St Helens Town v Runcorn Linnets

Monday 25th April 2011 Kick off 3.00pm

St Helens Town v Runcorn Linnets Vodkat League Premier Division Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

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Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

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Monday 25th April 2011, 3pm kick off Vodkat League, Premier Division St Helens Town Red & White Shirts White Shorts & Red Socks

Cover photograph: Phil Mitchell in action at Padiham season 2009-10

No

Gls St Helens Town

Manager:: Assistant:

Vs

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

Gls Runcorn Linnets

Kevin Woods

Damien Eastham

Mike Kavanagh

Lewis Savva

Che Morgan

Chris Fitzsimmons

Ian Frazer

Robert Bodie

Peter Birch

Chris Lawton

Karl Brown

Sean Pearson

James Croxton

Robert Hardwick

Iain Dyson

Phil Holland

Chris McGann

Paul Prescott

Scott Baker

Rob Whyte

Franny Foy

Ross Lloyd

Francis Mkapata

Kevin Towey

James Gardner

Jonah O’Reilly

Dale Newbrook

Ged Courtney

Karl Aldridge

Andy Mawdsley

Lee Owens

Chris Dykes

Iain Dyson John Fletcher

Manager: Assistant:

Paul McNally Dave Hughes

Referee: Mr J Hunt (Litherland) Assistants: Mr M Corlett (Waterloo) and Mr S Mulhall (Northwich)

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

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Johnsons Toyota Liverpool 60-70 Rimrose Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 4TX 0151 922 9777 Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year www.johnsonsliverpool.toyota.co.uk Season 2009-10

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Talk of the Town . . .

Good afternoon and welcome to Edge Green Street for this Vodkat League, Premier Division contest against Runcorn Linnets.

I hope our visitors had a good journey to visit us, enjoy the hospitality they will be offered whilst here and have a safe return home after an enjoyable game.

So it was a decisive weekend in the Vodkat League as on Saturday the final promotion and relegation issues were decided. Congratulations to Champions New Mills who secured the Premier Division title with a 2-1 victory at Stone whilst Town were doing them a service at The Riverside Stadium holding their nearest rivals Ramsbottom to a 3-3 draw, more on this later. At the opposite end of the table should all things be correct and two teams fall through the trap door then Ashton Athletic and Rossendale United will be playing First Division football next term after the latter fell to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of this afternoons visitors. The First Division clubs exchanging places with the relegated clubs will be AFC Blackpool and Runcorn Town.

We were here last Tuesday to take on Silsden and after a promising start with a series of corners causing issues in the visitors box we failed to take advantage and fell to defeat against the visitors from Yorkshire.

Saturday saw us taking the trip to 2nd placed and now confirmed runners-up Ramsbottom United who had won 4-1 here in mid-March and turned in a fantastic performance with some key personnel missing especially at the back. Town took a deserved lead halfway through the first half with a fine strike from Chris McGann his 9th goal in 14 games this term. The hosts levelled just before the interval but not to be denied Town bounced back and goals from Scott Baker (pictured right) and manager Iain Dyson his 85th for the club in 242 appearances saw the visitors stretch out into a 3-1 lead. Ramsbottom were not to be denied and netted twice to spare their blushes but Town were more than value for their point in a much, much improved performance.

This afternoon’s visitors are in a fine vein of form at the moment and will be looking to avenge the 5-3 loss at The Milbank Stadium at the start of March, here’s hoping for another open attacking game this afternoon. Lets get behind the lads this afternoon and hopefully cheer them on to victory Enjoy the Game . . . Jeff Voller

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Chairman’s Notes . . .

Good after and a very warm welcome to Edge Green Street for the Vodkat League Premier Division encounter with Runcorn Linnets FC. Let’s hope the Linnets’ players, officials and supporters have had a good journey, enjoy our hospitality and along with our own support are treated to an entertaining encounter. A belated happy Easter to everyone and hopefully we will continue to enjoy the current good weather for some time to come.

Saturday saw the lads put in a terrific performance at Ramsbottom United, eventually having to settle for a share of the spoils when at one stage it looked like we might gain all three. Chris McGann (pictured below) gave Town a first half lead but the Rams hit back to level before half time. Some excellent football saw Town take a 1-3 lead with goals from Scott Baker and Iain Dyson the latter being one of the more amusing moments of recent weeks as Rams defender Gary Stopforth became embroiled in a bit of ‘banter’ with the Town fans behind the goal when ‘his man’ Dyson nodded home from a quickly taken corner! Needless-to-say he took some stick during the goal celebrations. Ramsbottom weren’t to be denied as they struck twice late in the game to secure a share of the points, enough to ensure they will finish as runners-up in the Premier Division.

Our congratulations must go to New Mills who will take their place in the Evo-stick League next season.

Having had a couple of near misses in the last two years the Millers secured a win at Stone Dominoes on Saturday which guaranteed them the Championship.

Today’s visitors are in excellent form having won seven and drawn one of their last nine outings; they will no doubt be looking for some revenge following Town’s 3-5 victory at the Millbank Stadium back at the start of March. If today’s game is as exciting it will provide good bank holiday entertainment. The Linnets have returned ‘home’ this season and they should be congratulated on the hard work put in to develop the excellent Millbank facilities .

The St Helens Town AFC Annual Presentation Evening will take place on Friday 6th May 2011 at The Rockware Pub, Shaw Street, St Helens (from 7.30pm). As well as the usual presentations their will be a Race Night fundraiser, prize raffle and buffet. Tickets are £2.00 and everyone is welcome.

We’re back here in just over forty eight hours as Alsager Town are our final visitors of the season, before we finish the campaign with a trip to Colne on Saturday.

Enjoy the game and please give your vocal support to the lads and join us in the clubhouse after the game for the usual post-match debate and the St Helens Town ‘Man of the Match’ presentations.

John McKiernan Chairman, St Helens Town AFC Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

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In Town Today . . .

Runcorn Linnets Football Club was born on 28 April 2006, when the fans of Runcorn Football Club, dismayed at the club’s predicament, met at their spiritual home at the Quayside in Canal Street in Runcorn and voted to establish a new club which would continue the proud tradition of non-League football which had existed in the town since 1918. A large group of fans formed an interim committee to set the wheels in motion. A Supporters Trust already existed and this was the vehicle through which the new club would be run. At this early stage, the club existed in name only, and the choice of the name Runcorn Linnets was symbolic in representing where the fans had come from and in keeping those ties with our past, whilst at the same time recognising that a new club needed to be built to re-establish confidence in the local community.

To start a new club from scratch with only 4 months to the start of a new season was a mammoth task, and the newly formed committee drew up business and action plans to attempt to achieve their objectives.

Negotiations were opened on many fronts, with the FA, the Cheshire FA, the North West Counties League, Supporters Direct and Witton Albion Football Club. The Linnets received a vast amount of advice and support from all of these bodies and were hugely grateful to them all for their help. The Chairman and Board of Directors at Witton Albion FC extended the hand of friendship and offered them a ground share for the season, as no suitable venue was immediately available back in Runcorn. A Roll of Honour was established on the clubs website in recognition of the support offered by fans and friends in those early days. There was also support from the local council and MPs in the clubs bid for a place in the league for the start of season 2006/07. The members of the committee worked tirelessly to achieve this objective and were delighted when the club was accepted into the league by the member clubs on Saturday 17 June 2006 at the AGM in Buxton. It was a proud day for all involved and the club were grateful to be given the opportunity to re-build a non-League club representing Runcorn and with the firm aim of moving the club back to its roots at the earliest opportunity. Former manager and player for Runcorn FC Halton, Steve Carragher, agreed to join as manager. Steve had vast non-League experience and the board were happy for him to lead the team in this new venture. The old Runcorn FC started life back in the Cheshire League, so it was perhaps fitting that the club had this chance to re-build in the League that was formed from an amalgamation of that league and the Lancashire Combination.

Runcorn Linnets enjoyed their first season immensely, visiting some new grounds and making some new friends on the way. To achieve promotion in the first season was a just reward for the effort put in by so many fans. They finished second to Winsford on goal difference. The supporters, as always, turned out in numbers to support the team and visit lots of new grounds. In season 2007/08 the club entered the FA Vase for the first time, but lost at the First round stage to a strong Salford City team, which ultimately gained promotion. There was also success in the Cheshire Senior Cup, beating Unibond 1 side Warrington Town on their own ground and narrowly losing to Altrincham. The attendances averaged around the 180 mark at home and often there was a following of up to 100 fans at away grounds.

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. . . Runcorn Linnets The desire to relocate back into Runcorn has always been an integral part of their plans and the scheme R2R “Return to Runcorn” was launched. At the beginning of 2008, the club decided to part with its management team by mutual consent and Steve Wilkes was appointed as the new manager, with goalkeeper Robbie Holcroft as his assistant. Steve started to make his mark immediately, and used the second half of that season to look at players old and new. Overall season 2007/08 will be seen as one of consolidation in a higher league, with a better standard of football. The mid-table finish was about right.

The FA Cup was entered for the first time in season 2008/09 with a home tie against Rossington Main winning 3-2. Unfortunately exiting in the next round against a strong Curzon Ashton team, which ultimately progressed into the First Round proper.

In the FA Vase, victories at home to Padiham and Bacup Borough in the qualifying rounds earned a visit to Maine Road in the 1st Round. A creditable 3 - 3 draw saw us take them to a replay, which we won 2-1 in extra time, to take us into the Second Round proper at Alsager. That proved to be another long tie. A 1-1 draw in the first match, followed by 2-2 in the replay, saw the Linnets eventually triumph 5-3 on penalties, to set up a tie against the Vase holders, AFC Fylde, where we lost 4-1 after a very tight first half. Good wins at Alsager and at home to AFC Fylde in the Vodkat Cup put The Linnets into the semifinals against Silsden. A defeat in the home leg was followed up with a fighting performance at Cougar Park, which saw The Linnets through to the final at Tameside Stadium against a very strong New Mills side, where we ended as runners-up by 2 – 0 Season 2009/10 saw The Linnets again finish in mid table with little real success in the cup competitions.

The main target throughout this time had been to get the club back into the town. In June 2009 the club were able to release the news that their plans for a new ground had received the support of the Halton Borough Council Executive Board and just before Christmas there was also news that they had received a grant of over £93K from the FSIF. The original plans had been to play at the Riverside College, but with the help of the council and the FSIF grants, the Linnets developed a site at the Halton Sports complex within the town, which will not only provide the necessary ground but also allows the club to develop an all-weather facility on the site for our own and community use.

Building on the new ground started at the beginning of February 2010 and was completed over the summer. The new ground was named The Millbank Linnets Stadium and the opening ceremony on July 17th 2010 when Witton Albion were our visitors, attracted a crowd of over 1000 fans and this was followed up on the opening day of the season with a new record league gate for The Linnets of 508 against Colne.

