Eccleshall FC vs Stockport Georgians FC

Eccleshall Football Club - Season 2022/23

Pershall Park, Chester Road, Eccleshall, Staffordshire ST21 6NE

Telephone 01785 851351 (match days only)

Legal Entity: Company limited by shares - Eccleshall Football Club Limited (c/n 13365015). Subsidiary of Eccleshall FC Sports Foundation Limited (c/n 13359263) - company limited by guarantee.

Club Officials:

Chairman: Neil Washington

Vice-Chairman: Antony Johnson

Secretary: Jim Tunney

Treasurer: David Heelis

Programme Editor: Shaun Rogers

Clubhouse Management: Bill Grinham

Club Welfare Officer: Jim Tunney

Commercial Manager:

Media Officer: Shaun Rogers

Directors

Neil Washington, Antony Johnson, Paul Cox, David Heelis, Bill Grinham, Richard Marsh, Jim Tunney.

Committee

Fundraising Sub-Committee

Neil Washington, Antony Johnson, John Martin, Jim Tunney, Colin Leese

First Team Management:

Liam Kelly, Nathan Wilkes, Russell Rowley, Colin Carruthers, Harry Pickering, Laura Machin

Junior Section

Chairman: Andy Gough

Secretary: Gareth Davies

U10s Kieron Healey

U13s Dave Hislop, Gaz Davis

U14s John Edensor, Nick Mobley

U16s Paul Heler, Mark Croxton, Henry Taylor

Members of the North West Counties League, Midland Junior Premier League, North Staffs Junior Youth League, Mid Staffs Junior League.

THE DUGOUT VIEW THE DUGOUT VIEW

Good afternoon and welcome to our penultimate home fixture of the season against play-off hopefuls Stockport Georgians.

We had a really good battle up at their place in January and we deservedly came away with 3 points. The lads will know it will be another tight game today but we look to continue our recent good form.

We come into the game unbeaten in five league fixtures. This is a testament to the quality in depth of the squad we have built as in recent weeks we have seen suspensions, injuries, work commitments, etc limit my options. Lads who have perhaps been on the fringes in earlier months are now staking a claim for a regular shirt and giving me much welcomed headaches. As I’ve said to them recently, not only are they playing for a strong finish this season, but with the aim to be part of our plans next season.

Thank you for your continued support and enjoy this afternoon’s game

Eccleshall FC Club History

There has been football in the town of Eccleshall for over 100 years but very little archive material is available from those early years. However, we do know that Eccleshall Football Club was reformed in 1971 with the team being made up of locals and staff from the Eccleshall Secondary School which also provided training and playing facilities. At that time the club was called Eccleshall Old Boys Football Club.

In 1974, the team won their first trophies; the Mid-Staffs 3rd Division Cup and were also runners-up in that division, gaining promotion to Division 2.

Old Boys was dropped from the club’s name and in 1979 the first team joined the Staffordshire County League (North) and a third team was formed.

In 1981, with the help of grants, fund raising and a loan, a four-acre field was purchased at Pershall. Manager Ted Dickinson was the driving force behind the fund raising. In the same year, the first team moved into the Premier Division of the Staffordshire County League (North). Work began converting the field into a football ground. In 1982, a building was purchased from British Telecom and, with a lot of hard work over the next couple of years on the building, car park and pitch, Pershall Park, as it was christened, was ready.

In the 1983-84 season, the first team won the Staffordshire County League Premier Division Championship, the Premier Division Cup and the May Bank Cup. During the 1989-90 season, the first team won the Staffordshire Senior League title and the 1990-91 season saw the club entering the FA Vase for the first time.

In 1991-92, the club reached the FA Vase 2nd round having gone through all the preliminary stages but lost at home to Wisbech Town 2-0 in front of a then record crowd of 368.

The first team fared well in the league in the mid to late 90’s, finishing 3rd (97-98), 6th (98-99), 2nd (99-00) and 3rd (00-01). Eccleshall reserves won the Staffordshire County League (North) in 1999-2000 moving to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One (North) for the start of the following season. In the 2001-2002 season, the first team won the Springbank Vending Midland League Championship.

