Atherton Collieries have today confirmed the remainder of the club’s retained list for the 2025-2026 season.
With Michael Clegg’s squad set to return to training next weekend, Joe Rothwell, Tom Warren, Will Riding, Kielen Adams and Tom Bentham have all been confirmed as committing for the club for the upcoming Northern Premier League campaign.
Forwards Riding, Adams and Bentham all made valuable contributions to the club’s resurgence in the second half of last season, with a joint contribution of 17 goals and 13 assists between them.
Kielen Adams developed a reputation as a quick-starter across his debut season for the club, notching five of his eight goals in the opening ten minutes of matches, as well as a sixth in the second minute after half-time against Trafford. Young Will Riding ended last season on a high, with his increasingly effective set-pieces ultimately producing six goals from the final five games of the season.
Full-backs Tom Warren and Joe Rothwell both proved ever-dependable as early additions following the return of Michael Clegg, making a combined total of 41 appearances as the Black & Whites shored up their defence.
The club would like to wish the best of luck to Joe Edwards and Scott Bakkor, who have departed the club during the off-season, and we thank them for their contributions. We would also like to wish the best of luck to loanees Sol Honor and Toby Oliver, who have returned to their parent clubs.
Today’s five retentions join Aaron Dwyer, Calen-Gallagher Allison, Joe Piggott, Ethan Kershaw and Alex Doyle who have previously been confirmed as committed to the club for the approaching campaign, with Danny Lafferty also continuing as player / assistant-manager.
The squad has also been bolstered with nine summer additions, with the signings of goalkeeper Conor Robson, defenders Sam Sheridan, Javid Swaby-Neavin & Jordan Hunter, and midfielders Rodney Ajayi, Mason Everton, Luke Nock & Chinedu Uche, alongside the returning Niall Battersby.
Details on player sponsorship for the 2025-2026 season will be confirmed in due course, with priority given to current player sponsors looking to renew. If you would like to register your interest in sponsoring a player, please email Rob@AthertonCollieries.co.uk.
