Glossop North End (A) \\\ Matchday Info
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Preview
Glossop North End cross our path for the second time already this season, three weeks after West's comfortable opening day win.
The Hillmen's form has steadily improved since then, culminating in impressive away wins at Stockport Town and Litherland REMYCA, the latter coming in the previous FA Cup round to set up today's meeting.
North End manager Richard Brodie made no secret of his intention to continue strengthening his squad after the defeat in M21 and West manager Paul Marshall will be aware that the challenge his team faces this weekend is a much-changed one.
West's form since has been somewhat stop-start but there were very encouraging signs at Pilkington in midweek that things are beginning to properly gel. Chances were created at will and it took a POTM performance from Pilko keeper Jake Hilton, along with a slice of luck here and there, to deny West all three points.
West's opening quintet of games have been comparatively low scoring - with only South Liverpool and Prestwich Heys seeing a fewer number of goals than West's 15 - but the new NWCFL Premier Division season has started at a furious pace, averaging over 4 goals per game.
This is West's sixth visit to Surrey Street, and third knockout tie - two Manchester Premier Cup visits in 2016 and 2022 producing a win and a defeat.
None of the clubs' previous ten meetings have produced a draw but should that happen today, we'd try again on Tuesday evening with a replay at Brookburn Road.
History
Glossop is famously the smallest town in England to have had a team in the top-flight of English football.
Younger readers may not recall too many details of Glossop’s 1899/1900 campaign and their single season at the top table was not a successful one. They were promoted to the top-flight alongside current champions Manchester City, but they struggled to adapt to life at the summit of English football and ultimately finished bottom of the league. They picked up only four wins that season,against Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa. While a quick return to the big time wasn't on the cards, they did make it to the quarter-final of the 1908 FA Cup, bowing out to Bristol City after a replay.
The club’s chairman during this period was cricketer, baronet, businessman and Conservative politician Sir Samuel Hill-Wood and it was his stewardship of the club during such a successful spell that led to the club being nicknamed the Hillmen ever since.
The club have played at their current home at Surrey Street since 1955, and became founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982. They are, by all accounts, a ‘sister’ club of Arsenal, and they celebrated their centenary in 1986 with a testimonial match against the Gunners. That link exists after Hill-Wood moved to London in the 1920s and became the Arsenal chairman, a role that he passed down to his son and later his grandson.
Glossop were given permission to train at Arsenal’s Colney training ground ahead of their 2009 FA Vase final defeat to Whitley Bay, which is the first of their two appearances in that competition’s final. Six years later they once again were playing under the Wembley arch but on that occasion their road to glory - which coincidentally began at the true home of football (Brookburn Road) - was ended by North Shields. In April 2023 Glossop returned to the NWCFL after eight years in the Northern Premier League divisions. They finished 21st and will be looking for an improved performance this season.
Head to Head
Overall
P10 W3 D0 L7 F14 A20
At Glossop North End
P5 W2 D0 L3 F8 A12
Quick Info
Home colours: Black & white / black / black
Change colours: All orange
Travelling distance: 20 miles
Last season: 21st, NWCFL Premier
Last season's average attendance: 294
Weekend fixtures
Saturday 17th August 2024
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Avro v Bury
Barnoldswick Town v Northwich Victoria
Longridge Town v 1874 Northwich
South Liverpool v Witton Albion
Whitchurch Alport v Pilkington
NWCFL Premier Division
Cheadle Town v Colne
FC St Helens v Lower Breck
Irlam v Chadderton
Litherland REMYCA v FC Isle of Man
Prestwich Heys v Stockport Town
Ramsbottom United v Burscough
Squires Gate v Abbey Hey
Sunday 18th August 2024
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Hallam v Charnock Richard
Campion v AFC Liverpool
Photographers: Nathan Ashmall and Chris Michell
