Whitby Town are the focus of today’s 21 in 21.

When do we play them?

Home: Saturday 30th March
Away: Saturday 20th October

Name: Whitby Town
Nickname: The Seasiders
Founded: 1880
Ground: Turnbull Ground
Manager: Chris Hardy
Home Kit: Blue & White
Away Kit: White & Blue
2017-2018 – Northern Premier League – Premier Division – 21st

Club History:

The level which the club are at now is the highest they have been throughout their history, rising up from the lower sections of non-league football during the 1990s, winning the Northern Premier League First Division on the way as well as the Northern League Cup six times.

However, the formation of the Conference North/South Leagues at step 2 in the non-League pyramid effectively relegated Town back to step 3. Whitby most prestigious honour is arguably the FA Vase, which they won in 1996–97 after defeating North Ferriby United at Wembley Stadium.

Whitby play their home games at the 3,500 capacity Turnbull Ground on Upgang Lane. The club’s colours are somewhat distinct in English football and are intentionally similar to Italian side Sampdoria wearing a blue shirt with a touch of white, black and red.

Warrington Town are the focus of today’s 21 in 21.

When do we play them?

Home: Tuesday 2nd October
Away: Saturday 2nd March

Name: Warrington Town
Nickname: The Wire
Founded: 1949
Ground: Cantilever Park
Manager: Paul Carden
Home Kit: Yellow & Blue
Away Kit: Blue & White
2017-2018 – Northern Premier League – Premier Division – 3rd

Club History:

Formed in 1949 by Jimmy Drinkwater, the club was initially named Stockton Heath Albion and competed in the Warrington and District League until 1953, when they moved to the Mid Cheshire League.

Freddie Worrall became manager at the same time, and during a 13-year spell in charge, the club won the league in 1959–60 plus the League Cup in three consecutive seasons during the 1950s. During his thirteen years at the helm, Heath were one of the most feared sides in Cheshire football, winning a string of honours including the Mid Cheshire League Championship in 1959–60, the League Cup in 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56 and made several appearances in the Cheshire Amateur Cup Final. Several players from this successful period went on to join Football League clubs, including Ian Weir, John Green, Alan Foster and Roger Hunt, later a World Cup winner with England in 1966.

At the club’s 1961 AGM, it was decided to change the name to Warrington Town. In 1978 the club were founder members of Division Two of the Cheshire County League.

When it merged into the North West Counties Football League in 1982, the club were founder members of Division Three. They finished as runners-up in the first season, earning promotion to Division Two. In 1985–86 Warrington reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, losing 6–3 to Halesowen Town in a replay. After finishing as runners-up in Division Two in 1986–87, the club were promoted to Division One. In the same season they reached the FA Vase final, where they lost 3–2 to local rivals St Helens Town
In 1989–90 Warrington Town won Division One, and were promoted to the Northern Premier League. In 1992–93 they reached the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy, eventually losing 2–1 at Sutton United, and also became the first Division One club to reach the final of the League Cup, losing on penalties to Winsford United.

The season also saw the club sell Neil Whalley to Football League Third Division side Preston North End for a £25,000, equalling the record fee paid for a Northern Premier League player. A few weeks later Warrington also sold Liam Watson to Preston for a record £60,000.
After finishing second bottom of the league in 1996–97, the club were relegated back to Division One of the North West Counties League.

The following season they were demoted, failing ground grading. In the 1998–99 season, teenage striker Damien Whitehead set a new club record of 52 goals in just 42 appearances, before signing for Football League Division Three side Macclesfield Town at the end of the season. The 1999–2000 season saw Town win the Second Division Trophy beating Tetley Walker F.C (known as The Holden Final) 2–0 at Prescot Cables, with two goals from Neal Holden, whilst the following season saw Warrington win Division Two and earn promotion back to Division One.

They finished fifth in 2003–04, and were promoted to Division One of the Northern Premier League as part of the restructuring that led to the creation of the Conference North and South. When Division One was split into northern and southern sections in 2007, the club were placed in the southern division, but were moved to the northern section the following season.

In 2013–14 the club finished third in Division One North, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. However, they lost 1–0 at home to Bamber Bridge in the semi-finals.

Stalybridge Celtic are the focus of today’s 21 in 21.

When do we play them?

