MEN United Cup Final Preview - Atherton Collieries v Colne
Mon 9th May 2016 | Macron Cup | By Ian Templeman
Atherton Collieries and Colne go head to head in the MEN United Cup final at Highbury Stadium, home of Fleetwood Town, on Tuesday evening.
It’s a venue that is no stranger to hosting NWCFL football, as the club were founder members of the newly formed North West Counties League in the 1982-83 season, having been members of the Cheshire County League.
After promotion to the Northern Premier League in 1988, the club subsequently folded, but rejoined the league again in 1997 initially under the name Fleetwood Freeport, before changing back to Fleetwood Town in 2002-03.
Fleetwood Town Chairman Andy Pilley says the club are delighted to be hosting the final, and has many good memories of their time in the NWCFL.
“One of my proudest moments in football was our winning the NWCFL First Division championship in 2004-05 which earned us promotion into the Northern Premier League and became the first step in a journey which saw us promoted six times in 10 years to League One”, he said.
“We made many great friends during our time as a member club and even though our opponents in the past few seasons have included Sheffield United rather than Skelmersdale United and Preston North End not Glossop North End, we’ve never forgotten where we came from and we are proud to have played for so many years at North West Counties League level.
“I’m greatly looking forward to the game, I hope it’s a cracking match”.
For both Atherton Collieries and Colne, it’s an opportunity to round off successful seasons with a piece of silverware, with Colne going for a league and cup double against a side they failed to beat home and away in the league this season.
In Colls’ case, it’s the second season in a row that they have reached the final, but manager Michael Clegg is looking for his side to banish memories of last season’s final against Glossop, when they lost 2-0.
“It’s two years in a row for us in the final, which is great, but we want to put last year right, because that is still raw for us”, said Michael. “We let ourselves down in last year’s final, both discipline and performance wise, and we were very poor.
“But we have grown from that, and we’ve said all year we want to win this tournament because of last year.
“We have shown some really good cup form all season. In this competition we’ve only conceded one goal, and that was a penalty against Bacup Borough when we were 5-0 up. We are not a side who switches on and off depending on the game, we want to win every game and this cup is massive on our agenda”.
“I speak to Cunny (Steve Cunningham, Colne manager) a lot, and I know he was disappointed with the games we have played against them in the league. We should have won up at Colne a couple of weeks ago, he would tell you that himself, we just missed too many chances.
“We were dominant when we played them at home (in a game Colls won 3-0) and I think in the two league games we ave played, we dominated for almost 180 minutes. I don’t think they will be looking forward to facing us again”.
For Colne manager Steve Cunningham, Saturday’s title win was always the number one target for the season, but is pleased that they have the chance to round off a memorable season with a cup final.
“It’s nice for the fans and the officials at the club, because they have never experienced a League Challenge Cup final with the club before”, he said.
“They won the Second Division cup when they were in that division (in 2005), but this is a different level”
“I am looking forward to the game and I feel it is going to be a good night. I get on well with Cleggy (Atherton Collieries manager Michael Clegg) and you have two teams who you know will compete.
“I really think the quality of the match will be high, you know there is going to be a good atmosphere, with both sets of fans that the clubs have got, and it will be two goalscoring teams who will go out and play football.
“I have got a lot of lads who have been with me from the start when I came to the club, who haven’t played in too many games recently. This is a club, not about individuals, so I want everyone to have a taste of what we had on Saturday, so a few lads who didn’t play then will get a chance.
“As a club we are really looking forward to the game, and it’s been great to have it here as an end of season showpiece.
“We managed to clinch our place a few weeks ago, and that was good, as it was something to look forward to and keeps the season going right to the end.
“We will be proud to take part, and it’s a great way to finish what has been a great season for us”.
The game kicks off at 7.45 pm, and will be played to a finish with extra time and penalties if necessary.
Admission is by payment at the turnstiles on the night, adults £6 and concessions £4.
The League has produced a full colour 32 page match programme for the game, priced at £2.
