rd February 20178 Kick Off 3.00pm

versus Holker OB Hallmark Security League Division One

Today’s SPONSORS Match: Dave Ashby Plastering Match Ball: TBC

Programme: TBC

Main Club Sponsors

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Charity Partner 2017-18

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