2012/13 SEASON Main club sponsor:
PROGRAMME ÂŁ1.50 League Challenge Cup Second Round Saturday, 27 October 2012
v Norton United
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 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
27th October 2012 – Norton United
We have another break from league competition today as we entertain Norton United from the Premier Division in the 2nd round of the League Challenge Cup following our victory over another Staffordshire club, Eccleshall, in the last round. Norton were a Division 1 side this time last year but were promoted into the Premier Division as runners up to Wigan Robin Park, as those 2 clubs fought tooth and nail for the title which Norton narrowly missed by a point but then gained victory over Wigan RP in the 1st Division Trophy. This season they have started slowly but recently improved and shown their metal in cup competition with an impressive 3-2 home victory over Stoke City in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, followed by a 3-2 away win at AFC Liverpool last weekend. They are welcome as another first time visitor to The Recreation Ground this season and they will prove another stern test for us. After the string of away fixtures earlier in the season all our recent games have been at home and our recent form has been good with 3 successive wins in the league and 3 successive clean sheets. Last Saturday against Rochdale Town we didn’t play as well as in some other recent fixtures but our defensive shape and display was very good albeit dogged at times and some of our finishing clinical when the chances began to come in the second half. The team has a settled look and shape about it and we are encouraged that at present we are on course to consolidate our position in the league this season. There is still a long way to go to even get to the half way mark but our current position and our performances to date have shown that we can compete effectively at this level. Last weekend there were a few interesting results in the Division with Abbey Hey travelling to leaders Darwen and hammering them 4-0 to maintain their 100% record so far, Atherton Collieries winning 3-0 at home to Cheadle Town, Ashton Town winning 5-0 at Northwich Villa and Holker Old Boys finally getting off the mark with a 2-0 win at Irlam and Oldham Boro scoring 7 without reply at Eccleshall. Our own 2-0 home victory over Rochdale Town leaves us in 5th place on 20 points. In the 1st Division cup competition Atherton LR had an impressive away win at high flying Formby and they will now be our visitors in the next round of that competition when we play then here on Sat 24th November. Next week, 3rd November, we travel to Northwich Villa, playing this season at Valley Road, Flixton, and the former home of Flixton FC. Then it’s back here after the match for our annual Community Bonfire. If you are in the vicinity then please come and join in the fun. Gates open at 7pm with fireworks at 8pm and hot food and refreshments throughout the evening. Admission is £4 adult or £2 children and family tickets for 2 adults and 2 children £10. Please note the advertisement elsewhere in this edition. Thank you for supporting the club again today. We hope you enjoy another entertaining game and the refreshments and facilities available in the clubhouse. Then our next home game on 7th November is against Abbey Hey who are having a great season so far. We look forward to seeing you again then. 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 Rochdale Town presented us with a sterne test last Saturday, our game plan was to press them from the off, but they turned the tables on us, really closing us down quickly in possession. However, we stuck in well to half time when we could impress a few things on the players. The second half was a better performance with more energy and better phases of play capped with two great goals from Tre Baldwin Willis, he really had pace and power and converted the goals very well. Overall it was pleasing to get the three points when we weren’t at our best, a good omen for the season! Today we have a break from the league and enjoy a Cup game against Premier League opposition; this will give us another chance to test ourselves against strong opposition. We hope you enjoy the game today. Andy Nelson
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 national consultancy firm from scratch. Experience in sport and leisure includes having obtained the original permissions for the City of Manchester stadium and Velodrome, alterations to the MCFC training complex at Carrington, planning permissions for Liverpool FC stadium. The firm is currently advising Old Trafford Supporters’ Club on a new hotel and supporters club facility immediately adjoining Old Trafford, a non league club on a new stadium and several other clubs on facility improvements requiring planning permission. 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
