At the beginning of September 1909, it was announced in the local press, "The Droylsden Association Football Club, which is now connected with the Ashton & District League, opens the season today (Saturday). This is the first season of the Droylsden club since the old Federation team was disbanded..." The club had been revived and was to be run under the chairmanship of Mr. Grimshaw, with Mr. T Grundy as president. Two former committee members (J Byrom and J Lee) were again to serve on the committee, along with Mr. J Johnson, T Molloy, W Singleton, J Bourne and B Rose. Mr. Molloy was to act as treasurer, whilst Mr. F Baguley of 288 Market Street had been appointed as the new Droylsden secretary. On Tuesday evening August 31st, the Droylsden officials met at their Butchers' Arms headquarters to finalise arrangements for the forthcoming season. The committee were quietly confident that the band of players they had assembled would be capable of giving a reasonable account of themselves, and hopefully secure the club a regular place in the first division of the Ashton & District League.

The season opened with an away match at Ashton CC on their Ashton Moss ground, and the Droylsden team got away to a good start by winning the fixture 5-2, though better was to come. The Market Street men went on to collect maximum points from their first eight matches, and by early December the club was lying second in the league table. Their record up to that point read: played 12, won 9, and lost 3, with a goal average of 33 for, and 21 against. In November, the league leaders came to the Butchers' Arms for what was to be a top of the table clash.

"Great interest was taken in this match at Droylsden. Waterloo won the toss, and decided to play uphill, the ground being in capital condition. The game started in a sensational manner. The Droylsden outside right got the ball, and made a run and centered. Both the Waterloo backs missed their kick, and Byrom, for Droylsden, easily beat Bradbury in the first minute. This aroused the Waterloo players, and five minutes later Devlin sent in a hot shot, which glided off one of the Droylsden backs through the goal.

"The game was now very fast, each side trying to gain the lead. After 25 minutes a foul was given against Droylsden in the penalty area. P Maher took the kick, but the goalkeeper made a grand save at the third attempt. Five minutes before the interval Wade took a corner kick, Flaherty giving Waterloo the lead. Just before half time the same player made a desperate attempt to score, but was unsuccessful. Interval: Droylsden 1 Waterloo 2. The second half was very even, each end being visited in turn, and both sides missing several openings. Before time, Bradbury made a grand save, Waterloo winning by 2 goals to 1."

One of Droylsden's home matches during the latter part of the season brought this comment from the local press:

"Carbrook St. James turned up at the Butchers' Arms on Saturday and returned home with a big defeat. Result's like last Saturday's are not calculated to do any good, and had Droylsden eased up when they had scored 9 goals at the interval, it would have been enough. But to pile on 6 more and play for all they were worth against a team already overwhelmed, is rather too bad. Clubs will do well to remember that the league is not won by goal average, but points. Carbrook were helpless before the Droylsden attack!"

Droylsden finished their first season in the Ashton & District League with a total of 32 points, which was sufficient to gain them fifth place in the league table. However, the Butchers' Arms lads fared better in the Ashton Charity Cup competition where, after beating the Carbrook club in the first round by 4 goals to nil, Droylsden carried on through to the semi final where they were to play Dukinfield St. Mark's.

"A fair crowd assembled on the St. Peter's ground, Ashton, but nothing like the size of the one at the other semi final. For one thing the day was bad, and another the clubs were widely separated. The Cheshire men had whipped a strong side together, including Len Whyatt and Ernie Crossland of the Celtic. The ground was on the soft side when the Mark's kicked off. For a time the play was in midfield, and gradually the Droylsden men forced their way down, Jarvis opening the score, while Dick Booth gave Birchenough no chance with the second goal. Stung by the reverse the Mark's played up, Crossland reducing the lead. Warming again to their work, the Droylsdeners put on a third goal from a cross shot by Davies, and led at the interval by 3-1. On resuming St. Mark's went at it with a will, and sorely tried the defence, which, after repelling many attacks, fell to a fine drive by Crossland. Keeping up the pressure, the Cheshire men fought hard for a draw, but all attacks were well beaten off. Near the close Jarvis settled the issue by scoring the fourth goal for Droylsden, who now pass into the final to meet Ashton PSA."

The Ashton Charity Cup Final was held at St. Mark's ground, Dukinfield, on March 19th 1910. Well over 2,000 spectators were packed into the ground, both teams having a large following. Droylsden's blue and white colours were very prominent, whilst the red colours of the Ashton PSA contingent were in evidence all around the ground.

"The match opened quietly, Ashton kicking downhill, and in the opening stages they held the advantage. Sunwell was called upon to save shots from Walker and Hamer, which he did in a masterly style. In one fierce assault, Norman Wild, who was close in, quickly fired a volley only a few inches wide. Travelling down the hill, the Ashton men gave Sunwell several more shots to save, which he did in fine style. A free kick brought no reprieve for the anxious Droylsden defenders, and had the Reds been smart enough they ought to have scored a couple of goals. Droylsden then broke away, and Dick Booth tapped the ball over Howard's head, and shot weakly at goal. The tenter, instead of fielding the sphere, kicked it out, and the ball cannoned off Marland's head and flew into the net. Marland was injured and had to retire, and Droylsden were one goal up.

"Davies, who was a constant source of danger on the Droylsden right, was only just checked in time by the ever alert Burtonwood, who then gave a beautiful pass to his front rank, but the old failing accounted for no score. Stenton, who had been closely watched rounded Howard, and put the ball at Booth's feet, the ex-Mission lad flashing it over the bar. A minute before the whistle blew for half time, Rodgers sent in a lightening drive which grazed the post. With the hill to face. and a goal down, the Ashton men started well. The forward line was rearranged, Walker going on the wing, and Rodgers operating in the centre. Droylsden opened out the game, and led by Ormrod, who was working like a Trojan, they flashed the ball from wing to wing. Both the Droylsden winger's were dangerous, and Howard, who was playing a grand game for Ashton at the back, only just checked Stenton in the penalty area.

"Booth and Davies led a fierce attack on the Ashton goal, Davies only being charged over the line when a few yards from Carr. Rodgers then made the run of the afternoon. Coming through a crowd of players and evading the entire defence, he was at fault in not shooting sooner. Play now waged round the Ashton goal, and while Davies dropped in some splendid corners, which were cleared with difficulty, one told, for Owen meeting the ball with his head, crashed it into the net, and settled the hopes of the Ashton men. With a two goal lead Droylsden carried all before them. First Yarker, then Stenton shot for all they were worth, and but for Carr's fine goalkeeping the total would have been more. People began to leave the ground, and before referee Bowden sounded his last notes, a large section of the Ashton crowd had gone. A splendid reception awaited the Droylsden team at their headquarters when they returned home later in the day with their precious trophy."

Droylsden: Sunwell, Rowson, Lever, Owen, Marland, Ormrod, Davies, Jarvis, Booth, Stenton and Yarker.

Pts

Stalybridge Utd

Waterloo

Ashton St. Peter's

Ashton PSA

Droylsden

Dukinf'd St. Marks

Dukinfield

Stayley

Hurst St. John's

Ashton St. James

9th BM Regiment

Hurst Nook

Old St. George's

Ashton CC

106

When the season opened, the Ashton & District League was comprised of sixteen teams, though towards the end of the season the league was reduced in numbers with the withdrawal of both Taunton United and Carbrook St. James. The Carbrook club disbanded immediately after the 15-0 beating they suffered at the Butchers' Arms.