WE WELCOME to WEST & AFC The​ Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road, Chorltonville M21 8FE

Club Committee: Glyn Meacher; Rob Madden; Dave Cooper; Rob McKay; Monica Creer; Steve Eckersley; John Churchman; James Doxford; Davy Iredale; Dan Iredale; Tim Manley and Matthew Durrant

Ownership: In accordance with THE Football Association Rule 2.13 Publication of ownership in relation to Step 1 to Step 6 clubs in the Football Pyramid we hereby confirm that the legal status of WEST DIDSBURY AND CHORLTON ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB is as not for profit private members club. Any gain arising from the carrying on of the Club shall be applied for the benefit of the Club or for some charitable or benevolent purpose or purposes approved by resolution at a general meeting of the Club.

To contact the club please use the club website: www.wdcfc.co.uk ​ ​

Main Club Sponsor:

Ground Safety In the interest of spectator comfort and safety, the following conditions apply at the clubs Brookburn Road ground and must be observed at all times.

● In case of fire or other emergency that requires the clubhouse or ground to be evacuated instructions will be given over the public address system, and we ask that you comply with those instructions immediately. ● The chanting of racist or obscene chanting is strictly forbidden. ● Glasses, bottles, gas canisters, knives, darts, tools, flag poles or any other articles likely to cause injury are not permitted into the ground. ● Alcohol may be purchased and consumed in the bar area only. ● Children are not allowed in the Club House unless accompanied by an adult. ● Encroachment onto the playing area is forbidden at all times. ● Standing is not allowed in front of the seated areas. ● All forms of transport on the clubs car park is at the owners’ risk.

The club reserves the right to remove any person from the ground who is in breach of these rules or whose presence is a source of danger or annoyance to others. We hope you understand the reasons for the above are in order for the game to be enjoyed in safe and pleasant conditions.

Thank you, West Didsbury and Chorlton AFC Committee. ​

A welcome to Maine Road FC

West and Maine Road will put aside their South Manchester rivalry for one day as we honour inarguably the most important figure in our club’s history and compete for the Rob Turley Trophy.

Rob Turley played a pivotal role in turning West into what it is today, working tirelessly to craft the club to his meet his own vision. Over the course of his life, he took up almost every role within the club it is imaginable to take: starting out as a star player, with his final role being as Vice-Chairman having been involved with almost every other position you could imagine before sadly passing away in 2016. Aside from his loyalties to West, Rob also appreciated Maine Road, and we’re honoured that our nearest rivals will contest this pre-season trophy in his name.

This will be the second time the clubs have competed for the trophy, having first done so in 2018 when West ran out 3-2 winners. You can read Glyn Meacher’s memories of Mr West Didsbury & Chorlton on page 4.

We’d once again like to thank Maine Road for playing this game in honour of Rob, and wish them all the best for the season ahead.

Thank you for visiting Brookburn Road and have a safe journey home

Match Report

Saturday 20th July

West 3 Salford City 1

A pair of Matty Boland free kicks inspired West to a pre-season win over a Salford City XI.

West took the lead inside 60 seconds when a trialist converted a cross from the left, but the young Ammies restored parity with a close-range effort on the half-hour mark.

Boland put West back in the lead shortly before half time with a curled effort from just outside the area, before repeating the trick after the interval to seal a confidence-boosting win.

Brad Cooke’s side have just two more friendlies before the start of the NWCFL season, welcoming Maine Road for a Rob Turley Trophy match today, before Cooke’s old side Atherton Collieries visit the following Tuesday.

Mr. West Didsbury & Chorlton

Former chairman and current committee member Glyn Meacher wrote his thoughts on Rob Turley, whose memory today’s game will be played in honour of

Today gives our club the opportunity to compete for the Rob Turley trophy against Maine Road for the second time, although everyone who visits the ground will be aware of Robs name given the stand at the clubhouse end is named in his honour.

However, given the massive growth in the club over the past three years, there will be many players, fans and parents who didn’t know Rob, nor will fully understand the impact he had on the club and how it is run. Rob Turley

As we enjoy the facilities we have at the club, Rob also put the name of West Didsbury and compete at Counties level and look forward to Chorlton FC on the non-league map, long our latest ground improvements, all were only before non- league dog day and chants about made possible through his vision, skill and hummous and broccoli raised our profile. He 100% commitment to the club. It was Rob who: did this through spending his time taking on the role of being President of the Lancs and ● Had a dream of us playing in the FA Cheshire league and helping other clubs meet Cup, before we had even bought ground grading requirements, examples being Brookburn Road and saw it come true Litherland Remyca and Prestwich Heys. ● Had a vision of playing at Counties level and persuaded a sceptical committee All the above was achieved in a calm and that this was an achievable goal, given dignified manner and in a way that provides a we were playing in the Lancs and litmus test for the way the club will always be Cheshire League at the time run. That being, if every action that the club ● 20 plus years ago, together with Brian takes, is done in a way that Rob would Cripps, our club President, led on the approve, it will be the ‘right way’. purchase of the ground from East Chorlton FC and the securing of lottery No-one in the history of the 111 years that the funding to build the clubhouse club has been in existence has done more for ● Led on every subsequent ground it, and Rob fully deserved the nickname, given development; floodlights, club to him by a previous chairman of being ‘Mr extension, pitch rails, stands etc West Didsbury and Chorlton’ ● Purchased the land where the changing rooms and Hardy Farm sit on with the Glyn sole intention of creating a base for our junior section

