MATCHDAY
PROGRAMME
AVRO vs LANCASTER CITY
WEDNESDAY, 7TH OCTOBER, KICK OFF 7.45PM
Northern Premier League
AVRO
Football Club
In accordance with FA Rule 2.15, Avro FC, officially registered as Avro FC First Team Limited (Company Number: 14931069), is structured as a Private Limited Company by Shares. The current directors of Avro FC First Team Limited are Charlie O’Brien, Robert Fuller, Kelly Fuller, Mark Hutton and Liam Bambridge. The majority shareholder of Avro FC is Avro Community Football Club Limited (100%)
HONOURS
- Manchester Football League Champions: 2009/10, 2017/18
- Manchester FA County Challenge Cup Winners: 1940, 1941,
1956, 1988, 1994, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2018 (Record 10 times) - NWCFL Divison 1 North Runner-Up: 2018/19
- NWCFL Division 1 Cup Runners-Up: 2018/19
- NWCFL Premier Division Runners-Up: 2022/23
- Northern Premier League West : Runners-up 2025-26
- Northern Premier League West Play-Off : Winners 2025-26
INTRODUCTION
Well, they say a week is a long time in football, and that certainly applies to Avro FC on a regular basis, but the last 7 days have taken some beating! From the high of the performance at Dunston UTS in the FA Trophy, where two well worked and finished goals from Jacob Holland-Wilkinson saw us through to a 1st Round Proper home tie with Hyde United, to the low of losing manager Grant Shenton and the entire backroom staff to Radcliffe FC. We are hugely grateful to Alex Frost and Deane Smalley for stepping into the breach and helping us out whilst the search goes on for a new manager. Of course Alex needs no introduction, he joined us towards the end of his playing career and then when Lee O’Brien and James Hampson resigned, he made the step up to manager, bringing in Phil Edgehill as his assistant. Frosty managed us for 80 games, losing only 19 times, with a 52.5% win record, and 1.81 points per game. The stats don’t tell the whole story of course. Frosty gained promotion to the NPL West in his first season 2022/23 , as we defeated Lincoln United 1-2 on a memorable day. The next season 2023/24, our first in the NPL West, Frosty made us a very, very hard team to beat, losing only 10 games all season and conceding just 43 goals and ending the season with a top half placing, which was an excellent outcome for our first season at Step 4. Work and family commitments meant that Alex and Phil had to resign in Summer 2024, but their impact and the standards they set are still those we aim for in searching for a new permanent manager.
Deane was our assistant manager with Grant Shenton last season 2025/26, and of course helped to oversee our best ever league finish as NPL West Runner-Up. That we defeated Lower Breck and Stalybridge Celtic in the Playoffs to become the only second placed team to gain promotion, tells you all you need to know about Deano. Deane is a highly experienced former pro, with huge experience in the EFL and non-league football. Having stepped away after more than 20 years in the game, we are delighted that Deane has come back home to help us out for the next few games, taking a break from the golf course ! Welcome home Frosty and Deano!
MATCH
PREVIEW
Lancaster scored a terrific 0-1 away win at Bury earlier in the season , as well as winning at Guiseley in the league and Tadcaster in the Cup on the road. The Lancastrians are currently mid-table with 16 points but looks can be deceiving as they are only 3 points away from a play-off spot.
As we welcome the fans and players and staff from the Giant Axe to The Vestacare tonight for the first time, we hope you enjoy your visit (off the field!) and have a safe journey back up the M6.
MATCH PREVIEW >
LAST TIME OUT
A TOUCH OF FROST
It’s a real honour to be asked to take temporary charge of a club that means a huge amount to me.
Avro has been a massive part of my football life and whenever the club asks me to help, it’s very difficult to say no. Myself and the rest of the interim team are under no illusions about our job over the next few games — we’re not here to change anything!
What Shents and Dicko have built with this young group has been incredibly impressive and there’s a clear identity, togetherness and hunger to keep improving.
Our job is simply to look after that until the club appoints the right person to take it forward. Keep the lads happy, organised and sharp, maintain the standards that have got them into the position they’re in and make sure there’s as little disruption as possible. It’ll be great to be back in the dugout, and hopefully we can pick up some points along the way before handing over a happy, confident group to the next manager.
Up the Ro’!
WHO ARE YA?
