[NBR] Local non-league - Fleetwood Town, AFC Blackpool, AFC Fylde, Squires Gate etc

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AFC Fylde
Two further pre-season friendlies have been added against Bootle on 28th July and Nantwich Town on 1st August.

The club are also hoping for a capacity crowd of about 1,800 for the game against a ManUre XI when Ole Gunnar Solskjær is expected to bring a strong squad, presumably Youth team players.

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Fleetwood Town

Pre-season friendlies

11th July Queens Park (away)
14th July Squires Gate (away)
15th July AFC Blackpool (away)
18th July Lancaster City (away)
19th July Kendal Town (away)
1st August Bury (home)
3rd August "Horwich" XI (home)

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AFC Fylde
Fylde have agreed deals with six of last season's promotion-winning squad while two more are still in discussion.

Alan Jackson, Steve Palmer, Dougie Shaw, Pete Summerfield, Jerome Watt and Nathan Worrell, have all signed up for the 2009-10 campaign. The club is still hoping to conclude deals with midfielder Mick Horsfall and striker Matt Walwyn.

Players to have left the club since the end of last season are Phil Blackwell, Martin Moran, Lennie Reid, Phil Robinson and Mark Wane

Manager Mick Fuller said,

I'm pleased to have gained these six signatures, and with the five new players we have brought in we are building a stronger squad for the Unibond challenge by the week.

I'm still on the lookout for one or two more additions in key positions.

The club have held fitness sessions on St Annes beach, though club captain Phil Thompson has been excused pre-season training to nurse a back injury.

They play the first of seven fre-season friendlies at Irlam Town on Saturday.

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Ucoming pre-season friendlies up to 18th July:

Saturday 11th July
Irlam Town vs AFC Fylde, 3:00pm
Poulton Town vs AFC Blackpool,3:00pm

Queens Park vs Fleetwood Town, 3:00pm

Tuesday 14th July
Squires Gate vs Fleetwood Town, 7:30pm

Wednesday 15th July
AFC Blackpool vs Fleetwood Town, 7:45pm

Friday 17th July
AFC Fylde vs ManUre XI, 7:45pm

Saturday 18th July
Lancaster City vs Fleetwood Town, 3:00pm
Stoneclough vs Squires Gate, 3:00pm
Woodley Sports vs AFC Blackpool, 3:00pm

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Fleetwood Town

Former Liverpool goalkeeper was the special guest at the annual dinner for the club's junior section at the North Euston Hotel on Friday. And he spoke passionately in support of junior football and about the FA's responsibility to promote the grassroots game saying,

I wish the FA would increase the money for non-League teams instead of giving the professionals all the money.

It's the grassroots who need supporting and the kids like the Fleetwood Town Juniors who need as much encouragement as possible.

These kids are the future of our game.

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Saturday result (the only one I know)

Queens Park 4 Fleetwood Town 1

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Tuesday result

Squires Gate 0 Fleetwood Town 2

New signing Nick Rogan scored both Town's goals in this friendly. Town boss Micky Mellon fielded only two players – Michael Taylor and Sean Clancy – from the side which won at Droylsden on the final day of last season and another much-changed side will play in tonight's match at AFC Blackpool.

All the members of Town's squad who did not play last night will feature at AFC Blackpool this evening (kick-off 7.45pm), while Gate continue their build-up to the season at home to Stoke side Biddulph Victoria on 1st August.

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AFC Fylde 1 ManUre XI 2
In front of a record crowd of 1,390 at Kellamergh Park last Saturday, Fylde lost 2-1 to what was essentially a Manure youth team, with a couple of players who have some experience, including striker Fabian Brandy who has had loan spells at Swansea City and Hereford United.

Goals from Tom Cleverley and Sam Hewson were enough for United, despite a late score when Michael Clark scored a bizzare direct goal from the corner, giving the hosts hope.

United Reserves boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer occupied the dugout on a wet and breezy evening on the Fylde coast.

Manure team: Heaton, De Laet, Chester, Dudgeon, Eirrem, Hewson, Evans, Norwood, Gill,Stewart and Cleverley; Subs: Zieller, Brandy, Moffatt, Kine, Brady, Ajose, Catheart, Bryan

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Lancaster City 2 Fleetwood Town 0
Fleetwood Town suffered another setback in their build-up to the new season when they were beaten 2-0 at Unibond side Lancaster City at Giant Axe.

The day started badly for Fleetwood with both wingers named in the starting 11 – Sean Clancy (former Blackpool youth team player) and Lee Dodgson – picking up injuries in the warm-up and being replaced at kick-off by Dominic Merella (again former Blackpool player) and 17-year-old Joey Newsham.

By all accounts though Lancaster controlled the game in both halves and were deserved winners. Not that results matter too much in pre-season, it is all about getting fit for the new season.

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Fleetwood Town
This week Town signed former Premier League defender Alan Wright. Veteran left-back Wright, 37, started his career with Blackpool in 1989 before spending 12 years in the top flight with Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa. He has made over 600 Football League and cup appearances and won two England Under-21 caps.

