1919-20 SEASON

 

Unfortunately, the League records do not extend to events during the period of the Great War.

 

All football activities were suspended and there are no records of meetings held by the Committee during those years. It is recorded that the first formal meeting since 1914 was held on Monday September 1st, 1919, at the Crown Hotel, when “it was decided to again commence operations”, with old members of the League present as follows: Aldermere, Bramhall, Old Trafford St. Johns, Davenport, Werneth Amateurs and Royton.

 

These were joined by Barton Hall, Fairfield, Old Trafford, Urmston, Zion Amateurs and Knutsford.

 

All the League’s officers had returned apart from Messrs Woollam and Hellawell, (who was demobilised in December 1919), for whom temporary replacements were found. They were joined by a Management Sub-committee consisting of four club representatives, which was an experiment to help with the administration of the League and was deemed a great success.

 

The League’s finances were not in a healthy state and member clubs continuing membership from 1914 agreed not to claim a return of their fees paid for the 1914-15 season. This gesture allowed the League to re-start with a reasonable bank balance and by the end of the 1919-20 season, the finances were in an excellent state thanks to the efforts of the serving treasurer, Eddie Woollam.

 

The most successful club in the 1919-20 season was Barton Hall, who walked away with the championship by five points from Davenport and finished with the incredible goal difference of seventy-four from twenty matches. They were also successful in winning the specially introduced cup knock-out competition as it had been decided the Rhodes cup would not be competed for.

 

But their triumphs sparked a storm of controversy with accusations that they had been paying players, something that was completely against the ethos of the amateur game. Though nothing was proven against them, Barton Hall were not re-elected for the 1920-21 season. The new season saw the start of an additional Division A which consisted mostly of reserve teams and new entrants.

 

1920-21 SEASON

 

Not re-elected: Barton Hall

 

Meeting minutes were now produced on a typewriter purchased for the Secretary’s use at a cost of £15-15-0d.

 

Violent behaviour is often thought of as an unwelcome modern addition to the game. Clearly this isn’t the case. In October 1920 the League suffered its first assault on a player by a spectator. This was eventually dealt with by the Lancashire FA, who suspended the culprit until the end of the season.

 

Collections were taken at the Second Round Rhodes Cup games and produced the grand sum of £20-7s-8d, which was donated to the Ex-Servicemen’s Fund for the relief of distress in the Manchester area. Herbert Rhodes donated a new Championship Cup to the League and also the sum of ten guineas, which represented almost 10% on the total income for the 1920-21 season. The President continued giving generously over the following seasons.

 

A trophy presentation was arranged in 1921 at the Exchange Hotel with a hotpot and smoker evening at a cost of 4 shillings (20p) per person.

 

1921-22 SEASON

 

In season 1921-22, a new division was launched for junior players consisting of a maximum of fourteen teams. The minimum age for qualification was fourteen and the maximum eighteen and a half, with a team average age of sixteen and a half. This was amended to an average age of eighteen and a half with the maximum age of any player at twenty.

 

The League Secretary, C.W. Hellawell, who was credited with being the originator of the division, presented a shield for a knock-out competition for the juniors.

 

The Junior Division presented the Committee with many challenges not normally met with in the open-age section. A Sub-committee was formed to administer the new division, and it was soon realised that changes had to be made about the meeting venue, which was on licensed premises, and a move was made to the St. John’s Scout Hut.

 

Sale Juniors were the divisional winners and Hullard FC won the Hellawell Shield. The Lancashire FA presented the League with a handsome trophy for the Junior Division.

 

The Annual Dinner was held at the State Café, Piccadilly at a cost of 3s/6d (17.5p) with a separate Junior Social for the presentations to the new divisional teams.

 

1922-23 SEASON

 

Elected to League membership: Bradford Parish Church

 

1923 saw the Committee agree to support the Manchester Royal Infirmary by donating collections at cup finals and inter league games.

 

The Secretary’s report to members at the AGM in 1923 highlighted the performance of Royton Amateurs in completing their programme without suffering a defeat. Owing to this club’s dominance and the strength of a further four clubs so many games became a procession and an easy exercise in collecting points.

 

This problem was subject to debate in Committee to consider strengthening the First Division.