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 Scorers AUGUST 2012 Sat 4th 3.00 H Formby 2 – 3 Beckford, Walsh Wed 8th 7.45 A Chadderton 3 – 0 Potts, Walsh (2) th Sat 11 3.00 A Oldham Boro 4 – 2 Aston, C Jones, Walsh, Beckford Tues 14th 7.45 H Northwich Villa 1 – 1 Baird th Sat 18 3.00 A AFC Darwen 0–2 SEPTEMBER Sat 1st 3.00 H Cheadle Town FA - V 1 – 3 Bryant th Tues 4 7.45 A Leek CSOB 2 – 1 Shillito, Bryant Sat 8th 3.00 A Atherton LR 1 – 4 Bryant th Sat 15 3.00 H Oldham Boro 4 – 1 Kilbride, Summers, Shillito Wed 19th 7.45 A Nelson 2 – 2 L. Schofield, C Jones nd Sat 22 3.00 A Cheadle Town 2 – 3 L. Schofield, Malkin Sat 29th 3.00 H Holker Old Boys 3 - 0 L. Schofield, Baldwin, Walsh OCTOBER Sat 6th 3.00 H Eccleshall LCC 1st Rd 4 - 0 Aston, S Jones, Baldwin, Walsh th Tues 9 7.45 A Bamber Bridge LCT 1 - 3 Summers Mon 15th 7.45 A Atherton Collieries P–P Sat 20th 3.00 H Rochdale Town 2 - 0 Baldwin (2) Sat 27th 3.00 H Norton United LCC 2nd Rd NOVEMBER Sat 3rd 3.00 A Northwich Villa th Sat 10 3.00 H Abbey Hey Sat 17th 3.00 A Daisy Hill Sat 24th 3.00 H Atherton LR FDT 2nd Rd DECEMBER Sat 1st 3.00 A Irlam Sat 8th 3.00 A Holker Old Boys th Sat 15 3.00 H Cheadle Town Sat 22nd 3.00 A Eccleshall th Wed 26 3.00 H Leek CSOB Sat 29th 3.00 H Irlam JANUARY 2013 Sat 5th 3.00 H Ashton Town Sat 12th 3.00 A Formby Sat 19th 3.00 H Atherton Collieries FEBRUARY Sat 9th 3.00 H AFC Darwen Sat 23rd 3.00 H Chadderton MARCH Sat 2nd 3.00 H Eccleshall Sat 23rd 3.00 A Abbey Hey Sat 30th 3.00 H Daisy Hill APRIL Mon 1st 3.00 A Rochdale Town Sat 6th 3.00 H Atherton LR Sat 13th 3.00 H Nelson Sat 27th 3.00 A Ashton Town FA V = FA Vase FDT= First Div Trophy LCC = League Challenge Cup 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. 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 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 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.
Shirt Number Sponsors For as little as £20 you can sponsor a club shirt, your support will be recognised in the clubhouse and starting shortly 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 now only 5 shirts left so don’t delay.
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 Norton United Norton United Football Club came into existence in 1989 and joined the Staffordshire Senior League. The club played at Norton Cricket Club and still does to this day. The club laid solid foundations during the first two years and in 1991-92 gained its first success with a win in the League Cup with a victory over Redgate Clayton in the final. We also came runners up two years later. Success started to come more regularly and our first Championship was in 1997 when we completed the double of League and League Cup- beating Adderley Green in the final by 2 – 0. In 1999 the Team won the League and completed the Double by winning the Staffs FA Vase with a win by 2 -1 over Wolverhampton Casuals. The Championship was won by Christmas as we gained maximum points and we finished the season with only one defeat. The Club won the Championship for the third time in 2001 and with it promotion to The North West Counties League. We now play in the Vodkat League Division One. Further success came in the Staffs FA Vase in 2004 and Lee Pugh completed a unique feat of scoring in every round. In 2012 we gained promotion to the Premier Division of the NWCFL and also won the First Division Trophy. We now enter the FA Cup and The FA Vase and we have had some success in both competitions and have travelled to some new places and met new clubs. There have been some significant improvements at Norton United FC over the last few years. We have been able to have the pitch re-laid and a new drainage system installed. The playing surface is now fantastic and allows top quality football to be played. In 2006 a grant was obtained which allowed a junior pitch to be built and all of our junior teams are now able to play on the club grounds. The all weather surface was upgraded at the same time and another considerable sum was spent on the main pitch. This close season saw the completion of the new changing room block. The shell was acquired from Stoke City and the interior was the result of grants from the Football Foundation and the Coal board Regeneration Trust.! The second team now plays in the Staffordshire County Senior League and the third plays in the third division of the league, and both comprise of young players most of whom have made their way through the junior teams at the club. http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
First team match report‌ Saturday 20th October: WEST 2 Rochdale Town 0 This was another good result and a further 3 points at home with another clean sheet after a dogged defensive first half display by both sides followed by some clinical finishing early in the second half. Rochdale were fastest off the mark and in the first 5 minutes forced 3 corners and had an early chance blocked by a last ditch tackle as we struggled to find our feet and keep possession. We were being harried into giving the ball away all over the park, Potts got an early booking for a mistimed lunge and it was 15 minutes before we had any sort of clear attack when Callum Jones shot over following our first corner kick. On 23 minutes after good work by Tre Baldwin Willis we had another half chance but for the rest of the first period we were on the back foot as Rochdale forced the pace and asked all the questions but failed to create any clear cut chances. Their first and best chance came on 43 minutes when they finally broke through only for a first time effort to cannon back off the bar and give us a half time let off. Two minutes into the second period Rochdale threatened again and were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area which their No10 blasted high and wide of the West goal. A minute later and we were ahead when our first clear cut chance saw Tre played in behind the Rochdale defence to beat the visitors’ keeper with a great first time chip from 15 yards. On 50 minutes it could and should have been 2-0 as Lewis Schofield danced his way past the Rochdale midfield and straight through the heart of their defence only to draw the keeper and shoot narrowly wide. The goal and what followed seemed to derail Rochdale and on 52 minutes Lee Malkin was the next to break clear and hit a great cross shot forcing a last ditch finger tip deflection for a corner. 5 minutes later it was 2-0 as Tre was sent clear again and this time cracked a great right foot shot past the despairing Rochdale keeper. West then began to control the game and further chances came and went on 67 minutes when Lee Malkin beat the offside trap only to be denied and on 69 minutes we nearly added a third after good interplay between Lee Malkin and Tre Baldwin. A minute later Tre was unluckily booked for a sliding tackle before Andy made the changes to close the game out after 75 minutes with Callum Schofield and Lee Shillito replacing Anthony Potts and Lewis Schofield after the earlier introduction of new signing Gareth Thomas for Graham Bryant. Another good result and overall team effort and performance with Lee Malkin man of the match, closely followed by Tre Baldwin, Mike Aston and the ever reliable Danny Summers.
