West Didsbury & Chorlton Association Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, a suburb of Manchester, England. They are currently members of the North West Counties League Premier Division, the ninth tier of English football, and play at The Recreation Ground, currently known as The Step Places Stadium for sponsorship reasons,[4] but mostly referred to as Brookburn Road. Nicknamed "West", the club was founded as Christ Church in 1908. In 1920, the club changed its name to West Didsbury, and after moving to their current stadium, Brookburn Road, in Chorlton in 1997 they changed their name to West Didsbury & Chorlton to reflect this.
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| Full name | West Didsbury & Chorlton Association Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | West | ||
| Founded | 1908, as Christ Church A.F.C. | ||
| Ground | The Recreation Ground, Brookburn Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester | ||
| Capacity | 1,320 [1] | ||
| Chairman | Steve Eckersley [2] | ||
| Manager | Paul Marshall[3] | ||
| League | North West Counties League Premier Division | ||
| 2023–24 | North West Counties League Premier Division, 16th of 24 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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History
editThe club was formed in West Didsbury as Christ Church A.F.C. in 1908 by a local Sunday School Superintendent. Christ Church joined the Manchester Alliance League, in which they played until 1914.[5] For the 1920–21 season, the club changed its name to West Didsbury A.F.C. and joined the Lancashire and Cheshire League.
In 2003, the club changed its name to West Didsbury & Chorlton, to reflect its new location after an earlier ground move. In 2006, they entered the Manchester League Division One, won two Murray Shields in three seasons, and were crowned champions in 2010–11, gaining promotion to the Premier Division.[5] In the 2011–12 season, the club played in the FA Vase for the first time, and were knocked out in the Second Qualifying Round by Ashville F.C.[6] For the 2012–13 season the club had its application to enter the North West Counties Football League Division One accepted.[7] This was the first time the club has played at level 10 of the English football league system. The club finished 3rd in their first season at level 10, and due to the failure to meet ground criteria of title winner Formby, West were promoted to level 9 for the 2013–14 season for the first time. They also won the NWCFL Division One Cup competition defeating Abbey Hey 1–0 in the final. They were relegated to Division One South in the 2018–19 season, but won promotion back to the Premier Division in 2021–22, securing their finish as champions on 23 March 2022 in their penultimate game of the season with a 2–1 win over Barnton.
Since 2017/18[8] the club have operated a women's team, after Chorltonians Ladies became part of the club. They currently play in North West Women's Regional Football League Premier Division, having won the NWWRL Division One South title in 2017/18.[9] There is also a women's reserve side who currently play in the Greater Manchester Women's Football League.
Grounds
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From 1908 until 1914, the club play at Shorts Farm on Wilmslow Road in what is now Rusholme, before moving to Christie Playing Fields. The club were evicted when this ground was sold for development in the late 1980s, with no fixed home until they moved to the then disused Recreation Ground on Brookburn Road in the Chorltonville area of Chorlton for the 1997–98 season.[5] Since 2019, the ground has been officially known as The Step Places Stadium for sponsorship reasons.
There are two entrances to the Recreation Ground: a main turnstile through which the majority of supporters enter off Brookburn Road, and an additional shed from the public footpath by Hardy Farm. Though crowds are typically unsegregated, in the event of any there being an allocated away section of the ground, it is the latter entrance that is used by travelling support.
The ground's capacity comprises mainly uncovered standing across both sides of pitch, with some viewing available from an embankment behind the dugouts. There are 2 separate stands at either end of the pitch: a 100 capacity covered seating area named the Rob Turley Stand in honour of the club's former player and longstanding chair, and a covered standing area at the opposite side that is known as the Shed End, but remains officially unnamed. There are an additional 50 seats in front of the clubhouse, which adjoins the Turley stand.
Since 2022, the club has added further facilities in order to deal with larger crowds, with the purpose built Tea Hut serving food and drink at the clubhouse end of the ground, and a drinks bar at the shed end. There is also a merchandise shed and food van which are both open on men's matchdays, as well as portable toilets by the main entrance to the ground.