 

Season 1922-23 saw the introduction to the League of a new club in Division 'A' by the name of Bradford Parish Church, who in their first season won the division and in addition the Rhodes Cup. In the words of the League Secretary “the team were probably the youngest in the division and were worthy champions and added greatly to the attractiveness of the programme”.

 

The Secretary was pleased to report that, “the success of the Junior Division in season 1922-23 exceeded all anticipations from the point of view of interest in the games as well as the standard of play shown”.

 

Didsbury Juniors won the championship in a very close-run affair and were congratulated on a very fine performance especially as they twice beat the runners up, who were South Salford Lads Club winners of the Shield.

 

Once the transfer to open-age football was made, the South Salford name became synonymous with success over the ensuing seventeen seasons.

 

1923-24 SEASON

 

In season 1923-24 an application for membership of the Junior Division was received from Milton Hall a club organised by the West Salford Independent Labour Party. Acceptance of the application was subject to there being no financial assistance from any political party. It was felt in committee that the mixture of any political party and the League was undesirable. There would be no committee objections to the club receiving donations from anyone no matter what their political views.

 

A charity match was arranged at the end of the 1923-24 season between the champions and the rest played at Stockport County. The League had to provide gatemen and police. The net proceeds of £25-0-0d were donated to the Stockport Infirmary. The referee was the League Chairman, Jimmie Rennie.

 

The Junior Division also played a game between the champions and 'the Rest'. The League Vice Chairman, Eddie Woollam refereed the Hellawell Shield final establishing the close link between the League and refereeing circles, which continues to the present day.

 

The expected potential of the Bradford Parish Club was realised in season 1923-24, with the club winning the First Division championship and retaining the Rhodes Cup. In their two seasons of membership, they won every trophy open to them which was then a record unlikely to be equalled for many years. Their victories were not easily achieved as the competition throughout the season was intense and at the end Bradford Parish were acclaimed the best side in the League.

 

The Annual Dinner was now beginning to establish itself in the League calendar and this season saw the numbers attending reach two hundred.

 

The first major changes the League Committee had experienced since formation came about in the close season following the news that the Secretary was to leave the district at the start of the new season and temporary measures were made for the duties to be shared until a new Secretary was appointed.

 

The post was finally filled by G.A. Fish, whose role of Treasurer was to be taken over by R. Blezard. The retiring Secretary was instrumental in ensuring the League obtained the maximum publicity in local newspapers and backed this with weekly reports on the League’s activities. This role was to be taken on by Eddie Woollam.

 

An interesting matter was considered by Committee concerning an abandoned game between Davenport and South Manchester, when the ball burst and there was no other football available. Davenport were fined five shillings (25p) and ordered to pay all expenses for the re-played match.

 

The Committee arranged a match between the champions and the rest, which was played at the Manchester United ground, Old Trafford. The League Vice-Chairman had negotiated the hire of the ground with the instruction that the overhead cost should not exceed £5-0-0d.

 

1924-25 SEASON

 

Season 1924-25 was reviewed by the new Secretary, George A. Fish, as being very successful from the viewpoint of the improved playing standard and sportsmanship shown by clubs and their players.

 

Complaints were heard regarding the number of administration offences committed by clubs which reached one hundred and fifty. The Committee lost a valued member from Aldermere, P.L. Keighley, who was moving to America.

 

It was noted in February 1925 that the Lancashire FA had moved into permanent headquarters in Blackburn and it was revealed that in 1922-23 season, the County administered 2,137 Clubs in seventy-nine Leagues.

 

The Secretary reported that the Junior Division had a satisfactory season with Chorlton Albion the championship winners. Bottom club Fairfax won only two of their twenty-six games, but it was recorded that at least they always turned up with eleven players and never incurred an administration fine.

 

The constitution of the Junior Division only allowed clubs a maximum period of two seasons in the division. As a result, Chorlton Amateurs, Sale Juniors and South Salford were to be promoted into the senior Division 'A'.

 

Following the increase in the number of teams to fourteen in the First Division, rules were changed to ensure that all games had to be played on the arranged date and could not be cancelled with the agreement of both competing clubs.

 

The Northern Counties Amateur Championship (NCAC) was introduced giving the League’s players an opportunity to play for their county side. J. Rennie resigned his position of Chairman but retained a seat on the Management Committee. S.E. Woollam, formerly Vice Chairman, replaced him and was re-elected a member of the Amateur Committee at the Lancashire FA.

