Issue #27 - v South Liverpool FC (02/09/2023)

SATURDAY 02 SEPTEMBER 2023 NWCFL First Division North vs SOUTH LIVERPOOL FC KO 3:00PM FREE ISSUE #27 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

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“WE MUST BE MORE CLINICAL IN THE FINAL THIRD”

THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT

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

I said before the last game we wanted to make it five wins and five losses in what has been a tough August, but I am happy we are finishing stronger than we started after four straight wins.

Today, we face a tough South Liverpool team that we played only seven days ago and got a convincing win away from home. Still, we are approaching this game the same as any other and not being complacent.

We know you cannot expect anything in the NWCFL. You have to earn it, and we are keen to keep wanting more from each other to keep improving. And our focus at present needs to be in the final third, where we have struggled this season.

As a group, we know we must be more clinical in the final third and punish teams, so today’s performance will seek to create and convert more chances.

The squad is returning to strength and looking more experienced in the NWCFL. Hopefully, we can push on between now and Christmas, positioning ourselves in and around those all-important playoff places.

Let’s get 3 points at home!

KEV WATKIN

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GOLD PARTNERS

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SILVER PARTNERS

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COLOURS White NICKNAME South GROUND NAME Jericho Lane CAPACITY 1,000 RECORD ATTENDANCE N/A CURRENT POSITION 9th FACTSHEET 8

EYES ON OPPONENT

ON THE OPPONENT

THEIR HISTORY

Although the name South Liverpool FC first came about in the late 19th century, the clubs that bore that name until 1921 had no connection with the current club, although enjoying success before the First World War. The current club was founded in April 1935 to respond to the increasing South end population and began playing in the 1935/36 season in the Lancashire Combination at Holly Park.

Success was immediate, and by the outbreak of the Second World War, the Lancashire Combination had been won three times in succession, as had the Lancashire Challenge Trophy and, most impressively, South defeated Cardiff City 2-1 in the Welsh Cup final at Wrexham in 1939. The resumption of football after the war saw South in the Cheshire League, but it was never to bear the success of the pre-war years. South went back to the Lancashire Combination in 1952. The mid-sixties saw success under manager Alan Hampson sufficient to qualify by right for the Northern Premier League.

South would always struggle against wealthier, wellsupported clubs at this standard. In 1983/84, South enjoyed their best post-war season under John King & George Rooney, then Brian Griffiths, as they annexed the NPL League Cup, the Lancashire Challenge Trophy and the Liverpool Senior Cup. South’s success was not built upon, and while two more Liverpool Senior Cup wins followed along with the NPL Presidents Cup, Holly Park was lost in 1989, and the limited company was liquidated in 1991.

Holly Park was later converted to the impressive Liverpool South Parkway station.

South supporters had already formed a committee to take over the football club and, in 1992, were in the Liverpool County Combination. A nomadic home was then South’s main issue, but the dawn of the Millennium secured its home at the North Field, Jericho Lane, Otterspool. South were consistent top-half finishers in the Liverpool Combination / Liverpool County FA Premier League and won the George Mahon Cup at Goodison Park in May 2009. In 2011 South decided to switch to the West Cheshire League and immediately won two consecutive divisional titles to be in the top division in 2014. The First Division was won in 2015 and retained in 2016 when two cups were added, making it a triple-winning season.

2019 saw South’s home ground move 200 yards to the Jericho Hub, where the stadium pitch has been fitted with floodlights, cover and stand. After cancelling the 2019/20 season, South stepped up and took the league title in 2021, achieving promotion to the North West Counties League for 2021/22, thirty years after our semi-pro status had been lost.

Jericho Lane, South Liverpool 9

EYES ON OPPONENT

South’s reserves will continue to play in division two of the West Cheshire League. The club boast a third adult team and four Vets sides. Our senior youth team (Under 18) operate in the West Cheshire League Youth Division. The club’s youth set-up has teams in the Liverpool Premier Junior Leagues, Belle Vale Junior and Merseyside & Halewood, making the club one of the biggest in the City.

South boast several well-known ex-players, including Jimmy Case and John Aldridge, who both started their careers at South.

Manager Martin Ryman has been at the club’s helm since 2001 and is South’s longest-ever serving manager and played for South between 1992 and 2000. His assistant is Stephen Ward, who made 427 first-team appearances in goal for South, a club record along with coach David Cringle.

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v CM Celtic Warming Up

ON THE OPPONENT

Penalty v Steeton Jericho Lane, South Liverpool

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Manager, Martin Ryman

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