v Wythenshawe Amateurs FC 6/10/18

FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE NORTH WEST COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE & LIVERPOOL COUNTY FA

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

ONWARDS & UPWARDS SEASON 2018 - 2019

HALLMARK SECURITY FIRST DIVISION CUP 2ND ROUND Saturday 6/10/18 KO 3pm ASHTON TOWN AFC V

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAWN MARSHALL

WYTHENSHAWE AMATEURS FC

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PRICE - £1.50

ASHTON TOWN AFC The Ashton Town Stadium, Edge Green Street, Ashton in Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 8SL President - Jimmy Cahill Chairman - Mark Hayes Vice President - Stephen Barrett Secretary - Stefan Ochwat Clubhouse Manager - Clare Peters Committee Member - Peter Williams Committee Member - Keith Peacock Committee Member - Kieran Johnson Committee Member - Nikki Dean Committee Member - Joanne Round Committee Member - Joanne Bourne Catering - Denise Brady Advertising & Programme Editor - Ian Pomfrett All Advertising enquiries - i.pomfrett@yahoo.com Welfare Officer - Gordon Johnson Groundsmen - David Bourne, Jimmy Cahill www.pitchero.com/clubs/ashtontownafc www.facebook.com/ashtontownafc twitter - @ashtontownafc Life Member - Billy Pomfrett Club Photographer - Dawn Marshall

This Club is Unincorporated FORMED IN 1953 AS MAKERFIELD MILL FC RENAMED ASHTON TOWN AFC IN 1962 FOUNDING MEMBERS OF BOTH THE NORTH WEST COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE & THE LIVERPOOL COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION 2

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WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Good afternoon, and welcome to all to this North West Counties First Division Cup second round game against Wythenshawe Amateurs.

Todays visitors are yet another new team that we meet early on, this time against a side though from the South equivalent of our division.

Wythenshawe sit 4th in a league that is dominated at the top by newcomers, in fact all the top four are new teams to the North West Counties. In our division too, the league leader Longridge are also new, showing completely how strong these teams are coming up.

We have had mixed fortunes against the new teams up to now, Avro and Longridge were immensely strong and turned us over, we beat a very good Lower Breck side, and we should have came away with the points on Saturday v Shelley.

The cup is always a nice breather away from the league, and I for one certainly love a cup tie. We let ourselves down in the FA Vase away at Barton Town, so here’s hoping we show a better account of ourselves today in front of our own fans.

Onwards and upwards as always.

Mark Club Chairman 3

northernpromise@hotmail.com

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MATCH REPORT 3/10/18 V GARSTANG FT Garstang 2 Ashton Town 2

Another point on the road for Town having to come back twice to take the point.

Garstang went in at the half 1 0 up but Town came out of the changing rooms the better and went straight on the attack. John Edgerton's perfect delivery of a free kick was headed in equally as good

by Dylan Glass to put us level.

Garstang then took control for a period and they won the ball too easilly in midfield for their second and their striker got his second of the game slotting home well.

Garstang did go on to get another however it was clearly offside, yet it took the referee some time to confirm and had to then stop celebrations to point for a free kick.

Town did get a leveller though, and a great goal it was., captain Jack Richards (pictured) smashing home from the edge of the box after great work from Jason Carey set up sub Aaron McGrath whose shot was well saved by the keepers legs, however Jack smashed home the rebound !

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By Mark Hayes

Set up in August 2012 and based at The Ashton Town Football Club, the Radio Club was formed with a view to promoting the fascinating world of Amateur Radio to the wider community. The club is open for training and is also an Examination Centre, as you will need a licence to transmit on the Amateur Radio Frequencies.

As of now our club can boast contacts in the following countries as well as many others: USA, Brazil, the Azores, Falkland Islands and Tasmania

For more information please visit: Website: www.aimarc.co.uk Or contact us on: Email: mx0htr@gmail.com

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FIRST DIVISION CUP 2ND ROUND FIXTURES - 6/10/18

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HALF TIME QUIZ QUESTIONS

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Which player played for four teams who have won the European Cup but never won the league or European Cup with them?