 

It was noted that three of the League’s referees were promoted to the Football League list: they were E. Jackson, F. Taylor and Josh Taylor.

 

The speculation at the start of the 1924-25 season was the possible strength of the Bradford Parish club following their loss of many of their promising players. Royton Amateurs’ small active playing strength had never stopped their success on the field though this was in no small part due to the keen and intelligent management of the club. The Urmston club suffered the loss of their Secretary, Stubbs, but their Management Committee had ensured the name of the club was respected throughout the League both on and off the field. W. Willmer took on the role of Secretary and soon became Secretary of the League. South Salford Lads Club introduced a new team into Division 'A', despite the loss of many of their younger players to a higher standard of football and they continued with a team in the Junior Division.

 

Due to controversy arising from decisions made by club linesmen, the committee agreed to allow neutral linesmen to be appointed to games at a clubs’ request and at their cost.

 

The Junior Division boasted fourteen teams in this season and the maximum age was increased to twenty with an average age of eighteen and a half.

 

South Manchester made their debut in the League in September 1924 at Royton, where visitors were usually assured of a 'drubbing'. It was reported in a letter from R.H. Mitcheson of South Manchester that “they had heard that Royton were a big and fairly rough team but found them to be a team of good players and good sportsmen. They played a clever and clean game and were deserving winners, but South made them fight all the way for victory. South were confident they would give all comers a good game”.

 

In these early days it was commonplace for clubs to publicly praise their opponents and following the game against South Manchester the Royton club reported that they regarded South Manchester’s game as one of the most pleasant and enjoyable in which they had participated. The South Manchester team were praised for their sporting and efficient strengths and were ideally organised both on and off the field.

 

Bradford Parish suffered a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Urmston in October, and it appears a cause was the interpretation of the new off-side law introduced at the start of the season, which allowed a player to be in an off-side position and providing he was not interfering with play, the referee could allow play to continue. It appears Parish were left appealing on a number of occasions resulting in a hatful of goals for Urmston.

 

Later in the season one hundred and twenty goals were scored on one Saturday from sixteen games.

 

The question was asked whether the new off-side law was a success from an amateur viewpoint. It was obviously suited to the spectators, but the players may not have seen this plethora of goals as a way of enjoying their Saturday afternoons. An early observation from Committee of games covered by the League was the tendency of some players to “wax too eloquently during the game”.

 

Times have not changed though the eloquence may have.

 

Eddie Woollam was honoured by the Football Association by being selected as a linesman in a game between the FA and a Combined Universities XI played at Maine Road.

 

A game between Lancashire Amateurs and Birmingham Amateurs was played at Old Trafford in January 1925 with Bickmore from Urmston, Wood of Heaton Chapel, Sharpe of Royton, Woods of South Manchester and Coventry of West Didsbury selected for this game. Eddie Woollam was honoured again by refereeing the game.

 

The weather in the month of February was proving to be problem with many fixtures cancelled. The League President, Herbert Rhodes loaned the Stalybridge Celtic ground to Mottram to allow one of their cancelled games to be played.

 

Despite South Salford’s success on the field their accommodation was called into question by Heaton Moor who along with the referee and opponents were supplied with four bowls of water to clean themselves after the game.

 

The Rhodes Cup final was between the winners in the previous two seasons, Bradford Parish and Urmston, who were regarded as the outsiders. The game developed into a struggle between the Parish attack and the Urmston defence, who came out on top with the help of a single breakaway goal thus depriving Parish of a hat trick of wins in the competition.

 

Both teams were congratulated on their sportsmanship in a game enjoyed by one thousand spectators at the South Manchester ground. Urmston were also the first winners of the S.E. Woollam Aggregate trophy.

 

The First Division championship was won by Bramhall being the first Cheshire FA affiliated Club to do so, achieved by defeating Bradford Parish in the final game. The champions, Bramhall played the rest at Old Trafford and lost the encounter.

 

The opinion of one writer was that the 1924-25 season was the most successful in the sixteen years existence, with the winners of the divisional championships only being known in the final matches. The standard of football had shown a great improvement, and a true amateur spirit was in evidence.

