HISTORY 2000-2006

2000-01
 
United slipped to 12th, youngster Leadbetter were still banging in the goals but guilty of shipping them in at the same rate. Stuart Rudd had joined local rivals Burscough who had been promoted to the top flight of the Northern Premier League. United found it tough going as they failed to find a settled side just 5 victories to show by the time they faced Rossendale away United suffered humiliation as they were well and truly stuffed 7-1. Robbie Cowley previously prolific in front of goal had failed to find the net. Phil Cooney had been brought in to provide a bit of pace width but there was no one on the end to convert the crosses. United won 1 of the next 11 matches and were in danger of being dragged into the relegation places. Paul Odger and Andy Cavanagh arrived as United found some form that they were capable of including a 8-1 victory at Maine Road, 7 straight wins towards the end of the season saw United rise to 12^th, Leadbetter’s 19 league goals a big factor in the season.
 
The return of Stuart Rudd after a season with Burscough lifted the blues supporters as United made a good start to the season a 6-1 hammering of Fleetwood Freeport in mid September saw Rudd net 5 times, the first United player since Ted Dicken to achieve the feat. However in November it was the end of the road for two stalwarts, manager Russ Perkins paid tribute to experienced pair Billy Loughlin and Gary McBride, who have been released by the club. 
"I just thought we needed a change and it was my decision, " explained Perkins. "Gary and Billy were two integral parts of the team, although at 37 Billy's nearing the end now and Gary's had personal problems so he hasn't been available much. 
"We weren't playing well and it wasn't helping them. They're two of the best players I've ever managed and I thought it was fair to let them move on and bring in younger players." 
He was particularly keen to make his admiration known for Loughlin, a stalwart of the side for so long now. 
"Billy's been with me eight or nine years and I just wish I'd have had him since he was 21, " said Perkins. "He's been my captain and one of the best players in the last decade for Skem. If the North West Counties had a rep team he'd always have been in it. 
"I'm going to really miss Billy because he's a great lad as well.
 
Dave Chadwick also left to join Tommy Lawson’s Prescot Cables. Robbie Cowley joined Rudd early doors and latterly Brian Hatton as the club strived for consistency. Holcroft, Price and Brownrigg were still dependable at the back but as the side constantly changed the results were less than impressive conceding 6 at St Helens and Salford, more worryingly in March going down 6-2 at Home to Congleton a defeat at Curzon 6-0 and a defeat at Newcastle Town 4-1 Russ handed in his resignation. Arthur Gore, managing director at Skelmersdale United said: "The club has lost a most loyal, vastly experienced and greatly respected manager who has been at the centre of so many progressive aspects of the club. I have had an excellent working relationship with Russ and the club has very much benefited from his integrity, his presence and his credibility. I would personally like to thank Russ for his massive contribution to our club and also for the professional and dignified way he carried his management duties." Paul Gallagher was installed as caretaker-manager for a second time. He was previously one of the assistant-managers alongside Peter McDermott and before that coach for three years. He has also had a management position with Ashton Town and a coaching role with Southport Gallagher has a long association with Skelmersdale United having been a player 70’s and 80’s  also coach during the early to mid 90's. 
With a late flurry of wins, came a respectable 9^th Position. Stuart Rudd managed 29 goals for the season including 17 in 12 continuous games.


Gallagher was given the job full time come the August as he quickly tried to rebuild the squad Dave Standley who had made a number of appearances the previous season made the left back position his own,  Hanson came into central defence, John Carroll returned older and wiser to make his mark in a defensive role Alan Dugdale came in to partner Stuart Rudd. The most important signing came in the shape of Peter Holcroft after 2 years away buoyed by an increase attendances United again made a good start to the season. The FA Cup and Vase both resulted in first round exits.
A Major development announced in October 2002 was the clubs's decision to pursue relocation to a new stadium on the Stanley Industrial estate, little over a mile from their current home. This would be the last season at White Moss Park, the ground had seen the club rise from the Liverpool Combination to Amateur Cup Triumphs, games 1 division below the Football League then back down through the ranks to the North west Counties Division Two, seen record attendances over 7,500 to regular gates of less than 100.
As Dugdale left for Burscough United again suffered a dip in form. Proven scorer Mike Heverin was brought from Warrington scoring twice on his debut in a 8-1 win against Squires Gate. A youngster by the name of Carl Osman started appearing on the subs bench
At the back Price and Robbie Holcroft were ever present for the season. United ended their association with White Moss Park with a 6-1 hammering of Salford, inevitably Stuart Rudd grabbed 3, Billy Knowles 2 and Mike Heverin. United finished the season in 5^th their highest position for some time. Stuart Rudd netted 46 times to take the leagues golden boot.  
 
