st helens town v afc blackpool

North West Counties Football League Premier Division Programme of the Year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 & 2012-13

Executive Programme Sponsor



Today’s Teams . . .

Cover: Adam Storey in action during Town’s visit to Bacup

No Gls St Helens Town

Ciaran Gibson

Alex Gillespie

Joe McKeegan

Andy Mawdsley

Lee Crompton

Liam Dodd

Mason Ryan

Mike Sykes-Wright

Andy Gillespie

Andy Olsen

Adam Storey

Karl Bergqvist

Paul Cook-Hannah

Danny Norris

Rory Crowther

Tom Lightbody

No Gls AFC Blackpool

Adam Caunce

Grant Dell

Paul Carroll

Benjamin Jakes

Ryan Vaughan

Martin Baird

Stephen Betteridge

Matthew Muscroft

Ben Singleton

Lucasz Jarosieewicz

Shane Hull

David Coppock

Mitchell Newsham

Jason Dodwell

Pedro Monteiro

Daniel Sumner

CLUB INFORMATION

Honorary Life President: Alan Wellens

Vice President: Jim Barrett

Chairman:

John McKiernan (07713 339682)

Vice Chairman: Glyn Jones

Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Voller (07843 692695)

Commercial Manager

Stephen Eves 07950314693

Full Committee: John McKiernan, Jeff Voller,

Jim Barrett, Ste Ball, Chris Ford and Glyn Jones.

Trustees:

John McKiernan and Eric Bond

Club Manager: Ian Price

Assistant Manager: Paul Jones

Coach: Nick Matthews

Physiotherapist: Nicole Garner

Reserve Team Manager Alan Gillespie

Assistant Manager: John Whelan

Youth Team Managers:

Alan Gillespie & John Whelan

Email: [email protected]

Main Club Sponsor:

Johnsons Toyota Liverpool

Legal: St Helens Town Limited Private Limited Company

Company No. 04392840

Date of Incorporation 12.03.2002

Company Directors: Jim Barrett & Gordon McDonald

Parent Company:

A wholly owned subsidiary of Sporting Club St Helens Limited

Thursday 17th March 2014, kick off 7.45pm North West Counties League, Premier Division

Manager: Ian Price Assistant: Paul Jones

Manager: Stuart Parker Assistant: Ian McGarry

Referee: Mr R Holmes (Preston) Assist: Mr S Doherty (Preston) & Mr M Hughes (Preston)

Today’s Executive Match Sponsor:

St Helens Town Red & White Shirts

White Shorts, Red & White Socks

AFC Blackpool Tangerine Shirts

Tangerine Shorts & Socks



Talk of the Town . . . Good evening and welcome to Brocstedes Park for this North West Counties Football League, Premier Division contest against our friends from AFC Blackpool. May I open by welcoming our visitors I hope they enjoy the short time they will spend with us and have a safe journey home after the game. It has been a quick turnaround as we were only here two days ago on Tuesday evening hosting Championship contenders Runcorn Linnets. After an impeccably observed minutes silence to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster, the first half of the contest was a very even affair with neither side tearing up any trees and little of either goalkeeper to deal with. Ten minutes of madness for the hosts, soon after the restart saw the points heading back to Runcorn as a triple salvo of some slack defending saw the Linnets take the lead after 54 minutes adding a second on 63 minutes and less than 60 seconds later adding a third which proved to be the final goal of the contest. This closed the gap to four points on Norton

United at the top of the table having played a game more than the Staffordshire outfit who will be looking to regain their 7 point lead as they visit Congleton Town this evening. Prior to Tuesday’s game our place in the North West Counties League, Premier Division for the 2014-15 season have been secured when our landlords Ashton Athletic secured a 3-2 win at Alsager Town on Monday evening which meant that they could not surpass our points haul and meaning that we could not drop into the bottom two. We must now look to secure as many

points as we can in our final four matches of the season and finish as high up the table as possible starting this evening with a quick chance to take revenge for last Tuesday’s 4-2 reverse against this evening’s visitors AFC Blackpool. A much depleted Town squad that evening found themselves 4-0 down midway through the second half but a spirited comeback saw Michael Sykes-Wright and Andy Olsen net for the visitors. Hopefully it will be a much more even contest this evening with a stronger Town contingent available. Let’s get behind Town this evening and hopefully cheer them onto victory. Enjoy the game . . . Jeff Voller



In Town Today . . . AFC Blackpool was formed in 1947 under the name of Blackpool Metal Mechanics and played at Stanley Park for two years before moving to the current Jepson Way ground. They played in local leagues before taking the step up to join the West Lancashire League. During this period in local league football they won many awards, taking the Division Two title of the Fylde District League in 1950/51 and in Division One were champions twice and runners-up three times in five consecutive years between 1953/54 and 1957/58. Numerous local cup competitions were also won, including the

Lancashire Junior Shield in 1957/58, a competition they were to win again in 1960/61. As the 50's drew to a close, Blackpool Mechanics decided to take the next step up and join the West Lancashire League. They were an almost immediate success, being runners-up in 1959/60 and champions for the next two seasons. Various cups and trophies from local competitions still regularly found their way to Jepson Way. The club then took another step up the football ladder by joining the Lancashire Combination. The jump in standard meant the cups and honours that had poured into the trophy room dried up and it was not until the turn of the decade before many more honours were to come their way. In 1972/73 they won the Lancashire Combination Bridge Shield and in 1974/75 they finished runners-up in the league, just one point behind champions Darwen. They remained a strong team throughout the 70's although towards the end they suffered some poor results. With the advent of the North West Counties League, Blackpool Mechanics were placed in Division Three and in 1985/86 were promoted to Division Two. At the end on 1991/92 they were promoted to Division One, but it was not a happy experience and the club returned to Division Two. After a few seasons of struggle, the club is now financially stable and looking forward to developing the club's potential both on and off the pitch. In the summer of 2005 Blackpool Mechanics FC merged with Lytham St. Annes FC who had just won the West Lancashire League Division One title. Lytham St. Annes resigned from their own league and brought their resources and manpower to Jepson Way in a bid to launch the new look Mechanics in their push up the non-league football pyramid.



. . . AFC Blackpool The club was re-named AFC Blackpool in May 2008 when Blackpool Mechanics FC and Squires Gate Junior FC got together to form one club. It was decided to mark the start of a new era by re-naming the club and the name 'AFC Blackpool' was chosen. The club leased a further piece of land adjacent to the ground in Jepson Way to accommodate the enlarged club and investment to improve the facilities was begun. The club ground in Jepson Way retains its name 'The Mechanics' to maintain a link with the past. Season 2010/11 saw the club have probably its best season ever. The first team were promoted to the Premier Division as Division 1 champions with a record breaking 28 wins and three draws in 34 league matches. They also reached the semi finals in both the 1st Divison Trophy and the League Cup. There were notable successes in the Junior section too with the under 16s doing the league and cup double, the under 10's and 11's winning their respective Divisions and the under 14s also winning promotion. With the club now providing football from under 6 through to open age the future is looking secure. The 2011/12 season the clubs first back in the North West Counties League top flight and the club acquitted themselves well being in the top half of the table for the vast majority of the season and finishing in 9th position. Last term the club won more matches and gained more points in the top flight of the NWCFL than the previous year but finished one place worse off in 10th position. They were never in any danger of being dragged into the relegation battle and had a second comfortable mid-table finish since their return to the top tier of the League.

