West Didsbury & Chorlton v Dukinfield Town

Y R U B S D I D WEST FC A & CHORLTON

MFL - Premier Divison February 25 – Dukinfield Town 2011/2012

SEASON

PROGRAMME £2

E M O C WEL to

C F A N O T L R O H C & Y R U B S D I D WEST First Team Manager: Andy Nelson 07952 567240 Asst Mgr and Coach: Dave Conlon

Chairman Brian Cripps 01625 260094 Vice Chairman Glyn Meacher 07905 431526

Reserve Team Manager: Robert Madden 07730 655446 Asst Managers: Jim Hines & Paul Rowell

CEO Rob Turley 0161 448 1838 07891298441

Physio Winston Luke

Club Secretary Monica Creer 0161 881 1135

Club Coaches Steve Eckersley / Kris Mahon

Treasurer Dave Cooper 0161 434 8181

‘A’ Team Manager Chris Argent 07962 352619

Head of Fundraising Steve Eckersley

Youth Team Manager Mike Lewandowski 07796 690879

1st Team Match Day Secretary Richard Waring 07919 057655

Vets Manager Sam Hickey 07980 521988

ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR Join our growing list of sponsors, we have packages to suit your budget including:

THE CLUB

200

SPONSORS LIST

● Match Day Sponsor ● Player Kit Sponsor ● Pitch Advertising (3-year period) ● Programme Advertising

£100 £50 £250 per season £50 - £100

Contact Details

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.

For up-to-date information visit; www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

EDITORIAL

25 February 2012 – Dukinfield Town

Welcome to Brookburn Road for today’s game against Dukinfield Town as we aim to get going again after yet another interruption last weekend when we had no fixture.

We have only had 3 competitive games since 17th December with a good away win at Wythenshawe followed by a disappointing home reverse against Walshaw when we never really got going and paid the price for some casual defending. Fortunately our fighting qualities and determination were switched on again for the home game against Old Alts when we kept going in difficult conditions and came from behind to secure a vital 3 points.

WELCOME TO DUKINFIELD TOWN Dukinfield Town are welcome visitors today and they will be going all out to do the double over us and gain the points to help secure their Premier Division status. They have been having a very inconsistent season but last Saturday they pushed Springhead all the way in the Gilchryst cup game before losing 2-1 after extra time.

The club is emerging from a difficult couple of years but now with a new Committee at the helm and a strong base linked into junior football they are looking forward to a brighter future.

The club and its officials are very welcome visitors today and we realise we are in for a difficult contest against a team which punished us severely for defensive lapses when we last met and took their scoring opportunities pretty clinically, but nevertheless these are the sorts of games we now need to get something from if we are to improve our own form and begin climbing the table to get back towards the top 5 spot we enjoyed last in October.

This will only be achieved if we play with the passion and determination shown against Old Alts a fortnight ago so let’s hope we can build on that result again today.

Although there is a lot at stake for the club in the coming weeks do remember to …ENJOY TODAY’S GAME. I would also like to express our thanks to Mike Fryer for providing photographs to the club.

Rob Turley

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

FROM THE DUGOUT… Recent weeks have been very disjointed in terms of getting any run of games together.

We have only played three games in 2012 which is remarkable if you think the winter hasn’t been a bad one really. Our return in the fixtures we have played has been six points out of nine, which considering the amount of player changes has been pleasing.

I was particularly pleased with the togetherness we showed as a team in our last game when we came from a goal down to beat Old Alts 2-1 with two crisp finishes… and the determination through the team to make sure we held out until the final whistle.

This has nudged us up the table again into 7th place and within a point of Old Alts who are 5th but also have a game in hand. There is now a cluster of clubs outside the top 5 with Stockport Georgians and Springhead in this group so our remaining games against these opponents will be vital to securing a high finish.

With 10 games and 30 points to play for we need to put together a run of consistent results and maintain the excellent team spirit in the squad. There is still a lot to play for.

