St Helens Town v Stockport Town 2015-16 by John McKiernan

CLUB INFORMATION Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens

Tuesday 5th April 2016, kick off 8.00pm North West Counties League, First Division

Vice Presidents: Jim Barrett and Steve Ball 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, Andy Langley Paul Wood, Margaret Wood, Chris Ford and Glyn Jones. Hospitality: Margaret Wood and Paul Wood Trustees: John McKiernan and Eric Bond 1st Team Joint Managers: Alan Gillespie & Nick Matthews 1st Team Coach Lee Jenkinson 1st Team Physiotherapists Ellie Hayes & Paige Marcus U21s Team Manager: John McLaughlan U21s Assistant Manager: Billy Davies

U18s Team Manager: Ellis Hawksworth U18s Assistant Manager: Alex Jardine Sunday Team Manager: David Platt Club Email: sthelenstownfc@hotmail.co.uk Main Club Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Shirt Sponsor: EcigUK St Helens Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002 Company Director: Jim Barrett Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited Cover Photograph: Jack Marshal in action at Stockport Town (17/10/2015)

St Helens Town

Stockport Town

Red & White Shirts White Shorts, Red & White Socks No

Mathew Hodge

Gls Y R

Orange Shirts Black Shorts & Orange Socks No

Jacob Luty

Aaron Morris

Rob Pasonage

Stephen Rigby

Luke Podmore

Andrew Presho

Prince-Isaac Heywood

Ant Whelan

Joe Armstong

Todd Blayney

Warren Gaskin

George Lomax

Jake Pollard

Edward Pegler

Samuel Scott

Andy Gillespie

Ruben Abreu

Ellis Mavers

Adam Kay

Daniel Greene

Chris Sherrington

Alex Gillespie

Andy Mottershead

Jack Marshall

MasonDunkley-Hemlin

Sam Rawsthorne

Mitchell Andrew

Matthew Davidson

Jamie Kay

David Jones

Andy Graham

Managers: Alan Gillespie and Nick Matthews

Gls Y R

Manager: Calum Sykes Assistant: Gareth Cross

Referee: Mr M Hughes (Preston) Assistants: Mr P Howarth (Bolton) & Mr A Waring (Swinton)

Match Sponsor

A180 DARTS

1A Folds Lane, St Helens WA11 9NB www.a180.co.uk Match Ball Sponsors

Next Home Game: Tues 12th April 2016, 8.00pm Town v Hanley Town NWCFL Division One Adults £5, Concessions £3 U16s £1, U12s FREE*

Good evening and welcome to Brocstedes Park for this North West Counties League, First Division contest against Stockport Town. 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. Before I get on to on field matters it was with great sadness that the club learnt on Tuesday morning that club stalwart and (until recent ill health prevented) long time attendee of Town games Eric Bond had passed above on Monday evening. I can recall many a long conversation with Eric as we put the world both football and non-football to rights and a more pleasant man you are never likely meet. Eric was also good for a bit of tactical analysis and quite often you’d get a few “they wouldn’t have done that in my day” off Eric especially when it came to the more gentile nature of tackles and associated theatrics these days than those in the much rougher era of his career which I’m sure you will read more of later in this issue. Eric was not just a man who gave plenty to St Helens Town, he was also a massive contributor to the grassroots game in St Helens, Merseyside and beyond with commitments on the St Helens Combination League which until recently always saw him skip out of games after a quick brew during the half time interval to record and collate the afternoons scores and midweek games also saw him leave before the final whistle to pick up his wife at the end of her bingo session which just epitomised the selfless nature of Eric for me. He also sat on many various committees for the Liverpool County FA from where he was able to impart his wealth of knowledge and experience in the game. He will be a massive loss to the Merseyside footballing community and my condolences to his wife and family at this sad time. Moving onto on-field matters which I know Eric would approve of we have been on a long road trip since we last played here at Brocstedes Park almost 6 weeks ago when after being 2-0 through Hamish Falconer and Andy Gillespie we lost 3-2 for the second home game in a row. After a postponement at Bacup and the Hanley & Whitchurch home games being called off due to the damage to the Brocstedes Park pitch a hastily slotted in game at Atherton LR saw us run out 4-1 winner a quick start saw us 3-0 up after 13 minutes from two own goals and George Lomax before LR pulled one back and Sam Sheen rounded off the scoring. The following week saw up venture to Hanley and Ellis Mavers put us a goal up just after the half hour only for the hosts to quickly level and net again midway through the second half to secure the points in a game that we should have at least got a point out of. Next up was the shorter trip to Widnes and another quick start saw Lomax and Gillespie put Town 2-0 after 20 minutes only for a Widnes reply soon after the restart to make the remainder of the game nervous as we held out to win 2-1. Our longest trip in the league was to follow as we took the trip up to Barrow -in-Furness on a Tuesday evening and the 90 mile trip slowed our start down as we didn’t open the scoring until the 25th minute Mavers netting direct from a corner, Eddie Pegler doubled the lead before Gillespie sent the visitors into the break 3-0 up. Lomax and Ste Rigby made it 5-0 to Town against some commentators pick for an automatic promotion place and the cleansheet was preserved when Matty Hodge pulled of an exceptional penalty save late in the contest. We then visited Bacup and ran up a 3-0 lead after just 12 minutes through goals from Rigby and a Gillespie brace. Bacup pulled one back before the game was to change on a very debatable refereeing decision as Adam Lawrence was sent off for denying an “obvious goalscoring opportunity” on the left wing with covering defendering in behind him and the numerical advantage allowed Bacup to earn a share of the spoils. We then bounced back with a 5-0 win at Whitchurch Alport with goals from Aaron Morris, Lomax, Rigby, debutant Shaun Brady & skipper Gillespie. We then had a false start on Easter Monday with a late postponement here at Brocstedes Park against near neighbours Ashton Town a game now rearranged for Tuesday 19th April. On Saturday we took the trip to Silver Street to take on 2nd placed Irlam who were also 2nd in the form table against Town who sat in 3rd in the form table. Irlam became only the second team to stop us scoring this season (the first ironically being this evenings visitors) with an excellent defensive display probably the best I have seen this season which limited the visitors to very few chances and a goal in each half was enough to secure the three points for the Manchester outfit as they reinforced their grip on 2nd place in the table and closed the gap on leaders Hanley Town. This evenings visitors have been frustrated in their last couple of attempts to complete a game after the 1-0 home win over Hanley the midweek game at Northwich was abandoned due to a serious injury to Stockport skipper Sam Scott & Saturdays game at Rochdale fell foul of the weather. Lets get behind Town and hopefully cheer them on to victory! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller

Founded in February 2014 and based at Stockport Sports Village, the club began with ambitious aims to begin life in the football league at Step 6. Most teams begin life at Step 7. 12 months ago however, Stockport Town suffered a setback in their plans after being unsuccessful in applying for the league. After positive meetings, the FA told Stockport Town they were not convinced that the club met the required standards for a new club attempting to join the North West Counties. Despite this, the club board were convinced that a year of development would only benefit Stockport’s application chances. And so on the 29th April 2015, 3 of the club’s representatives travelled down to Wembley to meet with the Leagues’ Committee. They highlighted how the club had been successfully run over the past year, with encouraging results against some high profile clubs from the region. Thursday 14th May 2015 will always be a historic day for Stockport Town Football Club, with news reaching the team late that evening the club’s place in the league for the 2015/16 season was confirmed. The Division One newcomers have had an excellent season and currently sit in the play off places (5th) with 46 points from 26 games. They arrive at Brocstedes Park with four wins in their last five outings with wins over Cheadle Town (0-1), Ashton Town (0-1), Rochdale Town (4-1) and league leaders Hanley Town (1-0). Their only ‘defeat’ in recent games came in the semi-final of the Reusch First Division Cup when they bowed out to Barnton on penalties after a 0-0 extra time draw. The same team had previously knocked them out of the Men United Cup (1-3). The two teams met at Stockport Sports Village in mid-October and the Lions ran out comfortable 3-0 winners with goals from Brooks, Scott and Mills. Stockport’s biggest home win of the season came against Eccleshall (6-0) in February while away from home the ran up their biggest score at Whitchurch with a 0-4 victory back in November. They suffered a surprise 6-1 at Widnes in the battle of the synthetic pitches last October and at home Irlam were 0-3 winner in what was the Lions biggest home loss of the season to date. After tonight’s fixture Stockport have seven games remaining with only Daisy Hill at home and six away trips to Northwich Manchester Villa, Eccleshall, Chadderton, Holker Old Boys, Whitchurch Alport and Rochdale Town.

