St Helens Town JFC DRAFT v8

Hello and welcome to one of the most important

days in St Helens Town’s history!!

Today our club finally has a base that our members

can be proud of….The venue will host all our

presentation days, training events and importantly

offer a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for all our players.

Every child at St Helens Town JFC will have the opportunity to play here,

all teams as they reach 11 aside football will be invited down to use the

facilities for matches throughout the football season.

None of this however would be possible if it wasn’t for the fantastic support from The Football Pools. The

£50k refurbishment of the club has transformed the facilities and will be the envy of a lot of clubs in the

area. Throughout this magazine you will see the progression that has been made from the start of the

project in mid January to today.

There are many businesses I would like to thank, especially Ian Penrose from Sportech PLC and Jen

Danby from The Football Pools, Joe Cooney from Street Games who has overseen the whole project and

been a constant source of knowledge and expertise. Henry Robson, Astin Ewington and the team from

Fast Track. Also a massive thank you for today’s ambassadors Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Neville

Southall, Peter Reid, Roger Hunt and Conor Coady for taking time to visit us today.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our trade’s people, Remstone Construction, Tabern

Electrical, Ignite Plumbing, Appleton Painting & Meadows Joinery and of course the Princes Trust.

Myself and the management committee at St Helens Town JFC really believe that today is a landmark for

our club and it will help us grow even further over the years to come, with new additions to the Girls

football teams and our latest additions of the Disability teams, St Helens Town JFC is in a great position

to move forward.

Finally, I really hope you enjoy today’s celebrations and would like to finally thank our very own Les

Tabernacle. His hard work and dedication to this 90 Day Challenge has been nothing but remarkable and

I wanted to personally thank him for his efforts on behalf of every one at St Helens Town JFC.

Steve Leather

Chairman, St Helens Town JFC

A welcome from St Helens Town . . .

Ian Penrose, CEO Sportech PLC,

owner of The Football Pools . . . “Firstly I would like to congratulate St Helens Town Junior Football Club

on the incredible changes they have made to their club during their 90 day

challenge. The efforts by everyone involved to make the vital

improvements to this club are not only going to have a positive impact on

the club and its members but by the wider community who use this facility

and it is fantastic to see what they have achieved.

“We launched the 90 Day Community Challenge as part of the of The

Football Pools 90th season celebrations which have been taking place this

year. Not only have we been creating winners since 1923, but we have also supported grass roots

football and other good causes through our business’ 90 year history. The Football Pools has in fact

donated over £1.1 billion to football, sport and the arts since 1923. Hundreds of millions of pounds of that

money was donated to football during the last four decades, providing an essential lifeline when the

game’s wealth was a fraction of what it enjoys today. This enabled clubs to rebuild, modernise and make

their grounds safer, as well as helping the game tackle some of its social problems. This legacy can be

seen in the scores of new and rebuilt stadiums in all parts of the UK – from Huddersfield, Sunderland,

Reading and Bolton to Chester, Derby, Inverness, Livingston and Scotland’s Hampden Park – all of

which were built during 1980s and 1990s, with the Football Pools’ assistance.

“We are committed to leaving a lasting legacy within football and its communities and the 90 Day

Community Challenge has allowed us to continue that today. The team here at St Helens Town JFC has

really risen to the challenge, taking our £50,000 donation and turning it into much more through the help

of its members as well as the local and business community. I sincerely hope their new and improved

facility will help the club to attract even more members, volunteers and coaches and continue to thrive as

a football club for this community.”

Alan Hansen

The Football Pools Ambassador

Autograph

Alan Hansen Liverpool 1977-1991 App 434 Hansen won 8 league titles, 3 European Cups, 2 FA Cups and 4 League Cups during his playing career at Anfield. When Kenny Dalglish was appointed as player-manager, he gave Hansen the captaincy and reaped immediate success in 1986 when Liverpool became only the third side in the 20th century to complete a League and FA Cup "double", following Tottenham in 1961 and Arsenal in 1971. Hansen lifted both trophies as captain

and earned his first FA Cup winners' medal, thereby completing the domestic set. “I have been looking forward to returning to St Helens today since we handed over the £50,000 cheque to Steve Leather and his team back in December. The plans that were in place for the old clubhouse were substantial and I am delighted to see them in their entirety today and that the work has finished in time. This renovation will bring a significant improvement for all the teams associated with St Helens Town Junior Football Club and will guarantee all those who play here a future of playing football in their local area.”

Kenny Dalglish


Autograph

Kenny Dalglish Celtic 1969-1977 App 204 Liverpool 1977-1990 App 355 (manager: 1985-91 2011-12) Dalglish settled into life at Anfield quickly after his move from Celtic, scoring 31 goals in his first season including the winning goal in the 1978 European Cup Final at Wembley against Bruges. In his second season he was named Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year. A potent strike partnership was formed with Ian Rush and Dalglish was voted PFA Player of the Year for the 1982–83 season during which he scored 18 league goals as Liverpool retained their title. He fast became an Anfield

legend scoring goals and winning titles and Cups for the Merseyside club in his 13 year spell at the club. He managed the club on two separate occasions. “The Football Pools awarded St Helens Town Junior Football Club this grant because of their clear plans to bring football and the community together. Grassroots football clubs like this are the future of the game we love so much and I am extremely happy to be here today to see the end product of 90 days hard work to help improve the facilities. It is clear to see that the club and community have really got behind this project and have made a massive difference to this clubhouse to ensure everyone from St Helens can continue to play and enjoy their football for many years to come.”

Neville Southall


Autograph

Neville Southall Everton 1981-1988 App 578 Neville Southall MBE has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, he was named on the PFA Team of the Year four consecutive times and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985. Southall was renowned for his shot-stopping ability and dealing with one-on-one situations. He would spend hours reading books about boxing and golf to improve his balance and spring, and would focus on improving saying that "If I changed 100 things and got

1% better because of one of them, then it was worth it." “The Football Pools’ generosity combined with the hard work of Steve Leather and Les Tabernacle at this well run football club have made today possible. When I look back at my visit in December, how different this clubhouse looked. I hear the community has pulled together, donations have been made and spare time has been given up to create what we are opening today. I wish all the people involved with this club, staff, volunteers and the youngsters who represent St Helens Town JFC the very best enjoyment of this upgraded facility.”

