1929 - 1939

1929-30 SEASON
 
Elected to league membership: Old Stopfordians, Old Urmstonians and Stockport Secondary School Old Boys.
 
Resignations: West’s Amateurs
 
West’s were forced through the trade depression to resign but it was reported that eighteen clubs wished to enter a Second XIs, which resulted in the formation of two divisions one for reserve sides from First Division teams and Second Division teams respectively.
 
As there were only nine members of each division it was decided that the Subsidiary Cup competition would be arranged on the basis of each team playing an extra fixture against the other teams in their division and the team with the most points or better goal difference in the two divisions would play off a final tie to declare the winner.
 
A late application for membership was received and accepted from Stockport Secondary School Old Boys Association, which was to later become Old Stoconians who remain members until the present day.
 
NORTH VERSUS SOUTH
 
A question in the press was asked why the amateur game in the north should lag behind that in the south. An argument was presented that the northern professional game was too strong with so many clubs creaming off the best talent and the low attendances at amateur games, where gate money was a necessary requirement to survive. There were no northern teams to equal Dulwich Hamlet, Ilford, Clapton and Wimbledon in the south with the result that no serious challenge was ever made to the southern dominance of the English FA Amateur Cup. Were the governing bodies at fault or were the leagues run on provincial lines resulting in a lack of interest in the amateur game? On many occasions this topic was reported in the League’s minutes especially the apparent falling off of interest by members of the Lancashire FA Council in amateur football generally and an alliance of amateur leagues met to discuss the issues and agreed to send a deputation to interview the council to raise the members concerns.
 
The Management Committee believed in the minimum of interference in club affairs, but they felt the need to be able to cancel player’s registrations if their behaviour warranted such action, which was approved by the club members.
 
It was noted that club members were required to submit balance sheets each season and if these were not forthcoming by a certain date club officers were called before the Management Committee.
 
It was agreed at an Executive Meeting with the clubs to introduce a special Benevolent Fund in season 1930-31 for the benefit of the players and each player registered with the League be charged the sum of 3d for his League registration. The control of the fund was to be vested in the hands of the Management Committee.
 
Questions were asked on the first Saturday of the 21st season as to whether South Salford’s dominance was to be broken following their defeat at the hands of Bradford Parish, who had lost the services of three of their strongest players. Old Urmstonians were the only new club to register a win. Norman Jones found himself in unfamiliar territory with Aldermere playing as a forward and showing his usual polish by scoring two goals.
 
Cheshire FA selected T.R. Ellis from Davenport and T. Bishop from Cheadle Hulme to represent the county in the NCAC competition with R. Haslam of Cheadle Heath Nomads a travelling reserve. N. Jones of Aldermere and L. Stalker of South Salford had also been selected to represent Lancashire FA in the competition. The result was victory for the former county. The next round was against the Liverpool FA, when Bishop and Ellis were again selected and following a draw in the first game Cheshire were soundly beaten in the replay.
 
South Salford entered the English Amateur Cup and was unfortunately defeated by Earle 4-2. This was their first venture into this competition and whilst their exit was in the Second Preliminary Round there was hope that the venture would be repeated. Despite this set back South progressed to the Third Round of the Lancashire Amateur Cup following their defeat of Formby and one observer commented that South did nothing but reflect credit on the club and League by splendid sporting play and teamwork. The next round saw another success for South against Waterloo Park a strong I-Zingari League team from Liverpool resulting in their passage into the season’s Semi-Finals for the second time in three seasons. Unfortunately, the same success was not enjoyed by the League’s clubs in the Cheshire Amateur Cup following defeats for Davenport and Cheadle Heath Nomads. South Salford met Cadby Hall in the Semi-Final of the Lancashire Amateur Cup hoping to avenge their defeat by these opponents in the 1928 final. South came away disappointed in a close encounter. The game was played on the Liverpool club’s ground as a neutral venue normally expected in a semi-final was not provided for in the cup rules.
 
South Manchester secured their first final victory in the Rhodes Cup beating the First Division champions, South Salford 3-2 after extra time. These two contestants then met a week later in the Hospitals’ Cup Divisional final, with South Manchester inflicting their second defeat on their opponents, which reflected the strength of South Manchester in the season, as they finished runners-up to South Salford in the title race. Following South Manchester’s defeat of Monton Amateurs, the Second Division winners, they continued their stunning form by defeating the LAL representative, Bury Amateurs 4-0 to lift the Hospitals’ Cup for the second year running. Monton Amateurs were the winners of the Second Division only a year after they applied for re-election after finishing bottom of the division.
 
1930-31 SEASON
 
The twenty-first season saw applications for membership from the Heald Green and Oldham Secondary School Old Boys clubs, which were duly accepted by the members. Unfortunately, Oldham Hulmeians and Wilmslow Amateurs resigned from the competition.
 
