Charnock Richard

HONOURS WON DURING ANDY’S REIGN
West Lancashire League Premier Division Titles 6, Runners Up 3, Lancashire Amateur Shield 4, Runners Up 3, Richardson Cup 4, Runners Up 2, Goldline Trophy 1, Runners Up 2.

Andy Westwell was appointed as manager of Charnock Richard Football Club on Monday 19th March 2001 and has been in charge for the 15 years since. He has been the architect of the most successful seasons in the history of the club and he is now looking to, hopefully, lead the club into a new challenge in the North West Counties League next season.
Andy replaced Terry Gaskill who had been manager since 1997 and who had led Charnock to their first championship in the West Lancashire League in his first season. He brought with him Nigel Simmonds as his assistant. Both Andy and Nigel had played for the club. Andy signed for Charnock in the autumn of 1995 and made 130 appearance 9 of which were from the substitutes bench scoring 4 goals. Andy had previously had a very successful career as a part-time professional captaining Chorley and also playing for Horwich RMI.
Nigel Simmonds arrived at the club from Leyland Motors just prior to Andy and made 73 appearances of which 33 were from the bench. He scored two goals. Many of Nigel’s substitute appearances were during the time he was assistant manger filling in on the bench when numbers were short.
When Andy took over in the latter stages of the 2000/1 season the club were in a bit of a slump and it was a case of just going out and finishing in the best position. Under Andy and Nigel a further 14 points were won and the team finished in seventh place in the table. Noted signings at this time were John Sanderson and Adam Tong, the latter is now playing semi-professional football in Australia.
The start of the 2001/2 season gave the new management team the chance to show what they could achieve and they went on to finish second in the League, win the Lancashire Amateur Shield for the first time for 34 years and the Richardson Cup and win through to the Goldline Trophy Final losing out to Atherton Collieries. Not a bad start for a rookie manager.
The following season saw Charnock win the league title and prevent Kirkham & Wesham recording a straight run of eight consecutive championships. Davd Haslam joined as coach at the start of the 2004/5 season and the the Richardson Cup was won again. The club won the Goldline Trophy for the second time in 2005/6 as the club continued to pick up silverware. The Lancashire Amateur Shield was once again in the hands of Charnock at the end of the 2006/7 season.
Charnock were continuing to finish in the top six each season but just lacked the consistency to finish in the top spot.
Season 2007/8 was disappointing as regards silverware but the club still finished in 5th spot in the table. There was further success in season 2008/9 when the club won the league title for the third time and once again the Lancashire Amateur Shield was on display in the clubhouse.
Season 2009/10 saw Charnock fail to retain the league title and finish in fourth position and they were not successful in the Shield or the Richardson Cup.
Season 2010/11 saw Charnock start a run that has seen them dominate local amateur football. They won the Lancashire Amateur Shield and retained it the following season. Season 2011/12 saw them win the league title for the fourth time and go an and retain the trophy for the following three seasons.
Nigel Simmonds retired as Assistant Manager in 2013 and Dave Haslam stepped up to take his place. Andy Pendlebury after three years at the club retired from playing and took up the vacant coach’s role. In season 2013/14 the Richardson Cup was won for the third time and the feat was repeated in season 2014/15.
Not only has Andy master-minded the enormous success for the First Team he has taken overall charge of the Reserve and Academy teams and set up a system that sees players coming through from the Junior Section and having, if they are good enough, a route through to join the First Team Squad. It has been 15 years of amazing success under Andy’s jurisdiction and we must all thank him for the dedication he has shown to the club.

Keith Reader