Cammell Laird 1907 vs Barnton - Tues 24/01/23 - Matchday programme 2022/23 #19

Club history

Cammell

1907 FC can

its

back

1899 when a team from the Upper Boilers Shop of Laird Bros played in Birkenhead Park, before turning to the rugby code. It was not until June 1907 that the Cammell Laird Institute AFC was established, with its first fixture taking place on 2nd September 1907 against Tranmere Rovers, finishing 9th in the West Cheshire League in their inaugural season (1907/08).

In the early years, the Club played at a number of grounds and won their first trophy, the Shipley Cup, in April 1921, before in the summer of 1922 they moved to St Peters Road (which still remains their current home) as Kirklands FC. They disbanded in 1939 but reformed in 1946. The Club had their most successful period during the 1970s and 80s, winning the West Cheshire League on a regular basis. 1994/95 saw the club reach the FA Vase quarterfinals before losing to Arlesey Town.

The 21st Century

The early part of the new millennium saw the Club reach new heights. They started the rise through the pyramid, making history by becoming the first

were relegated after just one season due to ground grading.

Having fought relegation battles successfully, the Club finished bottom of the Evo-Stik Division One North in 2011/12, but were reprieved, and bounced back the following season by finishing league runners up before losing on penalties in the play-off final against Trafford.

Season 2013/14 saw Lairds finish 11th, but the decision was taken to resign from the Evo-Stik NPL and form a new Club: Cammell Laird 1907 FC. New club, new era

The new Club was formed on 28th May 2014 and entered the NWCFL Division One for their inaugural campaign in 2014/15. In October, the Club lost manager Tony Sullivan to Witton Albion, and appointed Paul McNally in the same month. He ably guided the team to promotion, which was achieved on Saturday 4th April. In the end, Lairds finished 21 points clear of 3rd placed AFC Darwen.

2015/16 saw the Club finish 15th in its first season in the NWCFL Premier Division. Early on, Lairds didn’t get the results that their performances deserved, drawing or even losing games that they largely dominated. However, they soon found their feet in the Premier Division. Their best result was an emphatic 4-0 victory against eventual champions Colne in October. In February, Tony Sullivan returned to replace Paul McNally as manager, and the Club ended the campaign with a solid mid-table finish.

At the end of the season, Sullivan departed and was replaced by former Prescot Cables and AFC Darwen manager Neil Prince. The new man in charge made an excellent start, two fine performances deservedly seeing off the challenge of AFC Darwen in the FA Cup. It is fair to say that luck was not on the side of Prince’s team at the start of the league campaign, with several fine performances not getting the results that they deserved. However, after the 3-1 defeat to Squires Gate in September, Prince resigned on good terms with the Club, who were very appreciative of his efforts, and both parties wished each other well for the future.

Prince was replaced by former Lairds striker Mick McGraa, who had taken

Laird

trace

history

to

Club to win the championship of the Second and First Divisions of the North West Counties League, which they achieved in 2004/05 and then 2005/06. In the same year as that First Division triumph, the club reached the FA Vase semi-finals, losing to eventual winners Nantwich Town, and two years later, the Club gained promotion to the Unibond Premier League. However, they

over the Reserve Team in the summer. McGraa has worked tirelessly to assemble a very promising young side, and again with a tad more luck in games that Lairds dominated, they could have picked up more points. Everything finally came together on Saturday 18th March 2017, as a brilliant performance saw Lairds beat AFC Darwen 4-1 to record their first league win of the season, which they followed up three days later with a 2-1 victory against in-form Hanley Town. Ultimately, results elsewhere consigned Lairds to relegation by the end of March, but the Club was now in a much stronger position ahead of the Division One campaign to follow in 2017/18.

