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Season
1926-27. Manchester League Demoralised Droylsden Droylsden opened the season with a new secretary in charge of team affairs. Mr. John Gillibrand, after seven years as Droylsden secretary, had retired, and Mr. A Rush of Newton Heath, had taken over. Local Press, August 1926. "The officials of the Droylsden Football Club have reason to be optimistic regarding the club's chances in Manchester League football during the coming season. That the club is possessed of undoubted talent was demonstrated by the first trial match on the Butchers' Arms ground on Saturday, when two teams engaged in what proved to be a very illuminating game. Several things were conclusively proved, one of these being that the officials took a very wise step when they signed on George Stott, a promising outside left from Ducie Victoria, a Manchester Amateur League eleven. Stott will, if Saturday's exhibition is any criterion, make a worthy deputy for Rushworth, who did so well for the club last season in the outside left position, and who has joined the ranks of Denton United. "Another newcomer from whom much is expected is Robinson, late of New Moss. Robinson is at his best when leading the forward line, and the position of centre forward will, in all probability, be allocated to him. The club has signed on several more new players, who were unable to play on Saturday, owing to holidays. Supporters will be pleased to here that the old defence, including Sykes, who kept goal so well last season, will again fill the breach. As a matter of fact, all last seasons' players have been signed on, with the exception of Rushworth, Dakin, who has left the district, and Lomas, who has crossed over to Denton United. Lomas's loss will be keenly felt. As an inside right player, he put in much splendid service for Droylsden last season. An opportunity to show his worth in goal was given on Saturday to a youth from a local club, named Bowker, who has been engaged, and will probably prove very useful. There will be a further practice game on the Butchers' Arms ground today (Saturday)." The Droylsden officials stated that they had every reason to be optimistic about the forthcoming season, and were looking forward to an improvement on the field of play. Unfortunately, they were doomed to disappointment as Droylsden finished another poor season near to the bottom of the league table. It was to be no more than an average season as far as team performances were concerned, which can be seen in some of the results. Early on in the season Droylsden won 5-2 at home against Ashton Bros, and the following week lost 2-5 at Buxton. A few weeks later Droylsden beat Bredbury United 5-2 at the Butchers' Arms, and the Saturday after were hammered 0-7 at New Mills. Two weeks later, Droylsden suffered a big defeat at Linotype FC, where they went down by a humiliating 8 goals to 3. Even the Christmas Day fixture at home to Ward St. Old Boys didn't give the long-suffering Droylsden supporters much to cheer about, Droylsden losing the match 3-5. Boxing Day brought a better performance at the Butchers' Arms however, both Droylsden and Glossop sharing the points with a 4-4 draw. In the two league clashes with Hyde United, Droylsden were beaten at Ewen Fields in November 1926, and the match report of the return game at the Butchers' Arms went as follows: "Droylsden suffered one of the most crushing defeats they have suffered for some considerable time at the Butchers' Arms ground on Saturday, when Hyde United punished them to the unmerciful tune of seven goals to no reply. The ground on Saturday was as bad as I've ever seen it, being unsafe for traversing. Droylsden's defeat can in a large measure be attributed to the ground, and not to the fact that Hyde were astonishingly superior. Hyde had one great advantage, and that was that they were the heaviest side, a thing that counts greatly on a sodden ground where speed is a little known factor. What exactly happened to Droylsden to allow Hyde to whip them so decisively was this. After Hyde had gained a lead of several goals, the futility of the position had a disastrous psychological effect. The Droylsden players realised that the game was hopeless, and made no effort to retrieve their fortunes, falling into a half-hearted demoralised state. Hyde, on the other hand, seeing their advantage pushed on unmercifully, and sent the score up by leaps and bounds. A feature of the game was the dogged play in the Droylsden half back line of Brown and Eastwood, and one can confidently say that had it not been for their splendid collaboration, the margin might have been much heavier." The club's annual meeting was held at the Butchers' Arms in June 1927. Mr. Webb, chairman, was supported by Messrs Rush, Nuttall, Fryer, Walker and Clough. The chairman said that the season had not been a very successful one. The weather had been against them and gates had suffered severely in consequence. They were hoping for better conditions next season. An appeal was made to members for the sale of more season tickets, the past seasons receipts having been rather unsatisfactory. The following officers were elected: President H Webb. Hon. Secretary W Wood. Treasurer C Shaw. Financial secretary J Nuttall. Committee Messrs Nuttall, Fryer, Moore, Holden, Morris, Hallsworth, Rushworth and Hikin. |