Town manager Micky Mellon met up again with Wright during the summer at Lilleshall, where the pair completed their UEFA A coaching Licence.

Mellon said,


Alan is a quality signing for us. He brings a vast amount of top-flight experience and has played consistently well at the top level. Alan immediately picked up on the ambition at Highbury.


Wright had been at Cheltenham Town since 2007. He played for Blackpool from 1989, having joined as a trainee. He made 98 league appearances for the Seasiders, making his debut as a 17 year old in April 1989.

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Fleetwood Town
Town opened their 2009-10 season on Saturday with a 2-1 win away to Solihull Moors.

On Tuesday they drew 1-1 at home with Hyde United in front of a crowd of 1,012. Fleetwood manager Micky Mellon considered the draw as two points dropped as opposed to one gained.

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Fleetwood Town
Town appear to be becoming a bit of a 'Blackpool Old Boys' club.

They signed former Premier League and England defender Alan Wright, who started his career with Blackpool way back in 1989. Now 38, Wright is still a good signing for Fleetwood.

And they have also signed Claus Bech Jørgensen, who last season was at Blackpool and who, after joining on a non-contract basis in August, turned down a contract with League Two side Port Vale early in September. He apparently still lives locally, in St Annes, and again it is another good signing.

On Saturday they beat Farsley Celtic 3-1 at home in the FA Cup second qualifying round. They have been drawn at home again in the third qualifying round, this time to Vauxhall Motors.

In the Conference North they currently lie in 4th.

1st Droylsden pld 11 pts 21
2nd Southport pld 11 pts 21
3rd Eastwood Town pld 11 pts 21
4th Fleetwood Town pld pts 20

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Fleetwood Town

Town are currently 6th in the Conference North

Current table:

1st Southport pld 18 pts 38
2nd Eastwood Town pld 18 pts 34
3rd Droylsden pld 17 pts 31
4th Alfreton Town pld 18 pts 31
5th Corby Town pld 17 pts 31
6th Fleetwood Town pld 16 pts 29
7th Stalybridge Celtic pld 15 pts 28
8th Hinckle United pd 16 pts 27
9th Ilkeston Town pld 17 pts 25
10th AFC Telford United pld 15 pts 22
11th Workington pld 17 pts 20
12th Blyth Spartans pld 16 pts 19
13th Stafford Rangers pld 18 pts 19
14th Hyde United pld 17 pts 17
15th Northwich Victoria pld 15 pts 16
16th Farsley Celtic pld 18 pts 16
17th Gainsborough Trinity pld 18 pts 16
18th Solihull Moors pld 18 pts 16
19th Gloucester City pld 16 pts 15
20th Redditch United pld 17 pts 14
21st Vauxhall Motors pld 17 pts 13
22nd Harrogate Town pld 18 pts 13

The club finishing the season in 1st are promoted to the Conference National. The four clubs in 2nd-5th go into the play-offs for one further promotion spot.

The bottom three (20th-22nd) are relegated to the Northern Premier League Premier Division (although sometimes to the Southern League Premier Division)

Yesterday Fleetwood were in cup action, in the FA Trophy - the national cup competition for club's who play at levels 5 to 8 of the English football league system. This covers:

Level 5: Conference National
Level 6: Conference North & Conference South
Level 7: Isthmian League Premier Division, Northern Premier League Premier Division & Southern Football League Premier Division
Level 8: Isthmian League Division One North, Isthmian League Division One South, Northern Premier League Division One North , Northern Premier League Division One South, Southern Football League Division One South & West & Southern Football League Division One Midlands

The only other local club who compete in the FA Trophy - AFC Fylde.

For lower leagues there is the FA Vase.

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AFC Fylde

Fylde were also in FA Trophy action yesterday. They drew 1-1 at home to Hinckley United.

In the league they are currently 13th in the Northern Premier League Division One North.

Current table:

1st Curzon Ashton pld 18 pts 39
2nd Colwyn Bay pld 17 pts 39
3rd Lancaster City pld 13 pts 33
4th Skelmersdale United pld 17 pts 32
5th FC Halifax Town pld 13 pts 32
6th Leigh Genesis pld 16 pts 29
7th Bamber Bridge pd 14 pts 26
8th Warrington Town pld 15 pts 24
9th Prescot Cables pld 19 pts 24
10th Clitheroe pld 16 pts 23
11th Trafford pld 18 pts 22
12th Chorley pld 17 pts 20
13th AFC Fylde pld 16 pts 19
14th Wakefield pld 17 pts 19
15th Mossley pld 15 pts 18
16th Garforth Town pld 19 pts 17
17th Ossett Albion pld 18 pts 16
18th Radcliffe Borough pld 14 pts 15
19th Salford City pd 13 pts 12
20th Woodley Sports pld 17 pts 11
21st Harrogate Railway Athletic pd 16 pts 7
22nd Rossendale United pld 16 pts 6

The champions are promoted to the Premier Division. 2nd to 5th go into the play-offs, for the other promotion spot. The bottom two clubs are relegated to one of the feeder leagues below, provided there are enough suitable promotion candidates from those leagues. Those leagues include the Northern League (based in North East England), the Northern Counties East Football League (based mainly in Yorkshire and northern parts of the Midlands) and the North West Counties Football League (which covers North West England).

