Abbey Hulton United vs ST Martins FC | Matchday Programme

Abbey Hulton United FC

Merry ! s a m t Chris from t and n e m e g a n , ma all players e at r e h e e t t i comm nited U n o t l u H Abbey

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Club Information Legal Entity: Unincorporated Ground: Drayton Beaumont Park Address: Birches Head Road, Birches Head, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire Postcode: ST2 8DD Telephone: 01782 570302 2021/22 Admission Prices: £5 adults, £3 concesssions, under 16s free Secretary: John Wightman Chairman: Lee Savage Manager: Russell Leadbetter Programme Editor: Simon Laidler Committee / Directors: Lee Savage, John Wightman, John Agar, Mary Wightman, Liam Franklin, Sharon Franklin, Chris Basford, Steven Buxton, Lee Wightman, Simon Laidler, Daren Foulkes, David Baskeyfield, Wayne Mellor, David Bates, Darren Martin County Affiliation: Staffordshire FA Year Formed: 1947 Record Attendance: 605 vs Stoke City FC November 2021 Previous Leagues: Staffordshire County Senior League Honours: Burslem and Tunstall Division 2 - Runners Up 1973/1974.

Burslem and Tunstall Division 1 League Winners 1978/79 Burslem and Tunstall League Cup Winners 1978/1979 Fenton and District Division 1 Runners Up 1981/1982 Fenton and District Division 1 - League Winners, Cup Winners and Charity Cup Winners 1982/1983 Challenge Cup - Runners Up 1986/1987 Staffs County League Division 1 - League Winners, Cup Winners and Fair Play Award 1997/1998 Staffs County Senior League Premier Division - League winners and Leek Cup Winners 2016/2017.

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We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our supporters, volunteers, players, coaches and committee the very best wishes for Christmas and we wish you all a very happy 2022

Merry Christmas!

CLUB HISTORY Abbey Hulton United Football Club was formed 73 years ago in 1947, making it one of the oldest formed clubs still playing Saturday football in North Staffordshire.

During its very early days the club played on Council land in the Abbey Hulton area.

It continued to use this facility for the first 15 years, despite the fact that the changing facilities were more than a mile away from the actual pitch.

In 1962 it was decided that the team should move to the Parks facility at Bucknall Park which was complete with its own changing rooms and showers adjacent to the pitch. What a luxury.

The team continued to use Bucknall Park for another 23 years, until 1985.

During the period from 1947 to 1985 the team played in many local junior leagues such as: • The Longton League • Fenton and District League • Burslem and Tunstall League • Newcastle and District League They graced all the above leagues with great distinction.

Over the years the club became more financially stable and grew in ambition. Finally in 1985 they acquired a piece of land at Birches Head Road on which it was able to obtain a 99 year lease. This is the clubs current address. Immediately, a clubhouse was built containing a bar and changing rooms for both teams and officials. At the same time an outside 5 a-side football facility was built, complete with floodlights.

Having moved to this new facility the club opted to join the North Staffs Alliance League. It completed in this leauge before seeking election to one of the top leagues in the area, The Staffs County League (North), in 1987. The team played in this league and finally had a momentous season in 1997-1998 by winning the league, the cup and also the fair play award all in one season. Having achieved this feat the club applied to join what is the top junior league in North Staffordshire, the Staffordshire County Senior League. In 2017 Abbey Hulton United won the Staffordshire County Senior Premier League Championship and were promoted to the North West County Football League.

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Welcome to St Martins FC St Martins History July 2021 The name of St Martins Football Club has been respected throughout Shropshire and the borders of Wales for many years but more recently throughout the West Midland as the club enjoys their position playing at the highest level of the club’s long illustrious history. Before the 1914‐18 war specific details about the club are vague but as early as 1897 the village had a team competing in the Oswestry & District League and local competitions.

After the 1914‐18 war the club was reformed under the chairmanship of the late Mr. James Lowe, secretary Mr Ern Evison and treasurer Mr. Joe Lindup and won the Oswestry & District League in 1919‐1920.

In 1930‐31 one of the best teams ever to represent the village captained by Tom Vaughan won the Village Cup beating Traflach in the final which was graced by the skills of Don Hopley, who later played for Shrewsbury Town and Wellington.

In the early 30’s the name of the club was changed to St Martins United, and then in 1935‐ 36 to the Greyhound Rangers, with matches being played on the field adjacent to the Greyhound Inn. In 1936‐37 the club made a successful impact across the border in Wales winning the Cefn & District League Cup but interest declined after this brief spell playing in Wales and there was no organised football in the village from 1937 to 1939.

