2014/15 SEASON / MATCH DAY PROGRAMME £2.00
Official Club Sponsor
NWCFL Premier Division
NELSON Saturday 6th September – 3.00pm
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 Stuart Brown– First Team
Chairman
Monica Creer 0161 881 1135
Dave Cooper 07961 063195
Rob Madden – First Team Tony Holmes – Goalkeepers Joel Hudson – Reserves
Head of Fundraising
Physio
Steve Eckersley 07788 112909
Paddy Murphy
Community Development
‘A’ Team Manager
Davy Iredale
Danny Iredale 07939 392828
Publicity and Web
Youth Team Manager
Treasurer
John Churchman 07720 508082
Ian Depeiaza 07838 232401
Press Officer, Social Media & Web
Junior Football Co-ordinator
Rob McKay 07706 320397
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
Nelson
WELCOME to our visitors today NELSON FC It's back to the serious business of league football today after last weekend’s game in the FA Cup. We put in a much better performance in the first half an hour against Brighouse Town but the age old truism of not taking our chances and making mistakes at key points cost us dear against a hard working EVO STIK side who were pretty much controlling the game once they scored their second goal in added time at the end of the first half. That's it for another season but we still have the FA Vase to look forward to and with all our players back from holiday we should be in much better shape and start to climb up the league table. Today's visitors are newly promoted Nelson who romped through Division One last season which was little surprise to us having seen the embryonic side the season before when we ourselves gained promotion. Our record that season was a 2-2 draw at Nelson after the first game in August was postponed due to a freak monsoon downpour and the rearranged midweek fixture saw us grab a late equaliser from a Schofield free kick which was one of the goals of the season. The home game back here was an end to end affair which we just about nicked against a youthful and well organised Nelson side who on the day were disappointed not to have taken a point. The players, management and club officials of Nelson are very welcome visitors here today and inside you will read more of the illustrious history of this historic club. We are also grateful to Dave Cooper for his sponsorship of today's game and if you would like to follow suit and sponsor a game during the season please speak to Glyn or anyone on Committee today. The start of this week saw the closing of the transfer window, after several multi millionaires have splashed their money on several other multi millionaires in an exercise which is becoming more like a TV game show year on year. The amount of money now being spent on players is pretty obscene and just in case you were wondering, we got £1500 prize money for getting through a round of the FA Cup before our exit, and if we manage to win our home game in the FA Vase we might get another £800. Our winnings have already gone into our budget for kit and equipment and over the past few years we have had to spend over £100,000 on installing floodlights and new stands to meet the FA ground grading requirements to stay at this level of football, albeit with some grant help from the Football Foundation. Maybe the FA should add a transfer levy to the transactions in the Premier League and Football League and think about giving more support to community run clubs like ourselves where the ownership rests with the members of the club and the club management, players and committee and helpers are all volunteers doing it for the love of the game. Finally, thank you for your support and for coming today which is NON LEAGUE DAY. The continued and steady increase in our regular support shows that once people feel part of the club they will come back again and again so we trust you will enjoy the game today and look forward to seeing you back here next Tuesday evening when our visitors are Congleton Town. Rob Turley Cover picture: Courtesy of Jon Pidgeon
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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From the Dugout… I would like to start by welcoming the players, officials and supporters of Nelson to today’s game and wish you a safe journey home after today’s match. It has been a tough couple of weeks at the football club as we have currently suffered six consecutive defeats on the bounce with the latest when we exited the cup at home to Brighouse last Saturday. I thought the lads acquitted themselves well against higher level opposition and we were the better side for large spells of the game. However they scored goals at key times that really killed any chance of us getting back into the game. We must take our positives from the game and help it us improve the league form. We are only in the first weeks of September and we must not panic yet, we’ve had up to 10 players missing at any one point, unprecedented so early in the season anywhere in the game, and we’ve been without several key players in the last three weeks. We must work hard, get the basics right, be positive and the results will come, hopefully sooner rather than later. We’ve brought in some experienced faces and allowed one or two players to leave as we need to ensure that we are all fully committed to the task at hand. Today should be an exciting game as our opponents Nelson took the First Division title by storm last season scoring more than 100 goals in doing so, they’ve made a respectable start to life in the Premier Division as they adjust to the quality of the league. Both sides will be looking for an important three points today. Looking at the forthcoming fixtures we stand a real chance at picking up some serious points over the next few weeks as we decide what kind of season we want to have, there is real quality in this side but we have to earn the right to win games of football at this level. Enjoy today’s game. Andy Nelson
Sponsorship opportunities…we need shirt number and home game sponsors Support Andy and the team by sponsoring a shirt for only £20 - please sign on poster in the clubhouse. If you or your company is able to sponsor one of home games please discuss this with a committee member.
