THE MARKSMAN Official match day programme of St Helens Town AFC
Monday 30th August 2021, KO 3.00pm
St Helens Town v South Liverpool
Charity Partner 2017-18
TALK OF THE TOWN Good Afternoon and welcome to Ruskin Drive for this North West Counties League, First Division North contest. I would like to open by welcoming our friends and visitors from South Liverpool, I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the game. With the print deadline for this issue having the same as the issue against Daisy Hill I am unable to report on how we fared on Saturday afternoon but I am sure you will be fully versed in how the afternoon played out from the usual club social media channels! At this stage in proceedings I have a duty of disclosure to make! Back in the mid to late 1980’s I used to enjoy frequenting Holly Park in Garston as a youngster from just up the road is Speke. The visits to South Liverpool were closer to home and the admission was much cheaper than a trip to Anfield to see Liverpool. I recall standing on the terraces and watching the game along with wondering when a ball was blazed over the fence at the far end of the ground, how the club got those stray balls back off the railway lines which ran into what was then Allerton station! South are probably responsible for my tenure at Town which will be reaching 20 years in December this year and I definitely got the bug for Non-League Football in those days as a youngster watching not just to matches but the characters both on the terraces and seeing the players in the clubhouse after the game amazed the younger versions of me! Even after South moved from Holly Park in 1990 I followed the teams results and they played in what to the 11 year old me was miles away in Bootle! South Liverpool still held a place in my conscious after the buildings & stands had been demolished and prior to the building of South Liverpool Parkway Station on the site I attended a birthday party at a nearby pub, which also doesn’t exist anymore and
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paid one last visit to the ground to relive the memories of those days watching South as a youth. The terraces were still in place as was the famous wall on the right hand side as you entered the ground adorned with the club badge and the words “South Liverpool FC” as in the picture of the 1986/7 team. Ironically the far left of the three men in the suits on the front row is Assistant Manager, Barry Whitbread was to be my PE teacher, at Speke Comprehensive for the first term of the 1990/91 school year my opening year in Senior School and he was subsequently replaced by another man with a football background in former Everton FC Youth Team Coach Graham Smith! The last time these two clubs played a competitive fixture was way back on 14th November 1989 when South visited Hoghton Road for a Liverpool Senior Cup tie and left St Helens after a 1-0 victory. We have to go even further back in the record books to find the last time the two clubs played a League fixture as this was 1st April 1968 when South Liverpool were again visitors to Hoghton Road this time in Lancashire Combination, Division One action. The visitors ran out 3-1 winners that day to complete the league double over Town in the last of the seven season, prior to this term that the two clubs competed at the same level. Indeed Town have an awful record against this afternoon’s visitors having won just four of the 23 contests between the two clubs and hopefully this poor run of form will be changing this afternoon! Let’s get behind Town this afternoon and hopefully cheer them on to victory! Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller
GOLDLINE LOTTERY
CLUB INFORMATION
As you may be aware a few years ago St Helens Town Football Club joined forces with Bolton Wanderers Football Club as a Goldline lottery partner and throughout that time we have had great success with both our members winning prizes and raising monies for the Club.
Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens
Now as we start to get back to some kind of normality we are asking for supporters, family and friends to become Goldline members which will provide the club with a valuable source of income which will help us to achieve a bright future for the players, staff and supporters of the club. In addition, you will have the chance to win up to £1000 weekly, so we could all be winners! As a lottery partner, St Helens Town Football Club receives 70p of your £1 weekly subscription. Therefore if we could get 100 members that’s £70 per week or £3640 per year which would be fantastic for us! As a Goldline member you will receive your membership card which includes your membership number, 10 sets of Goldline draw numbers. Your 10 sets of Goldline draw numbers will be entered into the Goldline draw every weekday for your chance of winning. 1x £1000, 1 x £500, 3 X £250 and 25 X £25 every week! That’s a £2875 prize pot 52 weeks of the year! Goldline pays out over £149,500 in prizes every year to members. No claim is necessary. Prizes will be sent automatically by post. Club Representative John McKiernan said, “In the current climate as all sports look to recover from the impact of Covid-19 and it’s repercussions, this income raised through the Goldline Lottery is crucial to the our club. If people are able to give up £1 a week to enter then we think this is a great way to support the club – but also give yourself a real chance of winning some cash too!” For more information on how you can join download the Goldline form from the club’s website, complete and return or email sthelenstownfc@hotmail.co.uk for further details.
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Vice Presidents: Jim Barrett, Steve Ball and David Watkins Hon. Secretary: Jeff Voller (07843 692695) Treasurer: Debra Voller Committee: John McKiernan, Jeff Voller, James Barrett, Steve Ball, Andy Langley, David O`Keefe, Stephen Lingard, Ashish Prabhu, David Watkins, Debbie Voller, Stacey Savage, David Morris, William Bowman and David Platt. Playing Staff: 1st Team Manager: David W Platt 1st Team Assistant Manager: David Potter Cheshire League Reserve Team Manager: TBC Liverpool County Prem Reserves: Darren Peers Sunday Team Manager: David J Platt U21s Team Manager: Luke Diggle U18s Team Manager: David Morris U18s Development Team Manager: James Kelly U16s Manager: Ian Woods U15s Manager: Dave Morris U11s Manager: Ashley Stone Main Club Sponsor: Prabhu Ventures Limited 1st Team Kit Sponsor: Unite the Union, St Helens Charity Partner: St Helens Mind Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company Company No. 04392840 Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002 Parent Company: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited Company Director: Jim Barrett Ground: Ruskin Sports Village, Ruskin Drive, Denton’s Green, St Helens WA10 6RP Website: sthelenstownafc.com Twitter: @sthelenstownfc Facebook: facebook.com/StHelensTownAFC Instagram: sthelenstownafc
NWCFL First Division North Steeton 1-1 St Helens Town Marley Stadium Saturday 21st August 2021
FROM THE MANAGER Welcome back, again, to Ruskin Drive. Our Fifth home game of the season and our eighth game overall. All played within the space of a month. My first thought today is to say thank you. Thank you to the players for turning out week after week. At our level of football this many games in close succession takes a toll on the body as we don't train and condition ourselves to professional standards. It also affects our personal and work lives, with lots of people giving up work shifts or family days out to play and we appreciate that commitment, particularly as we are one of the few clubs in the league without a playing budget. Thank you to the committee who, for all the reasons listed above deserve every credit for ensuring the club runs as smoothly as