HISTORY OF LANCASTER CITY
Early Years: 1911-1930
Lancaster City FC was established after meetings in Lancaster in May and July 1911, driven by John McGregor. The club joined the Lancashire Combination’s Second Division for the 1911-12 season, but struggled, finishing last. Improvements followed, culminating in a second-place finish in 1914-15 and a record 17-2 FA Cup win over Appleby. Post-WWI, the club finished second in 1919-20 and won the Lancashire Combination in 1921-22 and 1929-30, also having a notable FA Cup run in 1921-22.
1931-1940
In the 1930s, Lancaster won two more Combination titles, attracting crowds of around 3,000. They secured back-to-back championships in 1934-35 and 1935-36 and won the Lancashire Challenge Trophy in 1930-31 and 1933-34. Lancaster was granted city status in 1937, renaming the club to Lancaster City.
1941-1960
Post-WWII, the club drew large crowds, reaching up to 4,500. They reached the FA Cup second round in 1946-47 and were Lancashire Combination runners-up and Lancashire Junior Cup winners in 1951-52.
1961-2000
Non-league football saw many changes, and City played in wider geographical leagues. They joined the Northern Premier League in 1970-71, reaching the FA Cup second round in 1972-73. Financial difficulties in 1982 led to a drop to the North West Counties League. Success returned in the 1990s with promotions and cup wins, culminating in a sixth-place league finish and an NPL Challenge Cup win in 1999-2000.
2001 to 2010
Lancaster City FC started the 2000s by winning the NPL Challenge Cup and achieving their highest league position of 4th. In 2001-02, they finished 3rd and gained promotion to the Nationwide Football Conference North in 2003-04, also reaching the FA Cup 1st Round Proper. However, financial difficulties in 2006-07 led to administration and relegation. Reformed as Lancaster City FC Limited, they played in the restructured Unibond League First Division North from 2007-08. The club narrowly missed the play-offs in 2009-10, ending with a Fair Play Award.
2011 to 2020
In 2010-11, they won the President’s Cup and two Fair Play awards but missed the league play-offs by three points and in the following season, Lancaster City missed the play-offs by two points and exited the FA Cup in the 3rd Qualifying Round. The 2012-13 season saw managerial changes, ending with Darren Peacock in charge and a 13th place finish. In 2013-14, they finished 6th, missing the play-offs on goal difference. The
club saw mid-table finishes in subsequent seasons despite managerial changes and the addition of ex-England player Trevor Sinclair. In 2016-17, they won the Evo-Stik 1st Division North but struggled in the Premier Division. The 2018-19 season ended mid-table with Mark Fell as manager. The 2019-20 season was declared null and void due to COVID-19, postponing the LFA Trophy Final to August 2021.
2021 to Present
In August 2021, Lancaster City won the delayed 2019-20 LFA Trophy final. They had a moderate league showing but reached the 3rd Round Proper of the FA Trophy and the LFA Trophy semi-final. The 2022-23 season saw another mid-table finish but success with a new Ladies team achieving a League & Cup double in their first season.
In the 23/24 season after Mark Fell departed the club in November and after Andrew Teague and Simon Grand took temporary charge, Chris Willock joined the Dolly Blues in January 2024 and with a strong finish to the season leading the side to a 9th place finish, our highest league finish since reformation. Last season Jimmy Marshall was appointed Manager in March 2025 and in his short time in charge ensured the Club secure survival and remain in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Last season Jimmy Marshall guided the club to it’s highest League position – 6th, missing out on the play-offs by 1 point and winning the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy for the eighth time.
LANCASTER CITY
SQUAD
Brad Kelly (GK)
Cameron Graham (GK)
Sam Bailey (Club Captain)
Joe Amison
Tom Bentley-Waite
Harry Evers
Bradley Moonan
James Nolan
Toby Oliver
Sekouba Sanogo
Dylan Thompson
Charlie Bailey
Nathan Caine
Jim Craig
Sidi Sanogo Fofana
Ben Jackson
Dylan Moonan
Joleon Moore
Matthew Tweedley
James Bailey
Nic Evangelinos
Dom Lawson
Lewis Mansell
Steven Yawson
HEAD 2 HEAD
This is the first ever meeting between our two clubs
MATCH OFFICIALS:
REFEREE :
DOMINIC JACKSON
ASSISTANTS :
HUGH FISH
KERION MOORE
