2012/13 SEASON
PROGRAMME £1.50
Main club sponsor:
First Division Saturday, 5 January, 2013
v Ashton Town
WELCOME to WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC Club President Brian Cripps
First Team Manager: Andy Nelson 07952 567240 Asst Manager: Steve Eckersley
Chairman Glyn Meacher 07543 715784
Reserve Team Manager: Robert Madden 07730 655446 Asst Managers: Jim Hines & Shay Casey
Club Secretary Rob Turley 0161 448 1838 07891 298441
Physio First Team: Winston Luke Reserves: Neha Chhabra
Membership Secretary Monica Creer 0161 881 1135
Club Coach Kris Mahon
Treasurer Dave Cooper 07961 063195
‘A’ Team Manager Chris Argent 07962 352619
Head of Fundraising Steve Eckersley 07788 112909
Vets Manager Sam Hickey 07980 521988
Community Development Davy Iredale
Programme Production & Web John Churchman 07720 508082
ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR SPONSOR Join our growing list of sponsors, we have packages to suit your budget including:
THE CLUB
● Match Day Sponsor ● Player Kit Sponsor ● Pitch Advertising (3-year period) ● Programme Advertising
LIST
£100 £50 £250 per season £50 - £100
200
The 200 club is a vital source of income and is open to anyone. A monthly standing order payment of £2 entitles one entry into the monthly £200 of prizes to be won. If you are interested in joining please contact Brian, Rob or Monica or ask for a form in the club house. The sooner you complete a form and enter the draw the sooner you could win.
Editorial
5th January 2013 – Ashton Town
A very Happy New Year to one and all as we start 2013 with a cracker as we welcome league leaders Ashton Town to Brookburn Road. Ashton have stormed up the table in recent months and their 2 emphatic victories in December saw their manager John Brownrigg awarded Manager of the Month. The New Year sees a series of fixtures against teams close to us in the league in January as well as cup fixtures in February when we travel to Ashton in the quarter final of the First Division and then to Bootle in the League Challenge Cup. Ashton are very welcome today as our first visitors of 2013. WET WEEKENDS The end of December saw 3 consecutive fixtures disrupted by the weather including our Boxing Day fixture against Leek. This was a particular disappointment as we had worked hard to get the game on only to be thwarted by a downpour prior to kick off and throughout the first half. We have no complaint with the referees decision to abandon the game at half time but in addition to the postponements at Holker and Eccleshall, and v Leek and Irlam, we have 4 rearranged games to be added to the 17 remaining league games and at least [we hope] 2 cup games, all to be completed by the end of April to meet FA rules. 2012 IN BRIEF Looking back over the last 12 months it is remarkable just how far the club has progressed due to a lot of hard work on and off the field. This time last year we were awaiting news of our application to join the NWCFL, having registered this with the FA just before Christmas 2011, we have a feature on this further on in the programme. We thank everyone who has been part of our recent progression during 2012 and look forward with anticipation to what the New Year of 2013 has in store A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL – ENJOY THE GAME TODAY Rob Turley
Thanks to Mike Fryer for providing photos we use on the web and in the programme.
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
View from the Dugout It seems a long time since we commented on a football game! (which was a thoroughly deserved and convincing 4 – 0 win against a strong Cheadle Town side) in our programme notes for the Boxing Day game against Leek CSOB. What was then looking like a really busy period of games turned into a washout as first our away game against Eccleshall was postponed, then the Boxing Day game which was initially given the all clear after a great effort by our grounds man, was abandoned at half time due to heavy rain which started about an hour before kickoff and continued throughout the first half. We did see an entertaining first half which ended 2-2, however, the state of the pitch was clearly affecting the game this was seen with second goal we conceded, when the ball didn’t run truly as we tried to play football across the back four and we paid the price as it slowed down on the pitch. Two more days of rain followed so it was no surprise that our last home against Irlam was also postponed, this was a further disappointment as we were playing with a settled team and the results and performances were of a consistently good level. We hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and wish you a prosperous New Year, we look forward to seeing you at our home games in 2013.