possible and for giving up their time, not only for match day duties which is what everyone can see, but the hours managing budgets, registering players, organising fundraising events amongst the many, many things which take time out of their already busy lives. Thank you to my coaches who give up their midweek evenings for training and also have me on the phone or text regularly talking through players and tactics - I appreciate their patience. Finally, thank you to the fans who provide much needed support and club income. We appreciate you and your match attendance more than you could imagine - it makes all of the work worthwhile. South Liverpool are todays opponents and they bring with them a newly promoted team with a lot of history behind them. They have great momentum having been very successful at step 7 for a number of years. Today will be a tough game, particularly on the back of having played Saturday but the team area ready and focused for the challenge. Enjoy the match, Dave Platt
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OUR VISITORS TO RUSKIN Although the name of South Liverpool FC first came about in the late 19th century the clubs that bore that name until 1921 had no connection with the current club although enjoying good success before the First World War. The current club was founded in April 1935 to respond to the increasing South end population and began playing in the 1935/36 season in the Lancashire Combination at Holly Park. Success was immediate and by the outbreak of the Second World War the Lancashire Combination had been won three times in succession as had the Lancashire Challenge Trophy and most impressively South defeated Cardiff City 2-1 in the Welsh Cup final at Wrexham in 1939. The resumption of football after the war saw South in the Cheshire League but it was never to bear the success of the pre war years. South went back to the Lancashire Combination in 1952. The mid sixties saw success under manager Alan Hampson sufficient to qualify by right for the Northern Premier League. South would always struggle against wealthier, well supported clubs at this standard. In 1983/84 South enjoyed their best post war season under first John King & George Rooney then Brian Griffiths as they annexed the NPL League Cup, the Lancashire Challenge Trophy and the Liverpool Senior Cup. South’s success was not built upon and while two more Liverpool Senior Cup wins followed along with the NPL Presidents Cup, Holly Park was lost in 1989 and the limited company was liquidated in 1991. Holly Park was later converted to the impressive Liverpool South Parkway station. South supporters had already formed a committee to take over the football club and in 1992 were in the Liverpool County Combination. A nomadic home was then South’s main issue but at the dawn of the
Millennium secured its home at the North Field, Jericho Lane, Otterspool. South were consistent top half finishers in the Liverpool Combination / Liverpool County FA Premier League and won the George Mahon Cup at Goodison Park in May 2009. In 2011 South took the decision to switch to the West Cheshire League and immediately won two consecutive divisional titles to be in the top division in 2014. The First Division was won in 2015, retained in 2016 when two cups were added, making it a triple winning season. 2019 saw South’s home ground move 200 yards to the Jericho Hub where the stadium pitch has been fitted with floodlights, cover and stand. After the cancellation of the 2019/20 season South stepped up and took the league title in 2021, achieving promotion to the North West Counties League for 2021/22, thirty years after our semi pro status had been lost. South’s reserves will continue to play in division two of the West Cheshire League. The club boast a third adult team and four Vets sides. Our senior youth team (Under 18) operate in the West Cheshire League Youth Division. The club’s youth set up has teams in the Liverpool Premier Junior Leagues, Belle Vale Junior and Merseyside & Halewood, making the club one of the biggest in the City. South boast a number of well-known ex players including Jimmy Case and John Aldridge who both started their careers at South. Manager Martin Ryman has been at the helm of the club since 2001 and is South’s longest ever serving manager and also played for South between 1992 and 2000. His assistant is Stephen Ward who made 427 first team appearances in goal for South, a club record along with coach David Cringle.
FIRST TEAM HONOURS
West Cheshire League Third Division 2011/12 West Cheshire League Pyke Cup 2015/16, 2019/20 West Cheshire League Bill Weight Trophy 2018/19
Cheshire County League Cup 1946/47 Lancashire Combination 1936/37, 1937/38, 1938/39, 1965/66 Lancashire Junior Cup / Challenge Trophy 1936/37, 1937/38,1938/39, 1983/84 Lancashire Combination Challenge Cup 1938/39 Liverpool County Combination George Mahon Cup 2001/02 Liverpool County FA Challenge Cup 2015/16, 2016/17 Liverpool County FA Junior Cup 1996/7 Liverpool County FA Senior Cup 1983/84, 1985/86, 1988/89 Liverpool County FA Senior Medals 1947/48 Liverpool County FA Senior Non League Cup 1953/54, 1967/68, 1969/70 Liverpool Premier League First Division 2006/07 Liverpool Premier League George Mahon Cup 2008/09 Liverpool Premier League Zingari Cup 2010/11 Northern Premier League Cup 1983/84 Northern Premier League Presidents Cup 1987/88 Welsh FA Cup 1938/39 West Cheshire League First Division 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18 West Cheshire League Second Divison 2012/13
Season 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
League LIV P-1 LIV P-P LIV P-P LIV P-P LIV P-P
W CHES-3 W CHES-2 W CHES-1 W CHES-1 W CHES-1 W CHES-1 W CHES-1 W CHES-1 W CHES-1 2019-20 W CHES-1 2020-21 Charity Partner 2017-18
RESERVE TEAM HONOURS Liverpool Combination George Mahon Cup 1958/59 Liverpool Combination Lord Wavertree Cup 1956/57, 1957/58, 1959/60 Liverpool County FA Challenge Cup 1936/37, 1949/50, 1957/58, 1966/67 Royal Southern Coronation Cup 1936/37 Zingari Combination Division One 2006/07 Zingari Combination Division Two 2005/06, 2011/12 Zingari Combination Divison Three 2004/05 YOUTH HONOURS Lancashire FA Youth Cup 1972/73, 1973/74 Liverpool County FA Youth Cup 1973/74, 2014/15 West Cheshire League Youth Division 2009/10, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2016/17, 2017/18 West Cheshire League Youth Plate 2008/09, 2014/15,2017/18 VETERANS HONOURS Cheshire Veterans League First Division 2018/19
P 28 30 28 26 30
W 23 16 13 11 8
D 2 5 5 5 8
L 3 9 10 10 14
F 103 61 60 39 50
A 23 36 42 42 56
GD 80 25 18 -3 -6
Pts 71 53 46 41 32
Position 1/15 6/16 4/15 5/14 14/16
30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30
26 25 16 24 21 18 22 16
2 3 6 5 4 5 5 3
2 2 8 1 5 7 3 11
107 111 75 89 79 78 81 81
26 35 55 23 37 50 31 57
81 76 20 66 42 28 50 24
80 78 54 77 67 59 71 51
1/16 1/16 4/16 1/16 1/16 3/16 1/16 5/16
16 15
12 13
4 2
0 0
63 52
21 16
42 36
40 41
1/16 1/16
Season 2021-22
HOW DO WE COMPARE? St Helens Town - last 6 matches at 21/08 All Competitions
at St Helens Town
Previous Meetings
at South Liverpool
NWC-D1
2006-07
LIV P-1
Most recent
Home
D
L
L
D
L
L
NWC-D1
2007-08
LIV P-P
Away
D
L
L
D
L
D
NWC-PD
2008-09
LIV P-P
Collated
L
L
D
L
L
D
NWC-PD
2009-10
LIV P-P
NWC-PD
2010-11
LIV P-P
NWC-PD
2011-12
W CHES-3
NWC-PD
2012-13
W CHES-2
NWC-PD
2013-14
W CHES-1
NWC-PD
2014-15
W CHES-1
NWC-D1
2015-16
W CHES-1
NWC-D1
2016-17
W CHES-1
South Liverpool - last 6 matches at 21/08 All Competitions
Most recent
Home
W
W
W
W
L
D
Away
D
W
W
L
D
W
Collated
L
W
D
L
W
D
NWC-D1
2017-18
W CHES-1
2018-19
W CHES-1
St Helens Town games since...