Stockport Town 3-0 Town NWCFL Division One Saturday 17th October 2015

Good evening and a very warm welcome to Brocstedes Park for this NWCFL First Division meeting with Stockport Town. Let’s hope their players, officials and supporters have had a safe journey and along with our own support are treated to an entertaining encounter. I’d like to thanks today’s match sponsors Karl Holden from A180 Darts and our match ball sponsors local band Invisible Heroes and we welcome Dave Wiggins and guests and thank them for their continued support. We are still on the look out for one or two final sponsors for this season - please contact me on 07713 339 682 for more information. The full details of next season’s sponsor packages ae now on our website. We’ve had an extended period of away games and today is only our second home fixture of 2016. As a consequence we will finish the season with a glut of games here at Brocstedes Park, something we must make full advantage of if we are going to secure a play-off spot. Of course there are a number of teams, including today’s visitors, who will be hoping to do the same!

Saturday’s trip to Irlam ended in disappointment, losing 2-0, as our hosts showed why they are pushing for an automatic promotion place. Tonight is another tough encounter and we will need to be at our best to overcome a strong Stockport side and avenge the 3-0 reverse at Lambeth Grove earlier in the season. We recently had the very sad news of the death of club Trustee Eric Bond and I’d like to offer our sincere condolences to Eric’s wife Marion, daughter Karina and their extended family. A minutes silence will be held prior to tonight’s game. Enjoy the game and let’s hope the lads can pick up three points . . . John McKiernan Chairman, St Helens Town AFC

Sturdy St Helens hang on for another away victory by Kieran Ford A healthy crowd of 112 witnessed a first half that was largely controlled by the away side, and, similar to a recent away trip to Atherton LR, Town turned their sustained pressure in the opening 20 minutes into goals. St Helens took the lead 9 minutes into the game as right midfielder Daniel Greene swung in a ball towards Town’s two strikers for the day, Andy Gillespie and George Lomax. The two men in form did the rest as Gillespie won the aerial flick on to find Lomax at the far post, who brought the ball down and had the composure to find the far corner past Widnes keeper Ben Morrow. Town’s second came 10 minutes after their first, with their danger from set pieces again coming to fruition. A hopeful free kick into the area from Greene was won in the air by Gillespie. His header squirmed through the opposition goalkeeper to compound a miserable opening 20 minutes for the home side who found themselves having to overturn a 2 goal deficit. After the second goal went in, it was clear to see that the away side were playing with a confidence not seen in a while by St Helens Town fans. They kept their opponents guessing either by using the midfield partnership of Sheen and Pegler to pass their way through the defence or by looking over the top for strikers Gillespie and Lomax to latch on to. However, Widnes did show glimpses of being a danger on the counter through centre forward Tunde Owolabi who was a thorn in the away defence’s side all day, but his pace and power could hardly be utilised as St Helens rarely let Widnes get out of their own half. This continued to be the trend until half time, as the Saints returned to the dressing room two goals to the good. There must have been some inspiring words from Widnes Manager Steve Hill at half time, as the home team retreated for the second half with a lot more confidence. There was a change in attitude by both sides however, as St Helens decided to sit on their lead and soak up pressure from the home side, in an attempt to increase their lead through Gillespie or Lomax on the counter attack. As a result of this, the home side started to have a lot more of the ball in the St Helens half, however could not create the possession into many chances until the 54th minute. A hopeful ball was sent into the Town box, and after some aerial ping pong, the ball was headed in by half time substitute Antoine Recizac past a motionless Matthew Hodge to give the home side a chance heading into the last 30 minutes. The home side’s inability to create attempts on goal haunted them as Town arguably created the best chances of the half. This is a testament to the defence of Morris, Marshall, Lawrence and Presho who defended admirably to prevent the dangerous attackers of Windes troubling Hodge between the sticks. Town ultimately held on after a few risky moments in the closing moments of the game to gain a valuable 3 points away from home. FT: Widnes FC 1-2 St Helens Town (George Lomax 9, Andy Gillsepie 19) Pictured Left: Town ‘keeper Matty Hodge being presented with his Reusch sponsored Goalkeeper of the Month award for January 2016

Widnes 1-2 Town NWCFL Division One Saturday 12th March 2016

Padiham - Storks captain Martin Parkes made his 375th appearance for the club at Winsford United last Saturday, and celebrated the milestone with the first goal in Padiham's 4-1 win. Cammell Laird 1907 are inviting applications for the position of first team manager for next season. The current manager Tony Sullivan will be stepping down at the end of the season, and the club have decided to start the recruitment process immediately. Lairds Chairman Frank Games explained: "Tony Sullivan was brought in to the club until the end of the season, following the departure of Paul McNally in midseason. Tony wants to seek other opportunities next season, and everyone at the club would like to thank him for his work since he arrived". Eccleshall - the club will be playing its part in the Eccleshall Town Festival week from 18th - 25th June. They will be running a car boot sale, arranging events at the ground and and also having a stall on the final day of the festival at a Victorian Street Market in the town. Irlam - the club's Under 21 side clinched a place in the final of the Richie Bentley Cup, competed for by teams in the Cheshire Under 21s Premier League. They beat Stockport Town 8-2 in a game played at the Cheshire FA headquarters, and now face Southport Youth in the final at Altrincham's Moss Lane on Tuesday 26th April. On form for 1874 1874 Northwich's 7-0 win at Padiham on Saturday was the club's record away win, and the game also demonstrated once again the striking prowess of in-form front man Matthew Beadle. The striker scored five of his side's seven goals, continuing his impressive run of goalscoring form which has seen him hit the back of the net in six of the Greens last seven games. With plenty of games still to play, forthcoming opponents will no doubt be wary of facing a striker in such a red hot run of form.