In 2002-2003 Eccleshall’s first team joined the North West Counties Football League after securing both the Springbank Vending Midland League title and Staffordshire FA Vase. In probably the most successful season in the club’s history, our second team were also Staffordshire County League champions and our Under 18s won the Sentinel Cup. For good measure, our Under 16s won the Staffordshire FA County Cup, the Mid-Staffordshire League Cup and the Sentinel Shield. Regarding the Sentinel competitions, the last time a club had won both trophies in the same season had been some twenty five years previously – a great achievement.

The 2012-13 season marked the completion of 10 years in the North West Counties League and saw the club achieve its highest ever placing of sixth in Division 1.

In the 2017- 18 season our Under17s had a very successful season, winning the Potteries Junior Youth League Cup, Staffordshire FA Youth Cup and finishing runners up in the league.

Over the years since 1981-82, significant work has been undertaken to develop both the ground and the facilities to the standard which the club now enjoys. This includes enclosing the ground, the installation of floodlights, building a covered seated stand and pitch levelling. In 2017/18, the clubhouse was refurbished and upgraded with the addition of a treatment room and a security system. Prior to the 2018/19 season, a new kitchen and refreshments bar was added. In 2019, a new toilet block was installed and, prior to the 2021/22 season, the team dugouts were replaced and more spectator improvements made. In readiness for the 2022/23 season and thanks to grant funding, all the existing 78 seats have been replaced with new ones in blue which compliment the club colours. Further developments are planned for the future. All of this has been achieved by a strong committee management team behind the scenes, a number of which have given many years of service to Eccleshall FC together with the addition of new members who are helping to take the club forward.

The club has now added a number of junior teams as we look to develop a junior section. Our second pitch has been upgraded and improved to accommodate this. Again, thanks to grant funding, land behind the ground has been developed to allow for a further junior pitch to be added to our facilities.

2021 saw Eccleshall Football Club celebrate its 50th anniversary and, as can be seen from the above, much has been achieved over that time. We look forward to seeing what the future brings.

We consider Eccleshall FC to be a friendly club and we look forward to welcoming you to Pershall Park in the future and hope you will enjoy the facilities and the football.

Eccleshall FC

Club Honours

1973-74 Mid Staffs Div.3 Cup Winners

1973-74 Mid Staffs Div.3 Runners-up

1975-76 Mid Staffs Div.2 Cup Winners

1980-81 Staffs County (N) League Div.2

Champions

1981-82 Staffs County League (N)

Premier Division Champions

1981-82 May Bank Cup Finalists

1982-82 May Bank Cup Winners

1982-83 Mid Staffs Div.2 Cup Winners

1983-84 Staffs County League (N)

Premier Division Champions

1983-84 May Bank Cup Winners

1983-84 Staffs FA Vase Finalists

1984-85 Staffs FA Vase Finalists

1986-87 May Bank Cup Finalists

1987-88 Mid Staffs Borough Cup Finalists

1989-90 Staffs Senior League Champions

1999-00 Springbank Vending Midland

League Runners-up

1999-00 Staffs County League Champions

2001-02 Springbank Vending Midland

League Champions

2002-03 Springbank Vending Midland

League Champions

2002-03 Staffs FA Vase Winners

2002-03 Staffs County League Champions

2002-03 Sentinel Cup Winners (under 18s)

2002-03 Sentinel Shield Winners (u/16’s)

2002-03 Leek Cup Finalists

2005-06 Staffs FA Vase Finalists

2017-18 Staffs FA Youth Cup Winners (Under 18s)

2017-18 Potteries Junior Youth Cup Winners (under 18s)

Reformed 1971

Nickname The Eagles Ground

Pershall Park

Chester Road

Eccleshall ST21 6NE

Telephone 01785 851351

(Matchdays Only)

Record Attendances: League - 2,011 vs FC United 5.11.05 Cup - 475 vs Stoke City - Staffs FA

Senior Cup 16/10/2019

Previous Leagues

Mid Staffs League

Staffs County League (N)

North Staffs Alliance

Midland League

(formerly known as Staffs Senior league, Refuge Assurance Springbank Vending)

Proud members of

STOCKPORT GEORGIANS FC

Stockport Georgians were founded in 1908, competing in the Stockport Sunday League. In 1923, the club was renamed St. George's, after the church of the same name in the Heaviley area of Stockport, joining the Stockport League in the same decade, winning the league in 1926 and 1927. In 1931, Stockport Georgians joined the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League. In 1987, the club absorbed Adswood Amateurs, taking their place in the Manchester Football League, winning the title in their first season in the league. In 2002, the club won the Manchester Football League for the second time, adding a third title in 2015. In 2022, the club was admitted into the North West Counties League Division One South.

