2014/15 SEASON / MATCH DAY PROGRAMME ÂŁ2.00
Official Club Sponsor
NWCFL Premier Division
Winsford United Tuesday 5th August - 7.45pm
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
Dave Cooper 07961 063195
Kris Mahon – First Team 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
Monica Creer 0161 881 1135
Treasurer
Davy Iredale
Danny Iredale 07939 392828
Publicity and Web
Youth Team Manager
John Churchman 07720 508082
Press Officer, Social Media & Web Rob McKay 07706 320397
Ian Depeiaza 07838 232401
Junior Football Co-ordinator Mark Rogers 07841 112903
Vets Manager Chris Smith 07867 171815
Ownership: In accordance with THE Football Association Rule 2.13 Publication of ownership in relation to Step 1 to Step 6 clubs in the Football Pyramid we hereby confirm that the legal status of WEST DIDSBURY AND CHORLTON ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB is as not for profit private members club. Any gain arising from the carrying on of the Club shall be applied for the benefit of the Club or for some charitable or benevolent purpose or purposes approved by resolution at a general meeting of the Club.
CLUB INFO… To contact the club please use the club website
http://www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC The Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road, Chorltonville Manchester M21 8FE
EDITORIAL Tues 5th Aug 2014 v. WINSFORD UNITED WELCOME TO TONIGHT’S GAME Tonight we welcome back Winsford United for our first evening fixture and home game of the new season, albeit a week earlier than last August when Winsford were also our first midweek visitors and recorded a narrow 2-1 victory. It seems only a few weeks since the end of last season and in the intervening period we’ve had the delights of another World Cup with some exciting stuff, pundits galore and Phil Neville in particular making watching paint dry seem like an attractive option ( and we’ve had plenty drying at the Recreation Ground this summer). It really is another world with all the pomp of FIFA, more suggestions about which model England should aim to follow to become a world football power again, including the idea of yet another division in the pyramid which thankfully now seems to have been quietly forgotten. Back at base our players and coaching staff have all been back in action since mid June and the preparation for the coming season has involved a huge time commitment on and off the field to make sure we are ready on all fronts. The week of home friendlies against 1874 Northwich, Trafford and FC United of Manchester provided a good yardstick of the strength and depth of what will comprise the first and reserve team squad, and the last home friendly against FC United saw us cope very well behind the scenes in catering for a crowd of 300+. Away from home we’ve also collected wins at Atherton Town and Prestwich Heys and we would have collected the hat-trick but for a last minute hearder away to AFC Monton. The hard work was paid of with a terrific 4-2 win away at Barnoldswick Town on the opening day of the season with goals from Scott Mason, Jerome Bryson and two from Rick Gleave in a display of attacking football that was at times devastating. OUR VISITORS – WINSFORD UNITED We are pleased to welcome the players committee and supporters of Winsford United for what we know will be a tough early test. Last season we lost the game here 1-2 in a very tight affair when penalties and missed chances were decisive. The return in late February saw the home side boss the first half to lead 2-0 by half time which was how it stayed. We trust everyone from Winsford enjoys their visit tonight and has a safe journey home afterwards. FA CUP NEWS On 30th August we will be at home in the FA Cup having been awarded a walk over against new club Cammell Laird 1907. Several of you have been asking why and we understand that the FA have written to Cammell Laird and advised them that having not entered in time for this year’s competition the FA have withdrawn them from the FA Cup and FA Vase. This means we face BRIGHOUSE TOWN, newly promoted to the Evo Stik North League, here at Brookburn Road with the huge incentive of a home tie against Ashton United for the winners. GROWING OUR SUPPORT Our average attendance increased again last year to an average of just under 90 meaning we were the 12th best supported club in the Premier Division with an increase of some 60% on the previous season so a big thank you for your continuing and growing support. As always you can keep in touch with all our news at: www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk ENJOY THIS EVENING’S GAME THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY – PLEASE ENJOY THE GAME AND WE’LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN SOON. Rob Turley Cover picture: A good crowd enjoy the FC United game.
