And so to December and Oakwood Farm in Styal for a Manchester League Division One fixture between Wilmslow Albion and Altrincham Hale.
Wilmslow Albion was established in 1919 and spent the majority of their 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, 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. This time Wilmslow kicked off with a 4-0 thumping of Tintwistle Athletic, but since then one point from 33 leaves them 11th and comfortably adrift, staring relegation to the bottom rung in the face - having played 12 games, and with only 11 clubs in the division, probably early in the New Year..
Altrincham Hale FC was
established in 2007 playing in the local Altrincham & District League,
before joining the Manchester League Division One in 2017. Immediate relegation
was followed by swift promotion as champions in 2018.
11th of 13 in the abandoned 2019/20 season, Alty Hale sat next to bottom at null and voidance last term, with only three games played because of a Covid outbreak at the start of the season - one win and 2 defeats. Currently sitting 9th, with games in hand, the Green and Whites have 13 points from 10 games.
..Onto Park Road, past Star Bridge pizzeria (formerly Istanbul Grill - a front for a convicted drug dealer), then House of Boba (bubble tea), Movie Makers (every Wednesday !), Timperley Stove & Fuel Centre, Yew Tree Villas and in the village centre Be Precious - more bubble tea (?) but not yet open. All the while with numberplates TR10 MOP (Cleanology), 5000N and M33 WET (a plumber from Sale) on the way.
Then the Larkhill Centre, the Commonwealth War Graves and left to Clay Lane, Bowdon Rugby Club before I reach Roaring Gate Lane, Davenport Green and the vast expanse that forms Manchester Airport. Right into Styal and Oakwood Farm is opposite Quarry Bank Mill, just before the women's prison.
The complex comprises Wilmslow Albion's headquarters, Wilmslow Phoenix Sports Club, hockey and lacrosse teams, a cricket pitch and an artificial surface hosting a hockey match alongside which I see a late, late goal. Sadly early signs are not good with the football car park locked, the clubhouse shuttered and the phone unanswered - Alty Hale's contact number proves to be someone no longer connected to the club.... Sadly a second consecutive week where the crowd is one, but all other similarities disappear - no players warming up, no corner flags, no officials or indeed anybody or anything this time....
The ground itself is tree lined, and definitely not waterlogged, and aside from the clubhouse hosts a bijou covered stand, capacity circa ten (or less depending on Covid rules....) and a number of wind whipped plastic advertising hoardings blown inside out. Postponement eventually reaches Twitter 20 hours after the scheduled 2pm kick off time....
Dukinfield level up early in the
second half and then take the lead, as the crowd of 4 is supplemented by a
dogwalker - the dog immediately assigned to search and rescue duties, and
successfully recovering two balls kicked out of the ground.
Alty Hale turn things around to go 4-3 up, but are hit by a three goal salvo in the last ten minutes as Duki Town win 6-4 to go top of the table in a match that threatens to boil over with a brawl, just before the interval, and several tackles bordering on manslaughter....
Quite a day !!
