Issue #01 - v Daisy Hill FC (27/07/2024) by hobafc

SATURDAY 27 JULY 2024

NWCFL First Division North vs DAISY HILL

KO 3:00PM

“OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO COMPETE FOR PROMOTION”

THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT

Good afternoon and welcome to Rakesmoor Lane for today’s North West Counties Football League fixture against Dasiy Hill.

We are looking forward to getting the 2024/25 season started. We will be aiming to get off to a good start with two home games in the first week to gain some early momentum in what is likely to be a busy August.

Our main goal is to continue to make progress with a young squad, build on last year’s performance, and compete for promotion at the end of the season. We recognise that it will be tough with many strong teams pushing for the same target.

As with any season, it would be good to have a strong FA Vase run and then a run in the other cups, with the aim of adding some silverware to the club. It’s long overdue, and it would be a reward for everyone involved at the club for their efforts.

KEV WATKIN

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

FACTSHEET

COLOURS

Blue NICKNAME

The Cutters

GROUND NAME

New Sirs

CAPACITY

2,000

RECORD ATTENDANCE

2,000 (vs Horwich R.M.I. - 1979/80)

EYES ON OPPONENT

ON THE OPPONENT

THEIR HISTORY

Situated one and a half miles south of Westhoughton town centre, four miles from Bolton and five miles from the Macron Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers, the village of Daisy Hill first saw football in the season 189495. However, football may have been played in the area for some years before that date.

The first known honours for the club came in 1896-97 when the Wigan and District League Championship and the Westhoughton Cup were won without losing a match.

The location of the club’s ground in those days is unknown, but the present ground was used during the first world war period when the club played in the Leigh and District Senior Sunday School League.

The club then joined the Westhoughton League and, during the 1920s and 1930s, won many honours in what was one of the strongest local leagues at the time.

Little is known of the period leading up to the second world war, but the club re-formed in 1951, playing in the Westhoughton League on the St. James Street Recreation Ground/Cricket Ground until the landowner made an offer to the club to return to New Sirs in 1957.

The lease acquisition was a significant step forward and gave aspiration to move into the Bolton Combination and develop into one of the most formidable clubs in the area. Dressing rooms were erected at the ground for the start of the 1968/69 season. Whilst on the field, the club won the

Bolton Combination Premier Division on four occasions, the Bolton Combination Cup on four occasions and the Lancashire Amateur Shield twice during the 60s and 70s.

In 1978 the club was accepted into the Lancashire Football Combination. With the advent of the Non-League football pyramid and the subsequent amalgamation of the Lancashire Football Combination and the Cheshire County League, the club became a founder member of the North West Counties League, allowing them to play in and bring national competition to the village.

With the National League System requiring clubs to meet new standards for facilities, new dressing rooms and a clubhouse for social activities were erected at New Sirs in 1982. Since then, improvement of the club’s facilities has been ongoing. A floodlighting system was installed for the 2005-2006 season, allowing the club to remain in the National League System and return to National and County competitions.

The club also comprises an U18s Youth Team playing in the North West Youth Alliance and a thriving junior section playing in the Bolton, Bury and District Junior Football League.

New Sirs, Daisy Hill

EYES ON OPPONENT

Notable players include Dick Pollard and Billy Farrimond, who went on to play cricket for Lancashire and England. Alf Watkinson, the grandfather of the former Lancashire Cricket Club Captain Mike Watkinson, went on to sign for Blackpool. ( Mike himself had the odd game for the club). Sam Marsh (Bolton Wanderers and Bury), Alf Gray (Torquay United and Lincoln City), Greg Strong (Motherwell) and Danny Williams (Inverness Caledonian Thistle) began their careers in senior or junior football at Daisy Hill Football Club.

Other notable people/sportspersons born in Westhoughton who may or may not have been associated with the club: Ethel Johnson (Great Britain Olympic Athlete), Joe Bromilow (American Olympic Athlete), Jack Bruton (Blackburn Rover, Burnley, Bournemouth and England). Joe Clare (Accrington Stanley, Norwich City and Lincoln City). Tommy Woodward (Bolton Wanderers and Middlesborough), Francis Lee (Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Derby County and England) and Robert Shaw (Actor).

New Sirs, Daisy Hill

The Cutters Celebrate

ON THE OPPONENT

CLUB NEWSROOM

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

We’re excited to share some key updates as the new season begins.

Our Under-14s team has joined the Morecambe & Lancaster Junior League, marking a significant step in their development.

Scott Ellis has joined our reserves management team, bringing valuable experience and leadership.

Thanks to funding from The Football Foundation, we’ve completed our new committee room at Rakesmoor Lane, enhancing our club’s facilities.

In the FA Vase, we’ve received a bye in the First Round Qualifying and will face Crook Town AFC away in the Second Round Qualifying over the weekend of September 21st.

We look forward to a promising season and thank everyone for their support!