St Helens Town v Runcorn Linnets by John McKiernan

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Executive Programme Sponsor

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners Programme Year Five Time Winners of of Programme of of thethe Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Team News CLUB INFORMATION Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens Vice President: Jim Barrett Chairman: John McKiernan (07713 339682) Vice Chairman: Glyn Jones

Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695) Full Committee: John McKiernan, Jeff Voller, Jim Barrett, Ste Ball, Chris Ford and Glyn Jones. Trustees: John McKiernan and Eric Bond Club Manager: Ian Price Assistant Managers: Paul Jones & Nick Matthews

Physiotherapists: Nicole Garner Jess Pritchard & Ben Fletcher U21 Team Manager Alan Gillespie U21 Asst Manager: J ohn Whelan

Tuesday 16th September 2014, kick off 7.45pm North West Counties League, Premier Division St Helens Town Red & White Shirts White Shorts, Red & White Socks No

Gls

St Helens Town Rory Crowther Aaron Morris Lewis Saunders Hamish Falconer Jack McKay Chris Cottington Karl Bergqvist Paul Cook-Hannah Andy Gillespie James Rushton-Woods Marcus Perry Chad Whyte Neil Hulme Joe Peers Lee Harrison Chris Brinksman

Runcorn Linnets Yellow & Green Shirts Green Shorts & Yellow Socks No

Gls

Runcorn Linnets Richard Mottram Michael Duffy Martin Crowder Michael Burke Michael White Kyle Armstrong Adam Wade Kyle Hamid Kevin Towey Chris Lomax Matthew Atherton Warren Bellew Allan Collins Lee Thompson Matt Cross Michael Ellison

U18 Team Manager: Steve Wallis U17 Team Manager: Nick Matthews Veterans Team Manager: David Platt

Manager: Ian Price Asst: Paul Jones/Nick Matthews

Manager: Joey Dunn Assistant: Stu Humphreys

Referee: Mr S Mahon (Chester)

Email: sthelenstownfc@hotmail.co.uk

Assist: Mr T Morgan (Chester) & Mr D Evans (Warrington)

Main Club Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Executive Match Sponsor:

Main Shirt Sponsor: Eciguk St Helens Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company

Neil & Emma

Company Directors: Jim Barrett

Falconer

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

Cover: Chad Whyte in action v AFC Liverpool (13/09/2014)

Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Talk of the Town Good evening and welcome to Brocstedes Park for this North West Counties Football League, Premier Division contest against our friends from Runcorn Linnets. May I open by welcoming our visitors I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the game. This evening we complete the trio of home matches as we host table topping Runcorn Linnets here at Brocstedes Park. It has indeed been a mix bag of a week as last Tuesday’s game against Abbey Hey saw us secure a hard fought victory. In what wasn’t the best performance of the season it was a single goal that separated the sides on the night a well taken effort from Chad Whyte his third goal of the season just a couple of minutes after his entry to the contest from the substitutes bench. If this was a master class in not playing well and winning we then performed an about face for the visit of AFC Liverpool to Ashton-in-Makerfied on Saturday as after a fairly sterile opening 43 minutes with neither sides goalkeeper having much to do we capitulated to concede twice before the interval. The worrying thing at the moment is that when things start to turn bad we don’t seem to be able to grab a foothold in the game and try and wrestle ourselves back into the reckoning. This was to prove to be the case as AFC Liverpool added a quick fire brace after the interval to go 4-0 up and it was a case of how many we would lose by as the errors kept on coming and the fight left the relatively young Town side. As it was the 9-0 reverse equalled the worst defeat in St Helens Town history (I was unfortunate enough to have been on hand for the record breaker at New Mills in March 2011) and we must quickly put this game out of our minds and get on with the difficult task of facing the divisions top scorers in Runcorn Linnets this evening. The visitors have started the league season off like a train having recorded nine wins out of nine and scoring 28 times in the process conceding just 5 times. They have faltered a little in the last two matches having drawn 1-1 at home to Maine Road on Tuesday evening and repeating the score line at Bootle on Saturday.

Finally, let’s get behind Town this evening and hopefully cheer them onto victory you support is vital to the cause! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

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In Town Today Runcorn Linnets Football Club was born on 28 April 2006, when the fans of Runcorn Football Club, dismayed at the club`s predicament, met at their spiritual home at the Quayside in Canal Street in Runcorn and voted to establish a new club which would continue the proud tradition of nonLeague football which had existed in the town since 1918. A large group of fans formed an interim committee to set the wheels in motion. A Supporters Trust already existed and this was the vehicle through which the new club would be run. To start a new club from scratch with only 4 months to the start of a new season was a mammoth task, and the newly formed committee drew up business and action plans to attempt to achieve their objectives. Negotiations were opened on many fronts, with the FA, the Cheshire FA, the North West Counties League, Supporters Direct and Witton Albion Football Club. We received a vast amount of advice and support from all of these bodies and were hugely grateful to them all for their help. The Chairman and Board of Directors at Witton Albion FC extended the hand of friendship and offered us a ground share for the season, as no suitable venue was immediately available back in Runcorn. This we were delighted to accept. A Roll of Honour was established on our website in recognition of the support offered to us by fans and friends in those early days. We were supported by our local council and MPs in our bid for a place in the league for the start of season 2006/07. The members of the committee worked tirelessly to achieve our objective and we were delighted when we were finally accepted into the league by the member clubs on Saturday 17 June 2006 at the AGM in Buxton. It was a proud day for all of us and we were grateful to be given the opportunity to re-build a non-League club representing Runcorn and with the firm aim of moving the club back to its roots at the earliest opportunity. Former manager and player for Runcorn FC Halton, Steve Carragher, agreed to join as manager. Steve had vast non-League experience and we were delighted for him to lead the team in this new venture. We enjoyed our first season immensely in 2006/07, visiting some new grounds and making new friends along the way and to achieve promotion in our first season was a just reward for the effort put in by so many fans. We finished second to Winsford on goal difference. Our supporters, as always, turned out in numbers to support the team and visit lots of new grounds. In season 2007/08 we entered the FA Vase for the first time, but lost at the First round stage to a strong Salford City team, which ultimately gained promotion. We had success in the Cheshire Senior Cup, beating Unibond 1 side Warrington T on their own ground and narrowly losing to Altrincham. We averaged around the 180 mark at home and often had a following of up to 100 fans at away grounds. Our desire to relocate back into Runcorn was always an integral part of our plans and we named our scheme R2R "Return to Runcorn". At the beginning of 2008, the club decided to part with its management team by mutual consent and we appointed Steve Wilkes as our new manager, with goalkeeper Robbie Holcroft as his assistant. Steve used the second half of that season to look at players old and new. Overall season 2007/08 will be seen as one of consolidation in a higher league, with a better standard of football. Our mid-table finish was about right. We entered the FA Cup for the first time in season 2008/09 with a home tie against Rossington Main winning 3-2. Unfortunately, we then came up against a strong Curzon Ashton team and bowed out of the competition at the next stage. Curzon ultimately progressed into the First Round proper. In the FA Vase, we had a good run up to the Third Round Proper. We then came up against Vase holders, AFC Fylde, where we lost 4-1 after a very tight first half. Good wins at Alsager and at home to AFC Fylde in the Vodkat Cup put The Linnets into the semi-finals against Silsden. A defeat in the home leg was followed up with a fighting performance at Cougar Park, which saw The Linnets through to the final at Tameside Stadium against a very strong New Mills side, where

