Match program 23 01 2016

Official Matchday Programme

Nelson FC vs Alsager Town FC Saturday 23rd January 2016 – 3pm KO Match sponsored by

Nelson FC Little Wembley, Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way, Nelson, BB9 7BN Tel: 01282 787752 Web: www.nelsonfc.com Twitter: @nelsonfc.com Email: info@nelsonfc.com 1st Team Manager – Paul Fildes 1st Team Coach – Andy Harrison 1st Team Coach – Darren Rigby 1st Team Physio – Dave Southern Assistant Physio – Nicole Carter Dev Squad Managers – George Henderson & Louis Aldred Youth Team Managers – Michael Worthington & Alex Norwood U16s Manager – Alex Norwood

Chairman – Fayyaz Ahmed Club Secretary – Abdul Khan Chief Executive – Adam Keizer Commercial Manager – Neil McGuiness Media Manager – Shane Hudson Groundsman – Trevor Stanworth Photographer – Mark Wilkinson & Andy Pritchard Nelson FC is a limited by guarantee company

Honours Football League Third Division 1922-23 Lancashire League 1895-96 Lancashire Combination 1949-50 1951-52 NWCFL Division One 2013/14 NWCFL Division Two Trophy 1996-97 LFA Challenge Trophy 1907-08 1954-55 Lancashire Combination Cup 1949-50 1950--51 1959-60 Bridge Shield 1975-76 1981-82 George Watson Trophy 1978-79 Green Bank Shield 1988-89 1990-91 1991-92

A freezing Friday night saw The Admiralls share the spoils wth AFC Darwen last week with a 0-0 draw.

Today we welcome Alsager Town to Little Wembley with both clubs keen to get their first league win in 2016. Nelson have been boosted by the signing of Dean Overson this week although he is not expected to be included in the squad today. The Blues are unbeaten in so far this year but with 2 draws Fildes men ill be looking to grab all 3 points today. Alsager will no doubt be buoyed by their midweek win over Barnton that sees them through to the Quarter Finals of the Cheshire Senior Cup. Enjoy your day at Little Wembley , a special welcome to any Burnley or Accrington Stanley season ticket holders who have taken up the special offer today, thank you for coming out to support local non league football . Food and drink is available in the bar , we will also be running a golden goal raffle before kick off.

Come on you blues!

The Admiral , Editor

.

KEIZER CHIEF This weeks notes from Club Chief Exec

Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Little Wembley. A special welcome to our travelling opposition, todays match officials and anyone visiting Nelson FC for the first time today.

I’d like to thank today’s match sponsors Lancashire Steam Company who are in the hospitality box today.

They’re a fantastic local business with some great products so if you get a chance please check them out online through their website and facebook page.

Today’s match is a big game for us, we’ve started the year with two local derbies against Padiham and Darwen, two games we should have probably won but have taken a point in both. It’s good to start the year unbeaten and I think most supporters will agree we’ve shown some good football at times in both matches however it’s important we start turning performances into 3 points and I know Paul and his team are very much up for todays tough test against Alsager Town

It’s been pleasing to see the unity grow within the team and were starting to build a squad of local talented players, which has been added to again this week with the arrival of Dean Overson. It’s crucial for the football club to grow its roots within the local community on and off the field and theres certainly been a growth in the local support for the club recently as we continue to attract local sponsors and further grow our key partnerships within the community.

This past week I’ve spent a lot of time with councillors and local businesses discussing the plans for our facilities as well as our community outreach programmes and there’s a real keeness from many key individuals to help support the clubs ambitions

It’s been pleasing to see more sponsors on board with Clifford Smith and Buchanan and Access Enable confirmed this week as new sponsors of the football club. CS & B are a well established local firm and we’ve had dealings with Peter Davis in the past who organising football fundraising events like last years Gary Parkinson Fundraiser which we held here at Little Wembley.

Access Enable have been a big support in the last few months in ensuring our redevelopment plans and work on the ground is catering for football supporters with disabilities and so we thank Vivian for her continued support.