Hello everybody and welcome back to Brocstedes Park for tonight's game against promotion contenders Stockport Town. After Saturday's defeat at Irlam we are definitely looking to get back to winning ways tonight in what is only our 2nd home fixture in 2016 ! I am sure we can expect another very tough game tonight against Stockport we were well beaten back in October on their 3G pitch back in what was probably one of our poorest displays of the season. Our squad has been completely revamped since then so it will be interesting to see how we do tonight hopefully a lot better ! The team had been in such good form prior to Saturday's reverse at Irlam with 5-0 away wins at Holker and Whitchurch and a hard fought draw at Bacup which makes Saturday's flat performance very disappointing and hard to explain so we will definitely be expecting a big response from the team tonight. Behind the scenes we have unfortunately lost both centre back Hamish Faulkner and forward Connor Murphy for the rest of the season through injury but we are hoping to get Sam Sheen and Jay McDevitt fit and available again soon. Adam Lawrence is also back available tonight as well after serving a one match ban for his very dubious sending off at Bacup. With 8 league games left to play in April the chase is really hotting up for the 3 promotion places and whilst the 2 automatic places are beyond us now a place in the play offs is still very much a possibility so there is still everything play for. A special mention to Sam Scott who suffered a serious injury recently in Stockport's game v Northwich MV. Sam is a key player for Stockport and we wish him a speedy recovery Enjoy the game Alan Gillespie 1st Team Joint Manager

Manager Alan Gillespie and Nick Matthews collecting the Club of the Month award from NWCFL Vice Chairman Geoff Wilkinson

Barnton player-manager Danny Meadowcroft says that his side will now be turning their attention back on collecting league points, after clinching a place in the final of the Reusch First Division Challenge Trophy last Saturday. In just his fifth game in charge, Danny steered his side to a penalty shoot out win over Stockport Town, after the sides were tied at 0-0 after extra time, and the Villagers now face some important league fixtures before they face Hanley Town in the final on April 19th. But for now, Danny is pleased that his side came through Saturday's game, which provided excellent entertainment for the watching spectators. "It was a good game, even though it was 0-0 there were chances", he said. "Defences cancelled each other out and there were no costly mistakes at the back which can quite often happen at this level and cost games.

"It was surprising the game was a goalless draw, especially when you have got two of the top four teams in the league, and two of the leading goalscorers in the league were playing too. The way we started it just wasn't us, and I had a word at half time and told the lads they needed to improve. "I thought in the second half, we grew into the game but when extra time came and we had chance after chance I was thinking that these were good chances and we just couldn't seem to find the net. Then the penalties came, and it becomes a lottery then. But we've done it now, and we can wait until the final before we think about it, because that is in the distance. "It's a really good cup tie, having Hanley in the final. They have not been at the top of the league all season for nothing, they are a good team with probably the best striker in the league. "They beat us twice, 1-0 both times, so I think we owe them one and have got a bit of revenge to dish out, and it would be nice to do it in a cup final". But for now, attention turns to league matters, and having been pushed out of one of the automatice promotion positions on Saturday while in cup action, due to Irlam's win over Litherland REMYCA, Danny is looking for his side to react positively to the challenge of clinching a promotion place.

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

Opponents

Match Sponsor

Match Ball Sponsor

Tue 11/08/15

Atherton LR

PC Problems St Helens

John Cahill

Sat 22/08/15

Irlam

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Mike Cole Web Design

Sat 29/08/15

Rochdale Town

Wheel Pro - Alloy Wheel Repairs & Refurbishment

Anthony Hall - Exiled Geordie on Merseyside

Sat 12/09/15

Barnton

Toast Café, St Helens

LM Travel

Sat 19/09/15

Cheadle Town

Paul Pritchard

The Cowley Vaults

Sat 10/10/15

Chadderton

KA Davies Electrical

Conor McGinn MP

Tue 13/10/15

Widnes

Rylance Fishmongers

David O’Keefe & Gary Shaw

Sat 24/10/15

Holker Old Boys

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Britannia Taxis

Sat 21/11/15

Daisy Hill

CelebLook Ladies & Girls Fashion

Kiera’s Occasions Venue Dressing & Balloons

Sat 19/12/15

Eccleshall

ODs Designer Clothing

Action Coach NW

Tue 16/02/16

Litherland REMYCA

Kiera’s Occasions Venue Dressing & Balloons

Danny’s Window Cleaning

Tue 05/04/16

Stockport Town

A180 Darts

Invisible Heroes

Tue 12/04/16

Hanley Town

Stillia

Action Coach NW

Michael Allison

Wilf Marshall & Finding Furever Homes

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Airborne Bathroom Services

Sat 16/04/16 Northwich Man Villa Tue 19/04/16

Ashton Town

Sat 23/04/16

Whitchurch Alport

Invisible Heroes

Wed 27/04/16

Bacup Borough

The Track King Stuart Pyke

Warrington Motors Man of the Match Awards Matty Lennon (v Irlam) and Graham McLoughlin (Rochdale) & Dave Dempsey (Cheadle T)

Warrington Motors Fiat and Nissan 201 Winwick Road, Warrington Cheshire WA2 7PE Telephone: 01925 669 401

Man of the Match Awards 2015-16 Town v Atherton LR Andy Gillespie/Dale Sealey Town v Irlam Matty Lennon Town v Rochdale Town Graham McLoughlin Town v Barnton Dale Sealey Town v Cheadle Town Dave Dempsey Town v Chadderton Adam Lawrence Town v Widnes Jack Marshall Town v Holker Old Boys Matthew Hodge Town v Daisy Hill George Lomax Town v Eccleshall Andy Gillespie Town v Litherland REMYCA Andy Gillespie

Warrington Motors Man of the Match v Eccleshall Andy Gillespie with Match Sponsors Ian Finney (Action Coach NW)

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.

Allan Wellens receiving the Lancs Combination Championship Trophy from Wesley Bridge in 1972

Alan went on to Town history with the club’s historic journey to Wembley in 1987 before he and the vast majority of the FA Vase winning side sought pastures new. 1987-92 Alan Aspinall (pictured opposite) took over the 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.

1992-93 Mick Holgate (left) 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 took over the managerial reigns. The end of the 2014-15 season culminated in relegation for Town and Ian Price had already informed the club of his intention to step down. U21s boss Alan Gillespie and Ian Price’s long time assistant Nick Matthews were promoted to the joint managers Nick Matthews Alan Gillespie position. Many thanks to Jim Barrett and Eric Bond for their input in compiling the information.

