PILKINGTON FC (Division One)

Club Website: 

Year formed 1938
Year joined MCFL 1981

Secretary: Thomas Walsh, 137 Speakman Road, St Helens WA10 6TF
Tel: 01744 610290 (B), 07771 766348 (M)
E-mail: tomwalsh@stradonelegalcosts.co.uk

Chairman: David Burrows, Wash Cottage, Rainford Rd, Bickerstaffe L39 0HF
Tel: 01695 721535 (H), 07836 700455 (M)

Manager: Paul Rees (e-mail) paulrees@lookers.co.uk
Tel: 

Daytime Emergency Contact: Tom Walsh 07771 766348
Child Protection Officer: Alex Wright
Club First Aiders: Nick Robinson

Ground: Ruskin Drive, St. Helens, Tel: 01744 22893

Approach: From M6 junction 23 to A580. Approx 400 metres after 4th set of traffic lights, turn left and continue to Hope & Anchor pub. Turn right into Bishop Road and continue to halt sign. Continue across halt following road around to Ruskin Road (second road on left). Ground in Ruskin Road on right.

Colours: Sky Blue and Navy Shirts, Navy Shorts and Socks
Change: Yellow Shirts, Green Shorts and Yellow Socks
Affiliated to: Liverpool FA
Mid Week Match Home Night: Tuesday
Floodlights: No

Pilkington AFC Club Profile

 Football has probably been played by Pilkington workers, for almost as long as the company has been making glass.  The early teams are thought to have been representatives of their individual works, like the 1907 Sheet Glass Makers team.  However in 1925, Pilkington AFC was established.  After the war the club ran two teams, the First in the Liverpool League and the Reserves in the St.Helens Combination where they both quickly became known not only for their standard of play but also their sportsmanship both on and off the field.

 A move into the Liverpool Combination coincided with ex part-time player, Brian May, taking over the reigns at the club.  It was his gruelling training sessions and the regular goal exploits of centre forward Ian Lancaster that helped the First team hold its own in a very competitive league.

 In 1981 the club successfully applied to join the Mid-Cheshire League.  The club struggled at first but decided that it would be in the best interests of the club if the Reserves also joined the Mid-Cheshire League.  This they did prior to the start of the 1990/91 season and although finishing in the top half of the table, the First team struggled and finished at the bottom of Division One.  The First team were relegated and the Reserves consequently lost their new found status.  It was at this time that Lol Stanton and Jon Dawson, both qualified FA coaches, arrived at the club and although the 1991/92 season was a good one, they narrowly missed out on promotion, finishing fourth.

 The start of the 1992/93 season saw the club elect a new Chairman, John Potter Jnr., the clubs youngest ever Chairman and still playing First team football (Still playing now) and a concerted effort saw them almost gain promotion but they had to settle for third.  With things starting to come together on the football field the committee at Pilkington AFC decided they must look to the future of the club, to maintain its continuing improvement.  So at the start of the 1992/93 season Pilkington took on board Junior teams from Under 9’s to Under 16’s, under the guidance of Dave Burrows, a well respected figure in the ranks of local junior football.

 Season 1993/94 saw a change at the top also with current players John Wright and Paul Pinder forming a new management team.  Their first season in charge was a successful one, a creditable fifth in league position was accompanied with a Division 2 League Cup Final appearance, unfortunately going down 3-2 to Cheadle Heath Nomads in the dying seconds of the game.

Season 1994/95 was another successful season in the league but an inconsistent patch after Christmas saw them narrowly miss out on promotion again.  The following season saw some of the players from the Junior section breaking into the Senior ranks.  Again a period of inconsistency cost Pilkington a promotion spot, finishing fourth in the league.

 Season 1996/97 was Pilkington’s most successful season for many years.  For most of the season they were at the top of the league but a slip late on in the season saw them slip to third position again missing out on promotion.  The season culminated in a second Division 2 League Cup Final appearance, this time taking on local rivals Beeches FC.  In a keenly contested final, Pilkington dominated for many periods but unfortunately lost out 2-1 to Beeches, after spurning several golden chances on goal.  The end of the season saw the resignation of John Wright leaving Paul Pinder in sole charge.  John withdrew his management responsibilities due to work commitments.

 Season 97/98 was another good year for the team, finally gaining promotion back into the First Division.  The club also won the Bill Gray Trophy- Club of the year Award.  A year later saw the Reserves re-elected to the Mid-Cheshire league and the resignation of Paul Pinder as manager.

 Dave Burrows and Andy Hockenhull took over the reigns of the 1^st team with Chris Douglas taking over the 2^nd team.  Dave and his team brought a new, youthful look to Pilkington FC.  The first couple of years were a bit of a struggle but success was round the corner.  In 2000/2001, Pilkington FC had the most successful year in the clubs history.  The 1^st team won the Liverpool Junior Cup and finished in the top five in the league, with club Captain, Lee Webber winning the Bill Gray Trophy – Player of the Season Award for the Mid-Cheshire league.  The 2^nd team reached the Division 2 League Cup Final, only to loose 1-0, to Styal FC.  While the clubs 3^rd team also gained promotion in their respective league, as well reaching a cup final.  2003-2004 saw the Mid-Cheshire league restructure its divisions, with the creation of the Reserve division.  This led to the clubs 2^nd team dropping into this division, under the guidance of a new management team Don O’Leary and Charlie Clayton.

Last season 2006-07 saw Pilkington reach the J B Parker Division 1 Cup Final where they were beaten by Middlewich Town.