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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From the Dugout… Hello and welcome to the first home game of the season. We’ve had a very busy pre-season with games home games against 1874 Northwich, Trafford and FC United at home. Against 1874 we dominated the opening stages and should have lead, an injury to Callum Schofield meant we had to re-shuffle which allowed 1874 the momentum to take the lead. They doubled there lead with a wonderful goal but we showed the determination to fight back and I was especially pleased with Gary Lilley’s contribution and his play thoroughly deserved a goal as he terrorised the centre back. Lilley is a great example of the depth that we have at this club having played in the first, second and A teams last season. He has come back to pre-season in top shape and really impressed the coaching staff with his attitude and determination. Against Trafford we came out on the wrong end of the result but for 89 of the 90 minutes we were defensively solid and we even had chances to win it at the end. Trafford are a terrific side who know how to keep possession and make other sides chase the ball. We even had chances to level at the death but we can be proud about how we more than held our own against a side two divisions above us. Our final home game in pre-season saw us welcome FC United for the second year on the bounce and for the second time they left without victory. In all seriousness, we are good friends with Karl Marginson and FC United and they were very impressed with our club and the performance that we gave them. In our starting line up we had young Sam Dee, who has joined from FC United, and gave a very impressive performance in front of his parent club. We took the lead thanks to some impressive work from Lee Hendley who laid on a cross for Danny Summers to score a rare collectors item goal. For long spells we were the better side but FC United showed us why they were within an inch of collecting the Northern Premier League title last season. On the road we narrowly missed out on a clean sweep of victories winning 2-1 at Atherton Town, 3-1 at Prestwich Heys but succumbed to a last minute goal to make it 2-2 in a tough game at AFC Monton. Just two years removed from the Manchester League they are still tough places to visit and they were even tougher games to play in. We’ve taken a lot of positives from pre-season and we now need to apply it to our league campaign. In all we’ve had a very productive pre-season and we’ve retained the majority of our squad as well picking up some new talent as well. In addition our Reserve team has a new manager in James Plowright and a new league, the Cheshire League. As a club were determined to develop our own players and I’m confident that James will be a great asset to our club in that respect. The fixtures are out for the season and we’ve been handed a tough start, our coaching team are ambitious people and we’ll be looking to make a positive start to the season. However, we’ve been handed a tough start and non tougher than tonight’s opponents Winsford United who gave us two tough games last season. I would like to welcome the players, officials and supporters of Winsford Untied this evening and everyone a safe journey home after the game. Enjoy today’s game. Andy Nelson
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
West 1 FC United 1… match report A good crowd at Recreation Ground braved the wet weather conditions and were rewarded with a hugely entertaining game between West and last season’s Evo-Stik Premier League Runners up, FC United. Torrential rain throughout the region overnight had seen a number of games called off but despite the continuous morning downfall the Brookburn Road surface remained in superb condition and the game went ahead. Both sides fielded strong teams and it was West who produced the games first chance as Sam Mitten and Rick Gleave combined to release Lewis Schofield down the left who fired his shot just over the bar. At the other end West goalkeeper Jordan Hitchen was called into action blocking a shot from FC United’s Jerome Wright before the visitors then went close again firing off the frame of the goal from a tight angle before Hitchen was almost deceived by a wild cross clipping the top of the crossbar. Mitten, Gleave and Scott Mason continued to battle in midfield with Mitten creating West’s best chance of the first half but his cross was blocked on the line. At half time West manager Andy Nelson made nine changes and was instantly rewarded when Lee Hendley chased down a loose ball and his cross back into the six yard box was headed home by Danny Summers to give the home side the lead. United responded almost immediately forcing sub goalkeeper Ben Simpson into a good save from an effort just inside the box, however they were level shortly after when a cross from the left was pulled back and slotted home past Simpson for 1-1. The visitors then looked to assert their higher level status as West were forced to be content with attacking on the break. West subs Kalene Baxter, Lee Hendley and Ben Steer were all put through from passes but fell foul of the linesman’s flag whilst Gary Lilley tormented the defence. FC United continued to create chances, with a brilliant tackle from Callum Schofiled preventing a certain goal, and put West under pressure forcing a succession of corners before couldn’t find a winner. Team: Hitchen, Dee, Botchey, C.Schofield, Rogers, Baird, Settle, Mason, Mitten, Gleave, L.Schofield Subs: Simpson, C.Jonightones, S.Jones, Poole, Lilley, Summers, Baxter, L.Hendley, Steer Goal: Summers www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