Date

Opponents

Comp

Result

Aug 08

Chadderton

NWCFL

3.00

1-3W

McLoughlin

Davidson

Kelly

A.Whelan

Sealey

Baines

AUG 11

ATHERTON LR

NWCFL

7.45

4-1W

Bradley

Davidson

Kelly

A.Whelan

Sealey

Baines

Aug 15

Maine Road

FAC EPR

3.00

2-1L

McLoughlin

Davidson

Marshall

Lennon

Sealey

A.Whelan

AUG 22

IRLAM

NWCFL

3.00

3-1W

Bradley

Davidson

Marshall

Lennon1

A.Whelan

Agbodjan1

AUG 29

ROCHDALE TOWN

NWCFL

3.00

2-3L

McLoughlin

Davidson

Marshall

Lennon

A.Whelan

Griffiths

Sep 05

Winterton Rangers

FAV 1QR

3.00

0-4W

McLoughlin

Davidson

Marshall

Lennon

Sealey

Begley

Sep 09

Litherland REMYCA

NWCFL

7.45

3-1L

McLoughlin

Davidson

Kelly

Lennon

Sealey

Begley

SEP 12

BARNTON

NWCFL

3.00

3-3D

McLoughlin

Davidson

Kelly

Gibson

Sealey

A.Whelan

Sep 15

Rochdale Town

NWCFL

7.45

3-1L

McLoughlin

Davidson

Marshall

Gibson

Sealey

A.Whelan

SEP 19

CHEADLE TOWN

NWCFL

3.00

2-2D

Bradley

Baines

Marshall

Gibson

Lennon

A.Whelan

Sep 26

Hanley Town

MUC 1R

3.00

4-1L

McLoughlin

A.Whelan

Rigby

Gibson

Lennon

Begley

Oct 03

Rochdale Town

FAV 2QR

3.00

6-2L

McLoughlin

Lawrence

Rigby

Garcia

Gibson

Begley

OCT 10

CHADDERTON

NWCFL

3.00

3-1W

Hawksworth

Lawrence

Marshall

A.Whelan

Gibson

Davies

OCT 13

WIDNES

NWCFL

7.45

3-2W

Hawksworth

Lawrence

Marshall

A.Whelan

Gibson

Davies

Oct 17

Stockport Town

NWCFL

3.00

3-0L

McLoughlin

Lawrence

Marshall

A.Whelan

Lennon

Twist

OCT 24

HOLKER OLD BOYS

NWCFL

3.00

1-3L

Hodge

Lawrence

Rigby

A.Whelan

Lennon

Pegler Davies

Oct 27

Bootle

LSC 1R

7.45

4-2L

Hodge

Davidson

Rigby

Lawrence

Pegler

Oct 31

Daisy Hill

NWCFL

3.00

1-2W

Hodge

Davidson

Rigby

Lawrence

Pegler

Baines

NOV 21

DAISY HILL

NWCFL

3.00

2-6L

Hodge

Davidson

Alex Gillespie

Lawrence

Pegler

Blayney

Dec 09

Chadderton

FDC 2R

7.45

6-3L#

Hodge

Davidson

Rigby

Lawrence

A.Whelan

Al Gillespie

DEC 19

ECCLESHALL

NWCFL

3.00

2-3L

Hodge

Presho

Rigby

Lawrence

Pegler

Blayney

Jan 09 Northwich Manchester Villa

NWCFL

3.00

0-1W

Hodge

Alex Gillespie

Rigby

Lawrence

Presho

A.Whelan

Jan 23

Eccleshall

NWCFL

3.00

0-3W

Hodge

Alex Gillespie

Marshall

Lawrence

Falconer

A.Whelan

Jan 30

Cheadle Town

NWCFL

3.00

1-2W

Hodge

Morris

Rigby

Lawrence

Falconer

A.Whelan

FEB 16

LITHERLAND REMCYA

NWCFL

7.45

2-3L

Hodge

Morris

Presho

Falconer1

Lawrence

A.Whelan

Feb 27

Atherton LR

NWCFL

3.00

1-4W*

Hodge

Morris

Presho

Lawrence

A.Whelan

Blayney

Mar 05

Hanley Town

NWCFL

3.00

2-1L

Hodge

Morris

Rigby

Lawrence

Presho

Blayney

Mar 12

Widnes

NWCFL

2.00

1-2W

Hodge

Morris

Marshall

Lawrence

Presho

Sheen

Mar 15

Holker Old Boys

NWCFL

8.00

0-5W

Hodge

Davidson

McDevitt

A.Whelan

Lawrence

Blayney

Mar 19

Bacup Borough

NWCFL

3.00

3-3D

Hodge

Davidson

Presho

Lawrence

A.Whelan

Blayney

Mar 26

Whitchurch Alport

NWCFL

3.00

0-5W

Hodge

Morris1

Rigby1

Presho

A.Whelan

Lawrence

2-0L

Hodge

Morris

Rigby

Presho

A.Whelan

Blayney

Apr 02

Irlam

NWCFL

3.00

APR 05

STOCKPORT TOWN

NWCFL

8.00

Apr 09

Ashton Town

NWCFL

3.00

APR 12

HANLEY TOWN

NWCFL

8.00

APR 16

NORTHWICH M.V.