Monton Amateurs and Union Chapel were promoted to the First Division to replace the relegated clubs, Cheadle Hulme and Mottram Amateurs. These changes resulted in only one Cheshire FA. affiliated club being in the First Division.
 
The Subsidiary Cup competition for 2nd XIs, which now totalled twenty, was to be played in four groups of five teams with the winners of each group contesting the semi-finals. The medical charities cup competition raised the sum of £43-0-0d distributed to the Manchester and Stockport Infirmaries making a total of £260-0-0d raised over eight seasons.
 
After considerable work in the close season by A.W. Ellis (Secretary) and J. Warmisham (Treasurer), Committee sanctioned the formation of a new Junior Division, for which special rules were drafted and approved by the members. There were twelve teams split into two divisions.  The maximum age of eight of the players was to be eighteen and a half with permission to make up the side with three players of open age.
 
It was resolved at the September meeting that the following be appointed Vice-Presidents of the League in recognition of the long service rendered by them to their clubs and the League: F.W. Gray (Aldermere), A. Hennings (Davenport), J.W. Mottershead (West Didsbury), G.P. Whitehead (South Salford) and W.H. Burling (Cheadle Hulme). Cheadle Hulme was forced to resign from the League as they had been unable to find a ground for the season.
 
South Salford entered their twenty-first season as favourites for honours and their founder G.P. Whitehead became President of the club. It was noted that Jack Rogerson returned to the club from South Manchester together with other players which could only have strengthened an already formidable team.
 
The Davenport club also celebrated their twenty-first season. The new teams in the First Division, Monton and Union Chapel were now using new and improved grounds. Mottram lost the use of the excellent facilities at Stalybridge Celtic but were able to secure use of the Mossley FC ground, which would have been appreciated by members of the Second Division.
 
It was noted that Malcolm Taylor, the Lancashire County cricketer returned to Royton Amateur’s team in October and contributed to a good win in the Lancashire Amateur Cup. He was also a member of the winning Inter League team. Harold Bell’s scoring abilities for Mottram have already been recorded and in November he even surpassed his own records by scoring five goals in a ten-minute period against Old Standians.
 
South Salford entered the English Amateur Cup competition again and overcame Earle in a replay to reach the last qualifying round with a game against Harrowby from the Wirral. The tie went to a replay, which South won 5-3 at Agecroft, resulting in their progression into the First Round Proper with a visit to Birmingham Gas Officials FC Unfortunately, South lost 2-1 with the opponent’s winner coming from an own goal.
 
Frank Sharpe of Royton was selected to represent Lancashire FA in an NCAC game against Cheshire who included T.R. Ellis from Davenport. The latter mentioned player was also selected to play a later game against the Liverpool FA.
 
Bradford Parish was enjoying their best season for many years and by the end of December they were top of the division having only dropped one point and South Salford having played four fewer games was also unbeaten and seven points adrift. An exciting new year was in prospect.
 
By the end of January, the title race was as good as over after South defeated Bradford Parish 6-1, who also lost to West Didsbury. Parish was able to inflict the first defeat on South Salford in their return game in February.
 
The rivalry continued into the Rhodes Cup Final which was contested between the two clubs at the Denton RSOB ground. Most games on the day were cancelled to allow players and officials to watch the game. The crowd was estimated to exceed four figures with three hundred schoolboys in attendance. South Salford ran out easy winners 4-0. Bradford Parish were congratulated on pushing South Salford to the wire in the championship race as the winner was not decided until the final game of the season, when South Salford pipped Parish for the title by two points.
 
In twenty-two games played, South Salford scored one hundred goals and only conceded twenty-six.
 
In addition to the trophies won by their First XI, South Salford’s Second XI won the Reserve Division and Subsidiary Cup the two teams combining to win the Aggregate Trophy a truly remarkable achievement.
 
South Salford’s application for full membership to Lancashire FA was refused and questions were asked by the League Committee as to how a successful club such as South Salford could be denied full membership of the county.
 
The final of the Hospitals Cup competition was played between Royton and Oldham SSOB and in view of the local rivalry, the use of Boundary Park was provided by the directors of Oldham Athletic. The Old Boys had enjoyed a successful first season in the League by winning the Second Division championship and reaching the final of the Hospitals’ Cup.
 
Davenport celebrated their twenty-first anniversary by gaining promotion from the Second Division and organizing a dinner at the end of the season and Albert Hennings, who had remained President throughout the twenty-one years, received a gift from the grateful assembly. In addition to his work for the club, Albert was one of the League’s auditors. 
 
1931-32 SEASON
 
There had been ongoing financial problems with the Longsight club for some time, and these came to a head in the close season when committee cancelled the club’s membership.
 
