A VIEW FROM THE HILL BILLINGE FC PROGRAMME 2013/14 SEASON

£2 (including admission)

SATURDAY 3 MAY 2014: 3PM KO

BILLINGE FC versus CREWE FC

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FROM THE BOARDROOM: STEVE DICKSON – CHAIRMAN OF

BILLINGE FC As the season draws to a conclusion Gaz

Fletcher has secured enough points to

guarantee the club’s attendance in the top

Division next season, Fletch will be working

hard through the summer to bring in

reinforcements to improve on this season

league position and points tally. Today we

welcome Crewe who lie in eighth place in he

Cheshire League. Normally the games

between Billinge and Crewe are very tight

and we expect nothing different this

afternoon.

Apart from welcoming Crewe FC’s players,

management, committee and spectators to Barrows Farm we would also

like to welcome all spectators and thank our own fans for their excellent

support this season. Unfortunately it has turned out to be a season of

transition as Gaz took over mid-season after our previous manager Paul

Oakes was forced to resign as he was setting up his own business and as

we always say, ‘Work has to come first at this level’. Gaz has done an

excellent job steadying the ship and as I have stated he will have his

own pre-season to press-on. I’m also delighted to say that Oakesy is

still very much involved in the club in a committee capacity and he –

along with the rest of the committee - will also be looking to press-on

off the pitch. It has also been a season of transition off the pitch and I

would like to thank all the committee – all of whom have put in hours

of work in what have at times been trying circumstances. Those

circumstances have only gone to prove what a very, very strong

committee we have onboard at Billinge and next season will see the

club expand in all sorts of ways.

Finally many congratulations to Geoff Parr who on Thursday night

steered the reserves to the final of the Northern Cup. We will play

Rainford North End at Jericho Lane – the home of South Liverpool FC

– next Saturday 10 May 2014. Kick-off will be 3pm and your support

will be much appreciated by all the reserve lads and committee.

BEST WISHES STEVE

WORD FROM THE GAFFER Welcome to Barrows Farm to all our friends

from Crewe FC for our final game of the

season.

On Tuesday we drew 1-1 with

championship-chasing Eagle Sports and I

was proud of the way the lads dug in and got

the result we deserved. At times we were

under pressure but we coped admirably with

the back-four superb. Eagle awarded the

man-of-the-match to 18-year-old Jay Parkin

and this is a real accolade for Jay as he was

up against some of the best and most-

experienced players in the Cheshire League.

Yet again it showed we have some great youngsters coming through and again

half of my squad was aged 20 and below. During the summer I will be looking

for a couple of experienced lads to help bring these youngsters through and we

will be going into next season with the right mix of players and will be

looking to challenge at the top of the table.

But before then we have today’s game and we will be looking for a repeat of

our performance at Crewe – when we won 3-1 - and will be looking to pick up

the three points to end the season on a high.

As this is the final game I would like to thank all the lads for their hard work

since I’ve been in the manager’s chair. It’s my first managerial post but

everyone knows I’m Billinge through-and-through and I’m determined to

make us a force to be reckoned with. It’s always difficult when you step up

from playing but the lads have been magnificent and have made the transition

a lot easier than it could have been.

I’d also like to thank Steve Dickson and the committee for a) giving me the

chance to manage the club and b) their total support since I have been

manager. I now look forward to next season but before then I can enjoy next

week’s Northern Cup final after my good mate and reserve team manager took

his side there after beating Ellesmere Port FC in the semi-final on Thursday

and I’d like to wish Geoff and his lads all the best in the final as we look to

win the cup for the third year on the spin.

Have a good summer everybody and I will see the players in July for pre-

season training and the friendly matches.

Yours Gareth Fletcher

Somewhere, somewhere out in the ether a buzz developed about a kid from New Jersey, America. The inkies – the NME, Sounds and Melody Maker – were getting excited about this kid from New Jersey. This kid called Bruce Springsteen: ‘The Future of Rock and Roll’. We simply had to have a piece of this and it was Roy Hurst’s Record Stall in Wigan market that took my two pounds and twenty-eight pence for the latest album by this kid from NJ. I had no idea what I was buying and - in all honestly - there wasn’t the same excitement I’d experience on the bus back after buying the latest Bowie album on the day of release but it was a reasonably excited seventeen-year-old that took the vinyl from the amazing stark black and white sleeve and placed it on the family radiogram. A reasonably excited seventeen-year-old that looked at the lyrics sat back and wow… That screen door slamming and Mary’s dress waving. And of course Roy Orbison singing for the lonely, singing for Wendy. And so begins the (now) classic Born to Run album by Bruce Springsteen. I’m blown away – we are all blown away: Eight songs beginning with the awesome Thunder Road and ending with the epic ten-minute Jungleland. The album is credited to Bruce himself but he’s just one part of a truly marvellous record. The E Street Band is fantastic with Clarence Clemons’ saxophone never sounding better. The album takes you deep into New Jersey: A New Jersey of blue-collar romances, gang warfare and gorgeous love songs. Oh and the brilliant title track itself. Like most people that bought this album I went back, bought his earlier albums and have been with him ever since. The songs are steeped in the street, the characters that inhibit them and the love, loss and shenanigans that went on (on) the mean streets of NJ. From the nostalgic Growin’ Up, the glorious Lost in The Flood and story of suicide in For You on Greetings – to the love of the waitress Sandy, the lust of Rosalita and the burlesque of Wild Billy’s Circus Story on Wild, Springsteen and the E Street band blow us away. If he were just another singer-songwriter then his love of Bob Dylan would have meant he was merely another copyist. But he added soul and funk and fifties rock and roll. And whilst Dylan was/is cynical and browbeaten Springsteen is exuberant, passionate and optimistic. There is always a way off the streets and by Born to Run he is moving away. He is on the open road, with his mates in tow on their way to fame and fortune. But it’s that first introduction that still blows my mind. The introduction to Thunder Road, the album and Bruce. Through the funk of Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, the dangerous beauty of Meeting Across the River, the grandeur of Jungleland and of course the title track. Even now when I hear the title track I’m back home. Messing about with my mates playing snooker in our front room. Or with Wendy. When we were young and innocent – if not wild. Sat on the sofa and of course singing about our dreams and visions. We had so many dreams. So many fucking dreams… But there is no way I’m telling Wendy that Janet loves Bruce. In fact all this shit from Wendy is due to the fact I told her I went to the pictures with Janet the other day. Lecture, lecture, lecture as she bends my ear. The fact that Jan has a fella, the fact that we are just mates, the fact that I have dinner and beers with Wendy every few weeks and she has a fella or three on the go doesn’t seem to appease her. Neither does the fact that we went watching the new Madness film Take it or Leave it seem to register: Hardly the most romantic film in the world. But with The Specials splitting it is now in Madness’ hands to carry that punky-poppy-ska forward. The film itself charts the band’s rise from The Invaders to Madness and on to pop stardom. It’s not very high-tech but it captures Camden Town in all its murky glory, charts a lot of the pubs we’ve popped into over the years and all-in-all it’s a bloody good laugh… It’s a pity Wendy appears to have forgotten how to laugh as she plots her way up the financial and social ladder of London town…. FADED LOIS DREAMS – AN EXTRACT: OUT THIS MONTH