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Runcorn Linnets we ended as runners-up by 2-0. Season 2009/10 saw The Linnets again finish in mid table with little real success in the cup competitions. The main target throughout this time had been to get the club back into the town. Season 2010/11 was the first back in Runcorn and saw The Linnets part company with the management team of Steve Wilkes and Ian McGarry towards the end of August 2010 and former Linnet Paul McNally was appointed as the new manager bringing in former Atherton LR manager, Dave Hughes, as his assistant and Chris Fitzsimmons as coach. A rebuilding process took place during the season and the Linnets finished the season strongly. The most encouraging feature of season 2010/11 was the tremendous support the Linnets received from their fans. The average attendance at the Millbank Linnets Stadium was 106% up on the previous season and almost 50% higher than the next best supported team. The summer has seen new drainage on the MLS pitch and a new irrigation system installed. A number of new signings have been added to the squad that finished last season strongly. In 2011/12 the club achieved its highest ever finish in the NWCL when we came fifth. A great start to the season in the league was interspersed with cup success, but this brought us a large number of replays and no league games were played during September. The highlight of the cup runs was the 4-0 defeat of Evostick North opponents Mossley after a 0-0 draw at Seal Park. We finally exited the FA Vase up in the North East at Hebburn. Perhaps the most memorable game of the season came at Stone with an 8-5 victory and 3 hat tricks in the game. Those present will long remember it! During the season 7 player and manager awards came the way of The Linnets, but the weather conspired against us during the winter months and November saw us drop off the leading group when mental fatigue finally appeared to tell. From then on we were playing catch up in the league and despite best efforts we ended the season in fifth place, although our victory over our near neighbours on Easter Monday was to have a great bearing on the final outcome of the title as well as providing the league`s biggest gate of the season. The Linnets were once again the best supported team by some margin. Season 2012/13 saw Paul McNally leave the club for personal reasons to be replaced by Joey Dunn, with Stu Humphreys as his assistant and they brought the club its first major trophy when the Linnets defeated Formby in the final of the league challenge cup. In the league, the change of manager brought instant success with a 3 month undefeated run from the start of the New Year with the Linnets eventually finishing sixth. 2013/14 saw the club enjoy its most successful season to date. Early season form was excellent and brought a run in the FA Cup that saw us defeat 2 Evostik teams in Ossett Albion and Cammell Laird on our way to the Third Qualifying round where we finally lost 2-0 away at Conference North side North Ferriby. As the season reached its climax the chase for the title narrowed to 3 teams and eventually, despite an impressive haul of 95 points, we just fell short finishing as runners-up to Norton United and 12 points clear of Glossop NE in third place.

Season 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

League NWC-2 NWC-1 NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P NWC-P

P 34 38 42 42 42 42 42 42

W 24 14 16 17 16 22 21 29

D 4 6 7 6 8 10 9 8

L 6 18 19 19 18 10 12 5

F 77 53 64 75 68 70 82 103

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

A 35 64 84 78 77 62 58 39

GD 42 -11 -20 -3 -9 8 24 64

Pts 76 48 55 57 56 76 72 95

Position 2/18 12/20 11/22 11/22 12/22 5/22 6/22 2/22

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How We Compare St Helens Town - last 6 matches All Competitions

at St Helens Town

Previous Meetings

at Runcorn Linnets

NWC-D1

1999-00

N/A

NWC-D1

2000-01

N/A

NWC-D1

2001-02

N/A

NWC-D1

2002-03

N/A

NWC-D1

2003-04

N/A

NWC-D1

2004-05

N/A

NWC-D1

2005-06

N/A

NWC-D1

2006-07

NWC-D2

11/09; 1-3

2007-08

20/11; 4-2

08/05; 5-0

2008-09

02/05; 0-1

17/11; 6-3

2009-10

03/10; 2-1

25/04; 0-4

2010-11

01/03: 5-3

21/02; 0-1

2011-12

17/03; 0-1

26/02; 0-1

2012-13

02/02; 2-4

15/04; 0-3

2013-14

01/10; 1-1

16/09/2014

2014-15

15/11/2014

Most recent

Home

Away

Collated

Runcorn Linnets - last 6 matches All Competitions Home

Most recent

Away

Collated

St Helens Town games since...

Runcorn Linnets games since...

