Eccleshall FC vs Sandbach United FC

Eccleshall Football Club - Season 2022/23

Pershall Park, Chester Road, Eccleshall, Staffordshire ST21 6NE

Telephone 01785 851351 (match days only)

Legal Entity: Company limited by shares - Eccleshall Football Club Limited (c/n 13365015). Subsidiary of Eccleshall FC Sports Foundation Limited (c/n 13359263) - company limited by guarantee.

Club Officials:

Chairman: Neil Washington

Vice Chairman: Antony Johnson

Secretary: Jim Tunney

Treasurer: David Heelis

Programme Editor: Shaun Rogers

Clubhouse Management: Bill Grinham

Club Welfare Officer: Jim Tunney

Commercial Manager: Media Officer: Shaun Rogers

Directors

Neil Washington, Antony Johnson, Paul Cox, David Heelis, Bill Grinham, Richard Marsh, Jim Tunney.

Committee

John Martin, Colin Leese, Sid Kelly, Ernie Jackson, Diane Washington, Harvey Collins, Liz Leese, Andy Gough, Ben Gamble, Julie Clews, Barry Blenheim, Laura Sharratt, Tony Woolrich

Fundraising Sub-Committee

Neil Washington, Antony Johnson, John Martin, Jim Tunney, Colin Leese

First Team Management:

Liam Kelly, Nathan Wilkes, Russell Rowley, Harry Pickering, Laura Machin

Junior Section

Chairman: Andy Gough

Secretary: Gareth Davies

U10s Kieron Healey

U13s Dave Hislop, Gaz Davis

U14s John Edensor, Nick Mobley

U16s Paul Heler, Mark Croxton, Henry Taylor

Members of the North West Counties League, Midland Junior Premier League, North Staffs Junior Youth League, Mid Staffs Junior League.

Affiliated to Staffordshire FA

Eccleshall FC is an England Accredited Club

THE DUGOUT VIEW THE DUGOUT VIEW

Good evening and welcome to tonight’s important league fixture against Sandbach United.

In my previous experiences in games against Sandbach, each one has been a tight game with not much between the sides and I expect something similar this evening.

We are coming off the back of our most disappointing display of the season last Saturday against Abbey Hulton in The Macron Cup. Although I made a few changes to the starting 11, we still had enough quality on the pitch to win the game and a number of our players weren’t at the races. This was particularly frustrating as I thought we were excellent in the second half away at Barnton in midweek to earn a very good point away from home. We have a big squad now and the lads will need to work hard to guarantee themselves game time.

With lots of fixtures coming thick and fast between now and the New Year, it’s important we get back to our best and hit a run of form to keep ourselves at the right end of the table. I’m expec after Saturday's performance.

Thank you for your continued su

1973-74

1975-76

1980-81

Sandbach United FC

he club was formed in 2004 following the merger of Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers. They initially competed in the Staffordshire County League, but in 2011 they joined the Cheshire League. They were promoted to the competition's top flight in 2014, and in 2016 they were admitted to the North West Counties Football League Division One, at level 10 of the English football league system.

In the first season in the North West Counties Football League they finished in 6th position, missing out on promotion, and they reached the final of the Reusch First Division Challenge Cup.

In 2017–18 they entered the FA Vase for the first time, but were beaten 2–0 at home by AFC Emley.Also in 2017/18 they beat Tranmere Rovers 2–1 in the Cheshire Senior Cup preliminary round.

The 2018–19 season provided the club with its first trophy since joining The North West Counties Football League as they defeated Avro FC 4–2 to lift The First Division Challenge Cup. The club also made their debut in the FA Cup, joining the competition in the extra preliminary round, but got knocked out by Parkgate in this round.

The 2019–20 season was very different indeed, Sandbach United were unable to replicate the high league position for most of the season and struggled with many player changes which disrupted the team. However they did continue to impress in the challenge cup as holders it gave the team hope of some success. The season was curtailed and declared null and void due to COVID-19, this ironically was to be a blessing a it gave the team chance to regroup and when the league decided to play out the remaining rounds of the cup in September 2020 Sandbach took the chance and went on to retain the cup in an exciting game against AFC Liverpool. The game finished 2–2 with Sandbach coming from behind twice, the cup was ultimately decided on penalties with Sandbach the victors with a 4–3 shootout score. A further piece of luck sees Sandbach get another shot at promotion after the null and void season meant it was four to be promoted again in the 2020–21 season.