The Linnets parted company with the management team of Steve Wilkes and Ian McGarry towards the end of August 2010 and former Linnet Paul McNally was appointed as the new manager bringing in former Atherton LR manager, Dave Hughes, as his assistant and Chris Fitzsimmons as coach. A number of new faces have been introduced to the squad over recent times and despite an indifferent season the Linnets are still averaging gates of over 300 for their home matches making them the best supported team in the league.

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Runcorn Linnets Statistics Season 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Key:

League CONF NPL-P NPL-P NPL-P NPL-P NPL-P NPL-P NPL-P NPL-P CONF-N NPL-P NWC-2 NWC-1 NWC-P NWC-P

P 42 44 42 42 44 44 44 44 44 42 42 34 38 42 42

W 9 15 22 12 18 15 21 15 16 10 6 24 14 16 17

D 8 15 9 19 10 10 8 15 13 12 11 4 6 7 6

L 25 14 11 11 16 19 15 14 15 20 25 6 18 19 19

F 48 63 80 46 64 56 76 69 67 44 36 77 53 64 75

A 87 62 50 49 55 70 53 74 63 63 108 35 64 84 78

GD -39 1 30 -3 9 -14 23 -5 4 -19 -72 42 -11 -20 -3

Pts 35 60 75 55 64 55 71 60 61 42 29 76 48 55 57

Position 21/22 12/23 4/22 12/22 9/23 13/23 7/23 13/23 13/23 20/22 22/22 2/18 12/20 11/22 11/22

CONF - Football Conference NPL-P - Northern Premier League, Premier Division CONF-N - Football Conference, North NWC-2 - North West Counties League, Division 2 NWC-1 - North West Counties League, Division 1 NWC-P - North West Counties League, Premier Division Records from seasons 1995-96 to 2005-06 as the former club

Previous Meetings Date 2007/08 11/09/2007 20/11/2007 2008/09 08/11/2008 02/05/2009 08/05/2009 2009/10 03/10/2009 17/11/2009 2010/11 01/03/2011

Competition

Result

NWCL D1 NWCL D1

St Helens Town 1-3 Runcorn Linnets Runcorn Linnets 2-4 St Helens Town

NWC LCC 2R NWCL PD NWCL PD

St Helens Town 1-2 Runcorn Linnets Runcorn Linnets 1-0 St Helens Town St Helens Town 5-0 Runcorn Linnets

NWCL PD NWCL PD

Runcorn Linnets 1-2 St Helens Town St Helens Town 6-3 Runcorn Linnets

NWCL PD

Runcorn Linnets 3-5 St Helens Town

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Town in Photos . . .

Action from the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Ramsbottom United

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Match Report Saturday 23rd April 2011 Vodkat League, Premier Division Ramsbottom United 3-3 St Helens Town Town tore up the form book and threw it out of the window this afternoon as they more than matched their high-flying hosts in this excellent encounter at the Riverside Stadium. The early stages saw plenty of action as first the hosts threatened when Mark Sharples linked with Jon Robinson and the latter’s effort was straight at Kevin Woods in the Town goal. At the other end James Croxton did well down the right and played a great ball that released Scott Baker on the edge of the box, Baker struck a thunderous effort that looked to be arrowing home but Matthew Ince in the Ramsbottom goal managed to stretch a hand up and turn it over the bar. From the resultant corner the keeper spilled the cross and it broke to Baker who could not steer his effort on target. Baker was also involved after a quarter of an hour when he collected a ball into the box from Franny Foy and he had his legs taken from behind by Phil Dean but the referee deemed that no offence had been committed and play was allowed to continue. A set piece was to see the deadlock broken when a centrally free kick was headed on by Iain Dyson and the loose ball broke toward Baker and his touch found Chris McGann who found the bottom right hand corner of the net with a well struck effort.

McGann was again in the action just after the half hour when he advanced down the left wing before getting in the box and firing a shot off the base of the left upright. Less than 60 seconds later McGann was again causing problems down the left and a curling effort beat the home stopper but went inches wide of the angle of crossbar and post and McGann anticipated well to get a touch on a backpass but steered it just wide of the right hand upright. Before the interval the hosts levelled when Peter Birch got caught under a long ball forward and Jon Robinson drew away from the defence to fire past the onrushing Woods to level matters. It should have gone from bad to worse for Town as moments before the break when Ryan Moore crossed from the left and it fizzed across the six yard box towards Lee Gaskell and he somehow failed to get a touch on the dangerous cross.

The second period started with Town in the ascendancy as Baker worked hard to chase down a backpass and he disposed Ince on the left of the area before firing into the side netting and Croxton sent a free kick from the edge of the “D” just wide of the left hand post with the keeper beaten. At the other end Woods had to be alert to keep out a well placed header by Robinson before Dominic Smalley found space on the left of the box but could not hit the target. Town restored their advantage on 57 minutes when McGann linked with Karl Brown with the latter sliding the ball back to the striker who broke into the box on the left before drawing the keeper and unselfishly squaring to Baker for him to side foot home. The visitors made it 3-1 on 68 minutes as Baker was fouled on the right wing and from the free kick Brown headed back towards Dyson centrally who should have been marked by Gary Stopforth but he was too engrossed with his discussion with the visiting fans behind the goal and the Town manager had an unchallenged run to head home against his former employers. The hosts are not in the position they are for no reason and they mustered a fight back almost immediately. Substitute Andrew Dawson tried his luck from the edge of the box and got a stroke of luck as the ball broke off the boot of Dyson and this deviated the effort away from Woods’ dive to find the net. Seconds after the restart Dawson could have levelled when he somehow managed to head a right wing cross wide of the left hand post when it seemed easier to score. Ramsbottom levelled with six minutes of normal time to play as Dean was allowed too much time and space on the left of the Town box to turn and pick his pass and this ball found Moore who in turn found the net. The closing stages saw McGann send a great ball from the left into the box which had to be turned behind by Adam Berrisford and Francis Mkapata headed the corner over the bar. The hosts had two chances to win the game at the death as first Moore cut inside from the left and Woods had to show good hands to keep the effort out. This was followed by more good work on the left which saw the ball delivered into the box and it was met by Dawson whose header struck the inside of the left hand post before rebounding back into the six yard box and somehow being smuggled away by Town.

It would have been harsh had Town not got something from this game as their performance had been a world away from some of the recent games and shows that even with all the injuries at the minute which saw the team end the game with just one recognised defender playing in the back line, the spirit cannot be denied.

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Vodkat League News Runcorn Town are celebrating after clinching promotion in their inaugural season in the Vodkat League, thanks to a victory over Chadderton at the Pavilions.

The celebrations were put on hold when Town were held to a 2-2 draw at Cheadle on Saturday, but their place in the Premier Division nest season is now confirmed after a 2-0 win over fellow promotion contenders Chadderton and Chairman Tony Riley is delighted at the progress the club has made in such a short space of time.

“It’s been like a fairytale for us this season. We came into the league thinking that if we managed to finish in mid-table we would have done well to consolidate and then look to move on next season. But the boys have done us proud and we’ve been challenging at the top of the league all through the season, and getting promotion to the Premier League in our first season is a dream come true. We have also been delighted at the level of support we have attracted. When we came into the league we made the decision that we would set the admission price at just £2, the idea being that it would help to build up a level of support and that does seem to have worked. If you take the season as a whole, for our home games we have averaged crowds of about 100, and hopefully we will be able to build on that next season in a higher league.

“On top of our league form we had the FA Vase run as well. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed that, and of course we have the added bonus next season of being able to compete in the FA Cup and that is something else we are all looking forward to. Hopefully a good run in the Vase again and the FA Cup too will generate additional income for us. Of course, there will also be two interesting derby clashes with Runcorn Linnets next season to look forward to as well. The two reserve teams met earlier this season, and we had a crowd of about 190 for the game, which is pretty good for a reserve game. So when the two first teams meet, I can imagine us getting a really good gate for those games. The Runcorn Weekly News Sports Editor is a keen Linnets fan, so we can be sure that there will be plenty of publicity in the paper before the game.

“We are developing the facilities at the ground with more seats being installed, and the success this season has given us impetus for next season. We have already been discussing plans for the work we will be doing in the close season to make sure we are ready for the step up at the start of next season. But for now we can just enjoy what we have achieved this season. Never in a million years could we have expected, and not only that it’s been pleasing that we have scored the number of goals we have done. The pace we have up front has paid dividends because defenders struggle with pace. It’s been a great season for the club, and everyone can be very proud of what has been achieved.”

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Town in Photos . . .

Action from the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Ramsbottom United

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How We Compare . . .

St Helens Town Recent Form - last 6 matches All Competitions

Most recent

Home

D

L

L

L

D

L

Away

W

L

L

L

L

D

Collated

L

L

D

L

L

D

Runcorn Linnets Recent Form - last 6 matches All Competitions Home

Most recent L

D

W

W

W

W

Away

L

W

W

W

D

L

Collated

W

W

W

D

L

W

St Helens Town

Runcorn Linnets

Games since...

Games since...

All Competitions

All Competitions

Clean sheet

15

Clean sheet

3

Goal Scored

0

Goal Scored

0

Loss

1

Loss

1

No score draw

65

No score draw

35

Score draw

0

Score draw

2

Win

10

Win

0

Previous Meetings Since 1971/72 All Competitions P W D Home 5 2 0 Away 4 3 0 Collated 9 5 0 Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

L 3 1 4

F 14 11 25

A 10 7 17

GD 4 4 8

Win % 40.00 75.00 55.56

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St Helens Town . . .

St. Helens Town AFC – A Brief History The original Town club was in existence from 1901 to 1928, but George Fryer and a number of local businessmen decided to re-form the club in 1946. They obtained a lease on the Hoghton Road ground in Sutton, adjacent to St. Helens Junction station on the Liverpool to Manchester railway line, took over a local St. Helens Combination team, Derbyshire Hill Rovers, signing a number of players from other clubs and entered the Liverpool County Combination in the 1947/48 season, playing against Everton “A” and Liverpool “A” and several reserve sides from the leading non-league clubs in the Merseyside area. Success was first attained in May 1949 when Runcorn were defeated in the final of the George Mahon Cup, played at the Prescot Cables ground. The following season, 1949/50, Town were elevated to the Second Division of the Lancashire Combination and they were promoted as Champions in only their second season to the First Division, where they ran up against teams such as Ashton United, Nelson and New Brighton, newly relegated from the Football League. Sadly, Town were themselves relegated in their first season and although promoted briefly again in 1955/56, they spent most of their early years in the Second Division.

