Squires Gate

THE LIONS DEN
COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
NORTH WEST COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION
TUESDAY 15TH AUGUST 2023
NORI STADIUM
£3
ISSUE. 03

TABLE OF
CONTENT
03
FROM THE DUGOUT
A WORD FROM THE
GAFFER
04
OUR SQUAD
07
OUR HISTORY
10 11 12
MATCH REPORT
THE REDS GO
DOWN AT HOME
LEAGUE TABLE
FIXTURES &
RESULTS
14
A MINUTE WITH
MATTY
15
TODAY'S VISITORS
19
KNOW YOUR STUFF
COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
02

PAUL WELLER
FROM THE
DUGOUT
"TONIGHT IS ABOUT HOW WE
RESPOND, FOLLOWING
SATURDAYS DEFEAT"
Good evening and
welcome to tonight's
NWCFL 1 fixture v Squires
Gate.
I'd like to welcome Squires
Gate Manager, Luke Evans
and his management
team, alongside players,
officials and supporters
who have made the 100
mile round trip this
Tuesday Evening.
Tonight, I'm looking for a
reaction from the players
following a difficult
performance against
Wythenshawe on Saturday,
here at the Nori Stadium.
I feel we struggled from
the first minute to cause
Wythenshawe any real
danger, when we got the
ball we wasted it, or sent it
long when we had better
options available to us. We
have to play better to win
games at this level.
Thankfully, they come thick
and fast and we have a
chance tonight to show
what we are made of.
Tonight will be another
tough test for us, but it's
something we are
prepared for. We need to
be getting points on the
board to climb the league
table, I want us to be
challenging at the right
end of the table.
It's not easy, and not many
sides that get relegated
from the NPL bounce back
immediately, and if you
look at the League table,
there's only Ramsbottom
that are pushing. But, it's
early days and we still
have 42 league games to
go.
We've added Jamie
Edwards to the side, and
Jamie is somebody that
I've been trying to attract
to the club since the final
game of last season. He's
an exciting player, with
experience and I think that
can only help us push on.
Enjoy the game.
Paul
Weller
COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
03

COLNE F.C. SQUAD
PAUL
WELLER
Sponsored by
GERRY
HARRISON
Sponsored by
VINCE
OVERSON
Sponsored by
STUART
CROSS
Sponsored by
JOHN
DAWSON
Sponsored by
MADDISON
STEPHENSON
Sponsored by
THOMAS
GOODWIN
Sponsored by
FINLEY
DEVENNEY
Sponsored by
ELLIS
WALLBANK
Sponsored by
HARRY
WINSTANLEY
Sponsored by
SAM
LLOYD
Sponsored by
MATTY
KARDACZ
Sponsored by

TOM
MCCANN
Sponsored by
RORY
CORMACK
Sponsored by
ALEX
DOYLE
Sponsored by
RYAN
BOLTON
Sponsored by
MALICK
DIAKITE
Sponsored by
OWEN
WATKINSON
Sponsored by
LUCAS
WEAVER
Sponsored by
BRADLEY
KNOX
Sponsored by
JAMES
THEWLIS
Sponsored by
JAMIE
EDWARDS
Sponsored by
JORDAO
COSTA
Sponsored by
JACK
BURROWS
Sponsored by

