West Didsbury & Chorlton v Holker Old Boys

2012/13 SEASON Main club sponsor:

PROGRAMME ÂŁ1.50 First Division Saturday 29 September 2012

v Holker Old Boys

WELCOME to WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC Club President Brian Cripps

First Team Manager: Andy Nelson 07952 567240 Asst Manager: Steve Eckersley

Chairman Glyn Meacher 07905 431526

Reserve Team Manager: Robert Madden 07730 655446 Asst Managers: Jim Hines & Shay Casey

Club Secretary Rob Turley 0161 448 1838 07891 298441

Physio Winston Luke

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 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

29th September 2012 – Holker Old Boys

Welcome back to Brookburn Road for today’s home game against Holker OB who visit us for the very first time today having made the 100 mile journey from Barrow. They are a club who face some significant travelling distances every week and although we have had a few distance trips so far, particularly for some midweek games, these are nothing to what Holker face every other week. John Adams the Holker secretary is also a NWCFL official and we are pleased to welcome John along with all the Holker squad, club officials and visiting supporters for today’s game.

It is certainly nice to be back home after spending a lot of time on the road so far this season, with 7 of our opening 10 league fixtures having been away.

Our travels have taken us to Chadderton, Oldham Boro, Darwen, Leek, Atherton LR, Nelson [twice] and Cheadle Town in turn, closely followed by last Tuesday night’s Lancashire FA Senior Trophy game against Evo-Stik side Bamber Bridge. Despite the travelling, our ‘away’ performances have been consistently good, [apart from a 20 minute horror at Atherton] and the way we play has drawn many plaudits and compliments from opponents and their supporters at away grounds. The experience so far has shown we have been able to adjust to NW Counties football but we have also learned some harsh lessons as a result of missed chances and defensive errors and these are aspects of our game we quickly need to improve.

The reserve team have also started well and been very unlucky not to have a few more points on the board as they too adjust to an even greater step change from last season.

Andy and Rob and the management and coaching teams deserve great credit in getting the first and reserve team squad ready for NW Counties football and the entire playing squad also deserve congratulations for the efforts all are putting in to both games and training. We have needed the size of squad [40+ players] and strength in depth to deal with playing league and cup games twice a week recently. This allows us to cope with injuries when there is little time to recover and also to deal with the inevitable disruption of illness, work commitments, family emergencies and holidays. It is clear that we need to maintain this size of squad and also that everyone will get a chance in a busy season when we’ll play around 65 first and reserve team games.

Finally we should also recognise the sterling efforts behind the scenes by our physiotherapists Winston and Neha. They have had their hands full in dealing with injuries and trying to keep everyone fit. Their contribution to matches and training sessions is massive and we are very lucky to have them.

Anyway it’s back to business again today for this home game against Holker when we hope we can return to winning ways and keep ourselves in the upper half of the table. We hope you enjoy the game and if it’s anything like the last 3 fixtures you certainly will.

Finally, as we’ve said before if you are visiting today and have any suggestions on how we can improve your match day experience here at Brookburn Road, then please speak to any of our Committee and helpers and give us your views.

Rob Turley Cover picture: Andy Nelson and Steve Eckersley pictured before the Cheadle Town game

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

View from the Dugout Since our last notes we had a confidence boosting 4-1 home win against Oldham Boro, with some pleasing phases of play against a determined side. The game burst into life with four goals in the last 10 minutes and it was pleasing to see us keep our concentration and determination for the full 90+ minutes and get our deserved reward from the game.

We have commented before that this league is unforgiving and we were on the road again within a few days for another away fixture against Nelson. This was our second trip to Nelson (the first being called off on our arrival due to heavy rain making the pitch unplayable). On a damp evening we battled well to come away with a share of the points in a competitive 2-2 draw against a side that will be there or there about at the end of the season. The really pleasing point was the way we battled back from a goal down twice.

