St Helens Town v Bacup Borough

Saturday 5th March 2011 Kick off 3.00pm

St Helens Town v Bacup Borough FC Vodkat League Premier Division 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

Saturday 5th March 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

Vs

Gls St Helens Town

Bacup Borough White Shirts Black Shorts & Socks No

Gls Bacup Borough

Tom White

Paul Horridge

Karl Aldridge

Adrian Bellamy

Iain Dyson

Gareth Wager

Dan Jarrett

Marc Taylor

Che Morgan

Lee Pugh

Ian Frazer

Daniel Cocks

Mike Fargher

Kingsley Williams

Franny Foy

Davey Luker

Daley Woods

Lance Ogunyode

James Croxton

Matthew Hampson

Liam Pearson

Arran Spencer

Mike Kavanagh

Martin Cosgrave

Lee Owens

Lee Oldham

Luke Faulkner

Haydn Paul

Dale Newbrook

Chris Ogunyode

Ben Kay

Matthew Wrigley

Joint Managers:: Lee Riley & Iain Dyson Assistant: Phil Burton

Manager: Assistant:

Brent Peters Andy Hill

Referee: Mr J E Johnson (Litherland) Assistants: Mr A Ebrahimi (Northwich) and Mr I Hurdle (Holmes Chapel)

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Talk of the Town . . .

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

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.

Tuesday night saw our first visit to Runcorn Linnets new home the Milbank Linnets Stadium. It was not a night for defences as on a tricky pitch which the home side had placed over a ton of sand on over the past week it was difficult to turn and it was attacking goal rather than defending goals than decided the contest. On a night of eight goals scored by eight different players no one could have doubted that they were getting value for money. Town took an early lead through Che Morgan his first goal for the club and the second match that the player wearing the No 3 shirt scored for Town after Iain Dyson had netted from the spot at Maine Road.

The visitors doubled the lead though the aforementioned Dyson before former Town forward Rob Whyte quickly halved the deficit. The two goal cushion was restored by Liam Pearson just before the half hour mark and then reduced back to a single goal lead as Runcorn netted just prior to the interval. Five minutes after the restart Franny Foy netted his first for Town after he fired home from distance and again Runcorn quickly replied through Rigby to make it 4-3. Another quick fire goal saw Daley Woods turn home a corner to net what proved to be the final goal and all before the hour mark!

On the fixture front with the recent bad weather we have had a few dates for rescheduled matches with the Squires Gate home match now planned for Wednesday 30th March and Silsden now visiting Edge Green Street on Tuesday 19th April. We still have yet to be given a date for the Padiham game cancelled last weekend. A final note on fixtures needs me to pass on the details that if our Vodkat League Challenge Cup, 3rd Round tie is postponed for a second time on Tuesday the game will revert here to Edge Green Street on Thursday, 10th March with a 7.45pm kick off.

The slightly delayed February 100+ Draw will take place in the Clubhouse after today’s game - if you would like to enter please see Andy Langley for details.

Lets get behind the lads this afternoon and hopefully cheer them on to victory.

Above: Photos from last season’s 3-0 home victory over Bacup Borough

Enjoy the Game . . . Jeff Voller Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

The

ROCKWARE Shaw Street, St Helens Open daily from 12noon Rockware

Large function room available 7 days/nights a week for Weddings, Christenings, Birthdays, Funerals, Seminars, Sportsman’s Evenings, etc

Telephone: 01744 23527 or 07929 585 468 ExecutiveAFC Programme Proud to support St Helens Town Sponsors

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

Season 2010-11

Chairman’s Notes . . .

Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to Edge Green Street for this Vodkat League Premier Division encounter against our friends and rivals from Bacup Borough FC. Let’s hope their players, officials and supporters have had a safe journey and along with our own support are treated to an entertaining encounter.

The last three games have been productive for Town with maximum points from all three games. The first, a tight affair against basement club Ashton Athletic who made the short trip here two week’s ago. Town eventually ran out 2-1 victors but our visitors had a number of second half chances to level James Croxton’s opener before they eventually did on 80 minutes. Thankfully substitute Daley Woods was on hand to smash home the winner just four minutes later. Our visit to Maine Road turned out to be a bit of a stroll for Town and with no disrespect to our hosts the 0-3 score line could have been greater. Town were frustrated during a goalless first half but the second period saw wave after wave of Town attacks. Iain Dyson struck a penalty after Liam Pearson was upended before Mike Fargher added a brace. A clean sheet from stand-in ’keeper Thomas White who has been deputising for injured Dale Newbrook, sterling work by centre half Danny Jarrett and a ’man of the match’ performance by James Croxton (pictured right) were among plenty of positives from the game.

Croxton’s overall performance was described by Club Vice President Jim Barrett as the best from a Town player in recent memory - and that’s some praise! Last Tuesday we made our first trip to Runcorn Linnets Millbank Stadium and it proved a night for goals as we ran out 3-5 winners - a full match report appears later in the programme.

Bacup Borough arrive at Edge Green Street in great form, with seven wins in their last nine games and they will no doubt prove to be tough opposition. Wednesday evening saw them run out 3-2 winners at Padiham with goals from Haydn Paul, Lee Pugh and Matthew Hampson.

It’s sad to hear of fellow clubs struggling with off-the-field problems; Alsager having faced a few difficult weeks and what appears to be a future ‘take-over’ by Biddulph Vics. Rossendale United’s have also been having some difficulties with cancellation of three games, the water had been cut off at the ground, loss of the management team and players and the threat of expulsion from the league - news elsewhere in today’s programme gives some hope that the club will survive which is great news!

Let’s cheer the lads on to victory this afternoon and whatever the result please join us in the clubhouse for the usual post match debate and the St Helens Town Man of the Match presentations. Next up the lads will be looking to make progress in the Vodkat League Challenge Cup as they make the trip to AFC Blackpool on Tuesday evening, kick off 7.45pm. Next Saturday (12th March, kick off 3.00pm) we travel to Championship favourites New Mills.

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

In Town Today . . .

Bacup Borough have the honour, along with Darwen, of being the oldest club in the North West Counties League, having been formed in 1875. In the mid 1870’s Robert Rankin and his brother John came to Bacup from Scotland, bringing with them enough soccer ability and enthusiasm to form a football team. Robert was the manager of the textile dying process at Irwell Springs Printing Company Ltd, hence the team they formed being known as Irwell Springs.

On September 2nd 1889, Irwell Springs moved into their new ground at West View in Bacup, which has been their home ever since. The first game on their new ground was against Football League founding members Accrington Stanley. A crowd of over 1,000 saw the match abandoned with five minutes remaining after a heavy downpour. Accrington had been leading 7-1 at the time. Just a year later Irwell Springs changed their name to Bacup Borough.

In 1911 Bacup won the Lancashire Junior Cup for the only time (although they were runners up in 1923 and 1975) and a year later were hosts to one of the most famous names in football when Manchester United travelled to West View for a Lancashire Senior Cup tie. For the record, United won the game 5-1.

In 1930 Bacup won the East Lancs Shield, however, their proudest moment came in 1946/47 when they won the Lancashire Combination and were runners up to Marine in the League Cup Final. This period of success also saw Bacups record attendance when an amazing 4,980 people turned up to watch them play Nelson - a total which is unlikely to be beaten in the near future!

Bacup continued in the Lancashire Combination, becoming runners up in 1972/73 on goal average, despite scoring 101 goals. In 1974/75 they reached the final of the Lancashire Junior Cup (now known as the Lancashire Challenge Trophy) after victories over Formby, Wigan Athletic, South Liverpool and Morecambe, before going down 1-0 to Lancaster City in the final.

In 1980/81 Bacup reached the final of the Lancashire Combination League Cup, only to lose 3-1 on aggregate in a two-legged final against Caernarfon.

In 1982/83 Bacup Borough became founding members of the North West Counties League. Initial placings were decided on playing performance and the clubs facilities and Bacup found themselves in Division Three.

The team acquitted themselves well, finishing mid-table each season until 1987/88 when, following the exodus of a number of clubs to the Northern Premier League, the NWCL was reorganized and Bacup found themselves in the new Division Two. Unfortunately, the club suffered the embarrassment of finishing bottom of the League and having to apply to re-election.

The first few weeks of 1988/89 saw Bacup again struggling, but the transformation came in October 1988 with the arrival of Gary Warburton as manager. Bacup lost only a handful of games over the following 18 months and at the end of 1989/90 finished as runners up in Division Two to gain promotion to Division One for the first time. They also reached the quarter finals of the League Cup and were runners up in the first ever Division Two Trophy final in a thrilling game against Great Harwood. Along the way Gary picked up two Manager of the Month awards while Jimmy Clarke and Gerry Keenan won Player of the Month awards, while Clarke ended as Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

. . . Bacup Borough the leading goalscorer in Division Two. The club held its own in Division One until 1994/95 when disaster struck and they finished bottom of Division One, failing to win away from home all season and suffering some heavy defeats. There was no respite the following season as they ended 1995/96 propping up the table for the second time.

However, since those dark years in the mid 90’s, Bacup have slowly but surely improved. In September of the 1997/98 season with no points on the board and following a humiliating 0-10 defeat by Tetley Walker, the committee were prompted to part company with their then manager. This made way for the appointment of Brent Peters as team manager. It was a masterstroke for the club and in 2000/01 they reached the final of the Division Two Trophy again, this time losing out to Squires Gate.

Slowly but surely Brent built up a strong team and in 2002/03 they won the Division Two title, the first major success for the club in 56 years, a feat made even more remarkable by the fact that they played all their games for the first few months of the season away from home as major work was carried out on their pitch and ground. They also used the impressive surroundings of Accrington Stanley’s ground for some home games.

