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MEIRT H EP R I N C I P A L C L U B P A R T N E RO F F I C I A L K I T S U P P L I E RV S S A N D B A C H U N I T E DO F F I C A L M AT C H D AY P R O G R A M M EK I C K O F F 7 : 4 5 P MT U E S D A Y 4 A U G U S T 2 0 2 6T HI S S U E 1 - 2 0 2 6 / 2 7
VWELCOMEFoley Meir Football ClubCommittee / DirectorsPresident: Steve James Chairman: Andy Mapperson Vice-Chairman: Liam James Committee: Darren Durkin Committee: James Wildman Committee: Mark Lloyd Committee: Mark SkerrattFirst Team Manager: Mark Lawton First Team Assisant Manager: Adrian Maddock First Team Coach: Mitch Pattison First Team Coach: Josh Brown First Team Coach: Mark Greenhoff Goalkeeper Coach: Chris Cantrell Head Physio: Amy Buckle MJPL Under 16 Manager: Jon Owen Sunday Under 16 Manager: Liam James Under 8 Manager: Anthony DayManagementClub Secretary: Lisa Skerratt Treasurer: Steve Wright Groundsman: Adrain Purcell Stadium Facillities Manager: Liam James Club Photographer: Jamie Roberts Social Media: Ashley Nicklin Programme Editor: Ashley NicklinClub ManagementInside This Issue:03040507The Gaffer’s NotesThe President’s WelcomeFOLLOW OUR SOCIALSPlayer SponsorshipClub News09Watch Out Jamies About13The Visitors17Last Time Out18Seven Questions With: Harry Livingstone21From The Archives23Next Up
Firstly, I’d like to welcome everyone back to the Trentham Foods Stadium for our first home league fixture of the 2026/27 season. I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to the players, management, officials and supporters of Sandbach United. A lot of hard work has gone into preparing for the new campaign. Pre-season has allowed us to build fitness, work on different ideas and give both new and returning players valuable minutes together. There have been plenty of encouraging signs, but we know that competitive football brings a completely different challenge. Sandbach are always a strong and well-organised side. They finished just outside the play-off places last season and will arrive with ambitions of challenging near the top of the division again. We know we’ll need to be disciplined, work hard for one another and perform at a high level if we’re going to get a positive result. We’re pleased with the squad we’ve put together and there is a real determination within the group to improve on last season. The players have worked hard throughout the summer, and now it’s about carrying that effort into the league campaign and showing what we’re capable of. Finally, thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors and supporters who continue to give so much to the club. Your backing makes a massive difference, particularly here at home, so please get behind the lads from the first whistle. Enjoy the game. Up the Foley!THE GAFFER’S NOTESFirst Team ManagerMark Lawton
Good evening and welcome to the Trentham Foods Stadium for our first home fixture of the 2026/27 season. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the players, management, officials and supporters of Sandbach United. We hope everyone connected with the club enjoys their visit and has a safe journey home following tonight’s game. The beginning of a new season always brings renewed excitement and optimism. A great deal of work has taken place behind the scenes throughout the summer to ensure the club is ready for the campaign ahead. From preparing the ground and strengthening the playing squad to securing sponsors and producing this new matchday programme, countless hours have been given by our volunteers and committee members. Their efforts often go unseen, but they are what allow Foley Meir to continue moving forward. I would also like to thank our sponsors and commercial partners, whose support remains invaluable to the club. Tonight gives us our first opportunity of the new league season to welcome everyone back to Meir. We hope to make the Trentham Foods Stadium a difficult place for visiting teams throughout the campaign, and the support from the stands will play an important part in that. Sandbach United have consistently been among the strongest sides in the division and will provide a tough opening test on home soil. We look forward to what should be an entertaining and competitive fixture between two clubs who know each other well. Thank you for joining us this evening and for continuing to support your local football club. Please get behind the players, enjoy the game and help create a positive atmosphere from the first whistle. Up the Foley!THE PRESIDENT’S WELCOMEClub PresidentSteve James
CLUB NEWSWI-FI UPGRADE BOOST FOR FOLEYFoley Meir have received a generous £500 grant from Councillor Lauren Davison to help improve the club’s Wi-Fi facilities at the Trentham Foods Stadium. The funding will support the club’s continued development off the pitch, improving internet access for volunteers, matchday operations, digital media coverage and visitors to the ground. Councillor Davison has also confirmed that she hopes to attend a few Foley fixtures during the season, and everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming her to the Trentham Foods Stadium. The club would like to thank Lauren for her support of Foley Meir and grassroots football within the local community.
