Monday 27th August 2018
Written by Sam Goldsworthy

Fans at the Marston Road stadium were treated to a real battle as Stafford Rangers and Sports ground out a 1-1 draw in a very competitive and match which saw Kevin Grocott sent off for what looked like a harsh decision by the referee. A goal from Kyle Perry gave Rangers a half time advantage which also saw Niall Doran stretchered off after a nasty looking coming together. Sports got themselves back into the game with a heavily deflected John McGrath free kick. As Sports looked more likely to go and grab a winner Grocott was sent off which left Sports hanging on for the point but that is what they did to round off the first month of the season with four points from four games.

A number of players were missing due to injury and illness for McGrath today so a shakeup in the lineup took place. Lewis King remained in goal with a back four of Kevin Grocott, Pablo Mills, Ben Turner and Mason Warren. The midfield five was made up of John McGrath and Curtis Burrows holding. This left Niall Doran, Jimmy Philips and Oli Roberts supporting lone striker Evan Garnett up front.

Sports had the first chance of the game as Garnett forced a save from Adam Whitehouse, who went down with a suspected broken wrist but all was ok as the Rangers keeper was able to play on. Sports had another good chance as Roberts put a free kick just over the bar. But it was Rangers who took the lead as a cross into the box was met in a crowd of players by Kyle Perry who headed into the goal. Lewis King protested that he was fouled in the mix up and the referee didn’t like this as he was booked for decent.

A few minutes later Joe Cuff put an effort wide for Rangers. Sports midfielder Niall Doran had to be stretchered off the field after is foot got caught in the grass ad as the challenge came in it was clear that Doran was in some discomfort and was removed from the pitch with the help of the stand by medical team who to be fair did good job in getting him off carefully but quickly. He was replaced by young midfielder Lewis Belgrave for his first taste of first team action this season. Rangers would have one more effort before the break though as Harry Benns fired an effort over the bar from a Bailey-Jones cross.

The second half started a lot better for Sports as Roberts caused problems weaving in and out of the defenders but his effort was comfortably saved by Whitehouse. It was Roberts again next, this time from a free kick once more which was again well saved by the Rangers keeper. Jimmy Phillips then had a shot dragged wide from a rebounded McGrath free kick before Sports finally got an equalizer just before the hour mark. A McGrath free kick on the far side of the field at the by-line took a wicked deflection off a Rangers defender and kicked in off both the bar and post to get Sports back on level terms.

Belgrave, Garnett and Phillips all had good chances to grab a winner for Sports as they pressed the hosts to snatch the three points. But just after Bailey-Jones had a strike smashed over the bar, those chances of grabbing all three points seemed to disappear as a challenge from Grocott just outside the box was deemed to be violent conduct by the referee as he brandished a red card. The match official after the game admitted he may have got it wrong as McGrath confirmed the club will be appealing. Stafford Rangers officials also agreed it was not a red but the decision at the time meant Grocott was off and Sports were down to 10 men.

Rangers smelt blood and went for the kill to grab the win themselves but to Sports credit they restricted the hosts to only one effort. First Karry Benns missed a header which everyone thought was in but was narrowly wide before the final chance. But it was Sports who had the final effort as a mistake by the Rangers keeper left Oli Roberts with an open net from 25 yards out but to the hosts credit they got back very quickly to block the lobbed shot and away from any dangers. So another point for Sports sees them end August with a good start to the season with one win, two draws and only one defeat and are 14th in the league standings. Sports will now begin September with a home game with Derbyshire rivals Buxton FC on Saturday 1st September with a 3pm kick off.

Mickleover Sports will be looking to take confidence from last Fridays 3-2 victory over North Ferriby United as they travel to Marston Road in a very difficult looking fixture away to Stafford Rangers. Rangers have of course been as high as the National League in their history and after a bad period which saw them relegated to Step 4, have now established themselves back at Step 3 and will be looking to be challenging again this season for a promotion spot. Sports however will be keen to grab a first away win to get a good run going into September and that clash with Buxton at home.

