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

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Talk of the Town Good afternoon and welcome to The AcrOframe Stadium for this our final home game of our first season back in St Helens! May I open by welcoming our visitors from Stockport Town. I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the game. We were last here a fortnight ago as we hosted title chasing Litherland REMYCA. We took an early lead through Tom Grimshaw but this lead was to be short lived as the visitors levelled five minutes later and took a lead into the interval when Colin McDonald added a second after 38 minutes. The visitors added another brace in the second half to run out 4-1 winners on the afternoon. Last Saturday we took a trip to Staffordshire to visit Abbey Hulton United for the first time but unfortunately a below-par performance saw another defeat on the road. The hosts took the lead through a penalty on the half hour mark before doubling their advantage on 68 minutes before Town substitute Shaun Brady netted from the spot with 6 minutes of the contest remaining and looked to give the visitors a chance at the grandstand finish but as they pushed for a leveller they were caught and the hosts netted a third to secure the victory. Its fair to say that it has been a long hard season both on and off the pitch and as we reach home game number 25 and look at the league table it doesn't make pretty or comfortable reading. The teams below us have games in hand and if they were to take returns from some of these contests we

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could see ourselves at the foot of the table come the end of the season. We have three games left including this afternoons contest and we must look to take as many points as possible from these games to ensure that we finish the season on a high and with as many points as possible and then wait and see what other clubs can do in their contests. Looking ahead to next season we will be firmly bedded into being back in St Helens and hopefully with a full pre-season for Lee Jenkinson and his charges we should be able to look forward to a much better campaign. As is normal at this time of the season it is a time to send some gratitude to the great and good at the club who have helped to keep the show on the road both on and off the pitch. Many thanks to Lee, Nick all the coaching staff and player have given their time and commitment throughout the season. Thanks to anyone who has contributed to the matchday programme over the last 25 issues this term and to John McKiernan for making the programme what it is the second best in Non-League football last term and hopefully going one better this season! It goes without saying that the committee of this football club are volunteers and their contribution must also be heralded. Obviously some contribute more than others and again I must mention Mr. McKiernan without whom we would struggle to generate the kind of sponsorship income we do and also the social media exposure that we have. Even through some health problems this season his work rate hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dipped and he was sending me many a message from his sick bed! A man who deserves more thanks and gratitude than anyone else at the club and one who we as a club would be lost without, Cheers John! Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get behind Town this afternoon, hopefully cheer them on to victory, see you all next season! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

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From the Chair We welcome Stockport Town to Ruskin Drive for our final game of this season and whilst our guests are safely ensconced in mid-table, we have a battle to avoid the wooden spoon with two away games left to play after today, with Daisy Hill and Nelson behind us with games in hand with a similar aim in mind. We are fortunate that there is no relegation this season. A repeat of our battling 1-1 draw at Lambeth Grove back in October is our minimum target this afternoon, with games still to come at Cheadle next Saturday and Alsager to finish the campaign on Bank Holiday Monday. It has been a frustrating season at times, fielding a largely inexperienced side short on confidence but on the whole, results could and should have been quite a bit better, failing to reflect the real effort put in by Lee Jenkinson and his staff. Whilst most teams in this division have players with two

or three hundred games under their belts, our most senior player, Andy Webster, has yet to play 200 games for the club. His career began back in 2006 and he completed three seasons at Town before taking up a scholarship in Oklahoma, before returning as a married man at the beginning of last season, to lead by example at the heart of the defence. If he plays in all the remaining games this season, Andy will have taken his career appearances to 184, scoring 4 valuable goals. All being well, he should hit the 200 -game milestone next Autumn. Our leading goalscorer this season, Shaun Brady, is also well in the running for the First Division player of the season. This award is decided on a match-by-match basis, voted for by the opposition in each game, so Shaun is out there at the top of the current table on merit. Another couple of votes should see him take the trophy at the end of season dinner in June at Blackpool. On a personal note, I am coming to the end of my first season as Chairman of the club, a job I accepted in June on an interim basis. It has been an interesting 11 months, fraught at times and enjoyable at others, knowing all the time that I carry all the responsibility on my shoulders. Voters in Eccleston next Thursday will have the opportunity to elect me to St. Helens Council and, if elected I will, of course, try my best to look after the interests of this club as well as the electorate. That includes trying to improve the facilities here at Ruskin Drive. Progress on the ground this season has been woefully slow in some key areas and very nearly led to Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loss of NW Counties League status. Standards have to be adhered to and improved where possible and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be trying my hardest to ensure that promises are kept and better facilities are delivered. Enjoy the Summer and I look forward to welcoming you back here again in August. Glyn Jones

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April Sat 07 Tue 10 Sat 14 Sat 21 Sat 28

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

A H A A

Neil Weaver Shaun Brady Shaun Brady Andy Webster Andy Webster

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

H A A A H A

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

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

H H A H

Paul Cliff Alex Ashby Shaun Brady Paul Cliff Liam Dodd

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

H H H H

Paul Cliff Paul Cliff Danny Lomax Shaun Brady Danny Lomax

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

A H H H A

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

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

H Shaun Brady A Kieron Yong H Luke Edwards Andy Webster

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

H Andrew Presho A Carl Williams Matty Smith

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

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A H A A A A H

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

Atherton LR Silsden Litherland R Abbey Hulton Stockport Town

May Sat 05 Cheadle Town Mon 07 Alsager Town

H A H A H

Shaun Brsdy Carl Williams Liam Diggle Andy Webster

A A

The Prabhu Ventures Ltd Player of the Month - March 2018 - Dom Whelan (top) and Prabhu Ventures Ltd Man of the Match v Whitchurch Alport - Andy Presho pictured with manager Lee Jenkinson

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Club Information Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens Vice Presidents: Jim Barrett, Steve Ball and David Watkins Interim Chairman: Glyn Jones Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695)

Hospitality: Margaret Wood and Paul Wood Other Committee: Andy Langley and Kieran Ford 1st Team Manager: Lee Jenkinson 1st Team Assistant Manager Nick Robinson 1st Team Physiotherapist Lisa Phillipson

Reserve Team Manager: Keith Griffiths U21s Team Manager: Jay Campbell U21s Assistant Manager: Joe McCann U18s Team Manager: Graham Arkle Sunday Team Manager: David Platt

Main Club Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002 Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited Company Director: Jim Barrett

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Manager’s Notes Good afternoon and welcome to Ruskin Drive for what is our last home game of the season. May I start by welcoming the committee, players and supporters of Stockport Town Football club and hope they enjoy their first visit to our new facilities here in St Helens. Two games to report on since my last notes and again I'm having to report two defeats. The first was a home loss to Litherland Remyca in a game that finished 4-1 to the Remy but a game that really has been the story of our season because it was again a game where we competed against one of the top sides from the league and it certainly was closer than the score line reflected. Last Saturday we had our first visit to Abbey Hulton on what was probably the best summer's day we have had for a while. The game started well with us being awarded a penalty which we failed to convert. Again the game turned into what has been another factor to our season where the referee decided to become Abbey Hulton’s 12th man made a big factor to the 3-1 score line. Overall the season in my eyes has been a disappointing one because I believe the young players in our squad are good enough to at least be fighting towards a play-off spot but the league table does not lie and it shows to me that we are not good enough at this present time. We just need to make sure we do not finish in the bottom two which I believe we will not because I will make sure the lads work hard and put the graft in to make this happen with three games to go. One plus point from this long season is to see our leading goalscorer Shaun Brady fighting for the honour of being the League’s Division One Player of the Year; fingers crossed for Shaun as the season draws to a close.