Andy Nelson and Steve Eckersley
Boxing Day Match day Sponsor… Costcutter A big thank you to Rob Madden and Costcutter our recent match sponsor, Rob pictured right handing the match ball to Andy Nelson (left) is also our Reserve Team Manager.
We are now looking for match sponsors in the remaining home matches. The sponsorship package costs £100 and includes: 4 match day tickets; Pre-match drinks; Half-time refreshments and an advert in the match day programme.
Interested in sponsoring one of our matches? Then please speak to Rob, Steve or John – refer to details inside the front cover
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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.
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
First Team – Fixtures, Results and Goalscorers… Date KO H/A Opposition Score AUGUST 2012 Sat Aug 4 3.00 H Formby 2–3 Wed Aug 8 7.45 A Chadderton 3–0 Sat Aug 11 3.00 A Oldham Boro 4–2 Tues Aug 14 7.45 H Northwich Villa 1–1 Sat Aug 18 3.00 A AFC Darwen 0–2 SEPTEMBER Sat Sept 1 3.00 H Cheadle Town FA - V 1–3 Tues Sept 4 7.45 A Leek CSOB 2–1 Sat Sept 8 3.00 A Atherton LR 1–4 Sat Sept 15 3.00 H Oldham Boro 4–1 Wed Sept 19 7.45 A Nelson 2–2 Sat Sept 22 3.00 A Cheadle Town 2–3 Sat Sept 29 3.00 H Holker Old Boys 3-0 OCTOBER Sat Oct 6 3.00 H Eccleshall LCC 1st Rd 4-0 Tues Oct 9 7.45 A Bamber Bridge LCT 1-3 Sat Oct 20 3.00 H Rochdale Town 2-0 Sat Oct 27 3.00 H Norton United LCC 2nd Rd 3-1 NOVEMBER Sat Nov 3 3.00 A Northwich Villa 0-2 Sat Nov 10 3.00 H Abbey Hey 2-1 Sat Nov 17 3.00 A Daisy Hill 1-0 Sat Nov 24 3.00 H Atherton LR FDT 2nd Rd 2 -0 DECEMBER Sat Dec 1 3.00 A Irlam 1-1 Sat Dec 15 3.00 H Cheadle Town 4-0 Wed Dec 26 3.00 H Leek CSOB A-A Sat Dec 29 3.00 H Irlam P-P JANUARY 2013 Sat Jan 5 3.00 H Ashton Town Sat Jan 12 3.00 A Formby Sat Jan 19 3.00 H Eccleshall FEBRUARY Sat Feb 3 3.00 A Ashton Town FDT Q-Final Sat Feb 9 3.00 H AFC Darwen Sat Feb 16 3.00 A Bootle LCC 2nd Rd Sat Feb 23 3.00 H Chadderton MARCH Sat Mar 16 3.00 H Atherton Collieries Sat Mar 23 3.00 A Abbey Hey Sat Mar 30 3.00 H Daisy Hill APRIL Mon Apr 1 3.00 A Rochdale Town Sat Apr 6 3.00 H Atherton LR Sat Apr 13 3.00 H Nelson Sat Apr 27 3.00 A Ashton Town FA V = FA Vase FDT= First Div Trophy LCC = League Challenge Cup
Scorers Beckford, Walsh Potts, Walsh (2) Aston, C Jones, Walsh, Beckford Baird
Bryant Shillito, Bryant Bryant Kilbride, Summers, Shillito L. Schofield, C Jones L. Schofield, Malkin L. Schofield, Baldwin, Walsh Aston, S Jones, Baldwin, Walsh Summers Baldwin (2) Malkin, L. Schofield, Walsh
C. Schofield, M Woodcock Potts Summers. Aston (pen) Baldwin Walsh, S. Jones, Thomas, Malkin
LCT = Lancashire Challenge Trophy
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
CLUB NEWS… Club Helpers Our club is dependent on the time and effort of volunteer helpers who act as club officials, manage and staff the bar and clubhouse on match days, produce the match day programme and undertake a host of other tasks around the clubhouse and grounds. Every little helps so if you are interested in getting involved please contact us at www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com Or contact the secretary, Rob Turley on 07891 298441 or e-mail to: rob.turley@btinternet.com
Follow us on Twitter Our username is WD_CFC (picture of club badge) please follow us and re tweet information so as many people see it as possible.