The physios have had a lot to deal with this season and the injured list of first team regulars has been really unfortunate and caused us real difficulties as we’ve struggled to get a settled side. We feature Sarah Roberts and Winston Luke later in this programme and I’d like to echo my thanks to Sarah who has been a great help to the club, she leaves with my best wishes as she develops her career further, I am also look forward to working with Winston in the coming months.

Andy Nelson Picture shows Tom Waring (12) being congratulated after scoring his first goal since returning from a lengthy absence, following surgery.

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

First Team - Fixtures and Results Date AUGUST Sat 6 Sat 13 Wed 17 Sat 20 Tues 23 Sat 27 Wed 31 SEPTEMBER

Opponent

H/A

Comp

Result

Rochdale Sacred Heart Prestwich Heys Walshaw Sports Manchester Gregorians AVRO Springhead Old Alts

H A A H H A A

Cup L L L L L L

7–2 3–0 0–5 2–1 0–5 1–3 2–1

Sat 3

Wyre Villa

A

Sat 10 Sat 17 Sat 24

Prestwich Heys Wythenshawe Amateurs Ashville FC

H H A

LFA Cup L L FA Vase

2–2 (4-5 pens) 3-0 0-1 0-2

A H H A H

L L L L L

2-1 2-2 1-0 2-0 0-3

A H A A

L L L Cup

0–2 1-4 1-4 1-3

H

L

1-1

A H

L L

4-3 0-3

H H

L L

2-1

H A A H

L L L L

A

L

OCTOBER Sat 1 Manchester Gregorians Sat 8 Stockport Georgians Sat 15 AFC Bury Sat 22 AFC Monton Sat 29 Hindsford NOVEMBER Sat 5 Dukinfield Town Sat 12 Royton Town Sat 19 AFC Bury Sat 26 Walshaw Sports DECEMBER Sat 3 AFC Monton 2012 JANUARY Sat 7 Wythenshawe Amateurs Sat 14 Walshaw Sports FEBRUARY Sat 11 Old Alts Sat 25 Dukinfield Town MARCH Sat 3 Springhead Sat 10 AVRO Sat 24 East Manchester Sat 31 Heywood St James APRIL Sat 7 Stockport Gregorians

Please check the club website at www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com and www.manchester-league.co.uk as fixtures change.

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

Reserve team action‌ 21st January saw our first game in two weeks, away at Leigh. West started well moving the ball and keeping position. Unfortunately a misunderstanding in defence saw Leigh open the scoring from close range. This did not deter West who equalised shortly after with a great solo run and a blistering shot by Rob Jones. Just before half time Leigh went back into the lead with a soft goal.

After half time West came out with renewed vigour and midway through the second half Gary Lilley bundled the ball over the line to equalise. With 15 minutes to go Rauri Quinn came on and scored to make it Leigh 2 West 3.

28th January saw our first home game since November against Prestwich Heys.

West again played well in the first half and went into a 2-0 lead, both goals coming from Stephen Madden.

After half time Prestwich lifted their game and scored twice in the first 20 minutes to level the score. However, West did not allow this setback to unsettle them and carried on moving the ball around. With continued belief in their own ability on a difficult pitch Gary Lilley put West in front again and with 5 minutes to go scored a second to make the score 4-2, a very deserved win.

18th February after a 3 week layoff due to the weather we again had a home fixture against AFC Monton who are just above us in the league. We dominated play for the first 30 minutes which saw us score 2 goals from Stephen Madden and Tommy Hendley. The pitch began to break up and a mistimed pass allowed Monton to score with 10 minutes before half time.

In the second half Monton through everything they had at us and we were constantly on the defensive. Monton eventually equalised through a disputed penalty and the score finished 2-2. Whilst the result may not have been what we were looking for, our defence played very well under constant pressure.

Robert Madden

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

OUR SPONSORS We would like to express our sincere thanks to our current sponsors for their support. Without you we wouldn’t be where we are today.