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Alsager Town 2 West 0‌ match report With more than nine key first team players still missing West manager Andy Nelson took his thread bare squad to Alsager Town. Despite missing Rick Gleave, Scott Mason, Mark Rogers, Ben Simpson, Lee Malkin, Jerome Bryson and both Schofield brothers, as well as having released Kieran Halliwell to allow him to re-join Atherton Collieries the day before, West were able to re-call Callum and Scott Jones back into the starting line-up for the first time this season as well as Joe Warmington making his first appearance since August 2012. There was a late scare as Jordan Hitchen, still suffering the effects of a dead leg from the weekend, was forced to undergo a late fitness test but the big goalkeeper was able to play albeit in massive discomfort. The game kicked off at a good pace with both sides keen to ensure that they collected three points and Alsager had the games first chance firing low and wide and had another chance blocked by West captain Anthony Potts. West had their chances in the opening 20 minutes with Gary Lilley forcing a good save from Alsager goalkeeper Steve Dryden when he managed to push away Lilley’s low curling shot into the bottom right hand corner from 20 yards out. Richmond Botchey, restored to the right wing and a constant handful for the Alsager left back had a chance but fired over. The sides went into half time 0-0 with West having the better of the possession and field position but Alsager the chances having hit the top of the cross bar and Hitchen forced into two good saves. In the second half West seemed the side more likely to win the game with another excellent chance when a wonderful ball across the box from Botchey was headed down by Lilley but the half volley shot was well saved again by Dryden. The deadlock was broken on 58 minutes when Sam Dee, who had been playing well up until this point, miss-controlled the ball on the half way line straight to Alsager number 9 Matthew Hadrell, who evaded Potts and finished with a brilliant lob over the stranded Hitchen. Andy Nelson immediately rang the changes in search of an equaliser brining on Steve Settle and Kial Callacher for Danny Summers and Warmington pushing Alex Baird into the midfield. Baird went close firing a tough chance over, whilst on the turn from a Steve Settle cross. He went close again moments later, this time from a Jamie Tandy cross. At the other end Alsager remained a threat on the counter hitting the cross bar for the second time in the game. Steve Settle had arguably West’s best chance of the game latching onto the end of a brilliant curling pass inside the left full back from Botchey but was tackled just as he was about to pull the trigger. On 80 minutes it was 0-2 as Hitchen tipped over a free kick for a corner, from the resultant corner West failed to clear the ball and it was forced home at the third attempt. West continued to push forward and remained dangerous creating several chances but Alsager saw out the last 10 minutes with increasing physicality which saw three of their players booked and both sets of players pulled apart. Overall, it was a much more committed performance from the players but poor finishing and defensive mistakes were punished to stretch the losing run to 5 games. Team: Hitchen, C.Jones, S.Jones, Dee, Baird, Potts, Tandy, Summers, J.Warmington, Lilley, Botchey. Subs: Settle, Callacher, Taylor, Poole, Lundy
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Alsager v West… match action
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.
