Alsager Town F.C.

Alsager Town
Full name Alsager Town Football Club
Nickname(s) The Bullets
Founded 1965 (as Alsager)
Ground The Town Ground,
Wood Park, Alsager
(Capacity: not known)
Chairman Terry Greer
Manager John Brown
League North West Counties Football League Premier Division
2010–11 North West Counties Football League Premier Division, 20th
Home colours
Away colours

Alsager Town F.C. is an English association football club, based in Alsager, Cheshire. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and are members of the Cheshire County Football Association. The club have gone through a number of name changes since they were formed. They play their home games at the Town Ground, Wood Park in Alsager.

Contents

History

The club was founded in 1965 as Alsager from the merger of Alsager Institute and Alsager United, and the current ground was acquired in 1967. They started off playing in the Crewe League. After improving the ground's facilities they joined the Mid Cheshire League in the 1971–72 season. After the 1972–73 season they changed name to Alsager Town and they remained in the league under that name until the 1985–86 season. In 1986 they changed name to Alsager United finishing fifth in the 1986–87 season and were runners-up in the league in 1987–88. The club then reverted to Alsager[1][2][3] were forced out of business for due to lack of funds associated with poor support.

After two seasons in the Crewe League Premier Division, Alsager regained entry to the Mid Cheshire League, joining the Second division, in the 1991–92 season. In 1995–96 they finished in third place, missing out on the runners-up spot on goal difference. In 1998 they joined the Midland League where they spent just one season, 1998–99 finishing as runners-up. They then applied to join the North West Counties Football League. After the necessary ground and league position criteria were fulfilled, Alsager were accepted for the 1999–2000 season, playing in Division Two, finishing 12th.[1]

After the 2000–01 season it was decided to change the club name back to Alsager Town once again, which also coincided with the addition of floodlights to the Town Ground. After finishing in second place in the Second Division in 2001–02, they were promoted to the First Division. The finished in 11th place in their first season in the First Division. The 2005–06 season saw Alsager finish in third place and thus earn promotion to the Northern Premier League First Division. In 2006–07 they finished in 14th. They also finished in 14th in 2007–08, this time in the newly created Division One South.[2]

The season also saw a new ownership of Alsager Town with local businessman Chris Ansell and former player Richard Mitchell teaming up to take over the club and form Alsager Town Football Club Limited.

Alsager were relegated for the first time in their history at the end of the season to the North West Counties Football League Premier Division[2] due to FA ground grading requirements. Ansell and Mitchell consequently left the club, leaving it with an uncertain future. Former chairman Peter Clegg returned to the club to re-take the helm, appointing former Witton Albion reserves coach, Neil Gill as manager. Following Peter Clegg's resignation as chairman, former player and singer of 'The Casuals' John Bailey took over a few weeks before the end of season 2009–10. John Bailey was with the club for three months, since when Mike Cross, vice-chairman and representative of the youth section, has been acting as chairman.

Season 2010–11 saw Alsager Town embrace for the first time the many youth teams that had previously operated autonomously through the Town under the badge and name 'Alsager Town' where it is hoped that from this point (November 2010) onwards every young person in and around Alsager who wants to play football will support the Club and come along and join the various teams and training sessions for all abilities that are springing up.

It was reported in the South Cheshire Advertiser (10 February 2011) that Terry Greer, chairman of Biddulph Victoria, will be resigning his position within a few days, with a view to taking over as chairman of Alsager Town. Terry Grear was formally adopted as chairman at a meeting in February 2011.

Damien Grocott, who was appointed as caretaker manager in February 2011 to see the season out, resigned following the final match of the season, having completed the task of keeping the club in the NWCFL Premier Division. It is expected that the position will be taken by Karl Wilcox, manager of Biddulph. (South Cheshire Advertiser - 5 May 2011) It was announced on the club website on 7 June that John Brown has been appointed manager, supported by Stuart Heeps as assistant and Andy Bourne in a coaching role.

