ST HELENS Town AFC who will make local sporting history next Tuesday evening when they step out at Knowsley Road to face Accrington Stanley in their only 'home' pre-season friendly, (kick off 7.30pm) Admission as per the forthcoming season, £3 adults, £1.50 concessions.

Last time the St Helens soccer squad appeared at Knowsley Road was on Sunday, April 26, 1987, when manager Allan Wellens and his squad proudly displayed the FA Vase en route from Wembley where they had won the coveted trophy the previous day. Bradford Northern were Saints opponents that day and Saints fans gave their soccer counterparts a wonderful reception and it would be very nice for the 'squad of 2000' if their presence could be equally well received.

The appearance of Accrington Stanley re-kindles a historic link between the two clubs as almost 30 years ago the two vied for supremacy in the old Lancashire Combination with Town taking the league title in 1972 with 'Stanley' runners up but 'Accy' gained some consolation by beating Town in the George Watson Trophy.

When the original Accrington Stanley lost their football league status in the early 60's and descended to the Lancs Combination, St Helens Town were one of the first visitors to a sadly decaying Peel Park, winning 1-0 in the early season heat courtesy of a single Dickie Barnes goal.

The decline of a once illustrious name was evident then and the original club folded in the mid 60s before a hard core of enthusiasts re-kindled the embers and re-formed the Accrington club in 1968 at a new ground, behind the 'Crown' pub on Whalley Road. Things have moved on at a pace since then and 'Stanley' are once again a top non-league outfit with serious ambitions of re-gaining their Football League status.

Their chairman Eric Whalley is no stranger to Knowsley Road who follows the Saints when circumstances allow so it's a convenient liaison for such a historic occasion and a good turn out would be fitting as new look 'Town' under local boy Jimmy McBride, take the first tentative steps into a whole new era in which they hope to do St Helens proud.