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CLUB MERCHANDISE…AVAILABLE AT THE BAR 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
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Our visitors
Nelson
Think of a club that was the first English side to beat Real Madrid away from home. A side that also won away at Old Trafford in the same season. A side that has obtained positive results against six current Barclays Premiership clubs in league games (Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Hull City, Fulham, Southampton and Stoke City). A side that played in the Football League for ten seasons and has played competitive games against 34 current sides in the top four divisions. A side that has played many FA Cup ties in the competition proper with a record home attendance of over 14,000. All this, and more, has been achieved by ‘The History Boys’ of Nelson FC, also known as ‘The Admirals’. The origins of Nelson FC can be reputedly traced to a group of townspeople who in 1881, on witnessing a local football match between Burnley and Blackburn, were inspired to form their own team. However, it wasn’t until 1889-90 that they competed in a senior competition, joining the Lancashire League upon its formation. The Blues started well, with a series of top six finishes, and claimed the title in great style in 1895/96, winning 22 of their 30 games and scoring 105 goals. However in 1898-99 the original club was disbanded. Just a few months after their demise, Nelson were reformed and accepted into the North East Lancashire League, later joining the Central League. When football resumed after the First World War, Nelson embarked upon the most remarkable adventure of their history. In 1921 the thirteen non-reserve teams of the Central League were voted into the Football League`s newly formed Third Division North. The first league match, on August 27th 1921, brought a record attendance at Seedhill of 9,000. The next season, 1922-23, saw the Blues lead a close race for much of the season, and five wins in a row during April saw them romp away to the title. One team was promoted from each of the Third Division North and South of the Football League at that time, and it meant Nelson were entering a nationwide league for the very first time. On the back of their title triumph, and in preparation for life in Division Two, Nelson took the remarkable step of an overseas tour to Spain, in May 1923. They performed with some success, winning two of their four games - a 2-1 success against Real Oviedo and a 4-2 victory at Real Madrid. Unfortunately Nelson`s time in Division Two was to be short-lived, lasting just the one season in which they finished second-bottom of the table. It was clear early on that they were struggling both on and off the pitch, but they achieved some remarkable feats on the way. They had a home victory over champions-elect Leeds United, one of only nine league defeats for the Yorkshire side. And their first away victory came at Manchester United. Few non-league clubs can claim to have won away at both Real Madrid and Manchester United! A return to Division Three North brought a drop in attendances, though big games saw new records established, such as 13,500 for the visit of table-topping Darlington. That first season back in the third tier of the Football League saw a second-place finish to the North-Eastern side, hence no promotion, and was to be the last time the Blues seriously threatened a return to the national stage. The next season brought a new and never beaten record attendance at Seedhill of 14,143 for the visit of leaders Bradford Park Avenue. The home team went two goals down but came back to draw 2-2. Two seasons later Nelson became serious strugglers, finding themselves £6,500 in debt. A rock-bottom finish meant a re-election application. They had conceded 136 goals during the season, and all the problems seemed to be down to insufficient gate receipts during difficult times for the area. Re-election was granted in 1928, but three seasons later Nelson were back in the same situation, and 1930-31 was to be their final season as a League club. Nelson struggled on in the Lancashire Combination without winning any honours, and things became much bleaker in 1936. A big loss was incurred that season and the club disbanded on 7th August. Following the war, Nelson returned to action and to the Lancashire Combination. They were involved in some terrific tussles for the title with Wigan Athletic over the next few seasons, winning it twice in 1949/50 and 1951/52. In those three seasons of 42 league games apiece, Nelson scored 125, 120 and 139 goals respectively. The first title season also saw Nelson clinch the Lancashire Combination Cup to seal an historic Double in what was at the time one of the premier leagues in the country outside of the Football League.
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Nelson History continued The men at the forefront of this period of success were two young player-managers. Centre-half Bob Johnson moved from Burnley for the start of the 1949/50 season and, when his contract expired, the Blues landed a young man from Manchester City, 30-year-old Joe Fagan. The team built by ‘Uncle Joe’ romped to the title in his first season in 1951/52. Joe left to join Liverpool`s boot room team in 1958 and 25 years later he was the manager who took the Reds to a European Cup, League Championship and League Cup treble. As Fagan was beginning his long association with the Merseysiders, Nelson’s fortunes were to move, quite markedly, in the opposite direction. A third Combination Cup arrived in 1959/60, but a second place finish in 1960/61 was to be the nearest they came to winning the Combination title again. A third place was collected in the final season of that League in 1981/82 - which by this time had lost much of its former quality and status - before the restructuring of the non-league pyramid. Nelson joined the Third Division of the newly created North West Counties League - an amalgamation of the Lancashire Combination and Cheshire County League - in 1982. During that era, Nelson also moved out of their old Seedhill ground, and it was sadly demolished to make way for the M65 motorway, although subsequently the route was tweaked and most of