ANDYSMANCLUB
WHAT IS ANDYSMANCLUB?
ANDYSMANCLUB is a free peer-to-peer group that provides a place for men to come together in a safe and open environment to talk about the issues or problems that they have faced or are currently facing.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The process is about bringing men together who have been in similar situations, to help each other on a peer to peer basis, sharing how they have dealt with various situations through lived experiences. No matter how big or small your problem feels, we are here to support each other. The 5 questions that are asked each week are designed not only to encourage men to talk, but to start to focus on the positives and on strategies to keep moving forward. There is no pressure to answer any of the questions and it is not uncommon for men to just listen for the first few sessions.
The clubs all run on the same format and adhere to the same guidelines. A key principle of ANDYSMANCLUB is anything that is said in the club, stays within the club.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The club is open to any man 18 or over, who is going through a storm, been through a storm or just wants to meet a good group of people with the aim of improving one another.
WHEN IS IT?
ANDYSMANCLUBs meet every Monday at 7pm (excluding Bank Holiday Mondays).
WHERE IS IT?
ANDYSMANCLUB has over 100 locations across the UK. Check our website below for a full list.
HOW DO I JOIN?
Just turn up on the night. No registration or referral is required, all we ask is that you arrive before 7pm. The full list of our locations available on our website.
Chairman: IAN ROSS
Directors:
DAVID DAY
JOHN McKEOWN
GARETH HARTLEY
ADRIAN BEVAN
VICTORIA ROSS
Club Secretary:
ADRIAN BEVAN
Match Day Secretary:
BILL MORLEY
Treasurer:
VICTORIA ROSS
Media Officer:
CALLUM CHADWICK
Assistant Media Officer:
CHARLIE ROSS
Photographer:
PAUL WATSON of www.fja-photography.co.uk
Club Ambassadors:
PAUL PENNINGTON
Match Day Sales:
JANET MORLEY
Club Development Officer: BILL MORLEY
Manager:
MICHAEL ELLISON
Assistant Manager:
CHRIS LAWTON
Coach:
PAUL BOWES
Goalkeeper Coach:
RYAN BROOKFIELD
Kit Man:
CRAIG PATTERSON
Widnes Football Club Information
Home Ground: HALTON STADIUM, LOWERHOUSE LANE, WIDNES, WA8 7DZ
Year Formed: 2003
Record Attendance: 630 v Macclesfield (NPL West Division) - 02.01.2023
Previous Leagues:
West Cheshire League North West Counties League
Honours:
The Reusch First Division Winners 2016/17
The Hallmark Security League Premier Division Runner Up 2017/18
The Macron Challenge Cup Winners 2017/18 The Hallmark Security League Champions Cup Winners 2017/18
Website: www.widnesfootballclub.co.uk
Twitter: @Widnes_FC
Main Sponsor: www.nplfa.co.uk
Kit Manufacturer: MACRON
Online Club Shop: http:// macronstorecheshire.co.uk/widnesfc
League Rule 2.13 Ownership:
In accordance with the Football Association Rule 2.13 Publication of ownership in relation to Step 1 to Step 6 Clubs within the Football pyramid, we hereby confirm that the Legal Status of WIDNES FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED identified by Company Number 08960635, takes the ‘Form’ of a Private Company limited by Shares (incorporated 26th March 2014).
Shareholder David Day holds a significant interest in the club as defined by the Football Association with 45.4% of the total company shares.
From the Manager - Michael Ellison
Good evening everyone, we go into today’s game after a hard earned point against a very good Avro side.
Think it’s safe to say we weren’t anywhere near our fluent best on the day for a number of reasons one being that Avro are a very good side so you have to give them credit.
I thought we looked leggy on the day and you could clearly see lads where carrying knocks having said that for all their territory and possession I don’t think they created anything clear cut and we still had the best chances in the game.
I was disappointed to concede another own goal and from a set piece which is something we need to improve on quickly but the lads found way to get back into the game and got a hard earned point, which is a good sign, when your not at your best not too loose, definitely a point gained we may have lost that game last year.
We face a very good Stalybridge side today who we know lots about after facing them already this season and and the games against them last year, I’ve no doubt they will be there or there abouts come the end of the season, they’ve got lots of experience in the side, lads at the top end of the pitch that can hurt you
and we will certainly have to play better than we did Saturday to get anything from the game.
As always thanks for your support, Ello
Stalybridge Celtic Club History
Stalybridge Celtic’s history has been the subject of many debates for the greater part of the century. Although an outfit calling itself ‘Celtic’ appears in the archives from 1906, this side seemingly only played friendlies on a ground at North-End. This seed of a club was probably the basis for the club we know today, which was formed in 1909 by Herber Rhodes, a local businessman and philanthropist.
