Outcasts Are Cast Out - East Is East, Blues Is Best........

And so to the Seashell Trust, formerly the Royal Schools For The Deaf, on Stanley Road in Cheadle Hulme for a Manchester League Division One derby between Manchester Central FC and East Manchester FC.

Manchester Central FC was formed in 1928 by Manchester City director John Ayrton and the owner of Belle Vue stadium, John Iles. Ayrton founded Manchester Central because he felt that East Manchester needed a League side - City having moved out of the area in 1923.

The Outcasts played at the Belle Vue Athletics and Speedway Stadium, joining the Lancashire Combination in its first year (1928). With Billy Meredith as coach, the Magpies finished seventh of 20, and applied to join the Football League for the 1929/30 season - which was knocked back.

Central finished runners up the following year, but another attempt to join the League failed. 1930/31 was less successful - 7th and another fruitless League application. However Wigan Borough resigned from the Football League in October 1931 and Central applied to take their place.

This was initially accepted but a formal complaint was lodged jointly by Manchester City and Manchester United, on the grounds that Manchester could not support a third League side. The Football League backed the existing sides, United receiving hugely critical media coverage, and Central were denied, subsequently resigning from the Combination, continuing in the Manchester Amateur League for a few years before becoming defunct.

The club was revived in 2016, joining the Manchester League Division One, and promoted to the Premier as runners up in 2018 - a season culminating in Murray Trophy and Terry Wood cup successes. Despite finishing second in the top tier the Outcasts chose to opt out at the end of the 2018/2019 campaign, before rejoining in Division Two in 2021 and earning promotion to Division One - five wins and a draw from 10 matches leaves the Magpies mid table (8th of 14) this term.

East Manchester FC, from the Wright Robinson College in Gorton was formed in 1960 as the works team of the Ferranti engineering factory and initially competed in the local Chorlton League, which they immediately won. A switch to the South East Lancashire League brought about several changes of name from Ferranti to ICT to ICL and finally to East Manchester in 1985.

Success in the South East Lancs prefaced The Blues joining the Manchester League in 1981, and a ground move from Mellands to the GMB club, both in Gorton. Winning the second tier title saw the club promoted to the Premier Division of the Manchester League, and a league and cup double arrived in 1992.

East moved venue again to Kirkmanshulme Lane, then settling at Dave Pace's Butchers Arms in Droylsden until 2006. A short return to the GMB ground and then the Blues took up residence at the Wright Robinson College in 2008. The club was relegated in 2015 but promoted back as champions the following season. However another demotion, in bottom place, in 2019 sees East playing, next to bottom this time with 9 points from 13 games, in the First Division.

Belatedly onto Park Road, delayed by roadworks, past a pony being led in a pink coat then De Luxe Chicken (still no sign of opening !) and Beauty by Peaches & Cream. Thereafter the Moss Trooper, Hare and Hounds, Al Khans, Cheshire Dog Spa and Bowdon Rugby Club on Clay Lane. All these intertwined with numberplates 123 ANY and JU51 BOX (a greengrocer) and a van emblazoned with 'The Rutland Fox'... and another with Willow Goat Crafts....

To Roaring Gate Lane, Hale Top Farm, Etrop Grange and the Manchester Airport Relief Road - thankfully not flooded today.... Off at the Handforth turn and Little Acorns Nursery - Fun Frogs in the opposite direction - and then right at the Waggon and Horses into Stanley Road.

The vast complex is on the left, tree lined, bounded by the Relief Road, construction works aplenty and a mix of residential housing (Sir Norman Stoller Way) and the Academy. Problems with the electric gates, both in and out, lead, eventually, via a pot holed access road to the car park, changing rooms and astroturf pitch. Confusion regarding kick off time but it's finally clarified as 3pm under the floodlights.

Central are in white and black with single back and red hoops, sponsored by iMap, East in all blue and a mix of Greystones and National Debt Support sponsored shirts. The referee is wearing gloves before a crowd of 12, with light rain turning to blustery winds and a leaf strewn (but not leaf logged !!) pitch.
 
The Magpies are sluggish in the first period, incohesive and lacking any real threat. No real surprise that the Blues take the lead just after the quarter hour - a clumsy challenge in the box, and the penalty comfortably converted. 90 seconds later it's 2-0 as a left wing cross is adeptly flicked into the far corner.
 
Finally the Outlaws get going and their best chance sees Gabriel Wiwoloku turn and fire, but it is deflected just wide. But it could be worse - East's right full back shoots from 25 yards, a minute before half time, and his sweet strike smacks the foot of the post before coming out.
 
A quadruple substitution for Central at half time sees no change as East hit the side netting - but then the substitutions start to make a difference... On 49 minutes sub Ruben Abreu receives the ball, beats his man, pulls back and scores to halve the deficit. Seven minutes later Abreu shows sublime skill to square to Kaine Martin who taps in, virtually on the goal line, and it's 2-2.
 
Just beyond the hour Abreu finds Junior Silva and his shot is blocked, desperately, on the line - East immediately counterattack for a two on one, which ends in a disappointing finish wide. Half an hour of end to end entertaining football follows, the crowd enthralled as to which (if any) side will poach the winner...

