🌪️⚫🟡 THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER… 🟡⚫🌪️
NEW SEASON.
NEW CHALLENGE.
FIRST HOME GAME.
THIS SATURDAY. 🔥⚽
Pre-season is done.
The training has been put in.
The new lads have settled in.
And now the Astley Bridge Cyclones U9s are getting ready to step onto the pitch for the first game of the 2026/27 season! 👀🌪️
But before we get there…
🎬 ROLL THE PRE-SEASON HIGHLIGHTS.
While the boys gear up for Saturday, here’s something to get everyone in the mood — highlights from our 15th August clash with Horwich St Marys Football Club U9 Dragons! 🐉⚔️🌪️
And this one had a bit of everything…
⚽ Goals
🧤 Big saves
🎯 Some lovely passing
🚀 Elijah launching balls downfield
🔥 Cian causing problems at both ends
👏 Teddy, Eden and Max making their first appearances
💨 Plenty of running
📣 Plenty of noise from the sidelines…
…and, naturally, a few moments where the carefully prepared football tactics disappeared completely and eight-year-old football took over. 😂🙈
Exactly how we like it. 🤣🖤💛
Pre-season gave this group the opportunity to learn, build confidence, welcome new teammates and start finding their rhythm together.
Now the preparation is nearly finished.
⏳ NEXT STOP… SATURDAY.
🏠 FIRST HOME GAME.
⚽ FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON.
🌪️ THE CYCLONES ARE COMING.
🎥 Turn the volume up, enjoy the highlights and tell us your favourite moment below! 👇🔥
2026/27… HERE WE GO. 🖤💛
🌪️ UP THE CYCLONES! 🌪️
Kie Murray Katie Murray Hannah Bulmer Adrian Bulmer Jonny Critchley Victoria'Louise Critchley Thulisile Maluthuli Macey Grace
Astley Bridge Cyclones
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U9s Football Team | Mid/High Ability | BBDFL
Managers - Adrian Bulmer & Jonny Critchley
Parent Club - Astley Bridge Football Club.
Sponsors - MKM Building Supplies, Eurocell, Northern Express Glass Ltd, Xpro Teamwear
03/09/2026
💛🖤
02/09/2026
🌪️⚽ THE CYCLONES ARE BACK HOME! ⚽🌪️
A new season. A fresh start. And the first home game of the 2026/27 season is almost here! 🖤💛
This Saturday, the Astley Bridge Cyclones U9s are back at Stapleton Avenue as we welcome Moss Bank Junior Football Club U9 Greens for a League Friendly.
📅 Saturday 5th September
⏰ Kick-Off: 10:00am
📍 Astley Bridge FC, Stapleton Avenue, Bolton, BL1 5ES
🏆 League Friendly
After a brilliant pre-season and plenty of hard work, the lads are ready to step out for their first home fixture of the new season and keep building, developing and enjoying their football together. 💪🌪️
A massive thank you to our fantastic sponsors — Eurocell, MKM Building Supplies and Northern Express Glass Ltd. — for their continued support of the Cyclones. Your backing really does make a difference and helps the boys keep doing what they love. 🙌🖤💛
New season. First home game. Same Cyclones energy. 🔥
👇 LET’S HEAR FROM YOU!
Drop a 🌪️ in the comments if you're backing the boys this season — and let us know your matchday prediction! 👀⚽
COME ON CYCLONES! 🖤💛🌪️
31/08/2026
What a result, next time we will hopefully have the weather on our side!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🖤💛
🖤💛🎉 WHAT. A. DAY. ASTLEY BRIDGE! 🎉💛🖤
The weather might not have been on our side today… 🌧️☔ but apparently nobody told the Astley Bridge community! 😂🙌
Despite the rain, our Family Fun Day was an incredible success, and we are absolutely delighted to announce that…
💰💛 OVER £1,000 WAS RAISED! 💛💰
Every penny raised will go towards supporting the continued expansion and future of Astley Bridge Football Club. ⚽🖤💛
That is something everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, bought a raffle ticket, visited a stall, grabbed some food, soaked a coach or simply turned up to support the club can be incredibly proud of. 👏
From the stalls to the food, drinks, raffle and football activities, there was plenty going on throughout the day — and not even a bit of classic Bank Holiday weather could dampen the atmosphere!
And then there was Soak the Coaches… 💦😂
Our Chairman, Paul Robinson, even stepped up and got behind the board himself!
Fair to say, once the players and families realised the Chairman was in the firing line, there was no shortage of volunteers wanting a go. 😂🎯💦
A huge THANK YOU must go to all of the fantastic businesses, stallholders and vendors who joined us and helped make the day what it was, as well as everyone who donated prizes, supported the event and contributed behind the scenes. 🖤💛
And, of course, an enormous thank you to the Astley Bridge volunteers who gave their time before, during and after the event to help everything come together. Days like today simply don't happen without people willing to get stuck in. 👏
But the biggest thank you goes to EVERYONE WHO CAME DOWN AND SUPPORTED US.