Which player has played in the, Merseyside derby, North London derby, Milan derby, Munich derby and the North East derby?

The record for most goals scored by a substitute in the Premiership is 4. By who?

Who is the only player to have scored a Premier League hat-trick for three different clubs?

Which team has won the League Cup the most times?

Who is the oldest goalscorer in the Premiership?

Which player won league championship winners medals in 3 consecutive seasons with 3 different clubs?

Who scored the fastest Premiership hat-trick?

Only 1 team in the English & Scottish leagues does not contain any of the letters from the word FOOTBALL. Which one?

Who scored the first premier league goal?

The record for most goals scored in one half in the Premiership is 5. By who?

Which player has played in the North London, Merseyside, Manchester derbies, has won the Premiership, FA Cup, Champions League and European Championship?

Who is the only player to score a hat-trick in the Premiership, Championship, League 1, League 2, the League Cup, the FA Cup and for his country?

Who is the only player to score in a Manchester, Merseyside and Glasgow derby?

Which team in the English & Scottish leagues that has the longest name?

Which player scored his 100th Premiership goal in 2000, when scoring from his 50th penalty?

Who scored the fastest goal in an FA Cup final?

Which player holds the record for most own goals in the Champions League?

Which player and subsequently manager of a club holds the record for the most games played or managed at one club in the British Leagues?

What was used in the 1973 FA Cup Final and never used again?

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By Gordon Johnson

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SPONSORS OCTOBER 2018

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R.I.P TAFFY

Ashton Athletic have designated this coming Saturday's game against The home game at Brocstedes Park against Bootle will be dedicated to the memory of Taffy

Taffy's family will be in attendance, including his wife Carol, his son and daughter and his tw out on to the pitch.

An already planned Race Night in the evening to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of Ashton duced.

A statement on the club website said:

We as a club want to celebrate the life of John 'Taffy' Roberts in our own way and say thank Everyone is welcome and the match will kick off at 3 pm with a minute's applause beforehand. Orrell Laundry will be the match day sponsors and wanted to contribute to the day, the owners becoming good friends to him over the years.

Tributes and many stories have flooded into the club by letter, email and social media since we lost our club secretary, and we have all been humbled by the utmost respect and affection held for Taffy in the non league football world and beyond.

He will be sadly missed by so many and more so by his closest family and friends.

Taffy's funeral will be held at St Paul's Church on Poolstock Lane, Wigan on Friday the 12th of October at 11 am and then later at Highfield Cricket Club, all welcome.

The family have asked everyone attending to wear the club colours of Yellow and Blue if possible.

Rest In Peace Taffy - you will be sadly missed and always part of The Yellow family.

Taffy is pictured with Athletic's joint managers Jay Foulds and Dougie Pitts. Photo courtesy of Pete Barton.

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Y ROBERTS

t Bootle as 'Taffy's Day'.

Roberts, who passed away last week.

wo grand children, and his grandchildren will be mascots on the day and lead the players

n Athletic will feature tributes to Taffy, and a special match programme has been pro-

k you for all the hard work and dedication he has put into Ashton Athletic.

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HALLMARK SECURITY WEEK A full programme of league games provided the bill of fare to enjoy at the weekend, with the usual mixture of goals and talking points.

Before the action began though, across the league all clubs honoured the memory of Ashton Athletic Secretary Taffy Roberts, who sadly passed away at the start of the week.

In the Premier Division, City of Liverpool took advantage of a Silsden defeat to extend their lead at the top of the table to four points, with a 5-2 home win over Winsford United.

The result was all the more impressive given that the Purps were twice behind in the game, but an impressive last half hour saw them through to victory, with Thomas Peterson scoring twice to take his tally for the season to eight.

Silsden, meanwhile were going down 2-0 at Northwich Victoria, and the second half goals from Billy Whittle and Joel Brownhill from the penalty spot moved Vics up to sixth.

