West Didsbury & Chorlton v Alsager Town

2014/15 SEASON / MATCH DAY PROGRAMME £2.00

Official Club Sponsor

NWCFL Premier Division

Alsager Town Saturday 14th March – 3.00pm

WELCOME WELCOME

to WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC CLUB CONTACTS

FOOTBALL CONTACTS

Club President

First Team

Brian Cripps

Glyn Meacher 0161 794 5846

Manager: Andy Nelson 07952 567240 Asst Mgr: Steve Settle (coach) Asst Mgr: Steve Eckersley (admin) Match Secretary: Rob McKay 07706 302397

Club Secretary

Reserve Team

Rob Turley 0161 448 1838 07891 298441

Manager: James Plowright 07900 332825 Asst Manager: Jim Hines

Membership Secretary

Club Coaches

Chairman

Monica Creer 0161 881 1135

Treasurer

Rob Madden – First Team Tony Holmes – Goalkeepers Joel Hudson – Reserves

Dave Cooper 07961 063195

Physio Steve Eckersley 07788 112909

Paddy Murphy Magdalena Maria

Community Development

‘A’ Team Manager

Head of Fundraising

Davy Iredale

Danny Iredale 07939 392828

Publicity and Web

Youth Team Manager

John Churchman 07720 508082

Press Officer, Social Media & Web Rob McKay 07706 320397

Ian Depeiaza 07838 232401

Junior Football Co-ordinator Mark Rogers 07841 112903

Vets Manager Chris Smith 07867 171815

Ownership: In accordance with THE Football Association Rule 2.13 Publication of ownership in relation to Step 1 to Step 6 clubs in the Football Pyramid we hereby confirm that the legal status of WEST DIDSBURY AND CHORLTON ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB is as not for profit private members club. Any gain arising from the carrying on of the Club shall be applied for the benefit of the Club or for some charitable or benevolent purpose or purposes approved by resolution at a general meeting of the Club.

CLUB INFO… To contact the club please use the club website

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC The Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road, Chorltonville Manchester M21 8FE

EDITORIAL

Alsager Town

This afternoon our visitors are Alsager Town and we welcome their players committee and supporters to what we hope will be an entertaining game.

In last week’s programme notes we referred to the unforgiving nature of this very competitive league but did not anticipate that being demonstrated so graphically in the first half. At the interval we turned round a goal down after we missed a one on one and golden opportunity to take the lead only for Bootle to go ahead with another wonder strike a few minutes later. We were also on the wrong end of a couple of key decisions denying us the chance to get level and then again as Bootle extended the lead. The end result is that we’ve been virtually static in our points total since Christmas so today is another big game where we need a result to stop the unfortunate recent bad run.

Alsager will be feeling the same as they too have been having a difficult time recently and but for the position of teams beneath us we would both be deep in trouble at the wrong end of the table.

LEAGUE UPDATE A number of questions have recently been asked concerning promotion and relegation between the Premier and First Divisions. As a matter of clarity and as it stands at the moment, Stockport Sports have been expelled from the League and the playing record expunged. This means that they automatically are placed in the bottom position in the Premier Division. Therefore the Clubs finishing in 20th and 21st positions will be relegated to the First Division.

The top two Clubs in the First Division will be promoted to the Premier Division, Clubs finishing 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th will play off for the 3rd promotion position. Clubs should be aware that they MUST have Grade “G” by 31st March to qualify for promotion or a playoff position. Clubs should be FULLY AWARE of the grading requirements. Presuming all Club achieve the required ground standard the play-off semi finals are 3rd v. 6th and 4th v. 5th. The play off Final will be the winners of those two matches playing one another on the ground of the highest placed Club.

It is expected that the semi final play off matches will take place in the mid week commencing Monday 27th April, with the Final being on Saturday 2nd May, this of course is subject to confirmation. There will be no relegation from the First Division this season due to a not having a full complement of clubs.