The club also has access to the adjoining Hardy Farm pitches, which are used for matches by youth teams, reserves, and for first team training.[5]
Colours
editWest's home colours are white and black shirts, with black shorts and socks[10], featuring a sash design from the 2023/24 season onwards.[11]
The club have no set away colours, and has previously been blue[12], maroon[13], yellow[14], and red[15] at different times. In 2021, a fan vote for a new away kit resulted in a pink and navy design[16] featuring the names of supporters who donated to the club as part of the design as part of a campaign titled 'Fabric of West'[17]. This beat variations including 'blue steel', 'purple rain',[18] and orange[19], all of which would've been new away colours for the club.
Following another vote in 2024, the club continued with a similar colour scheme, salmon and light blue, in a patterned motif.[20]
West's kits are produced by SK Kits.[21]
Support
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The men's team crowds have rapidly increased since joining the NWCFL, growing from an average of 54 in their debut season of 2012-13[22] to 723 across the 2023-24 season[23] in league games.
West fans have been noted for their creative & humorous chants, often singing songs about humous, quinoa, vegetarianism, Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, and their love of Krombacher.[24][25] In a similar fashion to fans of fellow non-league clubs such as Clapton CFC and Dulwich Hamlet,[26] West fans are known for their left-wing political stance. Antifascist,[27] pro-refugee,[28] & LGBT+[29][30] flags are flown games. Union 1908, an independent supporters club, was formed in 2020 with the aim of expanding the clubs fanbase, along with supporting local causes in the South Manchester area.[31]
Indie pop band Dutch Uncles are fans of the club and have launched their albums O Shudder[32] and True Entertainment[33] at West men's fixtures as well as sponsoring a women's team kit,[34] with members of Airship also attending games. England international players Marcus Rashford[35] and Izzy Christiansen[36] have also been spotted at Brookburn Road for matches.
Players
edit- As of 10 September 2024.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
editWest Didsbury & Chorlton has won five league championships and six cup competitions in its history.[5]
- Manchester League Division One
- Winners 2010–11
- Runners-up 2009–10
- North West Counties Football League Division One South
- Winners 2021–22
- North West Counties Football League Division One Cup
- Winners 2013–14
- Lancashire FA Trophy
- Runners-up 2021–22
- Lancashire and Cheshire League Division One
- Runners-up 1922–23, 1931–32
- Lancashire and Cheshire League Division Two
- Winners 1988–89
- Runners-up 1952–53, 1965–66, 1970–71
- Lancashire and Cheshire League Division Two
- Winners 1987–88
- Murray Shield
- Winners 2007–08, 2009–10
- Runners-up 2008–09
- Rhodes Cup
- Winners 1926–27, 1969–70
- Runners-up 1922–23, 1931–32
- Whitehead Cup
- Winners 1976–77
Club records
editNotable players
editPlayers in this list have either played professionally, internationally or are otherwise of note before, during or after their time at West Didsbury & Chorlton.
References
edit- ^ www.nonleaguematters.co.uk - North West Counties League - North West Counties League Premier Division
- ^ www.wdcfc.co.uk - Rob McKay steps down as co-Chair Accessed 8 September 2020
- ^ @WD_CFC (11 May 2024). "We are proud to announce Paul Marshall as our new Men's First Team Manager" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ www.wdcfc.co.uk - 2023/24 SEASON TICKETS SHOP TEAMS MATCHDAY SPONSORSHIP ABOUT WEST DOWNLOADS RECREATION GROUND TO BE RE-NAMED STEP PLACES STADIUM, SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER – WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON AFC
- ^ a b c d e West Didsbury and Chorlton official website – History Accessed 17 June 2012 Cite error: The named reference "History" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c Football History Database – West Didsbury & Chorlton Accessed 17 June 2012
- ^ NWCFL official website – 2012–13 League Constitution Announced Archived 30 January 2013 at archive.today Accessed 17 June 2012
- ^ @WDC_WOMEN (22 February 2017). "BREAKING NEWS @ChorltsLadies to become @WDC_Women for 2017/18 season #Chorlton" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @WDC_WOMEN (18 April 2019). "After last nights result West Didsbury & Chorlton Women secured the NWWRFL Division One South title. 🎉🎉🎉" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Biffafootie – 2010 Archive Accessed 17 June 2012
- ^ WDCFC.CO.UK. "Our new short for the 2023/24 season". WDCFC.CO.UK.
