2015-16 SEASON
Official Programme
£ 2.00
NWCFL Premier Division
AFC Liverpool Tuesday 18th August 2015 WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC 3.00pm
WELCOME to WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC The Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road, Chorltonville Manchester M21 8FE CLUB CONTACTS
FOOTBALL CONTACTS
Club President Brian Cripps
Director of Football: Andy Nelson
Chairman Glyn Meacher
First Team Manager: Steve Settle Head Coach: Steve Brockley Assistant: Steve Eckersley (admin) Assistant: Rob Madden Goalkeeping: Dale Newbrook Match Secretary: Rob McKay
Club Secretary Rob Turley 0161 448 1838 07891 298441 Membership Secretary Monica Creer Treasurer Dave Cooper Head of Fundraising Steve Eckersley Community Development Davy Iredale
Reserve Team Manager: Jim Hines Asst Manager: Ian Depeiaza Physio Paddy Murphy Magdalena Maria ‘A’ Team Manager Danny Iredale
Publicity Team Rob McKay 07706 320397 John Churchman 07720 508082
Youth Team Manager Ian Depeiaza
Programme contributors: John Churchman; Rob McKay, Rob Turley and Jonny Keen Match Photographer: Graham Curry Ownership: In accordance with THE Football Association Rule 2.13 Publication of ownership in relation to Step 1 to Step 6 clubs in the Football Pyramid we hereby confirm that the legal status of WEST DIDSBURY AND CHORLTON ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB is as not for profit private members club. Any gain arising from the carrying on of the Club shall be applied for the benefit of the Club or for some charitable or benevolent purpose or purposes approved by resolution at a general meeting of the Club.
To contact the club please use the club website: www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
Main Club Sponsor:
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EDITORIAL
AFC Liverpool
Today we have our first midweek home game of the season and welcome our friends from AFC Liverpool to Brookburn Road. The last encounter on 3rd March towards the end of last season saw the visitors nick the points after coming from 2-1 down to win 3-2, much to the delight of the travelling faithful. That result gave AFC the double over us in the league following an earlier 3-1 home win in mid October on the excellent surface at Marine when we derived something from the game. The previous season they took 4 of the 6 points in the double header, winning here early in the season but succumbing to tremendous West fight back from 0-2 down on a drizzly night at Prescot’s Valerie Park stadium. The plain fact is that we’ve not beaten them yet but this is the chance to put that right and get rid of another hoodoo as we did at Alsager last Tuesday. AFC Liverpool have always been welcome visitors dating back to the days when they played us in a mid season friendly here during our Manchester League days as we tested ourselves against Counties opposition for the first time. Their travelling fans have always enjoyed their visits here and we’ve enjoyed the friendly banter and sense of humour. We are pleased to welcome them back tonight and wish everyone a safe return journey after this evening’s game. Our first home league game against Atherton Collieries saw our best opening day crowd of over 150 and an exciting game with a nail biting finale. Colls were the better team in the first half and should really have been in front at half time, but for some excellent defensive work from West with Hughes, Rogers, Eckersley and Simcock all excelling. As the game wore on West began to ask questions of the visitors defence and when Ashley Woods scored with 5 minutes left it looked like we’d nicked the points. A minute later a golden chance for 2-0 went begging and we paid a very heavy price as a brace from Colls substitute Battersby in the final minutes and added time saw the visitors win 2-1. Last Tuesday at Alsager we recovered well from the set back of conceding an early goal, with Jordan Poole equalising before the break and then Matt Eckersley scoring what proved to be the winner on 65 minutes. WEST had several further chances to increase the advantage with another Woods finish ruled out for offside and some erratic Alsager goalkeeping escaping unpunished. WEST ended the game with an impressive period of sustained high tempo pressing keeping Alsager at bay to secure a 2-1 win, our first at that venue. THE MAGIC OF THE CUP Last Tuesday afternoon I had a call from Paul Stockton of 1874 Northwich following a call earlier that day from BBC Sport. Remarkably, our agreement to play 1874 was the first approved fixture for this season’s FA Cup and BBC wanted to do a feature of