All Competitions

Clean sheet

Goal Scored

Loss

No score draw

Score draw

Win

St Helens Town Scores First Games Played

St Helens Town Wins

Draws

Runcorn Linnets Wins

St Helens Town Goals

Runcorn Linnets Goals

Percentage Town Wins

35.71

All Previous Meetings All Competitions P

Win %

Home

-5

22.22

Away

42.86

Collated

-4

31.25

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

From the Chair Good evening and a very warm welcome to Brocstedes Park for this North West Counties Football League encounter with our friends and rivals from Runcorn Linnets. Let’s hope their players, officials and supporters have had a safe journey and enjoy our hospitality for their short stay. Many thanks to tonight’s match sponsors Neil and Emma Falconer - your support is greatly appreciated. To say we’re in for a tough evening is probably an understatement with the Premier Division’s league leaders the opposition just three days after the team suffered a record equalling 0-9 home defeat at the hands of AFC Liverpool. While we can’t ignore Saturday’s capitulation we certainly can’t dwell on the result and I’m sure Ian Price, his staff and the players will want to ensure a much better performance this evening and going forward. No-one at the club wants to see the team on the wrong end of heavy defeats but occasionally it happens. I recognise our current situation and we have to look at the bigger picture which says we’ve won half of our league games (5 out of 10) and currently lie in 9th place. Saturday’s defeat came after three successive wins and while we don’t expect to win every game our aim must to be put in performances which make us much more difficult to beat. Tonight’s visitors Runcorn Linnets have had a great start to the season and look to be living up to their pre-season ‘favourites’ tag after finishing as runners-up last term. Following a straight 9 league wins to open the campaign they arrive off the back of two 1-1 draws against Maine Road (H) and Bootle (A). The Linnets have scored 30 league goals in their eleven games and conceded only seven. The weekend saw the club’s U21s secure a second victory in the Cheshire FA U21s League with a 3-1 home win over Sandbach United U21s. The U18s bowed out of the NWYA Open Cup at the first hurdle as and experienced Bootle U18s team ran out 3-1 winners at JMO Sports. The U17s continued their 100% start to the season with a 1-0 home win over Aspull Juniors U17s - it’s now three games for the U17s with 14 goals scored and none conceded. Fixtures for all our teams are available in tonight’s programme or on the club’s website www.sthelenstownafc.com Next up for Town is a couple of away games starting with a trip to Winsford United on Saturday while next Tuesday evening our run of tough games continues as we take on Bootle at the Delta Taxis Stadium next Tuesday evening. Don’t forget our FA Vase tie with Nostell Miners Welfare has been confirmed as Sunday 5th October, 3pm here at Brocstedes Park (our landlords Ashton Athletic are at home the previous day)

I had the honour of attending a memorial service for Bert Trautmann yesterday at the Ethiad Stadium where Bert’s ashes were laid to rest in the club’s memorial garden - it was good to hear lots of stories about the great man as well as meet former team-mates his family and friends. Enjoy the game and hopefully we will see some of you at Winsford United on Saturday John McKiernan, Chairman St Helens Town AFC

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U18s Photo Action

NWYA League Open Cup Sunday 14th September 2014 Action from Town U18s 3-1 defeat at Bootle U18s

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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How theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve started Date

Opposition

H/A

K.O / Score

Goalscorers

Sat 02/08/14

Stockport Sports

W 3-2

Tue 05/08/14

Congleton Town

W 2-1

Sat 09/08/14

Abbey Hey

W 5-0

Tue 12/08/14

Bootle

W 2-1

Sat 16/08/14

Rochdale Town (F.A. Challenge Cup EP)

W 6-0

Tue 19/08/14

Alsager Town

W 4-1

Sat 23/08/14

West Didsbury & Chorlton

W 6-0

Tue 26/08/14

Winsford United

W 2-0

Kevin Towey (19) Levi Kennedy (26) Micheal Burke (84) Christopher Lomax (15) Kevin Towey (62) Kyle Hamid (32) Warren Bellew (37) Kyle Hamid (64) Kyle Hamid (79) Michael Ellison (88) Mark Houghton (14) Kevin Towey (22) Warren Bellew (11) Allan Collins (20) Kevin Towey (27p) Kevin Towey (34) Christopher Lomax (55) Kevin Towey (58) Matthew Atherton (8) Kevin Towey (16) Kyle Hamid (55) Mark Houghton (64) Kevin Towey (9) Kyle Hamid (27) Kevin Towey (47) Kevin Towey (61) Francis Smith (73) Chris Lomax (76) Christopher Lomax (24) Matt Cross (33)

Sat 30/08/14

Droylsden (F.A. Challenge Cup P)

L 0-4

Tue 02/09/14

AFC Liverpool

W 2-0

Sat 06/09/14

Glossop North End

W 2-0

Tue 09/09/14 Sat 13/09/14

Maine Road Bootle

H A

D 1-1 D 1-1

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Mark Houghton (11) Kevin Towey (31) Michael Burke (48) Kevin Towey (56) Kyle Hamid (80) Christopher Lomax (46)

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve met before ...

NWCFL Premier Division Saturday 2nd February 2013 Action from Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4-2 loss at the Millbank Stadium in season 2012-13

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

NWCFL News With the first month of the season completed, I can now give an update in terms of which teams have managed to play games without any sanctions being taken against their players. Obviously, the Respect markings are in their early stages and a clearer picture will come along within the next couple of months. I am very disappointed that there have been dugout failures already, albeit only a couple, and I have been even more disappointed that 4 sides have amassed 5 or more cautions in one game. I have dealt with that club by club, or await FA decisions, but that aside I would prefer to look at the positive side of our campaign. The majority of our clubs have embraced the campaign with gusto. For their efforts during the month of August, many teams need to be complimented, and because of the increase, rather than write to every club after each successful game, I would prefer to highlight this on the League website so that they get a more public recognition. Ashton Town have managed to play in 5 games without sanctions to their players. Alsager Town, Ashton Athletic, Daisy Hill and Runcorn Linnets have managed to play 4 games without sanctions. This is no mean feat. During the same month, we had 18 fixtures in which not a single player from either side received a sanction. Some clubs blame the referee when things go badly, so I would like to mention the 18 referees, who regularly referee on our League, who have proven in these games that when players have the right attitude, it is easier to man manage situations rather than show cards.