Their place in the First Division was taken by Cheadle Heath Nomads, who were to have been relegated along with Union Chapel. Oldham SSOB and Davenport were promoted from the Second Division.
 
Applications for membership were received and accepted from Denton RSOB who had won the Junior Division in the previous season and were credited with good sportsmanship and excellent management epitomized by their chairman, S. Pitt an old League player.
 
Membership applications were also received from Old Glossopians, who had played friendly matches for two seasons limiting their playing membership to old boys of Glossop Grammar School, Old Bedians and Stockport Georgians, who had been members of a local Stockport league for four seasons.
 
The Junior Division was to be continued but was renamed the Third Division in view of the fact that open age players could be included up to a maximum of three per team. It was interesting to note that Denton RSOB, Old Urmstonians, Bramhall, Chapelmoor, Old Margaretians and Old Bedians had two teams in the division which was split into two sections.
 
Jack Rogerson of South Salford was selected to represent the North against the South in an Amateur International trial and was duly congratulated by committee.
 
The Hospital Cup competition raised £52-0-0d which was split between Stockport and Manchester Infirmaries.
 
The differences experienced between the amateur leagues and Lancashire FA were resolved in the summer and a new Lancashire FA Amateur Committee was instituted to exercise control of the amateur cup competition and all amateur matches in which the county may take part and in the selection of the teams. The League’s Chairman, Eddie Woollam was elected a member of the Committee.
 
South Salford was again looked upon as the team to beat in the First Division following six successive seasons as champions. The club entered the English Amateur Cup again and their playing strength had been maintained for another season, with the average age at twenty-two years.
 
Last season’s runners up, Bradford Parish, was expected to run them close, as they had recruited two players with schoolboy honours and were hopeful that they would help to rival South Salford as they had done eight years previously when they had such good players as Schofield, Warburton, Melling, Jameson, Hanson and Ibbotson.
 
An early game in the season between West Didsbury and South Salford at Christie’s resulted in an appreciation from one of the many spectators as follows: ”the team impressed as a happy enthusiastic band, keen to play and playing a sporting game, not glorying in its superiority and supplying an incentive to opponents to give wholeheartedly of their best”.
 
Bradford Parish entertained South Salford at Cemetery Road in October, and the game ended in a 2-2 draw played in front of a large partisan crowd. The state of the Cemetery Road ground had been criticized on numerous occasions, but the Committee reminded clubs that the ground was accepted at the time of the club’s admittance into the League and had to be played on but once a season for opponents, whereas the home team were there every other week.
 
Jack Rogerson again received the honour of selection for Lancashire FA in a Northern Counties amateur side against the South at the Blackpool FC ground.
 
A newspaper correspondent attended a game between Davenport and West Didsbury at Chapel Street Farm, Hazel Grove. He reported on how impressed he was in the standard of play and felt professional clubs would be better served in sending scouts to these types of games as against going to Scotland in search of talent. It was mentioned that West Didsbury had supplied Manchester United with their reserve goalkeeper, Tom Thompson and Joe O’Beirne late of Burnley.
 
South Salford successfully overcame Preston GSOB in a preliminary round of the English Amateur Cup and followed this with victory against Cadby Hall to pass into the First Round Proper, where they were defeated by Players’ Athletic from Nottingham, a team which had won their league’s divisional championship on seven occasions, a similar record to that of South Salford.
 
Lancashire FA selected Rogerson and Dargie both from South Salford to play in the NCAC Semi-Final against Cheshire FA and included amateur players from Manchester City, Preston North End and Burnley. Despite having a strong side on paper they were beaten by their better opponents, who included seven Northern Nomads players.
 
South Manchester gave the Committee advanced warning that they were to lose their excellent ground to the builders, which had happened too often to clubs in the League.
 
The Rhodes Cup Final was contested by the First Division winners, South Salford and Stockport Georgians the winners of the Second Division with the former team retaining the trophy 5-1.
 
The League Hospital Cup Final was won by South Salford in defeating their Second Division rivals, Heald Green. They qualified to meet Chorlton from the LAL and were beaten 3-2 in the deciding match of the competition.
 
The First Division honours went to South Salford, who also won the Aggregate Trophy. Stockport Georgians were champions of the Second Division, with Styal taking honours in the Division A and Old Urmstonians in the Third Division. The Subsidiary Cup was won by Heald Green, who finished runners up in the Second Division.
 
1932-33 SEASON
 
Oldham SSOB was in default under Rule 2 and as a result the club was excluded from membership of the League.
 
It was agreed that the First Division membership would increase to fourteen and as a result there was no relegation and Stockport Georgians and Heald Green were promoted, with Aldermere, Bramhall and South Manchester elected to fill the remaining places.
 