You brought the atmosphere.
You supported local businesses.
You supported the club.
You got involved.
You got wet… and in Paul’s case, very wet. 😂💦
And together, you helped us raise more than £1,000 towards the next chapter of Astley Bridge FC.
For a community football club, that support means an incredible amount.
Today was another reminder that Astley Bridge is about far more than what happens during 90 minutes on a football pitch.
It’s about players, coaches, parents, volunteers, families, local businesses and a community coming together. 🖤💛
🌧️ The weather tried.
💦 The Chairman got soaked.
😂 We carried on.
💰 Over £1,000 raised.
⚽ One very successful Family Fun Day.
ONE CLUB. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE VERY BIG THANK YOU. 🖤💛
💛🖤🌪️ CYCLONES TAKE ON THE ASTLEY BRIDGE FAMILY FUN DAY! 🌪️🖤💛
Well… we’re still not entirely sure who had more fun — the boys or the parents! 😂⚽🍻
The Astley Bridge Cyclones were out in force at the Family Fun Day, and as you’d probably expect, it didn’t take long before things descended into the usual Cyclones-style chaos! 🤣🌪️
💦 FIRST UP… SOAK THE CHAIRMAN!
Astley Bridge Football Club Chairman Paul Robinson bravely went behind the board for Soak the Coaches…
Mistake number one, Paul. 😂
Cyclones Manager Adrian Bulmer and parent Victoria'Louise Critchley then took turns trying their very best to give him a soaking! 🎯💦
We’re sure it was all done with the utmost respect for the Chairman…
Absolutely nothing personal whatsoever. 👀😂
⚽ THEN THE BOYS FOUND THE PENALTY SHOOTOUT…
Not a shock.
Put the Cyclones near a football and a goal and suddenly every other attraction becomes completely irrelevant. 🤣
We REALLY wish we’d managed to get one particular moment on video, because Elijah somehow managed to take his shot and end up flat on his back! 😂😂
Thankfully, he was absolutely fine and it was nothing but laughs all around.
And speaking of Elijah…
📣 HE WON AN AIR HORN.
Whoever thought giving Elijah an air horn was a good idea… we need words. 😂
Because you can probably imagine what happened next.
Actually, if you were anywhere within about a three-mile radius of Stapleton Avenue…
you probably HEARD what happened next. 🤦♀️📣🤣
🐶 The four-legged member of the family wasn’t forgotten either!
We picked up some treats from the K9 Natural Dog Treats stall, and the quality and prices were absolutely brilliant. 👏🐾
However…
That furry cow’s ear has well and truly given us the ICK. 🤢😂
The dog loves it.
We absolutely do not.
We’re just trying not to make eye contact with it. 👀🐄🤣
🏠 We even managed to come away with something for the house — an amazing slate Bolton Wanderers clock! ⏰⚽
A little bit of Bolton football history making its way home with us. 🤍💙
🍔 And obviously, no trip to Stapleton Avenue would be complete without some great food from Gerry's Cafe — brilliant as always! 👏
While the boys burned off their energy…
🍻 the parents may also have enjoyed a beer or two from the Northern Monkey Mobile Bar!
Because grassroots parenting is thirsty work. 😂🍺
Football ✅
Penalty shootouts ✅
Soaking the Chairman ✅
Great food ✅
A couple of beers ✅
Dog treats ✅
Questionable furry cow ear ✅
Bolton Wanderers clock ✅
Elijah falling over ✅
Elijah acquiring an AIR HORN ✅✅✅
Just your average Cyclones day out really. 🤣🌪️
A massive thank you to everyone who organised, volunteered, ran stalls, served food and drinks and helped make the Astley Bridge Family Fun Day such a brilliant day for everyone. 💛🖤
These are the days that remind you grassroots football is about so much more than what happens on the pitch — family, friends, community and making memories together.
💛🖤 ONE CLUB. ONE COMMUNITY. 🖤💛
🌪️ UP THE CYCLONES!
💛 UP THE BRIDGE! 🖤
30/08/2026
🖤 Astley Bridge Football Club Family Fun Day 💛
Bring yourselves down to our home grounds tomorrow for some bank holiday fun!
Let's have a final blow out and bid a farewell to the Summer Holidays with fun for all the Family!!
