RAKESMOOR LANE 10TH NOVEMBER 2026
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HONOURS • West Lancashire League Champions: 1986/87 • Lancashire FA Amateur Shield Winners: 1988/89, 1990/91
THE CLUB Chairman Maurice Watkin Vice-Chairman David Smith Treasurer Paul Muspratt Club Secretary John Squire Matchday Secretary Gary Fawcett Manager Kevin Watkin Manager Dave Round Safeguarding Officer Steve Thomas Head of Digital Glen Ritchie Groundskeepers Alan Wilson & Ian Littlehales Bar Manager Sam Trewin
THE DUGOUT
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THE OPPONENT P8
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The Dugout
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The Opponent
30 Squads
Holker History
MATCHDAY SPONSORS
MAIN MATCH
MATCH BALL
Holker Old Boys AFC Unincorporated (Community Amateur Sports Club) is an equal-opportunities club committed to upholding the principles of equality, diversity and human rights. Supporters are urged to report any incident immediately to the nearest member of staff. Doing so allows the club to immediately deal with the situation. Any incident dealt with by a member of staff will be logged and passed on to the league and/or authorities where required. Holker Old Boys AFC takes very seriously its responsibility to protect children in its care. If you have any questions regarding child safeguarding at Holker please contact us at info@hobafc.co.uk. The views in this programme are not necessarily the views of Holker Old Boys AFC. Material in this programme is copyrighted and may only be reproduced with the written permission of Holker Old Boys AFC. Holker Old Boys AFC has made every effort to trace the copyright holders of all photographs used. HOBAFC.CO.UK / 3
A WORD FROM THE DUGOUT KEV & DAVE
TURN PERFORMANCES INTO POINTS Good evening and welcome Rakesmoor Lane for today’s North West Counties Football League fixture against AFC Blackpool. Looking back at our last outing against Cammell Laird, it was a frustrating afternoon and one where we really let ourselves down in the second half. I thought we played some excellent football before the break, dominated large spells and created enough chances to be comfortably ahead. Unfortunately, we didn’t make the most of those opportunities, and at this level you have to punish teams when you’re on top. The second half was nowhere near good enough. We lost our shape, our standards dropped and we didn’t manage the game as we should have. The frustration in the dressing room afterwards was clear, and the lads know that we can’t keep allowing good performances to slip away like that. We’ve got a capable group, but we need the players to demand more from themselves and each other if we want to start getting consistent results. On the positive side, we welcome Pat and Jamie back into the squad tonight. Their experience and leadership will be a big boost for what is still a relatively young group. Unfortunately, we lose Mitch and Tyler Wood through injury, which is another setback. Our league form needs to improve, and that has to start tonight. Our opponents might not have had the best start to the season, but we know they’re capable of causing problems. We need to approach the game with the right attitude, maintain our standards for the full 90 minutes and make sure we turn our performances into points.
KEVIN WATKIN 4 / HOBAFC.CO.UK
THE LADS NEED TO STEP UP We need to start picking up points and tonight we want the same effort we showed against Winsford. I thought we were excellent first half on Saturday and should’ve been three up, but we didn’t take our chances. The second half was well below our standards. Blackpool might be bottom, but they’re a good side who always make things difficult for us. We need to be at it from the start. Mitch misses out injured after being outstanding this season, while Reece Cresswell faces five or six weeks out with a shoulder injury. We welcome Patty, Jay, Buzzer and Ryan back into the starting eleven. The lads need to step up tonight.
DAVE ROUND HOBAFC.CO.UK / 5
THE OPPONENT AFC BLACKPOOL
Founded in 1947 as Blackpool Metal Mechanics, AFC Blackpool play at the Mechanics Ground on Jepson Way. After two years at Stanley Park, the club moved to their present home and progressed from local football through the West Lancashire League and Lancashire Combination to the North West Counties League.
TOP TEN FACTS •
Early title – They won the Fylde District League Division Two championship in 1950/51.
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Five-year run – Between 1953/54 and 1957/58, they finished Division One champions twice and runners-up three times.
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Junior Shield – They won the Lancashire Junior Shield in both 1957/58 and 1960/61.
