Season 2020/2021

Official On-Line Match Programme

Pitching In N P L Premier Division. Tuesday 27th October 2020 7.45 p.m. kick off WARRINGTON TOWN v BUXTON

Welcome to Cantilever Park

THE TEAMS

Warrington Town V Buxton (yellow with blue trim/blue/yellow) (all white with blue trim)

Charles Albinson 1 Tom Taylor Mitch Duggan 2 James Hurst Matthew Taylor 3 Stephen Brogan Charlie Munro 4 Sam Wedgbury Mark Roberts © 5 Josh Granite Callum Grogan 6 Matt Killgallon Jack Mackreth 7 James Walshaw Michael Rose 8 Reece King Josh Amis 9 Diego de Girolamo Bohan Dixon 10 Tom Elliott Jack Dunn 11 Warren Clarke Luke Duffy 12 Reece Styche Jordan Buckley 14 Connor O’Grady Joel Amado 15 Chris Dawson Callum Grogan 16 Billy Whitehouse Chris Holroyd 17 Grant Shenton Manager Gary Hayward

Referee Liam Corrigan Assistant Thomas Cassidy Assistant David Addison

Pitching In Northern Premier Division Tuesday 27th October 2020, kick off 7-45 p.m.

Bounce Back Time or Reality Check?

Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Cantilever Park for this Pitching In Premier Division fixture. May I take this opportunity to offer a warm welcome to all players, officials and supporters of Buxton Football Club to Warrington? I trust you all have an enjoyable stay and a safe journey home after the match.

Today’s games – Premier Division Town and Buxton never got to play a full game last Ashton United v Grantham Town (P) Bamber Bridge v Gainsborough T season. We had Basford United v Scarborough Ath. postponements due to Matlock Town v Nantwich Town weather, COVID-19 Mickleover v Hyde United Radcliffe v Whitby Town concerns on travel, an South Shields v FC Utd. of Man’cr abandonment due to snow Stafford Rangers v Atherton Colls Stalybridge Celtic v Morpeth Town and finally the seasons Warrington Town v Buxton abandonment. The current campaign has seen The Bucks start very well and as I make the first preparations for this issue; they were sitting just behind us in the table in second place. Since then they have dropped slightly but are well placed in a play-off position. They won again on Saturday. We are prepared for a tough opponent naturally. This is only our ninth ever meeting which is surprising given the relative close proximity between us. Warrington is even on the milage sign as you leave Buxton on the A537 Cat & Fiddle road (I am sure it used to say 33 miles though?) Looking back to past matches on which to reflect we have a couple to consider, with neither resulting in victory. Last Tuesday’s visit of county neighbours Nantwich Town was always going to be a tough encounter. Games against The Dabbers normally are and this proved no different. They were unbeaten coming into the game and well placed in the table. Twice we had to recover from a goal down to earn a point, with the second equaliser coming in the last minute. The nature of the point gained was good as we scored so late but the result was ultimately disappointing. It may have felt like a point gained but in reality it was two points dropped and the first blemish on our home league record. So to last Saturday and another tough opponent and a ground where we don’t often enjoy success. Three second half goals, two for the hosts gave them the points. Jordan Buckley (pictured) halved the deficit for us. It sadly was another disappointing result. Comments from manager Paul Carden about not sticking to the game plan and elements of self doubt are naturally of concern. Now is the time to see if we have what it takes to get back on course. Can we bounce back or will this be a case of where we really are at the moment. A reality check? There is a very fine line between success and failure at times. I don’t know how many times I have said just how competitive this division is and it would seem there is no true stand out side currently. Two teams remain unbeaten but have drawn seven times between them. There will be lots of twists and turns to come yet I feel. Let’s hope we start with a bounce back this evening. There has been a distinct different between home and away form so far. Admitedly we have played more home games but the success rate at home in the league has been has been nintey percent positive. The away form has been just thirty three percent. It is something we must mainatin at home. Recent form and performances have been indifferent but for all that we are still in pole position. Another consistent run now and things will seem much better again. Only we can do what is required. Chances need to be taken and defences need to be strong. The challenge is there for us. Let’s not let the good start we had be for nothing. Over to the players. We are back here on Saturday when we host Lancaster City in the FA Trophy, kick off. 3.00 p.m. An realy opportunity to redress Saturday’s result. We have a further fixture rearrangement to advise on. The outstanding match away to Stafford Rangers is now planned for Tuesday 24th November. We do have a couple of blank dates in November still. Any further amendments will be notified as and when they are released.