MATCH ACTION - West 3 - 1 Salford ​ Courtesy of Simon Cook

History of Maine Road FC ​ The club was formed in Road side had ever been relegated and we hope it 1955 as ‘City Supporters will be the last. After two seasons in the 2nd division ’ when our under the guidance of Chris Simms when our very past Chairman Frank young side finished 3rd and runners up, we Thompson and a few returned to the top division, (2004) and the club friends formed a team finished 8th and 10th in the following two seasons. and after playing a few friendlies, joined the local The arrival of Ian Walker as manager (2006) saw Rusholme Sunday League. In the late sixties the Maine Roads improvement continue with 3 top 6 club changed to the Manchester Amateur Sunday finishes in 4 seasons and the winning of the League and also moved its headquarters to the prestigious League Challenge Cup (2008). In newly built Maine Road Social Club and hence the 2012-13 John Morrey/Chris Thomas took over the new name Maine Road FC was born. Ronnie managerial reins and in 2 seasons continued the Meredith was now running the club and in 1971-72 improvement with a magnificent runners up spot we won the Manchester County Sunday Cup and (2013), followed by a 4th position (2014). both the club’s sides won their respective leagues. This prompted Ron to look for a new challenge and Chris Hirst in his 2nd full season of management he changed the whole future of the club by moving has finished in a very creditable 15th position with a to Saturday football in the form of the Manchester very young & inexperienced team. Maine Road has League. a long and proud reputation for attracting young players to the club. This began in the late 1980’s, Success followed success on the field and after which brought a succession of fine young players to several years of moving grounds we settled on our the club. This success in spotting and nurturing the present home at Brantingham Road in 1980. After a best young talent has continued over the past lean spell, one of Ron’s ambitions was realised in decades with Maine Road’s domination of the Season 1983-84 when we won the Manchester Umbro International Tournament at Under 19 level. League Premier Division. In fact, we won the league Over 11 seasons our Under 19’s have taken on and four years running. Derek Barber took over the regularly outplayed talented youngsters from managerial reins in 1986 and the clubs progress around the world. They have won the competition continued so much that, when the Manchester an amazing 6 times and been runners up 3 times. County FA’s new complex at Brantingham Road The record set by the team of 2003 may never be was built, Ron’s other ambition was achieved; entry surpassed when 8 of the squad regularly played 1st to the Bass North West Counties League. In only team football in the same season. our second season (1989), we finished runners up to Vauxhall Motors. Regrettably we were denied Another factor in the continued success of the club promotion due to ground grading, so in 1990 we is the outstanding loyalty shown by many players. went one better to win the 2nd Division The best examples are the appearances made by Championship and take our rightful place in Division the following players Ian Walker 637, Chris Simms One. 556, Gordon Woods 465, John Morrey 421, Robin Gibson 386, Alex Jay 382 and Neil Chappell 377 In Season 1987-88 we beat Irlam Town 1-0 at (The top 5 players have also gone on to run the first Maine Road (home of Manchester City) in the or reserve teams). Another amazing record is that in Manchester Premier Cup to complete a unique our 60 year history we have had only 9 managers of record in the Manchester County Competitions by which 8 have been ex players. winning all five County Cups. The five Manchester County Cups are Premier Cup (1), Amateur Cup (5), Sunday Amateur Cup (1), Intermediate Cup (2), Challenge Cup (4).

At the end of Season 2001-02, after twelve seasons in the top division, Maine Road were relegated to the 2nd division. This was the first time a Maine

OUR SPONSORS We would like to express our sincere thanks to our current pitch side board sponsors for their support. Without you we wouldn’t be where we are today. ​ ​

West Maine Road

Andrew Jones (GK) Conrad Betton (GK) Ashley Woods Ben Davison Benjamin Steer Ben Mooney Bradley Cooke Benjamin Phillips Callum Jones Daniel Burgess Christopher Middleton # David Brown Daniel McLaughlin Jack Langford Dylan Moloney Jamie Hill James Cottee Jamie Roe Jordan Henry Louie Inniss Joshua Tinker Marc Duffy Kristian Holt Matthew Flynn Lee Gavin Matthew Morgan Lee Grimshaw Max Scragg Matthew Boland Oscar Campbell Matthew Cook Owen Pollitt Matthew Eckersley Rory Breslin Neil Chappell Ryan Smith Thomas Horner Sam Barnett # Zachary Cooper Thomas Markham Zachary Curtis

Management Team Management Team

Brad Cooke Raymond Barnett Robert Sadler Hugh Devlin Warren Jones Jeffrey Newma

Come on, West!