3rd September

August has 2 wins 1 draw and 0 losses, that is not to say it hasn't been a tough month as we have played Irlam, Bootle and AFC liverpool reserves. Three tough opponents, 3 different games although all three sides as you expect in this league like to play football. I have been impressed with all the lads attitudes and as we stand at the minute we still have a big squad with only one lad moving on to pastures new. It is with regret that Matthew Benfield has decided to leave and go to Colne united as he feels he should be playing at this stage of his footballing life. Matthew has represented Barlick at 1st and reserve team level and has never let the club or his team down when he has played. He will be missed and i wish him all the best with Colne United this season. That said the other lads that have been left out have battled hard and won there places back and its this attitude that will serve us well this season. Chris Gaskill has been superb both times he has come on and he's won his place back. He has set the standard for the other lads and i hope they follow his example.
One of the most pleasing things about our season so far is the sharing of the goalscoring burden, 8 goals scored and 7 different scorers. We are sharing the workload and playing some attractive football with it. Kieron Lee was back as well last week and gave a commanding performance in the centre of the park alongside Brit. With quite a young side sprinkled with experienced lads like Me, Chris Brennan, Carl Ellerton and Gazza we have got a nice balance and a good atmosphere around the changing rooms.
We are all after the same aim as well and that is to make Norman Shearer a happy man something we have so far failed to do. This month will be a tough month, firstly Cheadle then New Mills away, Padiham at home and A very tricky Craven Cup tie at Grindleton. Having watched the first team in action also they are adapting to life in the Vodkat Premier very well and i think the game against Rossy was a great match to watch, full of entertainment and played at a great tempo.
Keep up the good work everyone!!

Stephen Chew BTFC RES

1st September

Ben Hall. ‘’ Two draws have been attained this week giving us two valuable points however we really feel that we should have gained all six. At Flixton we threw  away two points after creating numerous chances. In this league if you don’t take your opportunities when they get presented to you, you will get punished and it was a harsh lesson for us all, but the way we responded against Rossendale was first class. To say last season they were two divisions higher than us just shows how far this group has come. We were excellent, and we just couldn’t force the winner but the game as a spectacle was excellent and both teams deserve enormous credit. Many of the lads really played through the pain barrier, the Skip, Stewart, Robbie, Bill and Bear all had knocks, Grimzey gets injured in the warm up and on top of that Garbutt, Shelmerdine, Barrett and Alderson were unavailable to us, so the collective and individual efforts were as usual excellent. It is a relentless schedule in this division and its something that we are going to have to get used to and be able to cope with’’

25th August Ashton Town reaction

Ben Hall – “ Obviously we were delighted with the result, but at times the performance left a lot to be desired and there is a hell of a lot we can improve on and we will there is no doubt about that. The pleasing thing is we kept going until the end as we always do and we got our rewards. We took the necessary risks to win the game taking a midfielder off and putting a striker on when the game was in  the balance so alls well that ends well. The introduction of Stewart was key again, the lad is top drawer and the goal was worthy of winning any game”.

24th August St Helens Reaction

Town's management trio pleased with first win of the season.
Ben Hall said. “ We are so pleased for everybody connected with the club that we have our first 3 points on the board, especially the players who deserved everything they got on Saturday. We have banged on about them believing in themselves and once Baz put us in front the confidence levels visibly grew and we started popping the ball around the way we can. Collectively and individually the lads were brilliant and we must take this on to Tuesday night..
St Helens are a good side, we beat a team who finished in the top 8 on their own patch, so obviously the lads were delighted. We had to change things before the game and during it and the lads adapted well, so all credit to the them.
What was particularly pleasing was the attitude of the lads on the bench. Bladesy missed out because he hadn’t trained for 2 weeks, Fritzl wasn’t quite fit, and Stu had a chest infection so we were limited, but those boys, along with Gabs, Ash, Sukes and Lewis were full of encouragement for the lads throughout which shows they are all pulling in the same direction”.

11th August Ramsbottom Reaction.

Towns management left the Riverside Stadium last night upbeat after their teams performance.
Ben Hall said, “ In the first half we were outstanding and we were by the far the better team, but we switched off for the goal and suddenly the whole game plan changed.. We should have been 2 up, before they got going, and in the second half the commitment and effort was there but in terms of passing and moving the ball we weren’t at our best..
Ramsbottom are a very good side, with real quality and like ourselves have a excellent spirit, and to be fair to them they played well in the second half, but Anthony and Bernard (their managers) were very complimentry about us, and they are top lads so I know they were sincere in their praise.
That’s Congleton and Ramsbottom gone now, and we look forward to Silsden next Tuesday night.’’