LAST TIME OUT
It wasn’t a successful trip to South Shields for Rangers as they went down 3-0 to the side from the North East in front of over 1,600 people. South Shields are themselves a promotion contender so there is no shame in losing at a very difficult ground. Stafford will now be looking forward to returning to home territory to get back on track.

SPORTS TEAM NEWS
Tom Burgin is a definite absentee with Jake Scott, who played no part on Friday, also remains a slight doubt. Mason Warren will be pretty much certain of a starting spot after impressing against North Ferriby. Everybody else is presumed fit and rating to go should they be selected.

GOING TO THE GAME?
The game is taking place with a 3pm kick off at Marston Lane, Stafford, ST16 3UF. Admission Prices are set at £10 for Adults with Concessions at £7. Under 16’s are only £1. There is a further £2 charge should you wish to have a seat in the Main Stand at the side of the pitch. Refreshments, Hot Food and Match day Programmes will of course be on sale around the ground.

NOT GOING TO THE GAME?
Then no need to worry, Press & Media Officer Sam Goldsworthy will be at the game keeping you up to date via the usual platforms of Twitter & Facebook, with match reaction on Mickleover Sports TV (Youtube) after the game!

Mickleover Sports 3-2 North Ferriby United

Friday 24th August 2018

Written by Sam Goldsworthy

Mickleover Sports kicked of their home campaign in the league with three points as they registered a 3-2 victory over relegated Humberside team North Ferriby United. After not registering a goal in their first two opening games two game in eight first half minutes by former Derby and Rotherham defender Pablo Mills, the first of which was a peach of a screamer. Evan Garnett extended the lead to three early in the second half, notching his first of the campaign. What looked like an easy win then turned into a nervous finish as two late goals from Ferriby threatened to throw all the hard work down the drain. But the resolute Sports managed to withhold the away side’s onslaught to register the first three points of the season.

Four changes were made to the side that lost 2-0 at Gainsborough on Tuesday night. In came Kevin Grocott, Tyreece Robinson, John McGrath and Mason Warren for Tom Burgin, Niall Doran, Jimmy Phillips and Jake Scott. Doran and Phillips dropped to the bench alongside Will Norcross, Isai Marselia and Lewis Belgrave.

North Ferriby had the first chance as Harrison had an early strike saved by King. Roberts then had Sports first chance as a half volley from outside the box went wide of the left hand post. After a succession of corners from the home side the end product resulted in McGrath picking out Mills who headed wide. Next a long range effort from North Ferriby took an awkward bounce infront of King but the Sports keeper watched the ball all the way into his waiting gloves to save it well.

McGrath then sent a free kick wide of the right hand post before new signing Mason Warren let fly from quite some distance which looked destined for the top right corner but was somehow fantastically saved from Ferriby keeper Exall. But it was the next long range effort which had everyone on their feet in amazement as Sports took the lead. A ball came out to Pablo Mills who must have been a good 35-40 yards out and let rip an incredibly powerful strike which came past the keeper and into top right corner.

Sports then hit the post twice in the space of three minutes as both Evan Garentt and Nathan Jarman, from a free kick, smacked the bottom left hand post which could have extended Sports lead. But that man Mills was at it again as the Sports defender got onto the end of a Roberts free kick from the left hand side and smashed a low effort from inside the box into the bottom left corner. The last chance of the first half saw Ferriby midfielder Dan Norton head wide from a cross which saw Sports go into the break 2-0 ahead.

Within nine second half minutes Sports looked to have killed the game with a third goal. Evan Garnett was played in behind the back four and showed great composure to strike a low driven effort under the Ferriby keeper and into the bottom left corner. North Ferriby then made personnel and a tactical change to try and get back into the game which saw a spell of pressure end with a Lamplough effort being fired wide of the left hand post. After two chances from Roberts and Warren came and went Ferriby got themselves a goal back as a cross into the box was met by Dan Norton to head past King and into the net.

Sports made their one and only substitute as boss John McGrath took himself off for the experienced Jimmy Phillips. After another spell of North Ferriby pressure they got another goal back to make it a nervy last few minutes. This time it was James Williamson who struck to pull the gap down to the one goal. Things started to get heated up with Ferriby desperately trying to get a goal back to equalize. Bookings were picked up for Burrows and King as well as Luke Lofts for the visitors after a scuffle which was sperated by the referee.