UPCOMING FIXTURES Next Saturday 21st March we are at home again v Colne, and also on Tues 24th v Bacup and Rossendale Borough.

On Sat 28th we are away at Silsden and running a coach to this game so if you would like to reserve a seat please speak to Rob McKay. Tuesday 31st our visitors are Squires Gate and on Sat 4th April, Easter weekend we’re at home against Silsden.

THANK YOU We have already exceeded last season’s total attendance for home league games with 6 games including today. Thank you all for supporting the game again today and we hope you all enjoy an entertaining game this afternoon and to our visitors from Alsager, a safe return journey home this evening.

Thank you to Graham Currey for providing the pictures in the programme today.

Thank you for Programme Contributions to: Rob Turley, Rob McKay and Jonny Keen … Editor

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

From the Dugout…

Good Afternoon and welcome once again to Brookburn Road.

First off, I would like to thank all the supporters that came out to support us last week in our defeat against Bootle. We’ve had back to back home games and the level of support and encouragement from the supporters has been really superb and although results aren’t going our way at the minute we are determined to change that and give you a great ending to the season.

The AFC Liverpool game was a small glimpse of how well we can play and for three-quarters of the game really dominated the occasion and we could have been well out of sight by half time. However the warnings were there and Ben Simpson did brilliantly to save the penalty.

The second half we started flat and allowed Liverpool back into the game. They then took the lead and we did well to respond immediately but we left the back door again and we were fully punished for it. The last 15 minutes we forced the Liverpool goalkeeper into a series of superb saves but we’d left ourselves too much to do.

Last weekend we were able to name a virtually unchanged side for the first time in a long time with only our captain Mark Rogers coming in for Callum Schofield. Bootle had really kick started their season since we played and beat them in November and they proved that beating us comprehensively in the MEN United Cup. This time around I was hoping we’d learnt our lesson and for 30 minutes we more than matched Bootle with neither side threatening either goalkeeper. However Bootle scored a superb goal with the game’s first real chance of the game, it seemed to switch us on but we failed to take our chances before half time. In the second half we again started flat and by the time we’d find ourselves back into the game we were already three goals down. The fourth just rounded off a terrible afternoon for ourselves as we were punished for our naïve defending.

Although we don’t want to dwell on singular results, there are multiple lessons to be learned from both games and we now have to apply this to our remaining games to ensure that we finish as far away from the relegation zone as possible.

Enjoy the game…Andy Nelson

Enjoy the away day experience… …there are seats available on the coach to our away games at Silsden on the 28th March and AFC Blackpool on the last day of the season 25th April.

If you interested please talk to Rob McKay at today’s game or phone him on 07706 320397 WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

West 1 Bootle 4 match report…

West and Bootle met at Brookburn Road for the second time in three weeks, this time in the league action, only for the visitors to heap more misery on Andy Nelson’s side. West made one change to the starting XI from the mid-week loss to AFC Liverpool with Mark Rogers replacing Callum Schofield in defence and Alex Baird replacing Tre Baldwin-Willis on the bench.

The game, played on a surprisingly bright and warm day and on a brilliant surface, started slowly with neither side creating any clear cut chances. In fact the only real highlight of the opening half an hour as when a cat ran on the field and was coaxed off it by the Bootle manager Joe Doran.

The games first real chance fell to David Short who was released by a Gary Lilley through ball but could only chip the ball over the goalkeeper and into the stand. The miss spurred Bootle who took the lead on 37 minutes when Steven Hoy was allowed to advance through the middle of the field and unleashed an unstoppable effort from 30 yards into the left hand corner.

From there the half suddenly burst into life as West almost responded immediately with Bootle goalkeeper Jack Mano making a good save at his near post from a West attack. From the corner Mano made an amazing point blank stop as the cross found Matt Eckersley whose ferocious first time volley looked destined to break the net before the superb stop. From another corner West had a goal disallowed as Mano seemed to be fouled by his own player and Eckersley fired the ball into an empty net after the whistle had gone.