10th August Congleton Reaction.

After Town’s unlucky defeat in their opening game against Congleton the management team were delighted with the teams performance.
Ben Hall said, ‘’ The three of us had a chat after the game and we all came to the conclusion that we are going to be a force at this level as long as we continue to perform in that manner. Saturday was a very proud day for us, to take this group of lads, some of the same from Sunday football to the Vodkat Premier League in 15 months shows what they have achieved, both personally and collectively and they need to know how proud of them we are.
Congleton will finish in the top three, in strikers Haddrell and Hirst they have top quality, and without doubt it was a eye opener in terms of the level we need to be at week in week out, but in terms of the way we passed and moved the ball, we were better than them, what they did very well was play to their strengths, and were an extremely well drilled, experienced outfit.
On another day we could have won, the disallowed goal and hitting the post alone tell you that, but we take it on the chin and move on to Ramsbottom, another excellent side on Tuesday.
On the injury and availability front Chapman, Clough and Carrington are back and will go into the squad for Ramsbottom, Overson will return for the Silsden game, and Garbutt probably will be ready in 7-10 days, all of these are vital to us and the sooner we get a full compliment – Richardson and Alderson apart we will be much stonger for it.
Finally, a big thankyou to our supporters on Saturday, who were excellent – you saw the way the team responded to that encouragement and it is important we all continue to believe in the style of play and the players we have, because these are the dual ingredients that are going to take this club forward.”

6th August report no2

  I am really looking forward to watching the first team in the game against Congleton on Saturday to see how far our club has come in the past 7 years since Barnoldswick Town was formed.  The lads have really stepped up the preparation in the last couple of weeks and it is a blow to pick up the injuries that the first team has.  Ash Alderson has been a big part of this football club for the last couple of years but hopefully he'll recover quickly and return to the first team.
The reserves have been excellent throughout preseason and its going to be difficult to whittle the squad to 16 for the opening days game against Irlam.  I do hope lads are patient and don't sulk in what is going to be a massive season for everyone.  Its been a busy pre season as a lot of new and old faces have come to the club.  Mathew Coates has not stopped scoring and is starting to improve his all round play whilst Damon Clark and Ben Mousley will no doubt chip in with more than there fair share.  Tom Helliwell is looking a real player at the minute but needs to carry the consistency from game to game and he will be a big part of the clubs future as well as Liam Britton who has looked sharp and committed throughout the pre season games.  Even without people dropping from the first team we now have a squad of about 20 players and they are all capable of doing a job at this level and about half being ready to do a job in the first team if asked to do so.  With wins against Farsley reserves, Steeton 1st team, Crosshills, Skipton LMS and a loss against Guiseley in which we were the better side for all the first half but for a very poor decision from the referee we would have been going in 1 up.  The pleasing thing about the performances has been our ball retention and all the players are starting to look comfortable in possession of the ball.  Hopefully we can take this into the final pre season game and then into next saturday.
Again good luck to the firsts tomorrow in which is a massive game and lets all stick together and get behind them in our first ever season at this level of football!

Stephen Chew Reserve team manager

22nd July
Reserve Team Pre season report 1

I have to say I have been pleased with the quality of the football so far in preseason and also the quality of players at our disposal so far. We have been told what our targets are and I am in no doubt if we play like we have in the opening friendlies we will not be far away from achieving our goals for the coming season.
As well as achieving our own personal goals we also have an important role to play for the first team. We have to be available to play anyone who needs to get match fitness whilst also providing players to cover injuries, suspensions and loss of form. So far I feel we have managed both objectives well and have constant dialogue with Stu, Ben and Kevin. We have to find the right blend of attitude, ability, and workrate so we can push players forward and to be honest there will be players banging on the door this year.
Barlick seems to be the place to be at present and long may it continue, this hasn't happened overnight though. Its taken the hard work of three very good managers to get the atmosphere right. Lets not forget the backing we receive from the committee as ever. There will always be arguments at whatever level your at. We have stuck together and are now reaping the rewards that the club deserves. Lets keep the club moving in the right direction and enjoy this season, good luck to all involved!
Stephen Chew Reserve team manager

19th July
Town Receive Double Boost.