Season League P W D L F A GD Pts Position

1998-99 NWC-2 36 4 6 26 39 121 -82 18 19/19

1999-00 NWC-2 34 9 6 19 48 74 -26 33 15/18

2000-01 NWC-2 38 21 6 11 85 47 38 69 6/20

2001-02 NWC-2 40 18 9 13 69 48 21 63 8/21

2002-03 NWC-2 34 9 10 15 39 52 -13 37 14/18

2003-04 NWC-2 38 13 7 18 45 59 -14 46 14/20

2004-05 NWC-2 36 12 9 15 49 67 -18 42 10/19

2005-06 NWC-2 36 13 10 13 48 51 -3 49 9/19

2006-07 NWC-2 34 10 6 18 39 48 -9 30 13/18

2007-08 NWC-2 34 11 12 11 47 45 2 45 9/18

2008-09 NWC-1 34 7 8 19 34 59 -25 29 15/18

2009-10 NWC-1 32 9 5 18 50 64 -14 32 15/17

2010-11 NWC-1 34 28 3 3 94 30 64 87 1/18

2011-12 NWC-P 42 17 10 15 67 64 3 61 9/22

2012-13 NWC-P 42 19 9 14 60 58 2 66 10/22



How We Compare . . . St Helens Town - last 6 matches

All Competitions Most recent

Home L W L D L L

Away L L L W L L

Collated D L W L L L

AFC Blackpool - last 6 matches

All Competitions Most recent

Home L W L L D W

Away L L L L W L

Collated L L D W W L

St Helens Town games since...

AFC Blackpool games since...

All Competitions All Competitions

Clean sheet

24 Clean sheet

2

Goal Scored

1 Goal Scored

1

Loss 0 Loss 0

No score draw

42 No score draw

41

Score draw

5 Score draw

3

Win 3 Win 1

Previous Meetings Since 1949/50

All Competitions

P W D L F A GD Win %

Home 8 3 1 4 14 14 0 37.50

Away 9 3 3 3 18 14 4 33.33

Collated 17 6 4 7 32 28 4 35.29

at St Helens Town

Previous Meetings

at AFC Blackpool

NWC-D1 1998-99 NWC-D2

NWC-D1 1999-00 NWC-D2

NWC-D1 2000-01 NWC-D2

NWC-D1 2001-02 NWC-D2

NWC-D1 2002-03 NWC-D2

NWC-D1 2003-04 NWC-D2

NWC-D1 2004-05 NWC-D2

NWC-D1 2005-06 NWC-D2

NWC-D1 2006-07 NWC-D2

NWC-D1 2007-08 NWC-D2

NWC-PD 2008-09 NWC-D1



22/10; 3-2 2011-12 21/01; 2-2

09/04; 1-2 2012-13 09/03; 0-0

17/04/2014 2013-14 12/04; 2-4

St Helens Town Scores First

Games Played 5

St Helens Town Wins 1

Draws 2

AFC Blackpool Wins 2

St Helens Town Goals 8

AFC Blackpool Goals 10

Percentage Town Wins 20.00



Chairman’s Notes . . . Good evening and a very warm welcome to Brocstedes Park, for this North West Counties Football League Premier Division encounter with our friends and rivals AFC Blackpool. I’d like to thank tonight’s match sponsors Johnsons Toyota Liverpool who continue their superb support for the club this season.

Tonight is the second of four successive home games inside seven days and comes hot on the heels on Tuesday evening’s defeat against Runcorn Linnets. Despite needing a small miracle in their Championship chase Linnets recorded a 0-3 win with a quick-fire period of sustained pressure ten minutes into the second period. The first half had been a tight affair with Town being extremely competitive all over the park. And the second period started brightly and should have seen Town in front when good work from Adam Storey saw him cross for Tom Lightbody who was unable to turn the ball into an empty net. Moments later it was 0-1 and just after the hour mark two goals inside 60 seconds put paid to any Town fight back. Tonight’s visitors AFC Blackpool enjoyed a 4-2 victory over Town just ten days ago when they raced into a 4-0 lead midway through the second half. Town did rally with goals from Sykes-Wright and Olsen with the latter also hitting the woodwork but the home side eventually took the spoils. I am sure Ian

Price and his staff will be looking for a better return this evening. The Easter weekend sees Town at home on both Saturday and Monday with Glossop North End our first visitors before we entertain our in-form ‘landlords’ Ashton Athletic on Easter Monday, both games 3pm kick off. Our congratulations to Ashton’s management team Jay, Ben and Dougie and their players having reached the final of NWCF League Challenge Cup where they will meet Maine Road on 1st May at Curzon Ashton. Don’t forget we are still looking for new additions to our weekly lottery which will continue to run through the summer - please see any committee member for a form! Enjoy the game.

John McKiernan Chairman, St Helens Town AFC



We’ve met before . . .

Action from last season’s home encounter with AFC Blackpool

at Edge Green Street, Ashton Town FC



Town’s trip to the seaside . . . Tuesday 8th April 2014, NWCFL Premier Division Town’s comeback just falls short It was a strange game at AFC Blackpool on Tuesday evening, for a number of reasons. With 16 players unavailable, St. Helens Town fielded a makeshift side, with three debutants – goalkeeper Rory Crowther, centre forward Danny Norris (pictured as sub v AFC Liverpool) and ex-Rugby League professional Kyle Ross – and a number of other players out of their usual positions and only one fit substitute. However, having gone 4-0 down on the hour, Town

staged a remarkable comeback bid which only just fell short, eventually going down 4-2, with two other chances narrowly missing the target. Crowther pulled out some tremendous saves throughout the game, notably 25 minutes into the contest, when turning a powerful shot from Ben Singleton round the post and right on half-time, tipping a drive from Steve Betteridge over the bar. By that stage, unfortunately, St. Helens were already two goals down, Singleton curling a wonderful effort just inside Crowther’s far post from 30 yards out on 34 minutes and, two minutes before the interval, Martin Baird ghosted through the flat-footed defence to beat Town’s unfortunate young keeper. The second half began in similar vein, Singleton scoring his second goal after 52 minutes from a free header and, on the hour, Blackpool stretched their lead to four when Ryan Vaughan netted from just inside the touchline, 30 yards out. It only seemed a question of how many the Mechanics would score. However, in a remarkable turnaround, the visitors began to fight back and, for the remaining half-hour, it was virtually one-way traffic, with the home goal under siege. Michael Sykes-Wright scored the first goal after 70 minutes, tucking away a rebound with a well-hit shot. A few minutes later, it should have been a second goal for Town, as Andy Olsen burst through the home defence, drew the advancing keeper, but his drive hit the far post and out of danger. With twelve minutes left, a corner to St. Helens produced a good header from Norris, which was well saved by Adam Caunce in the home goal, but two minutes later, from a similar position, Norris’s corner found Olsen unmarked in front of goal and he headed home to make it 4-2. Against all the odds and expectations, Town pressed forward time and again and in the last minute, went close again when substitute Karl Bergqvist, playing his first game since September, could only find the side netting from a Sykes-Wright pass. The referee’s whistle sounded soon after and it was AFC Blackpool who breathed a sigh of relief. So near yet so far… Town have an early chance of turning the tables as the sides meet again in the reverse fixture at Brocstedes Park on Thursday evening, ahead of the Easter home double-header against Glossop on Saturday and landlords Ashton Athletic on Easter Monday.



Town Goldline Lottery . . . We are looking for supporters to become Goldline

members which will provide the club with a

valuable source of income which will help us to

achieve a bright future by assisting us in our goal

of making a return to St Helens. In addition, you

will have the chance to win up to £5,000 . . . so we

could all be winners!

As a lottery partner, St Helens Town Football Club

will receive a massive 70p of your £1 weekly

subscription. As a Goldline member you will

receive your membership card which includes your

membership number, 10 sets of Goldline draw

numbers and 4 unique rollover draw numbers:

• Your 10 sets of Goldline draw numbers will be

entered into the Goldline draw every weekday for

your chance of winning. Each week 5 prizes of

£500 are paid out, that’s a total of £2,500 paid out every week.

• Your 4 rollover draw numbers will be entered into the weekly draw for your chance of

winning up to £5,000. The rollover draw starts at £250 and each week rolls over and

increases by £250 until won or until it reaches £5,000 at which time it will be drawn

and redrawn until a winner is found.

• £100s in £10 consolation prizes are paid out every week.

• Goldline pays out over £170,000 in prizes every year to members.

• In addition your Goldline membership card will entitle you to exclusive deals available

at St Helens Town Football Club.

No claim is necessary. Prizes will be sent automatically and either delivered by post or by

your agent.

Club Chairman John McKiernan said, “Having joined forces with Bolton Wanderers in the

Goldline Lottery we can ensure big cash prizes are dished out every week but the Club also

wins too – with the possibility of raising thousands of pounds each year.



