Cheadle Town (H)
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 27
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- This is also the last chance to buy tickets for the home game against Bury on 4th January. That match is all-ticket and paper tickets will be onsale at the ground at the Cheadle game.
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Preview
West welcome Cheadle Town to Brookburn Road on Boxing Day with the aim of recording a fifth win in six matches. It follows a 5-1 obliteration of NCEL high-flyers Silsden and a dominant performance in Merseyside where West probably deserved more than their 2-0 victory over South Liverpool.
The trip to Jericho Lane on Saturday saw forward Jordan Lazenbury become the first West player in the Counties era to score 20 goals before Christmas, and he was only a first-half penalty save away from registering back-to-back hat-tricks.
Opponents Cheadle Town make the short journey to M21 on Boxing Day after registering an eye-catching 4-0 win over Pilkington to partially make amends for a 6-1 hammering at Padiham the previous midweek. That result moved the club up to 15th in a campaign where the aim seems to be to consolidate after a summer of upheavel. West's current management duo of Paul Marshall and Steve Yarwood left Cheadle for West in June, and they were later joined by last season's top scorer Jordan Lazenbury and other key Cheadle players such as Tom Murray, Jack McConnell, Max Sutton, Adam Jones and Victor Abadaki.
The visitors have therefore done well to recover in their second season back in Step 5, and they have made a number of shrewd signings to fill the gaps left by the above. They are managed by the sharply-dressed Jake Davies, who was an integral part of the coaching team that won the title at Wythenshawe last season and he has since brought with him players such as Harrison Bickerton, Adam Davies and Kaleb Parkinson. These additions mean that Cheadle have some players with real quality in their ranks, and those three were responsible for all four goals in Saturday's win against Pilkington.
Town are currently captained by former West defender Ben Hampson, who was given the armband following the departure of another former West player, Darren McKnight. The Northern Irish midfielder has since returned to Cheadle following a short and ill-fated spell at Abbey Hey - which included a 3-1 defeat to West - but he no longer holds the captaincy.
Cheadle have become accustomed to playing on the road in recent weeks after electing to play their evening home matches away from the Ground Up Solutions Stadium. Their record suggests that they are more vulnerable when playing away from SK8, with just one league win in the last six games on their travels.
West will be confident in front of a large Boxing Day crowd - particularly having won 7 of their last 9 matches on home turf. West are two points away from the playoff places and will need to leapfrog both FC St Helens and FC Isle of Man to re-take a position in the top 5. While the Ravens don't play on Boxing Day for obvious logisitical reasons, FCSH host a struggling Pilkington side.
New signing Finlay Holyoak may join West's matchday squad for the first time, and it's hoped that Harvey Roberts will be in contention following a minor ankle injury that has paused an extremely impressive start to his time with the club. Both players will have a challenge on their hands however to break into an increasingly settled-looking West side that is finding form at an important stage of the season.
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Head to Head
Overall:
P10 W5 D0 L5 F14 A13
At The Step Places Stadium:
P6 W4 D0 L2 F10 A7
The last meeting between the sides took place in February, when West recorded a 2-0 home victory thanks to a brace from Ben Elliott. Ten players featuring in that match have since played for the opposing side - Ben Hampson, Ollie Ford and Matthew Cook represented West and now line-up for Cheadle, while Adam Jones, Max Sutton, Kyle McGonigle, Jake Parker, Tom Murray, Jordan Lazenbury and second-half substitute Victor Abadaki have all appeared for West having being on the opposing side on that day.
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Cheadle Town at a glance
Home colours: Red & White / Red / Red
Change colours: All blue
2023/24 position: 15th
2024/25 average attendance: 125
Travelling distance: 7 miles
Cheadle Town were founded in 1961 as Grasmere Rovers. They moved to their Park Road Stadium in 1982 and changed their name to Cheadle Town the following year.
However, they have been better known in some parts of the world as Manchester AFC, a name used previously to attract attention and enter a number of high-profile tours across the globe. They are only team from the UK to play in - and against - Cuba, taking on the national side in a match broadcast live on Cuban television in 1975. They have since played pre-season friendly matches at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico and the Maracanã in Brazil.
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Form Guide
West
Position: 7th
Form position: 6th
Last six overall: WWLWWL
Home position: 5th
Last six home: WWLLWW
Cheadle Town
Position: 15th
Form position: 12th
Last six overall: WLDLLW
Away position: 16th
Last six away: LWLLDW
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Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
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Directions
We encourage supporters to use public transport, cycle or walk if possible.
By car:
There is no parking available at the ground for supporters, except for pre-booked disability access.
Please instead use Hardy Farm, M21 8DP.
Disability spaces must be accessed no later than one hour before kickoff and all vehicles will be unable to exit until 15 minutes after the final whistle to ensure the safety of all supporters leaving the stadium.
There is additional public car parking on Chorlton Ees opposite The Bowling Green pub, who are also allowing supporters to use the pub car park, but there is little other on-street parking.
Please also note that there is no parking available on Brookburn Road itself, nor the surrounding Chorltonville area, as they are privately maintained, exclusively for the use of residents.
By public transport:
The Step Places Stadium is one mile from Chorlton Metrolink station, on the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport lines. Follow Google Maps directions to find your way to the ground.
If you are travelling from outside the Greater Manchester area, the Metrolink network can be accessed from any of Manchester’s central train stations. Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website for tram times and more information.
By cycle:
The Step Places Stadium is a perfect location for those who cycle, being located next to the River Mersey, Sale Ees and only a few minutes away from the Fallowfield Cycle Loop. We have secure bicycle racks inside the ground to lock up your bike throughout the game. Please ask a volunteer if you need assistance.
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Prohibited items
Bringing pyrotechnics, drums/instruments and/or alcohol into the ground is prohibited. It is a criminal offence to bring pyrotechnics into any stadium. Stewards may conduct bag searches for prohibited items upon entrance to the stadium. Bag searches are a condition of entry and your co-operation is greatly appreciated. Spectators who break these rules may be banned from the ground and any pyrotechnics and/or alcohol will be confiscated.