The success of this season brought Brent three Manager of the Month awards and the Manager of the Year Award.

Bacup Boroughs first season back in Division One was certainly an impressive one. A solid mid-table position in the League was satisfactory enough, but to add to that Bacup Borough ran out winners in their first ever appearance in the League Challenge Cup Final, defeating Newcastle Town 3-0 at Southports Haig Avenue ground. Secretary Frank Manning also celebrated 50 years in the game he was given a Gold Award on behalf of the Football Association.

The 2004/5 season saw Bacup improve their standing within the league and a 9th place finish was their reward in their second season in Division One. Borough managed to finish the 2005/6 in 17th pace after struggling for much of the season. Last term saw Bacup have a bright start to the season but they were blighted by pitch problems and entered 2007 with a backlog of matches to play and ended up finishing in 15th position.

The 2007/8 saw Bacup again blighted by pitch problems and they had a large number of matches to fit in when March came. The club finished in 18th position playing three games at week at the close of the season.

The 2008/9 season saw the club earn 58 points after recording sixteen victories and finishing in 8th position their highest finish since returning to the top flight in 2003.

Last term started with Paul Fitton ACA taking over the Chairman’s position replacing Kenneth Peters who officially became the Clubs Vice President, whilst Frank Manning was given the honour of becoming Bacup Borough Football Club President. On the pitch season 2009/10 saw Bacup finished in 12th position and became the first team to defeat eventual Champions Newcastle Town securing a 4-1 victory following a remarkable 27 game unbeaten run.

This season has seen Bacup occupying a position in the middle of the table for most of the season but presently with games in hand on most of the teams above them.

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Scuffs N Scratches Limited The Mobile Alloy Wheel and Paint Repair Specialists

St Helens - Haydock - Warrington Widnes - Runcorn - Liverpool - Wirral Ormskirk - Orrell - Southport Established in 1996, Scuffs & Scratches provide a one stop solution for vehicle repair. Here we combine traditional body shop techniques with the latest S.M.A.R.T. repair innovations. This allows us to repair rather than replace many damaged parts, thus passing the savings on to you!

We offer a wide range of services tailored for every vehicle’s individual needs including:

• • • • • • • • • •

Stone Chip Repair Paint Scuffs Repair Plastic / Metal Bumper Repair Vandal Damage / Key Scratches Car Park Dings and Scrapes Light Collision Damage Alloy Wheel Refurbishment Leather / Velour Upholstery Repair Interior Trim / Dashboard Repair Paint Reconditioning / Sealant (Auto Detailing)

Scuffs N Scratches Ltd Phone: 0 1 5 1 4 9 3 2 6 0 0 Fax: 0 1 5 1 4 9 3 9 3 9 6 Vodkat League Premier Division Mobile: 0780 2 348096 Programme of the Year E-mail: info@scuffsnscratches.co.uk Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Bacup Borough 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 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-2 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-1 NWC-P NWC-P

P 34 38 40 36 34 38 40 34 42 42 42 42 38 42 42

W 4 9 13 11 15 13 13 25 15 19 13 11 5 16 15

D 3 6 8 14 11 9 13 2 8 8 8 13 11 10 12

L 27 23 19 11 8 16 14 7 19 15 21 18 22 16 15

F 35 48 57 47 68 59 52 91 68 52 44 50 35 71 63

A 102 83 83 61 42 60 66 32 72 47 62 65 69 71 75

GD -67 -35 -26 -14 26 -1 -14 59 -4 5 -18 -15 -34 0 -12

Pts 15 33 47 47 56 48 52 77 53 65 47 46 26 58 57

Position 18/18 16/20 14/21 11/19 5/18 14/20 12/21 1/18 14/22 9/22 17/22 15/22 18/20 8/22 12/22

NWC-2 - North West Counties League, Division 2 NWC-1 - North West Counties League, Division 1 NWC-P - North West Counties League, Premier Division

Previous Meetings 2005/06 21/02/2006 29/04/2006 2006/07 21/10/2006 11/11/2006 17/03/2007 2007/08 15/09/2007 16/04/2008 2008/09 30/08/2008 04/10/2008 18/10/2008 2009/10 20/02/2010 24/04/2010

NWCL D1 NWCL D1

St Helens Town 0-2 Bacup Borough Bacup Borough 0-2 St Helens Town

NWCL D1 NWC LCC 2R NWCL D1

St Helens Town 0-1 Bacup Borough Bacup Borough 3-5 St Helens Town Bacup Borough 0-0 St Helens Town

NWCL D1 NWCL D1

St Helens Town 1-3 Bacup Borough Bacup Borough 2-2 St Helens Town

FAC PR NWCL PD NWCL PD

Bacup Borough 3-1 St Helens Town Bacup Borough 3-0 St Helens Town St Helens Town 3-4 Bacup Borough

NWCL PD NWCL PD

St Helens Town 3-0 Bacup Borough Bacup Borough 2-1 St Helens Town

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Town in Photos . . .

Town in Vodkat League Premier Division action against Ashton Athletic last Saturday

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Match Report Tuesday 22nd February 2011 Vodkat League, Premier Division Maine Road 0-3 St Helens Town 0-1; Iain Dyson (Penalty) 48 Minutes, 0-2; Mike Fargher 65 Minutes, 0-3; Mike Fargher 71 Minutes.

It was a good visit to Manchester for St Helens Town as they played their hosts off the park this evening at Brantingham Road and gaining revenge for the 5-0 drubbing at the same venue last season. The visitors started off on the front foot and an excellent run from James Croxton saw him advance downt he left wing and cut inside before beating three defenders and unleashing a shot that went just over the bar. With a quarter of an hour played a right wing free kick was sent into the Maine Road and broke to Daley Woods his effort was blocked and broke towards Mike Fargher but his was denied by a fine challenge Eddie Moran. Almost instantaneously at the other end on the counter attack Moran finished a move off with a shot which Tom White did well to hold on the left hand post. Normal service was resumed as Andrew Jones had to push away Karl Aldridge’s cross from the right with Liam Pearson in attendance and Pearson chased a defender down on the right before winning the ball and centring towards Croxton but Dan Hulme timed his challenge well to avert the danger. At the other end Moran found Liam Beckford in the area and he chested the ball down before attempting a shot but he did not get enough purchase and it was an easy hold for White in the Town goal. The half ended with Town again on the front foot, Croxton sent a left wing free kick into the box and Franny Foy’s attempt on the front post was blocked before breaking back to him and being sent across the six yard box when Fargher got a touch but could not direct it goalwards. The best chance of the half fell to Pearson after Croxton and Che Morgan with the latter find Pearson who looked certain to score but for a fine save from Jones in the home goal.

The second half saw Town continue where they had left off and after a quick move saw Woods advance into the box and look to find his strike partner Pearson but Moran did well to clear the ball. Moments later Town had been awarded a penalty after Pearson had been felled as he turned in the box. Skipper for the night Iain Dyson stepped up and slotted the ball into the top left hand corner of the net. Just before the hour mark Alex Jay missed a great chance to level from a Beckford right wing cross and it wasn’t long before the visitors made Road pay for their wastefulness in the front of goal as Croxton whipped in a left wing corner which was cleared back to him and his second delivery found Pearson whose knock down was curled home by Fargher whose effort went in off the inside of the left hand upright. The game was over as contest on 71 minutes when Woods beat Hay on the right before finding Perason on the edge of the box, the strikers’ effort was turned home by Fargher centrally in the six yard box. With time running out Aldridge tried his luck but his effort went just wide of the right hand post before Greg Hall latched onto a rare Town mistake to get into the box but his effort went well wide of the target with the goal at his mercy. The final effort of the contest saw Woods do well down the right wing before finding Mike Kavanagh who in turn found Aldridge and his left footed effort looked to be arrowing home but Jones got a good hand on it to turn it around the post.

So Town made it back to back wins and played some excellent football in this victory and will be looking to take this form into Saturday’s contest against in form Padiham at Edge Green Street.

Maine Road; Jones, Hulme, Jay(C), Mason, Gittings, Struminskyj(Lomas 71), Beckford, Brocklehurst(Roe 48), Huntley, Moran, Collins(Hall 70). Subs Not Used; Walker, Maitland.

St Helens Town; White, Aldridge, Dyson(C)(L.Owens 79), Jarrett, Morgan, Frazer(Kavanagh 79), Fargher, Foy, Woods, Croxton, Pearson(Faulkner 71). Subs Not Used; Burton, Newbrook.

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

For your Contract Filling & Packaging in F.M.C.G. try

Q R Filling Services Ltd Unit 8 Constance Industrial Estate, Waterloo Road, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 0QR

Telephone: 0151 510 1711

Fax: 0151 5101709

We excel in Filling, Capping, Labelling, Coding, Cello Wrap, Shrink Wrap, Cartoning, etc, etc.

Nail Care, Foot Care, Hand Care, Hygiene, Auto, DIY, Aromatherapy Lamp Oils, Aromatherapy Burner Oils.