This disproves the excuse that the referee is at fault when things go badly!! It is up to club managers to foster this attitude within their players, as this creates a much more enjoyable game for all participants. I would like to highlight these 18 games, so that everyone can see the clubs who are striving to make our League great. The games were: Ashton Town v Holker Old Boys Abbey Hey v Runcorn Linnets St. Helens Town v Alsager Town Ashton Town v Rochdale Town West Didsbury & Chorlton v Ashton Athletic Squires Gate v Maine Road Nelson v Barnoldswick Town Stockport Sports v Congleton Town Ashton Athletic v Glossop North End Oldham Boro v Ashton Town Bacup & Rossendale Boro v St Helens Town Runcorn Linnets v Alsager Town Ashton Athletic v Winsford United Northwich Flixton Villa v Oldham Boro Runcorn Linnets v West Didsbury & Chorlton Congleton Town v Squires Gate Alsager Town v West Didsbury & Chorlton Holker Old Boys v Widnes John Cowley, Vice-Chairman North West Counties Football League

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NWCFL News The North West Counties Football League has recently announced that its primary cup competition, the League Challenge Cup, will be renamed The Men United Cup for this season’s competition which begins on Saturday 20 th September. The Men United Cup is in support of the campaign currently being run by The League’s Official Charity Partner, Prostate Cancer UK. Paul Lawler, League Development Officer, said: “The North West Counties League was delighted to link up with Prostate Cancer UK at the start of this season, in order to raise awareness of the Men United campaign and highlight the great work Prostate Cancer UK is currently doing in raising awareness of Prostate Cancer within the football community. “A number of our member clubs have embraced the partnership and have taken to fundraising on behalf of the charity, in addition to their own charitable activities. However, the League’s Management Committee wanted to highlight the partnership further by giving the title partnership of our flagship League Challenge Cup competition as part of the deal. We hope that this partnership will help spread the message about the Men United campaign to a wider audience.”

Mark Bishop, Director of Fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK said: “Hot on the heels of our success on Non League day, it’s great that our work within The North West Counties League is gaining real momentum. This is another opportunity to put the cause of prostate cancer in front of people, not in a scary and frightening way, but in a way that celebrates life and the love of the beautiful game. “Being Men United on the pitch, as we all know, is the best way to end up lifting a trophy, but being Men United in life is the best way of fighting prostate cancer and ultimately keeping more men alive.” In addition to the sponsorship announcement, The League is also running an awareness evening with Prostate Cancer UK at the forthcoming Premier Division match between 1874 Northwich and Runcorn Linnets on Tuesday 23rd September, kick off 7.45pm. Prostate Cancer UK will be in attendance at the game and will give advice and information to supporters. Prostate Cancer UK are targeting football fans across the terraces up and down the country, raising awareness of the disease which affects 1 in 8 men sometime in their life and kills over 10,000 men a year. Almost 190,000 people have signed for Men United by doing a simple online test. If you have concerns about prostate cancer please call Prostate Cancer UK's confidential Helpline on 0800 074 8383 or visit www.prostatecanceruk.org. The helpline is free to landlines, staffed by specialist nurses, and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday with late opening until 8pm on Wednesdays

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Town Managers Between 1946 and 1962 the club, like many, didn’t have a ‘manager’. Town officials would liaise with first and reserve team captains over team selection. In 1962-63 ‘First Manager’ Pat Murphy came from Burscough with a nucleus of his team which won the Lancashire Combination Division One title for Burscough but the formulae didn’t work for Town despite financial backing of a brand new 200 seat supporters club opened by John Connelly in spring of 1962. 1963-64 Sam Cottingham came after success with Pilkington's in a move to rebalance the squad with more local players. 1964-66 Jimmy McKiernan became the club's first commercial manager and team boss after arriving from Earlestown via a successful playing career which included a spell on the North Wales circuit. 1966-68 Jackie Dewsnip, cousin of Town player Jimmy Dewsnip who along with the latter’s son Neil meant the Haydock based family served Town well over a couple of decades. 1968-71 Peter Jones took the reigns in the wake of the Northern Premier League being formed which reduced Town’s league (Lancs Combination) to one division. He moved on after three years to a position on the staff of Preston North End. 1971-77 Alan Hampson arrived from South Liverpool after a distinguished playing career at Holly Park and became a mini ‘Messiah’ as Town won the Lancs Combination title in 1972 along with the Bass Charrington and Watson trophy in quick succession. He also oversaw Town’s step into the Cheshire County League in 1975 as by then, the Lancashire Comb had become a pale imitation of its former self. 1977-79 The aforementioned Jimmy Dewsnip took the reigns after ‘Hampy’ had moved on and became the first ex Town player to become manager. He combined this with work for the Liverpool County FA with the latter eventually claiming his services after two years. 1979-80 Player manager Geoff Robinson hailed from the new overspill at Laffak where he also ran the increasingly successful ‘Starting Gate’ pub team in the blossoming new Sunday League. Many of his squad were ‘Town’ players but the ‘conflict’ of interests was seen as detrimental to the senior club. 1980-82 Jack Prytherch had been at Wigan Athletic and he brought in players from that area including new club skipper, his son in law, Steve Murfin. Jack’s reign saw the formation of the North West Counties League and Town’s first season was a struggle in the new league’s top flight resulting in a change in mid-term. 1982-84 Peter Rutherford. After the success of Alan Hampson a decade earlier, the Town board returned to South Liverpool again for their next appointment. Peter Rutherford was number two at Holly Park at the time but he also found it hard going in the NWCFL inaugural season and his charges only escaped relegation on a ‘technicality’. Things got a little better the following season and he bowed out just before glory arrived. 1984-87 Alan Wellens had skippered Town’s Lancs Combination title team and went on to become the club’s top appearances holder after making his debut at Great Harwood in 1966. His playing career was ended by a broken leg against Hyde in 1981 at Hoghton Road. Alan went on to Town history with the club’s historic journey to Wembley in 1987 before he and the vast majority of Allan Wellens receiving the Lancs the FA Vase winning side sought pastures new. 1987Combination Championship Trophy 92 Alan Aspinall (pictured opposite) took over the from Wesley Bridge in 1972 mantle of manager following the departure of the Vase squad and management team having been Reserve team boss and spent a successful five seasons in charge.