Then in the 90th minute the Blues break and, at the third attempt, their left back shoots into the roof of the net despite shotstopper Dan Whiting's vain attempts to save. East take the points from their 3-2 win, moving up to 11th, whilst the Outcasts reflect on 10 weeks without a home league win.....

Badgers Cull & Top Totty In Twelve Goal Thriller !!!!

And so to The Wythenshawe Club on Longley Lane in Northenden and a Manchester League Division Two fixture between Baguley Athletic and Tottington United. The end of the cricket season has seen Athletic revert from Dixons Brooklands Academy in Baguley, where I saw them beat Eccles United in the Cup, and that Man & Technic sculpture, to their usual 'home' at the cricket club.

Baguley Athletic FC was established in April 2004 as a breakaway from parent club Woodhouse Park United. The Badgers achieved back to back local league promotions in 2006 and 2007 but thereafter immediately folded.

The club was reincarnated in 2013, joining the Manchester Saturday Morning League. Promoted in 2016, folding again in 2019, but reforming in 2020, and entering the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League for 2021/22, Baguley finished fourth (of 11) in Division Two.

The Badgers were then accepted into the Manchester League Division Two this past close season, and have started with eight wins, including an astonishing 15-1 slaughter of Cavaliers three weeks ago and a 6-3 drubbing of Eccles last weekend, and one defeat (to Chadderton Cott). Baguley sit second with games in hand....

Tottington United FC was formed by Norman Entwistle and his father in the early 1970s, playing in the Bury Sunday School League. Norman's father worked as a park keeper for Tottington Urban District Council before it became part of Bury Council in 1974.

In 1992 the club entered into a 20 year lease to play on the pitch formerly used by Tottington St Anne's FC. A Sports Council grant renovated the pitch and installed new changing rooms at St Anne's Field.

United joined the Manchester Football League Division One in 1996, gaining immediate promotion to the Premier as runners up. Despite a third place finish the following season Totty withdrew mid term in 1998/99.

The club then appeared in the West Lancashire League Division Two in 2001/02, but only for one season - resigning due to vandalism of the changing rooms. Tottington resurfaced in the Lancashire Amateur League Division One and were crowned champions in 2012/13.

Thereafter top half finishes followed but Totty were relegated in bottom place in 2017/18, however a promotion rebound as runners up came in the following year. United stood top in the curtailed 2019/20 campaign and that was sufficient to ascend to the Premier League.

Four wins and a defeat before the season was null and voided - and then the club came close to oblivion, due to a lack of players and the effects of the pandemic. Only a Covid loan from Bury Council kept the club alive, but the team did not compete in 2021/22.

Accepted into Manchester League Division Two for the 2022/23 campaign, Tottington currently sit above the pointless Breightmet and Cavaliers with 4 points from 10 games - after a three point deduction.

Up towards Timperley village and the Grange estate, the Old Garden, then across Beech Fields onto Maple Road and into Wendover - the scene recently of a drugs related kidnapping and assault and a murder. Numberplates en route are F1LTH and KF16HTS before I reach Wythenshawe Road and Hologic, Sky Farm Shop and then Wythenshawe Park and its newly reopened, after an arson attack in 2016, Hall - £6.7m of refurbishments over six years, whilst the arsonist was jailed for four and a half years.... Opposite is a house with an unusual carport and petrol pump in the front garden, massive mounds of leaves and a dead squirrel... 

Past the Ministry of St Bonaventure, briefly touching on Northern Moor and then it's under Princess Parkway to Face & Eye and the Jehovah's Witnesses Assembly Hall. Right into Longley Lane and beyond the Farmers Arms, Just Sew Perfect and Bread & Butties brings me to The Wythenshawe Club.

A narrow drive leads to the car park and clubhouse, the cricket pitch - the square fenced off - and sightscreens and scoreboard up top, mothballed for winter. The football pitch is also roped off and access is limited to one side only.

Opposite are the dugouts and behind the conifers lies an airport car parking facility, whilst at the top end and on the other side of more trees and another fence is the Vita Liquid Polymers plant. The other two sides are flanked by residential housing.

Baguley are in silver and black, United in change yellow with a blue and red diagonal stripe, in a match refereed by Titus Tresidder. The crowd accumulates to 23 and 3 dogs in the sun - but none of us predicts a dozen goal bonanza.....

Within 90 seconds a Baguley cross is cleared dreadfully and Lee Hendley sidefoots home. The Badgers then hit the bar twice before Totty break through via their speedy winger, home custodian Dan Green charging out, missing both man and ball and Ryan Lockett equalises.

Parity doesn't last long - 4 minutes in fact ! Lee Gaskell's suicidal back pass from beyond half way is nowhere near and Hendley calmly tucks away. Eight minutes later Victor Abadaki converts a near post header from a corner and it's 3-1.

On the half hour Green flaps at a Lockett shot and Jack Cabrelli scores from the rebound. Six minutes on The Badgers concede a needless penalty and Gaskell makes it 3-3. A breathless first half finishes with Hendley poking home from the six yard line for his hat trick and 4-3 to Baguley at the interval.

