Saturday 7 August 2021 - Kick-off 3.00pm v Squires Gate The Emirates F.A. Cup Extra Preliminary Round Official Matchday Programme ASHTON ATHLETIC ASHTON ATHLETIC HELP KEEP THE FANS AT THE GAME, FOLLOW THE RULES TO ENSURE WE CAN ALL ENJOY FOOTBALL www.nwcfl.com HOW YOU CAN HELP: WASH HANDS REGULARLY STAY HOME IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS SOCIALLY DISTANCE & MASK ON REQUEST 1m+ NWCFL Newsroom We finally got the ball rolling yesterday and in some style as the long-awaited start to the 2021-22 season arrived and just shy of 6000 supporters attended our 29 games across the three divisions. We have taken a quick look at the days action to sum up what went on across a busy day around the NWCFL. In The Premier Division Macclesfield FC made their debut at Step 5 against Burscough and 2018 supporters, the non-league press, local and national media all turned up to see the occasion as Leon Arnasalam got the clubs first goal in the NWCFL on 16 minutes. It turned out to be the only goal of the game and enough to give The Silkmen all three points. Northwich Victoria made a statement of intent as they travelled to newly promoted Prestwich Heys and ran out 0-4 winners on the day, duly aided by a hat-trick by Bradley Lynch. A Brace from Louis Potts and another from Kane Wallwork gave Avro a comfortable opening day win at home over Padiham. Charnock Richard entertained Winsford United at Mossie Park and the visitors got off to a great start going ahead on two minutes, however after a half where Charnock Richard perhaps rode their luck a bit they managed to turn it around by half time with goals from Nickeas and Haydock. In the second half the home side secured a comfortable opening day win with goals from Riding and a brace from Darr to help it finish 5-1. It was a good day for a couple of the promoted sides as AFC Liverpool travelled to Vauxhall Motors and came away with a 2-1 win courtesy of a goal either side by Dan Cockerline after Joey Heath had put the Motormen ahead earlier on. Wythenshawe Town saw off Ashton Athletic 1-0 at Brocstedes Park and Lower Breck opened their Step 5 account with a good win on the road at Squires gate, a John McGrath penalty on the hour giving the Breck a good start to life in the Premier Division. Irlam and Litherland Remyca did battle at the RG3 Digital Stadium and it was the home side who took the spoils with the only goal of the game courtesy of a John Main penalty on 24 minutes. There was only one goal at Longridge Town too but it was Congleton who scored it, Jordan Johnson netting on 36 minutes, giving The Bears a solid start to their campaign. Rounding up the Premier Division, Barnoldswick Town travelled to Pavilions to take on Runcorn Town and it was the visitors who won the game by the odd goal in three. MATCH DAY 15:00 Ashton Athletic v Squires Gate 15:00 Athersley Recreation v Campion 15:00 Barnoldswick Town v Runcorn Town 15:00 Irlam v Albion Sports 15:00 Longridge Town v Northwich Victoria 15:00 Lower Breck v Penistone Church 15:00 Macclesfield v Burscough 15:00 Padiham v AFC Liverpool 15:00 Prestwich Heys v Litherland REMYCA 15:00 Thackley v Wythenshawe Town 15:00 Vauxhall Motors v Skelmersdale United 15:00 West Didsbury & Chorlton v Avro 15:00 Winsford United v Charnock Richard 15:00 AFC Blackpool v Cleator Moor Celtic 15:00 Ashton Town v Ilkley Town 15:00 Bury AFC v Bacup Borough 15:00 Chadderton v Atherton LR 15:00 Daisy Hill v Garstang 15:00 Golcar United v Nelson 15:00 Holker Old Boys v AFC Darwen 15:00 St Helens Town v Pilkington 15:00 Steeton v South Liverpool 14:00 Wythenshawe Amateurs v FC Isle of Man 15:00 Abbey Hulton United v Barnton 15:00 Alsager Town v Maine Road 15:00 Brocton v Cammell Laird 1907 15:00 Cheadle Heath Nomads v Abbey Hey 15:00 Eccleshall v Stockport Town 15:00 Ellesmere Rangers v Sandbach United 15:00 Rocester v Cheadle Town 15:00 St Martins v Stafford Town The Emirates F.A.Cup Extra Preliminary Round First Division South First Division North Welcome to Brocstedes Park Year Formed: 1968 Life President: Jimmy Witherington Club President: Bill Bohannon Club Chairman: Jimmy Whyte Club Secretary: Jimmy Whyte Club Treasurer: Brad Reid First Team Managers : Jay Foulds & Dougie Pitts Assistant Manager: David Tickle Physio: Amy Benson Development Squad Manager: Paul Piert Under 18’s Manager: Carl Vieri Programme Editor: Bernie Johnson Ground: Brocstedes Park Address: Brocstedes