Club merchandise Watch this space for further information on club merchandise; you will soon have the chance to buy club ties, club pin badges, mugs, scarves, beanie hats and key rings.
This month the 200 Club winners are: £100 JP Williams £60 D Otway £40 Kris Parry The next draw is on Monday 7th January so get a form and get signed up by the end of the month if you want to have the chance of a cash prize.
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
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Our visitors‌ Ashton Town Ashton Town Association Football Club apparently originally joined the Div 2 of the Lancashire Combination in 1903 and were promoted Div 1 in 1st season. However, relegated back to Div 2 after finishing 16 in first season of Div 1. Towards the end of 1910/11 season club withdrew from league and fixtures taken over by Tyldesley Albion. The Club was reformed in 1953 as Makerfield Mill FC and after a short spell in the Wigan Sunday School League, they played in the St Helens Combination League for three years before joining the Warrington and District Amateur League in 1958. In 1962 the Club was forced to move from its original ground at Windsor Road because of land development and it was at this point the Club name was changed to Ashton Town AFC. Home games were played on a public park pitch at Whithill Street Recreation Ground in Bryn until 1964, at which point the Club purchased a piece of land at Edge Green Street, previously the home of Stubshaw Cross Rovers. This became the Club's new home, and development of the ground began. In 1969 the Clubhouse was completed, and was opened by Liverpool and England star Roger Hunt, and in 1975 the present dressing room facilities were built. During this period the Club joined the Lancashire Combination in 1971, and then in 1978, they left to join the Cheshire County League for four years. The formation of the North West Counties Football League 1982 saw Ashton Town join as founder members, and the Club has remained in the league since then with the exception of season 1985-86, when they played in the Manchester League while essential ground maintenance work was carried out.
HONOURS St Helens Combination League: Division Two: Champions 1957-58, Runners-Up 1956-57 Tom Worrell Cup: Winners 1956-57, Runners-Up 1957-58 Hospital Cup: Winners 1956-57, 1957-58 Liverpool FA Shield: Winners 1956-57 Rainford Pottery Cup: Winners 1956-57, Runners-Up 1957-58 Martin Cup: Winners 1957-58 Guardian Cup: Runners-Up 1957-58 Wigan Cup Winners 1960-61 Warrington and District League: Division One: Champions 1959-60, 60-61, 62-63, 63-64, 64-65, 69-70 Depot Cup: Winners 1960-61, 61-62, 63-64, 65-66 Guardian Cup: Winners 1963-64, 70-71 Dodds Shield: Winners 1963-64 Jubilee Cup: Winners 1970-71 Elizabeth Pilling Memorial Shield: Winners 1967-68 Lancashire Combination: Lancashire Football Association Challenge Trophy: Runners-Up 1970-71 Lancashire Combination League Cup: Runners-Up 1971-72 North West Counties Football League: Reserve Division: Runners-Up 1998-99 Division Two Trophy: Runners-Up 2002-03 Atherton Charities Cup: Runners-Up 2011-12
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
PROGRAMME INSERT
Ashton Town 23rd February 2013
EDITORIAL This update sheet is added to today’s programme which we had printed for the original date of 5th Jan, but that game was postponed until today. However, the club information has not changed, although the players list may have minor changes. WELCOME We are at last pleased to welcome Ashton Town officials, players and supporters as our visitors today, it isn’t long ago since we played each other in the Cup, so we are very aware we will need to be at our best today against a strong team to get something out of the game. REMAINING FIXTURES Looking ahead we have a hectic run in to the end of the season on 27th April as we have 13 games to play in the league and cup after