Home: Saturday 5th January
Away: Saturday 18th August

Name: Stalybridge Celtic
Nickname: The Celts
Founded: 1909
Ground: Bower Fold
Manager: Simon Haworth
Home Kit: Blue & White
Away Kit: Green & White
2017-2018 – Northern Premier League – Premier Division – 22nd

Club History:

The club’s formation is usually given as 1909. However, it may have been as early as 1906 when an amateur club with the same name was formed. There were players called Storrs and Manwood who played in the 1906 and 1909 teams, and a player called Rhodes who played in the amateur’s first game; a Herbert Rhodes was a significant benefactor of the ‘later’ Celtic.

The club played for two seasons in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur League, before turning professional and joining the Lancashire Combination becoming second division champions at the first attempt. They followed it up with a fourth place and runners up spot in the Central League. In an attempt to progress the club joined the Southern League. The club rejoined the Central League for the 1919–20 season and in 1921 became one of the founder members of the Football League’s Third Division North. However the club resigned after two seasons, as it was felt that it could not attract enough support to justify a League side – in spite of the fact that average attendance of 5,480 in 1922 was almost 2,000 more than neighbouring Rochdale, who played in the same Division.:172–178 The full Celtic story in the League is detailed in Manchester A Football History where Celtic are given the same level of analysis and research as the Manchester region’s other sides.

They joined the Cheshire County League remaining members for 60 years and winning the title only once in 1980. With the league’s merger with the Lancashire Combination in 1982, they became founder members of the North West Counties League, winning the title in 1984 and 1987, with the latter triumph resulting in them being promoted to the Northern Premier League (NPL). In 1992 the club won the league title and was promoted to the Football Conference, playing at that level for six seasons to 1998 before being relegated to the NPL again, after finishing bottom.

In 2000–01, the club had one of the best seasons in its history, achieving a treble of the Cheshire Senior Cup, the President’s Cup and the Northern Premier League Premier Division, thus being promoted back to the Football Conference (though they were relegated after only one season). When the conference added a second level for the 2004–5 season, the club became one of the founders of the new Conference North where they have remained to date. Until the end of 2006–07 season the manager was John Reed, who had extensive experience as a manager in English non-league football, including three successful seasons as manager of Harrogate Town. On 30 May 2007 Steve Burr was appointed as a manager.

The 2007–08 season was one of the best in recent times; after finishing 18th the previous year, a third-place finish in the league meant a promotion opportunity to the Conference National was presented via the play-offs. After reaching the final, Stalybridge were denied after a 1–0 defeat to Barrow.

The club continued in the Conference North for the three seasons; placing 6th in the 2008–09 season in which manager Steve Burr left for Kidderminster, 10th in the 2009/10 season and 10th again in the 2010/11 season.

In the 2011–12 season, they were a huge contender for a promotion place as late as February before a poor set of results saw their hopes slip away towards the end of the season, finishing sixth in total, just below the last playoff place.
In the 2012–13 season, after languishing near the relegation zone for most of the year, they finished 11th following a 9-game unbeaten run. Stalybridge also reached the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup, losing 2–1 to Chester F.C.

The 2013–14 season wasn’t a good one either, as Stalybridge finished 19th, narrowly avoiding relegation by 2 points. Jim Harvey was sacked in October 2013, being replaced by former player Keith Briggs. They secured Conference North football for another season with a 1–1 draw against Bradford Park Avenue in the penultimate game of the season.
The 2014–15 season was arguably the worst for a long time. Stalybridge struggled to keep their heads above water, which led to the resignation of Keith Briggs in March 2015. He was replaced by 3 time Conference North winning manager, Liam Watson. This brought a turn around in results, with Watson only losing 1 of his 7 games in charge, winning 4. Survival came down to the final game against Gainsborough, with Stalybridge needing to better Colwyn Bay’s and Brackley’s results. A pulsating match finished 4–4, and they survived on goal difference.

Carlton Town 0-2 Mickleover Sports

Saturday 11th August 2018

Written by Sam Goldsworthy

Sports have completed an unbeaten pre-season Programme by completing preparations for the league season with a 2-0 win away at Evo Stik Division One East Side Carlton Town. Two strikes from Jimmy Phillips and Evan Garnett either side of half side put the Millers to the sword and meant that after ten pre-season games Sports have won 9 and drew 1 ahead of another exciting Evo Stik Northern Premier League season starting at Bower Fold in a weeks’ time.

Nathan Jarman, Niall Doran and Kevin Grocott were absent with minor knocks today so it was a chance for some of Sports academy to impress. Lewis King started in goal with Curtis Burrows, Tom Burgin, Tyreece Robinson and Ben Turner at the back. Jake Scott, Jimmy Phillips, Oliver Roberts and Fin Davies started with boss John McGrath and Evan Garnett up front. On the bench were academy players Gordon, Parkin, Matthews and Fatubin.