 

The Committee received a letter from a player at the end of the season which read:

 

“I am a comparatively new player to the L&C, yet I can say with all sincerity I have never yet played in any League where sportsmanship is fostered and cultivated as it is in this League, where ideals rank above mere good football”.

 

1925-26 SEASON

 

The Junior Division started with eleven teams in season 1925-26 with the addition of Old Standians using the Stand Grammar School as a feeder for players.

 

Bradford Parish was reported to be keen to start the new season with a strengthened squad including two juniors who as schoolboys won county caps. The club entered a team in the Junior Division following their success in the previous season’s YMCA league, when they completed the season undefeated. Unfortunately, they lost their first game against Longsight 6-5, a game which was described as a tribute to both sides for their display of keenness, sportsmanship and ability.

 

During the season, the then President of the Football Association tabled a resolution to the FA Council to consider how best ‘schools football’ was to be developed and encouraged and how best the junior player was to be provided for from the time of leaving school until old enough to play with the 'seniors'.

 

The League’s attempts at answering this question had already been dealt with in 1921 when they launched their own Junior Division.

 

In season 1925-26 Eddie Woollam took on the role of League Chairman a position he held for the following thirty-seven years. He was also elected again to serve on the Amateur Committee at the Lancashire FA.

 

Weather issues are always going to be a talking point for the fixtures secretaries and 1925 was no exception, when in September a whole Saturday programme of games was wiped out, due to torrential rain. By November the Committee were experiencing fixture problems following cancellations due to the weather. A decision was taken that cup games would double as League fixtures.

 

Royton Amateurs experienced ground difficulties in the latter part of 1925 following a ban on the use of their ground due to a foot and mouth outbreak. They were fortunate in finding alternative accommodation nearby, where they played out the rest of the season.

 

The annual trial match to help with team selection for the forthcoming Inter League games was played in December and the referee was F. McWhirter, who two seasons previously had been playing for Urmston and his decision to take to the whistle was commended by Committee as they wished to encourage more players to stay in the game after retiring.

 

By the turn of the year the goal scoring proclivities of Harold Bell of Mottram was attracting the attention of numerous clubs as he scored fifty goals by the end of December, recording ‘hat tricks’ on no less than ten occasions. In January 1926 he was rewarded with selection by the Manchester FA in a NCAC Semi-Final and celebrated by scoring his eleventh ‘hat trick’ of the season His preference to stay at Mottram was admired though he did assist Stalybridge Celtic in mid-week matches.

 

Bradford Parish were disqualified from the 1925-26 Rhodes Cup competition after they refused to play extra time, the reason being that the team included three young players, who were not physically capable of carrying on for another thirty minutes, especially as the team had been reduced to ten men due to injury.

 

The season saw the Manchester and Salford Amateur Hospital Cup competition launched with the trophy being presented by Mr. Francis Godlee a well-known Manchester philanthropist, with all First Division clubs entered. The League donated £26 to the fund following the season’s competition.

 

The competition had been arranged in conjunction with the Lancashire Amateur League the winners of each of the League’s competitions playing off in a final with Bury Amateurs winning the inaugural game against Old Trafford St. Johns.

 

South Salford having been promoted to the First Division at the start of season 1925-26 lost no time in establishing themselves as being potentially the strongest club in the League by winning the title at their first attempt and sharing the Aggregate Trophy with Royton Amateurs.

 

Season 1925-26 saw the last games played in the Junior Division which was wound up owing to the difficulty clubs were experiencing in attracting players under the age of eighteen. The winners of the championship were Monton Amateurs with Bradford Parish runners-up though the club had the consolation of winning the Hellawell Shield.  Monton were to move up to Division A in the following season starting a long association with the League.

 

Eight of the League’s players were awarded their County FA badges with Hurst, H. Schofield and F. Crowther from Bradford Parish being selected for an FA XI against the Combined Universities as well as for the Lancashire FA in the NCAC together with J. Robinson from Old Trafford St. John’s. A. Stanway of West Didsbury, G. Pither of South Salford, N. Jones of Urmston and F. Gilbert of Bradford Parish were selected to represent Lancashire FA in a game against the Birmingham FA H. Bell of Mottram received a Manchester FA County cap. 