COLNE FOOTBALL CLUB
OUR
HISTORY
Colne F.C. were formed in
January 1996, by a group of
like-minded people under the
wing of now Life President
Dave Blacklock. The
enthusiasts combined their
strengths and knowledge of
non-league football, and
arrangements were made for a
new club to use the vacant
Holt House Stadium, once used
by the Dynamoes in the North
West Counties Football League
Division Two.
​Colne FC’s first ever
competitive game was on the
17th August 1996 against
Middlewich and the result
ended in a 1 – 0 defeat.
​The team was then managed
by Keith Mason, but after his
resignation soon after, Denzel
Hart was appointed to the hot
seat. His first game was a 6 – 0
defeat away at Ashton Town,
but just two games later Colne
FC recorded their first ever
victory thumping Bacup
Borough 5 – 2. The highlight of
the season, Pazar coming Festival when the
reserves won the BEP Cup at
Shawbridge.
​In the summer of 2002 James
Webster took control of the
club, to become the youngest
chairman in the league at the
age of 24. James was a player
at the club with plenty of
experience and along with his
father who was vice chairman,
had a strong desire to see the
current side emulate the
success of its predecessors.
Webster
responded
immediately by appointing
Nigel Coates as the new
manager as well as player
Gary Rishton as his number 2.
Nigel had played for the
Dynamoes, being in the FA
Vase winning team and had
experience of management at
local rivals Nelson.
​Season 2003/04 brought back
the glory days to Colne with a
string of successes. In the
League Colne had to play
catch up after a successful
cup run, but ended the season
10 points clear in Division two,
scoring 102 goals in their 38
games. Colne completed the
double by winning the Division
Two Trophy 1 – 0 over Great
Harwood.
​The season was capped by an
amazing run in the FA Vase for
a North West Counties Football
League Division Two club, they
progressed all the way to the
semi-finals, (via an incredible 1
– 2 away win at AFC
Wimbledon) before being
defeated over two legs 4 – 3
on aggregate to AFC Sudbury.
​As the season progressed
attendances started to rise as
the local population realised
we were no longer the
whipping boys of the league,
and the famous RED ARMY
was formed.
​In November 2013 Colne’s
manager for the past 10 years
Nigel Coates stepped down
from the hot seat and former
Colne player Steve
Cunningham was appointed
manager, with another former
Colne favourite Ted Cockett
as his No.2 and Coach.
​Steve and Ted had ambitious
plans for the club and wasted
no time in bringing in a few
new faces to boost the playing
squad, consolidating for the
07

rest of the season but with big
hopes and plans for the
following seasons.
​Season 2014-15 proved to be
the best ever at that time in
terms of league placing, with
Colne finishing a creditable
fourth.
​Season 2015-16 proved to be
the best ever in Colne FC
twenty year history. The reds
battled for the NWCFL Premier
title with Runcorn Linnets and
Atherton Collieries with the
Reds winning the title with an
81 minute goal at 1874
Northwich securing 100 points
and 100 + goals upon the way.
The reds also rest of the
season but with big hopes and
plans for the following
seasons.
​Season 2014-15 proved to be
the best ever at that time in
terms of league placing, with
Colne finishing a creditable
fourth.
reached the final of the
League Cup Pazar before Festival falling to
Atherton.
​2016-17 saw the Reds compete
at level 4 for the first time in
their history and finished a
more than creditable 5th and
the final play-off spot which
the Reds lost in the semi- final
to Farsley Celtic. The Colne
fans earned many accolades
throughout the season for their
fine and vocal support of the
team.
​The 2017-18 season see’s Steve
Cunningham lead his team for
another tilt at the title. A new
Chairman Ryan Haigh was
appointed in June 2017 and
with the backing of Utility
Renewals. The reds again were
competitive missing out on the
final play off place on goal
difference.
​2018/19 saw a new era for the
club with the formation of the
NPL West Division. Again Colne
suffered play-off heartache
losing to a last minute extratime
goal in the Semi-Final.
​2019/20 saw the season null
and voided due to the Covid
epidemic with Colne in a midtable
position. However it was
a season to remember for all
involved with the club as the
reds reached the 4th and final
qualifying round of the FA
Cup. The reds were sadly well
beaten at Gateshead. At the
end of the season long time
manager Steve Cunningham
stepped down and was
replaced by Nathan Rooney.
​2020/21 With a new manager
and back room staff in place
Colne were looking forward to
being a challenger in a very
strong league. Colne ended
the curtailed season sitting in
first place after nine games.
​2021/2022 This season was
our 25th anniversary as Colne
Football Club and had the
challenge of a new league to
play in with several new
signings and Lee Pugh taking
over as captain from long time
servant Alex Coleman. After 13
games and with the squad
blighted by injuries to key
players, the record was -
Played 13, won 5 drawn 3, lost
5. In the FA Cup we played our
old friends Trafford away and
took them back to Harrison
Drive to win the replay 2-1.
Next up were Stalybridge
Celtic away who we beat 1-0
before losing at home to
Guiseley AFC 1-0. In the FA
Trophy we drew City of
Liverpool FC away winning 1-0.
The next round took us to
Buxton beating them 2-1 to
progress to the First Round
proper. The draw then paired
us with a Step 3 team from the
Southern League Central
Division, Tamworth FC. In a
hard fought game which
ended 1-1 Colne bowed out 4-
3 on penalties. The First Round
is our best progress so far in
the completion.
​Nathan Rooney resigned in
December stating personal
reasons He was replaced by
Jonathon Macken who brought
in Steve Atkinson as his
assistant for our New Year’s
Day game against Kendal
Town - a scrappy 1-0 defeat.
08

