Issue #07 - v Maine Road FC (28/09/2024) by hobafc

SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2024

NWCFL First Division North vs MAINE ROAD FC

KO 3:00PM

“WE ARE APPROACHING THE GAME WITH A CLEAR STRATEGY”

THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT

Good afternoon and welcome back to Rakesmoor Lane for today’s North West Counties Football League fixture against Maine Road.

It feels like such a long time since we were here at home.

Since the defeat to AFC Blackpool, we have seen a great reaction from the boys, resulting in five consecutive league wins ahead of last week’s unfortunate defeat to Crook Town AFC on penalties in the FA Vase.

We return to league action today against Maine Road, and we are looking to respond to that defeat with a win.

While this is our first encounter with Maine Road, we are approaching the game with a clear strategy. We prepare ourselves to play the way we want and aim to force the opposition to adapt. This approach gives us confidence as we head into the game.

Unfortunately, the squad is stretched again, with a number of key players missing: Brandon, Tommy, Hodgey, and Frankie. However, we do welcome back Jase and Tyler Spence, and they will both go straight back in looking to make an impact.

KEVIN WATKIN

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

FACTSHEET

COLOURS

Sky & Navy Blue

NICKNAME

The Sky Blues

GROUND NAME

Brantingham Road

CAPACITY

3,000

RECORD ATTENDANCE

3,125 (vs FC United of Manchester - 2006/07)

LEAGUE POSITION

6th

EYES ON OPPONENT

ON THE OPPONENT

THEIR HISTORY

1955-2022

The Club takes its name from Maine Road Social Club in Moss Side, Manchester, where it was formerly Headquartered. It has since become one of South Manchester’s most exciting Semi-Professional Teams.

Our philosophy has consistently promoted significant youth development, attained a culture of outstanding club loyalty (with the top 13 players making over 350 appearances, of which the top 5 players have also gone on to run the first or reserve teams, and in our 67-year history we have had only 12 managers of which eight have been ex-players) nurtured local talent (providing a platform for many players semi-professional careers or some professional careers such as Wayne Collins, Colin Little, James, Tarkowski) linked to success on the pitch. Highlights have been in the North West Counties League (members since 1988, Division Two champions 1989–90 & Challenge Cup winners 2007–08); FA Vase reaching the Fourth round (1994–95); FA Cup reaching the Second qualifying round, (1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98 & 2001–02); and great success in Manchester Premier trophies (winning all five county Cups - the Manchester Premier Cup (3) in 1975–76, 1976–77, 1987–88 ( & been runners up (2) 1999-00 & 2003-04), and Amateur Cup (5), Sunday Amateur Cup (1), Intermediate Cup (2), Challenge Cup (4).

Originally a Sunday league side - The Club was formed in 1955 by our past Chairman Frank Thompson and friends as ‘City Supporters Rusholme’ in the Rusholme Sunday League, moving in the late sixties to the Manchester Amateur Sunday League and to the newly built Maine Road Social Club. Ronnie Meredith was now running the Club, and he changed the whole future of the Club by moving to Saturday football in the Manchester League. Success followed success on the field, and after several years of moving grounds, we settled on our present home at Brantingham Road in 1980. In Season 1983-84, we won our first Manchester League Premier Division. In fact, we then won the league four years running.

Derek Barber took over the managerial reins in 1986. The Club’s progress continued so much that when the Manchester County FA’s new complex at Brantingham Road was built, it entered the Bass North West Counties League. The following 12 years saw them winning Division Two to be promoted to the then 4th Step of the Non-League Pyramid, Winning the Premier Cup, beating Irlam Town 1-0 at Maine Road (home of Manchester City), some of the best FA Cup runs and the best run to date in the FA Vase. Graham Whittingham took over the reins, followed by another FA Cup run and a further Manchester Premier Cup Final appearance.

A short blip at the end of Season 2001-02, Maine Road were relegated to the 2nd division. But under the guidance of Chris Simms, when our very young side finished 3rd and runners up, we returned to the top division (2004), and the Club had another appearance in the Premier Cup Final.

The arrival of Ian Walker as manager (2006) saw Maine Roads’ improvement continue, with three top-six finishes in four seasons and the winning of the prestigious League Challenge Cup (2008).

In 2012-13, John Morrey/Chris Thomas took over the managerial reins. In two seasons, they continued the improvement, with a magnificent runners-up spot (2013) and a fourth position (2014).

Chris Hirst took over in November 2014 & ran the Club until Oct 2017. and took a very young, inexperienced side and finished mid-table. Matt Barnes took over until the end of the season when the Club was relegated to the 1st Division South.

At the start of the 2018-19 season, Calum Sykes took over the reins, but he left the Club at Christmas. We then went back to our normal policy of promoting from within & promoted Ray Barnett from the Reserves along with Jeff Newman. From being down in the relegation zone, we ended up finishing in 14th position and winning the Club of the Month in January.

EYES ON OPPONENT

19/20 was quite an extraordinary season, ended early by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw Maine Road finish a respectable 9th position and win the Fair Play award along with the best program award for the 1st Division South.

Season 21/22 started with an early managerial change following the appointment of Rees Welsh and Guy Heffernan, who steered the Club to a respectable 6th position.

Maine Road has a long and proud reputation for attracting young players. This success in spotting and nurturing the best young talent has continued over the past decades with Maine Road’s domination of the Umbro International Tournament at the Under 19 level. Over 11 seasons, our Under 19s have taken on and regularly outplayed talented youngsters from around the world. They have won the competition a remarkable six times and have been runnersup three times.