Mr Rhodes spent a chunk of his fortune on developing Bower Fold. He also played for the team and designed the kit (basing it on the colours used by his racehorses).
Celtic played for two seasons in the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League, before turning professional and joining the Lancashire Combination, becoming Second Division champion’s at the first attempt. Due to some local bureaucracy, Celtic’s ambition to join the Football League meant that they had to join the Southern League, and travel by train to every away match. Fortunately, finishing runners up (to Stoke) meant promotion.
There followed a short pause that most people know as the First World War. In the aftermath (1920-21 to be exact) Celtic re-joined the Central League. At the end of the 1921 season, Celtic became one of the founder members of the Third Division (North).
The clubs first game in the Third Division was against Chesterfield, a home game that Celtic won 6-0. However, winning this league was to prove too difficult, finishing 7th and 11th in the first two years. Lacking the support of local people, the funds were not available to press for a third campaign, forcing Celtic to voluntarily resign from the Football League. Celtic re-joined the Cheshire County League (replacing the reserve squad) and stayed there
for 60 years until the formation of the Bass NW Counties League. Peter Wragg took the helm and steered Celtic to Championship victory in 1980, eventually winning the Bass NW Championship in 1984 and 1987, and runners up in the NPL First division. During this time of league progress, there was a lot of work at Bower Fold, culminating in the ground gaining League grading.
Phil Wilson took over the reigns in 1989 when relegation threatened, eventually finishing second in the NPL. He followed this escaping act with promotion into the Conference in 1992. The clubs first season was a success, finishing 12th, but it was followed by disaster and relegation loomed again. Peter Wragg returned and saved the sinking ship by winning nine of the last 12 games. Peter Wragg resigned at the start of the 1996/97 season, replaced by Brian Kettle, but it was not enough, and Celtic were relegated in 1998 back to the NPL after finishing bottom.
It was troubling times for the club, and there was a succession of managers including Stirling and Keelan before Phil Wilson came back. Phil Wilson was to prove an inspirational manager. Firstly in 1999 he brought us the League Cup, then, in 2001, Celtic won the Cheshire Senior Cup (something the club had not won for nearly 50 years). Demolishing a strong Stockport County team 5-1 at Ewen Fields. In the same season, Celtic went on to beat Blyth Spartans in the President’s Cup, before going on to win the league title after an impressive victory against closest rivals Emley at their ground.
The title was won away at local side Droylsden thanks to an injury time Stuart Locke penalty. Celtic finished with over 100 points and scored nearly 100 goals. The foray into the Conference was short lived though. Phil Wilson joined Southport, taking several of the squad with him, and the assistant coach. With scant time
before the start of the new season, Paul Futcher took over the reigns. With a series of disastrous runs, Celtic replaced Paul with Dave Miller. He almost, but not quite, kept us in the Conference before sensationally sacking nearly the entire team. Miller won the President’s Cup at the first attempt, and the club finished fourth in the NPL.
During this time, a new stand was built, upping the seated capacity to over 1200. With the formation of the Conference North in 2004/05, Celtic had to finish 2003/04 in 13th or higher - Celtic only just did it. A sensational win at champions Hucknall Town saw us finish 13th. Celtic’s first season in the Conference North was almost the last, and with half the season gone, Miller was sacked and replaced by John Reed. John pulled off the great escape, clawing back an 18-point deficit to finish a place above the relegation zone, following it up by missing out on the play offs on the last day of the 2005/06 season. A poor couple of seasons saw John Reed replaced with Steve Burr, who took Celtic to the play-off final at his first attempt in the 2007/08 season, losing by one goal to Barrow. Steve Burr’s second season saw him come within a whisker of the play offs, and after a storming start to his third season in charge, he left to join Kidderminster in the Conference National, and was replaced first by Benny Phillips and then by Jim Harvey. With the finances at Celtic unable to allow them to compete with the top sides in the division, Celtic took the brave option of going full time with a youth set up to allow them to compete in a different way. After a good first season, finishing sixth just outside the play offs, Harvey’s second full season was less successful, finishing midtable. A bad start to season13/14 saw Harvey replaced by former player Keith Briggs.
Keith continued the full time experiment, but he resigned in December 2015 with Celtic looking doomed to relegation. Liam Watson came in and oversaw a turnaround in Celtic’s form that saw them safe on the last day of the season with a thrilling 4-4 draw with Gainsborough Trinity. 2016 was to prove a disastrous season, Liam Watson was replaced by co-managers Steve
Halford and Paul Phillips, but Celtic looked certain relegation candidates, so the club replaced them with Steve Burr who was unable to save Celtic from relegation, sending one of the last remaining founders of the Conference North into the Northern Premier League. 2017 was also a poor season, with Celtic finishing in the bottom four, though due to a league restructuring, with only one going down, Celtic remained in the division for the 2018 season. Simon Haworth came in. During in his first full season, Celtic finished in the bottom five, but then the season after Covid hit, curtailing both that season and the next. When football finally came home, Celtic remained in the Northern Premier League Premier Division but for the 2022/23 season, local manager Chris Willcock stepped into the manager hotseat.
