THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT
Good afternoon, and welcome back to Rakesmoor Lane for our first fixture of the 2023/24 campaign against FC St Helens.
It’s that time again after what feels like a shorter break every year nowadays, but great to be at home for the first game of the season and see everyone back up the club enjoying themselves!
We’re all thrilled to get going on the 23/24 NWCFL campaign today. As much as people believe pre-season is a break, the time spent on planning, training and ensuring everything is in place shouldn’t be underestimated. As a management team, a lot of it is tested today.
Despite all efforts, pre-season has been frustrating, holidays at the wrong times, several injuries and today carrying suspensions over from last season; I think our preparation could have been better.
Unfortunately, we have lost Reidy to a severe knee injury. I cannot state how significant a loss that is to us as a group; hopefully, we can welcome Tommy, Joely, and Amo back shortly for what will be a tough August with nine fixtures.
We come into today’s match after two positive performances and results against Lancaster City FC and Cleator Moor Celtic FC. We will look to continue that and get off to a positive start against a tough opposition who were unfortunate to miss out on promotion by the narrowest of margins, similar to ourselves in 21/22. Hence, we know how much they will be hurting and want to go one step better this year.
Let’s enjoy the 2023/24 NWCFL campaign.
KEV WATKIN
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THEIR HISTORY
FC St Helens was formed in 2014 at the heart of the town. A club developing constantly and growing based on a strongly held set of values. Playing football the way they believe it should be played and conducting themselves appropriately with a professional approach to our progress.
They strongly emphasise developing young players from the town and allowing them to represent St. Helens.
Their first season saw them playing in the Third Division of the West Cheshire League. They secured a top-six finish having won 11 of their 26 league games, but they were some way behind champions Kirkby Town Railway. They also reached the semi-final of the West Cheshire Bowl, losing out to Bootle Reserves.
That summer saw them move to the Cheshire League, with better facilities at most grounds and teams playing a better standard of football would aid the development of players. Placed in the Second Division of the league, they finished fourth, losing just five games that season. They also topped their group in the J A Walton Cup before losing a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals against Golborne Sports.
That fourth-place finish was enough for promotion to the First Division for the next season, and 14 wins from their 30 games brought them fifth place, an excellent showing for a newly promoted team.
They went one better in the J A Walton Cup, which was a knockout this season, progressing to the semi-finals before being beaten by eventual winners Warrington Town Reserves.
The 2017/18 season saw them finish fifth. They won 15 of their 28 league games, and with the league so close, they were only six points from the league champions.
The J A Walton Cup saw a disappointing first-round exit, but the season was a success at the AGM. With Ashton Town promoted back to the NWCFL and Rudheath Social and Warrington Town Reserves both folding, FC St Helens were promoted to the top flight of the Cheshire League only three years after joining.
They did superbly in the JB Parker Cup, beating Malpas, Congleton Vale Rovers and Eagle Sports to reach the Final,
drawing 1-1 with Whaley Bridge Athletic but losing 4-2 on penalties.
A ground grading visit from the NWCFL took place, with a list of jobs to bring the ground up to NWCFL standard. The primary item was expanding the changing room block to increase the dressing room size for all changing areas and provide a new changing room for if there are mixedgender officials.
The 2019/20 season saw FC St Helens in fifth place, 5 points off leaders Whaley Bridge Athletic but with two games in hand. Yet, with two weeks remaining, Covid-19 brought a premature end to the season.
The following season was late getting underway, but FC St Helens got off to a flier. Eight successive league victories followed a 4-4 draw, and by Christmas, the club were unbeaten and 12 points clear with a goal difference of +30. Covid-19 abruptly ended yet another season. Football briefly returned in April for the JB Parker Cup, but FC’s run ended in the quarter-finals. This season did see them lift their first major trophy - the Lancashire County Amateur Shield, winning 2-0 against Lostock St Gerrards.
Covid-19 meant that much of the ground work was completed. In addition to the changing rooms, a covered stand was erected behind the goal and hard standing on three sides of the ground. The final task was obtaining a grant for floodlights to go up after promotion.
2020/21. After two frustrating years, they finally lifted the Cheshire League Premier Division trophy, winning the league by 12 points and losing just four games all season.
The club was set for promotion, but a final twist brought news that they had failed to reach the required ground grading. This was due to a difference in interpretation of the hard-standing around the ground. Resolved by an FA appeal, the club was promoted to the NWCFL for the 2022/23 season.
The summer has seen the hard-standing extended to four sides, with floodlights installed by September 2022.
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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.
Bring a Guest for Free on the First League Home Match: To celebrate the start of an exciting new season, we invite all season ticket holders to bring a guest for free to the first league home match. Enjoy the match with a friend, family member, or fellow football enthusiast, and introduce them to the great atmosphere and community spirit that defines Holker Old Boys AFC.
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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COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULL DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.HOBAFC.CO.UK 2023/24 SEASON COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES HOLKER OLD BOYS AFC
MANAGER
KEVIN WATKIN & DAVID ROUND
Joe AMISON
Jay BARKER
Callum BAYNES
Brandon COLLINS
Harry COPELAND
Luke DAVEY
Tom DAWSON
Dylan ELLIS
Frankie ELLIS
Callum FAWCETT
Farryl FOSTER
Jamie HODGSON
Samuel JOEL
Jack LITHERLAND
Finley MARTIN
Hakan McCRACKEN
Joseph McGLADDERY
William McGLADDERY
Luke MITCHELL
Nathan REID
Jackson ROUND
Gareth SMITH
Tyler SPENCE
Samuel STEPHENS
Tom STEPHENSON
Kevin WATKIN
Tyler WOOD
Joshua WOODEND
MANAGER
MIKE SMITH
Steve ASHTON
Jack BALL
Joseph BARKER
Liam BOTT
Elliott BRADSHAW
Tony CARNEY
Joseph DOYLE
Nathan DUTTON-KAY
Jack GRAHAM
Jack GRAYSON
Brad GREEN
Christopher HILL
Michael HOUGHTON
Liam JOHNSTONE
Paul KYFINN
Jonathan LOWNDES
Joe MASON
Hal McHUGH
Adam NEILL
Alex NOONAN
Zak RILEY
Harris SAUNDERS
Thomas SCARBOROUGH
Ryan SINNOTT
Paul SWEENEY
Dominic WHELAN
