West Didsbury & Chorlton A.F.C.

West Didsbury & Chorlton
Full name West Didsbury & Chorlton Association Football Club
Nickname(s) West
Founded 1908 (1908) (as Christ Church)
Ground Brookburn Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester
Ground Capacity 1,000
Chairman Glyn Meacher
Manager Stevie "Man & Boy" Settle[1]
League North West Counties League Premier Division
2015–16 North West Counties League Premier Division, 5th

West Didsbury & Chorlton A.F.C. is an English football club located in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. The club plays in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division. West spent most of its history in the Lancashire and Cheshire League, then joined the Manchester League Division One in 2006. After gaining promotion to the Manchester league Premier Division and entering the FA Vase in 2011, the club was accepted into the North West Counties Football League Division One for the 2012–13 season, and gained promotion to the Premier Division after just one season.

History

The club was formed in West Didsbury as Christ Church A.F.C. in 1908 by a local Sunday School Superintendent. Christ Church joined the Manchester Alliance League, in which they played until 1914.[2] For the 1920–21 season, the club changed its name to West Didsbury A.F.C. and joined the Lancashire and Cheshire League. West played at the top level of this league for many years, finishing runners-up four times and winning the Rhodes cup in 1932. The club was relegated in 1951–52 but were promoted back the following year. In 1959–60, West were again relegated, but this time took six years to regain a place in Division One.[2] This was short-lived, however, as West were relegated again in 1968–69. Despite this, the club won the Rhodes cup for the second time in 1969–70. After again achieving promotion to Division One in 1970–71, two relegations in three years saw West playing in the Lancashire and Cheshire League Division Three, in which they stayed until the late 1980s.[2] In the 1987–88 and 1988–89 season the club achieved back to back promotions as champions. In 2003, the club changed its name to West Didsbury & Chorlton, to reflect its new location after an earlier ground move. In 2006, they entered the Manchester League Division One, won two Murray Shields in three seasons, and were crowned champions in 2010–11, gaining promotion to the Premier Division.[2] In the 2011–12 season, the club played in the FA Vase for the first time, and were knocked out in the Second Qualifying Round by Ashville F.C.[3] For the 2012–13 season the club had its application to enter the North West Counties Football League Division One accepted.[4] This was the first time the club has played at level 10 of the English football league system. The club finished 3rd in their first season at level 10, and due to the failure to meet ground criteria of title winner Formby, West Didsbury were promoted to level 9 for the 2013–14 season for the first time. They also won the NWCFL Division One Cup competition defeating Abbey Hey 1–0 in the final.

Colours

West's colours are white and black shirts, with black shorts and socks.[5] The away kit is light blue shirts, shorts and socks.[6]

Grounds

The club originally played at Christie Playing Fields, but this ground was sold off. The club moved to Brookburn Road in Chorlton for the 1997–98 season and later changed their name to reflect this.[2]

Support

The club typically draws support from the wider Chorlton-cum-Hardy area, with a small proportion drawing from the team's historical roots in West Didsbury. In recent times, the team have been noted for their celebrity support, including local indie-rock band Dutch Uncles, who launched their album O Shudder at a game in 2014.[7] The band form part of the club's Krombacher Ultras faction who take their name from Krombacher beer, a beverage sold in West Didsbury's clubhouse throughout matches.

Honours

West Didsbury & Chorlton has won three league championships and six cup competitions in its history.[2]

Records

References

  1. ↑ West Didsbury & Chorlton official website – Contact us Accessed 3 June 2012
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 West Didsbury and Chorlton official website – History Accessed 17 June 2012
  3. 1 2 3 Football History Database – West Didsbury & Chorlton Accessed 17 June 2012
  4. ↑ NWCFL official website – 2012–13 League Constitution Announced Accessed 17 June 2012
  5. ↑ Biffafootie – 2010 Archive Accessed 17 June 2012
  6. ↑ www.nwcfl.com – Sponsorship News From West Didsbury & Chorlton
  7. ↑ NME.COM. "Dutch Uncles to premiere new album 'O Shudder' at non-league football match - NME.COM". NME.COM.

Coordinates: 53°26′00″N 2°16′57″W / 53.433469°N 2.282594°W / 53.433469; -2.282594

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