Half-way through the season, Celtic’s Chairman and Majority Shareholder Rob Gorski put the club up for sale. With a lack of money, ownership and direction off the pitch, the club struggled on it. A season full of turmoil culminated in relegation from the Northern Premier League Premier Division with relegation confirmed in a 4-2 loss away to Marske.
In the summer of 2023, the club was taken over by Nigel Jones and Paul Bowden, giving the club fresh hope and a new start. Chris Willcock departed and was replaced by James Kinsey. A summer of change ensued with Celtic starting the 2023-24 Northern Premier League season with new owners, a new committee, a new manager and new squad.
Celtic have made numerous appearances in the FA cup beyond the qualifying stages, starting in 1922, when Celtic forced a replay from West Brom, at West Brom. Since then, there have been 12 other appearances. Celtic have even been to the second round twice: 1993, when Carlisle beat us 3-1 at Brunton Park, and again in 1999, when Chester got the rub of the referee and beat us 2-1 at home.
Celtic’s best FA Trophy performance was in 2001, when the club lost to Stevenage Borough.
Stalybridge Celtic Player Profiles
James Kinsey - First Team Manager James joined Celtic in May 2023 after a successful five-year spell in charge of Wythenshawe Town, where he took the club from the Cheshire Premier Division to two third place finishes in the North West Counties Premier Division. James departed Wythenshawe Town with a league win record of 61%, having managed 153 league games, scoring an impressive 384 goals. James’ first taste as a manager in senior football came in May 2017 when he became the manager of East Manchester FC. A successful 10 months led him to Wythenshawe Town where he spent five successful years, before moving to Bower Fold in the Summer.
Dan Whiteside - Assistant Manager
Dan joined Celtic alongside James Kinsey in May 2023, with the duo having worked together since their time at East Manchester FC.
Nick Farrington - First Team Coach
Nick is a new face to James Kinsey’s management staff, joining the club after two years at Leek Town as First Team Coach. Last season at Leek, Farrington helped the club to a second-place finish in the NPL Division One West and in the 2021/22 season where he was also first team coach, Leek finished fourth.
Reece Bogart - Goalkeeping Coach
Reece joins the club having gained nonLeague experience with both Mossley AFC and Stockport Town in previous seasons, whilst he also has his own goalkeeper coaching business.
Elliot Wynne
Elliot joined the Club in the Summer of 2023 from Wythenshawe Town where he made 24 appearances last season. He also featured for Runcorn Linnets in their NPL Division One West play-off semi final 3-1 win over Leek Town, when he stood in for the suspended Danny Taberner. He received praise for his performance. Prior to joining Wythenshawe, Elliot spent time at , Atherton Collieries where
he signed in 2020. He has also been with Farsley Celtic where he spent two seasons and had two stints at Altrincham making a total of 7 appearances in the Conference National, keeping clean sheets against Boston and York.
Connor Leach
Connor is a Celtic Under 18’s and Under 21’s graduate who is now into his second season with the Celtic First Team, having made four first team appearances last season.
Jono Hunt
Jono is a former Curzon Ashton captain having played over 300 games for The Nash winning back to back promotions from the NPL Division One North and NPL Premier Division. Part of the Curzon side that won the NPL Division One North, Jono was a key part of the team that then won the NPL Premier Division play-offs the season after.
A fans favourite at Curzon Ashton and club captain, Jono spent seven seasons with the club before moving on in 2019 to Ashton United where he played alongside Michael Brewster and John Pritchard. The central defender then joined Bury whom he made 90 appearances for over the last two seasons as they won the North West Counties First Division North. He now embarks on a new chapter with Celtic, joining ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Connor O’Grady
Connor is no stranger to Bower Fold, having made 32 appearances for the club during the 2021-22 season. The 25-year-old scored twice in games against AFC Colne and Ashton United before suffering an injury in March 2022 that saw his season ended early. Just over a year on, Connor now returns to Celtic after finishing the 2022-23 season with NPL East winners Worksop Town, helping The Tigers secure promotion to the NPL Premier Division.
Greg Wilkinson
Greg is into his third spell at Stalybridge Celtic, having first joined the Club in 2008. 237 appearances during 2008-2013 and 2017-2019, Greg returns as Player/Coach under James Kinsey. Greg lists FC United of Manchester, Telford, and Wythenshawe Town as Clubs he’s featured for, returning to Celtic in June 2023.