West v FC United… 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…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
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Our visitors
Winsford United
Winsford United have a long and proud history, having been formed way back in 1883. In those early days, the club was called Over Wanderers and competed in the Welsh Combination Football League. After a few seasons, the club changed to its present name and its present ground - Barton Stadium - although it was called Great Western Playing Field at the outset. The club brought on many good players during this period and after losing several players to Football League clubs, they experienced a somewhat unsuccessful spell that resulted in the club folding. United reformed in 1913 but it was short lived as World War One broke out. After the cessation of hostilities, United regrouped with under Mr R G Barton (hence Barton Stadium) and the club became a founder member of the Cheshire League, winning the Championship in its second season. That was to be one of the few successes as the Blues struggled to survive both on and off the field. During the War, Barton Stadium was almost stripped bare to aid the war effort. After the war, United became a Limited company and the 1950’s saw the glory days on Non-League football when crowds of over 3000 were the norm. In 1959 Winsford won the Cheshire Senior Cup against Ellesmere Port Town in front of a 12,000 crowd at Gresty Road. Under John Williams in the 1970’s they had the most successful period in their history winning the Cheshire League and the Challenge Cup on several occasions. In 1974 they reached the Senior Cup final again, this time against the then-mighty Macclesfield Town. The final was an epic with three replays and the Silkmen only clinching it after extra time in the fourth match. All the ties were played in front of crowds of over 3,500. The Blues won the Cheshire Senior Cup again in 1980 with a 4-1 victory over local rivals Witton Albion. The goalkeeper in that final was Neville Southall who was then was sold to Bury for £6,000. A sell on clause later netted United a club record figure of around £30,000 when he moved to Goodison Park. The Cheshire League merged into the North West Counties and the Northern Premier League formed a first division in 1987/8. The Blues were invited to join but they never really set the place on fire, seventh place being the best achieved. In January 1991, Winsford were bottom of the NPL First Division and facing a drop back down to the NWCFL. The club then pulled a masterstroke by appointing Mike McKenzie as team manager. The Blues lost only four more games and avoided the drop. A piece of silverware was added when they beat Northwich Vics in the local cup final. The following season, 1991/92, they gained promotion to the Premier Division, finishing as runners up and reaching the First Round of the FA Cup for only the third time in the club’s history. Season 1992/93 will go down in United’s folklore as ‘Macca’s’ men won an astonishing five trophies - the NPL Challenge Cup, NPL President’s Cup, Cheshire Senior Cup, Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup and NPL Runners Up Cup. The Blues finished second to Southport and their points total is a record for the most points accrued without winning the title. Sadly the team then broke up in the summer of 1993 when Mike McKenzie was lured into Conference football. Three of the side joined pro clubs - Darren Sheridan (Barnsley), Wayne Collins (Crewe) and Jon Whitney (Huddersfield). The club was given a boost during the summer of 1996 when they received nearly £90,000 from the sale of Wayne Collins to Sheffield Wednesday from Crewe Alexandra. Three seasons later under the management of Dalton Steele, (in only his first season at the club) United finished seventh in the league and lifted the MidCheshire Senior Cup. Season 1998/1999 saw Dalton Steele leave for Chorley half way through the campaign, taking nearly all the team with him; Mark Came took over as stand-in Manager and finished the season off with a makeshift side. The club received another tremendous boost early in 1999 when goalkeeper Andy Oakes who had signed for Hull City for a modest fee but with a 25% sell-on clause was signed by Derby County for £480,000 giving Winsford a record amount for a Non-League sell-on clause. The board of directors were determined that this money was to be spent sensibly on improving the infrastructure of the club, the first move being to install Football League standard floodlights. There followed a period of consolidation in the early 2000’s and it was a question of survival under managers Alan Walker and Gary Thomas. However relegation could not be avoided and Winsford found themselves in Division Two. It was decided a change of policy was needed and The Blues concentrated on recruiting and developing local talent. To this end Dave Twite was brought in as Manager with Roy Sweeney as his assistant and together they sorted out the best young players in the area and concentrated on a policy of fitness and skill. The partnership gave Winsford three successful seasons; however, promotion was missed each season by just a single point. It was time for a fresh start and Chris Willcock and John Flanagan took over the team and the Blues led the table from early season right up to the end when they were promoted to Division One as champions. Surprisingly Chris and John left at the end of the season and moved to Woodley Sports, taking the best players with them.