In the second half Alex Baird came on for the injured Rogers who had been forced to play the last 10 minutes of the first half with a groin injury. At half time West had been forced to change into their white away shorts and socks as their white/black combination clashed too much with Bootle’s yellow/black kit. The home side created the half’s first chances as Short first curled a shot just over the bar before hitting a free kick under the wall from 20 yards out for Mano to comfortably save.

Just after the hour mark Bootle were awarded a penalty when Josh Hamilton was tripped by Anthony Potts in the area, the third consecutive home game in which West had conceded one. West goalkeeper Ben Simpson couldn’t repeat his penalty heroics from Tuesday and Hamilton emphatically slammed home the penalty into the bottom left hand corner sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The third followed on 70 minutes when Hoy found Hamilton who turned before releasing Kieran Haligan on the left hand side. Haligan then crossed for James McGrane who finished first time inside the six-yard box.

To West’s credit they responded immediately as Nic Evangelinos broke through the defence, he was tackled at the edge of the area but it fell to Short, with Mano already drawn out, he fired it passed the defence to give West a glimmer of hope. West stepped up their pressure and sub Jerome Bryson almost made it two when he skinned his man on the right touchline and his far post cross evaded Mano, hit the cross bar and dropped onto the line but was cleared before Short could pounce again.

Bootle wrapped the game up on 85 minutes as a cross from the West right found James McGrane who beat Botchey to the header and finished low into the bottom left hand corner to make it 4-1 and to condemn West to their seventh consecutive defeat.

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

West v Bootle match action…

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

Getting to know you‌Focus on the Fans In the coming weeks, we will be asking fans' their accounts of how they came to West and why they support the club. As relative newcomers to the North West Counties League, a good portion of the club's match day support have only begun to watch West fairly recently.

For the first edition, we have interviewed our new programme contributor and club volunteer Jonny Keen.

Q: When did you start supporting West?

A: I moved to Didsbury last season and started watching the odd game here and there. I've started coming to more games this season and also volunteering with the club, contributing to the programme and selling golden goal tickets, etc.

Q: Who did you support before you supported West, (if anyone)?

A: I grew up, like most kids in my area, watching United on TV and occasionally going to a game at Old Trafford. I completely lost interest in football from the age of about 11, then rekindled my passion at the age of 14 by going down to my local non league club, Altrincham F.C. From my very first game there, I realised that non league was for me. Altrincham's Moss Lane is a great, atmospheric ground, and I loved the cosy feel of it, the chanting, the terraces, being so close to the pitch. I was hooked...

Q: What made you want to support West and what do you like about the club?

A: I began to drift away from other Altrincham fans, feeling more and more like it just wasn't the club for me. Anyway, whenever I went to West games, I found the atmosphere much more relaxed and friendly, with most fans looking to enjoy the game in a positive way. I remember watching the home game against Maine Road earlier this season and being struck by the difference in atmosphere. It was quite a misty day and metros were trundling by in the distance, their lights shining across the meadow. Birds were flitting about the trees beside the ground. This is beginning to sound a bit poetic, but it's true. Brookburn Road is one of the most pleasant places to watch football in all of Manchester, and the fans are all really friendly.

Q: Can you remember your first time watching West? What were your first impressions?

A: I can't remember who the opposition was, or the exact date, but my first game was towards the beginning of last season, before the new stands had been installed. Although I could see from the off that this was a well run club to be honest I thought the ground was a bit bare and I wasn't impressed! Although as you may have guessed from my comments above, I'm growing fonder of the ground every single day.

Q: Do you still support any other teams as well as West?

A: I still like to get to Alty games a fair bit. Although I moaned in the above paragraph, Altrincham is still a club I have a lot of time for, and I think I'll always check their results when I'm not watching them. I also like to go groundhopping when I can, mostly around Manchester. Last but not least, there's another club with a place in my heart; 4 th tier American side Boston Rams. I'm even president of the Boston Rams UK Fanclub (membership count of 5). Don't ask!