We then made the short trip to play Cheadle Town last Saturday determined to get our own back having been beaten in the FA Vase earlier in the season at Brookburn Road. After weathering some early pressure we largely controlled the first half the only surprise was we were only 1-0 up at half time!

It was more of the same in the second half as we increased our lead and missed other great chances to put the game to bed. This cost us, lack of concentration saw us leak two goals both of which were avoidable 2-2, but worse was to come when Cheadle broke away at pace and a scorching near post shot flashed in leaving us 2-3 down…and still worse was to follow as we squandered the chance of an equaliser twice when we missed the target at point blank range with a headed opportunity and then missed a penalty. How a week changes things in football!

We must keep positive as we are adapting to life at this level and our performances have been praised by opposing teams, but it is also disappointing as we could and should have already posted more points to our total.

Steve Eckersley

Another one that got away!

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.

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

Today’s Match Sponsor:

We are an independent planning and development consultancy providing specialist advice on how to obtain planning permission for various forms of new development, including facilities for sport and recreation and football clubs.

Rob Turley has over 35 years experience in both local government and private sector planning consultancy having previously built a market leading consultancy from scratch.

Experience in sport and leisure includes permissions for the City of Manchester stadium and Velodrome, alterations to MFCF training complex at Carrington, permissions for a new stadium in Stanley Park for Liverpool FC and currently advising Old Trafford SC on a new hotel and supporters club facility immediately adjoining Old Trafford. The firm is also advising non league football clubs from conference and Evo-Stik to Step 6 and 7 clubs.

For initial advice without any obligation please call 0161 448 1838, Rob Turley on 07891 298441 or Beverley Dawson on 07972 873781.

Interested in sponsoring one of our matches?

Then please speak to Rob, Steve or John – refer to details inside the front cover

Golden Goal We are pleased to announce we have started to sell golden goal tickets these cost £1; this will be a regular feature at our home games.

Look out for these being sold and if you draw the correct time you will win 30% of the takings sold at that match.

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

CLUB NEWS… Wanted – Kit Manager We require a volunteer kit manager to take charge of our playing kit for home and away games in the North West Counties League for the coming season.

This means assisting the management and coaching staff on match days, pre-checking and setting out playing kit prior to the game, attending to any kit emergencies during the game and then checking in the kit after the game ready to go to laundry.

If you would like to be part of the dressing room team before the game and assist in this capacity then please contact us at www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com Or contact the secretary, Rob Turley on 07891 298441 or e-mail to: rob.turley@btinternet.com

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.

If you’re into football and follow City or United then why not make us your second team and be part of the experience of quality grass roots football. Every little helps so if you are interested in getting involved please use the same contact details as above for Rob Turley and the club.

Follow us on Twitter We will use this to provide updates and information (fixtures, news, events, link to NWCFL articles, link to website, results, photos etc). Our username is WD_CFC (picture of club badge) please follow us and re tweet information so as many people see it as possible. We have received numerous messages of support and would like to thank those who have helped to increase awareness.

Shirt Number Sponsors For as little as £20 you can sponsor a club shirt, your support will be recognised in every match day programme through the season. You’ll struggle to find a cheaper way to support your local club. Please ask one of the committee for further details or sign up on the poster in the entrance area of the clubhouse… there are only 10 shirts left so don’t delay!

This month the 200 Club winners are: £100 Neil Campbell £60 Ashley Farlow £40 Lloyd Evans Pritchard The next draw is on Monday 1st October 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.

Our thanks to Mike Fryer for providing pictures we use on the website and in the programme.

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

Our visitors… Holker Old Boys Holker old Boys’ Football Club was founded in 1936 as an under 16 side from “Old Boys” of the then Holker Central Secondary School in Holker Street Barrow-in-Furness. In season 1939-40 the club joined the local North Western Open Age League, playing all their games on local playing fields. Junior teams were soon formed thus keeping the links with their roots. 1967 saw the club enter a team in the West Lancashire League whilst retaining a side in the N.W.L. In 1971 a site for a new ground was obtained at Rakesmoor Lane on land which had originally been an isolation hospital then allotments. The club moved from their previous home on Thorncliffe Road to their present one at Rakesmoor. On the formation of the Furness Premier League in 1980 the club entered two teams into this league and still retains two sides, the Reserves and ‘A’ Team, in the League to date.