It was Carlton who made the brighter start with two chances inside the first 15 minutes but both were saved by Lewis King in the Sports net. Sports then got more into the game as Finn Davies and Evan Garnett both got onto the end of efforts after great attacking moves they were creating. But it was on 26 minutes that the deadlock was broke and it was Jimmy Phillips who got it for Sports. A fantastic move between Roberts and Garnett fed the ball with pace across the box and there in the right place at the right time inside the 6 yard box to smash a low drive under the keeper and into the net.

An early change was made from Carlton before Oliver Roberts had a strike from outside the box saved by the keeper. An impressive Carlton free kick was caught well by King was a spell of pressure from the home side. Two chances ended the first half and they both went Sports way as Oliver Roberts and Jake Scott both had efforts at goal with one going wide and one going over the bar.

No changes as half time as Phillips had the first chance of the second half which was spilled by the keeper initially before pouncing on the ball just before Garnett could get to the rebound. Carlton then went up the other end and managed to get a cross in with a powerful header going over the bar. Then Sports got their second goal in the 52nd minute. A lovely through ball after a fantastic attacking move fed in striker who controlled the ball beautifully as he slide a delicate effort past the keeper and into the bottom right corner.
Carlton could have got a goal back soon after though but for the efforts of King as a powerful close range strike was palmed over the bar after very quick reactions from the Sports keeper and over for a corner. Next Curtis Burrows, who was playing at right back in this game, managed to drive into the box and had an effort deflected and into the keepers hands. Both sides then made changes with Sports brining on Gordon with Turner coming off.

The final chance of the game went to Carlton as the striker managed to turn the Sports defenders and fired an effort over the bar. Sports made a double change before the close of play with Davies and Garnett coming off for Parkin and Matthews. But there was no time for them to make a real impact as the referee blew for full time and brought an end to a very successful pre-season for Sports. But as we all know pre-season results mean nothing in the grand scheme of things as it is what counts on Saturday 18th August when Mickleover Sports kick off their season with a trip to Stalybridge Celtic at Bower Fold with a 3pm Kick Off.

Kidsgrove Athletic 1-1 Mickleover Sports

Friday 10th August 2018

Written by Sam Goldsworthy

The unbeaten pre-season run continued on Friday night, but only just, as Sports got a late equaliser to come away with a draw in Staffordshire. Kidsgrove Athletic certainly gave John McGraths side a test as they defended extremely well with former Brewers team mate and Grove manager Ryan Austin at the heart of defense. After scoring a fortunate goal in the opening stages of the second half, Kidsgrove were reduced to ten men and this sparked Sports into life as they got their equaliser from Lewis Belgrave following up on a free kick that was saved by the keeper. One more friendly now remaining the start of the season cannot come soon enough for McGrath and his Sports side.

The first half was a pretty quiet affair with minimal chances for either side. An early spell of pressure from the hosts resulted in an effort going wide. Next one of the Trialists for Sports was ruled out for offside after striking in a rebound from an effort that came off the post. Then Jack Walsh cured an effort wide almost straight after on the next attack. Kidsgrove then a chance as the striker sent a half volley over the bar before the home side had to make an early change due to injury. That was about it for a very quiet first half period.
The second half definitely had a lot more going for it and within five minute Kidsgrove starting knocking on the door with two chances in a four minute period. A Kidsgrove goal was coming and that’s exactly what happened. The ball was floated into the box and as goalkeeper Harvey Adams was trying to get a glove to it he knocked it onto the bar and unfortunately there was the Kidsgrove striker to tap it from right on the line for first blood to Grove.

The home side then made a couple of changes as soon after Will Norcross had a chance but struck his effort over the bar. Trialist then sent a powerful effort into the arms of the Kidsgrove keeper but the turning point came moments later as Grove were reduced to ten men. Norcross was through on goal with only the keeper to beat just outside the box. The Kidsgrove right back hacked the young winger down and the referee had no hesitation in showing him a red card for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. Maybe a little harsh in a pre-season game but rules are rules and the player walked. This is where Sports got their equaliser as the free kick was smashed under the wall it was very well saved by the keeper but only into the path of defender Lewis Belgrave who showed great composure and reactions to smash home the rebound into the left hand corner of the net.