Despite the onslaught from the visitors it was Sports who had the final two chances of the game. Evan Garnett sprinted away to hit the side netting before Jarman broke away to cross for Roberts but the midfielder couldn’t quite get onto the end of the cross. Phillips was booked for kicking the ball away in the last minute but it mattered little as the referee blew for full time to the relief of all associated with Sports who can now build on the confidence the win will bring as return to action on Bank Holiday Monday as they travel to Stafford Rangers (27th August) for a 3pm Kick Off.

Mickleover Sports will be looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at Gainsborough Trinity as they take on another relegated side, North Ferriby United on Friday night (24th August 7:45pm KO). Sports now sit 20th in the early league table standings with one point from two matches and without a goal so far but with 40 games still to play there is plenty of time to bounce back and that starts on Friday night under the lights for the first home game of the league season. Sports Boss John McGrath and his group of players will know that the high expectations they set in pre season were not met in their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Gainsborough Trinity on Tuesday night so will be determined to put those wrongs right with an improved performance against the recently relegated villagers.

LAST TIME OUT
North Ferriby have had a similar start, drawing their first game 1-1 away at Marine before going down 1-0 at home to Whitby Town on Tuesday night. So both sides will be looking to grab their first win of the season to propel themselves up the table. They currently sit 17th in the table with only a better goal difference keeping them above Sports.

SPORTS TEAM NEWS
Jake Scott was forced off with another minor injury during the Gainsborough Trinity defeat so McGrath may look to give them midfielder a rest if possible. Mason Warren impressed during his second half substitute appearance so may be in contention for a starting spot. We could also see the return of defender Kevin Grocott to the squad after the former Burton Albion man was not involved on Tuesday night. But with plenty of options to rotate McGrath has plenty of options to freshen the side up ahead of another big test against another very good side.

GOING TO THE GAME?
The game is a 7:45pm Kick Off at the Don Amott Arena on Station Road, Mickleover, DE3 9FB with Admission Prices set at £10 Adults, £7 Concessions £2 10-16’s with Under 10’s FREE with a playing adult. Derby County and Burton Albion Season Ticket Holders are being encouraged to come along to support their local non league side with reduced admission of £7 on production of their club’s season ticket at the turnstile. The bar and snack van will be open as usual serving hot and cold drinks and food before during and after the match. Your new look Sports Report Match day Programme will also be on sale at the turnstile for only £2! This features the thoughts of Chairman Don Amott and Manager John McGrath plus all your usual content.

NOT GOING TO THE GAME?
Then no need to worry, Press & Media Officer Sam Goldsworthy will be at the game keeping you up to date via the usual platforms of Twitter & Facebook, with match reaction on Mickleover Sports TV (Youtube) after the game!

Tuesday 21st August 2018
Written by Sam Goldsworthy

Gainsborough Trinity 2-0 Mickleover Sports

John McGrath and his Mickleover Sports side could have no complaints about their first loss of the league season as a rampant and dominant display from their Lincolnshire hosts, Gainsborough Trinity, saw them run out 2-0 winners. It could have been a few more had the hosts taken more of the opportunities that were presented to them throughout the game as Trinity striker Ross Hannah could have had a hatrick with the chances he missed. Sports had a few good spells throughout the match but as they did on Saturday rarely threatened the opposition keeper drawing another blank in front of goal.

There were two changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Stalybridge Celtic as McGrath looked to freshen things up. Curtis Burrows started at right back in place of Kevin Grocott and Evan Garnett came into the starting line up in place of Sports Boss McGrath who dropped himself to the bench in what looked like a 4-4-2 formation. The rest of the Subs bench included youngsters Tyreece Robinson, Isai Marselia and Will Norcross as well as new signing Mason Warren.

Gainsborough Trinity flew out of the blocks in the first minutes of the game and had several chances to score an early goal. Some dangerous looking free kicks and strikes from outside the box made Lewis King work early on to keep his goal intact. Ross Hannah then had the best chance of the game so far as Sports gave the ball away and as Hannah rolled the ball around King he was left with an open net but somehow managed to blaze his effort over the bar in a moment of a lack of composure from the former Matlock, Bradford and Grimsby striker. Nathan Stainfield then headed a corner wide before another well delivered corner kick which was dipping all the way forced King into a save just short of the goal line but he managed to keep the ball from scrambling in.