Between the years of 1939‐45, that included the bleak years of the last World War, the villagers were treated to some top‐class football for under the auspices of the local Home‐Guard, the club entered a team in a local league comprising of various forces units stationed in the area

These services teams had several Football League players in their ranks so a very high standard of soccer was enjoyed.

At the end of the war the club was reformed and entered the North Shropshire League, later to be known as the Oswestry & District League when Mr Eddie Lindup was secretary of the unbeaten League Champions in 1945‐46.

St Martins won the Oswestry League again in 1953 and 1955 and in the years to 1966 won the Village Cup 10 times enjoying an unbeaten run in the competition of 25 consecutive matches during this period.

In 1955‐56 the club enjoyed a fair share of success in the very competitive Whitchurch League, winning the championship on two occasions, gaining second place twice and third position six times. They also won the Whitchurch League Cup, the Consolation Cup and reached the final of the Ethelstone Cup Final four times in five seasons winning at the fourth attempt in 1962 and once more in 1969.

The Championship wins were gained in consecutive seasons and they only lost two games during those successful campaigns.

The Whitchurch League folded in 1972 so the Saints as they are popularly known locally decided to enter the West Shropshire League in 1973‐74 and in their first season won the 3rd Division without losing a League match and thrashed Hanwood F.C. then a Premier League side in the League Cup Final by 5‐1. Their prolific marksman, Michael Smout scored a phenomenal 45 goals that season. From that 3rd Division Championship the club won successive promotions entering the top division in 1976.

The club then joined the Shropshire County League winning the Challenge Cup in 1993‐94 and promotion into the West Midland League Second Division in 2010/11. In their first season St Martins won the 2nd Division and promotion into the WMRL’s 1st Division for 2011/12. They have subsequently finished in the top half of the WML 1st Division One every year, coming close to promotion to the Premier Division on several occasions.

Various local competitions have been and gone over the years but what has remained is the name of St Martin’s FC that has graced each one of these competitions as winners and runners up. In 1971 the Tyre Cup tournament was started and the Saints figured proximately in the early years, winning the cup in 1971, 72‐73, 74‐75 and losing in the final to Weston Rhyn in 73‐74 and 78‐79 and to Morda in 79‐80 after a replay. The Saints lifted the Sid Roberts Memorial Cup in 1988 beating Gobowen Celtic 3 – 1. The club has been a stalwart of the Graham Edwards Memorial Completion making their contribution towards the thousands of pounds raised by the competition over the years since its inception in 1975. The club won this coveted Competition in 2015 beating Oswestry Oak 2 – 1 in an exciting final with Shaun Melusi scoring the winning goal in the last minute of the game.

Over the years the club has been blessed with some dedicated servants. Cecil Rogers was secretary and the treasurer was Douglas Leach who both worked tirelessly for the club. Stan Faulks was president or vice president for 30 years. His generous contributions to the club were typified when he purchased the land behind his supermarket and placed a covenant stating that the land can only be used for recreation purposes that will always include football. Sadly, Stan passed away in 1988 but his legacy will always live on in St. Martins and within the broader football fraternity in Shropshire. Stan’s Grandson Andrew has enjoyed periods as President and has been the most consistent Sponsor for the club.

The ultimate saltwort and longest serving member of the club is Derek Stokes, who played for the Saints at the tender age of 14, won over a 100 trophies maintaining a healthy appetite for football playing his final game for the Saints as a 60 year. Derek’s dedication to the club included every possible role, from player, manager, treasurer, secretary to marking the pitch out and washing the kit. Derek played a significant role in negotiating the transfer of accommodation for the club to The Venue (Home of TNS FC) that enabled the club to function within the expectations of the West Midland League. Sadly, Derek passed away on Sunday 22nd January 2017 but has set a firm foundation for the Club and he will be sadly missed by the football fraternity of the West Midlands, and his beloved St. Martins.

At the beginning of season 2016/17, St Martins FC struggled in the WMRL as the loss of the Club Manager and several key players to Oswestry Town disrupted the team but new Manager Dan Stevens transformed the clubs fortunes in the latter half of the season leading the team to a commendable mid‐table finish in the league. Supported by an active and vibrant management committee Dan set our goal for the following season to gain promotion for the club to Step 6 for the first time in their long and fascinating history.