Don’t forget to check the new and improved Warrington Town website for all the latest news and results involving everything to do with Warrington Town. This can be accessed at

http://www.warringtontownfc.co.uk

Warrington Town FC Official Supporters Club Join the Official Warrington Town FC Supporters Club for a variety of benefits throughout the season. Adults £20.00 Under 18's £10.00 Some of the benefits include - Up to date Club information, Travel Club Membership, priority ticket sales, discounted coach travel, Match Day updates, members only group, priority for all coach travel. To join, call into the Club Shop on home match days or see social media. Follow us on - Facebook - Warrington Town Supporters Club Twitter - @WarringtonTownS Instagram - warringtontownsupportersclub Email - [email protected] Finally enjoy the match and may the best team from North Cheshire with a Town suffix win. Paul R.

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TOWN v BUXTON FC - THE HISTORY OF THE CLASH THE FULL RECORD (League games only - 3 points for a win)

HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A Pts GD 8 3 1 0 5 2 0 2 2 8 10 12 1

CUP MATCH ES - NONE ------

Remarkably, considering there is less than forty miles between the two towns, the first ever meeting between the sides did not come until the 2006/07 season. Even though both sides have enjoyed two spells of membership in the Northern Premier League our paths never crossed until 2006. The first meeting took place in September at the Silverlands and the Bucks came out on top 3-2. Town put in a shocking first half performance and trailed by two goals. The second half saw us much more competitive but we could not quite draw level. By the time the next game came around at the beginning of December, Buxton had opened up a clear lead at the top of the table. With Town languishing in fifth from bottom a large crowd assembled expecting a Buxton win. We were having none of it and when Steve Akrigg opened the scoring for Town an upset was on the cards. Buxton got an equaliser fifteen minutes later though and that is how it stayed, ending 1-1. It would be ten seasons before we met again this time with both side in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division. We hosted table toppers Buxton on 11th October 2016 and caused a slight upset in winning 1-0. Mike Grogan got the goal just before half time. Town played well and climbed to fifth place in the division. The return came on 28th January 2017 and was played in monsoon conditions. Buxton had built up a 3-1 lead as full time approached. Town were awarded a penalty though but it was missed. Moments later we got another one and this time despatched it. With time all but up we equalised to draw 3-3. The scorers were Michael Monaghan (2) and Dylan Vassallo. Our next visit to Silverlands came in October 2017 and in another damp, if not monsoon like evening a close fought game was shaded by the Bucks 2-1. Town had a goal disallowed and twice hit the woodwork but it was not to be our night. Jamie McDonald scored a well taken goal for Town. The return came on 6th January 2016 with Town in fourth and Buxton outside the play-off’s but chasing such a slot. It was another close one but this time Town were the more dominant and won it thanks to second Half Steven Jennings penalty. The first meeting of 2018/19 was just before Christmas here in Warrington. Town were in a play-off position and The Bucks just outside. The visitors started the better and led on fourteen minutes when Alex Brown headed home. It stayed that way until five minutes from time. Dominic Reid was pulled back in the area and Jack Dunn scored from the spot. Town did not hang about and created two further chances but waited until the fourth minute of added time for Dominic Reid to fire in a valuable winner. The return game was the final game of the regular season. Town were guaranteed at least third and Buxton a chance of making the last play-off position, which they occupied going into the game. Town rested much of the side as second place was out of our hands and it proved a wised decision as South Shields won to claim the runners up berth. Twice Buxton led and twice we equalised through Mark Roberts and Bohan Dixon. We could have won it too but had to settle for a draw. That results saw both sides quality for the play-off’s. The first attempt to play in 2019/20 saw the game at Buxton postponed due to snow on 28th January. We tried again on 25th February and this time the game started. Town lead thanks to a debut goal from Abardabioyo but by then the snow had started and it did not stop. After thirty three minutes with line lines covered and unclearable due to the sensitive 4G surface the match was abandoned. Buxton decided not to travel for our scheduled home game on March 14th due to COVID-19 concerns. The programme printed for that game was ultimately never issued as we all went into lockdown soon after so never actually met in 2019/20. LOOKING BACK TO OCTOBER 27TH – ON THIS DAY A remarkably quiet day in Town’s history. Only a handful of games recorded.

