And so to 2023 and the Wright Robinson Sports College in Gorton for another Manchester League Division One floodlit affair (3pm) between East Manchester and Wilmslow Albion.
East
Manchester FC 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 thereafter the Blues took up residence at the Wright Robinson College in 2008. The club was relegated in 2015 but bounced back as champions the following season.
However another
demotion, in bottom place, in 2019 sees East at 11th (of 14) this time with 12
points from 14 games after their victory at Manchester Central in their final
fixture last year, in the First Division - moving up from next to bottom above
today's visitors.
Wilmslow
Albion, from Oakwood Farm (in Styal), was established in 1919 and spent the
majority of its formative years in the South East Lancashire League, finishing
as runners up in 1928/29.
Subsequently Albion joined the Mid Cheshire League where they were runners up, behind Linotype (now Cheadle Heath Nomads), in 1961. A move to the Manchester League, combined with a decline in fortunes, led to a merger with local side Lindow and a change of name to Wilmslow Town - plus a switch to the Lancashire and Cheshire League.
But soon after Wilmslow Albion was reborn, merging with Dean Vale in 1976/77. Albion relocated from the Old Carnival Field on Water Lane in Wilmslow to Oakwood Farm and reverted to the Manchester League in 1998.
Promotions to the top tier in 2003 (relegated in 2006) and 2016 - a one season aberration that saw two wins, 26 defeats and a goal difference of -83, leaves the Oakmen back in Division One. Last term Wilmslow kicked off with a 4-0 thumping of Tintwistle Athletic, but finished 11th with only one more victory (at Altrincham Hale) and bottom with 7 points, comfortably adrift and counting themselves lucky there was no relegation. This time Albion again currently occupy last place (14th) with 8 points from 15 matches... so that relegation may just have been deferred !
Through
Timperley, past Finishing Touch, then Dixons Academy Brooklands, Camperlands
and on to the M60. Gratuitous Extinction Rebellion Revolution graffiti, the
Crystal Methodist's Pyramid and off at Denton Rock. Numberplates today are
AD10S SU and PO0 5TAF (S & C Drain Services) and a van plugging, er, The
Party Plug.
Towards Gorton, bypassing Caribbean Cookout, Bundu Khaan, turning at the Lord Nelson and avoiding Pampered Paws and High Bank Bowling Club, we reach the Wright Robinson Sports Village - 'Excellence Is Our Aim'. It's a vast complex with a plethora of astroturf pitches but a crowd of only ten assembles at the furthest tree lined exposed pitch in a knifing wind - in contrast to the well attended East Manchester Junior Football League games alongside. So cold is it that East reluctantly provide the linesman on the opposite side in the teeth of the wind, trundling across the pitch whilst the game is in play - and not bothering at all in the second half....
East
naturally are in blue with a mix of Greystones and National Debt Support
sponsored shirts, the Oakmen in change orange and black, sponsored by Eastern
Revive. Fifteen minutes of utterly forgettable football ensues.
Then Wilmslow see a cross not fully cleared and James Rogers volleys into the top right corner. Cue an East fightback (Eastern Revive ??!) and a sumptuous half volley levels matters on 25, before the Blues take the lead 9 minutes later, their right back hitting the post and the rebound slotted home.
In the second half East are desperately poor, conjuring up a couple of dangerous crosses but little else. Albion equalise six minutes in; Calum McKenzie cutting in from the left touchline, before arrowing in a glorious top corner strike.
A combination of desperate defending and near misses from Albion takes us through rain and then injury time with a draw the likely outcome. However three minutes into stoppage time Wilmslow break and their strike from the right of the penalty area is met with a fabulous save and a collective groan from the away bench... No matter as Rogers sweeps home the loose ball to leave the Oakmen 3-2 victors, their first league win since August - sufficient to take them out of the relegation zone and within a point of East ☺