Improvements were quickly made to the facilities at Hoghton Road in the early years, but in November 1952 the decision was taken to re-locate to the former St. Helens Recs’ rugby league ground at City Road in order to further their ambitions of reaching the Football League. Initially, the move resulted in some encouraging crowds, but the club had a change of heart and returned to Sutton in the October 1953. The ground was purchased and further developed and a social club and floodlights were added in later years.

Town were Champions of the Lancashire Combination in 1971/72 season, losing only one game, finishing 6 points clear of Accrington Stanley. 1975 brought a switch to the Cheshire League, where they remained until the formation of the North West Counties League in 1982 and St. Helens Town are the only club to feature in the top division of that league throughout its existence.

The club’s major achievement was victory in the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987. After a stuttering start in the Preliminary Round with a 5-4 extra-time win over Colne Dynamoes, further home successes over General Chemicals, Wren Rovers, Guisborough Town and Wythenshawe Amateurs, led to wins at Wisbech Town, at home to Rainworth Miners Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

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. . . A Brief History Welfare, away to Falmouth Town (after a replay) and in the away leg at Emley when, following a 1-0 home defeat in the first-leg, a 2-0 win in Yorkshire secured a Wembley Final against local rivals Warrington Town, who were dispatched 3-2 with goals from Phil Layhe (2) and Brian Rigby.

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

Town sold their Hoghton Road ground in 2000 to move in with St. Helens Rugby League Club at their Knowsley Road base. Their farewell appearance at Sutton produced a 1-0 win over Champions Vauxhall Motors and the initial campaign at Knowsley Road got off to a cracking start, with Town leading the table for most of the season, before finishing in a rather disappointing fourth place. Recent seasons have been more of a struggle, perhaps none more so than 2008/09, with the club in the relegation positions until the end of March, when Gary Bickerstaffe was appointed the new manager and the team rallied to win six of the last eight games to pull clear of the relegation zone.

Ninth place was achieved in 2009/10 but Bickerstaffe stepped down at the end of the season and Lee Riley was promoted to manager, with Phil Burton (ex-Prescot Cables) as his assistant. A number of new faces have joined the club, most significantly striker Liam Pearson and goalkeeper Dale Newbrook and this combination of youth and experience is looking to improve on last season’s progress. The Knowsley Road ground was vacated in August 2010, prior to its demolition, necessitating a temporary move to share Ashton Town’s Edge Green Street facilities, but Autumn 2011 will see the club re-locate to the new stadium, sharing once again with Saints rugby league club.

GLYN JONES Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Show your support for St. Helens Town AFC

NEW £200

Special Offer Sponsorship Package:

1 x Match Sponsorship Package £200Programmes, Sponsorship Package Package £200 Sponsorship (8 Match Tickets, Free Half Time Refreshments, Company details in the match programme, announced over PA during the match and referenced in match reports)

1 x Match Ball Sponsorship (4 Match Tickets, Free Programme, Half Time Refreshments, Company details in the match programme, announced over PA during the match and referenced in match reports)

1/2 Page Programme Advert (Advert included in all match day programmes produced during the 2010-11 season and can include artwork production)

Contact John McKiernan on 07976 059 404 for further details A range of other packages are available and include: Individual player sponsorship £50; Programme Adverts from £50, Man of the Match SponsorshipExecutive from Programme £50, Vodkat League Premier Division Player of the Month Awards from £100 Programme of the Year Sponsors Season 2009-10

Season 2010-11

Forthcoming Fixtures Monday 25th April 2011 Premier Division Ashton Athletic v Atherton LR v Colne v Congleton Town v Formby v New Mills v Rossendale United v Silsden v St Helens Town v Winsford United v First Division Atherton Collieries v Chadderton v Daisy Hill v Holker Old Boys v Leek CSOB v Rochdale Town v Runcorn Town v

Runcorn Town Padiham Bacup Borough Barnoldswick Town Alsager Town Bootle Glossop North End Ramsbottom United Squires Gate Runcorn Linnets Stone Dominoes AFC Blackpool Oldham Boro Eccleshall Wigan Robin Park Norton United AFC Darwen AFC Liverpool

Wednesday 27th April 2011 Premier Division Atherton LR v Stone Dominoes Congleton Town v Ramsbottom United Flixton v Bootle Formby v Bacup Borough Glossop North End v Colne New Mills v Barnoldswick Town Silsden v Ashton Athletic St Helens Town v Alsager Town First Division Cheadle Town v Irlam Daisy Hill v Norton United Holker Old Boys v AFC Blackpool Leek CSOB v Eccleshall Oldham Boro v AFC Liverpool Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

v

Wigan Robin Park

Saturday 30th April 2011 Premier Division Alsager Town

v

Ashton Athletic

Atherton LR

v

Winsford United

Colne

v

St Helens Town

Congleton Town

v

Bacup Borough

Formby

v

Flixton

New Mills

v

Silsden

Padiham

v

Runcorn Linnets

Rossendale United

v

Maine Road

Squires Gate

v

Glossop North End

Stone Dominoes

v

Barnoldswick Town

v

Runcorn Town

First Division Abbey Hey AFC Liverpool

v

AFC Blackpool

Atherton Collieries

v

Oldham Boro

Daisy Hill

v

Wigan Robin Park

Eccleshall

v

AFC Darwen

Irlam

v

Rochdale Town

Leek CSOB

v

Holker Old Boys

Norton United

v

Chadderton

Monday 2nd May 2011 Vodkat League Challenge Cup Quarter Finals AFC Blackpool

v

Irlam

Formby

v

Winsford United

Glossop North End

v

New Mills

Vodkat League 1st Div Trophy Quarter Finals AFC Liverpool

v

Norton United

v

Eccleshall

First Division Holker Old Boys

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League News Jenny's Fund Raising Continues A few weeks ago we ran a story on the league website concerning Runcorn Linnets physiotherapist Jenny Leyland, who is undertaking a series of fund raising events to purchase two defibrillators.

Jenny aims to raise the cash to buy one machine for Runcorn Linnets, and one for the Junior club she works with in St Helens, and she reports that since the original story was published, she has received both cash donations and offers of help.

Jenny explained: “At our first home game after the story was published on the League website, the match referee approached me and gave me a donation towards our fund, which was very kind of him and was very much appreciated.

"A few days later I was also contacted by a player at another club in our league, who works for a defibrillator company. He has subsequently been out to show us the various defribs that are available, and has offered to give training free of charge, which will save us a great deal of money.

“I am also delighted to report that the youngsters from Sutton Football Academy, Runcorn Linnets’ junior team, did a mile fun run on Wednesday of last week and raised over £400, which was a fantastic effort. We held another collection for the fund at our last home game of the season against Rossendale United on Saturday, and all donations will be gratefully received."

Reduced Admission Prices At Silsden Silsden have reduced their admission prices for their final home game of the season against Ashton Athletic on Wednesday, 27th April. Entry to the game has been reduced to £1 for adults and, as usual, Juniors have free admission, and as Silsden Press Officer Jim Rosser explained, the gesture is the club's way of expressing gratitude to everyone who has supported them since the first team returned to playing in the twon at the start of the season.

Jim said: "The Club’s officials and players would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported the club in any way this season, on the return to the Keighley Road ground. The club are grateful for the support of ASDA, main sponsors, Angel Telecom, and a host of others who have purchased advertising boards, sponsored players, and so on. Many fans helped last summer with work at the ground and numerous volunteers have been down on Saturday mornings to clear snow or fork the pitch after heavy rain.

"On the playing side, it has only been in the final weeks of the season that the First team has enjoyed any success but the fans stood by the team during the lean spell between October and the beginning of March.

Despite the lure of TV Football, only once this season has the match day attendance fallen below the hundred mark. Although the night match on Wednesday, April 27th, against Ashton Athletic, is an eight o’clock kick off, the younger Juniors will be able to enjoy floodlit football at the ASDA Foundation Stadium without worrying about getting up early for school on the following morning. Silsden’s Hothfield Street Junior School and Aireview Infants do not return from their Easter break until after the May Day Bank Holiday.

"On the night we plan to be selling a bumper edition of the match programme with photographs of all the Silsden Junior Teams."

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Recent Results Wednesday 20th April 2011 Premier Division Atherton LR

0-4 Ramsbottom United Drew(6), Nuttall(17)

HT:0-3 Att:84

Robinson(35) Padiham Telfer(43)

Saunders(81) 1-1 Formby Robinson(39p)

HT:1-1 Att:115

First Division Oldham Boro Connor(11)

3-1 Leek CSOB Miller(29p)

HT:1-1 Att:18

Bradburn(62) Buxton(75) Thursday 21st April 2011 First Division Norton United Allen(26,81) Colclough(56)

3-3 Runcorn Town Bellow(64,76) McShane(71p)

HT:1-0 Att:60

Saturday 23rd April 2011 Vodkat League Challenge Cup Round 3 Replay 4-0 Atherton LR Runcorn Town HT:0-0 McShane(59,90p)

Att:67

Latham(65) Dalton(86) Premier Division 1-1 Formby Alsager Town Marrow(22) Robinson(48) 1-1 Congleton Town Bacup Borough Paul(85) Ledwood(72) Barnoldswick Town 4-1 Squires Gate Hollindrake(48,52) Skelmerdine(86) Smith(71,84) 2-2 Bootle Colne Tinker(45) Hay(18) Tindle(77) Byers(69) Glossop North End 2-1 Winsford United Kharas(85) Brandon(40) Broome(88) Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

HT:1-0 Att:51 HT:0-0 Att:41 HT:0-0 Att:111

Maine Road

0-0 Ashton Athletic

Padiham Telfer(73) Parkes(75) Ramsbottom United Robinson(42) Robinson(42), Moore(84) Runcorn Linnets Prescott(24p) Lloyd(30,63), o.g(83) Stone Dominoes Soame(63) First Division Abbey Hey Hardy(9p)

2-0 Silsden

AFC Darwen

AFC Liverpool Stafford(24,37) Atherton Collieries Williams(11) Shanley(76) Daisy Hill Hastings(8) Greenacre(35) Clynes(75) Norton United Allen(10,48) Oldham Boro

HT:1-1 Att:66 Rochdale Town HT:0-1 Att:217

3-3 St Helens Town McGann(22) Baker(61) Dyson(67) 2-4 Rossendale United Burke(67) Doolan(74) 1-2 New Mills Meakin(8p,14) 1-2 Chadderton Kremner(48) Edwards(72) 0-2 Cheadle Town Brookes(60p) Roberts(81) 2-0 Eccleshall 2-1 Leek CSOB Williams(36) 3-3 Irlam Palmer(7) Butters(47) Kelim(85p) 2-4 Wigan Robin Park McNally(53p,88p,89) Rimmer(90) 0-4 AFC Blackpool Waddington(40) Fawcett(70) Brown(75), Baird(85) 0-3 Holker Old Boys M.Kewley(78) Hubbold(85) S.Kewley(87)

