All at Atherton Collieries would like to congratulate all at our Under 18s for a successful campaign in the North West Youth Alliance, including our end of season award winners for 2025/26, as we look ahead to 2026/27 in the NW U21 Development League.
Nathan Critchley – Player of the Season
A maestro in midfield, who shows grit, desire and quality in all areas. Composed, an fantastic range of passing, and versatile too. The Vice Captain and the metronome of the team this term!
Callum Knox – Manager’s & Coaches Player of the Season, & ‘Coalden Boot’ Top Goalscorer
Callum is a leader of men with fifteen games as captain this season, as well as dangerous from set-pieces with a dedicated do-or-die attitude. His battling, tough tackling style is a hybrid of the 90s game and today’s, and yet Callum is also so good on the ball, with composure and organisation personified. A warrior and somebody massively appreciated by us all!
Tom “Darlo Jr” Darlington – Rising Star, “Collsmon” Clubman Award for Dedication
A versatile young right-back, also capable of occupying midfield positions. Tom is a dedicated, committed player, who offers evident quality both in and out of possession. Again, a tough tackler, and a fantastic dribbler, with serious ambitions of playing for the First Team at the Dreams2Reality.co.uk Stadium. A proud player, who at 18 represents what this club is about, on and off the pitch.
