Season Summary 2009/10
While the previous season had had it's ups and downs, overall everyone at the club was very happy with the way things had worked out, so hopes were high for the new season. It turned out though to be a strange season of struggle and success.
Everything looked good pre-season with the team emerging undefeated and progressing through to the quarter finals of the Goldline Trophy. In the nine League games up till the end of September, four were lost but two of those were against Bootle and Newcastle - two clubs which were to prove to be strong sides finishing the season in 3rd and 1st place respectively. One of the other defeats was to bogey side Maine Road, a club which Atherton have inexplicably struggled against every season since returning to the North West Counties League in 1997. Already though, there were signs of what was to come with a few players unavailable through injury, suspension or work commitments.
October saw the best and the worst, with a couple of comfortable victories, but then a disastrous result against Alsager. The Cheshire club only managed to win two away games all season, one being an 8 - 1 win at Atherton. The match against Ramsbottom at the end of the month wasn't without incident. An appalling performance by the referee, which was emphasised when he was clearly heard by supporters outside the dressing rooms at half time, shouting obscenities at the Atherton manager, led to tension between players on the pitch and supporters off the pitch. It was certainly an unusual experience for the two clubs who have always got on well together since their Bolton Combination days.
Things generally started to go downhill shortly after. Prolonged spells of bad weather meant that only five League games were played between 21st November and 5th February. It was around this time that the real problems for the management started, with a number of players on the long term sick list, a few suspensions and other players deciding to move on. It seemed almost every match that the team had to be reshuffled. As one player came back, another would be off. Without the funds to spend on attracting replacements the managers had to rely on player loyalty, the camaraderie that had built up and bringing players in from one or more steps below.
Unsurprisingly this affected performances and results. There were the occasional bright moments, such as the 2-1 away win at Runcorn, but the constant reshuffling meant that disjointed performances resulted in just two points from twelve games. At the beginning of April the Atherton team which took to the pitch at Silsden was the closest to a "regular" line up that supporters had seen for some time and the result was a 2-0 win. But then the absences started again and playing against strong clubs Bootle, Glossop and New Mills left the team in a relegation battle with just five matches remaining. However, the team responded in fine style, picking up seven points from their next three games including an amazing 4-1 win over Glossop - a result no-one could have predicted. That left the team needing just a point to avoid any possible relegation from their final two games. Unfortunately, against a Winsford side which had also been struggling this season, the team lost their way again and this set up a grandstand finish to the season.
Atherton's final match was at home to Ashton Athletic. The two teams were both fighting to avoid the last relegation place. A win for Atherton or a draw would leave Ashton second from bottom, a win for Ashton would condemn Atherton to possible relegation. A tense, closely fought match was eventually decided with a single Jon Stephenson strike for Atherton late in the game, ensuring their Premier Division status for another season.
Cup matches saw a variety of results. In the FA Cup the team met Bacup Borough who had won both their opening League games, while Atherton had collect one point from their start. Atherton battled hard to earn a draw before winning the replay in extra time. That handed the side a tie against Northern Premier League side Prescot Cables. This friendly club came to Crilly Park with a few players who had spent some time playing for Laburnums, not least keeper Andy Paxton who was eventually to be given their Supporters Player of the Year award at the end of the season. LR put in a great performance, with a 17th minute penalty deciding the tie and giving the team a match against Congleton Town in the next round. There was disappointment though as it seemed as if Atherton would progress, before conceding an equaliser five minutes from time. In the replay there was only one team in the game and Congleton comfortably won through to the next round. However, the Laburnums players could be proud of their showing in the competition.
The FA Vase saw a disappointing exit at the first stage to a Colne side which, at that stage of the season, hadn't found the form which was to take them up the table. The Lancashire Trophy also saw an exit at the first stage, but a thrilling match against Northern Premier League side Leigh Genesis ended 4-4 with Atherton only going out on penalties. The League Cup proved to be a farce. A poor performance at Second Division Daisy Hill meant the team just about scraped a draw. The bad weather at the time meant the replay was delayed, but then despite both clubs having six free mid-weeks before the next round of the competition, the League decided the best option was to force LR to play the game the day after their Goldline Trophy semi-final. Despite complaints, the League disappointingly felt unable to support a member club having success in a cup competition and insisted the game went ahead. For Atherton, the Goldline Trophy was far more important than the League Cup. They had a realistic chance of winning the Goldline Trophy and the final was played on a Premiership ground in front of a minimum of 1,000 people whereas the League Cup saw New Mills waiting for the winners which meant almost certain exit for whichever team won and the final was played on a non league ground in front of the usual 200 or so supporters. So Atherton put out their first team for the Goldline Trophy game and played mainly reserves in the League Cup replay. The Atherton team did well though, still beating Daisy Hill 5-2, but a lot of the players were ineligible, so LR were removed from the competition and Daisy Hill went on to meet New Mills.
