Ray Williams (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English
former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke
.
Starting his career at Stoke City
, he did not make a first team appearance and so moved on to Stafford Rangers
, and also worked as a teacher. He helped Rangers to lift the FA Trophy
in 1972 and to top the Northern Premier League
in 1971–72, before he returned to the Football League
with Port Vale
in July 1972. He scored 40 goals in 194 appearances for the club over the next five years, and was given the club's Player of the Year
award in 1972–73
. He returned to the non-league scene with Northwich Victoria
in March 1977, and was appointed as the club's manager the following year. He achieved massive success with the club, winning the Cheshire Senior Cup
and Staffordshire Senior Cup
twice, the Alliance Premier League Cup
once, and also picking up runner-up medals in the Northern Premier League, Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
, and Cheshire Senior Cup. He returned to Port Vale in 1980, and worked there as a chief scout until 2011. He became a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke in August 2011.
before joining non-league Stafford Rangers
under manager Roy Chapman. He helped the club lift the FA Trophy
in 1972 as they defeated Barnet
3–0 at Wembley. His 47 goals also helped the club to the Northern Premier League
title in 1971–72.
He was signed by Port Vale
in July 1972 for a £3,000 fee, and left his teaching
career behind to become a professional player. He soon slotted into Gordon Lee
's Third Division
side, and with 11 goals in 49 games in 1972–73
he was the club's joint-top scorer, along with Sammy Morgan
. For this performances he was also named as the club's Player of the Year
. In 1973–74
he bagged nine goals in 43 games, as the club flirted with relegation.
He hit fourteen goals in 1974–75
, becoming the club's joint-top scorer, along with Terry Bailey
. The "Valiants" missed out on promotion by four points. However Williams lost his scoring touch in 1975–76
, and after going on a 21 game goal drought he posted a total of three goals in 34 games. Though together with his strike partners Derek Brownbill
and Mick Cullerton
the Vale front-line hit a total of 33 goals.
In 1976–77
he came off the bench against Hull City
at Boothferry Park
in the FA Cup
, and set up Ken Beamish
for Vale's equalizing goal. The team continued the run until a Fifth Round defeat to Aston Villa
at Villa Park
. He was in the fifteen man matchday squad for the Villa game, but he and Tommy McLaren
did not receive the £100 bonus that the other thirteen players did. Williams was so disgusted he walked out on the club, and in March 1977 he was sold on to Northwich Victoria
for 'a small fee'. He scored a total of 40 goals in 194 appearances for the Vale, in all competitions.
Northwich were then in the Northern Premier League
, and finished the 1976–77 campaign in second place behind Boston United
, also winning the Cheshire Senior Cup
. Victoria finished seventh in 1977–78 and reached the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup, and Williams was appointed the club's manager. He took the club to a tenth place finish in 1978–79, and also managed the club to the final of the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
at Maine Road
, where they were defeated 3–0 by Mossley
; Victoria also reached the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup
, and were victorious in both games. Victoria competed in the inaugural season of the Alliance Premier League (later to become the Conference National
) in 1979–80, and Williams led them to an eighth place finish, as well as victory in the Alliance Premier League Cup
final over Altrincham
, and another Staffordshire Senior Cup final win. He left the club following this success.
. He then took up a scouting role at Wolves
, but after making up with Vale he once again became Chief Scout
there. He is credited with discovering talents such as Robbie Earle
, Mark Bright
and Ian Taylor
. He lost his job again in the 2002–03
season after the club entered Administration
; though he later was re-hired once finances were more stable. The club announced that his contract would not be renewed beyond June 2011, partly due to Williams' decision to back prospective investor Mo Chaudry over existing chairman Bill Bratt
.
He qualified as a Mathematics
teacher
, and taught at Berry Hill High School
during his Stafford Rangers days.
During the 2010–11
season he started work as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke
.
In November 2009, he was diagnosed with cancer of the prostate
. He worked his treatment at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire
around his commitments to Port Vale. He underwent radiotherapy
treatment through the of summer 2010, and was given the all-clear in September 2010.
with Stafford Rangers
with Northwich Victoria
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke is a BBC Local Radio station in England, for the area of North and Mid Staffordshire, north east Shropshire and South Cheshire. The station began broadcasting programmes on 14 March 1968 as BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent....
.
Starting his career at Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, he did not make a first team appearance and so moved on to Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
, and also worked as a teacher. He helped Rangers to lift the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
in 1972 and to top the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
in 1971–72, before he returned to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in July 1972. He scored 40 goals in 194 appearances for the club over the next five years, and was given the club's Player of the Year
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
award in 1972–73
1972–73 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Port Vale's sixty-first season of football in the Football League, and their third successive season in the Third Division. Their promotion efforts ended with a sixth place finish, whilst in the two cup competitions they lost out to Newcastle United and West Ham United...
