2014/15 SEASON / MATCH DAY PROGRAMME ÂŁ2.00
Official Club Sponsor
Pre-season Friendly
FC United of Manchester Saturday 19th July - 3pm
WELCOME WELCOME
to WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC CLUB CONTACTS
FOOTBALL CONTACTS
Club President
First Team
Brian Cripps
Glyn Meacher 07905 431526
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
Kris Mahon – First Team Tony Holmes – Goalkeepers Joel Hudson – Reserves
Dave Cooper 07961 063195
Physio Head of Fundraising Steve Eckersley 07788 112909
Community Development Davy Iredale
Publicity and Web John Churchman 07720 508082
Press Officer, Social Media & Web Rob McKay 07706 320397
Paddy Murphy
‘A’ Team Manager Danny Iredale 07939 392828
Youth Team Manager 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
http://www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC The Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road, Chorltonville Manchester M21 8FE
EDITORIAL
FC UNITED of Manchester
WELCOME to our last pre-season home game and WELCOME BACK to FC UNITED and their officials and supporters, many of whom watched an entertaining game just before the start of last season and set a ground attendance record of over 400. In that game FC United fielded an impressive array of development players along with one or two older heads, but today we expect to face a mainly first team squad including some of their new signings, which will be another good test for ourselves. FC United have been well supported continuously since they first started life in Division One of the North West Counties League some years ago, before promotions through both NWC Divisions and onwards to the Evo Stik League Premier Division. The last 4 seasons have ended in disappointment in the promotion play offs as the club strive for the Conference and eventually the Football League. However, the coming season sees the club reaching new milestones and an end to the ground sharing at Bury FC in recent years. FC United start the season ground sharing for the next couple of months at Stalybridge Celtic, but will soon have their own permanent home in the new Broadhurst Park stadium in Moston. This is a fantastic achievement brought about by the dedication and sheer hard work of the club leadership and supporters. Many of the fans have literally been getting their hands dirty in helping to deliver the new stadium pitch by undertaking a stone pick to remove debris from the topsoil before the new pitch gets laid. This prompted a recent feature in the Manchester Evening News and some nice pictures for the club history archives. You can see this in the Profile of FC United later in the programme. We thank them for supporting our club with today’s game and wish them well in their new home and for the coming season’s promotion campaign. CLUB NEWS AND DEVELOPMENT We’ve also had a lot of volunteer effort over the close season with redecoration of the dressing rooms, the front facia by committee and players, joinery work thanks to regular supporter Brian Norbury and we’ve also had our own experience of stone picking over the past 2 weeks as the contractors have been doing this as part of the final preparation of our new grass pitches adjoining the club. These are now seeded and should be available for play later in the year once the new grass has become sufficiently established. The two full size and 2 junior pitches will see all our teams playing there with car parking and related facilities on the site of the former Metrolink construction compound, for which we obtained planning permission just after the end of last season. The plans for development of junior football are also progressing well and by the end of the coming season we should have everything in place for our enlarged community club. NEW HORIZONS THIS SEASON Our reserve and A teams will be facing new opposition this season as both teams have been elected into The Cheshire League and will be starting their league fixtures on 9th August. Meanwhile the youth team step up into the North West Youth Alliance League and have been placed in Division One with the added incentive of a first ever entry into the FA Youth Cup and a chance to play at The Racecourse Ground on Monday 22nd September. OUR UPCOMING HOME LEAGUE GAMES Our next home game is on Tuesday 5th August at 7.30pm when we host Winsford United, followed by Ashton Athletic on Sat 9th at 3pm and then Runcorn Town on Tuesday 12th at 7.30pm. The full fixture programme for all our teams is also on the club website at www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY – PLEASE ENJOY THE GAME AND WE’LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN SOON. Rob Turley Cover picture: Lee Malkin on his return to Wests
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
http://www. westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
Message from the Chairman On behalf of the club I would like to offer a warm welcome to Officials and players of FC United our visitors today, together with fans of the club and to those who simply follow football at this level to the Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road for our main Preseason Friendly. Looking back over last season it was clear that we continued our significant progress of the last few years, both on and off the pitch and can consider it to have been an unqualified success. Highlights are:
Delivering a mid table position in our first season in the Premier Division Winning matches in both the FA Cup and FA Vase for the first time Developing the ground further by adding two new stands Progressing our plans to merge with Oswald Road Junior Football Club Our under 17’s team reaching a Lancashire FA final for the first time in our history, and winning the Tameside League. Progressing our plans for Hardy Farm, so all our teams can play at home.