1990/1991

Town lost 1-0 at home to Harrogate Town in an HFS Loans League Cup First Round tie. The attendance was 122. 2007/2008 Another defeat, this time 2-0 at home to Alsager Town in UniBond League Division One South. 110 attended. 2009/2010 Town defeated St. Helens Town 2-1 after extra time for an away Liverpool Senior Cup First Round tie. Chris Gahgan scored both goals with the score after ninety minutes 1- 1. The attendance was 150 2012/2013 Honours even as Town drew 2-2 away to Radcliffe Borough in Evo-Stik League Division One North. 108 spectators saw Phil Doran and Allan Collins score for Town

2018/2019 Town hosted Prescot Cables in the Buildbase FA Trophy First Qualifying Round but in contrast to the previous seasons mammoth ten games in the competition, we last for just one, going down 0-1. 316 attended. Our current goalkeeper Charlie Albinson actually made his debut for us in this match, on loan at the time.

Introducing… Buxton FC

Formed as an offshoot of the town's cricket club, Buxton F.C. began life in the autumn of 1877. Its first game took place on Saturday, October 27th, at The Park (still the home of the cricket club) when 14 members picked sides for a 7-a-side match. In the next few years, the club played its home matches in fields at Cote Heath, off London Road and at Green Lane before moving to its current ground at the Silverlands in 1884, then a field owned by Frank Drewry, the club's first captain. The first game there was a Derbyshire Cup tie on Saturday, November 1st, when "the Bucks" defeated Bakewell 2-0.

Situated 1000 feet above sea level, the Silverlands is the highest ground within the Pyramid of soccer - and substantially higher than the highest Football League ground (The Hawthorns). The Main Stand has seats for 500 and the 2 covered terraces provide accommodation for a total of over 2,000. Recent development work at the club has seen a major revamping of the social club and the building of a new boardroom as well as extending the home dressing room and most recently, the addition of a further dressing room to accommodate lady officials.

The club entered The Combination in 1891 and joined the Manchester League in 1899, winning the championship in 1931/32, which prompted a move to the Cheshire League for the following season (though the reserve side remained in the Manchester League and won the title in 1959/60). It took 40 years to bring the Cheshire League title to Buxton, though the club had been runners-up in 1962/63. Promotion to the NPL for the 1973/74 season was an opportunity eagerly seized and honours in this league comprise the winning of the President's Cup in 1980/81 and a League Cup final appearance at Maine Road in 1990/91.

The club's highest NPL final placing was 4th position achieved in 1980/81, though it was not until September 10th, 1991 "the Bucks" actually topped the NPL (eventually finishing 5th). Buxton’s best years in the F.A. Cup came in the two decades after World War Two. In 1951/52 the club, having defeated then Football League Club, Aldershot, 4-3, reached the third round proper only to lose 2-0 at Division 2 side Doncaster Rovers, while first round appearances followed in 1958 and 1962. However in 2003/04 Buxton reached the fourth qualifying round only to meet their match at Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion. The early days of the F.A. Trophy however saw the club develop a considerable reputation, reaching the quarter-finals in 1970/71 and 1971/72. A full member of the F.A. and the Derbyshire F.A., Buxton F.C. has won the Derbyshire Senior Cup 10 times, including 3 times in the 1980's.

A members' club run by an elected committee for most of its life, Buxton F.C. became a Limited Company in June 1993. The club was beset by financial problems after the establishment of the National Lottery and successive relegations in 1997 and 1998 took it to the NCEL. Manager Kenny Johnson and Ronnie Wright inspired a revival in 2002 and when Nicky Law took over from them in 2005 he was given the brief of leading the club back to Northern Premier League status. His first success was in leading the club to NCEL Presidents Cup victory in April 2005 in a thrilling 2-legged final against Sutton Town and in 2005/06 ‘the Bucks’ enjoyed their best season since the early 70’s. The President’s Cup was retained and the NCEL Premier title was won with eventual ease, beating second place Liversedge by a massive 15 points, losing just 3 league games all season and conceding just 27 goals in 38 matches. The league victory meant a return to the Northern Premier League that the club’s followers had been crying out for since 1998 and the success was to continue with the capture of the UniBond First Division championship in 2006/07 as well as winning the UniBond President’s Cup. Nicky Law departed the club at the end of 2006/07 and was replaced by the experienced John Reed, and assisted by ex-Swansea City player Clive Freeman, who guided the club the UniBond Premier League play-off final in his first season in charge, just missing out to Gateshead. The 2008/09 campaign didn’t get off to the best of starts with injuries and suspensions robbing the squad of key players and a relegation battle was only avoided following an upturn in fortunes after the New Year. The club did win some silverware though in the shape of the Derbyshire Senior Cup, which returned to the Silverlands after an absence of 22 years. The next two seasons were a story of ‘what could have been’ with 8th and 6th finishes in the league and good FA Cup runs which resulted in exit at the final qualifying stage in both seasons. In 2010/11 the Bucks ran Blue Square National big spenders Fleetwood Town very close on their home ground in the 4th qualifying round, this after defeating AFC Telford United with 9 men in the previous round. The Bucks also reached the final of the Derbyshire Cup in 2011 but were defeated by a strong Derby County side at Chesterfield’s B2Net Stadium. The Bucks got off to a disappointing start in 2011/12 and John Reed and Clive Freeman left the club in November by mutual consent. The managerial reigns were initially picked up by experienced player/coach Scott Maxfield, who brought in ex- FC manager Chris Dolby as his assistant, but Martin McIntosh was appointed manager in February with ‘Maxi’ as his assistant. Results picked up immediately and a remarkable run of 10 wins from 12 matches at the end of the campaign left the Bucks in 13th place when relegation looked odds on at one stage. To cap the season off the Bucks gained revenge over a young Derby County side in a repeat of the previous season’s Derbyshire Cup Final to lift the cup with a Mark Reed goal.

