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MEIRT H EV S S H A W B U R Y 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 3 P MS A T U R D A Y 8 A U G U S T 2 0 2 6T HI S S U E 2 - 2 0 2 6 / 2 7P 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 RF O L E Y M E I R C H A R I T A B L E O R G A N I S A T I O N C H A R I T Y N U M B E R : 1 1 8 6 9 74P L A Y E R S P O N S O R
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: Lucas Baker21From The Archives23Next Up
Firstly, I’d like to welcome everyone to the Trentham Foods Stadium for today’s game, along with the players, management, officials and supporters of Shawbury United. It was great to get our first three points of the season on the board with Tuesday night’s 3–2 win over Sandbach United. We knew it was going to be a difficult game against a very good side, so to come away with the result was really pleasing. There were plenty of positives in the performance, but also things we know we can continue to improve on. The most important thing now is that we build on that result. It’s still very early in the season and there is a long way to go, but we want to make the Trentham Foods Stadium a difficult place for teams to come and pick up points. Shawbury will provide another tough test. They are a hard-working side who will come here determined to get a result, so we know we’ll need to approach the game with the same effort, discipline and togetherness that we showed on Tuesday night. The lads have worked hard since the start of pre-season and there is a good feeling within the group. Competition for places is strong, which is exactly what we want, and everyone will have an important part to play as the season progresses. Finally, thank you once again to everyone who came down and supported us in midweek. The backing from the sidelines makes a real difference to the players, and hopefully we can give you another performance to enjoy today. Enjoy the game and get behind the lads. Up the Foley!THE GAFFER’S NOTESFirst Team ManagerMark Lawton
Good afternoon and welcome back to the Trentham Foods Stadium for today’s North West Counties League fixture against Shawbury United. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the players, management, officials and supporters of Shawbury United. We hope everyone connected with the club enjoys their visit to Meir and has a safe journey home afterwards. It was fantastic to see us collect our first three points of the season on Tuesday evening with an entertaining 3–2 victory over Sandbach United. It was a great night at the ground and hopefully the result gives everyone plenty of confidence as we continue into the early stages of the new campaign. We are only a few games into the season, but there is already plenty happening around the club. A huge amount of work continues to take place behind the scenes to keep Foley moving forward, and I would once again like to thank all of our volunteers, committee members and sponsors for the time and support they continue to give us. Home matchdays are an important part of what we are trying to build at Foley. We want the Trentham Foods Stadium to be somewhere supporters enjoy coming, where young fans feel part of the club and where the players can count on strong backing from the sidelines. Today we welcome a Shawbury United side who we know will provide another competitive test. There are never any easy games in this division, and we look forward to another good afternoon of non-league football. Finally, thank you to everyone who has joined us today and continues to support Foley Meir. Your backing is greatly appreciated by everyone at the club. Enjoy the game. Up the Foley!THE PRESIDENT’S WELCOMEClub PresidentSteve James
CLUB NEWSFOLEY UNDER-8S TAKE CENTRE STAGEToday we’re delighted to welcome Foley Meir Under-8s as our matchday mascots at the Trentham Foods Stadium. It will be a great opportunity for the youngsters to enjoy the matchday experience, meet the players and lead the team out before kick-off. The Under-8s are also looking to add another 2 or 3 players to their squad. Anyone interested in getting involved and joining the Foley family is encouraged to get in touch with the club or Ant on 07954119244 for more information. We hope the team have a brilliant day and enjoy every minute of their mascot experience.
Will TamsHarry LivingstoneNick WoodsConnor LawtonJake LloydConnor WithersJay LovattAdam ClaytonKerr DollochinSaul CullenZach RobinsonMatt PlantEden BullockLiam ConnollyFin FooteMarc GrocottSeb QuinnPlayer Sponsors 26/27Monty ParkesBRAITH & ELLWYNN ELLISDYLAN& WYN JAMESMICKEY DANIELS
Lucas BakerCharlie BradburyTyler MistryArchie EllamsLuke LewisDanny WardJake WalklettJay FinneyFreddy LloydJake LovattPlayer Sponsors 26/27Josh Miles Carl BakerBRAITH & ELLWYNN ELLISDYLAN& WYN JAMESMark Lawton
JAMIESJAMIESJamie Roberts Sports PhotographyWATCH OUTWATCH OUTABOUTABOUTClub Photographer Jamie Roberts has been given Unlimited Access To All Areas at The Trentham Foods Stadium.jr_sportsphotography
THEVISITORSSHAWBURY UNITED
Founded in 1992, Shawbury United began life in the Shrewsbury and Shropshire Alliance Division Two before making steady progress through the local football pyramid. After a number of promotions and cup successes, the club were admitted to the West Midlands Regional League in 1999/2000 and earned promotion to its Premier Division the following season. One of Shawbury’s strongest early campaigns came in 2007/08, when they reached the last 32 of the FA Vase—a club record—and finished as runners-up in the West Midlands League Premier Division. Their biggest league success followed in 2015/16, when they were crowned Premier Division champions and secured promotion to the Midland League. The club’s progress has not always been straightforward. Shawbury previously played at the Butler Sports Ground in Wem and later had to relocate to Ludlow to maintain their place at Step 5. More recently, a new home was completed in Shawbury and opened for the 2024/25 season, featuring floodlights, a new clubhouse and a 100-seat stand. Today, Shawbury United play at the Shawbury United Community Sports and Recreational Centre on Carradine Road. The club has developed into a substantial community organisation, running more than 20 junior sides alongside its first team, development team, women’s team, Sunday side, veterans teams and walking football. Now competing in the North West Counties League First Division South under manager Matthew Boswell, Shawbury continue to represent their Shropshire community while looking to build on more than three decades of steady progress.SHAWBURY UNITED