 

The League Dinner was postponed because of the general strike.

 

1926-27 SEASON

 

The First Division suffered the loss of two of its oldest clubs, as Old Trafford St John’s, the Rhodes Cup holders and Urmston were unable to continue.

 

West Didsbury gained from the break-up of the Old Trafford St John’s club by recruiting many of their better players. Looking at club changes in the new season, it was reported that Aldermere recruited many of the Urmston squad including Norman Jones. Bramhall were using a new ground after losing their original base to the inevitable house builder, as did Royton Amateurs. South Salford were able to retain last season’s successful team despite overtures to some of their players from professional clubs. Mottram were able to confirm the use of Stalybridge Celtic’s ground thanks to the kind offices of the League President.

 

Early in season 1926-27 Bradford Parish suffered the loss of their pavilion and the club’s kit and equipment in a fire. The loss was estimated at £100-0-0d and unfortunately the club did not carry insurance cover. A re-building fund was set up and the League gave a lead with a donation which was followed by donations of twenty guineas from Manchester United and £10-0-0d from the Lancashire FA. It was noticed in November 1926 that their new pavilion was opened before the game against West’s Amateurs.

 

In addition to Norman Jones, who was selected to play in an Amateur International trial, honours were achieved by Reg Ellis of Davenport who played for an FA Representative XI against the Combined Universities of Manchester and Liverpool and his club mate F. Eardley who represented Cheshire FA in a game against Cumberland in the NCAC.

 

The pattern of likely success in the 1926-27 was set with an early encounter between Bradford Parish and South Salford with the latter winning 5-3. The game was watched by Lancashire County selectors with Rogerson and Moores of South and Owen and Denton of Parish catching their eye.

 

There were many Saturdays during the winter when games were being played on the proverbial ‘mud heaps’ and ‘ice rinks’, though this did not seem to result in games being postponed. In February a report on the Bradford Parish v Chapelmoor game stated the ground surface was like ‘cast iron’, but despite this the game was played.

 

The Davenport club organised a social evening to celebrate the marriage of Reg Ellis. There was an enthusiastic gathering of past and present members to pay tribute to a popular skipper. In reply to the presentation, Reg said “he looked forward to his games with a team of pals against a team who he also welcomed as friends”.

 

The Rhodes Cup Quarter-Final saw South Salford losing to Davenport in what was described as a sporting and exhilarating contest. Davenport was joined by Longsight, Bramhall and West Didsbury in the Semi-Finals ensuring a new name on the trophy.

 

The Final was contested by Davenport a Cheshire affiliated club and West Didsbury from Lancashire, the first final between clubs from the two counties. The final attracted a good crowd played in wretched weather at the South Manchester ground, with real sportsmanship shown and was judged to be a great credit to the contestants. West Didsbury came out deserved winners. The South Manchester ground was becoming a favourite venue for special games. Davenport had their best season since joining the League by finishing runners-up in the title race and the Rhodes Cup.

 

Following the League game between West Didsbury and South Salford, which also counted as a Hospitals Cup-tie, a record attendance contributed £10-0-0d to the Hospitals Fund helping to exceed last season’s effort and producing a grand total of £33-0s-0d with an accumulated total of £46-0s-0d. 

 

An interesting side to this competition was that League games doubled as Hospital cup-ties and if the League game ended in a draw the game would go into extra-time to ensure a result for the Hospitals cup. South Salford won the competition beating Manchester YMCA 5-1 in the Inter League Play-off. A sum of £33-0-0d had been raised at games in the competition and was handed to the Hospitals Committee.  It was decided by committee that Second Division teams were to be included in the following season’s competition with the divisional winners playing off to decide who played the Lancashire Amateur League’s qualifier.

