Glossop North End (H) \\\ Match Information

• Saturday 16th March 2024 
• 3:00pm kickoff - gates open at 1:30pm and we advise arriving early to avoid queuing or delays
• NWCFL Premier Division, Matchday 40
• The Step Places Stadium, Brookburn Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 8FE
• Season tickets are in use, or pay on the gate with cash or card
  • £7 adults,
  • £5 students / 60+ / 16 and under
  • Free under 12s
• Dogs welcome
• Food and drink available including Wrap Scallion burritos

Live news and text commentary on Twitter @wd_cfc

Preview

Glossop North End are the visitors to Brookburn Road on Saturday as West host their first 3pm kick off in six weeks.

West have been in fairly indifferent form recently but will be boosted by a strong performance at promotion-chasing Charnock Richard on Monday night. It was an evening that started in spectacular fashion as Lewis Billingsley found himself through on goal to slot home an opener within 15 seconds of the kick off. That goal was comfortably West’s earliest of the season, and continued Billingsley’s impressive record of scoring goals away from M21. That lead was doubled shortly before half time thanks to a goalkeeping error that was forced by fine link-up play between Ben Elliott and Lee Grimshaw and, whilst the two goal lead was ultimately surrendered to a resurgent Charnock side, West battled well to prevent the in-form hosts taking all three points. A fine goalkeeping display from Player of the Match Ally Hughes kept West in the contest, but across the pitch it was a defiant performance against a strong team with plenty still to play for. Lewis Carr impressed when came off the bench to make his debut on Monday night, and West fans will hope to see more of him and the highly-rated Princewill Anuniru over the coming weeks after their signings earlier this month.

Saturday’s opponents currently sit in 19th spot and are experiencing a difficult run of form themselves. They’ve lost seven of their last eight in all competitions and come into this match on the back of three consecutive 1-0 losses.

This has been the Hillmen’s first season back in the North West Counties following eight years at step 4 of the non-league pyramid. Despite a rocky start to the season, losing five of their first six, Glossop have stabilised and consolidated themselves at the lower end of mid-table. They have also picked up some very impressive results along the way, with two wins against Bury in the league and cup, and a 4-1 trouncing at high-flying Chadderton in January. On their day they are an impressive side and they will be expecting an improved league position next season. They will make the trip to M21 without top scorer Jacques Etia following his recent move to former club Stalybridge Celtic. Etia had scored 20 goals so far this season for the Hillmen, with 12 of those coming in his last 16 games.

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 Sir Hill-Wood moved to London in the 1920s and became the Arsenal chairman, was a role 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 arches but, on that occasion, their road to glory - which began at the true home of football (Brookburn Road) - was ended by North Shields.

In April 2023 Glossop returned to the North West Counties Football League after eight years away. Michael Worthington was appointed manager last summer, but was replaced by Richard Brodie two months into the season.

Form Guide

West Didsbury & Chorlton
Position: 12th
Form position: 17th
Last six overall: DDWLDL
Last six home: DWWLLD

Glossop North End
Position: 19th
Form position: 22nd
Last six overall: LLLWLL
Last six away: LLLWLW

Last Meeting

Tuesday 19th September 2023
NWCFL Premier Division
Glossop North End 1 West 3
West scorers: Lewis Billingsley 30, 90, Matt Cook 72
Attendance: 204

Recent Meetings

West’s 3-1 win on a stormy night at the Asgard Engineering Stadium earlier in the season was actually their first ever league win against Glossop, although the task was made slightly simpler by the hosts having to play over half the match with nine men. It was by no means an easy stroll to victory however, as Glossop dug in well and heavily restricted West’s opportunities in front of goal. The nine-man Hillmen gave West a scare when they equalised early in the second half, but they were eventually overpowered thanks to goals from Lewis Billingsley and Matty Cook to put the game beyond doubt.

Before this season the sides have met six times, with five wins for Glossop and just one for West. That win came in the quarter finals of the 2016/17 Manchester Premier Cup, where West picked up a 4-2 away win. Current West midfielder Astley Mulholland was on the scoresheet for Glossop that day.

Head to Head

Overall:
P8 W2 D0 L6 F10 A18

At The Step Places Stadium:
P3 W0 D0 L3 F2 A6

Quick Info

Home colours: All blue
Change colours: Orange / black / orange
Travelling distance: 20 miles
Last season's position: 18th, NPL Division 1 West (relegated)
Last season's average attendance: 381

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.

Prohibited items

Bringing pyrotechnics 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.

Weekend fixtures
NWCFL Premier Division
Friday 15th March 2024
AFC Liverpool (15th) v Kendal Town (4th)
Saturday 16th March 2024
Bury (1st) v Charnock Richard (9th) (12.30pm)
Cheadle Town (17th) v FC Isle of Man (13th) (1pm)
Barnoldswick Town (16th) v Longridge Town (20th)
Burscough (22nd) v Ramsbottom United (18th)
Litherland REMYCA (14th) v Pilkington (21st)
Lower Breck (8th) v Chadderton (5th)
Padiham (7th) v Skelmersdale United (24th)
Prestwich Heys (6th) v Wythenshawe Town (2nd)
Squires Gate (23rd) v Irlam (11th)
Wythenshawe (3rd) v Colne (10th)

Pictures by Simon Cook & Chris Michell