Players joined this local football club as children — and never left

Twenty years ago, a 15-year-old football-mad teenager volunteered to coach a group of children in Farnworth who simply wanted to play the game they loved. Today, many of those same youngsters are still pulling on a Halshaw Moor FC shirt. Over the past two decades they have grown from primary school pupils into homeowners, fiancés and fathers, while the club that brought them together has quietly become one of Farnworth's strongest community success stories. Now, as Gary Daniels and the team celebrate their 20th season, the club is looking back on everything it has achieved while planning for the future. Ambitions include a permanent home in Farnworth, bringing junior teams back under the club's banner and attracting the next generation of players. For coach Gary Daniels, football has never simply been about winning matches. The 36-year-old originally played for Farnworth FC when he began coaching at the age of 15. Two years later, at 17, he joined the club's committee before helping establish Halshaw Moor – beginning a journey that has now spanned two decades. Looking back, it is not the promotions or trophies that stand out most. Instead, it is the people. "It's amazing looking back," Gary said. "Some of these lads have been with us since they were five years old. "One player has been with me right from my very first coaching sessions and around 60 or 70 per cent of our current squad have been together for over 10 years." Those children are now adults, and Gary has watched many of them reach life's biggest milestones together. "You become incredibly proud of them," he said. "You see them grow up, get engaged, buy their first house and have children. " I definitely see them as my own, which is weird when I'm only about 10 years older than some of them." The club has also enjoyed plenty of success on the pitch, winning two promotions and a league title in the last three seasons to establish itself in the Lancashire Amateur League. But Gary believes Halshaw Moor's greatest achievement has always happened away from football. Over the years there have been charity fundraisers, sponsored walks, presentation evenings and countless social events. The club has organised memorable trips to Portugal and Benidorm, while friendships formed on muddy touchlines have continued long after the final whistle. Parents whose children stopped playing years ago still come to matches, fundraising events and club socials. Around 40 members of the Halshaw Moor family even attended Gary's wedding. Few people have witnessed that journey more closely than long-serving parent and committee member Andrea. Her son Brandon joined Gary's team when he was just five years old. Twenty years later, she is still part of the club. She said: "Halshaw Moor holds a very special place in my heart. "Gary has always worked relentlessly to make sure the team gets the very best, whether that's training, pitches, kits or simply being there to support them. "He has always encouraged the players to give something back too, getting them involved in sponsored walks and charity events from a young age and teaching them that their community is important. "He has organised loads of trips and social activities over the years, including a funded trip to Portugal, and he always puts on amazing end-of-season presentations where every player knows they are a valued part of the team. "Overall it's just a great club to be part of – great coaches, lovely lads and brilliant supporters – which is why I've spent the last 20 years being part of it." For many families, Halshaw Moor has become far more than somewhere to spend a Saturday afternoon. Angela Yates said her son Liam joined the club aged 13 knowing only a handful of players from school. More than a decade later, those teammates remain some of his closest friends. "The teammates he met have all become lifelong friends, supporting each other through good and sad times," she said. "As parents we have also met the best people. "From standing in the cold together to a team holiday abroad, Halshaw Moor isn't just a football team – it's a family." That sense of togetherness was tested during the Covid pandemic, when football came to a standstill. While matches stopped, the club did not. Gary organised Zoom sessions, checked in on players and made sure everyone stayed connected. Assistant manager Anthony Hubert, who has been involved with the club for more than 15 years, believes that spirit is what has kept Halshaw Moor thriving. "At first it's somewhere for your child to play football," he said. "But then you realise what the club delivers for the community. It brings people together, and that's something I'm really proud to be part of." Twenty years on, Halshaw Moor isn't standing still. The club is in discussions with Bolton Council over securing a long-term lease on a site in the heart of Farnworth – close to where Gary first started coaching all those years ago. The ambition is to create a permanent home where junior teams can flourish and young players can progress into adult football. The club also wants to expand its community work through walking football, one-to-one coaching sessions and more activities that bring local people together. Their sponsor MSB Consult is helping support those ambitions by funding new kits, training wear and future investments. Plans are also well underway for the club's 20th anniversary dinner and awards evening at the Albert Halls next April. Guest speakers are expected to attend and players, parents, volunteers and supporters will come together to celebrate two decades of memories. Like many grassroots clubs, Halshaw Moor has recently seen several players move into semi-professional football. While proud to see them progress, Gary says the club is now looking for new players and coaches to help shape its next chapter. "It would mean everything to us to have a permanent home," he said. "We want junior teams coming back through the club, more coaches getting involved and somewhere the whole community can enjoy. "We never want to turn people away. "Whether you've played before, you're coming back to football or you just want to be part of something, there's a place for you here." Halshaw Moor FC trains at Kearsley Academy every Thursday at 6.30pm, with Wednesday evening sessions also beginning in September. The club is currently recruiting players and coaches ahead of the new season. Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Gary via gary.hmfcchairman@gmail.com.