Then another golden chance from Hannah went begging as Sports nearly turned a promising corner kick into nearly conceding a silly goal. The corner was wasted as it was delivered into the box and a fantastic quick counter attack through the thirds resulted in the ball being played over to Hannah with a 1v1 chance to strike past King but the striker it seemed tried to square the ball to a team mate who wasn’t expecting the experienced forward to do that and the ball went wide of the right hand post. King was the forced into another save from a dangerous ball into the box before right on half time Sports finally had a chance of their own to threaten the Gainsborough keeper who was having a quiet night all round. A beautifully delivered ball in from Niall Doran was aimed for forward Evan Garnett but the former Burton Albion man couldn’t quite get on the end of the cross and it was played away from danger which brought the first half to a close.

The second half started the same way as the first had, but this time Trinity were more prolific with their chances. After a free kick from Hannah was blazed over the bar, a spectacular effort broke the deadlock, but it came from a Sports error. Oliver Roberts gave away possession in the centre circle after falling over on the ball and Liam King saw the opportunity with King off his line to lob him from just inside the Sports half leaving the Sports keeper with no chance as the ball went into the centre of the goal to give Trinity a goal nobody could argue they deserved.

Sports did mildly threaten to make a go of it to grab an equaliser with Jarman setting up Doran for a blocked effort and a Roberts’s free kick going over for a goal kick. But ultimately Gainsborough killed the game off with just less than 20 minutes to go as another error in possession cost Sports dearly. This time it was former Trinity man Jake Scott to give the ball away which gave the hosts an opportunity to move the ball quickly and set up Alex Byrne on the right hand side of the box to unleash a ferocious strike that had gone into the back of the net before King could even see it coming.

Sports then made a couple of changes to try and get themselves back into the game as Jake Scott and Evan Garnett made way for new comers Mason Warren and a first appearance from Dutch striker Isai Marselia. With no further chances being created Sports then threw on Will Norcross in place of Niall Doran in the last 10 minutes. Curtis Burrows managed to pick up a yellow card for a late tackle before Trinity striker Ashley Worsfold forced a decent save out of King moments later to keep the score down to two.

There would be one final chance for Trinity to grab a third but it wasn’t to be as substitute and former Altrincham striker Damian Reeves nearly placed a neatly dinked effort over King into the net but fortunately for Sports the wall was just wide of Kings left hand post. After four minutes of quiet stoppage time the game came to an end to signal Sports first league defeat and see them drop to 20th in the very early standings in the table. It’s still way too early to start panicking and McGrath and his players will know that the high expectations they have set were not anywhere near net during the 90 minutes and will be looking to bounce and register their first win and goal when the head back to the Don Amott area for their first home game against another relegated side in North Ferriby United on Friday 24th August with a 7:45pm Kick Off.

Mickleover Sports make the 120 mile round trip to Lincolnshire based and recently Relegated Gainsborough Trinity on Tuesday night (7:45pm) hoping to pick up where they left off from a solid 0-0 draw at Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday.

Trinity were relegated for the first time in their history last season finishing 20th in the National League North. The club, managed by former Watford, Bradford and Huddersfield defender Lee Sinnott, will be looking for an immediate return to Step 2 at the first time of asking.

LAST TIME OUT
Trinity didn’t get off to the best of starts losing 1-0 away at Nantwich Town to a Stephen Jones 94th minute winner. It’s still early days though and they’ll be looking to get back on track and kick start their season on home turf for the first time this season.

SPORTS TEAM NEWS
Tom Burgin (Concussion) and Jake Scott (Ankle) are minor doubts for John McGraths side but should be in contention to play if selected. If not McGrath has plenty of options to rotate with Curtis Burrows and Mason Warren chomping at the bit for a first full start of the season. Nathan Jarman is expected to start against his former team and will be certainly looking to bag himself a goal or two… or three….