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Past & Present 1992-93 Mick Holgate presided over just one season at Hoghton Road before moving on to Leigh RMI. 1993-2002 Jimmy McBride stepped up from his position as Reserve team boss to take the reigns of the first team for almost a decade which saw the club’s move from Hoghton Road to Saints. Took the club to its first cup final since the visit to Wembley but lost out in the League Cup and Floodlit Trophy finals in the mid 1990s. 2002-2003 John Davison and Peter King arrived from Burscough having presided over a very successful period in the ‘Linnets’ history. After a disappointing first campaign despite significant financial backing the club’s need to tighten the purse strings led to the pair’s departure at the start of the 2003 campaign, along with most of the squad. 2003-04 Ex-Everton professional Paul Lodge became Town manager as the club reeled from financial cuts but unfortunately his youthful side struggled at the bottom of the league and he was replaced in January 2004. 2004-05 Former Town ‘keeper Joe Paladino took over the reigns from Lodge and secured the club’s safety from relegation before going to challenge for the title during most of 2004-05. Joe resigned in March 2005. 2005-06 Assistant to Paladino, Joe Gibiliru took over the manager’s position and presided over a period of on the field stability for the club before resigning in September 2006. 2006-07 Alex Wright, who had previously been assistant manager to Paul Lodge returned to the club as manager but his tenure was short-lived as family commitments led to him stepping down in September 2007. 2007-08 John Fletcher, Wright’s assistant, was given managerial responsibility and he steered the club away from the relegation battle with a 19th place finish at the end of 2006-7. Despite the club’s off the field problems and financial difficulties the following season saw Fletcher’s charges finish fourteenth after only one defeat in the last nine games. However Town remained rooted in a relegation spot for most of the following season and Fletcher departed with weeks of the season remaining. 2009 – 2010 Gary Bickerstaffe was appointed in March 2009 and secured the club ’s safety with some ease recording six victories from the final eight games. Bickerstaffe’s fine form as manager continued throughout 2009-10 eventually finishing in 9th place. 2010 – 2011 Lee Riley steps up from assistant manager when Gary Bickerstaffe steps down at the end of the 2009-10. Lee resigned in March 2011 due to work commitments and Iain Dyson took over the managerial reigns before he too stepped down at the end of the season. 2011-12 season saw Jimmy McBride make a return to Town but it proved a difficult season and Town parted company with him as we narrowly avoided relegation. 2012 - 2013 Ian Granite became manager following success with neighbours Wigan Robin Park FC. A challenging 2012-13 season saw Town eventually steer clear of relegation, in doing so maintaining their unique 30 year stay in the North West Counties League top division. Despite an excellent start to the 2013-14 season Ian stepped down at the end of November due to business and family commitments and Ian Price (left) took over the managerial reigns with Paul Jones as his assistant. Many thanks to Jim Barrett and Eric Bond for their input in compiling the information.

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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2014-14 Fixtures, Facts an Date Aug 2 Aug 5 Aug 9 Aug 13 Aug 16 Aug 18 Aug 23 Aug 26 Aug 30 Sep 6 Sep 9 Sep 13 Sep 16 Sep 20 Sep 23 Sep 27 Oct 5 Oct 11 Oct 18 Oct 21 Oct 25 Oct 28 Nov 4 Nov 8 Nov 15 Nov 19 Nov 22 Dec 6 Dec 13

Opponents Maine Road AFC BLACKPOOL ALSAGER TOWN Bacup & Rossendale Boro’ ATHERTON COLLIERIES Runcorn Town Colne STOCKPORT SPORTS BARNOLDSWICK TOWN Irlam ABBEY HEY AFC LIVERPOOL RUNCORN LINNETS Winsford United Bootle W DIDS & CHORLTON Nostell Miners Welfare SQUIRES GATE Congleton Town AFC Blackpool Widnes or Barnton RUNCORN TOWN Stockport Sports COLNE Runcorn Linnets AFC Liverpool SILSDEN Alsager Town 1874 NORTHWICH

Comp NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FAC EPR NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FAV 1QR NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL FAV 2QR NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL Lge Cup 2 NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL

Dec 20 Dec 26 Jan 3 Jan 17 Jan 24 Feb 7 Feb 14 Feb 28

Nelson ASHTON ATHLETIC Silsden Squires Gate West Didsbury & Chorlton BOOTLE GLOSSOP NORTH END NELSON

NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL

3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00

Mar 7 Mar 14 Mar 21 Apr 4 Apr 6 Apr 11 Apr 18 Apr 25

Abbey Hey CONGLETON TOWN Glossop North End WINSFORD UNITED Ashton Athletic BACUP & ROSS’ BORO’ MAINE ROAD Barnoldswick Town

NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL NWCFL

3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00

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KO Result GK 2 3 4 5 6 7 3.00 1-2W Brinksman Cottington Saunders Falconer Morris1 McKay Lightbod 7.45 3-0W Brinksman Cottington Saunders Falconer Morris1 Lightbod McKay 3.00 0-4L Brinksman Cottington Saunders Falconer Morris McKay Lightbod 7.45 2-6W Brinksman Cottington Houghton Falconer Morris1 McKay Rushton-Wo 3.00 2-5L Brinksman Cottington Houghton Falconer1 Morris McKay Andy Gilles 7.45 7-2L Brinksman Cottington Houghton Falconer Morris McKay1 Peers 3.00 4-0L Brinksman Cottington Morris Falconer Ogden McKay Andy Gilles 7.45 2-4L Brinksman Morris Richardson Falconer Ogden Cottington1 Coulter 3.00 4-3W Crowther Saunders Richardson Falconer Morris1 Cottington Bergqvis 3.00 1-2W* Crowther Bergqvis Morris Saunders Falconer Ogden1 McKay 7.45 1-0W Crowther Cottington Morris Falconer Ogden McKay Bergqvis 3.00 0-9L Crowther Saunders Richardson Falconer Morris McKay Andy Gilles 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 7.45 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

nd Figures

dy dy1 dy oods spie1

Hulme Hulme Coulter Hulme Hulme Hulme spie Hulme r Hulme st1 McKay1 st1 Cottington st Hulme spie Cottington

Whyte1 Cook-Hannah Cook-Hannah Cook-Hannah Cook-Hannah Whyte1 Whyte Whyte Cook-Hannah Cook-Hannah Cook-Hannah Whyte

Rushton-Woods Rushton-Woods Rushton-Woods Bergqvist3 Rushton-Woods Rushton-Woods Rushton-Woods Rushton-Woods1 Rushton-Woods Rushton-Woods Rushton-Woods Rushton-Woods

Perry Perry1 Perry Perry1 Perry Andy Gillespie Perry Andy Gillespie Andy Gillespie1 Perry Andy Gillespie Perry

