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Season 1894-95. Manchester & District Alliance Droylsden
FC Landmark In what was to be an historic landmark in the history of the club, Droylsden FC played their first ever match under the auspices of an organised league in an away fixture against Manchester Victoria Swifts. The following week the Ashton Reporter commented on the match: “The Droylsden Association Football Club fully proved their right to inclusion in the Manchester & District Alliance by winning their first fixture away from home, and thus securing the coveted two points. Their opponents were the Manchester Victoria Swifts, and the record of goals after a good game was Swifts 1, Droylsden 2.” By the end of September, the Droylsden team had distinguished itself by defeating Farnworth Parish Church in yet another away match, where it was reported, “the team differed from that of the previous week, the forwards and half-backs being re-arranged.” The alteration was evidently beneficial as Droylsden won the match by 3 goals to 0. On Saturday, November 24, the Droylsden team had a visit from Fairfield Reserve and the Ashton Reporter covered the match thus: “Although Fairfield Reserve have a lead in the table, a correspondent points out that Droylsden have not been
favoured with the best of luck. After working themselves into second position, two of the clubs withdrew, and took four points off
Droylsden, allowing them to drop to the bottom. However, Mr. Cropper’s lads are a persevering lot, and mean to be much nearer
the top than they are. Fairfield Reserve had a strong team out, including Hodgetts of the first team. Playing with the wind in the
first half, Fairfield had the best of the game and led by one goal to nil at the interval. Droylsden however, had all the best of
the second portion and, playing well, scored three times. The result of this match speaks all the better for the Droylsden club,
owing to the fact that after the interval they had to play with three forwards, two being disabled. Droylsden have now won their
last four matches. Today (Saturday) they play Failsworth on the Butchers’ Arms enclosure. Failsworth are the only team that have
beaten Berry’s Employees this season.” December 1 1894. Droylsden v Failsworth “The visitor’s were the first to attack, and, after some give and take play, Smith scored the first goal for Failsworth, Haughton soon drawing level. Failsworth got two more through, and at the interval were leading by three goals to one. Droylsden fairly upset the calculations of the visitors during the second half, Haughton beating Haworth with two splendid shots, and Lennon putting the finishing touch to number 4. All the Droylsden lads played a grand game, fairly making rings round their opponents in the second half and winning by 4 goals to 3.”
February 9 1895, Leigh v Droylsden "This match took place at Bedford, Leigh, before a good gate. With the hard ground, accurate play was impossible, but good work was shown by the visitors. Haughton and Ford scoring two splendid goals. Droylsden soon on had the game well in hand and ran out winners by two goals to nil.”
February 25 1895. Droylsden v Manchester Artillery “On the ground of the first named. The visitors were fairly overplayed. The home centre started the ball, and they went straight to the visitors goal and scored, five others following in quick succession. Ford scoring 3, Hallsworth 2 and Haughton 1, the score at half time being Droylsden 6, Artillery 0. The second half was a repetition of the first, the home side doing just as they liked, and scoring 10 other goals. The home goaler never handled the ball during the match. Final score: Droylsden 16, Manchester Artillery 0.”
March 16 1895. Droylsden v Stalybridge Rovers Reserve “These clubs met at Droylsden. Guttridge started the ball, and the home team at once made tracks for the visitor’s goal, the result ending in Ford scoring by a splendid screw shot. After this each goal was visited, but the home backs fairly held the Rovers in check, and at half time the home team led by four goals to nil. The second half was the same as the first. Droylsden always had the upper hand of the Rovers, and a pleasant game ended in victory for the home team by seven goals to nil.”
April 7 1895. Stalybridge Rovers Reserve v Droylsden “At
Stalybridge, before a moderate attendance. The visitors started the ball with a strong wind behind them, but the home team were
the first to score through Wright, one of the Droylsden backs heading through his own goal. At half time the score was 1-1. The
visitors fairly overplayed the home team in the second half, putting on two more goals through G Guttridge and C Haughton and
finally ran out winners by 3 goals to 1.” This
was all the coverage given to Droylsden during 1894-95, and unfortunately, no league table was published during any part of the
season. |