The rebuild commences

That season started off perfectly, the 4-1 win against a higher-ranked Maltby Main side in the Emirates FA Cup a sign of things to come! Lairds were eliminated from that competition despite a valiant effort at Evo-Stik League outfit Leek Town, but after a slightly shaky start, they went from strength to strength in the league. From 5th September to 21st April, they dropped just two points at Kirklands, also defeating Premier Division Congleton Town with ten men on their own patch in the Macron Cup. Lairds initially struggled on the road, but also improved on that front after the turn of the year. They finished the regular campaign as one of the division’s form teams, securing the final play-off place courtesy of a sensational 4-1 victory over championselect Silsden. The Cammells also enjoyed a run to the final of the LWC Drinks Cup, recording a notable 4-0 triumph at fellow top six challengers Alsager Town along the way. In the final against Prestwich Heys at Runcorn Linnets FC, Joe Malkin’s header drew Lairds level at 1-1 just before the hour mark. Despite hammering at the Prestwich door for much of the second half, there was a sucker punch as a brilliant late strike from John Main, followed by an even more incredible save by Heys’ Russell Saunders, saw McGraa’s men on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. However, Lairds responded brilliantly in the play-off semi-final just three days later, stunning the division by going to a Prestwich side, who had hammered them 3-0 on the opening day and finished the season on 91 points, and coming from behind to win 4-1. That set up an all-or-nothing midweek play-off final away at Whitchurch Alport. There was to be more heartbreak as a nightmare start saw Lairds fall 2-0 behind within ten minutes. It just didn’t click for the visitors on the night, and despite Charlie MacInnes giving them hope late on, it was a case of so near yet so far. Two defeats in finals were a horrible ending to what was an outstanding campaign which saw McGraa’s team restore the pride around Kirklands, and deliver long-lasting memories.

opportunity to compete in the Wirral Senior Cup Final, which they had reached courtesy of victories over Poulton Royal, Ellesmere Port Town and Mersey Royal.

For the 2020/21 campaign, the club’s home at Kirklands was renamed the Prabhu Ventures Ltd Arena as part of a new sponsorship deal, while former player Stuart Humphreys was appointed as Director of Football. After a solid start to the delayed season, the North West Counties Football League was suspended from the start of November until mid-December as lockdown restrictions were re-imposed. During that time, Phil Burton and his backroom staff resigned after two-and-a-half years in charge. The season briefly resumed in December, but the season was soon curtailed due to Covid-19 after Lairds had played just seven league matches, with them team placed 13th in the table.

Silverware returns to CH42

With Lairds unable to play competitive football until May 2021, the club took their time before making a permanent managerial appointment. Stuart Keir was chosen as the man to take the club forward, the former AFC Liverpool boss’ CV impressing the committee as well as his strong reputation for developing youth players.

The Cammells finished 14th after a mixed season in the First Division South, but their exploits in the cup competitions were astonishing and made it a campaign to remember. A 3-0 victory over Heswall in the Wirral Senior Cup Final on 23 April 2022 clinched the first team’s maiden piece of silverware under the 1907 name, which was an afternoon to remember for all concerned. However, their season did not finish there, and an astonishing set of results sent them into the cup finals of both NWCFL cups. A famous comeback win in the A41 Derby at Vauxhall Motors was secured in the last minute by Jay Harvey, and featured in a successful Macron Cup run. Two semi-final wins in the space of four days – against Ilkley Town on penalties in the First Division Cup and Premier Division outfit Congleton Town in the Macron Cup – ensured that Lairds’ campaign would finish with two cup finals. The Macron Cup represented a remarkable feat for Keir’s team given that it included all 60 NWCFL clubs, but sadly the final against Charnock Richard, played at Chorley FC, proved a bridge too far as their opponents ran out 5-0 winners. The First Division Cup Final proved a more closely-fought affair away to promoted FC Isle of Man. Despite matching their opponents throughout, the Cammells unfortunately went down to a 1-0 defeat and they had to settle for finishing as runners-up. However, the incredible end to the season and appearance in three cup finals provides strong evidence that Keir’s team are on the right track going into the 2022/23 campaign.

