Abbey Hulton United FC vs Wythenshawe AFC

Saturday 11th February 2023 Kickoff 3:00 pm ISSUE 17 - 2022/23 SEASON

ABBEY HULTON UNITED VS WYTHENSHAWE AFC ONLINE MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Club Information Legal Entity: Unincorporated Ground: Drayton Beaumont Park Address: Birches Head Road, Birches Head, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire Postcode: ST2 8DD Telephone: 01782 570302 2022/23 Admission Prices: £5 adults, £3 concessions, under 16s free Secretary: John Wightman Chairman: Lee Savage Manager: Russell Leadbetter Programme Editor: Simon Laidler Committee / Directors: Lee Savage, John Wightman, John Agar, Mary Wightman, Liam Franklin, Sharon Franklin, Chris Basford, Steven Buxton, Lee Wightman, Simon Laidler, Daren Foulkes, David Baskeyfield, Wayne Mellor, David Bates, Darren Martin County Affiliation: Staffordshire FA Year Formed: 1947 Record Attendance: 605 vs Stoke City FC November 2021 Previous Leagues: Staffordshire County Senior League Honours: Burslem and Tunstall Division 2 - Runners Up 1973/1974.

Burslem and Tunstall Division 1 League Winners 1978/79 Burslem and Tunstall League Cup Winners 1978/1979 Fenton and District Division 1 Runners Up 1981/1982 Fenton and District Division 1 - League Winners, Cup Winners and Charity Cup Winners 1982/1983 Challenge Cup - Runners Up 1986/1987 Staffs County League Division 1 - League Winners, Cup Winners and Fair Play Award 1997/1998 Staffs County Senior League Premier Division - League winners and Leek Cup Winners 2016/2017.

CLUB HISTORY Abbey Hulton United Football Club was formed 73 years ago in 1947, making it one of the oldest formed clubs still playing Saturday football in North Staffordshire.

During its very early days the club played on Council land in the Abbey Hulton area.

It continued to use this facility for the first 15 years, despite the fact that the changing facilities were more than a mile away from the actual pitch.

In 1962 it was decided that the team should move to the Parks facility at Bucknall Park which was complete with its own changing rooms and showers adjacent to the pitch. What a luxury.

The team continued to use Bucknall Park for another 23 years, until 1985.

During the period from 1947 to 1985 the team played in many local junior leagues such as: • The Longton League • Fenton and District League • Burslem and Tunstall League • Newcastle and District League They graced all the above leagues with great distinction.

Over the years the club became more financially stable and grew in ambition. Finally in 1985 they acquired a piece of land at Birches Head Road on which it was able to obtain a 99 year lease. This is the clubs current address. Immediately, a clubhouse was built containing a bar and changing rooms for both teams and officials. At the same time an outside 5 a-side football facility was built, complete with floodlights.

Having moved to this new facility the club opted to join the North Staffs Alliance League. It completed in this leauge before seeking election to one of the top leagues in the area, The Staffs County League (North), in 1987. The team played in this league and finally had a momentous season in 1997-1998 by winning the league, the cup and also the fair play award all in one season. Having achieved this feat the club applied to join what is the top junior league in North Staffordshire, the Staffordshire County Senior League. In 2017 Abbey Hulton United won the Staffordshire County Senior Premier League Championship and were promoted to the North West County Football League.

WELCOME TODAY TO

wythenshawe afc Originally founded in 1946 as Wythenshawe Lads' Club by Reg Gauntlet, a local window cleaner, gathering together a group of kids kicking a ball about in the street, started playing friendlies, held meetings with parents in a wooden hut in the grounds of Cringlewood House, Yew Tree Lane. They then set up home by hiring a room in an old farmhouse in Daine Avenue, Rackhouse. A couple of years later Noel Timpson, of Timpson Shoes, purchased two ex-WW2 Nissen huts and sited them within the farmhouse grounds.

Wythenshawe, their first kit being white shirts, black shorts, black socks, first manager Bob Collins, progressed through the Manchester Federation of Lads' Clubs League 1946-49.

In 1949 as the lads grew into maturity and no longer eligible for Lads Club football Harry Dalton developed them into 'The Ammies', changing their name to Wythenshawe Amateurs, managed by Jim Cooper, to provide football for all ages. Dalton was a Sheffield Wednesday supporter hence the Ammies royal blue & white striped kit.