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
Reserve team match report… Saturday 20th October: Cheadle Town 1 WEST 0 Following an excellent win over Ashton Town last weekend West continued where they left off taking control of the game from the start. With an injury to Alex Fawcett, Mike Kennedy slotted in at centre back comfortably. He, Nathan Wakelam and the two full backs Tommy Hendly and the recalled Danny Iredale all played a high line and extinguished any threat high up the pitch. Dale Newbrook in the West goal was a spectator for much of the first 20 minutes. Playing such a high line forced Cheadle to try shots from 30 yards which did not trouble West at all. West pressed Cheadle at every opportunity forcing corner after corner, it seemed only a matter of time before the first goal went in. Shots from Nathan Sharples forced the Cheadle keeper into several saves, other shots from Kyle Hendley, Matt Eckersley. Gary Lilley and Mike Kennedy all went over the bar or wide of the goal. West got another corner the ball broke kindly to the Cheadle defense who cleared the ball down field, a quick ball to the Cheadle number 10 saw him closing in on the West goal, Gary Lilley ran 40 yards in an attempt to make a tackle, the number 10 managed to get the ball away from the challenge and struck a 25 yard shot over Dale Newbrook into the top of the net. This goal did not deter West who continued to go forward looking for the equalizer with further shots from Nathan Sharples and Ash Farlow. With complete control of the game West went in a half time 1-0 down. The second half continued in the same vain as the first with West still controlling the game. With West pushing forward at every opportunity Cheadle had several half chances which were easily cut out by the West defence or from Dale Newbrook collecting from the edge of his box. West introduced Stephen Madden in the 60 minute which injected a little more pace up front, this made Cheadle sit even deeper, the further introduction of John Chrimes and Jordan Casey, both attacking players, showed Wests intent and again came close when we got behind the Cheadle defence only to hit the side netting. John Chrimes had a chance from a corner when he put a powerful header just over the bar. The save of the day was undoubtedly from the Cheadle keeper who pulled of a very good one from Stephen Madden. Stephen got between the two Cheadle centre backs and struck the ball hard towards the top right hand corner of the goal only to find the Cheadle keeper dive full length to get his fingertips to the ball and push it round the post. With the game going into injury time West still pushed forward and from a scramble in the penalty area John Chrimes got a shot away which seemingly was unfairly cleared off the line by a Cheadle defenders arm. The referee turned the frantic appeals down saying it was ball to hand not hand to ball. The referee blew for full time shortly afterwards and West suffered another defeat in a game they dominated from start to finish. Whilst it was a disappointing result this was without doubt the best performance of the season and if we can keep our concentration for 90 minutes especially when we are domination I have no doubt West will push higher up the table in the second half of the season. Robert Madden
This month the 200 Club winners are: £100 Duncan McVey £60 Bobby Ashcroft £40 Lee Renforth th
The next draw is on Monday 5 November 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
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
NWCFL 2012-2013 League Challenge Cup Second Round games: Abbey Hey v Colne AFC Liverpool v Wigan Robin Park Alsager Town v Squires Gate Ashton Athletic v Bacup Borough Barnoldswick Town v Glossop North End Bootle v Runcorn Town Cheadle Town v Silsden Congleton Town v Atherton LR Holker Old Boys v AFC Darwen or Leek CSOB Padiham v Northwich Villa or Daisy Hill Rochdale Town v Irlam or Formby St Helens Town v AFC Blackpool Stockport Sports v Runcorn Linnets Stone Dominoes v Maine Road West Didsbury & Chorlton v Norton United Winsford United v Chadderton
Reserve team fixtures: AFC Darwen Res, 27th 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… AFC Darwen – the club TV channel AFCDTV has published an interview with Chairman Jack Lord. The clip lasts for over 12 minutes and can be viewed from the link on the NWC website. AFC Liverpool – midfielder Steven Williams has left the Reds as he is going to pursue a new career working on cruise liners. Steve joined the club last season and made 34 appearances, scoring twice. Silsden – the Cobbydalers have announced the signing of former Bradford City striker Kevin Stanasy. Kevin began his career with the Bantams, scoring once in nine league appearances for the club. He then moved back to Farsley Celtic, where he played as a junior and scored 18 goals in the 2005-06 promotion season. Since then Kevin has been at Guisley, Witton Albion, FC Halifax Town, and began this season at Stocksbridge Park Steels before heading to the Angel Telecom Stadium.