South Liverpool games since...
NWC-D1N NWC-D1N
2019-20
W CHES-1
All Competitions 21/08
All Competitions 21/08
NWC-D1N
2020-21
W CHES-1
30/08/2021
2021-22
TBC
Clean sheet
27
Clean sheet
7
Goal Scored
0
Goal Scored
0
Loss
1
Loss
2
St Helens Town Scores First Games Played
0
St Helens Town Wins
0
Draws
0
No score draw
40
No score draw
20
South Liverpool Wins
0
Score draw
0
Score draw
0
St Helens Town Goals
0
South Liverpool Goals
0
Win
20
Win
1
Percentage Town Wins
0.00
Previous Meetings P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
Win %
Home League
7
1
2
4
11
20
-9
14.29
Away League
7
1
1
5
4
24
-20
14.29
Home Cup
5
1
0
4
4
11
-7
20.00
Away Cup
4
1
0
3
4
12
-8
25.00
Collated
23
4
3
16
23
67
-44
17.39
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BRIEF HISTORY OF TOWN The original St. Helens Town club was formed in 1901 and played at Park Road, behind the Primrose Vaults public house. Although it was known as the Primrose Ground, the players changed further down Park Road at the Black Horse pub. Playing in the Lancashire League and Lancashire Combination, the team enjoyed some early success, but struggled after the Great War and appears to have folded midway through the 1928/29 season. The club was re-formed by George Fryer and a group of local businessmen in 1946. They took out a lease of the former cricket ground at Hoghton Road, Sutton, adjacent to the St. Helens Junction railway station and, although it entered in the FA Cup in the 1946/47 season, a team could not be raised in time to fulfil its tie with Prescot Cables. Friendly games were played, then local team Derbyshire Hill Rovers were taken over in April 1947, those players forming the nucleus of the team which entered the Liverpool County Combination at the start of the 1947/48 season. St. Helens Town soon began to prosper and early results included a sensational 10-4 win over Everton “A” on 6th December 1947. Former German prisoner-of-war Bert Trautmann joined the club in the Summer of 1948, the strapping goalkeeper helping the team to win its first trophy, the George Mahon Cup, which was secured with a 2-1 win over Runcorn at Prescot on 7th May 1949. Crowds averaged over 2000
that season, peaking with a league record attendance of 3012 against Burscough in October 1948. The following season, 1949/50, Town entered the Lancashire Combination and, despite losing Trautmann to Manchester City in October 1949, they won the Second Division title in some style the following season, three players, Albert Leadbetter (36), Harry McCann (32) and Terry Garner (31) all netting over 30 goals apiece. An all-time club record attendance of “between 8000 and 9000” witnessed a friendly game against Manchester City, arranged as part of the Trautmann transfer deal, in April 1950 and another 4000 witnessed a second match with City the following season. Although relegated by a slender margin from the First Division in 1951/52, the club continued to look forward, even contemplating Football League status and, in order
to further its ambitions, moved to the former St. Helens Recs. rugby league ground at City Road. Initial crowds were encouraging but, despite success, the club decided to move back to Hoghton Road in October 1953, where they remained until April 2000. Town produced a number of fine players who joined Football League clubs, including Bill Foulkes (Manchester United), John Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday) and John Connelly who joined Burnley, later transferring to Manchester United and who played in the England 1966 World Cup winning squad. More recently, Dave Bamber scored goals in all four divisions of the league with a host of different clubs, starting and ending his league career at Blackpool and in more recent times, Karl Ledsham, who had a productive career at conference level with Southport, Lincoln City, Barrow and Stockport County before moving to the USA. Following a second relegation in 1956, St. Helens Town continued to play in the Lancashire Combination, winning the Championship in 1971/72, by nine points ahead of Accrington Stanley. However, the formation of the Northern Premier League in 1968 led to a gradual drain of stronger clubs from the Combination and St. Helens joined the Cheshire League in 1975, becoming founder members of the North West Counties League seven years later. They held the proud record of being the only club to play in the NW Counties’ top flight every season until they were relegated in April 2015, conceding an injury-time equaliser to Silsden in the last game of the season, a match they had to win to stay up. Town enjoyed a golden era in the late 1980s, just missing out on an appearance in the First Round proper of the FA Cup in 1985/86, losing to Morecambe in a Fourth Qualifying Round Replay, but they obtained ample 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
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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. Former club captain Andy Gillespie won the NW Counties’ golden boot with 34 goals in the 2015/16 season and netted another 24 times the following season. Town moved from Hoghton Road in 2000 and ground-shared with Saints Rugby League club pending an intended move to their new
stadium, which took many years longer than anticipated and finally moved out of Knowsley Road when it closed in September 2010. Plans for the move were shelved following a disagreement and Town went on a nomadic existence, playing out of town at Ashton Town, Ashton Athletic, Prescot Cables and odd games at Atherton Collieries, before St. Helens Council redeveloped the Ruskin Drive multi-sports complex and St. Helens Town moved back home there in August 2017, playing on an artificial 3G surface. On the playing front the 21st April 2015 saw Town’s ever-present status in the NWCFL top flight end with relegation to Division One. A 1-1 draw a home to Silsden sealed their fate in a season when all three bottom clubs were relegated. 2021-22 sees Town in their eighth season at Step 6, now the NWCFL First Division North, aiming to put behind themselves a number of seasons of inconsistent performances. Under the stewardship of manager Dave Platt and assistant Dave Potter the club will be looking towards regaining their competitive edge.
