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Season
1901-02. Manchester Federation Droylsdenites Born and Bred. On joining the Manchester Federation, it was hoped more interest would be shown in the club, and that spectators would attend in larger numbers. In lieu of that Mr. George Doxey, the tenant of the Butchers' Arms hostelry had spent a considerable sum of money in improving the ground, which at the beginning of the 1901-02 season, was reported to be in excellent condition. The club was to be run under the chairmanship of Mr. J Ashcroft, whilst the remainder of the committee was made up of: J Harding, secretary and treasurer. R McClure, D Lloyd, J Pickerhill, J Heelam, and T Ganson. The class of clubs in the Federation was much higher than in the local leagues, and the commencement of the season saw one or two changes in the constitution of the team, the new team being: Goal: Worrall. Fullbacks: Hyde and Hadfield. Halfbacks: Ainscough, Kelland, Chadwick. Forwards: Bowers, Sanderson, Williamson, Haughton and Dicken. Reserves: Rowbottom, Hinchcliffe, Hughes and Grimshaw. Droylsden played their first match under Federation rules on September 7th 1901, against Sale Holmfield Reserves at the Butchers' Arms. The result was 3-1 in favour of Droylsden, which the committee considered 'a very satisfactory start indeed'. Results over the first few weeks of the season went well for Droylsden, so well in fact that in October, a letter signed 'Enthusiastic Droylsdener', was published in the Ashton Reporter. October 5th 1901. "Sir - It is with pleasure that I write of the doings of the Droylsden AFC, members of the Manchester Federation and champions of the Hooley Hill & District League last season. One special point that I write about is the advantage of playing local amateurs to outsiders. Last seasons players went through the above league without tasting defeat, and have now played four games in the Federation, winning all four, with an average of 12 goals against 1. This season they have been successful in signing on the following players, in addition to the pick of last season's players, viz., 'Wag' Haughton, and Dicken, late of Hooley Hill and Ashton. Bowers: Denton and Hyde, and Sam Grimshaw from Werneth Albion. PS. - The members of the above team are Droylsdenites, born and bred."
What may have prompted the letter from 'Enthusiastic Droylsdener', was Droylsden's match against Didsbury, which was played on the Butchers' Arms on Saturday September 27th.
September 27th 1901. Droylsden v Didsbury Played at Droylsden, before a good gate. The visitors came late. The Didsbury forwards, playing a fast game, penned the home team for awhile, but they could not penetrate the defence of Worrall & Co. From a goal kick Dicken got the ball, and after tricking one or two opponents he placed to Haughton, who centred, and Bowers, with a neat back- heel kick, scored Droylsden's first goal. This seemed to disorganise Didsbury, and shortly after Sanderson headed No. 2. Droylsden from now on had all the best of the game up to the interval. Droylsden 2, Didsbury 0. The second half was rather one-sided, Williamson, Kelland, Sanderson and Haughton all scoring goals. Final - Droylsden 6 goals, Didsbury 0."
Droylsden's winning form continued throughout the next few weeks - home and away - which, on November 30th, brought this comment from the local press:
"Droylsden has a team of footballers, of the Association persuasion, of which any village in Lancashire may well be proud. They are, according to Saturday's form, quite a couple of goals in front of the Heathfield club. Up to the present Droylsden have met nine clubs in the Manchester Federation, and eight of them have been defeated. One game ended in a draw. The Droylsden club therefore, have not yet sustained a reverse in the Federation."
On December 14th, Droylsden suffered their first defeat of the season against Levenshulme, who would go on to become champions of the league for this 1901-02 season.
Manchester Federation 1901-02
Newton Heath Athletic and Knutsford Parish withdrew, and their results were struck out.
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