Membership of the Second Division was reduced to fourteen with Heaton Moor College Old Boys being elected to the division. There were twenty-two teams in the reserve divisions and nine in the Third Division.
 
South Salford applied for full membership of the Lancashire FA and failed again. Committee resolved they would lobby the LFA on the club’s behalf.
 
Union Chapel resigned from the competition at the start of the season and Committee approved an application from West Manchester to take on the former club’s fixtures in the Second Division. Urmston Amateurs were also forced to resign in November due to lack of support. The sum of £55-0-0d was raised for the medical charities.
 
Ground improvements were the order of the day at the start of the new season with South Salford, Heald Green, Bramhall, Aldermere and South Manchester all reporting changes in ground or up-grading of existing facilities.
 
The Chapelmoor captain, Harry Irving was starting his fourteenth season and was reported as having only missed two games in this period. A similar record for Hugh Mitcheson of South Manchester was reported, as he had never missed a club match for ten seasons.
 
Lancashire FA donated the trophy competed for by the NCAC and as yet had never won the competition. It was decided to make greater efforts this time and area trial matches were arranged including a Manchester v Rochdale game.
 
The county side reached the Final following victories against Liverpool and Cheshire with Jack Rogerson giving a sterling performance in the Semi-Final. Unfortunately, the county lost the Final to the West Riding FA due partly in the playing of a new formation which included a third back. Despite this Jack Rogerson was the pick of the Lancashire team. The Committee was anxious to strengthen contacts with schools in the area and announced that games would be arranged between schools and representative sides.
 
South Salford started their English Amateur cup campaign with a win on the Wirral against Harrowby and followed this with a win in the next round against Formby. They were drawn against Earle in the next round and won a replay in Liverpool 3-2 to advance into the First Round Proper for another season. Unfortunately, their run came to an end at Agecroft with their opponents, Whitehall Printers from Leeds proving too strong for a weakened South due to injury problems.
 
Stockport Georgians the First Division leaders at the year end, showed their strength in their first season in the First Division by holding South Salford, who dropped three points over the Christmas period.
 
Old Standians were enjoying a good run in the Rhodes Cup following victories against four First Division teams resulting in their appearance in the Final for the first time against South Salford, who proved too good for the underdogs who went down only after a considerable fight by two goals to nil.
 
This victory gave South Salford their third successive Rhodes Cup victory. Both teams had further success with Standians gaining promotion to the First Division following a Play-off victory for second place in the Second Division against Styal bringing to an end a ten-year struggle to enter the top flight.
 
South Salford completed their programme by winning their eighth First Division championship and also won their Hospitals Cup Final against Bolton Wyresdale. The League contributed a further £55-0-0d to the charities fund making their donations in excess of £400-0-0d since the scheme started.
 
Denton RSOB continued their drive from the Junior Division by winning the Second Division title, Styal won the Aggregate Trophy, with Royton Amateurs taking the Reserve Division championship and Rusholme the Subsidiary Cup. Old Urmstonians were successful for the second year in taking the Third Division title.
 
1933-34 SEASON
 
Applications for membership were received and accepted from Civil Service, Cheadle Hulme and Wilbrampton Old Boys, who changed their name to East Chorlton.
 
The Committee reluctantly accepted the resignation of the Davenport club in November due to shortage of players. The Club had been in membership of the League since 1913 and despite never winning any honours had always provided able players and administrators giving their wholehearted support to the League.
 
The new clubs were causing problems in Committee with Civil Service failing to conduct their business to the required standard and incurring excessive fines and East Chorlton making illegal approaches to players. Due to persistent breach of League rules, the Civil Service club was excluded from the League in April.
 
The Third Division was operated by a separate committee under the excellent leadership of A.W. Ellis. The age restrictions were withdrawn in this season allowing the division to become open age, with committee encouraging clubs to field third teams. The Hospitals Cup competition had yielded a further £50-0-0d which was split between the Manchester and Stockport Infirmaries and Park Hospital, Davyhulme. 
 
In their first game in the League, East Chorlton signalled their intentions by defeating Old Bedians by eight goals to three and this started a dominance that was to lead to the winning of many honours after the Second World War Lancashire FA arranged a trial game in the early part of the season with eight League players selected. The game was refereed by the League Chairman, Eddie Woollam. The final selection included only four players from amateur clubs the remainder having professional club connections. The team was to be captained by the ever-dependable Jack Rogerson. After a replay the County team lost to the Liverpool FA. Additional County honours were won by Allen of West Didsbury, Winterbottom and Barratt of Royton and Cunliffe of Stockport Georgians.
 