I would like to thank the committee for giving me their full backing this season and I'm sure we will start delivering them the rewards they deserve for putting all their spare time into the club. And finally to all our supporters who have stuck with us during the season especially when results have not been the best but performances have been good and from myself, the coaches and the players we thank you for turning up every week to support us. Planning has already started for pre-season and players identified for next season and with a lot of hard work I know we will come back stronger and better. Enjoy the game . . . Lee Jenkinson

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Photographs: Action from our U18s v Egerton U18s (2-4) at the Arcoframe Stadium last Sunday in the NW Youth Alliance League Division One

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Q1. Q2.

Q3. Q4. Q5. Q6.

Q7. Q8. Q9. Q10. Q11. Q12. Q13.

Who was the first East German to play for the united Germany team after the fall of the Berlin Wall? Who was the first player to be sent off in an FA Cup Final seeing red for Manchester United in the 1985 Final? Which team won the first five European Cup Finals? Which famous England Captain is the PFA Fair Play Award named after? Which country were the first to lose in two World Cup Finals? Who was Jurgen Klopp’s first signing for Liverpool? Who was the first Liverpool player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League? Everton loanee Ademola Lookman became the first Englishman to score in the Bundesliga since who in 2005? Which Englishman won the March 2018 Premier League Manager of the Month award? Which Frenchman has made the most Premier League appearances? Who was in charge of the Scottish national team when they last qualified for the World Cup Finals in 1998? Which goalkeeper has kept the most clean sheets in Premier League Merseyside Derbies? Which player did Rangers pay £12.5m

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1) Matthias Sammer 2) Kevin Moran 3) Real Madrid 4) Bobby Moore 5) Hungary 1938 & 54 6) Marko Grujic 7) Michael Owen 8) Owen Hargreaves 9) Sean Dyche 10) Sylvain Distin 11) Craig Brown 12) Pepe Reina 13) Tore Andre Flo 14) 1994/5 15) Yannick Bolasie

Half Time Quiz

for in November 2000 breaking the Scottish Transfer record in the process? Q14. When was the last season that Tottenham Hotspur finished a league campaign as London’s top club? Q15. Who is the only player to have scored a Premier League hat-trick for Crystal Palace?

Danny Lomax the Prabhu Ventures Ltd Man of the Match v New Mills pictured with Assistant Manager Nick Robinson.

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Match Day Sponsors

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

Opponents

Match Sponsor

Match Ball Sponsor

Programme Sponsor

AFC Blackpool

Johnsons Toyota

Macron Cheshire

Lanes Trophies

Abbey Hulton

David O’Keefe

Johnsons Toyota

Beer EnGin

Alsager Town

Unite, St Helens

Stuart Pyke

Johnsons Toyota

Atherton LR

Johnsons Toyota

The Boar’s Head

St Helens Mind

Bacup Borough

Britannia Taxis

Johnsons Toyota

ODs Menswear

Cammel Laird

Unite The Union

Britannia Taxis

#RoyalBeddingDay

Carlisle City

Iddon Transport

Unite , St Helens

Johnsons Toyota

Chadderton

Johnsons Toyota

Beer EnGin

A180 Darts

Cheadle Town

Johnsons Toyota

Iddon Transport

Beer EnGin

Daisy Hill

Unite, St Helens

Dave Wiggins

Johnsons Toyota

Eccleshall

Johnsons Toyota

Beer EnGin

Toast Cafe

FC Oswestry

Johnsons Toyota

A180 Darts

Beer EnGin

Holker Old Boys

Unite, St Helens

Arcframe

Johnsons Toyota

Litherland

CWU Mersey & SW Lanc

Dave Wiggins

Ugly Man Records

Nelson

Dave Ashby Plastering

Ste Lingard

Flat Back Four

New Mills

Whiston Beer Festival

Airborne Bathrooms

Meadowcroft Group

Prestwich Heys

A180 Darts

Johnsons Toyota

Toast Cafe

Sandbach Utd

Unite, St Helens

Stuart Pyke

Johnsons Toyota

Silsden

Top Car Detailing

Johnsons Toyota

Unite, St Helens

Stockport Town

Unite Union. St Helens John Iddon Transport

Boar’s Head Stuart Pyke

Ugly Man Records

Whitchurch Alport

St Helens Mind

Dave Watkins

#sthelens150

Hemsworth MW

Dave Wiggins

Johnsons Toyota

Unite, St Helens

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Commercial Corner Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to the Arcoframe Stadium for our final home fixture of our debut season here at Ruskin Drive. We extend a special welcome to the players, officials and supporters of Stockport Town; let’s hope they enjoy their stay, but not too much. We have a plethora of match day sponsors today with Unite the Union St Helens and John Iddon Transport our joint Match sponsors. They are joined by Alex O’Neill of the Boars Head and broadcaster Stuart Pyke who are today’s Match Ball sponsors. Last but not least are our guests from Ugly Man Records who join us as today’s Match programme sponsor. I would like to thank all of this season’s sponsors - this financial support provides a

vital income stream for the club and supports our current five teams. Our sponsorship work continues throughout the summer break as we look to encourage to current sponsors to renew their packages as well as looking to recruit new sponsors and commercial partners. If you can assist in any way please give me a call on 07713 339 . This week saw the 31st Anniversary of the club’s finest moment - 25th April 1987 saw the club secure FA Vase glory with a 3-2 win over neighbours Warrington Town beneath the twin towers of the old Wembley Stadium. The full story, round by round, is on display around the ground. Congratulations to our U18s who recently reached the final of the North West Youth Alliance League President Cup with a 4-3 home victory over Tranmere Rovers U18s. Manager Graeme Arkle and his charges will now meet Morecambe U18s at Burscough AFC on Sunday 13th May, kick off 2.30pm. Please try to make the journey across to support the lads. Our End of Season Presentation Evening and Race Night fundraiser will take place on Friday 18th May from 7. 30pm in the Percival Rooms here at Ruskin Drive. It’s free admission and everyone is more than welcome to attend . Don’t forget we still have two league away fixtures and it would be great to see you at the Cheadle Town and Alsager games next weekend. John McKiernan

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Photographs: Action from Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trip to Abbey Hulton United last Saturday (3-1) in the Hallmark Security League First Division.

