1979-80 SEASON

 

Reg Baxter was elected a Vice-President in recognition of his seventeen years’ service on Committee and Frank Ousey of West Didsbury was the elected President.

 

Manchester Customs and Excise were elected to the Third Division with Old Traffordians and Royton Amateurs re-elected. To help to increase the number of teams in the senior divisions, three teams were promoted from the Third and Second Divisions giving Bedians and Cheadle Hulme the opportunity of promotion from third place in the Third and Second Divisions respectively. Whaley Bridge resigned at the start of the season leaving eleven teams in the Second Division.

 

Bedians were a new name on the Aggregate Trophy in only their second season back in the League. They added the Second Division title, with Wilmslow Albion runners-up and Bedians finished second to East Chorlton in Division ‘B’. Adswood Amateurs followed up the last season’s success with victory over Old Ashtonians in the Rhodes Cup Final though Ashtonians finishing top of the First Division at the expense of Adswood Amateurs, who were the semi-finalists in the Cheshire Senior Cup and also reached the same stage in the Stockport Senior Cup failing to reach the final in both competitions. They were also runners-up in Division ‘E’ to Wilmslow Albion, who were themselves runners-up to Old Stretfordians in Division ‘C’ and beaten semi-finalists in the Macclesfield Senior Cup.

 

Wythenshawe College won the Division ‘D’ title from Poynton and added the Hellawell Shield at the expense of Mantact. Cheadle Heath moved out of the Third Division as champions with Manchester Custom and Excise runners-up in their first season.

 

Woodley Athletic continued their impressive form since joining the League by winning Division ‘A’ from Aldermere and also the Whitehead Cup after beating Moston Brook HSOB in the Final and United Manchester Hospitals in the Wray Cup Final.

 

After their many successes in the 1970s, it was surprising to see Monton Amateurs relegated from the First Division with Cheadle Hulme. Birch Vale were the only team relegated from the Second Division.

 

1980-81 SEASON

 

Alan Jones was elected President and Derek Breeze resigned from Committee to devote time to Stockport Georgians in their efforts to improve playing standards. Phil Knowles also stepped down from full-time involvement and concentrated on updating the League’s records. John Howard was recruited to replace Phil and Roy Harrison was to assist with fixtures.

 

The AGM approved the adoption of goal difference as the preferred method of deciding championships where points were equal.

 

There was an upheaval in club membership with Royton Amateurs resigning after sixty-six years and Old Traffordians after eighteen years membership. The Chairman warned clubs of the dangers of relying on a small number of dedicated people to run their clubs as happened in these cases.

 

Old Cestrians, Heaton Mersey and Littlemoor were welcome additions to membership all starting in the Third Division.

 

East Chorlton were the club of the season winning the First and ‘A’ divisional championships and adding the Aggregate Trophy to their trophy cabinet helping them to bring back memories of the 1956-57 season when they last achieved this level of success. Their Second XI also beat Cheadle Heath Nomads in the Wray Cup Final.

 

Heywood Old Boys defeated Adswood Amateurs in the Rhodes Cup Final and were runners-up in the First Division and Bedians were the runners-up in the Division ‘A’. Old Stretfordians won the Second Division title from Wythenshawe College and new clubs United Manchester Hospitals and Old Cestrians were promoted from the Third Division as champions and runners-up respectively. Disley were champions of the Division ‘B’ from Cheadle Heath Nomads and Old Cestrians added to their success with the Division ‘C’ title from West Didsbury.

 

Division ‘D’ saw Bedians finish at the top from Wythenshawe College and runners-up to Disley in Division ‘E’. The Stockport FA Senior Cup was dominated by League members with Disley defeating Woodley in the Final and Poynton being a beaten semi-finalist. Excise won their first knock-out trophy defeating Old Ashtonians in the Whitehead Cup Final and Old Standians overcame Disley in the Hellawell Shield Final.

 

1981-82 SEASON

 

Dennis Brabin was elected President and Phil Knowles resigned from Committee after eighteen years’ service, though he remained as Secretary of Cheadle Hulme.

 

Gatley resigned and Romiley and Stand Athletic were accepted into membership. Birch Vale and Thornsett and Heaton Mersey were re-elected. Relegated from the First Division were Wilmslow Albion and Oldham HSOB, with South Manchester going down from the Second Division.

 

Shirt sponsorship was introduced enabling clubs to seek revenues from new sources. Due to adverse weather during the season, the Whitehead Cup competition was cancelled.