NWCFL

3.00

APR 19

ASHTON TOWN

NWCFL

7.45

APR 23

WHITCHURCH ALPORT

NWCFL

3.00

APR 27

BACUP BOROUGH

NWCFL

7.45

Apr 30

Barnton

NWCFL

3.00

# - AET 3-3 @ Full Time * - 2 Own Goal @ Atherton LR 27/02/16

Name1

Player name and number of goals scored

Name

Player name and CAUTION

Name

Player name and DISMISSAL FOR 2 CAUTIONS

Name

Player name and DISMISSAL

Name10

Player name and number of replaced player

Lorde1

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie

Nwachukwu

Marshall1

D.Whelan

Duke10

Russell21

Perry11

Bradley

Lorde1

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie2

Nwachukwu

Marshall

Lennon

Russell11

Perry71

Duke10

McLoughlin

Baines

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie1

Lorde

Kelly

Perry10

Nwachukwu7

Duke

D.Whelan3

Bradley

Duke

Griffiths

Andy Gillespie1

Nwachukwu

Golding

Lorde6

Perry11

Rooney

Rigby10

McLoughlin

Perry

Du Toit1

Andy Gillespie1

Rigby

Agbodjan

Golding10

Lorde7

Nwachukwu

Duke11

Rooney

Twist

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie1

Nwachukwu

Rigby1

Perry91

Agbodjan111

Golding10

A.Whelan

Rooney

Twist1

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie

Nwachukwu

Marshall

Perry12

Gibson11

Golding

Baines10

Bradley

Du Toit

Baines

Andy Gillespie1

Twist

Rigby

Perry102

Duke

Lennon5

Begley

Golding11

Duke

Baines

Andy Gillespie1

Du Toit

Rigby

Perry11

Nwachukwu6

Golding

Lennon2

Bradley

Du Toit

Twist

Andy Gillespie2

Dempsey

Sealey

Perry8

Duke10

Rigby

Golding5

McLoughlin

Baines

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie

Gregson

Twist

Perry11

Golding81

Hoult

Duke6

Bradley

Baines

A.Whelan

Andy Gillespie1

Du Toit

Gregson1

Lennon8

Golding10

Hoult11

Graham

Bradley

Duke

Gregson1

Andy Gillespie1

Golding

Du Toit

Rigby10

Lennon

Perry71

Hoult

Twist8

Duke

Gregson

Andy Gillespie1

Golding1

Du Toit1

Rigby8

Lennon

Perry7

Hoult

Twist10

Duke

Du Toit

Andy Gillespie

Gregson

Golding

Rigby11

Baines8

Perry2

Hoult

Al Gillespie

Duke

Gregson

Andy Gillespie

Du Toit

Hoult1

Golding11

Baines

Davidson7

Twist6

Al Gillespie

Baines

Andy Gillespie1

Blayney

Hoult1

Du Toit7

A.Whelan11

Duke

Lennon6

Bradley

Al Gillespie

Blayney

Andy Gillespie

Du Toit2

Hoult

Golding10

A.Whelan

Duke8

Lennon

Perry11

Murphy

Morris

Andy Gillespie1

Lomax1

Rigby

A.Whelan2

Perry

Baines

Duke7

Du Toit8

Gregson1

Baines

Andy Gillespie1

Pegler1

Hoult

Woodhall7

Blayney

Marshall

Davies

Bradley10

Smith

Morris

Andy Gillespie2

Lomax

Greene

A.Whelan11

Davidson2

Baines7

Alex Gillespie

Bradley

Pegler1

Blayney

Andy Gillespie

Murphy

Greene

Lomax10

Baines7

Smith

Woodhall

Hoult11

Mavers

Sheen1

Andy Gillespie1

Murphy

Rigby

Greene3

Morris2

Davidson

Smith10

Mavers

Sheen

Andy Gillespie1

Greene

Murphy

Presho8

Alex Gillespie

Blayney

Smith

Lomax111

Lomax

Blayney

Andy Gillespie1

Sheen

Murphy7

Greene

Sheen1

Andy Gillespie

Lomax1

Pegler

Sheen

Mavers1

Andy Gillespie

Lomax

Pegler

Mavers

Andy Gillespie1

Lomax1

Greene

Lomax1

Pegler1

Andy Gillespie1

Mavers1

Greene

Lomax

Pegler

Andy Gillespie2

Greene

Pegler

Blayney

Andy Gillespie1

Lomax

Pegler

Andy Gillespie

Greene

Smith

Alex Gillespie

Rigby8

Mavers

Alex Gillespie

Rigby10

Smith8

Davidson7

Greene6

Alex Gillespie

Davidson8

Smith7

Blayney8

Alex Gillespie7

Davidson

Murphy11

Alex Gillespie6

Rigby91

Hoult7

Rigby1

Alex Gillespie7

Hoult10

McDevitt

Lomax1

Greene

Alex Gillespie11

Mavers

Brady101

Davidson2

Jones

Mavers

Greene

Alex Gillespie10

Marshall6

Rawsthorne

Davidson7

Jones

A.Whelan Jones Jones

Widnes

Whitchurch Alport

Stockport Town

St Helens Town

Rochdale Town

5-2 1-4 2-1 1-3 4-1 3-0

Irlam

3-1

1-4 1-2

Litherland REMYCA

0-2

0-1 2-2 2-1 2-1

Northwich Man Villa 0-2 3-0 0-2 3-3 2-0

4-3 0-3 1-6 5-0

4-1 11-1 0-1

1-3

1-2 1-2 0-3

2-2 2-3 2-0

2-2

4-1

6-0

2-0 4-3

0-3 1-3 0-3 0-4 1-3 2-3 2-4 1-2 2-1 4-3 4-2

Holker Old Boys

Rochdale Town

1-0 1-2 2-1 7-1

1-1 1-1

1-1 3-6 1-3

St Helens Town

2-1 4-2 9-2 3-3 1-1

4-0 4-2 1-2 2-2 1-2 2-4 1-1 0-3 1-2 0-1 5-3

3-0 1-6 3-0

3-0 1-0 1-0

Northwich M Villa

2-2 3-2 0-1

Litherland REMYCA

Eccleshall

Widnes

Irlam

0-4

1-2 1-2 0-3

0-0 3-2 2-0 1-1 1-4

0-2 1-0

3-1 0-5

3-1 1-2 0-0 4.3 1-2 0-5

8-0 3-1

3-1 3-0 4-0 2-0 1-0 5-1 4-1

0-5 0-2

1-1

4-1 2-2 3-1 1-2 1-0 1-0

2-2 4-3 1-3 1-2 1-3 2-1

1-1 2-0 1-3 4-3 0-3 2-1

3-3 3-1 2-2 2-6 2-3

2-1 4-0 3-2 0-2 2-0 3-5

Whitchurch Alport

Holker Old Boys

0-1 5-1 1-1

0-1 5-0

0-2 0-3 2-1 1-4 0-0

2-1

1-2 0-0 1-1 0-1

6-0 0-0

Daisy Hill

Stockport Town

Hanley Town

Eccleshall

Daisy Hill

0-1 5-5

1-2 10-1 3-0

Hanley Town

4-3 0-1 2-2 0-1 1-4 5-1 3-2

0-4 0-6 3-1 1-4 0-3 1-1 1-3 3-2

3-0 2-0

Chadderton Cheadle Town

2-3 4-0 3-2

2-3

Barnton

Cheadle Town

1-1

Bacup Borough

Chadderton

0-0

Barnton

Atherton LR

Bacup Borough

Ashton Town

Atherton LR

Ashton Town

North West Counties Football League Division One Season 2015-16 Sat 02/04/16

1-3 3-1 2-3

6-0 1-0

0-1

1-1 2-3

3-1

5-1

2-3

3-2

0-3 2-2 2-1 3-1 3-0

4-1 2-2

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

3-3

2-3 4-1 5-2 1-3 0-2 1-1 2-1

1-3 1-2 1-2

2-3 1-1 1-2 6-1 3-3

St Helens Town AFC - Player Records 1946-2015 Goals in a career 216 Steve Pennington 118 Terry Garner 108 Gary Laird 105 Lee Cooper 101 Glenn Walker 94 Iain Dyson 83 Harry McCann 81 Ray Fairweather 72 Arthur Tyrer 68 Phil Stainton 63 Mervyn Bull

Goals in a season 47 Phil Stainton 1963/64 46 Steve Pennington 1997/98 45 Jackie Kendrick 1973/74 45 Steve Pennington 1993/94 40 Bob Potter 1952/53 38 Terry Fearns 2000/01 36 Albert Leadbetter 1950/51 35 Arthur Tyrer 1957/58 34 Lee Cooper 2001/02 33 Ronnie Rigby 1952/53 32 Harry McCann 1950/51 31 Terry Garner 1950/51

Career Appearances (Qualification 250 games) 448 Alan Wellens (inc. 207 estimated) 359 John Critchley (16 est.) 352 Steve Pennington 346 Gary Lowe (1 est.) 345 Glenn Walker 327 Jackie Atherton (122 est.) 300 Jackie Cooke (1 est.) 287 Gary Laird 280 Kevin Grice (147 est.) 278 Jimmy Woodyer (67 est.) 276 Iain Dyson 272 Ray Fairweather (3 est.) 265 Larry Redmond (134 est.)

ST. HELENS TOWN AFC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A STATISTICAL HISTORY by Glyn Jones Part 65 - Season 2011-12 North West Counties League Ramsbottom United Runcorn Town Bootle Barnoldswick Town Runcorn Linnets Glossop North End Winsford United Colne AFC Blackpool Flixton Congleton Town Silsden Alsager Town Ashton Athletic Padiham Squires Gate Bacup Borough (-3) Maine Road AFC Liverpool Stone Dominoes St. Helens Town Atherton L.R. Opponents AFC Blackpool AFC Liverpool Alsager Town Ashton Athletic Atherton L.R. Bacup Borough Barnoldswick Town Bootle Colne Congleton Town Flixton Glossop North End Maine Road Padiham Ramsbottom United Runcorn Linnets Runcorn Town Silsden Squires Gate Stone Dominoes Winsford United

P 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 Home Oct 22 Aug 16 Feb 28 May 4 Jan 2 Mar 3 Mar 20 Aug 30 Apr 3 Mar 10 Aug 27 Oct 8 Apr 21 Sep 10 Aug 6 Feb 21 Nov 12 Nov 26 Nov 22 Oct 4 Sep 3

W 31 29 24 26 22 22 21 19 17 18 18 16 16 15 14 14 15 13 13 10 6 5

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

L 8 8 5 11 10 13 15 19 15 19 19 17 17 21 19 20 20 20 23 26 28 31

F 108 111 87 73 70 76 88 68 67 69 56 59 63 70 51 74 59 58 60 39 50 36 Away Jan 21 Nov 2 Nov 5 Dec 26 Aug 9 Apr 16 Oct 15 Nov 8 Aug 13 Oct 1 Sep 17 Apr 7 Nov 19 Mar 24 Apr 14 Mar 17 Sep 5 Apr 28 Sep 13 Aug 23 Jan 7

A 43 49 43 38 62 42 69 60 64 68 64 59 65 80 65 89 77 69 73 92 105 116

Pts 96 92 85 83 76 73 69 61 61 59 59 57 57 51 51 50 49 48 45 36 26 21

Result Drew 2-2 Drew 2-2 Lost 2-3 Lost 0-4 Drew 0-0 Lost 2-3 Lost 0-4 Lost 1-5 Won 2-1 Lost 0-1 Lost 0-1 Lost 0-3 Lost 1-2 Lost 1-3 Lost 0-5 Lost 0-1 Lost 2-4 Drew 1-1 Lost 1-6 Lost 1-2 Lost 0-1

FA CUP ATHERTON L.R. FA VASE Sep 24 Squires Gate LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP Oct 29 Silsden Feb 18 Bootle LIVERPOOL SENIOR CUP Sep 20 Ashton Town Nov 15 EVERTON