Peter Reid Everton 1982-89 App 159 Reid was part of the Everton team that won the 1984 FA Cup, in 1985 and 1987 the Football League championship and in 1985 the European Cup Winners' Cup. He was voted PFA Footballer of the Year in 1985, Reid's form was so good that year, he came 4th in the World Soccer player of the year award behind only Michel Platini, Preben Elkjaer and Diego Maradona.

“I grew up not far from here and played cricket on this pitch so when I was asked to visit half way through the 90 Day Community Challenge I was delighted to accept. Progress had been good back then on a freezing cold day in February but today with all the work completed, it is just immense how much time and energy has gone into this renovation project. I hope everyone involved with the club is extremely proud of their efforts. The future of this club looks secure for many years to come and I am delighted to have been part of The Football Pools celebrations today.”

Peter Reid


Autograph

Conor Coady

St Helens born Pemiership Footballer

Autograph

Aged 20 years Conor, is a product of the Liverpool Youth Academy and has been at the Academy since 2005. In the 2010/11 season, he was an unused substitute for the first team twice, firstly in a Europa League game against Sparta Prague, and then in the Premier League against Birmingham City. He played every Reserve League and NextGen Series match in the 2011-12 season, scoring five goals, and also scored in a pre-season friendly game against Guangdong Sunray Cave with the senior team in July 2011. Despite being named in the senior squad list and being called up to the senior squad occasionally since 2010, he did not make his official senior debut until 8 November 2012 in a UEFA Europa League group stage match against Anzhi Makhachkala. After Andre Wisdom's promotion as a full-time senior squad member, Conor was installed as full-time captain of the Under-21 squad. Coady has represented England at Under-16 right through to Under-19 level where he is currently playing. He has been capped 17 times for the England national under-17 football team. He played and captained the England team at the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship in Liechtenstein where him and his England colleagues won the tournament, and became the first England team to win an international tournament in 17 years. He was then part of the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in Estonia in which England got as far as the semi-finals where they were knocked out by Greece.

The 90 Day Community Challenge

Top left: Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish pose for photographs with Town Junior players. Top right: Alan Hansen, Conor Coady and Kenny Dalglish offer some tips to St Helens Town Junior players. Opposite: St Helens Town Junior Chairman, Steve Leather is congratulated by The Football Pools Ambassador Alan Hansen. Below: Roger Hunt signs autographs for St Helens Town Junior players.

Launch event 17th December 2012

Top left and opposite: Kenny Dalglish signs autographs and poses for photographs with Town Junior players. Top right: The Football Pools ambassadors with Steve Leather and Jen Danby. Below: Town players and coaches with The Football Pools ambassadors and the £50k ‘90 Day Community Challenge’ cheque.

St Helens Town Clubhouse before . . .

Loan of Power Tools HARLOW Hire – St Helens

Widows Blinds

IDEAL BLINDS – St Helens

Seating Upholstery BOYCOTTS – St Helens

Painting and Decorating

APPLETON Painters – St Helens

Central Heating & Plumbing IGNITE – St Helens

Electrical Fittings

TABERN Electrical – St Helens

Suspended Ceilings SC UK – Prescot

Ceramic Tiles

TOPPS TILES – St Helens

Paint Supplies A & B TRADEPAINT – St Helens

Roof Repairs

P LITTLE ROOFING – St Helens

Tiling KN TILING – St Helens

Wireless Internet

02 Telephonica – Ormskirk

St Helens Town Juniors FC would like to thank the following . . .

IGNITE PLUMBING

. . . and during the re-build

IDEAL BLINDS

Concert Room & Lounge Carpets ENA SHAW – St Helens

Media Design

TRIPRINT – St Helens

Signage and Pictures PRESCOTTS – St Helens

Radiators

CITY PLUMBING – St Helens

Building Design Drawings REGENIC Building Design - St Helens

Building Materials

JEWSONS – St Helens

Timber Supplies CENTRAL TIMBER – St Helens

Cleaning Materials

CLEANEAZE – St Helens

Pathway Building PALPHREYS Builders – St Helens

Transportation of the Dugouts ST GROUP – St Helens

UPVC Doors

QUALPLAS – St Helens

Metal Window Guards MULTI MESH – St Helens

St Helens Town Juniors FC would like to thank the following . . .

Clubhouse work in progress . . .

. . . and some of the finishing touches Main Building Contractor REMSTONE – Speke

. . . and anybody we may have missed

Half time visit from Peter Reid . . .

Above left: Peter Reid tries his skills with the mini-digger on his visit for the ‘Half Time’ event.

Above right: Peter joins members of the Prince’s Trust who have supported the project.

Opposite right: Peter Reid is live on Sky Sports while below he poses for photos with Town Junior Officials Judith Hughes , Les Tabernacle and Steve Leather.

. . . in the 90 Day Community Challenge

Above: Peter Reid pictured with Town officials and team coaches during the ‘Half Time’ event.

Below and Right: Peter gets stuck in and assists with the on-going work at Windleshaw Road.

StreetGames is a sports charity that changes lives and communities. We do it by supporting a network of projects which give sports and volunteering opportunities to young people in disadvantaged communities across the UK. Doorstep sport is StreetGames’ delivery method, whereby we bring sport close to the home in disadvantaged communities at the right time, for the right price, to the right place and in the right style. The aim of each StreetGames project, accredited by StreetMark, is to be sustainable and become part of the fabric of the community. This leads to stronger and safer communities, a

championing of social action and volunteering, as well as improved health and wellbeing. StreetGames is proud that it gives young people exactly what they’re seeking – the chance to enjoy sport, give back to their communities and aspire to greater things. The enthusiasm that this breeds leads to an increase in sports participation and a recognition of the enjoyment that can be gained from taking part in sport. At StreetGames we offer our projects Us Girls, The Co-operative StreetGames Young Volunteers, StreetGames – Legacy Leaders and Training Academy programmes to maximise their chances of creating positive change. Who we are? StreetGames was launched in 2007 to change lives and change communities for the better. We were inspired by the success of joint work by The FA, The Football Foundation and agencies working in deprived areas. Since then, projects across the UK have benefitted from the StreetGames doorstep sport method. Our Values

• Focus

StreetGames is the national charity which develops doorstep sport in disadvantaged communities.

