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This photo was taken just before the Ken Gee Cup Final at Central Park, mid 70s.

Back Row: ( L to R) Walt Fairhurst, Jimmy Harmer, Geoff Hilton, Norman Sharples, George Grundy, Terry O Neill, Johnny Maye, Brian Catterall, Tony Connolly, Mick Spencer,

Front Row: Cliff Fleming , Derek Gibson, Mick Cartwright, John Sharples Capt, Carl Roden, Colin Burgess, Ged Suddell,

Kneeling: Vinny Charnock, Les Bolton.

The birth of BARLA in 1973 gave new impetus to the amateur game and encouraged clubs to develop their own clubhouses and facilities which St Pats did very successfully at Clarington Park.

Barla's formation also prompted the District Leagues to get together and pool their resources. The North West Counties League was formed by a merger of Leigh, Manchester, St Helens, Warrington, Widnes and Wigan districts.

St Pats legend cliff Fleming had become manager in 1967 along with secretary Walt Fairhurst.

in 1977 the old Whelley club came under the St Pats umbrella and with it a highly succesful youth set up. From that moment on there was no looking back for St Pats Junior section which played at under 19s.

The list of players produced for the professional game is endless. Probably the best known from that first crop were the ex-second team coaches Trevor Stockley and Paul O'Neill (father of current players Sean and Pat), Ged Byrne, Mick McTigue and the one and only Andy Gregory.

Honours came thick and fast for the Pats youth teams with National cups, County cups and League titles. The production line of stars continued including Gt.Britain captains Andy Platt, Chris Joynt, Phil Clarke, Shaun Edwards and Mike Gregory as well as the likes of Martin Dermott, Joe Lydon, David Lyon, Kris Radlinski, John Fieldhouse, Shaun Wane, Ian Lucas, Dave Wood, Martin Crompton, Mick Cassidy, David Jones. The list is endless. No doubt some real star names have been missed.