Cheshire Senior Cup history-makers

An eventful close season saw McGraa depart for Vauxhall Motors, who rejoined the Hallmark Security League. The majority of the squad followed the manager to Rivacre Park, but the Committee acted swiftly and made a very exciting appointment in Phil Burton. He guided the club to a solid 15th place finish in the new First Division South, two cup quarter-finals, and extraordinarily Lairds became the lowest ranked team ever to reach a Cheshire Senior Cup Final, where they lost out to Nantwich Town. The 2019/20 campaign started off brightly for Burton’s team, and they were just outside the promotion places at Christmas, but their form then dropped off and only began to pick up shortly before the league was suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lairds were 13th after the final fixtures were played, but the decision was made by the FA to null and void the season. The premature end to the season meant that Lairds missed the

A new clubhouse facility opened in July 2022 also provides a welcome boost to the club. It will be open throughout every matchday, and significantly improve the experience of visitors to the renamed KR Couriers & Transport Ltd Stadium.

Good evening, and a warm welcome back to the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium for tonight’s game against Sandbach Barnton. We hope that the players, staff, officials and supporters from our visitors enjoy their stay with us here.

After the postponement of Saturday’s match against Sandbach United, tonight will hopefully be our first home game of 2023, so a very Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all had a relaxing festive period, and are ready for another 12 months on the Lairds rollercoaster!

Weather disruption has been a theme for ourselves in the last couple of weeks, and it’s been difficult to build any sort of momentum with the number of games called off.

It’s been frustrating too as the run of four or five matches in which we have played quite well but ended up on the wrong end of a narrow scoreline has dragged out over an extended period of time. Certainly from the games I’ve seen, I thought we played very well against Ashville in the first half and looked the more likely side to go on and win the game. I missed the second half having made the mistake of venturing over to Goodison, but it was the visitors who belied their man disadvantage and were able to prevail by a goal to nil.

While the result was a disappointment, the crowd of 271 was absolutely fantastic and the most we’ve had for a league game for a

while. Ashville and the new derby fixture that comes with it have been a fine addition to the NWCFL First Division South, and hopefully there will be more Boxing Day and Easter clashes in the years ahead.

I’m also reliably informed that the performances away to two top sides in Wythenshawe Amateurs in the league and Stalybridge Celtic in the Cheshire Senior Cup were encouraging, so hopefully we can take the positives from those matches into our upcoming run of fixtures and start turning those fine margins which have gone against us in our favour.

Tonight we are up against a Barnton side who started the season brilliantly and were in the play-off places in the early months, but a slight loss of form prompted a change of manager. Danny Moss joined the Villagers from his role at Wythenshawe Amateurs, and I’m sure will have Barnton climbing back up the table again soon. Ellis Bolton from ourselves is among the players who have signed for Barnton since Moss joined a fine acquisition for them and a great lad who I wish all the best to from after tonight’s game!

Many thanks for your valued support, without which we as a club could not survive and thrive.

I hope you enjoy today’s issue and the game.

Up them Cammells. All the best,

Patrick Burke

Photo credit: David Blackwood (Twitter: @David_JB_1965)

Cammell

Stephens ››, Hulley ©, Smith, Sat 27 Aug

Wythenshawe Amateurs

Stockport Georgians

Sat 03 Sept Stafford Town

A NWCFL First Division South

H NWCFL First Division South

L 3-0 212 Davidson, Kerr, Rodgers, J. Wood, Kubwalo, Jones ›, Smith

A Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round W 1-1* 160 Davidson, Kerr, Rodgers, Hulley ©, Kubwalo, Waring ›, Mon 29 Aug (3pm)

L 0-3 52 Davidson, Downey ›››, Rodgers, Waring, J. Wood, Kuwablo, Galt

Tues 06 Sept Cheadle Heath Nomads

H NWCFL First Division South

D 3-3 55 Davidson, Waring, Bolton, J. Wood, Kubwalo, Jones, Rubin, Tues 13 Sept Ellesmere Rangers

H NWCFL First Division South L 0-5 38 Davidson, Hulley ©, Frost, Waring, Stephens, Kubwalo, Downey, Sat 17 Sept Brocton