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

Results & fixtures - Reserves Date AUGUST Sat 20 Thurs 25 Sat 27 SEPTEMBER Thurs 1 Sat 3 Sat 10 Sat 17 Sat 24 OCTOBER Sat 1 Sat 15 Sat 22 Sat 29 NOVEMBER Sat 5 Sat 19 Sat 26 DECEMBER Sat 3 JANUARY 2012 Sat 7 Sat 21 Sat 28 FEBRUARY Sat 18 MARCH Sat 3 Sat 10 Sat 24 APRIL Sat 7

Opponent

H/A

Comp

Result

Stockport Gregorians Res Wythenshawe Amateurs Res Rochdale Sacred Heart Res

A H H

L L L

3–4 2–3 4–0

Old Alts Res AVRO Res Walshaw Sports Res East Manchester Res Old Alts Res

H H A A A

L L L L L

2–3 0–1 0-7 2–2 3-0

Elton Vale Res Prestwich Heys Manchester Gregorians Res Dukinfield Town Res

A A H A

L L L L

3–3 6-2 2-0 3-1

Leigh Amateurs Res East Manchester Res Beechfield United Res

H H A

L L Cup

3-4 2–2 4-0

Wythenshawe Ams Res

A

L

1-5

Springhead Res Leigh Ath Res Prestwich Heys Res

A A H

Cup L L

3–4 3-2 4-2

AFC Monton

H

L

2-2

Rochdale Sacred Heart Res Walshaw Sports Res Stockport Gregorians Res

A H H

L L L

Elton Vale Res

H

L

Ground improvements continue…

Our programme of the improvements continues…the floodlights installed in the summer were followed by the new entrance, recently parameter fencing has been installed and the ground ploughed in readiness for new pitches.

This work will continue from May into the summer months.

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

A Team After a long gap we finally got back to playing a game of football! Our first outing in 2012 resulted in a good 2-1 win against Royton Town A at home, followed by two away games which resulted in a 0-3 defeat to Stockport Georgians and a 21 win at Atherton Town. As the season progresses we continue to climb up the table.

Chris Argent Date Opponent SEPTEMBER Sat 17 Prestwich Heys A Sat 24 Dukinfield Town A OCTOBER Sat 1 Springhead A Sat 8 Stockport Georgians A Sat 15 Walshaw SC A Sat 22 Leigh Athletic A Sat 29 Atherton Town A NOVEMBER Sat 5 Hollinwood A Sat 12 Dukinfield Town A Sat 19 Royton Town A Sat 26 Springhead A 2012 JANUARY Sat 14 Royton Town A Sat 21 Stockport Georgians A FEBRUARY Sat 18 Atherton Town A Sat 25 Walshaw SC A

H/A

Comp

Result

H H

L L

1–4 5–0

H H H H H

L L L L L

4–7 3–2 4–3 1–1 6–2

A A A A

L L L L

1–2 3–2 2–0 1–2

H A

L L

2–1 0–3

A A

L L

2–1

KIT MANAGER WANTED… We have a vacancy for a volunteer kit man to take overall charge of playing kit and equipment and be available to attend first team games home and away.

If you would like more information on what this involves then please contact: Rob Turley on 07891 298441

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

How our teams stand…

Manchester League – Premier Division 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Hindsford East Manchester Walshaw Sports AVRO Old Alts Stockport Georgians West Didsbury & Chorlton Royton Town Springhead Wythenshawe Ams AFC Monton Manchester Gregorians Dukinfield Town AFC Bury Heywood St James Prestwich Heys