Photographs in the press at the conclusion of 2017‐18 football season captured the exuberance of the St Martins F.C. players, committee and fans as they defied early season apprehension to finish a creditable 4th place in the ‘West Midland League’ Division One and grasp the League Cup beating ‘Wren’s Nest’ 5‐3 in a final that was described by the ‘League Officials’ as the best final witnessed for many a long year.

Following another troublesome start influenced in no small part by the absence of the Saint’s Manager Dan Stevens because of injury, and having to play a progression of away games, the Saints turned their fortunes around by playing some of the most attractive football the fans have ever seen. The team beat each of the teams that finished above them in the league, begging the question of what might have happened if the Saints had experienced a more balanced start to their season.

The club was fascinated by the excitement of how the ‘threat of failure’ at the start of the season was transformed into the utopia of winning the ‘West Midland Division One League Cup’ and securing promotion into the ‘North West Counties League’ Division One South. This heralded an exciting step up to level 6 of the ‘Football League’ system, the highest level that the club has ever played.

The club also explored new avenues during the 2017/18 season, playing in the coveted ‘FA Vase’ competition for the first time in their history and following promotion to Step 6 the possibility of playing in the FA Cup one day in the future gets ever closer!

The wonderful football the Saints played the previous season and the manner in which they despatched teams that actually finished above them in the league provides the perfect platform for the club to enter the ‘North West Counties League’ for season 2018‐19. The season went well with a mid-table finish, well ahead of local rivals Ellesmere Rangers and even beating eventual league winners Rylands during the campaign. The highlight of the season was a last-minute winner against our ground share neighbours, Oswestry Town.

Season 2019/20, we approached our second season at 'Step 6' with renewed excitement and optimism. An enforced management change saw a new manager Paul Moore and Dave Smith take over the mantle and start the season with three wins from three. But it was downhill from there and the team all but disbanded as the results deteriorated. 13 straight loses and a record defeat in the cup saw the exit of Paul Moore and ex-manager Ryan Butcher came back in to the club to try and steady the ship. The season ended with two ex-St Martins players scoring against the bottom of the league St Martins side for local rivals Ellesmere Rangers. The club was in a difficult position and but for a league reprieve would have been relegated.

Season 2020/21 saw the appointment of another manager – James Etherington. With an exprofessional player pedigree and a lot of local contacts, the task of rebuilding the team was well underway once the season started. However, COVID took its toll and the league was ended prematurely. With only a few local cup games and a handful of league games, the lack of continuity made the rebuilding process nearly impossible.

And so, we go in to this 2021/22 season and we are looking to expand our playing squad whilst continuing to play the attractive football with which we are associated. Off the fields plans for a new Step 5/6 facility within St Martins are continuing with Planning Permission being sought and funding all but secured, St. Martins Football Club continues to build on solid foundation together with the selfless efforts and commitment of its unsung heroes and volunteer’s

ST MARTINS FC | 2021/22 SEASON SO FAR

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The definitive podcast covering the North West Counties Football League!

1ST TEAM PLAYER PROFILE

RYAN PICKUP

Date of birth: 26/02/1997 Weight : 76Kg Height: 180cm Last club played for: Foley Meir FC Club you Support: Stoke Favourite player past : Henry Favourite player now: Ronaldo Favourite manager: Jose Favourite music: Dance

TEAM MATES

Least intelligent: Sam Wytcherley Worst dressed: Keeylin, lives in a body warmer Fastest: All Camels Last one to get a round in: Adam Catalano, last at the bar, first to the food, loves a Pepsi Who us Punching: Kev

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2021/22 Fixtures

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NEXT UP (H) 27th December 2021

NEXT ROAD TRIP (A) 8th January 2022 Ground: Brantingham Road

Address: Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester

Postcode: M21 0TT

Dom Kurasik Kevyn Davies Sam Wytcherley Zak Hill Ryan Pickup Joshua Bristow Brandon Newell Keeylin Thomas Daniel Cope Jamie Turner Lee Cropper Nathan Grice Adam Lawrence Joe Lewis Tyler Barnes Fitzroy Butler Josh Bowden William Tams Adam Catalano

Fraser Aubrey-Williams Daniel Harrington Joshua Aubrey-Williams Daniel Fati Cande Danny Feeley Luke Kirby Robert Weir Elson Fernandes Callum Jeff Murphy Mattias Lokuta Ezequiel Incaque Joseph Hingira Sean Holt Sam Klower Fernando Osagie

Thank you for your support this afternoon MANAGER RUSS LEADBETTER

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