H NWCFL First Division South D 2-2 78 Davidson, Hulley © ››, Rodgers ›, Waring, Humphreys, Stephens, Sat 24 Sept Retford

H Isuzu FA Vase Second Qualifying Round W 1-1** 102 Davidson, Kerr, Rodgers ›››, Hulley ©, Doran ››, Kubwalo, Sat 01 Oct Alsager Town

A NWCFL First Division South W 1-2 42 Davidson, Kerr, Rodgers, Hulley ©, Doran, Waring, Rubin

H Edward Case Cup Second Round South L 1-2 90 Robson, Kerr, Rodgers ››, Hulley ©, Doran ›, Waring, Rubin, Sat 15 Oct Ashville

Sat 08 Oct Abbey Hey

H Macron Cup First Round W 2-1 176 Davidson, Hulley ©, Frost ›, Stephens, Doran, Cain, Jones Sat 22 Oct Squires Gate

A Isuzu FA Vase First Round

L 2-1 75 Davidson, Hulley ©, Frost, Stephens, Doran ›››, Cain, Waring, Tues 25 Oct Abbey Hey

A NWCFL First Division South L 1-0 83 Davidson, Kerr, Hulley ©, Stephens, Doran ›››, Cain, Waring Sat 29 Oct Stafford Town

A NWCFL First Division South W 1-2 87 Davidson, Kerr, Hulley ©, Stephens, Doran, Cain, Waring Sat 05 Nov Foley Meir

H NWCFL First Division South W 5-1 67 Davidson, Kerr, Bolton ››, Stephens ››, Doran ©, Cain, Waring

H NWCFL First Division South L 0-1 109 Davidson, Kerr, Frost ››, Stephens, Doran © ›››, Cain, Waring, Sat 12 Nov Maine Road

Tues 08 Nov Wythenshawe Amateurs

H NWCFL First Division South W 4-3 85 Davidson, Kerr, Frost ››, Stephens, Doran ©, Cain, Waring, Sat 19 Nov South Liverpool H Macron Cup Second Round L 1-4 106 Davidson, Kerr, Ogiugo ››››, Hulley ©, Doran, Cain, Smith, Tues 22 Nov (7:30pm) Sutton Athletic H Wirral Senior Cup First Round W 2-0 69 Dineley, Kerr, Hulley ©, Stephens, Cain, Waring, Frost › Wed 30 Nov Abbey Hey H NWCFL First Division

Tues

Kick-off times are 3pm for Saturday games and 7:45pm for midweeks unless stated  Substitutions indicated by ›/‹ arrows  Goal times as per the NWCFL website  Man of the Matches as awarded by the opposition  * = won 4-3 on penalties

** = won 3-1 on penalties

Goals for • Goals against MOTM

Kelly, Carr-Lowe ›, Hamm, McGregor, B. Wood ›› • Koura ‹‹, Philpott ‹, B. Kelly, Hughes • 25’ Kubwalo Edwards, Galt ›, J. Kelly ››, Hamm, B. Wood • Carr-Lowe ‹, Koura ‹‹, Doran, Hughes

