Statistics

Match Summary
Biggest Home Win	3-2	16/09/23 v FC Isle of Man (Premier Division) 28/10/23 v Skelmersdale United (Premier Division) 03/04/24 v Ramsbottom United (Premier Division)
Biggest Away Win	4-1	24/02/24 v Pilkington (Premier Division)
Biggest Home Defeat	1-5	26/08/23 v West Didsbury & Chorlton (Premier Division)
Biggest Away Defeat	0-7	05/08/23 v Charnock Richard (The Emirates F.A Cup) 23/09/23 v Wythenshawe (Premier Division)
Highest Drawn Home Game	2-2	12/08/23 v Prestwich Heys (Premier Division) 16/12/23 v Wythenshawe Town (Premier Division)
Highest Drawn Away Game	2-2	25/11/23 v Barnoldswick Town (Premier Division)
Highest Aggregate Home Scoreline	8	3-5 07/10/23 v Colne (Premier Division) 3-5 27/01/24 v Glossop North End (Premier Division)
Highest Aggregate Away Scoreline	8	5-3 24/03/24 v AFC Liverpool (Premier Division) 3-5 12/04/24 v Lower Breck (Premier Division)

 

Season at a Glance
	Home		Away		Total
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Played	24		25		49
Won	5	20.83%	7	28.00%	12	24.49%
Drawn	4	16.67%	2	8.00%	6	12.24%
Lost	15	62.50%	16	64.00%	31	63.27%
Scored	39	1.63	36	1.44	75	1.53
Conceded	65	2.71	70	2.80	135	2.76

 

Progression in Cup Competitions
The Emirates F.A Cup	Extra Preliminary Round	0-7	Charnock Richard	(A)
The Isuzu FA Vase	1st Round	1-4	South Liverpool	(H)
The Macron Cup	1st Round	0-4	Garstang	(A)
Lancashire Challenge Trophy	2nd Round	1-3	Southport	(A)

 

Home Attendance Summary
Average Attendance	24 games	120

 

Number of Games Since
Last Win	2 games
Last Defeat	0 games
Goalless Draw	112 games
Score Draw	17 games
Scored A Goal	1 game
Fail To Score	0 games
Clean Sheet	37 games

 

Scored / Conceded This Season
	Scored		Conceded
	#	%	#	%
None	14	28.57%	1	2.04%
One	12	24.49%	12	24.49%
Two	10	20.41%	14	28.57%
Three	10	20.41%	5	10.20%
Four	2	4.08%	10	20.41%
Five or more	1	2.04%	7	14.29%

 

When the Goals Went In
	For		Against		Total
	#	%	#	%	#	%
0-15	8	10.81%	14	0.00%	8	3.86%
16-30	14	18.92%	23	17.29%	37	17.87%
31-45	16	21.62%	21	15.79%	37	17.87%
46-60	10	13.51%	21	15.79%	31	14.98%
61-75	11	14.86%	24	18.05%	35	16.91%
76-90	15	20.27%	29	21.80%	44	21.26%
90-105	0	0.00%	1	0.75%	1	0.48%
105-120	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%

 

History

Squires Gate were formed in 1948 as Squires Gate British Legion FC and competed in the Blackpool & District Amateur League. They won the leagues Rawling Shield in their first season. The name of the club was changed to Squires Gate FC in 1953. They won the leagues First Division in 1955-56 and 1956-57; also the Blackwell Cup in 1958-59 and 1959-60. They spent the 1960-61 in the Fylde District League, winning the Fylde Cup and losing finalists in the Bannister Cup.

The following season they moved up to the West Lancashire League where they spent the next thirty years. From 1961 until 1980 they were in Division Two and were promoted in 1981 as champions. In the 1986-87 season they won the Richardson Cup.

They were elected into the North West Counties Football League for the 1991-92 season, joining Division Two for the 1991-92 season. They won the 2001-02 season Division Two Trophy and then the following season they missed the runner-up spot on goal difference but were still promoted to Division One following the demise of Stand Athletic who had originally been promoted as Division Two champions. They reached their highest league placing in the 2005-06 season also reaching the quarter finals of the FA Vase.

To cap a very impressive 2007-08 season, Squires Gate were delighted that no less than nine of their members were honoured with long service awards: Albert Hamer, George Diggle, Roy Westhead, Brian Hugill and Brian Addison all collected Football Association Order of Merit mementos for 50 years service; and Steve Bellamy, Mick Farrer, John Maguire and Tony Hornby received 30 years awards from the Lancashire FA.
Groundsman Brian Addison was judged the best at our level in the Northern Region, and a magnificent third nationally at the FA Groundsman of the Year presentations in London last September, and his pitch is clear evidence of his commitment.

Due to an indifferent start in the 2015/16 season, club captain Danny Penswick took over as player manager and ensured survival with a memorable last game victory at Ashton Athletic. Danny also ensured Premier Division status in 2016/17 thanks to a late surge including a victory at home to Runcorn Linnets. Andy Clarkson took over in October 2017 and guided the club to a creditable 8th place finish and improved again in 2018/19 season with another 8th place finish.

After a difficult start to the 2019/2020 season Luke Evans was appointed manager by Chairman Tony Jo, assisted by Shane Hudson. Evans led the club up the table, with Gate sat in 9th place before COVID-19 struck the nation, cutting the season short in March.

The time away allowed the committee to look at how to move the club forward off the pitch, with much needed improvements made across the board. New changing rooms were implemented, with various other improvements made around the stadium.

A new media team was also appointed, with James Ashton, Dan Hayden and Jay Hayden heading up a new look social media, programme and graphic design, with Ian Moore coming in as the new Club Photographer, taking over from the irreplaceable legend Albert Cooper. Andy Baker also came in as the new Assistant Manager.
The 2020/21 season only saw nine league matches take place for Gate, before COVID struck once again to cut the season short after December. Again though this allowed time for Luke Evans to keep moving the club forward, as strong partnerships with Talented Player Development and Global Football Network were made. Meanwhile, a new Under 23’s team was formed, led by Liam Robinson of Talented Player Development.

Forward to the start of the 2021/22 season, a decent start in the league coincided with Gate putting together a good run in the FA Cup, reaching the 2nd Qualifying Round - matching their best run in the club’s history. The highlight of this run came in the Preliminary Round, as Gate hosted newly formed Macclesfield FC at The Brian Addison Stadium. A record crowd of 738 watched an incredible match, as Gate came away 6-4 winners to progress into the next round. After knocking out North Shields, Gate were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Pontefract Collieries to end their run. Gate kept ticking in the league too, finishing 17th with safety confirmed comfortably by the start of March.

Unfortunately during the 21/22 season, the club had the devastating passing of beloved chairman Tony Jo. Luke Evans and the rest of the club committee now had the club in their hands. It made for a difficult summer in 2022, with the club only just surviving, but the committee and its volunteers pulled together to keep the club afloat and put together a new young and hungry squad for the 2022/23 season. While the previous season’s FA Cup achievement couldn’t be matched, an excellent run was put together in the FA Vase, with Gate reaching the Third Round.

The summer of 2023 saw more off the field changes, with club legend John Maguire stepping down from his role as Secretary, ending 48 years of stellar service. James Ashton and Alan Davis were elected onto the club committee, as well as Ian Moore who became the new secretary. Hayden Moore was appointed Head of Recruitment, while a new chairman was also appointed - head of Global Football Network, John Pladas.