Stockport Georgians originally played at Nangreave Road, Heaviley. In 1925, the club moved to their current site in Cromley Road. Between 1970 and 1973, due to the state of the playing surface at Cromley Road, Stockport Georgians played at Woodbank Park and Davenport School

After recent good results, Eccleshall travelled to Alsager Town for their midweek match looking to continue their run of form. Manager Liam Kelly made a couple of changes to the side which drew at Cammell Laird, with Lewis Dunn and Louis Downs brought back into the starting line-up and Mitch Glover and George Woodroffe dropping to the bench. Eagles got off to a great start and showed their intent with just seven minutes gone.Ryan Malbon ran into the box and his fierce drive was well saved by Town keeper Ryan Forde. From the corner, his low shot was cleared off the line. In reply, Sam Madeley blasted into the side netting. Then, a free kick outside the box found Harrison Bebbington and Aaron Woolrich dived to make a good save. An Eagles corner was headed over the bar by Mark Groom before Forde made a superb double save to prevent Eagles taking the lead. A Malbon free kick was tipped onto the bar before saving Chris Boast’s follow up effort. Back came Town and from a corner, Woolrich punched clear before Stefan Sorensen fired over. Ethan Stanton’s low drive was then well saved by Forde before Downs’ follow up effort was blocked. With the weather conditions deteriorating as half time approached through sleet and snow, the surface became more difficult to control passes. A Jordan Flattley corner was headed wide by Ryan Pickup and Woolrich easily held a Josh Patterson effort. As the players came off for the interval, the home keeper had certainly been the busier of the two and supporters were wondering how Eagles hadn’t got at least a three-goal lead.

HT: Alsager Town 0 Eccleshall 0

Eccleshall began the second half again applying pressure on the Town goal. On 55 minutes, they thought they had taken the lead when Boast headed past Forde, but he was flagged offside. Against the run of play, Alsager took the lead on 64 minutes when Paterson caught Woolrich too far off his line and his lob over the stranded keeper found the net. Kelly brought Glover on for Downs before disaster struck. Boast was red-carded by referee Chawner-Bowers for violent conduct and Callum Feeney protested too much to the official resulting in him being sin-binned for ten minutes. With Eagles now down to nine men, Alsager were looking to make the most of the two-player advantage and almost netted again as Woolrich made a great save from Paterson’s header. However, Eagles did equalize in 77 minutes when a through ball down the middle left Malbon running clear and he slotted the ball under the advancing Forde to find the net. Kelly chose to replace Feeney with William Holt as Eagles went back to ten men. Flattley went close with a shot just wide of the post before Woolrich made a good save from a Madeley back-heel.

FT: Alsager Town 1 Eccleshall 1

Eccleshall will look back on their first half chances and be disappointed that they didn’t pick up all three points. However, as things panned out, they remain unbeaten in March. They will be hoping to pick up more points in their final five matches.

Eagles: Woolrich, Pickup, Dunn, Feeney (Holt), Groom, Benton, R Malbon, Stanton, Boast, Flattley, Downs (Glover)

Unused subs: Woodroffe, Hickman, Atton.

Referee: Mr Stephen Chawner-Bowers

Attendance: 67

NWCFL GROUNDHOP 2023

Eccleshall vs Barnton AFC

Saturday 4th March 2023

Many of you reading this may have been at our recent Groundhop match against Barnton on Saturday 4. March. As part of the seven-match programme over the weekend, our game was the last of four games on the day with a 7.45pm kick-off. Prior to the game, much organisation had taken place to prepare for our largest attendance of the season, from a brand-new menu for the evening at our refreshment bar, a ‘one-off’ printed programme for supporters, imported beers for spectators and memorabilia sale for our new visitors to Pershall Park. A huge ‘thank you’ must go to everyone at the club who helped behind the scenes on the evening to ensure the game went smoothly from the time the Groundhop supporters as well as our own and visiting fans from Barnton arrived, to when they left after the match.