Hamm (15’) • 39’, 58’, 87’ Edwards Smith, Carr-Lowe ›, Hamm, B. Wood ››››, Koura ›› • Doran ‹‹‹, J. Kelly ‹, Frost ‹‹, Waring ‹‹‹‹, Hughes Kubwalo (51’), Frost (65’), Doran (78’) • 13p, 18’, 28’ Smith Kubwalo ›, Smith, Edwards, Hamm ››››, B. Wood, Waring • Doran ‹‹‹, Bolton ‹‹, Hughes, Frost ‹, Koura ‹‹‹‹ • 36’, 64’, 85’ Waring Smith ©, Edwards ››››, J. Kelly ›››, Downey, Koura › • J. Wood ‹‹, B. Wood ‹‹‹, Bolton, Frost ‹, Galt ‹‹‹‹ J. Kelly (4’), Rodgers (53’), Smith (61’) • 39p, 64’ Kerr Smith, Edwards ›››, Koura ›, Downey, Frost ›››› • J. Wood ‹‹, B. Wood ‹, Galt ‹‹‹, Philpott ‹‹‹‹, Hughes B. Wood (55’) • 31’, 41’ Smith Smith, Rubin ›››, B. Wood ››, Downey, Frost • J. Wood ‹, King, Jones ‹‹‹, Koura, Hamm ‹, Hughes Frost (34’) • 76’ Smith © ››››, Rubin, Hamm ›››, Downey ›››››, Frost ›› • Galt ‹‹‹‹, Edwards ‹, B. Wood ‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹, Carr-Lowe ‹‹‹‹‹ • 75’, 82p, 84’ Rubin Galt ›››››, Jones ››››, A. Lyons, Hamm © ››, B. Wood › • Bolton ‹‹‹, Frost ‹‹, Rubin ‹‹‹‹,, Koura ‹, Carr-Lowe ‹‹‹‹‹ • 5’, 44’, 67’ Waring Rubin, Downey, Hamm ©, B. Wood ›, Frost • Carr-Lowe, Koura ‹, Philpott, Hughes Frost (3’), Rubin (12’), Hamm (72’) • 39’, 45+5’, 79’ Downey Downey, Bolton ›, Hamm, B. Wood ›››, Koura ›› • J. Wood ‹, Carr-Lowe ‹‹, Rodgers ‹‹‹, B. Kelly, Hughes • 8’, 65’, 79’, 88’, 90’ Stephens Stephens, Downey ›››, Bolton ››››, Koura, B. Wood, Frost • J. Wood, Kerr ‹‹, King ‹, Carr-Lowe ‹‹‹, B. Kelly ‹‹‹‹ Koura (10’), Bolton (18’) • 36’, 89’ B. Wood Kubwalo, Waring, Bolton ›, Koura, B. Wood, Downey • Smith ‹‹, King ‹‹‹, Carr-Lowe, Rubin ‹, Stephens B. Wood (87’) • 33’ Rubin ›, Downey, Koura ››, B. Wood, Harvey • Cain, Jones ‹‹, Carr-Lowe ‹, B. Kelly, Hughes Koura (11’), Rubin (21’) • 17’ Hulley Rubin, Jones ››››, Koura ›››, Downey, Harvey • Cain, Stephens ‹‹, B. Wood ‹‹‹‹, Bolton ‹, Hamm ‹‹‹ Harvey (5’) • 51p, 76’ Jones ››, Bolton, Hamm, Downey, Harvey ››› • Kerr ‹, Waring, B. Wood ‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹, Dineley Hamm (38’), Koura (90+4’) • 79’ Waring, Bolton ›, Hamm ››, Downey, Harvey • Kerr ‹‹‹, Smith, B. Wood ‹, McGregor, Koura ‹‹, Rodgers, Dineley Hamm (20p) • 41’, 81’ Waring ››, Downey, Koura, Frost ›, Harvey • Rodgers, Smith ‹‹, B. Wood ‹‹‹, McGregor ‹, Hughes • 38’ Doran Waring ›, Downey ››, Hamm ›››, B. Wood, Harvey • Smith ‹, McGregor ‹‹, Frost ‹‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹‹, Dineley Hamm (52’), Harvey (74’) • 82’ B. Wood Waring ›, Downey, Hamm ››››, McGregor, Harvey • Smith ‹, Jones ‹‹, Frost, Koura ‹‹‹‹, Rodgers ‹‹‹ Harvey (18’), Hamm (31’, 68p, 70p), Doran (60’) • 22’ Hamm Waring, Downey ›, Koura, Smith, Harvey • Bolton, McGregor ‹, B. Wood, Rodgers ‹‹‹, Ogiugo ‹‹ • 73’ Harvey Waring, McGregor ›, Harvey ›››, Smith ›››››, B. Wood ›››› • Downey ‹, Jones ‹‹‹‹‹, Hamm ‹‹‹, Koura ‹‹‹‹, Ogiugo ‹‹ B. Wood (8’, 31’), Harvey (60p), Downey (90’) • 20’, 32’, 47’ B. Wood Smith, Waring ›››, Hamm ›, B. Wood, Koura ›› • Bolton ‹‹‹‹, J. Kelly ‹‹‹, Frost ‹, McGregor ‹‹, Dineley Hamm (12p) • 24’, 66’, 73’, 90+2’ , Jones ››, Harvey, B. Wood ›››, J. Kelly ›››› • Smith ‹‹, McGregor ‹, Hamm ‹‹‹, Galt ‹‹‹‹, Davidson Harvey (26’, 74’) Waring, Jones ›, Hamm ››, Smith, Harvey • McGregor ‹, J. Kelly ‹‹, B. Wood, Frost ‹‹‹, Galt • 13’, 31’, 90+3’ Waring ›, Smith, Hamm, B. Wood ››, Harvey • Frost, J. Kelly ‹‹, Jones ‹, Galt, Downey Hamm (60’), J. Kelly (90’) Harvey Downey ››, Smith ›››, J. Kelly, B. Wood, Harvey • J. Wood, McGregor ‹‹, Frost ‹, Ogiugo ‹‹‹ Harvey (80’), Ogiugo (84’) • 23’, 28’, 90+4’ B. Wood Waring ››, Downey, Harvey, Smith ©, B. Wood • McGregor ‹‹, J. Wood ‹, Koura ‹‹‹, Hughes • 68’ Smith ››, Downey ›, Hamm, Smith ©, Koura • Lancaster, McGregor ‹, Oguigo ‹‹, B. Wood, Clewlow Wincer (72’) • 7’, 84’ Koura ›, Downey, Galt, Koura ››, Smith ©, J. Kelly • Clewlow ‹, W. Lyons ‹‹, Rodgers ‹‹‹, Hughes • 45+1’, 52’, 67’