 

Bradford Parish came out of a ten-year lean spell and won the Aggregate Trophy, the Division ‘B’ championship from Aldermere, were runners-up to Adswood Amateurs in the First Division and Rhodes Cup winners over United Manchester Hospitals. Adswood, who were one of the beaten semi-finalists in the Stockport FA Senior Cup also added the Hellawell Shield overcoming Wythenshawe College in the Final and were runners-up in the Division ‘E’ to Mellor. This was Mellor’s first trophy after twenty years League membership and they also added the runners-up spot in Division ‘C to Stand Athletic and finished second to Bluecoat Old Boys in the Third Division.

 

Old Ashtonians won Division ‘D’ from Wilmslow Albion who defeated Bedians in the Wray Cup Final. Bedians were also runners-up to Disley in Division ‘A’ and the latter finished runners-up to Cheadle Heath Nomads in the Second Division

 

1982-83 SEASON

 

Brian Ball from Old Standians was elected President and all other members of Committee continued in office. J.K. Milloy resigned as League Auditor after service from 1960 as Committee Member and Auditor. He was replaced by Andy Milhouse a member of the Old Cestrians club.

 

Hooley Bridge Celtic joined the League in the Third Division and were joined by Cheadle Hulme, relegated from the Second Division and Wythenshawe College and Old Standians were relegated from the First Division. West Flixton and Littlemoor were re-elected. Old Standians and East Chorlton were congratulated on celebrating their sixtieth anniversaries.

 

The season was again disrupted by the weather and there was no competition for the Whitehead Cup.

 

Wilmslow Albion had a most successful season winning the Aggregate Trophy, after the First XI finished top of the Second Division from United Manchester Hospitals and were runners-up to Heywood Old Boys in the Rhodes Cup, the Second XI won the Division ‘B’ title from Mellor and the Third XI won the Division ‘D’ from Bedians, who achieved the double over Old Standians in Division ‘E’ and the Hellawell Shield Final.

 

Adswood Amateurs continued their good form in retaining the First Division championship from Excise and they were runners-up in the Wray Cup Final to Poynton. They also reached the Stockport Senior Cup semi-finals again but were unable to progress to the Final.

 

Stand Athletic and Hooley Bridge Celtic recent additions to the League achieved promotion from the Third Division, with runners-up Hooley Bridge winning the Division ‘C’ from Bluecoat School Old Boys.

 

Cheadle Heath Nomads won the Division ‘A’ title from Old Standians and Old Cestrians were the League’s first winners of the Altrincham Senior Cup. Old Stretfordians and Woodley were relegated from the First Division with Mellor and Oldham HSOB dropping from the Second Division.

 

1983-84 SEASON

 

Joe Mundy from the Aldermere club was elected President for the season. There was one addition to the Management Committee, this being the retiring President Brian Ball. Doug Lambert resigned as Secretary though he remained on Committee to look after the archives. Roy Harrison took over the Secretary’s role and Trevor Brundrit relinquished the Vice-Chairman’s position, which was filled by Alan Jones. Trevor Brundrit and Jim Davy each recorded twenty-one years’ service on Committee.

 

West Didsbury and Stockport Georgians celebrated their seventy-fifth anniversaries, with Old Ashtonians celebrating their fiftieth. There were no new clubs applying for membership and West Flixton and Heaton Mersey were re-elected. It was reported that an old member club, Bramhall had won the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup for the first time in their seventy years affiliation to the county FA.

 

The Whitehead Cup was now competed for by third teams leaving the Hellawell Shield to fourth teams.

 

The Aggregate Trophy went to Heywood Old Boys for the second time in their history thanks to their Second XI winning the Division ‘A’ title from Cheadle Heath Nomads and their first team finishing runners-up in the First Division to Adswood Amateurs which club also won the Rhodes Cup from Bedians, the Whitehead Cup from Wythenshawe College and the Stockport FA Senior Cup for the fifth time displaying exceptional cup fighting qualities throughout the season.

 

Adswood recorded their third successive win of the First Division title and their fifth in seven years. In the Second Division Old Standians were runners-up to Monton Amateurs, who defeated Bedians to take the Hellawell Shield. Bedians were runners-up for the third time to Old Ashtonians in Division ‘E’ but reversed the positions on Old Ashtonians in Division ‘D’.

 

Stockport Georgians won the Third Division title from Birch Vale and Thornsett and Division ‘C’ from South Manchester.

 

Hooley Bridge Celtic finished top of Division ‘B’ with United Manchester Hospitals a close run second. The Second XI of Heywood Old Boys achieved the double winning the Wray Cup from Disley.

 

Wilmslow Albion was the second club in the season to win a county FA competition this being the Macclesfield FA Senior Cup.

 

1984-85 SEASON

 

Doug Lambert was elected President and all other members of committee continued in office for the season.

 

Oldham HSOB and West Flixton were re-elected after finishing bottom of the Third Division. There were no applications from new clubs and Old Stretfordians were relegated from the Second Division and East Chorlton and Old Stoconians from the First.