Jonny Keen is a Didsbury based author and newly converted West fanatic. If you are a West fan and would like to be interviewed for this series, please contact jonnydkeen@hotmail.co.uk

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

History …

Alsager Town

The merger of Alsager Institute and Alsager United formed ALSAGER AFC in 1965. The merger came about due to lack of pitches in the village. They acquired Wood Park in 1967 that was then seeded ready for the following season and it was first played on in 1968/69.

Alsager AFC were playing in the Crewe League at this stage. In the early 70’s the club decided they would like to try for the Mid-Cheshire League which they were successful in doing by bringing the ground up to a higher standard. They remained in this league and in 1985/86 they were Runners Up. The club folded due to the lack of funds and support. They then re-formed with just a youth team playing in the Crewe Premier League for two seasons. In 1991/92 they managed to regain entry in to the Mid Cheshire League Division Two where they remained until 1998/99 when the committee decided to try for the Springbank Vending League, where most of the Potteries teams were based.

Steve Booth built a strong squad which was able to challenge for the title in their first season, but unfortunately Alsager were pipped at the post by Norton FC. The team were doing well enough and the committee decided to apply for the North West Counties Football League and after a lot of hard work by the committee Alsager AFC successfully passed the criteria necessary to gain entry, and a second place finish in the Staffs County Senior League was enough to gain promotion.

Floodlighting was erected in August 2001 and then the addition of a new stand by the end of the season saw Alsager in prime position to challenge for promotion. During the summer of 2001 it was decided to change the name of the club back to Alsager Town and to run a side in the Springbank Vending League under the name of Alsager AFC. A runners up spot in the 2001/02 season was enough to see Alager Town FC promoted to the NWCFL Division 1. During the close season resurfacing of the pitch, decoration of the club house and changing rooms and a new toilet block and tea bar gave Alsager Town an air of aristocracy as they aimed for success in the NWCFL. They remained in N.W.C.F.L. until the end of the 2005/06 season when they finished in third place. Due to THE changes being made by the FA to the non-league pyramid system Alsager were invited to step up to the Northern Premier League Division One which they did, they finished their first season in a creditable 14th place. Further changes were to be made by. With further changes to the Northern Premier League, Alsager Town were placed in to the Unibond League Division One South.

Another 14th place finish was the outcome but the club fell foul to the ground grading regulations and with required work not completed in the required time given by the League they were relegated back to the North West Counties League Premier Division.Due this set back the management walked out. Former chairman Peter Clegg stepped in to take control of the club.

Former Witton Albion reserves coach Neil Gill was appointed as manager and for two seasons Neil Gill kept Alsager Town in the N.W.C.F.L Premier Division and then in early 2011 with finances tight the players expenses budget was cut and then later stopped completely. This was followed by the news that there were to be major changes at the club at the end of the season. Neil Gill, his assistant, the players and the committee walked away. Acting Chairman Mike Cross acted very quickly and the remaining committee members voted for change. Terry Greer the former Chairman of Biddulph Victoria was elected to become the new Chairman of Alsager Town F.C. Terry’s first job was to appoint a new management team.Damian Grocott and Andy O’Connor stepped into the position, they signed a new squad of players and began the job of securing Alsager Town’s place in the N.W.C.F.L. Premier Division. They worked hard to keep the status of the club securing it with three games in hand.

For the 2011/12 season the club looked to move forward run by a new committee which was installed at the AGM in the May their aim being to improve the club in all aspects both on and off the pitch. The changing rooms and showers were upgraded, some of the club house had been re-decorated and the ground in general had been given a face lift when on the night of the Monday 11th July a catastrophic fire destroyed the office and part of the dressing rooms and club house. The whole building had to be demolished due its asbestos construction and the electricity was cut off due to the damage caused to the switch boxes etc.

