Atherton Collieries A.F.C.

Last updated

Atherton Collieries
Atherton Collieries A.F.C. logo.png
Full nameAtherton Collieries Association Football Club
Nickname(s)Colls
Founded1916
GroundAlder House, Atherton
ChairmanPaul Gregory
ManagerDavid Chadwick
League Northern Premier League Premier Division
2022–23 Northern Premier League Premier Division, 18th of 22
Centenary badge, used as the club crest for 2016-17. Atherton Collieries A.F.C. logo (2016).png
Centenary badge, used as the club crest for 2016–17.

Atherton Collieries Association Football Club is a football club based in Atherton, Greater Manchester, England. The club are currently members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Alder House. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.

Contents

Between 1919 and 1965 Atherton Collieries were winners of the Bolton Combination ten times. By 1964–65 they had won the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield six times, a record which is still unsurpassed. They are nicknamed "Colls".

History

The club was established in 1916 by miners from the six pits in Atherton Urban District with the aim of raising money for locals involved in the war effort. [1] After World War I the club joined the Bolton Combination, [2] winning the title in their first season. The season also saw them win the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield, beating Dumers Lane 3–2 after extra time. They joined the Lancashire Alliance in 1921, [3] and won the Shield again in 1923 with a 4–1 against Barnoldswick Town. The club later returned to the Bolton Combination, winning the league in 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39 and 1940–41, followed by another Lancashire FA Amateur Shield in 1942 after Royal Engineers were beaten 3–2. Another title came in 1944–45, after which the club joined the Manchester League for the 1945–46 season. [4]

Their first season in the new league saw them finish third and win the Shield for a fourth time with a 3–2 win over Moss Rovers in 1948 the club joined the West Lancashire League, [5] in which they spent two seasons before joining Division Two of the Lancashire Combination in 1950. [6] However, after finishing sixteenth (out of 22) in 1950–51 and second-from-bottom in 1951–52 they left the league to rejoin the Bolton Combination. Back in the local league, they won the league title again in 1956–57 (also winning the Shield, beating Burnley Albion 3–2 after extra time), 1958–59, 1960–61 and 1964–65 (combined with another Shield win, this time by beating Breightmet United 6–1). In 1971 they rejoined the Lancashire Combination, which was now a single division. [6]

Following their only top-half finish in the league in 1977–78, the club switched to the new Division Two of the Cheshire County League, where they failed to break into the top half of the table during their four years in the league. [6] At the end of the 1981–82 season the league merged with the Lancashire Combination to form the North West Counties League, with Atherton placed in Division Three. [6] This started a spell of relative success for the club, who finished in the top half of the table for four successive seasons, before winning the title in 1986–87 and earning promotion to Division Two. [6]

After nine seasons in Division Two, Atherton were runners-up in 1995–96, resulting in promotion to Division One. [6] In 2001–02 they won the Goldline Trophy with a 1–0 win against Charnock Richard at the Reebok Stadium. Division One was renamed the Premier Division in 2008, but the following season saw the club finish bottom of the Division, leading to relegation to Division One. Following their demotion, the club consistently finished in the top six in the division and won the Division One Trophy in 2010–11. After winning the division in 2014–15 they were promoted back to the Premier Division. [6] In 2015–16 they won the League Cup, beating Colne 5–1 in the final. [7] The following season saw the club win the Premier Division, earning promotion to Division One North of the Northern Premier League. They won the League Challenge Cup in 2017–18, beating Coalville Town 2–1 in the final. [8]

The 2018–19 season saw Atherton placed in Division One West as the Northern Premier League's second tier was reorganised on an east–west basis. They went on to win the division, earning promotion to the Premier Division. [9] The 2023–24 season saw the club relegated back to Division One West. [10]

Ground

The club have played at Alder House since their establishment, and it is currently known as 'The Skuna Stadium' for sponsorship purposes. [11] At some point during their tenure, the pitch was rotated 90º, and floodlights were installed in 1994. [1] One stand was described "leaning forward as if in prayer for its continued survival", [1] before it was demolished in 2007. [2] Following ground works crowdfunded by supporters in 2020, [12] the ground currently has two stands with covered seating, with two more covered stands for standing spectators, one of which has been expanded to provide cover for disabled spectators. Alongside the clubhouse, the ground has an additional two outdoors refreshment facilities.