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Squires Gate

Gate were in league action yesterday. They won 1-0 at rock-bottom Abbey Hey.

They are now 7th in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.

Current table:

1st Newcastle Town pld 18 pts 51
2nd New Mills pld 17 pts 39
3rd Congleton Town pld 18 pts 38
4th Ramsbottom United pld 16 pts 32
5th St Helens Town pld 17 pts 29
6th Silsden pld 19 pts 29
7th Squires Gate pld 18 pts 28
8th Glossop North End pld 15 pts 27
9th Bootle pld 15 pts 26
10th Maine Road pld 16 pts 26
11th Runcorn Linnets pld 17 pts 25
12th Nelson pld 18 pts 25
13th Padiham pld 13 pts 23
14th Flixton pld 19 pts 20
15th Bacup Borough pld 14 pts 19
16th Alsager Town pld 20 pts 17
17th Colne pld 17 pts 16
18th Atherton Laburnum Rovers pld 15 pts 15
19th Winsford United pld 16 pts 15
20th Formby pld 17 pts 15
21st Ashton Athletic pld 18 pts 11
22nd Abbey Hey pld 19 pts 4

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AFC Blackpool

Blackpool were also in league action yesterday. They lost at home, 2-3, to league leaders Leek CSOB.

They are now 15th in the North West Counties Football League First Division.

Current table

1st Leek CSOB pld 15 pts 31
2nd Stone Dominoes pld 13 pts 30
3rd Barnoldswick Town pld 13 pts 24
4th Irlam pld 14 pts 24
5th AFC Liverpool pld 11 pts 21
6th Wigan Robin Park pld 12 pts 19
7th Eccleshall pld 13 pts 18
8th Cheade Town pld 12 pts 17
9th Holker Old Boys pld 12 pts 17
10th Norton United pld 12 pts 15
11th Atherton Collieries pld 13 pts 15
12th Dasiy Hill pld 10 pts 12
13th Chadderton pld 10 pts 12
14th Oldham Boro pld 10 pts 11
15th AFC Blackpool pld 13 pts 10
16th Ashton Town pld 13 pts 9
17th Rochdale Town pld 14 pts 6

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In the West Lancashire Football League results from yesterday (local clubs in bold):

Premier Division;
Poulton Town 1-1 Charnock Richard

Division One:
Norcross & Warbreck 2-0 Croston Sports
Slyne with Hest 3-2 Wyre Villa
Thornton Cleveleys 5-0 Milnthorpe Corinthians

Lancashire Amateur Shield, 4th round:
Blackpool Wren Rovers 3-0 Euxton Villa

Current league tables:

Premier Division

1st Charnock Richard pld 15 pts 29
2nd Blackpool Wren Rovers pld 11 pts 26
3rd Fulwood Amateurs pld 14 pts 26
4th Garstang pld 12 pts 24
5th Lostock St Gerards pld 13 pts 24
6th Coppull United pld 15 pts 23
7th Poulton Town pld 15 pts 21
8th Eagley pld 15 pts 19
9th Vickerstown pld 13 pts 18
10th Stoneclough pld 13 pts 17
11th Tempest United pld 15 pts 15
12th AFC Darwen pld 12 pts 14
13th Euxton Villa pld 12 pts 11
14th Dalton United pld 11 pts 11
15th Haslingden St Mary's pld 11 pts 10
16th Freckleton pld 11 pts 9
17th Turton pld 14 pts 6

Division One

1st Fleetwood Hesketh pld 11 pts 29
2nd Thornton Cleveleys pld 10 pts 25
3rd Slyne with Hest pld 11 pts 24
4th Hesketh Bank pld 11 pts 21
5th Hawcoat Park pld 12 pts 18
6th Crookland Casuals pld 10 pts 15
7th Norcross & Warbreck pld 9 pts 14
8th Burnley United pld 9 pts 14
9th Croston Sports pld 12 pts 13
10th Wyre Villa pld 11 pts 12
11th Mill Hill St Peters pld 10 pts 10
12th Milnthorpe Corinthians pld 10 pts 8
13th Millom pld 10 pts 2
14th Crosshills pld 10 pts -3

Division Two

1st Longridge Town pld 13 pts 37
2nd BAC Springfields pld 12 pts 32
3rd Lancashire Constabulary pld 11 pts 19
4th Lytham Town pld 10 pts 18
5th Furness Cavaliers pld 11 pts 16
6th Todmorden Borough pld 10 pts 14
7th Whinney Hill pld 11 pts 14
8th GSK Ulverston Rangers pld 10 pts 10
9th Furness Rovers pld 11 pts 9
10th Walney Island pld 12 pts 9
11th Askam United pld 11 pts 9
12th Bolton County pld 10 pts 2