today. This is a heavy programme of fixtures which will place a significant burden on the club’s management, players and Committee. We will have to play at least two league games in 7 of the 10 weeks remaining until the end of the season in April, but spare a thought for poor Formby who have only played 13 league games so far this season (at time of going to print!). BOOTLE We were very disappointed to lose 2-1 last Saturday against Bootle away in the Cup, the winning goal coming from a harsh penalty in the 88th minute! We were pleased with our performance against Premier League opposition and felt that our possession and general play deserved more. NEW FEATURE We are pleased to have a new feature in this insert which we home become a regular contribution, a big thank you to Rob McKay for this contribution which makes an interesting read. CLUBHOUSE REFRESHMENTS Whatever the forecast is for today the clubhouse is open as usual for hot food and drinks so you can keep warm at half time, catch up on the latest scores around the country and check out the club merchandise (more information on the inside this insert). ENJOY TODAYS GAME. Rob Turley
TODAYS OFFICIALS Referee: Rhys Ryder Assistants: Matthew Pope & Ainsley Sawicz
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
FIRST TEAM – 2013 Rearranged fixtures Date
KO
FEBRUARY Sat Feb 2 Sat Feb 9 Tues Feb 12 Sat Feb 16 Sat Feb 23 Tues Feb 26 MARCH Sat Mar 2 Tues Feb 5 Tues Mar 12 Sat Mar 16 Sat Mar 23 Tues Mar 26 Sat Mar 30 APRIL Mon Apr 1 Sat Apr 6 Wed Apr 10 Sat Apr 13 Mon Apr 22 Sat Apr 27
H/A Opposition
Score Scorers
3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 7.45
A H H A H H
Ashton Town AFC Darwen Chadderton Bootle Ashton Town Eccleshall
FDT Q-Final
7.45 7.45 7.45 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00
A A H H A H H
Holker Old Boys Formby Irlam Atherton Collieries Abbey Hey Leek CSOB Daisy Hill
3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 19.45 3.00
A H A H A A
Rochdale Town Atherton LR Eccleshall Nelson Atherton Collieries Ashton Town
LCC 2nd Rd
1-3 2-3 3-2 1-2
Aston OG, Aston (pen) Shillito, S.Jones, Walsh S.Jones
CLUB MERCHANDISE We have just taken delivery of some new club merchandise to sell to help club funds and promote the club as shown on the photographs. This includes: Mugs at £5, Key rings at £1, Club badges at £3 Club Ties at £12.50
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
From the Terraces… Hello and welcome to what I’m hoping is the first of many contributions to the West programme. It’s not been much fun for the non-league supporter during these winter months with little or no football to attend (they never abandon shopping on a Saturday!). Making plans to attend games has been akin to roulette in recent weeks as even in the week before the Darwen game, Chorlton was subject to pouring rain, hail, gale force winds, snow and even more bizarrely sunshine. At least the upside will mean, unless you are the groundsman working round the clock, there will be plenty of fixtures to attend in the warmer months. So it was a relief to wake up on Saturday morning and find perfect conditions for a game of football; mild, no wind, dry and no sun to block your view. The argument for a winter break has become redundant over the last few months as groundsmen up and down the country have battled it out with the elements over the last several months. The groundsmen of the NWCFL all deserve medals if all the fixtures are completed by April 27th. For the players and managers, as the Superbowl showed us, unexpected delays can seriously alter a team’s momentum and change their fortune. Sides struggling with numerous injuries can see them heal up and come back stronger and sides winning games can see their impetus stopped and struggle to pick it back on. Unfortunately as more than one Chairman has pointed out, wages still have to be paid even if people aren’t coming through the