HT:0-0 Att:45 HT:0-0 Att:140 HT:1-1 Att:138

HT:2-0 Att:227 HT:0-2 Att:120 HT:1-0 Att:26 HT:0-0 Att:22 HT:2-0 Att:102 HT:1-0 Att:36 HT:2-2 Att:40

HT:1-0 Att:16 HT:0-1 Att:20

HT:0-0 Att:20

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Stat Attack . . . . at St Helens Town

Previous Meetings

at Runcorn Linnets

NWC-D1

1995-96

CONF

NWC-D1

1996-97

NPL-P

NWC-D1

1997-98

NPL-P

NWC-D1

1998-99

NPL-P

NWC-D1

1999-00

NPL-P

NWC-D1

2000-01

NPL-P

NWC-D1

2001-02

NPL-P

NWC-D1

2002-03

NPL-P

NWC-D1

2003-04

NPL-P

NWC-D1

2004-05

CONF-N

NWC-D1

2005-06

NPL-P

NWC-D1

2006-07

NWC-D2

11/09; 1-3

2007-08

20/11; 4-2

08/05; 5-0

2008-09

02/05; 0-1

17/11; 6-3

2009-10

25/04/2011

2010-11

Vodkat League Premier Division Average Attendances - 23/04/2011 Team

Pld Ave

1

Runcorn Linnets

21

284

2

Glossop North End

20

189

3

New Mills

18

172

4

Silsden

19

147

5

Ramsbottom United

21

146

6

Padiham

20

138

7

Congleton Town

18

135

8

Barnoldswick Town

21

126

9

Winsford United

20

106

10

Colne

19

97

11

Bootle

21

89

12

Rossendale United

18

86

03/10; 2-1

13

St Helens Town

19

78

01/03: 5-3

14

Stone Dominoes

20

68

15

Squires Gate

20

65

St Helens Town Scores First

Rank

Games Played

7

16

Bacup Borough

21

64

St Helens Town Wins

5

17

Maine Road

21

62

Draws

0

18

Flixton

20

60

Runcorn Linnets Wins

2

19

Formby

18

56

St Helens Town Goals

23

20

Atherton LR

18

54

Runcorn Linnets Goals

13

21

Alsager Town

20

48

Percentage Town Wins

71.43

22

Ashton Athletic

20

42

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat Advert

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Date Opponents Venue 07/08/10 Alsager Town Away 10/08/10 Winsford United Away 14/08/10 Nostell MW Away 17/08/10 Nostell MW (5-4 Pen) Home 21/08/10 Barnoldswick Town Home 24/08/10 Congleton Town Home 28/08/10 Glossop North End Home 01/09/10 Glossop North End Home 04/09/10 Brodsworth Welfare Home 07/09/10 Bootle Away 11/09/10 Silsden Away 18/09/10 Worsbrough Bridge Ath Home 21/09/10 Formby Away 25/09/10 Glossop North End Away 28/09/10 New Mills Home 02/10/10 Oldham Boro Home 05/10/10 Atherton LR Home 09/10/10 Padiham Away 12/10/10 Maine Road Home 16/10/10 Flixton Home 19/10/10 Formby (2 Own Goals) Home 23/10/10 Rossendale United Away 26/10/10 Squires Gate Away 30/10/10 Glossop North End Home 06/11/10 Alsager Town Away 13/11/10 Winterton Rangers Away 16/11/10 Skelmersdale United Home 20/11/10 Winsford United Home 23/11/10 Stone Dominoes Home 15/12/10 Holbrook Sports Away 03/01/11 Bootle Home 08/01/11 Flixton Away 15/01/11 Rossendale United Home 02/02/11 Tranmere Rovers Home 12/02/11 Barnoldswick Town Away 19/02/11 Ashton Athletic Home 22/02/11 Maine Road Away 01/03/11 Runcorn Linnets Away 05/03/11 Bacup Borough Home 08/03/11 AFC Blackpool Away 12/03/11 New Mills Away 15/03/11 Ramsbottom United Home 19/03/11 Ashton Athletic Away 22/03/11 Stone Dominoes (1og) Away 26/03/11 Atherton LR Away 30/03/11 Squires Gate Home 05/04/11 Colne Home 09/04/11 Bacup Borough Away 12/04/11 Padiham Home 16/04/11 Congleton Town Away 19/04/11 Silsden Home Vodkat League Premier Division 23/04/11 Ramsbottom United Away Programme the Year 25/04/11 Runcorn of Linnets Home Season 2009-10 27/04/11 Alsager Town Home 30/04/11 Colne

Away

Comp League League FAC EPR FAC EPR League League FAC PR FAC PR FAV 1Q League League FAV 2Q League League League FAV 1R League League League League League League League League VLCC 2R FAV 2R LSC 2R League League FAV 3R League League League LSC QF League League League League League VLC 3R League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League

Result 2-1L 2-3W 1-1D 2-2D aet 0-3L 2-3L 1-1D 3-1L aet 8-1W 2-1L 0-3W 4-0W 2-1L 2-4W 2-4L 2-1W 3-0W 1-3W 3-3D 3-2W 4-5L 2-4W 4-0L 1-0W 1-2W AET 0-2W 3-2W AET 0-3L 0-2L 4-0L 1-0W 3-2L 3-3D 2-4L 3-0L 2-1W 0-3W 3-5W 1-1D 5-1L 9-0L 1-5L 1-3W 3-2L 1-0L 1-3L 4-8L 7-1L 2-2D 4-1L 0-3L 3-3D

GK K.Woods K.Woods Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook K.Woods Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook White White White White White White Newbrook Newbrook Newbrook © Newbrook © Newbrook © Newbrook © Newbrook © K.Woods K.Woods K.Woods K.Woods

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3 4 5 Hatton Garnell Faulkner C Hatton1 Garnell1 Faulkner Ka Owens1 Faulkner Garnell Far Garnell Owens Faulkner De Hatton Kay © Faulkner De Evans L.Owens Faulkner Ka Garnell1 Faulkner © Evans Fra Evans Garnell Faulkner1 Ka Evans L.Owens Garnell1 De Evans Garnell Faulkner El Evans Garnell Faulkner Ka Hatton Garnell Faulkner1 Aldr Dyson1 Pearson Aldridge D.W Elias Garnell Faulkner Fra Birch Elias Faulkner Fra Evans Elias Garnell De Evans Elias Faulkner Fra Evans Elias Garnell Bi Evans Elias Garnell Fra Evans Elias Garnell Fra Birch Elias Garnell Fra Fra Birch Kay © Garnell Birch Faulkner Ryder Fra Garnell Ryder Faulkner Ka Morgan Ryder Faulkner Fra Morgan Ryder Faulkner Fra Faulkner1 Farg Morgan Ryder Morgan Ryder Faulkner U Morgan Ryder Faulkner U Morgan Ryder Garnell Aldr Morgan Ryder Faulkner L.O Taylor Ryder Kay © L.O Morgan Ryder Faulkner © Gro Morgan L.Owens Faulkner Aldr Ryder Foy Grogan Wo L.Owens Jarrett Frazer Far Dyson1© Jarrett Morgan Fra Morgan1 Jarrett Faulkner © D.Wo Morgan Kay © Faulkner Gar Morgan Kay © Ryder Gar Morgan Jarrett L.Owens Far Morgan Kay © Jarrett Fra Morgan L.Owens Garnell Ka Morgan L.Owens Garnell Mo Morgan L.Owens Garnell Fra Morgan Anders Garnell Fra Birch L.Owens Garnell Fra Kavanagh L.Owens Garnell Fra Morgan L.Owens Garnell Fraz Morgan L.Owens Birch Fraz Morgan L.Owens Birch Fraz Executive Programme Morgan Frazer © Birch Bro Sponsors Season 2010-11

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Stephens1 Kay © Cliff Pearson Arnold Fargher Frazer ay © Fargher Frazer Pearson1 Arnold Stephens Owens8 rgher Stephens Kay © Pearson Arnold Frazer Dyson9 eakin Stephens Kay © Pearson2 Arnold Fargher Cliff6 eakin Fargher Dyson Arnold Pearson Cliff Stephens3 ay © Fargher Frazer Pearson2 Stephens Dyson D.Woods8 azer Fargher Stephens Pearson Dyson D.Woods Deakin ay © D.Woods Elias Pearson Stephens Frazer L.Owens Arnold2 Cliff2 eakin Stephens3 Kay © Dyson Faulkner Stephens1 Kay © lias Pearson Dyson Deakin Frazer6 ay © Aldridge Stephens Pearson2 Dyson1 D.Woods Cliff11 ridge Stephens Kay © Pearson1 D.Woods1 Dyson Kavanagh10 Woods Garnell Hatton Faulkner Stephens Kay © Mahoney6 Dyson2 Deakin1 Mahoney1 D.Woods9 azer Stephens Kay © Deakin1 azer Stephens Kay © D.Woods1 Mahoney Evans2 eakin Stephens Kay © Pearson2 Kavanagh Cliff Frazer1 Birch1 azer Stephens Kay1 © Pearson Dyson Kavanagh10 irch Stephens Kay © Pearson2 Dyson Frazer D.Woods17 azer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 D.Woods2 Birch Kavanagh3 azer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 D.Woods2 Birch L.Owens3 azer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 D.Woods1 Dyson Ryder azer1 Dyson Ryder Pearson2 D.Woods1 Kavanagh Stephens5 azer Fargher Kay © Pearson Dyson Aldridge Garnell Dyson1 ay © Stephens Fargher Pearson D.Woods Kavanagh9 Dyson1 azer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 Fargher Garnell azer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 Dyson Fargher L.Owens7 gher2 Stephens Kay © Pearson Birch Kavanagh Garnell Uji Frazer Kay © Pearson Odukomaya Birch Kavanagh11 Uji Kay © Fargher Pearson Stephens Odukomaya Garnell ridge Mahoney Kay © Pearson Kavanagh Frazer Deakin6 McGann1 wens Grogan Kay © Dyson Frazer Pearson5 Dyson2 wens Grogan Pearson McGann Frazer Morris3 ogan2 Fargher Morris Pearson1 Dyson Croxton McGann8 ridge Fargher Kay © Pearson1 Croxton1 Frazer Kavangh4 oods Fargher Kay © Croxton Dyson McGann L.Owens rgher Dyson Kay © Pearson Croxton1 Morgan Woods110 Fargher2 azer Foy D.Woods Croxton Pearson Kavangh6 oods1 Foy1 Frazer Pearson1 Dyson1 Croxton Kay4 Dyson1 rdner Foy Frazer Perason Croxton L.Owens rdner Foy Frazer Pearson1 Dyson Brown L.Owens8 rgher Croxton Kay © Pearson Brown Foy Kavanagh11 azer Gardner Brown Pearson1 Foy Croxton Dyson2 McGann2 Dyson1 ay © Gardner Foy Croxton Jarrett oran Brown Frazer McGann1 Dyson Foy Anders4 azer Gardner Brown McGann Dyson Croxton Anders McGann1 azer Gardner Foy Parr Croxton Brown11 McGann2 azer Gardner Foy Dyson Croxton Kavanagh10 Croxton1 azer Brown Foy McGann Grogan Moran10 zer © Gardner Brown McGann1 Croxton1 Foy Moran7 Foy1 zer © Gardner Brown McGann Croxton Dyson8 zer © Gardner Foy McGann Dyson Croxton Kavanagh4 Vodkat League Dyson1 Premier McGann1Division Baker1 own Croxton Foy Mkapata10 Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

