Issue #29 - v Runcorn Town (30/09/2023)

SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2023 NWCFL First Division North vs RUNCORN TOWN KO 3:00PM FREE ISSUE #29 THE STAG OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

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 Legal Entity: Holker Old Boys AFC - Unincorporated 3

“WE HAVE TO START THE GAME AT A HIGH INTENSITY”

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THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT

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

Coming off the back of two wins, we have three consecutive home games now, two in the league and one cup, which we have to take advantage of to keep ourselves in and around the playoff places and to give ourselves a chance at a cup run this season.

Today is probably the first chance we have come close to naming a full-strength squad this season with just 1 or 2 key absences. Jay Barker and Jack Litherland missing, and we are hopeful they will return next week.

Runcorn will come in today’s game full of confidence with backto-back wins against two strong opponents in FC St Helens and Skelmersdale United, so we have to start the game at a high intensity, cause them problems early and take our chances to give us basis to then build on throughout the game.

KEV WATKIN

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GOLD PARTNERS

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SILVER PARTNERS

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COLOURS Sky & Navy Blue NICKNAME Celtic GROUND NAME Viridor Community Stadium CAPACITY 1,530 RECORD ATTENDANCE 803 (vs Runcorn Linnets - 2014) CURRENT POSITION 11th FACTSHEET 8

EYES ON OPPONENT

ON THE OPPONENT

THEIR HISTORY

Runcorn Town have come a long way from their very first season in 1968 when the club were one of the founder members of the Runcorn Sunday League. They were formed as CKD, a works team from the ‘D’ section of the local Castner Kellner plant.

It’s fair to say that the club has had a few identities over the years. The club changed its name to Mond in 1970, reflecting the Mond Division of ICI, which ran the Castner Keller plant, and three years later added the Rangers to their name. In 2005 came the latest name change to Runcorn Town to try and bring a more professional look to the club in general, as well as trying to improve facilities at the club with a view to joining the Non-League pyramid. This they would achieve five years later, but we are jumping ahead, so let’s start at the beginning.

The club’s early years were not that great, with Runcorn having a thriving Sunday League at the time. So in 1973, the club decided to try Saturday football in the impressive Warrington and District League (WDL), joining Division Five. At the end of that first season, they amalgamated with struggling ICI Weston, who played in the WDL Division One and became one of the strongest sides in the league. They remained in the WDL until 1984, when they were elected to join the West Cheshire League (WCL) Division Two.

The club established itself as a solid mid-table team and, in 1991/92, won their first silverware in the West Cheshire Bowl.

The following two seasons saw third-place finishes, also reaching two more Bowl Finals, of which they won one. Promotion finally came in 1994/95 when they finished second in the league scoring 118 goals. They also reached the Final of the Cheshire Amateur Cup. Still, they lost to Poulton Victoria in a match played at Prenton Park, Tranmere.

Despite sharing the Bill Weight Memorial Trophy in that first season, Division One proved a struggle. They were relegated for the first time in the club’s history in 2001/02. Success returned in 2004/05, with the team finishing as runners-up in Division Two, winning the Runcorn Senior Cup and reaching the final of the Bowl.

Back in Division One, the new season got off to a good start, with the Bill Weight Memorial Cup won early on. The Runcorn Cup was added, but on the season’s final day, they slipped into the relegation places for the first time to suffer a heart-breaking relegation. Town quickly regrouped and bounced back the following season by winning Division Two for the first time, also being the club’s first Championship.

The following three seasons saw top-four finishes, although the main progression was off the field as the ground was transformed. Hardstanding seating and floodlights were installed for the first time, with the dressing rooms also upgraded.

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Viridor Community Stadium, Runcorn

This enabled the club to be elected to the North West Counties League at the start of the 2010/11 season. The club also entered the FA Vase and the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time.

It is fair to say that the first season in the league exceeded all expectations under Simon Burton’s leadership. The team lost just two league matches as they secured promotion to the Premier Division as runners-up, with James McShane finishing as the league’s overall leading scorer with 43 goals. The Quarter Final of the Division One Trophy and the Semi Final of the Challenge Cup was also reached.

In the clubs’ FA Vase debut season, they also wrote headlines as they progressed through four successive away ties before bowing out in the Last 32 stage against Dunston UTS, the last remaining North West Counties League side in the competition.

The first season in the Premier Division saw Town continue in the same vein that they left Division One, with the team losing out on the title on the last day of the season to Ramsbottom United. James McShane again topped the league scoring charts, with Town scoring over 120 goals in all competitions.

The club were also once again the last remaining NWCL side in the FA Vase, this time reaching a replay in the Last 32 before bowing out and making their debut in the FA Cup, winning two games before bowing out to Evo-Stik League side Ashton United.

The 2012/13 season saw Town finish fourth in the league, with the main highlight of the season coming in the FA Vase. This saw the club reach the Last 16 for the first time, losing in extra time to Walsall Wood. Another good scalp came in the Cheshire Senior Cup with a 5-0 away win at Warrington, which earned the “Team of the Round” award.

A fifth-place finish followed the next season. The club disappointingly lost at holders Whitley Bay in the Second Round of the FA Vase. Still, the club had its first decent FA Cup run. Wins against Bootle, Goole and Witton Albion set up a tie at Conference North leaders Barrow, 83 places above them in the pyramid. Town shocked their hosts with a 1-0 win thanks to Andy Potter’s stunning goal. Town lost in the Third Qualifying Round to Norton United.

EYES ON OPPONENT

Two poor seasons followed, finishing 13th in both, with Chris Herbert appointed manager at the start of the 2016/17 season. Getting a squad together was an uphill battle, with only one player retained from the previous season. There were no real cup runs this year, but Town bounced back in the league to finish third, level on points with runners-up Bootle.

2017/18 saw the club get off to a record-breaking start as they won their first 11 games of the season, with the first defeat coming in November. But the bad weather over winter saw momentum halted, playing just once in 35 days, and in ten league games until February, Town picked up just seven points. The end to the season was almost as good as the start, but they left themselves too much to do and finished third once more, albeit with a club record 93 points.

2018/19 saw Runcorn Town in and among the leading sides until Christmas. Still, midway through the season, Herbert left the club to take a full-time role at National League side Salford City. Midfielder Paul McManus accepted the role on a caretaker basis and was appointed as permanent playermanager before the season’s final game.

The 2019/20 season ended prematurely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Town in 7th place and 8 points behind the top 3 who would earn promotion. The team was in good form, though, as the season ended with one defeat in the final eleven games.

In the cup competitions, a shock win against Radcliffe in the FA Cup was a highlight, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Macron Cup.

The 2020/21 season was again impacted heavily by the pandemic. After various delays and postponements and another national lockdown, it ended in December 2020. Standout results were again in the cup competitions with a win on penalties against Brighouse Town in the FA Cup and another shootout victory in the 2020 Macron Cup semi-final against AFC Liverpool. The final was again delayed, though, until the following season.

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ON THE OPPONENT

2021/22 began with a defeat to 1874 Northwich in the much-delayed 2020 Macron Cup Final. Early results were disappointing, and this, along with early exits in the FA Cup and FA Vase, led to a change in the management team. Niall McGuinness and Aden Shannon took over, moving the team away from the relegation places. The team could have gained momentum despite a few good performances and results. On the last day of the season, defeat at Padiham meant relegation after 12 seasons in the NWCFL Premier Division.

At the start of the 2022/23 season, Matt Barnes was brought in as manager with the challenge of rebuilding the squad and pushing for promotion this season from Division One North back to the Premier Division.

vs South Liverpool FC

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vs Cleator Moor Celtic

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