2 weeks Ago
The event was an important marker in the comeback of a club that had lost it's place at step 6 of the Association Football pyramid in 2022 after over 40 years of competing at that level of non league football. In many ways the event was a culmination of the hard work that the new committee has undertaken in the past couple of years to try to put the club back in the psyche of the local community and give the club a footing that had not been seen since droves of Town fans travelled to Wembley Stadium in May 1987. That was the day of the club's greatest moment as Town lifted the FA Vase in a 3-2 win over neighbours Warrington Town.
Town have played in front of large home crowds since Wembley, most notably in facing FC United at Knowsley Road but the majority of the crowd were there to support the away team. Festival of Football saw the south stand of Totally Wicked Stadium filled with home fans, many of whom were sporting Town colours. That night under lights last October has arguably ignited something special around the club and potentially given the club it's aura back amongst it's local community.
Junior teams representing local community clubs from across the borough participated in the event that night and it was heart-warming to see so many different jerseys on show as youngsters cheered Town on to a 3-0 victory over Wigan Town with goals from Matt Rochford, Liam Diggle and Ethan Danku. That night also saw Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook don a Town goalkeeper jersey during a 'Town v Saints' exhibition game and a first partnership with local company CBS that has developed into the firm supporting the club as main sponsors. Since then, the club has continued to make strides off the field with the formation of a community arm of the club, 'Town in the Town' that has undertaken a variety of community based projects across the borough.
Meanwhile on the field the club has started this season well with Paul Piert's first team squad unbeaten in it's first 12 league and cup games as it competes in the Cheshire league and Matt Birchall's under 23s squad also riding high in it's own Cheshire reserve league competition. The club's under 18s squad are also holding their own in the ultra competitive North West Youth Alliance league under the tutelage of Carlos Rodrigues with recent victories coming against the likes of Macclesfield and Congleton Town. Home games for all three Town teams are played at the welcoming PSD Rentals Stadium at Ruskin Drive Sports Ground which includes a 200 seater stand that is the envy of most visiting teams.
Entry to all home games is free for all supporters courtesy of a unique sponsorship deal with MCR Building Services. With future plans to repeat Festival of Football on a regular basis amongst other community projects, it remains to be seen how far the club's current upward trend will take the club. But wherever it takes Town's footballing Saints, the 27 October 2023 might be seen as an important night in reacquainting a town with it's historic football team.
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