As it turned out, we had an attendance of 314 on the evening, bringing in much needed revenue to the club from gate receipts, bar and tea bar income and memorabilia The game burst into life late on in the second half, with Barnton taking the lead with a superb goal, before Ryan Pickup equalized and Ethan Stanton snatched the winner in added time. It even had two red cards for good measure. No-one leaving the ground after the match could complain about the entertainment level.

What has been encouraging are the very complimentary comments which have appeared on Twitter following our game – here are some, for example: “Very nice much-loved ground with extremely friendly officials and a remarkable menu – one of the best I’ve seen in a while”, “nothing should undermine the superb welcome of the hosts” and “Great win, you have no idea how great it was to walk back into Pershall Park again, last time was in 1998 against Audley. The work you’ve done is amazing”.

NWCFL GROUNDHOP 2023

Eccleshall vs Barnton AFC

Saturday 4th March 2023

Post weekend polls on Twitter from NWCL Groundhop 2023 have resulted in our club winning the votes for both ‘best footy scran’ - a tribute to our superb match day menu - and the best match day programme. We were also runners-up for the best ground attended during the ‘Hop’ weekend. All this and three points made for a very successful evening.

As mentioned, – well done to all involved at the club. We are obviously getting something right in making a good matchday experience for spectators visiting Pershall Park.

NWCFL GROUNDHOP 2023

BEST MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

NWCFL GROUNDHOP 2023

BEST MATCHDAY FOOD/DRINK

THE CLUB WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT JOINED US AT THE GROUNDHOP AND WE HOPE THAT WE SEE YOU ALL AGAIN IN THE FUTURE AT A GAME.

Kicking off in front of a healthy crowd of over three hundred, the first half was a tight affair with both sides cancelling each other out and not much to offer in terms of goal opportunities for either side. Barnton’s Lee Turkington probably had the best chance but headed over the bar after some good build up play. As the many spectators queued for their half-time refreshments, they were hoping for a little more excitement in the second half.

HT: Eccleshall 0 Barnton 0

With the second half under way, the game remained a tight affair and needed a goal to fire it into life. After 71 minutes, it was Barnton who drew first blood with a goal which belied the earlier action. Tom Turkington received the ball well outside the box and unleashed a screamer which flew into the top corner of the net, giving Woolrich no chance whatsoever. Stung by this, Eagles tried to get back into the game but the visitors’ defence was holding firm. However, the Eagles continued to press and were duly rewarded after 81 minutes. A Mitchell Glover corner from the right was headed goalwards by Ryan Pickup and, although Barnton keeper Patrick McLoughlin managed to save this, the ball came back out, and Pickup lashed home the rebound. The game had now come to life before a melee in front of the dugouts after referee Schofield failed to award a free kick to the home side after heated appeals, resulted in both teams being reduced to ten men. Barnton scorer Turkington and Eagles’ Luke Lewis were both red-carded after coming together – both sides feeling the decision was a harsh one. Manager Kelly was then booked by the referee for protesting a little too much. With time now ticking away, it appeared as though the match was heading for a draw until Eagles found the breakthrough in added time. Ethan Stanton laid the ball to Glover outside the box, and he went on a mazy run, leaving three Barnton defenders in his wake before cutting into the area. He then set up Stanton who had moved forward and he calmly controlled the pass before rifling the ball past McLoughlin into the roof of the net to the approval of the massed spectators. It was then a matter of playing out the remaining time to bag another welcome three points.

FT: Eccleshall 2 Barnton 1

The visitors will probably feel a little hard done by, travelling home with nothing, but the result means that Eccleshall have moved back again within reach of the teams bunched above them. They will now be looking forward to two testing away games as they travel to Cheadle Town on Tuesday evening before the visit to Birkenhead to meet Cammell Laird 1907 on Saturday.

Eagles: Woolrich, Groom, Woodroffe (Darlington), Stanton, Pickup, Dunn, Lewis, Flattley (Benton), Boast, Malbon (Downs), Glover.

Unused subs: Fitton, Hickman.

