Statistics

Match Summary
Biggest Home Win	4-1	10/09/16 v Cammell Laird 1907 (Premier Division)
Biggest Away Win	5-1	24/08/16 v AFC Darwen (Premier Division)
Biggest Home Defeat	1-3	20/08/16 v Witton Albion (The Emirates F.A Cup)
Biggest Away Defeat	0-2	24/09/16 v Runcorn Linnets (Premier Division)
Highest Drawn Game	1-1	15/08/16 v Squires Gate (H) (Premier Division)
		16/09/16 v Irlam (A) (Premier Division)
Highest Aggregate Scoreline	7	27/08/16 5-2 v Barnton (A) (Premier Division)

 

League Season at a Glance
	Home		Away		Total
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Played	5		7		12
Won	3	60.00%	4	57.14%	7	58.33%
Drawn	1	20.00%	1	14.29%	2	16.67%
Lost	1	20.00%	2	28.57%	3	25.00%
Scored	11	2.20	19	2.71	30	2.50
Conceded	5	1.00	10	1.43	15	1.25

 

Progression in Cup Competitions
The Emirates F.A Cup	Preliminary Round	1-3	Witton Albion	(H)
League Winners v Cup Winners Trophy	Final	0-2	Colne	(A)

 

Home Attendance Summary
Highest Attendance	260	19/09/16 v Padiham (Premier Division)
Lowest Attendance	146	06/08/16 v Bacup Borough (The Emirates F.A Cup)
Average Attendance	7 games	213

 

Number of Games Since
Last Win	1 game
Last Defeat	0 games
Goalless Draw	0 games
Score Draw	2 games
Scored A Goal	1 game
Clean Sheet	5 games

 

Scored / Conceded This Season
	Scored		Conceded
	#	%	#	%
None	2	13.33%	2	13.33%
One	4	26.67%	6	40.00%
Two	3	20.00%	5	33.33%
Three	2	13.33%	2	13.33%
Four	2	13.33%	0	0.00%
Five or more	2	13.33%	0	0.00%

 

When the Goals Went In
	For		Against		Total
	#	%	#	%	#	%
0-15	8	23.53%	2	13.33%	10	20.41%
16-30	7	20.59%	2	13.33%	9	18.37%
31-45	7	20.59%	2	13.33%	9	18.37%
46-60	6	17.65%	2	13.33%	8	16.33%
61-75	2	5.88%	1	6.67%	3	6.12%
76-90	4	11.76%	6	40.00%	10	20.41%
90-105	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%
105-120	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%

 

History

Atherton Collieries Football Club was established in 1916 by miners from the six pits which were then operative within the old urban district of Atherton.

The football club became the latest part of an ever growing sports group that was organised by the Atherton Collieries Joint Association.

Between 1919 and 1965 the club were winners of the Bolton Combination League ten times. Collieries established a noted reputation in Lancashire and by 1964-65 had won the Lancashire Junior Shield six times, a record which is still unsurpassed.

They joined the North West Counties League as founder members in 1982, winning the third division in 1986-87.

Steady progress off the pitch, with floodlights being erected in 1994, was matched by progress on the pitch as Colls final league position improved season on season. This culminated in promotion to the first division after finishing the 1995-96 season as runners-up to Vauxhall GM.

Colls suffered mixed fortunes during their tenure in the NWCFL Premier Division. Their best season came in 2006-07 when they finished in seventh place under Phil Brown. This remains the highest position the club have ever finished in the English Pyramid.

During 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons Anthony Pilkington made 35 appearances for the club scoring 19 goals. Three of these goals came in the away match at FC United which Collieries infamously won 3-0. This caught the attention of many local clubs and it was Stockport County who secured his services. The striker has since played for Huddersfield Town, Norwich City and the Republic of Ireland.

The club were relegated from the Premier Division at the end of the 2008/09 campaign and Steve Pilling was appointed manager in August 2009. In 2010/11 the club won their first NWCFL silverware for decades when AFC Liverpool were beaten 3-2 (aet) in the First Division Trophy Final at Valley Road, Flixton.

Season 2011/12 saw the club finish fourth in the First Division but another trophy was added to the honours board. The Bolton Hospital Cup was won for the first time in 25 years with a penalty shootout triumph over Eagley. The Reebok final had
ended 2-2 with Gary Burnett scoring both Collieries goals as he put in a man of the match performance.

Seasons 2012/13 and 2013/14 saw the team lead the NWCFL First Division in the early stages but fall away towards the end. Steve Pilling was a committed servant to the club and in his five seasons at the club the team finished in 6th, 5th, 4th, 4th and 5th position respectively.

Michael Clegg took over the managerial reins at the commencement of the 2014/15 campaign. He had previously enjoyed stints at near neighbours Pennington and Atherton LR. With the help of strong backroom support and local players he stated that he wanted to gain promotion with a side that would consist of Atherton based players.

An opening day win at Cammell Laird, who went on to finish runners up, set high standards for the rest of the campaign. What followed was to be the club’s best season in their history.

Promotion back to the NWCFL Premier Division was clinched with a memorable 3-0 victory at Atherton LR on Easter Monday. Five matches after this, Collieries travelled to Cheadle Town for a midweek match knowing that a win would see them mathematically win the league. The score was 1-1 going into the final few minutes when Luke Gibson scored to send a large away following into raptures.

In the national cup competitions, Collieries were drawn against Evo-Stik Division One North side Radcliffe Borough for the second consecutive season. The sides drew 2-2 at Stainton Park to set up a replay at Alder House, which Collieries lost on penalties after extra time.

The FA Vase saw Michael Clegg’s side comfortably beat Penistone Church 4-0, before knocking Premier Division side AFC Liverpool out of the competition with a 4-1 victory. A tough test arrived in the following round in the shape of Seaham Red Star and Colls lost 2-1.

A proud moment for the club came when they reached the Lancashire Trophy Semi-Final which was staged at Leyland. Ashton Athletic, Radcliffe Borough and Ramsbottom United were all dispatched as Colls set up a tie with Clitheroe. Despite their best efforts, Colls couldn’t overcome a strong and experienced opposition and lost 2-0.

The First Division Trophy saw Collieries beat Atherton LR in the First Round with a hard fought victory in testing conditions. Barnton and Litherland REMYCA were also seen off which took Clegg’s side into the final against AFC Darwen at Bootle. The Salmoners won 3-1 to break Colls hearts.

A further final followed the next week. This time it was the Men United Cup. Having beaten Cheadle Town, Ashton Athletic, Abbey Hey, Colne and Runcorn Town the Colls came up against Premier Division champions and FA Vase finalists Glossop North End. Brad Cooke and Mark Battersby were sent off in the final and Collieries ultimately lost 2-0.

A congested season, which saw Collieries play 15 matches in a month, ended on a high with an emphatic 7-2 victory over Turton in the Bolton Hospital Cup Final at The Macron.