In 2012/13 the Bucks finished a very creditable 7th in Martin McIntosh’s first full season in charge and in 2013/14, after signing experienced former full-time professionals like Andy Warrington and Derek Niven, the club made a good start to the campaign but a poor run of form around Christmas time ended any play-off hopes and needed some solid late-season performances to finish 13th. In 2014/15 the Bucks were always in the hunt for a play-off place until the final throws of the campaign, but poor home form cost vital points and the final finish of 10th was the lowest position in the league table for virtually the whole season. Another mid-table finish was achieved in 2015/16 but the transfers of leading scorer Liam Hardy and influential midfielder Warren Burrell, plus a serious injury to the experienced ‘keeper Phil Barnes, meant yet again that elusive play-off place was missed. The 2016/17 was yet again a story of a late dip in form costing the club when a play-off place was missed despite being in the top five for the majority of the campaign. In 2018/19 the Buxton directors decided to have a change of management in early March, following a poor run of form, with the appointment of former Bucks 'keeper Paul Phillips and Steve Halford into the joint hotseat. There was an instant up-turn in results, meaning the Bucks finished 8th in the league. Last season was arguably one of the most important in the club history with a massive investment at the ground. A new 3g surface was installed along with new floodlighting and pitch surround meaning the Silverlands ground will be available to use 7 days a week. On the pitch, it was another ‘nearly’ season with a play-off place secured on the last day of the season. The decision was taken part-way through the campaign to make Paul Phillips sole manager and an upturn in results, including a 6-0 demolition of local rivals Matlock Town, meant the Bucks earned a play-off semi-final at South Shields. The footballing gods weren’t smiling that night though and following a poor run of results in the first few months of the truncated 2019/20 season saw Paul Phillips resign as manager to be replaced by former Hednesford Town manage Gary Hayward and his assistant Mark Ward. Hayward steadied the ship and has overseen a near complete overhaul of the playing squad in the summer of 2020.

Buxton FC – The Players

GRANT SHENTON-Goalkeeper (29), ‘Shents’ joined the club in the summer of 2019 after departing Chester FC. After a spell of reserves football at FC United of Manchester, Grant made his non-league name at Ramsbottom United where he became the clubs leading appearance maker with 279 matches under his belt in a successful five-year stint from 2011. He joined up with former Buxton manager Paul Phillips at Ashton Utd in 2016, before following him to Stalybridge Celtic, and then spent a season at Trafford before moving to Chester in the summer of 2018. Made 39 appearances in the truncated 2019/20 season and was voted ‘Players Player of the Season’.

TOM TAYLOR-Goalkeeper (27), came through the junior ranks at Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday before moving to Garforth Town in 2011. He had stints at AFC Halifax and Brighouse, winning the EvoStik Division One North Young Player of the Year 2014/2015, before signing for Scarborough in 2017. He won many plaudits at Scarborough and enjoyed a trial period at Rotherham in 2019. Signed for the Bucks in July 2020.

MATT CURLEY-Defender (25), signed for the Bucks in February 2020 in a ‘swap’ deal with Hednesford Town and made an immediate impact with a goal on debut against Gainsborough Trinity. Signed primarily as a right-back, Matt is a versatile player and has enjoyed playing all over the field for the likes of Romulus, Sutton Coldfield before joining Tamworth in 2017 and then Hednesford Town, linking up with current Buxton boss Gary Heywood.