N W C F L F I R S T D I V I S I O N S O U T H2 - 11 5 N O V E M 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 - 32 4 M A R C H 2 0 2 6PREVIOUS MEETINGS2025/26 SEASON REVIEWThe 2025/26 campaign proved to be a challenging but ultimately successful one for Shawbury United as they secured their place in the North West Counties League First Division South for another season. Shawbury spent much of the campaign battling near the lower end of the table, with consistency proving difficult to find. However, the side continued to compete and showed plenty of determination when it mattered most. Their season was transformed during the closing weeks as an unbeaten run provided a timely boost in the fight for survival. Back-to-back victories over Barnton and Haughmond during the Easter weekend officially confirmed their safety and ensured they would remain at Step 6. Shawbury eventually finished the campaign in 15th place. Although it was a difficult season at times, their strong finish demonstrated the resilience within the squad and gave the club a platform on which to build heading into the new campaign. Under manager Matthew Boswell, Shawbury will now be looking to produce greater consistency and move further away from the lower reaches of the division during 2026/27.2026/27 SO FARShawbury United began the new campaign with two consecutive away fixtures. A 2–0 opening-day defeat at Bilston Town was followed by a hard-earned 1–1 draw against Telford Town, with Lewis Bloor’s penalty securing their first point of the season. They arrive at the Trentham Foods Stadium still searching for their first victory, but encouraged by an improved performance and result in their second outing.
Foley Meir picked up their first three points of the new league campaign with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Sandbach United at the Trentham Foods Stadium. The visitors made the brighter start and took the lead after just eight minutes through Kieran O’Connell, leaving Foley with work to do early in the contest. The response was a positive one, however, and Jake Lovatt brought Foley level on 18 minutes to restore parity. Foley continued to grow into the game and completed the turnaround five minutes before the break. Will Tams found the back of the net in the 40th minute to send the hosts into half-time with a 2-1 advantage. The home side carried their momentum into the second half and Lucas Baker extended the lead on 68 minutes, giving Foley some breathing space with their third goal of the evening. Sandbach continued to push and eventually pulled one back through Saul Shotton in stoppage time, but it proved too late to deny Foley, who saw out the remaining moments to secure a hard-earned 3-2 victory. It was the perfect response following the opening-day defeat at AFC Bridgnorth and a positive first outing of the season at the Trentham Foods Stadium, as Foley collected their first three points of the campaign.LAST TIME OUTFOLEY MEIR SANDBACH UNITED23 TRENTHAM FOODS STADIUM | TUESDAY 4 AUGUSTTH ATTENDANCE: 133Kieran OConnell (8), Saul Shotton (90+1)Jake Lovatt (18), Will Tams (40), Lucas Baker (68)
Who is the best player you’ve ever played with? Lewis Macari or Dan Trickett-Smith can’t decide Who would you trust with a last minute penalty? I’d trust Groc with my life What away trip are you looking forward to? The one we go on the Christmas do straight after Who is the funniest player at the club? John Brown and he is a player What’s your favorite song of all time? Three Little Bird by Bob Marley Who is always late training? Me and whoever I give a lift too 😂 What has been your favourite football memory so far? Had some great memories at Stoke but winning the double with The Swans family has to top it ❤SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH: LUCAS BAKER“I’D TRUST GROC WITH MY LIFE” LUCAS BAKER
FOLEY’S 1958/59 HANLEY CUP TRIUMPH The 1958/59 season brought another memorable cup success for Foley as the club lifted the Hanley Cup. Foley’s route to the final included victory over Milton United at Meakin’s Ground, Ivy House, Hanley, setting up a meeting with Wolstanton United at Vale Park. Playing at the home of Port Vale provided a fitting stage for the final, and Foley rose to the occasion. Captained by Alan Chadwick, the side secured an impressive 3–1 victory to bring the Hanley Cup back to Foley. The triumph was Foley’s second known success in the competition, following an earlier Hanley Cup victory during the 1954/55 season. The surviving newspaper coverage provides an important record of another successful Foley side and a day when the club celebrated silverware at one of North Staffordshire’s most recognisable football grounds.
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SHAWBURY UNITEDFOLEY MEIRMonty 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 Lovatt Charlie BradburyJack Boswell (GK) Dominic Smith (GK) Calum Bennett Scott Binnersley Lewis Bloor Joe Care Louis Clark Oliver Cooper Rune Corinaldi Thomas Daley Ben Evans Charlie Evans William Evans Josh Hesson Conor Hughes Kyle Jordon Jamie King Harvey Lewis Ryan Mills Joseph Nixon Ethan Pickford Brendon Price Ablay Sowe Liam Taylor Emmanuel Williams Harry WoodburnToday’s Officials Referee: Jacub Abratanski | Assistant: Nathan Hulme | Assistant: Jamie PowellTHE SQUADS