They became members of the South Manchester and Wythenshawe League 1949-53 racing through the lower divisions, top goalscorer being Bob Halliday with an incredible 72 goals in season 1951-52, before securing the First Division Championship in 1953.

They then entered the Altrincham and District League 1953-54. In 1956 Wythenshawe played Manchester United, including Bobby Charlton, in the Altrincham District FA - Whitaker Cup Final. This was a great day for Wythenshawe because not only did they hold a very talented United team to a draw but according to press reports at the time were quite as good as their opponents. After two lots of extra time the score was 1-1, the cup was shared with each team holding it for six months.

Climbing the football pyramid they were accepted into the Lancashire and Cheshire League 1954-72 winning the double in their first season, the Third Division 'A' and Hellawell Shield. Between 1955-57 they achieved the distinction of promotion in three successive seasons, 1955 Third Division 'A' champions, 1956 Third Division runner-up, 1957 Second Division champions. Also First Division champions 1962 and three time winners of the Rhodes Cup (1958, 1961, 1972). Gilgryst Cup (1986, 1987, 1990, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2018) twice finalist (1980, 1988). Three time winners of the Lancashire Amateur Cup (1976, 1990, 1996) finalist six times (1982, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1994).

The senior section alone have won over 50 trophies. Arguably one of their most successful seasons came in 1989-90 when the first team, managed by Ray Mallalieu, achieved the treble by winning the Lancashire Amateur Cup, Manchester League Premier and Gilgryst Cup, whilst the reserves added the second division title and the Sunday team winning the Wythenshawe and District Sunday League Challenge Cup. Although youth teams have sporadically existed since the Lads' Club days, In 1989 Stephen Hall and Jim Roberts formalised a Junior Section at the club, entering one team, Under 9’s, in the Timperley and District Junior League. In 2019 the youth team entered the FA Youth Cup for the first time. In 2022 the youth development squad became the clubs first team to win a regional league division, champions of the North West Youth Alliance Development Division, and were also finalist in their respective cup in their first season.

The club led a somewhat nomadic existence, playing their games at Cleveland playing fields 1946-49, Wythenshawe Park 1949-58, The Christie playing fields 1958-61, Federation of Lads' Club Ground Chorlton, later called Harry Dalton playing fields 1961-83, then in 1983 they became tenants at Wythenshawe Cricket Club, Longley Lane, albeit when the football and cricket seasons overlapped the club had to find alternative venues, Flixton FC 2015, St Paul's High School 2016-17, settling at Hollyhedge Park in 2017.

From season 1967-68 the first team took part in the FA Amateur Cup, which in 1974 became the FA Vase, in 1985 they reached the 5th round narrowly losing 2-1 away to the eventual winners Halesowen Town. The previous round saw the Ammies win 6-0 at home to Rushall Olympic before its then largest attendance of 255, tenfold their average, and producing their first ever match programme.

Due to a change to the FA's ground grading requirements in 1996 they were no longer eligible to enter the FA Vase, on top of that they could not seek promotion in the National League System from the Step 7 Manchester League to the Step 6 North West Counties League.

Wythenshawe were not deterred by this setback and planning permission was granted by Manchester City Council in October 2007 to build a 150 seater floodlit stadium in Hollyhedge Park. Raising sufficient funds to build this facility, even to simply fence in the ground, was an on-going problem, being adversely affected by a recession.

In 2009 a Ladies team was formed, managed by Paula Mercer, in 2011 became champions of Cheshire & Manchester Women's League Division Two East and finalist in their respective cup, then transferring to the Cheshire Women’s & Youth League. In 2018 they finished runner-up in the CW&YL and promoted to the North West Women’s Regional League, also entering the Women's FA Cup for the first time, beating Accrington Stanley at home 5-1 in the preliminary round then bowing out in the 1st Qual.Rd v.

Accrington Girls & Ladies at home 1-3 before the women's then record attendance of 142.

In June 2011 the club changed its legal entity from an unincorporated association to that of a private limited company by guarantee, with charitable status. The company dissolved in November 2019.

The Sunday team was reintroduced in 2012, managed by Paul O'Keefe, immediately winning the double in the Altrincham Sunday League 2013, they joined the Stockport Sunday League, becoming Division Four champions in 2015, Division Three champions in 2016 with 100% win record, latter two seasons scoring 359 goals.