GOING TO THE GAME?
Gainsborough Trinity play their home matches at The Northolme, North Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2QW. Parking is mainly street parking but there is small car park opposite the ground which is £2. Admission Prices are £8 Adults £5 Concessions and £3 U16’s. Match day Programmes are £2.50 each. There are excellent food and drink facilities at the ground for Sports supporters to enjoy before, during and after the match.

NOT GOING TO THE GAME?
Then no need to worry, Press & Media Officers Sam & Kerry Goldsworthy will be at the game keeping you up to date via the usual platforms of Twitter & Facebook, with match reaction on Mickleover Sports TV (Youtube) after the game!

Stalybridge Celtic 0-0 Mickleover Sports

Saturday 18th August 2018

Mickleover Sports got their season up and running with a goalless draw on the road at Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday. In what turned out to be a very open and competitive game, both sides went out to attack with both sides having chances to break the deadlock. But it wasn’t meant to be as both sides took a share of the spoils to get their league campaigns off to a solid start.
Sports boss John McGrath handed three full debuts in his first line up of the season. Lewis king remained in goal with a back four of Kevin Grocott, Tom Burgin, Pablo Mills and Ben Turner. A midfield five consisted of Jake Scott and John McGrath holding with Oliver Roberts, Niall Doran and Jimmy Phillips playing behind Nathan Jarman. On the bench saw new boys Curtis Burrows, Isaï Marcelia and Mason Warren joined by Will Norcross and Evan Garnett.

Michael Clarke and Scott Bakkor had the first two efforts for the home side in the first 10 minutes. Sports first real chance developed after lovely build up play saw Phillips effort blocked before Turner put an effort wide from the resulting rebound. New boy and former Celtic player Oliver Roberts then had two great efforts to score against his old club later in the half. Firstly a low drilled effort went wide of the right hand post before a great free kick from Mills nearly found Roberts inside the box. Another Sports new boy Niall Doran then had two great chances before the half time break. A header from a Phillips cross was put wide then followed up by a blocked effort in the final minute of the half.

John McGrath decided to take himself off at half time and was replaced by Evan Garnett who slotted into a wide position in midfield. As like the first half, the hosts made the better start. Greg Wilkinson struck an effort over the bar before a second effort was blocked wide for a corner. Oli Roberts had the next chance after another cross from Phillips but the strike was over the bar. Both Garnett and Jarman went close before the best chance to break the deadlock fell to Roberts again. The young midfielder broke down the right wing with incredible pace, cut inside, and curled an effort towards goal but was saved by the Celtic keeper.

Sports then made their second change as one debutant made way for another as Niall Doran was replaced by Curtis Burrows. Nathan Jarman then had a volley cleared off the line which then fell nicely to Burrows but his effort was over the target. There would be one more chance for Sports with only two minutes remaining of normal time. A looping cross from Phillips nearly caught out the Celtic keeper but the ball dipped just wide of the right hand post. The final Sports change saw Jake Scott come off with a minor injury and replaced by new signing and former Rotherham United left back Mason Warren. The final chance of the game fell to the hosts in the ninety-fifth minute which could have won the game, but a fantastic save from former Celtic keeper Lewis King saw the Sports keeper keep hold of his clean sheet. This brought an end to the game as Sports recorded their first point of the new season. Boss John McGrath will now look to build on the hard earned point with a tough looking trip to relegated Gainsborough Trinity on Tuesday 21st August, 7:45pm KO.

Workington AFC are the focus of today’s 21 in 21.

When do we play them?

Home: Saturday 3rd November
Away: Saturday 26th January

Name: Workington AFC
Nickname: The Reds
Founded: 1921
Ground: Borough Park
Manager: David Hewson
Home Kit: Red & White
Away Kit: Blue & Black
2017-2018 – Northern Premier League – Premier Division – 12th

Club History:
Football in Workington has a very long history. Close by and adjacent to the home of Workington A.F.C the folk game of “Uppies and Downies” is still an annual event. There are records about the game from 20 April 1775 in the “Cumbrian Pacquet” which is one of the earliest reports of a football match ever. This report says the match on which it is reporting is “long contended” thereby noting an even longer unwritten history of the game in this Cumbrian Town.