League news GARSWOOD REQUIRE A SECRETARY

Garswood United seek a football secretary for season 2014-15.

Please apply in writing in the first instance to:

The Chairman

Garswood United FC

‘The Wooders’

601 Garswood Road

Wigan

WN4 0XH

JEFF WALTON MEMORIAL CUP FINAL

SQUAD

Monday 12 May 2014

The Jeff Walton Memorial Trophy Final

Swansway Stadium

Chester FC

Cheshire League v Lancashire & Cheshire League

Kick-off 7.30pm

THE SQUAD Mark Higgs (Knutsford) Chris Jones (Rudheath)

Steve Jenyons (Knutsford) Paul Alcock (Rudheath)

Adam Coleman (Eagle Sports) Jake Linaker (Rudheath)

Nathan Williams (Eagle Sports) Mark Hughes (GPSO)

Rob Hope (Eagle Sports) Sam Houghton (Warrington)

PJ Hudson (Crewe) Joe Woolley (Knutsford)

Ryan Jackson (Rudheath) James Daniels (Rylands)

Craig Hoyland (GPSO) Ged McAllister (Eagle Sports)

STANDBY: Andy Moor (Rylands) ▪ Chris Quirk (Eagle Sports) ▪ Jack

McKay (Rudheath) ▪ Matty Gregory (Garswood) ▪ Richard Chinn (Eagle

Sports) ▪ Ross Shepard (Garswood) ▪ Alex Lowe (Rylands) ▪ Chris Latham

(Rudheath) ▪ Danny Ball (Tarporley Vics) ▪ Chris Jackson (Crewe) ▪ Craig

Millington (Rudheath)

BILLINGE ARE GOING TO BRAZIL There will shortly be a full story in the local press but for now here’s the

brilliant news from the BT website about Adam, his trip to Wembley and his

upcoming Brazilian adventure…

Football mad Adam Clare thought life couldn’t get any better after he was

selected to play in a showpiece match at Wembley Stadium.

But now an even bigger football thrill awaits the Openreach engineer.

Adam performed so well at the home of English football and impressed

watching ex- players, including football legend David Ginola, that he has been

selected to jet off to Brazil to represent the UK in a six-a-side tournament

during this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Adam said: “I’m so thrilled I can’t stop smiling. I’m absolutely bouncing off

the walls. I play football in a local league and now I’ll be representing my

country in a tournament featuring the likes of Brazil and Argentina and

staying in a luxury hotel on Copacabana beach in Rio.”

Adam read on BT Today that lead FA Cup sponsor Budweiser was holding

trials in association with BT Sport and was inviting England’s most talented

amateur players aged over 25 to bid for selection to play.

After taking part in the trials he was selected for the match at Wembley. His

team was managed by David Ginola, the former Tottenham and Newcastle

star and now a BT Sport summariser, along with former Scotland manager

Alex McLeish.

Adam said: “We all had VIP tickets to watch the FA Cup semi-final between

Hull City and Sheffield United and then the next day we took to the Wembley

pitch in front of our friends and relatives. It was an unbelievable experience.

My team lost 6-2, although that wasn’t a fair reflection of the play.

“After the match none of the players had any idea what was coming next. The

managers gathered us together and announced that the eight best players were

being selected to go to Rio – and I was stunned when they said I was one of

them.

“We fly to Rio on 2 July to play in the global finals of the Budweiser six-a-

side tournament. And we have tickets to watch one of the World Cup quarter-

finals, hopefully featuring England.

“And I couldn’t believe it when David Ginola took time out to send me a

personal tweet congratulating me.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ADAM FROM EVERYBODY AT

BILLINGE FOOTBALL CLUB.

THE BOY’S ON HIS WAY TO BRAZIL!