LEAGUE TABLES & FIXTURES First Division North
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
Pts
1
Golcar United
6
5
1
0
18
10
8
16
2
Bury AFC
6
4
2
0
15
8
7
14
3
AFC Blackpool
6
4
1
1
18
8
10
13
4
Pilkington
6
4
1
1
14
12
2
13
5
Chadderton
6
4
0
2
14
11
3
12
6
Holker Old Boys
5
3
1
1
8
8
0
10
7
Bacup Borough
6
2
3
1
13
10
3
9
8
Ashton Town
6
3
0
3
15
13
2
9
9
South Liverpool
6
2
2
2
13
13
0
8
10
Garstang
5
2
1
2
13
13
0
7
11
Atherton LR
5
2
0
3
13
13
0
6
12
AFC Darwen
6
2
0
4
7
15
-8
6
13
Cleator Moor Celtic
5
1
2
2
16
12
4
5
14
Nelson
6
1
2
3
13
14
-1
5
15
Daisy Hill
5
1
1
3
7
11
-4
4
16
Campion
4
1
0
3
8
9
-1
3
17
Ilkley Town
6
1
0
5
12
15
-3
3
18
Steeton
5
0
3
2
8
12
-4
3
19
St Helens Town
6
0
2
4
7
25
-18
2
League table up to and including Wednesday 25th August 2021 Monday 30th August 2021 NWCFL Division North Fixtures AFC Blackpool v Garstang Ashton Town v Chadderton Atherton LR v Pilkington Bury AFC v Daisy Hill Cleator Moor Celtic v Holker Old Boys Golcar United v Bacup Borough Ilkley Town v Nelson St Helens Town v South Liverpool Steeton v Campion
Mechanics Ground Profiles Park Crilly Park Neuven Stadium Inglenorth Park Skye Direct Stadium MPM Stadium Ruskin Sports Village Marley Stadium
SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE Executive Match Sponsor: £75 benefits include up to six VIP match tickets/reserved seating, complimentary programmes, full colour half page advert in the match day programme, half time refreshments, company details announced over the PA system and details included in all match reports to local press and club website. There will be an opportunity to have photographs taken with team captains and match officials prior to kick off. Match sponsors will also have the opportunity to choose and present the 'Man of the Match' award. Discount will be offered to sponsors wishing to take more than one match package. Match Ball Sponsor: £40 similar to ‘Match Sponsor’ above with two VIP match tickets/reserved seating, programmes, etc. There will be an opportunity to have a photograph taken with team captains and match officials prior to kick off. Discount will be given to sponsors wishing to take more than one match ball sponsor package. Match Programme Sponsor: £40 similar to ‘Match Ball’ above with two VIP match tickets/reserved seating, programmes, etc. There will be an opportunity to have a photograph taken with team captains and match officials prior to kick off. Discount will be given to sponsors wishing to take
more than one match programme sponsor package. We also offer a Combination Deal for £200 which includes 1 x Match sponsorship of your choice, 2 x Match Ball sponsorship of your choice, plus a half page colour advert in the match day programme throughout the season. Digital Match Programme Sponsor: £750 this packages includes a four page wrap-around which forms part of our digital version of each match programme. The package also includes a full page in the printed match programme. Every time the programme is viewed online five full pages of sponsor coverage can be accessed by readers. All adverts can be regularly updated throughout the season. One of our 2020-21 digital versions is available here Match Day Programme Advertising: Full colour adverts with artwork prepared if required (full page £200, half page £110, quarter page £60). The cost covers all home league games plus all home fixtures in a range of cup competitions. All adverts appear in the printed and digital versions of the match programme and can be updated throughout the sponsorship period. Website Sponsors: from £50 per season. Have your business logo placed prominently on a number of pages on the club’s official website. The logo will also include a link to your website or social media channels. Why not combine website sponsorship with a programme advert for just £100 per season. We can put together a bespoke sponsor package for your business which offers maximum coverage throughout the season at a cost to suit any budget. If you need further information or would like to take up any of the opportunities please feel free to contact Andy Langley on 07464 961870 or email alangley1974@googlemail.com
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Season 2021-22 Fixtures, Facts and F Comp
KO
Result
GK
2
3
4
JUL 31
Date
Opponents ATHERTON LR
NWCFL
3.00
2-5L
5
Wolland
Brown
Apperley
Kamara
Keenan
Mc
Aug 04
Garstang
NWCFL
7.45
2-2D
McDaid
Brown
Cliff
Keenan
Luke Diggle
Mc
AUG 07
PILKINGTON
NWCFL
3.00
1-4L
Wolland Luke Diggle Robinson
Kamara
Keenan
Mc
Aug 14
Cleator Moor Celtic
NWCFL
3.00
10-0L
Wolland Robinson De-Andrade
Keenan
Luke Diggle
M
AUG 19
AFC BLACKPOOL
NWCFL
7.45
1-3L
McDaid
Kamara
Atkinson
M
1-1D
Wolland Robinson De-Andrade Atkinson
Colford
M
Aug 21
Steeton
NWCFL
3.00
AUG 28
DAISY HILL
NWCFL
3.00
AUG 30
SOUTH LIVERPOOL
NWCFL
3.00
Sep 04
Nelson
NWCFL
3.00
SEP 09
ASHTON TOWN
NWCFL
7.45
SEP 11
CHEALDE HEATH NOM’
FAV 1QR 3.00
Sep 18
Ilkley Town
NWCFL
3.00
SEP 25
HOLKER OLD BOYS
NWCFL
3.00
OCT 02
BACUP BOROUGH
NWCFL
3.00
Oct 09
Chadderton
NWCFL
3.00
OCT 16
BURY AFC
NWCFL
3.00
Oct 23
Campion
NWCFL
3.00
Oct 30
Golcar United
NWCFL
3.00
NOV 06
AFC DARWEN
NWCFL
3.00
Nov 20
NWCFL
3.00
NOV 27
NWCFL
3.00
Dec 04
NWCFL
3.00
Dec 11
NWCFL
3.00
DEC 18
NWCFL
3.00
Dec 28
NWCFL
3.00
Jan 08
NWCFL
3.00
JAN 22
NWCFL
3.00
Jan 29
NWCFL
3.00
FEB 05
NWCFL
3.00
FEB 12
NWCFL
3.00
Feb 19
NWCFL
3.00
FEB 26
NWCFL
3.00
MAR 05
NWCFL
3.00
Mar 12
NWCFL
3.00
MAR 19
NWCFL
3.00
Mar 26
NWCFL
3.00
Apr 02
NWCFL
3.00
Robinson
Clegg
Figures . . . 6
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
Cliff2
Colford8
15
16
17
cMahon
Clegg
Devlin
Liam Diggle1
Hughes
Douglas1
McHugh
Rugg
cMahon
Hughes1
Devlin
Liam Diggle1
Weaver
Apperley De-Andrade
McHugh3
Clegg8
Morgan10
Rugg
cMahon
Hughes
Devlin
Liam Diggle
Weaver1
Apperley De-Andrade2
Colford
Clegg10
McHugh8
Rugg
Tyrer5
Okeregha9
McHugh
Clegg
Hughes
Uppal
Weaver
Apperley
Bigoude4
Morgan
Devlin
McHugh
Okeregha
Weaver1
Apperley
Colford6
McHugh
Apperley
Clegg
Okeregha1
Weaver
Tyrer
Platt
Luke
Diggle4
De-Andrade8 Zeinalighaleh9 Holt9
Uppal11
McDaid
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
St Helens Town AFC Reserves Kit Sponsors 2021-22 Charity Partner 2017-18
Platt Wolland