Having spent years in the shadow of local rivals Vickers’ Sports Club (now Hawcoat Park FC.) and Dalton United in season 1985/86 they had their best ever season to date finishing Runners-up to BAC. Preston in the West Lancs. League Div. 1. However in the following season, which was also the club’s Golden Jubilee season, they went one better and finished Champions ahead of Vickers’ SC. More success followed as the club won the Adidas Lancashire Junior Shield in 1988/89 beating Walkden Town 2-0 and again in1990/91 when they defeated Park United 1-0. The club were now thinking of progressing to a higher standard of football but much work was needed on their Rakesmoor Lane ground to bring it up to the standard required. Committee members, players, friends and their families all worked hard to extend the clubhouse, build new changing rooms and enclose the pitch. The reward for all this hard work was to be accepted into the NWCFL Second Division for the start of the 1991/92 season.

Holker Old Boys took a couple of seasons to acclimatise to the new higher standard during which time floodlights were installed but in 1993/94 they finished third in the Second Division behind Haslingden (now defunct) and North Trafford (now Trafford). Haslingden were unable to be promoted because their facilities did not meet the requirements for the First Division so Holker Old Boys filled the second promotion place. Holker gave a good account of themselves for their first three seasons in the First Division and in 1995/96 they finished in their highest ever position of 11th. However the 1997/98 season saw them struggle finishing just two points ahead of relegated Darwen and the 1998/99 season was a disaster seeing them lose all twenty away games and scoring just five goals on their travels.

In season 2002/03 the Club had its best season since 1995/96 finishing fifth in Division 2. In season 2003/04 off the field the club secured over £80,000 in grants for stadium improvements, pitch drainage and car parking. Playing wise seasons 2003/04 to 2007/08 were a disappointment with the side languishing in the lower half of the Division however there have been one or two moments to savour namely reaching the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA. Cup in season 2004/05 and the successful arrangement of the game against FC. United of Manchester in 2005/06 at Craven Park, the home of Barrow Raiders RLFC., in front of a club record attendance of 2303. Season 2006/07 did bring some success for the U18 side, which was a blend of many of the previous season’s U16 and U18 sides, when they lifted the LFA. Furness Building Society Youth Cup. The success of the Junior Section in producing quality players was beginning to show in the First Team as was the case in season, 2008/09, when they finished ninth in the renamed Vodkat League First Division our highest League placing since season 2002/03.

Having achieved steady progress under the management of Dave Smith and his assistant Maurice Watkin over a season and a half to finish 3rd in the 1st Division in season 2010/11 Dave had to step down because of a job offer in the States at the end of that season and hand the reigns over to new manager Jon Balm for season 2011/12. However things didn’t go well for Jon ended with him resigning in mid November 2011. Fortunately Dave Smith’s job offer in the States proved to be of little benefit and having turned it down he was able to step into the breach and take up the reigns and team up with Maurice Watkin once more but it was really a case of steadying the ship at this stage.

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

First team match reports…

Saturday 15th September: WEST 4 Oldham Boro 1 This was only our 3rd league game at home in 8 league fixtures as we started in search of our first 3 points at home to match some excellent away results. The game was pretty even and uneventful for most of the time but then burst to life with 4 goals in the final 10 minutes as we ran out 4-1 winners.

The first half started quietly with an early chance falling to Tommy Walsh after 15 minutes when he beat 2 men at close quarters in the box to turn and see his shot flash wide. Two minutes later after good work by Callum Jones another effort was turned over by the Boro keeper Elford. Oldham’s best chance in the first period came on 25 minutes when Ben Simpson raced out of the area to twice clear the danger. After 32 minutes we had another good chance when Tommy broke clear and got to the ball first only to see his shot blocked by the onrushing keeper Elford before they both collided.