FLIGHT OF THE STORKS NORTHERN CUP FINAL V RAINFORD NORTH END –

SATURDAY 10 MAY 2014

KICK-OFF 3PM

Still need a football kick? The first team’s away games are over for 2013/14 but there

is a massive game for the reserves. It’s the Northern Cup final over at South

Liverpool’s Jericho Lane ground so if you fancy it… here are all the details you need

to get you there:

The North Field, Jericho Lane, Otterspool, Liverpool, L17

5AR

By train: Nearest stations are St Michaels or Aigburth on Merseyrail’s Northern line

By bus: Frequent buses travelling along Aigburth Road from the City Centre or from

Speke include the 82 and X1.

Arriva 82a goes down Jericho lane and stops directly outside the ground (every 30

minutes)

LOYAL SUPPORTERS

May we thank you for your support this season at home and at away matches this season. Your support is much appreciated by the team’s management and players; especially away from home when the team may be up against it with regards to support. At this level of football every penny is vital and your financial support at home matches is essential and your moral and (very) vocal support at home and away is invaluable to the lads on the field. Let’s hope we can reward your loyalty with a great end of season and look forward to a special season in 2014/15.

THE GAFFERS

LOYAL SUPPORTERS

May we thank you in advance for

your support this season at home

and at away matches. Your

support is much appreciated by the

team’s management and players;

especially away from home when

the team may be up against it with

regards to support. At this level of

football every penny is vital and

your financial support at home

matches is essential and your

moral and (very) vocal support at

home and away is invaluable to

the lads on the field. Lets hope we

can reward your loyalty with a

great season. THE

GAFFERS

News from our neighbours

Ashton Athletic win the North West Counties League Challenge Cup. On Thursday night Ashton Athletic beat Maine Road FC 1-0 to pick up the Challenge Cup for the first time. A superb achievement especially as it is Jay, Fougie and Ben’s first year in management. The lads are good friends of Billinge so as a club we are delighted for them. Here is the after-match reaction courtesy of nwcfl.com

Ashton Athletic captain Ian Rowlands: "It's absolutely fantastic. The boys worked so hard, we got our formation just right, and I think our battling and the work rate we showed is a credit to all the lads. I don't think there were any outstanding performances, everyone grafted like we have done all season. "I felt confident that if we kept our shape we would grow into the game, and as the game went on I felt more and more comfortable. It was a great feeling to lift the cup, it might not come round again so I really enjoyed it. "It's great for the management team too, they have been brilliant all season". Ashton Athletic goalkeeper and joint-manager Jay Foulds: "It was a tremendous result and great reward for the season we have put in. The boys have worked their socks off and it paid off today. I thought we were the better side. "I don't think they really troubled us and didn't have many shots, although I don't think we had many either, but possession wise I thought we edged it. Chances were few and far between but we got one late on and took it. "It always looked like just the one goal was going to win it, and fortunately for us we nicked it. I'm made up for the boys and for everyone at the club. "Everybody knows about Ashton Athletic now and hopefully we'll kick on next season". Ashton Athletic midfielder and joint-manager Ben Kay: "I thought we were the better side and had the better chances, and I didn't think

they troubled us much. We went with a game plan and stuck to it, and I thought they found it hard to break us down. "When we start well we usually take that through the 90 minutes, so we got it into the lads' heads that we had to start well, and we did. I thought the back-four were immense, and our own man of the match went to Adam Howard at left back, who I thought didn't put a foot wrong. "I was preparing for extra time as we did have more territory and possession but only created a few half chances before the goal. We said at half-time that we needed to test the keeper a bit more, and I'm just glad that Gilly got on the end of the cross, and he put it away for a great finish. "The lads have been different class all season, and we have set a good stepping stone for next season now". Ashton Athletic joint-manager Dougie Pitts: "The lads performed at top level tonight, and I really think we deserved to win. "They changed their formation at half time to try and counter us, and we made two changes early in the second half when we felt we needed to keep hold of the ball a bit more. The players we put on are better at running with the ball and keeping it, and Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) was unlucky not to start tonight, but he came on as a sub and scored a great goal. "I said to the lads at half time that if we kept playing with the same tempo we'd get a goal and it turned out one goal was enough. "A special mention must go to the back-four tonight, I thought they were amazing. Maine Road are a good attacking side and they have scored a lot of gaols this season, but our back-four stood up to them tonight. "If you said to us at the start of the season we would win the cup and finish as high as we have in the league we wouldn't have believed it. The second season is always harder when you have done well in your first season, and everyone will be looking at Ashton Athletic now, but we are going to keep our feet on the ground".

NON-LEAGUE football has this wonderful habit of bringing clubs together for good causes. One such example that struck me recently was the unification of Hemel Hempstead and Chesham United – local rivals and the two teams contesting the Calor Premier title until the former secured silverware last Saturday, 48 hours before a potential championship showdown between them. The Tudors and the Generals will unite today (Saturday, May 10) for a charity game to raise funds for the University College London Hospital’s Neo-natal Unit and The Butterfly Fund. It is the brainchild of Chesham left-back Daniel Brathwaite, who together with wife Ali suffered the heartache of losing their son Maxwell William on May 16 last year just nine hours after he was born three months premature. Hemel born and bred, Brathwaite has taken up the offer from his old club, where he played a decade ago, to stage the game where a Daniel Brathwaite XI will take on a Chesham United & Hemel Hemsptead Town Combined XI. “My dad has known the chairman, Dave Boggins, for years so when I’ve bumped into him and a couple of the directors around town recently, they said we should hold the game there,” said Braithwaite. “I thought it would be great idea to use players from both clubs, and the fact that so many have agreed to play shows the mutual respect there is between us.” So with a Southern Prem dream team in action against a host of top names from the higher echelons of English football and the Non-League game, where better to head that afternoon if you’re not going to Wembley for the FA Vase final or one of the regional play-off finals? Jordan Parkes, David Hutton, Dan Talbot, Lewis Toomey, Danny May and Kieran Murphy are the champion Tudors set to be on show, with Shane Gore, Alex Brown, James Potton, Dave Fotheringham, Scott Thomas, Bruce Wilson and prolific strike duo Chris Dillon and Drew Roberts from runners-up Chesham. Among the DB XI are Luton’s title-winning captain Ronnie Henry, Boreham Wood’s Sam Cox, Welling’s Ross Lafayette, ex-Stevenage captain and current coach Jason Goodliffe and former top-flight players Nigel Winterburn, Paolo Vernazza, Micah Hyde, Steve Palmer and Luther Blissett. “The hospital staff and the neo-natal and bereavement services they provide are first class,” said Brathwaite. “Hopefully the money we raise will go towards saving some little people’s lives and help them help other families, like they did with us.” The family day at Vauxhall Road starts at midday, with the match kicking off at 1pm. Admission is £5 adults with under-16s free.