Managerial history

TermManager
1993–1994Alan Lord [13]
1994–1997Steve Walton & Ian Lamb [14]
June 1997Steve Vychinski [15]
August–December 1997Dennis Haslam [15]
1997–1998Tommy Harrison [16]
June–September 1998 Brian Smith [17] [18]
1998–2000Alan Lord [13] [19]
October 2000 – February 2001Chris O'Brien & Paul Kirkman [20]
2001–2002Dennis Haslam & Tommy Foster [21]
2002–2003Joe Murty [22]
2003–2006Alan Lord [13] [23]
2006–2007Phil Brown [24]
2007–2009Dave Conlon [24] [25]
2009–2014Steve Pilling [25]
2014–2019Michael Clegg [26] [27]
2019–2023Bradley Cooke [28] [29]
2023–David Chadwick [30]

Honours

Records

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darwen F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Darwen Football Club is a football club from Darwen, Lancashire, England. The club was formed in 2009 as A.F.C. Darwen, a successor to the original Darwen club, which had been wound up. They currently play in the North West Counties League Division One North and are based at the Anchor Ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamber Bridge F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bamber Bridge Football Club is a football club based in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium. The club is fully owned by a community organisation that represents supporters of the club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashton United F.C.</span> Association football club in Greater Manchester, England

Ashton United Football Club is a football club in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football, and play at Hurst Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nelson F.C.</span> Association football club in Nelson, England

Nelson Football Club is an English football club based in Nelson, Lancashire. Originally established in 1882, the club played in the Lancashire League, North-East Lancashire Combination, Lancashire Combination and Central League before becoming founding members of the Football League Third Division North in 1921. They were Third Division North champions in 1923 and were promoted to the Second Division. However, they were relegated back to the Third Division North after a single season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glossop North End A.F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Glossop North End Association Football Club is a football club in Glossop, Derbyshire, England, which compete in the North West Counties League Premier Division. Their home ground is Surrey Street, which has a capacity of 1,301. The club play in blue, and are nicknamed the Hillmen or the Peakites. Between 1899 and 1992 the club was officially known simply as Glossop. Glossop is one of the smallest towns in England to have had a Football League club, and it remains the smallest town whose team has played in the English top-flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burscough F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Burscough Football Club is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club is a member of the North West Counties League, and competes in the Premier Division. Its home ground is The Community Stadium, in Burscough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radcliffe F.C.</span> Association football club in Greater Manchester, England

Radcliffe Football Club is an English football club based in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester where they play their games at Stainton Park. The club was formed on 24 May 1949 and currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. They will play in the National League North in the 2024-25 season after winning the 2023-24 Northern Premier League Premier Division title. Radcliffe won the division in 1996–97, won the playoffs twice in 2003 and 2019 and reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in its history in 2000. The club changed its name to Radcliffe Football Club for the 2018–19 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colne Dynamoes F.C.</span> Football club in England

Colne Dynamoes Football Club was a football club based in Colne, Lancashire, England. After spending much of their existence in the lower reaches of Non-League football, heavy financial investment by former player turned millionaire chairman-manager, Graham White, saw the club rise rapidly through the leagues in the late 1980s. However, upon winning the Northern Premier League championship in 1989–90, the club were refused promotion to the Football Conference having failed to meet ground grading conditions and were dissolved by White in the summer of 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atherton Laburnum Rovers F.C.</span> Association football club in Greater Manchester, England

Atherton Laburnum Rovers Football Club is a football club based in Atherton, Greater Manchester, England. Full members of the Lancashire County FA, they are currently members of the North West Counties League Division One North and play at Crilly Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bacup Borough F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bacup Borough Football Club is a football club based in Bacup, Lancashire, England. The club are currently members of the North West Counties League Division One North and play at West View. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skelmersdale United F.C.</span> Association football club in Skelmersdale, England

Skelmersdale United Football Club is a football club from Skelmersdale, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties League Premier Division and play at The Community Ground, Burscough. The club is a member of both the Liverpool County Football Association and the Lancashire County Football Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A.F.C. Blackpool</span> Association football club in England

A.F.C. Blackpool is a football club based in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. The club currently play in the North West Counties League Division One North. Based at Jepson Way, they are nicknamed The Mechanics or The Mechs, and are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontefract Collieries F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Pontefract Collieries Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. The team currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One East. The club is affiliated to the West Riding County Football Association and Castleford & District Football Association. Founded in 1958 and nicknamed 'The Colls', they have traditional local rivalries with neighbours Glasshoughton Welfare, Hemsworth Miners Welfare and Selby Town. More recently, a rivalry has developed with Ossett United, including a promotion play-off at the end of the 2018–19 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Shields F.C.</span> Association football club in England