P 22 19 20 17 17 16 19 17 18 18 17 20 16 19 17 18

W 15 14 11 11 9 8 8 7 5 5 5 6 5 3 4 3

D 5 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 7 6 5 1 1 7 1 4

L 2 3 6 4 6 5 9 7 6 7 7 13 10 9 12 11

GD 32 27 21 23 -2 0 -14 2 1 -2 -3 -12 -10 -12 -23 -25

PTS 50 44 36 35 29 27 26 24 22 21 20 19 16 16 13 12 *

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

17 16 15 16 15 16 14 17 16 17 15 17 16 15

11 10 9 8 9 8 8 5 5 6 5 5 2 2

3 3 3 4 1 2 1 4 3 0 3 2 4 3

3 3 3 4 5 6 5 8 8 11 7 10 10 10

26 17 18 12 2 1 7 -1 -4 -9 -17 -11 -24 -17

36 33 30 28 28 26 25 18 * 18 18 18 17 10 9

*Adjustment made

Manchester League – Division 2 (Reserves) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Wythenshawe Ams Res Stockport G Res Walshaw Res Manchester Gregorians Res Old Alts Reserves AFC Monton Res AVRO Res Prestwich Heys Res West Didsbury & Chorlton Res Dukinfield Town Res Leigh Ath Res E Manchester Res Elton Vale Res Rochdale Sacred Heart Res *Adjustment made

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

Manchester League – Division 4 (‘A’ Teams) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 10

Springhead A Royton Town A Stockport Geo A Hollinwood A West Didsbury & Chorlton A Leigh Ath A Prestwich Heys A Dukinfield Town A Walshaw SC A Atherton Town A

P 13 13 15 11 12 13 10 14 13 14

W 12 8 7 7 7 4 3 4 3 1

D 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 0 2 1

L 0 3 5 3 4 7 4 10 8 12

GD 21 24 11 16 7 0 -2 -13 -14 -49

PTS 37 26 24 22 22 14 12 12 11 4

Cheshire Veterans Football League – Premier Division 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Flint Town West Didsbury & Chorlton Grappenhall Sports Bollington Sale Town Cheadle Star Old Boys Bedians Hursts

P 9 8 8 9 6 8 7 9

W 7 5 3 3 3 3 2 1

D 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 0

L 1 1 3 4 2 4 4 8

GD 20 13 5 -5 3 -3 -8 -25

PTS 22 17 11 11 10 10 7 3

D 1 1 1 1 1 2 1

L 1 1 3 3 4 2 7

GD 22 10 1 1 -4 -1 -29

PTS 16 16 13 10 10 5 1

Cheshire Veterans Football League – Division 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Moore United Barnstoneworth United Grappenhall Sports B West Didsbury & Chorlton B MCYA Burtonwood Albion Old Boys Stepping Hill Presidents XI

P 7 7 8 7 8 5 8

W 5 5 4 3 3 1 0

Altrincham Youth Football League 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Wythenshawe Amts Cleavleys JFC Cheadle & Gatley Athletic West Didsbury & Chorlton NJ Wythenshawe FC Medlock Rangers FC Flixton Juniors FC Leigh Genesis FC Lostock Rangers FC Broadheath Central

P 11 8 12 12 8 9 13 7 11 11

W 8 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 2 0

D 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 0 0 0

L 2 0 4 5 1 3 7 3 9 10

GD 33 21 15 -2 47 0 -1 -2 -76 -35

PTS 25 20 20 19 17 14 14 12 6 0

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

Youth Team …

The Youth team have managed four games in 2012 due to a combination of no fixtures and bad weather.

The first game in the new year resulted in a comfortable 9-2 win against Lostock Rangers, this was followed by two away games both resulting in 2-1 victories against Cheadle & Gatley Athletic and Flixton Juniors, before a 3-0 reverse against Wythenshawe Amateurs, this wasn’t a bad as it sounds…the main difference being they took their chances and we didn’t! Mike Lewandowski Date SEPTEMBER Sun 25 OCTOBER Sun 2 Sun 9 Sun 16 Sun 30 NOVEMBER Sun 6 Sun 13 Sun 20 JANUARY 2012 Sun 15 Sun 22 FEBRUARY Sun 12 Sun 19 Sun 26 MARCH Sun 04 APRIL Sun 01 Tues 10 Tues 17 MAY Tues 01