• Social inclusion

StreetGames advocates that sport is a catalyst for social change in disadvantaged communities.

• Empowerment

StreetGames helps people to become the best they can be through taking part in and leading sport initiatives.

• Partnerships

StreetGames values partnerships which draw on each other’s strengths and expertise and believes in sharing good ideas and resources.

• Creativity

Doorstep sport is an emerging style of community engagement and sports delivery – there is still much to learn and techniques to be tested. We bring a creative and flexible eye to new situations and challenges.

• Equity

StreetGames challenges the barriers which prevent so many women and girls, black and minority e t h n i c communities and disabled people who live in disadvantaged areas from taking part in sport.

For more information visit our website www.streetgames.org

Thanks from St Helens Town JFC . . . Has it really only been 90 Days! It seems longer since we started out on our Community Challenge. It’s been a privilege to be involved in this programme, and it’s been especially pleasing to see, that even in these difficult economic times, that the business community of St Helens has rallied round and dug deep to help us deliver the transformation of the facilities. On behalf of the club, can I express our gratitude to those companies who have helped us. Be it wood, ceramics, paint, stone, or concrete they have provided it. Plumbing, heating, tiling, flooring, roofing or decorating they have done it. Windows have been dressed, carpets have been laid, nails have been hammered, upholstery stitched. We thank them all, and we acknowledge all of them within this magazine and on our media display within the

clubhouse. Please give them your support. Sponsorship opportunities always exist across the many teams, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the many organisations who have supported us through the years. If you would like to support the club and promote your business, please contact me via the clubs website. Les Tabernacle

Commercial Director, St Helens Town JFC

It was a surprise to most of the girls currently playing at the club that St Helens actually has a great legacy of Ladies football. The Town team was once a force to be reckoned with, even winning the Ladies FA Cup. Sadly, those days of success were lost, not because of ability or passion, but because of the loss of pitch facilities to the Ladies game. What we are striving to do with the Juniors is to create a support network of playing and training facilities that can engender a new generation of girl players to put the Town back on the map. Ladies football is currently enjoying its deserved place back in the spotlight. From sell-out crowds at the Olympics, to improved media coverage and female players becoming household names to inspire more active participation in the sport. St Helens Town

JFC would like to thank Sue Smith for coming along today to our grand opening and taking time to pass on her experiences to our teams. One of the most pleasing of outcomes from the 90 Day Challenge is that we have managed to promote new special needs teams for the Town. It delivers on our vision of having a totally inclusive view about our players. They are especially welcome here today. We are now looking to develop out of school training and match experiences for this group, and have already had considerable interest within the borough. Thanks go to Ena Shaw for their generous sponsorship in enabling this to happen. Judith Hughes Director of Ladies Football, St Helens Town JFC

As part of the younger “Community”, we set a “Challenge” to a group of students studying Design at St Helens College. They were set the task of creating a series of

campaign design ideas that looked to promote “Football” within the borough. The group came up with some ingenious ideas. Using the brand line “My Team My Town”, the students allowed all of the teams to feel included, Senior, Ladies and the many Junior teams. Moreover, the message is set to reach out to the many football fans in St Helens that support the premiership teams in the region, that they can also show allegiance their own “Town” team within St Helens. Everybody’s second team can be their hometown team. Several mock up ideas were created; billboards, bus adverts, bags, t-shirts and car stickers. Some of these artworks will actually be used by the club to promote its brand image. A fantastic piece of work by the group! Well done St Helens College students Gemma Beckett, Lewis Barker and Dean Wainwright. Some ideas are shown here - remember where you saw it first!

St Helens Town Juniors . . .

. . . in action during 2012

St Helens Town Juniors . . .

. . . in action during 2012

Photographs: Above Tommy O’Neil holding aloft the FA Vase in 1987. Opposite St Helens Town 1948 with Bert Trautmann

A Brief History of St Helens Town . . . The original Town club was in existence from 1901 to 1928, but George Fryer and a number of local businessmen decided to re-form the club in 1946. They obtained a lease on the Hoghton Road ground in Sutton, adjacent to St. Helens Junction station on the Liverpool to Manchester railway line, took over a local St. Helens Combination team, Derbyshire Hill Rovers, signing a number of players from other clubs and entered the Liverpool County Combination in the 1947/48 season, playing against Everton “A” and Liverpool “A” and several reserve sides from the leading non-league clubs in the Merseyside area. Success was first attained in May 1949 when Runcorn were defeated in the final of the George Mahon Cup, played at the Prescot Cables ground. The following season, 1949/50, Town were elevated to the Second Division of the Lancashire Combination and they were promoted as Champions in only their second season to the First Division, where they ran up against teams such as Ashton United, Nelson and New Brighton, newly relegated from the Football League. Sadly, Town were themselves relegated in their first season and although promoted briefly again in 1955/56, they spent most of their early years in the Second Division. Improvements were quickly made to the facilities at Hoghton Road in the early years, but in November 1952 the decision was taken to re-locate to the former St. Helens Recs’ rugby league ground at City Road in order to further their ambitions of reaching the Football League. Initially, the move resulted in some encouraging crowds, but the club had a change of heart and returned to Sutton in the October 1953. The ground was purchased and further developed and a social club and floodlights were added in later years. Town were Champions of the Lancashire Combination in 1971/72 season, losing only one game, finishing 6 points clear of Accrington Stanley. 1975 brought a switch to the Cheshire League, where they remained until the formation of the North West Counties League in 1982 and St. Helens Town is the only club to feature in the top division of that league throughout its existence although, after a very good start, they very nearly lost that proud record last season. The club’s major achievement was victory in the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987. After a stuttering start in the Preliminary Round with a 5-4 extra-time win over Colne Dynamoes, further home successes over General Chemicals, Wren Rovers, Guisborough Town and Wythenshawe Amateurs, led to wins at Wisbech Town, at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare, away to Falmouth Town (after a replay) and in the away leg at Emley when, following a 1-0 home defeat in the first-leg, a 2-0 win in Yorkshire secured a Wembley Final against local rivals Warrington Town, who were dispatched 3-2 with goals from Phil Layhe (2) and Brian Rigby.