‘Quality at your Fingertips’ Call our Sales Team Now Ask for Brian or Tony Lewis

on 0151 510 1711

FOOTBALL & RUGBY LEAGUE Programmes Collector will purchase single items or collections, especially: • St. Helens Town • Everton • Runcorn • Widnes RL • Liverpool City/Liverpool Stanley RL • Wigan Highfield RL Contact glynjones1@sky.com Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year or telephone 07764 655460 Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Lee Owens Position: Defender Age: 21 From: Huyton Have your company or individual details placed here Sponsor this player for just £50

Ian Frazer Position: Midfield Age: 32 From: St Helens

Ben Kay (capt) Position: Midfield Age: 27 From: Wigan

Che Morgan

Iain Dyson

Position: Defender Age: 19 From: Liverpool

Position: Midfield Age: 34 From: Haydock Sponsored by

01744 23527

Have your company or individual details placed here Sponsor this player for just £50

Mike Kavanagh

Liam Ryder

Mike Fargher

Sponsored by

The ROCKWARE Function Room

Position: Forward Age: 25 From: Liverpool

Have your Have your company or company or individual details individual details placed here placed here Sponsor this Sponsor this Vodkat League player forPremier Division player for Programme of the Year just £50 just £50 Season 2009-10

Position: Defender Age: 22 From: Rainhill Have your company or individual details placed here Sponsor this player for just £50

Position: Midfield Age: 21 From: Whiston Have your company or individual details placed here Sponsor this Executive Programme player for Sponsors just £50 Season 2010-11

Luke Faulkner Position: Defender Age: 23 From: Ashton-in-M

Liam Pearson

Mike Deakin

John Elias

Position: Forward Age: 25 From: Rainhill

Position: Midfield Age: 21 From: West Derby

Position: Defender Age: 25 From: Whiston

Have your company or individual details placed here Sponsor this player for just £50

To John & Paul at

sthelensnewsltd.com

Have your company or individual details placed here Sponsor this player for just £50

Mark Evans

Dave Garnell

Karl Aldridge

Position: Defender Age: 28 From: St Helens

Position: Defender Age: 22 From: Liverpool

Position: Defender Age: 21 From: Liverpool

Dale Newbrook Position: Goalkeeper Age: 26 From: Bolton

Sponsored by

Dave Hunter 01744 613339

Have your company or individual details placed here Sponsor this Vodkat League Premier Division player for 01744 613339 Programme of the Year just £50 sthelensnewsltd.com Mark Evans Sponsored by

Season 2009-10

Have your company or individual details placed here Sponsor this player for just £50

LOOKERS St Helens 01744 633000

Thanks for a real deal - SG

Middlebrook Retail Executive Programme Park (ReebokSponsors Stadium) BL6 6JA 08444 818063 Season 2010-11

How We Compare . . .

St Helens Town Recent Form - last 6 matches All Competitions

Most recent

Home

L

L

W

D

L

W

Away

W

L

L

L

W

W

Collated

D

L

L

W

W

W

Bacup Borough Recent Form - last 6 matches All Competitions

Most recent

Home

D

W

D

W

L

W

Away

W

L

W

W

W

W

Collated

W

L

W

W

W

W

St Helens Town

Bacup Borough

Games since...

Games since...

All Competitions

All Competitions

Clean sheet

1

Clean sheet

1

Goal Scored

0

Goal Scored

0

Loss

3

Loss

5

No score draw

51

No score draw

49

Score draw

6

Score draw

11

Win

0

Win

0

Previous Meetings Since 1971/72 All Competitions P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Win %

Home

12

4

3

5

15

17

-2

33.33

Away

15

6

4

5

25

23

2

40.00

Collated

27

10

7

10

40

40

0

37.04

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

. . . 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 Saturday 5th March 2011 Premier Division Alsager Town v Ashton Athletic v Atherton LR v Barnoldswick Town v Bootle v Formby v Glossop North End v New Mills v Rossendale United v St Helens Town v Stone Dominoes v First Division AFC Blackpool v Chadderton v Cheadle Town v Eccleshall v Holker Old Boys v Irlam v Rochdale Town v Runcorn Town v Wigan Robin Park v

Flixton Squires Gate Colne Runcorn Linnets Padiham Congleton Town Silsden Ramsbottom United Winsford United Bacup Borough Maine Road Norton United Daisy Hill AFC Darwen Atherton Collieries Oldham Boro Abbey Hey Leek CSOB Ashton Town AFC Liverpool

Monday 7th March 2011 Premier Division New Mills v Stone Dominoes Tuesday 8th March 2011 Vodkat League Challenge Cup Round 3 AFC Blackpool v St Helens Town Premier Division Bootle v Atherton LR Maine Road v Congleton Town Rossendale United v Padiham Winsford United v Runcorn Linnets

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

First Division AFC Darwen Ashton Town Chadderton Holker Old Boys

v v v v

Rochdale Town Leek CSOB Norton United Daisy Hill

Wednesday 9th March 2011 Vodkat League 1st Division Trophy 2nd Rnd v Runcorn Town Cheadle Town Premier Division Bacup Borough v Squires Gate Flixton v Formby Glossop North End v Ashton Athletic Silsden v Colne First Division AFC Liverpool v Atherton Collieries Eccleshall v Abbey Hey Saturday 12th March 2011 Premier Division Ashton Athletic v Barnoldswick Town v Colne v Congleton Town v New Mills v Padiham v Ramsbottom United v Runcorn Linnets v Silsden v Squires Gate v Stone Dominoes v First Division Abbey Hey v AFC Blackpool v AFC Darwen v AFC Liverpool v Daisy Hill v Eccleshall v Holker Old Boys v Irlam v

Bootle Alsager Town Flixton Formby St Helens Town Atherton LR Bacup Borough Glossop North End Maine Road Winsford United Rossendale United Atherton Collieries Oldham Boro Runcorn Town Rochdale Town Ashton Town Chadderton Cheadle Town Wigan Robin Park

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

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

Suppliers of Quality Meat

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

Vodkat League News . . .

Dyson becomes joint-Manager at Saints St Helens Town have this week announced that player Iain Dyson has become the club’s joint manager alongside Lee Riley. Club Chairman John McKiernan said, “Lee has recently changed jobs and it is likely that at some point towards the end of the season he will start a new shift pattern which will mean he won’t be available for some of the time.”

“It makes sense to act now so that we can guarantee some consistency within the backroom set-up. Lee has done a great job for the club since stepping up from assistant manager at the start of the season and we hope that his work with the club will continue, but we have to make sure we have plans in place when he is not available.”

He added, “Iain is a well-respected player with lots of experience and he will continue to offer a great deal to the club. He has stepped into the breach on a couple of occasions in recent years and really has the club at heart.”

Ian, pictured in action against Ashton Athletic last week, joined St Helens Town at the start of the 1999-2000 season making 41 appearances and scoring three goals. The 35 year old made his home debut in a 3-1 victory over Ramsbottom United on 14 August 1999 and his first goal on 11 September 1999 earned Town a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Mossley. He went on to spend some time at a number of other NWCFL sides before rejoining Town in 2005-06 and he’s been a regular ever since, notching up over 230 appearances for the club and scoring 81 goals. He was the club’s top scorer last season with 22 goals.

John McKiernan said, “I know Iain has a couple of personal milestones he wants to achieve as a player – the first, the hundred goal target for Town and the second to become the only player to have played at all Town’s most recent homes – Hoghton Road, Knowsley Road, Ashton Town and the new St Helens stadium when it’s completed later this year.”

Manager of the Month Awards - February 2011 PREMIER DIVISION - Ben Hall, Stewart Airdrie and Kevin Richardson of Barnoldswick Town Results: 01.02 - Rossendale United (away) won 2 - 4 12.02 - St.Helens Town (home) won 3 - 0 19.02 - Glossop North End (away) won 0 - 1 22.02 - Colne (home) won 4 - 2 DIVISION ONE - Simon Burton of Runcorn Town Results: 09.02 - AFC Liverpool (away) won 1 - 2 12.02 - Daisy Hill (home) won 9 - 1 15.02 - Wigan Robin Park (away) draw 2 - 2 19.02 - Oldham Boro (home) won 6 - 0 22.02 - Irlam (home) won 3 - 2 26.02 - Chadderton (away) won 1 - 2 Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Match Report Tuesday 1st March 2011; Vodkat League, Premier Division Runcorn Linnets 3-5 St Helens Town Town made it three wins in a row in what was an excellent advert for Vodkat League Football at the Milbank Linnets stadium this evening. The early stages were a quick indication of the way this contest was to pan out as after Runcorn’s Ged Courntney had struck the post Town took the lead a quick throw on the left saw Che Morgan find space and his effort was drilled through plenty of bodies into the net.

Town had plenty of possession and this culminated in the visitors added a second on 17 minutes, Liam Pearson ran at his marker getting into the box and his shot struck the right hand upright before break to Iain Dyson centrally and he made no mistake guiding the ball home. The quick fire nature of the game saw Runcorn quickly have the deficit as less than a minute after the Town goal former St Helens striker Rob Whyte rose to head a right wing cross home at the front post. There was a relative period of quietness as it took another ten minutes before anyone else troubled the scoresheet. Dyson and Franny Foy linked on the edge of the Runcorn box with the latter’s effort crossing the pass of Pearson whose strikers instinct took hold and he guided the ball home centrally. With the half coming to a close and Town looking to be heading into the break with a two goal lead the hosts had other ideas and a right wing corner broke to Chris Lawton and his glancing header found its way home.

The second half started in the same frenetic fashion as the first had been played out. The massed ranks did not have to wait long for the next goal as six minutes after the restart Town restored their two goal cushion. A fantastic passing move culminated with Pearson squaring to Foy 20 yards out and his powerful effort gave the home stopper no chance as not for the first time he berated his team mates. Again the basketball nature of scoring continued as the Town two-goal lead only lasted 3 minutes as in a similar move to the Town opening goal a left wing throw opened up the Town defence and Matt Rigby gratefully accepted the gift firing home.

What was to be the final goal of the contest came just before the hour mark a right wing corner was sent into the area and was met by the head of Luke Faulkner on the far post his knock down was seized upon by Daley Woods in the six yard box and he guided the ball home to secure the maximum return of Town. The remaining half hour was a bit of an anticlimax after the hour we had seen and the game fizzled out as a contest with the visitors happy to have recorded their third victory in a row.