Name1

Pullinger Alex Gillespie7 Bergqvist11 Cook-Hannah9 Pullinger Alex Gillespie Houghton Bergqvist9 Pullinger Houghton3 Alex Gillespie8 Bergqvist11 Pullinger Coulter10 Barton11 Andy Gillespie91 Barton11 Pullinger/Saunder Whyte9 Peers/Crowther Pullinger Coulter6 Perry7 Cook-Hannah Pullinger10 Bergqvist11 Cook-Hannah Richardson7 Bergqvist7 Cook-Hannah3 Alex Gillespie Perry9 10 Harrison Alex Gillespie Peers Brinksman Peers5 Hulme11 Whyte9 Harrison Peers Whyte91 Perry11 Alex Gillespie Peers3 Alex Gillespie11 Cook-Hannah9

Crowther Crowther Crowther Crowther Coulter7 Crowther Crowther Crowther Brinksman Saunders

Player name and number of goals scored

Name

Player name and CAUTION

Name

Player name and DISMISSAL FOR 2 CAUTIONS

Name

Player name and DISMISSAL

Name10

Player name and number of replaced player

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Match Report Single goal gives Town a third straight win St Helens Town 1-0 Abbey Hey Tuesday 9th September 2014 St. Helens Town continued their winning ways with a third straight victory over a dogged Abbey Hey team at Brocstedes Park on Tuesday evening, a single goal from substitute Chad Whyte after 67 minutes proving good enough to secure all three points, giving Town their fifth win in nine league starts. The first half was a forgettable contest, with neither side able to get in a decent shot at goal and the ball spent most of the time in the air, but the second period was dominated by Town, particularly after the introduction of Chad Whyte and Marcus Perry, their injections of pace being decisive in the battle against the Manchester side’s well-organised defence. Although Town missed a gilt-edged opportunity in the first minute, the opening half soon settled down into a midfield battle and the first real chance fell to the visitors in the 17th minute when the home side were penalised for a back-pass to keeper Rory Crowther. It took a decisive block from Hamish Falconer to deny Hardy from the resultant free-kick. A few minutes later, Chris Cottington’s right wing cross found the head of Paul Cook-Hannah, but the big forward could only head the ball wide. With half-time approaching, Town had another chance, Karl Bergqvist heading down for Jack Mackay in front of goal, but the midfielder blasted the ball high over the bar and right on the halftime whistle, Hardy fired over at the other end. Ten minutes into the second-half, Aaron Morris headed just wide from James Rushton-Woods’ corner and Cook-Hannah only just failed to connect with Bergqvist’s cross, with the Abbey Hey goal at his mercy. That was his last contribution, as Whyte replaced him and, with almost his first touch, he burst clear from the half-way line between two defenders, drew keeper McIlwaine and coolly slid the ball past him into the net for what proved to be the only goal of the game. Perry replaced Andy Gillespie soon afterwards and the pace of the substitutes had Abbey Hey stretched and it seemed likely that the floodgates might open, but credit to Lawence, Samms and Smith in particular, they kept the Town attack at bay. Bergqvist had two chances of his own from the left side of the box, but both brought good saves from McIlwaine and the keeper had to be at his best again to deny Morris as the second half wore on. Town restricted Abbey Hey to one half chance in the second period, Hardy again blasting over the bar after seizing on a loose pass, but the home defence were well on top in what was one of their best displays of the season so far. Just before the final whistle, the impressive Perry burst between Lawrence and Samms, but he could not control his shot, which sailed over the bar and Town held out for their win with something to spare.

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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Statistical History ST. HELENS TOWN AFC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A STATISTICAL HISTORY by Glyn Jones Part 36 - Season 1982-83 CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE Burscough Rhyl Horwich RMI Stalybridge Celtic Winsford United Darwen Lancaster City Congleton Town Penrith Accrington Stanley Leek Town Curzon Ashton Ashton United Bootle (-2) Prescot Cables Formby Leyland Motors Glossop St. Helens Town Nantwich Town Opponents Accrington Stanley Ashton United Bootle Burscough Congleton Town Curzon Ashton Darwen Formby Glossop Horwich RMI Lancaster City Leek Town Leyland Motors Nantwich Town Penrith Prescot Cables Rhyl Stalybridge Celtic Winsford United

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P 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38

W 26 23 22 17 18 17 17 13 17 13 14 14 13 14 9 10 7 6 5 6

Home Nov 20 Feb 5 Sep 14 Mar 5 Dec 27 Aug 24 Aug 17 Oct 16 Sep 4 Apl 16 Aug 21 Dec 11 Jan 15 Feb 19 Oct 2 Nov 27 Oct 30 Mar 19 Dec 4

D 7 11 10 15 10 12 11 14 6 12 9 8 10 6 13 8 10 11 10 5 Result Lost 1-2 Drew 1-1 Drew 1-1 Lost 1-2 Lost 1-2 Drew 1-1 Drew 1-1 Lost 2-4 Won 2-1 Lost 0-2 Won 2-1 Drew 1-1 Drew 1-1 Lost 0-2 Lost 0-2 Lost 1-3 Lost 0-6 Lost 0-4 Lost 1-3

L 5 4 6 6 10 9 10 11 15 13 15 16 15 18 16 20 21 21 23 27

F 93 76 77 60 72 68 69 52 68 56 42 46 55 55 50 48 34 29 29 43 Away Apl 2 Sep 25 Mar 26 Sep 21 Aug 14 Dec 18 Jan 29 Apl 4 Aug 28 Sep 11 Jan 11 Sep 7 Sep 1 Oct 9 Apl 9 Jan 8 Jan 22 Nov 6 Feb 26

A 45 30 35 32 48 46 54 35 61 55 44 47 69 79 60 68 74 67 80 93

Pts 59 57 54 49 46 46 45 40 40 38 37 36 36 32 31 28 24 23 20 17 Result Drew 1-1 Lost 0-1 Lost 1-4 Lost 1-5 Lost 0-2 Lost 0-1 Lost 0-5 Lost 0-1 Won 1-0 Lost 1-2 Lost 0-5 Won 2-1 Won 1-0 Drew 1-1 Lost 1-3 Drew 1-1 Lost 1-3 Lost 0-4 Drew 0-0