Jake Kenny
Jake joined us from Bury AFC this Summer after he made 84 appearances over the last two seasons in the North West Counties. The 27-year-old full-back is a former NPL Division One West title winner with Atherton Collieries and was named as one of Atherton’s player’s of the decade in 2019, having played in 157 games for The Colls between 2014-2019. He’s also represented Halifax Town, Salford City, Hindsford and Trafford throughout his career and comes with vast experience.
John Pritchard
John began his career at Oldham Athletic before spending time with FC United, Trafford, Ramsbottom and Ashton United, where he was part of the side that secured promotion to the National League North. John saw a move to Chester where he scored four times in 16 games. A return to Ashton was followed by a short spell with Wythenshawe Town before he signed for Matlock Town in 2021. In January 2022 he signed for Radcliffe before spending last season with Cheadle Town. He now links up with James Kinsey’s squad for the 2023-24 season.
Bebeto Gomes
Bebeto is a versatile player who can play at fullback or as a winger. Originally from Portugal, Bebeto has played for Stockport Town, Radcliffe, Daisy Hill and most recently Pilkington FC, part of the side crowned champions of the NCWFL First Division last year.
Ethan Padden
Ethan is now into his third season with Celtic, having made 59 appearances for the Club since first joining in July 2021. The midfielder
started his career at Chesterfield before joining Glossop North End and then Buxton. He had a loan spell at Kidsgrove before returning to Celtic and finishing the season strongly, becoming almost ever present in Chris Willcock’s side, and rejoined for his third season under James Kinsey.
Joe Edwards
Joe is a 19-year-old attacking midfielder who joined Oldham Athletic over the Summer, having come through the club’s youth academy. Starring for The Latics youth team over a number of years, Joe signed professional terms for the 2022-23 season and has featured in their matchday squads for a number of games. Having experienced training with Oldham’s first team, Joe gained senior experience last year on loan at Mossley.
Max Harrop
Max arrives after most recently featuring for Ashton United who he joined in 2022. Prior to this, Max spent three seasons with Altrincham where he made 87 appearances and scored 11 goals and also had a spell with Curzon Ashton. In his first season with Altrincham, they won the Northern Premier League Premier Division title. Beginning his career in the academy at Liverpool, Max moved to Bury as a teenager, going on to make eight appearances for the club. His next permanent move saw him join Nantwich Town where he spent two years. He’s also played for Ramsbottom United in addition to Altrincham, Curzon Ashton and two spells with Ashton United.
Charlie Doyle
Charlie Doyle arrived this Summer from Warrington Rylands. The experienced midfielder was a key part of the 2021/22 Rylands team that won the 2021-22 NPL Division One West and 2021 FA Vase trophy, being named the clubs player of the season for their double winning campaign. Starting his career at Bury, Charlie has also played for FC United and Irlam before he joined Rylands in 2020. He also spent time on loan with Avro as they secured promotion to the NPL Division One West.
Michael Brewster
Michael, a former Ashton United captain joins Celtic as James Kinsey’s first signing after departing Radcliffe, where he spent the second half of last season. Prior to his spell at Radcliffe, Michael was a key figure and fan favourite at Hurst Cross. He spent three years with The Robins where he was also their club captain, making 87 appearances in total. Michael began his career in the academy at Oldham Athletic before featuring for the likes of FC United of Manchester, St Mirren, Southport and Skelmersdale before joining Atherton Collieries. He followed then manager Michael Clegg to Ashton United in 2019 where he remained until earlier this year before leaving and completing the rest of the season at Radcliffe.
Brandon Newell
Brandon is a 19-year-old highly rated midfielder who joins Celtic from Macclesfield where he’d spent last season. Brandon became the youngest-ever recipient of the North West Counties First Division South Player of the Year award in 2022 after a stellar season making 32 appearances for Abbey Hulton. This saw him make the move to Macclesfield in the summer of 2022 where whilst on dual registration with Wythenshawe Town, he suffered an ACL injury that ended his season early.
Bruno Filipe
Bruno is a technical midfielder who was also part of Pilkington’s title winning side. Having also stood out playing for Daisy Hill, the midfielder went on to have a successful campaign last year for Pilkington. Featuring for Celtic during pre-season, Bruno also played against the club and scored Ashton United’s equaliser in the Keith Trudgeon Memorial Trophy fixture at Bower Fold.
Jordan Burton
Jordan is a winger who joins the Celtic squad after spending three years at Wythenshawe Town where he was James Kinsey’s player of the year in the 2021-22 season. IN his first appearance for the club, he scored a wonder goal against Irlam that went viral on Social Media.