Runcorn Town moved level on points with Silsden, thanks to a 5-1 win over Abbey Hey at the Pavilions, Ryan Cox and Harry Brazel both scoring twice. The result leaves Abbey in second bottom place, and below them are only Ashton Athletic, whose 2-1 defeat at Barnoldswick Town moved Barlick up into fifth place. Zack Dale scored both goals for the home side.

Charnock Richard rounded off a good week with a 4-2 win at Irlam, captain and goalscoring talisman Carl Grimshaw setting them on the way with the opening goal, and Chad Whyte also scored twice in Burscough’s 3-2 win at Padiham.

As well as earning West Didsbury & Chorlton a 1-0 win at Squires Gate, Saul Henderson’s 89th minute goal also ended a run of five straight defeats, and Scott’s McGowan’s 79th minute goal secured 1874 Northwich’s 2-1 win over Bootle, the Greens’ third win in four games.

The one game in the division that ended all square was at Yockings Park, where Whitchurch Alport extended their unbeaten run to six games with a 2-2 draw at home to Hanley Town.

The First Division North continues to be headed by Carlisle City, who remain two points ahead of Longridge Town following a 4-0 home win over AFC Liverpool. It was a game to remember for City’s Rob McCartney, who scored all four goals.

Longridge Town remain on the leaders’ coat tails, but had to rely on goals in the last 14 minutes from Harvey Close and Daniel Wilkinson to pick up three points from a 2-1 win at Chadderton.

Michael Stockdale of Avro scored twice in their 3-2 win at Lower Breck which keeps them in third place, and the highest scoring game in the division was at the Arcoframe Stadium, where Steeton eventually won 6-4 against St Helens Town, after being 6-1 up after an hour. Steeton’s Andrew Briggs and Ben Clarkson both scored twice in a win that moved the Yorkshiremen into fifth place.

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BY IAN TEMPLEMAN

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KEND ROUND UP 18/8/18 There was also no shortage of entertainment at Crilly Park, where a ding-dong affair between Atherton LR and AFC Darwen ended 4-4. Two goals apiece from Elliot Pond and Leon Creech had Darwen ahead late in the game to cancel out Henoc Mukendi’s hat trick, but Nathan Strong’s 86th minute equaliser salvaged a point for LR. After two defeats, two goals from Ben Duffield got AFC Blackpool back to winning ways with a 2-1 home win over Nelson, and it’s now six games unbeaten and three straight wins for Prestwich Heys after their 3-1 win over Daisy Hill at Adie Moran Park A hat trick from Alan Coar set Garstang on the way to a 4-0 win at Holker Old Boys, a result that keeps the Cumbrians at the bottom of the table, and Michael Gervin’s hat trick was the highlight of Bacup Borough’s 4-2 home win over Cleator Moor Celtic.

The other game in the division between Shelley and Ashton Town remained goalless.

First Division South is headed by Abbey Hulton United, who beat Cheadle Heath Nomads 4-0. Dylan Bath and Angela Errico both scored twice in the final 18 minutes of the game.

St Martins are in second place following a 2-0 win over Rylands at the Venue, with Karl Bailey and Brendon Price on target for Saints in a victory that saw them leapfrog over their opponents in the table.

Wythenshawe Amateurs drop to fourth place, after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to FC Oswestry Town, and Cheadle Town’s 2-0 win over Stone Dominoes that moved them into fifth place was delivered through second half goals from Callum Collinson and Callum Knight.

Vauxhall Motors raced into a three-goal lead after 27 minutes at Stone Old Alleynians, but two goals from Jack Tomlinson and one from Matt Thomas earned a point for the home side.

Barnton were the highest scorers of the day in the division, two penalties from Samuel Houghton and two goals from Ryan Wan seeing them to a 5-2 win at New Mills and Kieron Garner-Knapper also scored twice for Sandbach United in the 3-2 win at Wythenshawe Town.

A stoppage time goal from Cammell Laird 1907’s Joseph Foster clinched a 1-0 home win over Eccleshall, and Maine Road dropped to second bottom in the table after going down 2-0 at Alsager Town.

