MATCHDAY
PROGRAMME
AVRO v ATHERTON COLLIERIES
SATURDAY 10TH AUGUST, KICK OFF 3PM
Pitching In NPL Division One West
HISTORY
CONTACT US/ GENERAL INFORMATION
CLUB PERSONNEL (under development)
MEDIA (under development)
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the new Avro Football Club programme for the 2024/2025 season. We have a new head of media, Rob Currell who has taken over from Liam Bainbridge from May 2024.
Liam has moved on due to work commitments and we thank him for his service to the club. Moving forward, we will have a digital programme and have moved in this direction due to cost and environmental considerations.
“We hope you enjoy our latest digital offering and if there is demand for a paper edition of a programme — we are considering issuing a special paper offering at the end of the season,” said Rob Currell. “Our media team is looking to build on the good work of our predecessors and we think you will enjoy some of the ideas we are looking to put into place.
“We have a great photography section this year that will provide lots of match action captures and we are currently working on our video offerings that we believe will thrill fans.”
A crowd of 912 witnessed the Shakers defeat the home side at Booth Street in the Extra Preliminary Round tie of the competition.
Former Celtic FC man Efe Ambrose made his competitive debut for the visitors while Brad Carroll captained the side.
Alex Cherera was the danger man for Bury with a hat-trick scored during the match, with Ruben Jerome responsible for scoring the remaining goal.Following their victory Bury FC will now line up against Avro for our first FA Cup game this season at the Vestacare Stadium on Saturday, August 17, (kick-off 3pm).
A Brief History of Our Opposition: Atherton Collieries
Despite their historical backgrounds, Avro FC will play Atherton Collieries for the first time in our opening fixture of the 2024/25 league campaign (Saturday 10th August). Founded in 1936 and 1916 respectively, it is surprising that two side with a similar geographical location and long-standing, that their paths have never crossed.
This will an opening test for both teams, as each side will try to uncover each other’s strengths and weaknesses but first, let’s take a look at what it has taken for our opponents to reach this stage:
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. (https://athertoncollieries.co.uk/history/)
The club started playing the 1950-51 season in the Lancashire Combination Division Two, before withdrawing from the league a year after. It wasn’t until 1972 before they rejoined and continued to play until becoming founding members of Division Two of the Cheshire County league in 1978-79. Since then, Atherton Colleries have become stalwarts of non-league football.
In 2017, they earned promotion to NPL-1N (before it was renamed to the league as we know it, NPL-1W). This was for the first time in the club’s history. They established themselves within this league during the 2017/18 campaign and quickly progressed to the division above (The Northern Premier League) after winning the division in 2019. Atherton Collieries spent their following years here, just doing enough to keep them in the division finishing 19th and 18th respectively during the years following COVID-19. However, last season was the straw which broke the camel’s back, as they finished the bottom of the league, taking them back into NPL-1W as one of the two sides which join us from the division above (alongside Stafford Rangers).
The side a strong relationship with EFL League One outfit, Bolton Wanderers. To this day, the two clubs play an annual preseason match and some ‘Trotters’ consider Atherton Collieries to be their ‘second club’.
NPL Division One Preview
Some notable league meetings during Matchday 1: Hanley Town hosted the opening fixture against Wythenshawe Town on Friday night (09/08/24).
New boys Stafford Rangers look to announce themselves to the league as they travel to Stalybridge on Saturday afternoon. However, all eyes are on today’s fixture at the Vestacare Stadium as Avro look to make a statement against Atherton Collieries.
