Tomorrow is a huge day in the 103-year history of Uppermill FC as they enter the football pyramid for the first time with a trip to Wallasey-based Ashville. Ahead of the momentous occasion, I caught up with manager Mark Howard and CEO Steve Southern.
Ambitious Uppermill FC, newly promoted to Step 6 of non-league, are determined they will not there to make up the numbers.
Manager Mark Howard, who has masterminded a remarkable transformation in the club’s fortunes, has set his sights high for their debut campaign in North West Counties Football League, First Division North.
“I am looking for us to be mid-table which would be a great achievement for our first season,” explained Howard.
In a division when Flixton, a club reborn, are splashing the cash, the contrast could not be further removed with Uppermill, known as ‘The Mill’, not having a playing budget.
That is not viewed as a hindrance by Howard who has created a team spirit he believes that money cannot buy.
It has been quite a journey for Uppermill since Howard, who previously managed Manchester League sides Hollinwood and Royton Town as well as Chadderton who are now in Step 5, became manager.
When Howard, about the kick-off his sixth season at the club, took charge they were bottom of Manchester League, Division One.
The fortunes were transformed as by 2023/24 they had been crowned Manchester League, Premier Division champions in the club’s centenary season.
And having finished runners-up in the season just ended, The Mill were able to apply to join the NWCFL.
Howard, whose management team also comprises Steven Keeling and Billy Hustler, has kept the nucleus of last season’s squad.
“Those are the boys who have got us here and they deserve the opportunity to have a go at this level,” he explained.
They include Tommy Lent who will be club captain for the forthcoming campaign – he has played at Oldham Athletic, Ramsbottom and Avro.
Key to being elected to the NWCFL has been a groundshare with Step 4 neighbours Mossley whose Seel Park home is only 3.5miles from the club’s base at Churchill Playing Fields, Saddleworth, where many of their other teams play.
The Mill signed a groundshare agreement from the 2024/25 season with Howard declaring it as a resounding success.
“The groundshare has been amazing and Mossley are absolutely fantastic landlords and the help, advice and support they have given has been phenomenal,” explained Howard.
“As a landlord and tenant, we have worked well together.”
Attendances for Manchester League fixtures ranged between 70 and 130 and they are hoping they will grow to between 100 and 150 in the NWCFL.
Howard, 51, who played a high level of Sunday football for Freehold, is joined at the club by wife Rachel who runs the pie hut at games with a band of volunteers while nine-year-old son Tommy will be the mascot for the first game at Step 6.
The long-term goal is to develop the council-owned Churchill Playing Fields, which CEO Steve Southern describes as their ancestral home, into a ground to meet the grading needed for semi-pro football and a small sub-group has been set up to explore that.
“There is no time frame, but I would like to think it can be achieved in single digit years rather than double digits,” explained Southern.
The Mill, an FA Charter Standard Community Club, was founded in 1923 and has 35 teams from open age to juniors.
The club’s ethos is very much community and their U13s will this season carry the logo of Maggie’s, the cancer charity.
Southern said: “Usually we are actively seeking shirt sponsors for our teams, but the U13s will have Maggie’s logo at no cost to them.
“We feel we have a duty to the wider community – this is a way of giving back. Cancer is something which touches the lives of most people.”
The Mill have previously played in the Ashton District League, Huddersfield and District League and Manchester League.
Southern said: “While what has been achieved in the last five years since Mark became manager has been remarkable, the real trailblazers were about 15/20 years ago.
“They laid the foundations by switching us from the Huddersfield League, where we were a small village team, to the Manchester League and setting up the junior section which is thriving.”