Ellesmere Rangers remain in bottom spot after going down 3-1 at home to Stockport Town, Reece Skelton scoring a hat trick for the visitors.

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WHO'S PLAYED AT With today’s visitor’s Wythenshawe Town hailing from Manchester today we take a look at yet another retired International Footballer who, has a Manchester link and, has in recent years, appeared twice here at Edge Green Street. Former Manchester City player Kiki Musampa.

Kizito "Kiki" Musampa was born on 20th July 1977, he is a Congolese-born, and Dutch-nationalised retired professional footballer.Musampa had a journeyman career, taking in notable spells at AFC Ajax, Bordeaux, Malaga CF, Athletico Madrid and Manchester City; he also earned 28 caps representing the Netherlands at under-20 and under-21 levels. He was a left winger and was best known for his pace and free-kicks.

Born in Kinshasa, Zaire, which is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Musampa first started off in the famous AFC Ajax youth academy where he played a total of 31 games in two seasons and scored six goals. He subsequently signed on for Girondins Bordeaux in 1997 to further his experience in the hope to be selected for the Dutch national team competing in the 1998 FIFA World Cup although he was overlooked by the then Dutch coach GuusHiddink.

After spending two seasons at the French club, Musampa decided to move on to Spanish club Málaga CF where he played 94 games and scored a total of 22 goals in four seasons.

In 2003, he was transferred to Athletico Madrid for €3 million on a five-year contract, a year before his Málaga contract was due to expire in what he viewed as a potentially good career move. In his first season with the club, he played 26 matches and scored two goals although in the following season, he was relegated to the substitutes' bench and only scraped together eight games during 2004.

In January 2005, Musampa moved to Manchester City of the Premier League on loan after becoming a fringe player at Athletico. In his first six months he scored three goals in 14 games; his first City goal was a "spectacular volley" in the last-minute which was the match winner against Liverpool and gave Stuart Pearce his first win as City manager, while he also scored goals against Aston Villa in a 2-1 victory and an equaliser against Middlesbrough. These goals unfortunately though weren’t enough to help City qualify for the following season’s 2005–06 UEFA Cup Competition.

In June 2005 Musampa agreed up to stay at Manchester City for a second season. The Dutchman started the new season as a regular first team player, but lost his first team place in December, after which he played irregularly, with the majority of his appearances being in central midfield. At the end of the 2005–06 season he returned to Athletico Madrid but on 30th August 2006 he signed a three-year contract for Turkish club Trabzonsporleaving Madrid on a free transfer.

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BY GORDON

T EDGE GREEN ST? After being released from Trabzonspor, Musampa trained with the then English Premiership side Sunderland for a short period but ultimately was not signed by the club.

He then returned to the Netherlands and Musampa trained with Eredivisie outfit AZ. In November 2007, he signed a contract at the club for the rest of the season, but he was released from his contract on 1 January 2008.

In March 2008, after an unsuccessful trial with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, he signed a two-year contract with K-League side FC Seoul.

His stay in South Korea was brief, as he made just three league appearances and two League Cup appearances for the club before the two parties agreed to mutually terminate his contract in June 2008.

After a short spell out of the game, on 14th March 2009, Musampa returned to professional football signing for Willem II Tilburg in the Netherlands.In September 2009 the winger went on trial with French side FC Metz, scored one goal in a friendly match, but again the club chose not to sign him and he eventually announced his retirement from professional football.

With regards to his international career,Musampa was the member of Dutch U20 team at the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship, playing all three group matches but the team did not proceed past the group stage. Musampa went on to be a key player for the Netherlands Under-21s and achieved 25 caps, scoring 8 goals; he is currently in the top 10 players for both caps and goals at that level. His form whilst on loan at Manchester City earned him a call-up to the Netherlands squad to play Romania and Finland but he did not get to appear in either game.