 

The month of April saw a glut of games to clear outstanding fixtures and South Salford came through their final three games with victories against Davenport, Royton and Bradford Parish at Cemetery Road, which game attracted the best crowd of the season at this venue. The home team had hopes of being the first team in the season to lower South Salford’s colours. This was not to be with their defeat by two goals, even though they came close to equality than the deficit implied. In the game, Rogerson, the Salford half back brought the house down with his clever display, well supported by Stalker, Slater and Tunstall, with Stafford, Gilbert and Whitby the pick of the losers. This run ensured South Salford won the First Division title again sweeping the board with twenty-four wins and adding the Aggregate Trophy to their silverware. They were finally defeated by ‘the Rest’ in the Annual Challenge Match. Longsight the champions of Division 'A' defeated ‘the Rest’ in their challenge match

 

 In the Secretary’s last report to members at the AGM, he was pleased to record that “the standard of sportsmanship the League tried to maintain had not diminished”. South Salford were congratulated on winning the First Division without the loss of a point and together with their successful Second XI were able to win the Aggregate Trophy. Since their admission to the Junior Division in season 1922-23 the South Salford club had won every trophy, the League offered with the exception of the Rhodes Cup.

 

1927-28 SEASON

 

At the end of season 1926-27, G.A. Fish stepped down from the Secretary’s role retaining a place on the Management Committee, with W. Willmer taking over the Secretary’s chair. Eddie Woollam, the Chairman was the generous donor of a new trophy which was to be named the Second Division championship cup. This was to be awarded to the winners of the new Second Division which replaced the old Division A which was retained thus making the league a three-division competition to accommodate the new clubs wishing to join the League. A vote of thanks was received from the Stockport Infirmary for the welcome addition of the sum of £8-17s-5d donated by the League from its Hospital Cup Competition.

 

It was reported that Aldermere, the League’s oldest Club was to celebrate this season the twenty-first anniversary of their formation. They were hopeful of enjoying a successful season with Norman Jones elected as team captain. It was interesting to note the number of players lost to clubs due to moving abroad for work reasons and Aldermere were to lose two players in the close season seeing one going to Africa and the other India.

 

Other clubs reported on their prospects for the season, with Bradford Parish retaining their chief players apart from Melling, who was going abroad. The club had signed a number of promising new players. Chapelmoor reported that they had enjoyed a holiday camp in the Isle of Man, where they started their pre-season training.

 

Davenport started the season without a ground reversing their home fixtures until facilities were secured in Hazel Grove.

 

The promoted club, Longsight, were relying on last season’s team, with the influx of a number of younger players promoted from the club’s junior team which played in another League.

 

Mottram were to continue playing at the Stalybridge ground and hoped to have the services of the prolific scorer Harold Bell.

 

All eyes were on South Salford, who lost a number of their talented squad to more senior clubs, though their backroom staff was unchanged.

 

West’s Amateurs had the ground at Ten Acres Lane, which was described as second to none in amateur circles having carried out even more improvements in the close season.

 

West Didsbury was hoping that the retirement of J. Edwards would not weaken the team as he agreed to play and coach their reserve XI continuing his eighteenth year with the club.

 

There were six new clubs in the League all competing in the new Second Division, from which two clubs were to be promoted. Following problems in recruiting players Bramhall were to enter the new division as were Union Chapel. Newcomers to the League included a returning Cheadle Heath Nomads and Styal, Oldham Hulmeians, Rusholme, Urmston, with no connection to the former club and Wilmslow Amateurs. Cheadle Hulme were reported to have drained and fenced their ground in the close season and rented an adjacent cottage for dressing room use with hot baths.

 

There was good news for the Cheshire affiliated clubs following the announcement that the County would only select amateur players playing solely in amateur competitions for their NCAC team.

 

Congratulations from committee were extended to R.H. Mitcheson of South Manchester on his selection to the Northern Counties team.

 

A cup competition for Division 'A' clubs was introduced in season 1927-28. The first Inter League game against the Liverpool Old Boys League was arranged in April 1929.

 

Minutes over the early years of the League competition included many complaints by clubs that their opponents were paying their players. This was never proved. At the February 1928 Committee meeting the chairman addressed the meeting on the question of the word ‘amateur’ pointing out there was a great possibility that the League could be faced, in the near future, with one of their hardest fights to contend with regarding the status of an ‘amateur’ in the game of football, but as nothing definite had yet occurred the issue was to be left in abeyance.

 

The Committee recorded the League’s appreciation of the selection for England of Norman Jones, Aldermere’s goalkeeper, in an amateur International match against Ireland. A letter offering the Committee’s heartiest congratulations was sent to the player.

 

October saw South Salford drop their first point since season 1925-26, when Davenport held them to a draw at Agecroft and this was followed by defeat at Royton. At this early time in the season there were only three clubs with a 100% record being, West Didsbury, Longsight and Royton.