Todays also a special day in the fact that we’ve decided to offer free entry to all Burnley FC and Accrington Stanley supporters in an attempt to attract local supporters of big clubs to enjoy some local non league action when their teams are away or not playing. We have an excellent relationship with both clubs and a number of ex Stanley and Burnley players n our squad so it’s something we will look to do again in the future.

Todays match promises to be a full bloodied affair with both teams needing to get their first wins of 2016. It sounds cliched but there really is no easy games in this league and our lads will have to be on top of their game today to make sure they come out on top. All we’ve ever asked from players is to make sure that in every game they are the hardest working team on the pitch because we know we have the quality to beat anyone in this league as long as we play to our full potential. A couple of positive result through January and February and we can start looking up the league and having a real go at finishing the season strong, however its up to this group of players to get the points and make every game count, starting today.

Enjoy the game,

Adam Keizer Chief Executive

Blues News‌. . .

Dean Overson Joins Nelson Former Burnley Youth and Bradford City defender has joined The Admirals this week. The 22 year old son of former Clarets star Vince Overson has also played for clubs such as Barrow and Padiham FC.

New photographer at Nelson FC Nelson FC are delighted to annouce that Andy Pritchard has joined the club as official club photographer alongside Mark Wilkinson. Andy, from Barrowford, will be seen on the sidelines most games snapping away and has also set up a Nelson FC Flickr page. You can follow Andy at https://twitter.com/AndyLongsider

New Sponsors on Board Nelson FC have secured two new sponsors this week with local Estate Agents & Solicitors Clifford Smith and Buchanan as well as Access Enable signing up to 12 month sponsorship at Little Wembley

Nelson Street League is Back Nelson FC will be running free 6 a side football for local youths from next month in partnership with the Nelson Town Council. The Street League is a way of engaging local youths as well as using the football facilities in town (MUGAs) as part of the football clubs commitment to work in the community

Nelson’s Column Commercial News by Neil McGuiness A Warm Welcome to Little Wembley for Today’s game against Alsager Town FC. Well we finally managed to break the Home Weather Hoodoo last week when we entertained AFC Darwen on Friday Night which in hindsight was a great decision to move it from the Saturday as once again the Weather all but decimated the NW Counties Leagues with only one game surviving the Weather on the Saturday, the game itself against AFC Darwen was a tricky affair as the conditions did play a significant part in proceedings but was probably a game we should have won over the ninety minutes with some good chances going astray but overall it was an entertaining game with plenty to whet the appetite for the Admirals faithful and with game time the team is beginning to gel whilst also starting to find some form as that is now two unbeaten in the New Year.

Today we welcome Lancashire Steam Company as Match Sponsors and we hope you enjoy the game and the Hospitality on offer here at Little Wembley this afternoon and Many Thanks for Your Support.

I was delighted to Officially announce Access Enable as New Official Club Sponsors during the week myself and Adam have met with Vivien a few times and she has been a great source of information and help with off field plans for helping developing the Club and we look forward to working with another Superb Local Company.

A lot of the postponed games have now been rearranged through February and March so lots to look forward to in the coming months for the Admirals, Today offers us another stern test as this League proves over and over again that the form book can be well and truly turned on its head so I am looking for a fast start today from Nelson as we look to build on the recent momentum and start to push ourselves up the League Table.

We have recently been joined by Andy Pritchard form Barrowford who joins Mark as Club Photographers and is a great addition to the Club with their action shots adding more depth to the Website, Match Day Programme & Social Media.

Volunteers for Club at Our Level can be lifeblood if you would like to get involved and help out on Match Days as a Volunteer give either me or Adam a shout.

Our Sponsors

Our Sponsors

NWCFL Premier Division

This weekend’s Fixtures

Upcoming Fixtures ‌.