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Once again Winsford were on the lookout for a new Manager and this time they turned to the Liverpool area for Joe Gibiliru who had managed St Helens Town in the First Division. Joe was faced with rebuilding the team and in spite of this he guided the team to a respectable 12th place. Experienced players were brought in for the 2008-2009 season and this has had an immediate effect with several good performances but it was not to last and the team fought a desperate battle against relegation. A fresh start was made for the 2009-2010 season and once again Winsford turned to local talent with Terry Murphy as Manager and Mike Alcock and Tony Ledwards as Assistant Managers. Unfortunately both Terry and Mike finished with health problems and Tony was handed the Manager’s job. It was still a struggle with a team of youngsters and Dave Twite returned to the hot seat and saved them from relegation, winning his first six matches in charge. It was felt it was time for a change and so the club advertised for a new management team. After interviewing several very good applicants the club was approached by former Manager Chris Willcock and after an interview he was handed the reins with Ian Street appointed his Assistant. He immediately set about concentrating on the player’s fitness and also made some very important signings. Once again there was an air of optimism at the Barton Stadium. The optimism was justified as the club spent most of the early part of the season at the top of the table and, playing attractive football, the crowds began to return. There was a shock at the beginning of February however and more than a little touch of déjà vu when Willcock announced he was once again leaving to take charge at Woodley Sports, leaving Ian Street in charge. The club finished the season in a creditable third place and were victorious in the Challenge Cup Final defeating New Mills 1-0. Ian Street remained in charge for the 2011-2012 season and Kevin Bircumshaw was appointed as his Assistant. The team made a great start to the season, spending several weeks at or near the top of the table and promotion looked a distinct possibility. However a series of suspensions and injuries saw the team have a bad run in the weeks leading up to Christmas gaining just two points from a possible twenty-four. The form was recovered in the New Year but the gap had become too great and Winsford ended the season in seventh place. The summer break saw Ian Street decide to take a post closer to home and he accepted the job of Manager at Ashton Athletic. The Manager’s position was advertised and although there were many creditable applicants the board had no hesitation in appointing former Flixton Manager Lloyd Morrison with Kevin Bircumshaw remaining as his Assistant. There was also a tremendous boost at the start of the 2012/2013 season when Winsford Town Council became the club’s main sponsor, a relationship that promised to last for many years. The season was one of the most successful for years with the club finishing 5th in the league and defeating Northwich Victoria in the final of the Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup. The summer of 2013 saw great changes taking place at the stadium with the news that 1874 Northwich were to share the ground and their enthusiastic supporters helped to bring the ground up to a high standard, Also E.ON adopted the club for their 2013 Community Project and carried out a great refurbishment of the facilities including a new toilet block, a first aid suite and help in restoring the floodlights. They also supplied the materials for all the maintenance work that had to be carried out. However, with everything in place for a serious assault on the league title and over £20,000 spent on improving the facilities and pitch, the club was rocked when two weeks before the start of the season Lloyd Morrison announced he was going to Mossley AFC as Joint Manager and not only that, he expected to take sixteen registered players with him. This led to an acrimonious situation between the two clubs with Mossley unable to register the players and Winsford refusing to allow their dual registration. Eventually an agreement was reached on Winsford’s terms. The board acted quickly to appoint Eddy Haslam as Manager with Rob Byrne as his Assistant and Kevin Bircumshaw remaining as coach. With only a couple of weeks to put a team together Eddy worked hard to bring in a squad of quality players to begin the campaign. The early results were quite remarkable considering the lack of pre-season preparation time and runs in the FA Cup and FA Vase have given the club a boost. The team had been struggling in the league and after some poor results the manager left by mutual consent. The post was advertised and there were over twenty applicants, however, the Assistant Manager Rob Byrne and Coach Kevin Bircumshaw said they wanted to give it a go and so they were put in charge on a match by match agreement. Following three important victories they were given the post on a permanent basis. The Management team was retained for the following season and once again there was an air of optimism at the Barton Stadium.