Club factfile

Year formed: 1946

Nickname: The Villagers

Ground: Townfield

Record attendance: 577 (vs West Didsbury & Chorlton, 23 March 2022)

Barnton

Chairman: Dave Bryning Secretary: Neal Salomon

First team manager: Danny Moss

Twitter followers: 6,015 (@barntonfc)

2021/22

NWCFL First Division South: 13th/20, 43 points

FA Vase: First qualifying round

Macron Cup: Quarter-finals

Edward Case Cup: Second round

Cheshire Senior Cup: Second round

Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup: Runners-up

2020/21: 9th/20, 10 points. Curtailed after six games

2019/20: 17th/20, 28 points. Curtailed after 29 games

Record vs Lairds

Lairds wins: 8 Draws: 1

Barnton wins: 5

Aggregate score: Lairds 24-26 Barntom

Lairds and Barnton have become frequent friend and foes in recent years, the fixture featuring fond memories and ones to forget for both clubs. The visitors come into this one five points ahead of the Cammells in the table.

Recent seasons

Barnton’s two-year stay in the NWCFL Premier Division came to an end in 2017/18 after a meteoric rise through the pyramid, and they have since consolidated their place in the First Division South. Last term, the Villagers placed 12th in the first full season held since 2018/19.

The campaign so far

Barnton started the season brilliantly to put themselves in the play-off places for the first couple of months of the campaign, including a run of five victories and a draw from six. That included some big wins 4-0 at Maine Road and 3-0 at home to Abbey Hey. However, their last league victory was a 2-0 triumph at Foley Meir at the start of October, a run now standing at eight games. Danny Moss took over from Liam Page and has been in charge for the last five matches in all competitions, the most recent of which was a 3-2 defeat at Rocester two weeks back.

Ones to watch

Former Vauxhalls man Harvey Sample has been a real star for Barnton this season, leading the scoring charts with 11 goals to his name. Another key player has been Joseph Levey with nine goals and four Man of the Match awards. Those tallies of nine goals are matched by Freddy Garbutt, showing the multiple threats across the team. Barnton’s squad has also been bolstered by the recent arrival of Ellis Bolton from Lairds.