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Season 1982-83 Sep 18

FA CUP BOOTLE

Preliminary Round

Home

Lost

0-4

Home

Lost

1-2

Home Away

Won Lost

2-1 AET 1-2

NWC LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP Nov 13

2nd Round

SKELMERSDALE UNITED LIVERPOOL SENIOR CUP

Oct 23 Feb 8

1st Round 2nd Round

Player Brimelow, Steve Capstick, Steve Carr, W (Billy) Eyes, Paul Fernandez, Tony Hodgkinson, John Hughes, Phil Khan, Nasir Larner, Geoff Latham, Paul M. Lilliston, Mark McKenna, Ged P. Maguire, John Milne, W.J. Milroy, Keith Moogan, John Nolan, Ken Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leary, Kevin Pennington Pinder, Paul J. Potter, J Potter, Mick Pritchard, Kevin Ramsden, Dave Ravenscroft, John Saunders, Ken Sheridan Simcock Smith, Mick Smith, Steve Tickle, Steve Wellens, Alan Whitehead, Lee Woodyer, Jimmy Unknown Own goal Totals

SKELMERSDALE UNITED Burscough App 6 3 2 7 2 7 3 1 11 5 12 6 7 2 17 4 8 16 1 4 1 5 10 1 6 1 1 12 5 3 1 13

Prov. 15 10 14 3 29 5 2 10 9 10 4 14 8 24 9 5 4 2 3 3 23 3 9 24 6 2 29

Sub App 1 1 -

Total App 21 14 2 21 5 36 8 3 21 14 22 10 21 10 41 13 13 20 1 6 1 9 3 33 4 15 1 1 36 11 3 1 3 42

183

279

464

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Goals

6 3 1 1 2

2 1 3 2 2

8 1 1 33

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A Brief History The original Town club was in existence from 1901 to 1928, but George Fryer and a number of local businessmen decided to re-form the club in 1946. They obtained a lease on the Hoghton Road ground in Sutton, adjacent to St. Helens Junction station on the Liverpool to Manchester railway line, took over a local St. Helens Combination team, Derbyshire Hill Rovers, signing a number of players from other clubs and entered the Liverpool County Combination in the 1947/48 season, playing against Everton “A” and Liverpool “A” and several reserve sides from the leading non-league clubs in the Merseyside area. Success was first attained in May 1949 when Runcorn were defeated in the final of the George Mahon Cup, played at the Prescot Cables ground. The following season, 1949/50, Town were elevated to the Second Division of the Lancashire Combination and they were promoted as Champions in only their second season to the First Division, where they ran up against teams such as Ashton United, Nelson and New Brighton, newly relegated from the Football League. Sadly, Town were themselves relegated in their first season and although promoted briefly again for the 1955/56 season, they spent most of their early years in the Second Division. Improvements were quickly made to the facilities at Hoghton Road in the early years, but in November 1952 the decision was taken to re-locate to the former St. Helens Recs’ rugby league ground at City Road in order to further their ambitions of reaching the Football League. Initially, the move resulted in some encouraging crowds, but the club had a change of heart and returned to Sutton in the October 1953. The ground was purchased and further developed and a social club and floodlights were added in later years. Town were Champions of the Lancashire Combination in 1971/72 season, losing only one game, finishing 6 points clear of Accrington Stanley. 1975 brought a switch to the Cheshire League, where they remained until the formation of the North West Counties League in 1982 and St. Helens Town is still the only club to feature in the top division of that league throughout its existence. The club’s major achievement was to win the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987. After a stuttering start in the Preliminary Round with a 5-4 extra-time win over Colne Dynamoes, further home successes over General Chemicals, Wren Rovers, Guisborough Town and Wythenshawe Amateurs, led to wins at Wisbech Town, at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare, away to Falmouth Town (after a replay) and in the away leg at Emley when, following a 1-0 home defeat in the first-leg, a 2-0 win in Yorkshire secured a Wembley Final against local rivals Warrington Town, who were dispatched 3-2 with goals from Phil Layhe (2) and Brian Rigby.

St. Helens Town boast an impressive “Hall of Fame”, including legendary goalkeeper and former German Prisoner-of-War Bert Trautmann, who signed for Manchester City over 60 years ago and who went on to play the game of his life in the 1956 FA Cup Final, despite breaking his neck in the latter stages. Bill Foulkes was transferred to Manchester United, where he had a glittering career, surviving the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, in which he bravely rescued some of his stricken team-mates. John Connelly, an England squad member in the victorious 1966 World Cup campaign, was sold to Burnley and he later moved to join Foulkes at Old Trafford. Sadly, all three have passed away in the last few years. Other future stars, groomed at St. Helens Town, include John Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Geoff Nulty (Burnley, Newcastle United and Everton) and, most recently, ace goalscorer Dave Bamber, who began and ended his league career at Blackpool and who played in all four divisions of the Football League. Captain of the FA Vase winning team was Tommy O’Neil, who began his league career playing alongside George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton at Manchester United.

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

of St Helens Town AFC

Town sold their Hoghton Road ground in 2000 to move in with St. Helens Rugby League Club at their Knowsley Road base. Their farewell appearance at Sutton produced a 1-0 win over Champions Vauxhall Motors and the initial campaign at Knowsley Road got off to a cracking start, with Town leading the table for most of the season, before finishing in a rather disappointing fourth place. Recent seasons have been more of a struggle, ninth place in 2009/10 being the best finish since. Season 2010-11 saw Town slide to 16th and next to bottom in 2011-12, when they would have been relegated, but for Flixton’s decision to resign from the league. Town began the 2012-13 season under new manager Ian Granite, who brought in a new team and coaching set-up and they battled well to avoid relegation, their status being confirmed with a couple of games remaining. 2013-14 was a mirror-image of the previous campaign, with a 14-game unbeaten run between September and December putting the club just behind the front runners for two thirds of the campaign. Granite resigned in November 2013 due to work and family commitments and his assistant Ian Price took over the reins, assisted by Paul Jones and Nick Matthews, but the long breaks caused by the winter weather interrupted their earlier rhythm and Town finished the season once again in the lower reaches, although never in any serious danger of the drop.

