Issue #10 - v Squires Gate FC (03/12/2022) [FA Vase]

“THESE DAYS ARE SPECIAL FOR CLUBS LIKE HOLKER”

THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT

Thanks for joining us today. The lads are really excited about the tie and hoping we can go to that next round that the club have never managed to get to before. These days are special for clubs like Holker. Hopefully we get good backing from our supporters for the tie and can come off at 5pm, being in the hat for the next round and having a good celebration with the players and supporters.

When the draw came out, it was nice to have another home tie, and I know Squires Gate FC will prove to be a formidable opponent but it’s a draw we believe we can progress from if we perform on the day. We have beaten several teams from higher leagues to get to this round, so hopefully we can be successful again.

It would have been nice to be going into the game on the back of another win. Still, our form has been good in the last 6 games, with a minor setback last week where we were disappointed with our overall performance, especially conceding three goals at home, of which we felt all could have easily been avoided, mainly coming from mistakes or lapses in concentration so that is something we need to focus on today as Squires Gate FC are capable of punishing us.

Still, we also have the confidence we can create a lot chances and hurt Squires Gate FC so hopefully will be a good cup tie.

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

JOSH WOODEND

Recently we’ve been on quite a good run of form, putting together consecutive wins, as we’d spoken about earlier in the season. Despite not taking all 3 points last Saturday, we can still take some positives from it; Steeton were a good outfit, and their recent results show that, so we can’t be too disheartened, and it’s another point on the board. Now entering a busy December with a couple of midweek games we’re keen to push on, we have a couple of games in hand on some of those above us, and we need to turn those into points to remain competitive.

Onto this Saturday in the FA Vase, and the boys are really up for it; when the draw was made, we were pleased to have a home tie, as I’m sure any team would be, but we know Squires Gate will be a stern opposition. Like our previous opponents in the Vase, they are a Step 5 team, so we know the quality we’re dealing with, but we’ve shown we are more than a match for teams at the level in the previous rounds. A win would mean Holkers best ever run in the FA Vase, so it’s an added incentive for the squad to make a bit of history.

“WE KNOW THE QUALITY WE’RE DEALING WITH”

SAM JOEL

After being out for two years with my knee, to be back playing football regularly is a massive positive for me, never mind playing in a game of this importance for the club. To be back playing with these lads week in and week out is what it’s all about. It’s taken time, but I feel I’m sharper every game & somewhat near my best again.

Before Saturday’s game, we’d won 5 on the bounce, so it was a bit disappointing to come out of it not getting all 3 points. It made it even worse knowing that if we’d won, we’d have been back in the playoffs. However, looking back on it, a point wasn’t the end of the world as we played nowhere near our best on the day. We haven’t had the greatest start to the season, with some poor results for our standards, which reflects our league position right now. But we still have games in hand on the teams above us, which, if we win, will see us leapfrog them & be in the playoffs. So this puts us in a good position going into the new year.

As a team, we don’t know much about Squires Gate, so all we can do is focus on ourselves & that’s how it should be, anyways. We’ve beaten three teams in the league above us on this FA Vase run, and you could say quite comfortable in doing so. Therefore, we’ll be going into this game with confidence. We feel, on our day, we are a match for any team in either our league or the league above - especially at home. If we end up getting the win, it will be the furthest the club has got in its history. So there’s all the incentive we need to go out there & get the job done.

“ON OUR DAY, WE ARE A MATCH FOR ANY TEAM”

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

ON THE OPPONENT

THEIR HISTORY

Blackpool & District Amateur League: 1958 to 1961

Squires Gate were formed in 1948 as Squires Gate British Legion FC and competed in the Blackpool & District Amateur League. They won the league’s Rawling Shield in their first season. The name of the club was changed to Squires Gate FC in 1953. They won the league’s First Division in 1955-56 and 1956-57; the Blackwell Cup in 195859 and 1959-60. They spent 1960-61 in the Fylde District League, winning the Fylde Cup and losing finalists in the Bannister Cup.

West Lancashire League: 1961 to 1991

The following season they moved up to the West Lancashire League, where they spent the next thirty years. From 1961 until 1980, they were in Division Two and were promoted in 1981 as champions. In the 1986-87 season, they won the Richardson Cup.