Opponent

H/A

Comp

Result

Medlock Rangers FC

H

L

1-1

Lostock Rangers FC Cheadle & Gatley Athletic Flixton Juniors Cleavleys JFC

A H H A

L L L L

2-4 1-3 5-3 0-4

Broadheath Central Leigh Genesis Medlock Rangers FC

H A A

L L L

1-0 1-5 4-3

Lostock Rangers FC Cheadle & Gatley Athletic

H A

L L

9-2 2-1

Flixton Juniors Wythenshawe Amts Cleavleys JFC

A A H

L L L

2-1 0-3

Wythenshawe Amts

H

L

N. J. Wythenshawe FC Broadheath Central N. J. Wythenshawe FC

A A H

L L L

Leigh Genesis

H

L

This month the 200 Club winners are: £100 Dave Wright £60 Nathan Wakelam £40 Sam Hickey

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

Results and Fixtures - Vets and Vets B Cheshire Veterans League – Premier Division 4th Sept 11th Sept 25th Sept 9th Oct 30th Oct 13th Nov 27th Nov 15th Jan 22nd Jan 29th Jan 26th Feb 4th Mar 11th Mar 25th Mar 1st Apr 29th Apr

Hursts (h) Grappenhall Sports (a) Bedians (h) Flint Town (h) Cheadle Star Old Boys (a) Burtonwood Albion Old Boys (h) CUP Flint Town (a) Mobberley (h) CUP Bollington (h) Bollington (a) Hursts (a) Sale Town (a) Bedians (a) Timperley (a) CUP Cheadle Star Old Boys (h) Grappenhall Sports (h)

6-0 1-0 4-2 2-2 3-2 9-2 1–3 5-0 8-2 2-2

Cheshire Veterans League – Division 3 4th Sept 11th Sept 25th Sept 16th Oct 30th Oct 13th Nov 15th Jan 22ndJan 26th Feb 4th Mar 11th Mar 15th Apr 29th Apr

MCYA (a) Stepping Hill President’s XI (h) Barnstoneworth United (a) Burtonwood Albion Old Boys (a) Grappenhall Sports B (h) Mossley Hill Athletic Wanderers (a) CUP Stepping Hill President’s XI (a) Moore United (h) MCYA (h) Grappenhall Sports (a) Burtonwood Albion Old Boys (a) Barnstoneworth United (h) Moore United (a)

1-3 4-0 1-2 4-2 2-1 2-4 2-2 2-5

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING: Monday 5th March at the clubhouse starting at 6.30pm

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

OUR SPONSORS We would like to express our sincere thanks to our current sponsors for their support. Without you we wouldn’t be where we are today.

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

Our Visitors – Dukinfield Town Founded in 1948, Dukinfield Town entered the Manchester Amateur League during a period of great interest in amateur football, and the club initially played its games at Lodge Lane, Dukinfield, winning their first game 2-0 against Ferranti 'B'.

A Supporters' Club was formed soon afterwards, and after a healthy couple of seasons, Town were Second Division runners-up in 1950-51 as well as Ashton Junior Challenge Cup winners.

By 1953-54 season, Town had emerged as a leading light in the MAL, finishing as runners-up that season before going on to win the League in 1956-57 and runners-up again the season after.

Next came a spell of success with the Manchester League, where Town were First Division Champions in 1959-60 and runners-up the following season. The Murray Shield also found its way to Dukinfield in 1961-62, the Club almost retaining the trophy a year later, but Cheadle Rovers reserves snatched the silverware in the Final.

Dukinfield were also a long-standing member of the South East Lancashire League, then a very strong competition, and claimed the Championship in 1964-65 and 1965-66. It was whilst members of the SELL that Town claimed their first county silverware when the Manchester Amateur Cup was won in 1966 and retained a year later.

The ambitions of the club had always been to rise through the game, and when Town moved onto National Park in Ashton, formerly the home of Ashton National, Dukinfield proudly stepped into the Lancashire Combination.

