Cookie Privacy Preferences
We utilize essential cookies to ensure our website operates effectively and remains secure. Additionally, we'd like to request your permission to use optional cookies. These are intended to enhance your browsing experience by offering personalized content, displaying advertisements that are relevant to you, and helping us to further refine our website.
Choose "Accept all cookies" to agree to the use of both essential and optional cookies. Alternatively, select "Let me see" to customize your preferences.
Privacy Preference Centre
Our website utilizes cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to present you with content tailored to your preferences on this device and browser. Below, you will find detailed information about the function of cookies, enabling you to make informed choices about which cookies you wish to accept. Please note that disabling certain cookies might impact your user experience on our site. It's important to remember that cookie preferences need to be set individually for each device and browser you use. Clearing your browser's cache may also remove your cookie settings. You have the freedom to modify your cookie preferences at any point in the future.
For a comprehensive understanding of our use of cookies, please refer to our complete cookies policy.
These cookies are needed for the website to work and for us to fulfil our contractual obligations. This means they can't be switched off. They enable essential functionality such as security, accessibility and live chat support. They also help us to detect and prevent fraud. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but it means some parts of the site won't work.
These cookies allow us to measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know how popular pages are, and to see how visitors move around the site. If you don't allow these cookies, we won't know when you've visited our site, and we won't be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable us to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we've added to our pages. If you don't allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not work properly.
These cookies collect information about your browsing habits to show you personalised adverts. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They don't store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you don't allow these cookies, the adverts you see will be less relevant.
RECREATION GROUND | BROOKBURN ROAD | CHORLTON | M21 8FE
FC Isle of Man (A) \\\ Match Information
Live text commentary on Twitter @wd_cfc
Preview
An overseas trip awaits this weekend as West embark on a journey across the Irish Sea to face FC Isle of Man in Douglas.
Chris Rowley’s side will feel confident going into Saturday’s clash after pushing promotion-chasing Prestwich Heys all the way on Tuesday night at Brookburn Road to earn a creditable 1-1 draw in the fog.
West have now taken 10 points from their last five matches but, like a number of other recent performances, it took until the second half on Tuesday night for them to click into gear. West can be thankful in particular for two heroic saves from ‘keeper Ally Hughes to keep the score at 0-1 going into the break, although by the end of the night West were certainly good value for a point and had opportunities to take all three against a team that look well-placed for a spot in the end-of-season playoffs.
Neither side is likely to still harbour serious ambitions of achieving the same feat. FC Isle of Man are currently sat in 13th place, one point behind West in 11th . While both clubs would’ve hoped to have made more progress than they have done this season, they can both generally consider themselves to be clubs that are on upward trajectories following their promotions from the NWCFL Division One South at the end of the 2021/22 season. Whilst the islanders’ form has remained inconsistent, they have been looking up the table rather than down and have not been close to experiencing the relegation battle they successfully navigated last season. They have lost their last two matches though, the second of which came in particularly spectacular fashion away at Kendal Town. It would be fair to say that the Ravens never got a foothold in that match, and they found themselves three goals down inside the opening six minutes. The goals did not stop there though and the visitors were 5-1 down before the half-hour mark, although they did manage to stem the tide somewhat and limit tthe damage to a 6-1 loss.
West are likely to be without playmakers Charlie Whiteoak and Tom Schofield for the trip to Douglas and Billy Matthews remains a doubt following his last-minute absence on Tuesday. In more positive news, captain Matty Cook is available after completing his one-match suspension.
The supporters making the trip over can expect an entertaining game. The King George V Bowl has an artificial 3G surface, and West’s four games this season on that surface have seen an average of over five goals.
Travel Information
For those flying into Douglas, there are buses from Ronaldsway Airport into central Douglas, leaving directly outside the airport every 15 minutes. Visitors should take the 1, 1H, 2, 2A, 22 or 11A services heading north from the airport, heading towards Douglas Promenade in the centre of town and take around 20 minutes to arrive.
The King George V Bowl is a 20 minute walk from Douglas town centre. In previous seasons West supporters have congregated at the Rovers Return pub on Church Street before the match but, for those looking to meet somewhere closer to the stadium, FC Isle of Man encourage travelling supporters to use the Pinewood, a short walk from the Bowl.
Alcohol is not sold or permitted inside the stadium.
The match kicks off at 6pm but elsewhere there are several other local matches taking place, kicking off around the island at 2:30pm. For those who are not travelling, the Union 1908 supporters’ group are screening the match live at the Seven Oaks pub in Manchester city centre. Entry to watch the match is free or by donation.
History
FC Isle of Man were founded in 2020 after the IoMFA spent several years formulating plans to enter a team into the English footballing pyramid. The English FA eventually granted IoMFA’s application to join the league at the start of the 2020/2021 season, but those plans were halted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The following summer, FC Isle of Man started their English footballing adventure by kicking off their 2021/22 NWCFL Division One South season at Maine Road. They won promotion to the Premier Division in their inaugural Counties season, beating New Mills in the playoff final, to join West at the top table of the Counties-level football in the North-West. They retained their place in the Premier Division following a strong finish to the 2022/23 season.
While there was some local criticism of FC Isle of Man’s proposals at their outset, the Ravens have built up a solid fanbase on the island. Despite the obvious logistical challenges that they face in attending away matches, they have an active supporters’ group that has taken consistently large away followings over to England for most games this season. They have the second highest average home attendance in the league, behind only Bury, and have continued to grow year-on-year. This is aided by having all of their home matches scheduled on Saturdays for the ease of travelling players and supporters.
Form Guide
FC Isle of Man
Position: 13th
Form position: 10th
Last six overall: LLWWWD
Last six home: LWWDLW
West Didsbury & Chorlton
Position: 11th
Form position: 9th
Last six overall: DLWWWL
Last six away: LWLLLL
Last Meeting
Saturday 14th October 2023
NWCFL Premier Divison
West 2 FC Isle of Man 1
West scorers: Smyth, Davis
Attendance: 1,051
Recent Meetings
Over 1,000 fans crammed in to Brookburn Road in October to watch West claim a hard-fought three points. The game was evenly matched for the most part, eventually settled by a stunning Rhain Davis free-kick in the 81st minute, sending our Manx counterparts home empty-handed.
While West have a 100% record in M21 against the Ravens, they are yet to pick up an away win on the island. Last season, West rescued a 2-2 draw after being 2-0 down at the break and on the previous visit were denied the points by a second-half stoppage time double from IOM, who nicked a 4-3 win. This game has since been dubbed the 'best ever' match seen at the Bowl.
Head to Head
Overall:
P5 W3 D1 L1 F12 A8
At The Bowl:
P2 W0 D1 L1 F5 A6
Quick Info
Travelling distance: 118 miles
West away 2023/24 round trip: 1,198 miles
Last season's position: 13th, NWCFL Premier
Last season's average attendance: 758
Home colours: White & sky / purple / purple
Change colours: All yellow
Weekend fixtures
NWCFL Premier Division
Saturday 2nd March 2024
AFC Liverpool (15th) v Wythenshawe Town (2nd)
Burscough (23rd) v Litherland REMYCA (9th)
Bury (1st) v Lower Breck (8th)
Cheadle Town (20th) v Pilkington (19th)
Colne (10th) v Glossop North End (18th)
Irlam (14th) v Kendal Town (6th)
Longridge Town (21st) v Padiham (7th) (11am)
Prestwich Heys (5th) v Chadderton (4th)
Squires Gate (22nd) v Ramsbottom (16th) (5pm)
Wythenshawe (3rd) v Barnoldswick Town (17th)
Pictures by Simon Cook & Chris Michell