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Photographs: Action from last home game a 1-4 defeat by Litherland REMYCA in the Hallmark Security League First Division

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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 22nd-29th April

Last Season: World – 24th April 2017 Arthur Collins, the former boyfriend of television star Ferne McCann, is charged with the alleged acid attack at a London nightclub on 17 April. Sport – 29th April 2017 Anthony Joshua becomes WBA World Heavyweight Champion after defeating Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium. St Helens Town – 22nd, 25th & 29th April 2017 Town end their campaign with 3 successive defeats. They lose out away to Stockport Town (1-3) and Holker Old Boys (12) before a 3-2 home loss to already promoted Charnock Richard. 10 Years Ago World – 25th April 2008 Humphrey Lyttelton, British jazz musician, actor and broadcaster (It's Great to Be Young), dies at 86. Sport – 29th April 2008 Tottenham Hotspur match their club record fee with a £16.5 million move for Dinamo Zagreb and Croatia midfielder Luka Modrić. St Helens Town – 26th April 2008 Towns last

game of the 2007/08 campaign is a goalless draw at home to Squires Gate. 20 Years Ago World – 27th April 1998 Kevin Lloyd, who has played Tosh Lines in The Bill since 1988, is dismissed from the role by ITV due to his alcoholism. He dies, aged 49, within a week. Sport – 29th April 1998 An incident in a 0–0 draw between Leicester City and Newcastle United lead to Alan Shearer being investigated by the Football Association, after he appeared to deliberately kick Neil Lennon in the head.

St Helens Town – 23rd & 25th April 1998 Town record successive wins against Glossop North End (3-1) and Rossendale United (5-0). 30 Years Ago World – 23rd April 1988 Federal smoking ban during domestic airline flights of 2 hrs or less. Sport – 24th April 1988 Holders Arsenal are beaten 3–2 by Luton Town in a dramatic League Cup final at Wembley. It is Luton's first-ever major trophy. St Helens Town – 24th & 26th April 1988 Town beat Rossendale United 2-1 at Houghton Road before a scoreless draw at the same ground 2 days later. 50 Years Ago World – 27th April 1968 The Abortion Act 1967 comes into effect, legalising abortion on a number of grounds, with free provision through the National Health Service. Sport – 28th April 1968 Carol Mann wins LPGA Raleigh Ladies' Golf Invitational. St Helens Town – 22nd, 27th & 29th April 1968 Town fail to win in away games against Droylsden (0-0) and Chorley (1-3) but beat Lancaster City 30 at home.

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Match Report FINAL SCORE DID NOT REFLECT TOWNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CONTRIBUTION St. Helens Town 1, Litherland REMYCA 4 St. Helens Town went down to secondplaced Litherland for the third time this season, but the final score of 4-1 to the visitors did not reflect the effort Town put into this game. In complete contrast to the defeat at league leaders Silsden on Tuesday evening, by the same margin, St. Helens began the match in great style and opened the scoring in the fifth minute in

expansive style, a wide ball from the left finding Tom Grimshaw, who lashed the ball home under the despairing dive of Remy keeper Ben Morrow. It only took Litherland four minutes to level the scores, Carl Williams did well to block a fierce shot from former Town midfielder Colin Quirk, but he was unable to prevent Colin McDonald from turning in the rebound. Remy had the ball in the net again minutes later, but referee Sheppard ruled that Williams had been impeded by McDonald in the build-up. At the other end, Danny Greene hit a great shot, only to find Morrow right behind the ball but, minutes later, Town might have regained the lead in a move similar to their goal, this time a quick Greene cross found Liam Diggle, who headed past Morrow, but was controversially ruled offside.

Seven minutes before half-time, McDonald put Litherland into the lead with the easiest of finishes after the diminutive Josh Hamilton, head and shoulders above everybody else on the field in terms of pace, class and ability, took on two defenders and the goalie to serve the ball up on a plate for the centreforward. St. Helens barely had a look-in in the second-half, as the visitors upped their game, showing why they are virtual certainties for promotion. Diggle had the only real chance for Town, Morrow pulling off a good save, whereas Remy added further goals through Hamilton after 57 minutes and a last minute penalty from Quirk, which took the final victory margin to three goals, adding insult to injury, as this did not reflect Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall contribution to a good match. Glyn Jones

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

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

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

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

Goals in a Season

Career Appearances (Qualification 250 games)

216 Steve Pennington

47 Phil Stainton 1963/64

448 Alan Wellens (inc. 207 estimated)

118 Terry Garner

46 Steve Pennington 1997/98

359 John Critchley (16 estimated)

108 Gary Laird

45 Jackie Kendrick 1973/74

352 Steve Pennington

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 10 WHITCHURCH ALPORT Feb 17 Chadderton Mar 06 Cammell Laird 1907 MAR 10 NEW MILLS Mar 13 AFC Blackpool Mar 17 Prestwich Heys Mar 24 Bacup Borough Mar 28 Holker Old Boys MAR 31 CAMMELL LAIRD 1907 APR 07 ATHERTON LR APR 10 Silsden APR 14 LITHERLAND REMCYA Apr 21 Abbey Hulton United APR 28 STOCKPORT TOWN May 05 Cheadle Town Mon 07 Alsager Town

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

KO Result GK 2 3 4 3.00 2-0L Bradley Presho Whelan Edzes 7.45 0-0A Fairchild D.Whelan Dursley Webster 3.00 3-2L Fairchild D.Whelan Presho Webster 7.45 2-0L Fairchild Presho Dursley Webster 3.00 1-4L Bradley Presho Dursley Webster 7.45 3-0L Fairchild Hope-O’Connor Heron Webster 3.00 1-2L Fairchild Presho Dursley Dodd 3.00 0-3W Fairchild Presho Dursley Webster 7.45 1-0L Fairchild Presho Dursley Webster 3.00 0-2L Fairchild Young Dursley Webster 3.00 3-4W Fairchild Presho Dursley Webster 3.00 3-1W Fairchild Presho Dursley D.Whelan 7.45 1-2W Young Presho H-O’Connor Dodd1 3.00 2-3L Fairchild Presho Dursley D.Whelan 7.45 4-0L Fairchild Young Potter Webster 3.00 1-1D Walsh Hope-O’Connor Dursley Dodd 7.30 1-2L Fairchild Hope-O’Connor Whelan Dodd1 3.00 2-3L Walsh D.Whelan Dursley Dodd TBC 3-3D# Fairchild D.Whelan Dursley Dodd 3.00 1-2L Walsh Young Dursley Heron 7.45 1-3L Fairchild Young Dursley D.Whelan 3.00 1-2L Fairchild Young Dursley Lomax 3.00 2-3L Walsh D.Whelan Dursley Lomax 3.00 1-2W Walsh Young Dursley Webster 3.00 1-3L Fairchild Young Dursley Webster 3.00 2-3L Yong Young D.Whelan Webster 3.00 3-2W Yong Young D.Whelan Lomax 3.00 5-1L Yong Young D.Whelan Webster 3.00 3-3D Yong Presho Young Webster 3.00 1-0L Yong Presho D.Whelan Webster 3.00 2-2D Williams Presho1 Dursley Webster 3.00 1-5L Williams Presho D.Whelan Webster 3.00 4-0L Williams Presho D.Whelan Webster 7.45 4-0L Williams Presho H-O’Connor Webster 3.00 0-2L Williams Presho H-O’Connor Webster 7.45 1-2W Williams Presho H-O’Connor Webster 3.00 4-0L Williams Presho H-O’Connor Webster Presho1 3.00 2-3W Williams H-O’Connor Webster1 7.45 1-0L Williams Presho Casson Webster 3.00 1-1D Walsh Presho Casson Webster 3.00 3-0W Williams Presho Cliff Webster Presho1 7.45 5-2L Williams Cliff Webster 3.00 1-4L Williams Presho Cliff Webster 3.00 3-1L Williams Presho Cliff Webster 3.00 3.00 3.00