STEPHEN BROGAN-Defender (32), left-back recruited from Spennymoor Town in the summer of 2020. An extremely experienced player who made over 60 first-team appearances for Rotherham, being linked with Premier League sides, before an horrific injury put him on the side-lines for 14 months. After a loan spell at Stalybridge Celtic he signed for Alfreton Town in 2011 and started a somewhat nomadic period with stints at Stalybridge (twice), Guiseley, Forest Green and Southport before spending the 2015/16 season at Gainsborough Trinity. (He earned a call up to the England ‘C’ squad in 2012). The following season he moved to North Ferriby United and signed for Spennymoor Town in 2018 after a short period at Boston United.

JOSH GRANITE-Defender (28), powerful defender signed from Barrow in the summer of 2020. Josh started his career at Woodley Sports and represented Sheffield and Hallam Universities before signing for Mossley in the summer of 2014. After a season he joined Trafford before moving to Ashton United in 2017 and then on to Barrow where he was club captain as they regained their place back in the Football League in 2020. SHANE KILLOCK-Defender (31), a product of the Huddersfield Town youth system, Shane made his debut in non-league for Ossett Albion at a very young age before returning to Huddersfield. After making a couple of first team appearances he went on loan to Hyde United, Harrogate Town and Oxford United before moving permanently to Oxford in 2009. Another loan spell, this time at AFC Telford United, resulted in a move to the other ‘Bucks’ and Shane enjoyed a three-year stint there becoming captain and seeing the club win promotion to the Conference National via the play-offs. He moved back to Harrogate Town in 2012 for three seasons and joined Hyde United following a loan at Guiseley in 2015 and then spent three seasons at Bradford Park Avenue. A move to Alfreton Town followed in 2019 from where he joined Buxton in the summer of 2020.

CONNOR O'GRADY-Defender (22), Sheffield born centre-back or right-back who signed for the Bucks in September 2019. Connor came through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday, signing a pro contract extension in 2018 but was released in the summer of 2019 and joined the Bucks after trialling at Guiseley. Connor has made a tremendous start to his Buxton career and was named captain for the first time against Witton Albion in late October where he turned in a man-of-the-match performance in the 2-0 victory. Made 29 (2) appearances and scored 2 goals last term.

MATTHEW KILGALLON-Defender (36), a vastly experienced centre-back with over 300 Premiership and Football League appearances, signed from Indian side Hyderabad in August 2020. Matt played junior football at York City before signing for Leeds United when 12 and graduated as a scholar at Leeds before making 80 first team league appearances. A near 2-million-pound transfer took him to Sheffield United in 2007 where he spent the next 3 season as an ever-present before joining Sunderland in January 2010. He had loan spells at Middlesbrough and Doncaster Rovers before signing for Blackburn Rovers in 2013 and then on to Bradford City in 2016. He moved to Hamilton Academicals in the summer of 2018 and then on to Hyderabad in 2019. Always a consistent performer, he earned Player of the Year awards at Sheffield United and Bradford City and represented England from Under 18 to Under 21’s.

JAMES HURST-Defender (28), ‘Hursty’ came through the junior ranks at West Bromwich Albion but moved to Portsmouth on a scholarship in 2008. Following a loan period in Iceland at iBV he moved back to West Brom in 2010, making his 1st team debut in a League Cup quarter-final at Ipswich Town. He had loan spells at Blackpool, Shrewsbury (twice), chesterfield and Birmingham City before returning to Iceland to sign for Valur in May 2013. He joined Crawley Town later that summer but returned to Valur the following season after a loan spell at Northampton Town. James spent the 14/15 season at Hednesford Town before signing for Torquay United and then AFC Telford United following a loan stint at Guiseley. He moved to Dover in January 2017 and then on to Wrexham the following summer and has had brief spells at Nuneaton Borough, welling United, Sutton Coldfield Town and a return to Hednesford Town before signing for the Bucks in August 2020. He has represented England at every level from Under 16’s to Under 20’s.

SAM WEDGEBURY-Midfield (31), was a youngster at Worcester City when he was spotted by Sheffield United and transferred to Bramall Lane in 2006. Despite not making a first team appearance with ‘the Blades’ he had two loan spells, first at Mansfield Town and then in Hungary with Ferencvaros. He moved to Macclesfield Town in 2010 where he made his mark with some great performances in ‘Maccs’ cup run in 2012/13. After racking up over 100 appearances for Macclesfield, including earning an England ‘C’ cap, he moved to Stevenage in 2013 and then the following year moved to Forest Green Rovers and despite injury problems made 76 league appearances and helped the club to win promotion to the Football League. After a one season stint at Wrexham he signed for Chesterfield in 2018 from where the Bucks acquired his services in August 2020.