2003-04 
In a difficult season spent in exile at Burscough's Victoria United lost their opening 5 games  Park Peter Holcroft left in September to concentrate on his restaurant business in St Helens. Michael Cole a local lad was a instant replacement tough tackling, good eye for goal and deadly from free kicks quickly established himself as a crowd favourite. Leon osman was now an integral part of the side. Tony Morton was also brought in to fill the gap left by Holcroft Rudd again was partnered by Heverin and at the back the ever dependable foursome of Holcroft, Price, Standley, Brownrigg was joined by towering Steve Rimmer, who had Football League experience with Manchester City and Port Vale. Gareth Birchall also joined the ranks of midfield and United at last had the look of a settled side. United were mid table as Lee Thompson replaced Heverin upfront just before xmas and with Steve Hussey and Drew Hyland joining for the run in United cemented their growing reputation with  a run of 18 games with only 3 defeats saw the club climb up the table. Even though the club had finished lower than the previous season the future was looking brighter, the logistics of playing at Burscough had certainly taken it toll. Stuart Rudd bags 39 goals to take the leagues goalden boot for a second time. Thompson scoring 10 in his 16 games he started.
During the early part of 2004 speculation mounted regarding the signing of Paul Gascoigne. United Manager, Paul Gallagher had extensive talks with Gascoigne, in the hope that the former Everton & England player would consider a short-term move to Victoria Park, with the only stumbling block being the 36-year-olds wages. A local company has offered to sponsor the move with £500 being paid per week to the player. United on the other hand were looking for people to dig deep into their pockets, and sign a similar agreement to the one which involved Paul Stewart going to Workington in 1999, with a further incentive of 50% of gate receipts, which will see an almost guaranteed weekly wage of £2,000 per week. Gazza has also been linked with moves to Darlington & Tranmere, but it is thought the drop to NWCFL level would suit the former Geordie favourite, who is also seeking to break into management. Gazza chose China and then Boston before a short controversial spell as manager of Kettering
 
 
2004-05
An new era begins at the 'Westgate Interactive Stadium' but not before a hiccup as their opening game is put on hold until Tuesday 21st September 2004 due to technical hitches with the new stadium.  One of the problems being the pitch that would eventually be the cause of greater problems as the season unfolded.
United’s main 11 was very much the side that finished 2003-04 strongly, Steve Dee another local lad picked up by Gallagher was the only major addition. However United would be without talisman Stuart Rudd until November after suffering a injury at the back end the previous season.
In a article from the Daily Telegraph September 21st
 SKELMERSDALE United have put their faith in the Lord in the build-up to tonight's opening game at their new home, the pounds 1million Westgate Interactive Stadium. Skelmersdale moved into the 2,000-capacity ground in the summer, but have not been able to stage a first-team match because of problems with the pitch. First, it was not ready - costing them a lucrative pre-season friendly against Everton - and since then there have been problems with water logging at one end. Remedial work has now been carried out, the reserves played there on Saturday and, with luck, the first team will be able to entertain Nantwich Town in Division One of the North West Counties League tonight. Chairman Arthur Gore, however, is leaving nothing to chance and has asked the local vicar, the Rev Gordon Greenwood, to go along tonight to bless the ground. "Hopefully, he can get rid of the water on the pitch," said Gore. "We have lost a lot of revenue."  Fortunately, Skelmersdale have been in good form on their travels, culminating in Saturday's 2-0 win at Blyth Spartans in the FA Cup. Striker Lee Thompson scored both goals and yesterday's draw paired Skelmersdale at home to near-neighbours Burscough, the club they ground shared with last season.
 
