HISTORY
14 Aug 2009

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Written by Steven Dowd
Everton FC beat Earlestown 1-0 in a match played at Evertons homeground of Priory Rd, this 1-0 victory over Earlestown in the Liverpool Cup of 1884 gained Everton its first ever football trophy.

Shortly after their success over Earlestown, John Houldings Everton Club were asked to vacate their Priory Road home ground. Anfield was leased and the new ground built in 1884
The first match Everton played at their new Anfield football ground was on September 27, 1884, this first match was against Earlestown, who were beaten 5-0, this was six years before Liverpool Football Club was formed.

Here are a few more facts about Earlestown FC

1899-00
�Joined Lancashire League

1903
�Lancashire League closed down

1903-04
�Joined Lancashire Combination as founder members of new Division 2
�Lancashire Combination Division Two runner-up
�Promoted to Division One

1906
�Relegated to Division Two

1906-07
�Lancashire Combination Division Two runner-up
�Promoted to Division One Oct 1911 Disbanded. Fixtures taken over by Heywood United
? New Earlestown club formed
1949-50

Joined Lancashire Combination Division Two

�Lancashire Combination Division Two runner-up
Promoted to Division One

�1952
�Relegated to Division Two
�1958-59
�Promoted to Division One

More Everton vs Earlestown 2nd match On the 27 th September 1884 Everton played their first game at Anfield when Earlestown kindly accepted an invitation to provide the opposition. A large crowd came to see the game which kicked off at 3.50pm and they were not disappointed as Everton ran out 5-0 winners. The team that represented Everton for their first game at their new home was:
Lindsay; Marriott, Morris; Pickering, Preston; Richards, Parry, Gibson, Whittle, McGill and Higgins.

Higgins had the distinction of being the first player to score at Anfield with the other goals coming from Whittle (2), Gibson and Richards
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In1997 led by Steve Knight and a handful of parents, the aim was to get the kids off the streets and create a local football team that their kids could play in.

Enough players were recruited and a team was formed under the name C.E.T.R.A.N St Patricks JFC.

After playing a number of friendly games, St Pat's applied and were invited to join the Warrington Junior Football League.

By 2004, the club consisted of 9 teams and the club wanted to rename itself to reflect it's great affinity with the local community. After much deliberation, the name Earlestown Athletic JFC was decided upon.

From a small start and one team consisting solely of local players, we now have 15 teams in total and over 160 players including kids not only from Newton-le-Willows but as far afield as St Helens, Warrington and Wigan.

Earlestown Athletic adheres to all of the key principles of junior soccer; we want all of our kids to learn football and have fun whilst doing it.

We have been awarded the Fair Play Trophy from the Warrington Junior Football League on 3 occasions which is a fantastic achievement. To any football club, this is a much sought after award as it is testament to the fact that as a club, we compete fairly, respect opponents and embrace the spirit of the game of football.

In 2006 we welcomed our first all Girls Team. to Earlestown Athletic who are currently in the West Lancashire Girls Football League and we are looking to expand this section of the club further.

The Club is growing and improving all the time.

Last season, Earlestown Athletic finished 3rd in the overall performance tables out of around 50 clubs in the Warrington Junior Football League. I am sure you'll agree this is a fantastic achievement.

What does the Future hold for Earlestown Athletic?

The next step for us is to achieve the FA Charter Standard Award. This award is the given by the FA to clubs displaying best practice in the standards of Coaching, Administration and Child Protection.
To get this prestigious award, certain criteria have to be met and we're working hard to get the framework in place to apply and of course, be successful.

We are very much looking to the future and many exciting plans are afoot to ensure Earlestown Athletic maintains it's position as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking clubs in the North West.