CHRIS DAWSON-Midfield (26), a former Wales under 21 international who was a product of the Leeds United academy rising up to make a number of 1st team appearances. He signed for Rotherham United in 2016 but failed to make an appearance and was loaned to Viking FK in Norway. Following serious injury he signed for Scarborough, helping them win promotion to the Northern Premier League before spending the 2018/19 season at Bradford Park Avenue. He was loaned to Grantham Town from January 2019 before returning to Scarborough the following summer. Was one of three players to make the move from ‘Borough to Buxton in July 2020.

WARREN CLARKE-Midfield (22), young midfielder signed in September 2019 after trialling at Chesterfield FC. Warren came through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday FC and signed his first pro contract with the Owls in 2017 before being released in the summer of 2019. Picked up an injury early in his Bucks career but bounced back in spectacular fashion to finish the curtailed 2019/20 in great form, winning several man- of-the-match awards’. Has made 10 (5) appearances, scoring 4 goals to the start of this season.

TOM ELLIOTT-Midfield (25). made an immediate impression on the Buxton 'faithful' with an impressive debut against Lancaster City in early December 2019 following his transfer from Hednesford Town. Tom initially came to light at Worksop Town before signing for Nuneaton Town in 2016. He followed then manager Tommy Wright to Darlington, making over 40 appearances for 'The Quakers' before signing for Hednesford in the summer of 2019. He was the first signing made by Gary Hayward when he joined the Bucks as manager and made 14 appearances last season, scoring twice.

GODWIN ABADAKI-Midfield/Forward (26), Nigerian born Godwin came through the ranks at Rochdale, making a couple of first team appearances, and was loaned to Hyde United, Southport, Stalybridge Celtic and Workington. During this period he also had a youth loan at Huddersfield Town where he worked with Development Coach Steve Eyre, the son of former Buxton player Fred. Since 2014 Godwin has played for a number of non-league sides including Northwich Victoria (twice), Ashton United, Nantwich Town and Shaw Lane, under ex-Buxton boss John Reed. He has also had two spells at Mossley from where the Bucks acquired his services in the summer of 2020.

REECE KING-Midfield (25), Reece was one of a number of players to follow manager Gary Hayward from Hednesford Town to Buxton at the start of 2020. He started his career at Malvern, going on to make over 100 appearances before moving to Gloucester City in 2017. He moved to Hednesford that same year, after an initial loan, and won many ‘Player-of-the Year’ awards at Keys Park before moving on for a short stint at Leamington FC before returning to Hednesford in August 2019.

REECE STYCHE-Forward (31), midlands-based striker with an impressive goalscoring record since he started his career at Hednesford in 2006. Following a loan period at Bromsgrove he joined Grantham Town, Coalville Town and Shepshed Dynamo before his career really took off with a prolific period at Chasetown followed by a move to Conference National side Forest Green Rovers in 2010. Despite injury he netted 35 times in 107 games for Forest Green before a loan move into the Football League with Wycombe Wanderers. He was released by Forest Green in 2014 and joined Kidderminster Harriers for two seasons where he had two loan spells at Tamworth and then joined Macclesfield Town in 2016 following another loan. He was soon on the move again, this time to Gateshead, with a loan at Nuneaton Town before re-joining Tamworth in 2017. He spent the 2017/18 season at Darlington, the following season at Alfreton before joining Hereford in the summer of 2019. After a transfer to Bromsgrove he joined the Bucks in the summer of 2020. Reece had one England ‘C’ cap but is now a full international with Gibraltar with 7 caps and scored a goal against Switzerland in a Euro- qualifier in November 2019.

JAMES WALSHAW-Forward (36), experienced attacking player with a prolific scoring record who signed from Scarborough in July 2020. After stints at Ossett Town, Leek Town, Farsley Celtic and FC Wakefield it was his period at Guiseley between 2008 and 2011 where he came to prominence, winning England ‘C’ recognition and then a transfer to Darlington and full-time football. Following a loan period at Halifax Town he returned to Guiseley in 2012, spent 2013/14 at Altrincham, two seasons at Harrogate Town followed before signing back at Farsley Celtic in 2016 and on to Scarborough in November 2017.