MEN United Cup Final Preview - Atherton Collieries v Colne
Mon 9th May 2016 | Macron Cup
By Ian Templeman
Atherton Collieries and Colne go head to head in the MEN United Cup final at Highbury Stadium, home of Fleetwood Town, on Tuesday evening.
It’s a venue that is no stranger to hosting NWCFL football, as the club were founder members of the newly formed North West Counties League in the 1982-83 season, having been members of the Cheshire County League.
After promotion to the Northern Premier League in 1988, the club subsequently folded, but rejoined the league again in 1997 initially under the name Fleetwood Freeport, before changing back to Fleetwood Town in 2002-03.
Fleetwood Town Chairman Andy Pilley says the club are delighted to be hosting the final, and has many good memories of their time in the NWCFL.
“One of my proudest moments in football was our winning the NWCFL First Division championship in 2004-05 which earned us promotion into the Northern Premier League and became the first step in a journey which saw us promoted six times in 10 years to League One”, he said.
“We made many great friends during our time as a member club and even though our opponents in the past few seasons have included Sheffield United rather than Skelmersdale United and Preston North End not Glossop North End, we’ve never forgotten where we came from and we are proud to have played for so many years at North West Counties League level.
“I’m greatly looking forward to the game, I hope it’s a cracking match”.
For both Atherton Collieries and Colne, it’s an opportunity to round off successful seasons with a piece of silverware, with Colne going for a league and cup double against a side they failed to beat home and away in the league this season.
In Colls’ case, it’s the second season in a row that they have reached the final, but manager Michael Clegg is looking for his side to banish memories of last season’s final against Glossop, when they lost 2-0.
“It’s two years in a row for us in the final, which is great, but we want to put last year right, because that is still raw for us”, said Michael. “We let ourselves down in last year’s final, both discipline and performance wise, and we were very poor.
“But we have grown from that, and we’ve said all year we want to win this tournament because of last year.
“We have shown some really good cup form all season. In this competition we’ve only conceded one goal, and that was a penalty against Bacup Borough when we were 5-0 up. We are not a side who switches on and off depending on the game, we want to win every game and this cup is massive on our agenda”.
“I speak to Cunny (Steve Cunningham, Colne manager) a lot, and I know he was disappointed with the games we have played against them in the league. We should have won up at Colne a couple of weeks ago, he would tell you that himself, we just missed too many chances.
“We were dominant when we played them at home (in a game Colls won 3-0) and I think in the two league games we ave played, we dominated for almost 180 minutes. I don’t think they will be looking forward to facing us again”.
For Colne manager Steve Cunningham, Saturday’s title win was always the number one target for the season, but is pleased that they have the chance to round off a memorable season with a cup final.
“It’s nice for the fans and the officials at the club, because they have never experienced a League Challenge Cup final with the club before”, he said.
“They won the Second Division cup when they were in that division (in 2005), but this is a different level”
“I am looking forward to the game and I feel it is going to be a good night. I get on well with Cleggy (Atherton Collieries manager Michael Clegg) and you have two teams who you know will compete.
“I really think the quality of the match will be high, you know there is going to be a good atmosphere, with both sets of fans that the clubs have got, and it will be two goalscoring teams who will go out and play football.
“I have got a lot of lads who have been with me from the start when I came to the club, who haven’t played in too many games recently. This is a club, not about individuals, so I want everyone to have a taste of what we had on Saturday, so a few lads who didn’t play then will get a chance.
“As a club we are really looking forward to the game, and it’s been great to have it here as an end of season showpiece.
“We managed to clinch our place a few weeks ago, and that was good, as it was something to look forward to and keeps the season going right to the end.
“We will be proud to take part, and it’s a great way to finish what has been a great season for us”.
The game kicks off at 7.45 pm, and will be played to a finish with extra time and penalties if necessary.
Admission is by payment at the turnstiles on the night, adults £6 and concessions £4.
The League has produced a full colour 32 page match programme for the game, priced at £2.