 The opening game against Nantwich Town is worth waiting for as they romped to a 4-0 win in front of 347 expectant supporters! The team that made the historic step included three long serving players Robbie Holcroft, Ian Price and John Brownrigg along with Dave Standley, Steve Rimmer, Steve Dee, Michael Cole, Gareth Birchall, Lee Thompson, Drew Hyland and Carl Osman, Michael Cole being the first on the score sheet followed by goals from Thompson, Osman and Dee. United had now gone 10 games without defeat including wins in the FA Cup against Brodsworth, Stocksbridge and Blyth They also defeated Brodsworth 6-4 in the FA Vase Thompson getting 4 of the goals then going on to beat Ryton, Ramsbottom and Malvern Town.
It was however infront over 1,002 spectators that United first tasted defeat against Burscough in the FA Cup, 2 up after 10 mins and twice hitting the wood work before half time United should have been well in control only for a spirited fightback by Burscough to eventually claim the spoils 3-2.
United were still up with the pacesetters in January but the backlog of fixtures and the deteriorating condition of the ground paid its price has United were now playing 4 games a week The Frome tie in the FA Vase was moved at the last minute to Burscough as Skem lost 2-0 and also lost the services of Steve Rimmer after a nasty head injury that held the game up for 30 minutes while an ambulance arrived to take the stricken player to hospital. Robbie Holcrofts run of 399 consecutive matches came to an end when he to was injured in the Marsden Trophy at Fleetwood. United also lost in the Semi Final of the competition and it was again Burscough the victors.
Not only were United playing the four games a week the club had to use the services of Burscough ground along with that of Formby to complete their fixtures In all the disruption going on it was no wonder that the team was constantly changing. They did have the pleasure of beating Colne 9-0 with Lee Thompson getting 4 goals for the second time in the season. United did however progress to the NW Counties League Cup Final having disposed of Nantwich, St Helens and Blackpool Mechanics before coming up against Cammell Lairds at Bury’s Gigg Lane It was Uniteds 12^th game in a month and fatigue showed as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat. The season closed with United a very creditable 6^th position.
It however was the end of the Road for John Brownrigg who decided to hang up his boots after 367 games for the club. Robbie Holcroft moved on to Runcorn but would make a surprise return in 2006-07 and 1 appearance in 2008-09. Steve Hussey moved to Marine and Lee Thompson after forming a formidable partnership with Rudd, 60 goals between them in the season concentrated on his career outside the game.
 
2005-06 
With the departure of so many influential players it was difficult to see United maintain a title challenge but Gallagher and his assistant Mick Bouey unhearthed a few gems, Peter Crookes came from Marine   and proved a reliable replacement for Robbie Holcroft, Tough defender Tony Hallam who was previously with Preston and Morecambe came from Southport and versatile Michael Douglas also joined from Marine to dominate midfield. Local lad Lee Mullvanney returned to the club, having previously been part of the Reserve set up before moving to Southport.
The start couldn’t have been better a 9-0 victory over Stone, 5 v St Helens, 8-0 win at Atherton Colls United had set out their stall, 1 defeat in the first 19 games and that coming at Blue Square North Vauxhall Motors in the FA Cup, having beaten Liversedge, Colwyn Bay and Runcorn before a 2^nd Qual against old foes from the Amateur days Bishop Auckland inspiring the crowds to return 509 witnessed a drab goalless game at Westgate before triumphing in the North East courtesy of two goals from Stuart Rudd set up the 3^rd qualifier against the Motormen
Oct 10 2005 Liverpool Daily Post reported
BRAVE Skelmersdale could scarcely have done much more. But in the battle of in-form strikers Peter Cumiskey and Stuart Rudd, who scored all seven goals between them, the Vauxhall man had the edge in this FA Cup third qualifying round thriller at Rivacre Park.
Cumiskey broke Skem hearts with four goals while Rudd had to be content with a consolation hat-trick for the losers.
Skem began well, pushing the home side on the back foot and Rudd twice went close in the opening 20 minutes.
But on 27 minutes Cumiskey somehow squeezed home a goal despite the close attentions of four defenders and the keeper.
Two minutes later, Motors striker McGivern saw his well-struck free-kick take a slight deflection off the end of the wall and crash against the bar.
Both sides had further chances before the break, but it took Skem just 40 seconds at the start of the second half to equalise, when a deep cross found Rudd, who slammed the ball home.
The Motormen responded three minutes later, when Cumiskey beat Crookes from the penalty spot after Hallam had brought down the Vauxhall man.
Skem struck back on 58 minutes, with a superb move that was suitably dispatched by Rudd for an excellent team goal.
The home side then regained their lead for a third time when McDermott capitalised on a weak back pass, before squaring to Cumiskey for a simple goal on 68 minutes.
The tie finally went away from Paul Gallagher's side ten minutes later, when the industry of substitute Moogan fed Cumiskey on the left and his perfectly judged chip left Crookes stranded for his fourth.
Even then, Skem refused to cave in and when substitute Rogers won the ball out on the right, his fine near post cross was swept home by Rudd for his hat-trick to set up a tense last few minutes. But the Motormen stood firm to book their place in the fourth qualifying round.
Vauxhall: Dittmer, Duffy, McDermott, Willis, McNulty, Parradioni, Garrity (Moogan 67), Lawton, Rooney, McGivern, Cumiskey (Addo 89). Subs: McNutt, O'Donnell, Spellman. Skelmersdale United: Crookes, Price, Standley, Hallam, Rimmer, Dee (Rogers 74), Cole, Douglas, Rudd, Mulvaney, Osman. Subs: McKay, Wallace, McKane, Waugh.
United did not let defeat get them down as a Tony Hallam hatrick in a 6-2 win against Atherton LR put United well and truly back on the right track. United were banging the goals in for fun, if in the past United under Paul Gallagher were workmanlike this season they were outstanding Stuart Rudd had breezed up to Tommy Tinsleys all time goalscoring record that had stood for 47 years. The day duly arrived on Saturday 11th February when that record was broken, a 5-1 mauling of Newcastle Town as Rudd got himself on the scoresheet for the 215^th time in a United shirt, the supporters had to wait till the 77^th minute, Cole’s cross in the 77th minute looked pretty innocuous, but Rudd leapt out of nowhere like a salmon out of water to head the ball over the keeper into the roof of the net.  He had been a man in waiting, and the celebration was just as impressive as the finish itself, 215 goals in 301 appearances is some record, and the supporters couldn’t hide their glee and few will forget the moment when history was made.
 Rudd commented
“I’ve scored a lot of goals this season, but I should’ve had the record in the bag well before Christmas. But now I have I can enjoy the rest of the season in a more relaxed manner, and perhaps with a bit of luck I might hit the magical mark of 50. 
“I was made up with the finish. The cross was superb and I just jumped as high as I could to get to the ball, headed it, and then I just followed the ball to see it loop over the keepers’ head. 
“I just wanted to run everywhere as I was that chuffed, and to see the delight on the supporters faces was the icing on the cake as far as I was concerned.”.
United had been top of the table from the start of the season and their rich vein of form continued as they lost just 1 game in the last 15, However Cammell Lairds were on their tail all the way and come the last game for United their nearest challengers had 7 more games to play, winning them all to clinch the title in emphatic style.
Usually only the champions go up to the Unibond, but due to restructuring, three or four teams could make the jump this time. Paul Gallagher said:
As it was United’s second place was enough to secure their promotion to the Unibond 1^st Division.
 