the original site is still intact, minus of course the stands and buildings. The club were transferred into the Second Division of the North West Counties League when the Third Division was dropped six seasons later. However, after one more season, the club`s new ground was deemed not to be up to league standard, and the team were forced to play in the Second Division of the West Lancashire League for four seasons. It was a tough period for the Blues, and they finished no higher than 15th in that time. After much hard work, the new ground at Victoria Park known by the locals as ‘Little Wembley’ - was brought up to scratch, and the club were re-admitted to the North West Counties League. In the years that followed, Nelson usually finished in the top half of the lower Division. A cruel end to the 2000/2001 season saw Nelson finish above Atherton LR in the third and final promotion place on the final day of the season, only to see the latter granted a replay of their final game as their opponents had fielded an ineligible player. Atherton won the replayed game to snatch away third spot from the Blues. Former Blackburn Rovers coach David Hall took over the manager`s role at the start of the 2004/05 season, and set about rebuilding a fresh young team. Hall was to leave after a poor start to the following season, but his assistant Graham Howarth took over and oversaw an incredible late run which propelled the Blues to a third place finish, bringing with it a first promotion for the club in 83 years. The club fought off relegation threats and maintained a place in the Premier Division for four seasons before administrative troubles forced the club to resign from the NWCFL in the summer of 2010. After a year out to regroup, Nelson rejoined the First Division under new ownership. With a mixed board containing English and Asian board members that reflect the diversity within the town in the modern era, the club now aims to build a strong multi-cultural community club that acts as a bridge between diverse sections of the community uniting everyone under the common banner of football and providing a pathway into senior non-league football for any local players good enough, regardless of their race or religion or background. Longer term the club want to re-establish themselves as the leading non-league club in the region and eventually regain the Football League place they lost in 1931. The first season back was a transitional one as the new owners learnt about life running a senior football team and a 15th place finish was achieved. The 2012/13 season started with a new young management team of Robert Grimes and Michael Morrison and things started well with The Admirals racing to the top of the table. However cracks soon started to appear and a couple of months in the management team departed along with most of the squad. Nelson limped along for a few weeks taking some heavy defeats due to fielding what was effectively the clubs reserve team before manager Mark Fell arrived. He immediately brought stability to the club and an upturn in fortunes along with a host of new signings. Through his contacts he also established a permanent training ground and base for the club at Accrington & Rossendale College meaning the club now boasts exactly the same training facilities as League Two neighbours Accrington Stanley. On the pitch the side recovered to a mid table 10th position. Fell's first full season brought long awaited success back to the town, a first league title in 62 years. Fell's Nelson were outstanding, scoring a remarkable 157 goals in 45 games and winning the NWCFL division 1 by 5 clear points. Nelson's Peter Wright became the league’s top scorer with 38 goals. 2014/15 see's the Admirals return to the NWCFL Premier Division WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
West 0 Brighouse Town 3 - match report West are out of the FA Cup for another year after losing 0-3 at home to Evo-Stik First Division North side Brighouse Town. West were able to welcome back Scott Mason onto the bench and Chris McDonagh back in the line up for a third spell back at West. Brighouse were keen to show their Step 4 status hitting the bar with a deflected shot onto the bar and rebounding into Jordan Hitchen’s hands. West immediately returned fire with a wonderful cross field pass to Steve Settle who evaded the Brighouse left back to whip in a wicked pass across the box but it just evaded McDonagh and Richmond Botchey at the near and far posts and a second chance was blocked. McDonagh would go close again heading a lovely cross at the far post just wide. West continued to grow into the game and more than equalled the NCEL champions but fell behind on 28 minutes when Ernest Boafa capitalised on a slip by Anthony Potts, evading him and lobbing the advancing Hitchen. Hitchen was quickly called into action again making a good save with his legs low down. At the other end West almost levelled when a free kick was whipped in and headed wide by Settle. On the stroke of half time it was 0-2 as a low shot was saved by Hitchen at the near post but he failed to hold onto it and Tom Matthews fired in the rebound. A particularly cruel goal to concede as the referee blew his half time whistle immediately after the re-start. In the second half West enjoyed the greater possession as the visitors shooting proved wayward but West couldn’t create that chance to half the deficit. Brighouse were afforded the opportunity to hand a debut to former Swansea City, Hull City and Doncaster Rovers star Jason Price in the final stages of the game. On 80 minutes the game was ended as a contest when the Brighouse captain cut inside at the edge of the penalty area, slipped and fell on the ball only for the referee to award a penalty to the visitors to the double bemusement of the home side. Hitchen was sent the wrong way to give a score-line that greatly flattered the Yorkshire side. The visitors could have added to their tally in the final minutes but failed to take their chance which would have been harsher on West who showed that they were more than able to match their opponents for long spells of the game. Team: Hitchen, C. Jones, Baird, Dee, Callacher, Potts, Settle, Poole, Lilley, McDonagh, Botchey. Subs: Mason, Baldwin-Willis, Malkin, Poizer, S Jones.