Jake LloydConnor WithersJay LovattAdam ClaytonKerr DollochinSaul CullenZach RobinsonMatt PlantWill TamsEden BullockLiam ConnollyFin FooteMarc GrocottSeb QuinnHarry LivingstoneNick WoodsConnor LawtonPlayer Sponsors 26/27Monty Parkes
Lucas BakerMark LawtonTyler MistryArchie EllamsLuke LewisDanny WardJake WalklettJay FinneyFreddy LloydJake LovattPlayer Sponsors 26/27Josh Miles Carl Baker
JAMIESJAMIESJamie Roberts Sports PhotographyWATCH OUTWATCH OUTABOUTABOUTClub Photographer Jamie Roberts has been given Unlimited Access To All Areas at The Trentham Foods Stadium.jr_sportsphotography
THEVISITORSSANDBACH UNITED
Founded in 2004, Sandbach United have quickly established themselves as one of Cheshire's most ambitious non-league clubs. Based at the Sandbach Community Football Centre, the Ramblers have built a reputation for developing players, investing in facilities and competing at a consistently high level within the North West Counties Football League. After climbing through local football, Sandbach joined the North West Counties League in 2016 and have since become a familiar name in the First Division South. The club has enjoyed several successful campaigns, regularly challenging towards the upper end of the table while also enjoying memorable runs in cup competitions. Off the pitch, Sandbach United continue to develop as a community-focused club, operating a successful youth system alongside their senior sides. Their commitment to player development has helped establish the club as one of the area's leading grassroots and non-league organisations. The 2025/26 season saw the Ramblers once again compete strongly in the First Division South, finishing among the division's leading sides and continuing to build on the solid foundations established in recent years. With an experienced squad and ambitious management team, Sandbach remain one of the teams expected to challenge throughout the campaign.SANDBACH UNITED
N W C F L F I R S T D I V I S I O N S O U T H1 - 10 9 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5M A C R O N C U P0 - 51 1 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 5N W C F L F I R S T D I V I S I O N S O U T H1 - 11 7 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 6PREVIOUS MEETINGSNath Barry (Left) and Adam Clayton (Right) in match action vs Stafford Town last season.2025/26 SEASON REVIEWSandbach United entered the 2025/26 campaign hoping to mount another challenge towards the top of the North West Counties League First Division South. The Ramblers remained in contention for a play-off place throughout much of the season, recording 17 victories from their 34 league matches. They eventually finished sixth with 56 points, missing out on the top five by just a single point. One of the standout moments came early in the campaign when Sandbach defeated eventual champions Runcorn Town. Remarkably, it proved to be Runcorn’s only league defeat of the entire season and demonstrated Sandbach’s ability to compete with the division’s strongest sides. Sandbach finished the campaign having scored 57 goals and conceded 41, giving them a positive goal difference of 16. Their strong defensive record and ability to produce important victories kept them firmly involved in the promotion race until the closing stages. Although the season ultimately ended without a place in the play-offs, a sixth-place finish provided another solid campaign for the Cheshire side. Having come so close to extending their season, the Ramblers will begin the new campaign determined to take the next step and establish themselves among the division’s leading contenders once again.CLUB CONNECTIONSTom Wakefield A prolific striker, Wakefield represented both Sandbach United and Foley Meir before leaving Foley midway through last season to join AFC Crewe. Adam Clayton Current Foley Meir left-back Adam Clayton previously spent time with Sandbach United and