See you there! 🖤💛🖤💛
☀️🖤💛 TOMORROW’S THE DAY, ASTLEY BRIDGE! 💛🖤☀️
The pitches are ready, the inflatables are coming, the ice cream is chilling… and we’re getting ready to welcome everyone to the Astley Bridge FC Summer Bank Holiday Family Fun Day! 🎉⚽
📅 Monday 31st August 2026
⏰ 11:00am – 3:00pm
📍 Astley Bridge FC, Stapleton Avenue
Whether you’re already part of the club or simply looking for something fun to do with the family this Bank Holiday Monday, EVERYONE is welcome! 🖤💛
🎪 WHAT’S WAITING FOR YOU?
🏰 Inflatables
🎨 Face painting
🍦 Ice cream
🍔 Food & refreshments
🍹 Northern Monkey Bar
🎟️ Raffle prizes
🛍️ Local businesses & stalls
🖤💛 Astley Bridge FC merchandise on sale
💦 And, of course… SOAK THE COACHES!
And to all our ABFC players coming along… 👀😂
You might want to keep a VERY close eye on the Soak the Coaches line-up because your Coach or Manager might just be waiting for you! 💦😈⚽
We have a feeling a few players may have been waiting all season for this opportunity… 😂
🛍️ LOOK WHO’S JOINING US!
We’re delighted to have a brilliant selection of businesses and vendors joining us:
🌸 Heart2Heart Flowers and Gifts
🎨 Craftyliciouscrafts new
🎨 iFacePainting
🍦 John’s Ices
☕ Gerry's Cafe
🏰 CJs Bouncy Castle Hire Leyland
🍹 Northern Monkey Bar
🥡 Namploy Middlebrook
🌴 Tropics
🐾 K9 Natural Dog Treats
🦆 Mucky Duck
🧸 Tom’s Toys
✨ Tash's Custom Engravings
🐊 SB Croc Charms
There really will be something for everyone, so make sure you have a wander around, say hello and show some support to the fantastic local businesses joining us. 🙌
💷 IMPORTANT – PLEASE BRING CASH
All vendors will be accepting cash, but only some will be accepting card payments, so please make sure you come prepared.
We don’t want anybody missing out on an ice cream, raffle ticket, food, goodies or something from one of the stalls because card isn’t available! 😅
🙋 NEED SOME HELP?
If you have any questions or queries while you’re at the ground, look out for the Astley Bridge FC volunteers wearing lanyards around the site.
They’ll be easy to spot and will be more than happy to help or point you in the right direction. 🖤💛
This day is all about bringing together our players, families, friends and wider community for one big Bank Holiday celebration at our home.
Bring the kids.
Bring the family.
Bring your friends.
Bring some cash. 😉
And if your coach is brave enough to take part… maybe bring your best throwing arm too. 😂💦
🖤💛 ONE CLUB. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE BIG FAMILY FUN DAY. 💛🖤
SEE YOU TOMORROW FROM 11AM! 🎉⚽☀️
27/08/2026
Exciting times ahead for the Black and Yellow!! 🖤💛🖤💛
👀🖤💛 SOMETHING IS BUILDING AT ASTLEY BRIDGE FC…
There is a real sense of momentum around the club at the moment.
As we continue towards our 150th Anniversary, a great deal of work is taking place away from the pitch — looking at where Astley Bridge FC has come from, what the club represents today and what we want the future to look like.
There have been emails, meetings, new introductions, ideas shared and conversations opened that could become very important for the club.
Some began with nothing more than:
“What if…?”
And a few of those ideas are now starting to develop into something far more interesting. 👀
We can’t share everything just yet. There is still work to be done and a few pieces that need to come together, but there are some genuinely exciting possibilities being explored behind the scenes.
Whatever comes next, the focus remains the same — creating more opportunities for our players, supporting our families, recognising the volunteers who give so much to the club, investing in our community and making sure the history of Astley Bridge FC is properly celebrated.
For almost 150 years, generations of players, coaches, volunteers and families have played their part in shaping this football club.
Now the aim is to respect that past while continuing to build something even stronger for those who come next.
Our past. Our pride. Our future.
There may just be a few developments on the horizon that the Black & Yellow family will want to keep an eye on… 😉🖤💛
Keep watching.
The Bridge is rising.
💛🖤 THREE FROM THREE FOR THE CYCLONES! 🖤💛
⚽ AFC Bolton Yellows vs Astley Bridge Cyclones U9s
📅 Pre-Season — 22/08/26
Another brilliant morning of football for the Cyclones as the boys made it three pre-season wins on the bounce! 👏🔥
This one had a bit of everything — goals, great saves, old friends lining up against each other, end-to-end football, a hat-trick, a debut... and even an official investigation by the Dubious Goals Panel™! 😂⚽
Most importantly, the lads showed once again what this team is beginning to build ahead of the new season: character, togetherness, determination and a willingness to keep going right until the end.