In July 2013 Committee member John Cotton noticed an article for a Budweiser £50,000 regional grant he felt the club could win, he passed the article to then Vice-Chairman Carl Barratt who took up the mantle. Fortune struck on Halloween that year, which changed the future of the club forever, when Barratt received the news that he was successful in winning the grant, this also enabled the club to compete against seven other clubs nationwide for an additional £100,000 in a public Facebook vote during February 2014, they obtained the most votes and secured the additional funds.

The club in 2015 introduced the 'John Walker Tournament', an annual nationwide summer festival of football for children and youths aged 7-15, attracting over 100 teams with over 1,000 players.

A further honour bestowed upon ‘Mr Wythenshawe Amateurs’ was the naming of the main stand ‘The John Walker Stand’ in 2020.

The football and cricket clubs workable relationship, in its latter years, became strained and subsequently the Ammies were rendered homeless when evicted by the cricket club in May 2015 after 32 years use.

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The Hollyhedge Park Project was now, more than ever, an increasingly important chapter in the clubs future. Whilst the project was coming to fruition games were played at Flixton FC and St. Paul's High School, with hospitality at the Winston Conservative Club and Northenden Social Club.

The penning of this crucial chapter recommenced in July 2016 when the club secured funding of £812,000, which included £382,317 from the Premier League & The FA, the £150,000 from Budweiser, £146,000 from the National Lottery, building work began in earnest in February 2017 for a clubhouse, new pitch, drainage, car park and fencing when a new long term lease was finally agreed with Manchester City Council.

In March 2017 the club became a Community Benefit Society, its first Board of Directors being Basil Kabbani (Chairman), Carl Barratt (Vice-Chairman), Peter Andrews, John Cotton, Stuart Furnival, Ray Gibson, Stephen Hall, Neil Owen.

The stadium was completed in September 2017, the first match was played on 30th, drawing 1-1 v.

Hindsford in the Manchester League, the 32 year old record attendance was broken with 277. Further improvements brought the ground up to Step 6 standard and was officially opened on 6th May 2018 by former England & Manchester United captain Bryan Robson. Promotion was gained in May 2018 when the FA allocated the first team to a restructured North West Counties Football League. This meant that the club was competing at semi-professional level for the first time, whilst retaining their amateur status they finished a creditable fourth in the First Division South in their first season.

In 2019 the first team returned to the national stage when they re-entered the FA Vase.

The following season 2020-21, they were accepted, for the first time, into the FA Cup, in the Extra Preliminary Round beat Shelley at home 4-2 in a memorable penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in 90 mins, exited in the Preliminary Round v. Trafford at home 1-4.

The first full season, 2021-22, following two coronavirus pandemic hit seasons, they reached the playoffs, losing to FC Isle of Man in the semi-finals.

The first team have never been relegated in its 77 year history.

Today's Opponents LEAGUE SEASON SO FAR P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

PTS

27

21

2

4

66

23

43

65

LEAGUE POSITION

CLEAN SHEETS

2nd

13

DISTANCE FROM PERSHALL PARK : 50.7 MILES

TOP SCORER 13 JOSEPH BEVAN

wythenshawe afc Player Stats 2022/23

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PLAYER SPOTLIGHT S I W E L E JO Weight : 79Kg Height : 5ft 9in Last club played for : Uttoxeter Town Club you Support : Liverpool Favourite all time player : Gerrard Favourite current player : De Brunye Favourite manager now : Klopp Favourite music : Anything old school but love a good old Sweet Caroline

M A E T YOUR S MATE

Least intelligent : Robbo reckons its everyone else, Reckon its actually him Worst dressed : Sammy thinks he looks sick in his dads old F30s Fastest : Sammy, but Jamie Weldon reckons its him, we need a race.