Hendley misses three one on ones in the second period as Athletic hit the bar again, but Kain Deegan shows him the way and makes it 5-3 on 61 minutes. Seven minutes on his stunning volley brings the score up to 6-3. Five minutes later some gorgeous penalty area interplay leaves sub Curtis Campbell to stroke home and we're at 7-3.....

United hit the post and then in the final five minutes a Totty break sees a cross that Green gets nowhere near, leaving sub Arran Ashall to tap in at the far post (7-4). Two minutes after Tom Hendley heads home for the Badgers, virtually on the goal line from a corner, to conclude matters at 8-4.

Breathtaking stuff !!  ☺

Jonny On The Spot Four Goalden Grey Lambs !!!!!

And so to the Park Stadium on Manchester Road for a Cheshire League Premier Division fixture between Lostock Gralam FC and Winstanley Warriors FC.

Lostock Gralam FC was founded in 1892, making the Grey Lambs (yes really !!) one of the oldest clubs in Cheshire; Gralam have played at the Park Stadium for over a century. The club also helped establish the Mid Cheshire League in 1948 as a founder member.

The club won a trio of championships between 1951 and 1953, but had to wait a decade before triumphing again in 1963. A further consecutive treble between 1966 (a 100% record - 24 matches, 24 wins) and 1968 followed, but the Grey Lambs left the Mid Cheshire League in 1975.

Lostock rejoined the Mid Cheshire League after a near 20 year hiatus for the 1993/94 season in Division Two, with promotion following in 1997 as champions. Relegated two terms later, Gralam won the (now) Cheshire League Second Division in 2010.

A yo-yo period between 2013 and 2016 (down, up, down, up) prefaced being crowned Cheshire League champions in 2019. Thereafter two Covid abandoned seasons, and fourth last time out. The Grey Lambs are seventh this season with seven wins and a draw from 11 matches - games in hand could see them rise to second, behind Broadheath Central.

Winstanley Warriors FC, from Little Lane in Goose Green in Wigan, was established in 2004. After playing in the Wigan & District League, Warriors joined the Cheshire League Division Two in 2016.

Moving up to Division One in 2018, Winstanley ascended to the top tier, the Premier, after securing 14 wins and 2 draws from 17 games in the pandemic curtailed 2019/20 season. Warriors are placed 11th (of 17) with 20 points from 12 matches - and only two points below the Grey Lambs.

Onto the A556, past Tim Burgess Chainsaw Sculptor at Rostherne, The Windmill at Tabley, Tabley House, Cuckooland, Dove Barn Weddings, The Smoker at Plumley, Celandine Court and The Weavers Whistle (formerly the Watermead) brings me to the Slow and Easy. Numberplates PR0 5E CU (a suspended sentence ?) and a flatbed R46 8ONE (an assortment of 'riches' in the back !!), a Chartered Geomatic Surveyors (no, new one on me too !!) and a dog walking business Strictly Come Wagging..... On the way back the car alongside entreats me to TE11 BEV... Into the pub car park through a tight entrance I take the 14th, and last, parking space on the grass - and pay £3, which amidst much confusion, ends up being £2....

Inside the Park Stadium the far end is an open, grassy area and there is a small covered standing area on the nearside touchline. The pub (Slow and Easy) end houses the newish changing rooms, refreshment bar and beer tables - a grass mound runs the length of the pitch on the far side. I end up sat on one of the backless benches in the sunshine, trees on three sides, opposite the chemical works peeping above the treetops.

The Grey Lambs are in, er, all blue sponsored by Kitwood House, Warriors in all red, sponsored by DPSI Group, before a crowd of 28 including toddlers plus a dog (the sign ignored !) and Winstanley make the better start, without unduly troubling Martin Blain in the home goal. But Lostock post fair warning with a shot saved at point blank range before on 36 minutes a fabulous through ball from captain Tom Hassall finds winger Jonny Jones who comfortably tucks away across the keeper, and Gralam lead 1-0 at the break. It's an interval that sees one spectator nip out for a Chinese at the nearby Ho King takeaway....

The second period is all about one man - Jonny Jones. Two minutes in a fabulous kick from hand by Blain finds Jones all alone on the right wing and he lobs the onrushing Warriors stopper. Changing wings Jones completes his hat trick on 59 - another exquisite through ball, dummied by the centre forward and a lofted finish makes it 3-0.

Eight minutes later it becomes four as Jones sidesteps Winstanley's custodian and hits home for Jones 4 Warriors 0. Two minutes on he is played in again, but unselfishly squares the ball for Hassall to tap into an empty net. His reward - substitution and loud applause.

The Grey Lambs have a sixth incorrectly ruled out, and Warriors see their hand ball 'goal' disallowed, before their substituted number six is shown a red card for something he said to the linesman. The last action produces a fabulous save from Blain, preserving his clean sheet and a 5-0 home victory - summing up one of those days for Winstanley, but then again the reverse fixture is scheduled for next Saturday....