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West v Brighouse Town … match action
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
First Team Stats fixtures – results – appearances – goalscorers
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. The first round of the Lancashire FA Trophy has been drawn and West will travel to take on fellow NWCFL Premier Division side Colne, the tie will take place w/c September 29th.
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First Team Stats fixtures – results – appearances – goalscorers
The next game at Brookburn Road… Tuesday September 9th – 7.45pm v CONGLETON TOWN
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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Reserves kick off their season with a win in the JA Walton Cup. Saturday 23rd August West Res 2 Golbourne Sports 1 Our reserve side made their debut in the new Cheshire League constitution with a 2-1 victory over League 1 side, Goldborne Sports in the JA Walton Cup at Brookburn Road on Saturday. The ‘Champions League’ style competition sees West placed in Group 3 with fellow League 2 side Wythenshawe Town, Grappenhall Sports FC, and Warrington Town Reserves. West dominated possession in the first half against a physical Goldborne side whose number 10 proved to be a menace from start to finish. However, the West defence came out on top remaining disciplined and relaxed with the addition of first team regulars Scott and Callum Jones. Tommy Hendley proved to be a handful for the Goldborne midfield, breaking out of defence on a surging run through the centre of midfield, his long range shot saved by Goldborne’s number 1. Goldborne right back picked up the first yellow card of the match for a reckless challenge on Hussain. K.Hendley stepped over the free kick, whipping a cross in from the left side with Brocklehurst heading over the crossbar. Callum Jones linked up well with debutant Chris Wadsworth throughout the first half and it paid off 35 minutes into the competition; T.Hendley broke out from the back sending C.Jones down the right flank, linking up with Wadsworth who took on the Goldborne left back, cutting inside and releasing a curling shot from 25 yards out with the ball ending up in the top left corner. Both teams returned after the break struggling to gain momentum or create chances with the game becoming increasing physical with a further four yellow cards administered to both sides, respectively. It was Goldborne who took the initiative creating a chance out of nothing down the right side of midfield. Their centre midfielder was able to capitalize on the chance, lobbing Betton in the West goal. With 20 minutes to go, West made three substitutions; Wadsworth replaced by Steer, Else for Hussain and Swift for DePeiaza. The introduction of debutant Else proved to be beneficial, as on the 85th minute Brocklehurst showed great strength and pace, sliding the ball behind the defence for Else to collect and chip over the Goldborne keeper putting West back in front for the win. Other Results
26th August West Res 2 Cheadle Town Res 2 30th August Grappenhall Sports FC 3 West Res 1 ‘A’ Team 28th August Denton Town Reserves 5 West ‘A’ 3 30th August Styal Reserves 0 West ‘A’ 0
Youth Team 17th August Altrincham 2 West 4 24th August West 2 Bootle 2 31st August AVRO 5 West 1 WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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FA Vase and Youth Cup draws 2014/15 The Road to Wembley continues for West in the qualifying round of the FA Vase. In addition West’s Youth Team enters the FA Youth Cup for the first time ever.
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 6th 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 on Tuesday 23rd September 2014, kick off 7.15pm. 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
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Premier League Table after games on Saturday 30th August
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Statistics as 30/08/2014
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Statistics 30.08.2014
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 and could win up to £100. Please ask in the clubhouse for more details.
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Meeting our Match Sponsor…Dave Cooper We are very grateful to Dave for sponsoring today’s match against Nelson FC. Dave is a West man through and through; he joined West Didsbury, as it was then called, in late 1979 just after his 29th birthday. Dave got his big chance as a substitute for the second team at Christie’s playing field. Fortunately the left back was injured and Dave took his place and made it his own. Later that season, he broke into the first team. The next season, West took on a new first team manager who had played with Dave in the past and as a consequence his games for the first team were few and far between. So for most of the next ten seasons, Dave played left back for the seconds. However, players were short one weekend and the second team manager pushed Dave into midfield, on his birthday no less, and he scored two magnificent goals. The second team manager was a certain R.Turley and apparently he doesn’t like people outscoring him so Dave was back to left back the next game. Dave won second team player of the year award. It was presented to him by a new Manchester Utd manager; A. Ferguson. One of the highlights of Dave’s career was winning the Clubman of the year and having it presented by Bobby Charlton at Old Trafford. Dave left the club in 1999 after it had relocated and established itself at Brookburn Road but after a few years watching Burnley, decided to return to the now called ‘West Didsbury and Chorlton AFC’ and help out on committee. However, Dave would like to thank all the friends he has made at West for all the enjoyable times he has had with them mainly on Saturday afternoon.