Town can officially confirm that former Clitheroe and Padiham striker Robert Grimes has signed for the club.
Grimes impressed everybody with his excellent display in Saturdays win at Yorkshire Amateurs  scoring a stunning goal.
Ben Hall said. “ Robert has agreed to join us and we feel this is a very important signing for us. He is very different to the other strikers we have and in terms of holding the ball up he is the best around. This is going to be an important factor in this division when we are going to be under pressure for spells and its vital we get back hold of the ball. He has come to us fresh and full of enthusiasm and has fit in straight away. I have known Grimzey for a long time and to get the best out of him you need to make him feel wanted, and so far he has done ever so well.”
In addition our co manager Kevin Richardson has been given all the all clear today to step up his rehabilitation. Hall added,” This is the news Jim has waited 12 months for and now he can join in everything except contact. He has had a tough year and he really has missed it and annoyed me on the sidelines! It is important we don’t rush him back, and give him all the time he needs to make sure he comes back stronger than ever. He will be  like a new signing and a very good one at that, and we hope that he will be back in a Barnoldswick Town shirt sooner rather than later”

13th July

Town’s management have reflected on the tough start we face but are really looking forward to the challenges ahead.
Ben Hall said "We couldn’t have been handed a tougher start but that’s why we have all worked so hard over the last 15 months. As we have said numerous times before, this football club has moved forward both on and off the pitch and we now face the likes of Congleton and Ramsbottom on a level playing field. Both teams finished in the top 5 last year, and we know that both are going to be there or thereabouts so its going to be a fantastic that we are going to be able to test ourselves against the best this league has to offer early in the season. We aren’t expected to win these games by anybody, therefore we can relax and play our normal game and see where it takes us, but we have a good squad and come August 7th we will be ready to give it all we have.
Saturday’s win at Abbey Hey was a good start for us. We played well and should have won more comfortably, and the three lads that made their debuts, Robbie, Jack and Lee did really well. The frightening thing is Satch, Gabbs, Spencer, Both Lewis’ Cloughie and the skipper were missing, and all will return to the squad for Saturdays trip to Leeds.
We as a group have had a lot of detractors from outside the club, who really know nothing about The North West Counties League, and not much about football in general, and we have proved them wrong and together we have produced the most successful team in Barnoldswick Town’s history. When we go out on that pitch on August 7th we have to take stock and realise this isn’t the East Lancashire League, this is one step from UNIBOND football, and all of us must enjoy each and every game and appreciate how far we have come.
The support we have received from the committee and supporters last year was superb, and we really hope that continues. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, these lads will be a credit to this club for years to come, and the quality, character and spirit in this squad will be the envy of many a good side, and plenty of bad ones too.
On a final note, a big well done to Chewy and Norman for beating Farsley on Saturday, in which we are told was a superb performance. Things are looking good under their guidance, and im sure that our reserves will continue to move forward.’’

Town Confirm 3 More Signings

We can confirm that 3 more additions have been confirmed to join us for the upcoming season.Town have beaten off competition from several clubs to capture highly rated defender Jack Overson.Jack won player of the year at Padiham last year and appeared to be Ramsbottom United bound until Town made a late move to get their man.Also, Town have captured former Warrington Town and Accrington Stanley midfield player Lee Riley.Lee has come highly recommended, and already the signs in training are that we have signed a quality player.Finally, local lad Carl Ellerton has joined the club. Carl played in the East Lancs League last year, so the step up for him will be massive, but he has all the ability in the world, and Towns management team are delighted with the capture.In addition to this former Clitheroe and Padiham striker Robert Grimes is training with the club, a player of great ability, and a decision will be made by both player and Town over his future over the next week of two.
Towns management team have confirmed that no other signings are on the radar now and are delighted with the signings they have made.

TOWN SEAL DOUBLE SWOOP

Barnoldswick Town have today completed the double signing of Robbie Smith and Paul Scott both from Padiham Football Club.
Both signings show that Town are not here to make the numbers up in the Premier Division and Town’s managers are delighted with the captures.
Kevin Richardson said, “ We heard a while ago that Robbie was perhaps looking for a move from Padiham and this was confirmed last week. Initially he informed us that he wished to play at a higher level, but subsequently has decided to join the ranks at Town. He is a real quality player, in our opinion one of the best in the division and we are delighted to have him on board.”;
Meanwhile Scott has decided to leave Padiham since the previous manager left and again has agreed to Join Town. Kevin added, “ Again, with Paul, we believe that we have signed a player who is more than at home at this level and is extremely versatile and can cover a number of positions. A quality we are going to need in this division. Paul however has recently become a father, so his introduction to the fold will take a little longer, but we expect him to join up with the lads over the next few weeks”.
‘’ We are now satisfied with the squad we have. Every player who helped us gain promotion has once again committed themselves to us which just shows how much they enjoy life at Barnoldswick Town. That said its not to say we won’t add any more, but they have to be of a certain quality and fit within the constraints we are under. With several key players under contract we can look forward to the challenge with confidence”’