1989-90 SEASON

 

Mike Law the Heywood Old Boys chairman, player and long serving committee man was elected President for the season. The Management Committee suffered some changes due to the resignation of Denis Brabin, Brian Ball and Harry Crow. The only addition was for the retiring President Brian Stringer to take on the Treasurer’s role reducing the membership of the Committee and increasing the workload of those in office.  It was recorded that Jim Davy had died.

 

Manchester YMCA and St. Edwards (Oldham) were re-elected, and Oldham Teachers applied for membership and were accepted. Bradford Parish and SMC Wythenshawe were relegated from the First Division with Excise and East Chorlton dropping from the Second Division.

 

After one season adjusting to the playing standards of the League, Vymura Hyde gave notice of their potential by winning the Aggregate Trophy, the Third Division from South Manchester and Division ‘C’ from West Flixton.

 

Their Third XI also finished runners-up to Manchester Royal, who retained the Whitehead Cup. Manchester Royal carried forward their fine form from the last season by winning the First Division championship from Old Standians, retained the Division ‘A’ title from Mantact and finished runners-up to Heywood Old Boys in Division ‘D’.

 

Heaton Mersey achieved the double by winning the Second Division title from Hooley Bridge Celtic and the Rhodes Cup from West Flixton. West Didsbury won the Division ‘E’ title from Old Standians and Division ‘B’ from East Chorlton, who also finished runners-up to Mantact in the Wray Cup Final. This was Mantact’s first trophy win for twelve years.

 

1990-91 SEASON

 

Norman Costin resigned as Chairman having held the position for thirteen years during which time the League had experienced many changes. In acknowledgement of his many years’ service to the League which commenced in the late 1930s he was elected President for the second time.

 

Vacancies on the Management Committee were filled by the appointment of, Mike Law, following his year as President, Mike Foxall, Keith Marsden and Bob Holt. Alan Jones moved from Vice-Chairman to Chairman and Jim Edmondson was elected Alan’s replacement. John Howard was appointed a Vice-President of the League. The deaths of Dennis Brabin and Trevor Brundrit were recorded as was John Wallis’s, who had been a member of committee for two years. John had been a founder member, with assistance from Jim Davy, of the Moston Brook HSOB club where he was a player and then team manager, also club secretary and dedicated committee member. John’s wife and daughter continued to provide cover for the results service. Dave Harrison from Parrswood Celtic was co-opted onto Committee to assist with publicity and League Development.

 

SMC College resigned from membership and Romiley and East Chorlton successfully applied for re-election, which for the latter club was a far cry from its heydays. Old Stopfordians and Parrswood Celtic were relegated from the First Division and Gatley relegated from the Second Division leaving the Third Division for the new season with only ten clubs playing each other on three occasions.

 

 

 

Vymura Hyde continued their drive to the First Division with success in winning the Second Division championship from Aldermere which helped them retain the Aggregate Trophy with the help of their Second XI, which won the Division ‘B’ title. The club also won the Division ‘E’ title from Mellor.

 

Manchester Royal were not going to be outdone and continued their consistency in retaining the First Division title from Heaton Mersey and the Division ‘A’ title from Cheadle Heath Nomads followed by the Division ‘D’ from Cheadle Hulme, runners-up in the Rhodes Cup to Disley and winners of the Whitehead Cup from Old Ashtonians, who were losing finalists to Bedians in the Hellawell Shield.

 

Old Stretfordians won their first trophy for ten years taking the Third Division title from Romiley and Oldham HSOB finished champions of Division ‘C’ from Excise. Finally, Bradford Parish won their first honour for ten years in taking the Wray Cup from West Didsbury.

 

1991-92 SEASON

 

Ray Plunkett, a long serving member of West Didsbury was elected President for the season. Committee saw the recruitment of Eric Henshaw from Moston Brook HSOB and the welcome return of Bob Leech. Dave Harrison continued his support. Keith Marsden resigned from Committee at the start of the season to enable him to focus his energies into the development of the new Bedians club premises following the destruction by fire.

 

Excise and East Chorlton were re-elected and joined by Pendle, who gained entry into the Second Division, with Fletcher Bolton, Oldham College and UMIST joining the Third Division. Unfortunately, UMIST was expelled from the League during the season due to continual failure to fulfil fixtures. Manchester Royal and Cheadle Heath Nomads resigned from membership but failed to gain acceptance with their preferred leagues and requested re-instatement which was granted.