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

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6 Dodd Presh Loma Loma Smith A.Whe Loma A.Whe McHug Loma Lomax Loma Loma Loma Smith Loma Loma Loma Loma Loma Lomax Baine Baine Baine Loma Furlon Furlon Furlon Furlon Loma Furlon Furlon Furlon Loma Loma Loma Loma Loma Furlon Loma Loma Loma Loma Loma

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

8 Lomax Smith Smith Kwofie Kwofie Smith A.Whelan Lomax1 Lomax McHugh McHugh Smith McHugh1 Smith Presho Smith Smith McHugh McHugh McHugh Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith Presho McHugh McHugh Smith Grimshaw Smith Smith1 Smith Smith Smith Furlong1 Furlong Smith McHugh Smith Smith McHugh Smith Smith

9 10 11 12 14 Lacey Weaver Smith McHugh9 Young11 Brady Weaver Douglas Kwofie7 Heron Brady1 Kwofie101 Forrester Moody Edzes6 Brady Weaver Moody Edwards11 Edzes2 Brady Weaver Young Norris 9 Edzes Brady Dodd Moody Kelly11 McHugh6 Douglas1 Smith Potter Brady7 Heron Brady1 Weaver1 Smith Norris 7 H-O’Connor11 Douglas Weaver Brady Norris Heron11 Douglas Brady Presho Norris 2 Heron Brady2 Cliff1 Edwards Norris 7 Heron Brady1 Cliff Edwards Bolton9 Heron Bolton Cliff Smith Heron5 Hoult10 Brady1 Cliff Edwards Bolton9 Heron Brady Murray Edwards Cliff8 Onhu10 Brady1 Cliff Edwards Murray 10 Heron Brady Cliff Edwards Young Heron9 Brady2 Cliff Edwards Smith8 Murray 2 Edwards3 Brady Cliff Potter Murray 8 Cliff1 Brady Edwards Lawrence Smith8 Brady Cliff Edwards Lawrence4 McHugh Brady Grimshaw Edwards1 Cliff8 Weaver9 Brady1 Grimshaw Edwards Young11 Cliff Brady Grimshaw Edwards Dodd9 Lawrence Brady1 Grimshaw Edwards H-O’Connor6 Presho2 Diggle1 Grimshaw Edwards1 Cliff9 Dursley Diggle1 Grimshaw Edwards Lawrence Baines Diggle Grimshaw Dursley Ashby7 Cliff8 Grimshaw1 Dursley Diggle Cliff31 McHugh Bolton Smith Dursley Edwards11 Cliff5 Diggle Grimshaw Edwards1 Riley 7 D.Whelan Diggle Bolton Edwards Ashby7 McHugh11 Diggle Brady Edwards Dursley3 Lawrence4 Diggle Greene Edwards Brady9 Ashby7 Diggle D.Greene Edwards Young7 Lawrence Brady1 Diggle D.Greene Young3 McHugh10 Diggle D.Greene Smith Ashby9 McHugh11 Brady D.Greene McHugh Diggle7 C.Greene9 Brady D.Greene Ashby Edwards9 Diggle8 D.Greene1 Diggle Furlong Ashby10 McHugh Young1 Diggle Furlong McHugh8 Grimshaw9 Diggle1 Brady Young H-O’Connor3 Smith Diggle D.Greene Grimshaw1 McHugh7 H-O’Connor10 Diggle D.Greene Grimshaw Brady71 H-O’Connor

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15 Heron8 Moody9 Young7 Smith Forrester10 Forrester3 Weaver11 Forrester Forrester9 Forrester Murray 10 Murray101 Onhu8 Murray 10 Hoult9 Potter3 Murray 10 Heron Smith Bolton10 H-O’Connor Potter Dodd3 McHugh Cliff Smith6 Dursley11 Presho6 Heron Ashby7 Lawrence Young McHugh6 Lawrence Brady9 Casson Lawrence5 Ball Young1 Cliff16 Potter11 Grimshaw6 Casson Ashby10

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

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

Potter2 Dodd Young7 McHugh8 Young7 Bolton10 Potter3 Potter10 Heron McHugh6 H-O’Connor2 McHugh Lawrence10 Smith8 Smith Bolton81 Heron Ashby9 Riley 6 Heron McHugh6 Ball Ashby11 Casson Salah

McHugh Lomax

Edwards9 Casson D.Greene Potter11 Potter6

Walsh Fairchild Young4 Fairchild Hoult H-O’Connor H-O’Connor Weaver Salah7 H-O’Connor Cliff10 Lawrence

McHugh Bolton10 Lawrence Young Salah2 Lawrence C.Greene

Young H-O’Connor Potter11 Ashby

Match Report TOWN PAY THE PENALTY AT ABBEY HULTON Abbey Hulton United 3, St. Helens Town 1 St. Helens Town very nearly came away from Abbey Hulton on Saturday with a 2-2 draw but, in the end, had to settle for a 3-1 defeat in a game of three penalty kicks, two awarded to Town, one of which was missed.

It was inevitable in a way that the result should rest on a spot-kick as, back in August, St. Helens Town opened up their new Ruskin Drive facility in embarrassing circumstances, when the floodlights went out with the score at 0-0 in the final minute, with Abbey Hulton unable to take their lastgasp penalty kick.

The game was played throughout in good humour, with no ill-feeling going back to that August evening. However, with 24 minutes gone, Matty Smith found Liam Diggle with a fine pass and the Town striker was unlucky to hit the post. In the scramble to deal with the rebound, Abbey centreback Tom Kilgariff was adjudged to have fouled Danny Lomax and a penalty was awarded by Wigan referee Matt McQuillan. Kilgariff, who came off much worse in the clash, had to have treatment for three minutes, during which time Lomax waited patiently to take the spot-kick, then fired just to keeper Luke Birkenshawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right and he pulled off a fine save. Two minutes later, at the other end of the field, Diggle brought down his opposite number, but this time, Josh Graham made no

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mistake, sending Carl Williams the wrong way to put Abbey Hulton 1-0 up and that was how the score remained until the break. The second half was more eventful. Danny Greene had an early chance, but was just wide then, moments later, moved in on goal, only to be muscled off the ball by a defender and the home keeper before he could land a blow. Just on the hour, Williams produced a fine finger-tip diving save from his namesake Kieran’s header and 16-year-old Abbey Hulton prodigy Tyler Savage went close to scoring, but his shot was deflected by a packed Town defence.