 

Bradford Parish entertained a club from Liverpool called the Casuals in the Lancashire Amateur Cup and Johnson and Nephew generously loaned their ground at the Dingle, Newton Heath for the fixture, which provided the Parish with only their second victory of the season.

 

Despite changes in personnel, South Salford reached the Semi-Final of the Lancashire Amateur Cup following the defeat of the LAL club Bury Amateur and was able to progress to the Final after beating the strong Liverpool side, Marine at Westhoughton. The team were praised for their superiority in attack and determination in defence. The whole eleven pulled its weight to the last ounce, with O’Neill and Norrey in defence, Rogerson and Stalker at half-back and Slater and Tunstall in attack earning special mention.

 

The final tie was played at the Blackburn Rovers ground against Cadby Hall and resulted in an extra time defeat by five goals to four. South Salford were the first team from the League to reach the Final of this competition. This disappointment was tempered by success in the Rhodes Cup final, defeating Cheadle Hulme by the odd goal in five to complete a clean sweep of all trophies competed for in the League. The Rhodes Cup was opened up to Second Division clubs for the first time in this season.

 

Following a Play-off with West Didsbury for the First Division title, South Salford won the game 4-1 after extra time. West Didsbury overcame their disappointment with the reserve team finishing runners-up in Division 'A', resulting in the club winning the Aggregate Trophy. Mr J. Edwards founded the West Didsbury club in 1908 under the name of Christ Church, which eventually joined the League in 1920 since when the club had secured 234 First Division points as against Royton’s 218 and Davenport’s 201, these three clubs being the only ones in continuous membership since 1920.

 

Special thanks were expressed by West Didsbury to the Cheadle Heath Nomads club following the treatment of one of their players, whose leg was broken in the game. Thanks to the efficient first aid rendered by the home club, the player was conveyed to hospital in relative comfort. The Committee highlighted the need for all clubs to follow the example of Cheadle Heath in providing first aid appliances.

 

It was noted after Davenport defeated South Salford, the two teams with their officials enjoyed an evening together at the Davenport headquarters, the Royal Oak Hotel in Hazel Grove. The guests were entertained to vocal arrangements by players from the two clubs.

 

The 1927-28 season was further highlighted by the completion of the newly formed Second Division, which saw three new clubs prosper and fill the top three places. The clubs were Cheadle Heath Nomads, Styal and Wilmslow.

 

New clubs Cheadle Heath Nomads and Styal were promoted from the Second Division and in the Reserve Division A, Royton were the champions with West Didsbury runners-up. The Subsidiary Cup for reserve teams was played between these two teams and ended in a draw after extra time and a deciding game was arranged in the new season with West Didsbury being the first name of the Trophy.

 

1928-29 SEASON

 

The League entered into the twentieth season with only three changes in Committee, the resignation of W.B. Habishaw due to ill-health and the addition of A. Gordon from Union Chapel and H.E. Colvin of Old Standians.

 

An application from Stretford Grammar School Old Boys was considered by Committee and accepted and the club continue as members to the present day.

 

Wilbrahampton Amateurs were also accepted as were Second XIs from Streford Grammar, Oldham Hulmeians and Urmston Amateurs occupying places in Division 'A'. Chorlton Albion was also forced to resign due to shortage of players.

 

Aldermere were expecting to continue the progress made in the last season as were Bradford Parish who had recruited several promising youngsters and hoped to be likely challengers for honours.

 

Cheadle Hulme was changing grounds to Woods Lane where they still reside eighty years on. Cheadle Heath was expected to pay attention to their reserve side, which did not perform well in the last season.

 

Davenport was subject to changes in officials with Reg Ellis the County Amateur taking on the Secretary’s role, though A. Hemmings was to continue as President.

 

An important ruling was given by the FA at the start of the season, which was of particular interest to the League. Any amateur competition could include in its rules the following amendment:

 

 “For the purposes of this competition each member shall pay an annual subscription to his club, provide his own outfit and pay his own expenses”.

 

 It was therefore recognised that the League’s fundamental rule regarding the matter of amateurism was in order.           

 

Committee introduced a new scheme whereby clubs were asked to supply reports on referees to enable committee to judge the efficiency of the appointed officials.