Unfortunately Elford had to leave the field and was replaced by substitute keeper Keegan but the first half drew to an uneventful conclusion with Aston giving way to Summers just before half time.

The breakthrough came 3 minutes into the second period when a Shillito corner was partially cleared and Shills second cross from the touchline was headed on by Conlon to find Dave Kilbride unmarked 6 yards out, from where he turned and crashed the ball home for the opening goal. This seemed to up the tempo of the game and we continued to play with confidence as Oldham tried to weather the storm and play more on the break. On 65 minutes Ben Simpson made a good stop to turn the ball past the post to deny a breakaway equaliser and we then went up the other end for Lewis Schofield to fire wide after good work by Lee Shillito. Into the last 10 minutes and after a flowing move from Shills to Schofield his low cross was ‘dummied’ by Summers to leave Tommy Walsh to finish calmly and make it 2-0. That should have been that but within two minutes Oldham were back in the game when a deep cross from the right saw forward Landregan head towards the top corner. Simpson took off and tipped the ball onto the post only to see the rebound bounce unluckily down and off him into the net to reduce the arrears to 2-1 with 7 minutes left.

Straight from the kick off Tommy was sent clear through the middle only to draw the keeper, check and shoot wide. However, West were not to be denied and Danny Summers added a third on 85 minutes after good work and a pull back by substitute Lee Malkin, and two minutes later Summers again went close when his fierce drive was turned past the post for another corner after more good work by Malkin. The final goal came on 89 minutes when a great piece of improvisation saw Lee Shillito retrieve the ball with his back to goal and turn and chip the ball over the helpless keeper to leave the final score 4-1. A good home 3 points but the final score line was probably a bit harsh on a well organised and stubborn Oldham side.

Wednesday 19th September: Nelson 2 WEST 2 A cool damp evening in Nelson saw a pretty uneventful first half with little to get the crowd excited apart from news from the tea hut on when the pies would be ready. West kept good shape and possession but found the Nelson defence hard to break down with few clear cut chances. Tommy Walsh was sent clear after 4 minutes but the home keeper read the danger and raced off his line to get to the ball first and clear. On 11 minutes Lee Shillito fired over the bar from 20 yards after good work on the left by Jones and Aston and apart from these half chances both defenses were well on top. It was 30 minutes before Nelson had any sort of attempt on goal when a long range effort was well wide and 5 minutes later West responded with an Aston header from a Shillito free kick on the left wing with the ball flashing past the post and Jones unable to get a touch to convert. After 40 minutes Nelson had their first real chance when a free kick from outside the area was headed behind for a corner and after that both teams settled for 0-0 at half time.

Nelson started the second half much better and upped the tempo playing with more pace and purpose and on 49 minutes were unlucky when a header went wide after a couple of slips in the West defence as the damp pitch surface became more difficult. A minute later and the home side were ahead when Callum Jones was dispossessed on half way and a great through ball split the West defence for Nelson player manager Robert Grimes to open the score.

Continued… www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

Nelson then got the bit between their teeth as West regrouped after a couple of injuries and enforced substitution. Tre Baldwin Willis replaced Lee Shillito after 52 minutes and then Lewis Schofield came on for Dave Conlon a couple of minutes later.

West were then saved by the upright as the game opened up to provide a thrilling second half with chances at either end. On 64 minutes Lewis Schofield shot wide from a central position and 5 minutes Nelson had a lucky escape when their central defender headed against his own bar and then Tre shot over. The final substitution for West saw Lee Malkin replace Tommy Walsh after 73 minutes as West went all out for an equaliser. Ten minutes later on 85 minutes it was all square when Lewis Schofield cracked home a fantastic free kick from 20 yards giving the Nelson keeper no chance. Unfortunately the lead lasted a mere 2 minutes when, yet again, we were punished from a corner when a header down was turned home from 3 yards by the unmarked Nelson substitute to restore the lead. West however were not finished and refused to lie down and on 88 minutes Callum Jones equalised from a Schofield corner to leave the final score 2-2, and for the second time in 4 days we notched twice in the last 5 minutes.