Savage was the provider in the 68th minute for captain Josh Tune to score from close quarters to stretch the home lead to 2-0 but three substitutions by Lee Jenkinson very nearly changed the game in the last 15 minutes. First, Shaun Brady did well to create a half-chance along the goal-line with ten minutes remaining, only for Birkenshaw to smother his effort, but the stopper had no chance when Brady scored from the penalty spot two minutes later. With the score at 2-1 and only four minutes left, Town’s best

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opportunity fell to Diggle, who hit a wonderful shot from the corner of the box, only to be trumped by an equally magnificent save from man-of-the-match Birkenshaw, to prevent a certain equaliser. Abbey Hulton made sure of their victory in the last minute when substitute Kieran Ball netted at the far post, after another good pass from Savage. Town’s man-of-the-match was centreback Andy Webster. Glyn Jones

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Beating the Bounds The 2018 edition of Beating the Bounds (St. Helens) will take place on Sunday 13 May, as part of the 'St. Helens 150' anniversary celebrations. Join me for a challenging 42.5 mile walk around the whole of the Borough boundary. There is no entrance fee, and no need to formally register. The route starts and finishes at Haydock Park, and follows the Borough Boundary (as near as public rights of way and road safety permit) anti-clockwise, around Billinge, Rainford, Eccleston, Rainhill, Bold, Parr, Earlestown, Newton-le-Willows and Haydock. You are welcome to join the walk for the whole route or any part of it. I will be using the walk to raise funds for St. Helens Mind, the local mental health charity (and Town’s Charity for 2017-18). You can donate at https:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ SteLingard and find out more about the charity at www.sthelensmind.org.uk ABOUT ‘BEATING THE BOUNDS’ Back in the mists of time – before even my Dad can remember – there was a custom known as ‘Beating the Bounds’. Come Springtime, a motley assortment of local officials, children and sundry other persons would perambulate the boundaries of their parish, engaging in a peculiarly English blend of solemn ceremony

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and high jinks. Alcohol may have been involved. The frequency of the event seems to have varied from place to place, as did the refreshments, but the purpose was the same: to teach the participants – especially the young ones – the boundaries of the parish to which they belonged. The ceremony also served a social purpose, helping bring the local community together in a common, convivial experience. ‘Beating the Bounds’ will make use of two symbolic ‘batons’, a Saints RL ball and a St Helens Town ball (kindly donated by our partners Macron Store Cheshire), which will be carried around the 42.5 miles being passed between participants who join for sections of the walk. Find out more on Facebook by searching 'Ste Lingard - Beating the Bounds' and with the hashtag #BeatingtheBounds on Twitter. Town’s John McKiernan and Ste Lingard were guests at Saints v Huddersfield recently where the two ‘batons’ were presented.. Photo: Bernard Platt

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On this day In history Once again we look back on Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s encounters on this date which stretch back almost seventy years and thirteen occasions across different League competitions. First up on this date (1949) Town hosted near neighbours and local rival Earlestown in the Liverpool County Combination Division One. Goals from Gregory, Hughes and Thompson gave Town a 3-1 victory at Hoghton Road. Two seasons later (1951) Town travelled to Wigan Athletic Reserves in the Lancashire Combination Division Two, once again it was a 3-1 victory for Town with goals from Dillon McCann and Leadbetter. Town were back at home on this date in 1958 when Glossop were the visitors to Sutton and strikes from Barnes and Jones secured the spoils in a Lancashire Combination Division Two encounter. Another Lancashire Combination Division Two fixture at Hoghton Road on this date in 1960 saw Horwich RMI Reserves the visitors and it was a fourth successive victory following a comfortable 3-0 win with goals from Cooke (2) and Briscoe.

The wins continued on this date in 1962 when Town travelled to Lucas Sports Club in the

Lancashire Combination Division Two. Robertson and Underdown were the scorers in a 2-0 victory. A sixth win on this date (1967) saw Town make the trip to Clitheroe in the Lancashire Combination top flight. Three goals from Turner, McKiernan and Oakes saw Town earn a comfortable two points. The 1960s (1969) finished with Town first loss on this date when they suffered a 1-2 reverse at Hoghton Road in the Lancashire Combination. There are no records of the Town scorer. It was back to winning ways on this date (1974), this time in the Cheshire League Division One. Town made the trip to Nelson where Kendrick and Bull goals secured a 0-2 victory. On this date in 1979 Town travelled to Stalybridge Celtic in the Cheshire League with our hosts running out 3-1 winners. Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reply came courtesy of a Redmond converted penalty kick. It was an identical score line five seasons later (1984) when Leek Town where the visitors to Hoghton Road. Edwards was the Town scorer in this North West Counties League Division One. It would be another seventeen years before Town played on this date (2001) when they travelled to struggling Leek CSOB and as Town looked for promotion their ambitions took a severe knock as the home side battled out a goalless draw in the North West Counties League top flight. On this date in 2007 Town made the trip to Colne in the North West Counties League eventually losing out 3-2 in an end to end encounter. Wilson and Dyson were on target for the visitors. The last time out on this date (2012) Town were again on their travels with a trip to West Yorkshire as they took on hosts Silsden. The North West Counties League Premier Division fixture finished 1-1 with Colin Quirk hitting a 90th minute leveller for Town.

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Thanks to

Dave Wiggins

Match Ball Sponsor Charity Partner 2017-18

Lions’ Cup News Stockport Town manager Jake Davies is gearing up to lead the Lions into the biggest game in their history, when they face Nantwich Town of the Evo-Stik League Premier Division in the Cheshire Senior Cup final next Wednesday 2nd May. The Lions are only the second North West Counties League club to reach the final of the competition, and the first since 2004 when Woodley Sports defeated Witton Albion 2-1 after extra-time at Altrincham. But Jake, who stepped in to take temporary charge of the team last month when Dave Wild left to join Mossley insists that the game, which takes place at the Millbank Linnets Stadium, home of Runcorn Linnets, will hold no fears for his side. “We have a few league games left and obviously we want to see how many points we can get in the league, but the cup final is at the forefront of everyone’s mind”, said Jake. We are going to give Nantwich a good game, I can assure everyone of that. A lot has gone on at the club this season, some good and some bad,

but getting to the final is something to really look forward to and something to hold on to”. Town’s run to the final consisted of two home victories - a 4-0 win over Cammell Laird 1907, and a penalty shoot out win over Hyde United following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes – before a battling performance away at Winsford United in the semi-final. Jake says that the 2-1 win at the St Luke’s Barton Stadium was an outstanding display from his side. “The semi-final against Winsford was tough, we had to dig deep, but the players really worked hard in difficult circumstances. We had so many people missing for that game, we had a makeshift back four with only one regular defender in that back line but they all did so well”. The same qualities will be required from the Lions if they are to cause an upset and defeat a Nantwich Town team who currently play three leagues higher, and are making their second successive appearance in the final, after losing 2-1 to Crewe Alexandra in front of 1,831 fans at Gresty Road last season. But despite being underdogs, Jake is confident that his team will put a showing worthy of the occasion. “We are going to compete, we want to win of course, and we are not going to make it easy for them”, he said. “We’ve got the likes of Ben Halfacre who has played at a higher level, and has played in these types of games before. It’s going to be difficult, but we are not there just for the occasion, we are there to give a good account of ourselves It’s a great night for the club to look forward to. A lot of these players can be history makers, if they win the first trophy for the club and they have been absolutely superb. “Collectively it’s been a great effort from the team, right from the word go, to get to this point in the competition, and I can’t tell you how much everyone at the club is looking forward to what is a massive game for us”.

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League News A football from the biggest match ever to be played in Runcorn is back in the town. The ball dates back to the FA Cup third round tie of 1939 between Runcorn AFC and Preston North End. Autographed by both teams, it was donated to the Linnets a good few years ago by the widow of one-time club trainer, Joe Kelly. But since the start of this century it has been on loan to the Liverpool FC Museum. One of the signatories on the ball is Bill Shankly - a member of the star-studded Preston team, whose visit to Canal Street as the Cup holders drew a record 10,111 crowd the Lancashire club winning 4-2. The ball has, therefore, been on display in the section of the LFC museum dedicated to Anfield icon Shankly, who revitalised the Reds’ fortunes as their charismatic manager in the 1960s and early 1970s. However, arrangements were recently made for the ball to be returned to Runcorn with Liverpool FC’s museum curator, Stephen Done presenting it back to officials of Runcorn AFC’s successor club, Runcorn Linnets.

