2012/13 SEASON
PROGRAMME £1.50 First Division Tuesday 14 August 2012
v Northwich Villa
WELCOME to WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC Club President Brian Cripps
First Team Manager: Andy Nelson 07952 567240 Asst Mgr and Coach: Dave Conlon
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 Coaches Steve Eckersley / 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
14th August, 2012 – Northwich Villa
Welcome to Brookburn Road this evening for our first ever competitive evening game to be played under floodlights. August has been a month of firsts starting with our last home game THE INAUGURAL FIXTURE IN THE NWCFL when Formby were our visitors. This was a very competitive game where we were unlucky not to share the spoils having fought back from a 0-2 half time deficit to draw level with 5 minutes left. We then fell to a last gasp Formby winner in the 5th minute of added time. Despite the score we made numerous new friends during the afternoon with many ground hoppers and fans in an encouraging crowd of 108 (the highest opening day attendance in Division 1), commenting favourably on the quality of our hospitality, clubhouse fare and match day programme. We will be delighted if we can sustain spectator numbers at anything like this level during the season, but those who came saw a very entertaining and end to end game. Our visitors tonight are NORTHWICH VILLA who were newcomers to the league last season and also involved in a 3-2 result on opening day running out winners away at Rochdale Town. (More on our visitors inside). Due to holidays and print deadlines we have had to go to print early again this time so we are unable to comment on any fixtures other than the opening day and first Monday when Formby again won away 3-2, this time at Atherton Collieries, to show they will be a team to be reckoned with this season. Finally, if you are visiting us for the first time this evening we welcome your feedback and comments on the match experience at The Recreation Ground. We are always interested to receive people’s suggestions on how we might improve things for our visitors so please make yourself known to any of the Committee or helpers at the club. If you are a first time visitor to the club this evening please make yourself known to any of the Committee or helpers around the ground. We trust you have an enjoyable evening and as always ENJOY THE GAME. Rob Turley We would like to express our thanks to our main club sponsor… WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com
From the Dugout These are the first notes I’ve been able to write due to the holiday period which also meant we had an early print deadline for our first programme on 4th August! That was a great day as we welcomed Formby an established team in this level of football to Brookburn Road for our first game in the NWCFL. Formby gave us an insight into this level, where you are punished for mistakes, however, the big positive was a great fight back to come for 0-2 down to level at 2-2, only to concede in injury time. The fixtures have also meant this programme is being printed before our games against Chadderton and Oldham Boro however you will have seen comments on our website regarding these games. Although we are now into the league fixtures I still wanted to comment on our Pre season which was transitional and very informative. We have strengthened both squads considerably, which gave us quite a selection problem at the start of our campaigns. The year we are moving our 1st and 2nd team squads much closer together, which will result in much more interactive between management and coaching staff, as they support and work alongside both squads to improve player development, opportunities and systems of play. The early pre season games saw the introduction of some exciting and talented younger players coming through, non more so than when a predominantly reserve team had a great 2 1 win against St. Helens Town FIRST team squad. The first serious friendly resulted in a 1 - 1 draw with NWCFL Premier League side Ashton Athletic which was very encouraging but then we had a learning curve and a reality check against Maine Road and AFC Liverpool both demonstrating much superior tempo and fitness levels. Many of our lads struggled against the fast and furious nature of these games, giving us plenty to consider. The response from the squad was immediate with a much improved commitment to the cause from all concerned. A 3 - 1 win followed against an experience Welshpool Town side leading us into our final game against a very strong Curzon Ashton a Unibond Premier outfit. This was probably the strongest test a West Didsbury and Chorlton team had ever faced and a fitting occasion under our new floodlights. I was very proud of the dogged determination in the first half. It seemed like the Alamo at times but we competed and that earnt us the right to play, in the second half we produced some excellent football as we slowly got to grips with this level. A very respectable 0 - 3 defeat outlined many positives and demonstrated a desire to survive in our future semi professional environment. We have hit the ground running at this level with so much to experience and learn from for all concerned in the two squads, the committee right through to the background staff and those helping and supporting in different ways. I feel sure that at times it will feel that we are punching above our weight, but if we can do the things we are capable of behind the scenes and maintain a professionalism around the playing side, then we will start to consolidate our standing at this level and become equipped to move forward.
Andy Nelson 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
Match Sponsorship We are very grateful to Brian Cripps who was our first match sponsor. Brian is pictured left with our Captain Dave Conlon before our game against Formby.
Today’s Match Sponsor: Pennant It’s been an interesting journey seeing the progress the club has made over the last few years. We hope tonight goes well. Pennant has supported West in a variety of ways developing and producing publicity material and artwork for different uses in the club. www.pennantplc.co.uk
Interested in sponsoring one of our matches? Then please speak to Rob, Steve or John – refer to details inside the front cover
This month the 200 Club winners are: £100 Bobby Ashcroft £60 Lee Malkin £40 Ben Simpson The next draw is on Monday 3rd September 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.
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. We have a monthly rota system for games this season so you can still be part of things even if you can only help out for an hour or two once a month. 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.