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Successive championships – After finishing runners-up in 1959/60, they won the West Lancashire League for two successive seasons.
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Bridge Shield – The club won the Lancashire Combination Bridge Shield during the 1972/73 season.
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One point short – They finished Lancashire Combination runners-up in 1974/75, just one point behind champions Darwen.
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Counties promotions – They earned North West Counties promotions to Division Two in 1985/86 and Division One in 1991/92.
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Lytham merger – Blackpool Mechanics merged with West Lancashire League Division One champions Lytham St. Annes in summer 2005.
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New name – AFC Blackpool became the club’s name in May 2008 after joining forces with Squires Gate Junior.
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Record wins – Their 2010/11 Division One championship brought promotion, featuring a record-breaking 28 wins from 34 league matches.
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THE OPPONENT
THEIR STORY UNFILTERED 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 In 1972/73 they won the Lancashire Combination Bridge competitions were also won, including the Lancashire Shield and in 1974/75 they finished runners-up in the Junior Shield in 1957/58, a competition they were to win league, just one point behind champions Darwen. again in 1960/61. They remained a strong team throughout the 70’s As the 50’s drew to a close, Blackpool Mechanics decided although towards the end they suffered some poor to take the next step up and join the West Lancashire results. League. They were an almost immediate success, being runners-up in 1959/60 and champions for the next With the advent of the North West Counties League, two seasons. Various cups and trophies from local Blackpool Mechanics were placed in Division Three and competitions still regularly found their way to Jepson in 1985/86 were promoted to Division Two. At the end on Way. 1991/92 they were promoted to Division One, but it was not a happy experience and the club returned to Division The club then took another step up the football ladder Two. After a few seasons of struggle, the club is now by joining the Lancashire Combination. The jump in financially stable and looking forward to developing the standard meant the cups and honours that had poured club’s potential both on and off the pitch. 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.
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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 nonleague football pyramid. 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 Divison as Div.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 sucesses 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.
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HOLKER HISTORY
FOUNDING & EARLY YEARS Founded in 1936, Holker Old Boys AFC began as an under-16 side, formed by the former pupils of Holker Central Secondary School, originally located on Holker Street in Barrow-in-Furness. While the school has long been replaced by a bingo hall, the club’s legacy continues to thrive. Founded in 1936, Holker Old Boys AFC began
The formation of the Furness Premier
as an under-16 side, formed by the former
League in 1980 saw them enter two teams,
pupils of Holker Central Secondary School,
with the Reserves progressing into the
originally located on Holker Street in Barrow-
West Lancashire League Division 2. Success
in-Furness. While the school has long been
followed in the mid-80s, with a runner-up
replaced by a bingo hall, the club’s legacy
finish in 1985/86, before claiming the
continues to thrive.
West Lancs League Division 1 title in their Golden Jubilee season (1986/87). The late
By 1939-40, Holker joined the North Western
80s brought further glory, as Holker lifted
Open Age League, playing on local fields. Their
the Adidas Lancashire Junior Shield twice,
commitment to youth football remained strong,
triumphing over Walkden Town (1988/89)
with junior teams keeping their roots alive.
and Park United (1990/91).
The club expanded into the West Lancashire League in 1967, running teams in both leagues and later securing a permanent home at Rakesmoor Lane in 1971 - a site with a history as an isolation hospital and allotments.
Holker Street School (n.d.)
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HOLKER HISTORY
LEAGUE CLIMB & STRUGGLES
By 2002/03, Holker had regained stability, finishing fifth in Division Two. Off the pitch, significant investments followed, with £80,000 secured for stadium improvements, pitch drainage, and parking. Though the mid-2000s saw inconsistent league performances, there were standout moments: reaching the FA
With ambitions to compete at a higher level,
Cup’s Second Qualifying Round (2004/05)
Holker faced the challenge of upgrading their
and hosting FC United of Manchester in
Rakesmoor Lane ground. Through sheer
2005/06 before a record crowd of 2,303. These
determination and community effort, they
achievements provided vital funds for further
expanded facilities, built new changing rooms,
ground improvements, including floodlight
and enclosed the pitch. Their hard work paid
upgrades in 2006/07.