Club Honours: 1949 George Mahon Trophy Winners 1951 Lancs Comb Division 2 Champions 1972 Lancs Combination Champions 1973 Bass Charrington Cup Winners 1974 Watson Trophy Winners 1978 St Helens Hospital Cup Winners 1979 St Helens Comb Div 1 Runners Up 1979 St Helens Hospital Cup Runners Up 1980 St Helens Comb Div 1 Champions 1985 NWCFL Reserve Div 2 Runners Up 1986 NWCFL Reserve Div 1 Runners Up 1987 FA Vase Winners (Wembley) 1994 League Challenge Cup Finalists 1994 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1995 NWCFL Reserve Division Champions 1996 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1998 Floodlit Trophy Finalists 1999 REALCO Fair Play Award Winners 2009 Bert Trautmann Trophy Winners Record Appearances: Alan Wellens Record Goal Scorer: Steve Pennington Record Attendances: 4000 at Hoghton Road v Manchester City 1723 at Knowsley Rd v FC Utd Manchester 9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (1949) Programme Awards 1993-94 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1995-96 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1997-98 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1998-99 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1999-00 NWCFL Programme of the Year 2000-01 NWCFL Programme of the Year 2009-10 NWCFL Premier Division 2010-11 NWCFL Premier Division 2011-12 NWCFL Premier Division 2012-13 NWCFL Premier Division 2013-14 NWCFL Premier Division Wirral Programme Club National Survey 1996-97 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1997-98 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1998-99 NWCFL Programme of the Year Programme Monthly 2007-08 NWCFL Programme of the Year

Following the demolition of the Knowsley Road ground in Soccer Club Swap Shop National Awards 2010, Town have led a nomadic existence up the road in 2010-11 Placed 28th Ashton-in-Makerfield, sharing Ashton Town’s Edge Green 2011-12 Placed 8th Street ground for three seasons before moving across town 2012-13 Placed 7th to Brocstedes Park as the guests of Ashton Athletic in 2012. 2013-14 Placed 8th The current season is scheduled to be the club’s last in exile, as plans are in place for re-location back to St. Helens for the 2015-16 season at the Council-owned Ruskin Park site, currently undergoing massive redevelopment and a brand-new facility awaits. In readiness for the move, the club is undergoing a radical re-branding, adopting the town’s coat of arms as their badge once again and reverting next season to their traditional blue and white colours in preparation for a return to the town in 2015.

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Colne

Bootle

Barnoldswick T

Bacup & Ross

Ashton Athletic

Alsager Town

AFC Liverpool

AFC Blackpool

Abbey Hey

1874 Northwich

3-0 0-1 3-1 x 4-2 2-4 1-4 0-3 x 1-1 1-2 4-1 x 1-1 1-1 0-1 x 1-1 x 2-1 1-1 1-2 0-4 x 2-2 0-6 3-2 1-1 x x 1-0 4-2 0-4 x 2-1 x 1-0 4-0 0-0 x 2-3 3-0 1-0 3-2 2-0 5-0 4-1 2-1 2-3 3-2 1-3 1-4 4-1 2-1 1-0 1-2 0-0 1-0 3-0 0-9 0-4 4-3 5-5 0-2 0-1 5-0 4-1 1-3 2-0

Congleton Town

Glossop NE

1874 Northwich Abbey Hey AFC Blackpool AFC Liverpool Alsager Town Ashton Athletic Bacup & Rossendale Barnoldswick Town Bootle Colne Congleton Town Glossop NE Maine Road Nelson Runcorn Linnets Runcorn Town Silsden Squires Gate St Helens Town Stockport Sports West Dids & Chrltn Winsford United

North West Counties Football League Premier Division 2014-15 Maine Road Nelson

Runcorn Town

Silsden

Squires Gate

North West Counties Football League Premier Division

Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

2-5

3-1 3-0

2-0 x 4-1 x 1-1

1-2

x x

1-1 2-3

0-0 x

4-2 0-0 1-1

0-0

7-2

1-2

1-3 2-4

2-0

2-4 x

2-2

2-1

2-2

1-4 x 3-0 x

3-2 6-0

4-0 3-0

2-6

St Helens Town

1-2 0-2

1-2 0-4

3-4

2-3

Stockport Sports

1-1

0-4 2-1

WD&C

1-4 1-1 1-1

4-0

Runcorn Linnets

0-5

Winsford Utd

3-1

0-1 1-2

Head 2 Head Results

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North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Tea Break Teasers Q1. Which player was the first to collect four FA Cup Winners medals? Q2. Who was the last Everton player to have finished a season as the leading goalscorer in the top flight? Q3. In which season did both Everton & Liverpool last finish in the top four of the league?

Q4. Prior to last season when was the last time that Liverpool finished above Manchester United in the Premier League? Q5. Who is the all time leading Italian goalscorer in the Premier League? Q6. Which player who has not been capped by their country as won the most Premier League winners medals? Q7. Which unwanted feat did Arjen Robben & Mark van Bommel achieve in 2010? Q8. Which club was the last to win the FA Cup whose squad for the Final was completely made up of only English players and what was the year? Q9. Who was the only player to score a goal for a losing FA Cup Finalist between 1994 & 2005? Q10. Who is the youngest player to play in a World Cup Finals Tournament? Q11. Which nation are the only ever present country at the World Cup Finals? Q12. Against which team did Daniel Sturridge score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool? Q13. When was the last time that none of the teams who finished in the top four of the English top flight wore red as their home kit? Q14. Which two clubs have reached the Champions League Last 16 ten or more times but have never won the competition? Q15. Which country who finished 3rd in World Cup 2002 have failed to qualify for the Finals since?

1) Mark Hughes in 1985, 90, 94 & 97 2) Gary Lineker 1985/6 (30 Goals) 3) 1987/8 4) 2001/2 5) Paulo Di Canio (68) 6) Steve Bruce 7) Lost in the Champions League & World Cup Finals 8) West Ham United in 1975 9) Freddie Ljungberg (1-2) Vs Liverpool in 2001 10) Norman Whiteside (17yrs 1mth 10days) in 1982 11) Brazil 12) Manchester United 13) 1969-70 Everton, Leeds, Chelsea & Derby 14) Arsenal (15) & Lyon (10) 15) Turkey

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Five Time Winners of Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14

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Meet the Players

Alex Gillespie 06/08/1997 Midfield

Rory Crowther 29/12/1996 Goalkeeper

Tom Barton 21/03/1997 Full Back

Marcus Perry 16/08/1996 Forward

This player is available to sponsor