North West Counties League: 1991 to Present

They were elected into the North West Counties Football League for the 1991-92 season, joining Division Two for the 1991-92 season. Squires Gate won the league’s Fair Play Award for the 1993-94 season and were losing finalists in the 1997-98 Division Two Trophy.

They won the 2001-02 season Division Two Trophy. The following season they missed the runner-up spot on goal difference. However, they were still promoted to Division One following the demise of Stand Athletic, who had originally been promoted as Division Two champions. They reached their highest league placing in the 2005-06 season, also reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Vase. Then last season, under the Management of Andy Clarkson, Gate improved still further on their best-ever placing, finishing sixth in what is now the Premier Division.

On 10 March 2007, Squires Gate played a home match against FC United of Manchester at Curzon Ashton F.C.s ground. The club had approached Blackpool FC about playing the game at Bloomfield Road, but the ground was unavailable. And so they played the match in Ashtonunder-Lyne, as it was felt that FCUM fans were more likely to attend with the game being staged in the Greater Manchester area. A crowd of 1,650 saw Squires Gate lose 0-1, and Squires Gate earned about £7,000.

To cap an awe-inspiring 2007-08 season, Squires Gate were delighted that no less than nine of their members were honoured with long service awards: Albert Hamer, George Diggle, Roy Westhead, Brian Hugill and Brian Addison all collected Football Association Order of Merit for 50 years service; and Steve Bellamy, Mick Farrer, John Maguire and Tony Hornby received 30 years awards from the Lancashire FA. All these stalwarts are still active in the service of their club.

Groundsman Brian Addison was judged the best at our level in the Northern Region and a magnificent third nationally at the FA Groundsman of the Year presentations in London last September. His pitch is clear evidence of his commitment. As Chairman Stuart Hopwood said, “We believe in a sure and steady programme of improvement of our facilities, and we now feel that with an award-winning pitch, dressing rooms which are amongst the best in the League, and a pleasant, air-conditioned Clubhouse, we have a lot to be proud of, and the future looks good for Squires Gate FC.”

Dave McCann was appointed manager towards the end of the 2012/13 season and has endured premier survival since taking charge; Richard Thomas assists him. Season 20014/15 was the most successful in the NWCFL, finishing in 6th place with a record number of points.

Due to an indifferent start in the 2015/16 season, club captain Danny Penswick took over as player-manager and ensured survival with a memorable last game victory at Ashton Athletic. Danny also confirmed Premier Division status in 2016/17 thanks to a late surge, including a win at home to Runcorn Linnets; this was despite losing the potent strike force of Ric Seear to Colne and Ryan Riley to Bamber Bridge.

Andy Clarkson took over in October 2017, guided the club to a creditable 8th place finish, and improved again in the 2018/19 season with another 8th place finish.

After a difficult start to the 2019/2020 season, Luke Evans was appointed manager, assisted by Shane Hudson.

EYES ON OPPONENT

Gate Celebrate

The Brian Addison Stadium, Squires Gate

Josh Westwood (Captain)

ON THE OPPONENT

Gate in the FA Vase, 2022

Luke Evans (Manager)

Squires Gate FC

CLUB NEWSROOM

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Get in the Christmas Spirit!

Are you looking for a taste of Christmas? Head to Rakesmoor Lane for some warm beverages and tasty treats. We host Atherton LR at Rakesmoor Lane in the North West Counties First Division North, and we’ll be serving mulled wine and mince pies from 2:00pm.

There’s no better combination than mulled wine and mince pies. They complement each other with their flavours - the spices in the wine accompany the dried fruit in the mince pie. Yes, mulled wine can be enjoyed year-round, but it feels especially festive around this time of year when there’s a chill in the air. The match is perfect: a league fixture and some festive treats. It’s bound to be a ho-ho-hold-your-breath thrill ride.

PLAYER SPONSORS

JAMIE HODGSON

JOE AMISON

SAM JOEL

JAY BARKER HAKAN MCCRACKEN

BRANDON COLLINS

SEAN PATERSON

TOM DAWSON

NATHAN REID

GARETH SMITH

ELLIOT MOORE

CALLUM FAWCETT

SPONSORS

SAM STEPHENS

KEVIN WATKIN

JASON WALKER

JOSH WOODEND

TYLER WOOD