THURSDAY 13 APRIL 2023
NWCFL First Divison North vs CLEATOR MOOR CELTIC
KO 8:00PM
FREE ISSUE #20
OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
THE STAG
WHAT’S INSIDE? 4 6 8 10 16 20 KEVIN WATKIN PARTNER FOCUS A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE EYES ON THE OPPONENT PLAYER SPONSORS SQUADS Produced and Edited by Glen Ritchie Official Club Photography by Ian Allington and Steve Miller To advertisie in this programme please email commercial@hobafc.co.uk All editorial content within this programme is the copyright of Holker Old Boys AFC and can only be used with the club’s permission. The views in this programme don’t necessarily reflect those of Holker Old Boys AFC. 4 10 3
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“WE STILL HAVE A SLIGHT GLIMMER OF HOPE”
THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT
Good
evening and a welcome to Rakesmoor Lane for tonight’s North West Counties Football League fixture against Cleator Moor Celtic.
Our recent run has been both frustrating and disappointing. Monday was a tough one to take. We knew our playoff hopes were still in our own hands. We didn’t reach the required performance level to earn the result we desperately needed.
We were very disappointed by the goals we conceded Monday. It has been the story of our season that our mistakes are costing us and making the challenge even more difficult.
We know at this level you cannot afford to concede three goals in a game and expect to win, and that is the 8th time this season that has happened, so unfortunately, we are paying the price for that, and likely we won’t achieve our target of being in the playoffs again this year.
Overall I think we did control the game against South Liverpool, but we didn’t do enough to create chances. I actually believe them being reduced to 10 made the task of overturning their lead even harder, as it gave them something to protect and sit back as two defensive banks.
We still have a slight glimmer of hope with it being mathematically possible, so we need a significant improvement and two convincing wins to apply pressure to Ilkley. Ultimately, we only have ourselves to blame, unfortunately, if we don’t end up in the playoff places.
Tonight will be tough with it being a Cumbrian derby, and both teams will be looking to try and finish disappointing seasons on a positive note.
KEVIN WATKIN
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THEIR HISTORY
Association Football arrived late in the West Cumbrian town of Cleator Moor. The game was formed in 1863 when the Football Association laid out the first rules of the game. The Cumberland F.A. was formed in 1884, with its Senior County Cup first being played for in 1885/86. Cleator Moor United won the County Cup in 1903/04 with a team based at Bowthorn, made up of up to 10 players who had left Frizington White Star for monetary reasons. But all this was to change with the Formation, in the summer of 1909 of the Cleator Moor Celtic Club.
The following article entitled “Football prospects at Cleator Moor” appeared in the Cumberland Paquet dated September 2nd 1909.
“Great interest seems to be centred this season in football on Cleator Moor. An Association club called the “Celts” has been formed, and a field has been acquired near Cleator Moor Railway Station. The practice has been in progress, and the executive has got together a promising lot of youngsters and hopes to be rewarded by the general patronage of the public.”
Cleator Moor Celtic joined the Egremont Divisional league for the 1909/10 season, with their inaugural match taking place on Saturday, September 4th 1909, at home to near neighbour Keekle. Despite the inclement weather, 400 spectators witnessed a 2-1 victory to Keekle. In the 1950–51 season, Cleator Moor reached the first round of the FA Cup, where they lost to Tranmere Rovers 5–0 in a match played at Workington. The club has also competed in the FA Vase, reaching the second round in 1986–87.
The club joined the Wearside League in 1988–89 and spent seven seasons in that league, their best finish in this period being in 1990–91 when they finished in eighth place. They re-joined the Wearside League in 2004–05.
Cleator Moor Celtic celebrated its 100th birthday in 2008.
In the 2017-2018 season, Celtic achieved their highest-ever placing in the Wearside League, coming 2nd and gaining promotion to the North West Counties League Division One North. Their most successful season ever also saw them win the Cumberland County Senior Cup with a 2-1 victory over Northern League side Penrith at Carlisle United’s Brunton Park ground.
Their inaugural season in the NWCFL was a challenge for a young squad under the new leadership of John George and Craig Routledge. Still, they finished in a creditable 11th place, proving they could compete at the higher level, with the young players who had to step up to the first team gaining many plaudits from opposing sides. They also got to the quarter-final of the Cumberland Cup, where they were only beaten by League Two side Carlisle United.
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McGrath Park, Cleator Moor
After a difficult and curtailed 19-20 season, ex-player and coach Martin Mahone took over from Craig Routledge as a club manager, with Dene White as his assistant manager. In 2021-22, after another curtailed season, Celtic found themselves toying with potential relegation for the early part of the season. But a strong finish saw them end up in a creditable 9th place – their best placing since joining the league. Despite this, Martin Mahone – a loyal servant for the club for 40 years in many different capacities – stepped down as manager. This saw the appointment of Brian Dawson, ex-Workington development squad manager, as the Celtic boss for this season. He brought with him exCeltic manager Craig Routledge as his assistant. With a very much revised and younger squad, it promises exciting times ahead for the club.
JAMIE HODGSON
JOE AMISON
SAM JOEL
JAY BARKER
HAKAN MCCRACKEN
JOE MCGLADDERY
TOM DAWSON
WILL MCGLADDERY
ELLIOT MOORE
CALLUM FAWCETT
LUKE MITCHELL
GARETH SMITH
JASON WALKER
KEVIN WATKIN
JOSH WOODEND
