Season 2009/10 News Stories and Match reports
05 Jul 2010

By Gordon Sharrock

IT may seem a modest target but the fact that Daisy Hill are shooting for a top-10 finish in Division One of the Vodkat NW Counties League represents a marked transformation in the old club’s fortunes.
The long-established New Sirs outfit have been perennial strugglers, refusing to follow the path of some of their big-spending rivals but content in the knowledge that they continue to give enthusiastic players a stage to showcase their talents at a decent non-league level.
But under young manager Craig Thomas, a former Daisy Hill player himself, they have gained a respected mid-table position and look set to qualify to compete in the FA Cup next season.
Tuesday night’s 1-0 win against second-placed Barnoldswick Town was the latest in a series of impressive results against illustrious opposition – denying the visitors a chance to secure promotion.
Daniel Gregory took his tally for the season to 30 when he netted the winner from the penalty spot to stay on course to finish top scorer in Division One while Damon Clynes, who has produced a series of impressive performances in midfield, is a strong contender for the division’s player of the month award.
Thomas still has problems on the selection front and will be forced to shuffle his pack for tomorrow’s game at Irlam because three of the players who featured in the Barnwoldswick win have work commitments.
Not that he is complaining. Previous problems prompted him to ask one of his forward players Craig Coote to switch to a defensive role and he has become one of the team’s stand-out performers.
“I can’t make demands on players when I’m not paying them,” Thomas said, resigned to the situation that affects so many non-league clubs.
“I just have to accept it and give other players a chance.
“But at least as a squad, we are starting to play with a lot of belief.”
Thomas insists his team’s mid-table position has been achieved on merit. In fact, he is still sore about the loss of three points after a 5-4 victory over AFC Liverpool last September was wiped out because he inadvertantly fielded an ineligible player.
“That three points and a couple of other occasions when we lost games we really should have won would have taken us right up there challenging with the top teams,” he said “But we’ve still made massive strides.
“We set ourselves a target of 40 points at the start of the season but some of the committee thought that was ambitious, considering our previous history.
“But we’re on 39 already and the way we are playing I think we can win two of our last three games. After Irlam we are at home to (league leaders) Stone Dominoes next Tuesday and finish at home to Eccleshall – and we fear no one.
“League-wise we might not have anything to play for, but finishing in the top 10 will give us a chance of being in the FA Cup next season – and that’s something we’ve got to be aiming for.”

29th April 2010

DAISY Hill added another big name to their list of scalps in the Vodkat NW Counties League when they beat Division One high-flyers Barnoldswick Town 1-0 at New Sirs.
Daniel Gregory, who is on course to end the season as the division’s top scorer, banked a well-deserved three points for Craig Thomas’s side when he took his tally to 32 with a 71st-minute penalty.
The win took Daisy to within one point of the ambitious target Thomas set at the start of the season and forced second-placed Barnoldswick to put their promotion celebrations on hold.

18th April 2010
Daisy Hill slipped back to 12th in Division One with a 6-3 defeat at Leek CSOB, but still have their sights on a top-eight finish.
Stephen Collier gave the New Sirs men a third–minute lead, and John Buckley got them back on terms on 26 minutes after Brett Barlow and Ryan Greene had put Leek ahead.
Tommy Tarr’s goal just before half time nudged the home side back in front and the game was effectively over as a contest on the hour after Greene scored twice in seven minutes to complete his hat-trick.
Hill’s top scorer Daniel Gregory had the consolation of having the last word on the scoring front with a penalty three minutes from time, two minutes after Bill Brown had netted Leek’s sixth.
Hill play Chadderton at home tomorrow

5th May 2010-05-17

Daniel Gregory, the Division One player of the month for April, scored both Daisy Hill goals in their 3-2 home defeat by leaders Stone Dominoes last night.
Craig Thomas’s side looked to be set for a point until Stone clinched victory with a late penalty.

19th Feb 2010-05-17

FOOTBALL: Daisy Hill go into tomorrow’s Vodkat League Challenge Cup clash at home to New Mills brimming with confidence after an impressive First Division win at AFC Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Craig Thomas’s side were handed the third round tie after their victors in the previous round — Atherton LR — were expelled for fielding ineligible players.
And although they are the underdogs against the high-flying Premier Division side who, coincidentally, hammered LR 6-0 in the league last weekend, they have frequently produced their best performances on the big occasions this season.
The 3-1 win at Liverpool, which included a brace from Daniel Gregory, took the New Sirs men up to 13th in the table, justifying Thomas’s claim that his team was much better than their league position suggested.
“After the problems we had last season there are so many positives to take,” said the Hill boss.
9th March

CRAIG Thomas’s Daisy Hill put in a dogged performance to gain a hard-earned point against a powerful Holker side in a tough NW Counties Division One encounter at New Sirs.
They might have taken all three points had Daniel Gregory’s late effort not been disallowed for offside.