South Salford suffered their first defeat of the season in early October at the hands of Royton and offered hope to all teams in the division that the championship may not be a one-horse race
 
In January Royton inflicted a rare double on South Salford. Despite this set back South won their First-Round game in the English Amateur Cup against Manchester Corporation Transport Services but lost their next at Port Sunlight. The season followed a predictable course with South Salford retaining the First Division title and reaching the final of the Rhodes Cup defeating Bradford Parish in the Semi-Final, though Parish had their revenge in the Hospitals Cup.
 
The Rhodes Cup final was an embarrassment to West Didsbury, who were on the receiving end of an 8-0 thrashing at the hands of South Salford.
 
East Chorlton was formed in 1930 and viewed a place in the League as a future milestone. After achieving membership, they proved their strength by winning the Second Division championship in their first season coupled with the Aggregate Trophy and the Subsidiary Cup.
 
Birchfields were the winners of the Third Division and Bradford Parish were the finalists in the Hospitals cup. The Hellawell Shield became the Third Division clubs’ own Hospitals Cup competition and was won by Birchfields.
 
1934-35 SEASON
 
Following the resignation of Messrs Heywood and Colvin from Committee Messrs Croft and Moult were appointed. In addition, Committee was saddened to hear the League President and founder Herbert Rhodes had left the district and resigned his position. The League was indebted to the services of this true sportsman throughout his twenty-five years’ service.
 
Committee decided that in future the position of president would change annually, and Jimmie Rennie was appointed to the post in the new season. Jimmie was also a founder member of the League.
 
Aldermere and Heald Green were relegated from the First Ddivision being replaced by East Chorlton and Styal. The Second Division was strengthened by the inclusion of a re-elected Cheadle Hulme and Birchfields, together with Manchester Education Committee and Old Ashtonians.
 
The Reserve 'A' Division was represented by all First Division second teams apart from Bradford Parish with Birchfields, Cheadle Hulme, Old Ashtonians and Old Glossopians unable to enter teams in Division 'B'. An application by the Civil Service was not recommended.
 
The financial status of the League was improving and Committee agreed to place the sum of £100-0-0d in a suitable investment with the Manchester and Salford Savings Bank. A referee in a Second Division game had allowed the substitution of an injured player and the matter had to be resolved by Committee.
 
A. Ridgway resigned from Committee during the season. A letter of congratulations was sent by Committee to the Bramhall club on them being the first club in the League to reach the Semi-Final of the Cheshire Amateur cup. Following events in a game against Old Standians,
 
Styal were informed they had to post a notice on their ground warning spectators as to their conduct and that any repetition would lead to their ground being closed.
 
There appeared to be an increasing number of players being dismissed from the field of play, much to the consternation of Committee, who would in future start cancelling player registrations for the worst offenders.
 
South Salford announced they were moving their headquarters to Edison Road in Eccles, which provided an enclosed ground with an excellent pitch and comfortable dressing rooms. It was acknowledged that long serving player W. Dargie was a prime mover in ensuring the new ground came up to standard.
 
The club entered the English Amateur Cup again and it was noted one hundred and twelve teams entered from the North and Midlands with two hundred and sixty-three from London and the South.
 
Their First Round was successfully navigated against local opposition in Manchester Corporation Transport resulting in an away game at Whitehaven which necessitated a six-hour train journey and eventually the game finished a 4-4 draw.
 
Whitehaven refused to travel to Salford for the replay and withdrew from the competition. Salford eventually arrived home after midnight to end a successful day. Unfortunately, their run came to an end in the next round against Farsley Celtic.
 
Bramhall made good progress through the early rounds of the Cheshire amateur cup. They qualified for the Fifth Round by beating Bredbury Steel Works Their promising player O’Dowd was awarded county honours in a NCAC game against Liverpool FA. Bramhall’s successful run came to an end in the Semi-Final against Shell Mex played at the Altrincham ground, where they gave a plucky display but were well beaten by stronger opponents.
 
Lancashire FA arranged a trial game between a combined League and LAL XI against the Rest of the County, with five players from the League in the team. Committee arranged a game between representative teams from the First and Second Divisions the proceeds from which would be donated to the Prince of Wales Jubilee fund. Tickets for the game were priced at 3d and the gate realised the sum of £6-0-0d equivalent to four hundred and eighty spectators.
 
The season finished with South Salford winning their tenth successive First Division title, added to which was their fifth successive Rhodes Cup followed by the Aggregate Trophy. MEC won the Second Division title with Cheadle Heath Nomads winning the play off for the Reserve Division championship and Denton RSOB were successful in the final of the Subsidiary Cup competition. The Third Division was won by the Linotype and Machinery Apprentices. South Salford represented the League in the final of the Hospitals Cup. The League Committee honoured South Salford with the award of tankards in recognition of their twenty-fifth anniversary and their winning of the First Division title for the tenth time.
 
