Taken from today’s match programme, available on the gate for £2.
Good afternoon and welcome to today’s Hallmark Security Premier Division game against Congleton Town. We welcome their officials, players and supporters to Brookburn Road and we hope they enjoy our hospitality today.
Congleton’s league campaign got off to a flying start with seven straight victories, and although they have lost the last three they remain in the top 4 with games in hand on the teams above them. Included in that 7-game winning start was a 4-1 win against us in the reverse fixture last month. We didn’t help ourselves on the day by conceding a couple of poor goals and Congleton fully deserved the win. As we found out to our cost they are a strong side and we will need to be much better today if we are to gain revenge.
Like everyone in football we were shocked to hear of the events at Congleton last Saturday in their game against Padiham and we would like to state in the strongest possible terms that we stand fully behind our friends from Congleton Town in their efforts to rid the game of such behaviour, in conjunction with the relevant authorities.
As mentioned we only visited Congleton 4 weeks ago and our officials, players and fans were all given the usual warm welcome which we always receive on our visits to them. The perpetrators are obviously not fans of the club (or football fans in general) and it is appalling that such people can, by such actions, seek to besmirch the name of such a respected club. Hopefully they will be identified and receive suitable punishment.
Our last game saw us exit the Manchester Premier Cup on Tuesday after a narrow 3-2 defeat to NPL side Droylsden. In what proved to be an entertaining end to end game we went in level at half time only to concede virtually straight from the kick off in the 2nd half. The turning point in the game came midway through the half when Ben Woods’ shot from 18 yards struck the post and rebounded into play where it was launched up the field for a Droylsden forward to latch onto it and race through to score. We hit the woodwork 3 times in total, and despite having a lot of late pressure we could only manage to pull one goal back before we ran out of time.
We gave debuts to 3 more youngsters, left back Kyle Pearson, 17 year old centre half Finn Thompson and winger Josh Pickering. We have some rare good news on the player front with Anthony Potts returning to action on Tuesday and our Gibraltar pair Jack Sergeant and Jamie Coombes finally receiving international clearance after what seems an age. It will be good to have them back on board after today’s international break, where they are currently in Armenia for today’s Nations league fixture.
It is that time of year when we begin to organise our ever popular bonfire and fireworks display, which this year is on Sunday 4 November. Flyers advertising the event can be found in the clubhouse. This event is always enjoyable and well attended and hopefully we will have reasonable weather on the day. Attendance is limited to 1,000 so don’t miss out!
Our ladies team have no game tomorrow and return to action next Sunday 21 October against Didsbury ladies in the Manchester Cup followed by a home league game against Altrincham ladies on Sunday 28 October, both games 2pm ko.
Our next game is on Saturday 20th October at FC Oswestry Town in the Macron Cup. The club are running a coach to this game, departing 11.30, please see social media for details. We then have 2 home games against Irlam on Tuesday 23 October ko 7.45, followed by City of Liverpool on Saturday 27 October ko 3pm.
Thank you for visiting Brookburn Road and have a safe journey home
Today’s Match Sponsor: Dave Cooper
We are very grateful to Dave for sponsoring today’s match against Congleton, 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. Dave won second team player of the year award. It was presented to him by a new Manchester Utd manager; Alex Ferguson.
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.