 

Birch Vale and Thornsett moved to the New Mills ground after this club had disbanded and with the Committee’s agreement changed their name to New Mills.

 

A Dinner celebrating the League’s seventy-fifth anniversary was held at the Grand Hotel in October and attended by three hundred members and guests. The main speakers were Sir Walter Winterbottom, CBE, hon. Vice-President of the FA and Canon Reg. Smith the Rector of Bury.

 

Manchester County FA also celebrated their centenary and members of committee attended celebratory functions.

 

Adswood improved on last season by winning every trophy the club entered except for the Hellawell Shield, the Wray Cup in which they were runners-up to the holders Heywood Old Boys and the Stockport FA Senior Cup in which they were runners-up to Poynton. Their success came in winning the Aggregate Trophy for the first time, the First Division title for the fourth year in succession, in which Monton Amateurs were runners-up, Division ‘A’ with United Manchester Hospitals in second place, Division ‘D’ with Old Ashtonians second, retained the Rhodes Cup beating Stockport Georgians in the Final and retained the Whitehead Cup beating Old Standians in the Final.

 

New Mills were the Second Division champions, runners-up to Littlemoor in Division ‘C’ and winners of the Derbyshire FA Junior Cup North. Stockport Georgians finished runners-up to New Mills in the Second Division, runners-up to Bluecoat School Old Boys in Division ‘B’ and runners-up to Adswood in the Rhodes Cup. So near yet so far from success.

 

The Third Division was won by Heaton Mersey from Cheadle Hulme. In Division ‘E’, Monton Amateurs were runners-up to holders Old Standians, who were beaten by Bedians in the Hellawell Shield Final.

 

1985-86 SEASON

 

Roy Welsh from Cheadle Heath Nomads was elected the club’s first League President recognizing the club’s sixty-five years membership. The Management Committee saw the departure of Bob Leech after seventeen years’ service, who in the words of the Chairman at the AGM, “was a man of great character and his wealth of knowledge of the workings of the football world would be sorely missed”.

 

Doug Lambert also resigned after sixteen years’ service eleven of which had been in the position of Secretary. Geoff Smith from the Old Stopfordians club was recruited onto Committee. Bob Leech was appointed a vice president of the League. The death of Derek Breeze, a long-time member of Stockport Georgians and the Management Committee was recorded. It was reported that the 'Grand National' draw had been running for nine years and produced a profit of £11,346 which had been distributed to the clubs and League funds.

 

There was quite an upheaval in club membership in the close season following the departure of Monton Amateurs after sixty-one years membership, Adswood Amateurs, the League’s most successful club at the time and Manchester Customs and Excise.

 

Welcomed back was Gatley and new club Whalley Range. South Manchester and West Flixton successfully applied for re-election after finishing bottom of the Third Division. Wilmslow Albion were relegated from the First Division with Old Stoconians suffering their second successive year of relegation going down from the Second to the Third Division.

 

Poynton were the Aggregate Trophy winners and First Division champions for the first time in their League history which covered twenty years. United Manchester Hospitals were runners-up in the First Division as was Poynton’s Second XI in Division ‘A’ to champions Heywood Old Boys, who also won the Wray Cup for the third successive season against Mellor and the Hellawell Shield against Old Standians.

 

Heywood lost out to Bedians in the Division ‘D’ championship. Mellor experienced further success in winning the Third Division from Oldham HSOB and the Rhodes Cup from Woodley SC and completed their most successful season since joining the League by finishing runners-up to Old Standians in the Whitehead Cup.

 

Holders Old Standians had further success in the Division ‘E’ championship with runners-up Cheadle Hulme also winning the Division ‘B’ from New Mills and losing out to Woodley in a close fought contest for the Second Division championship.

 

1986-87 SEASON

 

Geoff Garnett a player with East Didsbury, referee and now member of the Management Committee was elected President of the League. There were no other changes to Committee apart from a number of switches in roles of members.

 

Club membership was again subject to change with Poynton and Old Cestrians resigning and being replaced by St Edwards (Oldham) and Old Vics. West Flixton and Littlemoor were re-elected as bottom clubs in the Third Division. Stockport Georgians were relegated from the First Division with no club relegated from the Second Division.

 

The AGM voted in favour of allowing two ex-contract players to register with a club subject to certain conditions.

 

Christie Playing Fields in West Didsbury had been the home of League member clubs for generations and it was sad to record that the ground was in the process of being sold for development purposes.

 

Chorlton St Augustines first played there in 1912 and South Manchester who took up residency in 1934 were being forced to find an alternative home as were Mantact. West Didsbury had permission to remain until the sale was completed maintaining an unbroken occupancy since 1920.

 

Whalley Range was the Aggregate Trophy winner through the First XI taking the Third Division title from Old Stopfordians and Division ‘B’ from Woodley SC and in addition they were runners-up to Heywood Old Boys in Division ‘D’.