Following the disaster the committee worked very hard to get things in to place so that football could return to The Town ground. The committee of the N.W.C.F.L. helped where they could they switching fixtures for The Bullets and 99% of their games were played away from home until the November. A rebuilding programme immediately got underway and things went well, both on and off the pitch. Massive help from BAE Systems and their contractors followed and they had helped to rebuild the changing rooms so that football could return.

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

Welcome today’s match sponsor…First Step

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

First Team Stats fixtures – results – appearances – goalscorers

Can YOU Help?

Every little helps so if you are interested in getting involved please talk to a committee member or contact us at: www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk.

This Months 200

Club winners…

£100 winner: Tom Webb £60 winner: Damien Molloy £40 winner: Maurice Thompson

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

First Team Stats fixtures – results – appearances – goalscorers

March-April games at Brookburn Road…

Saturday 21st March 3.00pm - West v Colne Tuesday 24th March 7.45pm - West v Bacup & Rossendale Borough Tuesday 31st March 7.45pm - West v Squires Gate Saturday 4th April 3.00pm – West v Silsden Saturday 18th April 3.00pm – West v Runcorn Linnets

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

NWCFL League Table’s… after games on Saturday 7th March

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

Cheshire League fixtures, results and tables - Reserves Reserves 27th Sept 4th Oct 11th Oct 18th Oct 25th Oct 1st Nov 15th Nov 22nd Nov 29th Nov 6th Dec 13th Dec 20th Dec 17th Jan 7th Feb 14th Feb 28th Feb 7 March 14 March 28 March 4 April 8 April

Warrington Reserves - Cup Altrincham FC Reserves Ashton Town Reserves Pork’s Pantry - Cup Wythenshawe Town – Cup FC Woodford Moore United FC Cuddington FC Irlam FC Reserves Cheadle Town Reserves Altrincham FC Reserves Wythenshawe Town Warrington Town Moore United Mersey Valley FC FC Woodford Cuddington FC Witton Albion Reserves Mersey Valley FC Grappenhall Sports Golbourne Sports

(A) (A) (H) (H) (H) (A) (A) (H) (A) (A) (H) (A) (A) (H) (A) (H) (H) (A) (H) (H) (A)

0-3 (L) 1-3 (L) 2-4 (L) 0-2 (L) 0-7 (L) 1-4 (L) 4-1 (W) 6-1 (W) 5-1 (W) 1-1(D) p-p 0-8 (L) 6-1 (W) 4-2 (W) 0-3 (L) 0-0 (D)