Sports were definitely in the ascendancy now and had a few good chances to get a winner. The best of which came when Pablo Mills drove with the ball across most of the pitch shrugging off anyone who tried to challenge him and smacked a delicious effort like a rocket at the keeper who did very well to save it and get the ball away from danger. But the last chance of the game went to the hosts as a late substitute managed to get on the end of a cross that hit the bar but it was so close to a winner that would have been Sports first in pre-season. But it wasn’t to be as the game ended 1-1 which was probably a fair result all round. Sports now have one more game left away at Carlton Town on Saturday 11th August with a 3pm KO.

Stafford Rangers are the focus of today’s 21 in 21.

When do we play them?

Home: Tuesday 1st January
Away: Monday 27th August

Name: Stafford Rangers
Nickname: Boro’
Founded: 1876
Ground: Marston Road
Manager: Steve Burr
Home Kit: Back & White
Away Kit: Orange & Grey
2017-2018 – Northern Premier League – Premier Division – 14th

Club History:

Despite extensive research, no one has been able to prove conclusively when Stafford Rangers was actually formed, as early minute books were destroyed during the First World War. Rangers’ formation year is recognised as 1876 because of articles in the local Advertiser newspaper, but an alternative theory on Rangers’ formation date, printed in the Sentinel newspaper during 1891, suggests that the club was founded by a Bible class in 1877.
Rangers’ early matches were cup games and friendlies, with the club reaching the FA Cup First Round in both 1884–85 and 1885–86. The club then had spells in the Shropshire League, Birmingham League and North Staffordshire League up to the turn of the century, and moved to their present Marston Road home in 1896. In 1900–01 Stafford rejoined the Birmingham League and in 1904–05 had an FA Cup run to the last Qualifying Round bowing out in a replay at Second Division Blackpool.

They were demoted to the Birmingham Combination in 1912 but won the championship at the first attempt (1912–13) and then finished runners-up in two of the next four seasons either side of the First World War. Rangers won the Birmingham League title in 1926–27, twice finished runners-up (1928–29 and 1929–30) and were twice third in five memorable seasons. During this period a total of 542 league goals were scored with striker Eddie Cameron regularly scoring goals. Due to financial troubles the team spent the mid to late 1930s struggling to avoid re-election and in one game were so short of players that the club secretary R.P. Brown had to play and actually scored a goal. During April 1935 a successful appeal for £100 to pay creditors enabled the club to survive. When war broke out in 1939, Rangers participated in an emergency Birmingham League during the 1939–40 season, finishing as runners-up, and then disbanded.

After the Second World War the club reformed and played in the Birmingham Combination for six seasons, achieving a highest position of 6th in 1950–51. With a view to progress, Rangers joined the Cheshire County Football League in 1952 and finished 3rd in the 1954–55 season. However, Rangers’ spell in the Cheshire Football League was generally one of struggle and during the early sixties financial difficulties again threatened the club’s existence. There were, however, some positive results, including the seven goals scored by Les Box in an 11–0 FA Cup victory over Dudley Town during September 1957. In 1965, the appointment of Colin Hutchinson as manager started an improvement. Rangers won the 1967–68 Cheshire League Cup and following season finished as Cheshire League runners-up to earn a place in the Northern Premier League.

The seventies were the most successful era in the club’s history. With Roy Chapman as manager, the club recorded a Northern Premier League Championship, FA Trophy and Staffordshire Senior Cup treble in season 1971–72, with Ray Williams scoring a club record of 48 goals in a single season. However, they failed to gain election to the Football League, and have never since finished high enough to enter the Football League.

Three seasons later Rangers progressed to the FA Cup Fourth Round defeating Stockport County, Halifax Town and Rotherham United on the way to a defeat against Peterborough United in front of a crowd of 31,160 at Stoke City’s Victoria Ground. The home Third Round tie with Rotherham attracted a record of 8,536 people to Marston Road. After Chapman had departed to manage League club Stockport County, Rangers were again at Wembley Stadium in 1975–76 for their second FA Trophy Final but they lost to Scarborough 3–2 after extra time. Roy Chapman returned as manager and success continued with a second FA Trophy Final win in 1979, this time against Kettering Town.