14 15 16 17 Burton Owens Deakin6 Williams3 Deakin11 Langley10 Dean Ryder Deakin10 Langley Hatton Cliff11, Ryder D.Woods10 Dyson9 Hatton Frazer, Langley L.Owens Frazer8 D.Woods9 K.Woods Garnell4 Ryder Arnold3 Deakin Arnold6 Cliff Aldridge7 Hatton11,Burton Deakin7 Arnold8 Hatton Aldridge2 Elias5 Hatton11 Pearson Frazer4 Cliff11 Arnold D.Woods10 Hatton Deakin7 Hatton3 Kavanagh Burton Frazer Cliff9 Deakin16 Arnold Frazer Deakin8 Kavanagh Cliff4 Kavanagh6 Hatton Arnold Riley Garnell Cliff6 Kavanagh9 Hatton Dyson6 Arnold Hatton D.Woods11 Cliff Garnell Ryder19 D.Woods11 Kavanagh Cliff6 Ryder8 L.Owens Ryder8 L.Owens Mitchell Cliff9 Kavanagh Ryder5 Cliff Dyson9 Mitchell7 L.Owens5 Kavanagh6 Ryder Fargher11 L.Owens2 Burton Riley L.Owens Stephens2 Mitchell11 Kavanagh6 L.Owens Frazer11 Burton Riley L.Owens10 Kavanagh6 Aldridge Burton Garnell Kavanagh110 Uji6 Burton L.Owens5 Frazer10 Aldridge Burton L.Owens3 Garnell6 Burton Elias L.Owens10 Birch6 Elias11 Frazer L.Owens5 Burton Uji11 Riley Garnell Taylor Burton Riley Garnell6 N.Owens Burton10 Aldridge Garnell Frazer4 L.Owens N.Owens Morris11 Mahoney6 N.Owens Burton N.Owens Pearson3 Frazer11 Kavanagh9 McGann Ryder5 Foy3 Kavanagh L.Owens3 Faulkner11 Burton Newbrook Ryder10 Burton N.Owens Riley D.Woods5 Kavanagh Brown8 Fargher6 Baker11 Riley9 Burton N.Owens Ryder10 Frazer2 Newbrook Burton L.Owens Ryder6 Kavanagh Garnell Mkatapa10 Moran N.Owens White Parr6 Jarrett Mkatapa N.Owens Moran Mkatapa N.Owens L.Owens Kavanagh Mkatapa Birch3 Moran15 N.Owens Mkapata7 Dyson Mkapata8 Newbrook Dyson N.Owens Baker9 Mkapata7 N.Owens Newbrook Baker7 Brown2 Mkapata N.Owens Executive Programme Gardner5 Newbrook Sponsors Season 2010-11

Town Managers 1946 - Present 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. Ex-local boxer George ‘Bold’ Thomas, trainer on matchday bench.

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 Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

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 sone in law, Steve Murfin. Jack’s reign saw the formation of the North West Counties League and Town’s first season was a struggle in the new league’s top flight resulting in a change in mid-term.

1982-84 Peter Rutherford. After the success of Alan Hampson a decade earlier, the Town board returned to South Liverpool again for their next appointment. Peter Rutherford was number two at Holly Park at the time but he also found it hard going in the NWCFL inaugural season and his charges only escaped relegation on a ‘technicality’. Things got a little better the following season and he bowed out just before glory arrived.

1984-87 Alan Wellens had skippered Town’s Lancs Combination title team and went on to become the club’s top appearances holder after making his debut at Great Harwood in 1966. His playing career was ended by a broken leg against Hyde in 1981 at Hoghton Road. Alan went on to Town history with the club’s historic journey to Wembley in 1987 before he and the vast majority of the FA Vase winning side sought pastures new.

1987-92 Alan Aspinall 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 presided over just one season at Hoghton Road before moving on to Leigh RMI. 1993-2002 Having previously been the manager of highly successful local league side ’Furnacemen’s Arms FC’ 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 Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

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, the club decided it could not wait for a repeat and an upsurge in results as the final few weeks of the 2008-09 season unfolded and Town remained rooted in a relegation spot.

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 of the season. 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 resigns in March 2011 due to work commitments and Iain Dyson takes over the managerial reigns.

Many thanks to Jim Barrett and Eric Bond for their input in compiling the information.

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

League News Applications to join the NWCF League The FA have confirmed that the applications from Nelson and Northwich Villa to join our League for next season have been approved.

As previously reported on the League website, both clubs submitted applications to join our League before the deadline of 31st December.

Following receipt of the applications, the League forwarded the details to the FA for verification, and the applications have been confirmed as acceptable to the FA. League Secretary John Deal said: "This decision by the FA means that both applications can now be further processed, by being presented to the Member Clubs at the AGM for with a view to both clubs being elected into the League.

John has also in the past few weeks received enquiries from two prominent Welsh clubs regarding applications to join our League.

John said: "The matter was referred to the FA, and their position is as follows.

"There is an agreement with the FAW that no Welsh clubs will be allowed into the English “pyramid” system. In any case, all applications must be before the cut off date of 31 December.

"Should the FAW change their stance on this, then it may be something to look at in the future but at the present time it would not appear to be likely to happen."

"The FAW did approve the inclusion of Merthyr Town FC in the “pyramid” but that was on the basis that Merthyr Tydfil had been in the English system for many years."

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Half Time Teaser 1

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ACROSS

10 11 12 14 15 16 19 21 23 24

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From Vale to Sheff Utd (5) Speedster winger of Norwich, Newcastle, England B and Montserrat (4,3) Darren ____, Leicester and now Kent middle order allrounder (7) Brighton’s much coveted boss (5) Tennis glamour girl but you need earplugs! (9) Home of Scotland’s 5f Gold Cup (3) American tournament played on Ice (1,1,1) European host city of the 1928 Olympics (9) ____ Folan, sometime Wigan and Hull striker (5) Former Norwich, Huddersfield and Wales striker (7) Beaten by Spurs in the Champions League last 16 (1,1,5) Cricketing brothers Martin and Jeff, actor cousin Russell (5)

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

14

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DOWN 1 City of the Royals and the Chiefs (6) 2 The pinnacle of this sport is the ‘World Series’ (8) 3 One of only two black men to win a Grand Slam singles (4) 4 Striker who won a Premier League medal and 3 Scudettos (6) 5 Preston’s ground (8) 6 ____ Onuora, now coach of Ethiopia (4) 7 City who play at St James Park (6) 13 Youngest member of England’s 66 World Cup side (4,4) 14 Midfielder from Gremio to Porto and now Man Utd (8) 15 ____ Alexandersson of Wednesday and Everton (6) 17 Carlisle boss (6) 18 Austrian who recovered from a drunk driver hit to become tennis world no 1 in 1996 (6) 20 Peruvian City with 3 Premier League clubs (4) 22 Under pressure coach of Leeds Rugby Union (4) Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Tea Break Teasers Q1. Which former Everton player who was on the bench in the 2009 FA Cup final and played eight games for Wolves last term?

Q2. Which former Manchester City & Liverpool player is now one of the most expensive players in Greek football history?

Q3. Who was the last Everton player to be sent off on his Premier League debut?

Q4. Which was the only Country not to lose a game in the 2010 World Cup Finals?

Q5. Which player won the Champions League final in 2009 & 2010 with two different clubs?

Q6. Which football club links Joe Cole & Jermaine Beckford?

Q7. Which team has finished second in the English top flight more than any other?

Q8. Who are the only team to have played in a Champions League final never having ever won their domestic title?

Q9. Which two South American players are the only ones to have scored over 50 Premier League goals?

Q10. Who is the only player to score for five different clubs in the Champions League?

Q11. Which Everton player wanted his ashes scattered at Goodison Park but his son donated them to the Football Museum because for the stadiums uncertain future?

Q12. Who is the only player to have played for England with a surname beginning with “Z�?

Q13. Which player had 21 shots on goal during the 2010 World Cup Finals but never scored a goal?

Q14. Which player has made the most appearances for England without appearing in either a World Cup or European Championship squad?

Q15. Which two players played against Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup final later signed for them?

1) Segundo Castillo 2) Albert Riera 3) Iain Turner 4) New Zealand 5) Samuel Eto 6) Chelsea 7) Manchester United 8) Bayer Leverkusen 9) Carlos Tevez & Gus Poyet 10) Hernan Crespo with Parma, Lazio, Inter Milan, AC Milan & Chelsea 11) Tommy Lawton 12) Bobby Zamora 13) Frank Lampard 14) Mick Channon 46 caps between 1972-7 15) Paul Koncheskey & Yossi Benayoun Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

St Helens Town News . . .

Toyota Helping Town’s Drive for Success St Helens Town Football Club is delighted to announce that Johnsons Toyota Liverpool will become the club’s main sponsor for the forthcoming season and this will see the company’s Toyota brand emblazoned on the new Town kit throughout 2010-11.

Club Chairman John McKiernan said, ‘I am delighted that we’ve been able to develop our partnership with Johnsons and this builds upon the great support they offered St Helens Town throughout last season’.

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool, the Bootle based car dealership, were initially the club’s Executive Programme Sponsors for season 2009-10 and extended their support courtesy of a number of match and match ball sponsorships along with the provision of a branded car which formed part of the club’s Player of the Month awards. Johnsons were also extremely generous in their support of Town’s Bert Trautmann anniversary celebrations in November 2009.

John McKiernan said, ‘We worked extremely hard to generate a huge amount of sponsorship last season and gave considerable coverage to a large number of new sponsors via our printed and online matchday programmes, club website and matchday activities. We are hopeful that last year’s efforts will provide a firm foundation for future seasons.