St. Helens Town boast an impressive “Hall of Fame”, including legendary goalkeeper and former German Prisoner-of-

St Helens Town Managers 1962-63 Pat Murphy 1963-64 Sam Cottingham 1964-66 Jimmy McKiernan 1966-68 Jackie Dewsnip 1968-71 Peter Jones 1971-77 Alan Hampson 1977-79 Jimmy Dewsnip 1979-80 Geoff Robinson 1980-82 Jack Prytherch 1982-84 Peter Rutherford 1984-87 Alan Wellens 1987-92 Alan Aspinall 1992-93 Mick Holgate 1993-02 Jimmy McBride 2002-03 John Davison 2003-04 Paul Lodge 2004-05 Joe Paladino 2005-06 Joe Gibiliru 2006-07 Alex Wright 2007-09 John Fletcher 2009-10 Gary Bickerstaffe 2010-11 Lee Riley 2011-12 Jimmy McBride 2012 Ian Granite

War Bert Trautmann, who signed for Manchester City over 60 years ago and who went on to play the game of his life in the 1956 FA Cup Final, despite breaking his neck in the latter stages. Bill Foulkes was transferred to Manchester United, where he had a glittering career, surviving the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, in which he bravely rescued some of his stricken team-mates. John Connelly, an England squad member in the victorious 1966 World Cup campaign, was sold to Burnley and he later moved to join Foulkes at Old Trafford. Other future stars, groomed at St. Helens Town, included John Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Geoff Nulty (Burnley, Newcastle United and Everton) and, most recently, ace goalscorer Dave Bamber, who began and ended his league career at Blackpool and who played in all four divisions of the Football League. Captain of the FA Vase winning team was Tommy O’Neil, who began his league career playing alongside George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton at Manchester United. Town sold their Hoghton Road ground in 2000 to move in with St. Helens Rugby League Club at their Knowsley Road base. Their farewell appearance at Sutton produced a 1-0 win over Champions Vauxhall Motors and the initial campaign at Knowsley Road got off to a cracking start, with Town leading the table for most of the season, before finishing in a rather disappointing fourth place. Recent seasons have been more of a struggle, ninth place in 2009/10 being the best finish since. The last two seasons have seen Town slide to 16th in 2010/11 and next to bottom last season, when they would have been relegated, but for Flixton’s decision to resign from the league. Town begin this season under new manager Ian Granite, who has brought in a new coaching set-up and several new players. Whilst on the playing front, the club looks forward to an improvement this season, Town’s ground situation remains uncertain. Though the club have the benefit of an 80-year ground-sharing agreement with Saints, they have been unable to re-locate to the new stadium at Langtree Park and a third season sharing Ashton Town’s ground at Edge Green Street has had to be arranged to cover their immediate future as negotiations with Saints continue.

Club Honours:

1949 George Mahon Trophy Winners

1951 Lancs Comb Division 2 Champions

1972 Lancs Combination Champions

1973 Bass Charrington Cup Winners

1978 St Helens Hospital Cup Winners

1979 St Helens Comb Division 1 Runners Up

1979 St Helens Hospital Cup Runners Up

1980 St Helens Comb Division 1 Champions

1985 NWCFL Reserve Division 2 Runners Up

1986 NWCFL Reserve Division 1 Runners Up

1987 FA Vase Winners (Wembley)

1994 League Challenge Cup Finalists

1994 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up

1995 NWCFL Reserve Division Champions

1996 NWCFL Reserve Division Runners Up

1998 Floodlit Trophy Finalists

1999 REALCO Fair Play Award Winners

2009 Bert Trautmann Trophy Winners

Record Appearances: Allan Wellens

Record Goal Scorer: Steve Pennington

Record Attendances

4000 at Hoghton Road v Manchester City

1723 at Knowsley Road v FC Utd of Manchester

9000 at Prescot Cables v Runcorn (1949)

Programme Awards

1993-94 NWCFL Programme of the Year






2009-10 NWCFL Premier Division



Wirral Programme Club National Survey




Programme Monthly


Soccer Club Swap Shop National Awards

2010-11 Placed 28th

2011-12 Placed 8th

St Helens Town ‘Hall of Fame’ . . . Now in his 89th year, Bernhard Carl Trautmann was born in Walle, near Bremen, Germany on 22nd October 1923 and upon leaving school, he became an apprentice motor mechanic. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1941 as a radio operator, eventually becoming a paratrooper, winning 5 medals, including an Iron Cross (First Class) on the Eastern Front, but having transferred to the Western Front, was captured by the British in 1944, seeing out the remainder of the War in prison camps in Northwich and Ashton-in-Makerfield. Whilst at Ashton, he played in football matches, initially as an outfield player, but following an injury, went in goal, where his all-round athletic abilities allowed his career to blossom. In 1948, having declined an offer of repatriation, he began playing for St. Helens Town and quickly earned a reputation as a goalkeeper of rare talent, attracting interest from several Football League clubs. His brief career with Town began with a home game against South Liverpool in the Liverpool County Combination on 28th August 1948. On his third appearance, it was reported that “very sportingly the Skelmersdale supporters gave Trautmann a wonderful reception.” Later in the year, the club secretary, John Friar, proclaimed in his programme notes “To put your minds at rest again, I am pleased to inform you that B. Trautmann is not leaving Sutton. As I have told you before, his whole interests are in the Town Club and he is more than happy with us. But he has been granted leave to visit his parents. He will be going early in the New Year and we shall lose his services for a matter of three matches.”

Such was the town’s affection for Bert that they sent him on his way with a large food hamper and a considerable sum of cash, which was an overwhelming gesture of kindness not lost on Bert and, indeed, his family at such a difficult time in Germany’s history. On Bert’s return, he assisted Town to success in the George Mahon Cup competition, his and the club’s first trophy. Runcorn were beaten in the final at Prescot before a crowd of 9000. As the 1949/50 season opened, with Town in the Lancashire Combination, Second Division, the pressures on St. Helens to part with their star player became ever stronger and a transfer to Manchester City was agreed, but deferred until Town’s elimination from the FA Cup. That occurred on 1st October 1949 when Town lost 0-3 to Bangor City and the transfer was completed the following Thursday. Bert (pictured opposite with former City ‘keeper Frank Swift) had played 43 games for St. Helens Town, but he returned on three subsequent occasions, twice for friendly matches with Manchester City and once to marry the secretary’s daughter!