Road, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 0NR Telephone: 01942 716360 Website: www.ashtonathletic.co.uk Twitter: @AshtonAthletic Facebook: www.facebook.com/AshtonAthletic The Entity: Unincorperated Members Club Midweek Home Games: Tuesday Registered Outfield Colours: Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts & Socks Registered Goalkeeping Colours: Green Shirt, Shorts & Socks Alternative Colours: Blue shirts, Blue Shorts & Socks Highest Attendance: 610(v Chorley 30/09/17) County Affiliation: Lancashire FA Honours: Atherton Charity Cup: Winners: 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09 NWCFL Challenge Cup: Winners: 2013/14 Wigan Cup: Winners: 2014/15 Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy: Winners 2016/17 Dougie Pitts Jay Foulds Daz Mullen A warm welcome to all of our friends from Squires Gate. I hope you enjoy your afternoon at Brocstedes. We are looking forward to this afternoon’s match in the Emirates F.A.Cup against league rivals Squires Gate as we look to kick start our season after a couple of disappointing results for us in the first week of league action. Our first home match of the season against Wythenshawe Town seemed to be heading for a goalless draw, until a late penalty for the visitors saw them take the spoils. Neither side had been able to gain the upper hand during the first 75 minutes or so. We managed to create one or two half chances during the game but were unable to convert them. On Tuesday evening, we made our first visit to Burscough’s new ground. Unfortunately we made a slow start and found ourselves a goal down after the first minute and went fiurther behind after 38 minutes. A better second half saw us pull one back midway through the half but just as it looked we might get an equaliser a third goal from the home team proved decisive. Let’s hope the cup can be kind to us this afternoon as we look to book our place in the next round. The future’s bright, the future’s yellow. Dougie and Jay Tuesday 17 August 2021 Kick-off 7.45pm v Winsford United The North West Counties League Premier Division Premier Division P GD Pts 1 Congleton Town 2 4 6 2 Wythenshawe Town 2 2 6 3 Macclesfield 2 1 4 4 Barnoldswick Town 2 1 4 5 Charnock Richard 1 4 3 6 Northwich Victoria 1 4 3 7 Avro 1 3 3 8 Burscough 2 1 3 9 AFC Liverpool 1 1 3 10 Lower Breck 1 1 3 11 Longridge Town 2 0 3 12 Irlam 2 -2 3 13 Squires Gate 2 -1 1 14 Winsford United 2 -4 1 15 Runcorn Town 1 -1 0 16 Skelmersdale United 1 -1 0 17 Vauxhall Motors 1 -1 0 18 Litherland REMYCA 1 -1 0 19 Ashton Athletic 2 -3 0 20 Prestwich Heys 1 -4 0 21 Padiham 2 -4 0 NEXT UP To book an award winning mental fitness session at your club, email Elaine.Prendergast@stateofmindsport.org www.stateofmindsport.org STATE OF MIND SPORT IS PROUD TO BE THE official CHARITY PARTNER OF THE NORTH WEST COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE. State of Mind Sport is a charity that harnesses the power of sport to promote positive mental fitness, to improve performance among our sportsmen and women, fans and wider communities, AND to ultimately prevent suıcide. State of Mind Sport raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental fitness and deliver education on the subject to all levels of sport, business, education and community groups. A Brief History... Ashton Athletic Football Club was founded in 1968 and playing in the Wigan Sunday League – winning every Division in consecutive seasons and many cup competitions before switching to the Warrington League on Saturdays where similar success was sustained. The Club developed Brocstedes Park and was admitted to the Lancashire Combination, before becoming a founder member of the North West Counties League when the Combination merged with the Cheshire league in 1982. Unfortunately, financial constraints prevented the required ground improvements to be completed, and the Club was relegated into the Manchester league Division One in 1986. The drop of two leagues resulted in the majority of the playing staff moving to other club’s and for numerous years the club endeavored to re-build. Players came and went, lacking the Club loyalty that had brought success to the Club in the 1970’s and early 80’s until the Committee embraced an ambitious youth development policy in 1999. The Club is now at the end of a ten-year development plan to enhance its recreational facilities and expand the Club, in