Match Programmes In our first NWCFL programme we had a feature on the very first programme featuring the club dating back to 1922 for a Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur League game against Aldermere, who incidenatlyy are still going strong in that league. Tonight we feature a more recent ‘first’ when we played Altrincham FC in a pre-season friendly in our first game as West Didsbury & Chorlton. We have a few copies of the first game programme left and if you would like one these are available via the club secretary at a cost of £2 inclusive of postage.
www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Our visitors… Northwich Villa
History The team was formed in 2005 when Woodley F.C. was renamed as Northwich Villa and links were made for the team to act as a feeder team to Northwich Victoria, also playing at the Victoria stadium. The club entered the Cheshire Football League Division Two in 2005-06 and finished as runners up in the inaugural season. Consequently ‘Villa’ was promoted to Division One which they duly won in 2008-09 and then finished runners up the following season 2009-2010. The club finished 9th in the Cheshire League in 2010-11 season but was successful in their application to join the North West Counties League Division One last season. To start 2012-13 season the club has a new 1st team coach, Wale Ajet, an ex professional player with ambitions to take Northwich Villa on to greater things. This season the club will be playing its home games at Flixton, following the demise of that club at the end of last season. Northwich Villa are very welcome visitors to The Recreation Ground this evening and we might even spot one or two players who played for West some years back when we were in the Lancashire and Cheshire League.
Honours Cheshire Football League Division One Champions 2008–09 Runners-up 2009–10 Cheshire Football League Division Two Runners-up 2005–06
www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
West v Formby A 3 year plan to reach the NWCFL came to fruition for West Didsbury and Chorlton on Saturday 4TH August when they kicked off at home to Formby in their first ever NWCFL fixture. Playing in sunny weather and in front of a crowd of just over 100, including ground hoppers from London, Nottingham, Birmingham, Blackpool, Stafford [and even Stockport!] the home club were looking to impress . The West management team started with the backbone of the squad of players who have been with the club during their Manchester League days, strengthened with some recent signings with NWCFL experience. Unfortunately it was Formby who set the early pace and went ahead after 28 minutes when centre back White crashed home a rebound from a corner kick after the ball had been headed against the bar. Then on the stroke of half time Formby increased their advantage when a hopeful punt forward fell to Hamid who was unmarked to beat Mellor from the edge of the box to make it 2-0 at the interval. This was harsh on West who had two good efforts hooked off the line midway through the half when the Formby keeper O’Connell was beaten. After the break it was a different story as West fought back with Liam Beckford, returning to the club after some years at Maine Road, opening the club's account in the NWCFL on 52 minutes. Formby then had the chance to restore a 2 goal advantage from the penalty spot but this time White blazed high over the bar. West were determined to get back on level terms and began to keep possession much better and create momentum. Substitute Willis went close when he cut in from the left on 75 minutes to crack a great effort against the post and then on 85 minutes long serving target man Tommy Walsh brought score back to 2-2. West then had a great chance to go ahead for the first time when Walsh broke away again on the right to play in Willis who had strayed offside with only the keeper to beat. Sadly for West this miss, combined with the sending off of full back Jones for a second yellow offence on 88 minutes, was to prove very costly as, in the 5th minute of added time, Formby snatched a late winner and all 3 points when centre back White was again on hand to turn home a free kick from 6 yards. The game overall highlighted what West need to compete at this level in taking chances clinically and eliminating the mistakes that will be harshly punished. Tommy Walsh after scoring to make it 2-2
Simon O’Neill
www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com
Reserves … The Reserves took on Irlam Town in their first ever North West Counties fixture at Brookburn Road on Saturday 11th August 2.30pm (Sorry no report possible as print date before this game). As the club prepare for life in the NWCFL we have many new additions to our squad following a successful campaign in the Manchester Reserve league last season, where we finished a creditable 6th after only one defeat on the run in after the turn of the year. Pre-season started early with plenty of hard work, during the pre season build up many players have had a run out with the first team as the squads were being finalised ready for the new season in the NWC. Of note the reserves enjoyed two excellent wins, 5-0 v Gregorians from the Manchester League and a fantastic 2-1 win against St Helens 1st team from the NWC Premier League. The new signings have contributed with goals from a number: Nathan Sharples [2], Lee Malkin, Anthony Potts and Tre Willis all on the score sheet along with the ever popular Kyle Hendley [2]. We start the new season with the evergreen Nathan Wakelam taking over the Team Captaincy, Nathan is looking forward to the challenge stating ‘this is a great opportunity to lead the team with a mixture of new and established players into a new league, visiting new grounds and stepping up a level, we are all keen to get started’. The management team of Roberto Madden, Jim Hines and myself are looking forward to a very testing but enjoyable season in the NWC and take this opportunity to thank new kit sponsors Belvoir for their support in 2012-13. Shay Casey Squad: Keepers: Jordan Hitchen, Daniel McLaughlin. Defenders: Alex Fawcett, Taylor Gildea, Tommy Hendley, Danny Iredale, Anthony Potts, and Nathan Wakelam (Capt). Midfielders: Bobby Ashcroft, Jordan Casey, Miguel Garcia, Kyle Hendley, Joel Hunter and Theo Warmington. Strikers: Stephen Madden, Nathan Sharples, Tre Willis. (Note: only players currently eligible at time of print included) Wishing West Didsbury and Chorlton AFC a successful season Parrs Wood High School and 6th Form Proud printers of the Match Programme
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com
NWCFL fixtures 2012-2013 Division One Saturday 18th August Abbey Hey v Cheadle Town AFC Darwen v West Didsbury & Chorlton Chadderton v Ashton Town Daisy Hill v Nelson Eccleshall v Rochdale Town Holker Old Boys v Atherton Collieries Irlam v Northwich Villa Leek GSOB v Formby Oldham Boro v Atherton LR Division One League Table: Please refer to: www.nwcfl.com Not printed in this issue due to early print date meaning the table would not be correct.