Musampa first appeared here at Edge Green Street on Friday 19th May 2017 when he wore the No6 shirt for the Dutch Masters team who returned to defeat the Latics Legends in our annual Joseph’s Goal Charity fundraising game. He the returned again on Saturday 12th May 2018 at which time he wore the No7 shirt in the Manchester City legends team who faced our Latics Legends again in the annual Josephs Goal Charity fundraiser, which this time also commemorated Wigan Athletics’ memorable FA Cup Final victory over Manchester City five years earlier on Saturday 11th May 2013. On his second visit Musampa could only manage a draw with his City team subsequently losing in a penalty shoot out to the Latics Legends team. Kiki Musampa regularly appears in games for the Ajax Masters Veterans team and we’re hopeful that he may once again return to Edge Green Street for one of our Josephs Goal Charity games in the not too distant future.

N JOHNSON

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LEAGUE TABLE 1ST DIV NORTH

HALF TIME QUIZ ANSWERS PierreVanHooijdonk, 2. Christian Ziege, 3. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, 4. Nicolas Anelka, 5. Liverpool, 6. Teddy Sheringham, 7. Eric Cantona - 1991 Marseille, 1992 Leeds Utd& 1993 Manchester Utd, 8. Robbie Fowler,9. Dundee, 10. Brian Deane, 11. Jermaine Defoe, 12. Nicolas Anelka, 13. Robbie Earnshaw, 14. Andrei Kanchelskis, 15. Inverness Caledonian Thistle, 16.

Matt Le Tissier, 17. Louis Saha – 25 secs in 2009 for Everton v Chelsea, 18. Gary Caldwell, 19.

Billy Bonds – West Ham United, 20. An Orange Ball 19

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HISTORY OF ASHTON TOWN AFC Ashton Town Association Football Club originally joined the Div 2 of the Lancashire Combination in 1903 and were promoted Div 1 in 1st season.

However, relegated back to Div 2 after finishing 16 in first season of Div 1. Towards the end of 1910/11 season club withdrew from league and fixtures taken over by Tyldesley Albion. The Club was reformed in 1953 as Makerfield Mill FC and after a short spell in the Wigan Sunday School League, they played in the St Helens Combination League for three years before joining the Warrington and District Amateur League in 1958. The founder was a persistant man named Derek ‘Mick’ Mycock.

In 1962 the Club was forced to move from its original ground at Windsor Road because of land development and it was at this point the Club name was changed to Ashton Town AFC. Home games were played on a public park pitch at Whithill Street Recreation Ground in Bryn until 1964, at which point the Club purchased a piece of land at Edge Green Street, previously the home of Stubshaw Cross Rovers. This became the Club`s new home, and development of the ground began. In 1969 the Clubhouse was completed, and was opened by Liverpool and England star Roger Hunt, and in 1975 the present dressing room facilities were built. During this period the Club joined the Lancashire Combination in 1971, and then in 1978, they left to join the Cheshire County League for four years.

The formation of the North West Counties Football League 1982 saw Ashton Town join as founder members, and the Club has remained in the league since then with the exception of season 1985-86, when they played in the Manchester League while essential ground maintenance work was carried out to bring the ground up to stringent ground grading requirements for the NWCF League.

Throughout the years there have been many custodians of the club, owned by no-one, powered by volunteers. I’ll surely miss out a host of names here but….Notable is the involvement of Jack Longstaffe, Pat Dooney, Barry & Sandra Longstaffe, Gordon Ellis,, Les Bailey, Len Riley, Malcolm Magrath, Billy Pomfrett and Jimmy Cahill. The latter two who have clocked up over a hundred years service to Town and are still here on a daily basis.

In more recent times, Clare and James Horner made a massive boost to the club with the long overdue formation of a Junior section. As did the arrival of our current Chairman, Mark Hayes, who has helped build the profile of the club both locally and nationally. Other volunteers to mention are Steve, Stefan, Denise, Peter, Clare and more recently, Keith (Kitman/Physio) whose dedication and workrate is second to none on quite often a day to day basis. It would go amiss if I didn’t mention at this point Brian Cunliffe, who has on and off, over the years worked behind the scenes painting, digging or mending often without the right resources for the job…..it’s people like this who really make a place what it is. So Many to mention, others to forget, but we are here and that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for those who give up their time and effort to keep the club alive. Our motto ‘Onwards & Upwards’ sums us up as we now strive for promotion.

