Atherton LR are Triple Champions!
Thu 24th April 2025 | Atherton LR | By Jay Cooper
It was confirmed during the first weekend of April that Atherton LR would finish the NWCFL First Division North season in top spot. They sealed the league title with an impressive 6-0 victory over Bacup Borough in their penultimate league game of the season, which was also their final home match of the season.
The next weekend, they lost to AFC Blackpool, which mattered very little in the grand scheme of things, but their season was far from over. They still had one VERY busy weekend coming between Saturday, April 19th, and Monday, April 21st.
Firstly, on Saturday, they squared off with First Division South league champions Winsford United at their opponents’ Barton Stadium. This game was the First Division Champions Cup match, where the winners would be able to call themselves double champions for the 2024/25 campaign.
With just shy of 300 people in attendance, Winsford got the better of the first half in this match. Ollie Pope broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 34th minute, and United would carry that lead into half-time.
Whatever Dave Jones said to inspire his team during the break clearly had its intended effect; and so did his changes. Just before the hour mark, substitute Brandon Dawson restored parity for Rovers with a rebound and swung the games’ momentum in their favour.
They used that to their full advantage, with a second substitute in Cal Hunter reaping the benefits and giving Atherton the lead with just over 15 minutes to go, chipping the ball over Jacob Kirwan in the Winsford net to make the most of a defensive error.
Ten minutes later, Dawson made a marauding run down the wing and fired a low cross to Harvey Sample, who became the first Atherton player who’d started the game to get on the scoresheet. That strike seemingly put the match to bed at 3-1.
There were some late nerves for Rovers to contend with, as one of Winsford’s changes made an impact of his own. Leandro Tanswell Vargas scored in the 87th minute of the contest to reduce the deficit to one, but the away side held on to win the First Division Champions Cup in opposition territory, by a 3-2 scoreline.
There was little time to celebrate for the club, as they had one more final to compete in before the Easter weekend was over. It was another game that they would have to travel to attend, but so would their opponents, Stafford Town.
It was the Edward Case Cup Final, taking place at the SMS Pro Soccer Park, home of Premier Division side FC St Helens – a ground that Atherton LR will have to travel to again next season in the Prem.
This time, there were just over 400 fans on hand to see who would lift the trophy, between two sides who have thrived on all fronts this season at Step 6 of the non-league system. And it would be Atherton LR, and specifically Hunter, who would thrive in the second half of this match.
After a goalless first half, the number 9 got the ball rolling with the opening goal in the 67th minute, capitalising on some defensive shakiness by Town. From there, the floodgates opened in a way, and there would be a goal essentially every 10 minutes onwards in Atherton’s favour.
Firstly, Hunter bagged his second of the afternoon on the 78th minute with a smart finish, after drifting into the right side of the box to latch onto a through ball.
Then, with a minute to go, George Chadwick and substitute Ryan Talbot linked up brilliantly down the right flank, and the latter man put the ball away after some impressive close control inside the area. Rovers had done their job, winning 3-0 to lift their second trophy in three days.
Following an unprecedented success for Atherton LR, manager Dave Jones said, “we are delighted of course, with how things have ended. We knew this weekend would be a stretch physically for the group with two finals in 72 hours, but they stood up to the challenge, just like they have all season.
“We couldn’t have dreamt of the season going as well as it has when we set out in pre-season, but I couldn’t be any prouder of the players and staff for delivering as a group. I’m so proud of what we have achieved together.
“The football, attitude, atmosphere and commitment has been first class by everyone all the way through, and I’m so lucky to have a group of players who are not just great footballers but great people too.”
Rovers’ chairman Shaun Lynch added to that winning feeling that club is enjoying. “Wow, what a season we’ve had! After a good season last year, finishing runners-up and missing out through the play-offs, it was our aim to prioritise promotion.
“Dave and his staff had higher ideas! Winning the league, Edward Case Cup and Champions Cup, to go along with getting further than any other NWCFL team in the Vase was an unbelievable effort!
“Hats off to Dave, his players and his staff. They’ve been totally professional in everything they’ve done, backed up by an incredible committee and sponsors. Everyone at the club is all on the same page, including our ever-increasing fan base.
“We’re averaging 200+ now per game, which is 80 more than last season. We are certainly looking forward to life in the NWCFL Premier Division now. and I know Dave will make a good fist of it. Roll on August, and Up the LR!”
There’s time now for Atherton LR to come down from cloud nine before the start of a new season, with a totally new challenge for the club to approach. The 2024/25 season will go down in the club’s history as the one where they became treble winners!
Congratulations to everyone involved at the club!