the game for their BBC News channel Sportscene programme. Paul spoke to Winsford United for their approval for the cameras to visit the Barton Stadium and we then broke the news to player manager Steve Settle just after he’s finished his post match interview with Mr. McKay. I wish I’d had a camera to capture the expression on Steve’s face at the thought of the cameras capturing West in action! However, even better was the smile after he’d finished the pre-match BBC interview at Winsford only for this top notch footage to end up on the cutting room floor as Sportscene focused exclusively on the hosts. Our first taste of Friday night cup footy was disappointing as we went behind to a couple of soft goals late in the first half. We had two decent chances to get back in the game after the break but were denied by a post and some hesitancy in front of goal and to rub salt in the wounds the hosts added a 3rd in the 95th minute with the most blatant hand ball we’ve seen in several years. That’s that for another season. THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF THE LEAGUE Tonight our attention is back on the league and then next Saturday, 22nd August we are home to Barnoldswick Town at 3pm and we’d encourage you to invite a friend to that game. We’re on the road again next week for another two league games, firstly at Nelson on Tuesday evening 25th August at 7.45pm and then to Runcorn Town on Saturday 29th August at 3pm. Our next home game is Tuesday 1st September when we host 1874 Northwich at 7.45pm. An intensive start to the season with seven fixtures in league and FA Cup in the space of 22 days, but then that’s life in the Premier Division of the NWCFL. In the meantime ENJOY THE GAME today, have a safe journey home. WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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Steve Settle’s Notes Good evening and welcome to Brookburn Road for tonight’s NWCFL fixture against AFC Liverpool. We hope that their officials, players and fans enjoy our hospitality and, after today of course, we wish them well for the rest of the season. AFC Liverpool come into this game with a 100% win record behind them having won their first 2 league games against Alsager and Squires Gate, so I’m sure this means a tough game and the lads will have to be at their best to get a positive result tonight. Had we shown a little more footballing intelligence in our opening game against Atherton Colls on the opening day, we would have 2 league wins to our name as well. When you are winning 1-0 going into injury time we have to be able to close the game out and take the 3 points. I was pleased however that we followed up that disappointment with an excellent performance at Alsager on Tuesday. Going behind early, it would have been easy for the lads to let their heads go down but they rolled their sleeves up and battled their way back into the game. Jordan Poole scored a really good goal to get us on terms and in the 2nd half we never looked back. Brocks suggested we change the system and the lads adapted really well. In the end we could have added more goals but we were never really in danger of conceding. On Friday night we went down to 1874 Northwich in the FA Cup in a disappointing showing. After 30 minutes I was happy with how the game was developing. Unfortunately set pieces seem to be our ‘Achilles heel’ at the moment and it proved to be the case on Friday night. Of the 6 goals we have conceded 4 have been from set pieces and the lads know that this is completely unacceptable. We need leaders in both penalty areas to take responsibility both for their jobs and for attacking the ball and having the desire to make it theirs! This is certainly something we will be working at on the training ground.
Steer has picked up a nasty injury to his hip. Although x-rays have shown no broken bones, he’s still in a lot of pain and on crutches which means we will be without him for the foreseeable future. This does present an opportunity for some of our other forwards to show their value. Johnny Pozier is just lacking a little luck in front of goal at the minute but I’m confident he will find the net regularly once he gets his first one! Ash Woods has done really well off the bench so far and I’m really looking for Tommy Walsh and Sam Mitten to contribute with some goals when they get their chance. Enjoy the game and thanks for the support.
Setts
Tonight’s match sponsor Tonight’s match sponsor is James Doxford. We are very grateful to James who is one of our keenest supporters; James shares our vision to be a community club playing in the highest level possible.