THE CONCISE HISTORY OF BILLINGE FOOTBALL CLUB

Billinge Football Club was founded in 1988 By Phil Middlehurst. They played then in the St Helens Combination at the Eddleston Playing Fields, Billinge. 1988-1989 to 1991-1992 Geoff Maggs was the first manager to take the reins of the newly-formed club. 1992-1993 to 1996-1997 Following Geoff Maggs' departure to pastures new, Les Pilling was installed as the club manager. 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 Billinge FC form a Reserve Team, Brian Collins is appointed First Team Manager and Les Pilling takes on the Manager's Job of the newly-created Reserve Team. 1999-2000 to 2004-2005 Manager Keith Amato, replaces Brian Collins as First Team Manager. Les Pilling continues his sterling work with the Reserve Team. Amato enjoyed success with Billinge FC bringing silverware to the club and being the first manager to take a Billinge team into the prestigious Mid-Cheshire League. 2005-2006 Paul Farrell is appointed as First Team Manager to replace Keith Amato, long time club stalwart Les Pilling is appointed as Farrell’s Assistant Manager and Colin Betts is appointed as Reserve Team Manager. 2007-2008 Ex-Wigan Athletic legend Bryan Griffiths is appointed as First Team Manager, assisted by Andrew Clough. Dave Knowles is appointed as the Reserve Team Manager. Knowles is the first Billinge manager to take a team to a Mid-Cheshire Cup Final, losing narrowly to Poynton on a penalty shootout. Following the highs of the Cup Final, various on-going issues meant that Knowles was to leave the club at the end of the season. 2008-2009 Griffiths and Clough get Billinge promoted to the top division in the Cheshire League. The club move grounds from Eddleston Fields to purpose-built facilities at Barrow Farm. Steve Dickson is appointed as Reserve Team Manager. 2009-2010 Griffiths and Clough consolidate the First Team in the Cheshire League top division and Dickson looks to re-build the Reserves with strong links into the Billinge Youth system. 2010-2011 Ex St Helens Town Manager Jimmy McBride comes out of retirement to take over the job of First Team Manager, Bryan Griffiths steps down to become assistant to McBride and Andrew Clough takes on the position of club Chairman.

High points include Neil McDermot, Gary Jones, Scott Tickle and Andy Ledger being named in the Cheshire League Inter-League Squad. Steve Dickson continues as Reserve Team Manager. At the end of the season McBride resigns after being offered his old job back at St Helens Town, McBride comes back for Andrew Clough as his Assistant Manager at Town. 2011-2012 Steve Dickson is promoted from the Reserves to the First Team, he appoints a Management Team including Adam Lowry as Head Coach, Rob Dainty as Assistant Manager and Les Pilling as Match Day Secretary. Dickson is given the task of re-building the team to have a more youthful look. A new Reserve Team Management Team is appointed with Brian Mather, Chez Tideswell and Campbell Wilson coming in with a host of new players. The First Team had a really good run of results which lead to a mid-table finish considering the disastrous start this was a great achievement, they were the first Billinge Senior Team to get to the Cheshire League's prestigious League Cup Final and the average age has been reduced to 22 years. The Reserves have equalled Dave Knowles feat of getting the Reserves to the Reserve Cup Final, they also went on to a league and cup double, beating Farnworth 3-0 in the Northern Cup Final then to be crowned as Cheshire League Reserve Division Champions. Following the Reserve Team's success at Billinge the management accepted an approach from Daten F.C and left to form Daten's first team. Billinge moved quickly to appoint Paul Oakes as the Reserve team manager, Oakes had enjoyed success with St Helens Combination Premier outfit Greenfields FC. Dave Knowles returned to the club as Assistant Manager to Oakes, with Rob Dainty taking on an advisory/youth development role, this position is temporary as Dainty will return to First Team duties. 2012-2013 Steve Dickson steered the First Team to safety in the top division while the Reserve Team, under Paul Oakes, finished a very respectable 7th. The Reserve Team became the first club to retain the Northern Cup when they beat Quarry Bank 3-1 in the final. 2013-2014 Paul Oakes and Steve Dickson take up the reins of the First Team management whilst Paul Farrell and Keith Amato are appointed Reserve Team managers. New members are added to the committee with Steve Dickson installed as chairman while the club runs a Sunday Team managed by committee member Dave Wood and playing in the South Lancs League at Barrows Farm as the club celebrates it’s silver anniversary.