DIEGO DE GIROLAMO-Forward (24), Former Italian Under 18’s to Under 20’s international who joined the Bucks in July 2018. Diego came through the junior ranks at Sheffield United before earning a professional contract and made several first team appearances for ‘the Blades’. His career at Bramall Lane was hindered by an injury picked up on Under 18 International duty that ruled him out for nine months in 2013. He enjoyed a loan spell at York City before returning to Sheffield where he scored his first goal for the Blades in a FA Cup tie against Preston North End. Two further loan spells at York and one at Northampton Town followed before signing for Bristol City in the summer of 2016. He went on loan to Cheltenham in January 2017, scoring a hat-trick in the EFL Trophy against Leicester City Under 23’s, and a further loan period was spent at Chesterfield in the first half of the 2017/18 season before his contract at Bristol City was terminated by mutual consent. He spent the remainder of that season at Macclesfield Town. He netted a dozen times in 24 (14) appearances in 2018/19 season but really found his scoring boots last season with 27 goals in 31 (4) matches, earning him the supporters Player of the Year award.

Warrington Town FC – Player Sponsors

Player Sponsor Joel Amado Jamie & Jess Josh Amis IJMJ Group James Baillie Morgan & Andrew Scott Brown A C Joinery Jordan Buckley Tavern Sports Bar Craig Carney Warrington Town Supporters Club Luke Duffy Ocean Bathrooms & Kitchens Mitch Duggan Amanda and Eric Hughes Jack Dunn Ged & Brandon Cain Bohan Dixon Rob & Steve Callum Grogan Frank Bird Roofing Evan Gumbs Neil, Andrew & Phil Jack Mackreth Belleair Gardening Services Charlie Munro John Atkinson Matthew Regan MP Sports Therapy Mark Roberts X Digital Media Michael Rose The Rochdale Fans of Warrington Tom Warren Ryan Bate

Report (James Gordon) Town 2 Nantwich Town 2 Pitching In NPL Premier Division Tuesday 20th October 2020

JOSH Amis bundled home a late equaliser as Warrington Town rescued a point in a 2-2 draw at home to Nantwich Town. After trailing to Joe Mwasile’s opener, the Yellows levelled things up early in the second half and looked like the only winner. But Connor Heath struck five minutes from time against the run of play, only for a howler by Dabbers goalkeeper Greg Hall to gift the Yellows a deserved point in the 90th minute. There was a change in system from Paul Carden, with Callum Grogan deployed from the start in a defensive central midfield position having impressed in the 2-1 win over his former club Radcliffe at the weekend. The Yellows had the brighter of the opening exchanges, Michael Rose curling a shot wide of Hall’s right-hand post, before Nantwich started to assert some authority on the game, with Ben Harrison causing the home side a lot of problems in the attacking third. Influential midfielder Sean Cooke was finding more and more room and it was from his shot, tipped wide by Charlie Albinson for a corner, that led to the first goal. The ball in from Caspar Hughes wasn’t cleared, and when Cooke retrieved possession in the box, he clipped the ball up to the back post and former Yellows attacked Mwasile couldn’t miss with the header from three yards out. It was very nearly a quickfire double for the Dabbers as Harrison found space between Mark Roberts and Matt Regan, and tried to lob Albinson, who at full stretch just managed to take the sting out of the shot and deny the chance. Half time, much like it did on Saturday, changed the game – this time in the Yellows favour. They restored parity barely three minutes after the restart, a superb ball by Charlie Munro from the centre circle brought down by Dunn, who then lofted over Hall for 1-1. From then on, the Yellows looked most likely to get something from the game, as Nantwich set about protecting the point. Rose opened up the Dabbers defence on the hour mark and Mitch Duggan’s ball across the face of goal deserved better from Jordan Buckley, who took the game to the visitors in the second half, and Bohan Dixon in the box. Buckley came closest to putting the Yellows ahead on 74 minutes, shortly before he was forced off with a knock, rattling the post with a fiercely hit right-foot drive, as the hosts continued to enjoy the majority of possession and territory. But they were dealt a killer blow five minutes from time, when substitute Connor Heath drove forward from half way, beyond a yellow-carded Rose who was reluctant to put a foot in, and then fired a superb finish across Albinson and in to the far corner. That would have been cruel for the Yellows, but they were gifted a second goal in the final knockings of normal time, patiently playing the ball around the edge of the box, and when Duggan clipped the ball in, Hall claimed it, spilled at the feet of Amis, who didn’t need a second invitation to bury the chance.