January 2022 was a month of
comings and goings with six
players in and an equal
number being moved on and
saw just 1 point from the last 6
games. February was no better
with another four defeats but
signs of improvement. March
saw three wins and a draw
with no goals conceded which
effectively ensured safety for
the season at this level. The
club finished the campaign in
14th place with a record of:
Played 38, won 12, drawn 8,
lost 18, 44 points.
​The 22/23 season, was one to
forget for the reds, despite the
optimism from a promising preseason,
the club ended up in
turmoil at the end of August as
Ryan Haigh stepped down as
chairman and principle
sponsor. The club approached
two local businessmen, Glenn
Stock and Darren Harrison, and
within a matter of days they
were announced as the clubs
new Co-Chair.
Trouble off the pitch led to
trouble on the pitch and as the
new year started results were
pulling Colne closer and closer
to the drop. Following a
number of dismal results, the
club had no other option than
to sack manager Phil Brown,
and former Burnley player Paul
Weller was appointed interim
manager.
Sadly, the job of keeping the
reds at step 4 was too much
for Weller, and the reds were
relegated on the final game of
the season back to the NWCFL.
1996-1997 - BEP Cup
Winners
2003-04 - NWFCL 2nd
Division Champions
2003-04 - NWCFL League
Cup Runners Up
2015-16 - NWCFL Premier
League Champions
2015-16 - NWCFL League
Cup Runners Up
Record Attendance – 1742
v AFC Sudbury (2004)
Colne Football Club are:
Full Members of the Football Association
Members of the Lancashire County Football Association
FA Charter Standard Community Club
Colne Football Club are a private members club
Colne Football Club
Founded 1996
Nori Stadium, Harrison Drive,
Colne, BB8 9SL
Tel – 01282 862 545
Life President
David Blacklock
Chairman
Darren Harrison & Glenn Stock
Vice Chairman
Jason & Amrita Govindji-Bruce
Secretary
Joe Cooney
secretary@colnefootballclub.com
Life Members
Edward Lambert
Janette Harries
Matchday Secretary
Ben Metcalfe & Joe Cooney
Media Manager
Karen Clark
Press Officer
Programme Editor
Ben Metcalfe
09

MATCH
REPORT
COLNE 0-2 WYTHENSHAWE TOWN
Colne go down 2-0 at home
to Wythenshawe at the Nori
Staium this afternoon.
The game offered very little
early doors, but on 40 minutes
when Winstanley was booked
for allegedly time wasting, the
game started to spring to life.
It was the first in a series of
strange decisions which
incensed the home fans, but
the final one was an a
apparent foul on
Wythenshawes Ajayi.
The ball was only half cleared
from the free kick and former
red Jack Worrall put a great
ball Into the box, the ball
evaded everybody, but
Wallbank found himself on the
scoresheet for the second
time in a week week. If
Tuesdays wondergoal was
Gerrard-esque, then I think it's
only fair to call this
Carragher-esque.
The reds came out for the
second half in similar fashion,
struggling to create anything
going forwards and without a
real grip on the game.
Thewlis, Lloyd and Forshaw
were all introduced and as
the reds started pushing
forward, inspired by the lively
looking Thewlis, it looked like
an equaliser was coming, but
late on Wythenshaw
countered a reds attack and
man of the match Sam
Sheridan smashed the ball
into the top corner beyond
Goodwin from the edge of
the box.
Wythenshawe survived a rare
Colne attack in the dying
minutes as the reds rattled the
woodwork, but Wythenshawe
held on for 3 points at the
Nori.
COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
10