Runcorn Linnets; Eastham, Savva(Brodie 46), Fitzsimmons, Mawdsley, Lawton, Rigby(Dykes 78), S.Pearson(C), Lloyd, Courtney, Whyte(Thomas 78), Atherton. Subs Not Used; Dykes.

St Helens Town; White, Aldridge, Morgan, Jarrett(Kay 54), Faulkner, Woods, Foy, Frazer, Pearson, Dyson(Ryder 71), Croxton. Subs Not Used; Burton, N.Owens, Riley.

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League News . . .

A meeting was held a couple of weeks ago with members of the North West Joint Liaison Committee, involving representatives from the Vodkat League Management Committee and each of the Step 7 feeder leagues. The meeting was convened to discuss a number of issues surrounding promotion and relegation between the Vodkat League and the feeder leagues, and a summary of the main issues discussed is as follows.

Applications from new clubs Three applications were received by the Vodkat League from clubs wishing to join the League in season 2011/12 - Nelson, Northwich Villa and West Didsbury & Chorlton. It should be noted that none of these three clubs is in contention for finishing in a promotion position in a Step 7 league. As no clubs in contention have applied, the vacancies in the Vodkat League can be filled by other Clubs subject to FA Leagues Committee approval. The representatives of the Step 7 Leagues present at the meeting supported the application of Nelson, subject to FA Financial Regulation approval. Their application has to be approved by the FA Leagues Committee after certain legal entity issues have been settled with the FA Financial Regulation Department. During season 2009/10, while competing in the Vodkat League, the Club had changed legal entity from Nelson F.C. Limited to Nelson Football Club Limited without the approval of The Football Association, Lancashire FA or the League. Jeff Walton, Chairman of the Cheshire Association Football League, confirmed that the Cheshire League supported the application of Northwich Villa. The club, formerly known as Woodley FC, play in the Cheshire League First Division. However, the application of West Didsbury & Chorlton had been withdrawn by the time the meeting took place. The Manchester League objected to a Club from their Second Division being promoted, but if the Club gained promotion into their Step 7 Division, i.e. the Premier Division, the Manchester League would support a future application from West Didsbury & Chorlton.

Promotion and relegation between steps 6 and 7 There will be no relegation from the Vodkat League at the end of season 2010/11, due to insufficient numbers in the Step 6 Division (Vodkat League Division One). For relegation to take place, a minimum number of 20 Clubs in the Step 6 Division is required, with 3 Step 7 Clubs qualifying for promotion.

League Chairman Dave Tomlinson explained: "The FA's Step 5/6 Focus Group have published a proposal that relegation from Step 6 Leagues should take place when a League has 20 Clubs and not 22 as per League Rules.

"To that end, we advised the Step 7 leagues that the Vodkat League Management Committee would consider putting a proposal to the Member Clubs at the AGM in June, to alter the constitution of the NWCFL to 22 Clubs in the Premier Division and 20 Clubs in the First Division.

"However, despite this representing a concession on the part of our league to try and accommodate the issues faced by Step 7 clubs and leagues, the representatives of our step 7 feeder leagues all objected to our league having a 22 Club Premier Division. Their collective decision was that they would not support any promotion and relegation agreement until such time the NWCFL altered its constitution to two Divisions of 20 Clubs.

"It was suggested that a 2-3 year plan of action to reduce the NWCFL Premier Division to 20 Clubs should be agreed before any agreement could be signed. Although there was some sympathy shown to us in regard to us losing Clubs due to the restructure of the National League System, none the less the view was firmly expressed that the feeder leagues would not support any promotion agreement until the NWCFL reduced to 2 Divisions of 20 Clubs.�

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Stat Attack . . . . at St Helens Town

Previous Meetings

at Bacup Borough

NWC-D1

1995-96

NWC-D2

NWC-D1

1996-97

NWC-D2

NWC-D1

1997-98

NWC-D1

Vodkat League Premier Division Average Attendances - 02/03/2011 Team

Pld

Ave

1

Runcorn Linnets

15

307

NWC-D2

2

Glossop North End

13

184

1998-99

NWC-D2

3

New Mills

11

164

NWC-D1

1999-00

NWC-D2

4

Ramsbottom United

12

163

NWC-D1

2000-01

NWC-D2

5

Silsden

10

161

NWC-D1

2001-02

NWC-D2

6

Congleton Town

13

153

NWC-D1

2002-03

NWC-D2

7

Padiham

14

141

21/02; 2-1

2003-04

27/09; 0-2

8

Barnoldswick Town

14

125

18/09; 0-0

2004-05

16/10; 0-0

9

Winsford United

15

109

21/02; 0-2

2005-06

29/04; 2-0

10

Colne

14

104

21/10; 0-1

2006-07

17/03; 0-0

11

Bootle

15

92

15/09; 1-3

2007-08

16/04; 2-2

12

Rossendale United

11

87

18/10; 3-4

2008-09

04/10; 0-3

13

St Helens Town

13

84

20/02; 3-0

2009-10

24/04; 1-2

05/03/2011

2010-11

09/04/2011

14

Squires Gate

16

70

15

Maine Road

14

69

16

Bacup Borough

12

66

17

Stone Dominoes

11

65

18

Formby

12

61

St Helens Town Scores First

Rank

Games Played

16

St Helens Town Wins

5

Draws

4

Bacup Borough Wins

7

19

Flixton

13

60

St Helens Town Goals

18

20

Atherton LR

9

56

Bacup Borough Goals

21

21

Alsager Town

13

47

Percentage Town Wins

31.25

22

Ashton Athletic

13

44

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Win A Brand New Toyota Page

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 Miners Welf (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 Athletic 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 OG’s) 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 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 Alsager Town Home 16/04/11 Congleton Town Vodkat League Premier DivisionAway Programme 19/04/11 Silsden of the Year Home Season 2009-10United 23/04/11 Ramsbottom Away 26/04/11 Runcorn Linnets 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

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

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

2 Gore Gore Gore Gore Gore Gore Ryder Gore Aldridge Aldridge Elias Elias Elias Aldridge Aldridge Aldridge Aldridge Aldridge Aldridge Aldridge Aldridge Aldridge Elias Aldridge Elias Aldridge Elias Aldridge Aldridge Elias Elias Elias Elias Ryder Aldridge Grogan Aldridge Aldridge

3 Hatton Hatton1 Garnell Garnell Hatton Evans Evans Evans Evans Evans Evans Hatton Pearson Elias Birch Evans Evans Evans Evans Evans Birch Birch Birch Garnell Morgan Morgan Morgan Morgan Morgan Morgan Morgan Taylor Morgan Morgan Ryder L.Owens Dyson1© Morgan1

4 5 Garnell Faulkner Garnell1 Faulkner K Owens1 Faulkner Fa Owens Faulkner D Kay © Faulkner D Owens Faulkner K Garnell1 Faulkner © F Garnell Faulkner1 K Garnell1 Owens D Garnell Faulkner Garnell Faulkner K Garnell Faulkner1 Al Dyson1 Aldridge D. Garnell Faulkner F Elias Faulkner F Elias Garnell D Elias Faulkner F Elias Garnell Elias Garnell F Elias Garnell F Elias Garnell F Fr Kay © Garnell Faulkner Ryder F Ryder Faulkner K Ryder Faulkner F Ryder Faulkner F Faulkner1 Fa Ryder Ryder Faulkner Ryder Faulkner Ryder Garnell Al Ryder Faulkner O Ryder Kay © L.O Ryder Faulkner © Gr L.Owens Faulkner Al Foy Grogan W Jarrett Frazer Fa Jarrett Morgan F Jarrett Faulkner © D.W

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

TBA: Padiham (Home)

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Stephens1 Kay © Cliff Pearson Arnold Fargher Frazer Kay © Fargher Frazer Pearson1 Arnold Stephens Owens8 Fargher Stephens Kay © Pearson Arnold Frazer Dyson9 Deakin Stephens Kay © Pearson2 Arnold Fargher Cliff6 Deakin Fargher Dyson Arnold Pearson Cliff Stephens3 Kay © Fargher Frazer Pearson2 Stephens Dyson D.Woods8 Frazer Fargher Stephens Pearson Dyson D.Woods Deakin Pearson Stephens Frazer Owens Kay © D.Woods Elias Arnold2 Cliff2 Deakin Stephens3 Kay © Dyson Faulkner Stephens1 Kay © Elias Pearson Dyson Deakin Frazer6 Kay © Aldridge Stephens Pearson2 Dyson1 D.Woods Cliff11 Aldridge Stephens Kay © Pearson1 D.Woods1 Dyson Kavanagh10 D.Woods Garnell Hatton Faulkner Stephens Kay © Mahoney6 Dyson2 Deakin1 Mahoney1 D.Woods9 Frazer Stephens Kay © Deakin1 Frazer Stephens Kay © D.Woods1 Mahoney Evans2 Deakin Stephens Kay © Pearson2 Kavanagh Cliff Frazer1 Birch1 Dyson Kavanagh10 Frazer Stephens Kay1 © Pearson Birch Stephens Kay © Pearson2 Dyson Frazer D.Woods17 Frazer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 D.Woods2 Birch Kavanagh3 Frazer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 D.Woods2 Birch Owens3 Dyson Ryder Frazer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 D.Woods1 Frazer1 Dyson Ryder Pearson2 D.Woods1 Kavanagh Stephens5 Frazer Fargher Kay © Pearson Dyson Aldridge Garnell Dyson1 Kay © Stephens Fargher Pearson D.Woods Kavanagh9 Dyson1 Frazer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 Fargher Garnell Frazer Stephens Kay © Pearson1 Dyson Fargher Owens7 Fargher2 Stephens Kay © Pearson Birch Kavanagh Garnell Uji Frazer Kay © Pearson Odukomaya Birch Kavanagh11 Uji Kay © Fargher Pearson Stephens Odukomaya Garnell Aldridge Mahoney Kay © Pearson Kavanagh Frazer Deakin6 McGann1 Owens Grogan Kay © Dyson Frazer Pearson5 Dyson2 L.Owens Grogan Pearson McGann Frazer Morris3 Grogan2 Fargher Morris Pearson1 Dyson Croxton McGann8 Aldridge Fargher Kay © Pearson1 Croxton1 Frazer Kavangh4 Woods Fargher Kay © Croxton Dyson McGann L.Owens Fargher Dyson Kay © Pearson Croxton1 Morgan Woods101 Fargher2 Frazer Foy D.Woods Croxton Pearson Kavangh6 .Woods1 Foy1 Frazer Pearson1 Dyson1 Croxton Kay4