1st April 2010-05-17

DAISY Hill go into the Easter weekend in confident mood after an impressive 3-0 win at AFC Blackpool that took them two places higher in Division One of the Vodkat NW Counties League.
The only contentious issue in a game that was perilously close to becoming a victim of torrential rain was over Daisy’s first goalscorer.
Initially the 35th-minute opener was credited to Jay Gaskell but was later claimed by Kier McNeil.
There were no doubts about the second-half scorers — Daniel Gregory doubling the lead on 70 minutes and Steve Johnston adding the third 10 minutes later.
Meanwhile, drinks company InterContinental Brands, who produce Vodkat Schnapps, has renewed its sponsorship of the NW Counties League for next season.

13th April 2010-05-17

FOOTBALL: Daisy Hill attempt to continue their climb up the Vodkat NW Counties First Division when they entertain Cheadle Town at New Sirs, kick off 7.45pm.
Craig Thomas’s side moved up to 13th when they beat local rivals Atherton Collieries 4-2 on Saturday with their in-form striker Daniel Gregory scoring twice to take his total for the season to 27.

JOHN Buckley scored twice as Daisy Hill continued their push for a top-half finish in the Vodkat NW Counties First Division, with a 3-2 victory over Cheadle Town at New Sirs.
Craig Thomas’s side went into the game in confident mood after beating local rivals Atherton Collieries at the weekend and Buckley’s impressive attacking display summed up their mood.
He put the home side ahead with a skilful finish on 20 minutes and restored their lead on the hour with a curling shot after Cheadle had pulled it back to 1-1 at half time.
Kier McNeill sprang the visitors’ offside trap to net Daisy’s third with 20 minutes to go and, although Cheadle pulled one nack late on, the points were in the bag.

Sept 2009
DAISY Hill’s terrific start to the season will be put to the test when they take on AFC Liverpool in the North West Counties First Division clash tomorrow.
Daisy, who have had a better opening than they could have imagined with three wins and two draws from their six games are hoping for a big pay day as the visitors, in fifth place, are sure to bring a large following.
Craig Thomas’s side, who are currently in third spot after losing just one game, have come from behind in each match they have scored points.

THE match of the day in the Vodkat North West Counties took place at Daisy Hill where the New Sirs men moved into third spot in the league after they enjoyed a pulsating 5-4 victory over Merseyside breakaway club AFC Liverpool.
Daisy romped to an incredible 5-1 lead at half-time with manager Craig Thomas avoiding the curse of his Division One manager of the month award.
John Buckley scored a hat-trick in the first 38 minutes punctuated by Fran Zajac’s brace on 26 and 45 minutes.
John Kennedy pulled one back from the penalty spot five minutes before the interval and the hosts nerves were tested as first Liam Coyne and Dean Thurston’s double strike brought Liverpool back into contention with 17 minutes remaining.
Elsewhere, it was a miserable afternoon for the two Atherton clubs with Daisy Hill’s Division One rivals the Collieries still searching for the debut win, going down 2-0 at Barnoldswick Town. Spencer Jordan and Stuart Ardrie scored the goals either side of half time.
Premier League outfit Atherton LR suffered a 2-1 home reverse at the hands of Colne.
Daniel Smith levelled on 54 minutes after Liam Garbutt had put the east Lancashire side ahead on 19 minutes. But LR’s joy was shortlived as Scott Gizon grabbed the winner five minutes later.

Jan 2010

FOOTBALL: Daisy Hill made up for lost time when they banked a welcome three points on their return to action after an enforced mid-winter lay-off.
Craig Thomas’s side — frozen out of action since mid-December — beat fellow Vodkat NW Counties League First Division strugglers Oldham Borough 2-1 at New Sirs with a performance that typified the character and growing confidence they have shown this season.
Damon Clynes broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half when he cut in from the right and curled in a left-foot shot and Daisy looked on course for victory until Andrew Smith equalised for the visitors 11 minutes from time with a stunning 35-yard free-kick.
But the home side were back in front within a minute — Daniel Gregory netting the match-winner after some good work by Paul Greenacre.
Delighted manager Thomas said: “Because of the good results we’ve had in the cup competitions, the lads see themselves as a strong side this season, but I had to remind them before the game that if we lost this one we’d have gone second bottom of the league.”