Association football was introduced to Workington in the 1860s and further popularised when a group of steel workers migrated to the town from Dronfield, Derbyshire. They were workers of the Charles Cammel and Co steel works that arrived in the town in 1884. It is estimated that 1,500 townspeople moved to Workington. ‘Dronnies’, as the people of Workington called the newcomers, formed Workington AFC in 1888. This is also confirmed in a short history of the club which was produced as part of 16 page brochure in the club’s application to the Football League in 1951.

The original Workington A.F.C. were one of the founder members of the Cumberland Association League in 1888 and played at Lonsdale Park. In 1894 they moved to the Cumberland Senior League, and in 1901 joined the Lancashire League. However, the league closed two seasons later, and they returned to the Cumberland Senior League. In 1904 the club were admitted to the Lancashire Combination, but in 1910 seasons they decided to economise and join the North Eastern League. However, after only one season, the club folded.

The new Workington A.F.C. was born in 1921 and immediately joined the North Eastern League. During the 1933–34 season, the club managed its best-ever FA Cup performance, reaching the 4th round, before losing to Preston North End. Later in the decade, the club moved to its present home, Borough Park. In 1951 the club was voted into the Third Division North of the Football League replacing New Brighton.

The early Football League Years of Workington Reds are chronicled in a series of books entitled So Sad So Very Sad – The League History of Workington AFC part 1 (1951–58), part 2 (1958–64) and part 3 (1964–65).

Season tickets are available to buy from Mickleover Sports Club today from 6pm.

Or you can collect yours at the first home game next Friday 24th August.

#Sportsrising

Witton Albion are the focus of today’s 21 in 21.

When do we play them?

Home: Saturday 16th March
Away: Tuesday 9th October

Name: Witton Albion
Nickname: The Albs
Founded: 1887
Ground: Wincham Park
Manager: Carl McCauley
Home Kit: Red & White
Away Kit: Blue & Red
2017-2018 – Northern Premier League – Premier Division – 7th

Club History:

The first records of a Witton Albion F.C. are in 1887. The club first entered the FA Cup in 1907–08 but failed to reach the First Round proper until 1948–49.

Early on in their history the club played in a number of leagues including the Northwich & District League, Crewe & District league, Cheshire League, The Combination, The Manchester League and Lancashire Combination.

Finally in 1920, the club became founder members of the Cheshire County League. They won the league three times after World War 2, including the league and cup double in 1953–54. After the formation of the Northern Premier League in 1969, many Cheshire clubs left the Cheshire County League, although Witton were denied entry on a vote.

It is thought that Northwich Victoria’s decision to persuade other clubs not to allow their town rivals in was the deciding factor. Albion continued to be a decent side in the Cheshire County League and eventually earned promotion to the Northern Premier League in 1978–79, when the club finished as runners-up. Although they missed out on joining their arch-rivals, as they had just left to form the Alliance Premier League. The sale of the club’s Central Ground to Sainsbury’s allowed the club to move to a much more modern stadium, although it was over a mile away in nearby Wincham.

The second season at Wincham Park in 1990–91 proved to be one of the best seasons in the club’s history as they won the NPL by 16 points, gaining promotion to the Football Conference. However, the club found this tough going and continual relegation struggles resulted in the first relegation in the club’s history in 1994. A further relegation from the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League followed in 1997.

In 2004, club captain Brian Pritchard enjoyed worldwide fame following his sending off during the Cheshire County F.A. Senior Cup final against Woodley Sports. He was sent off after he tripped a streaker that had run onto the pitch, incensing the Witton fans. Many football fans around the world deemed this sending off unfair, including when the referee was criticised for his decision on the BBC’s Football Focus program.

The 2006–07 season saw Witton miss out on automatic promotion on the last day of the season to Burscough, by 1 goal on goal difference. Witton hit the woodwork 3 times in the last 20 minutes, but were unable to score the goal that would have taken them into the Conference North as league champions. This was the second time in seven years that Burscough had beaten Witton to promotion on goal difference. Witton subsequently lost the play-off final against Telford United and were thus denied promotion into the Conference North division.