14 15 Burton Owens Deakin11 Langley10 Deakin10 Langley D.Woods10 Dyson9 Owens Frazer8 Garnell4 Ryder Arnold6 Cliff Deakin7 Arnold8 Elias5 Hatton11 Cliff11 Arnold Deakin7 Hatton3 Frazer Cliff9 Frazer Deakin8 Kavanagh6 Hatton Garnell Cliff6 Dyson6 Arnold Cliff Garnell Kavanagh Cliff6 Ryder8 Owens Kavanagh Ryder5 Mitchell7 Owens5 Fargher11 Owens2 Owens Stephens2 Owens Frazer11 Owens10 Kavanagh6 Garnell Kavanagh110 Owens5 Frazer10 Owens3 Garnell6 Owens10 Birch6 Owens5 Burton Garnell Taylor Garnell6 N.Owens Garnell Frazer4 Morris11 Mahoney6 N.Owens Pearson3 McGann Ryder5 L.Owens3 Faulkner11 Ryder10 Burton

16 17 Deakin6 Williams3 Dean Ryder Hatton Cliff11, Ryder Hatton Frazer, Langley D.Woods9 K.Woods Arnold3 Deakin Aldridge7 Hatton11,Burton Hatton Aldridge2 Pearson Frazer4 D.Woods10 Hatton Kavanagh Burton Deakin16 Arnold Kavanagh Cliff4 Arnold Riley Kavanagh9 Hatton Hatton D.Woods11 Ryder19 D.Woods11 Ryder8 Owens Mitchell Cliff9 Cliff Dyson9 Kavanagh6 Ryder Burton Riley Mitchell11 Kavanagh6 Burton Riley Aldridge Burton Uji6 Burton Aldridge Burton Burton Elias Elias11 Frazer Uji11 Riley Burton Riley Burton10 Aldridge L.Owens N.Owens N.Owens Burton Frazer11 Kavanagh9 Foy3 Kavanagh Burton Newbrook N.Owens Riley

Key

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

Name1

Player name and number of goals scored

Name

Player name and CAUTION

Name

Player name and DISMISSAL

Name10

Player name and number of replaced player Executive Programme 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 after defeat at Ramsbottom United meant Town title challenge was ended.

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 with early success in the FA Cup and a League Cup semi-final spot and the thoughts of relegation put aside very early in the campaign, eventually finishing in 9th place.

2010 – Present Lee Riley steps up from assistant manager when Gary Bickerstaffe steps down at the end of the 2009-10.

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

League News Update Regarding Rossendale United The League Management Committee wishes to issue the following statement in relation to the status of Rossendale United FC. Following the postponement of the fixture between Rossendale United and Runcorn Linnets on Tuesday 22nd February, a meeting of the League's Emergency Committee was convened for Friday 25th February. The committee confirm the postponement of the next two scheduled fixtures for Rossendale United, away to Squires Gate on Saturday 26th February and away to Ramsbottom United on Tuesday 1st March. The League Management Committee have now taken steps to inform the owner/ chairman of Rossendale United that, unless they fulfil their scheduled fixture on Saturday 5th March, at home to Winsford United, Rossendale United will be expelled from the Vodkat League as per League Rule 8.6: "Any Club without just cause failing to fulfil an engagement to play a Competition match on the appointed date shall for each offence be liable to expulsion from the Competition and/ or such other disciplinary action the Board may determine, including the deduction of up to a maximum of three points from the offending Club's record, any expenses incurred by their opponents, and a fine".

Rossendale United owner Andrew Connolly has confirmed today he is confident the club will be able to fulfil their fixtures in the Vodkat League for the remainder of the season. Mr Connolly informed League Secretary John Deal that he was in the process of appointing a management team, who would then assemble a squad to prepare for Saturday's scheduled home fixture against Winsford United. John Deal said: "Mr Connolly contacted me on Wednesday morning to confirm the League's position with regard to the club's status. He also informed me that he had received several offers of assistance with regard to staging and playing the game on Saturday.

"He stated that he is confident that the fixture on Saturday will be fulfilled, as he was in the process of recruiting a management team, and that the club's remaining fixtures should also be unaffected by cancellations from now on. He confirmed that he is committed to ensuring that the club will continue to compete in the Vodkat League. Mr Connolly has been informed that the League must receive confirmation by Friday that the game against Winsford United will definitely go ahead, and that all the necessary facilities and staffing will be in place to stage the game."

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Half Time Teaser 1

2

3

4

7

5

6

15

16

8 9

10

11

12

13 14 17

19

18

20

22

24

ACROSS 7 Completed Everton’s ‘Holy Trinity’ midfield with Kendall and Ball (6) 8 Mike ___, 90s striker with Burnley, Preston and Fulham amongst others (6) 10 Classy Brazilian jockey plying his trade in the UK, Silvestre __ _____ (2,5) 11 Had a tough introduction to international management with Wales (5) 12 World Rally Champion for the past 7 years (4) 13 Former Villain now with Stoke (5) 17 Beat Scotland at Murrayfield in 6 Nations (5) 18 Missed out with injury for Spurs’ first leg against Milan (4) 22 From PSV to Villa to PSV for this Dutch international (5) 23 Scored Liverpool’s 1981 European Cup Final winner (7) 24 Paul Dickov’s Athletic (6) 25 Author of ‘Whose the B*****D in the Black?’ (6) Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

21 23

25

DOWN 1 Southampton’s old home (3,4) 2 Former Southern Prem Rovers who are reformed as FC in East Midlands Counties League (7) 3 Your first game (5) 4 Veteran striker appointed as Brentford’s temporary boss (7) 5 Colour of the recent Superbowl winners (5) 6 NPL outfit AFC ____ who won the 2007/08 Vase as Kirkham & Wesham (5) 9 Darts legend, Big Cliff ______ (9) 14 Current champion Flat jockey (7) 15 Argentinian who had a short spell at Liverpool (7) 16 Home city of the Yankees or the Jets (3,4) 19 Devon jumping track of Newton ____ (5) 20 Norwich keeper formerly of Everton (5) 21 Signed from Boro to aid the Hammer’s relegation fight (1'4)

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League News . . .

Andy Plans Another Book Wigan Robin Park Press Officer Andy Vaughan is appealing for help in researching his latest book. Andy, who recently completed a novel and previously wrote a book charting the progress of the Robins' first season in the Vodkat League, has teamed up with Wigan Athletic's historian Bernard Ramsdale to write a complete history of Wigan Borough FC. The book is entitled "Delight, Depression and Despair - 11 seasons of Wigan Borough FC" and will be published in October this year - exactly 80 years after Wigan Borough went out of business and were removed from the Football League.

Andy explained: "The year after Borough went out of business, Wigan's Mayor chaired a public meeting at Queens Hall in Wigan that resulted in the founding of Wigan Athletic FC. And the rest, as they say, is history.

"We are looking for anybody with any programmes or memorabilia that they would be willing to share with the public, and maybe some of our older fans have memories of watching Boro! If anyone thinks they can help, they should contact me at vaughanie58@yahoo.co.uk

Player of the Month Manager of the Month Awards January 2011 Kieran Fletcher (opposite left), and Craig Chadwick (opposite right) of Padiham Football Club are presented with their Premier Division Player of the Month and Manager of the Month Awards for January by league management committee representative Ian Williams prior to Padiham's home game against Stone Dominoes last Saturday.