November 13th 2009

DAISY Hill could be back at full strength for tomorrow’s FA Vase Second Round tie at home to Armthorpe Welfare, kick off 3pm.
Manager Craig Thomas was missing three regulars — midfielder John Buckley, who was suspended, winger Gavin Westwell, who was injured, and full-back Steve Collier, who was unavailable — when his Division One side lost 4-0 at UniBond Premier League Marine on Tuesday in the Lancashire FA Trophy.
But Buckley and Collier are available again while Westwell faces a fitness test.
Daisy have home advantage for the third time in succession in their Vase campaign but face a tough test against the Doncaster side that currently lies second in the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East League and have a high-scoring reputation after hitting 10, nine and eight goals in competitive matches this season.
Cup matters are currently high on the agenda at New Sirs with the Under 18s at home to Pennington on Sunday in the last 16 of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup while on Tuesday the first team travel to Atherton LR for the replay of their Goldline Trophy quarter-final — provided the Vase tie does not go to a replay.

18th Nov

FOOTBALL: Daisy Hill will make a second attempt to stage their FA Carlsberg Vase second round tie against Armthorpe Welfare at New Sirs tonight, kick off 7.45pm.
A waterlogged pitch forced the postponement of Saturday’s tie between the Vodkat NW Counties League Division One side and the Doncaster outfit who are currently riding high in the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East League.
Winners of the tie will be at home to Bridlington Town — Armthorpe’s league rivals — in the third round.

29th September

A 38th-minute Daniel Gregory goal earned Daisy Hill victory in their Lancashire Cooperative Challenge Trophy first round clash at Rochdale Town.

21st Sept

DAISY Hill’s impressive start to the season continued when they pulled off a surprise 2-1 victory over Runcorn Linnets at New Sirs in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase.
The Vodkat NW Counties Division One side turned the tables on their Premier Division rivals thanks to Daniel Gregory’s first-half double.
Rob Whyte pulled one back for Runcorn eight minutes into the second half but Craig Thomas’s side, well marshalled in midfield by Nick Irwin and Martin Hastings, worked hard to secure a home tie against Worsbrough Bridge Athletic of the Northern Counties East Division One in the first round proper on Saturday, October 3.