Fittingly, the handover to Alan Jones (club president) and Derek Greenwood, a vicepresident and former chairman of the modern-day Linnets, was made before the

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recent home game against City of Liverpool FC. Alan had in 2001 organised a fundraising match between Runcorn AFC and Liverpool FC to aid the ailing former club’s finances. A crowd of around 2,500 attended the game but this couldn’t save the club from promptly leaving town and ending its playing days after the 2005-2006 season. It was during this period of uncertainty with the Linnets having left Runcorn to set up home at Widnes in Halton Stadium, that Alan Jones (at the time secretary of Runcorn AFC), arranged for the ball to be looked after by Liverpool FC. Runcorn Linnets spent the first four years of existence playing in Northwich and on their return to town in 2010 with the building of The Millbank Linnets Stadium, there wasn’t a suitable place to accommodate the ball. But now with latest ground redevelopments and the launch of commemorations marking the 100th year of the footballing Linnets, the time seemed right for the ball to make its comeback. Alan Jones said: “It was a pleasure to be able to loan the ball and a framed copy of the programme from the Preston match for display at Anfield as they are strategic pieces of history connecting our two clubs. “We are extremely grateful to Liverpool for looking after our heirloom, which we will be honoured to have on show in our new clubhouse. It is appropriately coming home in the centenary year of the Linnets (19182018).”

Photographs from our home fixture v Litherland REMYCA (1-4) including our match sponsors Dave Wiggins and Candy Opera, match day mascot Dominic and @puggyadventures

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Town Archive FA Vase Winners – 25th April 1987 The day of the Final was very hot and sunny. The team coach left their Watford hotel for the old “Twin Towers” arriving, as planned, at 1.45pm. With just over an hour to kill, both sets of players stretched their legs on the Wembley turf and greeted their fans, St. Helens supporters at the tunnel end. Then, back to the dressing rooms and the final preparations could begin. The St. Helens Town team was Andy Johnston, Paul Benson, Paul Wilson, Barry Lowe, John Bendon, Marty Cummins, Tommy O’Neil, Jimmy Collins (sub. Mark Gledhill), Brian Rigby, Jay McComb and Phil Layhe. The manager was Alan Wellens.

Warrington Town, managed by Dave Taylor, were represented by John O’Brien, Kevin Gratton, Ian Reid, Gordon Hunter, Peter Copeland, Neil Cook, Stephen Hughes, Ian Kinsey, Derek Brownbill (sub. Jimmy Woodyer), Damien Looker (sub. Tony Hill) and Neil Whalley. Kinsey and Woodyer were former St. Helens Town players. Warrington played in yellow shirts and blue shorts, whilst St. Helens appeared in blue shirts and white shorts. The referee was Mr. Trelford Mills of Barnsley. The arrangements for the afternoon’s proceedings were set out to the minute by the FA. St. Helens had the

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North Dressing Room, Warrington the South. At 2.48pm precisely the players and managers were to leave the dressing rooms and assemble in the tunnel, followed by the referee and linesmen (as they were known then) and, on a given signal, all were to proceed across the field of play, St. Helens lining up behind a blue flag and Warrington behind a yellow flag. The teams then had to turn to face each other and stand ready for their presentation to the Chief Guest, Ted Drake. After the presentation, the National Anthem was played, the bandmaster having waited for a signal to begin and then the players could “kick about” until the referee called the captains together. The referee had to wait until Mr. Drake had taken his seat in the Royal Box. So much for protocol, the game kicked off two minutes late but began at a breathtaking pace. St. Helens’ captain Tommy O’Neil, ex-Manchester United and 35 years old, set up the first goal after only 4 minutes when, after chasing Barry Lowe’s through ball, he crossed from the left to enable Phil Layhe to head home. Layhe himself crossed from the right four minutes later for Brian Rigby to stretch the lead to 2-0. Warrington played much better after the interval and Ian Reid reduced the arrears after 54 minutes. Phil Layhe restored the two-goal advantage shortly afterwards – his ninth goal of the Vase campaign – before Neil Cook scored for Warrington a minute from time to set up a tense finish. However, St. Helens hung on at the end and it was a proud Tommy O’Neill who climbed the 39 steps to receive the Vase from the former Arsenal centre-forward and Chelsea manager, Ted Drake.

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 Stockport Town Football Club began life back in February 2014 and developed a first-team squad in preparation for the 2014/15 season. The club, lead by manager, Calum Sykes, proceeded through a campaign of friendly fixtures and the club's first ever non-competitive match came against Stalybridge Celtic on 12th July 2014, and despite losing 5-0 at Stockport Sports Village, the club had begun its journey. The club, nicknamed The Lions, competed throughout the 2014/15 season against first teams and reserve teams from many different clubs including; FC United of Manchester, Ramsbottom United, Fleetwood Town U21's and Norwegian outfit, RolvsĂ¸y IF. The Lions endured a successful first-ever campaign competing in 35 fixtures home and away ending with statistics of Won: 17, Draw: 8, Lost: 10. The club also completed a 13-match unbeaten run in the middle of the campaign between 13th July - 13th October, including 9 victories.

record crowd of 78. Stockport competed three competitions in their first ever league season including the NWCFL, League Challenge Cup and Cheshire Senior Cup. The club progressed to the semi-finals of the League Challenge Cup before a 3-1 defeat to Barnton FC at SSV, meanwhile Hyde United knocked Town out of the Cheshire Senior Cup in the Preliminary Round. As the season came to a close Stockport secured a playoff spot in the First Division with a match to spare in the NWCFL. Town came up against Bacup Borough FC in the playoff semi-final at SSV but were defeated 2-0 as Bacup progressed into the 2015 First Division Playoff Final. The second competitive season for the club didn't go quite so well. Full of optimism in August, and favoured by many to win the league, the Lions got off to a slow start and were languishing in mid-table when Calum Sykes resigned as manager a week prior to Christmas 2016. With the previous manager went 9 players, all following to New Mills. In the interim period before the board were able to appoint a

In May 2015 the club was accepted into Step 6 of the Non-League Pyramid and joined the North West Counties Football League - Division One. The club's first ever competitive fixture came on Saturday 8th August 2015 away at Hanley Town, a match in which Stockport were victorious 3-2, and in doing so recorded their first ever competitve win. On 15th August 2015 the club competed in their first ever competitve match at Stockport Sports Village, with their opponents on that day, Widnes FC securing a 2-2 draw in front of a then

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along with assistant manager Phil Carratt and first team coach Liam Hudson. The Lions U21 manager Jake Davies taking over the reigns on an interim basis. The club have advanced through to the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup and will be taking on Nantwich Town at Runcorn Linnets, Millbank Linnets Stadium this coming Wednesday evening as they try to secure the first piece of silverware in the young clubs history.

new manager, the team suffered its biggest defeat, a 10-0 crushing at the hands of City of Liverpool. The game did set another record, a gate of 196, a club record for a league match.