 

New Mills were the First Division champions from Disley the leading club of three with an equal number of points in second place. Mellor won the Second Division title and Rhodes Cup from SMC Wythenshawe and New Mills respectively.

 

United Manchester Hospitals Second XI achieved the double winning the Division A’ title from Bluecoat School Old Boys and the Wray Cup from Cheadle Heath Nomads. Littlemoor finished ahead of Heaton Mersey in Division ‘C’.

 

Bedians achieved the double over Old Standians in winning Division ‘E’ and the Hellawell Shield. Old Standians were successful in retaining the Whitehead Cup from New Mills. Wilmslow Albion won the Macclesfield FA Senior Cup for the second time.

 

1987-88 SEASON

 

Harry Crow, a member of the Management Committee for seventeen years was elected President. There were no changes in personnel on the Committee apart from the resignation during the season of John Howard.

 

The League suffered their worst season ever in the loss of clubs following the resignations of New Mills, Stockport Georgians, Whalley Range, Littlemoor, Alderley St Philips and Old Vics. Applications from Manchester YMCA and Parrswood Celtic were accepted. Excise and Cheadle Hulme were relegated from the First Division and Stand Athletic from the Second Division. Old Vics and St.Edwards were re-elected as bottom teams in the Third Division.

 

Thanks to their First XI winning the Third Division from Parrswood and their Second XI the Division

‘B’ title from East Chorlton, West Didsbury were able to claim the Aggregate Trophy for the first time since 1928.

 

Cheadle Heath Nomads were the First Division champions from Woodley Sports Club and Old Stopfordians won the Second Division from Mantact who entered the First Division for the first time in their history.

 

Heywood Old Boys were the Division ‘A’ champions from Aldermere and they also defeated Old Stoconians in the Whitehead Cup Final and were runners-up in the Wray Cup to Woodley Sports Club and again runners-up to Bedians in Division ‘D’. Bedians retained the Division ‘E’ title from Aldermere, who won the Hellawell Shield from Old Ashtonians.

 

Division ‘C’ was won by Parrswood Celtic in their first season in the League with Hazel Grove runners-up. The Rhodes Cup went to United Manchester Hospitals from Wilmslow Albion, who also retained the Macclesfield FA Senior Cup.

 

1988-89 SEASON

 

Brian Stringer, whose playing career with Bradford Parish started in the early 1950s was elected President. The League’s Secretary Roy Harrison resigned, and Committee Member Peter Howarth took his place. John Wallis from Moston Brook was recruited onto Committee to assist with the fixtures.

 

Wilmslow Albion were the only club to leave in the close season with Weston Hyde accepted into membership of the Third Division. Manchester YMCA and Romiley were re-elected and only two teams were relegated, Hazel Grove from the First Division and Moston Brook HSOB from the Second Division.

 

Roy Harrison was appointed a Vice-President of the League and Phil Knowles club secretary at Cheadle Hulme for fifty-six years finally retired handing over the reins to Dave Rathburn, who was to stay in charge for another twenty years.

 

Geoff Garnett used his reporting skills to publish a news magazine titled, ‘News & Views’, which was well received and became an excellent means of promoting the League. A committee was formed under Geoff’s editorship and two issues a season were published for a further eight years, by which time the project ran out of support.

 

It was interesting to relay the President’s views on football in the magazine and its relationship to money and bear in mind this was a view expressed twenty years ago:

 

“I believe, in view of all the problems related to money in the professional ranks of sport that true amateurism is on its way back. The glory of winning for pleasure and not money is far more satisfying. I feel sure that the present-day hooliganism can be related to the professional antics on the field of play shown regularly on TV, highlighted in action replays and compounded by the discussions of the commentators. It is my opinion that money in sport does the game no good”.

 

Since joining the League in 1978 Manchester Royal had won five trophies. In this season they doubled their total with another five starting with the Aggregate Trophy followed by runners-up in the First Division to Disley, next came the Division ‘A’ title from Old Ashtonians, then the Division ‘E’ from Parrswood Celtic, the Wray Cup from Mellor and finally the Whitehead Cup from Old Stoconians.

 

In addition to winning the First Division title, Disley achieved the double by beating Heaton Mersey in the Rhodes Cup Final and won the Division ‘C’ title from Old Stopfordians. West Didsbury managed promotion to the First Division by winning the Second Division title from Parrswood Celtic giving themselves promotion in successive seasons.

 

Gatley won the Third Division from West Flixton and Bradford Parish won their first title for seven years taking the Division ‘B’ from Mantact. Bedians and Old Ashtonians shared the spoils with Bedians winning Division ‘D’ from Old Ashtonians, who defeated Bedians in the Hellawell Shield Final.