FIRSTS RESERVES SUNDAY JUNIORS VILLAGE

THE PRO GAME

Latics fined over rule breach

FA Cup holders and Sky Bet championship play-off contenders, Wigan Athletic have been fined £40,000 for breaching the Football Association's Football Agents Regulations regarding the signing of Marc-Antoine Fortune. The charge related to agency activity carried out by Willie McKay for the Championship club in relation to the capture of the striker in July 2013. Both Wigan and McKay admitted breaking regulation C10(a)(i) at an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing. Fortune, 32, has played 48 times for the Latics, scoring five goals. McKay has been warned over his future conduct and had his overseas agent registration suspended for nine months. The suspension is suspended for two years. The sanctions are subject to appeal. In a statement the club said they were "awaiting the full findings of the Independent Regulatory Commission to enable us to review our position in respect of the decision". Sky Bet League 1: Play-off prices - Preston idea vetoed by Rotherham, Orient and Peterborough

Sky Bet League 1 side, Preston North End have been prevented from lowering prices for the Deepdale leg of the play-off semi-finals - even though their opposition is yet to be decided. At a meeting of the four play-off clubs in London this week, Preston's idea was effectively kicked into the long grass by the league and the other clubs. Of the four play-off contenders, Preston have by far the biggest stadium and are likely to realise a bigger proportion of the revenue The Lilywhites wanted to offer cheaper tickets but they could not get agreement from any of their potential opponents. Proceeds from play-off ticket sales are divided between the Football League and the competing clubs. The league take a 50% cut with the four clubs divvying-up the other half of the pot. Ben Rhodes, PNE’s general manager, said: “The Football League take 50% and the rest is split four ways. “Prices cannot be increased for the play-offs but the option is there to decrease if agreement can be reached with the team you play. “There was no agreement forthcoming and so we have to sell at the normal price.”

Premier League clubs spend £1.8bn on wages

A record £1.8bn was spent by Premier League clubs

in 2012/13 on player and staff wages according to a

review of its member club’s accounts.

The figure was up 11% on the previous year

according to a report by the Guardian newspaper

which reviewed the accounts of the 20 Premier

League clubs.

The increase in wages was on the back of record

combined income totalling £2.7bn.

Yet despite this it was recorded that club’s made a combined loss of

£291m over the same period.

Twelve of the 20 clubs made a loss in 2012-13, with five clubs losing

£50m or more: Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and

Queens Park Rangers.

The figures are for the final year of the Premier League's last, 2010-13

round of television deals, worth £3.5bn, before the current massively

increased deals, £5.5bn from 2013-16.

Earlier this week it was reported that Manchester City may have fallen

foul of UEFA’s Financial Fair

Play regulations after posting losses of in excess of £50m last season.

However, the report highlights the fact the City are currently the only

Premier League club committed to paying its non-playing staff the

living wage of £7.65 an hour as recommended by Citizens UK.

The proportion of the income clubs spent on wages in 2012-13 was the

same as in 2011-12, 67%,

The highest paid director in 2012-13 was Southampton's executive

chairman, Nicola Cortese, who earned £2.129m. Next highest paid was

Ivan Gazidis, who as Arsenal's chief executive earned £1.825m.

Salary packages of more than a million pounds went to the highest paid

director at nine clubs altogether: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool,

Manchester United, Norwich City (which included a £867,000 bonus

for hitting financial targets and remaining in the Premier League),

Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion and West

Ham United.

A brief history of today’s visitors Crewe FC

The journey so far

The town of Crewe had not been represented in the Mid-Cheshire

League since Rolls Royce in 1984 but in 1998 this changed with

the formation of Crewe F.C. The original idea came from Ian

O'Reilly, Pat Slack, Trevor Moss and Steve Palin. Sons and

relations at the local Crewe Youth Centre, having reached the age

of sixteen, had nowhere to go and it was decided to set up a team

and apply to the Mid-Cheshire League. This was achieved and the

club set up a pitch in the centre of the athletics track at the council owned Cumberland

Sports Ground.

Crewe had a solid if unspectacular first season with a very young side, finishing 12th

in the league whilst in the Crewe Cup they lost out to a last minute goal at Nantwich

Town. The following season Crewe won promotion to the Mid-Cheshire 1st division

after finishing runners up to Trafford Reserves. In the Divisional Cup they went one

better defeating Trafford Reserves at Witton Albion F.C. after a penalty shootout.

Season 2004/05 saw Crewe FC suffer their first relegation but also managing to pick

up two pieces of silverware as the young side defeated favourites Glossop North End

Reserves in the Final of the Presidents Cup held at Trafford and retain the Crewe Cup

for the third consecutive year with victory over Alsager Town.

Season 2005/06 saw the club playing all their home games away from the Cumberland

at a number of different venues as the Cumberland Arena was extensively redeveloped

with a complete new playing area and state of the art floodlit artificial training pitches.

All this was made possible largely due to a Development Grant obtained by the club

from the Football Association. The club finished runners-up in the Crewe Cup losing

to FA Vase winners Nantwich Town in the final by one goal to nil.

Season 2006/07 saw the club return to the re-developed Cumberland Arena in a season

that saw the club once again re-capture the Crewe Cup defeating Alsager Town in the

final hosted at the Arena by a single goal.

The club during the past few seasons has developed closer links with Manchester

Metropolitan University who assist in providing fully qualified coaches to the Crewe

FC teams as well as running FA coaching courses enabling the Crewe FC personal to

obtain FA qualifications.

The club's match day programme has regularly finished in the top 60 programmes in

the country as part of the National Survey of Non-League programmes.