Referee: Mr Benjamin Schofield

Attendance: 314

SPONSORSHIP SPONSORSHIP 22/23

AVAILABLE TO AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR SPONSOR

Aaron Woolrich Aiden Blaise

Callum Feeney

Daniel Taylor

Alexander Atton Luke Lewis

Lewis Dunn

Ethan Stanton

Jordan Darlington Ryan Pickup

Ollie Hickman

Mitchell Glover

sponsored by Terry & Dorothy Steele sponsored by RICHARD MARSH

sponsored by Tony Woolrich & Andy Withey

Jordan Benton George Woodroffe

SPONSORSHIP SPONSORSHIP 22/23

AVAILABLE TO AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR SPONSOR

AVAILABLE TO AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR SPONSOR

Ant Malbon

Louis Downs

Lucas Green-Birch

Mark Groom

Jordan Flattley

Ryan Jay Malbon

Liam Kelly

Nathan Wilkes

Harry Pickering

Harvey Colins

Colin Carruthers

Russell Rowley

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ABBEY HULTON UNITED (H)

ASHVILLE (A) EDWARD CASE CUP 1S ASHVILLE (H)

STAFFORD TOWN (A)

RUGBY BOROUGH (H) FA VASE 1Q

ALSAGER TOWN (H) NEW MILLS (A)

Eccy Fixtures

FOLEY MEIR (A)

STAFFORD TOWN (H)

ELLESMERE RANGERS (H)

MAINE ROAD (H)

STOCKPORT TOWN (H)

ABBEY HEY (H) ECC3

ALSAGER TOWN (A)

ABBEY HEY (H)

STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (A)

NOMADS

ABBEY HEY (A)

SPORTING KHALSA (H) SSC

CHEADLE HEATH NOMADS (H)

EDWARD CASE CUP 2S

CHEADLE HEATH NOMADS (H)

MACRON CUP 1

STOCKPORT TOWN (A)

NEWENT TOWN (A)

FA VASE RD 1

ROCESTER (H)

MAINE ROAD (A)

FOLEY MEIR (A)

COVENTRY SPHINX (H) FA VASE R2

BARNTON (A)

ABBEY HULTON (A) MACRON CUP R2

SANDBACH UNITED (H)

ABBEY HEY (H) EDWARD CASE CUP 3S

SANDBACH UNITED (A)

WYTHENSHAWE AFC (H)

FOLEY MEIR (H)

CHEADLE HEATH NOMADS (A)

BROCTON (A)

ASHVILLE (A)

CHEADLE TOWN (H)

ABBEY HEY (H)

BARNTON (H)

CHEADLE TOWN (A)

CAMMELL LAIRD 1907 (A)

ALSAGER TOWN (A)

STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (H)

ABBEY HULTON UNITED (A)

WYTHENSHAWE AMATEURS (A)

ELLESMERE RANGERS (A)

NEW MILLS (H)

AARON WOOLRICH (GK)

ALEXANDER ATTON (GK)

OSCAR FITTON (GK)

CALLUM FEENEY

LEWIS DUNN

MAX RAINE

ETHAN STANTON

MITCHELL GLOVER

AIDEN BLAISE

LUKE LEWIS

OLI HICKMAN

DANIEL TAYLOR

JORDAN DARLINGTON

JORDAN BENTON

LUCAS GREEN-BIRCH

GEORGE WOODROFFE

LOUIS DOWNS

MARK GROOM

ASHLEY COLCLOUGH

JORDAN FLATTLEY

RYAN PICKUP

RYAN MALBON

ANT MALBON

CHRIS BOAST

JOEL JONES

JOSHUA WAITE

WILLIAM HOLT

TOM WINKLE

OLIVER CUTHBERTSON (GK)

JAMES HODGES (GK)

TAYLOR APSLEY

JOEL ATKINSON

FINLAY BARTRAM

PAUL BERESFORD

GEORGE BLACKWELL

CALLUM CAMPBELL

PAUL CONNOR

SAMUEL CORBISHLEY

ADAM DAHOU

ASHNIE HARVEY

SAMUEL HIND

JACK HOPKINS

HARRY LYNN

SAMUEL MARSHALL

OLIVER MCFADYEN

DEAN MCGREGOR

EUAN MELIA

THOMAS OBRIEN

SAM OLIVER

WILLIAM PARRY

THOMAS RUSSELL

ISAAC TURNER

WILLIAM WAREING

JACK WOOLLEY

KYLE WYCH

Daniel Taylor

Matthew Noble

Kenan Bryan

Manager : Liam Kelly

Manager : Andy Jenkins