By Matt Badcock

WHAT’S THE best goal you’ve seen live? Not necessarily your favourite or one that meant the most, saw your club win something or, dare I say it, avoid relegation. But the best. Football is subjective. One person’s best goal might not be to the taste of another’s. Some prefer mazy runs. Others think there’s nothing better than a long range strike that crashes in off the underside of the bar. We’re fortunate we get to see more Non-League goals than we ever did. Now wonder strikes from across the country are only a few clicks away, be it on the club’s website, YouTube channel or social media. Often we will see a goal just moments after the game has finished. It used to be waiting to buy the end of season club video to re-live those moments that could have occurred months earlier. Was it quite as good as you remembered? Was it really that far out? Did the keeper really have no chance? One that will always live long in my memory was a strike by Michael Warner for Farnborough Town against Heybridge Swifts. A headed clearance fell out of the sky to customary cries of ‘SHOOT!’ Often the instruction to take aim is swiftly followed by groans as the ball sails off target, troubling parked vehicles in the car park more than the goalkeeper. But this day, Warner’s effort was a dream. Like a tracer missile the ball rocketed into the top corner. Two goalkeepers wouldn’t have saved it. It was brilliant. These days it would have gone ‘viral’ and been retweeted thousands of times on twitter. Technology has certainly made our annual Goal of the Season at The NLP’s National Game Awards more competitive than ever. More and more nominations roll in each year, all worthy winners from all different levels of the game. In years gone by, these goals would be the stuff of myth and legend. Now the tangible proof is there. I was fortunate enough to be at the Eliminator game between Brackley Town and Gateshead a few months ago. Fans weren’t allowed in the grounds. That was a shame for loyal supporters as it is but even more so when Shane Byrne pulled a spectacular rabbit out of the hat on the stroke of half-time. Gateshead had just gone one up deep in first-half stoppage time and looked for all the world to be heading into the break in front. But Byrne, apparently, had other ideas. Receiving the ball from kick-off inside his own half, the midfielder hit an inch perfect ball that flew right into the top corner. Gateshead keeper Brad James had no chance. It wasn’t like he’d been caught unawares not concentrating. It left the handful of people inside the ground open-mouthed. A wow moment. The only problem for me being, I didn’t fully see it. I was taking notes down from the first goal. Who shoots direct from kick- off!? I saw it in the air from a long way out, I saw it arrow into the net. I saw 80 per cent of it. But I didn’t see the actual strike itself. So does it count as my best goal witnessed live? It’s certainly the best one I nearly saw! Report (James Gordon) Lancaster City 2 Warrington Town 1 Pitching In NPL Premier Division Saturday 24th October 20202 WARRINGTON Town suffered a second successive away defeat as they went down 2-1 at Lancaster City. All the goals came within 10 second half minutes on a torrid afternoon at The Giant Axe, with veteran striker David Norris and teenager Jacob Holland-Wilkinson scoring the goals that put the game beyond the Yellows, despite Jordan Buckley’s header. The Yellows struggled to break down a robust Lancaster side, who played three centre- backs with the two Bailey brothers deployed as wing-backs. Most of what Lancaster did in the first half went through right-back Sam Bailey, and it was from his dangerous corner delivery that Matthew Blinkhorn headed on to the cross bar after seven minutes for what turned out to be the best chance of the first half. There was a spell where the Yellows simply struggled to get a foot on the ball as when they cleared the ball, Lancaster were sending it straight back. They did get a foothold eventually, though Lancaster were quite happy to allow Warrington have possession in front of them. Jack Mackreth provided Warrington with a rare outlet wide right, and when his cross was too advanced for Josh Amis, the clearance made it as far as Jack Dunn, who shot comfortably over. That was their only real look at goal in the first half, while Lancaster did have a half chance when the threatening Tom Kilifin drove a shot right across the face of Charlie Albinson’s goal. The Yellows had the best chance of the opening exchanges of the second half, a clever reverse pass by Charlie Munro finding Mackreth in the box, and his low shot was saved by the feet of Sam Ashton at the near post, the first save the former FC United had to make. Two second half substitutions changed the game in Lancaster’s favour, with young Preston academy player Holland-Wilkinson playing his part in creating the opening goal just seven minutes after entering proceedings. He gathered the ball in midfield, took it right, and his ball in was laid off by Kilifin for Norris, at the tender age of 39, to fire home from the edge of the box. The Yellows responded by bringing on Buckley as a second striker, but before he could even see any action, it was 2-0 – a long throw allowed to bounce in the box and when it was only half-cleared to the edge of the box, 17-year-old Holland-Wilkinson lashed in to the top corner. Buckley did have the impact he was sent on to have, albeit a goal later than planned, steering a fine header inside Ashton’s near post from Mitch Duggan’s cross, but it was not to be the Yellows’ afternoon and this defeat follows the one at Mickleover a fortnight ago.