. He returned to the non-league scene with Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
in March 1977, and was appointed as the club's manager the following year. He achieved massive success with the club, winning the Cheshire Senior Cup
Cheshire Senior Cup
The Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Cheshire Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament founded in the 1879–80 season and involves teams from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. It is the County Cup competition of the Cheshire FA and...
and Staffordshire Senior Cup
Staffordshire Senior Cup
The Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup is a football cup tournament based in the county of Staffordshire in England first competed for in 1877-78. Organised by the Staffordshire Football Association, it is competed for by a mix of clubs from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Both...
twice, the Alliance Premier League Cup
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
once, and also picking up runner-up medals in the Northern Premier League, Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....
, and Cheshire Senior Cup. He returned to Port Vale in 1980, and worked there as a chief scout until 2011. He became a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke in August 2011.
Playing career
Williams played youth team football for Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
before joining non-league Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
under manager Roy Chapman. He helped the club lift the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
in 1972 as they defeated Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
3–0 at Wembley. His 47 goals also helped the club to the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
title in 1971–72.
He was signed by Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in July 1972 for a £3,000 fee, and left his teaching
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
career behind to become a professional player. He soon slotted into Gordon Lee
Gordon Lee (footballer)
Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...
's Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
side, and with 11 goals in 49 games in 1972–73
1972–73 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Port Vale's sixty-first season of football in the Football League, and their third successive season in the Third Division. Their promotion efforts ended with a sixth place finish, whilst in the two cup competitions they lost out to Newcastle United and West Ham United...
he was the club's joint-top scorer, along with Sammy Morgan
Sammy Morgan
Samuel John "Sammy" Morgan is a Northern Irish former footballer, who now works as Academy Manager at Ipswich Town....
. For this performances he was also named as the club's Player of the Year
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
. In 1973–74
1973–74 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1973–74 season was Port Vale's sixty-second season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Third Division. They finished in twentieth spot, though were seven points clear of relegation...
he bagged nine goals in 43 games, as the club flirted with relegation.
He hit fourteen goals in 1974–75
1974–75 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1974–75 season was Port Vale's sixty-third season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Third Division. It was Roy Sproson's first full season in charge...
, becoming the club's joint-top scorer, along with Terry Bailey
Terry Bailey
Terence "Terry" Bailey is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. His son Mark Bailey also played professional football.After a brief association with Winsford United, he joined Stafford Rangers in 1968...
. The "Valiants" missed out on promotion by four points. However Williams lost his scoring touch in 1975–76
1975–76 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1975–76 season was Port Vale's sixty-fourth season of football in the Football League, and their sixth successive season in the Third Division. Manager Roy Sproson brought Mick Cullerton back to Vale Park, and Cullerton was to become the top-scorer for the season with 21 goals...
, and after going on a 21 game goal drought he posted a total of three goals in 34 games. Though together with his strike partners Derek Brownbill
Derek Brownbill
Derek Anthony Brownbill is a former English footballer who played as a forward. He played in the Football League for Liverpool and Port Vale between 1973 and 1978, before spells with American side Cleveland Cobras and English non-league clubs Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers, Oswestry Town,...
and Mick Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....
the Vale front-line hit a total of 33 goals.
In 1976–77
1976–77 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1976–77 season was Port Vale's sixty-fifth season of football in the Football League, and their seventh successive season in the Third Division. In the FA Cup, Vale reached the Fifth Round for the first time since 1961–62, after progressing past two Second Division clubs...
he came off the bench against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
at Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park was a football stadium in Kingston upon Hull, and was home to the football club Hull City for over 50 years from 31 August 1946 until December 2002, when they moved to the Kingston Communications Stadium....
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, and set up Ken Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....
for Vale's equalizing goal. The team continued the run until a Fifth Round defeat to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
. He was in the fifteen man matchday squad for the Villa game, but he and Tommy McLaren
Tommy McLaren
Thomas "Tommy" McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances...
did not receive the £100 bonus that the other thirteen players did. Williams was so disgusted he walked out on the club, and in March 1977 he was sold on to Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
for 'a small fee'. He scored a total of 40 goals in 194 appearances for the Vale, in all competitions.
Northwich were then in the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
, and finished the 1976–77 campaign in second place behind Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
, also winning the Cheshire Senior Cup
Cheshire Senior Cup
The Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Cheshire Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament founded in the 1879–80 season and involves teams from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. It is the County Cup competition of the Cheshire FA and...
. Victoria finished seventh in 1977–78 and reached the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup, and Williams was appointed the club's manager. He took the club to a tenth place finish in 1978–79, and also managed the club to the final of the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....
at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
, where they were defeated 3–0 by Mossley
Mossley A.F.C.
Mossley Association Football Club are an English football club from the town of Mossley, Greater Manchester, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were founded in 1903 and are nicknamed the Lilywhites, owing to their colours...