Rangers became founder members of the Alliance Premier League but this coincided with the club finishing low in the league, as various managers found it difficult to follow the success of the seventies. After four seasons Rangers were relegated to the Northern Premier League. This form continued, but with the appointment of Ron Reid as manager during the 1983–84 season as manager the club soon began to rebuild its reputation and won the 1984–85 League title. Back in the Alliance, the Bob Lord Trophy, Jim Thompson Shield and Staffordshire Senior Cup were all won within two seasons. During the late eighties and early nineties, Rangers struggled in the Conference, with six managers in seven seasons following Reid’s departure in May 1988. The sale of striker Stan Collymore to Crystal Palace in December 1990 for a substantial six-figure fee stands out in this period. Under the management of Dennis Booth, Rangers enjoyed a tremendous 1992–93 campaign. In the league they finished 6th and reached the FA Cup Second Round, defeating Lincoln City in a First Round replay at Marston Road.

After Booth departed for Bristol Rovers, Rangers found success difficult to achieve and were relegated from the Conference to the Southern League Premier Division at the end of the 1994–95 season. The slide continued at the start of the 1995–96 campaign and when Kevan Bowen took over in October 1995 Rangers had not gained a point. Bowen made an immediate impact and achieved good results in the second half of the season but the damage had already been done at the start and the club was relegated for the second successive season. With an ambition to take Stafford Rangers back to their former heights in non-league football, the Board appointed Kevin Bond as manager towards the end of 1997. Despite some good performances Rangers ended the season in a mid-table position and Bond moved on to Portsmouth.

Ian Painter succeeded Bond in the 1998 close season and in his first term Rangers finished 5th in the Southern League Midland Division with the distinction of being the equal highest scorers in the pyramid with 92 goals. In 1999–2000, following a slow start, a strengthened side achieved a club record unbeaten run of 23 league games. Rangers were once again equal highest scorers in the pyramid with 107 goals and duly won the Southern League Western Division championship.

After two seasons in the Premier Division, finishing seventh and ninth respectively, Painter left the club in April 2002. During Painter’s final season, Rangers recorded a club-record 15–0 victory over Kidsgrove Athletic in a Staffordshire Senior Cup tie on 20 November 2001.

Phil Robinson, whose playing career took him to several top Football League clubs around the East and West Midlands, joined his hometown club as player-manager in the 2002 close season and immediately set about creating a structure to develop young local talent with the introduction of reserve and youth teams. He retained only a few of Painter’s squad which led to increased support on the terraces due to improved results. They finished second in the Southern League Premier Division, reached the FA Cup First Round for the first time in a decade and brought the Staffordshire Senior Cup back to Marston Road with a 5–1 victory over Stoke City at Port Vale’s Vale Park. Robinson’s second season in charge, 2003–04, brought more success with Rangers this time finishing third in the league behind Crawley Town and Weymouth to earn a place amongst the Nationwide Conference North founder members. Rangers reached the Staffordshire Senior Cup Final but lost 1–0 to Kidsgrove Athletic. At the end of the 2004–05 season, silverware returned to Marston Road as the team regained the Senior Cup, defeating Leek Town in the Final at Vale Park. As well as reaching the FA Cup First Round, where they lost to Chester City, Rangers finished the inaugural Conference North season in 8th position with the tightest defence in the division, conceding just 44 goals.
Stafford Rangers achieved promotion back to the fifth tier of English football after a play-off win on penalties over Droylsden in May 2006 at rivals Burton Albion’s new Pirelli Stadium. This came at the end of a successful 2005–06 league campaign which resulted in a second-place finish. Rangers celebrated their promotion with a tour of Stafford on an open-top bus, with thousands gathering in the Market Square and players signing autographs for the fans. This attracted the attention of local newspapers and the BBC who featured the honorary lap later that night on Midlands Today.

In the 2006–07 season the club reached the second round of the FA Cup where they lost to Brighton & Hove Albion. A match against Dagenham & Redbridge was featured live on Sky Sports. Goalkeeper Danny Alcock was selected for the England Non-League squad in January 2007 and a month later Cameroonian Guy Madjo was selected by his nation for international duty. The club managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the season, and finished 20th in the Conference.

2007 saw Stafford struggle to compete in an increasingly difficult league with many ex-league and professional sides. Phil Robinson left the club after five-and-a-half years in charge and many Stafford fans were unhappy to see him leave. Players Neil Grayson and Kevin Street were placed in temporary charge of the county town club as joint caretaker managers.

On 21 February 2008, Steve Bull was appointed as head coach. Bull was unable to save the club and on 7 April 2008, Rangers were relegated to the Conference North following a 4–0 defeat at home to York City. He left the club on 12 December, being replaced by Chris Brindley, who was assistant manager under Bull. At the end of the 2009 season, Stafford Rangers’ future was uncertain as they needed to pay Slick Seating £50,000 by 7 July. The club came up with the idea of selling 250 tickets at £200, that would be repaid in weekly draws, this worked and the club was saved from going into administration.