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 is the only club to feature in the top division of that league throughout its existence although, after a very good start, they very nearly lost that proud record last

season. 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 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



. . . of St Helens Town AFC

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 goal scorer Dave Bamber, who began and ended his league 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, ninth place in 2009/10 being the best finish since. Season 2010-11 saw Town slide to 16th and in 2010/11 next to bottom, when they would have been relegated, but for Flixton’s decision to resign from the league. Town began the 2012-13 season under new manager Ian Granite, who brought in a new team and coaching set-up who battled well to avoid relegation. Though the club have the benefit of an 80-year ground-sharing agreement with Saints, they have been unable to re-locate to the new stadium at Langtree Park and having spent over two seasons sharing Ashton Town’s ground at Edge Green Street a new ground share agreement has been brokered with fellow Premier Division side Ashton Athletic to cover their immediate future as plans for a return to St Helens continue.

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

Record Appearances: Allan Wellens Record Goal Scorer: Steve Pennington

Record Attendances:

4000 at Hoghton Road v Manchester City 1723 at Knowsley Road v FC Utd Manchester 9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (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 NWCFL Premier Division 2010-11 NWCFL Premier Division 2011-12 NWCFL Premier Division 2012-13 NWCFL Premier Division

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

Soccer Club Swap Shop National Awards 2010-11 Placed 28th 2011-12 Placed 8th 2012-13 Placed 7th



Hearts and Goals . . . St Helens Town has a new high-profile national charity partner for the 2013/14 season after joining up with Hearts & Goals, a lifesaving campaign for which Fabrice Muamba is ambassador. The club has forged a new partnership with Arrhythmia Alliance, the charity behind Hearts & Goals,a national campaign to tackle the UK’s biggest killer sudden cardiac arrest, by helping communities place lifesaving public-access

AEDs (automated external defibrillators). The campaign’s ambassador, former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on the football pitch in March 2012 and went on to make a remarkable recovery thanks to prompt treatment with CPR and an AED. Everyone at the club was so moved by his experiences and the work he and the charity has done through Hearts & Goals, Town want to raise as much money as possible for the campaign by holding a series of fundraising events throughout the season and beyond, as well as dedicating a percentage of all incoming sponsorship deals to the charity. Sudden cardiac arrest claims 100,000 lives in the UK every year and AEDs, like the one used on Fabrice on the pitch at White Hart Lane, increase a person’s chance of surviving from just 5% to 50% if they suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. The devices do not require training and can be used by anyone to shock a person’s heart back into its normal rhythm in the event of someone suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. Arrhythmia Alliance has already helped communities up and down the UK place public-access AEDs as part of Hearts & Goals. The devices are placed in secure cabinets which are logged with local ambulance services and available to anyone in the community 24/7. In the event of an emergency anyone who phones 999 is then given immediate access to the lifesaving defibrillator. St Helens Town Commercial Manager, Darryl Picton, said: “The idea to forge this partnership came from Fabrice’s story. “Never before have I witnessed such an event that has brought football fans, clubs and



. . . Our Charity Partner players together in support of one man as what happened on that horrific day at White Hart Lane. The story touched the hearts of everyone and transcended sport. Those events really hit home to everyone at St Helens Town how quickly and unexpectedly tragedy can strike in a community and having access to this essential equipment will save hundreds of lives. “We are proud to be associated with Hearts and Goals and with Fabrice, and we will work tirelessly throughout the year to raise every penny possible for the campaign.”

Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder and CEO of Arrhythmia Alliance, said: “We are absolutely delighted St Helens Town AFC have chosen our Hearts & Goals campaign as their official

charity campaign. “Hearts & Goals focuses on tackling the UK’s biggest killer, sudden cardiac arrest, which kills 100,000 people in the UK every year. We have already been able to help communities up and down the country place lifesaving AEDs (automated external defibrillators) and with partners like St Helens we can continue this work. “It is clear all involved at the club are very passionate about the campaign and we are delighted to welcome them on board.” A host of fundraising events are already planned throughout the year, including a a Race Night on Saturday 26th October and Comedy & Curry Night on Saturday 7th December. For full details of events or to make a donation to the campaign contact Darryl Picton on 07908 833 554 or by email at [email protected] Visit www.heartsandgoals.org for more information.



Town’s Gala Dinner . . . The club is delighted to announce that Johnsons Toyota Liverpool will be the principle sponsor of our 2014 Gala Dinner and Presentation Evening in May.

Club Chairman John McKiernan said, ‘I can’t thank our friends at Johnsons Toyota Liverpool enough for their continued support. 'We are organising an event that will commemorate the 2013-14 season and recognise the achievements of the club’s players and I am looking forward to celebrating our partnership with Johnsons in style.' Gareth Shone, General Manager at Johnsons Toyota Liverpool said, ‘We are really looking forward to the Gala Dinner and developing our partnership with St. Helens and it will be another opportunity to showcase the company.' The Gala Dinner will take place in the superb surroundings of the St Helens Masonic Hall on Saturday 3rd May 2014 and will include a pre-Dinner reception for Johnsons and a number of guests followed by a four course evening dinner and entertainment which includes guest speaker David Fairclough followed by Liverpool’s King of Comedy Frankie Allen. The club will also be hosting a charity auction as part of the event. This year’s presentations will see the player awards commemorate the lives of three former Town legends. Our two club Presidents Bert Trautmann and Bill Foulkes sadly passed away in 2013. The Bert Trautmann Award will be presented to the club’s Player of the Year while The Bill Foulkes Award to the Players Player of the Year. Former Manchester United player Tommy O’Neil who captained the 1987 St Helens Town FA Vase winning side sadly passed away 2006 will be remembered with the renaming of the Young Player of the Year award. Tickets for the evening will cost £30 or a table for 10 at just £250. Ticket information and sponsorship opportunities are available from the club Commercial Manager Stephen Eves on 07950 314 693 or email [email protected] Further details are available on the club’s website www.sthelenstownafc.com



Date Opponents Comp KO Result GK 2 3 4 5 6

Aug 3 NORTON UNITED NWCFL 3.00 3-3D Clark Mawdsley Harrison Williams(C)1 Coyle Cooper Weaver

Aug 6 Squires Gate NWCFL 7.45 3-0L Clark Mawdsley Harrison Wright Crompton(C) Williams Ashton

Aug 10 Winsford United NWCFL 3.00 2-1L Clark Mawdsley Judge Williams(C) Coyle Ashton Cooper1

Aug 13 WIGAN ROBIN PARK NWCFL 7.45 4-1W Taylor Mawdsley1 Harrison Williams(C) Coyle Chesworth Ashton

Aug 17 ASHTON ATHLETIC FAC EPR 3.00 2-2D Taylor Mawdsley Harrison1 Williams(C) Coyle Ashton Cooper

Aug 17 Ashton Athletic FAC Rep 7.45 1-0L Taylor Mawdsley Harrison Williams Crompton(C) Ashton Weaver

Aug 24 MAINE ROAD NWCFL 3.00 0-5L Taylor Mawdsley Harrison Crompton(C) Williams Ashton Weaver

Aug 27 Barnoldswick Town NWCFL 7.45 1-2W Taylor Mawdsley Judge1 Crompton(C) Coyle Wright Weaver

Aug 31 ALSAGER TOWN NWCFL 3.00 0-3L Taylor Tingay Judge C.Williams Coyle Sykes-Wright Weaver

Sep 7 Pontefract Collieries FAV 1QR 3.00 2-0L Taylor Tingay Judge Barber Coyle Chesworth(C) Weaver

Sep 12 AFC Liverpool NWCFL 7.45 3-0L Gibson Pullinger Judge(C) Curzon Coyle Ashton Sanderson

Sep 21 Abbey Hey NWCFL 3.00 1-1D Gibson Pullinger Harrison Coyle Curzon Ashton Sanderson

Sep 24 Bootle NWCFL 7.45 1-2W Gibson Pullinger Harrison Coyle Crompton(C) Parish Judge1

Sep 28 BACUP & ROSS BORO NWCFL 3.00 1-1D Gibson Syke-Wright Harrison Mawdsley(C) Coyle Parish Ashton