Barnton club history

They played in that league (renamed the Cheshire Association Football League in 2007) until 2014, and at that time were one of only two clubs to have been in the league throughout its 66-year history, the other being Knutsford.

Barnton won the league on 11 occasions, including seven consecutive league titles between 1996/97 and 2002/03, a run began under the leadership of the legendary Terry Murphy.

The pinnacle of the club’s success came with winning the National League Systems Cup while representing the Mid-Cheshire League in the inaugural competition of 2003/04.

They beat West Cheshire, Liverpool Combination and South Western League opposition along the way before defeating the Cambridgeshire County League 2–0 on their home soil in the final.

As a result of this they went on to represent England in the UEFA Regions Cup in Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, where they won four, drew one and lost one of their games, narrowly failing to reach the final stages of the competition.

The club submitted an application to join the North West Counties Football League for the start of the 2014/15 season. They were successful in their application and their place in Division One was confirmed on 29 May.

A few days later, Andy Burgess was appointed as the club’s new manager, with Ian Ross stepping down to concentrate on his role as chairman.

However, Burgess left the club by mutual consent in November and forward Colin Quirk was placed in temporary charge. Within a week Allan Glover was appointed as the new manager, but he was succeeded by Leon Knight in March 2015. The club finished seventh in their inaugural season in the North West Counties Football League, just outside the Division One play-off places.

During Barnton’s second season in the First Division, the club accepted Leon Knight’s resignation as manager in early March, and appointed Danny Meadowcroft as interim manager until the end of the season. The team then went on to lift the Reusch First Division Cup and also gained promotion to the North West Counties League Premier Division by beating Bacup Borough in the Division One Play-Off Final.

In May 2016, Steve Lloyd and Mike Alcock took over as Barnton’s

new management team, with Tim Burton as the new chairman. After a promising start to the campaign, the team then picked up just one point from twelve matches to find themselves firmly in the bottom three. However, some quality additions to the squad in autumn sparked a revival, and the Villagers ended 2016/17 comfortably clear of the relegation zone.

Despite picking up points from some hard-earned drawn games early in 2017/18, Barnton had to wait until November for their first league win, which came away at West Didsbury & Chorlton. After a tough season the club were eventually relegated.

In 2018/19 Barnton finished in 12th position in the newly-created First Division South of the North West Counties League, under new player-manager James McShane. Steve Lloyd moved up to become chairman, with Mike Alcock joining him on the senior committee. The 2018/19 season also significant change as the club introduced a full junior section, with teams across all groups from 4 to 18.

McShane left the club in October 2019 and was replaced by his former assistants Liam Page and Garry Moore who took over as joint-managers. Neil Murray was added to the management team in January 2020. The summer of 2020 saw Steve Lloyd step away from his role as chairman along with vice chair Peter Lewis and other members of the committee. David Bryning took up the role of chairman with a new committee coming in to support furthering strengthening the club's link with juniors and the senior team.

The curtailed 2020/21 did see the Villagers create history by reaching the second round of the FA Vase - the furthest stage they have ever reached.

Ahead of the 2021/22 season joint manager Neil Murray left the club, leaving Liam Page to take up the management position fully.

Under Page's stewardship Barnton reached the Mid Cheshire Senior Cup final. losing 2-0 at Winsford United before they finished the league season strongly by finishing 13th, comfortably avoiding relegation.

Page left the club by mutual agreement in November 2022 with Danny Moss taking over as manager with Steve Cheyney appointed as assistant manager.

Barnton Football Club was founded in 1946 and in 1948 became a founder member of the Mid-Cheshire League.

Match reports

Following Lairds’ Boxing Day 1-0 defeat at home to local rivals Ashville FC to end the year, they hoped for better fortune in the New Year in their North West Counties First Division South fixture away at promotion hopefuls Wythenshawe Amateurs on Saturday.

A much-changed team with a number of debutants started badly and conceded a goal in the seventh minute as Saul Henderson found the net, but they fought back to ensure no further goals were conceded before the interval whilst making the game a level contest.