JANUARY 2016 Sat 23, 15:00 H Nelson FC Vs Alsager Town Sat 30, 15:00 A Runcorn Linnets Vs Nelson FC FEBRUARY 2016 Tue 02, 19:45 H Nelson FC Vs Silsden AFC Sat 06, 15:00 A Atherton Collieries Vs Nelson FC Sat 13, 15:00 H Nelson FC Vs Runcorn Town

Sat 20, 15:00 A AFC Darwen Vs Nelson FC

Our Sponsors

In Town Today

Alsager Town FC The merger of Alsager Institute and Alsager United formed ALSAGER AFC in 1965. The merger came about due to lack of pitches in the village. They acquired Wood Park in 1967 that was then seeded ready for the following season and it was first played on in 1968/69.

Alsager AFC were playing in the Crewe League at this stage. In the early 70’s the club decided they would like to try for the Mid-Cheshire League which they were successful in doing by bringing the ground up to a higher standard. They remained in this league and in 1985/86 they were Runners Up. The club folded due to the lack of funds and support. They then re-formed with just a youth team playing in the Crewe Premier League for two seasons. In 1991/92 they managed to regain entry in to the Mid Cheshire League Division Two where they remained until 1998/99 when the committee decided to try for the Springbank Vending League, where most of the Potteries teams were based.

Steve Booth built a strong squad which was able to challenge for the title in their first season, but unfortunately Alsager were pipped at the post by Norton FC. The team were doing well enough and the committee decided to apply for the North West Counties Football League and after a lot of hard work by the committee Alsager AFC successfully passed the criteria necessary to gain entry, and a second place finish in the Staffs County Senior League was enough to gain promotion.

The team were doing well enough and the committee decided to apply for the North West Counties Football League and after a lot of hard work by the committee Alsager AFC successfully passed the criteria necessary to gain entry, and a second place finish in the Staffs County Senior League was enough to gain promotion.

Bad form after Christmas 1999 and the decision

by Steve Booth to leave the club saw a new management team step in to the fold. Greg Clowes and his assistant Dorian Garner were welcomed to the club. They were in charge for the remaining 10 games of the season and managed to finish in a creditable 12th position. Their first full season in charge saw them achieve 7th place in the league and along with Warrington Town they kept the most clean sheets.

Floodlighting was erected in August 2001 and then the addition of a new stand by the end of the season saw Alsager in prime position to challenge for promotion. During the summer of 2001 it was decided to change the name of the club back to Alsager Town and to run a side in the Springbank Vending League under the name of Alsager AFC A runners up spot in the 2001/02 season was enough to see Alager Town FC promoted to the NWCFL Division 1. During the close season resurfacing of the pitch, decoration of the club house and changing rooms and a new toilet block and tea bar gave Alsager Town an air of aristocracy as they aimed for success in the NWCFL. They remained in N.W.C.F.L. until the end of the 2005/06 season when they finished in third place. Due to THE changes being made by the FA to the non-league pyramid system Alsager were invited to step up to the Northern Premier League Division One which they did, they finished their first season in a creditable 14th place.

With further changes to the Northern Premier League, Alsager Town were placed in to the Unibond League Division One South. Another 14th place finish was the outcome but the club fell foul to the ground grading regulations and with required work not completed in the required time given by the League they were relegated back to the North West Counties League Premier Division.

Due this set back the management walked out. Former chairman Peter Clegg stepped in to take control of the club . Former Witton Albion reserves coach Neil Gill was appointed as manager and for two seasons Neil Gill kept Alsager Town in the N.W.C.F.L Premier Division and then in early 2011 with finances tight the players expenses budget was cut and then later stopped completely. This was followed by the news that there were to be major changes at the club at the end of the season. Neil Gill, his assistant, the players and the committee walked away.

Following the disaster the committee worked very hard to get things in to place so that football could return to The Town ground. The committee of the N.W.C.F.L. helped where they could they switching fixtures for The Bullets and 99% of their games were played away from home until the November. A rebuilding programme immediately got underway and things went well, both on and off the pitch. Massive help from BAE Systems and their contractors followed and they had helped to rebuild the changing rooms so that football could return.