Oct 1 Runcorn Linnets NWCFL 7.45 1-1D Gibson Tingay Judge Mawdsley(C) Coyle Ashton Sykes

Oct 5 Glossop North End NWCFL 3.00 2-3W Gibson Tingay Judge1 Mawdsley(C) Coyle Ashton Sykes

Oct 8 SQUIRES GATE NWCFL 7.45 5-0W Gibson Tingay Judge1 Mawdsley(C) Coyle Ashton Sykes

Oct 12 W DIDS & CHORLTON NWCFL 3.00 3-0W Gibson Tingay Judge Mawdsley(C) Coyle Ashton Sykes

Oct 19 SILSDEN NWCFL 3.00 2-0W Gibson Tingay Judge Mawdsley(C) Coyle Parish SykesOct 22 CONGLETON TOWN NWCFL 7.45 1-1D Gibson Tingay Judge Mawdsley(C) Coyle Parish1 Sykes

Oct 26 ALSAGER TOWN Lge Cup 2 3.00 1-2L Gibson Pullinger Richardson Mawdsley Crompton(C) Parish Weaver

Oct 29 BARNOLDSWICK TOWN NWCFL 7.45 1-1D Gibson Pullinger Judge Mawdsley(C) Coyle Parish Sykes

Nov 23 STOCKPORT SPORTS NWCFL 3.00 2-2D Gibson Tingay Judge Mawdsley Crompton(C)1 D.Owens Parish1

Nov 26 CAMMELL LAIRD LSC 1R 7.45 1-3L Gibson Pullinger Richardson Mawdsley Crompton(C) Sykes-Wright Ryan

Nov 30 West Didsbury & Chorlton NWCFL 3.00 1-2W Gibson Tingay Richardson Mawdsley Crompton(C) Parish1 Sykes

Dec 3 Wigan Robin Park NWCFL 7.45 1-4W Gibson Tingay Richardson Coyle Crompton(C) Parish Sykes

Dec 7 COLNE NWCFL 2.00 0-1L Lowton Pullinger Richardson Mawdsley Crompton(C) Parish Sykes

Dec 14 Silsden NWCFL 3.00 1-0L Gibson Pullinger Richardson Mawdsley Crompton(C) Parish SykesDec 21 WINSFORD UNITED NWCFL 3.00 0-2L Gibson Pullinger Richardson Mawdsley Crompton(C) Parish Weaver

Jan 11 Norton United NWCFL 3.00 2-1L Gibson Pullinger Ryan Mawdsley Crompton(C) Naughton Hand

Feb 4 Congleton Town NWCFL 7.45 1-0L Gibson Pullinger Ryan Wright Crompton(C) Naughton Hand

Feb 15 Stockport Sports NWCFL 3.00 1-1D Gibson Kenny Richardson Wright Crompton(C) Naughton Sanderson

Mar 1 Colne NWCFL 3.00 0-7L Gibson Tingay Richardson Wright Crompton(C) Naughton Sanderson

Mar 8 ABBEY HEY NWCFL 3.00 2-1W Gibson Tingay Ryan Mawdsley Crompton(C) Wright Sykes

Mar 11 Ashton Athletic NWCFL 7.45 6-2L Gibson D.Owens Ryan Mawdsley Crompton(C) Wright SykesMar 15 BOOTLE NWCFL 3.00 1-2L Gibson D.Owens Judge1 Mawdsley Crompton(C) Parish Sykes

Mar 17 Runcorn Town NWCFL 7.45 2-0L Gibson D.Owens Judge Mawdsley Crompton(C) Sykes-Wright Saleh

Mar 29 AFC LIVERPOOL NWCFL 3.00 1-1D Gibson D.Owens Judge Mawdsley(C) Sykes-Wright Ryan Flood

Apr 3 RUNCORN TOWN NWCFL 7.45 0-3L Gibson Sykes-Wright Judge Mawdsley Crompton(C) Parish Flood

Apr 5 Alsager Town NWCFL 3.00 1-2W Gibson Flood Richardson Mawdsley Crompton(C) Dodd Ryan

Apr 8 AFC Blackpool NWCFL 7.45 4-2L Crowther Flood Al.Gillespie Mawdsley Crompton(C) Ryan Sanderson

Apr 12 Bacup & Ross Borough NWCFL 3.00 3-2L Gibson Al.Gillespie McKeegan Mawdsley Crompton(C) Dodd RyanApr 15 RUNCORN LINNETS NWCFL 7.45 0-3L Gibson D.Owens Richardson Mawdsley Crompton(C) Dodd Sykes

Apr 17 AFC BLACKPOOL NWCFL 7.45

Apr 19 GLOSSOP NORTH END NWCFL 3.00

Apr 21 ASHTON ATHLETIC NWCFL 3.00

Apr 26 Maine Road NWCFL 3.00

2013-14 Fixtures, Facts and Figures . . .



14 Fixtures, Facts and Figures . . . 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17

Weaver Wright Milne Sanderson Judge Pullinger Ross Bowen A.Owens61 Edwards71

Ashton Judge Edwards Milne Sanderson Pullinger Weaver11 Coyle5 Cooper Bowen9

Cooper1 Wright Milne Sanderson Etchells Pullinger Bowen7 Ross11 Chesworth Weaver9

Ashton Judge Cook-Hannah Sanderson1 Milne2 Pullinger10 Wright Bowen Weaver11 Edwards9

Cooper Judge Milne Cook-Hannah Etchells Finlay Pullinger Edwards10 Weaver71 Ross

Weaver Judge Cook-Hannah Sanderson Milne Pullinger/Ross Cooper/Wright Sykes-Wright Edwards9 Coyle10

Weaver Judge Cook-Hannah Sanderson Milne Pullinger Edwards Etchells Coyle Wright9

Weaver Parish Bergqvist Cook-Hannah1 P.Williams C.Williams4 Edwards Sanderson Milne10 Ashton7

Weaver Parish Bergqvist Cook-Hannah(C) P.Williams Edwards10 Chesworth6 Sanderson11 Milne Ashton

Weaver Parish Bergqvist Cook-Hannah Ashton Edwards9 Sanderson10 Milne11 C.Williams Sykes-W

Sanderson Parish Storey Wright Weaver Sykes-Wright10 Cook-Hannah Bergqvist7 Milne Barber

Sanderson Wright Cook-Hannah Milne1 Judge(C) Mawdsley2 Sykes-Wright7 C.Williams Weaver Crompton

Judge1 D.Owens Milne Cook-Hannah Ashton Sykes-Wright Wright Storey101 Mawdsley5 Sanderson8

Ashton D.Owens1 Cook-Hannah Milne Judge Tingay C.Williams Storey9 Weaver10 Sanderson8

Sykes-Wright D.Owens Storey1 Gillespie Sanderson Cook-Hannah Curzon Weaver11 Barber Wright10

Sykes-Wright1 D.Owens Storey Gillespie1 Sanderson Parish8 Wright7 Bailey Weaver11

Sykes-Wright D.Owens Storey Gillespie1 Sanderson3 Parish6 Pullinger Weaver Wright8 Milne9

Sykes-Wright D.Owens Storey Gillespie3 Sanderson Parish7 Weaver11 Crompton Pullinger Milne10

Sykes-Wright D.Owens Storey Gillespie2 Sanderson Milne Wright Pullinger Weaver Crompton

Sykes-Wright D.Owens Storey Gillespie Sanderson Milne Wright6 Pullinger11 Weaver Crompton

Weaver Wright Milne1 Gillespie Judge Bailey9 Tingay Cook-Hannah11 Coyle D.Owens7

Sykes-Wright D.Owens Storey Gillespie1 Sanderson Crompton Richardson Milne10 Wright8 Bailey9

Parish1 Sanderson Storey Gillespie Ryan Pullinger8 Wright Weaver11 Milne Richardson3

Ryan D.Owens Gillespie Storey Sanderson Milne91 Weaver11 D.Owens7

Sykes-Wright D.Owens Gillespie1 Milne Sanderson Pullinger A.Owens8 Ryan11 Coyle Weaver