Friday was to hand us a double blow as Ben WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
West 1 Atherton Collieries 2 …match report The Steve Settle era at West Didsbury & Chorlton began with a snatching defeat from the jaws of victory home defeat to newly promoted Atherton Collieries in front of a record opening day crowd at Brookburn Road. Injuries and absentees threw Settle's preseason preparation out of the window as the manager was forced to name a side with no fewer than eight players unavailable for selection. Such was the shortage of numbers there was an unfamiliar central defensive partnership of Captain Mark Rogers and midfielder Matt Eckersley. There was good news in the defensive selection side as goalkeeper Paul Hughes and left back Michael Simcock were both recalled to the side following spells out with injury. Callum Jones made up the back four at right back. In midfield Settle was forced to pick himself in the centre of midfield with 19 year old ‘Young Player of the Year’ Jordan Poole whilst Dan Russell was recalled to the starting XI. Up front Jonny Poizer partnered another debutant Ben Steer up front whilst Lewis Schofield made his first appearance since the 2-1 win against Bacup in March. Colls, themselves with seven players missing including strikers Mark Battersby through suspension and Jordan Cover, started the brighter of the two teams and immediately set about demonstrating why they were the scorers of 137 league goals last season. It took just four minutes for Colls to create their first chance as they won a corner on the right, the ball was crossed into the middle with the free header firing just wide of the post. It was a warning for West as Colls earned themselves a string of corners in the game’s opening minutes. The visitors continued to enjoy the lions share of the possession and should have led when Mark Truffas burst into the box having beaten three men and forced a superb stop out of West goalkeeper Paul Hughes. With Colls well on top, a brilliant last ditch tackle from Mark Rogers prevented a certain Truffas goal one-on-one. Colls went close again hitting the outside of the post with Hughes again saving the rebound brilliantly with his feet. West were attempting to make their own way into the game and their first chance of the game came just before half time as a speculative Jordan Poole volley flew wide from 30 yards. He might have done better with West's second chance as Settle found himself in space on the left wing, his low pass inside found Poole at the edge of the area but he could roll his shot into the keepers hands.
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The best chance of the first half fell to Colls on 31 minutes as the ball 'pinballed' around the West six yard box with Atherton having no fewer than three attempts to finish but Hughes again denied them. However somehow West made it to the half level 0-0. If the first half was incident filled the first forty minutes of the second half were anything but as West gradually continued to grind Colls down to their level with the half producing fewer and fewer chances. Hughes was again called into saves on 54 and 73 minutes but West tightened up their game. Just as it was looking if it would end in a stalemate Steve Eckersley introduced debutants Jamie Wolden and Ashley Woods from the bench in place of Steer and Russell and Wolden immediately interjected himself into the game. On 85 minutes he burst down the right fired his shot at the goalkeeper Danny Taberner who could only parry to Lewis Schofield whose shot fell to the feet of Woods who lifted the ball over the goalkeeper from 6 yards out to give West a scarcely believable lead. Moments later it should have been 2-0 as Wolden burst down the right again, one-onone with the goalkeeper who chose to square it to Woods who, from a yard out managed to miss the ball completely, in an early contender for miss of the season. The miss would cost West, massively, as they immediately raced down the other end and won themselves a corner. This time it reached the far post, it was knocked down to the feet of Nathan Battersby who couldn't miss from 2 yards and fired it into the net for an instant response from the First Division champions. Colls weren't finished as they won yet another corner but could only head this one wide. Atherton, showing the kind of instinct that made them worthy champions last season, wouldn't settle for a point and in the 94th minute of the game won another corner, with the West defence protesting vociferously for a goalkick, again it was knocked down at the far post and again fell to the feet of Nathan Battersby who sent the Colls fans into raptures as he slammed it into the net from close range. Heartbreak for West but it was the right result given the balance of play and yet another lesson in punishment for failing to take chances.
West v Atherton Collieries … match action
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History of AFC Liverpool AFC Liverpool was formed in 2008, by Liverpool FC fans, who had becoming increasingly frustrated at the cost and difficulty in obtaining tickets for the Premiership. The supposed ‘39th game’ in which Premier League fixtures would be played in different parts of the world proved to be the final straw, highlighting that top flight football is now more concerned about money than its fans. A website was created and, with the response being positive, work began to move to the next stage and create a steering group to make the club a reality.
only to lose to Atherton Collieries 3-2 in extra time. In the FA Vase, steady progress was made to the third round, where their dreams of Wembley were dashed by a defeat at Whitley Bay, who would go on to claim a third successive triumph.
At the beginning of March 2008 AFC Liverpool was officially formed and it was made clear that the club was not in any way a response to the ownership issue at Anfield or a protest against Liverpool Football Club, more a reaction to issues at the top end of football in general. By May, AFC Liverpool had appointed its first manager in Derek Goulding. The following month the club arranged a groundshare with Prescot Cables and had been accepted into the North West Counties Football League.