Match photos from last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hallmark Security league First Division game at Lambeth Grove, Stockport

In January 2017 Dave Wild was appointed alongside assistant Phil Carratt. The Lions went on a 12 match unbeaten run which left the club excited about what could happen in 2017/18. In addition the U18s lifted the North West Youth Alliance Division 2 title. The U21s didn't fair so well finishing 6th in the North West Development League. Nathan Neequaye, who'd left the club mid-season to join New Mills ended the season as top scorer on 17 goals. Izzy Miranda, a January signing for Dave Wild, was awarded Players Player of the Year with Daryll Grant winning Player of the Year. Jack McConnell, who'd made his first team debut as a 16 year old, scooped the Young Player of the Year Award. Dave Wild left the club to take over at Evo -Stik League Mossley at the end of March Season

League

Pts

Position

2015-16

NWC-1

4/18

2016-17

NWC-1

10/22

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Corinthian Spirit . . . I barely believe that this is the last programme of the season. It seems mere moments ago that the curtain went up and the lights went down on opening night, but it was pushing nine months ago. Children conceived on that momentous eve have since been born. New bars have opened and closed on Westfield Street. Town have scored. Over the season I have contributed 24 articles (10 of them on behalf of St. Helens Mind), covering such pressing issues as fog, Bulgarian ghosts, long distance walking, Ingrid Pitt, the abuse of match officials in Yorkshire, local history and Ingrid Pitt. It’s a shame I’m not being paid by the word, as I have now churned out about 11,000 of them; come to think of it, I am not being paid at all, for we programme contributors are volunteers. Sporting volunteers like to pretend that we give up our time freely for love of the game, untouched by filthy lucre. We are modern Corinthians: gentlemen and lady amateurs, motivated by high ideals. Our endeavours represent a great and selfless sacrifice: a crude calculation scrawled on the back of a torn betting slip tells me that I have put something like 50 hours into writing programme articles this season – time I could have employed in pursuit of remuneration (at my rates, I could easily have coined-in twelve or thirteen quid – you

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can stuff a lot of envelopes in 50 hours), working on that tricky second novel (especially tricky, as I haven’t written a first one yet), or maybe even a course of selfimprovement through yoga (in the interests of lightening the future burden on our beloved NHS – nothing to do with lycra). You can take it from me that my failure to channel my energies into those life enhancing paths is nothing to do with, say, a lack of sustained concentration, willpower or self-belief, or an unfortunate, juvenile and unhealthy preoccupation with beer and skittles. Mild poverty and apparently frustrated ambitions, borne with equanimity, are an essential part of the modern Corinthian’s make up. One mustn’t try too hard – and definitely don’t appear to try too hard – as it would blow one’s cover. Best loaf, dabble and fritter, leaving a crooked trail of torn betting slips, antediluvian articles and fairy-tale breadcrumbs. The happy by-product of all this selfdeluding shambling is that the club gets it page filled, helping maintain the programme’s award-winning and consistently impressive girth. Fellow Corinthians with more important roles erect the nets, fetch the orange juice and fill in the team sheet. Together, we provide the stage; the actors in shorts must provide the drama. Thanks to everyone at the club for a most enjoyable first season back in town, and especially to John McKiernan for his sterling work on the matchday programme. I appreciate it. COYB Ste Lingard (@stelingard)

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

L L L

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

Stockport Town games since... All Competitions

at St Helens Town NWC-D1

Previous Meetings 2002-03

at Stockport Town N/A

NWC-D1

2003-04

N/A

NWC-D1

2004-05

N/A

NWC-D1

2005-06

N/A

NWC-D1

2006-07

N/A

NWC-D1

2007-08

N/A

NWC-PD

2008-09

N/A

NWC-PD

2009-10

N/A

NWC-PD

2010-11

N/A

NWC-PD

2011-12

N/A

NWC-PD

2012-13

N/A

NWC-PD

2013-14

N/A

NWC-PD

2014-15

N/A

05/04; 0-3

2015-16

17/10; 0-3

16/03; 2-0

2016-17

22/04; 1-3

28/04/2018

2017-18

21/10; 1-1

St Helens Town Scores First Games Played

St Helens Town Wins

Clean sheet

Goal Scored

Loss

No score draw

St Helens Town Goals

Score draw

Stockport Town Goals

Win

Percentage Town Wins

20.00

Home League Away League Home Cup Away Cup Collated Away Collated

P 2 3 0 0 5 3 4

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W 1 0 0 0 1 1 2

Draws

Stockport Town Wins

Previous Meetings D L 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 0 2

F 2 2 0 0 4 3 6

A 3 7 0 0 10 7 8

GD -1 -5 0 0 -6 -4 -2

Win % 50.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 20.00 33.33 50.00

League News A cup final at last for Burscough Burscough clinched their place in this season's Macron Cup final with a 3-0 win over Irlam on Saturday, setting up a date with either Widnes or Winsford United at Fleetwood Town's Highbury Stadium on 15th May. A day out at a cup final will be a long awaited experience for club officials and supporters, as the last final they reached was back on 18th May 2003, when they lifted the FA Trophy at Villa Park in Birmingham with a 2-1 win over Tamworth. Supporters with longer memories may also remember their previous victories in our League's premier cup competition in 1992â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 93 and 1995â&#x20AC;&#x201C;96, but either way this year's cup final date will no doubt be eagerly anticipated by everyone at the club. It ain't over until it's over with Craig and Town Runcorn Town's leading scorer Craig Cairns rescued a point with a 90th minute equaliser at Charnock Richard on Saturday. Nothing particularly unusual about that in isolation - but closer scrutiny of Town's record this season reveal that Saturday was the sixth time that Craig has scored in the

90th minute for Town this season. What's more, on four other occasions, other Town players have scored in the 90th minute, including last Thursday when Joe Holt's 90th minute winner sealed the three points in a 2-1 win over 1874 Northwich. Clearly no one can relax until the final whistle when Town are the opponents. Eagles find their shooting boots All of a sudden Eccleshall have found their mojo in front of goal, with Saturday's 5-3 win at Holker Old Boys the latest in a run of goalscoring form that has seen them hit the back of the net 14 times in their last four games. In the six games prior to that, they had scored only three times in six games, so the change in fortunes is not only dramatic but unexpected, and the challenge for them now is to keep their goalscoring momentum going. A good week for Lairds Cammell Laird 1907 are shaping up well for a strong end of season finish, and Saturday's goalless draw at home to New Mills extended their unbeaten run to six games. Having started the week by clinching a place in the LWC Drinks First Division Cup final with an aggregate win over Daisy Hill, Saturday's draw moved them to within two points of a play off place, and with four of their remaining six league games at home, there's plenty for Mick McGraa's squad to aim for in the coming weeks. Barlick on form Another side who are finishing the season

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strongly are Barnoldswick Town, whose 2-0 win at Abbey Hey on Saturday made it five wins out of six for Danny Craig's men, a run of form that sees at the top of the current form guide in the Premier Division. Barlick have suffered more than most from postponements in recent months, and still have nine league to cram into the closing few weeks of the season, but they head into the busy schedule looking good for picking up more points. League Landmarks Tuesday 17th April 2018 Nelson's 4-2 win at Stockport Town was their 400th League win. Jake Parker's opening goal for 1874 Northwich in the 3-0 win at Padiham was their 400th League goal.