On 14 April 2010, news was leaked that chairman Jon Downing had resigned from his position, after 17 years on the club’s board. In September 2010, Brindley resigned as manager of Stafford Rangers. The following month, the club appointed Tim Flowers as manager, but he resigned as manager on 11 January 2011 after just nine games in charge and his assistant Matt Elliott took over the job. Despite some improved performances Elliott could not prevent relegation to the Northern Premier League for the 2011–12 season. Their fate was not confirmed until the final game of the season, a 3–2 defeat at Stalybridge Celtic. Elliott initially accepted the offer to become manager for the next season but then had a change of heart and resigned. On 31 May 2011 Greg Clowes was appointed manager, but on 8 September 2013, following defeat in all of their opening seven league games, Clowes, Garner and coach Mick Hathaway were relieved of their management duties.

The club appointed Andy Mutch as interim manager until Graham Heathcote was announced as manager on 3 January 2014. Following a further relegation, this time to the NPL Division One South, Heathcote felt he could not continue as manager on a limited playing budget, and on 28 May 2014 former Rushall Olympic boss Neil Kitching was appointed as the new manager of Stafford Rangers.

It’s another two games in two days affair for Sports as they play two games with second one beginning not even 24 hours after the first one. On Friday night John McGrath will take his side across to Staffordshire to face old Burton Albion team mate Ryan Austin who’s team are also in preparations for their season in the new Division One West League of the Northern Premier League. Then we head over the other end of the A50 a mater of hours later on Saturday to Nottinghamshire to face Carlton Town as they also prepare for a new league in the Division One East of the Northern Premier League.

Press & Media Officers Sam & Kerry Goldsworthy spoke with Sports Boss John McGrath about his thoughts on the up and coming games and about meeting up with his old Brewers team mate Ryan Austin…

Were you happy with the Huddersfield Friendly?
“Yes delighted with the performance from all involved. Our work rate was exceptionally good and we played the game at a very high tempo. Another game unbeaten and that’s great to take in to the next two games and obviously into the start of the season”.

How good will it be to see Kidsgrove manager Ryan Austin on Friday night?
“It’s always great to see my old team mates and Ryan was and still is a great pal of mine. He’s doing a great job at Kidsgrove and I am looking forward to seeing him Friday night”.

What would you say are your best memories of playing alongside Ryan at Burton?
“Ryan had unbelievable pace and a rocket of a right boot and was always one to give 100% and was a pivotal part in our conference winning team and established himself as a regular stater in our league football campaigns”.

What kind of test will both Kidsgrove & Carlton give your side a week before the season?
“It will be a different test to what Huddersfield posed us. They will be physical and aggressive and I except both teams to compete for a full 90 mins. It will be a great ending to our pre season campaign playing teams only one division below us”.

Will you be splitting the sides like you did for RBL & Heanor or differently this time?
“I am going to speak to our club physio Jake Shaw and assess and monitor who is 100% fit for the games. Obviously the most important thing is players are ready for the 18th August away at Staylebridge Celtic so I’ve not finalised the squads just yet”.

GOING TO THE GAMES?
Kidsgrove Athletic vs Mickleover Sports – Friday 10th August 2018 7:30pm KO
35 Hollinwood Road, Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST7 1BQ

Carlton Town vs Mickleover Sports – Saturday 11th August 2018 3pm KO
Stoke Lane, Carlton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG4 2QS

NOT GOING TO THE GAMES?
Then don’t worry, Press & Media Officers Sam & Kerry Goldsworthy will be there updating you via Twitter, Facebook & of course will have reaction on Mickleover Sports TV (Youtube after the game).

South Shields are the focus of today’s 21 in 21.

When do we play them?

Home: Saturday 2nd February
Away: Saturday 17th November

Name: South Shields
Nickname: The Mariners
Founded: 1888
Ground: Mariners Park
Manager: Graham Fenton & Lee Picton
Home Kit: Burgundy & Blue
Away Kit: Blue & White
2017-2018 – Northern Premier League – Division One North – 1st – Champions

Club History:

The club was formed in the same year as the previous club failed, after a second move to Gateshead by the previous club, and the sale of Simonside Hall, given to the club by supporters. The re-formed club under chairman Martin Ford (a director at the club who disagreed with the sale of Simonside Hall and subsequent move to Gateshead International Stadium) was based at the council’s Jack Clark Park, and began a 17-year crusade for a home of its own.