The 2011/12 season started badly in terms of results but not performances for AFC Liverpool as they had to wait until November for their first League victory, which came about in the form of a 7-0 demolition of Winsford United. From that point, AFC Liverpool, who had been rooted to the foot of the table, began the steady climb out of danger, ultimately finishing in nineteenth place, sixteen points clear of the relegation places. 2012/13 saw AFC Liverpool consolidate their position in the North West Counties Premier Division with an eleventh placed finish, accumulating sixty points in the process. As the season progressed, manager Paul Moore built a core squad of players, which played some of the most exciting, attractive football in the league and post Christmas, won fifteen and drew five of twenty eight games, including a defeat of eventual Premier Division champions Padiham on their home patch.
The club’s first game was a 1-1 draw in a friendly with St Helens Town on 16th July 2008 and they began their inaugural league season extremely well, beating Darwen 5-0 in their first competitive game and going on a run of ten wins in the first eleven games. However they failed to keep this momentum going, and the club eventually finished fourth in the league. The season did prove fruitful though as a victory in the final of the First Division Trophy over Padiham at Ashton Athletic provided the club’s first piece of silverware. 2009/10 began with three successive victories but after this the season became very indifferent. After a 5-2 home defeat to Atherton Collieries on Easter Monday, Derek Goulding left the club and ex assistant and goalkeeping coach Paul Moore was appointed caretaker Manager. Under Moore’s stewardship AFC had a strong end to the 2009/10 campaign, winning five out of their last seven league games to climb to fifth in the league and also retaining the First Division Trophy, coming from behind to beat Cheadle Town 2-1 in the final at Flixton. In doing so, AFC Liverpool became the first club not only to win the Trophy twice but also successfully defend it. 2010/11 also began in promising fashion with the Reds going on a ten game unbeaten run after an opening day loss at AFC Darwen. However despite amassing their highest ever points total promotion never looked probable due to the form of would be Champions AFC Blackpool and second placed Runcorn Town, resulting in a fourth placed finish, missing out on third by goal difference. There was disappointment too in the First Division Trophy when they reached the final for a third consecutive time
However at the League AGM in July 2011 there was a surprise when Rossendale were expelled from the league and Formby were demoted to the First Division. Holker Old Boys, who finished third on goal difference, declined an invitation to take up a place in the Premier Division, meaning that AFC Liverpool were invited to take the place and the club accepted the chance that was offered to them.
The performances were rewarded in the final game of the season as the Reds beat recently crowned champions of the Evo-Stik NPL First Division North, Skelmersdale United, 3-0 in the Liverpool Senior Cup semi final to book an all North West Counties clash with Bootle in the final. In 2013/14 the Reds started the campaign at a pace, topping the early tables. They fell just short of being the youngest club to claim the Liverpool Senior Cup, losing the final on penalties, and remained among the league's pacesetters until November and December when six points taken from eight games saw them drop away. Paul Moore's side remained consistent post Christmas though and the club eventually achieved their highest league finish, ending up seventh with a total of seventy points. Last season, AFC Liverpool managed to record their highest ever win with a 9-0 victory against St Helens Town before eventually finishing ninth in the NWCFL Premier Division. They also reached their second Liverpool Senior Cup final, beating Ashton Town, Everton and Bootle along the way. In an exciting final, which saw both teams score in the opening two minutes, AFC Liverpool were just unable to claim the trophy, with NPL side Skelmersdale United eventually winning 5-4. WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Our new first team kit sponsor…Belvoir West are delighted to announce that Chorltonbased estate agent Belvoir will be their first team kit sponsor this season. The firm, who have offices in Chorlton and Manchester city centre, launched their new brand identity as main shirt sponsors for the club before Saturday’s home game with Atherton Collieries. Belvoir have supported the club in recent years as it has progressed from local football to the Premier Division of the North West Counties Football League and Matt Duckett and Vishal Gupta were on hand at Saturday's opening fixture to present the new kit to West player manager Steve Settle and club Chairman Glyn Meacher. Belvoir local manager Matt Duckett said: "As a local company Belvoir is delighted to be putting something back into the community to support the local non-league club at Wests which has been around for over 100 years since its foundation in 1908.