Extra-Preliminary

Aug 20

2nd Rd. Qualifying 2nd Round 3rd Round 1st Round Quarter Final

Home

Lost

0-2

Away

Lost

0-1

Away Away

Won Lost

1-0 1-4

Away Home

Won Lost

4-2 1-2

Player

App

Sub

Total

Goals

Player

App

Sub

Total

Addison, Carl

Johnson, Liam

Aldridge, Karl

Johnson, Matthew

Baker, Scott

Johnson, Phil

Berry, Dave

Kavanagh, Mike

Birch, Peter

Kidd, Morgan

Larner, Jamie

Ledger, Andy

Luby, Chris

McKeegan, Shaun

McLoughlin, Nick

Michalopoulos, Andy

Morgan, Che

Bold, Ian

Brinksman, Chris

Brown, Karl

Bryan, Matthew

Burns, Mike

Butorins, Artjoms

Clarke, Danny

Corrie, Dylan

Cowderoy, Richard

Dunne, Anthony

Dyson, Iain

Edwards, Jamie

Fletcher, Gareth

Flood, Andy

Frazer, Ian

Gardner, James

Goals

Murray, Neil

Newbrook, Dale

Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, Stephen

Olsen, Andy

Owens, Lee

Quirk, Colin

Rice, David

Roby, Ian

Gillespie, Andy

Smith, Ian

Glover, Allan

Smith, Robbie

Thompson, Ste

Hand, Danny

Hansard, Anthony

Webb, James

Hatton, Brian

Williams, Leon

Jackson, Nick

Totals

528

125

653

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 7 th May 1949. Crowds averaged over 2000 that season, peaking with a league record attendance of 3102 against Burscough Tommy O’Neil in October 1948. Wembley,1987 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 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 their ambitions, it moved to the former St. Helens Recs. 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 Karl Ledsham is now playing his football at Conference level, initially with Southport, then at Lincoln City. 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

St Helens Town 1948

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 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. This season is a momentous one for St. Helens Town: not only do they have to fight to regain their Premier Division status, but also they are looking to return to a new base, back in the town at Ruskin Drive. The Hoghton Road facilities had fallen into disrepair and the site was sold for housing in 2002, Town having gone into partnership with Saints Rugby League club, groundsharing at the old Knowsley Road ground for 10 years, but the intended relocation to the new Langtree Park ground did not materialise and the club embarked on a nomadic existence, first at Ashton Town, now at Ashton Athletic. Construction work at the Council-owned multisports facility at Ruskin Drive has been delayed, but is now under way and Town are looking to move in at the start of the 2016-17 season, hopefully back in the Premier Division.

Club Honours: 1949 George Mahon Trophy Winners 1951 Lancs Comb Division 2 Champions 1972 Lancs Combination Champions 1973 Bass Charrington Cup Winners 1974 Watson Trophy Winners 1978 St Helens Hospital Cup Winners 1979 St Helens Comb Div 1 Runners Up 1979 St Helens Hospital Cup Runners Up 1980 St Helens Comb Div 1 Champions 1985 NWCFL Reserve Div 2 Runners Up 1986 NWCFL Reserve Div 1 Runners Up 1987 FA Vase Winners (Wembley) 1994 League Challenge Cup Finalists 1994 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1995 NWCFL Reserve Division Champions 1996 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1998 Floodlit Trophy Finalists 1999 REALCO Fair Play Award Winners 2009 Bert Trautmann Trophy Winners 2014-15 South Lancs League U17s Cup Finalists 2014-15 Cheshire FA U21 League Champions Record Appearances: Alan Wellens (448) Record Goal Scorer: Steve Pennington (216) Record Attendances: 3012 at Hoghton Road v Burscough (1948) 8000 at Hoghton Road v Man City (1950) 1723 at Knowsley Rd v FC Utd Manchester (2006) 9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (1949) Programme Awards 1993-94 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1995-96 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1997-98 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1998-99 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1999-00 NWCFL Programme of the Year 2000-01 NWCFL Programme of the Year 2009-10 NWCFL Premier Division 2010-11 NWCFL Premier Division 2011-12 NWCFL Premier Division 2012-13 NWCFL Premier Division 2013-14 NWCFL Premier Division 2014-15 NWCFL Premier Division Wirral Programme Club National Survey 1996-97 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1997-98 NWCFL Programme of the Year 1998-99 NWCFL Programme of the Year Programme Monthly 2007-08 NWCFL Programme of the Year

Soccer Club Swap Shop National Awards 2010-11 Placed 28th 2011-12 Placed 8th 2012-13 Placed 7th 2013-14 Placed 8th 2014-15 Placed 5th NWCFL 2015 Awards Payer 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 1948 Alf Topping, Johnny Gaskell, Bill Twist, Bert Trautmann, Harry Critchley, George Fryer (Manager) Jack Bond, Amos Hughes, ‘Bronc’ Gregory, Bill Pheasant, Cliff Knowles

Mick Holgate collecting his Carling NWCFL Manager of the Month Award November 1992

Town manager Alan Wellens pictured with Saints’ Alex Murphy at St Helens Town Hall following the Wembley FA Vase win in April 1987

Irlam Produce Gold Medal Result at Silver Street by Kieran Ford In what could have been argued on paper as the “Match of the weekend”, pitting the two in form teams of the Division against each other, a hard fought battle was expected, with Irlam looking to avenge a 3-1 defeat to St Helens earlier in the season. After facing basement club Whitchurch Alport last Saturday, St Helens knew that a change in quality of opposition was forthcoming; as a result the 3-5-2 of last week was reverted back to the traditional 4-4-2 system. Ultimately, the home side, unbeaten in 9 games before today’s match, ran out victors, which was arguably a deserved result based on the run of play. Five of Town’s back six were maintained from last week’s victory, with Adam Lawrence missing out through suspension. This meant that he was replaced by Ellis Mavers in the midfield with this being the only change to last week’s line-up, as the reds dropped the star men from last week, Aaron Morris and Ste Rigby, to full back in an attempt to sure up the defence in order to combat the problematic Irlam attack. Over the past few games, St Helens have had a tendency to sit back and hit teams on the counter. This approach would, in theory, be perfect against the better quality of opposition In Irlam, and the home side did indeed start on top. However Town were rarely able to muster attacks due a combination of their defensive mistakes and high pressure from the home side. This meant that in the opening 20 minutes, Town could only create one meaningful opportunity with Andy Gillespie using his strength to hold off an Irlam defender but could only fire over. St Helens were dealt a hammer blow in the 39th minute when the hosts punished them for their inability to capitalise on an encouraging period of the game. Irlam left back Richard Peters was allowed to swing in a cross and found an unmarked Matthew Boland whose inventive volley into the far corner left Matt Hodge stranded on his goal line to send last month’s “Club of the Month” into the break a goal to the good. HT: Irlam (Boland, 39) 1-0 St Helens Town Town started the second half brightly, knowing that if they played to their best, a point or even a comeback victory wasn’t out of reach. They created two decent chances in the first five minutes of the restart with Danny Greene and Ellis Mavers shooting narrowly wide. Town’s positive start to the half caused Irlam problems but the side on course for automatic promotion stayed compact in defence to marshal out the strikers in red and white, Lomax and Gillespie. With an impressive display from Jacques Kphogmou ensuring this was the case. Former Town super sub Marcus Perry came on for the hosts looking to inflict damage to his former club similar to how he stole the show playing for the opposite team in the corresponding fixture. Perry looked lively but was well dealt with by St Helens substitute Jack Marshall. However, Marshall couldn’t stop Perry’s shot that struck the post only to fall to Jordan Southworth who fired in from a tight angle to extend Irlam’s advantage with 25 minutes to play.