15th Jan 2009

In the first of a series of features on the area’s local non-league clubs, Gordon Sharrock reports on one with distinctly realistic ambitions
THEY might not be the most upwardly mobile of clubs but they are proud of their history at Daisy Hill and are committed to keeping football alive and kicking at New Sirs – and that is a success story in itself. It is easy to accuse them of lacking ambition. As members of the Vodkat North West Counties League, they compete against many clubs who pay players in the hope of climbing the non-league pyramid. But the stalwarts at the village club stick rigidly to their no-pay policy, preferring to recruit players who want to play for the club and not for the money. It can hamper their progress but it does not mean they aren’t striving to succeed. They are just realistic. “People perhaps think we aren’t ambitious but you can only be ambitious within your means,” explains long-serving secretary Bob Naylor. “It would be nice to be winning something every season but the higher you go up the ladder, that chance diminishes – unless you are prepared to compete with the big boys. And that’s the same at our level as it is in the Premiership where clubs find it difficult to compete with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. “We are realistic because we have to be. We keep our heads above water by what we do and, as long as the club survives, that is the most important thing. “Clubs and leagues have gone by the wayside, but we are still here. We keep going but there’s no fat on us. “Nevertheless, we get as much pleasure from providing the facilities we have here than getting an extra win or two because we’ve put five shillings in the shoe of a player with a bit of an ego – as clubs did in years gone by and which they still do today, although it’s not five shillings any more.” At least manager Craig Thomas knows the score. He grew up playing for the club’s junior teams which were run by his dad, broke his leg playing for Daisy Hill and ran the reserves for two years before stepping up to the first team plate in October following the resignation of Ian Street, who admitted frustration got the better of him. He accepts there will be no cash to attract players who would improve his chances of hauling the first team from the lower reaches of the NW Counties First Division to challenge for promotion to the Premier Division. But although he also admits to a certain frustration – losing five first teamers for a recent league game because they were attending weddings typified his selection problems – he refuses to be downhearted because that could transmit to the players and affect the morale he is working hard to build up. “Ultimately I do want to be a winner, just like everybody else,” Thomas said. “When you take something on you want to be successful, but I am also a realist in the targets I set. “Success for me is getting the whole club solid – from kids right through to the seniors. That’s how local clubs survive. “It’s hard because we are a self-financing club trying to get the best players in on the budget that’s given us, which is zero. “So what you have to do is build a team spirit. The Daisy Hill teams I played for had that and produced some very good players. “Players came here for no money, just the love of the game and the atmosphere at the club. And that’s what we’ve got to get back to. “Bigger clubs will come and snap up your best players but we understand that and take some satisfaction out of that happening.” The majority of players Thomas signs or brings through – young keeper Tom Fletcher, defender Danny Hartfield and talented attacker Alex Lee are among the latest crop to be promoted from the ranks – know little of the history of Daisy Hill but the familiar figures who have run the club for five decades bear testimony to how a devotion to providing a sporting facility for the village can pay dividends, however modest. Naylor has been secretary for 44 years, having joined the committee 48 years ago with Geoff Hughes, who is currently treasurer but has also served as chairman and president over the years. Current chairman Graham Follows is another long-serving official and another stalwart, Brian Fray, although not on the current committee, has made a big contribution. Together with other volunteers, they ensure the club not only survives but gradually improves its facilities, although the absence of sponsorship makes the job harder as the years go by. Football has been played in Daisy Hill since 1894 and the present ground off St James Street was used as far back as the 1914-18 war. Re-formed in its present guise in 1951, the village produced one of the most formidable teams in the area, winning the Bolton Combination championship four times and the prestigious Lancashire Amateur Shield on three occasions. Daisy Hill stepped up to the Lancashire Combination in 1978 and became founder members of the NW Counties League in 1982 in which they currently occupy 16th position in the First Division. Thomas, a PE teacher who in his day job runs FC United’s Sports Academy at Manchester College, has been delighted with his team’s attitude. “It’s been hard, result-wise, but I wouldn’t say we’ve fielded our strongest team yet,” he said. “However, that’s given some of the reserves a chance, which is good. “I’ve felt a bit disappointed for the players when previous managers have brought players in from outside which has meant they’ve been pushed to one side and not given a chance. “There’s been a bit of a divide. But there are no ‘groups’ any more. It’s all one squad – the reserves and the first team – and they all get on with each other. “That doesn’t always bring success and sometimes you need to be ruthless to get results, but I’m prepared to look at everyone and, when I do bring in more players, which I will, nobody will be able to say they haven’t had a chance.” Meanwhile, Naylor soldiers on in the old routine, preparing the pitch, cleaning the dressing rooms, making sure the kit is laundered, ensuring player registrations are in order, dealing with the hospitality arrangements and stocking the bar for match days. But he and his fellow committee members can’t go on forever. “I’m 70 and Geoff’s 72 and we’d like to think that slowly, in the foreseeable future, someone else can come along and take over. “We’re not a closed shop by any means. We’d love to see some new blood and particularly someone who can help on the commercial side and a programme editor. “Players don’t always appreciate what you do to give them a game of football . . . but that’s not unique to Daisy Hill. Wherever you go you see all the same familiar faces that have been there for years. “The worry is that it’s the same people doing the same jobs all the time. “And with nobody coming through to take over, you wonder how many of these clubs can continue in the long-term when the people who are getting everything ready for Saturday’s game eventually have to call it a day.”

17th July 2008

DAISY Hill are the best football team in the world.
The tiny Bolton club may have finished 13 points adrift at the bottom of non-league's lowest tier last season but, using Scottish logic, they are better than European champions Manchester United.
We've all sat in a pub, classroom or old people's home and come up with some convoluted argument to try to prove our team is the best.
In 1967 most of Scotland was at it when their national team became the first to inflict defeat on England's World champions.
Such was the euphoria north of the border that the 3-2 victory at Wembley led Scottish supporters to crown their team unofficial world champions.
Similarly, City fans currently claim to be the kings of Manchester on the basis of similar logic.
Arguments raged last season that the Blues had a better team than the double-winning Reds because they did the double over them (at least that was one more than Scotland won against England in 1967).
If individual wins, and not trophies or league positions, decide who's the best team, then Daisy are the best team in the world even though they only won two league matches out of 34 in the North West Counties League First Division last season.
The New Sirs boys, who began their warm-up for the next campaign with a friendly against Ashton United on Tuesday night, can claim the title because of a 1-0 victory over Oldham Town last season.
During the same season, Oldham Town beat New Mills, who beat Maine Road, who beat Nelson, who beat Warrington Town, who beat Rossendale United, who beat Radcliffe Borough.
So under old Scottish logic, Daisy are better than Radcliffe Borough. But it doesn't end there.
Radcliffe beat Chasetown, who beat Port Vale in the FA Cup.
Port Vale beat Morecambe, who beat Preston, who beat Sheffield United - and as Sheffield United beat Manchester City, who did the double over United, Daisy are better than United.
And as United beat Barcelona and Chelsea on their way to winning the biggest trophy in Europe, which is widely accepted to be the strongest footballing continent, Daisy must be the best in the world.
Either that or the theory is fundamentally flawed.