CASH BOOK IN THE ATTIC The First St. Helens Town 1901-1928 St Helens Town had access to a cash book from the original club covering season 1912-13 and some matches during the First World War. The cash book had been loaned to the club by the late Eric Bond a Town stalwart and former President of the St. Helens Football Combination and it makes very interesting reading. The book lists the financial accounts on a matchby-match basis and bears auditors markings to verify the figures. Season 1912-13 is covered in full, but not 1913-14. Curiously, a number of matches from 1914-15 are also included, but it is not known whether they amount to a full season. Nevertheless, the information contained in the book is fascinating. In 1912-13, St. Helens Town were members of the Lancashire Combination, Division 1. They finished 14th of 18 teams, played 34, won 12, drew 5 and lost 17 games, scoring 49 goals and conceding 75. Local rivals St. Helens Recs., in their final season as a soccer club, ended the season in 8th place. Results of games are not given in the cash book, but the two St. Helens clubs met at Park Road on Christmas Day, when gate receipts were £41 9s. 2d (£41.46) and a further £1 was made in the Refreshment Tent, the only occasion it appears in the accounts. The Police were paid 9s. (45p), gatemen 4s. 6d. (22p) and sawdust cost 6d. The return game took place on Good Friday, 21st March 1913. Looking at 1912-13 as a whole, a pre-season friendly was played at Barrow on 2nd September (a Monday), producing half gate receipts of £27 3s. (£27.15), which were the best receipts other than those for the Recs. derby game on Christmas Day. Over £10 was taken as a half-share of a cup-tie gate at Macclesfield and the only other gate over £10 was for the home game with Tranmere Rovers on 16th November, £16 8s 1d (£16.40). All the other home gates were significantly below £10, many around £2. The lowest was £1 18s 3d. (£1.91) against Chester on 5th April. Most players went unpaid through the season, but there were several instances of some players receiving between five shillings (25p) and twelve and sixpence (62p). There were several instances of the payment of lost time: this arose as a result of players missing a Saturday morning in work, in order to play football. The usual working week in the North of
England was five and a half days. Payment of lost or broken-time money was prevalent after 1895. That date was significant in that it was the year of the split between the Rugby Football Union and the Northern Union (later the Rugby League), which came about as a direct result of Northern Union clubs wishing to compensate their players in the industrial North for time lost from work. The book shows several instances of players receiving amounts varying from 2s. 6d. (12p) to 10s. (50p), in lost time payments. Other overheads included train fares for away travel and for a few players travelling from out of town to St. Helens. The whole team travelled to Barrow for £3 12s (£3.60). Two shillings was incurred for repairing pipes at the home game with Eccles in February and rates of £5 10s. 3d. (£5.51) were paid in March. Printing of posters etc., regularly came to 10s. or 15s. The game with Haslingden on 11th January was postponed due to an ice and snow storm and it would appear that the game with Heywood on 26th October was abandoned, as it had to be played again on 7th December, when £1 18s. (£1.90) was paid out to the visitors for their expenses. The cost of running a football club was an enormous burden on the directors. There were many instances of the Chairman, Peter Phythian, and his fellow directors, dipping into their own pockets to make up the income to cover the expenditure. This was particularly prevalent during the 1914/15 season. If the cash book covers the whole season, then only 11 games were played. Fixtures appear to start on 28th November 1914 and finish on 19th April 1915. The opening game v Skelmersdale yielded just over £5 in gate receipts and the other three home games (against Everton, South Liverpool and Burscough) just exceeding £4 in total. The directors subsidised the club in 8 of the matches to the tune of over £11. Perhaps optimistically, one of the last credit entries appeared as Season Tickets £9 19s. 1d. (£9.95); which it is thought might have been a bookkeeping exercise to give the directors their money back. I wonder if they ever did get their season tickets as I have yet to see what happened to the club in the 1915-16 season. If you have any information relating to the original St. Helens Town (1901-1928) please contact John McKiernan on mckiernanj@live.com or call him on 07713 339 682.
CLUB ARCHIVES A piece of Town history uncovered . . . In the summer of 2012 St Helens Town were contacted by John Owens regarding a previously unknown photograph relating to the original Town club which operated between 1901 and the late 1920’s. John made available a photograph of the St Helens Town team from around 1901 which contained his grandfather William Owens. John said, “My grandfather was born in Garston, Liverpool on 28 December 1880 and played for St Helens around 1901. He is pictured on the back row, fourth from the left and appears to be looking away to the right. “Although I don’t know the exact date of the photograph I’d say he was around 20 years old which seems right. He was 6’3” tall and played right back. His playing position was corroborated
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by my father and it was the position he played for Raith Rovers during the 1903-04 season. “At 17 (1897-8) he was reportedly the youngest professional player in Lancashire earning 2s 6d per a game which was more than he was paid working a Saturday afternoon as a saw doctor at Wilson Brothers’, Bobbin works in Window Lane, Garston. “I believe he had previously played for Garston Gasworks and subsequently for Tranmere Rovers” Club official John McKiernan added, “We were delighted to hear from John and his photograph is only one we have of the original club. There is some thought that the distinctive backdrop could be the Primrose ground in Park Road but at this moment we are unable to say for certain.”