 

The AGM saw the appointment of F.W. Moss, the late Secretary of Aldermere, as a Vice President, the resignation from Committee of J. Hamer and the nomination and acceptance of T.R. Ellis of Davenport to fill the vacant position on the Management Committee.

 

The first NCAC game involved the Lancashire FA playing against Sheffield and Hallamshire with Norman Jones, R.H. Mitcheson from South Manchester, A. Norrey and Jack Rogerson of South Salford and E. Tunstall (reserve) also of South Salford being selected and finishing on the winning side. R.H. Mitcheson received a further honour in November by being selected to represent the Northern Counties to play against the Southern Counties, an honour that was universally acclaimed and the League committee offered their hearty congratulations.

 

Further recognition came the way of Jones, Mitcheson and Rogerson by the Lancashire FA in a game against London Amateurs on the 1st December and they were joined by Stalker, Norrey and Tunstall all from South Salford as reserves. The Lancashire County team were defeated in the Semi-Final of the NCAC by the West Riding played on a snow covered pitch at Bradford. The only League player to receive further recognition was Jones who was chosen to play for the rest in an Amateur International trial in February.

 

South Salford opened their defence of the First Division title with a 7-1 demolition of Bradford Parish. Despite the score-line Parish gave promise of a better season ahead. South fielded a young side averaging a few months over twenty-one. The last week in September saw Royton Amateurs achieve what no other club had done before, when they defeated South Salford at their Agecroft ground by the odd goal in three. By the last Saturday in October Rusholme were the only team out of the three Divisions to have collected maximum points.

 

The Hospital Cup games started in October, and it was suggested players may like to contribute to the cause as well as the spectators. One of the League’s long serving referees, F. Thompson was appointed to take charge of the NCAC game between Liverpool FA and Cumberland FA and this appointment was noted with pleasure by the Committee. It was reported that J. Rogerson the County half-back was moving from South Salford to South Manchester. Jack Jones of Davenport was selected to represent the Cheshire FA in their NCAC match against the West Riding FA.

 

Bradford Parish again used the facilities of West’s Amateurs to entertain St. Julien’s from Liverpool. The game ended in a draw at the end of the ninety minutes, but the referee failed to apply the competition rule to play extra time. The County Cup Committee ruled that Bradford Parish should host the second game, and their opponents declined to return to Manchester and forfeited the game.

 

It was noted that Malcolm Taylor a Lancashire County cricketer was turning out for Royton Amateurs this season. In mid-December, South Manchester occupied the next to last position in the First Division. By the end of February, they were in second place following seven successive victories the last of which was against South Salford. This form may have been partly due to obtaining the services of Jack Rogerson, who was able to bring out the best of an otherwise average team.

 

Unfortunately, their run over three months resulting in achieving twenty-one out of a total twenty-two points ended at the end of March when they were defeated by Styal and appeared to lose the opportunity of finishing runners-up in the First Division. This was not to be as they reached the last game of the season needing a win against South Salford and this they achieved inflicting the only double suffered by South Salford in the season.

 

This sent South Manchester into a Play-off with West Didsbury as they both finished on twenty-nine points, which they duly won to end what could only be described as a dream season following their disastrous start.

 

South Manchester added the Hospital Cup to their success in the season, following the defeat of Rusholme in the League final they overcame the LAL champions, Old Boltonians in a rousing contest, which resulted in South Manchester winning their first ever trophy.

 

There had been an unfortunate number of players breaking their legs in the season and one such event in the South Manchester and Cheadle Hulme reserve team game was reported on, as the attending St. John’s Ambulance Brigade at Burton Road were able to treat the player concerned an ensure a safe and speedy transfer to hospital.

 

The League Committee were able to report that in all of these unfortunate cases the presence of first aid equipment on the ground was paramount in the safe execution of treatment.

 

The Rhodes Cup Final was played at Burton Road and the St John’s Ambulance were given permission to take a collection for their funds. The season ended with the expected clean sweep by the South Salford club failing to materialise, as Royton Amateurs defeated them in both the Rhodes Cup and Subsidiary Cup finals leaving them to collect the First and Division A titles together with the Aggregate Trophy. Chapelmoor were the Second Division champions.