THEThe Official DABBER Programme of Nantwich Town Saturday 20th April 2019 3pm KO Hallmark Security League Division One South Nantwich Town vs Stalybridge Celtic Saturday 26th September 2020 Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division What's Inside: Match Reports Read the reports from our most recent games against Tividale & FC United Of Manchester Gaffers Thoughts We also catch up with Dave Cooke to get his thoughts on the season so far CLUB DETAILS Nantwich Town Football Club CLUB HONOURS Company by Guarantee Company No: 0732 8670 The Optimum Pay Group Stadium, LEAGUE COMPETITION: Waterlode, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5BS Cheshire County League Telephone: 01270 621771 Champions – 1980/81 County Affiliation : Cheshire FA Year Formed : 1884 Mid-Cheshire League Champions – 1963/64 At the Top Runners-Up – 1950/51, 1961/62, 1964/65 President: Frank Blunstone Chairman: Jon Gold Crewe Amateur Combination League Vice-Chairman: John Dunning Champions – 1946/47 Directors: Mark Hawkins, John Dunning, Clive Jackson, Dave Clapp, Dan Dunning- Cheshire League Cole, Tim Crighton, Carl Boulton Division One Runners Up – 1900/01 Company Secretary: John Dunning Shropshire & District League Football Officials Runners-Up – 1891/92 Manager: Dave Cooke Assistant Manager: Danny Griggs Manchester League First Team Coaches: Clayton McDonald, Jay Runners-Up – 1966/67 Bateman, Nigel Deeley Goalkeeper Coach: Keiron Clarke Northern Premier League Head Physio: Callum Carey Div 1 South – Play-Off Winners – 2007/08 Physio: Pete Williams Premier Division Play-Off Final – 2008/09 Kit Manager: Jason Clarke Kit Assistant: Kieron McDonald CUP COMPETITION: Cheshire Senior Cup Winners – 1932/33, Behind the Scenes 1975/76, 2007/08, 2011/12, 2017/18, 2018/19 Club Secretary: Carl Thorpe Business Manager: Emma Crossan FA Vase Winners – 2005/06 Press Officers: Sam McGarrigle, Jack Beresford, Liam Price FA Trophy Semi Finalist – 2015/16 Programme Editor: TBC Club Photographer: Jonathan White FA Cup First Round – 2011/12, 2017/18, Groundsman: Peter Temmen 2019/20 Stadium & Safety Officer: Bob Melling North West Counties League Cup Winners – Social Networks: 1994/95 Twitter: @TheDabbers Facebook: /nantwihtownfc Mid Cheshire League Cup Winners – YouTube: Nantwich Town FC 1961/62, 1963/64 Instagram: officialnantwichtownfc FROM THE DUGOUT – DAVE COOKE Good afternoon and welcome to the first home League match of the new season against Stalybridge Celtic, with everything that is going in the world it will be great to be back playing competitive football matches back at Nantwich in front of all supporters who have been fantastic over the last six months. I would first like to welcome the officials, players and supporters of Stalybridge Celtic on your visit to our football club this afternoon. We have had a good first week to the season with a solid point at FC United on the opening day and we followed this up with the win in the FA Cup at Tividale on Tuesday night. I thought we were good value for our point at FC United last week especially after we were on the backfoot for the first 25-30 minutes of the game. We came into our own after that period and we created the best chances of the half and we were a little unfortunate not to have got the lead at half time. We went behind to a poor goal which was also a bit unfortunate for Tony McMillan who was wrong footed by the ricochet off Troy Bourne, that said Tony was excellent in deputising for the suspended Greg Hall. We came back strong and with a couple of changes deserved to be back in the game quickly and we had some other good chances to win the game. That said FC United also had a good spell in the last 5 minutes so a draw was a fair result. On Tuesday we had a potential banana skin of a cup tie at Tividale who had already won 2 cup matches beforehand. For the first 60 minutes or so we had complete control of the game being 4-0 up and should have been a couple more. I then made changes to get minutes in some of the other players and I probably wouldn’t have done that if it was a League game, and we went a bit sloppy letting Tividale back in the game. But I have to give credit to Tividale they never gave up and they did their club proud on the night. We now look forward to a home tie against Barwell next Saturday in the next round. Lets hope we can send everyone home happy with a win this afternoon Enjoy the game Dave Cooke THE CHAIRMAN – JON GOLD It gives us all great pleasure to finally be welcoming supporters back to Nantwich Town Football Club, for our first competitive home game of the season and in honesty, it’s a day that at certain times, seemed unlikely this year, as the Covid-19 pandemic, has