HALF TIME QUIZ Q2. Which German was named Player of the Tournament at Euro 96? Q3. Which coach lead Brazil to victory over Italy in the 1994 World Cup Final? Q4. Which Swedish forward has scored the most goals in UEFA Cup/Europa League history? Q5. Which Scottish club shocked football by signing Argentine legend Claudio Caniggia in 2000? Q6. Which two sides played out the first Premier League fixture of “Project Restart” on 17th June 2020? Q7. Which EFL club moved from Belle Vue to the Keepmoat Stadium in January 2007? Q8. Who was Chelsea’s first signing of the Roman Abramovich era? Q9. Who was the partner to Virgil van Dijk in the 2019-20 PFA Team of the Year? Q10. Who scored twice in the 2010 Champions League Final to secure Inter Milan’s victory?
Q11. From which Ligue 1 club did Chelsea sign Senegalese Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy? Q12. Micky Mellon moved from Tranmere to which Scottish Premiership club in July 2020 returning to Prenton Park after one season north of the border? Q13. Which Dutch player netted their “consolation goal” in their 4-1 defeat against England at Euro 96 which sent them through to the knockout rounds at Scotland’s expense? Q14. With which club did Inter Miami & US midfielder Brek Shea play three Premier League games? Q15. Who levelled for Bayer Leverkusen in their 2002 Champions League Final defeat against Real Madrid? 1) Kenny Cunningham 2) Matthias Sammer 3) Carlos Alberto Parreira 4) Henrik Larsson 5) Dundee 6) Aston Villa & Sheffield United 7) Doncaster Rovers 8) Glen Johnson 9) Caglar Soyuncu 10) Diego Milito 11) Rennes 12) Dundee United 13) Patrick Kluivert 14) Stoke City 15) Lucio
Q1. Who played 335 Premier League games for Wimbledon & Birmingham between 1994 & 2006 but never scored a goal?
NWCFL First Division North Steeton 1-1 St Helens Town Marley Stadium Saturday 21st August 2021
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ST HELENS TOWN HONOURS 1949 George Mahon Trophy Winners 1951 Lancashire Comb Division 2 Champions 1972 Lancashire Combination Champions 1973 Bass Charrington Cup Winners 1974 Watson Trophy Winners 1978 St Helens Hospital Cup Winners 1979 St Helens Combination Div 1 Runners Up 1979 St Helens Hospital Cup Runners Up 1980 St Helens Combination Div 1 Champions 1985 NWCFL Reserve Division 2 Runners Up 1986 NWCFL Reserve Division 1 Runners Up 1987 FA Vase Winners (Wembley) 1994 League Challenge Cup Finalists 1994 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1995 NWCFL Reserve Division Champions 1996 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up 1998 Floodlit Trophy Finalists 1999 REALCO Fair Play Award Winners 2009 Bert Trautmann Trophy Winners 2014-15 South Lancs League U17s Cup Finalists 2014-15 Cheshire FA U21 League Champions 2015-16 Cheshire FA U21 Premier Cup Finalists 2016-17 Cheshire FA U21 League Cup Finalists 2016-17 Cheshire FA U21 Premier Div Runners Up 2017-18 NWYA U18s President’s Cup Winners 2020-21 NWYA U18s President’s Cup Winners Record Attendances: 3012 at Hoghton Road v Burscough (1948) 8000 at Hoghton Road v Man City (1950) 1723 at Knowsley Road v FC United of Man (2006) 9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (1949)
Programme Awards: NWCFL Programme of the Year 1993-94, 1995-96, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01 NWCFL Premier Division 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 NWCFL First Division / First Division North 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 Wirral Programme Club National Survey NWCFL Programme of the Year 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 Programme Monthly NWCFL Programme of the Year 2007-08 Soccer Club Swap Shop National Programme Awards 2010-11 28th, 2011-12 8th, 2012-13 7th, 2013-14 8th, 2014-15 5th, 2015-16 8th, 2016-17 2nd, 2017-18 5th 2018-19 6th 2019-20 5th M60 Programmes NWCFL Division One North Programme of the Year 2019-20
St Helens Town AFC - Player Records 1946-2021 Goals in a Career
Goals in a Season
Career Appearances (250+ games)
216 Steve Pennington
47 Phil Stainton 1963/64
448 Alan Wellens (inc. 207 estimated)
118 Terry Garner
46 Steve Pennington 1997/98
359 John Critchley (16 estimated)
108 Gary Laird
45 Jackie Kendrick 1973/74
352 Steve Pennington
105 Lee Cooper
45 Steve Pennington 1993/94
346 Gary Lowe (1 estimated)
101 Glenn Walker
40 Bob Potter 1952/53
345 Glenn Walker
94 Iain Dyson
38 Terry Fearns 2000/01
327 Jackie Atherton (122 estimated)
84 Andy Gillespie
36 Albert Leadbetter 1950/51
300 Jackie Cooke (1 estimated)
83 Harry McCann
35 Arthur Tyrer 1957/58
287 Gary Laird
81 Ray Fairweather
34 Lee Cooper 2001/02
280 Kevin Grice (147 estimated)
72 Arthur Tyrer
33 Ronnie Rigby 1952/53
278 Jimmy Woodyer (67 estimated)
68 Phil Stainton
32 Harry McCann 1950/51
276 Iain Dyson
63 Mervyn Bull
31 Terry Garner 1950/51
272 Ray Fairweather (3 estimated)
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265 Larry Redmond (134 estimated)
ST HELENS MIND We aren't just there for people who are unwell
Volunteers! Help make it happen
You may think that St Helens Mind is somewhere that people access when they are unwell. That is only a part of our work. But much more it is about helping people to focus on staying well, what is important to them and their family. Of course we encourage people to think about when they are unwell, but we also help people to consider how they want to spend the rest of their lives.
Each and every one of them contributes to our success. Without them we would not have a service, an effective one at that!
We aim to improve the lifestyles of people living in St. Helens Borough regardless of their cultural, religious and lifestyle needs. Our services are non-judgemental and offer opportunities to develop self-esteem and confidence by encouraging and supporting involvement. We are an independent, user–focused organisation providing quality services for local people who are experiencing isolation and distress due to mental ill health. We do this by: Providing a range of services appropriate to the needs of people experiencing mental distress that enhances their self-worth as valued citizens. Promoting increased awareness and understanding of mental health issues within the community.
