L&C prepares for exciting new season ahead

The Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Management Committee have been busy in recent weeks preparing for the new season ahead and reflecting on last season.

L&C Chairman Mike Yates said at the League AGM: “I give a warm welcome to the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League 116th AGM for the end of the 2024-25 season.

“We introduce fourteen new clubs to you tonight and a raft of rule changes, all to be voted upon later if they meet with your approval.

“The most successful team last season were undoubtedly Salford Victoria who did the double winning the Premier League and the Rhodes Cup. They showed their title winning qualities when they scored an equaliser and winner in added time in the final against a strong Abacus Media team.

“Chadderton Cott won division one by seven points and were only defeated once, so were worthy winners.

“Division Two had a much closer finish  with Santos beating Rochdalians by a point to gain the title .

“Manchester Rovers were worthy winners of Division Three winning by five points and again only losing once all season.

“There was another close finish in Division A which saw Waterhead AFC, in their first season in the L&C, pip Didsbury FC Reserves to the title by one point.

“Finally in Division B Signol were too good for the rest of the division winning by twelve points .

 “In the other cup finals, Rochdalians made up for missing out on the league by winning the Wray Cup against a young Stretford Paddock Amateurs.

“The Whitehead Cup was won by Didsbury FC Thirds who were too strong for Prestwich Marauders on the night.

“Other notable awards were to AFC Stockport who retained their Aggregate Trophy and to South Manchester who won the Fair Play Trophy.

“Our Inter League team won the John Howard Trophy against the LAL under the excellent management of Rob O’Connor.

“Finally, unlucky Trafford Reserves were beaten on the penalty shoot-out in the Final of the North West Inter League Cup.

“Individual awards were given to the Referee of the Year Michael Crump, the Young Referee of the Year Matthew Barke and the Secretary of the Year, Broadheath Central's Paul Kennedy.

“Through our new EDI officer, Ann Evans, we have started a new initiative whereby our cup finals are used as fundraisers with all proceeds donated to local charities.

“At the Rhodes Cup Final we collected £560 for St Anne’s Hospice, and at the Wray Cup Final we collected £120 for Frances House.

“At the Whitehead Cup Final and the North West Inter League Final the amount was £300 and the League Committee also collected £315 doing ‘March for March’ for Prostate Cancer UK. In total the league has donated £1295 to various charities so well done to every who has donated.

“Moving forward to next season we have the fourteen new clubs, three additional teams from existing clubs and so ,although some teams have folded or left, we will still have six strong divisions, making us still the biggest amateur league in the north on England.”

Outgoing League President James Keeley added:” It was a great season which has gone quickly with excellent cup finals and close fought divisional titles, in some cases going to the last day of the season.  

“Among my highlights have been chatting to everyone pitchside, Cup Finals and watching teams celebrate their success. 

“Attention was drawn to the great twentieth anniversary celebration Trafford United held at Didsbury Sports Club and the problems caused by the Didsbury flooding shows the great support and flexibility across the League. All were thanked for their kind offers of help.

“John Melia’s and Keith Marsden’s individual commitments to amateur football were recognised with respective long service awards this season.”