The 2020–21 season started well with Sandbach maintaining a play off position throughout the season until once again the season was brought to an end through the pandemic. Sandbach, confident of promotion, sat in the top four and were dismayed when the FA decided that promotion would be based on average PPG over the last two seasons. This resulted in Sandbach dropping out of the top four sides being replaced by Stone Old Aalenian who found themselves promoted and laterally moved. Ironically, missing out on promotion probably saved Sandbach from a lateral move to the Midland league.

The 2021–22 season started well with Sandbach holding the top spot by the end of the August, however through September the team slid down the league with a number of draws falling to 7th place by December. A positive for the season was an extended FA Vase run which saw Sandbach reach the 3rd round proper for the first time in the clubs history beating one of the favourites along the way (Hanley Town) until finally succumbing to Loughborough Students. In January 2022, it was announced by the club that first team manager Andy Hockenhull would step down from his role after 9 years in charge. The club swiftly appointed Declan Swan as caretaker manager whilst the club searched for a permanent manager for the 2022–23 season with the caretaker manager making an instant impact with a euphoric 5–3 victory away in the league to FC IOM. Sandbach being the only team in the season that has secured a victory at the Bowl in the league. After a rigorous interview process with a large number of applicants Declan Swan was appointed as the full time manager for the 2022–23 season. The team spirit lifted and results improved towards the latter end of the season as Sandbach maintained their 8th place in the league. Sandbach were disappointed to be knocked out of the Edward Case cup despite having won it two years in a row to the FC IOM 1-2 in a closely fought game. FC IOM going on to lift the trophy for their first time.

The 2022-23 season starts with the club having once again made ground improvements with the installation of the Andrew Kimber stand as preparations continue to get the ground to a step 5 grading.

3-0 REPORTMATCH

Eccleshall travelled to local rivals Abbey Hulton United in the Macron Cup following last week’s exit from the FA Vase to Coventry Sphinx. Manager Liam Kelly made changes to the starting lineup and included new signing Jordan Cole from the start. Former Eagles striker Liam Robinson was in the Abbey line-up. The first chance of note came on 14 minutes when a cross into the box gave Robinson a pointblank header which Eagles keeper Aaron Woolrich held. In reply, a free kick resulted in Lucas Green-Birch having a shot blocked. Minutes later, Dan Taylor slipped, to leave Robinson clear on goal and Woolrich did well to block the shot. However, on 24 minutes, Abbey took the lead when Robinson ran on to a through ball and his low strike beat Woolrich to find the bottom corner. Almost immediately, Green-Birch set up Ryan Pickup and his shot was deflected just over the bar whilst Abbey keeper Zak Hill could only watch. On 31 minutes, a low Pickup drive was tipped around the post by Hill. Skipper Callum Feeney then tried from distance, but his effort was well over the bar. Eagles continued to press as half time approached and were still well in the game.

HT: Abbey Hulton United 1 Eccleshall 0

Robinson continued to be a thorn in Eagles’ side as his free kick from outside the box was just wide of the post. Kelly brought on Ryanjay Malbon for Taylor before Abbey had another chance through Matthew Ward, but he put his shot wide. The game turned a minute later when Eagles were reduced to ten men after Luke Lewis was sent off by referee Austin for a poor challenge. Kian Knott came on for Jordan Benton before Robinson was almost through again, but Woolrich claimed the ball at his feet. A Green-Birch header was then held by Hill. However, the one-man advantage was beginning to tell, and on 66 minutes, Abbey took a 2-0 lead when a neat ball found Robinson and he tucked the chance away into the bottom corner of the net. Louis Downs and Oliver Hickman came on, but it was 3-0 on 69 minutes when Woolrich saved but couldn’t hold on to the ball and Ward fired in the rebound. Eagles looked for a consolation and a free kick by Jordan Flattley led to Hill saving Malbon’s header. Inevitably, it was Robinson again with another shot past the diving Woolrich, but his effort was just past the post. Before the final whistle, Eagles had two chances. Firstly, a distance drive by Flattley brought a good fingertip save from Hill before Downs outpaced the advancing Hill but his shot found the side netting to conclude Eagles’ participation in the Macron Cup for another season.