1935-36 SEASON
 
Apart from the promotion of MEC and Aldermere into the First Division and the relegation of Styal and Chapelmoor, there were no new applicants for membership.
 
The Reserve Divisions continued on the same lines as previously and the Third Division was open to Third and Fourth teams of members and new single team clubs.
 
The Hospitals Cup competition raised £40-0-0d which sum was distributed to the Stockport, Salford and Manchester Infirmaries. The total contributions to good causes had now reached £600-0-0d. The elected President for the season was F.R. Gray a greatly admired sportsman, who had been actively associated with Aldermere, since the club was formed and his interest in amateur sport had spanned sixty years. It was a fitting tribute that the first clubman to receive the honour should be associated with the League’s oldest club.
 
The League Committee recognized the twenty-five years’ service of their Chairman Eddie Woollam by presenting him with a framed Inter league team photograph and wristlet watch at the start of the season.
 
Following the death of the King it was resolved by Committee that the games scheduled for the Saturday after his death be postponed.
 
An early season trial for the Cheshire FA representative team introduced N. Pickford from Bramhall but his position was not determined as he had played in all eleven positions for his club.
 
Royton occupied top spot in the First Division at the end of November thanks to sterling defensive displays from Walter Winterbottom. Bradford Parish reported that their quest for a new ground had been achieved by securing the Ashton Moss Athletic ground at Audenshaw, rewarding all the hard work by the club committee and in particular the secretary A.T. Cook.
 
Cheshire FA selected O’Dowd and Sturgess from Bramhall and Henson from Cheadle Heath Nomads in their NCAC game against Staffordshire, newcomers to the competition. Unfortunately, Cheshire lost the game.
 
South Salford was the team to beat as always and Old Standians were the first team to achieve this objective as early as October with a 5-2 victory. Wilkinson in goal for Standians maintained his excellent form, which was recognized by the Lancashire FA selectors with his inclusion in a county trial.  Old Stretfordians were the only team holding on to a 100% record and they experienced a day to remember in beating South Salford in the Lancashire Amateur Cup.
 
South Salford’s ground at Barton came in for criticism in December when it was referred to as a rough and uneven surface with parts likened to open moorland. Questions were asked as to why the Football Association, who controlled great wealth, could not through the Playing Fields Association offer grants to improve playing facilities for amateurs. Despite the hillocks and cavities, the game between South Salford and Rusholme was a classic won by Salford.
 
Bradford Parish’s new ground also came in for scrutiny as it appeared the club liked an industrial background for their games, having played under the shadow of the Bradford gasometer for so long and changed for the slag heaps of the Audenshaw pits. The good news was the improvement in the playing surface.
 
The season finished with the customary success for South Salford with their eleventh First Division title coupled with the Rhodes Cup and Hospitals Cup for the First XI and the Subsidiary Cup for their Second XI.
 
Old Stretfordians maintained their form throughout the season winning the Second and Reserve Division titles and the Aggregate Trophy. The Third Division and Hellawell Shield was won by Hope AFC. 
 
1936-37 SEASON
 
A. Hennings, who had been a League Auditor since 1919, and the Chairman of Davenport accepted the nomination for President. A.W. Ellis, who had acted as Secretary for the Third Division submitted a report to Committee following which it was agreed that the rules of the division be scrapped, and the division became part of the parent body and that Mr Ellis be appointed Assistant Honorary Secretary to continue the work of the division.
 
A new rule was introduced at the AGM which restricted membership to the First and Second Divisions to clubs only able to apply for membership of the Reserve Division. In view of the introduction of this rule Bradford Parish entered a Second XI in the Reserve ‘A’ Division. Six member clubs entered Third teams in the Third Division.
 
Rusholme and Cheadle Heath Nomads were relegated to the Second Division with Old Stretfordians and Chapelmoor taking their places. Hope AFC was elected to the Second Division and Wilbrampton, Heaton Moor COB and Cheadle Hulme resigned and Old Ashtonians were declared no longer members.
 
A new player’s insurance scheme was introduced, and the Committee loaned the sum of £10-0-0d to help towards the initial cost of the scheme.
 
The Football Association was encouraging Leagues to arrange games against local schools and the first to benefit were St Bedes College and Stretford Grammar School.
 
South Salford started the season with the loss of Leverton and McCulloch, though Jack Rogerson returned following a cartilage operation. The club secured a new ground in Winton which was declared as being spacious measuring 120 yards by 75 yards. This was obviously to the liking of Bradford Parish, who inflicted an early defeat on South Salford.
 
Following East Chorlton’s success in the previous season they were hoping to challenge the favourites as were Denton RSOB, who on their day were capable of challenging any team in the League.
 