“Johnsons Toyota Liverpool have given the club a record breaking financial boost during tough economic times and we feel that it is in part a recognition that St Helens Town can play a leading role in promoting their brand across the North West.’

He added, ‘Johnsons will be undertaking a number of promotional events and product placement activities across St Helens during the coming year and St Helens Town will be prominent throughout these. It’s a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of the club prior to our arrival at the new stadium in August 2011!’

Gareth Shone, General Sales Manager at Johnsons Toyota Liverpool said, ‘Our work with St Helens Town last season proved an ideal opportunity to expand our brand across Merseyside and we are looking forward to developing and extending our partnership so that both ourselves and the club will continue to see significant benefits’.

He added, ‘We have some exciting plans for the coming season which will raise the club’s profile along with additional sponsorship monies.’

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Town Club Shop

St Helens Town Merchandise is now available on home match days including: Replica Shirts/Kit Polo Shirts Mugs (glass and ceramic), Drinks Coasters, Mouse Mats, Fridge Magnets Calendars, Key Rings, Money Boxes, Beanie Hats & Caps Please note some items are limited stock but can be ordered (7-10 days)

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

St. Helens Town Football Club new for the 2010-11 season

We are looking for new members of our

100+ Club £5 per month £250 Prize Fund Pay your £5 each month and receive a number between 1 and 100+ keep this for the season and watch out for the winning number drawn on the final Saturday of each month.

If we get more members half the money collected will become the monthly prize 200 members = £500 prize fund.

If you’d like to join or become an agent (selling to friend, family and workmates), see any club official today or call Executive Programme Andy Langley on 07850 740 894Sponsors

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Season 2010-11

St. Helens Town AFC Main Sponsor: Johnsons Toyota Liverpool Away Kit Sponsor: Muni-Serv Specialist Vehicle Solutions Executive Programme Sponsor: Mater Valet Playing Kit & Leisurewear Partner: Elite Industrial Supplies Ltd Honorary Presidents: Bill Foulkes & Bert Trautmann OBE Honorary Vice President: Jim Barrett Chairman: John McKiernan (07976 059404) Vice Chairman: Glyn Jones Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695) Full Committee: John McKiernan, Jeff Voller, Jim Barrett, Gordon McDonald, Ste Ball, Andy Langley, Steve Leather, Chris Ford and Glyn Jones.

Co-opted Committee Members: Iain Dyson and John Fletcher Limited Company Directors: Jim Barrett and Gordon McDonald Trustees: John McKiernan, William G Noctor and Eric Bond Commercial/Promotions Manager: Andy Langley (07850 740 894) Club Shop: Chris Ford Programme Editor: Jeff Voller Programme Contributors: Glyn Jones and John McKiernan Club Historian: Glyn Jones Club Manager: Iain Dyson Assistant Manager: John Fletcher Player Coach: Iain Dyson Kitman: Brian Humphris Club Physiotherapists: Will Prescott and Michelle Wall Head of Junior Section: Steve Leather – 07788 762336 Record Appearances: Allan Wellens Record Goal Scorer: Steve Pennington Club Honours 1949 George Mahon Trophy Winners 1951 Lancs Comb Division 2 Champions 1972 Lancs Combination Champions 1973 Bass Charrington Cup Winners 1978 St Helens Hospital Cup Winners 1979 St Helens Comb Division 1 Runners Up 1979 St Helens Hospital Cup Runners Up 1980 St Helens Comb Division 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 Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Record Attendances 4000 at Hoghton Road v Manchester City 1723 at Knowsley Road v FC United of Manchester 9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (Cup Final 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 Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year 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 Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League News Wigan Robin Park recently received some good news when they secured a further extension to their lease of the Robin Park Arena. The Arena is a multi-purpose stadium that is managed by the Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust (WLCT). The WLCT was formed in 2003 and is a charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support Leisure and Cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over 300,000 residents across the Wigan Borough. It has been the home of Wigan Robin Park Football Club since their formation in 2005 and after a recent meeting with Martin Turner – Senior Duty Manager at the centre - the club is delighted to announce that they have secured another two years football for the first and reserve teams at the Arena.

Chairman/Manager John Neafcy said: “It is no secret that we are looking for a ground of our own and we are currently working with the council to achieve this and we hope to have some positive news in the very near future. However until we accomplish this goal we will continue playing at Robin Park Arena enjoying the incredible facilities that it provides us with.”

“The meeting was very constructive and Robin Park Arena has agreed to help the club in every possible way.

Martin put forward some very positive ideas and we look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship”, said John.

“Wigan Robin Park FC are a well run football club and have had very good success in their early history of the club. WLCT will continue with our support to help the club where possible and we wish them all the best in the forthcoming season,’’ said Martin.

John thanked his committee for attending this meeting - which was very important to the club - and the vibes he is getting from new members Steve Halliwell and Neil Swift are very promising as they are continually coming forward with some very good ideas as the club continues to move forward at a rapid rate.

The club’s recently-held race night - as well as being very entertaining and well-organised - raised over £500 for the development fund. John said: “I’d like to say a very big thank you to everyone that attended especially the sponsors who funded each individual race. As always we had some great fun but I better not say too much on that matter!”

With a quiz night and sponsored bike ride planned for the near future along with a host of new fundraising incentives for next season planned, the committee is keen to keep the club’s name and image out in the public domain. The club has also recently started a weekly newsletter that is sent out to over 100 subscribers and John is extremely happy with the way it is going: “I’d like to thank Andy Vaughan who had the idea and puts a lot of time into producing it.

“Everybody at the club appreciates the work he puts in, and our sponsors have been very impressed with it as it shows them that we don’t just take their money and forget about them. Coupled with the excellent programme we produce, it shows that we take ourselves seriously and produce a professional product. We now have over twenty companies sponsoring us in one way or another with others looking to get on board for next season.

“Add in the donations we get from our spectators and members and our match day fundraising we are doing everything we can to put the club on a firm footing.”

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Town in Photos . . .

Action from the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Ramsbottom United

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

In Other News . . .

Evo_Stick Ups & Downs - As of Saturday 23rd April Premier Division Promoted: FC Halifax Town (champions) Play-offs: FC United of Manchester, Colwyn Bay, Bradford Park Avenue and one of North Ferriby United (5th) or Buxton (6th) Relegated: Retford United, Ossett Town and two of Hucknall Town (20th), Burscough (19th), Frickley Athletic (18th) or Nantwich Town (17th) First Division North Promoted: One of Chester FC (1st) or Skelmersdale United (2nd) Play-offs: Chorley, AFC Fylde, Curzon Ashton and one of Chester FC (1st) or Skelmersdale United (2nd) Relegated: Leigh Genesis and Ossett Albion First Division South Promoted: Barwell (champions) Play-offs: Newcastle Town, Rushall Olympic and two of Brigg Town (4th), Grantham Town (5th), Sutton Coldfield Town (6th) or Kidsgrove Athletic (7th) Relegated: Spalding United and Shepshed Dynamo

Vodkat LeagueLine Advert

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League News New Mills Clinch The Premier Division Championship Congratulations to New Mills, who clinched the Premier Division championship and promotion to the Evo-Stik League this afternoon with a 2-1 victory at Stone Dominoes. After being the nearly men in the past two seasons, the Millers have finally achieved their goal, and their latest success marks a further step forward on top of the progress they have made since joining our league in 2004.

Club Secretary Duncan Hibbert said: “After finishing runners-up for the last two seasons, it's definitely a question of third time lucky and it's a fitting celebration as we have achieved promotion in our 125th anniversary year. Whilst a lot of neutrals and the local media have used the phrase “Champions-elect“ over the last few weeks, I can assure everybody that nobody's said anything of sort at Church Lane. It's a boring cliche but Ally and the players have simply taken one game at a time and crossed off the matches and three points as they've secured them.

Ramsbottom should be congratulated on their performances this season and for maintaining their results, particularly in a very busy schedule in April. Midweek games at our level of football can be very difficult especially when work commitments have to be taken into consideration, so Rammy should be commended for maintaining the pressure on us.

“The management team of Ally, Nev, Jim, physio Claire and all the players deserve our considerable praise and thanks for a memorable season. They should all be rightly proud of their efforts since last July. Although a number of trialists were fielded, pre-season didn't go particularly well as we scored just two goals in five games, but credit to Ally who immediately addressed the issue and thankfully we started the Premier Division campaign exceptionally well. In fact nobody knew it at the time, but the away victory at Ramsbottom in the third week of the season ultimately proved to be a crucial one. Some of the football in the early part of the season was wonderful to watch and not only did we collect victories, it was done in the perceived “correct“ manner of fast flowing, attractive passing football which set the standard for the season.

“Our low point of the season saw consecutive 3-0 League defeats at Maine Road and Winsford in October and this was followed shortly after by a disappointing exit at the first hurdle of the FA Vase at the hands of Ashington. The wintry High Peak weather decimated the December fixtures but credit to the players who maintained their fitness and hit the ground running after the enforced break. Whilst the passing football was compromised by the heavy pitches, it was pleasing to see the players showing a different side to their characters as they were prepared to scrap and battle for the three points. March was the make or break month with a packed schedule of nine matches, four of which were midweek away fixtures. An outstanding return of 22 points from a possible 27 saw us open up a gap over Rammy and Winsford.

“One particular decisive Tuesday night saw us win 2-1 at Colne and Glossop won by the same scoreline at The Riverside Stadium. We knew then that it was in our hands and that's all you can ask for in the closing weeks of the season. We will miss many of the people around the North West Counties circuit and we wish everybody the best of luck. The playing standards in The Premier Division increase every year and it is a credit to the League that the teams that pipped us in the last two seasons, AFC Fylde and Newcastle Town, have continued to flourish in The Evo-Stik Leagues.

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Match Report Tuesday 19th April 2011 Vodkat League, Premier Division St Helens Town 0-3 Silsden 0-1; Kevin Ryan 19 Minutes, 0-2; Kevin Ryan 34 Minutes, 0-3; Kevin Ryan 90+1 Minutes.

Silsden gained revenge for Town’s early season victory at Keighley Road with a comprehensive victory over the hosts at Edge Green Street but the scoreline did not truly reflect the game. As has happened in the previous few matches an early spell of Town pressure saw the hosts create numerous good openings but fail to augment this period with a goal their forward play deserved. A series of corners culminated with Franny Foy’s delivery from the right being partially cleared to Peter Birch and with his back to goal he helped the ball back over his head and into the danger zone, Iain Dyson arrived and looked certain to score but he could not direct his effort on goal. Moments later another corner saw Foy again deliver and Lee Owens met it with his header going just over the crossbar. At the other end a Silsden counter attack saw Kevin Ryan break away from the Town backline and his effort from the edge of the box being saved by Kevin Woods before the rebound broke to Jordan Barker and Woods was again on hand to make a vital intervention. Town conceded a spot kick after 18 minutes when Woods felled James Gill as he attempted to deal with a backpass and Gill dusted himself down to take the set piece but Woods saved the initial effort the rebound broke back to Gill and his header went high into the air but Town failed to deal with it and Kevin Ryan looped a header home.

