Division One Preview - Saturday 6th August 2016
Fri 5th August 2016 | General | By Gary Langley
This weekend sees the return to league action for the newly renamed Hallmark Security League, and whilst the Premier Division sides do battle in the FA Cup it is the new-look Division One that will take centre stage.
Before I tuck into the league, it is not just the Premier Division Clubs that are in cup action, a number of Division One sides are entered also. Bacup Borough travel to Atherton Collieries whilst Silsden head over to Bridlington.
Also on the road are Cheadle Town who make the trip to Penistone Church. AFC Blackpool host Ashton Athletic whilst in the remaining fixture involving Division one sides, Alsager Town welcome Barton Town Old Boys to Woodland Court.
So, focusing back on League action there are a number of great fixtures to get the ball rolling on the new campaign. As mentioned before, it is a new look division with clubs who were in it last season facing no less than nine different sides as the league has a full quota of 22 sides for the first time since 2002.
With three sides relegated in from the Premier Division, there are the six much publicised new clubs and they are all in action this weekend.
This season will be a unique task for managers. The large amount of new clubs brings an element of the unknown but for supporters of all clubs in the Division, those early season dreams of success will apply to all clubs as the new arrivals all come in on good form and with momentum, making it an exciting looking prospect for players and supporters alike.
Starting with one of the new clubs, we look at Carlisle City, who arrived following promotion from the Northern Football Alliance and have had a fairly focussed pre-season.
They host St Helens Town at the Gillford Park Stadium and have had a fairly busy pre-season including facing Atherton Collieries last month. There has been a feeling of optimism around the town and a lot of focus on the club, and they also have a number of initiatives going on around the place too.
St Helens Town may not have been their ideal choice of a first game at this level though, as they are many people’s tips this season to go up.
They have strengthened the squad over the summer and this is also going to be a historic season for them as they return to their home town after nearly a decade away when the council run Ruskin Drive Facility is completed in or around October time.
Litherland Remyca face their second competitive game in seven days when they host Atherton LR at the Litherland Sports Park.
They probably won’t thank me for reminding them of their last outing when they played the semi-finals of last season’s Liverpool Senior Cup only last Saturday. Fate was not on their side as an early dismissal of their goalkeeper for a professional foul on five minutes saw a Prescot Cables side ship nine past them.
Apart from that their preparation had been ok with good pre-season performances with wins over the likes of Cammell Laird 1907 and a strong Southport U21 side. Remyca missed out on the play-offs by a whisker in the last campaign, so they will be looking to press on in this.
Atherton LR had a rough ride last season, if it was not for bad luck they would have had no luck at all and they are hoping a new coaching and largely new playing staff will bear fruit for them this season.
Another side who had a difficult campaign last time out was Whitchurch Alport, they host Daisy Hill at Yocklings Park.
I went out myself to watch Alport in pre-season and they have made multiple changes on and off the park with a number of ground improvements taking shape as well as a much overhauled squad.
They have a number of good quality young players as well as some experienced lads recruited from some of the stronger sides in the area and will be a different proposition this season.
Daisy Hill finished strong last season and have had a fairly consistent pre-season, and if they can get out of the blocks quick enough, they will be there or thereabouts.
Ashton Town did just that last season, they got off to a blistering start but their early season pace setting was wiped out by the appalling weather that hit between October and February.
Their momentum was scuppered and they just couldn’t recover strong enough after the long break. They have had a couple of decent tests in the summer, but for them scores haven’t been important it’s been about trying different things and for many they will be fancied to be challenging.
They host another new member of the Hallmark Security League in the form of FC Oswestry Town who travel to Edge Green Street for their first fixture since being promoted from the Mercian Regional League.
Oswestry look a strong setup and have the benefit of playing on the superb Park Hall facility in the town, home of Welsh Premier League giants TNS.
The two clubs have developed some good ties over the summer but Oswestry are very much their own club, and are looking to make an impact in their first season at this level.
Another new arrival are Charnock Richard who join us having been promoted from the West Lancashire League.
They travel to a much changed Eccleshall, who are under new coaching staff and with an evolved playing staff, with a couple of their players from the last campaign having moved on.
Charnock’s team is a side that are used to success. They have won a number of titles and trophies and their squad has been together for around four years and are well established. They have been preparing for the step-up for a number of years now, but it will be interesting to see how they find the adjustment to life at Step Six.