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
NWCFL Division One Table
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
AFC Darwen Abbey Hey Formby Ashton Town West Didsbury & Chorlton Atherton Collieries Cheadle Town Chadderton Oldham Boro Rochdale Town Atherton LR Nelson Irlam Northwich Villa Daisy Hill Leek CSOB Holker Old Boys Eccleshall
P W D L F 13 10 0 3 35 8 8 0 0 34 8 7 0 1 32 10 6 2 2 24 12 6 2 4 26 9 6 0 3 28 10 5 3 2 21 11 5 2 4 22 12 5 2 5 25 10 3 3 4 17 10 3 3 4 12 8 3 2 3 16 11 3 2 6 17 12 3 2 7 18 11 2 4 5 20 13 2 1 10 21 8 1 0 7 3 10 0 2 8 11
A 18 6 17 13 19 17 16 19 24 20 18 15 24 29 23 42 28 33
GD Pts 17 30 27 24 15 21 11 20 7 20 11 18 5 18 3 17 -1 17 -3 12 -6 12 1 11 -7 11 -11 11 -3 10 -21 7 -25 3 -22 2
NWCFL Reserves Table 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
New Mills Padiham Glossop North End Barnoldswick Town Nelson Cheadle Town Irlam Wigan Robin Park Ashton Town * Silsden West Didsbury & Chorlton Runcorn Linnets AFC Darwen
P 10 8 8 7 9 8 8 7 7 9 10 7 8
W D L 6 2 2 4 3 1 5 0 3 5 0 2 5 0 4 5 0 3 4 1 3 4 0 3 3 1 3 3 0 6 2 1 7 1 3 3 0 1 7
*Point deducted for breach of rules
http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westdidsburychorlton/
F 32 23 17 15 19 15 10 19 15 15 15 13 9
A 16 10 10 10 18 16 8 20 15 23 20 17 34
GD 16 13 7 5 1 -1 2 -1 0 -8 -5 -4 -25
Pts 20 15 15 15 15 15 13 12 9 9 7 6 1
Bonfire night at Brookburn Road‌
Helpers needed to assist with stewarding and in the clubhouse, Please sign up on the list in the clubhouse. WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
NWC League Challenge Cup - Second Round Saturday 27th October 2012
Today’s squads
West Didsbury & Chorlton
Norton United
White shirts, black shorts & socks
All sky blue
Ben Simpson (gk) Callum Jones Scott Jones Anthony Potts David Kilbride-Ratcliffe Callum Schofield Graham Bryant Danny Summers Mike Aston (Capt) Mark Woodcock Gareth Thomas Lee Malkin Tommy Walsh Tre Baldwin - Willis Lee Shillito Lewis Schofield Dale Newbrooke (gk)
Richard Brandon Steve Brunt Tom Fogg Richard Smith Adam Dawson Mark McDonald Michael Marren Jon Beaumont Jonathan Birks Darren Chadwick Jamie Skellern Daniel Brown Jordan White Lee Talbot Paul Rutter Anthony Danylyk Niall Green Daniel Fenton
Manager: Andy Nelson
Manager: Scott Dundas
Assistant: Steve Eckersley
Assistant: Steve Chadwick
Referee: Mark Powell
OFFICIALS: Assistants: Ian Muncaster & John Walton
NEXT HOME GAME: Saturday, 3rd November, 2012 – Kick-off: 3.00pm
WEST Res v Glossop North End Res 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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