 

Hooley Bridge and Mantact were relegated from the First Division with Clarksfield St Edwards and Parrswood Celtic relegated to the Third Division. Three teams were promoted from the Third and Second Divisions and Pendle were accepted into the Second Division. This decision was taken after a sub-committee discussed the need for change so that the League could attract new clubs and this satisfied one of the recommendations made.

 

The season started with one hundred and four teams with three senior and reserve divisions, two divisions for third XIs and a division for fourth teams, bringing the strength of the League back to former times.

 

South Manchester confirmed the family of Colin Rowe had donated a trophy to the League in memory of their son, who had been killed in a road accident. The trophy would be presented to the winners of Division ‘F’ and known as the Colin Rowe Memorial Trophy.

 

Old Stopfordians and Disley reached the quarter finals of the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup for the first time with Disley progressing to the semi-finals before being beaten though they overcame their disappointment in the Stockport Senior Cup by winning the trophy for the second time. Bedians flew the League flag successfully by winning the Manchester FA Amateur Cup, the first club in the League to achieve this honour.

 

Despite only finishing third in the First Division and Division ‘A’, Cheadle Heath Nomads won the Aggregate Trophy for the first time in thirty-two years. They came close to gaining a further honour but were beaten by Old Stopfordians in the Rhodes Cup Final to register for the winners their first success in the competition in their sixty-three-year history.

 

Vymura Hyde and Manchester Royal continued last season’s rivalry for the title of the League’s most successful club. In Division ‘A’, Vymura stopped Royal’s dominance of the division with a two-point cushion for the top spot. The positions were reversed in Division ‘F’ with Royal’s coming out on top. Vymura managed to finish runners-up to Mellor in Division ‘E’ leaving Manchester Royal to claim the title by retaining Division ‘D’ from Cheadle Hulme and the Whitehead Cup from Old Ashtonians. They finished their successful season with the Hellawell Shield beating Bedians in the Final.

 

Bedians won the First Division championship making the season complete with the Manchester FA Amateur Cup win. Old Ashtonians were the runners-up. Pendle justified their placement in the Second Division by winning the title from Hazel Grove and added the Division ‘B’ title from South Manchester.

 

Another new club, Fletcher Bolton won the Third Division and were runners-up to Manchester YMCA in Division ‘C’. Mellor were the winners of the Wray Cup from Parrswood Celtic.

 

1992-93 SEASON

 

George Milburn was elected President providing the Hazel Grove club with their first President. Brian Stringer and Eric Henshaw resigned from the Management Committee and Mike Law transferred to the Treasurer’s post. Dave Kinder and the return of John Howard filled the vacancies.

 

Stand Athletic and Parrswood Celtic were re-elected and Manchester Royal resigned to move into another competition and Mantact, after forty years membership, were unable to continue due to a player shortage. As a result of the changes, Cheadle Hulme and Aldermere were relegated from the First Division, three were promoted from the Second Division and there was no relegation from the Second Division. The League welcomed Oldham Victoria, Metro and Urmston into membership and Bluecoats and Oldham HSOB merged to form Oldham Albion resulting in the League membership increasing on last season’s levels.  Mellor moved to a new ground which the club was hopeful of developing to a high-quality facility. Also, West Didsbury finally fell foul of the developers and was forced to move from Christie’s playing fields, their home for seventy-two years.

 

In their second year of membership, Oldham College won the Aggregate Trophy through their First XI finishing runners-up to Cheadle Hulme in the Second Division and winning the Division ‘C’ title from Romiley. Disley achieved the double becoming the First Division champions from Old Ashtonians and then taking the Rhodes Cup from Stand Athletic in the Final, but they failed to retain the Stockport FA Senior Cup losing out in the Final and they were also runners-up in Division ‘B’ to Old Stoconians. Urmston added the Altrincham FA Senior Cup to the Third Division title Gatley finishing runners-up.

 

Hooley Bridge Celtic won the Division ‘A’ title from Bedians, who were among the honours winning Division ‘F’ from Vymura Hyde and the Whitehead Cup from Oldham Albion though they missed out in Division ‘D’ being runners-up to Old Ashtonians.

 

Cheadle Heath Nomads won the Division ‘D’ title for the first time from Hooley Bridge Celtic. The Wray Cup was won by South Manchester their first trophy for nineteen years with Manchester YMCA the runners-up. Vymura Hyde took the Hellawell Shield from Heywood Old Boys to complete the season’s honours distribution.

​

1993-94 SEASON

 

Bob Leech was elected President in recognition of his service to the League and the Manchester County FA. Mike Law resigned from Committee and his position of Treasurer was taken over by Mike Foxall. George Milburn joined committee following his presidential year.