off in 1991 when they secured a place in the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL)
The club’s commitment to youth development
Division Two.
was also recognised with the FA Charter Standard Development Club Award. This
Holker adapted well to the higher level,
dedication bore fruit in 2006/07 when the
finishing third in 1993/94 and earning
U18s, featuring many future first-team players,
promotion to Division One. Their time in the
won the LFA Furness Building Society Youth
top flight was mixed, peaking at 11th place
Cup. By 2008/09, the senior team had climbed
in 1995/96 before a difficult spell led to
to ninth in the renamed Vodkat League First
relegation in 1998/99. This prompted a period
Division.
of rebuilding, both financially and structurally. The club expanded its setup to include three open-age sides and a thriving junior section, covering ages six to sixteen, plus a girls’ team.
Holker Club House (2023)
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HOLKER HISTORY
RECENT SUCCESS
& THE FUTURE
Under Dave Smith and Maurice Watkin, Holker enjoyed a resurgence, finishing third in Division One in 2010/11. A managerial change in 2011/12 brought challenges, but Smith’s return helped steady the ship. The 2012/13 season was tough, with the club narrowly avoiding last place, though an FA Cup run provided a financial boost. The 2013/14 season marked a turning point, with Gary Fawcett and Stuart Roberts leading the team to a respectable sixth-place finish and a semi-final appearance in the NWCFL Challenge Cup. Further improvements followed between 2017 and 2019, including pitch enhancements, bar refurbishments, and an extended kitchen. Chairman Maurice Watkin ensured a warm, modern club atmosphere. Holker reached a milestone in 2018/19, playing their 1,000th NWCFL league game and receiving a commemorative trophy. Despite a challenging season, the team avoided relegation, with Kevin Watkin, Paul Southward, and Glyn Dixon taking the reins to guide the club to safety. Through decades of highs and lows, Holker Old Boys AFC remains a club built on passion, resilience, and a deep-rooted community spirit - one that continues to shape its future with ambition and pride.
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HOLKER OLD BOYS
JUNIOR STAGS
HOLKER OLD BOYS JUNIOR SPONSORS
Holker Old Boys AFC
Manager Kevin Watkin & Dave Round Patrick ALLINGTON Callum BAYNES Tyler CHESTER Brandon COLLINS Reece CRESSWELL Luke DAVEY Tom DAWSON Max DIXON Frankie ELLIS Ryan FAGAN Farryl FOSTER Jamie HODGSON Bradley HUBBOLD Finley MARTIN Jamie MELLEN Jordan MCGARRY Joe MCGLADDERY Charlie MCGLOWN Luke MITCHELL Nathan REID David ROUND Harrison ROUND Gareth SMITH Tyler SPENCE Sol STANWAY Kevin WATKIN Noah WILLIAMS Tyler WOOD Josh WOODEND
MATCH OFFICIALS Referee Andrew Woodhouse Assistants Oliver Martin & Daniel Myles
Nelson
Manager John Salanki Seifeldein ABOELELA Shakil ALI Harry ASCROFT Caden BECKETT Ethan BENN Finlay BROOKS Ethan BROUGH Mohammed BUTT Kieron CHANNON Alfie COX Jake DENNETT Mahamadou DIALLO Billy DOLLIN Luis DOS SANTOS Thomas ELLERSHAW Justin GRIFFITHS Jackson HABERMACHER John HAY Oliver HESFORD Joseph HOOPER Blessing IGHARO Marcus JENNINGS Angel KARADZHINOV Jayden KAY Charlie KING George LORD Alexander MCLOUGHLIN Sam MONTGOMERY Mathew POOKE Dominic RITCHIE Leon ROBINSON David ROSSALL Aaron SMITH Jay SMITH James STANLEY Scott STIRLING Anthony TOPOLSKI Abdullah ZAFFAR Carson GREAVES Cherijo JAWLA JALLOW Jimmy MCPHEE Robbie MCPHEE
Next at Rakesmoor Lane
Colne
Saturday 21st November | Kick-Off 3:00pm | NWCFL