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"We've been delighted to see club progress in recent years and it was a pleasure to attend the opening league game last Saturday. We enjoyed some quality football from two good teams in a real 'family friendly' atmosphere and we'll certainly be down to watch again! "We wish the club every success in the league for the coming season and for their adventures in the FA Cup, FA Vase and FA Youth Cup". West Chairman Glyn Meacher added: “We are delighted that Belvoir has chosen to get involved with the football club and it really shows that we are getting things right both on and off the field. "As we’ve progressed through the divisions, we’ve strived to do things ‘the right way’. Belvoir is a confirmation that we are doing that and we very pleased to have them on board”. Pictured below are: Vishal Gupta (Belvoir), Steve Settle (First team manager), Matt Duckett (Belvoir) and Glyn Meacher (Club Chairman).
Please sign up on the poster in the clubhouse! Additionally, if you or your company are interested in sponsoring a match there is another poster to select your preferred match and sign up. Thank you for your support.
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First Team Stats fixtures – results – appearances – goalscorers
Next games… NWCFL
v Barnoldswick Town - Saturday 22nd August, 3 pm v 1874 Northwich - Tuesday 1st September, 7.45pm
FA Vase v Barton Town Old Boys – Saturday 5th September, 3pm MEN United Cup Draw West have been handed a home tie in the second round of the MEN United Cup draw and will face the winners of Eccleshall or Chadderton. No date has been confirmed yet for the ties. www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
First Team Stats fixtures – results – appearances – goalscorers
Ashley Woods… The scorer of West's first goal this season was new signing Ashley Woods. Woods, 22, started his career at Conference Premier club Altrincham where he was in the youth team. He also made two substitute appearances for the first team in Cheshire Senior Cup, including the final of the competition. After leaving Altrincham, he had a spell at Flixton before moving to the US where he played for St. Catharine College Athletics in Kentucky. Whilst there, he was named divisional player of the week twice consecutively in September 2014. Since returning to the UK, he had a short trial with Trafford, playing in their previous games before joining West.
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CLUB MERCHANDISE…NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!!! Support your local club and show your support with our latest official club merchandise! New for this season at £6 (£5 for club members and supporters’ club members) we have beanie hats and a club crest scarf. There are now more ways than ever to buy club merchandise as in addition to being able to purchase on match days our new online club shop is open. Simply log on to www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk today to purchase what you want and have it delivered straight to your front door! Wrist bands £1, Mugs at £5, Key rings at £1, Club badges at £3 Club Ties at £12.50 Programme Back Issues
Follow News Updates on West via Twitter and Facebook! Can’t make it to the game and want live match updates? Wanting the very latest news from the club on the move? Make sure that you log onto our Facebook page for all the latest news, views and updates on all things West Didsbury & Chorlton by clicking on www.facebook.com/WestDidsburyChorlton Alternatively you can follow on the very latest goings on the club with exclusive content by logging onto Twitter and following us @WD_CFC (picture of club badge)
Ground Safety In the interest of spectator comfort and safety, the following conditions apply at the clubs Brookburn Road ground and must be observed at all times.
In case of fire or other emergency that requires the clubhouse or ground to be evacuated instructions will be given over the public address system, and we ask that you comply with those instructions immediately. The chanting of racist or obscene chanting is strictly forbidden. Glasses, bottles, gas canisters, knives, darts, tools, flag poles or any other articles likely to cause injury are not permitted into the ground. Alcohol may be purchased and consumed in the bar area only. Children are not allowed in the Club House unless accompanied by an adult. Encroachment onto the playing area is forbidden at all times. Standing is not allowed in front of the seated areas. All forms of transport on the clubs car park is at the owners’ risk.
The club reserves the right to remove any person from the ground who is in breach of these rules or whose presence is a source of danger or annoyance to others. We hope you understand the reasons for the above are in order for the game to be enjoyed in safe and pleasant conditions. Thank you, West Didsbury and Chorlton AFC Committee
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2015-16 FA Vase and Youth Cup draws
The Road to Wembley for another year at WEST remains with the first qualifying round in the FA Vase. In addition West’s Youth Team travel away in FA Youth Cup. FA Vase: WEST v Barton Town Old Boys on Saturday 5th September In the FA Vase West have been drawn at home to Barton Town Old Boys in the First Qualifying Round. Our visitors are from Barton on Humber and play in the Northern Counties East Premier Division, the equivalent Step 5 Division on the other side of the Pennines. The tie will take place on Saturday 5th September and the winners will earn £600 in prize money. The winners will have a home tie on Saturday 3rd October against Central Midlands League side Dinnington Town. The winners will earn £800 in prize money and a place in the first round proper of the FA Vase.