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Without their dedication, time, skills, experience, sense of fun, enthusiasm and willingness to represent St. Helens Mind we would not have a Befriending Service, Social Groups and the many other activities
· · · · · · · ·
Befriending Service Reading for Wellbeing Men's & Ladies’ Groups Mixed Social Groups Arts & Crafts Music & Singing Allotment Social Events
Want to find out more about our services or how to become a volunteer? Email: admin@sthelensmind.org.uk Telephone: 01744 647089
HEAVY DEFEATS, BIG WINS Last Saturday’s thumping at Cleator Moor Celtic was a dent to Town’s pride as well as to the league table goal difference. No club wants to suffer heavy defeats and I have seen on social media claims that ‘it shouldn’t happen to a club at this level’. There are many reasons behind such results – weakened teams, holidays, distance travelled, suspensions, injuries, dismissals, bad form. etc. The fact remains these score lines happen and occasionally we can be on the wrong end of such results. Looking across the history of many clubs we can always see a score line and think ‘Wow, what happened there . . . ‘ A quick review of the Town’s records sees some high scoring defeats as well as similar victories. Over 120 years ago the original club’s opening 1901-02 season saw them defeated 8-1 at Darwen in the Lancashire League, just a month earlier the two clubs had drawn 1-1 in St Helens. During that opening decade, although records are not complete, Town suffered a 6-0 reverse at neighbours Earlestown in the FA Cup while beating Rossendale United by the same score in the Lancashire Combination. Town recorded a similar win over Buxton in the FA Cup Preliminary Round in September 1914! Following Town’s reformation in 1946 and first competitive adventures at the start of the 194748 season they suffered heavy back to back defeats against local rivals Haydock C&B (6-0 on 25/10/1947) and Earlestown (1-7 on 01/11/1947) in the Liverpool Challenge Cup and Liverpool County Combination respectively. Just four weeks later (06/12/1947) Everton ‘A’ were the visitors to Hoghton Road in the Liverpool County Combination Division 1 where goals from Town’s Hughes (2), Pheasant (2), Northey (2), Burke (2) and Gregory (2) secured a 10-4 win! Into the 1950s and Town hit form at the end of November 1952 securing four impressive back to back wins 8-1, 8-0, 0-5 and 0-6 against Stoneycroft, Morecambe Reserves, Earlestown and Barnoldswick in the Lancashire Combination. Not long after they suffered an 28 home defeat to Clitheroe! The opening game of 1961 saw Town travel to Liverpool ‘A’ in the Liverpool Challenge Cup 1st Round and returned to Sutton following an 8-1 thumping at the hands of the reds. That same calendar year finished with an 8-1 win over
Great Harwood at Hoghton Road with Appleton, Underdown (3), Maloney (2) and Taylor (2) the goal scorers. Season 1965-66 saw Town suffer some heavy defeats which included nine goals in away defeats at Fleetwood (9-1) and Netherfield (92) in the Lancashire Combination top flight. Two seasons later (April 1969) Town dished out a 9-0 win against Lytham St Anne’s in the same competition. Tonight’s visitors AFC Blackpool under their former guise of Blackpool Mechanics were beaten 8-1 in the opening game of 1974 – the Town scorers were Bull (3), Kendrick (3), Payne and Merrill. Almost twenty years later Mechanics were beaten again with goals from Pennington (3), Lowe, Walker (2) and Crompton secured a 7-0 win at Hoghton Road in the NWCFL top flight. The following campaign Town hit seven past both Salford City and Penrith and conceded the same number of goals a season later to Kidsgrove Athletic! The opening game of 2001 saw Town hit 10 goals past Abbey Hey at Knowsley Road Morgan, Fearns (3) Cooper (3), Cowley, Bell and an own goal ensured a 10-2 victory. Later the same season Glossop North End were dispatched 9-2 with goals from Fearns (4), Cowley (3) and Cooper (2). Season 2010-11 saw Town win 8-1 in the FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round at home to Brodsworth MW while later the same campaign a trip to New Mills saw a then record league defeat as the Millers ran out 9-0 winners at Church Lane. AFC Liverpool inflicted a similar score on Town in September 2014 when they ran out 0-9 winners at Ashton Town’s Edge Green Street in the NWCFL Premier Division. The following season (April 2016) it was Town’s turn to take the spoils and enter the record books when they routed Whitchurch Alport 0-10 with goals from Sheen (3), Gillespie (3), Rigby, Morris, Pegler and Greene. Widnes ran riot a season later (April 2017) with a 8-0 win at Town while September 2019 Holker Old Boys were put to the sword as Town ran out 9-0 winners here at Ruskin. It shouldn’t happen . . . . but it does. John McKiernan
NWCFL First Division North Steeton 1-1 St Helens Town Marley Stadium Saturday 21st August 2021
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MATCH DAY SPONSORS We are looking for additional sponsors on match-days with a host of benefits for match (£75), match ball (£40) and programme (£40) sponsors including free entry & programme; programme and social media advertising; pre-match photos, man of the match awards. Opponents
Match Sponsor
Match Ball Sponsor
Programme Sponsor
AFC Blackpool
Unite the Union St Helens Branch
Prabhu Ventures Ltd
St Helens Mind
AFC Darwen
Prabhu Ventures Ltd
St Helens Mind
Willow Printing
Ashton Town Atherton LR
Prabhu Ventures Ltd
Bacup Borough
Unite the Union St Helens Branch
Bury AFC Campion Chadderton
Prabhu Ventures Ltd
Cheadle Heath Nomads FAV 1QR Cleator Moor Celtic Daisy Hill
Prabhu Ventures Ltd Prabhu Ventures Ltd
Garstang
St Helens Mind
St Helens Eats
Prabhu Ventures Ltd
Golcar United
St Helens Mind
Holker Old Boys
Prabhu Ventures Ltd
Ilkley Town Nelson Pilkington
Unite the Union St Helens Branch
Andrew, Michael and Callum O’Connor
St Helens Mind
South Liverpool
St Helens Eats
Willow Printing
St Helens Mind
Steeton
Prabhu Ventures Ltd
