The Whalley Range Amateur Football Club has had a continuous existence from 1900, and may have started ten years before that. In 1903 it became one of the founder members of the Manchester section of the Lancashire Amateur League and from 1919 a member of the Amateur Football Association.
Promoted as champions of the
Lancashire & Cheshire Premier League in the 2019/20 season the Range
commenced this term in Cheshire League Division Two. A fine start to the season
with 4 straight wins 5-0, 6-3, 8-2, 9-1 then a 1-1 draw, ruining their perfect
start, at Sandbach, leaves them top.
Orford FC was founded in 1975, and played in the
Warrington District League for over 35 seasons. The club joined Cheshire
League Division Two ahead of the 2016/17 season.
Orford, playing at the Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub, were moved up to the First Division in 2018/19 but their last campaign proved disastrous - 2 points from 14 games and relegation back to the Second Division. This season has opened with two defeats.
On a chilly autumnal afternoon it's past The Pelican,
which has had its last drink, and Cool Tan where the (sun)lights are switched
off, then to Zymologists Sourdough Bakery. Then a numberplate strikes A
C1:1ORD, followed by S1.1PER.
To the former Old Cock and the huge council tower block that announce Stretford, beyond the site of the iconic Drum pub, and then The Essoldo where I turn right by Stretford Metrolink. Longford Park on my left, a massively rutted road and then I reach The Centre For Meditation & Modern Buddhism.....
Chorlton awaits, with Little Yeti (Nepalese), Mint Lounge (Asian Fusion - whatever that is !) and Coriander (straightforward Indian) living cheek by jowl. Left on to St Werburghs Road, up the hill, beyond the tram stop and right into Kings Road for the football club.
A pair of red and black gates tucked between two semis (192 and 194) - blink and you miss it (as I did twice !!) - gives no indication that a football club exists in this residential area. The gates lead to a small car park, which I wisely avoid, parking on the street, as every bit of space is used regardless of vehicles being blocked in or emergency vehicle access.
Inside the pitch, and an adjoining warm up pitch, are completely hemmed in by housing, some extended to huge proportions but let down by broken fences. Thick, virtually impenetrable, brambles on the far side, whilst the near side has the clubhouse, complete with new covered terrace and trestle tables. There are also a tuck shop, two shipping containers and a large roller.
Range are in red with black stripes, Orford in green
and black. Referee only with coaching staff running the lines, and a crowd,
eventually, of roughly 40 assembles for the 2pm kick off.
Whalley have the first chance, Rhys Jones denied by the keeper's legs before Orford fashion two great opportunities - one just wide, the other drawing a good save from Nick Stinca.
On 23 minutes Range's left back Scott Welch goes on a marauding run, a feature of the game, lays off to Jones and his cross produces a tap in for Caylem Bateson. Bateson then hits the outside of the post with a diving header, and the inside of the other post with a more measured shot.
Just after the half hour substitute Josh Calle doubles the lead from a corner never properly cleared. By this time Orford have used three substitutes due to injury, and to add insult Jones and then Bateman round the keeper on 35 and 41 to make it 4-0 at half time, which again is a bare five minutes.
Five minutes into the second period and any hopes of an Orford fightback lay forelorn - reduced to ten men as one of their substitutes is shown a straight red for a wild kick out at the outstanding Tez Butler. Four minutes later Bateson waltzes through to complete his hat trick, and is then withdrawn to avoid talking himself up from a yellow card to a red.
Orford then strike the post from a hopeful cross that evades everyone, but on the hour comes the goal of the game. It starts with a Welch pirouette outside his own penalty area, a strong run, lay off and sprint to latch onto the through ball before smashing home - the crowd still oohing and aahing about the skill shown in his own half.
Then a slight lull, Jones going close twice and Orford exerting some pressure - their goal simply a consolation one. It doesn't happen and in the final eight minutes their defence goes completely AWOL, allowing Jones to provide assists for Andy Morley, and to great cheers from the bar area, Rob Kinsella.
90 minutes are up as Josh Calle adds his second for 9-0, given virtually the whole of the goal to shoot at by a hopelessly mispositioned keeper. 1537 and the referee calls time...