Local cups saw Atherton go out of the Hospital Cup at the first stage to Stoneclough, but in the middle of a relegation battle there were few who were too worried. Retaining their Premier Division status clearly took priority. However, the team did retain the Goldline Trophy. Having qualified from the group stages pre-season, they won a hard fought match against a strong Stoneclough side on penalties in the Quarter Finals before facing Prestwich Heys in the semi-finals. Atherton had met Prestwich three times before in this competition, with the Manchester League side coming out on top on all three occasions. However, this time at Chorley, Atherton came from behind to win 2-1 and meet Charnock Richard in the final at the Reebok Stadium. Atherton were due to meet Flixton the day before the final in a League match, but unlike earlier in the season the League were very helpful and with Flixton's consent the game was postponed. In truth, Charnock had the better of the final and must have been ruing a number of missed opportunities, but the game ended goalless and went to penalties. Keeper Martin Pearson saved two of Charnock's spot kicks and with LR scoring all but one, the trophy stayed in Atherton.
So how can you sum up a season which saw some excellent cup results and a few great performances in the League, but the team only avoid finishing in a relegation position in their final match of the season? It was certainly a difficult season for the managers. While a few players left either to move to another club or because work commitments meant they couldn't commit to the club on a regular basis, a lack of discipline at times led to some unnecessary suspensions and an unprecedented injury list which just went on and on. However, Dave Hughes, John Brannigan and Glenn Moses completed two full seasons in charge of the team, giving an important stability of management which the club hadn't seen for some time.
It was a difficult season for the reserves. The second string had been restarted in 2005 at the request of the new management and while it hadn't been a great success on or off the pitch, at the end of 2008/09 the team was starting to produce some good performances. However, this season they weren't able to build on that. Two managers and just one win under their belt up to the beginning of April was disappointing but then after the home match against Barnoldswick Town things got worse. Hearing of possible changes at the club (see below) the reserve management and players felt that there would be no place for them at the club the next season and walked out with eight games still to play. Another manager had to be brought in to raise a team to see the season out. There had already been some discussion at the club as to whether the reserve team should continue. While it can be useful for a First Team manager to have a pool of players to call on, the perception was that a reserve side was costing the club time and money to run while not actually contributing anything back to the club, but no formal discussions had been held prior to the team and management leaving. It was clear though, that if Leigh Genesis were to groundshare at Crilly Park (see below) it would be hard to run a reserve side and have three teams all trying to use the pitch. At the end of the season it was formally decided to disband the reserve side for the foreseeable future. Certainly as long as Leigh remain at Crilly Park and even after that the club would want to ensure that the reserves were at least self financing.
Off the pitch, things were difficult at times. With just two people running the club and the ever spiralling costs at this level of football it wasn't easy to keep things going. One example was the pitch, which was in a very poor state. The Bolton Hospital Cup committee had intended playing both semi-finals of the competition at Crilly Park, but after the first one they decided the pitch was so bad that the other semi-final was moved to Ramsbottom.
During the second half of the season, the possibility of a change of fortune for Atherton arrived. Neighbours Leigh Genesis were having problems. With their Hilton Park ground lost to them, their ambition to play all their games at the new Leigh Sports Village hadn't worked out and the team had led an almost nomadic existence, playing home games at a number of different grounds. They needed a new home, somewhere they could regroup. Possibly with the Lancashire Trophy match in mind, the possibility of ground sharing with LR was raised. There was talk on both sides, with little progress, until the intervention of programme editor Jeff Gorse. Jeff had contacts at Leigh Sports Village through his work with a local rugby club and set up a meeting between all interested parties. From then on things started to move towards an agreed groundshare. There was some dissent from a couple of Atherton's shareholders who had various concerns, but these were addressed and the process continued. Atherton's ground needed some upgrading to reach the standard required for the Northern Premier League in which Leigh played, but with help from the Sports Village and supporters from both clubs, the work was undertaken. Both League's had sanctioned the groundshare with the Northern Premier League officials coming down a few times to offer advice as to what work was needed. Much of the work was little more than cosmetic, but a new fence surrounding the pitch was needed as well as new toilets in the ground outside the clubhouse and various health and safety issues had to be addressed with the larger crowds expected for Leigh's matches.
On 8th June Northern Premier League officials came down for a final inspection to make sure that all the necessary work had been completed and with the constant help and advice they had given, there was little danger of failure to reach the required standard, just leaving final confirmation from the FA and at the two League's AGMs.
Leaving the club at the end of the season were Assistant Manager John Brannigan and Gateman Ken Hewitt. John had joined with Manager Dave Hughes at the end of 2007/08 season and played a big part in rebuilding the team and worked hard throughout. Work commitments mean Brannigan couldn't commit the time necessary to club, but Hughes decided that John would not be replaced and the door would be open for him to return if he wished. Ken had been with the club for many, many years. He spent a long time as Club Steward before taking a break and then agreed to take over as gateman. This kind, friendly, ever willing to help gentleman was the perfect ambassador for the club on the front line and would be missed.