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A new era begins
Andrew Vaughan26 Jul 2023 - 11:47
Two of the town's most respected grassroots football clubs have merged into a solitary side for the 2023/24 season and beyond.
Billinge and New Street had their merger approved by the County FA on 6 June and will be known as ‘Billinge New Street Football Club’, with immediate effect.
The two clubs - with 55 years of history between them - have been friends for many of those years with many players representing both clubs and will compete in the Cheshire Football League this coming season.
Billinge chairman Andy Vaughan said: "After a couple of meetings it was apparent that there was a real synergy with a shared vision and the same ambitions.
"In recent years Billinge has been seen as an 'easy touch' with our best players and management picked off by other clubs but by joining up with New Street that gives us a set of players and a management team that are not only very talented, but they are extremely loyal to the club.
"It also brings two very strong committees together, strengthens our commercial clout, allows us to build up our youth and reserve sections and get more involved in the local communities."
New Street chairman and manager Steve Hallwood added: "We have shared a training pitch with the Billinge lads all last season so know the club well and we are really looking forward to this new challenge.
The new club will be based at both Barrows Farm and the Sutton Leisure Centre with the first team Saturday games being played on the 3G pitch at Sutton with Vaughan saying: "I'm incredibly excited that we are playing on Sutton as - in my view - it is quite simply the best playing surface in the area along with brilliant facilities.
"It is now a case of making it both a fortress and a home, and we'll be looking at various ways in the coming weeks of achieving this and will be looking to pack the place out come kick-off time."
Hallwood added: "The lads and me have really enjoyed our time in the Warrington and District Football League and we've had some huge successes, but the time has come to challenge ourselves in the Cheshire Football League.
"We now look forward to welcoming supporters of Billinge and New Street to Sutton where together we can create more great memories.
The coming weeks will also see the club restructured in small ways to help the progression getting everything in place for the start of the 2023/24 season with Vaughan saying: "I'm really looking forward to being involved in the rebranding of the new club and a really successful future."
The two clubs - with 55 years of history between them - have been friends for many of those years with many players representing both clubs and will compete in the Cheshire Football League this coming season.
Billinge chairman Andy Vaughan said: "After a couple of meetings it was apparent that there was a real synergy with a shared vision and the same ambitions.
"In recent years Billinge has been seen as an 'easy touch' with our best players and management picked off by other clubs but by joining up with New Street that gives us a set of players and a management team that are not only very talented, but they are extremely loyal to the club.
"It also brings two very strong committees together, strengthens our commercial clout, allows us to build up our youth and reserve sections and get more involved in the local communities."
New Street chairman and manager Steve Hallwood added: "We have shared a training pitch with the Billinge lads all last season so know the club well and we are really looking forward to this new challenge.
The new club will be based at both Barrows Farm and the Sutton Leisure Centre with the first team Saturday games being played on the 3G pitch at Sutton with Vaughan saying: "I'm incredibly excited that we are playing on Sutton as - in my view - it is quite simply the best playing surface in the area along with brilliant facilities.
"It is now a case of making it both a fortress and a home, and we'll be looking at various ways in the coming weeks of achieving this and will be looking to pack the place out come kick-off time."
Hallwood added: "The lads and me have really enjoyed our time in the Warrington and District Football League and we've had some huge successes, but the time has come to challenge ourselves in the Cheshire Football League.
"We now look forward to welcoming supporters of Billinge and New Street to Sutton where together we can create more great memories.
The coming weeks will also see the club restructured in small ways to help the progression getting everything in place for the start of the 2023/24 season with Vaughan saying: "I'm really looking forward to being involved in the rebranding of the new club and a really successful future."
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