By 1970-71 season, Town had once again settled in well and were only deprived of the Combination Championship by the grand slam winning Prestwich Heys side of that season.

Some consolation came in county competition as Town won both the Senior Cup and Intermediate Cup. By the mid 1970s, the club had left National Park and the Lancashire Combination, and returned to the Manchester League where they once again found their feet.

After winning the First Division title in 1975-76, the club joined the Premier Division, where they have remained ever since.

Dukinfield have enjoyed great success at reserve team level, winning the Second Division title four times and the Open Trophy three times, but only the Gilgryst Cup has found its way to Blocksages, in 1988-89, before Town were Premier Division runners-up in 1999-2000 season.

The county competitions proved a much more fruitful hunting ground, and the Manchester Challenge Trophy was claimed in 1988-89, with the club also losing finalists in 1989-90.

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

THANK YOU SARAH …

Our physiotherapist Sarah Robert has unfortunately has to resign from her match day duties with the team as a result of other work commitments. Sarah has been a great asset to the club having first started with us as ‘apprentice’ to Ron Cook a couple of seasons back before returning as club physio in her own right at the start of this season. Last week was her last game when Sarah also wrote to say …

‘I regret to inform you that from the end of January I will no longer be able to work alongside the team due to my work commitments. I want to thank you and the team for the experience and opportunities the club has provided and wish you all the best of luck for the rest of the season.

Hopefully I can work alongside the team again in the future.

Thanks again, Kind regards, Sarah We are very grateful for all the time and effort Sarah has put into helping injured players get going again as well as dealing with match day incidents and emergencies. We are sure the increasing amount of repeat injuries and the arrival of an attractive female physio were purely coincidental but nevertheless we will miss seeing Sarah’s smiling face on match days. We wish her well for the future .

WINSTON …

We are fortunate that Winston Luke has stepped into the breach caused by Sarah’s departure and will be continuing with us both on match days and training evenings. Winston is also a fully qualified physio and is completing a masters degree at Manchester. He has given us a lot of his time since he first joined us at the FA Vase game in September, both on match days when he can and also at training sessions. We look forward to his continuing role with the club.

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

Manchester Football League – Premier Division Saturday 25th February 2012

Today’s Teams West Didsbury & Chorlton Ben Simpson Mike Kennedy Scott Jones Mike Byrne Dave Conlon (Capt) Alex Baird Josh Ford Andy Levendis Chris Pattison Danny Summers Tom Waring Tommy Walsh Dean Thurston Lee Shilito Matt Eckersley Ashley Farlow Lewis Childs Lewis Schofield

Manager: Andy Nelson Assistant: Dave Conlon

Dukinfield Town Matt Green Alan Mills Matt Burgoine Josh Deakin Steve Parry (Capt) Matt Harrop Andy Shelvin Matt Easter Richard Whelan Steve Walters Karl Monks Dan Exley Callum Williams Mark Crossland Ben Ackford Simon Heaton Paul Pickford Craig Smith Sam Owens Manager: Kevin Booth Assistant: Chris Lannigan

OFFICIALS: Referee: Trevor Thomas Assistant Referees: Justin Bebbington, Paul Roberts NEXT HOME GAME:

WEST v Springhead Saturday, 3rd March 2012 – Kick-off: 2.00pm Please check the club website weekly at www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com and www.manchester-league.co.uk as fixtures will change.

www.westdidsburychorltonfc.com

WHAT’S OUR

STORY?

The story of West Didsbury began 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.

This was down to the hard work of a core of players and Committee who refused to let the club fold and the new facilities were secured without a penny of help from the Playing Fields Society who sold the land for commercial development.

West then joined the Manchester Alliance League where they competed until the outbreak of the First World War (1914-1918).

In 2007/8 season West won Manchester League silverware for the first time when they lifted the Murray Shield with the nucleus of our previously successful junior team. The following season West just missed promotion to the Premier Division and again reached the Murray Shield Final.

A further name change followed in 2003 to reflect our new location in Chorlton and we were elected to the Manchester League in 2006.