Jamal Crawford
Jamal originally joined on loan from FC United of Manchester for a month in the 2018/19 season, playing in a 2-2 draw with Stafford Rangers and a 2-1 win over Workington. Four years on, he now joins permanently from Runcorn Linnets having spent last season with both Linnets and 1874 Northwich.
Aaron Dwyer
Aaron joins from Wythenshawe Town where he scored 13 goals last season in 25 games. Aaron was a key part of Macclesfield FC’s 2021-22 North West Counties Premier Division winning side where he scored 10 goals in 36 appearances for The Silkmen. In addition to Wythenshawe and Macclesfield as former clubs, Aaron has also played for Bury AFC, Mossley, New Mills, Stockport Town and Curzon Ashton.
Obua Mugalula
Obua joins the club from Workington AFC, impressing on trial this pre-season. Obua starred in the Cumbria County Cup last year, scoring four goals in the final as Workington lifted the trophy.
Matty Bryan
Matty joins after scoring 56 goals over the last two seasons with both Wythenshawe Town and Cheadle Town. Known to both James Kinsey and Dan Whiteside, Matty has been with Wythenshawe Town since 2019 and has scored 67 goals in 98 games for the club. A short stint at Cheadle Town saw the forward score seven goals in 10 games. Matty is from Tameside and would often watch Celtic from the terraces when he was younger.
The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s charity.
We award grants and work with partners to deliver outstanding grassroots football facilities across England.
Search Football Foundation to find out more.
Good evening everyone.
Welcome back for another midweek fixture. It was mixed emotions at the weekend. We were disappointed with the performance overall but delighted to have got something out of the game in the end. It’s been a tough few weeks with the amount of games and with injuries and niggles to quite a lot of lads.
But we’re ready for another hard, tough game tonight against a very good side. Hopefully we can get a few lads back and hopefully put in a good performance and get some more points on the board.
Enjoy the game
Stevie
From the Skipper - Ste Irwin
Delivering forward thinking supply chain solutions
Far Logistics are a full service logistics provider, o ering highly engineered supply chain solutions, internet ful lment, 3PL services, global freight forwarding and other bespoke solutions.
Gallery |
Gallery | Stafford Rangers 0-4 Widnes
WHAT’S THAT noise you hear rumbling in the distance? Ah yes, it’s the national media getting ready to start covering the FA Cup from the first round proper.
No Non-League footballer’s day job is safe from being shoehorned into any report in a bid to save the romance of the FA Cup.
Of course, if you’re reading this you know the FA Cup kicked off back in August and the magic has been well and truly alive ever since.
And while, yes, the first round proper is drawing ever nearer, the fourth round qualifying round as thrown up some mouth-watering ties.
We’ve said for quite a few years now how this stage of the competition – and even those before it considering the size of some Step 2 clubs – almost has a first round feel in itself.
Biggleswade v York City jumps off the page in a northern section of the draw packed with big names with the likes of Scarborough Athletic hosting Chester and Oldham Athletic taking on FC Halifax Town.
Will it be a Bigg weekend in Bedfordshire?
Biggleswade Town are still in the hat with their postponed replay against Alfreton Town due now scheduled for Tuesday after a midweek washout. The winners host Spennymoor Town.
League Dagenham & Redbridge, while Chertsey Town host Sutton United.
Horsham enjoyed a fairytale run last season, drawing 3-3 with Barnsley before losing the replay and then being reinstated after the Tykes were found to have played an ineligible player.
They welcome Step 4 Gorleston, who have just dumped out St Albans City. The last time they reached the first round was in the 1957-58 season! IF they get there, surely that’s worth a piece in the papers…
FA Cup fourth round qualifying draw
Hednesford Town are a big Non-League name now under the charge of another big Non-League name in Steve King. The Step 4 side entered right at the very start in the extra preliminary round and, thanks to a 1-0 win over Shifnal Town on Tuesday, will now host Step 1 Gateshead.
And how about Step 5 Bury fresh from their win at National League North Radcliffe at the weekend? They travel to Harborough Town who are looking to create their own history by reaching the first round for the first time.
In the southern section of the draw we’re waiting to see whether Bishops Cleeve can add Chesham United to their scalps in the rearranged replay on Tuesday with Yeovil Town awaiting the winners.