Bert’s debut for City came in a game with Bolton Wanderers on 15th October. There were mass protests over his signing by the citizens of Manchester, who had suffered so much at the hands of the Germans in the War.

However, the affable keeper did not take long to win over the hearts of the City fans and any hostility soon melted away. He went on to make 508 League appearances for the Maine Road club in a 15-year career, culminating in a testimonial game which attracted a crowd of over 47,000. The game for which Bert is best remembered is the 1956 FA Cup Final against Birmingham City. The Sky Blues won 3-1, but Bert broke his neck when caught by a stray boot and bravely played on for the remaining fifteen minutes. The extent of his injury was only confirmed some days later. Honours continued to flow for Bert, selected twice for The Football League and he was the worthy recipient of the FA’s Footballer of the Year Trophy in 1956. After retirement as a player, Bert became manager of Stockport County, subsequently managing two teams in his native Germany and completing his career in charge of Burma, Liberia and Pakistan. Bert was awarded an honorary OBE in 2004 for his services to Anglo-German relations through football – his Trautmann Foundation is a charitable trust set up to raise funds to foster that aim – and the following year, he was inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. Bert has for many years lived in Spain, but still visits England occasionally. Early in 2009 Bert visited Manchester and during his short stay he made time to meet with St Helens Town officials. Bert was kind enough to donate a number of items which the club auctioned, raising in excess of £1000. The relationship between Bert and St Helens Town has been cemented and Bert was delighted, in September 2009, to accept the club’s offer of becoming its Honorary President alongside former Town and Manchester United great Bill Foulkes.

In addition to legend Bert Trautmann St Helens Town can boast a number of player who reached the very top. Bill Foulkes: Rainhill boy Bill, played for Town as a youngster in the early 50’s and his potential was spotted by Manchester United for who he signed as one of the ‘Busby Babes’. He was involved in United’s 1957 championship win which consequently led to a European Cup quest which was to result in the fateful Munich air disaster of February 1958. Along with ‘keeper Harry Gregg, Bill became one of the heroes of the tragedy which killed so much young talent. He remained loyal to Sir Matt Busby’s dream and was a member of United’s team which beat Benfica at Wembley ten years later to finally land the European Cup.

. . . Bert Trautmann OBE

St Helens Town ‘Hall of Fame’ . . . John Connelly: From Clock Face, John played for Town in the late 50’s after having signed from the then highly successful St Teresa’s junior team. Such was his talent on the wing we could not keep him long and he was soon snapped up by Burley who by the 60’s were one of the top sides in the land. John was an immediate success at Turf Moor and was a member of the ‘Clarets’ league championship winning side of 1962 which naturally led to the ‘European’ experience. As the decade unfolded John won a place in the England side and was in Alf Ramsey’s 1966 World Cup winning squad. He later left Burnley for Manchester United.

John Quinn: With the same pedigree as friend John Connelly, Johnny Quinn signed from St Teresa’s and after a brief non-league career with Town and Prescot Cables, joined Sheffield Wednesday. The Hillsborough side were the ‘nearly’ team of the early and mid-sixties and the pinnacle of John’s career was his appearance in the 1966 FA Cup Final, but he had to settle for a runner’s up medal as Everton made a dramatic comeback to overturn a two nil deficit in winning 3-2. Geoff Nulty: One of Town’s youngest ever captains, Geoff played at Hoghton Road in the early seventies before becoming another target for the Burnley scouting system. In a distinguished career he then moved on to Newcastle and towards the end the decade was signed by Gordon Lee for Everton. Sadly his career was ended in 1980 following a derby match incident with Liverpool’s Jimmy Case at Goodison Park. Dave Bamber: The late seventies was Dave’s era at Hoghton Road before he went on to become a cult figure at Blackpool where he enjoyed two spells. In between, ace goal scorer Dave played in the top flight with Coventry as well as a brief flirtation with Swindon Town before returning to the North West and Bloomfield Road. Derek Hennin: Derek was a member of the awesome Bolton Wanderers side of the late fifties who won the FA Cup in the notorious ‘Nat Lofthouse’ final of 1958 when Manchester United were beaten 2-0. One of the ‘Trotters’ famous H’s of that era, Derek was a terrier on the pitch and a perfect gentleman off it. He became our player/manager in the mid sixties before finally hanging up his boots. Derek died in 1989 and football lost a real ‘character’.

Tommy O’Neil: Local boy Tommy (pictured left with the FA Vase) from Parr left school as a sporting prodigy having also captained the GB Rugby League side. However, Manchester United signed him and under Frank O’Farrell he played alongside the legendary Best, Law and Charlton in the early 1970’s. Sadly, he was not to figure in Tommy Docherty’s plans and dropped down the leagues with Southport, Tranmere and Halifax with. He was, however, to share in Town’s greatest hour when he held aloft the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987. Sadly, Tommy lost a battle with cancer and died in 2006 aged 53.

St Helens Town ‘First Team’ . . .

Season 2012-13 Action from The Millbank Linnets Stadium

Runcorn Linnets v St Helens Town

St Helens Town ‘Reserve Team’ . . .

Season 2012-13 Action from the Welfare Ground, St Helens

Clock Face Miners FC v St Helens Town Reserves

St Helens Town ‘Youth Team’ . . .