Atherton LR are Triple Champions!
Thu 24th April 2025 | Atherton LR
By Jay Cooper
It was confirmed during the first weekend of April that Atherton LR would finish the NWCFL First Division North season in top spot. They sealed the league title with an impressive 6-0 victory over Bacup Borough in their penultimate league game of the season, which was also their final home match of the season.
The next weekend, they lost to AFC Blackpool, which mattered very little in the grand scheme of things, but their season was far from over. They still had one VERY busy weekend coming between Saturday, April 19th, and Monday, April 21st.
Firstly, on Saturday, they squared off with First Division South league champions Winsford United at their opponents’ Barton Stadium. This game was the First Division Champions Cup match, where the winners would be able to call themselves double champions for the 2024/25 campaign.
With just shy of 300 people in attendance, Winsford got the better of the first half in this match. Ollie Pope broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 34th minute, and United would carry that lead into half-time.
Whatever Dave Jones said to inspire his team during the break clearly had its intended effect; and so did his changes. Just before the hour mark, substitute Brandon Dawson restored parity for Rovers with a rebound and swung the games’ momentum in their favour.
They used that to their full advantage, with a second substitute in Cal Hunter reaping the benefits and giving Atherton the lead with just over 15 minutes to go, chipping the ball over Jacob Kirwan in the Winsford net to make the most of a defensive error.
Ten minutes later, Dawson made a marauding run down the wing and fired a low cross to Harvey Sample, who became the first Atherton player who’d started the game to get on the scoresheet. That strike seemingly put the match to bed at 3-1.
There were some late nerves for Rovers to contend with, as one of Winsford’s changes made an impact of his own. Leandro Tanswell Vargas scored in the 87th minute of the contest to reduce the deficit to one, but the away side held on to win the First Division Champions Cup in opposition territory, by a 3-2 scoreline.
There was little time to celebrate for the club, as they had one more final to compete in before the Easter weekend was over. It was another game that they would have to travel to attend, but so would their opponents, Stafford Town.
It was the Edward Case Cup Final, taking place at the SMS Pro Soccer Park, home of Premier Division side FC St Helens – a ground that Atherton LR will have to travel to again next season in the Prem.
This time, there were just over 400 fans on hand to see who would lift the trophy, between two sides who have thrived on all fronts this season at Step 6 of the non-league system. And it would be Atherton LR, and specifically Hunter, who would thrive in the second half of this match.
After a goalless first half, the number 9 got the ball rolling with the opening goal in the 67th minute, capitalising on some defensive shakiness by Town. From there, the floodgates opened in a way, and there would be a goal essentially every 10 minutes onwards in Atherton’s favour.
Firstly, Hunter bagged his second of the afternoon on the 78th minute with a smart finish, after drifting into the right side of the box to latch onto a through ball.
Then, with a minute to go, George Chadwick and substitute Ryan Talbot linked up brilliantly down the right flank, and the latter man put the ball away after some impressive close control inside the area. Rovers had done their job, winning 3-0 to lift their second trophy in three days.
Following an unprecedented success for Atherton LR, manager Dave Jones said, “we are delighted of course, with how things have ended. We knew this weekend would be a stretch physically for the group with two finals in 72 hours, but they stood up to the challenge, just like they have all season.
“We couldn’t have dreamt of the season going as well as it has when we set out in pre-season, but I couldn’t be any prouder of the players and staff for delivering as a group. I’m so proud of what we have achieved together.
“The football, attitude, atmosphere and commitment has been first class by everyone all the way through, and I’m so lucky to have a group of players who are not just great footballers but great people too.”
Rovers’ chairman Shaun Lynch added to that winning feeling that club is enjoying. “Wow, what a season we’ve had! After a good season last year, finishing runners-up and missing out through the play-offs, it was our aim to prioritise promotion.
“Dave and his staff had higher ideas! Winning the league, Edward Case Cup and Champions Cup, to go along with getting further than any other NWCFL team in the Vase was an unbelievable effort!
“Hats off to Dave, his players and his staff. They’ve been totally professional in everything they’ve done, backed up by an incredible committee and sponsors. Everyone at the club is all on the same page, including our ever-increasing fan base.
“We’re averaging 200+ now per game, which is 80 more than last season. We are certainly looking forward to life in the NWCFL Premier Division now. and I know Dave will make a good fist of it. Roll on August, and Up the LR!”
There’s time now for Atherton LR to come down from cloud nine before the start of a new season, with a totally new challenge for the club to approach. The 2024/25 season will go down in the club’s history as the one where they became treble winners!
Congratulations to everyone involved at the club!
