MATCH PREVIEW: ATHERTON COLLERIES VS BOOTLE

By Brendan Doyle

Photos: Kate: Tencza

Club History:

Origins and early decades

Atherton Collieries Football Club was formed in 1916 by coal miners from the six active pits in the Atherton Urban District as a way to raise money and provide welfare support for locals during the First World War. They’ve played at the same ground, Alder House, ever since it opened.

Right after the war they joined the Bolton Combination and won the league at their first attempt, also lifting the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield that season. They moved around local leagues in the inter-war period — including spells in the Lancashire Alliance and a return to the Bolton Combination — winning several league championships and shield trophies up through the 1940s. That era built their reputation locally.

Mid-20th century to formation of the NWCFL

After WWII they played in the Manchester League and then the West Lancashire League before stepping up to Division Two of the Lancashire Combination in 1950. Results were mixed, so they returned to the Bolton Combination and continued to collect local honours through the 1950s and 60s.

In 1971 they rejoined the Lancashire Combination, then in 1982 became founder members of the North West Counties League (NWCFL) when that league formed from a merger of the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination.

Rise through non-league football

Once in the NWCFL they started to make steady progress:

• Won Division Three in 1986-87 and got promoted.

• Runners-up in Division Two in 1995-96, earning promotion to Division One.

• Won the Division One Trophy in 2010-11.

• Champions of NWCFL Division One in 2014-15, moving up to the Premier Division.

• In their centenary season (2016-17) they won the NWCFL Premier Division title and had a good run in the FA Vase.

Northern Premier League era

Promotion from the NWCFL in 2017 took them into the Northern Premier League (NPL) — step 4 of the non-league pyramid. They continued upward, winning the NPL Division One West in 2018-19 and moving into the Premier Division. The club has since bounced between tiers at that level, with relegation back to Division One West after the 2023-24 season.

Identity and community

They’re nicknamed “The Colls”, reflecting the town’s mining heritage, and still play at Alder House, now called the Dreams2Reality Stadium for sponsorship. The club operates as a Community Interest Company (CIC), with supporters deeply rooted in the local area.

Form Guide:

Atherton Colleries 0 Stalybridge Celtic 2, January 9th 2026

Atherton Colleries 2 Mossley 3, January 17th 2026

Trafford 4 Atherton Colleries 1, January 24th 2026

Atherton Colleries 2 Witton Albion 1, January 31st 2026

Nantwich Town 2 Atherton Colleries 3, February 7th 2026

The Manager:

Danny Lafferty was appointed Colls manager in early January following previous boss Michael Clegg stepping down. Lafferty first joined the club in 2009 and went on to make over 300 appearances for Colls across three separate spells. He captained the side to the NPL West Division title in 2019 and also lifted both the NPL League Cup and the NWCFL Premier Division during his time at the club. Lafferty will be hoping to make as much or if not more of an impact as Colls manager than he did as a player.

Key Player:

Chinedu Uche is the top scorer for the club this season with eight goals in twenty two appearances. Uche has previously played for Wythenshawe, Warrington Rylands, Hyde United, Glossop North End and Oldham Athletic.

Last Five Seasons:

2024/25 Northern Premier League Division One West

2023/24 Northern Premier League Premier Division

2022/23 Northern Premier League Premier Division

2021/22 Northern Premier League Premier Division

2020/21 Northern Premier League Premier Division

Match Preview:

Bootle travel to Wigan to take on tenth placed Atherton Collieries in an attempt to carry on our winning streak, this is a very good chance for us to extend four consecutive wins to five.

Beating Wythenshawe Town and Stafford Rangers at home and Shifnal Town and Sporting Khalsa consecutively has seen Bootle go within touching distance of the play off positions in the league table. A postponed home fixture against Vauxhall Motors last week seen The Bucks miss out on potentially entering the play off areas, but it could still happen for them today with a victory at Alder House and results elsewhere in the league swing in their favour.

The Colls got off to a rocky start to 2026 with facing three straight defeats to Stalybridge Celtic, Mossley and Trafford, but recently they’ve put together two wins on the bounce against Witton Albion and Nantwich Town. Recently appointed manager Danny Lafferty will be hoping to get a third win in his sixth game as Colls gaffer.

Club Fact File:

Founded:

1916

Ground:

Alder House

Capacity:

2,500

Recent Honours:

Northern Premier League Division One West Champions 2018/19

Non League To Pro:

Jimmy Armfield

Anthony Pilkington