After the War the club joined the Lancashire and Cheshire League for the 1920/21 season and changed its name to West Didsbury AFC. The club was placed in Divisions 1 and A and stayed in the top flight for 25 seasons. The first team were double runners up in League and Rhodes Cup in 1922/23.

In 1927, West lifted the Rhodes Cup by beating Davenport 2-1 in the final, and by the early thirties the club had finished runners up in 1931/32 for the fourth time.

It was third time unlucky for West Didsbury (West) as they were beaten in the final of the Rhodes Cup by South Salford, who then won the cup for six consecutive years - a feat unequalled by anyone since.

The first team succumbed to relegation for the first time in 1952, losing a play-off 3-1 to Rusholme, but bounced back as second division runners up the following season, remaining in the top division for another 5 years, before relegation again in 1959/60 meant a 6 year wait to regain top flight status. Indeed during that period, relegation to the third division was narrowly avoided in 1963/64.

West finished runners up in 1965/66 and were back in the top flight for another spell before relegation again in 1968/69.

In 1969/70 West won the Rhodes Cup for only the second time. They faced a Monton Amateurs side that had dominated the league for a number of years, yet against the odds West equalised twice and scored the winner in extra-time for a famous 3-2 victory. Current Chairman Brian Cripps skippered the side that day and received the trophy in near darkness.

In 1970/71 West were promoted to Division 1 after securing runners up spot, before relegation in 1972/73 and 1974/75 meant that the team were playing in the third division. In 1976/77 West beat Heywood GSOB from the first division 2-0 in the Whitehead Cup Final.

Rob Turley scored both goals.

The club then had another hard period before promotion in successive seasons, from 1987-89, clinching both divisional championships and losing only once in two seasons.

The second team were unbeaten champions of Division B in 1987/88 and the club won the Aggregate Trophy for the best club in the Lancashire and Cheshire League for the first time in 50 years.

After several years of uncertainty when our former ground at Christie Playing Fields was sold off, the club were boosted when, in 1997/98, they kicked off the new season at their splendid new home at Brookburn Road, and began to develop a vision for a community club.

With a new management team, the 2009/10 season proved to be very successful. Honours were spread right through the club with: The first team winning the Murray Shield, (the third consecutive year we have been in the final) and finishing runners-up in the league. The second team winning Bridgewater Office Supplies League Cup and the U17 Youth team winning their League. Last Season 2010/2011, the First team won the First Division title in style this season with a fantastic points total (65 points out of 72 possible). This must rank as one of the highest points totals per game ever in the history of the Manchester League dating back over a century.

It was also one of the best and proudest seasons in the club’s history and CONGRATULATIONS to ANDY NELSON and ALL THE PLAYERS for their commitment to the club throughout the season.

Our thanks must also go to Dave Conlon, Steve Eckersley, Kris Mahon and physio Ronnie Cook, who have been integral to the management team, and to Rick Waring for his support week in week out as match day secretary for the 1st team.

Congratulations also to the Reserves for a terrific season under the guidance of Jim Hines and Paul Rowell, resulting in promotion and for the second year they contested the Bridgewater Trophy Cup Final, this time finishing runners up in a game they really should have won.

The A team have also performed well this year finishing in 3rd place and manager Chris Argent has done a great job in maintaining a squad this season, resulting in a complete turnaround in results and league placing.

Rob Madden and Barry Isaacs have steered the Youth team to yet another final where they were just pipped to the trophy by New Mills.

Finally, the Veterans finished 2nd in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Division and were runners up in the Cup Final. This is another great achievement as this league has expanded in recent years to 4 very competitive divisions, comprising 30 clubs and finishing as one of the top teams is great credit to the efforts of Sam Hickey and Phil Bairstow.

In summary, 5 teams, 5 top 3 finishes and 3 cup finals to add to the League Championship.

So a great 2010/2011 Season – we look forward to what 2011-12 has in store.

WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC

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