FA Youth Cup: Lancaster City v WEST u-18s In the FA Youth Cup WEST under 18s travel away to Lancaster City, during the week commencing Monday 7th September, but with the incentive of a home tie to follow. Should they earn a victory they will face a rematch of their first ever FA Youth Cup tie last year, with a home game here against Wrexham. NWYAL: The YOUTH TEAM also face some tough challenges in the Premier Division of the Youth Alliance League this season when their opponents will include: AFC FYLDE, ALTRINCHAM, ASHTON ATHLETIC, CHESTER, CURZON ASHTON, HYDE, MORECAMBE, PRESCOT CABLES, SALFORD CITY, SKELMERSDALE, and WARRINGTON TOWN.
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Alsager 1 West 2 ‌ match report New West Manager Steve Settle gained his first win as a manager after a superb fightback in a 2-1 win at Alsager Town. This was the third August mid-week visit in a row to Alsager, with the home side running out 20 winners in both previous meetings as Settle made three changes to his starting line up from the side that lost to a stoppage time winner at home to Atherton Collieries at the weekend bringing in Anthony Potts, Jamie Wolden and Rick Gleave for Dan Russell, Mark Rogers and Settle himself.
should have scored as he found himself at the edge of the penalty area with time to pick his spot but he could only shoot wide of the far post. Moments later Poizer headed millimetres past the far post from a throw in to ensure that the sides went into the half even. In the second half Alsager signalled their attacking intent as a low 40 yard free kick was deflected just wide for a corner. West responded with a great chance of their own as a Steer header was cleared off the line from a Schofield cross.
West started brightly winning a corner in the first minute of the game; Lewis Schofield's in-swinging corner found Jonny Poizer six yards out but his header was blocked on the line by the back of an Alsager defender. The miss would cost West as Alsager broke down the field and long ball over the top found Jack Woolly who broke through the defence and superbly lobbed the out rushing Paul Hughes from 18 yards out.
West were the stronger of the two teams now with Settle introducing Lee Gavin in place of Poizer for his first team debut and he almost made it 2-1 as he had a shot deflected just wide of the post with the goalkeeper beaten. From the corner it was 2-1 as Lewis Schofield's wicked in swinger found Eckersley at the far post, he rose highest and headed home to give West a deserved lead.
With a goal advantage Alsager started much the brighter team and created several chances as twice they launched balls over the top for their strikers to race onto but this time they lobbed over. Alsager came close to doubling their lead on 16 minutes when, the otherwise excellent, Matt Eckersley sliced a clearance to the Alsager winger but he could only head over from close range.
West didn't slow down and a brilliant ball over the top from Schofield and a world class tackle only preventing Steer from making it three. Another superb attacking move move from West saw Gavin race down the right wing, pulling the back from the byline and sub Dan Russell forcing the keeper into a good save low down. Again West went close as a low free kick form 40 yards by Poole bounced up at the keeper, he could only parry but he saved brilliantly from the rebound at point blank range. Alsager kept themselves in the game winning several free kicks around the penalty, dangerously whipping them into the six yard box but Hughes was able to collect them superbly.
West clawed their way back into the game however and found themselves level on 19 minutes when a cross into the box from the left was headed out to Poole, the midfielder didn't need two touches as he volleyed low into the bottom left hand corner and in off the inside of the post for 1-1. From there the game evened up and both sides set about trying to take the initiative with some superb football with both sides trying their up most to win back possession. Alsager then had a great chance as Eckersley cleared an Alsager header off the line that may have been slightly offside. Alsager went close again as the number 7 was put through by a terrific pass but he could only role his shot wide of the post. At the other end, the industrious Rick Gleave
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The final West sub Ashley Woods thought he had won it at the death as he had the ball in the net after a brilliant pass from Gleave but the linesman raised his flag for offside. However it wouldn't prevent West collecting a vital three points in one of their best team performances since joining the NWCFL where every payer from one to eleven including the subs contributed to the result. .
NWCFL League Table’s after games on Saturday 14th April
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Appearances and League results table .