Action from the NWYA League Cup Semi-final win over Ashton Athletic

(3-1) at Bobbies Lane, St Helens March 2013

. . . in League Cup semi-final action

St Helens Town goal scorers in the NWYA League Cup semi-final were

Jordan Dunne, Ryan Vaughton & Callum Laird

St Helens Town AFC . . . It will be remembered that the original St. Helens Town club was formed in

1901. What is less clear is how long the club survived. Some accounts state that Town folded in 1923, but research in the local press shows the club struggled on until at least 1928. St. Helens had two newspapers, the St. Helens Reporter and the St. Helens Newspaper, both of which published twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, until the mid-1950s. Between the wars, local sport was dominated by the town’s two professional Rugby League, St. Helens and St. Helens Recs. There was also a thriving local football competition in the St. Helens Combination. All three entities commanded most of the space on the sports pages in the 1920s and, as a consequence, very few column inches were

devoted to “Town Notes”. Town’s position was further squeezed from 1927 onwards, after rivals Prescot Cables were promoted mid-way through the season to replace Fleetwood in the Lancashire Combination and from that point onwards, the Cables were the principal local football club, Town appearing only occasionally in the local press. League tables featuring St. Helens Town appeared only once every few weeks in the local press for 1927/28 and 1928/29. Indeed, very few match reports appeared at all, so it is impossible to say definitively what matches were played and when the club finally ceased to function. “Town Notes” for 4th May 1928, under the heading “Will the Club continue?” provide interesting reading:

“The future of the Town club is very problematical. Some of the officials, feeling that the public have refrained from giving the club their necessary support during the last three seasons, have decided to retire. It is now a question whether or not there can be found a few enthusiasts with sufficient interest in Association Football to take their places. “Thanks to the generosity of a few friends, the club is less embarrassed financially than at any stage of its career so that, should anyone offer to come along and help run the club, they will have the benefit their predecessors have not enjoyed. Mr. T. Wall, 217 Derbyshire Hill Road, Parr, will be pleased to hear from anyone willing to take up office.”

The 1927/28 season saw the transfers of five star players: Fairhurst and Thomas had signed for Liverpool, although Thomas was placed with Runcorn to gain experience; Tunstall went to Aston Villa, via Prescot, Peachey signed for Bradford City and Bromilow joined Bolton Wanderers via Atherton. Nevertheless, the club’s finances were under pressure, as it was stated that in one home game that season, although four of these stars played, the gate was insufficient to cover the referee’s fee. The beginning of the 1928/29 season saw two trial games take place at Park Road and players were asked to meet at the club’s headquarters at the Black Horse. The opening game of the season in the Senior Division on 1st September, produced a draw against Bryn Celtic (no match report could be found). Manchester North End visited Park Road in the FA Cup on 15th September and, in a goalless game, Town were represented by:

Milligan, Taylor, Gutteridge, Smith, Flaherty, Anders, Fairclough, Pilkington, Whitley, Aspinwall and Middlehurst. The replay, at Blackley, four days later was described as a “scrappy game” which Town lost 3-4, goals coming from Middlehurst and Anders (2). That appears to be the last Town match report in the local press. Another league game was played that month, which was won, then there was a gap of several weeks until early November, when a game was lost and this appears to have been the last before the club folded. That sad event does not appear to have been worthy of even a mention in either of the local papers. Eighteen years on and, following the end of the Second World War, George Fryer and several other local businessmen, decided upon re-forming the Town club and acquired a lease of the former Sutton Cricket Club ground at Hoghton Road. Filled with undue optimism, the club was entered into the FA Cup but, drawn against Prescot Cables, they failed to fulfil the fixture. Embarking upon a different course, Town took over the Derbyshire Hill Rovers club in the St. Helens Combination during the 1946/47 season. Several of that team’s players formed the nucleus of the Town club, which joined the Liverpool County Combination at the start of the 1947/48 season. The first game, on 27th August, away to Prescot BI, resulted in a 0-0 draw. Town’s team was: Holmes, Jones, Gaskell, Burrows, Farrar, Jackman, Collins, Hughes, Dillon, Burke and Fairhurst. A crowd of around 2000 saw Town’s first home game the following Saturday, against Newton YMCA. The game finished 1-1, Boon scoring the first goal for the YMCA and Hughes opening Town’s account. The first win was obtained in the return game against Prescot BI on 3rd September, Town storming to a 4-0 success, thanks to goals from Collins, Fryer (2) and an own goal by Hobbs. The first season’s highlight was a sparkling 10-4 victory over Everton “A”. There were two goals apiece for Hughes, Pheasant, Northey, Burke and Gregory.

. . . The Demise & Reformation

Early photo from Hoghton Road: Town in action during season 1948-49 - Bert Trautmann in goal

St Helens Town Football Club . . . The present St. Helens Town club has just about to complete its 67th league season. The first two 1947-49 were spent in the Liverpool County Combination, the period 1949-75 in membership of the Lancashire Combination, followed by 7 years in the Cheshire League and the last 30 in the North West Counties League, where they are the only club in permanent membership of the top division. During the early years, the newly reformed club had lofty ambitions, just as the original club had harboured in the early years of the last century. Success in the Liverpool County Combination culminated in the club’s first trophy, the George Mahon Cup, which was won in a thrilling final against Runcorn at Prescot on 7th May 1949. The following season, 1949/50, Town joined the Second Division of the Lancashire Combination, gaining promotion at the second attempt. Back in 1951, long before the establishment of the football pyramid, the Lancashire Combination and the Cheshire League were widely regarded as the Football League’s Fifth Division. Leading clubs from both competitions vied for membership of the Football League. New Brighton had just failed to be re-elected to the Third Division (North) and dropped into the Lancashire Combination, where they came up against Town on 20th October at the Tower Grounds, Garner and Sumner each scoring in a creditable 2-2 draw. Wigan Athletic were prominent members of the Combination (and, later on, the Cheshire League) and many St. Helens Town supporters were of the opinion that, whatever Wigan could do, Town could also do. There was a great deal of ambition around the Town club, built on the back of early successes, that a Football League place could be an achievable aim. After all, despite the competition from the Saints at Knowsley Road, several thousand men travelled from St. Helens every week to watch Everton and Liverpool. Success on the football field might well persuade a good number of those people to watch their football on their St. Helens doorsteps. Town’s first season in the First Division of the Lancashire Combination was an uphill struggle. Nevertheless, three wins from the last five games almost secured their status and they finished just two points adrift of Rossendale United in 20th place. 1952/53 began well enough and there were 6 wins and a draw from the first 7 games. However, there was unrest at Hoghton Road, where crowds were not as good as many thought they should be. It was generally thought that a move to a ground nearer the town centre would result in bigger support and with the bigger gates, the club would be able to attract better players and further its ambitions for Football League status. St. Helens Recs. Rugby League club had played professional rugby at City Road between the wars, but the Pilkingtons company had withdrawn their financial support in April 1939 and the ground had stood empty until 1949, when Pilkington Recs. were re-born as an amateur rugby league club. Pilkingtons were approached and the company’s board agreed to make City Road available to St. Helens Town. The Town Chairman, W. P.

