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Season
1934-35, Manchester League ‘Is
a Good Club Wanted in Droylsden?’ The
1934-35 season came to a close with Droylsden heavily involved in clearing a backlog of fixtures due to many postponed games at
the Butchers’ Arms during the latter part of the season. As the last week of the season arrived, with the exception of Tuesday,
Droylsden were faced with a match every night of the week, making it an exceptionally busy end to the campaign. They
opened at Altrincham Reserves on the Monday where they drew the match 2-2. On Wednesday they accounted for Manchester North End at
the Butchers’ Arms by 5 goals to 3, whilst on Thursday, again at home, they defeated Denton United in a replay of the first
round of the Ashton Challenge Cup by 7-3. Gillibrand scored a hat trick, Power got 2 and Truelove and Boulton scored one each.
Good Friday’s match against Blackpool ‘A’ was reported to have been an excellent game. Blackpool led 2-1 at half time,
though Power scored twice in the second half, making the final score 3-2 to Droylsden. By Saturday the ground was in a terrible
condition when Linotype were the visitors, though Droylsden easily won this one by 10 goals to 3 - and that included two missed
penalties by Droylsden. The tenth goal (another penalty) was converted by Potter, the Droylsden goalkeeper. This late run of
victories saw Droylsden finish the season in the top half of the table. From a playing point of view the Market Street outfit were doing well, though they were still struggling to attract sufficient support through the gates. In February 1935, a plea went out (yet again) to the Droylsden public in the form of a letter to the sports editor of the local newspaper: “It is time someone spoke up about the conduct of supporters of Droylsden towards the Droylsden
AFC. The club deserve credit, but they are not getting it. The question is, is a good club wanted in Droylsden? If so, then do
your bit to support it. A club cannot be run on £6 per fortnight. A club needs money. The management need your help. They cannot
do without it. Droylsden are the finest club in the Manchester League. The Supporters Club are working hard, hand-in-hand with the
club management and doing splendid work holding whist drives and many other fundraising efforts. This is not enough. Will you do
your bit? Turn up at the home matches and away matches if possible, and I am sure Droylsden will prosper.” The
Ashton Challenge Cup competition was once again providing a platform for the Butchers’ Arms club to show the people of Droylsden
that the team could hold it’s own amongst the neighbouring clubs from the Cheshire League. Droylsden progressed through to the
semi finals where they beat Hyde United (holders of the trophy for the last four years) by 2 goals to 1. During the game,
Droylsden’s chief vocal supporter was in good voice, and as an exciting struggle abounded around the Hyde goalmouth, his cry was
heard above all others, “IT’S THERE! IT’S NOT! IT IS! IT ISN’T!” and as the ball was cleared by the Hyde backs, “NO,
NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NO!” Droylsden went on to meet Mossley in the final at National Park on a Friday evening in May, and in
front of 2,000 spectators the Droylsden team put up a terrific struggle in what was described as a ‘thrilling and typical
cup-tie’, and though extra time was played no decision was reached. Local
Press. “Mossley took the lead after fifteen minutes, Turner heading a fine goal. Just before the interval, Droylsden were
reduced to ten men when Truelove left the field injured, and Gillibrand was carried to the dressing room following a collision
with the Mossley left half. It was whilst the Droylsden team were thus handicapped that Mossley got their second goal, which gave
them a two goal lead at the interval. As the second half got under way, Wood reduced the lead following a corner kick, and the
game became a ding-dong battle. With just two minutes left, Boulton scored the equaliser for Droylsden. Extra time of five minutes
each way was played without either side again scoring, causing a replay the following evening at Bower Fold.” The
replay proved to be another close contest, which again went to extra time after full time had been reached with the score 0-0. Six
minutes of extra time had been played and it was growing dark, when Mossley attacked from the right. The ball came into the
Droylsden goalmouth and Potter ran out to kick it away, but missed the ball, and a Mossley forward, who had followed up, drove the
ball into the net. Final score, Mossley 1, Droylsden 0. Droylsden:
Potter, Letchford, Turner, Hampson, Edmunds, Beaton, Wood, Gillibrand, Power, Boulton and Milligan. At the end of the season, Tom Hampson was signed by Leeds United, whilst earlier in the season Droylsden centre half Donoghue was signed by Portsmouth. Chelsea was another club who had been attendant at many of Droylsden’s matches during the season, though it was thought they were after Hampson. Ernie Gillibrand concluded his four year stay with Droylsden, and in this, his last season, ‘Gilly’ bagged another 69 goals.
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