Delivering these achievements is down to the support given to the club by a significant number of people and as this is the final programme of the season, I would like to give particular thanks to:
Andy Nelson and all his coaching, support staff; and players whose skill, commitment and professionalism has enabled us to make this first season playing at Step 5 to be so successful Ian Depeiaza and his support staff and the Under 17’s squad for their significant achievements Rob Madden, Danny Iredale, Chris Smith, Steve Fisher and the other coaches, volunteers and players from our Reserves, A and Veterans Teams The Clubs Committee for providing the drive to see us to continue to progress as a club year on year Our ever growing band of spectators.
Hope you all enjoy the matches.
Glyn Meacher
The 200 Club is a key source of revenue for club, would you like the chance to be winner. Why wait? For a monthly subscription of just £2 you will be in the next draw. Please ask in the clubhouse for more details.
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. westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
From the Dugout… It only seems like five minutes that we were saying our goodbyes after our final game of the season at Silsden. We didn’t end the season in the way we wanted have wanted but overall we can be very pleased with the progress that we made in our first season in the NWCFL’s top flight. For managers the preparation for next season begins the day after the old one ends and we were no different. The management team and I were no different and we’ve been working throughout the off-season to ensure that we are have made the necessary steps to improve this season. I would like to wish you all a warm welcome to Brookburn Road today as we welcome FC United back for the second year in a row. It was a huge coup for a club our size to take on FC United last year and our largest crowd to date saw a close game between our first team and a excellent FC United development side. On the night we ran out 3-1 winners but I believe that it was a positive experience by everyone. This year our guests return with their first team as FC and their supporters await their move to Broadhurst Park in September and I’m delighted to welcome Karl Marginson and his team back. After today we will head the remainder of our pre-season games will be away with trips Atherton Town, AFC Monton and Prestwich Heys as we return to our brief Manchester League roots. The games will give us the oppourtunity to push ourselves and ensure that we hit the ground running when we head to Barnoldswick Town for the NWCFL opener on Aug 2nd. Off the field at West, our terrific group of volunteers have worked hard in the off season to ensure that this club continues to progress with the most significant being the Reserve and Youth teams admission to the Cheshire League and North West Youth Alliance respectively. On the management side of things we welcome Rob Madden into the first team to support myself and Steve Settle. Rob Madden did an excellent job with the Reserve Team last season finishing seventh in difficult circumstances whilst ensuring that more than half a dozen players made their first team debuts. In his place we welcome James Plowright from Knutsford FC who has a great coaching background for someone so young and has been very impressive so far. Finally, I would like to congratulate all the players who won awards at the Presentation Day in May; all of them throughout the club deserved their awards. I was particularly delighted to present the First Team awards to Tommy Walsh and Antony Potts (pictured) it has been great working with them. Enjoy today’s game. Andy Nelson
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
CLUB MERCHANDISE…NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!!! Support your local club and show your support with our latest official club merchandise! New for this season at £6 (£5 for club members and supporters’ club members) we have beanie hats and a club crest scarf. 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! Wrist bands £1, 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
http://www. westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
NWCFL Premier and First Division Tables
* Indicates points deducted