With a quarter of the match played Town threatened again from a corner this time James Croxton’s centre from the left almost went directly into the net with stopper Martin Foulger clawing it away under the crossbar and Foy’s delivery from the other side saw Owens again just fail to get his effort on target. As the first half entered it’s latter stages the visitors doubled their lead with the aid of a massive stroke of luck, the kind which seems to have deserted Town in recent times. Tim Hird tried his luck from 20 yards and his effort was going miles wide of the left hand upright, the shot however turned into a perfect ball for Ryan who controlled the ball fired into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The visitors also had chances when Joe Jalil sent a left wing cross towards Ryan and his free header was well saved

by Woods before Jalil drew a 1on1 save from Woods. The half ended with Town on the attack as James Gardner latched onto a through ball before seeing Foulger turn his effort from the edge of the box around the left hand upright.

A Foy corner from the right in added on time again caused problems for the visitors as Owens again won the aerial battle but could not find the target.

The start of the second stanza saw the hosts again dominate possession but it took until after the hour mark for a opening of any note, Ian Frazer linked with Karl Aldridge on the right wing with the latter sending a dangerous cross into the box which Alex Mugan had to be alert to remove too safety. Moments later Foy tried his luck from 25 yards and Foulger looked to have it covered until a vicious bobble saw him have to quickly adjust to claim the effort. Silsden looked to the long ball to counter the Town pressure and a route one move almost saw them net a third when a long kick by Foulger bounced kindly for Ryan but his shot at the keeper when well placed. Ryan then turned provider when he found Jalil but his header into the ground bounced high over the crossbar off the parched surface. Che Morgan almost made it an interesting final quarter of an hour in the contest when he went on a surging run from the left flank beating several defenders before cutting inside and shooting from the edge of the area with Foulger being alert to hold the effort. In added on time a break down the right saw Silsden round of the scoring, Arley Barnes linked with Ryan and he powered home on the front post to complete his hat-trick and send Town to defeat.

St Helens Town; K.Woods, Aldridge (Brown 81), Morgan, L.Owens (Kavanagh 46), Birch, Frazer (c), Gardner (Baker 78), Foy, McGann, Dyson, Croxton. Subs Not Used; Mkapata, N.Owens.

Silsden; Foulger, Nettleton (C), Barraclough, Hird, Lamb, Mugan, Gill (Kershaw 67), Hanson, Ryan, Barker, Jalil (Barnes 82). Sub Not Used; McNulty.

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Gavins Butchers 21 Baldwin Street, St Helens Merseyside WA10 2RS

Suppliers of Quality Meat Gavins Butchers Muni Serv Gavins Butchers Muni Serv

Telephone: 01744 451167

Muni-Serv Head Office, Unit 2 Broughton Way, Halebank, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 8YX Telephone 0151 420 9810 FaxLeague 0151Premier 420 9811 Vodkat Division Programme of the Year Web www.muniserve.com Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Around The Grounds Booth Street - Congleton Town As the season winds down we visit one of the best grounds in the Vodkat League Premier Division as the fixture list takes us to Congleton Town’s Booth Street ground. Hidden in a cul-de-sac in a leafy Cheshire suburb this is one of my favourite away grounds.

Upon entering the ground there is a recently resurfaced small car park for home and selected visiting officials. On your left is a portakabin which houses the half time hospitality for visiting officials and to your right is the recently renovated clubhouse, which is amply sized and serves the usual beverages in the plush surroundings. Upon exiting the clubhouse the snack bar is off to your right before the protected walkway from the dressing rooms to the pitches for the players and match officials.

The viewing areas and the pitch are off to your left on the entrance to the ground via the car park gates and if you enter via the turnstile you will be in the bottom right hand corner of the terraced area with the pitch running lengthwise away from you. If you advance forwards towards the goal at the opposite end of the ground the first thing you encounter on your left is a hut type structure which sells the matchday programme and the hosts badges.

The first stand you come to on your journey is a covered terraced stand which has plenty of room for the hardy few who have ventured out in the sunshine of this April afternoon for an end of season encounter. This is quickly followed by a superb main stand which holds in the region of 200 seats and is one of the better seated areas in the league.

Advancing pass these structures towards the far end of the ground there is hard standing but no cover save for the small dugout like plexi-glass structure which is for disabled supporters. Behind the goal at the far end is again an uncovered area as is the opposite touchline to the main stand side.

We now find ourselves back at the turnstile entrance end of the ground and this houses a final covered terrace which is a bit rickety but is still better than some of the stands we have stood in this term. All in all this ground is full of character and has seen massive improvements made in recent times making it one of the best in the Division.

Overall Score 9/10

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

AMC SCAFFOLDING CONTRACTORS 144, Alfred St, St. Helens Merseyside WA10 1LR

Commercial, Industrial & Domestic Supply - Deliver - Erect CISRS, CHAS, Safety & Access Free Estimates - All Areas Covered Very Competitive Rates

Call today for a no obligation quote

Tel: 01744 636458

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Town Stats 2010-11 23/04/2011 Player Aldridge Anders Arnold Baker Baker Birch Brown Burton Cliff Croxton Deakin Dyson Elias Evans Fargher Faulkner Foy Frazer Gardner Garnell Gore Grogan Hatton Jarrett Kavanagh Kay Langley Mahoney McGann Mitchell Mkatapa Moran Morgan Morris Newbrook Odukomaya Owens Parr Pearson Riley Ryder Stephens Taylor Uji White Williams Woods Woods Own Goals Totals

Karl Paul Liam Gavin Scott Peter Karl Phil Paul James Mike Iain John Mark Mike Luke Franny Ian James Dave Ray Mike Brian Daniel Mike Ben Mike Daniel Chris Phil Francis Rafael Che Andrew Dale Josh Lee Michael Liam Lee Liam Marc Ricky Makoto Tom Aaron Daley Kevin

App 22 1 3 0 1 13 8 0 2 17 4 26 14 7 13 18 15 28 10 19 4 6 4 5 8 27 0 2 13 0 0 1 18 1 27 2 13 1 25 0 10 15 1 2 5 0 11 7 429

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

League Sub 0 1 1 0 2 1 3 1 6 0 4 3 1 1 2 1 1 7 1 3 0 0 1 0 13 1 1 1 1 2 6 3 0 1 0 0 7 1 2 0 8 3 0 0 0 1 8 0 99

Gls 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 2 12 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 9 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 10 0 3 73

App 6 0 3 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 3 6 6 4 8 9 1 8 1 8 3 0 1 0 3 12 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 12 0 4 0 12 0 7 10 0 0 1 0 3 0 143

Cups Sub 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 37

Gls 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 29

App 28 1 6 0 1 14 9 0 4 18 7 32 20 11 21 27 16 36 11 27 7 6 5 5 11 39 0 3 13 0 0 1 24 1 39 2 17 1 37 0 17 25 1 2 6 0 14 7

Total Sub 2 1 3 1 2 1 3 1 9 0 8 6 2 1 2 1 1 10 1 3 0 0 3 0 17 1 1 2 1 2 6 3 0 2 0 0 12 1 2 1 8 3 0 2 0 1 10 0

572

136

Gls 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 4 3 13 0 0 4 3 2 1 0 3 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 9 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 24 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 11 0 3 102

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League Premier Div Results Table Up to 23/04/2011 Atherton LR