The celebrations would not however last for Manager Paul Gallagher and his assistant Mick Bouey as both were sacked by chairman Frank Hughes just hours after the club’s end of season party celebrating the promotion
 
Paul Gallagher has told of his bitter disappointment at being sacked as manager of Skelmersdale United — just a day after an awards night to celebrate promotion to the UniBond League. Tommy Lawson was made the new manager hours after Gallagher was shown the door on Sunday. Gallagher, 49, from Digmoor, told The Champion: “It was a total shock, a kick in the teeth. “The decision has left a sour taste in my mouth and I am finding it hard to comprehend. “They must have known full well at the presentation night on Saturday that they were going to give me the sack the following day. “It is has taken my assistant Mick Buoey and me four years to get the club back into the UniBond. It has been 35 years since the club has been in this league. “I think I should have been given a chance to manage in the UniBond. “I wish the team all the best. They’re great lads who will do well. The people in the town have also shown me some great support over the last four years.”  He had been at Skem for seven years. He had been manager for the last four years and before that was assistant manager to Russ Perkins. He added he had been, “inundated with calls from clubs in the non-league circle”. A spokesman for Skelmersdale United said: “Although the timing might appear inappropriate to some, the committee felt it was important that, in line with the ambition of the club, we should also have someone at the helm with experience of managing a club at UniBond level. “Paul and his assistant Mick Buoey have put together a great blend of talent, and the committee wish to thank them for their loyal and unblemished service during that time. “It wasn’t a decision we took lightly but we felt it had do be done in the best interests of the club.” New boss Tommy Lawson, who has signed a three-year contract, has a great pedigree at UniBond level, having taken Prescot Cables up from the North West Counties as Champions at the end of the 2002-03 season, into the UniBond First Division where the side gained automatic promotion to the UniBond Premier Division. In his final season, Prescot were play-off candidates for a place in the Conference North. He has also been manager of Clitheroe but was sacked from that role in February. Lawson said he was delighted to be offered the Skem job. “It’s a bolt out of the blue to be honest, but I didn’t have to be asked twice, as Skelmersdale is a great club. “I feel sorry for Paul Gallagher as I know him very well, but he can hold his head up high as he’s accomplished what he set out to do, and I’m pretty sure he won’t go short of offers. “The committee at Skelmersdale are very ambitious which suits me fine because so am I. “I will repay their faith in me by taking this club forward