- ^ @WD_CFC (30 June 2016). "Here come the teams. Its 50 shades of blue as both sides home kits are in the wash" (Tweet) – via Twitter. {{Cite tweet}}: |date= / |number= mismatch (help)
- ^ @WD_CFC (11 August 2017). "REVEALED @saulhenderson @Steerben_ and @PooleJord1 reveal the 2017/18 away kit sponsored by @BelvoirChorlton" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @WDC_Women (6 March 2019). "Supporters are beginning to receive the first batch of @dutchuncles West shirts. You can order yours from our partners @DirectSoccer 👇🏻⚪️⚫️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @WD_CFC (17 July 2017). "👕 Following numerous requests, the @WDC_Women Away shirt sponsored by Chorlton Reds is now available for pre-order" (Tweet) – via Twitter. {{Cite tweet}}: |date= / |number= mismatch (help)
- ^ @WD_CFC (10 June 2021). "Introducing our new away kit for the 2021/22 season, as chosen by you - the fans! #FabricOfWest" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @WD_CFC (23 June 2021). "There's just one week left to secure your place in West history and see your name included in the design of next season's away kit! #FabricOfWest" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @WD_CFC (26 May 2021). "Here we go... Semi-final number one 👕 #FabricOfWest Will it be Blue Steel or Purple Rain?" (Tweet) – via Twitter. {{Cite tweet}}: |date= / |number= mismatch (help)
- ^ @WD_CFC (2 June 2021). "Match number three - Navy v Orange" (Tweet) – via Twitter. {{Cite tweet}}: |date= / |number= mismatch (help)
- ^ @WD_CFC (15 July 2024). "Our new away shirt is now available on http://wdcfc.co.uk" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ WDCFC.CO.UK. "Our new short for the 2023/24 season". WDCFC.CO.UK.
- ^ North West Counties League - Division One North 2012-13
- ^ North West Counties League - Premier Division 2023-24
- ^ ‘They sing chants about being vegetarians and eating hummus’ - The Mill
- ^ Watch: West Didsbury and Chorlton FC poke fun at themselves with hilariously appropriate chant - Manchester Evening News
- ^ 13 absolutely perfect non-league grounds you need to visit in 2023-24 - Planet Football
- ^ @union1908 (10 August 2024). "👊" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @MikeDol04757266 (8 March 2022). "My fourth visit to Brookburn Road this season so I'll just go with the simple message whose importance transcends the result of any football match - Refugees Welcome Here" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @WD_CFC (25 August 2018). "📸 Photo via jkwilko6 on instagram" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @WD_CFC (12 March 2022). "🤍🖤 @union1908 🤝 @fvhtweets" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Union 1908 - We are Union 1908
- ^ NME.COM. "Dutch Uncles to premiere new album 'O Shudder' at non-league football match - NME.COM". NME.COM.
- ^ @dutchuncles (2 March 2023). "To celebrate the release of our new album True Entertainment next week, we will be in Chorlton-cum-Hardy for an all day party on Saturday 11th March…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ - West and Dutch Uncles partner to launch new women’s away kit
- ^ @WD_CFC (11 August 2018). "marcus is a west fan 💯💯💯" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @LuceFord_ (13 May 2017). "Mad that someone you met at a @WD_CFC game has just scored in a FA Cup women's final for Man City women, go on @IzzyChr17" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @PaulHeatonSolo (18 March 2021). "@garglecheerio @union1908 @WD_CFC Ha ha I used to play for the 2nd and 3rds when I first moved over to Manchester" (Tweet) – via Twitter.