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1874 Northwich 3 West 0 … match action
Pictures courtesy of Molly Darlington
Note: The match report will be in Saturday’s programme WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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Looking back our new feature on Football History We all know about the exploits of the giants that are Manchester United and Manchester City. Across the country, and even the world, iconic places and people like Old Trafford, Maine Road, Bert Trautman and George Best are regularly spoken of with fondness and reverence. But Manchester has seen a great many more interesting pieces of footballing history. Here, we explore some of the lesser known aspects of Manchester's rich tapestry of football history.
Manchester Central FC Manchester derby day is a tough time for nonleague fans. The city is said to be split between blue and red, and often the question is asked by colleagues and acquaintances; “Are you City or United?”. Proclaiming support for West Didsbury & Chorlton is normally met with bafflement at such times! But how different could the city's mainstream football support be if there was a third Manchester team in the Football league? In fact, some 85 years ago, this was very nearly the case. In 1928, former Manchester City director John Ayrton, along with Belle Vue owner John Iles established Manchester Central F.C, feeling that east Manchester ought to have its own Football League team. Under the stewardship of manager James McMahon, assisted by former Welsh international Billy Meredith, the new club began life in the Lancashire Combination, playing home games at the 34,000 capacity Belle Vue athletics stadium in an all white strip. Their first season was judged to be a relative success, with the professional outfit finishing 7th in a 20 team league. At the beginning of the following season, the club made an application to join the Football League, an application which was rejected. It was to be the first of many disappointments for this club. Having been denied a place in the Football League, the club continued play in the Lancashire Combination and finished 2nd in the league. They also formed a reserve team which competed in the Cheshire League. But the football authorities took little notice of Central's improving on pitch exploits and yet again denied their League application. The following season, 1930/1931, was an allround disappointment with the first team
finishing 7th in the Lancashire Combination and the reserves finishing bottom of the Cheshire League. The end of the season, rather predictably, saw the club make yet another League application, which was of course rejected. However, hope was restored when, in October 1931, Wigan Borough were forced to withdraw from the League and Central were given the opportunity to take their place. At the 4th time of asking, Manchester Central were accepted as a Football league club, being given a place in the Division Three North. So, was it a happy ending for those who dreamed of a third Football League club for Manchester? As readers can probably guess from Central's absence from the contemporary football scene; no it did not. After the final application was accepted, the existing Manchester teams stepped in. They used their influence to argue that 2 League clubs were quite enough for Manchester and a third would seriously damage their support and income. The authorities quickly made a U-turn and Manchester Central's application subsequently rejected. Following this, realising that their dreams for the club would never be realised, the directors of Manchester Central disbanded the club. A truly final victory for City and United! It is interesting to speculate what might have become of Manchester Central F.C had they not been kept under the heel of the status quo of the time. They had international players in their management and first team and once attracted a crowd of 8,500 for a game against Wrexham. Whatever the case, it might have been interesting for the “red or blue” question to become the “red, white or blue” question. Perhaps it would have attracted some Americans to the Manchester football scene.
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OUR SPONSORS We would like to express our sincere thanks to our current pitch side board sponsors for their support. Without you we wouldn’t be where we are today.
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NWCFL Premier Division
Tuesday 18th August 2015 West Didsbury & Chorlton
AFC Liverpool
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Red Shirts, Red Shorts & Socks
Ryan Jones (G) Ryan Nield (G) Joshua O’Connell (G) Kieron Bogg Muktar Mahama Daniel Murphy Nathan Platts Jonathan Swatton Allen Weston Michael Williams Connor Belger Kieron Breslin Steve Corris Alex Griffiths Liam Loughlin Nevil Picton Steven Williams Francis Barry Ryan Fox Steve Jones Ronnie Morgan
Paul Hughes Dale Newbrook Callum Jones Scott Mason Mark Rodgers Anthony Potts Scott Jones Richmond Botchey Michael Simcock Jordan Poole Rick Gleave Lewis Schofield Alex Baird Jonathan Poizer Lee Gavin Dan Russell Matt Eckersley Sam Mitten Josh Livesey Ashley Woods Manager: Steve Settle Assts: Steve Brockley & Steve Eckersley
Manager: Paul Moore Assistant: Jay Forshaw
OFFICIALS Referee: Samuel Barrott | Assistant Referees: Henry Naylor & Arran Williams www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk TH
NEXT HOME FIXTURE: Tuesday, 25
Ass
August v Barnoldswick Town – 7.45pm