Chadderton (A) \\\ Match Information

• Saturday 20th April 2024 
• 3:00pm kickoff
• NWCFL Premier Division, Matchday 46
• The Falcon Fire Stadium, Andrew Street, Chadderton, Oldham, OL9 0JT
• Food and drink available inside the ground
• Pay on the gate, cash or card:
  • £7 adults
  • £4 concessions

Live text commentary on Twitter @wd_cfc

Preview

It is once more unto the breach for West this weekend as a trip to play-off chasing Chadderton will draw the curtain on what has been a forgettable 2023/24 campaign. Last weekend’s defeat at Prestwich Heys means that West remain bottom of the form table and are now winless in eight matches.

Chadderton have been one of the real success stories of the NWCFL Premier Division this season, following their promotion from Division One North last Summer. However, a untimely series of defeats has taken them from title contenders to playoff-chasers, with their destiny no longer in their own hands. Only West sit below Chadderton in the form table and they enter the final weekend two points behind 5th placed Kendal Town, and with an inferior goal difference.

Put simply, Chadderton must beat West to stand any chance - by a greater or equal margin than any Prestwich win at Pilkington - and then hope Kendal are defeated at Burscough.

It's not inconceivable come Saturday evening that Chadderton and Prestwich sit either side of the dotted line between 5th and 6th on the same points, goal difference and goals scored. If such a situation were to arise, it would be Prestwich who would take the final spot based on the number of games they’ve won this season.

Nevertheless, this situation could still be blown out of the water altogether by 9th place Charnock Richard, who sit 13 points behind the playoff zone with five games still to play. It would take a spectacular run of form for Charnock to gatecrash the playoffs, but their 6-0 statement win at Prestwich on Thursday suggests they’ve not given up just yet.

What does this all mean for West though? The answer is very little, in reality. A win at Chadderton would likely result in a final placing of 15th for West, depending on Barnoldswick's game in hand next week, while a loss on Saturday could see West find themselves as low as 18th when the dust settles.

It's very much in Chadderton’s interests to win, and to win big, if they are to retain any possibility of keeping the dream of back-to-back promotions alive. West go into the match with an injury-depleted squad that was further dimished at Prestwich last Saturday. West were only able to name three outfield substitutes, and two of those were called upon inside the first 20 minutes following injuries to Ben Hampson and Lee Grimshaw. It's perhaps slightly ominous that such a threadbare squad will finish their season by playing the side with the worst disciplinary record in the division.

One certainty is that West will be backed by a large and passionate away following to see out the season on a sunny afternoon. It’s the last chance to see the Men’s team before the summer break and whilst it has certainly not been a memorable campaign for West, our travelling fans have stuck by the team throughout and we are once again grateful for your unparalleled support.

Meet our opponents

Chaddy were founded in 1946 as a junior football team during the Second World War. They later formed an adult team named Millbrown Football Club, which was initially renamed as North Chadderton Amateurs before finally becoming Chadderton in 1957 and remaining so ever since.

They are founder members of the NWCFL and, prior to their promotion last season, had played in Step 6 for 25 years straight without going up or down. Even then, their demotion from Step 5 in 1997/98 was for ground grading reasons, and their previous promotion in 1991/92 occurred despite them only finishing 12th in the division. Today they're looking to achieve their second promotion in two seasons, Chadderton had not experienced a tradition promotion or relegation prior to this since the late 1980s.

The Chadderton team that featured in the first ever Counties season in 1982 contained none other than ex-England, Arsenal and Serie A stalwart David Platt before he was plucked from the crop at Andrew Street by Ron Atkinson at Manchester United. Other famous Chadderton alumni include Take That’s very own Mark Owen and former Crystal Palace assistant manager John Pemberton!

Form Guide

Chadderton
Position: 6th
Form position: 23rd
Last six overall: LWLLLL
Last six home: LWLWDL

West Didsbury & Chorlton
Position: 16th
Form position: 24th
Last six overall: LLDDLL
Last six away: LLDDWL

Last Meeting

Monday 28th August 2023
NWCFL Premier Divison
West 1 Chadderton 3
West scorer: Ben Hampson 60
Attendance: 891

Recent Meetings

West hosted Chadderton on August Bank Holiday Monday but were comfortably beaten by a buoyant newly-promoted side that appeared to have all the hallmarks of a side who were hitting the ground running. Chadderton took an early two-nil lead at Brookburn Road and controlled the match thereafter as a strong West side struggled to get a foothold in the match.

A Ben Hampson goal on the hour-mark offered salvation, but the later stages of the match were overshadowed by a serious injury to West keeper Andrew Jones. AJ was replaced in goal by midfielder Liam Delaney shortly before the visitor’s final goal, the game finishing 3-1. AJ has recently managed to work his way back to fitness after missing almost the entire season.

Head to Head

Overall:
P3 W2 D0 L1 F7 A5

At Adie Moran Park:
P1 W1 D0 L0 F3 A1

Quick Info

Travelling distance: 19 miles
West away 2023/24 round trip: 1,542 miles
Last season's position: 2nd, NWCFL D1 North (playoff winners)
Last season's average attendance: 147
Pitch: Grass
Home colours: All red
Change colours: Neon & black

Other weekend fixtures
Saturday 20th April 2024
NWCFL Premier Division
Burscough (19th) v Kendal Town (5th)
FC Isle of Man (10th) v AFC Liverpool (14th) (6pm)
Glossop North End (21st) v Charnock Richard (9th)
Irlam (13th) v Longridge Town (23rd)
Litherland REMYCA (12th) v Colne (11th)
Lower Breck (8th) v Padiham (4th)
Pilkington (20th) v Prestwich Heys (7th)
Ramsbottom United (18th) v Bury (3rd)
Squires Gate (22nd) v Wythenshawe (1st)
Wythenshawe Town (2nd) v Skelmersdale United (24th)
Macron Cup Semi-Final
Barnoldswick Town v Alsager Town

Pictures by Simon Cook & Chris Michell