West Didsbury & Chorlton A.F.C.

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West Didsbury & Chorlton
West Didsbury Chorlton logo.png
Full nameWest Didsbury & Chorlton Association Football Club
Nickname(s)West
Founded1908, as Christ Church A.F.C.
GroundThe Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester
Capacity1,320 [1]
ChairmanSteve Eckersley [2]
Manager Paul Marshall [3]
League North West Counties League Premier Division
2023–24 North West Counties League Premier Division, 16th of 24
Website Club website

West Didsbury & Chorlton Association Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, a suburb of Manchester, England. They are currently members of the North West Counties League Premier Division, the ninth tier of English football, and play at The Recreation Ground, currently known as The Step Places Stadium for sponsorship reasons, [4] but mostly referred to as Brookburn Road. Nicknamed "West", the club was founded as Christ Church in 1908. In 1920, the club changed its name to West Didsbury, and after moving to their current stadium, Brookburn Road, in Chorlton in 1997 they changed their name to West Didsbury & Chorlton to reflect this.

Contents

West spent most of its history in the Lancashire and Cheshire League, then joined the Manchester League Division One in 2006. After gaining promotion to the Manchester League Premier Division and entering the FA Vase in 2011, the club was accepted into the North West Counties Football League Division One for the 2012–13 season, and gained promotion to the Premier Division after just one season.

History

The club was formed in West Didsbury as Christ Church A.F.C. in 1908 by a local Sunday School Superintendent. Christ Church joined the Manchester Alliance League, in which they played until 1914. [5] For the 1920–21 season, the club changed its name to West Didsbury A.F.C. and joined the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

In 2003, the club changed its name to West Didsbury & Chorlton, to reflect its new location after an earlier ground move. In 2006, they entered the Manchester League Division One, won two Murray Shields in three seasons, and were crowned champions in 2010–11, gaining promotion to the Premier Division. [5] In the 2011–12 season, the club played in the FA Vase for the first time, and were knocked out in the Second Qualifying Round by Ashville F.C. [6] For the 2012–13 season the club had its application to enter the North West Counties Football League Division One accepted. [7] This was the first time the club has played at level 10 of the English football league system. The club finished 3rd in their first season at level 10, and due to the failure to meet ground criteria of title winner Formby, West Didsbury were promoted to level 9 for the 2013–14 season for the first time. They also won the NWCFL Division One Cup competition defeating Abbey Hey 1–0 in the final. West Didsbury were relegated back to Division One South in the 2018–19 season, but won promotion back to the Premier Division in 2021–22, securing their finish as champions on 23 March 2022 with a 2–1 win over Barnton.

Colours

West's colours are white and black shirts, with black shorts and socks. [8] The away kit is pink and blue shirts and shorts, with pink socks. [9]

Grounds

Brookburn Road.jpg

The club originally played at Christie Playing Fields, but this ground was sold off. The club moved to Brookburn Road in Chorlton for the 1997–98 season and later changed their name to reflect this. [5]

Support

West fans have been noted for their creative & humorous chants, often singing songs about humous, quinoa, vegetarianism, Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, and their love of Krombacher. In a similar fashion to fans of fellow non-league clubs such as Clapton CFC, Dulwich Hamlet, & Eastbourne Town FC, West fans are known for their left-wing political stance. Antifascist, LGBT, & pro-refugee flags are flown at most games. Union 1908, an independent supporters club, was formed in 2020 with the aim of expanding the clubs fanbase, along with supporting local causes in the South Manchester area. [10]

Indie pop band Dutch Uncles, who launched their fourth album O Shudder at a game in 2014, are known to be fans of the club, as well as members of Airship. [11] England international players Marcus Rashford [12] and Izzy Christiansen [13] have also attended West games.

Players

As of 14 February 2023.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
— GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Andrew Jones(vice-captain)
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Matthew Cook(captain)
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Markell Foulds
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Callum Graham
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Ben Hampson
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Connor Hancock
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Luke Vayro
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Kiel O'Brien
— DF Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Matthew Smyth
— DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Thomas Westall
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Daniel Billington-Boateng
— MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Rhain Davis
No.Pos.NationPlayer
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Liam Delaney
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Samuel Dickinson
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Callum Jones
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Jack Ryan
— MF Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Darren McKnight
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Lawrence Taylor
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Jean-Jacques Kirongozi
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Max Lewens
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Billy Matthews
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Joel Swift
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Ben Elliott
— FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Ezekiel Eme

Honours

West Didsbury & Chorlton has won five league championships and six cup competitions in its history. [5]

Club records

Notable players

Players in this list have either played professionally, internationally or are otherwise of note before, during or after their time at West Didsbury & Chorlton.

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References

  1. ↑ www.nonleaguematters.co.uk - North West Counties League - North West Counties League Premier Division
  2. ↑ www.wdcfc.co.uk - Rob McKay steps down as co-Chair Accessed 8 September 2020
  3. ↑ @WD_CFC (11 May 2024). "We are proud to announce Paul Marshall as our new Men's First Team Manager" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ↑ www.wdcfc.co.uk - 2023/24 SEASON TICKETS SHOP TEAMS MATCHDAY SPONSORSHIP ABOUT WEST DOWNLOADS RECREATION GROUND TO BE RE-NAMED STEP PLACES STADIUM, SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER – WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
  5. 1 2 3 4 West Didsbury and Chorlton official website – History Accessed 17 June 2012
  6. 1 2 3 Football History Database – West Didsbury & Chorlton Accessed 17 June 2012
  7. ↑ NWCFL official website – 2012–13 League Constitution Announced Archived 30 January 2013 at archive.today Accessed 17 June 2012
  8. ↑ Biffafootie – 2010 Archive Accessed 17 June 2012
  9. ↑ "NWCFL | West Didsbury & Chorlton Club Information Page".
  10. ↑ Union 1908 - We are Union 1908
  11. ↑ NME.COM. "Dutch Uncles to premiere new album 'O Shudder' at non-league football match - NME.COM". NME.COM.
  12. ↑ @WD_CFC (11 August 2018). "marcus is a west fan 💯💯💯" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ @LuceFord_ (13 May 2017). "Mad that someone you met at a @WD_CFC game has just scored in a FA Cup women's final for Man City women, go on @IzzyChr17" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ @PaulHeatonSolo (18 March 2021). "@garglecheerio @union1908 @WD_CFC Ha ha I used to play for the 2nd and 3rds when I first moved over to Manchester" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

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