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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West 0 Trafford 1… match report West continued their pre-season preparations with a narrow 1-0 loss at home to Evo Sik Pemier League side Trafford. In the absence of manager Andy Nelson, assistant manager Steve Settle took charge for the evening and fielded a strong side with Paul Hughes, Alex Baird and Callum Jones restored to the starting line-up. The game was played with a high tempo from the start with Trafford looking to assert their status as a higher level side with their fluid football whilst West had to be content with trying to hit them on the break through Lee Malkin, Jerome Byson and Lewis Schofield. Trafford almost took the lead mid-way through the first half when West sub Andy Johnson was adjudged to have handled a Trafford cross, however Joe Shaw’s penalty cannoned off the cross bar to keep the scores level. Trafford took the lead on the stroke of half time with a ball from the right found Paul Ashton in the middle 15 yards out and his shot found its way into the bottom left hand corner. The second half saw both sides ring the changes, and although the tempo slowed, the quality did not as West came back into the game and could have walked away with a draw as Lee Hendley had the best chance of the half but went for placement instead of power and the Trafford keeper was able to save. Sub Kalene Baxter had a goal disallowed as a free kick was launched into the box and knocked down for Baxter to fire home. However the linesman adjudged that there had been a foul in the heading of the knockdown for the finish. Baxter then went close again but was adjudged to have been offside and, with Trafford still threatening on the break, time ran out before West could find the goal to bring it level. In all, it was a very even encounter and the West management team could take plenty of positives from matching a side two divisions their senior for large majorities of the game. West Starting Line-up: Hughes, C.Jones, S.Jones, Baird, Rogers, C.Schofield, Byson, Mason, Malkin, Gleave, L.Schofield Subs: Hitchen, Poole, Lilley, Summers, Taylor, L.Hendley, Curzen, Baxter, Johnson,
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
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 will take place w/c September 29th.
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First Team Stats fixtures – results – appearances - goalscorers
Read the match report from our game at Barnoldswick Town in our programme on Saturday. WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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 www.westdidsburychorlton.co.uk
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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 12th 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
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WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
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 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.
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WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Division Tables 2013-2014
* Indicates points deducted
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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
Cheshire League update on the Reserves and A Team 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).
August Fixtures‌ Reserves 9th August 13th August 16th August 20th August 23rd August 26th August 30th August
Witton Albion FC Reserves Wythenshawe Town Ashton Town Reserves Cuddington FC Golborne Sports Cheadle Town FC Reserves Grappenhall Sports FC
(A) (A) (H) (A) (A) (H) (A)
3.00pm 6.30pm 3.00pm 6.30pm 3.00pm 6.30pm 3.00pm
A Team 9th August 14th August 16th August 21st August 28th August 30th August
Knutsford A Moore United FC Reserves Egerton Reserves Denton Town Reserves Denton Town Reserves Styal Reserves
(H) (A) (A) (H) (A) (A)
3.00pm 6.30pm 3.00pm 6.30pm 6.30pm 3.00pm
The Youth Team have also had their first fixures in the North West Youth Alliance confirmed: Youth Team 17th August 24th August 31st August 7th September 14th September 21st September
Altrincham Bootle AVRO Chester FC Colts AVRO Macclesfield Town
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(A) (H) (A) (H) (A) (H)
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Atherton Town 1 West 2 … match report A youthful West side travelled to Atherton Town and came away with a hard fought 2-1 win against the Manchester League outfit. Manager-for-the-night Steve Eckersley picked a young squad with, Tre Baldwin-Willis aside, just 18 first appearances for West between them. Baldwin-Willis, 22 goals in 74 appearances, added his first of the season when he drilled a low free kick into the bottom left hand corner from just outside the area after just four minutes. At the other end Atherton Town, fresh from beating NWCFL First Division side Wigan Robin Park 5-1 the previous weekend, called Luke Lundy into action with a good save low down. Lundy was forced into a second brilliant save tipping a shot onto the inside of the post just before the half hour mark. The referee called a water break in the searing heat whilst Ste Eck tried to