Atherton LR ready to go again after their historic treble season
Five years ago, the club was a week away from being suspended from the league, but the recent campaign saw them secure not only the Edward Case Cup, but the Champions Cup and the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) Division One North title - securing LR's first ever treble and a return to the Premier Division for the first time in nearly 15 years.
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Not many 25-year-old's have that on their managerial CV, but David Jones, who led the team to glory not only in the league, also had LR three games away from Wembley in the Isuzu FA Vase, falling where short to Bourne Town in the Round of 16 as the last northern team left in the competition.
With all the success from last season fully enjoyed, everyone is now looking ahead to a year of new challenges, further away days and a chance for boss Jones to prove himself in a higher division.
LR will enter the extra-preliminary round of the FA Cup this year for the first time in 15 years - the Yellows have not had the best history in the competition with their furthest progression being the Third Qualifying Round in 1996, beating sides like Liversedge, Ilkeston and Curzon Ashton before eventually falling to Bamber Bridge in a replay.
Jones has, however, enjoyed lengthy cup runs so far with LR in the FA Vase 2024/25 and Edward Case Cup last season, so an FA Cup run is not out of the question.
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But before then there is work today with the squad and staff.
Over the summer, LR said goodbye to two coaches, Michael Moran and Gareth Flitcroft, whose efforts in the 2024/25 season and prior helped in the restructure of the first team and they both excelled at the club.
Jones said: 'Mick stepped away due to more work commitments, and going up a league means more games so that means more strain on him.
'Gaz has been outstanding for the last two years, leading a lot of the coaching, and just being fantastic for us.
'He has had the opportunity to take more hours at Stockport County which is brilliant for him and his personal progression.
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'We would like to thank Gaz and Mick for their outstanding hard work, commitment and playing a huge part in our success over the last two seasons.'
LR recently confirmed the replacements for the coaching pair in the shape of former Southport coach, Simon Beswick, and ex-Glossop North End assistant manager, Lew Sumner.
The pair arrive to the club with a heap of experience, especially in the art of promotion with Sumner working with Jones during the pair's stint at Bootle Under-21s.
With the arrivals and departures of staff, there have also been a rake of departures from the first team, most notably Ryan Talbot, whose goals in the FA Vase last campaign were crucial in LR's advances, and young star Cristian Mukoko
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Jones added: 'We have to keep moving forward.
'Every player from last season will forever be remembered here, that's for sure.
'Players coming in, we're looking at four or five really and that'll be it.
'Looking at ourselves over the last two years, we're built on stability, hard work and togetherness and we plan on continuing that trend.'
After winning the title, and with it promotion alongside play-off winners Euxton Villa, LR will be playing in the NWCFL Premier Division in 2025/26 - Step Five of the non-league pyramid.
The newest league format will see LR play 46 games across the season with 24 teams, including two national cup competitions and two domestic cups, which will certainly be a challenge the team will need to overcome.
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Most fans have given a bold prediction of a top-half finish by LR, but Jones gave a less restrictive view on the matter.
He said: 'I have no expectations, there's no need for them really.
'We've been fantastic for the last two years to achieve this and we'll just keep the mentality of striving to be the best we can.
'There are no expectations of where we'll finish or how far we'll go in the cups, it's just a case of let's see where we go, roll up our sleeves and see where it takes us.'
The league campaign will start on Saturday, July 26 with the FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round taking place a week later on August 2.
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