Season 1936-37.   Lancashire Combination.

'A New Adventure'

Droylsden were about to embark on a new adventure, and they were determined to succeed. By the start of the 1936-37 season, the Butchers' Arms had been vastly improved. It was now a bigger and better ground and the promised new 800-seater stand had been built. A tremendous amount of labour had been put into the improvements in an effort to bring the ground up to date and worthy of the club's new status. The management had been re-organised and established on a business-like footing. Mr. E Fish, of Gartside Farm, was the new president; Councillor H Griffiths, chairman; Councillor G Dale, deputy chairman; Mr. A Turner, treasurer; Mr. E Morby, financial secretary; Mr. J Johnson, secretary, and Mr. H Norcross, assistant secretary.

On the playing side, the club was to field an almost entirely new team, few of the old players remaining. The list of players signed were: Goal: W Barnes (Mossley) and A Catterall. Fullbacks: F Letchford, H Oatway (Newton Heath Athletic), and R Waterhouse (Nelson). Halfbacks: F Williams, F Bailey (Spurs and Nelson), W Ashworth (Mossley & Crewe) and F Barker. Forwards: Brockbank (Newton Heath Loco), A Denton (Hurst), R Bolton (Buxton), Cutler, A Hallworth and J Nelson (Hyde United). Commenting on the future of the club, Councillor Griffiths described the prospects as being very encouraging. They were bringing to the town a new class of football, as the Lancashire Combination was almost equal to Third Division standard. He was sure the public of the town would come along and support the club when they found out the class of football they were providing.

The season got under way with Droylsden making their Lancashire Combination debut in an away match at Clitheroe, where they lost 3-4, after leading 3-0 at half time. Two home matches followed, and both games ended in defeat for the club, 1-2 against Bacup Borough, and 1-3 against newly elected Prescot Cables. The fourth match brought a victory for Droylsden, winning at Rochdale reserves 3-2, though in the next two home games the Market Street club suffered two more defeats, 3-5 against Leyland Motors, and 3-4 versus Accrington Stanley reserves. The Droylsden officials were beginning to get a little worried by this time, and decided to send for the 'cavalry' to come to their rescue. The cavalry arrived in the shape of Ernest Gillibrand, who was lured back from Stalybridge Celtic in early October. Gillibrand was given a warm reception by the Droylsden supporters, and in only his second match back at the Butchers' Arms, Ernie Gillibrand scored a hat trick in a 3-1 home win over Northern Nomads.

By early November however, Gillibrand had left the Butchers' Arms and had moved on to Medlock Street, where he was made player-manager of Droylsden United. The Market Street club, with just two wins under their belts, soldiered on, and their results up to Christmas read like a horror story. In six away matches, Droylsden lost at Marine, 2-7: Gt. Harwood, 3-4: Rossendale United, 0-2: Darwen, 2-4: Barrow, 1-2, and Southport Reserves, 3-5, where, as well as losing the match, the Droylsden players returned to the dressing-room to find their pockets had been rifled during the game. Three home fixtures were also played during this time, the first of which Droylsden won, beating Gt. Harwood 3-2. The second game produced a 3-3 draw with Rochdale reserves, and the third home game saw two more points lost when Droylsden were beaten 2-3 by Fleetwood. The worried Droylsden officials were not even allowed to enjoy their Christmas dinner, as on Xmas Day, Droylsden were hammered 1-5 at Chorley, whilst on Boxing Day; the club went down 0-2 at home to Clitheroe.

The Butchers' Arms outfit were struggling, and no one was more aware of it than the officials. After the Christmas break, Droylsden's record in the Combination read as follows: Played 19, Won 3, Lost 15, Drawn 1: Goals For, 37: Goals Against, 62: Points, 7. Rumours started to circulate that Droylsden were on the point of disbanding, but those rumours were quickly dispelled and the club let it be known they were in the process of signing several new players, and by the end of January 1937, four new players had been signed. George Hardman, a left-half, was brought from Hurst: Holt, a fullback, was signed from Liverpool reserves: Steadman, an ex-Manchester City centre-forward was signed up, and finally Richard Burke, a promising 16yr-old, who was plucked from the junior ranks. However, as fast as the officials were trying to strengthen the team, Football League clubs were hovering over the Butchers' Arms like vultures, and by the end of February, T Hughes, Droylsden's 21yr-old goalkeeper was whisked away and signed by Sheffield United, whilst Richard Burke, after only two appearances for Droylsden, was quickly spotted and signed by Blackpool FC. 

The injection of new players however, had raised moral at the club, and before long the gloom that had settled over the Butchers' Arms started to lift. Droylsden travelled to Horwich and came home with both points, having won 2-0. Next stop was Northern Nomads, where again two precious points were plundered, Droylsden winning 5-1. Then came a home match against Marine, which the Droylsden lads won 3-1 in what was described as a 'brilliant' performance. A very difficult away match followed at Morecambe, and again Droylsden took both points with a 'dazzling' 1-0 victory. Rossendale United next came to Market Street, and left after being thrashed 5-1. Droylsden were now beginning to edge away from the bottom of the league table, and all talk of having to apply for re-election started to diminish. The team had won their last five games in a row, and the Droylsden supporters were starting to believe that their club could perform the 'great escape' after all. Many thought the bubble had burst however when Droylsden travelled to South Liverpool and came away pointless, having lost 0-2. 

Easter had arrived by this time, and on Good Friday the Droylsden supporters were cheering again as their team trounced Southport reserves at the Butchers' Arms by 5 goals to 2. On Easter Monday, Droylsden Supporters Club - three busloads of them - travelled to Lancaster, only to see their celebrations put on hold again as Droylsden were well and truly hammered 7-3. The following Saturday, Lancaster Town made the return journey to Market Street, and Droylsden completely turned the tables on their visitors, beating them easily by 6 goals to 2. Just three games remained now for Droylsden, of what had been a traumatic introduction to Lancashire Combination football. Those last three games however were home fixtures, the first of which was against Chorley, who were still in the running for the league title, but in what was described as a tremendous match, Chorley suffered a setback to their aspirations when Droylsden took both points with a 1-0 victory. The Butchers' Arms club were now safe from having to apply for re-election and the team celebrated by winning their last two matches - both Horwich and New Brighton being beaten by 3 goals to 2. Droylsden had performed the great escape, which at the turn of the year had seemed highly improbable, if not downright impossible. Lancaster Town were to change their name as the 1936-37 season ended, and began the 1937-38 campaign under their new title of Lancaster City FC.  

In March 1937, Droylsden United, who had since left the Lancashire League, resigned from the Manchester League without completing their fixtures. Their ground (Saxon Park) was said to be in a bad condition, though they were hoping to get it in a fit state for next season.

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