New Sponsors for goalkeeper of the Month Awards SKkits have agreed to sponsor the League's Goalkeeper Of The Month Awards for the remainder of the season. The deal includes SKkits supplying goalkeeper's gloves to the various award winners. SKkits proprietor is Ian Senior, a familiar face to many around the league who kept goal for a host of non-league clubs in a long career. Ian said: "I'm delighted to come on board as a sponsor to the Vodkat League as I have always followed the league, both due to my background in Non league football in and around the North West, and through having many friends within the league. I already supply Ramsbottom Utd with all their kit, so it seemed a natural progression to get involved with the league and possibly more clubs. As Goalkeeping Coach at Altrincham FC, I also feel I can offer Goalkeepers a good product at a very competitive price with my Goalkeeping gloves, and jumped Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Recent Results Saturday 26th February 2011 Premier Division Bacup Borough 3-0 Alsager Town Cocks(40), Paul(65) Cosgrove(77) Colne 0-2 Stone Dominoes Curley(53,64) Glossop North End 1-2 Maine Road Morris(27p) Strominskij(15) Gittins(89) First Division Chadderton 1-2 Runcorn Town Jachoms(26) McShane(13) Anderton(17) Cheadle Town 1-3 Abbey Hey Roberts(50) Jones(30) Kilheen(55) Moran(80)

HT:1-0 Att:39 HT:0-0 Att:80 HT:1-1 Att:207

First Division Abbey Hey

AFC Darwen Brown(71) HT:1-2 Att:66 HT:0-1 Att:43

Tuesday 1st March 2011 Premier Division Alsager Town 0-3 New Mills HT:0-2 Swirad(35) Att:40 Mather(45) Douglas-Pringle(89) Barnoldswick Town 1-1 Silsden HT:0-1 Hollindrake(80) Finn(26) Att:109 Bootle 1-3 Ramsbottom Utd HT:1-2 O'Connor(8) Drew(6,19,90p) Att:67 Colne 3-2 Glossop NE HT:0-1 Tinker(68p,90) o.g(38) Att:61 Cunningham(86) Hamilton(81) Runcorn Linnets 3-6 St Helens Town HT:2-3 Whyte(18) Morgan(6) Att:205 Lawton(43) Dyson(17) Rigby(54) Pearson(28), Foy(51), Woods(58) Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Stone Dominoes Ashman(72) Curley(85) Winsford United

Ashton Town Coyle(85)

Daisy Hill Xvereb(10), o.g(12) Adams(29) Leek CSOB Miller(3) Rochdale Town Highton(57)

2-1 Formby Harris(90)

HT:0-0 Att:49

0-2 Maine Road Moran(21,51p)

HT:0-1 Att:81

0-4 Holker Old Boys Heffernan(20), Coombe(55,72) Watkin(79) 1-6 AFC Blackpool Cummins (19,54,90), Fawcett(24) Staype(31), Waddington(89) 1-5 Norton United Machin(2,44), Brown(46,82) Allen(80) 3-4 AFC Liverpool Stafford(66,73), Gornell(75) Sinnott(90) 3-1 Oldham Boro n/k 1-3 Cheadle Town McGregor(22,30) McDonough(80) 6-0 Atherton Collieries

HT:0-1 Att:21

Runcorn Town Wynne(12,19,62) Carey(53,85), Dalton(80)

Wednesday 2nd March 2011 Premier Division Padiham 2-3 Bacup Borough Telfer(86,88) Paul(7), Pugh(35) Hampson(43) First Division Eccleshall 0-1 Wigan Robin Park McNally(52)

HT:0-3 Att:26

HT:0-2 Att:30

HT:3-0 Att:34

HT:1-1 Att:42 HT:0-1 Att:25 HT:2-0 Att:65

HT:0-3 Att:127

HT:0-0 Att:54

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Tea Break Teasers Q1. Which country was the last to win the World Cup Final on penalties?

Q2. Who is the only goalkeeper to be sent off playing a full international for England?

Q3. Which Spanish club did Howard Kendall manage?

Q4. What was midfielder Jurgen Sparwasser’s famous contribution to the 1974 World Cup Finals?

Q5. Which League Two club changed their name on 1st June 2010?

Q6. With which club did Jamie Redknapp make his League debut?

Q7. Brian Deane scored the first ever Premier League goal past which goalkeeper?

Q8. Which country are the current holders of the African Nations Cup? Q9. Which two counties participated in the infamous “Battle of Santiago” at the 1962 World Cup Finals?

Q10. Who was manager of Manchester United the last time they were relegated?

Q11. Which was the only one of this seasons Premier League teams not to have any players involved in this past summers’ World Cup? Q12. Which club scored the least goals in last seasons Premier League?

Q13. Which former Everton player started the season as manager of Notts County?

Q14. Which League club plays at Dean Court?

Q15. Which goalkeeper was sent off in a Champions League Final?

1) Italy 2) Robert Green 3) Athletico Bilbao 4) His goal for East Germany beat host West Germany 5) Stevenage (dropped Borough) 6) Bournemouth 7) Peter Schmichael 8) Egypt 9) Chile & Italy 10) Tommy Docherty 11) Blackpool 12) Wolves 13) Craig Short 14) Bournemouth 15) Jens Lehman 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: Lee Riley, Phil Burton and Iain Dyson 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: Lee Riley & Iain Dyson Assistant Manager: Phil Burton Player Coach: Iain Dyson Kitman: Brian Humphris Club Physiotherapists: 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 Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Town in Photos . . .

Town in Vodkat League Premier Division action against Ashton Athletic last Saturday

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League News . . .

New Winsford Boss Keeps Momentum Going New Winsford United manager Ian Street is looking for his side to put in a strong finish as they keep pace with New Mills at the top of the Premier Division. Ian stepped up to the manager's job when Chris Willcock left for Woodley Sports a few weeks back, and he is delighted to be back in a manager's job once again with a club pushing for promotion.

"I'd had a couple of what I would call unlucky seasons at Bamber Bridge, and at Witton Albion last season I was hoping to get the manager's job there at one point. When that didn't happen, I had decided I wasn't going to be involved in football this season, but when Chris was appointed he got on the phone and enticed me down, and I'm glad I came down. I always had an inkling Chris might leave at some point. Both Chris and myself are ambitious, we've both managed in the Unibond League in the past, and want to manage at the highest level we can. Chris asked me to go to Woodley with him, but when I was offered the chance to take over the manager's job at Winsford I had only one thing on my mind, and that was to get back in charge at a club again. It was a good job to carry on doing, and I had no hesitation in accepting it. It was a great opportunity for me, they are a good set of lads, and everything was going in the right direction. Normally you pick jobs up with struggling teams, but we are at the right end of the table, we've got 12 games left now and it's up to us to try and pick up as many points as we can. For the last couple of seasons Winsford have been at the wrong end of the table, and it's encouraging for the club to be at the right end of the table for a change."

Although Ian is not immediately planning on making changes to the playing squad, he did make one important signing within a couple of weeks of taking over. "I've brought Kevin Birkenshaw on board to assist me as it's a tough job to do on your own. Kevin works at Stockport County as a scout and a coach so he knows his stuff and it's a great help to have him. The first week I was on my own and doing everything, and I knew I needed to get some help. I spent that first week making sure I had the right person on board with me and I'm sure I have. Kevin's enthusiasm is great and the lads have responded to him. I'm not looking to change anything on the playing side, that was one of the first things I said to the lads when I took over. I've not been on the phone checking up on new players, everyone will get the same chances as they have had all season. I've not treated it as the start of something new or anything like that, it was just a continuation. Chris and me were virtually working as joint managers anyway, although Chris had the final decision on things."

Looking ahead, Ian is confident his side will continue putting pressure on New Mills at the top of the table, and is drawing on his previous experience to guide his squad through the remaining weeks of the season.

"This league isn't as intense as the Evo-Stik League, although I try to get the lads thinking along those lines and put the same sort of pressures on them as they could expect if they were playing in that league. But the standard in this league is good. New Mills are a top side, and Ramsbottom, Squires Gate and Barnoldswick Town are good sides too. The games we've had against them have been good games and good contests.

Talking to the managers at Ramsbottom last week they have the same view as me, they are loving it at the moment. The competition at the top of the table is interesting and it's just a case for us of trying to finish as high as we can. Looking from the outside, in the last couple of seasons I've been disappointed for Winsford with where they have been, with them having been a Northern Premier League club in the past. The ambition is there at the club, and we've not given up on top spot. After all New Mills could go on a bad run, you never know in football."

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League News Town Lose Star Midfielder Runcorn Town have suffered a blow with the news that central midfielder Marvin Molyneux is leaving the Pavilions to join the Army. Marvin, who won the Division One Player Of The Month Award in September, is joining the Royal Artillery and goes off to Boot Camp training this month. Runcorn Town manager Simon Burton told the Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News: "Marvin has been fantastic for us this year - one of our best players. He has scored nine or 10 goals, which for a midfield player is pretty good with two to three months of the season left.” "He is quality on the ball too and we will miss his ability."

Town's Programme Editor Alan Bennett added: "Everyone associated with our Club wishes Marvin well and I am sure he is hoping to play some games when training is over. "He is also expecting a little addition to his family later this year, so congratulations to him."

CROSSWORD ANSWERS 1.THE DELL 2.GRESLEY 3.DEBUT 4.FORSTER 5.GREEN 6.FYLDE 9.LAZARENKO 14.HANAGAN 15.PALETTA 16.NEW YORK 19.ABBOT 20.RUDDY 21.O’NEIL ACROSS 7.HARVEY 8.CONROY 10.DE SOUSA 11.WALES 12.LOEB 13.CAREW 17.WALES 18.BALE 22.BOUMA 23.KENNEDY 24.OLDHAM 25.WINTER DOWN Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

All Our Yesterdays . . .

Committee man Ste Ball recently handed in a bundle of old programmes for sale in the club shop and amongst them was a copy of the Netstretcher magazine for Autumn 1975. It contained an interesting Focus article on St. Helens Town, written by Jim Voiels, which is reproduced below, headed “Saints in need of a congregation.”

The piece was written 28 seasons after the club was re-formed in the Liverpool County Combination and, at that stage, Town had just begun life in the Cheshire League. One can perhaps forgive a number of grammatical and spelling mistakes, but there are a number of statistical errors in the piece, such as the year the club entered the Lancashire Combination, which is quoted as 1950 rather than 1949. Also, Bert Trautmann played for the club during its final season in the County Combination, 1948/49 and the first few months of the initial Lancashire Combination campaign, prior to his signing for Manchester City. There may be other errors too, not obvious to me, but that should not detract from what is a compelling read. The detail is fascinating, given the circumstances in which the club found itself approaching its 30th anniversary and the context looking back now, over 35 years later.