Suffolk side Leiston beat Hornchurch in extra time on Tuesday to set-up a home date with National
NORTHERN SECTION
Rushall Olympic v Peterborough Sports
Tamworth v Macclesfield
Oldham Athletic v FC Halifax Town
Hartlepool United v Brackley Town
Farsley Celtic v Kettering Town
Altrincham v Solihull Moors
AFC Fylde v Rochdale
Scarborough Athletic v Chester
Biggleswade v York City
Harborough Town v Bury
Curzon Ashton v Kings Lynn Town
Gainsborough Trinity v Boston United
Hednesford Town v Gateshead
Biggleswade Town/Alfreton Town v Spennymoor
Town Kidderminster Harriers v Guiseley
SOUTHERN SECTION
Taunton Town v Maidenhead United
Horsham v Gorleston
Aldershot Town v Bath City
Eastleigh v Southend United
Chertsey Town v Sutton United
Boreham Wood v Carshalton Athletic
Haringey Borough/Lowestoft Town v Weston-super-Mare
Wealdstone v Gosport Borough
Leiston v Dagenham & Redbridge
Barnet v Chelmsford City
Bishops Cleeve/Chesham United v Yeovil Town
Cray Wanderers v Tonbridge Angels
Woking v Slough Town
Forest Green Rovers v Weymouth
Maidstone United v Ebbsfleet United
Plymouth Parkway v Worthing
Braintree Town v Bishop’s Stortford
By Matt Badcock Editor, The Non-League Paper
SPORTS
UK
Are you feeling lucky?
Play the Sports Lottery UK today for just £1 per week and you could win up to £10,000 cash every single week whilst supporting Widnes Football Club and players like Isaac. Enter now by scanning this QR code with your camera phone or play
WWidnes Football Club History
idnes FC’s origins can be traced back to 2003 when the club was originally formed as a youth football club.
In 2012, the groundwork was laid for the club to make the set up into senior football as in March of that year, a consultation process began with Widnes Vikings RLFC to become part of the Vikings Sports brand, a partnership that would enhance the clubs community status.
A First Team was formed with the initial shortterm goal of gaining admission into the North West Counties Football League under the guise of ‘Widnes Vikings FC.’
Steve Hill was appointed First Team manager in September 2012 and steered the Club to a 4th placed finish in its inaugural and so far, only season in the West Cheshire League Third Division. During this season, the Club also submitted its application to join the North West Counties Football League for the 2013/14 campaign.
Prior to the new season, Widnes’ application was successful, and the Club began life in the North West Counties Football League Third Division with a 3-1 home defeat to Cheadle Town before winning their first game in the NWCFL with an emphatic 5-1 away win over Northwich Flixton Villa.
Hill eventually guided his side to a 14th placed finish in their inaugural season in the First Division with 36 points from 36 games.
Off the pitch, the Club would be re-named as Widnes Football Club after ending their partnership with Widnes Vikings.
The 2014/15 season saw the Club make significant progress in cup competitions. Widnes reached the last 16 of the League Cup before falling to eventual League Champions Glossop North End and reached the quarter-
final of the Liverpool Senior Cup, beating Prescot Cables before being knocked out in the last eight by eventual winners Skelmersdale United.
The season also oversaw the Club’s first foray in the FA Vase. Widnes were knocked out in the Second Qualifying Round following a 2-0 defeat at AFC Emley.
Following the season’s conclusion, winger Ben Tollitt became the first former Widnes player to play for a Football League club as he signed a one-year deal with 2008 FA Cup winners Portsmouth, after impressing on trial with Paul Cook’s side during pre-season. Tollitt’s performances earned the former Widnes man a one-year extension after scoring once in 16 games in all competitions for the EFL League Two club.
Tollitt has since gone on to achieve two promotions with Tranmere Rovers, and is now on the books at Blackpool in League One.
The following season saw the Club again reach the quarter-final of the Liverpool Senior Cup, coming up against an Everton XI managed by David Unsworth. The young Toffees excelled in the game and beat Widnes 8-0 despite an admirable performance from the home side.
After a 13th placed finish, Chairman David Day and Manager Steve Hill stepped down from their roles, allowing a new Board of Directors and management team to be appointed to bring some much-needed new stimulus to the club.
Mr Day remained on the newly established Board of Directors, headed by incoming Chairman Ian Ross that bring the necessary expertise and drive to enable the Club to progress over the coming seasons.
Danny Meadowcroft and Brian Pritchard where appointed as joint managers heading into the 2016/17 season but later left the Club by mutual
consent following an indifferent start to the season in September. Danny Salt was appointed interim manager, leading the side to a win and a draw in his two games in charge.
Former Burscough, Warrington Town and Runcorn Linnets manager Joey Dunn was appointed as new First Team Manager later that month.
Dunn’s appointment led to a massive turnaround in results, with Widnes putting together a run of just two league defeats in their final 32 league games as the Whites surged to the North West Counties First Division title.
The title and promotion was secured with a game to spare after a 5-1 win at AFC Blackpool, with Widnes winning 14 straight games to finish at the top of the pile. The Whites also performed admirably in cup competitions that season, reaching the last eight of both the League Cup and Liverpool Senior Cup, and the semi-final of the First Division Cup before losing out to eventual winners City of Liverpool.