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Our visitors FC United … Formation Formed in 2005 in protest to Malcolm Glazers takeover of Manchester United, FC United of Manchester are the model club held up by others who envisage a democratically run supporter-owned football club. The supporters wished for a club they could call their own a member owned democratic, not-for-profit organisation, created by Manchester United fans, a club accessible to all of the Greater Manchester community, dedicated to encouraging participation of youth whether it be playing or supporting and to providing affordable football for all. More than 1,000 people financially pledged towards the club ensuring that the formation of a new club would be viable. The club’s original name FC United was rejected by the FA for being too generic. Those who had pledged money were asked to vote on a name and chose FC United of Manchester from FC Manchester Central, AFC Manchester 1878 and Newton Heath United with 44% of the vote. The club was only a month old when they played their first game at Hilton Park on July 16, 2005 in front of 2,552 against Leigh RMI. A 0-0 draw, led by manager Karl Marginson, was greeted with jubilation and a testament to the amazing job done by the people involved at the club in such a short space of time. Marginson had selected a team from over 900 applicants for trials of which 200 were selected and 17 chosen to make up the first ever squad. The following week they faced AFC Wimbledon, a club in which FCUM modelled themselves in the wake of their original clubs moved to Milton Keynes. By the time the first game had been played more than 4,000 people had pledged more than £100,000 to the club. North West Counties Years FC United secured a ground share with Bury FC at Gigg Lane and successfully applied for membership of the North West Counties Football League. Taking their place in the 2nd division their first fixture was played away to Leek CSOB in front of a NWCFL record of 2,590 who witnessed FC United record their first ever victory as they ran home 5-2 winners. The Rebels first home victory came a week later as they edged out Padiham 3-2 at Gigg Lane before finishing August undefeated with a 7-1 home versus Eccleshall and a 2-2 draw at Winsford United. Their early form continued throughout the season as they collected the league title amassing an incredible 87 points and scoring 111 goals from 36 games, including a still club record league win 10-2 v Castleton Gabriels, and being crowned non-league club of the year. They averaged an as yet never repeated 3,056 at home throughout the season, as well as record attendances on their travels, culminating with the collection of the division 2 league trophy, and promotion to the 1st division, in front of 6,023 against Great Harwood Town, a NWCFL record. FC United’s second season was even more successful as their first on the field as they collected 112 points and scored 157 goals from their 42 league games beating Curzon Ashton to the title by 13 points; themselves having amassed an amazing 99 points to claim runners up spot. The Rebels lost just twice in the league all season as they recorded a league high average attendance of 2,581. Away from the league, FC United also collected the League Challenge Cup and reached the 3rd round of the FA Vase before being defeated by Quorn after finishing the game with 9 men and falling to a last minute winner.
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FC United have spent the last five years in the Unibond/Evo-Stik league where they were promoted from the 1st Division North at the first attempt via the play offs but have been Premier Division play-off runners up in the last three consecutive seasons. 2014 was to another near miss, despite United winning 3-0 at the Leicestershire side it wasn’t enough as Chorley took the three points in their final game and with that the league title, meaning FC would have to look towards the play-offs for the fourth successive season. It would be more heartbreak for FC though as a last minute equaliser from Ashton forced the semifinal into extra time, where an equally late goal won the tie for FC’s near neighbours. Despite this the club continues to go from strength to strength and will this season move into their own brand new ground at Broadhurst Park in the Moston area of Manchester thanks to the amazing fundraising efforts of those associated with the club, making this season the most significant in the clubs short history. FC UNITED fans have literally been getting their hands dirty, stone picking to remove debris from the topsoil before the new pitch gets laid
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Table Chorley FC United AFC Fylde Worksop Town Ashton United Skelmersdale United Rushall Olympic Blyth Spartans Whitby Town Trafford Kings Lynn Town Matlock Town Buxton Barwell Grantham Town Witton Albion Ilkeston FC Stamford Nantwich Town Marine Frickley Athletic Stafford Rangers Stocksbridge PS Droylsden