 

Stand Athletic resigned and were replaced by Irlam and Cadishead Albion and Oldham Teachers and Moston Brook HSOB were re-elected. Hazel Grove and Old Stopfordians were relegated from the First Division as were Oldham Albion and West Flixton from the Second Division. Aldermere were reported to be celebrating their eightieth anniversary and West Didsbury their eighty-fifth. Bedians confirmed good progress was being made on the re-building of their headquarters, which were to be opened in September.

 

Urmston showed their playing strength in becoming Second Division champions giving themselves First Division membership in two seasons. Gatley were runners-up. With their Second XI winning Division ‘C’ from Metro, they won the Aggregate Trophy comfortably to complete a successful season. Newcomers, Oldham Victoria also added a new name to the League silverware in winning the Third Division title from Metro and they were runners-up to Romiley in Division ‘B’.

 

Old Ashtonians had their best season for years in winning the Division ‘A’ title from Bedians, retained Division ‘D’ from Cheadle Heath Nomads, Division ‘F’ from Bedians and the Hellawell Shield from none other than Bedians. In addition, they did taste defeat at the hands of Oldham Albion in the Whitehead Cup. Oldham Albion also won Division ‘E’ from South Manchester.

 

Despite the disappointment in other competitions, Bedians bounced back to win the Wray Cup from West Didsbury and also finished runners-up to Cheadle Heath Nomads in the First Division championship. Heaton Mersey won the Rhodes Cup for the second time defeating Old Standians in the final. Cheadle Heath Nomads finished runners-up in the Stockport FA Senior Cup Final.

 

1994-95 SEASON

 

Dave King was invited to be President for the season in recognition of his long service to the Aldermere club. Committee lost the services of Geoff Wolfenden after nineteen years. Keith Marsden returned to committee after successfully completing his work on the re-building programme at Bedians. He was joined by Dave Harrison and Maurice Stanley.

 

Cheadle Heath Nomads resigned from the League after seventy-one years membership and was replaced by Alexander Drew, Old Chorltonians and St. Margaret Mary’s. In addition, East Chorlton resigned before a ball was kicked to end a sixty-one-year association with the League and Pendle resigned in March 1995. Excise and Manchester YMCA were re-elected, and Mellor were relegated from the First Division and Aldermere from the Second. West Didsbury went ahead with the purchase of the East Chorlton facility with the promise that it would be converted into one of the best grounds in the League.

 

Urmston continued to prove they were the best club in the League in winning the First Division title by one point from Heaton Mersey giving them a run from the Third to the First Division winning the championship in all three divisions in successive seasons. In addition, they retained the Aggregate Trophy, with their Second XI winning the Division ‘B’ title from Metro and in addition both teams won their respective divisional cups, the First taking the Rhodes Cup with a win over Heywood Town and the reserves winning the Wray Cup from West Didsbury in the Final.

 

In the Second Division, Fletcher Bolton gained promotion to the First Division in winning the division with South Manchester runners-up. Of the new clubs, Alexander Drew showed the best form in winning the Third Division at the first attempt from fellow new member Old Chorltonians and their Second XI won the Division ‘C’ title from Old Stretfordians, who were Division ‘E’ winners from Aldermere, which club overcame their opponents in a re-run in the Whitehead Cup Final.

 

Vymura Hyde had to rely on their fourth team to win some silverware, and they duly obliged by winning Division ‘F’ from Old Ashtonians and the Hellawell Shield from Cheadle Hulme.

 

Old Ashtonians found success in Division ‘A’ retaining the title from Bedians, whose third team were able to reverse the result and take the Division ‘D’ title from Old Ashtonians.. Bedians put the icing on the cake by winning the Manchester FA Amateur Cup for the second time. Hazel Grove were the losing Stockport FA Senior Cup finalists.

 

1995-96 SEASON

 

Tommy Bostock was elected President in recognition of his long service to the League. Unfortunately, Tommy died during his year in office and his son Ian attended the Annual Presentation Dinner to represent the family. Alan Jones resigned from Committee after seventeen years’ service added to which were many more years with the Old Ashtonians club. Jim Edmondson was appointed Chairman with Keith Marsden his assistant. After completing his year as President, Dave King was invited onto Committee. Keith Marsden assisted Jim Edmondson with the referees’ appointments pending the appointment of a replacement. The deaths of Walter Williamson and Norman Jones were reported.