The club continue to develop and grow with a reserve and several youth sides

providing a level of footballing development that were the principals of the founding

of the club. Many of the founding committee of the club still remain at the club

including Pat Slack (Chairman), Trevor Moss (Treasurer), Maggie Vickers (Secretary)

and Ian O'Rielly (First Team Manager) as well as a number of players ensuring solid

stability of this family orientated club.

THE BILLINGE SHOP IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS The ties - in claret and blue with the club crest and Billinge FC embroidered on them are superb quality as well as looking great. Furthermore they are priced at just £7.50. You can look long and hard to find any sporting club tie priced so competitively. We will put some proper photographs up later this week but until

then attached are some taken by phone. The ties are the first in a series of club merchandise for sale. Coming soon: Enamel badges, scarves and mugs. All purchases put much-needed funds into the club and are available at all home matches at Barrows Farm.

SPORTSMAN'S EVENING - RAZOR'S COMING TO BILLINGE Billinge are pleased to announce that Neil 'Razor' Ruddock will be our special guest speaker at our Sportsman's Evening in May. The event - that will also encompass our presentation evening - will take place on Friday 23 May 2014 at Birchley St Mary's Club in Billinge. We have 'The A Team' on board as in addition to Razor we have the best comic on the circuit - Jimmy Bright - along with the great MC for the evening Jerry Earl. With top catering and excellent raffles and other events this is going to be a tremendous evening that will undoubtedly sell out fast! TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE PRICED AT £35 AND AVAILABLE IN TABLES OF TEN. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SPONSORING THE EVENT? FOR NOT MUCH EXTRA WE CAN OFFER VIP TABLES

AND MENTIONS ON ALL OUR ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL ALONG WITH AN ADVERT IN OUR PROGRAMME FOR THE REMAINDER - JUST GET IN TOUCH.

PLEASE CONTACT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FOR TICKETS OR SPONSORSHIP

OPPORTUNITIES STEVE BROOKES: 07415 376794 STEVE DICKSON: 07539 452688 ANDY VAUGHAN: 07934 887713

STRAIGHT FROM THE MOUTHS OF THE STORKS For those that all computer savvy and “have no time for all that paper stuff” then pleased be advised that you can read all our programmes online. All you have to do is go to the following links and take a gander:

http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/gamesley_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_v_whaley_bridge_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_fc_v_rylands_fc_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_v_hale_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_v_styal_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_v_page_celtic_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_v_denton_town_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_v_knutsford_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_v_garswood_uniited_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_v_barnton_programme http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/billinge_v_eagle_sports_programme

The e-programmes have now had way over 8,000 hits as we go to press so it’s good news for all at Billinge as we continue to expand the club. Personally I’d sooner have the paper version but I’m an old fart nowadays so no surprise there. This programme will be online Monday or Tuesday next week We also have a sponsorship brochure online that you can find at:

http://issuu.com/vaughanie/docs/sponsorship_brochure

Here however are a few of our sponsorship opportunities: KIT SPONSORSHIP TRACKSUIT SPONSORSHIP MATCH BALL SPONSORSHIP MATCH SPONSORSHIP HOSPITALITY PACKAGE

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME ADVERTISING SPORTSMAN’S EVENING SPONSORSHIP

NEXT SEASON: We have packages to suit all pockets. If you are interested then just see one of our committee at the game today. Meanwhile may we give a massive thanks to all our sponsors and spectators that put money behind the bar/admission/programmes etc.

THE STORKS LINK UP WITH TOP PHYSIOTHERAPIST Billinge Football Club are delighted to announce that they have agreed a

partnership with Chartered Physiotherapist Mike Stabler.

Mike qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist in 1975.

Since then he has worked in the NHS, with rugby clubs - both league and

union - at county and national level including the Great Britain Rugby League

team and is currently in Private Practice.

Mike specialises in sports injury rehab, Ling Muscle Tape and sports massage.

He deals with musculoskeletal problems such as RTA, neck and back pain,

sport injuries and general aches and pains.

Treatment modalities that he uses are Interferential, Pulsed Electromagnatism,

Ultrasound, Laser, Exercises and advice and self-help for home.

Mike is based in Newton Le Willows but also has a clinic one day a week in

Rainford.

We have managed to secure excellent rates for all our players, officials and

associates while Mike will be looking to help us progress the physiotherapy

side of the club.

Anybody requiring Physiotherapy Consultation & Treatment can contact Mike

Stabler directly on:

Tel: 01925 225547

Mobile: 07885584365

Mike Stabler MCSP.

Ling Physiotherapy, 28 Crow Lane West, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire

WA12 9YG

Or speak to any managers or officials of Billinge Football Club.

Check out Mike's website: http://www.lingphysio.co.uk/

Please note this is the first of many exciting new partnerships we are forging

as we take the club to the next level.

We will inform you when details and agreements of each are tied-up but rest

assured there are some very exciting things happening at the moment behind

the scenes.

