Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 26
Thu 23rd January 2025 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
1. Welcome to the NWCFL, Jefferson Montero!
You've been living under a rock if you've missed this one. It's a story not only covered at NWCFL level, but on Sky Sports, BBC Sport, talkSPORT and basically any other major British news site with the word "sport" in the title.
This past weekend, FC St Helens of the Premier Division announced the signing of a new player - former Premier League and La Liga star, and Ecuadorian international at the 2014 World Cup, Jefferson Montero. The 35-year-old is best known for his time at Swansea City, but will be taking his talents to the SMS Pro Soccer Park for the foreseeable. Welcome, Jefferson!
2. One team remains in the Vase…
With Saturday came the delayed playing of the 4th Round of the Isuzu FA Vase matches, three of which saw NWCFL sides in action. Unfortunately, two of those teams would suffer defeats – West Didsbury and Chorlton lost to North Shields, and Abbey Hulton United were beaten by Heanor Town.
But the third, First Division North side Atherton LR, refused to roll over. In their hosting of Hallam – the second oldest existing association football club in the world – Atherton’s Ryan Talbot scored a very tense penalty deep into stoppage time to help see out a 3-2 victory, and help see Rovers into the hat for Round Five.
3. Trading places at the top in the Prem
This past weekend, Ramsbottom United, who went into Saturday leading the league table, were beaten 3-0 by Lower Breck. Meanwhile, Bury won 4-1 away from home against Barnoldswick Town, and leapfrogged Rammy to take top spot before any midweek matches.
Ramsbottom, as it turns out, weren’t keen on conceding first place for long, and recovered their momentum with a 3-2 victory over Charnock Richard on Tuesday to reclaim their throne. With Steve Wilkes’ 1250th game as a manager coming up this weekend, Rammy will hope to keep this charge going.
4. Neck and neck in the South
In today’s earlier release regarding match results over the course of the last week, I mentioned that both Stafford Town and Winsford United – seemingly the only two horses left in the First Division South title race – won on Saturday.
Stafford’s victory was more decisive that Winsford’s on Saturday, and its Adam Wall’s side’s superior goal difference that is keeping them at the top of the pile as of now. With both outfits on 56 points at the time of writing, and with 3rd placed Sandbach United languishing behind on 48, it looks as though this will be a photo finish.
5. Barnton are hiring
It has been a tough season Barnton. After finishing 7th in 2023/24, they’ve dropped down the table this campaign, to the point where they’re only outside of the relegation places on goal difference as we come into late January.
As a result of this misfortune, the management staff, led by first-team gaffer Danny Moss, have departed the club. This announcement was made last week, and, as of the time of writing, the club are still looking for who Moss’ replacement should be.
Five Things We Learned 2024/25 - Gameweek 26
Thu 23rd January 2025 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
1. Welcome to the NWCFL, Jefferson Montero!
You've been living under a rock if you've missed this one. It's a story not only covered at NWCFL level, but on Sky Sports, BBC Sport, talkSPORT and basically any other major British news site with the word "sport" in the title.
This past weekend, FC St Helens of the Premier Division announced the signing of a new player - former Premier League and La Liga star, and Ecuadorian international at the 2014 World Cup, Jefferson Montero. The 35-year-old is best known for his time at Swansea City, but will be taking his talents to the SMS Pro Soccer Park for the foreseeable. Welcome, Jefferson!
2. One team remains in the Vase…
With Saturday came the delayed playing of the 4th Round of the Isuzu FA Vase matches, three of which saw NWCFL sides in action. Unfortunately, two of those teams would suffer defeats – West Didsbury and Chorlton lost to North Shields, and Abbey Hulton United were beaten by Heanor Town.
But the third, First Division North side Atherton LR, refused to roll over. In their hosting of Hallam – the second oldest existing association football club in the world – Atherton’s Ryan Talbot scored a very tense penalty deep into stoppage time to help see out a 3-2 victory, and help see Rovers into the hat for Round Five.
3. Trading places at the top in the Prem
This past weekend, Ramsbottom United, who went into Saturday leading the league table, were beaten 3-0 by Lower Breck. Meanwhile, Bury won 4-1 away from home against Barnoldswick Town, and leapfrogged Rammy to take top spot before any midweek matches.
Ramsbottom, as it turns out, weren’t keen on conceding first place for long, and recovered their momentum with a 3-2 victory over Charnock Richard on Tuesday to reclaim their throne. With Steve Wilkes’ 1250th game as a manager coming up this weekend, Rammy will hope to keep this charge going.
4. Neck and neck in the South
In today’s earlier release regarding match results over the course of the last week, I mentioned that both Stafford Town and Winsford United – seemingly the only two horses left in the First Division South title race – won on Saturday.
Stafford’s victory was more decisive that Winsford’s on Saturday, and its Adam Wall’s side’s superior goal difference that is keeping them at the top of the pile as of now. With both outfits on 56 points at the time of writing, and with 3rd placed Sandbach United languishing behind on 48, it looks as though this will be a photo finish.
5. Barnton are hiring
It has been a tough season Barnton. After finishing 7th in 2023/24, they’ve dropped down the table this campaign, to the point where they’re only outside of the relegation places on goal difference as we come into late January.
As a result of this misfortune, the management staff, led by first-team gaffer Danny Moss, have departed the club. This announcement was made last week, and, as of the time of writing, the club are still looking for who Moss’ replacement should be.