Aldermere reported that they were to enjoy the services of Eddie Phillipson for another season. He was a Lancashire cricketer of some repute playing one hundred and sixty-two games over fifteen years for Lancashire averaging 25.76 with the bat and taking 555 wickets at an average of 24.72. Old Stretfordians also reported the signing of C.W. Brand a renowned swimmer.
 
The first NCAC game of the season was between Cheshire and Lancashire and included a number of League players, namely Pickford from Bramhall with Henson of Cheadle Heath Nomads for Cheshire and Baker from Aldermere for Lancashire with Rogerson as reserve. The League sent a representative team to play Stretford Grammar school to follow up last season’s inaugural game.
 
South Manchester languishing at the foot of the Second Division table produced a surprise in the Lancashire Amateur Cup in beating Liverpool University in an early round and followed this with a further win against Manchester YMCA.
 
In the following Third Round tie, South Manchester met Earle at home and following a series of bizarre incidents, which included their opponents measuring the pitch claiming it was too small, demanding a change of ball, refereeing decisions that did not meet with Earle’s approval and finally had a penalty claim turned down, which then resulted in the Earle team walking off the pitch with ten minutes play outstanding. South Manchester stayed on the pitch for the remaining period and the Lancashire FA awarded the game to them giving them entry to the quarter finals, which was lost to Maghull.
 
South Salford also made progress as did Bramhall in the Cheshire Amateur cup reaching the Fifth Round. MEC met up with South Salford in the Second Round of the Lancashire Amateur Cup and with both clubs’ agreement the game counted as a League fixture. MEC lost out and lessened their chances of winning the First Division title.
 
South Salford reached the final of the competition by defeating, Cadby Hall, Old Margaretians and Maghull in the Semi-Final winning a replay 2-1, despite having to make six positional changes due to injury and unavailability.
 
The Final was played on Easter Monday at the Bolton Wanderer’s ground against Liverpool Orrell and South Salford had the satisfaction of winning this prestigious competition, by four goals to two, for the first time giving Messrs McCulloch, Rogerson and Stalker the added satisfaction of reversing the result of the 1928 final in which they played and lost to Cadby Hall.
 
South Salford, the holders of the Rhodes Cup were defeated in an early round by Denton RSOB, who maintained their pursuit of the First Division title through to the last game of the season which eventually resulted in South Salford winning the title, for the twelfth time, by one point from Denton after the former club had played seven games in fourteen days to clear their back log of fixtures.
 
Cheadle Heath Nomads won the Second Division and the Aggregate Trophy with West Manchester taking the Reserve Division Play-off against Bradford Parish, whose team were playing their first season in the competition though they were successful in winning the Subsidiary Cup competition.
 
Aldermere defeated East Chorlton to take the Rhodes Cup for the second time, their last victory being in 1922 and Stockport College S.U. were the Third Division winners.
 
1937-38 SEASON
 
The President for the season was to be F. Pyatt the President of West Didsbury, who had also been a League Auditor since 1920.
 
Cheadle Heath Nomads and Old Bedians were promoted to the First Division to replace the relegated Royton and Chapelmoor. In addition to the last two mentioned clubs Styal did not seek re-election and dropped down to one team in the Third Division.
 
The Boxing Day game produced a net gate of £13-10-0d.
 
Selections for NCAC games were confirmed and congratulations sent to Rogerson and Brady of South Salford and Wilde from Denton RSOB, who were to play for Lancashire and Johnson of Bramhall, Henson of Cheadle Heath Nomads and Williamson of Stockport Georgians chosen for Cheshire.
 
Lancashire progressed to the Second Round defeating Cumberland with the twenty-year-old Wilde making a creditable debut and scoring two goals. Cheshire qualified for the Semi-Finals with plaudits for Johnson’s performance at half-back and were joined by Lancashire who won at Liverpool with Wilde continuing his good county form.
 
The two counties met in the Semi-Final with Cheshire progressing to the Final with Garrett of Old Stopfordians, Johnson of Bramhall and Henson of Cheadle Heath Nomads playing a part for Cheshire and Wilde the only League representative in Lancashire’s team. With continued good contributions from the League’s three representatives, Cheshire lost the NCAC Final to Northumberland.
 
South Salford were eliminated with a weakened team from the Lancashire Amateur Cup in the Second Round. It was reported that Rogerson would require a second cartilage operation. Bradford Parish reached the Quarter Final of the competition but went out to more experienced opponents in Liverpool Casuals and the following week saw Parish lose their unbeaten record in the First Division to a young Stockport Georgians team.
 