CHESHIRE LEAGUE TABLES AS AT 1 MAY 2014 CHESHIRE LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION P W D L GD POINTS

1 Garswood United 28 18 5 5 42 59 2 Knutsford 29 16 7 6 32 55 3 Barnton 29 16 6 7 42 54 4 Rudheath Social 27 17 3 7 25 54 5 Eagle Sports 26 16 5 5 25 54 6 Whaley Bridge 27 16 5 6 36 53 7 Rylands 28 15 4 9 24 49 8 Crewe 28 15 3 10 26 48 9 Greenalls PSO 27 12 6 9 5 42 10 Linotype CHN 28 12 4 12 14 40 11 Gamesley 26 10 6 10 2 36 12 Billinge FC 29 7 5 17 -31 26 13 Styal 26 6 4 16 -30 22 14 Denton Town FC 28 4 4 21 -75 16 15 Pilkington 30 3 5 22 -57 14 16 Middlewich Town 28 3 1 24 -76 10 RESERVE DIVISION P W D L GD POINTS 1 Greenalls PSO Res 31 23 2 6 62 71 2 Whaley Bridge Res 27 20 5 2 50 65 3 Barnton Reserves 28 20 2 6 42 62 4 Billinge Reserves 30 17 6 7 33 57 5 Styal Reserves 29 18 1 10 39 55 6 Linotype CHN Res 30 15 6 9 29 51 7 Garswood Utd Res 30 16 2 12 7 50 8 Rylands Reserves 29 12 7 10 -6 43 9 Poynton Reserves 29 10 9 10 9 39 10 Grappenhall S Res 29 10 8 11 -6 38 11 Eagle Sports Res 28 10 2 16 -11 32 12 Daten Reserves 29 9 5 15 -13 32 13 Gamesley Reserves 31 9 5 17 -26 32 14 Middlewich T Res 29 8 4 17 -32 28 15 Pilkington Reserves 30 6 6 18 -60 24 16 Denton Town Res 27 6 2 19 -50 20 17 Egerton Reserves 32 2 6 24 -63 12

Don’t forget to @BillingeFC

BILLINGE FOOTBALL CLUB FIRST TEAM FIXTURES 2013/14 OPPONENTS RES/KO AUGUST 2013 Sat 10/08/13 Knutsford (A) L 4-0 Tue 13/08/13 Greenalls PSO (A) L 2-1 Sat 17/08/13 GAMESLEY (H) D 1-1 Tue 20/08/13 Pilkington (A) L 3-1 Sat 24/08/13 WHALEY BRIDGE (H) D 0-0 Tue 27/08/13 Garswood United (A) L 6-1 Sat 31/08/13 Eagle Sports (A) W 1-0 SEPTEMBER 2013 Sat 07/09/13 RYLANDS L 0-4 Sat 14/09/13 Vulcan (WARRINGTON CUP) (A) W 7-3 Sat 21/09/13 HALE (LCFA CHALLENGE CUP) W 3-2 Sat 28/09/13 Linotype Cheadle HN (JB PARKER CUP ) (A) L 3-2

OCTOBER 2013 Sat 05/10/13 STYAL (H) W 2-1 Sat 12/10/13 PAGE CELTIC (H) (LCFA CHALLENGE CUP) L 8-2 Sat 19/10/13 Whaley Bridge (A) L 3-2 Sat 26/10/13 Winwick Athletic (WARRINGTON CUP) (A) W 5-1 NOVEMBER 2013 Sat 02/11/13 Middlewich Town (A) W 4-2 Sat 09/11/13 LINOTYPE CHEADLE (H) W 3-1 Sat 16/11/13 DENTON TOWN (H) L 1-0 Sat 23/11/13 Denton Town (A) L 2-0 Sat 30/11/13 Greenalls PSO (WARRINGTON CUP) (A) L 2-0 DECEMBER 2013 Sat 07/12/13 KNUTSFORD (H) L 3-1 Sat 14/12/13 Rylands (A) L3-1 Sat 28/12/13 GREENALLS PSO (H) L 2-4 JANUARY 2014 Sat 04/01/14 PILKINGTON (H) D 1-1 Sat 18/01/14 MIDDLEWICH TOWN (H) W 4-2 MARCH 2014 Sat 01/03/14 RUDHEATH SOCIAL (H) L 3-0 Sat 08/03/14 Gamesley (A) L 2-0 Sat 15/03/14 Linotype Cheadle HN (A) L 5-1 Sat 22/03/14 Crewe (A) W 3-1 Sat 29/03/14 GARSWOOD UNITED (H) L 5-1 APRIL 2014 Sat 05/04/14 BARNTON (H) L 5-2 Sat 12/04/14 Barnton (A) D 3-3 Sat 19/04/14 Styal (A) W 4-0 Sat 26/04/14 Rudheath Social (A) L 3-0 Tue29/04/14 EAGLE SPORTS (H) D 1-1 MAY 2014 Sat 03/05/14 CREWE (H) KO: 3PM

TODAY’S TEAMS – SATURDAY 3 MAY 2014

CHESHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

BILLINGE SOCCER CENTRE BARROWS FARM KICK-OFF 3PM

BILLINGE FC SQUAD VERSUS CREWE FC SQUAD (ALPHA) Tom Hull 1 Ian Carr Elliot Bradshaw 2 Luke Goddard Adam Clare 3 Steven Harding Aaron Morris 4 Christopher Jackson Mark Jones 5 Danny Massey Jay Parkin 6 Stephen McNichol Tom Ashall 7 Steven Parker Craig Homer (CAPTAIN) 8 Joshua Rowley Chad Whyte 9 Nathan Southern Graham Greene 10 Anthony Tinsley Tom Darkes 11 Ethan Tizard

Liam Bowden 12 Josh Brehaut Chris Duffy 14 James Donegan Gareth Fletcher 15 Carl Everall Nathan Odgen 16 Danny Lavalette Jonny Clark 17 Andrew PArkinson Joe Unsworth 18 Nathan Tickle MANAGER: GARETH FLETCHER MANAGER: CARL EVERALL ASSISTANT: MARTIN SEDDON ASSISTANT: ASSISTANT: STEVE DICKSON ASSISTANT: SHIRTS: CLARET & SKY BLUE SHIRTS: NAVY/SKY BLUE SHORTS: CLARET & SKY BLUE SHORTS: NAVY SOCKS: CLARET & SKY BLUE SOCKS: NAVY