turnstiles. Hopefully one day in the near future the FA will catch up with technology and allow clubs to install 3G pitches, like at Stockport (Woodley) Sports, without fear of recrimination but for now we will just have to heap praise on the groundsmen and volunteers that have done everything they can to make pitches playable. A great thing about non-league football is the people you meet, and it was good to meet Des Hinks, the editor of the new national non-league magazine, Seven Steps, at the Darwen game. (Copies available from the bar now) Although as a Stockport County fan he’s closer to non-league football than he’d probably like it’s an incredible thing to set up a magazine where £2 of every issue sold goes to the club. Yes, I did purchase one myself (the first one the club treasurer informs me). It was a very informative read and clearly a labour of much love from supporters of teams from FC Chester to Merthyr Town. Here’s hoping to see many mentions of West in it in the future. (Did I mention they’re available from the bar?) Also one of the best things about non-league football is the knowledge that every penny you spend is directly contributing to the game and your club. When I visit a ground I like to follow the 3 P’s when being relieved of my money. Programme, Pie and Pint. The programme is simply the most important accessory to a non-league match day as it is still the primary source for the most important club information. Just behind that is the pie and as there are whole sections of the internet dedicated to clubs and their pies as well as supporters who travel the length of the country sampling pies at football matches it’s a serious business. Lastly is something to wash it down with and best of all its considered guilt free as all profits go to the club. You are helping football so feel free to have another (I’m told Tea and Coffee are also available). Best of all there will still be change from your £10 note. The Darwen match was a terrific end-to-end game and well worth the admission price. I can honestly say it was one of the only games I’ve ever seen where all 5 goals came against the run of play. Ultimately it was heartbreak as an excellent Darwen side came back from 2 nil down to win 3-2, handing us to our first home defeat in the league since the opening day of the season. The West players and supporters can be very proud of both the way the side played and how they’ve adapted to the step up to the North West Counties 1st Division and they’ve already given us plenty to shout about. Rob McKay.
Next home game: West v Eccleshall Tuesday 26th February 7.45pm KO
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
NWCFL Division One Table Tables accurate after 16th February games
Home P
W
D
L
F
Away A
W
D L
F
A
GD Pts
1.
AFC Darwen
21 8
0
1 24
10
7
1 4 35
25
24 46
2. 3. 4.
Abbey Hey Ashton Town Formby
19 9 18 7 13 6
0 1 0
3 31 0 30 1 25
12 9 12
5 5 6
1 1 22 1 4 24 0 0 26
4 11 9
37 43 34 38 30 36
5.
Atherton Collieries
17 5
0
2 25
15
6
2 2 22
14
18 35
6.
West Didsbury & Chorlton
19 6
1
2 23
11
4
2 4 16
17
11 33
7. 8. 9.
Oldham Boro * Cheadle Town Chadderton
22 5 20 6 19 5
4 3 3
2 17 2 24 4 20
15 18 25
5 3 2
0 6 25 1 5 13 1 4 17
19 19 18
8 0 -6
10. Leek CSOB
21 3
2
3 14
13
3
2 8 21
36
-14 22
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
17 18 20 21 20 20 20 17
1 1 1 3 2 3 3 0
5 4 5 6 5 8 5 6
18 17 21 22 21 40 21 21
4 1 3 2 1 3 2 2
2 2 2 3 4 2 1 1
16 24 31 20 15 14 28 21
-8 -12 -24 -14 -14 -23 -21 -26
D 1
L 6
F 32
A GD Pts 30 2 28
3 5 2 2 5 2 3 3 2 5 5 3 2 8 2 6 1 6 2 10 2 12 2 9
45 39 42 24 29 29 26 25 24 23 28 22
36 9 27 19 20 26 24 18 26 12 12 24 30 -1 23 22 7 20 22 4 20 31 -6 17 26 -2 15 39 -16 14 43 -15 11 54 -32 11
Rochdale Town Nelson Northwich Villa Irlam Atherton LR Eccleshall Daisy Hill Holker Old Boys
2 5 3 2 3 1 1 2
6 17 14 17 13 18 14 9
3 5 6 5 5 3 8 6
20 12 14 11 9 13 14 7
31 31 25 21 21 21 18 18 17 13 13
NWCFL Reserves Table 1.