P 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46
W 29 29 28 27 24 24 21 20 18 20 20 18 16 17 17 17 17 17 14 13 12 9 5 2
D 10 9 9 7 8 5 12 12 16 8 8 13 14 11 10 9 8 7 14 14 13 8 8 3
L F A Diff 7 107 39 68 8 108 52 56 9 97 41 56 12 120 87 33 14 92 62 30 17 92 79 13 13 79 65 14 14 79 78 1 12 82 64 18 18 77 73 4 18 76 77 -1 15 61 53 8 16 63 60 3 18 62 67 -5 19 77 78 -1 20 77 80 -3 21 81 77 4 22 75 85 -10 18 77 71 6 19 68 76 -8 21 62 80 -18 29 56 112 -56 33 60 130 -70 41 40 182 -142
Pts 97 96 93 88 80 77 75 72 70 68 68 67 62 62 61 60 59 58 56 53 49 35 23 9
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
West Pre-season fixtures Our busy pre-season schedule will see the 1st team host a string of non-league heavyweights at Brookburn Road before returning to their Manchester League roots before the 2014/15 NWCFL season kicks off with a series of away games. Saturday 12th July Tuesday 15th July Saturday 19th July Tuesday 22nd July Tuesday 24th July Tuesday 26th July Tuesday 29th July
1874 Northwich Trafford FC FC United Atherton Town Eagley Sports Prestwich Heys AFC Monton
Result 2-2 (H) 7.30pm (H) 3.00pm (A) 6.30pm (A) 7:00pm (A) 3.00pm (A) 6.30pm
Early League Fixture confirmed The North West Counties have confirmed the Premier Division fixtures through the first week of the new season. West will kick off the new season with a return to Barnoldswick Town, before Winsford United arrive on the Tuesday evening. The week is rounded off with the visit of the NWCFL League Challenge Cup holders Ashton Athletic. Saturday 2nd August Tuesday 5th August Saturday 9th August Tuesday 12th August Tuesday 19th August Saturday 23rd August Tuesday 26th August
Barnoldswick Town Winsford Town Ashton Athletic Runcorn Town Glossop North End Runcorn Linnets Alsager Town
(A) (H) (H) (H) (H) (A) (A)
3.00pm 7.45pm 3.00pm 7.45pm 7.45pm 3.00pm 7.45pm
In the League Challenge Cup West were drawn away in the second round at either Ashton Town or Chadderton to be played on Saturday 25th October. The two sides will meet at The Hardwick Group Stadium on Saturday 20th September.
Elsewhere the Reserves kick off life in the Cheshire League Two with a trip to Witton Albion Reserves on August 9th Witton Albion’s reserve team play at Lostock Gralam FC (also of the Cheshire League).
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2013/14 Final Roll Call‌
Most Appearances: 42 Anthony Potts Tre Baldwin-Willis
Most Goals: 14 Rick Gleave
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
http://www. westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
From the Terrace…
It’s 11 o’clock on a Saturday morning and I find myself in the unique situation, for me, of standing in the pouring rain on the corner of a playing field so vast that it could host a hundred training session, marking out what I’m told is ‘a running station’ with small plastic cones. It’s the first day of pre-season training and for some reason I’ve been roped into dusting off my old predators, which for the record have never even see real grass, to help out whilst trying desperately to look like I know what I’m doing whilst I follow Andy Nelson’s instructions. The players arrive and Reserve Team coach Joel Hudson leads the warm up by leading the players, wearing various colours of new football boots that can only be described as an assault on the eyes, whilst I’ve often heard Andy and his coaching staff talking about session plans (Google the words Facebook + Tony Holmes + Session plan if you want your computer to explode like its just informed Ethan Hunt of his next mission – Tony never stops working) and I imagined them sat in air conditioned rooms with charts of football pitches and marker pens like Coach Erik Taylor in Friday Night Lights. I’m not going to give anything away here but seeing one man be able to conduct a training session that included more than 25 players at once without sending them on a cross country run was the final nail in the coffin that the man in the street has any clue what’s involved in being a football manager…and that’s on the first day of pre-season! It was a far cry from the opening match in the film ‘There’s only one Jimmy Grimble’ where Robert Carlyle is sitting in the van with the newspaper trying to sneak a drag on his a cigarette whilst the school team just gets on with it. As a fan it was a great experience to be a part of, seeing which players had returned, trying to work out who the new faces were and trying to witness a few stand out moments. At the end of the session the players warm down, finish off the water and Andy delivers his message to those on the fringes about the importance of making the most of their opportunity whilst Rob Madden collects in bibs. Interestingly there are two bags full of enough bibs to separate a dozen football teams! In all it was very productive first day of pre-season and I discovered I am almost capable of putting out cones and collecting up bibs even if I am a bit poor on pumping up the training balls! Rob McKay WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