Sykes-Wright1 D.Owens Gillespie2 Milne Sanderson1 Pullinger A.Owens8 Ryan11 Storey10 Weaver

Sykes-Wright D.Owens Gillespie Storey Sanderson Milne10 Weaver11 Ryan A.Owens

Sykes-Wright D.Owens Milne Gillespie Ryan Sanderson A.Owens Tingay Weaver7

Weaver D.Owens Storey Milne McNamara A.Owens11 Cook-Hannah6 Judge

Hand D.Owens Gillespie Parish Richardson1 Wright Judge11 Saleh6 Milne10 Kenny

Hand Parish Gillespie Saleh Richardson D.Owens Judge6 Milne Lightbody8

Sanderson Parish1 Gillespie Lightbody Saleh Mason7 Milne11 Tingay Pullinger

Sanderson Parish An.Gillespie Lightbody Saleh Mason6 A.Owens11 Al.Gillespie2

Sykes-Wright1 Parish Gillespie1 Olsen Lightbody Richardson Saleh7 A.Owens10 Storey11 Crowther

Sykes-Wright Parish Gillespie1 Olsen Lightbody Saleh8 Richardson Storey10 Sanderson Crowther

Sykes-Wright Ryan An.Gillespie Olsen Sanderson Richardson11 Saleh6 Storey10 Crowther

Saleh Ryan An.Gillespie Storey Richardson Parish Sanderson Al.Gillespie Crowther

Flood Parish1 Lightbody Olsen Richardson Sanderson A.Owens Norris7 Al.Gillespie Crowther

Flood Ryan Lightbody Olsen Richardson Sanderson3 Norris Dodd7 Al.Gillespie Storey10

Ryan Parish Storey1 Olsen Lightbody Sanderson Sykes-Wright Al.Gillespie9 Crowther

Sanderson Sykes-Wright1 Norris Olsen1 Ross Bergqvist7 Judge Lightbody

Ryan Sykes-Wright An.Gillespie Olsen Storey2 Bergqvist9 Cook-Hannah3 Norris10 Crowther

Sykes-Wright Parish Lightbody Storey Ryan An.Gillespie10 Olsen Al.Gillespie Norris Crowther



St Helens Town AFC . . . St Helens Town Statistical History by Glyn Jones

Part 27 – Season 1973-74 - LANCASHIRE COMBINATION

Team P W D L F A Pts

Accrington Stanley 38 29 5 4 80 26 63

Darwen 38 24 10 4 89 38 58

Bacup Borough 38 24 10 4 76 35 58

Skelmersdale United Reserves 38 22 6 10 76 34 50

St. Helens Town 38 24 2 12 73 34 50

Blackpool Wren Rovers 38 17 11 10 68 47 45

Maghull 38 18 8 12 59 42 44

Blackpool Mechanics 38 18 7 13 52 47 43

Dukinfield Town 38 14 12 12 59 56 40

Leyland Motors 38 14 11 13 60 55 39

Clitheroe 38 16 6 16 73 53 38

Atherton Collieries 38 14 10 14 68 63 38

Great Harwood Reserves 38 12 8 18 54 68 32

Kirkby Town 38 10 9 19 54 70 29

Ashton Town 38 10 9 19 46 64 29

Ellesmere Port Town 38 10 9 19 40 67 29

Lomond 38 6 9 23 25 72 21

Prescot Town 38 6 6 26 34 89 18

Ford Motors 38 5 8 25 30 81 18

Nelson 38 6 6 26 36 111 18

Opponents Home Result Away Result

Accrington Stanley Apr 21 Lost 0-1 Mar 23 Lost 0-1

Ashton Town Mar 26 Won 1-0 Feb 23 Won 2-0

Atherton Collieries Dec 29 Won 2-0 Aug 18 Won 2-1

Bacup Borough Aug 20 Lost 0-3 Apr 27 Lost 1-3

Blackpool Mechanics Aug 25 Lost 0-4 Jan 5 Won 8-1

Blackpool Wren Rovers Mar 16 Won 5-0 Nov 3 Lost 0-2

Clitheroe Mar 2 Won 1-0 Sep 4 Won 5-2

Darwen Dec 22 Lost 1-2 Aug 11 Lost 1-2

Dukinfield Town Apr 13 Won 3-0 Apr 30 Lost 0-1

Ellesmere Port Town Jan 12 Won 4-0 Apr 15 Lost 0-2

Ford Motors Apr 12 Won 3-0 Jan 19 Won 1-0

Great Harwood Reserves Oct 27 Won 2-0 Mar 9 Lost 1-2

Kirkby Town Dec 8 Won 1-0 Apr 20 Lost 1-2

Leyland Motors Apr 2 Won 3-0 Apr 6 Won 2-0

Lomond Mar 30 Won 2-0 Apr 8 Won 3-1

Maghull Feb 16 Won 2-0 Oct 6 Won 2-0

Nelson Dec 26 Won 6-1 Apr 28 Won 2-0

Prescot Town Feb 9 Won 2-0 Mar 21 Won 3-0

Skelmersdale United Reserves Feb 2 Drew 0-0 Sep 22 Drew 1-1



. . . 1973-74 Appearances Player App Prov. Pld Sub Total Goals

Aspinall, Geoff 24 20 1 45 5

Bull, Mervyn 33 20 - 53 20

Flowers, Keith 2 3 - 5

Grice, Kevin 8 25 2 35

Humphries, Steve 21 34 - 55 2

Jenkins, J 27 23 - 50

Kendrick, Jackie 41 8 - 49 45

Merrill, F 30 16 - 46 14

Payne, Mike 19 35 - 54 4

Poole, Gerry 8 10 - 18 1

Redmond, Larry 18 20 1 39 3

Rodgers 1 - 1 2

Sharrock, A (Tony) 3 1 1 5 3

Speed 3 - 1 4

Stewart, H - - 3 3 1

Wellens, Alan 27 28 - 55 2

White, Dennis 18 17 1 36 1

Williams, John 4 9 - 13 1

Woods, Ian 32 16 - 48 5

Woods, R 1 - - 1

Totals 320 285 11 616 107



1973-74 Cup Competitions FA TROPHY

Oct 13 1st Rd. LEYLAND MOTORS Home Won 4-3

Nov 10 1st Rd. Droylsden Away Lost 3-4

LANCASHIRE FA TROPHY

Nov 24 1st Rd. ACCRINGTON STANLEY Home Lost 2-4

LANCASHIRE COMBINATION CUP

Sep 8 1st Rd. Blackpool Wren Rovers Away Won 1-0

Oct 20 2nd Rd. Nelson Away Drew 1-1

Mar 31 Replay NELSON Home Won 4-0

Apr 17 SF BLACKPOOL MECHANICS Home Won 3-1

May 2 Final 1st leg Accrington Stanley Away Drew 2-2

May 6 Final 2nd leg ACCRINGTON STANLEY Home Lost 0-1

BASS CHARRINGTON TROPHY

Aug 14 Qual. Maghull Away Won 2-1

Sep 1 1st Rd. Prescot Town Away Drew 1-1

Sep 11 Replay PRESCOT TOWN Home Won 1-0

Dec 30 2nd Rd. Kirkby Town Away Drew 0-0

Feb 10 Replay KIRKBY TOWN Home Won 3-1

Apr 25 SF DUKINFIELD TOWN Home Won 3-1

May 10 Final Darwen Burscough Won 4-3

Sep 6 1st Rd. Skelmersdale United Away Lost 0-2

LIVERPOOL NON-LEAGUE CUP



Club News . . .

Brothers take to the pitch for Town

Yesterday's trip to Bacup & Rossendale Borough saw brothers Andy and Alex Gillespie take to the West View pitch. In doing so the duo have joined a small number of brothers who have played for St Helens Town. While elder brother Andy (pictured right) has been a regular in the NWCFL this season his 17 year old brother Alex has been part of the North West Youth Alliance side until the last couple of weeks when he stepped up to first team action making his full debt at AFC Blackpool last Tuesday. On that occasion Andy was missing having just returned from holiday.