North Shields Football Club is a football club based in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, England. They have reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup twice in their history: in 1933–34 and 1982–83. Following their promotion from Northern League Division Two, they achieved promotion to Northern League Division One from which they were promoted from in 2022 as Champions to the Northern Premier League Division One East. They also won the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley in 1969, beating Sutton United. During the 2014–15 season, North Shields repeated their 1969 success by defeating Glossop North End 2-1 AET at Wembley in the final of the FA Vase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFC Fylde</span> Association football club in Wesham, England

AFC Fylde is a professional football club based in Wesham in the Borough of Fylde, Lancashire, England. They are currently members of the National League and play at Mill Farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A.F.C. Liverpool</span> Association football club in England

Affordable Football Club Liverpool is a semi-professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club were formed in 2008 by 1,000 supporters of Liverpool Football Club; a not-for-profit organisation, it is run on a one-member, one-vote system. They are currently members of the North West Counties League Premier Division and play at Marine's Rossett Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charnock Richard F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Charnock Richard Football Club is a football club based in Charnock Richard, near Chorley, Lancashire, England. They are currently members of the North West Counties League Premier Division and play at Mossie Park.

The 2018–19 season was the 51st season of the Northern Premier League. After eleven seasons, the two divisions of Division One were re-aligned from North and South to West and East. The League sponsors for the last time were Evo-Stik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garstang F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Garstang Football Club is a football club based in Garstang, Lancashire, England. They are currently members of the North West Counties League Division One North and play at the Riverside.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Atherton Collieries FC Pyramid Passion
  2. 1 2 History Atherton Colleries A.F.C.
  3. ↑ The Lancashire Alliance 1980-1935 Non-League Matters
  4. ↑ The Manchester League 1920-1960 Non-League Matters
  5. ↑ West Lancashire League 1905-1954 Non-League Matters
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Atherton Collieries at the Football Club History Database
  7. ↑ Colne beaten in MEN United cup final Lancashire Telegraph, 11 May 2016
  8. ↑ Report: Colls 2-1 Coalville Town Atherton Collieries A.F.C.
  9. ↑ West Round-Up: Atherton Colls Are Champions Northern Premier League, 23 April 2019
  10. ↑ "Atherton Collieries Relegated After Macclesfield Defeat". Northern Premier League. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "Announcement: The Skuna Stadium". Atherton Collieries.
  12. ↑ "Ground Update". Atherton Collieries.
  13. 1 2 3 Emil's Blog: Lordy North West Counties League
  14. ↑ "Colls Duo Resign". The Bolton News. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  15. 1 2 Haslam's No 1 with Colls The Bolton News, 24 July 1997
  16. ↑ New boss opens with a draw The Bolton News, 8 December 1997
  17. ↑ Ex-Wanderer joins Colls Lancashire Telegraph, 11 June 1998
  18. ↑ "Smith quits after Colls are crushed". Lancashire Telegraph, 10 September 1998.
  19. ↑ "LR still going for glory". Lancashire Telegraph, 17 September 1998.
  20. ↑ "New manager pleased despite losing start". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  21. ↑ "Joint Managers". Lancashire Telegraph, 21 February 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  22. ↑ "Murty's Mission". Lancashire Telegraph, 8 November 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  23. ↑ "Colls hit back over 'Western town' jibe". The Bolton News, 23 April 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  24. 1 2 Manager back at the helm The Bolton News, 23 August 2007
  25. 1 2 Collieries have new boss for FA Cup tie The Bolton News, 28 August 2009
  26. ↑ Managerial Change at Atherton Collieries North West Counties League, 6 May 2014
  27. ↑ Michael Clegg Departs Atherton Collieries A.F.C., 28 November 2019
  28. ↑ Brad Cooke Returns Home Atherton Collieries A.F.C., 2 December 2019
  29. ↑ "Cooke says stepping down at Colls his 'hardest decision'". The Bolton News. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  30. ↑ Welcome: David Chadwick Atherton Collieries A.F.C., 17 May 2023
  31. ↑ Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p720 ISBN   978-1-869833-77-0

53°31′24.64″N2°29′05.90″W / 53.5235111°N 2.4849722°W / 53.5235111; -2.4849722

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.