During the season, Kevin Towey became the Club’s new record goalscorer following a brace at Skelmersdale United in November – a record that still stands to this day at 72 goals.
The summer of 2017 oversaw the Club’s attempts to re-establish a junior setup with two youth teams at Under-7s and Under-9s, and the section has thrived ever-since become a pillar of the local community.
The 2017-18 season started with Widnes’ firstever FA Cup game which ended in a heavy 5-0 defeat at home to Handsworth Parramore at the Halton Stadium.
Widnes would endure an inconsistent start to life in the North West Counties Premier Division (level 9 of the National League system) – the highest level in the Club’s short history.
Ultimately, manager Dunn would depart in early October, resigning from his position as manager. Senior players Kevin Towey and Steve Akrigg were installed as player/joint-managers and would go on to enjoy a massively successful first foray into management.
The duo began their stint with three successive 2-2 draws, with Widnes scoring late equalisers in each of those games to rescue a point. Their first win would come with an emphatic 5-1 win over Maine Road at the Halton Stadium as Sam Sheen netted twice.
Inconsistency would continue to plague the Whites in the following weeks, emphasised by a 3-3 draw at Padiham late in October that went viral after Widnes conceded twice in the last two minutes in a bizarre stoppage time period that was reported by various National Media outlets including the Guardian, the BBC and a feature on Soccer AM, while Champions League and World Cup winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas would tweet about the game on his Twitter account.
This would eventually have a positive effect on the side as Widnes never really looked back. A 3-0 home defeat to Charnock Richard in November would be the last time Widnes would taste defeat in the league until March as the Whites won 23 of their 25 remaining games to seal a second successive promotion to the Northern Premier League, beating out local rivals Runcorn Town on the final day.
In truth, Widnes’ form from November onwards was remarkable, only tasting defeat twice against Marine (Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final) and Barnoldswick Town – a run that included a 5-1 home win over Southport in the Liverpool Senior Cup, and league double over neighbours Runcorn Linnets.
The form would continue in the League Cup, as Widnes would end the season with a trophy after beating Burscough in the final at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium, with the Whites coming from behind to win with goals from Ben Hodkinson and a late Sheen winner.
The Daniel Wilkinson Foundation is a charity set up in memory of Daniel Wilkinson who died in 2016 aged 24, while playing the game he loved, from an underlying heart condition called Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC).
Dan played football from an early age and joined Hull City AFC when he was 10, earning a professional contract aged 18. Loughborough University followed where he completed a degree in Accounting and Financial Management while playing non-league football. He was an athlete who enjoyed the gym and took his health and nutrition very seriously. He lived life to the full and had so much ahead of him.
Other than feeling light-headed on a few occasions in the month before he died, he had no symptoms!
SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH IN THE YOUNG (SCD)
SCD is the leading cause of death in young athletes during sport and the majority of deaths occur with NO SYMPTOMS or family history.
Warning signs may include light-headedness, fainting, palpitations, swollen legs, breathlessness. ARVC can be found in one in every 1,000 to 5,000 young adults - IF IT IS LOOKED FOR.
Every week in the UK, 12 apparently fit and healthy young people (aged 35 and under) die from previously undiagnosed heart conditions.
In Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, they have reduced the incidence of young sudden cardiac death by 89%.
OUR MISSION
The Daniel Wilkinson Foundation has been set up to raise awareness of SCD and to provide funding towards heart screening, defibrillators and CPR/defibrillator training primarily for grass-roots sporting teams.
Tragedies can be prevented through cardiac screening. It is vital that young people are identified and treated.
Find out more dwfoundation5
thedanielwilkinsonfoundation thedanielwilkinsonfoundation.org contact@thedanielwilkinsonfoundation.org @dannywilks5
Widnes Football Club History (Continued)
The summer of 2018 saw Widnes’ preparation for a first-ever season in the Northern Premier League Division One West (level 8 of the National League system) disrupted by pitch problems at the Halton Stadium, which had failed its FIFA artificial pitch test. With the surface due to be relaid after the conclusion of the Rugby League season, Widnes were forced to begin the season at Barnton’s Townfield Lane.
Once again, the Club continued to make significant strides as one of Halton’s best junior football clubs. The 2018-19 season saw the junior section expand to 14 teams across eight age groups, including two girls’ teams at Under 12s and Under 14s.
Promotion to the Northern Premier League also allowed the Cub to enter a team into the NPL Football Academy, forming the Widnes FC ‘Education and Football Academy’ – an alternative to college, ideal for any 16/17 yearold who wants to gain a great education and develop as a footballer at the same time.
The Club’s first season at Step 4 proved to be an inconsistent one, with co-bosses Akrigg and Towey ultimately guiding the side to a consolidatory 12th placed finish. Widnes would again advance to the Liverpool Senior Cup semifinal, losing to Prescot Cables on penalties.