The Gillespie brothers join Graeme and Phil Mitchell who both played together at Knowsley Road while twins Dave and Jimmy Collins played for Town back in the mid 1980s with Jimmy going on the play his part in the club's Wembley heroics.

Picture below/above our match ball sponsors from the home fixture v AFC Liverpool, Christ Bickerstaffe and Brett from HWCGS Care, Segal Gardens www.segalgardens.com



Reserve Team News . . . DIVISION THREE P W D L F A GD Pts

1 RAINHILL TOWN 29 22 5 1 121 19 102 71

2 HALE RES 26 18 4 4 69 38 31 58

3 ST HELENS TOWN RES 26 16 5 5 61 33 28 53

4 FORD MOTORS 27 14 5 8 58 36 22 47

5 SOUTH LIVERPOOL RES 24 15 1 8 73 41 32 46

6 CAPENHURST VILLA RES 25 13 3 9 57 46 11 42

7 BOOTLE RES 26 12 5 9 56 51 5 41

8 KIRKBY TOWN RAILWAY 26 10 10 6 79 50 29 40

9 WIDNES VIKINGS RES 26 10 7 9 48 64 -16 37

10 CHESTER NOMADS RES 27 10 4 13 49 61 -12 34

11 BELFRY 27 7 6 14 49 85 -36 27

12 NESTON NOMADS 25 4 4 17 35 74 -39 16

13 *MARSHALLS RES 27 5 3 19 53 92 -39 15

14 *CHRISTLETON RES 25 4 4 17 29 74 -45 13

15 *UPTON A.A. RES 25 1 2 22 23 96 -73 2

DATE RES HOME AWAY

L 21/09/2013 W NESTON NOMADS 1 - 2 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 14/09/2013 D KIRKBY TOWN RAILWAY 3 - 3 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 07/09/2013 D ST HELENS TOWN RES 3 - 3 CHESTER NOMADS RES

L 04/09/2013 W MARSHALLS RES 2 - 3 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 30/08/2013 W ST HELENS TOWN RES 2 - 1 BOOTLE RES

L 27/08/2013 W MERSEYSIDE POLICE 1 - 3 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 19/08/2013 D ST HELENS TOWN RES 2 - 2 WIDNES VIKINGS RES

L 16/08/2013 W CHRISTLETON RES 0 - 2 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 09/08/2013 W ST HELENS TOWN RES 3 - 0 RAINHILL TOWN

L 28/09/2013 W ST HELENS TOWN RES 2 - 1 SOUTH LIVERPOOL RES

L 05/10/2013 L ST HELENS TOWN RES 1 - 3 HALE RES

L 12/10/2013 D SOUTH LIVERPOOL RES 0 - 0 ST HELENS TOWN RES

Cup 19/10/2013 W CLOCK FACE FC 1 - 3 ST HELENS TOWN RES

Cup 26/10/2013 L ST HELENS TOWN RES 1 - 2 KIRKBY TOWN RAILWAY

Cup 02/11/2013 W ST HELENS TOWN RES 3 - 2 GARSWOOD UTD RES

L 16/11/2013 W ST. HELENS TOWN RES 4 - 2 CAPENHURST VILLA RES

L 09/11/2013 W BELFRY 0 - 4 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 23/11/2013 W UPTON AA RES 0 - 6 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 30/11/2013 W FORD MOTORS 0 - 1 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 14/12/2013 W CAPENHURST VILLA RES 0 - 5 ST HELENS TOWN RES

Cup 07/12/2013 L ST HELENS TOWN RES 1 - 3 HALE RES

L 28/12/2013 L BOOTLE RES 4 - 3 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 21/12/2013 D ST HELENS TOWN RES 0 - 0 MARSHALLS RES

L 25/01/2014 L RAINHILL TOWN 5 - 1 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 22/02/2014 L NESTON NOMADS 2 - 0 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 15/03/2014 W ST HELENS TOWN RES 2 - 0 UPTON AA RES