Sandbach United join us from the Cheshire League and they host Holker Old boys this weekend.
Sandbach have hosted a number of pre-season games at their much renovated facility and they are a club who many fancy doing well.
One club that is always there or thereabouts are Holker Old Boys, they are consistently strong and will be looking to improve on last season’s appalling start which put paid to their late surge for the play-offs, when they just came up short in the end.
For them, they will look at the progress of the last few seasons and surely fancy themselves to make a strong push to go up.
Chadderton are another side who have flattered to deceive over the last couple of campaigns. They are a club always tipped to do well but just fall short at the end.
Like others they have strengthened both on and off the park though and they will be many people’s dark horses to go up.
They face a tough start to the campaign though, in the form of the Purple Steam train that is City of Liverpool FC.
This well documented club have burst on to the scene over the last four or five months in a blaze of publicity and social media posts.
Whilst they have been high profile off the park, they aren’t too shabby off it either. Former Runcorn Town Manager Simon Burton has assembled a strong looking squad in the mould of his successful former team, with pace and a goal threat, and they won’t be in it just to make up the numbers.
Last but not least, two clubs with a lot of eyes on them this season as we see the return of an old friend and the possible emergence of a sleeping giant going head to head.
Prestwich Heys are a club synonymous with the North West Counties Football League and they make their return this season after nearly two decades out.
They come in having got the ground past the grading hurdle and having swept all before them in domestic competitions, bagging all four that they entered last season, including the Manchester League Premier Division.
Facing them will be a rejuvenated Widnes. Former Barnton Chairman Ian Ross has taken over the reins at the Club and will be looking to emulate the success that he had on and off the field with his former club, Barnton.
Many people are tipping Widnes as potential Champions this season before a ball has even been kicked, but this is not without substance as their new look team has had some impressive pre-season performances. Two to watch this season for sure.
So, there you have it, the stage is set for tomorrows start to what is likely to be a roller coaster ride of high emotion. Lots of friends old and new with plenty of sub-plots likely to unfold as the months go by.
One thing is for sure though, this is likely to be every bit as entertaining as any league you will see up and down the pyramid over the next nine months.
Good luck everyone!
Division One Preview - Saturday 6th August 2016
Fri 5th August 2016 | General
By Gary Langley
This weekend sees the return to league action for the newly renamed Hallmark Security League, and whilst the Premier Division sides do battle in the FA Cup it is the new-look Division One that will take centre stage.
Before I tuck into the league, it is not just the Premier Division Clubs that are in cup action, a number of Division One sides are entered also. Bacup Borough travel to Atherton Collieries whilst Silsden head over to Bridlington.
Also on the road are Cheadle Town who make the trip to Penistone Church. AFC Blackpool host Ashton Athletic whilst in the remaining fixture involving Division one sides, Alsager Town welcome Barton Town Old Boys to Woodland Court.
So, focusing back on League action there are a number of great fixtures to get the ball rolling on the new campaign. As mentioned before, it is a new look division with clubs who were in it last season facing no less than nine different sides as the league has a full quota of 22 sides for the first time since 2002.
With three sides relegated in from the Premier Division, there are the six much publicised new clubs and they are all in action this weekend.
This season will be a unique task for managers. The large amount of new clubs brings an element of the unknown but for supporters of all clubs in the Division, those early season dreams of success will apply to all clubs as the new arrivals all come in on good form and with momentum, making it an exciting looking prospect for players and supporters alike.
Starting with one of the new clubs, we look at Carlisle City, who arrived following promotion from the Northern Football Alliance and have had a fairly focussed pre-season.
They host St Helens Town at the Gillford Park Stadium and have had a fairly busy pre-season including facing Atherton Collieries last month. There has been a feeling of optimism around the town and a lot of focus on the club, and they also have a number of initiatives going on around the place too.
St Helens Town may not have been their ideal choice of a first game at this level though, as they are many people’s tips this season to go up.
They have strengthened the squad over the summer and this is also going to be a historic season for them as they return to their home town after nearly a decade away when the council run Ruskin Drive Facility is completed in or around October time.
Litherland Remyca face their second competitive game in seven days when they host Atherton LR at the Litherland Sports Park.
They probably won’t thank me for reminding them of their last outing when they played the semi-finals of last season’s Liverpool Senior Cup only last Saturday. Fate was not on their side as an early dismissal of their goalkeeper for a professional foul on five minutes saw a Prescot Cables side ship nine past them.