Best Tekkers : Wardy, but to fair he doesn’t have much competition Last one to get a round in : Gravesy, but to be fair he doesn’t drink Who is punching : They all are, but probably Amo the most

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ABBEY HULTON UNITED 22/23 PLAYER STATS

JULY 30.07

CHEADLE TOWN (H)

AUGUST 02.08 06.08 13.08 16.08 20.08 27.08 29.08

ECCLESHALL (A) STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (H) ECC 1S ELLESMERE RANGERS (A) WYTHENSHAWE AMATEURS (A) STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (H) KHALSA FF (H) FA VASE 1Q STAFFORD TOWN (H)

september 03.09 06.09 13.09 17.09 24.09 27.09

ALSAGER TOWN (A) NEW MILLS (H) BROCTON (A) ABBEY HAY (H) TIVIDALE (A) FA VASE 2Q WOLVERHAMPTON CASUALS (A) SSC1

october 01.10 08.10 15.10 22.10 29.10

MAINE ROAD (A) FOLEY MEIR (A) ECC 2S ALSAGER TOWN (A) MCUP 1 STOCKPORT TOWN (A) BARNTON (H)

november 05.11 12.11 19.11 22.11 26.11

ASHVILLE(A) CHEADLE HEATH NOMADS (A) ECCLESHALL (H) MCUP R2 ASHVILLE (H) WYTHENSHAWE AM (H) ECC 3S

december 03.12 06.12 17.12 20.12 26.12

NEW MILLS (A) MAINE ROAD (H) BARNTON (A) ALSAGER TOWN (H) ROCESTER (A)

january 21.01 24.01 28.01 31.01

SOUTH LIVERPOOL (A) MCUP3 SANDBACH UNITED (H) FOLEY MEIR (A) ABBEY HEY (A)

febraury 04.02 11.02 18.02 21.02

ELLESMERE RANGERS (H) WYTHENSAHWE AM (H) SANDBACH UNITED (A) STOCKPORT TOWN (H)

march 04.03 11.03 18.03 25.03

CHEADLE HEATH NOMADS (H) STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (A) ECCLESHALL (H) CAMMELL LAIRD 1907 (A)

april 01.04 10.04 15.04

CHEADLE TOWN (A) ROCESTER (H) STAFFORD TOWN (A)

1971

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Today's fixtures Rocester vs Cheadle Heath Nomads Abbey Hey vs Brocton Abbey Hulton United vs Wythenshawe AFC Ashville vs Sandbach United Cheadle Town vs Cammell Laird 1907 Eccleshall vs Foley Meir Ellesmere Rangers vs Barnton Maine Road vs New Mills Stafford Town vs Stockport town Stockport Georgians vs Alsager Town

RESERVES UPDATE

UPCOMING FIXTURES Lichfield City FC (A) 11/02 KICKOFF 2:30PM Redgate Clatyon FC (H) 18/02 KICKOFF 2:30PM Walsall Phoenix (H) 25/02 KICKOFF 2:30PM

DOMINIC KURASIK (GK) MORGAN WOOLLISCROFT (GK) OLIVER SCOTT (GK) MATTHEW BERKELEY JOSHUA BRISTOW FITZROY BUTLER ADAM CATALANO DANIEL COPE LEE CROPPER KEVYN DAVIES AIDEN DWYER MAX GARDNER ERIC GRAVES JACK GUMBLEY ZAK HILL JOEL IGWENWANNE JOE LEWIS DURELL MANHERTZ OLIVER MCKAY LIAM ROBINSON THEO STAIR WILLIAM TAMS KEEYLIN THOMAS MATTHEW WARD JACK WELDON JAMIE WELDON JHARRELL WILLIAMS SAM WYTCHERLEY

BRUNO DA SILVA (GK) SAMUEL GOODWIN (GK) KYLE HASLAM (GK) SAMUEL ADEWUSI JOEL AIKENHEAD JOSEPH BEVAN EDWARD BROWN JNAI BUTTERFIELD-STEEDE OSCAR CAMPBELL JOHNATHON CAVANAGH MATTHEW CLEARY CRAIG COATES KIERAN CURTIS JARDEL DEPEIAZA SAMUEL DICKOV CHARLES DUKE JAMES GREEN AMIR HAJRI SAUL HENDERSON ARRON HEVINGHAM LEWIS HILL CHRISTOPHER HOWARD XAVIER JASPER KEITH KANAKULYA DECLAN LAMB BRYAN LY DYLAN MOLONEY ARTHUR OKONKWO JAKE POLLARD PAUL RILEY SAMUEL TAMAKLOE RAJWINDER UPPAL RONALDINHO VAZ MENDES RONALDO VAZ MENDES DYLAN WALKER TOM WOOD LUKE WORTH

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SATURDAY 14/02

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SATURDAY 18/02