OFFICIALS: REFEREE: PHIL BROADBENT + DANIEL BOWDEN ▪ IAN MCGUINESS

TODAY’S FIXTURES

Saturday 3 May First Division Billinge FC v Crewe Gamesley v Eagle Sports Linotype Cheadle HN v Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds Rylands v Rudheath Social Styal v Middlewich Town Whaley Bridge v Knutsford

Reserve Division Barnton Reserves v Whaley Bridge Reserves Denton Town Reserves v Rylands Reserves Eagle Sports Reserves v Poynton Reserves Grappenhall Sports Reserves v Styal Reserves Middlewich Town Reserves v Linotype Cheadle HN Reserves

Please be advised our reserve team travel are at home to

Rylands Reserves this Thursday 8 May 2014 for their

penultimate League game of the season. Kick-off is 6.45pm.

The lads would be grateful your support.

This leaves just the away game at Denton Town to be fitted

in. It should have been on Saturday 10 May 2014 but our

participation in the Northern Cup Final means this must now

be rearranged

Cheers

BILLINGE FOOTBALL CLUB SPORTSMAN’S EVENING

BIRCHLEY ST MARY’S CLUB FRIDAY 23 MAY 2014

PRESENTATION EVENING ▪ AUCTIONS ▪ RAFFLES

TOP COMEDIAN & TOP MC

THREE GREAT SPEAKERS ▪ GREAT FOOD ▪ GREAT NIGHT

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW: £35 EACH

TABLES OF TEN AVAILABLE

FOR ALL YOUR TRANSPORT NEEDS

PROUD TO SUPPORT BILLINGE FOOTBALL CLUB

SUPPORTING BILLINGE FOOTBALL CLUB

Andy McDonald BA (Hons) Independent Financial Adviser

Tel: 01744 895989

Email: andymcdonald@abacusadvisers.co.uk 1 Avon Road, Billinge, Near Wigan, Lancashire WN5 7QU

www.abacusadvisers.co.uk

________________________________________________________________

MARKET ∙ PRODUCT ∙ APPLICATION ∙

CUSTOMISATION ∙ LOGISTICS ∙ INFRASTRUCTURE KNOW-HOW MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

ERIKS UK Integrates Solutions Services Centre

c/o H J Heinz Co Limited Engineering Stores, Goods Receiving,

Spring Road, Kitt Green Wigan WN5 0JL

LEE RULE

Service Centre Manager Tel: 01942 224430

Mob: 07740 452824 Email: lee.rule@eriks.co.uk

Web: www.eriks.co.uk

Fernland Engineering

(Liverpool) Ltd

Providing a mechanical engineering breakdown service that’s fast,

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Unit 16 Millers Bridge Industrial Estate, Seymour Street, Bootle,

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Tel: 0151 922 8492 – Fax: 0151 922 2336

E-mail: sales@fernaland.co.uk

AFTER HOURS Phil Kelly – 0151 924 0756

Mobile – 07899 955300

Carpets ∙ Laminates ∙ Vinyls ∙ Beds Free Luxury Underlays ∙ New Carpet

Binding Service

Tel/Fax: 01942 522007

Neil: 07515 252324 Jason: 07956 373610

Email: carpetsandflooring@rocketmail.com

10-11 Tattenham Works Leigh Road

Hindley Green Wigan WN2 4SZ

carpetsandflooringwigan.co.uk

WIGAN TYRES Unit 5 Whinfield Close, Miry Lane, Wigan WN6 7TL

Tel: 01942 824742 Web: www.wigantyresltd.co.uk

Wigan Tyres Ltd is a family run business based in Miry Lane, Wigan.

Established in 1990, Wigan Tyres has built a

reputation for offering exceptional levels of service to its customers

and was voted No1

by Tyres & Accessories Magazine.

Specialist in car, motorcycle and truck tyres

MARDEC Decorators

Painters & Decorators

Martin McDonald (Advanced Craft, City & Guilds Painting and Decorating 1985)

38 AVON ROAD, BILLINGE, NEAR WIGAN WN5 7QU Email: martinmardec@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.mardecdecorators.co.uk

Tel: 07931 282 896 Tel: 01744 894 431

For all your dressmaking needs

Day & Evening Wear

Ball Gowns

Christening Robes

Confirmation Dresses

Wedding Dresses

Bridesmaid Dresses

Mother of the Bride

Wedding Ring Cushions

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Waistcoats

Bow Ties / Cummerbunds to match

Name Embroidery and Much More!

Call Carolynne on 07830 181497 or email:

Carolynne@englishelegance.co.uk

www.englishelegance.co.uk

At CPBooks we aim to take your bookkeeping worries away from you and

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We can take care of your ▪ Accounting ▪ Bookkeeping ▪ VAT returns and

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Why not call us on 01942 418740 or email info@cpbooks.co.uk

You can find us at www.cpbooks.co.uk

BIRCHLEY ST MARY’S CLUB

Trent Road, Billinge WN5 7QT

Tel: 01744 892836 (After 7pm)

01744 603160 (Daytime)

Function room for hire (Friday/Saturday/Sunday)

Seating for up to 200 Weddings ∙ Birthdays ∙ Anniversaries ∙ Christenings etc

All welcome

Comfortable lounge for smaller parties (Up to 60)

Christenings ∙ Funerals ∙ Birthdays etc

Self-catering or catering provided Resident DJ

plus large screen Sky TV

Large games room with two f

EVERYBODY IS WELCOME TO JOIN THE PLAYERS, MANAGEMENT

AND COMMITTEE FOR A PIE AND A PINT AFTER THE GAME