Cheadle Town
P W 16 9
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
Wigan Robin Park New Mills Padiham Irlam Barnoldswick Town Runcorn Linnets Glossop North End Nelson Ashton Town * Silsden West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC Darwen
16 12 14 13 14 13 16 13 12 16 17 14
8 8 7 7 7 5 6 5 5 4 3 3
*Point deducted for breach of rule
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
First team match pictures from our last game‌ Saturday 15th December: WEST 4 Cheadle Town 0
A determined Callum Jones about to start a surging run
Tommy Walsh steadies himself before slotting home (and celebrates on the front cover). http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
NWCFL 2012-2013 Division One Fixtures - 5th January Abbey Hey v Oldham Boro AFC Darwen v Northwich Villa Atherton Collieries v Nelson Chadderton v Leek CSOB Cheadle Town v Rochdale Town Daisy Hill v Atherton LR Eccleshall v Formby Holker Old Boys v Irlam West Didsbury & Chorlton v Ashton Town
West Reserve team fixtures: Glossop North End Res, 5 January, (A) 3.00pm AFC Darwen Res, 12 January, (A) 3.00pm New Mills Reserves, 9 February, (A) 3.00pm Reserve Team Cup – Round 1 Ashton Town Res, 2 February, (H) 3.00pm
NWCFL recent landmarks and news… Saturday 15th December Colne collected their 250th League win thanks to their 2-0 victory over Runcorn Linnets. As well as moving to the top of the First Division table following their 5-0 win at Daisy Hill, Ashton Town's victory saw them pass the landmark of 1,000 League points. Wednesday 26th December Two League landmarks were reached in the Boxing Day games that were completed. Runcorn Linnets reached 400 League points thanks to Ross McDowall's last gasp equaliser in the derby match against Runcorn Town. Oldham Boro's sixth goal in their 8-2 win at Chadderton, scored by Darren Scanlon to complete his hat-trick, was Boro's 800th away League goal. FA Vase - The draw involving NWCFL clubs to be played Sat. 19th Jan 2013 is: Rocester v Runcorn Town Walsall Wood or Wigan Robin Park v Hanworth Villa
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
NWCFL Division One Table 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Ashton Town AFC Darwen Abbey Hey West Didsbury & Chorlton Cheadle Town Oldham Boro Atherton Collieries Formby Chadderton Rochdale Town Northwich Villa Atherton LR Leek CSOB Nelson Irlam Daisy Hill Eccleshall Holker Old Boys
P 17 17 14 17 16 17 13 9 13 14 17 16 16 12 18 18 15 13
W 11 11 11 9 8 8 8 8 6 5 5 4 5 4 3 3 3 4
D 2 1 0 3 4 2 1 0 2 3 3 4 1 3 4 4 3 0
L 4 5 3 5 4 7 4 1 5 6 9 8 10 5 11 11 9 9
F 51 46 40 34 34 37 35 35 29 24 25 21 30 21 24 24 25 15
A 19 31 13 23 29 31 25 17 30 29 42 32 44 35 40 42 43 35
GD Pts 32 35 15 34 27 33 11 30 5 28 6 26 10 25 18 24 -1 20 -5 18 -17 18 -11 16 -14 16 -4 15 -16 13 -18 13 -18 12 -20 12
NWCFL Reserves Table 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
Irlam Wigan Robin Park Padiham Cheadle Town New Mills Runcorn Linnets Barnoldswick Town Glossop North End Nelson Ashton Town * Silsden West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC Darwen
P 12 13 12 13 10 12 10 12 11 10 12 13 12
W D L 7 2 3 7 2 4 6 4 2 7 0 6 6 2 2 5 4 3 6 1 3 5 1 6 5 0 6 4 1 5 4 0 8 3 1 9 1 2 9
F 23 32 36 24 32 27 22 18 20 19 21 22 17
A 11 29 19 26 16 20 16 15 26 21 33 30 51
GD 12 3 17 -2 16 7 6 3 -6 -2 -12 -8 -34
Pts 23 23 22 21 20 19 19 16 15 12 12 10 5
*Point deducted for breach of rule
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Shirt Number Sponsors‌
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
Looking back over the last 12 months… It is remarkable just how far the club has progressed due to a lot of hard work on and off the field. This time last year we were awaiting news of our application to join the NWCFL, having registered this with the FA just before Christmas 2011. The months that followed saw us steadily climbing the Manchester League Premier Division through the spring and we then had another grading visit from NWCFL officials and the check list of further improvements necessary to join the league. Fortunately the floodlights had been installed and the various certificates issued after the electrical installation was completed. As soon as the season ended in early May we were hard at work with ground renovation