Town will feel unlucky that they were beaten by the better team on the day, and could blame their inability to hit the target as a reason for drawing a blank in front of goal, but central midfielder Ed Pegler left the pitch on a sour note as he earned a second yellow card for an alleged elbow in stoppage time. FT: Irlam (Boland, 39) (Southworth, 66) 2-0 St Helens Town

Irlam 2-0 Town Saturday 2nd April 2016 NWCFL Division One

Q1. Which country has played in the most European Championship Finals matches (six) without a win? Q2. Which League Two team play their home matches at Brunton Park? Q3. Which legendary Milan striker has won the Capocannoniere as top scorer in Serie A the most times? Q4. Which is the only Paraguayan side to win the Copa Libertadores? Q5. Who is the only Pakistani international to have played in the Premier League? Q6. Which League of Ireland side play at the excellently named “Hunky Dorys Park”? Q7.

Which team conceded 106 goals last season in the Conference North the season after conceding 119 in the Conference Premier being relegated in both seasons? Q8. Which ground hosted Brighton’s home games from 1902 to 1997? Q9. Which League One club used to play at Gay Meadow? Q10. Which Premier League first does former Everton midfielder Robert Warzycha hold? Q11. Which team has reached three Scottish League Cup Finals without wining any? Q12. Which three players played every minute of the 2014-15 Premier League season? Q13. Which two teams appeared in the first FA Cup Final to be held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff? Q14. Which club have appeared in the most English top-flight seasons, 73 without ever winning the title? Q15. Which National League club play their home games at the Crabble Athletic Ground?

1) Poland 2) Carlisle United 3) Gunnar Nordahl (5 times) 4) Olimpia (1979, 90 & 02) 5) Zesh Rehman 6) Drogheda United 7) Hyde 8) The Goldstone Ground 9) Shrewsbury Town 10) First player from mainland Europe to score in the Premier League 11) Dunfermline Athletic in 1950, 92 & 06 12) John Terry, Aaron Creswell & Tom Heaton 13) Arsenal & Liverpool in 2001 14) Bolton Wanderers 15) Dover Athletic

Five Star Town Produce Their Best Result to Date by Kieran Ford The game’s opening 20 minutes was a very physical battle with a few choice words said between both sets of players which were accompanied by some late challenges. Once the game had “settled down” it was clear to see that the 4-4-2 played on Saturday vs. Widnes had been changed to a 4-3-3 to accommodate the difference in opposition. This meant that as a result Town conceded more possession than against Widnes but seeing as the whole team defended admirably as a whole during this period, aligned with tremendous work rate, the front 3 of Greene, Gillespie and Lomax could break at the opposition defence and their constant pressing became a thorn in the Holker side as the half wore on. This meant that the change in shape proved to be an intelligent tactical decision from managers Alan Gillespie and Nick Matthews. The breakthrough came after 25 minutes, with St Helens yet again gaining the upper hand over their opponent with the opening goal, as has been a trend in their games this year. A Town corner from Mavers on the right hand side was perfectly whipped in towards the near post, and seemed to be deceiving Holker goalkeeper, Ross Liddicott, an attempt to punch the ball away from the man between the sticks could only result in him helping the ball into the back of the net. Mavers claimed the goal, and Town claimed the lead.

10 minutes later was arguably the turning point of the game as the away side turned their 1 goal lead into a 3 goal advantage with two strikes in 4 minutes. The first was a goal of the season contender from Town centre midfielder Edward Pegler. As the ball dropped to him, in plenty of space around 35 yards out, the Town number 8 sent a dipping half volley into the top corner of the net, which took everyone in the ground by complete shock, but enhanced the team’s position in the game heading towards the break. Town’s third was sourced from the inform George Lomax, who surged at the Holker defence, evading their challenges on a barnstorming run. The right winger teed up who else than Town top goalscorer Andy Gillespie, who applied the finishing touches on a terrific passage of play from the away side to put Town in a commanding position heading into the half time interval. The second half was very much like the first, as the away side yet again were effective in absorbing the pressure from a frustrated Holker and looked menacing on the attack with Andy Gillespie, now on the right wing, tracking back and doubling up on their attackers on that side. Amongst the impressive Town defence was the debutant Jamie McDevitt, who slotted into the team well at left back as his confidence grew throughout the game. Town continued to add insult to injury for the visibly tired and anxious Holker outfit as another counter attack resulted from a long ball and a flick on to the speedster George Lomax, who latched onto the and slotted into the far corner to continue his impressive scoring run of 4 goals in 6 games. Four minutes later, Town added a fifth as Lomax, now the instigator of the breakaway, played in Steven Rigby from the left hand side, who applied a finish at the near post that was much like the away team’s performance on the night, confident, and intelligent. On 72 minutes, Holker were presented with the perfect opportunity to ruin Town’s hopes of a clean sheet as they were awarded a penalty for hand ball. However, Matthew Hodge hasn’t been named twice Goalkeeper of the Month for nothing, and duly saved the spot kick, much to the annoyance of the Holker faithful. FT: Holker Old Boys 0-5 St Helens Town (Mavers, 25) (Pegler, 36) (Gillespie, 38) (Lomax, 65) (Rigby, 68)

Hanley Town 2-1 Town NWCFL Division One Saturday 5th March 2016

TOWN’S PROMOTION PUSH CONTINUES by Glyn Jones Following on from their impressive 5-0 win at Holker Old Boys, St. Helens Town held out for a battling 3-3 draw against all the odds at Bacup on Saturday, to leave themselves on the very fringes of the promotion play-off places, still in eighth place, but hot on the heels on the three teams just above them, all of whom have played more games and who are now within striking distance with the Easter weekend fixtures on the horizon. The fine form continued in the early stages at West View on Saturday, where St. Helens raced into a 3-0 lead, Rigby latching on to a Danny Greene cross in the fifth minute before Andy Gillespie scored twice in the 7th and 12th minutes to stretch the advantage. His first goal came as a result of a break when he took on two defenders and then hit a wonderfully placed shot from a tight angle past home keeper Peter Monteith which went in off the far post. His second came from a cross on the right which ricocheted off a defender’s hand on to Rigby and Gillespie was sharp enough to bury the rebound to notch up his quarter century of goals for the season. Bacup pulled a goal back after 26 minutes through Matthew Barlow who headed a cross just out of Hodge’s reach, over his head and into the net. With Town still in control at 3-1, the game turned on its head on the half hour, when the referee dismissed Town centre back Adam Lawrence for a clumsy challenge on Bacup’s Anthony Hall. Hall was actually moving away from goal at the time of the tackle, so the red card appeared unwarranted for a player who has given no trouble for Town since he made his debut back in September. It was the first of a series of controversial decisions from the referee, who upset both sides during the course of the match and which left Town a man short for 70 minutes.

