Issue #26 - v Daisy Hill (28/08/2023)

MONDAY 28 AUGUST 2023

NWCFL First Division North vs DAISY HILL

FREE ISSUE #26 THE STAG OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

KO 3:00PM

WHAT’S INSIDE? 4 6 8 12 16 18 20 KEVIN WATKIN PARTNER FOCUS EYES ON THE OPPONENT CLUB NEWSROOM PLAYER SPONSORS LEAGUE TABLE SQUADS Produced and Edited by GR.VISUALS Official Club Photography by Ian Allington and Steve Miller and GR.VISUALS 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 8 3

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“IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT AND VERY MIXED START”

THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT

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

August has been a long month, today being our 10th game of the season already, and hopefully, after today, it will be five wins, five losses.

It has been a difficult and very mixed start: lots of injuries, plenty of younger players had chances, played some tough teams, been unlucky in some games, been poor in some games, but had good performances in the last three games with three consecutive wins that we look to build on.

We welcomed the quality and experience of Sam and Will back on Saturday after lengthy periods on the sidelines through injury. Today, we welcome Joe Amison back after nearly a year out, so squad health continues to improve, and that will only strengthen our push to pick up more points through the next handful of games and hopefully push towards those playoff places, as that’s the battle we want to be in and around.

Let’s make it four from four and finish August with a good run of form and a happy bank holiday weekend.

KEV WATKIN

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GOLD PARTNERS

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SILVER PARTNERS

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GROUND NAME

EYES ON OPPONENT

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

COLOURS Blue NICKNAME The Cutters

New Sirs CAPACITY 2,000 RECORD ATTENDANCE

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CURRENT POSITION 13th FACTSHEET

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.

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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

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The Cutters Celebrate

ON THE OPPONENT

Warming Up 11

CLUB NEWSROOM

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Priced at just £99, the Holker Old Boys AFC 2023/24 Season Ticket offers incredible value for the upcoming football season. In addition to access to all 19 home league games and all home cup fixtures, this year’s Season Ticket package contains an array of exciting benefits.

Holker Old Boys Bobble Hat: As a token of our appreciation, each season ticket holder will receive an official Holker Old Boys bobble hat. Proudly display your support for the club and keep yourself warm during those chilly Tuesday nights!

Free Hot Drink on Night Matches: All season ticket holders will be treated to a complimentary hot drink of their choice for those fixtures under the floodlights.

We thank our loyal fans who have supported us through thick and thin. Renew your season ticket and continue to be part of the Holker Old Boys family. We also warmly welcome those new to the club or who have yet to experience the joy of grassroots football.

Get in touch to secure your Season Ticket for 2023/24.

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2023/24 PLAYER SPONSORS

JOE AMISON JAY BARKER FRANKIE ELLIS CALLUM BAYNES CALLUM FAWCETT BRANDON COLLINS FARRYL FOSTER LUKE DAVEY JAMIE HODGSON TOM DAWSON SAM JOEL

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DYLAN ELLIS