The article contained an image of the old Hoghton Road stand, set against the backdrop of the huge Bold power station, which will evoke stirring memories among our older fans. Both landmarks are now long gone, but how can one reconcile the paradox of a position of such apparent financial strength, with such a large social club with a membership of 5500 on the one hand and gates of only 150 watching the football on the other? At that point, it seemed to be only a matter of time before the club were to become established in the Northern Premier League with a high-profile manager at the helm! What went wrong?

GLYN JONES

Saints in need of a congregation . . .

“We’ve even seriously considered installing a bookmakers on the ground . . . “said press officer Joe Roscoe, as one of many ideas to attract the missing crowds to St Helens Town’s ground in Hoghton Road. The Saints face two problems with crowds. Firstly, there’s the opposition from Rugby League at Knowsley Road in the north of the town, because, although sport has been on a steep decline over the past few years, it is still the major recreation there. Football in St Helens means Rugby League even if people don’t show up on a Saturday to watch.

St Helens Town’s second difficulty with drawing crowds to soccer is that the locals have become addicted to seeing sport in the comfort of their own living room on the TV screen; standing on a miserable terrace in the cold doesn’t really present a very attractive alternative. It was in recognition of this that the football club made big efforts to improve their humble stadium and it now stands as one of the most pleasant in the league, clean, tidy and a fine setting for a really lively non-league atmosphere . . . providing people arrive to fill it!

But the team has never captured the imagination of the public in St Helens, who seem far more interested in visiting Hoghton Road for the gigantic social club that the team owns there. The growth of this cub is a success story in itself; since it was first constructed fifteen years ago, it has been extended three times at a cost of £100,000, to make it the largest in the non-league football. Bingo goes down a bomb, even on midweek nights inside the 800 person capacity social complex, which now has a total membership of 5,500.

The social club’s high turnover has made St Helens Town a very rich club indeed by non-league standards and, as chairman Jim Chorley says, “St Helens could easily afford Northern Premier League football, once we have a team which is good enough. The committee had adamantly set their sights on the NPL and the Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

. . . Netstretcher 1975 chances of them acquiring a big name to take them up there are very likely. Approaches have already been made to Bill Shankley and Tony Hateley, before the latter was signed by Saint’s close neighbours, Prescot Town.

The club are currently investing £50,000 into a lounge, new dressing rooms and a sauna bath (not something one often comes across in non-league soccer!) and scheduled for the not too distant future is a set of floodlights. These would already have been installed had their erection not required a new electrical substation to be built.

Financially the club has progressed in leaps and bounds since St Helens Town began in 1946 - but what of their record on the pitch? Originally members of the Liverpool County Combination, St Helens town were elected to the Lancashire Combination in 1950 where they stayed until last May, before moving up into the Cheshire League. They carried off the Lancs Combination League title in 1972, their main claim to fame, but have failed to make any impact on the FA Cup or Trophy, which are really the competitions that could boost their flagging attendance (currently lingering at 150). They have had their fair share of famous players, among them Geoff Nulty, Newcastle United’s captain and the latest ex-St Helens Town man to make the big time; others before him include Bill Foulkes, John Connelly and the well-known Bert Trautmann who played for Saints in their Liverpool County Combination days.

Their present Cheshire League squad has a distinct South Liverpool flavour about it because amongst their personnel they have manager Alan Hampson, and players Bobby Rees and mike Flexon - all former team mates at the Garston outfit. Forward Mike Dietz is a man to watch, being St Helens’ most creative player and an excellent runner off the ball, whilst skipper Alan Wellands is a powerhouse in midfield and possess a remarkable record in club loyalty, having remained with his home town club Saints’ for 11 years. Wellands sustained a severe leg injury on the first day of the season at Ashton which is still keeping him out of the side, although his driving spirit has been ever present with the Saints from the sidelines since then.

Town’s career in the new league has been awful, never out of the bottom six and blatantly lacking the right blend, they hit a desperately low patch at the beginning of November and slumped 5-0 to fellow strugglers Hyde United. For United it marked the start of a revival, whilst a St Helens fanatic admitted to being ‘pretty sickened’ at the way results have gone so far. The committee also are not satisfied, although they show a patient confidence in Hampson and have assured him that the cash is available if he wishes to buy players in the amazing non-league soccer transfer market.

But although they are below par at the moment, only a fool would write St Helens as no-hopers. If ever a club had potential then this is it. Saints have al the ingredients to be a roaring success - situated on to of a massive catchment population, with a stable committee and excellent finances behind them they would sell out overnight if Saints tasted some real glory. As one director told me, “Once someone has been to three consecutive home games, then the habit is formed and we’ve won a supporter for life.”

With the public in St Helens clearly out of favour with Rugby League this football club must surely cash in one day and believe me when they do, it’ll be the jackpot they hit. St Helens Town AFC is a club with a real future to look to.

Jim Voiels (Netstretcher, The North West Non-League Soccer Review Autumn 1975) Vodkat League Premier Division Programme of the Year Season 2009-10

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Around The Grounds The Silent Night Stadium - Barnoldswick Town The return to league action saw us take a first visit to the Silent Night Stadium, named after the sponsors and local factory which you pass on the route to the ground. We even saw evidence that the companies large hippo mascot had previously visited but we were alarmed by the absence of the normally accompanying duck, maybe the pitch was a bit too wet even for a duck!

The ground is quite well hidden from the main road after you come through the town of Branoldswick and once into the car park there is no sign posting to the ground entrance.

Fortunately we played on a Saturday afternoon because the car park appears to have no lighting in its rural setting.

Once inside the ground through the turnstile at the car park end you enter at the bottom left hand corner of the pitch all the amenities are at this end of the ground with the ample clubhouse the first building you reach this is followed by the committee room and then the dressing room complex which are in the same building.

The standing area behind the entrance goal is uncovered standing but in front of the dressing room building houses the only seats in the ground in a covered area. Advancing down the right hand touchline there is a large covered stand which appears to be made out of the kind of stones you would see in a wall on a driving in the country.

The standing area behind the far goal is again uncovered and at the point just behind the goal it has to be the narrowest standing area I have seen in non-league football with it being around one and a half persons wide. This end of the ground also had a turnstile which was open on the day, not a sight seen at many Vodkat League grounds.

The far side touchline approaching the car park end is again uncovered standing. The ground on the whole is quite basic but with an excellent clubhouse and decent changing rooms, it has the potential to become one of the better grounds in the Premier Division.

Overall Score 5/10 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 01/03/2011 Player Aldridge Arnold Birch Burton Cliff Croxton Deakin Dyson Elias Evans Fargher Faulkner Foy Frazer Garnell Gore Grogan Hatton Jarrett Kavanagh Kay Langley Mahoney McGann Mitchell Morgan Morris Newbrook Odukomaya Owens Pearson Ryder Stephens Taylor Uji White Williams Woods Woods Totals

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

App 18 3 9 0 2 5 4 19 14 7 11 17 3 17 12 4 5 4 3 1 23 0 2 3 0 7 1 20 2 4 22 9 15 1 2 3 0 11 3 286

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

League Sub 0 1 0 1 6 0 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 3 0 0 1 0 10 1 1 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 7 2 6 3 0 0 0 1 7 0 71

Gls 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 9 0 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 14 1 2 0 0 0 0 10 0 52

App 6 3 1 0 2 1 3 5 6 4 7 9 0 7 8 3 0 1 0 3 11 0 1 0 0 5 0 12 0 4 11 6 10 0 0 0 0 3 0 132

Cups Sub 2 2 0 0 3 0 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 34

Gls 0 2 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 28

App 24 6 10 0 4 6 7 24 20 11 18 26 3 24 20 7 5 5 3 4 34 0 3 3 0 12 1 32 2 8 33 15 25 1 2 3 0 14 3 418

Total Sub 2 3 0 1 9 0 8 4 2 1 1 1 1 9 3 0 0 3 0 14 1 1 2 1 2 0 2 0 0 11 2 6 3 0 2 0 1 9 0 105

Gls 0 2 1 0 2 2 3 10 0 0 4 3 1 1 3 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 22 1 5 0 0 0 0 11 0 80

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Vodkat League Premier Div Results Table Up to 02/03/2011 1-4