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HISTORY OF WYTHENSHAWE AMATEURS Originally founded in 1946 as Wythenshawe Lads' Club by Reg Gauntlet, a local window cleaner, gathering together a group of kids kicking a ball about in the street, held meetings with parents in a wooden hut in the grounds of Cringlewood House, Yew Tree Lane. They then set up home by hiring a room in the old farmhouse in Daine Avenue, Rackhouse. A couple of years later Noel Timpson purchased two ex war Nissen huts and sited them within the farmhouse grounds.

Wythenshawe, their first manager being Bob Collins, progressed through the Manchester Federation of Lads' Clubs League 1946-49. In 1949 as the lads grew into maturity and no longer eligible for Lads Club football Harry Dalton developed them into 'The Ammies', managed by Jim Cooper, to provide football for all ages. Dalton was a Sheffield Wednesday supporter hence the Ammies Royal Blue & White striped kit. They became members of the South Manchester and Wythenshawe League 1949-53 racing through the lower divisions, top goalscorer being Bob Halliday with an incredible 72 goals in season 1951-52, before securing the 1st division championship in 1953. They then entered the Altrincham and District League 1953-54. In 1956 Wythenshawe played Manchester United, including Bobby Charlton, in the Altrincham District FA - Whitaker Cup Final. This was a great day for Wythenshawe because not only did they hold a very talented United team to a draw but according to press reports at the time were quite as good as their opponents. After two lots of extra time the score was 1-1, the cup was shared with each team holding it for six months. Climbing the football pyramid they were accepted into the Lancashire and Cheshire League 1954-72 winning the double in their first season, the 3rd Division 'A' and Hellawell Shield, between 1955-57 they achieved the distinction of promotion in successive seasons, 1955 3rd Division 'A' champions, 1956 3rd Division runners-up, 1957 2nd Division champions, Hellawell Shield winners 1955, three times winners of the Rhodes Cup (1958, 1961, 1972), 1st Division champions 1962. They established themselves in the Manchester League in 1972-73 season, winning automatic promotion to the Premier Division by becoming champions of the 1st Division in their first season, three times champions of the Premier Division (1990, 1993, 2003) runners-up ten times (1980, 1985, 1992, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2018) and record winners (7) of the Gilgryst Cup (1986, 1987, 1990, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2018) twice finalists (1980, 1988). Three times winners of the Lancashire Amateur Cup (1976, 1990, 1996) finalists six times (1982, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1994). The club led a somewhat nomadic existence, playing their games at Cleveland playing fields 1946-49, Wythenshawe Park 1949-58, The Christie playing fields 1958-61, Federation of Lads' Club Ground Chorlton, later called Harry Dalton playing fields 1961-83, then in 1983 they became tenants at Wythenshawe Cricket Club, Longley Lane, albeit when the football and cricket seasons overlapped the club had to find alternative venues, Flixton FC 2015, St Paul's High School 2016-17, settling at Hollyhedge Park in 2017. From season 1967-68 the first team took part in the FA Amateur Cup, which in 1974 became the FA Vase, in 1985 they reached the 5th round narrowly losing 2-1 away to the eventual winners Halesowen Town. The previous round saw the Ammies win 6-0 at home to Rushall Olympic before its then largest attendance of 255, tenfold their average, and producing their first ever match programme. The senior section alone have won over 50 trophies. Their most successful season came in 1989-90 when the first team, managed by Ray Mallalieu, achieved the treble by winning the Lancashire Amateur Cup, Manchester League Premier and Gilgryst Cup, whilst the reserves added the second division title and the Sunday team winning the Wythenshawe and District Sunday League Challenge Cup. Although youth teams have sporadically existed since the Lad’s Club days, In 1990 John Walker, ‘Mr Wythenshawe Amateurs’, asked Stephen Hall and Jim Roberts to formalise a Junior Section at the club, entering one team in the Timperley and District Junior League, this has grown and is now one of the largest Junior clubs in the North West, currently having teams aged 5 to 18. ...shortened to fit 21