George Lomax had a glorious chance to restore Town’s three goal advantage shortly before the interval, but his shot went inches wide of the far post with Monteith beaten. Just after that, Bacup pulled another goal back, again through Barlow and the teams went in at half-time with Town leading 3-2. The second-half was, for the most part, a very tense affair, punctuated by a series of questionable refereeing decisions, four of which left St. Helens at a disadvantage. In one such incident Lomax, who had been a constant thorn in the Bacup side throughout the game, was elbowed in the face by an opponent, which drew no card, but the Town player had to leave the field soon afterwards. Then Andy Gillespie was bundled over at the edge of the penalty area, again no action taken against the offender and Town were denied a penalty shout when Rigby was clearly felled from behind, although on this occasion, the incident may not have been seen by any of the officials. With 22 minutes left, however, the home side were awarded a disputed penalty, which was dispatched by Barlow, to level the scores at 3-3, after which both sides still had chances to win the game. Matt Davidson cleared the ball off his line to save a certain Bacup goal and Hodge produced a number of important saves, including a double save in the closing minute whilst, at the other end, Todd Blayney, seizing on to a deflected shot, very nearly scored the winning goal for Town, which Monteith was very fortunate to get a hand to. It was one of those days when all the Town players fought to a man to rescue a point which, in the circumstances felt almost as good as a win and keeps the team very much on course for a rousing finish to the season.

at St Helens Town NWC-D1

Previous Meetings 2000-01

at Stockport Town N/A

NWC-D1

2001-02

N/A

2002-03

N/A

St Helens Town - last 6 matches All Competitions Home

Most recent

Away

NWC-D1

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NWC-D1

2003-04

N/A

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2004-05

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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

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2011-12

N/A

NWC-PD

2012-13

N/A

NWC-PD

2013-14

N/A

NWC-PD

2014-15

N/A

16/01/2016

2015-16

17/10; 0-3

Stockport Town - last 6 matches All Competitions

Most recent

Home

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Collated

St Helens Town games since...

Stockport Town games since...

All Competitions

Clean sheet

Goal Scored

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No score draw

St Helens Town Scores First

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Games Played

St Helens Town Wins

Draws

Stockport Town Wins

St Helens Town Goals

Stockport Town Goals

Percentage Town Wins

0.00

Previous Meetings All Competitions P

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-3

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-3

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Bacup Borough 3-3 Town NWCFL Division One Saturday 19th March 2016

CrowdScores, the social football scores network, has announced that it will be the first-ever company to provide coverage of the North West Counties Football League within a live-scores mobile application. This will allow fans of the North West Counties to receive not only immediate goal notifications across the league, but also the platform to engage in conversation with other fans of the competition within the app. As a company that sources its football data from its community of users, this provides the perfect opportunity for fans of the North West Counties Football League to report match events from the stadium to enable their fellow fans to keep track of their favourite team. This can give fans unprecedented and instant access directly from their mobile phone.

The CrowdScores CEO, David Walker, is enthusiastic about this new development: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are delighted to announce the inclusion of the North West Counties Football League in the CrowdScores app. CrowdScores aims to provide a live score service for fans at all levels of football and the addition of this unique service is an important step towards that goal.â&#x20AC;? Martin Fallon, Website Development Officer, added: "We all use Twitter on a matchday to see what else is going on around the league. The CrowdScores app takes this one stage further so that you can quickly glance to see what the current situation is at all games taking place that day. "Another great feature for me is the interactivity, where anybody who is in attendance at a match can sign up for free and update the rest of the league as soon as a goal is scored. From the trials that we have done so far, this is often quicker than Twitter as it is so easy to use! We will be trialling the service for the remainder of the season in the Premier Division, and will roll it out for all games next season if it proves a success. "You can download the App for free from the App Store for iPhone or Google Play for Android devices.

First Division Table as at Saturday 2nd April 2016 First Division

W D

A GD Pts

St Helens Town Player Sponsors 2015-16

Hanley Town

26 19

51 24 27 60

Matthew Hodge Leech Bedrooms & Kitchens

Irlam

27 18

57 23 34 58

Adam Lawrence Leech Bedrooms & Kitchens

Barnton

26 16

79 28 51 53

Matty Lennon Premier Parking Limited

Cheadle Town

29 13

76 51 25 46

Alex Gillespie Focus Windows & Doors Limited

Stockport Town

26 14 4

8 50 40 10 46

Holker Old Boys

25 13

Litherland REMYCA

29 13

10 51 45

St Helens Town

26 13 3 10 60 49 11 42

Bacup Borough

25 12

60 43 17 40

Ashton Town

24 11

49 34 15 38

Rochdale Town

27 11

12 52 65 -13 37

Northwich Man Villa 28 10

14 48 55 -7 34

28 10

14 48 65 -17 34

58 43 15 45 6

Daisy Hill

Chadderton

12 34 45 -11 28

Widnes

17 57 68 -11 26

Eccleshall

18 43 65 -22 22

Atherton LR

18 26 83 -57 17

Whitchurch Alport

10 19 30 103 -73 13

* points deducted for a breach of league rules

George Lomax Electrician’s Direct Todd Blaney Rob Thompson Auto Repairs Ste Rigby Airborne Bathroom Services Andy Gillespie Arcoframe Ant Whelan The Daily Grind Matty Davidson Kiera’s Occasions Charlie Duke Warrington Motors Jack Marshall Danny’s Window Cleaning Andy Presho Curtain Wizard North West Danny Greene Total Building Care David Baines SG Specialist Roofing Josh Hoult Gibney’s Jewellers Hamish Falconer Cornerstones Aaron Morris Kealshore Ltd Ed Peglar North West Piling Ltd Alan Gillespie (Manager) Star Physio Nick Matthews (Manager) Foxwood Joinery

Premier Division Table as at Monday 4th April 2016 Premier Division

W D

A GD Pts

Runcorn Linnets

34 27

83 28 55 82

Colne

32 23

79 36 43 74

Atherton Collieries

33 22

96 49 47 72

1874 Northwich

32 19

73 51 22 62

West D & Chorlton

34 18

13 68 52 16 57

Congleton Town

32 16

Bootle

36 14

13 69 71 -2 51

Maine Road

36 15

17 67 69 -2 49

Runcorn Town

35 14

15 64 58

Cammell Laird 1907

34 13

14 64 65 -1 46

Abbey Hey

Barnoldswick Town

AFC Liverpool

Winsford United

36 12

15 59 80 -21 45

Ashton Athletic

30 11

10 46 42

Padiham

33 11

15 63 72 -9 40

Nelson

33 11

16 56 55

Squires Gate

18 44 76 -32 32

AFC Darwen

20 63 100 -37 28

AFC Blackpool

17 49 79 -30 26

Alsager Town

22 42 84 -42 26

Silsden

20 40 76 -36 23

63 48 15 55

34 12 10 12 54 56 -2 46 33 13

14 60 55

35 11 12 12 80 80

* points deducted for a breach of league rules

Tuesday 5th April 2016 Premier Division 1874 Northwich v Ashton Athletic Abbey Hey v Colne AFC Blackpool v Nelson Silsden v West Didsbury & Chorlton Division One Ashton Town v Daisy Hill Hanley Town v Chadderton Irlam v Atherton LR St Helens Town v Stockport Town Wednesday 6th April 2016 Premier Division AFC Darwen v Runcorn Linnets AFC Liverpool v Congleton Town Padiham v Alsager Town Division One Bacup Borough v Holker Old Boys Cheadle Town v Barnton Saturday 9th April 2016 Premier Division Abbey Hey v Silsden AFC Liverpool v Padiham Alsager Town v Atherton Collieries Ashton Athletic v Barnoldswick Town Cammell Laird 1907 v Congleton Town Colne v Runcorn Linnets Nelson v 1874 Northwich Runcorn Town v Maine Road West Dids & Chorlton v AFC Blackpool Winsford United v Squires Gate Division One Ashton Town v St Helens Town Atherton LR v Whitchurch Alport Bacup Borough v Eccleshall Chadderton v Barnton Hanley Town v Holker Old Boys Northwich Man Villa v Stockport Town Widnes v Litherland REMYCA Sunday 10th April 2016 Division One Rochdale Town v Cheadle Town