Atherton Collieries

Latest news

Lambert hangs up his boots
Atherton Collieries Lambert hangs up his boots By James Gordon

Atherton Collieries’ midfielder Danny Lambert has retired after five years at the Skuna Stadium.

Colls make first moves
Atherton Collieries Colls make first moves By James Gordon

Atherton Collieries have signed striker Scott Bakkor and announced five retentions.

Atherton Collieries announce key retentions ahead of 2022/23 season
Atherton Collieries Atherton Collieries announce key retentions ahead of 2022/23 season By James Gordon

Atherton Colleries have confirmed the first five players to have been retained ahead of the 2022/23 Pitching In Northern Premier League season.

Atherton Collieries reinforce their front line
Atherton Collieries Atherton Collieries reinforce their front line By James Gordon

Atherton Collieries have announced the singing of striker James Hooper from Witton Albion in addition to the return of Zack Clarke from Chester.

Omotola boosts Colls frontline
Atherton Collieries Omotola boosts Colls frontline By James Gordon

Tolani Omotola made his Atherton Collieries debut against Scarborough on Tuesday after signing from Stafford Rangers.

Atherton Collieries sign Luke Hutchinson on loan from Bolton
Atherton Collieries Atherton Collieries sign Luke Hutchinson on loan from Bolton By James Gordon

Atherton Collieries have announced the signing of Luke Hutchinson on loan from Bolton Wanderers.

Address

Address:
The Skuna Stadium Alder Street Atherton M46 9EY
Directions:
Seated:
Standing:
2,500
Telephone:
07968 548056
Website:

History

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 . You gain a sense of history when you walk around the facility which keeps its identity and warmth despite being renovated gradually over the past few years.

Colls were founding members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 and remained there until 2017, when they earned promotion to the Northern Premier League for the first time in the club’s history. There have been many memorable moments from the club’s time in the NWCFL, and the club are well known around the region as a result.

During the 2006/07 season, Collieries had a future international footballer in their ranks with a young Anthony Pilkington spearheading the Colls attack. Despite being the youngest member of the squad, Pilkington found himself grabbing all the headlines when they beat league leaders FC United of Manchester 3-0 at Gigg Lane. He grabbed himself a hat-trick during this match and soon found himself being transferred straight to the Football League with a move to Stockport County. From there he went on to move to Huddersfield Town and Norwich City in the Premier League before being called up to the Republic of Ireland’s international squad.

Prior to this, Collieries had been known in the local area to produce professional footballers. The famous 1923 FA Cup Final between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United featured two former Colls players as Billy Butler and Bob Haworth helped the Wanderers bring the FA Cup back to Bolton for the first time in their history.

Links between Bolton Wanderers and Atherton Collieries continue to this very day with the two clubs playing each other in an annual pre- season friendly. Recent clashes have seen over 1,500 walk through the Alder Street turnstiles. Matches like this have helped propel Collieries into the limelight in recent seasons and fans of various professional football clubs now consider Colls to be their second club.

Michael Clegg was appointed first team manager in August 2014 and immediately began assembling a young and local side. The club went on to win the NWCFL Division One title and the Bolton Hospital Cup in his first season, as well as reaching the final of the League Cup Final and the Division One Cup Final. Success did not stop there as in his second campaign the Colls went one better and won the League Cup, beating the league champions Colne 5-1 at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium, whilst finishing fourth on the club’s return to the North West Counties Premier Division.

The 2016/17 campaign was a momentous one, as in their centenary year they clinched the NWCFL Premier Division title and reached the last 16 of the FA Vase backed by a large and ever growing local fan base. Following their promotion, the Colls defied all odds to proudly win the 2017/18 NPL Challenge Cup within their debut season at Step 4 and went a step beyond by winning the league title to reach the Northern Premier Division in the following campaign.

Under the guidance of club legend Brad Cooke, the Black & Whites are now looking to consolidate in non-league's third tier, building a side of young, talented and ambitious players to compete in the increasingly competitive Northern Premier League's top flight.

The coal miners who founded this club over 105 years ago would be proud of how much the Colls have achieved in recent times. Who knows how further Collieries can go, with the help of the local community?

Latest Results

h
Sat 23 Apr
1 – 1 D
a
Mon 18 Apr
1 – 0 L
h
Sat 16 Apr
0 – 2 L

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