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OUR CHOSEN CHARITY The Joseph’s Goal charity was set up in October 2012, by Paul and Emma Kendrick, to raise funds for research into NKH, (Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia), the life-limiting genetic condition that their son, Joseph, was born with. NKH is caused by an excess of glycine on the brain. Joseph was given five days to live but reached his ninth birthday in May this year. He is severely disabled and suffers from seizures. But he is resilient and is a fighter, and we, in turn, are fighting to find better treatments and, hopefully, a cure for NKH, which is very rare, with only fifteen children still surviving in the UK, and less than five hundred worldwide.

Joseph’s Goal is a Wigan-based charity, run by a small group of family and friends, who all volunteer their services. No-one is paid. We have received support from Wigan Council, Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic, as well as schools, local organisations and the business community.

In four years we have raised over £340,000, largely from charity balls, football matches, bike rides, marathons and 10-Ks, swimathons, spinathons, Xmas jumper days, numerous other fundraising events, and hundreds of donations from generous people.

The funds raised have been sent to Dr Johan Van Hove at Colorado University, Denver, USA, and Professor Nick Greene at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health in London. Both have presented their research findings to NKH families at conferences in the North West organised by Joseph’s Goal, and trustees of Joseph’s Goal have twice attended NKH conferences at Harvard University in Boston, USA. The many varied defective genes that have been found in different children/families in the brain that causes NKH have been identified, and the task now is to find a route to replace it with a healthy gene. There is, at last, some light at the end of a very dark tunnel, with real grounds for optimism that better treatments for NKH are not far away.

Since Joseph’s Goal began, Joe has become a little celebrity locally: - in 2013, he was the mascot for Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Final and was carried out onto the pitch at Wembley by the captain, Emmerson Boyce, which resulted in television appearances on BBC NW, Granada, and Sky News; - in 2013, Joseph’s family were the WISHFM ‘Local Heroes Family of the Year’; - in 2014, Joseph switched on the Xmas Lights in Wigan Town Centre; - in 2014, Joseph’s Goal was recognised by Wigan Council as contributing to the ‘Believe in Wigan” campaign; - and in 2016, Joseph’s Goal was a Finalist in the GM Chamber of Commerce Wigan Business Awards.

If you are looking for a charity to support, then please consider our charity, and help Joseph to achieve his Goal.

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www.josephsgoal.org

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JOHN COURTNEY JACK BROMILOW HARRIS SAUNDERS DALEY WOODS ADAM REYNOLDS HARRY GASKELL LIAM WILKINSON JOHN EDGERTON MATTY JOHNSON CHRIS HILL JACK RICHARDS JAMES LUDGATE BRAD SMART GINO KING ARON MCGRATH ROB LAMONT DYLAN GLASS GEORGE ATKINSON

WILL AHERN JOEL AIKENHEAD MARTIN BLAIN (G/K) CARL BRADY MARCUS BURNETT JORDAN BURTON MATTY DODWELL ALAN DOLAN JAMES GREEN RICHARD GRESTY CHRIS HOWARD TIM KINSELLA DOMINIC LILLIE DARREN LYONS RYAN LYONS KIERAN MOLLOY EDDIE MORAN COLIN MURRAY NIALLE RODNEY ADAM WALKER BEN WILD ASHLEY WOODHEAD LUKE WORTH DAVID WRIGHT

Manager: David Dempsey Asst. Mgr & Coach: Lee Bignell Coach: Michael Smith Coach: Lee Thompson Physio: Keith Peacock Colours: Red & White Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks GK: Grey

Manager: Shane Goldrick Asst. Manager: Darren Lyons Coach: Paddy Walsh Sports Injury: Declan Sutton Kit Assistant: Levi Edwards Colours: Royal Blue/White Striped Shirts, Royal Blue Shorts, Royal Blue/White Hooped Socks 24

Referee: Mariusz Kurkiewicz, Assistant 1: Daniel Wood, Assistant 2: Andrei Rydzkowski