 

West Flixton and Excise were re-elected, and Stretford Victoria joined the Third Division some fifty-six years after they were last members of the League. Bradford Parish changed their name to Denton Town in advance of a ground change and locality, which brought to an end a name that was synonymous with good football, a name that was known and respected throughout the lengths and breadths of the footballing world in Manchester, Lancashire and Liverpool and had been for seventy-three years.

 

Heywood Town and Oldham College were relegated from the First Division with Hooley Bridge and Parrswood Celtic dropping from the Second Division. Unfortunately, during the season, Fletcher Bolton and Manchester YMCA were unable to fulfil their fixtures and resigned. The overall numbers of teams competing each week was still at reasonable levels. The League received approaches from semi-professional clubs to enter reserve or junior teams, but such requests were turned down on the basis of the need for all clubs to enter their First XI into the competition.

 

A major issue for committee to consider was the formation of a limited liability company to transact the business of the League. This was deemed necessary to protect the Committee and clubs against litigation. Solicitors were appointed to act for the League and the transfer to a limited company was completed in July 1996.

 

Alexander Drew continued where they left off last season by winning the Second Division championship from Heywood Town and their Second XIs third place in Division ‘B’ enabled them to win the Aggregate Trophy. Old Ashtonians won the First Division title from Heaton Mersey and Oldham Albion took the Second Division title from Aldermere, who were the losing finalist to Denton Town in the Rhodes Cup, giving the club their first trophy under the new name.

 

Vymura Hyde won the Division ‘A’ title from Bedians and their fourth team retained Division ‘F’ from Moston Brook and were runners-up to Old Standians in the Hellawell Shield. Bedians had mixed fortunes in the cups winning the Whitehead from Hazel Grove and losing out to Metro in the Wray Cup gaining their first trophy since joining the League.

 

The Division ‘B’ title went to Old Stretfordians from Oldham Albion, the Division ‘C’ to Gatley from Heaton Mersey leaving Old Ashtonians with Division ‘D’ from Old Stoconians. Cheadle Hulme were beaten in the final of the Stockport FA Senior Cup.

 

1996-97 SEASON

 

Geoff Smith was invited to serve as President for the season in recognition of his long association with Old Stopfordians including fourteen years as Secretary and a further twelve years on the Management Committee, which welcomed David Wild as the new Referees’ Appointments Secretary to replace Jim Edmondson after his twenty-one years’ service as Referees’ Appointments Secretary.

 

Bob Leech also retired from Committee. After many years’ service in the capacity of League Auditor Andy Millhouse stepped down to be replaced by Stephen Johnson of Parker, Gradwell & Co. The Committee suffered a great loss with the death of David Harrison at the early age of forty-nine. David had settled well into life on the Committee and had many years ahead of him to contribute to the growth and well-being of football in the League and with his club, Parrswood Celtic.

 

Dukinfield Amateurs were accepted into membership and Vymura Hyde relegated from the First Division and Romiley from the Second. West Flixton changed their name to Flixton Town and all eyes were on Alexander Drew to see whether they could win the First Division to complete a hat-trick of titles in their first three years of membership. The inevitable did happen with Alexander Drew’s First XI winning the First Division from Bedians and their Second XI defeated Denton Town in the Wray Cup Final also taking the Division ‘B’ title from Gatley helping them to retain the Aggregate Trophy.

 

Vymura Hyde bounced back to the First Division after winning the Second Division title from Hazel Grove and Clarksfield St. Edwards won the Third Division championship to give them their first trophy in ten years of League membership.

 

Moston Brook HSOB were runners-up and had further success in winning their first trophies since joining the League in 1970, which were the Division ‘F’ from Old Stoconians and the Hellawell Shield from Old Ashtonians, who retained the Division ‘D’ title from Bedians and were losing finalists in the Rhodes Cup to Urmston. Bedians were the winners of Division ‘A’ from Old Stoconians, who won Division ‘E’ from Old Standians.

 

Division ‘C’ went to Irlam and Cadishead to give them their first trophy since joining the League Stretford Victoria were runners-up. Hooley Bridge won the Whitehead Cup from Flixton Town.

 

1997-98 SEASON

 

Jim Murphy of Bedians was the elected President for the season. Jim Edmondson resigned to be replaced by Keith Marsden as League Chairman. Mike Foxall was replaced by Keith Trelfa as Treasurer, but he remained on Committee as Vice-Chairman. Geoff Smith also resigned at the termination of his presidential year and Gerard McCarthy of St Margaret Mary’s was co-opted onto committee to assist with fixtures. The ‘Grand National’ draw was ended at the club’s request after providing additional finance for clubs and the League over a twenty-two-year period.