. . . The Early Years Smith, told the local press that the club had come to the cross-roads and a drastic solution to the club’s financial problems had to be found. It was a question of raising income or disband. Not enough people were willing to pay their shilling at the gate. It was announced that a meeting would be held in the refreshment hut following the Droylsden game on 22nd November to discuss the proposed move. The momentous decision was taken to re-locate to City Road and the first game, a Liverpool Non-League Cup game against Stoneycroft, resulted in an 8-1 victory. The following week, 6th December, Morecambe Reserves were dispatched 8-0. Ronnie Rigby scored 4 goals in each match. Crowds were encouraging at first, although they were a little disappointing if Saints were at home the same day. The season was quite successful, but Town ran out of steam towards the end, finishing in fourth place and just missing out on promotion. 1953/54 season began at City Road but, by the end of October, Town were back at Hoghton Road and the ground was taken off the market. A renewed appeal was made for more volunteers to assist the club and for supporters to be militant, rather than passive and to back the club’s ten shilling shares scheme to secure the club’s financial future. Part-way through the season, First Division Bootle folded and Town made application to take over their fixtures. However, their application was rejected and the season ended with some poor results. The following campaign, 1954/55, was worse and the club finished in eighteenth position yet, curiously, were promoted back to the First Division. Predictably, 1955/56, in the First Division, was a bridge too far. Three wins and three draws from 38 games (conceding 110 goals) resulted in a last place finish and, more importantly, the bitter realisation that ambitions for higher status were further away than ever before.

Seven decades have been completed since St Helens Town were re-formed immediately after the war and the following are our ‘shining lights’ throughout each one. 1940s Bert Trautmann The war meant that football only took place in earnest in the latter half of the decade but it was that very same conflict which was to provide us with our all-time ‘star’. One of the world’s greatest goalkeepers, ex-German paratrooper Bert came to St Helens via the prisoner of war camp in Ashton-in-Makerfield having played for the ‘inmates’ team against various local sides. He was only with us for a season and a third before Manchester city swooped for him as his reputation drew large crowds wherever town played. He played fifty one times for St Helens Town being an ever present in season 1948-49 and collected a George Mahon cup winners medal in what was our last season in the Liverpool County combination. Season 49-50 saw us then operating in the Lancashire Combination and Bert managed just ten games before Manchester City intervened in October 1949 but his last game for us was not a happy one as he got out of a sick bed suffering from flu to play an FA Cup tie against Bangor City at Hoghton Road which we lost 3-0/ His move shocked and saddened the three thousand or so regulars we had in those days but he was destined for a much bigger stage eventually becoming ‘Footballer of the Year’ in 1956. 1950’s Harry McCann Following Bert’s departure, Town supporters were looking for another new ‘idol’ as we won the Lancs. Comb. Second Division in 1951 and into the void stepped Rainhill lad, Harry McCann. The challenge of the Lancs. Comb. top flight meant we needed high calibre players to compete and ‘inside left’ Harry proved just that. He was an extremely cultured player with a venomous shot and

soon became a big favourite with his all-round ‘style’. That ‘style’ was evident off the pitch also as those austere days of drab fashion and military hairstyles. Harry cut a dashing figure with luxurious flowing ‘mane’ which drew more than a few comments from opposition fans. Sadly Harry’s talents alone were not enough to maintain our division one status and within a season we were back in the Lancs. Comb. second division. By the mid-fifties Harry McCann had built up quite a reputation on the non-league scene and again controversy and disenchantment manifested itself amongst the Town followers when the Cheshire County League champions Witton Albion, took Harry from our midst and it led to a huge decline in attendances at Hoghton Road forcing an experiment which saw Town play one season at City Road. 1960s John (Jackie) Atherton As the decade turned into what was to become the swinging sixties Town were well served by the likes of Jackie Cooke, Maurice Topping, Stan Ashcroft, Jackie Critchley and Derek Maloney who had emerged from the ‘Rock and Roll’ years of the late 50’s. Another form of ‘rock’ came our way at the decades mid-point when no-nonsense Haydock lad Jackie Atherton began a career lasting some ten seasons in which he became the club captain. Though not the tallest of centre halves Jackie could leap with the best and his robustness on the ground meant that very few got the better of him. The side of which he was the anchor man contained flair players like his namesake Eric Atherton, Ray Fairweather, Johnny Smith and the then club record goal scorer Phil Stainton who’s haul of forty five in season 1964-65 has only been surpassed once since. Though centre half was Jackie’s usual position he also showed versatility at times when being asked to play up front and scored more than the odd goal or two when wearing the No. 9 shirt but it was at the back, bossing affairs in the box which he will always

St Helens Town ‘Elite’ . . .

St. Helens Concert Band is a community band that can trace its roots back to 1859, to the Ravenhead Military Band. The band’s 40+ members come from all over

Merseyside, and the band performs in local parks and halls in St. Helens, the Wirral, and surrounding areas.

The band celebrated its 40th Anniversary at St. Helens

Town Hall in October 2012 – and many ex-band members came back to play with their old band.

St Helens Concert Band welcomes new players of all ages – practicing music by yourself is fine, but the real fun comes from playing with others - come and join us!