The Hallmark Security Cheshire Football League – Division 2

POS

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1

Wythenshawe Town

11

11

0

0

43

33

2

Altrincham FC Reserves

12

8

1

3

13

25

3

FC Woodford

14

6

5

3

11

23

4

Mersey Valley FC

12

5

3

4

2

18

5

Irlam FC Res

10

4

3

3

4

15

6

Cuddington FC

11

5

0

6

-1

15

7

WEST Res

12

4

3

5

-5

15

8

Moore United FC

14

3

2

9

-33

11

9

Witton Albion FC Res

7

2

0

5

-7

6

10

Cheadle Town FC Res

15

1

3

11

-27

6

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

Appearances and Attendances‌ after Saturday 7th March

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

Statistics… after Saturday 7th March

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

Recent Results & Saturday’s Fixtures…

RESULTS

Thursday 12th March 2015

Saturday 7th March 2015

Premier Division Glossop North End v Bootle

FA VASE 6th Round replay Glossop North End 3-1 aet Shaw Lane Aquaforce Premier League Abbey Hey 3-1 St Helens Town AFC Liverpool 0-0 Runcorn Linnets Ashton Athletic 2-1 Alsager Town Barnoldswick Town 1-4 1874 Northwich Colne 3-1 Maine Road Congleton Town v Bacup 4-2 Rossendale Boro Runcorn Town 1-1 AFC Blackpool WEST 1-4 Bootle Winsford United 0-0 Squires Gate First Division Ashton Town 1-1 Wigan Robin Park Barnton 3-3 AFC Darwen Chadderton 1-3 Holker Old Boys Cheadle Town 2-1 Atherton LR Daisy Hill 0-1 Northwich Flixton Villa Hanley Town 3-1 Oldham Boro Irlam 2-2 Eccleshall Litherland REMYCA 1-3 Atherton Collieries Rochdale Town 0-1 Cammell Laird 1907 Tuesday 10th March 2015 Premier Division Colne 3-0 Silsden Squires Gate 1-1 Runcorn Linnets St Helens Town 1-3 Glossop North End Winsford United 0-0 Bacup & Rossendale Boro

Friday 13th March First Division Daisy Hill v Atherton Collieries Saturday 14th March 2015 Premier League 1874 Northwich v Colne Bacup & Rossendale Boro v Runcorn Town Barnoldswick Town v Runcorn Linnets Bootle v Abbey Hey Nelson v Glossop North End Silsden v Winsford United St Helens Town v Congleton Town WEST v Alsager Town

First Division AFC Darwen v Cammell Laird 1907 Atherton LR v Barnton Eccleshall v Chadderton Irlam v Hanley Town Northwich Flixton Villa v Ashton Town Rochdale Town v Holker Old Boys Widnes v Cheadle Town Wigan Robin Park v Litherland REMYCA

Thank you to our Match Sponsor against Bootle last Saturday…

First Division Ashton Town 1-1 Daisy Hill Holker Old Boys 6-2 AFC Darwen Oldham Boro 0-4 Rochdale Town Cheshire Senior Cup Semi-Finals Congleton Town 0-1 Northwich Victoria

FIXTURES Wednesday 11th March First Division Northwich Flixton Villa v Chadderton

www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

For more information please contact John C at Pennant on: 0161 947 6942

CLUB MERCHANDISE…NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!!!

There are now more ways than ever to buy club merchandise as in addition to being able to purchase on match days our new online club shop is open. Simply log on to www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk today to purchase what you want and have it delivered straight to your front door!

Club crest scarves £7 (£6 to club or supporter club members) Wrist bands £1 Beanie hats £6 Mugs at £5 Key rings at £1 Club badges at £3 Club Ties at £12.50 Programme Back Issues

Follow News Updates on West via Twitter and Facebook!

Can’t make it to the game and want live match updates? Wanting the very latest news from the club on the move? Make sure that you log onto our Facebook page for all the latest news, views and updates on all things West Didsbury & Chorlton by clicking on www.facebook.com/WestDidsburyChorlton Alternatively you can follow on the very latest goings on the club with exclusive content by logging onto Twitter and following us @WD_CFC (picture of club badge)

Ground Safety In the interest of spectator comfort and safety, the following conditions apply at the clubs Brookburn Road ground and must be observed at all times.        

In case of fire or other emergency that requires the clubhouse or ground to be evacuated instructions will be given over the public address system, and we ask that you comply with those instructions immediately.

The chanting of racist or obscene chanting is strictly forbidden.

Glasses, bottles, gas canisters, knives, darts, tools, flag poles or any other articles likely to cause injury are not permitted into the ground.

Alcohol may be purchased and consumed in the bar area only.

Children are not allowed in the Club House unless accompanied by an adult.

Encroachment onto the playing area is forbidden at all times.

Standing is not allowed in front of the seated areas.

All forms of transport on the clubs car park is at the owners’ risk.

The club reserves the right to remove any person from the ground who is in breach of these rules or whose presence is a source of danger or annoyance to others. We hope you understand the reasons for the above are in order for the game to be enjoyed in safe and pleasant conditions.