http://www. westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
From the Supporters Club… First of all…apologies about the lack of a monthly newsletter…or even a quarterly one. I started with good intentions, I managed one and I envisaged sending all you fine individuals out a monthly update of what was happening at the club. Unfortunately, between the programme and the website about a quarter of a million words were written ahead of it. Throw in the social media and the ability to remain both entertaining and engaging was well out of the door (some say will say they never walked in). I did start issue two, I promise, but it is still, to this day, a work in progress so I’ve christened this end of season special edition the supporter’s club yearbook. Hopefully between each programme becoming available online, that was for your enjoyment too, and the website being updated each day you know that we’ve finished a respectable 12 th place and advanced past the first round in both the FA Cup and Vase. It is a miracle of an achievement when you consider we lost the first five league games and only came off the bottom because Wigan Robin Park were beaten 8-0 by AFC Liverpool. I had a few Atherton Collieries fans texting me that night I’ll tell you! It’s been a good year with visits to dozens of new grounds, meeting hundreds of new people, witnessing some special performances and even performing the odd upset here and there. Best of all it has been great to see so many faces come down for the first time and then come back! That means that we are doing things the right way when it comes to being both friendly and welcoming. As for next season the good news is that I have brought on board two new people to share the load and assist (take over from) me in the running of the supporters club. I cannot confirm any details yet but there are plans in place to ensure that you get even better value for your money than you did this season (I’m hoping it’s going to be Richmond Botchey iphone cases for everyone!) In the meantime if you wish to lend a hand or get involved please let me know at westdidsburychorltonsc@gmail.com I hope everyone has a great summer, keep your eye on the website for pre-season friendly announcements and I hope to see you there in July for the first one. Thanks, Rob McKay
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
http://www. westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
FA Cup, Vase and Youth Cup draws - 2014/15
The Roads to Wembley begin for another year at West as the draws for first qualifying rounds of both the FA Cup and the FA Vase. In addition to West’s Youth Team will enter the FA Youth Cup for the first time ever.
FA Cup In the FA Cup West will face reigning NCEL Champions Brighouse Town at home on Saturday 30th August. Brighouse were crowned champions of the NCEL amassing an incredible 101 points and scoring 138 goals and now reside in the Evo-Stik First Division North. The winner will receive £1,925 form the FA Prize Fund. The winners of that tie will then face Ashton United in the 1st Qualifying Round at home on Saturday 13th September with the winner receiving £3,000 in prize money.
FA Vase In the FA Vase West receive a bye into the second qualifying round of the competition where they will face the winners of Rossington Main v AFC Blackpool. Rossington Main, of the NCEL First Division, and AFC Blackpool, NWCFL Premier Division, will face each other on Saturday 6 th September before West take on the winners at Brookburn Road on Saturday 4th October. West previously faced Rossington in the Vase year with West scoring a late Lewis Schofield winner to secure a 2-1 victory and West’s first ever FA Vase win.
FA Youth Cup For the first time in their history West have entered a team into the FA Youth Cup and will face Wrexham away in the First Qualifying Round to be played in the week commencing Monday 22nd September 2014. This comes hot on the heels after the club’s youth team were accepted in the first division of the North West Youth Alliance.