A very encouraging and gutsy whole team performance against a very good Nelson side who on this form will be in the mix at the end of the season.

Saturday 22nd September: Cheadle Town 3 WEST 2 We travelled the short distance for a rematch against our FA Vase opponents Cheadle Town, anxious to make up for that defeat and to build on the good results against Oldham Boro and Nelson. The first 20 minutes was very even with few threats to either goal, but we then began to outplay the home side creating a series of decent opportunities but unable to take any of them. On 22 minutes a shot from Lee Malkin was parried by the keeper who then saved at the second attempt and 3 minutes later Callum Jones headed over at the back post with the keeper nowhere. Then it was Tre Baldwin’s turn a minute later when Mike Aston played him through the home defence only for his shot to hit the keepers legs and rebound to safety. 28 minutes gone and Lewis Schofield fired over and on 32 minutes Danny Summers turned his man only to shoot wide after good work by Schofield and Scott Jones. Five minutes later and the same duo created havoc only for Callum Jones to again head over from 6 yards.

It looked like being one of those days when on 42 minutes the home defender played a short back pass to the keeper for Lewis Schofield to seize on the mistake to give WEST a 1-0 interval lead which was the least our play deserved.

We started the second half brightly and 7 minutes in it was 2-0 when great interplay between Scott Jones and Tre Baldwin played the ball into Lee Malkin who steadied himself and calmly slotted past a bemused keeper. On 54 minutes it could and should have been 3-0 when a Scott Jones shot again came back off the keepers legs to rebound safely when anywhere else would have left a tap in for the third. Cheadle took full advantage of being let off the hook and within 3 minutes had pulled a goal back when their tricky No7 Carroll was sent clear of our defence to crack a right footed shot inside the post to make it 1-2.

On the hour it was 2-2 when some poor defence saw a corner headed home to level at 2-2 with Cheadle somehow back in the game despite having been outplayed for most of it apart from that 6 minute spell. On 66 minutes we should have regained the lead when for the 3rd time a header went over the bar with the goal gaping, this time Schofield was off target, and a minute later Tre Baldwin’s effort was saved by the keeper diving full length to his right. Another chance went begging as we pushed forward to try and regain the lead only to be severely punished on the counter attack when Alex Monde-Leke again got the better of our defence to break clear and rifle a shot home from a very acute angle. Unbelievably Cheadle Town were now 3-2 ahead with 10 minutes left! The drama was not over however and in the final minute Callum Jones was brought down inside the area only for Schofield to hit a pretty tame penalty along the ground and too close to the Cheadle keeper Piggott who saved comfortably.

That was that with West again left to rue missed chances and defensive mistakes and end up empty handed in a game we could and should have won.

Cheadle manager Steve Brokenbrow frankly admitted they had got out of jail leaving us with a few things to ponder and put right before the Holker game.

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

Reserve team match reports‌ Saturday 15th September: Wigan Robin Park 4 WEST 3 We visited Wigan Robin Park, a excellent playing surface with excellent facilities.

Unfortunately unlike the facilities and like several other games this season West did not come out of the starting blocks. Some poor defending and some very good finishing from Wigan saw West 3-0 down after just 8 minutes.

After the initial shock of such a poor start West began to compete and whilst Wigan still had several more chances some better defending and some good saves from Daniel McLaughlin in the West goal kept the score to 3-0. As the half went on West began to have a little more of the ball with Paul Lewis starting to get a foothold in midfield and both Gary Lilley and John Crimes starting to create chances and forcing saves from the Wigan keeper.