If you want to learn more about the history of St Helens

Concert Band, to join the band, or to hire the band, visit our website at:

www.sthelensconcertband.co.uk

Entertaining us today are . . .

be remembered for. Jackie’s career went well into the 1970’s when his years of gutsy services were rewarded with a Lancs. Comb. championship winning medal in 1972. 1970’s Alan Wellens As a local boy in his mid-teens Alan made his St Helens Town debut at Great Harwood in 1966 alongside the aforementioned Jackie Atherton who as skipper made sure that the youngster ‘came to no harm’. Little did anyone realise that Alan would eventually succeed his mentor and become the first Town skipper to lift a trophy for over twenty years when he collected the Lancs. Comb. Championship cup off Wesley Bridge in 1972. Though he featured intermittently at first under boss Jimmy McKiernan, his Town playing career spanned the years 1966 to 1981 with just a brief season and a half at Darwen intervening in the 1970’s. Though records for the early part of this period are sketchy there is no doubt that Alan holds the record for St Helens Town appearances estimated at five hundred plus and he never gave less than one hundred per cent in any of them. Under his leadership Town also won the Watson Trophy and the Bass Charrington Cup in 1974, although he missed the final of the latter due to injury as his team-mates beat Darwen 4-3 thriller played at Burscough. That particular side was prolific indeed that year scoring 107 goals with Jackie Kendrick setting a club record of 46 goals which still stands to this day and though Alan Wellens’ job at right back was to defend, he did manage to get forward enough to bag a couple himself. In season 1975-76 Alan skippered Town in their new challenge in the Cheshire County League where he completed his playing career including the brief spell at Darwen. Sadly his playing days ended when back with Town he broke his leg in a league fixture against Hyde United at Hoghton in 1981 but having recovered, he

took over the management of the team and took us to our most glorious day when winning the FA Vase at Wembley in 1987. 1980’s Phil Layhe As previously mentioned the highlight of Town’s existence has to be the Wembley Vase success of 1987 and the star among many stars that day was two-goal hero Phil Layhe. The 1980’s in general were a complete mixed bag in our fortunes with relegation from division one of the newly formed North West Counties Football league only narrowly avoided in 1982. However, just three years later we were enjoying our best ever FA Cup run and would have faced an away tie at York City in the First Round Proper had we not been unlucky in our replayed 4th qualifying round tie against Morecambe in 1985. Instrumental in our change in fortunes was ‘quiet man’ Phil Layhe who came along in 1984 to operate alongside the likes of Derek Farnsworth, Tommy O’Neil, Jay McComb and John Bendon and was soon leaving defences in his wake with his lightening pace and anticipation. As the ‘Vase’ squad took shape Phil’s obvious talents were given the perfect foil in Brian Rigby and the two set about terrorising defences as we began our quest with an astonishing 5-4 home victory after being 3-0 down to Cole Dynamoes. The fuse was lit and we were on our way with our league form also being revived after a poor start and Phil was regularly on the score sheet. Sadly the backlog of fixtures, which arose from our ‘Vase’ odyssey, meant we didn’t win the league title but the memory of Phil’s supercharged Wembley display will last forever. The final was a local derby against Warrington Town in a very warm Wembley stadium and Phil Layhe had the St Helens contingent on their feet when heading home Tommy O’Neil’s cross within

. . . players from Seven Decades

four minutes. By the 7th minute it was 2-0 when Layhe turned provider for Brian Rigby to head past the forlorn John O’Brien. The games third headed goal came courtesy of Warrington’s Ian Reid on 58 minutes but just as the ‘Wires’ were threatening an equaliser, Phil Layhe forced his way through to make the game safe in the 67th minute. Neil Cooke’s 88th min goal for Warrington made it a jittery last few seconds but the day belonged to St Helens and Phil Layhe in particular. 1990’s Steve Pennington As the century’s final decade began, Steve Pennington had been given few opportunities in a Town shirt and reverted back to local football where he regularly scored ‘hat-tricks’ for fun! It was not until Jimmy McBride took over as manager that ‘Pellet’ got his chance and over an eight year period he wrote himself into our record books and non-league folklore. ‘Pellet’s’ first ever goal was a late tap in winner against Skelmersdale United at the ‘Moss End’ of Hoghton Road and it was into the same net that he scored the last ever goal at our old ground when we beat Vauxhall Motors 1-0 on that memory charged occasion in the year 2000. In between, Steve’s goals lit up every season and despite brief flirtations into the Vauxhall Conference with Altrincham and the Unibond League with Trafford, he always spent enough time with his home town club to top our goal scoring charts. It is fair to say that Pellet’s goals kept us a regular NWCFL top eight club and it is unlikely that his total haul will ever be bettered in Town’s cause, although ironically he never managed to beat our record for goals scored in a season. His tally of 45 in season 97-98 matched Phil Stainton’s 1965 haul but fell one short of Jackie Kendrick’s benchmark of 46 achieved in our latter Lancs. Comb. days in 1974. ‘Pellet’ was a larger than life character both on the field and off it and was well respected both by team

-mates and opponents alike but his ‘cavalier’ lifestyle made him ‘not suitable’ for the pro game though his goal scoring talents undeniably were. Perhaps it is fitting that Mal Thacker’s photograph of that final goal in Hoghton Road’s final game depicting ‘Pellet’ at what he does best, should be the sporting epitaph on the ground he scored ‘bag-fulls’ for St Helens Town and in local cup finals. 2000’s Iain Dyson Ian Dyson’s tenure at St Helens Town began as the final season of the 1990’s was about to commence at Hoghton Road and he has gone on to the become the only player to have played competitively at all three of our significant ‘home’ grounds during the three decades he’s covered during his time with the club (Hoghton Road, Knowsley Road and Edge Green Street, Ashton). Iain made his debut at the club’s Hoghton Road home back on the 14th August 1999, when Town ran out 3-1 winners over Ramsbottom United. He went on to record his first goal at Mossley in a 1-1 draw on 11th September 1999. As a classy midfield player who could also add to the club’s goal tally he was always likely to be much in demand and a spell away from St Helens saw Iain become a firm favourite at a number of clubs including Ramsbottom and Congleton Town. Iain returned to St Helens Town midway through the decade and was virtually ever present until this season. He has had stints as club captain, acting manager and manager and has proved himself a real club-man and a model of consistency, making a considerable contribution to St Helens during a time of significant upheaval and a real change in non-league football. Having recorded his 250th appearance for Town back in September 2011 Iain is still looking to hit the 100-goal mark, requiring just six more for the century (March 2012). Iain is extremely well respected in North West non-league football circles and this is testament to his approach both on and off the field.

. . . from the 1940s to the present day

Documents

St Helens Town JFC DRAFT v8