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
West 2 1874 Northwich 2‌ match report A large crowd saw football return to Brookburn Road for the first time this season as West and 1874 Northwich played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. West manager Andy Nelson fielded a strong side against the newest NWCFL Premier Division club which two debutants in the starting XI as well as the returning Lee Malkin, Lee Hendley and Lewis Schofield. It was the latter two that combined with Scott Mason and Rick Gleave to create the game’s first chance as some sublime one touch football from Mason, Gleave and Schofield released Lee Hendley in front of goal but was brilliantly tackled before he could pull the trigger. West had started the game the brighter side but an injury to Callum Schofield forced a reshuffle as Mason was then moved to the centre of defence. 1874 grew into the game and were rewarded for their dominance on the stroke of half time when a whipped in ball from the right hand side found Mike Brandon who finished underneath the rushing keeper Luke Lundy. In the second half West made 10 changes with only first half substitute Danny Summers came back out. 1874, full of confidence from their lead, came close to doubling it with several chances before Matt Woolley fired a powerful 25 yarder past sub keeper Paul Hughes. West continued to fight as Rick Gleave returned into the fray and immediately combined with Sam Mitten and Gary Lilley as they sought to salvage something from the game. Gleave was rewarded on 75 minutes as he released Jerome Byson down the right hand side, Byson raced into the boxed, twisted and turned, before finishing past the 1874 goalkeeper. The energy of the game refused to let up as 1874 had a chance cleared off the line and another chance well saved whilst the 1874 goalkeeper was also called into action again. With five minutes left a huge punt up the field was failed to be dealt with by the 1874 number 4 who allowed it to bounce allowing Lilley, a thorn his markers side all half, to nip in and calmly head the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to make it 2-2. The 1874 goalkeeper would be twice more called into action in the dying minutes as West sought a winner but 2-2 was a fair result in a game that both sides will be able to draw plenty of positives from. First Half XI: Lundy (gk), Dee, S.Jones, Taylor, Rogers, C.Schofield (Summers), Malkin, Mason, L.Hendley, Gleave, L.Schofield Second Half XI: Hughes, T.Hendley, C.Jones, Baird, Mullholland, Poole, Summers (Gleave), Dorney, Mitten, Lilley, Byson
http://www. westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
West v 1874 Northwich… match action
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
West in the community…half time school friendlies
Today’s Mascot… Cleo is 8 years old. She attends Oswald Rd School. She plays for Oswald Rd under 8's and supports Manchester City and her favourite player is Aguero.
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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 promises to be another testing season as the club adjusts to life in the NWCFL Premier Division, improves its spectator facilities, adds new grass pitches and youth teams as part of its development plan, and aims for long term consolidation and stability at this level whilst remaining as a volunteer run, ‘not for profit’ club.
Pre-season Friendly Saturday 19th July 2014 – Today’s Squads West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC
FC UNITED of Manchester
White Shirts, Black Shorts & Black Socks Ben Simpson (GK) Luke Lundy (GK) Callum Jones Scott Jones Anthony Potts Mark Rogers Callum Schofield Sam Dee Scott Mason Lee Malkin Jonathan Poizer Lewis Schofield Matty Taylor Jamie Curzen Karl Callagher Alex Baird Tommy Hendley Jordan Poole Danny Summers Rick Gleave Lee Hendly Sam Mitten Kalene Baxter Steve Settle
Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts & Blue Socks David Birch Liam Brownhill David Carnell Shaun Connor Nick Culkin Greg Daniels Joe Fox Tom Greaves Jacob Hazel James Knowles Lewis Lacy Craig Lindfield Astley Mulholland Andrew Pearson Lee Neville Michael Norton Dean Stott Matthew Walwyn Matthew Wolfenden
Manager: Andy Nelson Assistants: Steve Settle & Steve Eckersley
Manager: Karl Marginson First Team Coach: David Brown
OFFICIALS Referee: Chris Hope Assistant Referees: Peter Shacklady and Michael Crompton