Match Preview proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Date: Saturday 9th November 2019
Venue: Skuna Stadium, Alder Street, Atherton, Manchester, M46 9EY
Kick Off: 3pm
Competition: Buildbase FA Trophy
Highlights: Highwaymen TV
The Highwaymen will be looking to secure a place in the next round of the FA Trophy when they travel to Atherton Collieries on Saturday.
History
Atherton Collieries Football Club was formed in 1916, by miners from the six pits which were operative in the old urban district of the town. The club was created as a means of providing welfare for those at home during the war effort. When the pits were nationalised, the football club was gifted to the people of the town.
They have played at Alder House since their formation, making the ground one of the oldest in the division. You gain a sense of the history when you walk around the facility which keeps its identity and warmth despite being renovated gradually over the past few years.
Colls were founding members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 and remained there until 2017, when earned promotion to the Northern Premier League for the first time in the club’s history. There have been many memorable moments from the club’s time in the NWCFL, and the club are well known around the region as a result.
During the 2006/07 season, Collieries had a future international footballer in their ranks with a young Anthony Pilkington spearheading the Colls attack. Despite being the youngest member of the squad, Pilkington found himself grabbing all the headlines when they beat league leaders FC United of Manchester 3-0 at Gigg Lane. He grabbed himself a hat-trick during this match and soon found himself being transferred straight to the Football League with a move to Stockport County. From there he went on to move to Huddersfield Town and Norwich City in the Premier League before being called up to the Republic of Ireland’s international squad.
Prior to this, Collieries had been known in the local area to produce professional footballers. The famous 1923 FA Cup Final between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United featured two former Colls players as Billy Butler and Bob Haworth helped the Wanderers bring the FA Cup back to Bolton for the first time in their history.
Links between Bolton Wanderers and Atherton Collieries continue to this very day with the two clubs playing each other in an annual pre-season friendly. Recent clashes have seen over 1,500 walk through the Alder Street turnstiles. Matches like this have helped propel Collieries into the limelight in recent seasons and fans of various professional football clubs now consider Colls to be their second club.
Michael Clegg was appointed first team manager in August 2014 and immediately began assembling a young and local side. The club went on to win the NWCFL Division One title and the Bolton Hospital Cup in his first season, as well as reaching the final of the League Cup Final and the Division One Cup Final. Success did not stop there as in his second campaign the Colls went one better and won the League Cup, beating the league champions Colne 5-1 at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium, whilst finishing fourth on the club’s return to the North West Counties Premier Division.
The 2016/17 campaign was a momentous one for Atherton Collieries, as in their centenary year they clinched the NWCFL Premier Division title and reached the last 16 of the FA Vase backed by a large and ever growing local fan base. This was made even more impressive when you consider it was only Colls second season since their return to the Division.
Still with a nucleus of players, coaches and volunteers from Atherton, the club are competing in just their second ever season at Step 4 of the non-league system. With professional football becoming ever increasing, people are slowly but surely now giving non-league football a chance and Atherton Collieries are a club who have embraced this new culture shift with open arms.
Last Match
The Highwaymen had a week off when they home game with Witton Albion was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Their previous game had been in the last round of the FA Trophy when they comfortably saw off the challenge of Cleethorpes Town.
The Colls were in action on Saturday but suffered a home defeat to inform Basford United. The visitors moved into a three goal lead thanks to goals from Nat Watson, James Reid and Kane Richards. Atherton replied in added time at the end of the game through Jordan Cover.
Manager
Michael Clegg: One of the longest serving managers in the league having taken control of the Colls in August 2014.
