Billinge Football Club History

Billinge Football Club was founded in 1988 By Phil Middlehurst.
They played then in the St Helens Combination at the Eddleston Playing Fields.
1988-1989 to 1991-1992
Geoff Maggs was the first manager to take the reins of the newly-formed club.

1992-1993 to 1996-1997 Following Geoff Maggs'
departure to pastures new, Les Pilling was installed as the club manager.

1997-1998 and 1998-1999 Billinge FC form a Reserve Team, Brian Collins is appointed First Team Manager and Les Pilling takes on the
Manager's Job of the newly-created Reserve Team.

1999-2000 to 2004-2005 Manager Keith Amato, replaces Brian Collins as First Team Manager.
Les Pilling continues his sterling work with the Reserve Team. Amato enjoyed success with Billinge FC bringing silverware to the club and being the first manager to take a Billinge team into the prestigious Mid-Cheshire League.

2005-2006
Paul Farrell is appointed as First Team Manager to replace Keith Amato, long time club stalwart Les Pilling is appointed as Farrell’s Assistant Manager and Colin Betts is appointed as
Reserve Team Manager.

2007-2008
Ex-Wigan Athletic legend Bryan Griffiths is appointed as First Team Manager, assisted by Andrew Clough. Dave Knowles is appointed as the Reserve Team Manager. Knowles is the first Billinge manager to take a team to a Mid-Cheshire Cup Final, losing narrowly to Poynton on a penalty shootout. Following the highs of the Cup Final, various on-going issues
meant that Knowles was to leave the club at the end of the season.

2008-2009
Griffiths and Clough get Billinge promoted to the top division in the Cheshire League. The club move grounds from Eddleston Fields to purpose-built facilities at Barrow Farm.
Steve Dickson is appointed as Reserve Team Manager.

2009-2010
Griffiths and Clough consolidate the First Team in the Cheshire League top division and Dickson looks to re-build the Reserves with
strong links into the Billinge Youth system.

2010-2011
Ex St Helens Town Manager Jimmy McBride comes out of retirement to take over the job of First Team Manager, Bryan Griffiths steps down to become assistant to McBride and Andrew Clough takes on the position of club Chairman.
High points include Neil McDermot, Gary Jones, Scott Tickle and Andy Ledger being named in the Cheshire League Inter-League Squad. Steve
Dickson continues as Reserve Team Manager. At the end of the season McBride resigns after being offered his old job back at St Helens Town, McBride comes back for Andrew Clough as his Assistant Manager at Town.

2011-2012
Steve Dickson is promoted from the Reserves to the First Team, he appoints a
Management Team including Adam Lowry as Head Coach, Rob Dainty as Assistant Manager and Les Pilling as Match Day Secretary. Dickson is given the task of re-building the team to have a more youthful look. A new Reserve Team Management Team is appointed with Brian Mather, Chez Tideswell and Campbell Wilson coming in with a host of new players.
The First Team had a really good run of results which lead to a mid-table finish considering the disastrous start this was a great achievement, they were the first Billinge Senior Team to get to the Cheshire League's prestigious League Cup Final and the average age has been reduced to 22 years. The Reserves have equalled Dave Knowles feat of getting the Reserves to the Reserve Cup Final, they also went on to a league and cup double, beating Farnworth 3-0 in the Northern Cup Final then to be crowned as Cheshire League Reserve Division Champions.
Following the Reserve Team's success at Billinge the management accepted an approach from Daten F.C and left to form Daten's first
team. Billinge moved quickly to appoint Paul Oakes as the Reserve team manager, Oakes had enjoyed success with St Helens Combination Premier outfit Greenfields FC. Dave Knowles returned to the club as Assistant Manager to Oakes, with Rob Dainty taking on an advisory/youth development role, this position is temporary as Dainty will return to First Team duties.

2012-2013
Steve Dickson steered the First Team to safety in the top division while the Reserve Team, under Paul Oakes, finished a very respectable 7th. The Reserve Team became the first club to retain the Northern Cup when they beat Quarry Bank 3-1 in the final.

Club Honours

1997-1998
St Helens Combination 2nd Division Champions and Tom Worrall Cup Winners

1998-1999
St. Helens Combination 1st Division Champions

2000-2001
St Helens Combination Premier
Division Runners up

2001-2002
St Helens Combination Premier
Division Champions and Finalists in the Hospital Cup and DH Griffiths Cup

2003-2004
Warrington League Division 1 Champions
The Bill Grey Player of the year award, Andy Ledger

2005-2006

2008-2009
Promoted to Cheshire League 1st Division
The Bill Grey Player of the year award, Andy Ledger

2009-2010

2010-2011
Cheshire League Club of the Season

2011-2012
Cheshire League Cup Finalists

Reserve Record

1998-99
St Helens Comb Division 3 Winners and Rainford Potteries Cup Runners-up

1999-2000
St Helens Comb Division 2
Runners-up

2000-2001
Rainford Potteries Cup Winners

2001-2002
Tom Worrall Cup Winners

2003-2004
St Helens Star Premier League
Runners-up

2007-2008
Cheshire League Reserve Cup Finalists

2011-2012
Cheshire League Reserve Cup Finalists

2011 - 2012
Northern Cup Winners
Cheshire League Reserve League Champions

2012 - 2013
Northern Cup Winners

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