L 22/03/2014 W HALE RES 2 - 3 ST HELENS TOWN RES

L 31/03/2014 W ST HELENS TOWN RES 3 - 0 FORD MOTORS

L 05/04/2014 L ST HELENS TOWN RES 0 - 1 NESTON NOMADS

L 14/04/2014 ST HELENS TOWN RES 6 - 1 BELFRY



Head to Head Results . . . NW Counties

Football League

Premier Division

RESULTS GRID

Up to Wed 16.04.14

Abbey Hey

AFC Blackpool

AFC Liverpool

Alsager Town

Ashton Athletic

Bacup & Ross Boro

Barnoldswick Town

Bootle

Colne

Congleton Town

Glossop North End

Main Road

Norton United

Runcorn Linnets

Runcorn Town

Silsden

Squires Gate

St Helens Town

Stockport Sports

West Dids & Chorlton

Wigan Robin Park

Winsford United

AFC Blackpool

3-3

0-2

1-1

1-0

4-1

1-3

0-3

3-0

1-1

0-2

2-4

1-2

1-4

2-2

2-0

4-2

2-1

0-4

3-2

2-6

AFC Liverpool

4-0

2-4

5-1

1-1

4-0

2-0

4-2

1-0

0-2

1-2

2-3

2-3

0-4

3-1

2-1

3-0

1-1

2-2

6-0

1-2

Alsager Tow

n 1-3

0-1

2-1

2-3

3-0

1-4

0-4

1-2

1-2

0-3

0-2

0-3

0-0

1-2

1-1

1-2

2-3

2-0

2-1

Ashton Athletic

3-1

6-1

0-1

3-0

0-0

3-0

1-0

1-0

2-1

1-2

2-0

1-0

1-3

1-1

6-2

2-1

2-2

4-0

6-2

Bacup & Rossendale Borough

0-0

0-0

1-2

1-1

0-2

0-2

0-1

1-2

1-1

2-0

0-4

1-3

3-0

3-0

3-2

0-1

0-1

1-2

1-4

Barno

ldsw

ick Tow

n 3-1

1-2

2-1

1-1

1-1

2-3

1-0

1-1

0-2

2-3

1-1

0-2

2-1

4-0

1-2

1-2

5-2

2-2

2-1

Bootle

5-0

2-1

0-1

2-0

1-0

0-0

4-0

4-0

2-0

3-1

2-1

0-4

2-1

2-2

2-0

2-4

1-2

5-0

5-0

0-1

Colne

2-0

2-0

0-4

4-3

1-0

1-2

2-1

0-0

0-1

0-1

1-6

0-3

3-1

4-0

7-0

3-2

0-4

3-1

5-1

Congleton Tow

n 3-1

4-2

1-0

3-2

0-1

3-1

2-1

3-1

0-2

3-3

0-4

4-2

0-2

1-0

2-3

3-1

1-1

3-0

Glossop

North End

3-1

2-1

4-1

0-1

2-0

2-0

2-1

1-1

3-2

0-1

1-0

3-0

5-1

2-3

0-3

1-0

5-0

Maine

Road

3-0

3-1

0-1

2-0

2-0

1-0

7-0

0-0

3-0

2-0

1-1

2-2

0-0

2-1

1-2

1-2

1-1

5-1

1-1

3-0

Norton United

2-0

2-0

3-1

4-2

1-2

4-0

4-0

2-1

2-1

3-1

0-1

3-0

0-2

4-1

2-0

4-2

2-1

2-1

1-0

5-1

2-1

Runcorn Linne

ts

7-1

4-0

1-3

4-2

4-0

1-1

3-1

3-1

3-4

1-1

2-1

2-2

1-5

1-0

3-0

1-1

2-1

0-0

3-2

Runcorn Tow

n 1-3

1-2

4-1

0-3

2-1

4-1

4-2

4-1

3-0

0-0

4-1

1-2

0-1

3-0

2-0

2-0

1-1

1-0

Silsden

2-2

4-1

3-1

3-2

0-1

1-2

0-2

1-3

0-0

0-1

1-3

1-0

1-1

0-4

5-1

1-0

2-2

1-0

2-1

Squires Gate

2-2

1-1

1-2

0-1

3-3

4-0

1-4

2-1

0-2

0-1

1-2

1-2

0-4

0-1

3-2

3-0

1-2

1-0

0-2

2-1

St H

elen

s Tow

n 2-1

1-1

0-3

1-1

1-1

1-2

0-1

1-1

0-5

3-3

0-3

0-3

2-0

5-0

2-2

3-0

4-1

0-2

Stockpo

rt Sports

1-1

1-4

2-1

0-2

0-3

5-5

1-0

0-2

0-0

2-1

1-3

0-3

1-2

1-1

3-0

1-1

2-3

1-1

2-1

West D

idsbury & Cho

rlton

2-0

2-0

1-3

0-0

1-1

0-1

3-1

4-3

1-1

1-0

1-3

0-2

1-0

2-0

2-1

1-2

2-2

1-0

1-2

Wigan Robin Park

1-1

3-1

0-8

2-3

2-4

4-1

3-2

3-3

0-2

1-2

0-3

3-1

1-5

0-1

1-5

1-1

2-3

1-4

3-4

1-3

Winsford United

1-2

0-2

1-1

3-1

1-2

3-5

1-1

2-1

1-0

0-3

1-0

0-4

0-4

2-3

2-1

2-1

2-0

3-1

Abbey Hey

0-2

2-2

4-2

2-0

1-1

0-4

1-4

0-0

1-3

2-2

2-1

1-2

1-3

2-1

0-3

1-1

0-3

2-1

0-1



Tea Break Teasers . . .

Q1. Wigan were the 6th club to reach the FA Cup Final and be relegated from the top flight in the same season, can you name the previous 5 clubs?

Q2. Which three current Premier League clubs have never reached an FA Cup Final?

Q3. Where is this seasons Champions League Final to be held?

Q4. Which country has been represented by competing teams in 6 of the last 7 Champions league Finals?

Q5. Who was the first African player to win a Premier League winners medal?

Q6. Which two players have scored over 100 Premier League goals but never scored an international goal?

Q7. For which club did David Moyes sign his last player, John Stones for Everton?

Q8. Which club did Liverpool sign Iago Aspas from?

Q9. Which city hosted that 2002 World Cup Final?

Q10. Which three clubs are lost in five European Cup/Champions League Finals?

Q11. Out of all the players to make appearances in the Premier League which one has scored the most international goals?

Q12. Did Phil Neville play more league games for Manchester United or Everton?

Q13. Maynor Figueroa moved to which Premier League club from Wigan on a “Free” in the summer?

Q14. Which four players were joint top scorers in the 2010 World Cup Finals tournament?

Q15. Which player had the most assists in the Premier League last season?

1) Man City 1926, Leicester 1969, Brighton 1983, Middlesbrough 1997 & Portsmouth 2010 2) Hull City, Norwich City & Swansea City 3) Estadio da Luz, Lisbon 4) England 5) Christopher Wreh 6) Matt le Tissier & Dion Dublin 7) Barnsley 8) Celta Vigo 9) Yokohama 10) Juventus, Bayern Munich & Benfica 11) Stern John 12) Manchester United 13) Hull City 14) Thomas Mueller, David Villa, Wesley Sneijder & Diego Forlan 15) Juan Mata



St Helens Town AFC . . . 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. In 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 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 son 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 (pictured below) 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.

Allan Wellens receiving the Lancs Combination Championship Trophy

from Wesley Bridge in 1972



1992-93 Mick Holgate (pictured right) presided over just one season at Hoghton Road before moving on to Leigh RMI. 1993-2002 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 need to tighten the purse strings led to the pair’s departure at the start of the 2003 campaign, along with

most of the squad. 2003-04 Ex-Everton professional Paul Lodge became Town manager as the club reeled from financial cuts but unfortunately his youthful side struggled at the bottom of the league and he was replaced in January 2004. 2004-05 Former Town ‘keeper Joe Paladino took over the reigns from Lodge and secured the club’s safety from relegation before going to challenge for the title during most of 2004-05. Joe resigned in March 2005. 2005-06 Assistant to Paladino, Joe Gibiliru took over the manager’s position and presided over a period of on the field stability for the club before resigning in September 2006. 2006-07 Alex Wright, who had previously been assistant manager to Paul Lodge returned to the club as manager but his tenure was short-lived as family commitments led to him stepping down in September 2007. 2007-08 John Fletcher, Wright’s assistant, was given managerial responsibility and he steered the club away from the relegation battle with a 19th place finish at the end of 2006-7. Despite the club’s off the field problems and financial difficulties the following season saw Fletcher’s charges finish fourteenth after only one defeat in the last nine games. However Town remained rooted in a relegation spot for most of the following season and Fletcher departed with weeks of the season remaining. 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. Bickerstaffe’s fine form as manager continued throughout 2009-10 eventually finishing in 9th place. 2010 – 2011 Lee Riley steps up from assistant manager when Gary Bickerstaffe steps down at the end of the 2009-10. Lee resigned in March 2011 due to work commitments and Iain Dyson took over the managerial reigns before he too stepped down at the end of the season. 2011-12 season saw Jimmy McBride make a return to Town but it proved a difficult season and Town parted

company with him as we narrowly avoided relegation. 2012 - 2013 Ian Granite (pictured left) became manager following success with neighbours Wigan Robin Park FC. A challenging 2012-13 season saw Town eventually steer clear of relegation, in doing so maintaining their unique 30 year stay in the North West Counties League top division. Despite an excellent start to the 2013-14 season Ian stepped down at the end of November due to business and family commitments and Ian Price took over the managerial reigns with Paul Jones as his assistant. Many thanks to Jim Barrett and Eric Bond for their input in compiling the information.

. . . Managers 1946-Present



NWCFL Club News . . . West D idsbury & Chor lton welcomed guests to their home game against Ashton Athletic who have donated an interesting item of memorabilia to the club archives.

Kim Considine and her sister Cheryl Dewhirst have donated an old shirt badge to the club, which has a interesting link to the past as Secretary Rob Turley explained. “From time to time we get enquiries about the club and the ground at Brookburn Road, especially as it used to be the home of East Chorlton FC before that club folded in the mid 1990’s”. “East Chorlton were local rivals to West Didsbury for many decades and in the mid 1990’s we had discussions about a possible merger of the two clubs, as West had been forced to leave their home since 1914 at Christie Playing Fields, when the playing fields society decided to sell the pitches off for development. “ECFC decided to try and carry on under their own steam, but their Committee were not supported by the players at that time, and so the club folded. The ECFC trustees then agreed to sell the ground at Brookburn Road to West Didsbury, as they were called then, and West then began playing from The Recreation Ground on Brookburn Road from 1997-98. West then added ‘ & Chorlton’ to the club name in 2003 to reflect the new location. We still get enquiries about East Chorlton and have some history from their days in the Lancashire and Cheshire League, when they also played in the old FA Amateur Cup competition. “One such enquiry recently was from Kim Considine whose late father played here at Brookburn Road after the last war. Kim made enquiries about an old cloth shirt badge which she had come across in her late father’s possessions. As it happens, we had a photograph of the same badge in our club archives and confirmed the origins back to Kim, along with an invitation to visit the club. “We were delighted to welcome Kim and her sister Cheryl Dewhirst as guests of the club, and that they have so very kindly donated the old shirt badge to the club’s Brookburn Road archives. Our next task is to get a display organised featuring this along with the old cloth badges presented to various old West teams from the 1920’s to the 1960’s, before the advent of plastic trophy mementoes took over!



Bacup v Town . . . Bacup & Rossendale Borough 3, St. Helens Town 2

With the rest of the country bathed in sunshine, Town’s game at Bacup on Saturday was played throughout in steady rain. It’s easy to see why so many games are called off at West View and the conditions suited the relegation-threatened home team to a tee, as St. Helens were out-muscled in a physical encounter in which the visitors attempted to play good, passing football.