particular its junior section. Eight years ago, the Club had two teams, 50 members, one mediocre pitch with dilapidated clubhouse and changing rooms. Since then the Club members have worked tirelessly to progress the Club within its means, and with some help from external grant sources. Assistance from the Football foundation, Awards for All programme, and Wigan Council enabled a series of improvements to be completed. The main pitch was re-drained, a second pitch acquired/improved, new changing rooms and Clubhouse built, disabled access provided and other improvements made to the grounds. More recently the ground has been brought up to the necessary Ground Grading for re-entry into the NWCFL, in time for the start of the 2006/7 season and further inprovements have provided additional seating. The 2008/09 season also saw further progression of the Club, having been promoted to the Premier Division of the Vodkat North West Counties League. We were again able take to the national stage, having been accepted in the FA Cup competition after last season’s debut in the FA Vase which proved very lucrative for the Club, progressing through 3 stages and beating 2 teams from higher leagues in the process. The previous season also saw cup success for the Club retaining the Atherton Charity Cup at the end of the season. Following an impressive 6th place finish in the 2008/09 season, the Yellows struggled in the league for the next 4 seasons, finishing in the bottom three of the league in three of the next four seasons. 21st (09/10), 22nd (10/11), 14th (11/12) and 20th (12/13). Jimmy McBride, who took over the reins midway through the 12/13, left the club when the season ended and the club took the unusual step in bringing in a trio of managers, Jay Foulds, Ben Kay and Dougie Pitts. Jay and Ben were brought in from Wigan Robin Park and Dougie came in following a break from the game. The trio needed to completely rebuild the squad for the 2013/14 season and made an excellent start to their managerial careers creating club history with a 6th place finish and beating Maine Road 1-0 to win the League Challenge Cup at Curzon Ashton. More club history was made in the 2014/15 season with a highest ever 5th place finish in the league, conceding only 38 goals and losing only 7 league games that season and the Yellows were successful in the Wigan Cup, beating Newburgh Harrock United 5-1 in the final at Brocstedes Park. The 2015/16 season saw the retirement of Jay Foulds and he was replaced in the Ashton Athletic goal by Martin Pearson. Unfortunately, there were no cup heroics in that season but there was a solid 7th place finish in the league. The 2016/17 saw another top 10 finish with the club ending the season in 9th place, but the club made history in the cups reaching the 2nd qualifying round for the first time ever, losing 5-0 against Halifax Town and winning the Lancashire Cup for the first time, coming from a goal down to win 2-1 against Radcliffe Borough. Lee Vaughan scoring the winner in the final minute of the game. With the impact the management trio have made at the club in the 4 seasons that they have been in charge of the first team, the success was noticed from clubs at a higher level and following the 2016/17 season, Ben Kay left his role as joint manager to take up the role as assistant manager to Simon Howarth at Clitheroe FC, where he will link up again former Yellows captain, Ian Rowlands. A new vision for the Club is under discussion to further develop the Club and these will include plans for improvements to the access road, new junior changing rooms, additional playing fields for the junior section and a proposed girls/ladies section. The main ground is also scheduled for enhancement works with additional covered spectator areas. The Club is a voluntary organisation run by a Committee of 14 alongside approximately 25 coaches and managers. Any money raised by the Club has been ploughed back into improving the facilities and developing the youth section. The Club now has a total membership of more than 400. We have 9 junior teams consisting of approximately 160 children who take advantage of the improvement of our now excellent facilities, whilst hundreds of children and adults from opposition teams also benefit from the continually improving facilities. The Club is keen to maintain the pace of development of the club and future plans will enable increased