Acting Chairman Mike Cross acted very quickly and the remaining committee members voted for change. Terry Greer the former Chairman of Biddulph Victoria was elected to become the new Chairman of Alsager Town F.C. Terry’s first job was to appoint a new management team.Damian Grocott and Andy O’Connor stepped into the position, they signed a new squad of players and began the job of securing Alsager Town’s place in the N.W.C.F.L. Premier Division. They worked hard to keep the status of the club securing it with three games in hand.

For the 2011/12 season the club looked to move forward run by a new committee which was installed at the AGM in the May their aim being to improve the club in all aspects both on and off the pitch. The changing rooms and showers were upgraded, some of the club house had been redecorated and the ground in general had been given a face lift when on the night of the Monday 11th July a catastrophic fire destroyed the office and part of the dressing rooms and club house. The whole building had to be demolished due its asbestos construction and the electricity was cut off due to the damage caused to the switch boxes etc.

This season just before the pre-season training manager Phil Parkinson tendered his resignation after getting a promotion at work. He was succeeded by the his two assistants Craig Dove and Danny Griggs.

They were given the task to continue with the improvements started by Phil Parkinson. Currently Alsager Town sit bottom of the Premier Division but will be hoping for good form in 2016 to avoid relegation.

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Meet The Players Name: Nat Taylor Position: Midfielder Age: 23 Previous Clubs: Accrington Stanlley.

Nat joined Accrington Stanley on 5 August 2011 on non-contract terms. He was a product of the Accross scholarship programme where he held the captaincy of the academy team.

He made his professional debut for Accrington Stanley on 9 August 2011, in the Football League Cup against Scunthorpe United which was closely followed by his Football League debut against Southend United on 13 August 2011.

Shortly after leaving Accrington in 2012, he had a spell at Evo-Stik league side Clitheroe before joining the Admirals in 2013.

Last season saw his progress hampered due to a serious injury suffered right at the start of the league campaign in a training match.

In this campaign it's good to see the highly rated youngster don the blue shirt of Nelson once again.

Name: Waqas Azam Position: Right Back Age: 19 Previous Clubs: Burnley FC The former Burnley U18s captain joined The Admirals in September 2015. In his short spell at Little Wembley he has quickly become a fans favourite with his lightning pace and goal scoring ability.

"It's a new challenge for myself and one I'm looking forward to. Playing Men's football at a young age is a good experience for me and one I'm relishing. I'm with a good group of players and staff who all want to be successful. l will always give my all for as long as I'm wearing a Nelson FC shirt and I hope this will help me in my future".

Azam is always one to watch!

Meet The Players Name: Jake Lloyd Position: Central Defender Age: 20 Previous Clubs: Nelson FC Youth.Team Jake is a product of the Accross scholarship programme and signed for the Admirals at the start of the 2012/13 season where he continued his development. Lloyd had an outstanding 2013/14 season, initially working his way into the team at right back, and finishing off at centre half. Lloyd signed a 1 year contract in the summer.

Jake is one of the longest serving admirals in our current ranks and a fans favorite down at Little Wembley.

Name: Ryan Charnley Position: Striker Age: 19 Previous Clubs: ON LOAN FROM AFC FYLDE Young forward Charnley is on loan from AFC Fylde. In 2014, Ryan became the youngest debutant for the Coasters, impressing manager Dave Challinor to break into the first team.

On his selection for his England Schools call up, Ryan said: “I’ve had a great year so far with AFC Fylde and this has just topped it off. I got called up to play for Lancashire and the ESFA coach was there to watch and I scored a couple so maybe that’s what did it".

Dean Overson joins Nelson

Ex Burnley Youth player signs for Nelson FC Nelson Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of former Burnley and Bradford City player Dean Overson.

The 22 year old joins The Admirals as Manager Paul Fildes continues to strengthen the first team squad at Little Wembley.

Son of former Clarets star Vince Overson, Dean signed as a youth scholar at Burnley FC in 2009 before joining Bradford City in 2011 on a 2 year deal.

Since then Overson has featured for clubs such as Padiham FC and Barrow however with injuries having kept him out of action in recent times, the talented defender is excited about t he chance to join Paul Fildes team, saying "I'm really happy to sign for Nelson FC. I'm looking forward to getting back fit after being injured for such a long time and looking forward to enjoying my football again. There's great ambition at the club and I look forward to being a part of that as things go forward."