After two title winning seasons in the Northern Alliance, and an appearance in the quarter-finals of the FA Vase in 1976, Shields joined the Wearside League winning the league at the first attempt in 1977 and completing a league and cup double by winning the Durham Challenge Cup against Consett at Roker Park, the first county cup win for the club since the reformation. The team however was broken up as the club did not have the facilities needed to meet the requirements of joining the Northern League. So the club spent the next 15 years languishing in mid table in the Wearside League while the club searched for a suitable home.

Ultimately, chairman John Rundle and his family provided the long wished-for new ground by purchasing the run down and vandalized facilities next door to the Filtrona factory, the ground was refurbished and ready for use in 1992, the team thanks to the management of Bobby Elwell and the goals of striker Steve Harkus responded by winning a double of the Wearside League for the first time since 1977 and the Sunderland Shipowners Cup.

In 1994–95 the club won the Wearside League for the second time in three years (with a big highlight being a run to the final of the Durham Challenge Cup, in which Filtrona Park hosted the replay which Shields lost 3-0 to Spennymoor United in front of a record attendance 0f 1’500), and were promoted to Northern League Division Two. Shields were quickly promoted again to Northern League Division One the following season after finishing runners up, The club enjoyed a 4 year stay in the 1st division with a big highlight in that time being a run to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup in 1997 which ended in a close 3-2 defeat at Gainsborough Trinity. The club however could not build upon this and ultimately were relegated down to Division 2 in the 1999-2000 season with just 16 points. Chairman John Rundle publicly threatened to fold the club if they went down, though he did not follow the threat through.

After several seasons stuck in mid table in Division Two, John Rundle again threatened the club with closure in 2006, locking the gates at Filtrona Park before a home game. However, a new committee was formed, headed by new chairman Gary Crutwell, and the club was saved, the team was quickly rebuilt under the management of Micky Taylor and come the end of the season, a 2-1 win at home to Penrith on the final day prevented relegation back to the Wearside League. The club’s performance improved the following season, although the team missed out on promotion by just 5 points. An FA Vase run to the 3rd round that season was a big highlight, coming to end in a 7 goal thriller at home to eventual semi-finalists Curzon Ashton. The club however built on the success of the previous season and won promotion back to Division 1 finishing runners-up to Penrith. Shields then settled down as a solid mid-table Division one side with a big highlight being winning the Northern League Cup in 2010 after beating Ashington 6–5 on penalties after a 2–2 draw at Dunston, the club’s first honour since joining the Northern League.

In the 2012–13 season, despite uncertainty regarding the ground, there were early positive signs shown in a good FA Cup run which included a win over Darlington RA and knocking out NPL opposition in the form of Harrogate Railway Athletic before falling to Spennymoor Town in the 1st Qualifying Round. From then on, the season went downhill, despite some positive performances, these were few and far between and despite a late season charge of 5 successive wins, Shields were ultimately relegated from Northern League Division One. Things took a turn for the worse when the club were forced to move to Eden Lane in Peterlee, after its lease on Filtrona Park expired.

The club spent the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons in Division Two of the Northern League, despite having to play home games 20 miles away in Peterlee in front of double digit crowds and difficulties when it came to raising teams to play, manager Jon King still managed to maintain the club’s Northern League status with 17th and 15th place finishes.
In the summer of 2015 however, a local businessman by the name of Geoff Thompson bought the original Filtrona Park from John Rundle, moved the club back in, renamed the ground Mariners Park and became the new club chairman. To celebrate the return, a crowd of over 650 showed up to see Shields play a friendly against Darlington. The new season itself started off brightly with genuine hopes for promotion back to Division 1 before the club pulled off a coup, tempting the former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca out of retirement to sign for South Shields and become a massive part of Jon King’s reconstruction of the team.

Arca was joined by the likes of former Hartlepool United forward David Foley and ex Gateshead and Spennymoor midfielder Wayne Phillips as well as the return of the likes of Leepaul Scroggins and Robert Briggs to name but a few. Shields went on to achieve promotion with a new division record of 107 points. Attendances slo improved massively as the club were beginning to generate a positive buzz around the town peaking with a then new Filtrona/Mariners Park record attendance of 1,827 for the local derby against Hebburn Town.

