Atherton Laburnum Rovers - Crilly Park

Atherton Laburnum Rovers FC
Crilly Park

Spa Road
Atherton
Greater Manchester
M4 9JX

Official Website

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Ground Number: 1521
Saturday 1st March 2026
Atherton LR - Euxton Villa
NWC Premier





ATHERTON LR - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club was established in 1956 as a junior team called Laburnum Rovers - named after the local fields where they played their games at. After progressing to adult football - the Leigh and District and Bolton Combination, they moved into their current home and joined the Cheshire League in 1980, adding Atherton to their name. This was absorbed into the newly-established North West Counties League in 1982, with Atherton Laburnum Rovers placed in the second tier. Despite finishing second-bottom in 1987, the club was elevated to the top tier due to the quality of its facilities. They took to their new level well and after winning the title for the second season in a row, took the promotion to the NPL D1 in 1994, at the time, a step 3 league. Despite a club record finish of 10th in 1996, they finished bottom of the following season and were relegated back to the North West Counties League. Results didn't really improve, and in 2000, they were relegated to the second tier. The bounceback was immediate as they finished 3rd behind Warrington Town and Tetley Walker to win promotion back up. Rovers found the going tough, though and after finishing in the top half once in the intervening period, were relegated again in 2012. They finished 8th in 2014, but then generally finished in the lower reaches of the table. They finished bottom of the newly-established Division 1 North in 2019, but things have improved since then. The club were runners-up to FC St Helens in 2024 but lost in the playoffs to South Liverpool. They put that right last season, winning the title last season and returning to the Premier Division.

In the FA Cup, the club's best-ever run came in 1996. They needed three games to overcome Liversedge, but then beat Ilkeston Town and Curzon Ashton to reach the third qualifying round. A 2-2 draw was gained in the home game but LR lost the replay 2-0. They never won a game during their brief stint in the FA Trophy but had a notable run to the FA Vase semi-final in 1994. After beating Prudhoe East End, Penrith, Thackley and Bridgnorth Town, the club were handed a tricky-looking game against Aldershot Town, who were on the march to the Football League. It took three games, but eventually, they prevailed and were handed a semi-final against Diss Town. Unable to be separated over two legs, they eventually lost a replay at the neutral ground of VS Rugby by the scoreline of 2-1. Local cup honours include the NWCFL Trophy in 1993 and 1994, the Bolton Combination Division 2 Cup in 1965 and 1966, the Bolton Hospital Cup in 1985, 2002 and 2004, the Goldline Trophy in 1999, 2004 and 2005 and the Westhoughton Charity Cup in 1982. Their record attendance came in 1994 as 1,740 turned out to watch the FA Vase Quarter Final game with Aldershot Town.

The town of Atherton has a population of 22,000 and is near Wigan. It is home to Coronation Street actor and I'm a celebrity star Andy Whyment, who plays Kirk Sutherland in the soap. Atherton Laburnum Rovers are the middle-ranked team in the town, sitting below Atherton Collieries of the NPL Premier but above Atherton Town of the Manchester League. The former are their main rivals, and LR used to be the top dog. The last decade or so has not been kind to them, as Colls have shown what can be achieved with a decent social media team and an enthusiastic bunch of volunteers, inspiring the team to earn three promotions in that time.

GROUND PHOTOS FROM 12TH FEBRUARY 2008
Taken on the way to Bury 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers. It would take me another three years to start hopping properly.

MY VISIT

This was the ground that I was probably looking forward to the most out of this hop. A real old classic, I believe, an old committee at the club turned down the chance to host in 2017. The games that day turned out to be Atherton Colls (who were hosting for the second time, having stepped in as a late replacement for a snowbound Emley, West Didsbury & Chorlton and Maine Road. I'd only recently done that latter and would do the middle ground later. I ended up going to Skelmersdale United's old ground and Knypersley Victoria. I attempted to visit Atherton LR for the first time on 10th March 2020. However, on the coach journey, the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, very British indeed. I ended up seeing an academy game at Manchester City's smaller stadium instead. The pandemic, prolonged by people's lack of hygiene and stupidity, kicked in soon after, and it would be a torrid and dismal time for hoppers. I might have attempted to revisit since, but I can't recall. Either way. I was glad when it was named in the hop lineup for this year.

It had been the usual boozy weekend, but I wasn't planning on having any more until I got home at least. I had a good night's sleep, though, waking at 7.15. It had been a decent room, the only bad thing being the lack of soundproofing and a desk. Overall, though, great value for money. After getting ready, we left at 9.15 and went to the Poulton Elk Wetherspoons for breakfast. Breakfast muffin, black pudding and a pint of Cranberry juice set me up a treat for the day before we left at 10. It was a decent journey, although with 25 miles of petrol in my tank, I had to fill up. Colin took his time in the shop, delaying us, but we were still at the ground half an hour before kickoff. I parked in a side street and walked the couple of minutes towards the ground, paying £8 to get in. The club had pulled out all of the stops and was relaying useful information about the next hop game over the tannoy. I went to the merchandise stall and got a cup filled with sweets for £2. The food queue was busy, and so I headed to the bar, not expecting to buy anything. However, the chance to sample a local brew, Skuna Fruition, was too good to turn down and at 4%, I'd be OK to drive. It was my favourite ground of the hop so far, and it had a good vibe about it. I'd have liked more time, ideally, but I was still pitchside as the teams came out.

 

Atherton LR were having a good season, sitting 8th, having won twenty, drawn two, and lost eleven of their games. They were in fantastic form, having won their last six, the latest a 3-1 win at Barnoldswick Town eleven days ago. Euxton Villa were 16th and had won ten, drawn ten and lost twelve so far. Form-wise, they had won three and lost three of their last six. In their last game in midweek, they'd won 1-0 at Ramsbottom United. The hosts started brightly and took the lead through a Joe Bacon header on 12 minutes. Just before half-time, I went to the tea bar. The service was not as efficient as at AFC Blackpool last night in terms of moving through the queue, but once I'd placed my order, the service was swift. The double cheeseburger was excellent too, very tasty and filling for £7. Euxton Villa barely threatened, and so Atherton made it 2-0 on 75 minutes, a low drive from just inside the area by Abiola Obasoto. There was plenty of injury time, eight minutes in fact, not great when I had a tight schedule for the second game.

 

Atherton LR had been my favourite club of the hop and had got the day spot on in almost every respect. Sunday being Sunday, though, there was always going to be strife and disappointment. We left as soon as we heard the final whistle and got away before most people. It was a stop-start journey to my intended game at Pilkington, and once we got there, the grim entrance did not indicate that there was a football team down the end of the road. We got there ten minutes in and finally found the ground. We had seen teams matching the kit colours of our two intended sides on a distant grass pitch. Our disappointment was confirmed when we got to the main stadium and found a kids' game on it. That was the signal to turn around and go home early. It was a decent journey, but with Colin sleeping, the music soon got irritating. Instead, I put on an Audiobook called Tuned Out by Keith A Pearson. It's one I have listened to many times before, but it still made the journey fly by. Colin woke from his slumbers around half an hour from home, with me dropping him off at 5.45 and getting home at 6. Despite losing two games from my schedule, it had still been a good weekend with everyone from clubs to supporters benefiting from the event.

THE GROUND

CRILLY PARK is a great non-league ground. The focal point is the main stand, which is elevated and provides a great view. Opposite is a sizeable cover, meaning around 300 fans can be seated under cover along with 500 standing. The rest is uncovered. There was a great range of merchandise, food, and drink, all of which were excellent. The car park was quite small, but there was plenty of street parking. Buses run nearby and Atherton train station is not that far away.