activity at the Club, additional Junior teams and a much safer and secure environment in particular for spectators and Children. The Club was awarded the FA Charter Standard in 2013. F O O T B A L L L E A G U E T H E N O R T H W E S T C O U N T I E S nwcfl.c m For the latest League & Club News & Info, Fixtures, Results, Cup Info, Stats & Archives Follow us on social media Search ‘North West Counties League’ on Twitter and Facebook Official Website of The North West Counties Football League oFFICIAL GoALKEEPING PARTNER oF THE NoRTH WEST CouNTIES FooTBALL LEAGuE. prouD SpoNSor oF THE GoALKEEpEr oF THE MoNTH AND GoALKEEpEr oF THE YEAr AWArDS www.reusch.com www.facebook.com/ReuschUK www.twitter.com/ReuschUK For more information, visit Our Opponents Today Blackpool & District Amateur League: 1958 to 1961 Squires Gate were formed in 1948 as Squires Gate British Legion FC and competed in the Blackpool & District Amateur League. They won the leagues Rawling Shield in their first season. The name of the club was changed to Squires Gate FC in 1953. They won the leagues First Division in 1955-56 and 1956-57; also the Blackwell Cup in 1958-59 and 1959-60. They spent the 1960-61 in the Fylde District League, winning the Fylde Cup and losing finalists in the Bannister Cup. West Lancashire League: 1961 to 1991 The following season they moved up to the West Lancashire League where they spent the next thirty years. From 1961 until 1980 they were in Division Two and were promoted in 1981 as champions. In the 1986- 87 season they won the Richardson Cup. <b>North West Counties Leage: 1991 onward</b> They were elected into the North West Counties Football League for the 1991-92 season, joining Division Two for the 1991-92 season. Squires Gate won the leagues Fair Play Award for the 1993-94 season and were losing finalists in the 1997-98 Division Two Trophy. They won the 2001-02 season Division Two Trophy and then the following season they missed the runner-up spot on goal difference but were still promoted to Division One following the demise of Stand Athletic who had originally been promoted as Division Two champions. They reached their highest league placing in the 2005-06 season also reaching the quarter finals of the FA Vase then last season, under the Management of Andy Clarkson, Gate improved still further on their best ever placing, finishing sixth in what is now the Premier Division. On 10 March 2007 Squires Gate played a home match against FC United of Manchester at Curzon Ashton F.C.s ground. The club had approached Blackpool F.C. about playing the game at Bloomfield Road but the ground was not available. And so they played the match in Ashton-under-Lyne, as it was felt that FCUM fans were more likely to attend with the match being staged in the Greater Manchester area. A crowd of 1,650 saw Squires Gate lose 0-1 and Squires Gate earned about £7,000. To cap a very impressive 2007-08 season, Squires Gate were delighted that no less than nine of their members were honoured with long service awards: Albert Hamer, George Diggle, Roy Westhead, Brian Hugill and Brian Addison all collected Football Association Order of Merit mementos for 50 years service; and Steve Bellamy, Mick Farrer, John Maguire and Tony Hornby received 30 years awards from the Lancashire FA. All these stalwarts are still active in the service of their Club. Groundsman Brian Addison was judged the best at our level in the Northern Region, and a magnificent third nationally at the FA Groundsman of the Year presentations in London last September, and his pitch is clear evidence of his commitment. As Chairman Stuart Hopwood said, “ We believe in a sure and steady programme of improvement of our facilities, and we now feel that with an award winning pitch, dressing rooms which are amongst the best in the League, and a pleasant, air-conditioned Clubhouse, we have a lot to be proud of, and the future looks good for Squires Gate FC. Dave McCann was appointed manager towards the end of the 2012/13 season and has endured premier survival since taking charge. He is assisted by Richard Thomas. Season 20014/15 was the most successful in the NWCFL finishing in 6th place with a record number of points. Due to an indifferent start in the 2015/16 season, club captain Danny Penswick took over as player manager and ensured survival with a memorable last game victory at Ashton Athletic. Danny also ensured Premier Division