Witton narrowly missed promotion again in 2007–08. After having led the Northern Premier League Premier Division since November, at one stage by 14 points, they lost the lead to Fleetwood Town in mid-April, and entered the last game of the regular season a point behind Fleetwood, but with a much better goal difference. Although Fleetwood could only manage a draw at home to Frickley Athletic in their last match, Witton lost at home 3–0 to Worksop Town and finished second. They went on to lose the first round of the promotion playoffs at home to Buxton on penalties. After the season ended, the club were wracked with management upheavals. Manager Jim Vince and assistant Nigel Deeley resigned after a disagreement with long-time charman Mike Worthington, and shortly afterwards Worthington himself severed ties with the club. Vince and Deeley were re-appointed by acting chairman Mark Harris, but Vince resigned again two weeks later on the grounds of ill-health. Nigel Deeley was appointed manager on 28 May.

A substantial reduction in the playing budget led to the departure of most of the established squad members during the 2008 close season. Manager Nigel Deeley and assistant Andy Nelson were fired on November 2, after an unprecedented sequence of nine consecutive defeats. They were replaced by former manager Gary Finley, assisted by Lee Coathup. After a brief change in fortunes, when Witton moved out of the relegation zone, the Albion finished third bottom, and were relegated to the Northern Premier League First Division South.

Witton entered the 2009–10 season with high hopes of promotion. Consistently in the top half of the league, they were as high as third by February 2010. However, an indifferent last third of the season saw them fall to seventh, finishing 6 points out of playoff contention. Finley resigned from the club prior to the last game of the season. League restructuring saw the club relocated to Northern Premier League First Division North for the 2010–11 season.

In May 2010, former long-serving Leek Town manager Paul Ogden was appointed to the managerial position, assisted by Brian Pritchard, who will remain on the playing staff, and Dave McPherson. Six years previously, Ogden had turned down the management job at Witton, a decision which he described as ‘a mistake’.[4] On 11 April 2011 Dave MacPherson and Brian Pritchard were appointed joint managers of the club for the remainder of the 2010–11 season. Dave MacPherson left the club in the close season and Brian Pritchard became the permanent manager for the 2011–12 season. Mike Moseley, one of Albion’s leading goalscorers became Assistant Player/Manager with former boss Nigel Deeley becoming First-Team Coach. On 28 April 2012, Witton beat Curzon Ashton 3–0 in the Northern Premier League Division One North Play-off Final winning promotion to the Northern Premier League (the seventh tier of the English football league system) in the 2012–13 season.

An impressive 2012/13 season saw Witton finish 4th in the league making the play-off’s. A 3-1 semi final defeat to FC United of Manchester brought an excellent season to a close.

The 2013/14 season was tougher, with Albion finding themselves in the relegation zone for most of the season. However a good run of form inspired by club favourite Alex Titchiner the club managed to finish 16th.

On Monday 25 August 2014 after beating Marine 3-1, Manager Brian Pritchard announced his resignation after 19 years at the club. He was replaced by Player/Coach Anthony Sheehan. Sheehan’s reign lasted just 5 games all of which ended in defeat. He handed in his resignation and was replaced by Tony Sullivan. Sullivan moved quickly to bring in his management team appointing Kevin Hodgson and Andy Robertson to the coaching staff.
Albion were relegated on the last day of the 2014/15 season. Needing only a point to guarantee league survival away at Stamford, Albion raced into a two-goal lead, however collapsed in the 2nd half eventually losing 3-2 and finding themselves finishing 22nd.

Immediately after the game both Tony Sullivan and his assistant Kevin Hodgson resigned. The board moved quickly to replace Sullivan with former Norton United F.C. manager Scott Dundas taking over.

However Dundas was fairly unsuccessful despite building a team of ex pro’s and proven goalscorers. Dundas was sacked just two months into the season after the club slipped to its lowest league position in its history. The board replaced Dundas with ex Vauxhall Motors F.C. and Marine F.C. manager Carl MaCauley.

The club also caused a stir amongst fans at the start of the 2015/16 season by allowing bitter rivals Northwich Victoria back into the town by allowing them to share their Wincham Park stadium.