Chapel's Prayers Go Unanswered - Absolutely No Styal Whatsoever.....

And so after Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin have wrought havoc, putting paid to last weekend's fixture with a reformed Blacon Youth, it's to Altrincham Road in Styal for a Cheshire League Division One clash between Styal FC and  Holmes Chapel.

A football club existed in Styal in 1912, and this is taken as the year of the club's foundation. The club started out playing in the Lancashire and Cheshire League (L&CL).

Immediately after the war the Villagers played in the local Wilmslow & District League until they received an invitation to rejoin the L&CL, where they remained for a quarter of a century. They joined forces with the cricket club, building the present pavilion in 1958 and the land on which the ground stands was placed in trust by then owner HG Greg Esq.

Styal joined the Mid-Cheshire League (now the Cheshire League) in 1977 and, after various league reformations and two relegations and one promotion, moved up from Division 2 as runners up in 2001. Champions in 2007/08, the Villagers were relegated to the renamed League One in 2017 where they remain - 7 wins and 13 defeats this time around.

Holmes Chapel Hurricanes FC was founded in 2000 by Chris Rogers as a vehicle to enable his son and friends to play football. Initially playing local league football, and based at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre, The Hurricanes moved up to the Cheshire League in 2018, finishing next to bottom of League 2 in their first term. 

After the Covid aborted 2019/20 season, last year's curtailed campaign saw Chapel place 4th of 11 which was enough to secure promotion to Division One - where they sit 5th of 15 with 32 points from 18 games.

Through Timperley, House of Boba, Marvel Guitars, Barberian, Harry's Den, the Frank Sidebottom memorial and Hale Country Club & Spa, curiously hosting Bowdon RUFC. Then into Roaring Gate Lane with number plates M15 ADO, DOO8Y, U D18K ED (unbelievable !!) and a van advertising Home James (plumbing) into Altrincham Road, past Peacock Farm, home of Kirk Butchers, 'Traditional Aged Cured Beef', The Ship Inn, and opposite Apprentice Lane, I reach Styal Sports and Social Club.

The road is completely jammed with parked cars for the adjacent Quarry Bank Mill and there is minimal space at the Club - but the lack of parking leads to inventiveness and a 13 point turn, avoiding the mud. Inside there is The Alan Jones Stand, a small covered terrace, next to which is the only seating - a bench occupied by 2 adults and one child. This is agin the sports club, backing onto the cricket pitch and pavilion - the clubhouse selling Mobberley Brewhouse Unchained this afternoon.

The Villagers are in yellow and blue, sponsored by Lowery Capital, Chapel in red and black - their sponsors Manifest Fitness on the front, George & Dragon on the back - as the sides kick off against a tree lined backdrop and drenched fields. Breezy with sporadic sunshine and on a very soggy pitch, matters get underway at 1355 - the crowd topping out at 15, mostly away fans. The referee is a silver haired, moustachioed pensioner, and subject to much vitriol from both benches.

Styal start the stronger and have a golden chance on 20 minutes - a woeful back pass produces an even worse spoon over from the ensuing one on one. Chapel's skipper amazingly heads wide from 3 yards seven minutes later.

Then, on the half hour, the talking point of the half. The Villagers create an opportunity, scruffily shooting beyond the Hurricanes' keeper, and the ball is messily diverted back from over the line and onto the post and cleared. The referee is handily placed on the half way line (!) and awards a corner - which hits the bar.....

The second half is abject, with a surfeit of hoofing, overhit passes and appalling shooting. The two main chances, one for either side, come from one on ones involving rounding the keeper but woeful control means they come to nought.

The match plays out to a goalless draw, but not before some spectator abuse leads to Styal's left back taking offence leading to a contretemps, involving (presumably) the spectator's son (number 15) squaring up - handbags.....

The game festers to a close with more unseemly scenes at the final whistle.....