Apart from that their preparation had been ok with good pre-season performances with wins over the likes of Cammell Laird 1907 and a strong Southport U21 side. Remyca missed out on the play-offs by a whisker in the last campaign, so they will be looking to press on in this.
Atherton LR had a rough ride last season, if it was not for bad luck they would have had no luck at all and they are hoping a new coaching and largely new playing staff will bear fruit for them this season.
Another side who had a difficult campaign last time out was Whitchurch Alport, they host Daisy Hill at Yocklings Park.
I went out myself to watch Alport in pre-season and they have made multiple changes on and off the park with a number of ground improvements taking shape as well as a much overhauled squad.
They have a number of good quality young players as well as some experienced lads recruited from some of the stronger sides in the area and will be a different proposition this season.
Daisy Hill finished strong last season and have had a fairly consistent pre-season, and if they can get out of the blocks quick enough, they will be there or thereabouts.
Ashton Town did just that last season, they got off to a blistering start but their early season pace setting was wiped out by the appalling weather that hit between October and February.
Their momentum was scuppered and they just couldn’t recover strong enough after the long break. They have had a couple of decent tests in the summer, but for them scores haven’t been important it’s been about trying different things and for many they will be fancied to be challenging.
They host another new member of the Hallmark Security League in the form of FC Oswestry Town who travel to Edge Green Street for their first fixture since being promoted from the Mercian Regional League.
Oswestry look a strong setup and have the benefit of playing on the superb Park Hall facility in the town, home of Welsh Premier League giants TNS.
The two clubs have developed some good ties over the summer but Oswestry are very much their own club, and are looking to make an impact in their first season at this level.
Another new arrival are Charnock Richard who join us having been promoted from the West Lancashire League.
They travel to a much changed Eccleshall, who are under new coaching staff and with an evolved playing staff, with a couple of their players from the last campaign having moved on.
Charnock’s team is a side that are used to success. They have won a number of titles and trophies and their squad has been together for around four years and are well established. They have been preparing for the step-up for a number of years now, but it will be interesting to see how they find the adjustment to life at Step Six.
Sandbach United join us from the Cheshire League and they host Holker Old boys this weekend.
Sandbach have hosted a number of pre-season games at their much renovated facility and they are a club who many fancy doing well.
One club that is always there or thereabouts are Holker Old Boys, they are consistently strong and will be looking to improve on last season’s appalling start which put paid to their late surge for the play-offs, when they just came up short in the end.
For them, they will look at the progress of the last few seasons and surely fancy themselves to make a strong push to go up.
Chadderton are another side who have flattered to deceive over the last couple of campaigns. They are a club always tipped to do well but just fall short at the end.
Like others they have strengthened both on and off the park though and they will be many people’s dark horses to go up.
They face a tough start to the campaign though, in the form of the Purple Steam train that is City of Liverpool FC.
This well documented club have burst on to the scene over the last four or five months in a blaze of publicity and social media posts.
Whilst they have been high profile off the park, they aren’t too shabby off it either. Former Runcorn Town Manager Simon Burton has assembled a strong looking squad in the mould of his successful former team, with pace and a goal threat, and they won’t be in it just to make up the numbers.
Last but not least, two clubs with a lot of eyes on them this season as we see the return of an old friend and the possible emergence of a sleeping giant going head to head.
Prestwich Heys are a club synonymous with the North West Counties Football League and they make their return this season after nearly two decades out.
They come in having got the ground past the grading hurdle and having swept all before them in domestic competitions, bagging all four that they entered last season, including the Manchester League Premier Division.
Facing them will be a rejuvenated Widnes. Former Barnton Chairman Ian Ross has taken over the reins at the Club and will be looking to emulate the success that he had on and off the field with his former club, Barnton.
Many people are tipping Widnes as potential Champions this season before a ball has even been kicked, but this is not without substance as their new look team has had some impressive pre-season performances. Two to watch this season for sure.
So, there you have it, the stage is set for tomorrows start to what is likely to be a roller coaster ride of high emotion. Lots of friends old and new with plenty of sub-plots likely to unfold as the months go by.
One thing is for sure though, this is likely to be every bit as entertaining as any league you will see up and down the pyramid over the next nine months.
Good luck everyone!