TOWN: ON THIS DATE Town have played eighteen times on this date (30/08) over a period stretching back to the start of the 1947-48 campaign in the Liverpool County Combination Division One. On that occasion Newton YCMA were the visitors to Hoghton Road where the teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw; Hughes the Town scorer. Five seasons later, 1952 and a change of competition as Town were now playing in the Lancashire Combination Division Two. On this date the blues travelled to Darwen Reserves where goals from Whitby and Potter secured a 12 win. It was Lancashire Combination Cup 1st Round action on this date in 1956. Burscough were the visitors to Sutton. Unfortunately Town were on the wrong end of a ten goal thriller with the visitors leaving Hoghton Road with place in Round 2 courtesy of a 4-6 win. Ferguson and a Johnson hat-trick were the goal scorers for Town. It was back to Lancashire Combination Division Two action on this date in 1958 as Horwich RMI Reserves came to Hoghton Road. Despite goals from Cooke and Jones Town lost 2-3. Burscough were back in Sutton on this date in 1969 and once again it was Lancashire Combination League Cup action. A Madgin penalty and a second from Trussell saw Town victorious a reach the second round. It was more Lancashire Combination Cup action is 1972 as Town played host to Dukenfield Town in a group stage fixture. Unfortunately the scorer details are not known but Town won 2-1. By the mi-1970s it was Cheshire League action as Prestwich Heys was the destination for Town on this date. A goal from Jaycock secured Town a point in a 1-1 draw. On this date in 1977 Nantwich Town were the visitors to Hoghton Road in the Cheshire League and while Lam opened the scoring for Town they
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had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate. In the penultimate season of the Cheshire League (1980) Town played host to Ashton United where goals from Farnsworth and Lowe secured a 2-2 draw. By 1983 it was another change of competition as Town played regular opponents on this date Burscough who travelled to St Helens for a NWCFL Division One fixture. A goalless draw was the outcome on this occasion. A fifth successive draw on this date took place in 1986 as a goals from Phil Layhe earned Town a 11 draw away at Winsford United in the NWCFL top flight. Into the 1990s (1993) and Bootle were the visitors to Sutton in the NWCFL Division One. Despite an early Steve Pennington goal Town would suffer a 1-3 defeat. It was FA Cup Preliminary Round action on this date in 1997 as Town hosted Sheffield FC. A brace from Pennington and a goal from Chris Walmsley secured a 3-1 at Hoghton Road. Our regular clashes with Salford City continued on this date in 1999 and goals from Bryan Griffiths (2) and Gary Laird earned Town the points in the NWCFL top flight encounter at Hoghton Road. On this date in 2003 Nantwich Town were the opposition in a NWCFL Division One fixture in Sutton. An early Anderson goal for Town was cancelled out by the visitors and the teams shared the points. More FA Cup action on this date in 2008 as Town travelled to West View, home of Bacup Borough for a Preliminary Round tie. A goal two minutes from time provided little consolation for Town as they bowed out of the competition 3-1. Three seasons later (2011) Bootle were Town’s opponents in the NWCFL Premier Division and it was the Bucks who took the points courtesy of a 1-2 win. On this date seven years ago (2014) Barnoldswick were Town’s visitors in the NWCFL top flight. Goals from Bergqvist, Morris, McKay and Andy Gillespie were enough for Town to take victory by the odd goal in seven.
BEATING THE BOUNDS Beating the Bounds of St. Helens Borough On Sunday 4 July, I walked around the boundary of St. Helens Borough, accompanied by a group of fellow optimists. The route was 43 miles - three miles shorter than the line on the map, as some of that is inaccessible to or unsafe for pedestrians. It took 16 hours, a lot of sweat and a bit of swearing. It was the fifth edition of our ‘Beating the Bounds’ event, named for the tradition of perambulating the parish boundary, the old guiding the young, showing them the limits of their just domain. It is a venerable practice, full of charming rituals: elders hoisting youngsters upside down and bumping their heads on boundary stones; singing ribald songs; and digging holes, climbing down into them, and drinking heavily. I’m puzzled as to why it fell out of general practice, to be honest. We follow in the spirit of our forebears by starting and ending at a pub, and calling into a couple in the later stages of the circuit. We tend not to sup much until the end, however, and we definitely don’t dig any holes. In 2020 we didn’t go in any pubs, as they were all closed. It only took 14 hours, that time, and it wasn’t a coincidence. To comply with the social distancing regulations in place at the time, we walked in small groups. That also helped speed things up, but it certainly wasn’t as much fun without the buzz of being in a group. With the regulations having eased a bit, we were able to go mob handed again this year, starting and finishing at The Manor Farm in Rainhill. A dozen of us started, seven of us completed it, and about another dozen joined us for stages along the way. These included Town’s first team manager Dave Platt, Trautmann fanatic and Mani impersonator Mike Bagshaw, and former player John Lingard (my Dad). Talk of prospects for the season ahead livened our step, and distracted us from our aches – we’re optimists, as I said.
Particular thanks are due to several people: Jim Housley and his colleagues from the North West Miners Heritage Association, who greeted us at the finish line with the replica Sutton Manor Colliery NUM banner, which is spectacular and honours an important part of our Borough’s history; members of Rainhill Parish Council and friends, who provided a warm welcome at the finish, and plenty of support on social media; Mike Devine’s colleagues on the staff at HMP Liverpool, who gave us great support, and contributed a lot of sponsorship; and Adam Gallimore, Trustee of Town’s charity partner, St. Helens Mind, who walked the whole route, was excellent company, and was able to tell us more about their work. All in all, we raised £1,058 for St. Helens Mind (which is £1,297 including Gift Aid). Thank you to everyone who donated, or shared the link, we really appreciate it. We’ll be back for another lap next year, and who knows – we may dig some holes. Ste Lingard
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THE TEAMS St Helens Town
South Liverpool
From: Nathan Wolland Jesse Robinson Rhoss De-Andrade George Atkinson Luke Colford Hal McHugh Jamie Apperley Josh Clegg Tega Okeregha Neil Weaver James Tyrer
From: Oliver Farebrother Steven Kelly James Davies Paul Bathgate Matthew Hughes Matthew Kewn Gary Pollard John Keatley Cameron Dalton Alex Woodcock Owen Hough
Christian Holt Raj Uppal Ali Zeinalighaleh Christy Devlin Ruairi McDaid
Christopher Wilkinson Stephen Doyle Jack Ward Stuart Cornfoot Joshua Bridge
Manager: Dave Platt Assistant: David Potter Coach: Callum Davison Coach: Sean Robertson
Manager: Martin Ryman Assistant: Stephen Ward
Blue Shirts Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
White Shirts Black Shorts, Red Socks
Referee: Mr J Smith Assistant: Mr S Cuthbert Assistant: Mr G Fara Match Sponsors: St Helens Eats Match Ball Sponsors: Willow Printing Limited Programme Sponsors: St Helens Mind