Bacup Borough Barnoldswick T Bootle Colne

Congleton Town Flixton 2-2

1-1

Formby 0-2

0-2

Glossop NE 2-4

0-1

Maine Road

0-2

0-3

New Mills

1-0

Padiham

1-3

2-3

Ramsbottom Utd

2-2

2-0

Rossendale Utd

1-3

3-0

Runcorn Linnets

1-3

1-1

Silsden

3-0

0-4

Squires Gate

1-3

2-1

St Helens Town

4-1

0-1

Stone Dominoes

0-4

0-5

Alsager Town

Ashton Athletic

Winsford United

1-0

2-3

7-1

2-2

3-0

1-3

1-2

1-0

1-0

0-4

0-2

1-3

0-3

1-1

2-1

1-3

1-1

3-0

0-4

1-1

1-1

2-1

2-2

0-1

0-1

1-2

3-1

0-0

3-0

1-0

3-0

0-1

2-1

0-0

4-1

3-1

2-1

1-3

2-0

1-1

2-1 10-4

1-1

3-0

1-1

1-1

0-3

1-1

4-0

1-3

0-2

2-1

3-3

2-2

0-0

3-2

3-2

2-3

4-0

0-2

1-4

0-2

2-0

2-1

0-3

3-1

2-0

1-2

4-1

2-1

2-1

3-2

1-0 3-2

2-3

2-2

1-2 4-3

5-1

1-0

4-0 4-2

1-3

3-2

1-1 1-0

2-2

3-0 0-3

1-2

0-2

2-1

2-0

4-1

2-2

2-2

2-2

1-1

2-1

0-3

2-1

2-4

1-2

9-0

1-1

0-1

1-3

1-4

2-2

1-2

2-0

2-2

3-0

3-1

2-0

4-0

7-1

4-0

2-1

0-1 0-3

2-0

1-1

2-1 1-2

2-1

1-0

2-2

3-3 3-0

3-0

4-0

2-3

3-1

5-0

1-1

5-1

4-4

1-2

2-4

1-2

2-4

2-1

1-1

0-3

0-2

1-1

2-5

0-2

1-4

1-1

3-2 2-3

4-0

Away Win

1-2

1-2

1-3

0-3 1-3

4-2 2-2

0-3

5-0

0-0 0-1

3-0 2-1

0-5 1-0

4-2

0-1 4-0

3-5 0-3

1-1 2-3

3-3

2-0

1-3 2-1

0-0

1-4 0-2

1-5

0-1

1-2 0-1

2-1

2-1 1-3

2-2

2-4

0-2 3-5

2-4

2-1 3-1

0-5 1-2 3-0

3-3 1-3 0-2

1-4

4-4

4-1

1-1

2-4

3-0

1-1

1-4 5-1

2-0

0-1

1-2

0-3

1-1

1-1

3-0 0-1

1-0

1-3

1-1

1-1

5-3

1-3

3-2

2-1

2-1

1-1

4-1

2-0

1-2

0-2

0-0

1-1

3-1

2-0

1-2

3-0

1-1

2-1

2-3

1-1 0-0

0-3

1-0

1-0

1-0

2-4

3-2 3-2

4-1

2-0

5-2

5-1

3-0 0-0

2-2

3-0

3-1

1-4

0-1 2-1

0-1

1-0

3-4

2-2 0-4

2-2

0-0

2-4

1-3 1-2

2-1

1-2

2-4

2-0

4-1

1-1

1-0

0-3

1-3 1-2

2-1

4-1

0-2

2-0 0-3

1-2

1-2

0-1

2-1

0-1

4-0

2-0

2-2 1-2 2-1

0-2

2-2

6-1 1-1

4-2

3-0 1-2

1-0 3-3

1-0

1-2

2-1

1-2

2-1

0-5

2-4 1-1

1-1

2-2

3-0

2-2

0-3

Ashton Athletic 3-0 2-2

0-4

2-4

Atherton LR

3-1

1-0

1-4

Bacup Borough 3-1

5-0

2-4

Barnsoldwick Town

Alsager Town

Bootle

3-1 3-3

2-2

1-1

1-2

2-1

1-4 8-0

2-1

3-2

2-1 1-2

Colne Flixton 0-1 4-2

2-3

3-1

2-0

1-2

1-0 2-2

0-4

Formby 0-0 1-3

3-2

3-3

Glossop North End 4-0 2-3

6-0

2-2

Maine Road 2-0

2-0

Ramsbottom United 2-4

0-2

1-3

New Mills

Rossendale United

2-2 2-1

Congleton Town

Padiham

Runcorn Linnets Silsden

2-3

3-2

1-0

4-8

1-3

4-5

1-0

2-1

1-0 0-3

1-1

3-2

1-1

1-2

6-2 3-0

0-5 3-0

2-3 3-1

2-1 7-1

2-3

1-3 0-2

2-1

1-2 4-1

2-1

0-5 2-4

3-0

1-1

Squires Gate St Helens Town

3-2 2-0

5-0 5-1

4-1 2-1

3-6 3-0

Stone Dominoes Winsford United

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

League Standings Vodkat League Premier Division Table - 23/ 04/2011 Pos

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

New Mills (C) (P)

39

31

4

4

97

36

61

97

2

Ramsbottom United

40

28

3

9

93

39

54

87

3

Winsford United

40

24

5

11

94

49

45

77

4

Bootle

40

20

9

11

76

54

22

69

5

Barnoldswick Town

39

19

10

10

79

54

25

67

6

Padiham

40

19

10

11

80

60

20

67

7

Colne

39

19

9

11

81

70

11

66

8

Congleton Town

39

18

8

13

67

56

11

62

9

Squires Gate

40

18

8

14

72

68

4

62

10

Atherton LR

39

18

6

15

71

64

7

60

11

Bacup Borough

39

16

10

13

65

48

17

58

12

Maine Road

41

15

9

17

69

63

6

54

13

Runcorn Linnets

40

15

8

17

62

74

-12

53

14

Glossop North End

39

14

9

16

64

50

14

51

15

Flixton

40

13

8

19

76

88

-12

47

16

Silsden

39

12

8

19

40

71

-31

44

17

St Helens Town

39

13

5

21

73

105

-32

44

18

Formby

39

9

9

21

58

91

-33

36

19

Stone Dominoes

39

10

6

23

53

86

-33

36

20

Alsager Town

39

9

7

23

49

86

-37

34

21

Rossendale United (R)

40

5

11

24

57

99

-42

26

22

Ashton Athletic (R)

39

5

6

28

44

109

-65

21

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League Division One Results Table Up to 23/04/2011

1-2

Atherton Collieries 1-2

Chadderton 1-2

Cheadle Town 3-3

Daisy Hill

0-2

Eccleshall

1-1

0-4

Holker Old Boys

5-0

1-2

Irlam

2-1

0-1

Leek CSOB

4-2

1-2

Norton United

0-0

3-2 10-2

4-5

Oldham Boro

3-1

2-1

Rochdale Town

1-1

Abbey Hey

4-0

AFC Blackpool AFC Darwen

AFC Liverpool Ashton Town

0-0 5-1

3-1

3-0

3-2

3-3

0-3

Wigan Robin Park

2-2 1-1

4-0

Runcorn Town

1-0

1-2

3-1

0-2

2-3

4-0

1-1

1-2

2-0

2-1

1-2

1-4

AFC Blackpool 1-1

Abbey Hey 1-0

0-3

3-0

1-0

1-1

4-1

3-1

1-0

2-1

1-2

AFC Darwen 1-0

2-1

0-2

1-1

0-3

2-2

3-1

0-8

1-2

0-1

2-0

3-1

2-0

1-0

7-0 1-0

0-3

1-6

AFC Liverpool 1-1

1-0

5-0

1-5

1-2

1-1

1-2

0-1

2-4

4-3

3-2

3-4

2-2

0-2

1-0

2-5

1-1

1-1

1-3

0-4

1-1

4-5

3-1

1-0

5-1

0-4

3-3

2-2

2-3

3-4

1-3

1-1

2-0

4-3

2-0

3-2

1-3

0-1

2-1

1-3

2-2

0-3

2-2

1-1

1-5

2-3

3-2 2-1

6-1

5-1

2-1

1-2

2-2

6-3

4-2

0-7

6-1

3-0

3-1

2-2

6-0

3-0

2-2

2-1

4-3

0-0

0-3

1-3

2-1

4-1

8-0

1-2

1-2

4-0 1-2

0-3

3-6

4-2

5-2

1-1

1-3

1-2

1-1

4-0

4-0

0-3

3-2

2-3

2-2

3-2

3-2

1-4

0-1

1-2

1-2

2-3

1-0

3-0

1-2

2-1

0-0

0-2

3-3

5-4

2-0

2-1

4-0

4-1

1-6 0-1

1-3

9-1

6-1

2-1 0-0

1-2

2-2

5-1

1-0

1-2 2-3

2-1

0-4

2-0

3-2

0-0 1-0

0-1

2-2

6-0

4-3

0-6 3-3

1-1

5-0

1-2

2-0

3-2

0-0

4-0

Ashton Town 0-2

0-2

2-2

2-1

1-2

1-1

1-2

4-1

3-2

1-0

1-3

2-1

2-3

5-2

Atherton Collieries 3-1

1-2

1-2

1-1

2-3

0-3

2-3

2-1

1-0

3-1

Chadderton 1-3 0-1

1-1

Cheadle Town 1-4 2-3

1-0

Daisy Hill 1-0

1-1

Eccleshall 2-2 2-2

3-1

Holker Old Boys 4-1

1-2

2-1

1-0

Irlam

2-2

0-2

0-2

4-1

Leek CSOB

3-0

0-4

0-1

Norton United

4-3

2-4 4-0

1-1

Oldham Boro

2-2

2-1

5-0

1-0

Rochdale Town

5-1

1-4

1-2

Runcorn Town

0-3

3-0

Wigan Robin Park

0-1

0-4

1-1

2-1

2-1

2-1

3-0

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

3-3

0-2

2-4

3-1

2-1

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

League Standings . . .

Vodkat League Division One Table - 23/04/2011 Pos

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

AFC Blackpool (P)

31

26

2

3

91

29

62

80

2

Runcorn Town (-3) (P)

31

23

6

2

105

39

66

72

3

AFC Liverpool

31

18

6

7

62

32

30

60

4

Chadderton

32

18

5

9

62

45

17

59

5

Atherton Collieries

32

17

5

10

68

44

24

56

6

Holker Old Boys

30

16

6

8

68

38

30

54

7

Wigan Robin Park (-3)

31

17

4

10

62

44

18

52

8

Norton United

31

15

6

10

60

52

8

51

9

Cheadle Town

32

12

7

13

48

59

-11

43

10

Leek CSOB

31

11

8

12

51

52

-1

41

11

Eccleshall (-3)

30

14

2

14

60

65

-5

41

12

Irlam

32

12

5

15

55

68

-13

41

13

AFC Darwen

32

9

10

13

37

59

-22

37

14

Abbey Hey

33

6

6

21

48

69

-21

24

15

Ashton Town

33

5

8

20

36

81

-45

23

16

Daisy Hill

31

5

6

20

46

90

-44

21

17

Oldham Boro

31

5

5

21

36

71

-35

20

18

Rochdale Town

32

1

9

22

42

100

-58

12

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Saint’s Alive . . .

Enjoying some quality time together after their years in the White House, Bill and Hillary Clinton are driving through Little Rock, Arkansas. They are running low on fuel and pull into a convenient gas station to fill up. Hillary immediately recognises the attendant as a former high school sweetheart from years back, and mentions this to Bill. “Just think,” says Bill. “If you had married him instead of me, you would have been the wife of a gas station attendant, and not First Lady to the President of the United States.”

Hillary smiles. “Bill, you poor thing” she says. “If I had married him, he would have become President.”

I had to part company with my masseur yesterday; he kept rubbing me up the wrong way.

George W. Bush visits Israel and is on a walkabout in Jerusalem when he spots a very old man with a long, grey beard, dressed in dirty robes, and carrying a staff. George taps him on the shoulder. “Excuse me, but aren’t you Moses?” he asks. The old man ignores him, so George tries again, speaking louder. “Excuse me, aren’t you Moses?” Again the old man ignores him, so George tries a third time, even louder. “I said, aren’t you Moses?” By now very irritated, the old man finally responds. “Yes I am, damn you.” he snaps. “And the last I time I spoke to a flaming Bush, I spent the next forty years in the desert!”

Heard about the pet hamster that died in tragic circumstances? It fell asleep at the wheel.

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are on a hiking holiday in the Peak District and have set up camp for the night. Holmes looks up at the star-filled sky and comments, “Just look at that sky, Watson. What does it tell you?” Watson ponders for a moment or two then replies, “Well, Holmes, I can see that Orion is at its apex, from which I deduce it to be around 2.17am. The Great Bear is aligned with the Pole Star in the third quadrant, which would suggest we have set up camp at around 1500 feet. Venus is clearly visible, which means the temperature is probably no lower than 7 degrees centigrade, and from the direction of the wind on my face I would say we can look forward to a dry, clear morning as warmer weather blows in from the West.” Watson finishes his deduction and turns to Holmes. “Well, Holmes?” he asks, expectantly. “Am I correct, or am I not?” “Not, my dear Watson,” replies Holmes. “It tells you the bloody tents have blown away.”

Compiled and edited by John Shepherd (Sheffield FC) with cartoon by Paula Shepherd.

If you have any printable jokes you would like to share with your fellow supporters, please e-mail them to me on john@behindtheflag.co.uk Come on, let’s all have a laugh.

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11