Town welcomed back Ciaran Gibson in goal and Andy Gillespie up front, but took to the field without a recognised full-back, Alex Gillespie and Joe McKeegan filling in, with Liam Dodd deputising for Nathan Parish in midfield. In contrast to their physical approach, Bacup’s second and third goals were spectacular efforts, fit enough to win any game. Town began the game on top and it came as no surprise when Adam Storey headed home from a Michael Sykes-Wright corner in the 20th minute and St. Helens were unfortunate not to increase their lead shortly afterwards when Storey’s overhead kick from the corner of the penalty area was saved by Kieron O’Boyle. As the half wore on, however, Bacup, fighting to maintain their Premier Division status, moved upfield and, seizing on a Lee Crompton header back to Gibson in the Town goal, Adrian Bellamy, a constant thorn in Town’s side, headed over the advancing keeper to equalise after 32 minutes. The remainder of the first half was end to end football, but neither side could produce a chance to trouble the goalkeepers. Into the second half, the home side grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck. Three minutes after the re-start, Aaron Kirk scored with a thunderous drive from out near the touchline, 40 yards from goal, which finished up in Gibson’s top corner, giving Town’s young keeper no chance. Worse was to come when, four minutes later, veteran striker Barry Massey hit a volley from 35 yards out straight into Gibson’s net. Two goals ahead, Bacup were not going to surrender their lead without a fight and the game descended into a niggly affair, with some hefty challenges going in on the St. Helens players. Centre back Gareth Wager was lucky to receive only a yellow card for a knee-high challenge on Andy Olsen, who went off the field soon after, along with Andy Gillespie. Massey then barged through, seemingly intent on flattening Gibson, but the big forward’s elbow pinwheeled skipper Crompton, which went unpunished. Massey was to pick up a yellow soon afterwards but, in reality, the home side were fortunate not to be reduced to nine men. Storey scored his second goal just before the hour mark, reacting quickly to a defensive mix-up in the home box, but even following the introduction of three substitute forwards, Karl Bergqvist, Paul Cook-Hannah and Danny Norris, try as they might, could not get in a clear shot to trouble O’Boyle, Norris firing wide with his best chance. Just before the end, with Town chasing the equaliser, Bacup defender Lee Oldham beat Crompton to the ball and collided heavily with the perimeter wall, directly in front of the St. Helens fans. Oldham clearly thought Crompton had fouled him but there had been no contact between the two and, with players from both sides running into the ensuing melee, the referee flashed three more yellow cards as the game ended on a sour note in pouring rain.

Glyn Jones



Bacup v Town . . .

Action from Town’s 3-2 away defeat at Bacup & Rossendale Borough on

Saturday 13th April 2014



League Standings . . .

Premier Division P W D L F A GD Pts

1 Norton United 38 29 3 6 94 38 56 90

2 Runcorn Linnets 39 26 8 5 92 37 55 86

3 Glossop North End 39 24 7 8 71 32 39 79

4 Runcorn Town 39 24 4 11 84 39 45 76

5 Maine Road 40 22 9 9 77 42 35 75

6 Bootle 39 21 6 12 84 50 34 69

7 AFC Liverpool 40 20 6 14 85 54 31 66

8 Ashton Athletic 37 20 5 12 66 44 22 65

9 Colne 39 18 3 18 66 64 2 57

10 Congleton Town 37 15 8 14 52 51 1 53

11 West Didsbury &

Chorlton 39 15 7 17 52 62 -10 52

12 Stockport Sports 38 13 11 14 58 63 -5 50

13 Winsford United 38 15 2 21 55 75 -20 47

14 AFC Blackpool 39 13 5 21 55 84 -29 44

15 Barnoldswick Town 38 12 7 19 56 77 -21 43

16 St Helens Town 38 11 9 18 52 74 -22 42

17 Silsden 39 11 8 20 46 67 -21 41

18 Abbey Hey 40 9 11 20 46 85 -39 38

19 Bacup & Rossendale

Borough 39 9 10 20 36 64 -28 37

20 Squires Gate 40 11 4 25 48 85 -37 37

21 Alsager Town 39 8 7 24 49 81 -32 31

22 Wigan Robin Park 40 7 8 25 51 107 -56 29

Premier Division Table as at Wednesday 16th April 2014

* points deducted for a breach of league rules

Tuesday 15th April 2014

Premier Division

Squires Gate 0-2 Congleton Town

St Helens Town 0-3 Runcorn Linnets

Wigan Robin Park 3-3 Bootle

Winsford United 2-1 Colne

First Division

Leek CSOB 2-2 Eccleshall

Rochdale Town 2-3 Holker Old Boys

Wednesday 16th April 2014

Premier Division


2-0 Glossop North End

Silsden 0-1 Ashton Athletic

First Division

1874 Northwich 1-0 Leek CSOB

Northwich Flixton Villa 1-2 AFC Darwen

Thursday 17th April 2014

First Division Challenge Cup Final

Formby v Hanley Town

(To be played at Runcorn Linnets FC)

Premier Division

Congleton Town v Norton United

St Helens Town v AFC Blackpool

Winsford United v Stockport Sports

First Division

Ashton Town v Holker Old Boys

Northwich Flixton Villa v Nelson

Rochdale Town v Widnes Vikings

Saturday 19th April 2014

Premier Division

Alsager Town v Barnoldswick Town


v Runcorn Town

Colne v Bootle

Congleton Town v Silsden

Runcorn Linnets v Winsford United

St Helens Town v Glossop North End

Stockport Sports v Ashton Athletic

West D & Chorlton v Norton United



League Standings . . .

Division One P W D L F A GD Pts

1 Nelson 33 26 2 5 125 49 76 80

2 Formby 33 24 5 4 95 37 58 77

3 1874 Northwich 33 24 5 4 69 28 41 77

4 Hanley Town 33 22 4 7 81 47 34 70

5 Atherton Colls 34 19 8 7 100 61 39 65

6 Holker Old Boys 29 14 8 7 65 44 21 50

7 Atherton LR 34 16 2 16 63 65 -2 50

8 Rochdale Town 30 15 3 12 76 61 15 48

9 AFC Darwen * 33 13 7 13 58 60 -2 45

10 Irlam 33 12 8 13 49 56 -7 44

11 Cheadle Town * 34 13 7 14 62 70 -8 43

12 Ashton Town 32 11 9 12 54 56 -2 42

13 Chadderton 33 10 8 15 53 66 -13 38

14 Widnes Vikings * 33 8 8 17 52 78 -26 31

15 Oldham Boro 33 7 7 19 43 81 -38 28

16 Eccleshall 32 6 5 21 36 69 -33 23

17 Leek CSOB 31 6 5 20 44 82 -38 23

18 Daisy Hill 33 5 3 25 39 96 -57 18

19 Northwich F Villa 32 4 4 24 43 101 -58 16

Division One Table as at Wednesday 16th April 2014

* points deducted for a breach of league rules

Monday 21st April 2014

Premier Division

AFC Liverpool v Bootle

Congleton Town v Alsager Town

Glossop North End v Abbey Hey

Runcorn Linnets v Runcorn Town

Silsden v Barnoldswick Town

Squires Gate v AFC Blackpool

St Helens Town v Ashton Athletic

West D & Chorlton v Maine Road

First Division

1874 Northwich v Widnes Vikings

AFC Darwen v Nelson

Atherton Collieries v Atherton LR

Holker Old Boys v Formby

Irlam v Chadderton

Leek CSOB v Oldham Boro

Northwich F Villa v Cheadle Town

Rochdale Town v Eccleshall

Tuesday 22nd April 2014

Premier Division

Wigan Robin Park v Stockport Sports

Winsford United v Norton United

First Division

Daisy Hill v Ashton Town

Holker Old Boys v Rochdale Town

Wednesday 23rd April 2014

Premier Division

Barnoldswick Town v Ashton Athletic

Colne v Bacup & R Borough

First Division

Eccleshall v Hanley Town

Northwich F Villa v Leek CSOB

Rochdale Town v Irlam

Thursday 24th April 2014

Premier Division

Ashton Athletic v Congleton Town

First Division

1874 Northwich v Holker Old Boys

Rochdale Town v Nelson

Reserve Division Trophy Group A (North)

Silsden v AFC Darwen

st helens town v afc blackpool

Documents

premier division manager

pm north west counties

premier division contest

paul jones manager

ian price assistant

john mckiernan

main club sponsor

eric bond club manager