Bootle reached 1750 League points exactly with the 3-0 win at Irlam. Thursday 19th April 2018 Irlam reached 500 League points exactly when they won 3-1 at Winsford United. Saturday 21st April 2018 Alexander Caunce's winning goal for AFC Blackpool in the 3-2 win at Litherland REMYCA was the club's 2200th League goal. Spencer Jordan's goal for Padiham in the 21 defeat at Winsford Unietd was the Storks' 700th away League goal.

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Great support from Dave Wiggins (promoting Candy Opera) who was our match ball sponsor at our last home game v Litherland REMYCA

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Premier Division Fixtures

Premier Division Table Thurs 19/04/2018

Runcorn Linnets

40 29

115 31

Widnes

40 26

Runcorn Town

40 26

City of Liverpool

39 22

8 100 51

Bootle

9 106 54

Charnock Richard

39 21

92 64

Hanley Town

40 21

Tuesday 1st May 2018 AFC Liverpool v 1874 Northwich Ashton Athletic v Barnoldswick Town Irlam v Winsford United Northwich Victoria v Runcorn Town Runcorn Linnets v Squires Gate West D & Chorlton v City of Liverpool FC

1874 Northwich

36 19

Wednesday 2nd May 2018 AFC Darwen v Padiham

Squires Gate

40 19

-1

10 Barnoldswick Town 37 19

14 83 68

11 West Did & Chorlton 39 17

82 105 -23

Ashton Athletic

Irlam

-8

Padiham

82 79

Congleton Town

39 14

18 76

-2

16 Northwich Victoria

19 65

-18

Winsford United

16 63

-12

Abbey Hey

23 60 80

-20

AFC Liverpool

-17

Maine Road

26 54 105 -51

Burscough

38 10

-34

Barnton (R)

30 56 152 -96

AFC Darwen (R)

29 39 139 -100 15

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GD Pts

Saturday 28th April 2018 1874 Northwich v Charnock Richard AFC Darwen v Congleton Town AFC Liverpool v Irlam Ashton Athletic v Runcorn Town Barnoldswick Town v Barnton Bootle v Winsford United Burscough v Abbey Hey Hanley Town v City of Liverpool FC Northwich Victoria v Squires Gate Padiham v Maine Road Widnes v West Didsbury & Chorlton Monday 30th April 2018 1874 Northwich v AFC Darwen Bootle v Burscough Congleton Town v Padiham Maine Road v Widnes

Thursday 3rd May 2018 1874 Northwich v Burscough Barnton v Bootle Congleton Town v Ashton Athletic Hanley Town v Barnoldswick Town Irlam v Charnock Richard Saturday 5th May 2018 Abbey Hey v Bootle AFC Liverpool v Runcorn Linnets Barnton v AFC Darwen Bootle v City of Liverpool FC Charnock Richard v Hanley Town City of Liverpool FC v Northwich Victoria Congleton Town v Barnoldswick Town Irlam v Widnes Runcorn Town v Padiham Squires Gate v 1874 Northwich West D & Chorlton v Ashton Athletic Winsford United v Burscough Monday 7th May 2018 Abbey Hey v Padiham AFC Darwen v City of Liverpool FC AFC Liverpool v Charnock Richard Ashton Athletic v Widnes Barnoldswick Town v 1874 Northwich Hanley Town v Irlam Northwich Victoria v Barnton Runcorn Linnets v Runcorn Town Squires Gate v Burscough West Didsbury & Chorlton v Maine Road Winsford United v Congleton Town Wednesday 9th May 2018 Barnoldswick Town v Padiham

First Division Table Thurs 19/04/2018

First Division Fixtures

A GD Pts

Litherland REMYCA

39 30

108 34 74 94

Silsden AFC

38 30

96 32 64 94

Prestwich Heys

37 27

115 43

Whitchurch Alport

38 25

81 35 46 78

Sandbach United

38 24

83 52

Alsager Town

38 18

78 67

Cammell Laird 1907

37 18

74 54 20 60

AFC Blackpool

37 18

73 66

Holker Old Boys

36 16

14 64 80 -16 54

Stockport Town

39 15

17 75 76 -1 52

Cheadle Town

15 66 74

-8

Abbey Hulton Utd

36 13

49 54

-5

New Mills

36 14

62 80 -18 47

Carlisle City

61 70

Chadderton

38 10

73 87 -14 39

FC Oswestry Town

20 56 82 -26 39

Atherton LR

Eccleshall

37 10

20 55 96 -41 37

Bacup Borough

22 50 87 -37 31

St Helens Town

26 51 94 -43 29

Daisy Hill

23 42 90 -48 28

Nelson

23 45 84 -39 27

72 84

-9 44

52 72 -20 38

Saturday 28th April 2018 AFC Blackpool v Cheadle Town Carlisle City v Cammell Laird 1907 Eccleshall v Nelson FC Oswestry Town v Chadderton Litherland REMYCA v Alsager Town New Mills v Bacup Borough Sandbach United v Holker Old Boys Silsden AFC v Abbey Hulton United St Helens Town v Stockport Town Whitchurch Alport v Daisy Hill Monday 30th April 2018 Bacup Borough v Silsden AFC Cheadle Town v Holker Old Boys Daisy Hill v Carlisle City New Mills v Alsager Town Tuesday 1st May 2018 Abbey Hulton United v Nelson AFC Blackpool v Chadderton Cammell Laird 1907 v Bacup Borough FC Oswestry Town v Atherton LR Prestwich Heys v Whitchurch Alport

Wednesday 2nd May 2018 Cheadle Town v Sandbach United Eccleshall v New Mills Thursday 3rd May 2018 Bacup Borough v Prestwich Heys Daisy Hill v AFC Blackpool Saturday 5th May 2018 Abbey Hulton United v AFC Blackpool Alsager Town v Carlisle City Atherton LR v Eccleshall Bacup Borough v FC Oswestry Town Cammell Laird 1907 v Silsden AFC Chadderton v Sandbach United Cheadle Town v St Helens Town Daisy Hill v Prestwich Heys Holker Old Boys v New Mills Nelson v Whitchurch Alport Stockport Town v Litherland REMYCA Monday 7th May 2018 Alsager Town v St Helens Town Bacup Borough v Carlisle City Cammell Laird 1907 v Sandbach United Eccleshall v Daisy Hill Nelson v Atherton LR New Mills v Chadderton Prestwich Heys v Litherland REMYCA Silsden AFC v Holker Old Boys Whitchurch Alport v FC Oswestry Town Thursday 10th May 2018 Abbey Hulton United v Eccleshall Holker Old Boys v Stockport Town

Saturday 12th May 2018 AFC Blackpool v FC Oswestry Town Bacup Borough v Abbey Hulton United

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U18s Cup Final Sun 13th May 2018 Kick off 2.30pm

Today’s Team Line-up

Town versus Morecambe NW Youth Alliance League President Cup

Next AWAY FIXTURE Sat 5th May 2018 Kick Off 3.00pm

versus Cheadle Town Hallmark Security League Division One

Today’s SPONSORS Match: Unite the Union John Iddon Transport Match Ball: StuartPyke|BoarsHead

Programme: Ugly Man Records

Main Club Sponsors

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Charity Partner 2017-18

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