A massive welcome to Zach, who pulled on a Cyclones shirt for his very first game of football today. 💛🖤
What a way to start! Zach worked incredibly hard for the team and produced a fantastic performance on his debut, earning himself the Coaches’ Player of the Match award. 🏆👏
Well done, Zach — hopefully the first of many! ⚽
🟡 FIRST QUARTER
The boys started a little tentatively in a game that saw a few old friends come up against each other.
It was the Cyclones who struck first when a great pass from Max found Cian, who stayed calm and placed the ball beyond the onrushing goalkeeper. ⚽
AFC responded with an absolute thunderbolt into the top corner. Elijah had already produced some fantastic saves, but there was absolutely nothing he could do about that one! 🧤💥
Cian then turned provider, sliding a lovely pass through to Max, who calmly found the bottom corner.
AFC weren't going anywhere though and pulled another goal back.
🟡 SECOND QUARTER
Kaleb moved into a more attacking role — and it didn't take him long to make his mark! 🔥
Picking the ball up in midfield, he went on a brilliant mazy run before unleashing a thunderous strike into the top corner. 🚀⚽
AFC responded again before a few minutes of end-to-end football.
Then another defence-splitting pass from Cian released Kaleb, who finished brilliantly to put the Cyclones back in front in a really competitive game.
🟡 THIRD QUARTER
AFC came flying out after the break and, before the Cyclones had properly settled, two goals had been conceded.
But these boys don't give up.
Another fantastic assist from Cian sent Max through on goal, and he made no mistake in grabbing his second of the game. ⚽⚽
🟡 FOURTH QUARTER
Before the final quarter there were a few very calm words from the coaching team about discipline, organisation and teamwork... 😅😂
And the response from the lads was absolutely brilliant. 👏
The Cyclones tightened things up, conceded no further goals and scored three of their own.
First, Noah delivered a great cross for Cian to finish nicely.
Then a lovely assist from Eden gave Cian the opportunity to complete his hat-trick! 🎩⚽⚽⚽
And finally...
Noah picked the ball up and went on a brilliant run through midfield before being brought down.
He stepped up to take the resulting free kick and fired a low, hard effort towards the bottom corner. 💥
There may have been the slightest of deflections...
But after an extensive investigation, several replays and an emergency meeting of the Dubious Goals Panel™, we can officially confirm...
THE GOAL HAS BEEN AWARDED TO NOAH! 😂😂⚽
No appeals will be accepted. 👀🤣
💭 FULL-TIME THOUGHTS
There were plenty of emotions out there today, but the most pleasing thing was that the boys never gave up.
That final quarter showed exactly what this group is capable of when they stay organised, keep their discipline and work for one another.
Defend as a team.
Attack as a team.
Celebrate as a team. 💛🖤
There will always be things to learn and improve, especially in pre-season, but the character and togetherness being shown by these lads is fantastic to see.
⚽ GOALS
🎩 Cian ⚽⚽⚽
⚽ Max ⚽⚽
⚽ Kaleb ⚽⚽
⚽ Noah ⚽
🏆 MATCHDAY AWARDS
👨👩👦 Parents’ Player of the Match: Cian 🏆
👏 Coaches’ Player of the Match: Zach 🏆
A huge well done to every single one of the boys today.
Another game, more valuable minutes together, more lessons learned and another step forward as a team.
THREE PRE-SEASON GAMES.
THREE WINS.
THE HARD WORK CONTINUES. 🔥
Well done, Cyclones! 👏⚽💛🖤
20/08/2026
⚽️🔥 MATCHDAY – THE CYCLONES ARE BACK IN ACTION! 🔥⚽️
Another pre-season Saturday is nearly here as Astley Bridge Cyclones U9s head to Ladybridge High School to take on AFC Bolton Yellows U9s! 🖤💛
📅 Saturday 22nd August 2026
⏰ Kick-Off: 9:30am
📍 Ladybridge High School, BL3 4NG
🤝 Pre-Season Friendly
🖤💛 Cyclones Managers:
Adrian Bulmer & Jonny Critchley
💛🖤 AFC Bolton Yellows Manager:
Danny Cooper
This one should have a little extra fun involved too… 👀😂
Two of our Cyclones lads will be lining up against some of their school friends, so we're expecting plenty of friendly rivalry, a bit of playground bragging rights on the line and no doubt a few conversations when they're all back at school! 😆⚽️
For the Cyclones, it's another great opportunity for the boys to keep building together, developing their football, growing in confidence and enjoying their pre-season ahead of the new campaign. 💪🌪️
We’re looking forward to seeing Danny and everyone from AFC Bolton Yellows for what should be a brilliant morning of grassroots football. 🤝⚽️
Most importantly — go out, enjoy yourselves and have fun, lads! 🖤💛
🌪️ UP THE CYCLONES! 🌪️
NA NA NAAAAAAAAA! 🖤💛
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Astley Bridge Juniors Football Club
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