Photos of The Week Nelson 0 – 0 AFC Darwen Photos taken by Andy Pritchard

The Future Vision For Little Wembley

THE thorny issue of ground-grading is hot topic right now. If your club wants to go up, be ready. For some, it’s panic stations.

March 31 isn’t far away, that’s the date when houses have to be in order. Get the biscuits in the boardroom ready, the inspectors are coming.

It has been thought for some while that demands are, to say the least, well, too demanding.

Do a club who average attendances of 50 in Step 6 really need to put in an additional turnstile, with gates at Step 5 likely to swell to by a gate-clogging 20?

Can a goalkeeping coach in the National League South or North not sit outside the subs bench, instead of clubs having to put in new totally covered dug-outs for 11 rather than nine people in the leagues below?

Well if your club is going through similar structural issues, it won’t be anything like what the good folk at Truro City are having to put up with.

Imagine having to fork out up to £100,000 - on a ground which is being ripped down weeks after the inspection deadline!

The White Tigers are in the mix for promotion into Non-League’s top tier, but there are certainly complications.

They are leaving Treyew Road this summer and, for a year, are sharing at Torquay United. Truro get the keys to their new home in the summer of 2017 but they’ll be relegated from the National League South if over £50,000-worth of work isn’t carried out - on a stadium they won’t be using!

If they want to go up? They will need to put in a new 250 seater stand on top of the 200 they have been ordered to instal anyway - at a cost of around £45,000 - just to be in a position to compete in the play-offs.

It’s stick or twist. Write a £100,000 cheque to try and go up - they may not even reach the top five remember, but still must have everything in place to try. Accept the £50,000 bill to retain Conference membership or save the money and return to the Southern League?

The main bugbear of course is not what needs to be done, but the fact that if improvements are made the upgrade will be enjoyed for little over a month. Truro have three home games scheduled after March 31 - so if they do reach the play-offs with an extra match, they are being forced to cough up £25,000 per 90 minutes of football.

The FA point to the problem of their up-coming groundshare with Torquay.

“As clubs are not allowed to enter into a groundshare agreement in order to gain promotion or to retain membership, it was necessary for Truro to commit to completing the 2015-16 season at their existing ground (or a new one) – as such the deadline for improvements remains in force,” Wembley chiefs told us last week.

Rules are rules of course, even Truro chairman Pete Masters accepts the demands placed upon him and says they have a decision to make in regards to promotion.

But as other chairmen have told him, the situation is mad - and more evidence of money that could be much better spent elsewhere

BRAIN TEASERS Quick Five

WHO AM I?

Q 1: Which five South Americans have managed Premier League clubs?

Q2: Who were the last three English managers to win the FA Cup? Q3: How many times have Everton finished above Liverpool in the Premier League Era? Q4: What was unique about Burnley's 1914 FA Cup winners medals?

Q5: Which two Scotsmen each made over 300 Premier League appearances?

NAME THE BADGE

NAME THE GROUND

Quick Five Answers

TODAY’S SQUAD NELSON FOOTBALL CLUB 1

SEAN DAVIS

2

WAQAS AZAM

3

TOM BRADLEY

4

MARK SHARPLES

5

LUKE THOMPSON

6

JAKE LLOYD

7

ASH BRIERLEY

8

NAT TAYLOR

9

WAYNE MORRISON

10

BRAD WICKS

11

STEVEN CASSIDY

12

ADAM NUTTALL

13

ADNAN AHMED

14

WILL THRELKELD

15

ALEX CHU

16

MARTIN BRODERICK

19

RRYAN CHARNLEY

20

CALLUM JAKOVLEVS

1st Team Manager – Paul Fildes 1st Team Coach – Andy Harrison 1st Team Coach – Darren Rigby 1st Team Physio – Dave Southern Assistant Physio – Nicole Carter

Referee – Kevin Mattocks Assistant – Ian Jones Assistant – Anthony Parkinson

Match sponsored by