By Garry Clarke
WARRINGTON Rylands travel to manager Michael Clegg’s old stomping ground on Saturday when they visit the Skuna Stadium to take on Atherton Collieries.
Clegg was manager of Colls for five seasons from 2014 during which time he guided them to 3 promotions as they rose from the North West Counties League Division One to the Northern Premier League Premier Division, as well as picking up several cups along the way until leaving in November 2019 to become manager of Ashton United, Rylands Tuesday night opponents at Gorsey Lane.
“I managed there for five seasons and it’s always a tough place to go,” said Clegg after Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Stafford Rangers, “all the lads that I had there have gone but it will be good to see some familiar faces, but it’s just another game that we want to get three points from.”
Having lost their opening game of the season 2-0 at Whitby Town, Atherton won their second game of the campaign on Tuesday beating Bradford Park Avenue 2-0 at home with Jordan Scanlon, signed during the summer bagging both goals in front of a crowd of 301.
After being held to a goal less draw at Gorsey Lane last season Rylands lost 2-0 at Atherton in February a couple of weeks before Clegg’s arrival as manager.
At the start of last season he had masterminded a 3-1 defeat of Rylands at Hurst Cross when in charge of Ashton United, although he had departed the Robins before their 3-0 victory at Gorsey Lane in January.
It’s not just the first team in action this weekend as the newly formed Warrington Rylands reserve team play their first home game at Gorsey Lane against Horwich RMI in the Manchester Football League Division 2.
While on Sunday attention turns to the Warrington Rylands Under 21s who kick off their North West Development Championship B campaign with an away game at Rainford Rangers before hosting the mini ElWireCo against Warrington Town on Thursday 24th August , kick off 6.30pm