had such a devastating impact on every walk of life and unfortunately, we all still face so much uncertainty as the pandemic continues to affect business’s, Sporting events and our families and personal lives. However, there is also room for much optimism and excitement, as we are among the few sporting clubs in the country that are able to stage games with spectators and whilst we have rightly undergone major safety risk assessments and implemented necessary safety procedures and restrictions to ensure the safety of our supporters, colleagues and visitors, I am sure that you will all agree, that the small inconvenience that some of this may cause, is by far outweighed by the opportunity of once again watching “live” football in a safe and friendly environment. As we are all aware, the pandemic has had a devastating impact on business’s and sports clubs and this football club has been no exception to this, having been closed for five months, though thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our supporters, local businesses, commercial partners and the wider community, who helped contribute to our fundraising campaign, which so far stands at an incredible £23,682, we have managed to remain viable, though we obviously still face massive challenges as we begin the new season, so your continued support of our fundraising initiatives, is still very much needed and sincerely valued and on behalf of everyone at Nantwich Town, I would like to offer our heartfelt gratitude for your kindness. THE CHAIRMAN – JON GOLD The start of any new season is always an exciting occasion, filled with expectations and anticipation and it was disappointing that last season was brought to a premature end, especially as Dave Cooke’s team had once again provided us with such exciting football and were again challenging for promotion via the play offs at the top end of the table, but on a positive note, his fantastic group of players have remained loyal and committed themselves to the club, continuing on the exciting journey that they were clearly on last season and as the opening away game at FC United last Saturday, ably demonstrated, they are once again going to be a formidable force in the league again and will provide us all with some memorable and exciting times and as Nantwich Town is one of the few places that you can currently safely watch live football, I would urge you all to spread the word to all of your colleagues, friends and families and let’s welcome as many new spectators to the stadium as possible, as I can assure you that they won’t be disappointed! Season tickets and match tickets are now available via our online ticketing system, which is easy to use, so please let as many people know as is possible. Finally and on a personal note, I would like to sincerely thank all of the volunteers and staff, that have been so loyal throughout this most difficult period and they all continue to give their time to ensure that the club is ready to welcome you all back to a Covid safe environment and to each and every one of you reading this, thank you for your patience, understanding and incredible continued support and we look forward to welcoming you back and sharing and enjoying some more exciting and successful times. HAVE WE MET BEFORE? The Dabbers take on STALYBRIDGE CELTIC this afternoon for what will be the 50th meeting between the two clubs on Nantwich soil. Matches between the two sides hark back to November 1904 - an FA Cup tie away to the old Stalybridge Rovers club which Nantwich won 2-1. In all, the Dabbers have won 33 of the 96 encounters against Stalybridge - including clashes with their reserves in the early years of the Cheshire County League and again in our Manchester League days in the mid-1960s. Overall, however, Celtic hold the upper hand with 53 victories - but in recent years the Dabbers have come out on top. Our 2-0 pre-Covid win at Bower Fold in late January was Nantwich’s first league victory at Stalybridge since our Cheshire League winning campaign of 1980/81. Celtic’s visit to the Weaver Stadium, scheduled for April, was one of the victims of the pandemic but Dave Cooke’s side notched up a 4-2 win over our Tameside visitors the previous season. HAVE WE MET BEFORE? If you go further back, though, Stalybridge held the Indian sign over the Dabbers for many years. In a shocking string of results between the two World Wars, Nantwich lost at Bower Fold SEVENTEEN years on the trot - including our worst ever defeat, a 16-2 humiliation in October 1932. Yet Nantwich fans will more happily recall Mickey Lennon's winner in the 2012 Cheshire Senior Cup Final when the Dabbers overcame Stalybridge, then in the Conference North, 1-0 at Chester.