NORTH WEST COUNTIES
PREMIER DIVISION
$25.00 / night
COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
11

Date Opposition H/A KO/Score
29/07 West Didsbury & Chorlton A 3-0 L
01/08 Bury H 1-3 L
05/08 Glossop North End A 1-2 W
08/08 Glossop North End A 2-1 W
12/08 Wythenshawe Town H 0-2 L
15/08 Squires Gate H 7:45 PM
19/08 Brighouse H 3:00 PM
22/08 Burscough A 7:45 PM
26/08 Newcastle Benfield H 3:00 PM
28/08 Cheadle Town A 3:00 PM
02/09 Chadderton A 3:00 PM
05/09 Kendal Town H 7:45 PM
09/09 Irlam A 3:00 PM
16/09 Wythenshawe H 3:00 PM
19/09 Nelson H 7:45 PM
26/09 Padiham H 7:45 PM
30/09 Chadderton H 3:00 PM
03/10 Kendal Town A 7:45 PM
07/10 Squires Gate A 3:00 PM
10/10 Skelmersdale United A 7:45 PM
14/10 Litherland Remyca H 3:00 PM
24/10 Longridge Town H 7:45 PM
28/10 Charnock Richard A 3:00 PM
04/11 Prestwich Heys H 3:00 PM
11/11 Padiham A 3:00 PM
18/11 FC Isle of Man H 6:30 PM
25/11 AFC Liverpool A 3:00 PM
02/12 Ramsbottom United A 3:00 PM
09/12 Pilkington H 3:00 PM
16/12 Cheadle Town H 3:00 PM
23/12 FC Isle of Man A 3:00 PM
26/12 Barnoldswick Town H 7:45 PM
30/12 Prestwich Heys A 3:00 PM
06/01 AFC Liverpool H 3:00 PM
13/01 Pilkington A 3:00 PM
20/01 Wythenshawe Town A 3:00 PM
27/01 Ramsbottom United H 3:00 PM
03/02 Irlam H 3:00 PM
10/02 Lower Breck A 3:00 PM
17/02 Charnock Richard H 3:00 PM
24/02 Bury A 3:00 PM
02/03 Glossop North End H 3:00 PM
09/03 Burscough H 3:00 PM
16/03 Wythenshawe A 3:00 PM
23/03 West Didsbury & Chorlton H 3:00 PM
01/04 Barnoldswick Town A 3:00 PM
06/04 Skelmersdale United H 3:00 PM
13/04 Longridge Town A 3:00 PM
20/04 Litherland Remyca A 3:00 PM
TONIGHTS FIXTURES
Barnoldswick Town v Kendal Town
Burscough v Charnock Richard
Cheadle Town v Chadderton
Irlam v Lower Breck
Padiham v Bury
Prestwich Heys v Wythenshawe
Ramsbottom United v West Didsbury
Wythenshawe Town v AFC Liverpool
WEDS FIXTURES
Glossop North End v FC Isle of Man
Litherland REMYCA v Skelmersdale U
Pilkington v Longridge
COLNE
GOALSCORERS
Player
⚽
Weaver 2
Watkinson 1
Wallbank 1
Bolton 1
MAN OF THE MATCH
AWARDS
Player

COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
13

We're 5 games in, how do you
feel the start to the season has
gone?
There’s positives to take but there’s
also room for improvement and I
think we will get better and better
as the season goes on.
What do you think is the key for
us to have a successful season?
For me it’s sticking together as a
team.
Best player you have played
with/or against and why?
The best player I’ve played against
is Tyrhys Dolan. I couldn’t get near
him all game.
Most memorable game you've
been involved in and why?
When I played at Wembley in a
school cup final. We lost 2:0 but
still one to remember.
What do you do outside of
football?
I have a part time job in social
research. I’m also studying to be a
PT.
Favourite food?
My favourite food is pierogi’s. It’s
polish dumplings that I always had
as a kid.
What is your go to pre-match
song?
Gods plan- Drake.
If you had to pick an all star 5 a
side team, who would be your 5?
Casillas
Puyol
Iniesta
Zidane
Messi
WE CAUGHT
UP WITH
MATTY
KARDACZ
FOLLOWING
HIS SPELL ON
THE SIDELINES
Growing up, which sports star
was your idol and why?
My idol was Neymar, I remember
watching his highlights at Santos
and trying to be like him.
COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
14

SQUIRES
GATE
Squires Gate were formed in
1948 as Squires Gate British
Legion FC and competed in
the Blackpool & District
Amateur League. They won the
leagues Rawling Shield in their
first season. The name of the
club was changed to Squires
Gate FC in 1953. They won the
leagues First Division in 1955-
56 and 1956-57; also the
Blackwell Cup in 1958-59 and
1959-60. They spent the 1960-61
in the Fylde District League,
winning the Fylde Cup and
losing finalists in the Bannister
Cup.
The following season they
moved up to the West
Lancashire League where they
spent the next thirty years.
From 1961 until 1980 they were
in Division Two and were
promoted in 1981 as they were
COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
elected into the North West
Counties Football League for
the 1991-92 season, joining
Division Two for the 1991-92
season. They won the 2001-02
season Division Two Trophy and
then the following season they
missed the runner-up spot on
goal difference but were still
promoted to Division One
following the demise of Stand
Athletic who had originally
been promoted as Division Two
champions. They reached their
highest league placing in the
2005-06 season also reaching
the quarter finals of the FA
Vase.
To cap a very impressive 2007-
08 season, Squires Gate were
delighted that no less than
nine of their members were
honoured with long service
awards: Albert Hamer, George
Diggle, Roy Westhead, Brian
Hugill and Brian Addison all
collected Football Association
Order of Merit mementos for
50 years service; and Steve
Bellamy, Mick Farrer, John
Maguire and Tony Hornby
received 30 years awards from
the Lancashire FA.
Groundsman Brian Addison
was judged the best at our
level in the Northern Region,
and a magnificent third
nationally at the FA
Groundsman of the Year
presentations in London last
September, and his pitch is
clear evidence of his
commitment.
Due to an indifferent start in
the 2015/16 season, club
captain Danny Penswick took
over as player manager and
ensured survival with a
memorable last game victory
at Ashton Athletic. Danny also
ensured Premier Division status
in 2016/17 thanks to a late
surge including a victory at
home to Runcorn Linnets. Andy
Clarkson took over in October
2017 and guided the club to a
creditable 8th place finish and
improved again in 2018/19
season with another 8th place
finish.
After a difficult start to the
2019/2020 season Luke Evans
was appointed manager by
Chairman Tony Jo, assisted by
Shane Hudson. Evans led the
club up the table, with Gate
sat in 9th place before
COVID-19 struck the nation,
cutting the season short in
March.
The time away allowed the
committee to look at how to
move the club forward off the
pitch, with much needed
improvements made across the
board. New changing rooms
were implemented, with
various other improvements
made around the stadium.
A new media team was also
appointed, with James Ashton,
Dan Hayden and Jay Hayden
heading up a new look social
media, programme and
graphic design, with Ian Moore
15