FT: Abbey Hulton United 3 Eccleshall 0

Eccleshall will be disappointed to have gone out of a second cup competition in a week and now face Sandbach United in the league on Tuesday evening at Pershall Park before a home meeting against Abbey Hey in the Edward Case Cup Third Round next Saturday. They will be hoping that this competition will provide them with a final chance of a cup run before concentrating on the ‘bread and butter’ of league action. Manager Liam Kelly will be looking for an improved performance against Sandbach to try and add to their league points tally and team changes can be expected.

Eagles: Woolrich, Taylor (R Malbon), Dunn (Hickman), Pickup, Groom, Feeney, Lewis, Benton (Knott), Cole, Flattley, Green-Birch (Downs).

Unused sub: Woodroffe

Referee: Mr Jack Austin

Attendance: 111

Aaron Woolrich Aiden Blaise Callum Feeney

Daniel Taylor

Alexander Atton Luke Lewis

Darlington Ryan AVAILABLE TO AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR SPONSOR AVAILABLE TO AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR SPONSOR AVAILABLE TO AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR SPONSOR

sponsored by Terry & Dorothy Steele sponsored by RICHARD MARSH

sponsored by Tony Woolrich & Andy Withey

Jordan Benton

SPONSORSHIP SPONSORSHIP

sponsored by Gough Landscapes. Mayflower Control. Cuttlestones

Ant Malbon

Louis Downs

Lucas Green-Birch

Mark Groom

George Woodroffe

Jack Flanaghan

Jordan Flattley Ryan Jay Malbon

Liam Kelly

Nathan Wilkes

Harry Pickering

Harvey Colins

Management

Howsons is a firm of chartered accountants with a refreshingly forward-thinking outlook informed by our active involvement at the forefront of the profession. Our enthusiastic and dedicated teams in audit, tax, agriculture and general practice blend experience of our directors with the vitality of our trainees to deliver high levels of service that is bespoke to each and every client. As proud as we are of our history, we are true to our mission, vision and values. It is part of what makes us different. www.howsons.com

AARON WOOLRICH (GK)

ALEXANDER ATTON (GK)

CALLUM FEENEY

LEWIS DUNN

MAX RAINE

ETHAN STANTON

MITCHELL GLOVER

AIDEN BLAISE

LUKE LEWIS

OLI HICKMAN

DANIEL TAYLOR

JORDAN DARLINGTON

JORDAN BENTON

LUCAS GREEN-BIRCH

GEORGE WOODROFFE

LOUIS DOWNS

MARK GROOM

ASHLEY COLCLOUGH

JACK FLANAGHAN

JORDAN FLATTLEY

RYAN PICKUP

RYAN MALBON

ANT MALBON KIERAN KNOTT

JORDAN COLE

ERIC MERNER (GK)

THOMAS SCOTT (GK)

GEORGE BROOKES (GK)

JOEL DOVEY (GK)

KIERAN ALLEY

SEYDOU BAMBA

LEWIS BARKER

TYLER BARNES

BRIAN BARTON

WILLAM BOOTH

HARRY BURGESS-HAYDE

HARRY CAIN

CALLUM CHAPMAN

NIALL COPE

LIAM FITZPATRICK

ROBBIE HATTON

LOUIS JOHNSON

JOEL JONES

OLIVER JONES

JOSHUA KLEIN-DAVIES

KIERAN OCONNELL

JOSHUA OULTRAM

ARCHIE PORDES

ALEXANDER RADCLIFFE

RORY ROBERTS

JORDAN STAFFORD

STANLEY TATTERS GEORGE WEST

1971

Daniel O'Brien

Anthony Heath

Roger Firmstone