The rebuilding continued in the summer with further additions, the likes of Jon Shaw, Gavin Cogdon, Carl Finnigan and Craig Baxter (to name but a few) were brought in as Shields attempted to push for the Division 1 championship. However part-way into the season, manager Jon King was dismissed and a new management team brought in of Lee Picton and North Shields manager Graham Fenton. In October 2016, South Shields then appointed former Sunderland defender Martin Scott as assistant manager.

These changes however did not deter the squad, in fact it appeared to galvanise the team even further, between the appointment of the new management team and the end of the season, South Shields went on to lose just ONE game in all competitions out of 55, this included a period between November and April of 32 successive wins, an unofficial world record. During this time, the club embarked on a crusade in the cups, they would go on to win the Durham Challenge Cup for the first time since 1977, beating Billingham Synthonia 2-0 in Hartlepool, they then went on to win the Northern League Cup with an astonishing 5-0 beating of rivals North Shields at Whitley Bay, but the most notable and memorable achievements came in the FA Vase. Shields had dispatched Esh Winning, Runcorn Linnets, Marske United, Staveley Miners Welfare, Morpeth Town and Team Solent before a home quarter-final against Newport Pagnell Town, here the attendance record was smashed as 3’161 saw Shields dispatch their Buckinghamshire opponents 6-1 setting up a semi-final tie against Warwickshire outfit Coleshill Town.

Despite a spirited display from their opponents, Shields managed to grind out what turned out to be a crucial 2-1 win in the away leg at Coleshill, a week later, Shields turned on the style in a 4-0 win in front of a new ground record of 3,464 meaning South Shields would be going to Wembley for the first time in the history of the town. In the final on 21 May 2017, South Shields’s opposition was in the form of the Northern Counties East League champions Cleethorpes Town in which Shields played in front of an estimated 14,000 of their own fans. Shields went on to win 4-0 to lift the FA Vase.

In this time, South Shields also managed to use their games in hand to overturn a 17 point deficit to North Shields at the top of the Northern League to win it with 108 points meaning that when the FA Vase was won, South Shields had completed a ‘quadruple’ of trophies.

The 2017–18 season brought more success in the form of a club record run in the FA Cup, after a Preliminary Round 3–1 win over Bridlington Town in front of the BBC cameras and a 2–0 victory at Witton Albion, South Shields then inflicted two of the biggest cup shocks of that season’s qualifying campaign, firstly going away to Darlington and impressing hugely in a 3–0 win and then in the 3rd qualifying round, Gavin Cogdon scored an injury time winner in a pulsating 3–2 win over the previous season’s FA Trophy winners York City. Their cup run ended in the 4th Qualifying Round with a narrow defeat to Hartlepool United (a team three divisions higher) in front of another sellout crowd. As the season went on, Shields reached the 2nd Qualifying round of the FA Trophy, a competition that the town had not been represented in since 1974, they dispatched Scarborough Athletic and Farsley Celtic (after a replay) on the way to being knocked out by Stafford Rangers in a 3-1 away defeat.

Apart from that, the club enjoyed a run in the Integro League Cup, knocking out Farsley Celtic, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Cleethorpes Town and Workington on a run to the semi-finals where they fell to Coalville Town despite a valliant showing by a largely youthful Shields eleven. Both promotion and the league title were secured with games to spare and for the third season running, the 100 point mark was surpassed. Julio Arca went on to lift the league championship trophy in front of a jubilant home crowd on the final day, however this turned out to be his last act as a South Shields player as he would announce his retirement weeks later.

In the 2018-19 season, South Shields will ply their trade in the NPL Premier Division, the same division which the previous incarnation of the club left behind in 1974 and also the highest level of non league football that the current incarnation of the club will have ever played at.

Scarborough Athletic are the focus of today’s 21 in 21.

When do we play them?

Home: Tuesday 25th September
Away: Saturday 23rd February

Name: Scarborough Athletic
Nickname: The Seadogs
Founded: 2007
Ground: Flamingo Land Stadium
Manager: Steve Kittrick
Home Kit: Red & White
Away Kit: Yellow & Black
2017-2018 – Northern Premier League – Division One North – 2nd – Promoted

Club History:

A covenant existed on the McCain Stadium that restricted its use only to sporting activities. Scarborough failed to convince the Scarborough Borough Council that its proposals to sell the McCain Stadium to a housing developer would raise enough money to pay off the debts and build a new ground.

Scarborough were wound up in the High Court with debts of £2.5 million on 20 June 2007, ending its 128-year existence as a club. The Seadog Trust (a supporters’ trust established in 2006) then formed Scarborough Athletic to carry forward the spirit of the former club.