Despite this set back Parish finished the season strongly winning the First and Reserve championships and Rhodes Cup adding the Aggregate Trophy runners-up to their successes. They took over the mantle of the most successful club from South Salford who did not win any trophy for the first time in their League existence. Royton won the Aggregate Trophy, Second Division championship and Subsidiary Cup. Old Esconians won the Third Division title losing the Hellawell Shield Final to Woodbourne.
 
Last season South Salford won the Lancashire Amateur Cup and the First Division title and met Fulwood from the LAL in the Hospitals Cup final. Fulwood had not won a trophy in the season but beat the favourites. In season 1937-38 the roles were reversed when the two teams again contested the Hospitals Cup Final, this time with Fulwood holding the Lancashire Amateur Cup and their First Division title and South Salford not winning any trophies. The inevitable happened with South Salford winning by the only goal.
                                   
1938-39 SEASON
 
The League had been operating a Players’ Accident Fund for two seasons funded by a levy on players’ registrations. Weekly payments of 15 shillings were to be made for the first eight weeks with a further 7s-6d for four weeks. Benefits totalling £45-0-0d were made to injured players and the fund retained a healthy balance.
 
It was decided at the AGM to change the rules covering the Third Division by dividing the number of teams into two divisions due to a considerable increase in the number of teams in the League.
 
Section ‘A’ was to cover first teams only with Section ‘B’ providing for Third XIs of First and Second Division teams and Reserve teams from the Third Division Section ‘A’.
 
Mr G.A. Fish was elected to the office of Secretary following the resignation of T.R. Ellis. Hibbert Johnson the Chairman of Royton Amateurs was elected President. Royton and Rusholme were promoted to the First Division with Aldermere and Old Bedians being relegated. Hope Amateurs were re-elected, though Shawcross College Old Collegians were not. Old Esconians successfully applied for election.
 
Eddie Woollam was nominated as the League’s representative to the Lancashire FA’s Amateur Committee.
 
The sum of £65-2-0d was raised through the Hospital Cup competition.
 
The League was anxious to arrange games against local schools and Glossop Grammar School were the first to accept an invitation followed by Urmston Grammar. The FA supported this initiative and provided an added coaching scheme for secondary schools supplying qualified coaches to any school signing up for the project.
 
Two new trophies were presented to the League by T.R. Ellis and the Vice-Presidents, and these were allocated to the two reserve divisions.
 
As a result of an increasing number of clubs and teams looking for membership, the League Committee extended the competition to six divisions covering eighty-two teams.
 
The First Division champions, Bradford Parish were soon finding teams were out to lower their colours in the new season and dropped three points in their first five games. West Didsbury inflicted defeat on Parish and there was much discussion as to whether West were in a position to make a challenge, as they were a club with a long history of success recording: four league titles and thirteen runners-up spots but nothing to show in recent times
 
 J.L. Johnson of Bramhall was selected to represent the Northern Counties against the South in an amateur trial.
 
Lancashire started their new campaign in the NCAC with a win against Cheshire. The only League representative was Rogerson, once again taking on the captain’s role, a position he occupied in the Second Round with another victory against Liverpool F.A. and in the Semi-Final against Staffordshire, which ended in a 7-2 victory.
 
The Final against the East Riding of Yorkshire resulted in a further goal feast with Lancashire scoring five goals in a game where the teamwork of the Lancashire side was of the highest order. It was interesting to note that Bradley and Gibson of Bradford Parish and Dargie of South Salford were reserves for the county, which was once again captained by the ever-reliable Rogerson, who was able to be the first county captain to lift a trophy that had been donated by the Lancashire FA fourteen years previously.
 
The only club to make progress in the Lancashire Amateur Cup was Bradford Parish exacting revenge on Liverpool Casuals, who had beaten them in the Quarter Finals last season. With a further victory against Maghull, the previous season’s beaten finalists Parish entered the Semi-Finals of the competition for the first time.
 
They met Liverpool Orrell and were on the way to an exciting victory with just two minutes to go, when their opponents equalised resulting in a replay at the Snipe, Audenshaw, where Parish were beaten by the only goal five minutes from the end of normal time. Parish had given spirited displays throughout the competition with Knowles, Penny, Bradley and Gibson catching the eye.
 
South Salford returned to winning ways following their failures in the previous season by defeating Stockport Georgians in the Rhodes Cup Final and achieving the double with a seven-point margin over Bradford Parish to win the First Division title.
 
Stockport Seconians recorded their first success winning the Second Division championship and Bradford Parish won the Reserve Division Section ‘A title and Aldermere the Reserve Division ‘B’.
 
The Third Division Section ‘A’ was won by Woodbourne and the Section ‘B’ by MEC with Woodburne winning the Play-off. The Subsidiary Cup went to West Didsbury and Aldermere just pipped Bradford Parish for the Aggregate Trophy. The Hellawell Shield was won by Timperley Amateurs.