 

Alexander Drew reported their move to a new enclosed ground and celebrated by reaching the Semi-Final of the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield only to lose out to the eventual winners. West Didsbury moved onto the East Chorlton ground at Brookburn Road, Chorlton and received substantial grant aid to build new changing facilities. Mellor were also applying for grants to build new facilities on their ground helping to improve standards in the League.

 

It had been agreed to award three points for a win in the season.

 

Urmston resigned from the League to move to another competition. Excise and Old Stopfordians were forced to resign due to falling player numbers. Stopfordians had been members of the League since 1929 and relied on recruitment of players from their associated school, which had switched the school game to rugby resulting in an eventual drying up of suitable footballers.

 

Parrswood Celtic were re-elected and Beechfield United and Hollingworth elected to the Third Division as new members. Heywood Town were relegated from the First Division and Oldham College from the Second.

 

Alexander Drew’s First XI failed to win any individual honours for the first time in their membership, though with their Second XI winning Division ‘A’ from Metro, the club was able to win the Aggregate Trophy for the third successive year, a feat last achieved by Rusholme in the 1960s. Their Second XI achieved the double by retaining the Wray Cup from Metro.

 

Hazel Grove finished champions of the First Division for the first time in their forty years membership. Runners-up were South Manchester, who had never won the title in their eighty-four-year history. South were again second best in the Rhodes Cup losing out to Bedians in the Final. Bedians also experienced success in the Whitehead Cup beating Hazel Grove in the Final and won Division ‘D’ from Heywood Town, who won the Second Division title from Oldham Albion.

 

The Third Division went to Stretford Victoria to record their first success with Hooley Bridge Celtic runners-up. Division ‘B’ was won by Dukinfield Amateurs from Cheadle Hulme, who were runners-up to Irlam and Cadishead Albion in Division ‘E’.

 

Old Ashtonians lower teams had a good season winning Division ‘C’ from Heaton Mersey and Division ‘F’ from Cheadle Hulme. Old Stoconians spoiled the party by winning the Hellawell Shield final.

 

Romiley won the Stockport FA Senior Cup. New annual awards for ‘Referee of the Year’ and ‘Secretary of the Year’ were presented to referee Steve Grimsley and Maurice Perkins Secretary of Metro respectively.

 

1998-99 SEASON

 

John Melia of Moston Brook and a registered referee was elected President for the season. Malcolm Carr from Oldham Victoria was invited onto Committee to assist Keith Marsden who following Dave Wild’s resignation had taken over the referees’ appointments role to add to his Chairman’s duties. Keith was to be assisted by Graham Smith one of the League’s referees and they formed a Referee’s Liaison Panel with help from Ian Hadfield and other referees. There were no other changes in Committee.  Following Dave Wild’s resignation, he was taken ill and died at a relatively young age thus depriving football of a capable administrator and referee of great ability. The excellent ‘News and Views’ magazine produced by Geoff Garnett ceased production due to increasing printing costs.

 

Oldham College and Irlam and Cadishead were re-elected and joined by Droylsden Amateurs and Hollingworth Old Boys in the Third Division. Wardle another new club were accepted into the Second Division in view of their past playing record. Heaton Mersey were relegated from the First Division and Aldermere from the Second.

 

Bedians had a season to remember with their First XI winning the First Division title from South Manchester, their Second XI stopping Alexander Drew from retaining the Division ‘A’ title, giving them the Aggregate Trophy for the first time in nineteen years. They also retained the Rhodes Cup from Stretford Victoria.

 

Old Ashtonians had another successful season retaining the Division ‘F’ championship from Cheadle Hulme, winning the Wray Cup for the first time from Gatley and the Whitehead Cup for the first time from Moston Brook HSOB.

 

Hooley Bridge Celtic won the Second Division from Old Stoconians, who were also runners-up to South Manchester in Division ‘D’. Romiley ran away with the Third Division from Beechfield United, who were also runners-up to Stretford Victoria in Division ‘B’. Beechfield United achieved their third runners-up spot in Division ‘E’ to Old Standians.

 

Wardle won Division ‘C’ at their first attempt from Clarksfield St. Edwards. There was no Hellawell Shield competition and South Manchester completed a successful season by winning the Manchester FA Amateur Cup for the first time. Romiley were Stockport FA Senior Cup finalists for the second year running but were beaten in the Final.