Thank you, West Didsbury and Chorlton AFC Committee

OUR SPONSORS

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

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.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk

A Brief History…

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 played friendlies at first and then in the Manchester Alliance League until the First World War 1914. 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 that League did not permit a name suggesting association with any other body. The club was placed in Divisions 1 and A, staying 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 the L+C League until 2006, winning many honours and providing 4 League Presidents along the way.

The home ground from before 1914 until the mid 1980’s was Christie Playing Fields, and then the owners, Manchester and Salford Playing Fields Society, gave the club notice to quit having decided to sell off the land for commercial development – now ironically called ‘Christie Fields’ office park.

After several years’ nomadic existence searching for a new home, the club acquired the redundant and overgrown Recreation Ground at Brookburn Road in 1996, and began to restore this to active use and 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. Work was completed in time to start the 1997-98 season using excellent new changing rooms and clubhouse facilities aided by a Lottery grant, new sponsors and members’ fundraising, but without a penny from the Playing Fields Society sale proceeds.

Further name change followed in 2003 to reflect the new location in Chorlton and the club was then elected to the Manchester League in 2006. In 2007/8 West won its first Manchester League silverware 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 2008/09 West just missed promotion to the Premier Division and again reached the Murray Shield Final. won their League.

With a new management team led by Andy Nelson, 2009/10 was very successful and honours spread throughout the club. The 1st team won the Murray Shield (the third consecutive year in the final) and was league runners-up. The reserves 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 65 points out of 72 possible. This ranks as one of the highest points totals per game in Manchester League history 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 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, playing at the highest possible level it can whilst remaining financially viable.

Further improved saw floodlights erected in 2011 to meet FA requirements and West competed in the FA Vase for the first time in 2011-2012 as a Step 7 club.

Election to the NWCFL followed in June 2012 and the club had an incredible first season winning the Div1 Trophy, finishing in 3rd position after an amazing run in during March and April to secure promotion and also winning a guaranteed FA Cup place. The over 45’s team again chipped in with Cheshire Veterans league silverware.

2013-14 saw the club meet a number of challenges on and off the field by recovering from a series of early season setbacks and defeats in August to consolidate with a very creditable 12th place league finish. Two new stands were installed to improves the spectator facilities, new grass pitches and youth teams were added as part of the long term development plan, whilst remaining as a volunteer run, ‘not for profit’ club.

The other historic milestones achieved during the season were the 2-0 home victory over Abbey Hey in the club’s first ever appearance in the FA Cup followed by a 2-1 first ever FA Vase victory away at NCEL Rossington Main near Doncaster in mid September. This season the club hosts Brighouse Town from the Evo Stik league in the FA Cup at the end of August having been given a walk by the FA against NWCFL new club Cammell Laird 1907.

NWCFL Premier Division Saturday 14th March 2015 – Today’s Squads West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC White Shirts, Black Shorts & Black Socks

G’keepers Ben SImpson Paul Hughes Defenders Callum Jones Scott Jones Anthony Potts Callum Schofield Alex Baird Mark Rogers (Capt) Richmond Botchey Midfield Steve Settle Jordan Poole Gary Lilley Scott Mason Matt Eckersley Danny Summers Forwards Jerome Bryson Kieran Brocklehurst Tre Baldwin-Willis Nic Evanogelinos Lewis Schofield David Short Manager: Andy Nelson Assistants: Steve Settle & Steve Eckersley

Alsager Town All red

Chris Fletcher (Gk) Steven Dryden (Gk) Reiss Lee Peter Heler Liam Prince Callum Hood Adam Dawson Jordan Elcock Calvin Haughton Elliot Ledwards Shane Reaney Thomas Ingham Jake Chadwick Will Simcock Michael Blundell Jonathan Jones David Harry Ashley Hill George Barlow

Coach: C Carey Physio: N. Kelter

OFFICIALS

Referee: Steve Rudd Assistant Referees: Daniel Locker and Peter Shacklady