West pulled one back from a superb strike by Andy Levendis, who cut in from the left and struck the ball from outside the penalty area giving the Wigan keeper little chance of making a save. Gary Lilley again came close just before half time making the Wigan keeper save from close range.

West started the second half well and looked the better side only to find themselves 4-1 down following a long range free kick that sailed into the top corner of the net. This did not stop West going forward with Andy Levendis hitting the ball from just outside the box which the Wigan keeper was slow to get down to and John Crimes getting the last touch before the ball went over the line to make the score 42.

Both teams continued to press forward with man of the match Daniel McLaughlin making several excellent saves. West pulled another one back when Bobby Ashcroft's shot was blocked by the Wigan defence and John Crimes again in the right position to place the ball into the back of the net. With Wigan tiring West continued to push forward looking for the equiliser.

The score finished 4-3 and whilst a disappointing result from a West's perspective, the team as a whole have to be praised for the grit and determination they showed coming back from such a poor opening spell.

Saturday 22nd September: WEST 0 Silsden 2 Silsden were the latest visitors for West Didsbury Reserves, a must win game for both sides who are currently at the wrong end of the table.

West settled early and won most of the initial exchanges and began to control the game Paul Lewis and Kyle Hendley dominating the midfield, both making excellent passes to wide players. Despite West controlling the midfield West struggled to make any penetration with the Silsden defence cutting out the final ball time and time again without the Silsden keeper having to make a save.

Silsden continued to work hard and midway through the first half the Silsden no10 struck the ball from just outside the West penalty area which cannoned of the crossbar. This was the only chance for either side in the first half.

The second half began in much of the same way with West continuing to dominate without creating many chances. 15 minutes into the second half West introduced Nathan Sharples to add more fire power up front, but with just under 20 minutes left Silsden played the ball down their right, the Silsden player drew 3 players towards him cut inside and slid the ball passed a diving Dale Newbrook in the West goal.

West went to a back 3 and put on another striker looking for an equiliser. Unfortunately Silsden doubled their lead when a ball was played in from their left to the advancing midfield player who struck the ball past the West keeper.

West rallied with Nathan Sharples getting his head to a Paul Lewis corner forcing the Silsden keeper to make his first save of the day pushing the ball onto the crossbar. West continued to apply pressure on the Silsden goal with John Chrimes going close with a shot that forced the Silsden keeper to save at full stretch.

The game finished 0-2 to the visitors leaving West in 12th place.

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

NWCFL fixtures 2012-2013 League Challenge Cup First Round – 6th October 2012 Abbey Hey v Oldham Boro AFC Darwen v Leek CSOB Chadderton v Atherton Collieries Cheadle Town v Ashton Town Irlam v Formby Nelson v Rochdale Town Northwich Villa v Daisy Hill West Didsbury & Chorlton v Eccleshall Division One and Reserves Tables: http://www.nwcfl.com/leaguetable.php

Reserve team fixtures: NWC Reserve Division Nelson Res, 29th September (A) 3.00pm Ashton Town Res, 13th October (H) 3.00pm Cheadle Town Res, 20th October (A) 3.00pm Glossop North End Res, 3rd November (H) 3.00pm New Mills Res, 24th November (A) 3.00pm Reserve Team Cup – Round 1 Ashton Town Res, November date TDC (H)

NWCFL recent news…

Bootle became the latest club to play their 1,000th League game, with a 1-1 draw against Padiham at the Arbories Memorial Sports Ground.

Wesley Harney's 3rd minute opening goal for Abbey Hey in their 2-1 win over Atherton LR was their 400th home League goal.

Runcorn Town's 9-3 win at Norton United achieved several noteworthy landmarks: It was the second time that Town have scored nine goals in a game since joining the League - the first was on 12th February 2011, when they beat Daisy Hull 9-1.

Town's fifth goal - an own goal in the 43rd minute - was their 100th away League goal.

Town are the first club ever to win by a score of 9-3 away from home in a NWCFL game.