Stadium

Alsager have played at the Town Ground, which is located on Wood Park, since 1967. The ground has seen a number of improvements with floodlights being installed in 2001.[4]

The clubhouse suffered considerable damage by fire in July 2011. As a result, all competitive matches in the first three months of the 2011-12 season were played away from home.[5]

Attendances

Averages

The average league-game attendance at the Town Ground for the 2010–11 season was 48, which places Alsager Town 21st for the division, and is an increase of 2% from the previous season.

Past averages:

Source: English football site

League History

List not complete

Season Division Position Significant Events
Formed as Alsager from the merger of Alsager Town & Alsager Institute and joined the Crewe League
1968–1969 Crewe League
1969–1970 Crewe League
1970–1971 Crewe League
Joined the Mid Cheshire League
1971–1972 Mid Cheshire League 12
1972–1973 Mid Cheshire League 12
As Alsager Town
1973–1974 Mid Cheshire League 12
1974–1975 Mid Cheshire League 10
Placed in Mid Cheshire League Division One upon league expansion
1975–1976 Mid Cheshire League Division One 16
1976–1977 Mid Cheshire League Division One 10
1977–1978 Mid Cheshire League Division One 4
1978–1979 Mid Cheshire League Division One 3
1979–1980 Mid Cheshire League Division One 9
1980–1981 Mid Cheshire League Division One 6
1981–1982 Mid Cheshire League Division One 15
1982–1983 Mid Cheshire League Division One 13
Divisions One and Two of Mid Cheshire League combined to form a single section
1983–1984 Mid Cheshire League 3
1984–1985 Mid Cheshire League 7
1985–1986 Mid Cheshire League 6
As Alsager United
1986–1987 Mid Cheshire League 5
Placed in Mid Cheshire League Division One upon league expansion
1987–1988 Mid Cheshire League Division One 2 Runners Up
As Alsager
Alsager disbanded

Alsager did not compete in 1988–1989

Season Division Position Significant Events
Re-formed and joined the Crewe League Premier Division
1989–1990 Crewe League Premier Division
1990–1991 Crewe League Premier Division
Joined Mid Cheshire League Division Two
1991–1992 Mid Cheshire League Division Two 5
1992–1993 Mid Cheshire League Division Two 9
1993–1994 Mid Cheshire League Division Two 15
1994–1995 Mid Cheshire League Division Two 8
1995–1996 Mid Cheshire League Division Two 3
1996–1997 Mid Cheshire League Division Two 5
1997–1998 Mid Cheshire League Division Two 8
Joined Midland League
1998–1999 Midland League 2 Runners Up
1999–2000 North West Counties League Division Two 12
2000–2001 North West Counties League Division Two 7
As Alsager Town
2001–2002 North West Counties League Division Two 2 Runners Up
2002–2003 North West Counties League Division One 11
2003–2004 North West Counties League Division One 9
2004–2005 North West Counties League Division One 7
2005–2006 North West Counties League Division One 3 Promoted
2006–2007 Northern Premier Division One 14 -
Placed into Northern Premier Division One South upon league reorganisation
2007–2008 Northern Premier Division One South 14 Relegated
2008–2009 North West Counties League Premier Division 7 -
2009–2010 North West Counties League Premier Division 18 -
2010–2011 North West Counties League Premier Division 20 -
2011–2012 North West Counties League Premier Division

Source: Alsager Town at the Football Club History Database

References

  1. ^ a b "Alsager". Football Club History Database. http://www.fchd.info/ALSAGER.HTM. Retrieved 15 November 2008. 
  2. ^ a b c "Alsager Town". Football Club History Database. http://www.fchd.info/ALSAGERT.HTM. Retrieved 15 November 2008. 
  3. ^ "Alsager United". Football Club History Database. http://www.fchd.info/ALSAGERU.HTM. Retrieved 15 November 2008. 
  4. ^ "Football Ground, Alsager". alsager.com. 24 May 2005. http://www.alsager.com/tour/footie.htm. Retrieved 15 November 2008. 
  5. ^ "Fire, Alsager". bbc.co.uk. 12 July 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14120888. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 

External links