works, and then the FA National League Committee gave the go ahead to our promotion. Monica Creer and Rob Turley then had had the pleasure of attending the League AGM in Blackpool when we were duly elected by the other member clubs – another landmark in the club’s history. The Committee then saw some changes in roles as long serving Chairman Brian Cripps became Club President, Glyn Meacher became Chairman and Rob Turley Club Secretary as Monica Creer became membership secretary after her long stint as both club and membership secretary. A new Executive Committee was formed to focus on running the club administration with a separate Football Committee to deal with the teams and playing side of the club. July saw a heavy pre-season friendly programme as we geared up for the new challenges and a very early start against Formby on 4th August. All the further ground works were completed in time for the opening game which saw over 100 attending and the new spectator barriers successfully coming through the pre match and half time crowd control tests. August saw us play 5 games in an opening 14 day period as we began to find our feet and gain our first points. September opened with the disappointment of a home defeat in the FA Vase but ended with a confidence boosting home win over Holker Old Boys. October was another encouraging month as we won all our NWC fixtures with the only set back coming with a narrow away defeat at Bamber Bridge in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy. A highlight was the best result in our history against higher level opposition as we defeated Premier Division Norton United in the League Challenge Cup. Off the field a team of 5 Manchester Business School students began looking at the club finances and structures to give us an independent overview of things we might consider for the future and we began to finalise our application for the new grass pitches on the land adjoining the club which we have secured on a long term lease.. November opened with an unexpected set back away to Northwich Villa but the day got a lot better when over 500 again attended the Community Bonfire event at the ground to boost the club funds and generate a lot of very positive feedback. The rest of November saw a further 3 victories as we have settled into the upper end of the Division and won our way through to the next round of both cup competitions. As we approach the end of the year we look back on a lot of change, great encouragement from both our league results and the many compliments received from visiting clubs, match officials and spectators. At the risk of being repetitive, we are delighted to have joined the NWCFL and to have enjoyed the new experiences of away trips to some historic and interesting grounds across the region from Darwen and Nelson to the north down to Leek in Staffordshire, and with trips to Barrow, Bootle and Formby to look forward to early next year. We thank everyone who has been part of our recent journey and progression and look forward with anticipation to what the New Year of 2013 has in store The Committee WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
North West Counties Football League First Division Saturday 5th January 2013
Today’s squads
West Didsbury & Chorlton White shirts, black shorts & socks
Ben Simpson (gk) Callum Jones Scott Jones David Kilbride-Ratcliffe Anthony Potts Callum Schofield Mike Aston (Capt) Danny Summers Mark Woodcock Gareth Thomas Steve Settle Lee Malkin Lee Shillito Lewis Schofield Tommy Walsh Paul Lewis Matt Eckersley
Ashton Town Red/White shirts, red shorts and socks
Nathan Brabin (gk) Ryan Stamper Michael A Boyle Paul Keenan Kevin Brownrigg (Capt) Sam Wilkie Kevin Pollard Daniel Dillon Bradley Smart Michael R Boyle Steven Mahoney Philip Davies Michael Cummins Lewis Ben Sumner Adam Wilkinson Sean Robinson Ian Lowe (gk)
Manager: Andy Nelson
Manager: John Brownrigg
Assistant: Steve Eckersley
Coaches: Neil Marten/Tommy Kilgallon
Referee: James Morgan
OFFICIALS: Assistants: Peter Richards & Andrew Seed
NEXT HOME GAME: Saturday, 19th January, 2013 – Kick-off:3.00pm
WEST v Eccleshall Please check the club website or www.nwcfl.com for up to date information
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
WHAT’S OUR
STORY?
