Oakmen Felled and Outgovaned !!

And so to the Manchester League Division One and the Armitage Centre in Fallowfield for this afternoon's clash between a rechristened Govan & University of Manchester (clearly not from Glasgow - more of which anon...) and Wilmslow Albion, fresh from their injury time win at East Manchester last week.

Govan Athletic was established in 2001 by Jack Norbury, who still manages the team. Apparently Jack was so inspired by Sir Alex Ferguson's autobiography that he set up a football club named after Fergie's birthplace, as you do....

Athletic competed in the Stockport Football League in 2001/02, finishing as runners up, and moved up to the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League as a consequence. Division 2 was won in 2007/08, with Govan champions of Division 1 the following season. 

Athletic joined the Manchester League in 2016, were relegated to Division 2 in their first season, but were promoted back to Division One the following year. 6th from 13 and 6th from 12 in the two Covid truncated seasons pointed to mid table consistency.

Last time Govan finished 4th of 11 before partnering in the close season to become Govan & University of Manchester and moving from Platt Fields to the Armitage Centre. It's a transition that's working as Govan lead the league (first of 14) with 34 points from 13 games.

Today's visitors are the Oakmen from Wilmslow Albion - 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 finished second, 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 were occupying last place (14th) with 8 points from 15 matches.... but last week's victory took them above Hindley Juniors and out of the (one place) relegation zone !

Past Zen Tiling and Bathrooms, a broken bus, roadworks, Garvey's advertising St Patricks (which year ?) and a couple of outlets still selling Xmas trees. Then off at Essoldo, bypassing Iglesia Ni Cristo, shocking roads in Chorlton, and beyond Vietnamese Potbellied, Zaxxfried, King Bee records, Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple, Whalley Range High School, crossing Princess Road, to Moseley Road, St Kentigerns, Holy Innocents, Ya Souvlaki, Arabian Nites, and the Armitage Centre, Fallowfield complex.

Opposite are terraced houses, the car park, and to the left is the campus, whilst up top is the pavilion and an 8 step terrace outwith the cage. A crowd of 23 gathers in the cold but glorious sunshine 🌞 Today's numberplates are AM1 8EAU and P16 DOC, and a van advertising Paws & Tours.

The Armitage Centre lies on part of the site of the Fallowfield Stadium constructed in 1892 - and which hosted the 1892/93 FA Cup Final, switched from Kennington Oval. Wolves beat Everton 1-0 with a 15,000 stadium capacity but 45,000 apparently in attendance - Everton claiming, in vain, a replay due to overcrowding. The stadium also hosted 2 Rugby League Challenge Cup finals in 1899 and 1900 and a Calcutta Cup Rugby Union international between England and Scotland.

Bought in the early 1960s by Manchester University, demolished and then redeveloped as student housing and the university's sports facility, the Armitage Centre is now a gym, sports hall, with fitness classes and sports pitches (football, plenty of hockey - one player wearing a 113 shirt today, and rugby) and squash courts.

The Armitage Centre holds three fond Cup memories for me from my banking days:

• Playing for 35 King Street against Altrincham Stamford New Road and scoring the tie's opening goal. Immediately asking to be substituted because of injury, but reluctantly persuaded to stay on, and ending up scoring five in a 6-3 victory,
• The 1994 Subsidiary Cup Final for Manchester Corporate Banking Office which finished all square and went to penalties. We had missed a penalty and were staring defeat in the face when the floodlights went out - car headlights proving insufficient and meaning a replay the week after. That replay saw one goal separate the sides with me breaking from half way to slot home,
• The last ever Subsidiary Cup Final in 1996 again for Manchester CBO, a goal and a comfortable 4-1 win - and guess whose lounge the Cup now resides in ?

And there's an e-programme for today's game:

Govan are in red and black, sponsored by GBR Solutions - strange as the club badge and colours are purple and white and their hashtag is #purpleandproud (even stranger they play in white for the following week's home fixture against Boothstown). Albion are in change blue with black flashes, sponsored by Eastern Revive.

Govan govern the entire game and after hitting the post with a deflected shot, and a header cleared off the line from the resultant corner they eventually score through Matt Turner. Three decent saves from Wilmslow's keeper follow but Athletic are frustrated by a hard working Albion who pose no attacking threat whatsoever - their only effort a late shank by Calum McKenzie deep into the second period. 

1-0 at the break and after a bad miss, hitting the post again and having a goal disallowed, Louis Rhodes eventually twists and turns in the box, stroking home to double the advantage with a quarter of an hour to play.

Then it's sub Colin May's show as he scores a 7 minute hat trick - a 20 yard drive across the keeper on 83 minutes and then two penalties, both for clear trips, on 88 and with the final kick of the match. The league leaders triumph 5-0, having been only a goal in front with 15 minutes left.

Oakmen Fell East - Beating The Blues !!!

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 ☺

Oakmen ? More Like Jokemen... Fortunately Alty Hale In Reserve !!

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....

 

So I beat a hasty retreat to see if Alty Hale Reserves' match against Dukinfield Town Reserves, in Division Three, has beaten the vile weather - heavy rain and a vicious icy wind; and it has.... Parking on Balmoral Road I arrive as Duki, in green and white, take the lead from a defensive mix up. Several dreadful misses at both ends precede Alty Hale, in change yellow and green, equalising from a penalty and then going ahead to leave it 2-1 at the break. 

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 !!