‘THANK YOU’ NICK Last Saturday the club was pleased to say a big ‘thank you’ to Nick, and his wife Grace, for their part in our recent journey. Nick has been the clubs groundsman since the start of the 2000-01 season. His meticulous attention to detail and practical and steady advice have stood the club in great stead and as he comes to retirement we are indebted to him for the patient way he has helped us to develop our facilities. He is now handing over the weekly maintenance to Ian and Andy who start next week, but Nick isn’t quite finished yet as he has agreed to help out with improvements to the entrance gate and some further drainage improvements along the southern boundary. Thanks Nick for all you have done to help us and we wish you and Grace well in your retirement.
www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
Nick is pictured with Chairman Glyn Meacher before the FA Cup game last week
From the Terrace… If you like to keep an eye on the latest goings on in the NWC league then you may have noticed the emergence of the website nonleague review over the last couple of months covering the goings on of our league and the Cheshire League. As part of his coverage the man known only as Stew put together a podcast with Runcorn Town fan Martin Fallon from the league committee, Atherton Collieries programme editor Joseph Gibbons and yours truly. The non-league review NWCFL podcast has generated more than 2,000 downloads in the 6 episodes to date. The podcast covers debate of the latest goings on around the nwcfl, interviews from around the league with the goal “To reach out to a younger, wider and more media knowledgeable audience.” Says Joesph Gibbons, known to all as Gibbo. Stew himself says that the reason for setting up this podcast was to “Expose clubs to greater audience and gain new insight from people within the league.” Adding; “I'm really enjoying non-league football as a whole, but being local to me I want to boost the profile for the NWCFL and the clubs involved. In the modern age I believe a podcast will do wonders for the NWCFL as a means of attracting a new younger supporter.” The league clearly agree as they will be posting a link on the site each week when it’s posted online via the audioboo website. Each week the team of four offer their views on the weekly round up with all the results and latest news from around the North West Counties before previewing the weekends fixtures. There has been a memorable run in from Atherton Collieries Secretary Emil Anderson in search of a cup tea, the continuous jinxing of Rochdale Town by myself and the Christmas bloopers edition is already at breaking point so much has been taken out. There has been the odd technical snafu, as in true non-league fashion we’ve tried to do it as cheap as possible making Stew’s ambition for an eventual video podcast a grander scheme than anything Pinky and the Brain ever planned. A huge part of the podcast’s early success has come from Martin Fallon, the league’s website development analyst and ardent Runcorn Town fan; “I've really started listening to podcasts over the last two years because it's so easy to download and listen when you are on the move. There are hundreds of podcasts on football but very little on non league football so this was a perfect opportunity to plug a gap in the market. We are all learning as we go along and the feedback we have got has been brilliant so it's a pleasure to be involved.” If you want to give it a listen new shows are added weekly at audioboo and can be downloaded via itunes. http://audioboo.fm/channel/nonleaguereview Rob McKay WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Join the action and support your local team‌ Please sign up on the poster in the clubhouse to get the number you want, there are only 16 shirts so don’t hang around! Already some numbers have been taken!! Picture by James Lobley
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 6th September 2014 – Today’s Squads West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC
Nelson Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts & Blue Socks
White Shirts, Black Shorts & Black Socks
G’keepers Ben Simpson Jordan Hitchen Defenders Callum Jones Scott Jones Richmond Botchey Sam Dee Anthony Potts Callum Schofield Kial Callacher Midfield Alex Baird Danny Summers Mike Taylor Jordan Poole Gary Lilley Lewis Schofield Steve Settle Scott Mason Rick Gleave Forwards Sam Mitten Lee Malkin Chris McDonagh Jonathan Poizer Manager: Andy Nelson Assistants: Steve Settle & Steve Eckersley
Ben Woodhead (GK) Ben Hoskins Jake Lloyd Robert Grimes George Melling Adnan Ahmed Ed O’Neill Danny Mahoney Peter Wright Joe O’Neill Matty O’Neill Lee Botham Curtis Hickman Jonny Hession Nat Taylor Dom Mahoney Jamie Hastings Gareth Peet Paul Alexander Ged Morris Charlie Holt Danny Finch Manager: Mark Fell Assistant: Danny Finch
OFFICIALS Referee: Steve Rudd Assistant Referees: Spencer Doherty and Michael Hooper