Widnes did add another trophy to the cabinet though with a 3-0 win at Runcorn Linnets to lift the North West Counties Champions Cup.
It was a significant season for a number of players, with Kev Pollard, Mike Burke and Chris and George Lomax reaching a century of Widnes appearances, while Accrington Stanley loanee Niall Watson would become the Whites’ youngest ever player and goalscorer in a 2-2 draw against Colwyn Bay in January aged 18 years and 211 days.
Widnes would once again consolidate their position in the NPL Division One North/West in 2019-20, sitting comfortably in mid-table when the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed the campaign early.
The Club did however reach the first qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time following an extraordinary replay win at Mossley in the preliminary round, in which Conor Ready netted a 93rd minute winner after the nine-man hosts had come from behind to equalise in the 90th minute.
Despite the pandemic, the club have continued to grow with its burgeoning junior section now overseeing 26 teams including a new Under-17s side and the popular Wildcats initiative.
After the pandemic brought an early halt to the 2020-21 season, the Whites began the 2021-22 campaign with fresh optimism, but a poor start led to the departure of co-bosses Akrigg and Towey after a hugely successful three-and-a-halfyear spell in charge.
Dave Dempsey was appointed new manager in September 2021 and would steer the club away from relegation danger to a comfortable midtable position – a run which included a highly impressive set of results and to date, the club’s best ever run in the FA Trophy.
The Club’s junior section continued to expand, with the total number of teams now standing at over 30 ahead of the 2022-23 season.
After a poor start to the campaign, Dempsey was relieved of his position as manager and was replaced by Michael Ellison.
Despite being seven points from safety at the foot of the table with 14 games to play, Ellison led a remarkable turnaround and Widnes secured their Step 4 status on the final day of the season with Laurence Smith scoring the only goal in a win over 1874 Northwich.
Premier League - West Table
League Table Season 2024/25
bring some much needed new stimulus to the club. David Day remained on the newly established Board of Directors, headed by incoming Chairman Ian Ross that brought the necessary expertise and drive to enable the Club to progress over the coming seasons.
In September 2016, former Runcorn Linnets Manager Joey Dunn was appointed the new First Team Manager.
Joey’s first season ended with an unbelievable 14 game winning streak which ended with the Division 1 title.
After an inconsistent start to the 2017 -2018 campaign, Dunn resigned his post, and players
Steve Akrigg & Kev Towey jointly took the reigns.
During their first season they guided the club to back to back promotions, and so up to the Northern Premier League, with a tremendous run of 70 points from the remaining 75 available to claim the runner up spot behind Runcorn Linnets. They then went on to claim a remarkable double, lifting the Macron Challenge Cup with a 2 -1 win over Burscough FC at Fleetwood Towns ‘Highbury Stadium to end the season on an even greater high.
Further success soon followed with a convincing 3 -0 win away at Runcorn Linnets in the NWCFL season curtain raiser, The Reusch Champions Cup.
Introducing the Spectral Intent Elite Exclusive Northern Premier League Match Ball :
Ÿ Microcoated PU casing equalizes airow
Ÿ Engineered PU for increased response & enhanced control
Ÿ Optimal sphericity for straight ight
Ÿ Modied latex bladder for improved balance & accuracy Ofcial Partner to the Pitching In NPL
There are many different volunteer roles in non-league football and Northern Premier League football clubs need your help with them. The Trident Leagues and Pitching In’s online Volunteer Hub is the place where you can find opportunities and contact your local football club.
Please visit Pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk to find out more
The Squads
Widnes FC
Mark Halstead
Josh McGreavy
Niall Battersby
Owen Beamon
Sam Bhatti
Lewis Coulton
Louis Isherwood
Matty Rain
Jack Walls
Adam Bott
George Hassall
Steven Irwin
Sean Miller
Brendan O’Brien
Ben Rydel
Kingsley Williams
Nathan Corness
Ethan Danku
Sharif Deans
Josh High
Jack McGowan
Liam Paton
James Steele
Andy Briggs
Stalybridge Celtic
Freddie Walker Played Played Scored Scored
Prince Anuniru
Jack Banister
Jordan Boon
Kyle Brownhill
Matty Bryan
Jordan Burton
Jordan Butterworth
Aaron Chalmers
Tommy Duffy
Joe Duckworth
Joe Edwards
Jack Irlam
Ashley Leather
Max Leonard
Moses Masaba
Kamoy McNair
Charlie Monks
Javid Swaby-Neavin
Jack Tinning
Liam Tongue
Sean Tse
Match Officials
Referee: Daniel Hitchell
Assistant 1: Sean Goldsmith
Assistant 2: Craig Andrews