; Victoria also reached the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup
Staffordshire Senior Cup
The Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup is a football cup tournament based in the county of Staffordshire in England first competed for in 1877-78. Organised by the Staffordshire Football Association, it is competed for by a mix of clubs from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Both...
, and were victorious in both games. Victoria competed in the inaugural season of the Alliance Premier League (later to become the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
) in 1979–80, and Williams led them to an eighth place finish, as well as victory in the Alliance Premier League Cup
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
final over Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
, and another Staffordshire Senior Cup final win. He left the club following this success.
Post retirement
Williams was appointed Vale's chief scout in September 1980, he resigned in November 1994 after being told he had to pay admission fees at Vale ParkVale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
. He then took up a scouting role at Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, but after making up with Vale he once again became Chief Scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
there. He is credited with discovering talents such as Robbie Earle
Robbie Earle
Robert Fitzgerald "Robbie" Earle MBE is an English-born Jamaican former international footballer who played as a midfielder. He played 578 league games in senior club football, scoring 136 goals....
, Mark Bright
Mark Bright
Mark Abraham Bright is a former English footballer who is now a sports pundit and BBC London's sport presenter, as well as a coach at Crystal Palace....
and Ian Taylor
Ian Taylor (footballer)
Ian Kenneth Taylor is an English former footballer, best known for his time at Aston Villa. A midfielder, he had a fifteen year career in the Football League and Premier League, making 478 league appearances....
. He lost his job again in the 2002–03
2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2002–03 season was Port Vale's ninety-first season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in the Second Division. Another poor season, Brian Horton's side avoided relegation with a seventeenth place finish...
season after the club entered Administration
Administration (British football)
Sports clubs in the United Kingdom, most often in football, sometimes choose to enter administration when they are unable to pay off outstanding debts. Under the Insolvency Act 1986 a business will face a winding up order bringing them to court and if it is shown that a business cannot pay debts as...
; though he later was re-hired once finances were more stable. The club announced that his contract would not be renewed beyond June 2011, partly due to Williams' decision to back prospective investor Mo Chaudry over existing chairman Bill Bratt
Bill Bratt
William Amos "Bill" Bratt MBE is the former chairman of Port Vale Football Club, who served the club in this post from 2003 to 2011....
.
He qualified as a Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, and taught at Berry Hill High School
Berry Hill High School and Sports College
Berry Hill High School and Sports College was a mixed, secondary school located on Arbourfield Drive, Berry Hill, Stoke-on-Trent. The school was awarded specialist Sports College status, though was usually just referred to as Berry Hill High School....
during his Stafford Rangers days.
During the 2010–11
2010–11 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was Port Vale's ninety-ninth season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in League Two. Vale enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, looking like good prospects for promotion. However Micky Adams left the club in December to take charge of Sheffield...
season he started work as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke is a BBC Local Radio station in England, for the area of North and Mid Staffordshire, north east Shropshire and South Cheshire. The station began broadcasting programmes on 14 March 1968 as BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent....
.
Personal life
Williams married medical practitioner Linda, and had three children.In November 2009, he was diagnosed with cancer of the prostate
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. He worked his treatment at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire
University Hospital of North Staffordshire
The University Hospital of North Staffordshire is a major teaching & research hospital in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England, near the border with Newcastle-under-Lyme...
around his commitments to Port Vale. He underwent radiotherapy
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
treatment through the of summer 2010, and was given the all-clear in September 2010.
Honours
Individual- Port Vale F.C. Player of the YearPort Vale F.C. Player of the YearThe Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
: 1972–731972–73 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1972–73 season was Port Vale's sixty-first season of football in the Football League, and their third successive season in the Third Division. Their promotion efforts ended with a sixth place finish, whilst in the two cup competitions they lost out to Newcastle United and West Ham United...
with Stafford Rangers
- Northern Premier LeagueNorthern Premier LeagueThe Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
champion: 1971–72 - FA TrophyFA TrophyThe Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
winner: 1972
with Northwich Victoria
- Northern Premier LeagueNorthern Premier LeagueThe Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
runner-up: 1976–77 - Cheshire Senior CupCheshire Senior CupThe Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Cheshire Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament founded in the 1879–80 season and involves teams from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. It is the County Cup competition of the Cheshire FA and...
winner: 1977 & 1979 - Cheshire Senior CupCheshire Senior CupThe Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Cheshire Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament founded in the 1879–80 season and involves teams from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. It is the County Cup competition of the Cheshire FA and...
runner-up: 1978 - Staffordshire Senior CupStaffordshire Senior CupThe Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup is a football cup tournament based in the county of Staffordshire in England first competed for in 1877-78. Organised by the Staffordshire Football Association, it is competed for by a mix of clubs from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Both...
winner: 1979 & 1980 - Northern Premier League Challenge CupNorthern Premier League Challenge CupThe Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....
runner-up: 1979 - Alliance Premier League CupConference League CupThe Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
runner-up: 1980