Stepping Stone & Consolidation
History 3 of 5

3. Stepping Stone & Consolidation


In 1994-95 was another successful year for town, who made it into the draw for the F.A Cup first round proper for the first time ever, a last gasp equaliser at Hyde United forcing a replay, the winners of which would entertain Darlington. Sadly, Town have still to play in the first round proper, as Hyde won the replay. Town also took Chorley to a replay in the league cup, having beaten Barrow along the away, but once their interest in that competition was over the club, were able to focus on their main aim of the season promotion to the premier Division. An amazing run where they won eleven games from their last fifteen games was not quite good enough. Town finished in third place, missing out on promotion by just one point.

Major problems behind the scenes over the close season resulted in the management team and most of the players moving to Curzon Ashton, and a completely new-look Town side lined up to face Alferton for the first game of the 1995-96 season. Town lost 5-1, but new boss Tommy Lawson turned things around, and by Christmas, Town were once more a match for anybody.

The close season 1996 saw yet another change of management as Tommy left for pastures new to be replaced by Alan Lord, unfortunately the partnership parted just before Christmas and Simon Rudge came back and brought Ray Birch as his assistant. The change came too late to save Town from relegation but the run did show some promise.

Financial problems both on and off the pitch beset Town in 1996-97 and a new committee was formed under Chairman Harry Boden & Steve Jones. Relegation to the NWCFL Div 1 was followed by demotion on ground grading criteria to Division 2 and a rationalisation of the clubs finances coupled with the appointment of Dave Hughes as Football Manager & Ian Dick as his secretary has seen Town's image improve dramatically. Sadly though Ian had to return to Scotland, and Dave stepped down to assistant manager, with Alan Blair becoming manager.

In the 99/00 season saw Town win the Second Division Trophy beating Tetley Walker 2-0 at Prescot Cables. In 200/01 Warrington won the Second Division Title to return to Division One, and with a lot of work going on at the ground Town are progressed forward. Town finished 16th in their second season back in Div 1 and Alan Blair stepped down, Glenn Walker & Derek Brownbill took over and saw Town finish 5th in the league to gain promotion back into the UniBond Division One after the league restructuring process had taken place.

Town's first season back in the UniBond League was something of a struggle but safety was guaranteed on the final day of the season with a 2-0 win over Shepshed Dynamo. The club also won the UniBond League Fair Play Award, picking up a prize of £1000 in the process. We also reached the semi-final of the Liverpool Senior Cup losing 3-2 to Everton.

The following season was a repeat of the last with another Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final this time to Liverpool, with Town losing 1-2.

2007/08 saw Warrington make big plans for the future with ambitions to be in the Football League within 5 years. The club sacked their manager Ian Street midway through the campaign with local man Paul Moore taking over the reigns at Cantilever Park. A new logo was designed and new sponsors and backers were attracted to the club also attendances showed a slight increase despite this season being a bit of a let down.

The 2008/2009 season was a period of change and a positive one at that. The club were now playing in the Unibond Division One North and in November 2008 sacked manager Paul Moore and replaced him with former Town legend Joey Dunn. The new boss guided the side away from relegation and built a squad ready for a play off push the following year. Off the field the club was headed by a new board of directors and Gary Skentlebery was appointed as the club's Chairman.

The 2009/2010 proved to be Warrington Town's most sucsesful season and it started with silverwear, winning the first ever PEACE Cup, a yearly event with local Northern Irish side Crewe United. Town bowed out of the FA Cup in the third qualifying round having defeated much fancied Leigh Genesis and Nantwich Town from the Unibond Premier League while in the FA Trophy, Sheffield FC were demolished 5-3 at Cantilever Park before being knocked out by Unibond Premier promotion chasers Whitby Town. The club experienced it highest ever league finish with 9th place a great achievement of Joey and his management team.

The following season saw the club fight for a play off place all the way until the final month were 9 games in 29 days took it's toll on he squad, having to settle for 9th place against, this time in the newly named, Evo-Stik First Division North.