status in 2016/17 thanks to a late surge including a victory at home to Runcorn Linnets; this was despite losing the potent strike force of Ric Seear to Colne and Ryan Riley to Bamber Bridge. Andy Clarkson took over in October 2017 and guided the club to a creditable 8th place finish and improved again in 2018/19 season with another 8th place finish. After a difficult start to the 2019/2020 season Luke Evans was appointed manager assisted by Shane Hudson. Squires Gate Club Information County Affiliation: Lancashire FA Year Formed: 1948 Record Attendance: 600 v. Everton, July 1995 Previous Leagues: West Lancashire League Blackpool & District Amateur League Honours: Blackpool & District Amateur League First Division champions 1956, 1957 West Lancashire League Division Two champions 1981 Rawling Shield winners 1949 Blackwell Cup winners 1959, 1960 Fylde Cup winners 1961 Bannister Cup runners-up 1961 Richardson Cup winners 1987 NWCFL Division Two Trophy winners 2001 Runners-up 1998 BACK TO LIVE BACK TO LIVE FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! THE RETURN TO BROCSTEDES Season Tickets from only £90 Adults £45 Concessions Date Opponents H/A KO Score Goalscorers Sat 31/07/21 Wythenshawe Town H 15:00 0-1 Tue 03/08/21 Burscough A 19:45 1-3 Houghton Sat 07/08/21 Squires Gate (The Emirates F.A Cup EP) H 15:00 Sat 14/08/21 Charnock Richard A 15:00 Tue 17/08/21 Winsford United H 15:00 Sat 21/08/21 Vauxhall Motors H 15:00 Sat 28/08/21 Congleton Town A 15:00 Mon 30/08/21 Lower Breck H 15:00 Sat 11/09/21 Abbey Hey (The Buildbase FA Vase 1Q) A 15:00 Currently fixtures are only available to 11 September 2021. Fixture lists are being re-arranged in the light of COVID-19 restrictions. Fixtures and Results Pre-Season Date Opponents H/A KO Score Goalscorers Tues 27/07/21 St.Martins H 20:00 5-2 Sat 24/07/21 Burnley U23’s A 15:00 0-1 Wed 21/07/21 Clitheroe A 19:45 0-1 Sat 17/07/21 1874 Northwich H 15:00 2-3 Sat 10/07/21 Ashton Town H 15:00 1-2 Sat 03/07/21 CMB FC A 15:00 4-3 Appearances Cards Cards MOM Player Start Sub Start Sub Red Yellow Charles Akande 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Christopher Bandell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Millen Brown 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ben Cartwright 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tom Douglas 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Jason Foulds (GK) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Declan Gallagher 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brian Hatton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Samuel Houghton 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 Bram Johnstone 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dale Korie-Butler 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Charlie Middlemore 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Joseph Nicholson 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Joshua Nicholson 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 James OHara 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Martin Pearson (GK) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Marcus Perry 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Andrew Thomas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nathan Whalley 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Joe White 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Harvey Whyte 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 Calum Wilson 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Sean Yeldrem 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gregor Zabret 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Player Appearences Ashton Athletic Managers: Jay Foulds & Dougie Pitts Squires Gate Manager: Luke Evans Gregor Zabret Nathan Whalley James OHara Ben Cartwright Joe White Charlie Middlemore Harvey Whyte Joseph Nicholson Dale Korie-Butler Joshua Nicholson Marcus Perry Samuel Houghton Charles Akande Calum Wilson Bram Johnstone Declan Gallagher MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE TBC ASSISTANT TBC ASSISTANT TBC NEXT UP AT BROCSTEDES PARK Tuesday 14 August 2021 Kick-off 7.45pm Winsford United Michael Hale Ryan Riley Max Rogers Isaac Abankwah Jacob Higham Joshua Westwood Joshua Pollard Christopher Webster Kieran Feeney Dean Ing James Boyd Alex Welsh Jack Wyers-Roebuck Matthew Garrett Oliver Burgess Jack Iley