coming in as the new Club
Photographer, taking over from
the irreplaceable legend
Albert Cooper. Andy Baker also
came in as the new Assistant
Manager.
The 2020/21 season only saw
nine league matches take
place for Gate, before COVID
struck once again to cut the
season short after December.
Again though this allowed time
for Luke Evans to keep moving
the club forward, as strong
partnerships with Talented
Player Development and
Global Football Network were
made. Meanwhile, a new
Under 23’s team was formed,
led by Liam Robinson of
Talented Player Development.
Forward to the start of the
2021/22 season, a decent
start in the league coincided
with Gate putting together a
good run in the FA Cup,
reaching the 2nd Qualifying
Round - matching their best
run in the club’s history. The
highlight of this run came in
the Preliminary Round, as Gate
hosted newly formed
Macclesfield FC at The Brian
Addison Stadium. A record
crowd of 738 watched an
incredible match, as Gate
came away 6-4 winners to
progress into the next round.
After knocking out North
Shields, Gate were narrowly
beaten 3-2 by Pontefract
Collieries to end their run.
Gate kept ticking in the league
too, finishing 17th with safety
confirmed comfortably by the
start of March.
Unfortunately during the 21/22
season, the club had the
devastating passing of beloved
chairman Tony Jo. Luke Evans
and the rest of the club
committee now had the club in
their hands. It made for a
difficult summer in 2022, with
the club only just surviving, but
the committee and its
volunteers pulled together to
keep the club afloat and put
together a new young and
hungry squad for the 2022/23
season. While the previous
season’s FA Cup achievement
couldn’t be matched, an
excellent run was put together
in the FA Vase, with Gate
reaching the Third Round.
The summer of 2023 saw more
off the field changes, with club
legend John Maguire stepping
down from his role as
Secretary, ending 48 years of
stellar service. James Ashton
and Alan Davis were elected
onto the club committee, as
well as Ian Moore who became
the new secretary. Hayden
Moore was appointed Head of
Recruitment, while a new
chairman was also appointed -
head of Global Football
Network, John Pladas
COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
16

A BIT OF FOOTBALL TRIVIA
KNOW YOUR
STUFF
1. Can you name which club plays
at this NWCFL ground?
1
2. Which English club was the first
to win the European Cup in 1968?
3. Who is the only goalkeeper to
have won the Ballon d'Or?
6
4. Who is the oldest outfield
player to have ever appeared in a
Premier League match?
5. Which two players have won
the joint-most Premier League
Player of the Month awards?
7
6. Who is this former Premier
League Manager?
7. Can you name this former
England international?
1. New Mills 2. Manchester United 3. Lev Yashin 4. Teddy Sherringham
5. Sergio Aguero & Harry Kane 6. Jean Tigina (Fulham) 7. Jay Bothroyd
19

COLNE F.C. V SQUIRES GATE
LINE UPS
COLNE F.C.
SQUIRES GATE
SHAKIL ALI
RYAN BOLTON
CUAN BRADLEY
JACK BURROWS
MOHAMMED BUTT
RORY CORMACK
JORDAO DA COSTA
FINLEY DEVENNEY
MALICK DIAKITE
ALEX DOYLE
JAMIE EDWARDS
JAKE FORSHAW
THOMAS GOODWIN
WILLIAM HASLER-CREGG
BLESSING IGHARO
MATEUSZ KARDACZ
BRADLEY KNOX
GEORGE LEWIN
SAM LLOYD
THOMAS MCCANN
SAMUEL PICKLES
JAMES THEWLIS
ELLIS WALLBANK
OWEN WATKINSON
LUCAS WEAVER
HARRY WINSTANLEY
NATHAN PENNINGTON
PASCAL JUNGO
JAMES HUGHES
LUKE HOLDEN
HARRY LUTAKOME
AJ KANDEKE
ALEX WELSH
SAM OGUNDARE
DANIEL PRICE-JORDAN
REGAN CROSSLEY
SCOTTY ADAMSON
ROWAN CHAMBERS
JOAO SOARES
JACK PAGE
OLI ORR
LIAM BIRCHALL
RYAN RILEY
JAMES BOYD
DOM GIL
CHARLIE WALLACE
ADETUNJI OGUNDEJI
NATHAN CLIFFE
GARY PETT
KEVIN SPINELLI
KYLE CAMPBELL