Newly elected North West Counties League side West Didsbury and Chorlton FC, have come a long way in their 105 year history which began back in 1908 when the club was founded as Christ Church A.F.C. by Mr R F Hartley, a Sunday School Superintendent at the church on Princess Parkway, West Didsbury. West first played in the Manchester Alliance League until the outbreak of the First World War (1914-1918). After the War the club joined the Lancashire and Cheshire League for the 1920/21 season and had to change its name to West Didsbury AFC, as the League did not permit association with any other body. The club was placed in Divisions 1 and A and stayed in the top flight for 25 seasons. The first honours were double runners up in Div 1 and Rhodes Cup in 1922/23, and the club remained in that league until 2006, winning many honours and providing 4 League Presidents along the way. Many of the current committee were players in that league. The club played at Christie Playing Fields from before 1914 but had to relocate when given notice to quit by the Playing Fields Society in the mid 80’s when that body decided to sell the land for commercial gain. After several years nomadic existence the club kicked off the 1997-98 season at their splendid new home at The Recreation Ground at Brookburn Road, and began to develop a vision for a community club. This was down to the hard work of a core of players and Committee who refused to let the club fold and secured the new facilities via a Lottery grant, new sponsors and fundraising, but without a penny of help from the Playing Fields Society proceeds. Further name change followed in 2003 to reflect our new location in Chorlton and we were elected to the Manchester League in 2006. In 2007/8 Season West won Manchester League silverware for the first time, lifting the Murray Shield in the last game of our centenary year. That team was the nucleus of the previously successful junior team and the following season West just missed promotion to the Premier Division and again reached the Murray Shield Final.
With a new management team led by Andy Nelson, who had previously managed at Leigh RMI, the 2009/10 season was very successful and honours spread throughout the club. The 1st team won the Murray Shield, (the third consecutive year we have been in the final) and finishing runners-up in the league. The second team won the Bridgewater League Cup and the U17 Youth team won their League. In 2010/2011 the 1st team won the Manchester League First Division title in style with a fantastic points total (65 points out of 72 possible). This ranks as one of the highest points totals per game in the history of the Manchester League dating back over a century. The clubs reserve team and youth teams also had terrific seasons, resulting in promotion and for the second year reaching the Bridgewater Cup Final. The clubs ‘A’ team finished and the Youth team reached yet another final where they were just pipped to the trophy by New Mills. The Veterans were runners up in the Premier Division of the Cheshire Veterans League and then started a second veterans team such was the interest in the club. Plans were also made to formally integrate junior football as the club Vision is to be a FA Charter Standard Community Club in every sense. In recent seasons several players who started at West have been signed by top non league clubs, but such is the spirit of the club that many players return to what they see as a family club. The club now looks forward to fulfilling its ambition to play at the highest possible level it can whilst continuing to be run as a community club and transition to the NWCFL. The ground and facilities have been further improved and floodlights erected to meet grading requirements and West competed in the FA Vase for the first time in 2011-2012 as a Step 7 club. The club was duly elected to the NWCFL at the AGM on 16th June 2012.
MATCH DAY‌
CLUB INFO To contact the club please use the club website. West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC The Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road, Chorltonville, Manchester, M21 8FF
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http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/