Atherton LR 0-3

2-4

Bacup Borough 0-5

1-1

Barnoldswick T 0-4

Colne 2-3

Flixton

Formby 2-4

0-1

Maine Road

0-2

0-3

New Mills

1-0

St Helens Town

0-1

Stone Dominoes

0-5

Padiham

Rossendale Utd

Runcorn Linnets

Silsden

Winsford United

3-1

1-1

0-3

2-2

1-1

Squires Gate

2-0

0-2

1-2

0-1

0-2

4-1

2-1

3-0

1-3

2-1

1-3

3-0

1-1

3-3

1-0

0-0

2-0

3-1

1-1

3-2

4-1

4-0

2-1

2-2

2-0

2-4

2-3

1-4

0-3

2-2

1-1

5-1

1-2

1-3

2-4

2-1

1-2

2-0

4-0

2-3

2-2

3-1

0-3 1-3

1-1 0-0

2-1

0-3

1-4

0-2

1-1 2-1

2-3

2-4 3-5 0-3

0-0 0-1

4-0

4-0

5-0

0-1

1-0

1-3

4-2

5-0

2-2

2-1

3-2

0-2

2-0

3-0

1-1

1-3 1-1

2-1

4-0

1-1

2-1

0-2

1-2

3-2

0-2

0-1

3-3

2-2

1-1

4-0

4-1

2-2

3-0

1-3 1-1 1-1

0-3 1-2

1-3

0-3 0-2

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

3-0

1-3

2-3

1-0 2-0 2-1

0-3 1-2

1-1

1-2

2-0 1-1 2-3

4-4 2-1

1-4 0-2

0-1 2-4

2-4

1-4

0-5 3-3

3-5

1-0

2-1 3-1 0-2

3-0

0-5 3-0

2-0

3-0

2-1

0-1

3-2

1-1

3-2

Glossop NE

3-1

10-4 4-0 4-3

3-0

3-1 3-2

2-1

Ramsbottom Utd

1-2

2-4

1-3 0-1 1-2

1-3

2-2 4-2

2-0

3-3

1-1 1-0 4-1 5-1

5-3

0-3

0-1

1-0

3-2

6-2

3-0

2-3

3-1

3-2

2-1

1-0

2-1

1-0

4-0

0-4

1-2

1-2 4-1

1-3

2-2

1-1

1-1

0-2

3-0

Bootle

1-0

2-4

2-1

2-2 0-1

3-1

1-0 1-0

3-4 1-3

1-0

2-1

2-4 1-3

0-3

0-5

1-1

1-1

Congleton Town

2-1

Ashton Athletic

3-0

2-4

Alsager Town

Ashton Athletic

Alsager Town Atherton LR 2-2

Bacup Borough 1-0

Barnsoldwick Town 3-0

1-2

2-1

0-3 2-0 0-3

2-3

3-3 3-2

4-2

1-3

2-1

2-2

3-1 4-1

3-2

3-1

3-1

2-1

Bootle

1-4

4-0 2-3

6-0

1-1

6-1

Colne Flixton 2-1

Congleton Town Formby Maine Road 2-0

2-0

Glossop North End

Padiham

2-2

1-2

1-0

3-0

2-3

0-2

2-1

2-1

1-2 0-2 3-0

3-2

5-0 5-1

2-1

3-6 3-0

2-2

New Mills Ramsbottom United Rossendale United Runcorn Linnets Silsden Squires Gate St Helens Town 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 - 02/03/2011

Pos

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

New Mills

26

20

3

3

63

27

36

63

2

Winsford United

31

19

4

8

70

35

35

61

3

Ramsbottom United

25

18

1

6

54

24

30

55

4

Barnoldswick Town

27

14

9

4

57

32

25

51

5

Squires Gate

29

13

7

9

56

51

5

46

6

Bacup Borough

26

13

6

7

50

33

17

45

7

Padiham

28

13

6

9

55

42

13

45

8

Colne

25

13

6

6

48

40

8

45

9

Congleton Town

27

14

3

10

45

37

8

45

10

Bootle

26

12

5

9

50

36

14

41

11

St Helens Town

26

12

2

12

54

55

-1

38

12

Maine Road

27

11

4

12

48

42

6

37

13

Atherton LR

24

11

3

10

49

42

7

36

14

Flixton

27

10

3

14

53

64

-11

33

15

Stone Dominoes

24

8

3

13

36

54

-18

27

16

Runcorn Linnets

26

7

6

13

37

56

-19

27

17

Glossop North End

24

7

4

13

36

39

-3

25

18

Alsager Town

26

7

2

17

33

59

-26

23

19

Silsden

23

5

5

13

23

47

-24

20

20

Formby

21

5

2

14

34

57

-23

17

21

Rossendale United

24

2

8

14

27

58

-31

14

22

Ashton Athletic

28

4

2

22

33

81

-48

14

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 02/03/2011

Abbey Hey

Atherton CollierEccleshall

Holker Old Boys

Irlam

Leek CSOB

Norton United

Oldham Boro

2-1

Daisy Hill

4-5

0-4

1-2

0-2

0-1

3-3

Rochdale Town

1-1

4-1

0-0

1-2

0-8

4-0

Runcorn Town

1-1

2-0

10-2

2-1 3-1

1-0

1-5

1-2

2-1

3-2

1-1

1-3

6-3

2-3

1-1

1-3

6-0

3-0

2-2

1-3

1-1

2-0

2-1

3-1

2-1

4-1

2-2

5-2

2-2

1-3

2-2

1-1

1-0

5-1

1-5

0-0

4-2

8-0

4-1

3-2

2-2

1-2 2-1

0-3 2-3

1-0

3-6 2-0

0-0

4-2

1-0

1-0

1-2

1-1

1-2

5-0

2-0 1-1

1-1

5-2 1-1

4-1

4-0

0-6

1-1 4-5

4-3

3-0

1-2

1-0

Cheadle Town

3-1

0-2

1-0

Chadderton

1-0

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

1-0 0-0 5-1

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

0-4 1-3

1-2

3-2 3-2

3-2

5-1 4-0

2-1

3-3 6-1

0-1

0-4

2-1

2-1

2-1

3-0

Wigan Robin

2-1

2-2 7-0 2-4

Ashton Town

0-2 3-2 2-5 3-4 0-7 1-0

1-1

1-1

AFC Liverpool

Atherton Collieries 3-1 0-4

AFC Darwen

1-6

1-4

AFC Blackpool

Abbey Hey AFC Darwen 0-3

AFC Blackpool AFC Liverpool

Chadderton 1-3

Ashton Town

Cheadle Town 0-1

2-2

2-3

1-4 2-2

Daisy Hill Eccleshall Holker Old Boys Irlam

1-4

1-3

9-1 1-0

5-1

0-1

0-0

0-1

4-1 1-1

2-1

3-3 2-1

Leek CSOB 3-0

0-2

1-6

Norton United

4-3

2-2 1-2

2-2 0-0

6-0

0-0

Oldham Boro

2-2

2-4

Rochdale Town

5-1

4-0

Runcorn Town

0-3

1-4

Wigan Robin Park

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

0-2

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

League Standings . . .

Vodkat League Division One Table - 02/03/2011

Pos

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Runcorn Town (-3)

20

16

2

2

76

26

50

47

2

AFC Blackpool

19

15

2

2

56

20

36

47

3

Chadderton

20

12

3

5

39

28

11

39

4

AFC Liverpool

17

10

4

3

40

19

21

34

5

Atherton Collieries

19

10

3

6

44

27

17

33

6

Wigan Robin Park

19

10

2

7

36

24

12

32

7

Cheadle Town

23

9

5

9

36

46

-10

32

8

Irlam

19

8

4

7

34

35

-1

28

9

Holker Old Boys

17

7

4

6

36

23

13

25

10

Norton United

16

7

4

5

28

28

0

25

11

Abbey Hey

21

6

3

12

38

48

-10

21

12

AFC Darwen

19

5

5

9

21

41

-20

20

13

Leek CSOB

17

4

7

6

26

28

-2

19

14

Ashton Town

21

4

6

11

27

48

-21

18

15

Eccleshall (-3)

16

6

1

9

30

42

-12

16

16

Oldham Boro

19

4

4

11

25

44

-19

16

17

Daisy Hill

19

2

4

13

29

58

-29

10

18

Rochdale Town

19

0

7

12

29

65

-36

7

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

Executive Programme Sponsors Season 2010-11

Saint’s Alive . . .

The Devil is constantly challenging God to a game of football, Heaven’s Eleven versus Hell’s Eleven, but with no success. One day God is approached by Saint Peter, who explains that quite a few international footballers have passed through the Pearly Gates. “I think you should arrange to play that football match while we have so many great players available to form a winning team,” he suggests. God is persuaded and contacts the Devil to finally accept the challenge. “Why now, after all this time?” asks the Devil. “Well, Saint Peter informs me we have received so many great footballers into Heaven that we will be able to put together a winning team,” replies God, with absolute honesty. “No matter - you’re going lose,” boasts the Devil. “You sound very confident,” says God. “Don’t tell me you have lots of great players in Hell, as well.” The Devil shakes his head. “I don’t think we have any at all,” he replies, laughing. “But we do have all the referees!”

A Mexican bandit makes a speciality of crossing the Rio Grande from time to time and robbing banks in Texas. Finally a reward is offered for his capture, and an enterprising Texas Ranger decides to track him down. After a lengthy search, he traces the bandit to his favourite cantina, sneaks up behind him, puts his trusty six-shooter to the bandit’s head, and says, “You’re under arrest. Tell me where you hid the loot or I’ll blow your brains out.” Unfortunately, the bandit doesn’t understand English, and the Ranger doesn’t speak Spanish, but there is a bilingual lawyer in the saloon who translates the Ranger’s message. The terrified bandit blurts out, in Spanish, that the loot is buried under the old oak tree behind the cantina. “What did he say?” asks the Texas Ranger. “He said,” replies the lawyer, shrugging his shoulders, “Get lost, Gringo pig - you wouldn’t dare shoot me.”

Walking along the pier on holiday, a married couple spot a sign on a caravan announcing: 'Chief Running Bear, Memory Man - all questions answered'. The husband is intrigued by the confidence of the challenge. “Come on,” he says to his wife. “I bet I can fox him.” Inside the caravan, they find a wizened old American Indian wearing full headdress. “How,” says the chief, raising his right hand in greeting. “What are your questions?” “Who won the 1938 FA Cup third round tie between Preston North End and Millwall?” asks the husband, smirking arrogantly. “Preston,” replies the chief, without hesitation. “Blimey, he’s right!” exclaims the husband, stunned. “What was the score?” he demands.

“1-0,” replies the chief, instantly. “Malcolm McDermott scored in the ninetieth minute.” “Unbelievable,” says the husband, shaking his head as he and his wife leave the caravan. Many years later, for their Silver Wedding Anniversary, the couple revisit the resort and come across the same caravan, with the same sign outside. On entering, they are amazed to find the same chief sitting there, and the husband raises his right hand in a reverential greeting to the old oracle. “How,” says the husband. “It was a header,” replies the chief.

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