An improved second period saw Lairds take the game to the home team and on 72 minutes new boy Richard Wincer netted a fine equaliser that looked to have earned them a point, but the home team surged forward to regain the lead, with Edward Brown firing home an 85th winner to secure the points and keep them second in the division.

Lairds were left to rue some missed opportunities.

The Cammells’ hopes of success in this season’s Cheshire Senior Cup came to an end on Tuesday away to Northern Premier League Premier Division side Stalybridge Celtic.

Despite a strong first-half performance in which they limited opponents sitting three divisions above them to few chances, Lairds went into the break a goal behind as Domain Rouse struck in stoppage time.

Godwin Akadaki doubled Celtic’s lead on 52 minutes, although the goal had a suspicion of offside. Lairds were given the opportunity to get back into the game from the penalty spot, but home goalkeeper Greg Hall made a great save from Kalif Koura. Stalybridge made sure of their victory on 67 minutes as Harry Benns found the net to make it 3-0.

Next up

It has been a difficult season thus far for the Romans, but it has shown signs of springing into life of late. Mark Wilson’s team remain bottom of the NWCFL First Division South, but are on a four-match unbeaten run in all competitions, picking up a second league win of the season 3-2 at home to Barnton in their last match. They have also earned recent draws with Ashville and Abbey Hulton United.

The

-1

Distance to Hillsfield: 81.4 miles

Directions: From the A50 roundabout adjoining the McDonalds at Uttoxeter, take the B5030 to Rocester (also signposted for Ashbourne and Alton Towers). After approximately three miles turn right at the second island (opposite the JCB factory) going over the narrow bridge into Rocester village. At the mini-island turn right into Mill Street and the ground is 500 metres on the left, immediately past the JCB Engineering Academy (former cotton mill). Car parking is to the rear of the ground.

Nearest train station: Uttoxeter

Distance travelled so far 2022/23: 1,253.2 miles

Lairds face their longest league trip of the season at the weekend, with an earlier kick-off time of 2pm arranged for the visit to Rocester.

Cammells’ midweek trip to Hillsfield in January last year proved memorable, Stuart Keir’s men running out 5

winners despite fog briefly putting the game in doubt in the second half.

The squads

Elsewhere in the NWCFL First Division South

CAMMELL LAIRD 1907

Manager: Stuart Keir

Assistant: Jordan Scott

Colours: Royal Blue

Players No. Gls Notes

Nathan Davidson (GK)

James Dineley (GK)

David Potter (GK)

Conor Robson (GK)

Dominic Cain

Charlie Clewlow

Jake Doran

Joseph Downey

Kieron Frost

Ethan Galt

Kieran Hamm

Jay Harvey

Benjamin Hughes

Jake Hulley ©

Michael Jones

Jack Kelly

Ben Kerr

Kalif Koura

Gabriel Kubwalo

Louie Lancaster

William Lyons

Cameron McGregor

Joel Ogiugo

Lee Rodgers

Ryan Smith

Daniel Stephens

Ross Waring

Richard Wincer

Ben Wood

Jack Wood

BARNTON

Manager: Danny Moss

Colours: Black and white

Players No. Gls Notes

Dylan Cross (GK)

Ross Avies

Ellis Bolton

Erion Bujupi

Adam Clayton

Alfie Cowen

Sonny Dean

Manuel Diop Parra

Daniel Eyres

Freddy Garbutt

Niall Holmes

Mitchell Kinsella

Jay Lee

Joseph Levey

Harry Lutakome

Adam Moseley

Callum Richards

Harry Roper

Harvey Sample

Rodrigo Schmitdinger

Sam Smith

Lee Turkington

Tom Turkington

Adam Weston

Next up at the KR Couriers and Transport Ltd Stadium: Lairds vs Stockport Georgians Saturday 4 February 2023

Tonight: Abbey Hulton United vs Sandbach United; Alsager Town vs Eccleshall; Brocton vs Ashville; Cheadle Heath Nomads vs Wythenshawe Amateurs; Cheadle Town vs Foley Meir; Ellesmere Rangers vs Stockport Town; New Mills vs Stafford Town