First Team Cup games: League Challenge Cup 1 Eccleshall, Saturday 6th October 3.00pm (H) FA VASE - 1st Qualifying Round Cheadle Town, Saturday 1st September 3.00pm (H) The winners will play Pontefract Collieries away in the 2nd Qualifying Round on Saturday 15th September.
Reserve team early fixtures include: NWC Reserve Division Irlam Res, Saturday 11th August 3.00pm (H) AFC Darwen Res, Saturday 18th August 3.00pm (H) Padiham Res, Saturday 1st September 3.00pm (A) New Mills Res, Saturday 8th September 3.00pm (H) Silsden Res, Saturday 22nd September 3.00pm (H)
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
The FIRST PROGRAMME … as WEST DIDSBURY&CHORLTON v Altrincham [H] pre-season friendly Sunday 20th July 2003 This time we look back at the programme issued for the first game we played after adding ‘Chorlton’ to the West Didsbury club name dating back to the 1920’s when the club was then forced to change its original name of Christ Church AFC which dated back to 1908. We had been playing in Chorlton since the 1997-98 season following our purchase of the freehold of The Recreation Ground, and felt we needed to reflect the location of the club, the increasing numbers of local junior players joining the club whilst not forgetting the club’s long history. Our manager at that time Steve Smythe had been the assistant to Dalton Steele at Flixton in the mid 1990’s and Dalton Steele had then become the assistant manager to Graham Heathcote at Altrincham. We had been thinking of how to attract more local people to visit the club and when Altrincham agreed to play us in a pre-season game over 200 people turned up to watch on a sunny Sunday afternoon. This programme was a 16 page issue printed in black and white with a page from the Chairman and Manager and the summary of the histories of both clubs. The front cover is reproduced here and the back cover contained the squad lists, team managers and assistants and match officials. This souvenir programme cost £1. Inside was a 5 page summary of the club history dating back to 1908 and a 3 page summary on Altrincham dating back to June 1903. The ‘WEST’ feature included a photograph of the original Christ Church AFC from 1908 and a feature from the Football Pink in 1955 when the papers resident artist had visited the club and captured a few caricatures of several players and Committee members, also reproduced here along with the page covering the immediate post war period to the mid 1960’s. Particular note was made of the club ‘Comforts Fund’ for playing members who served in the armed forces during the Second World War from 1939 -45 when club members had sent parcels to those in active service.
NOTE: There was no official attendance record taken via a turnstile of entrance gate but a ‘headcount’ during the first half estimated the total attendance at 230. Given our recent experience of crowds of over 500 at the annual community bonfire night in recent years the Altrincham figure is realistic. www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com
Action from our inaugural NWC game against Formby
Team picture Back l-r:
Matt Eckersley, Lewis Schofield, Alex Baird, Dave Conlon (c), Ben Simpson, Tommy Walsh, Steve Mellor, Joe Warmington, Andy Nelson (Manager). Front (l-r) Callum Jones, Mark Woodcock, Danny Summers, Liam Beckford, Scott Jones, Mike Kennedy, Andy Levendis, Tre Willis.
Our thanks to Mike Fryer for providing the above action pictures
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
North West Counties Football League – First Division Tuesday 14th August 2012
This evenings squads
West Didsbury & Chorlton White shirts, black shorts & socks
Ben Simpson (gk) Mike Kennedy Scott Jones Dave Conlon (Capt) Alex Baird Callum Jones Danny Summers Mike Aston Tommy Walsh Andy Levendis Lee Shillito Matt Eckersley Ashley Farlow Graham Bryant Tre Willis Liam Beckford Joe Warmington Mark Woodcock Lee Malkin Joel Hunter Steve Mellor (gk) Manager: Andy Nelson Assistant: Dave Conlon
Northwich Villa Green shirts, white shorts & socks
Lee Oakley (gk) Philip Clorley Sean Rushe Desi Flanagan Oliver Bell Dylan Norris Martin Rushe Ben Fanning Matt Young Tony Fannon Nathan Cooper Reis Lee Kwame Barnett Arnold Nsimbe Patrick Bangura Niiakat Sonne
Manager: Wale Ajet
OFFICIALS: Referee: Abid Hussain Assistants: Nicholas Derby & Gordon Goodridge NEXT HOME GAME: Saturday, 18th August 2012 – Kick-off: 3.00pm
WEST Res v Darwen Res 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.
v\
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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