now lines up against one of his former clubs this evening. Nathan Barry Joined Foley on loan from Newcastle Town during the 2024/25 season. Barry finished as the club's leading goalscorer before returning to Newcastle Town. he made the move to Sandbach United ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Foley Meir suffered their first defeat of the league campaign as AFC Bridgnorth came from a hard-fought contest at Crown Meadow with all three points. Travelling to Shropshire, Foley faced a determined Bridgnorth side and found themselves a goal behind before the break after the hosts made the most of one of their first-half opportunities. Foley responded well in the second half and deservedly drew level in spectacular fashion when Archie Ellams unleashed a superb strike from around 25 yards, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance and bringing the visitors right back into the game. With the contest finely balanced heading into the closing stages, Bridgnorth regained the lead in the 84th-minute before adding a third in the 86th minute to secure the victory. Despite the disappointing result, Foley showed plenty of character throughout the afternoon and will take encouragement from large spells of their performance, particularly their response after falling behind.LAST TIME OUTAFC BRIDGNORTHFOLEY MEIR13 CROWN MEADOW | SATURDAY 1 AUGUSTST ATTENDANCE: 84Archie Ellams (57)Sam Preece (45), Suar Dedja (84), Suar Dedja, (86)
Three words to describe yourself? competitive, helpful and handsome What’s the best ground you’ve played at? Probably Nantwich Who was your footballing idol growing up? David Beckham 😍 Who is the funniest player at the club? Bakes, mainly to laugh at! Who has the worst music taste? Nobody else really plays their music so I have no idea 😂 What’s your favourite pre-match song? Anything that Jay Lovatt sings What has been your favourite football memory so far? Winning the league and cup double with Alsager, scored a free kick in the final!SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH: HARRY LIVINGSTONE“ WINNING THE LEAGUE AND CUP DOUBLE WITH ALSAGER” HARRY LIVINGSTONE
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN Foley Football Club was formed in 1947 by a group of friends and former servicemen connected to the Foley Arms in Fenton. Originally known as Foley Old Boys, the club was officially admitted to the Longton and District Football League in July 1947 and began its journey in Division Two. Success arrived almost immediately. During Foley’s first season, the club lifted the Longton Hospital Cup, defeating Forsbrook 3–1 in the 1947/48 final, as well gaining promotion after finishing s. That early cup triumph was only the beginning. Foley later became one of the dominant sides in local football, winning six consecutive Longton League championships between 1950/51 and 1955/56 and a further two more in the 197/72 season and in the 1976/77 season.
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FOLEY MEIRSANDBACH UNITEDMonty Parkes (GK) Lucas Baker Jake Braxton-Lloyd Eden Bullock Adam Clayton Liam Connolly Saul Cullen Kerr Dollochin Archie Ellams Jay Finney Finlay Foote Marc Grocott Connor Lawton Luke Lewis Harry Livingstone Freddy Lloyd Jay Lovatt Joshua Miles Tyler Mistry Matthew Plant Sebastian Quinn Zach Robinson William Tams Jake Walklett Lewis Walley Daniel Ward Connor Withers Nicholas Wood Jake LovattGregory Hall (GK) Joseph Lee (GK) James Peake (GK) Nathan Barry Oliver Bavington Joseph Bevan Matthew Birchall Harry Cain Niall Cope Jack Finney Kyle Foley Bradley Forrester Ryan Goodwin Callum Hamnett Robbie Hatton Kacper Mikulski Kieran Nolan Mitchell Nolan Kieran O’Connell Jake Pollard Jordan Stafford Stanley Tatters Ibrahima Thiam Jacob Vernon Max Williams George WoodroffeToday’s Officials Referee: Jack Griffiths | Assistant: Matt Randles | Assistant: Rebecca Scott MullenTHE SQUADS