compose his team as the hosts sought to level the score. Lundy was again called into action stopping a piledriver from long range before Baldwin-Willis spurned a chance on the break. On the stroke of half time it was 2-0 as Baldwin-Willis cut inside and curled a ball over the top of the Atherton defence allowing Ben Steer to volley home with accomplish. In the second half Steve Eck rang the changes with Tola Odedyin, Richmond Botchey, Endo Chilaka, Kalene Baxter, Tommy Webb and Tyler Ferguson all entered the fray with Ferguson the most dangerous with his threatening runs fro mmidfield. West’s best chance of the second half came when Kalene Baxter headed home a corner but was cleared off the line by his team-mate Chilaka. Chilaka thought he had made amends when he fired home a stunning volley only for the offside flag to be raised. Atherton Town pulled one back in the dying minutes as a long ball was whipped in over the top of the defence in a similar manner to West’s second and it was poked home under Lundy from close range. Atherton searched for an equalizer but it was too late and West’s young side hung on for the win. Team: Lundy, Hudson, T.Hendley, Poole, Curzen, J.Warmington, Farazj Omar, Dorney, Baldwin-Willis, Steer, Wadsworth Subs: Webb, Chilaka, Odedyin, Baxter, Ferguson, Botchey. Goals: Baldwin-Willis, Steer
WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
Prestwich Heys 1 West 3 … match report West travelled to Manchester League outfit Prestwich Heys and came away with a well deserved 3-1 victory.from Grimshaw Park. Andy Nelson picked his side with next Saturday’s trip to Barnoldswick Town in mind as he fielded a strong side but used each of his 9 substitutes in the second half in sweltering heat. Despite the conditions the game began with both sides playing to a terrific tempo with West’s midfield of Rick Gleave, Scott Mason and Gary Lilley all involved in some terrific attacking football with Sam Mitten leading the attack creating several close chances. However the Heys defence held firm and it was the hosts who had the best chance of the first half when Jordan Hitchen was forced into making a good save when one-on-one. Having had the better of the opening 30 minutes the goal on the stroke of half time came slightly against the run of play as Heys used the water break well and had had looked the more threatening since. The goal was brilliantly worked by Sam Mitten, who had an excellent game, who cut inside from the left, ran across the area and fired an unstoppable shot into the bottom left hand corner to give West the lead at half time. In the second half West rang the changes as Andy Nelson gradually introduced all his substitutes into the fray but it was the visitors who continued to press for a second. However it was Heys who levelled with a brilliant cross field pass saw Jamie Treanor evade Halliwell and loop his shot over Lundy for a brilliant equaliser. Heys had another chance but West retook the lead with 15 minutes to go as West were awarded a penalty for handball. With Rick Gleave already substituted, captain Mark Rogers marched up the field, placed the ball on the spot and sent the keeper the wrong way drilling it into the bottom left corner. As Heys pressed for a second of their own West hit them on the counter attack with Danny Summers almost curling a 25 yarder into the top corner before Lee Hendley firing over after some brilliant play from Summers, Callum Jones and Jerome Bryson. The result was secured when West broke one last time, this time Jordan Poole raced into the box and lobbed his shot over the on coming Heys goalkeeper. West assistant manager Steve Settle was happy with the result but felt that there were still improvements to work on; “I’m glad we’ve come here and won, this is a difficult place to come and win against a side that was as determined as we are. Our build up play was excellent and whilst we scored three good goals we could have had more. We were solid defensively but we’ve conceded a goal and we have to remove the individual mistakes if we want to keep clean sheets in the NWCFL.” Team: Hitchen, C.Jones, S.Jones, Lilley, Rogers, Baird, Bryson, Mason, Mitten, Gleave, Malkin. Subs: Poole, Bryson, Summers, Poizer, T.Hendley, L.Hendley, Baldwin-Willis, Halliwell, Lundy (gk) Goals: Mitten, Rogers(p), Poole 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 Tuesday 5th August 2014 – Today’s Squads West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC
Winsford United
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 Midfield Mark Rogers Alex Baird Danny Summers Mike Taylor Jordan Poole Gary Lilley Lewis Schofield Steve Settle Scott Mason Rick Gleave Forwards Sam Mitten Jerome Bryson Lee Malkin Tre Baldwin Willis Lee Hendley Jonathan Poizer
Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts & Blue Socks Andrew Jones (GK) Alex Byrne Tom Clarke Jon Jones Michael Jones Gavin Ellison (Capt) Davidson Banda Matthew Tierney David Sheriff Kyle Riley Osebi Abadaki
Manager: Andy Nelson Assistants: Steve Settle & Steve Eckersley
Manager: Rob Byrne First Team Coach: Kevin Bircumshaw
Dale Jennings Lewis Bush Danny Egan Andrew McKernon Lewis Fielding (GK)
OFFICIALS Referee: Darren Rogers Assistant Referees: Clive Brown and Michal Wroblewski