AFC Liverpool paid tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster before their game against Glossop North End at Valerie Park last Saturday.

The game itself kicked off at 3.08 pm. The teams entered the field carrying a Hillsborough memorial banner and at 3.06 pm, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was played over the PA system, during which time there was two minutes applause.

AFC Liverpool Chairman Chris Stirrup said: “We feel it’s only right we should mark what’s happened, at our first home game since the truth came out.”

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

North West Counties – Disciplinary analysis Team

Red Yellow Points

Team

Red

Yellow Points

Squires Gate

2

21

27

Nelson

0

12

12

Norton United

3

15

24

Ashton Town

0

11

11

Runcorn Linnets

2

18

24

Atherton LR

0

11

11

AFC Liverpool

3

14

23

Daisy Hill

1

8

11

Leek CSOB

2

17

23

Holker Old Boys

1

8

11

Padiham

3

14

23

WESTS

1

8

11

AFC Blackpool

4

10

22

Bootle

0

10

10

Barnoldswick Town

1

19

22

Ashton Athletic

0

9

9

Alsager Town

0

21

21

Oldham Boro

0

9

9

Maine Road

1

17

20

Silsden

0

9

9

Runcorn Town

1

16

19

Abbey Hey

0

8

8

Chadderton

2

12

18

Ashton Town Res

0

7

7

Stone Dominoes

1

15

18

Irlam Res

1

3

6

Northwich Villa

1

14

17

Nelson Res

0

6

6

AFC Darwen

0

15

15

New Mills Res

0

6

6

Cheadle Town

1

12

15

Padiham Res

0

6

6

Irlam

0

15

15

Atherton Collieries

0

5

5

Rochdale Town

2

9

15

Formby

0

5

5

Wigan Robin Park

0

15

15

Glossop NE Res

1

2

5

Winsford United

0

15

15

WESTS RES

0

5

5

Colne

1

11

14

AFC Darwen Res

0

4

4

Glossop North End

0

14

14

Barnoldswick T Res

0

4

4

Runcorn Linnets Res

2

8

14

Silsden Res

0

4

4

St Helens Town

1

11

14

Cheadle Town Res

0

3

3

Stockport Sports

0

14

14

Eccleshall

0

3

3

Bacup Borough

1

9

12

Wigan Rob Pk Res

0

3

3

Congleton Town

0

12

12

Information is up to and including 15th September, however, please note some cup match information is missing as some clubs have not provided the required data.

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

North West Counties FL – Division One Saturday 29th September 2012

Today’s squads

West Didsbury & Chorlton

Holker Old Boys

White shirts, black shorts & socks

Green & white shirts and socks, white shorts

Ben Simpson (gk) Callum Jones Scott Jones Anthony Potts Dave Kilbride Dave Conlon Graham Bryant Danny Summers Mike Aston (Capt) Mark Woodcock Lee Malkin Tommy Walsh Tre Baldwin - Willis Paul Lewis Lee Shillito Joel Hunter Ashley Farlow Lewis Childs Lewis Schofield Dale Newbrooke (gk)

Ross Liddicott Mark Daly Gareth Smith Phil Coombe Glenn Capstick Craig Redhead Kevin Watkin Guy Heffernan (Capt) Stephen Forbes Conor Erdis Nathan Reid Josh Jones James Mitchell Billy Moss Steve Bancroft Glen Warburton Ryan Kendall

Manager: Andy Nelson

Managers: Dave Smith

Assistant: Steve Eckersley

Assistant/Physio: Maurice Watkin

Referee: Chris Porter

OFFICIALS: Assistants: Nathan Burke & Peter Rapaport

NEXT HOME GAME: Saturday, 6th October, 2012 – Kick-off: 3.00pm

WEST v Eccleshall Please check the club website weekly at www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com and www.nwcfl.com for up to date information www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

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

Keep up to date with the latest information on your club...

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com