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The Butchers' Arms ground has been the home of Droylsden FC since the clubs formation in 1892. Prior to that date, the ground was more commonly known as the Droylsden Wakes Ground, where every August innumerable showmen would pitch their tents from Friday until the following Tuesday evening. During that time hundreds of children and adults would indulge in the 'fun of the fair'. The Butchers' Arms enclosure continued to be used as the wakes Ground for many years after the football club had been in existence, and it wasn't until 1912 that the venue of the fairground was changed. The above map was taken from an Ordnance Survey made in 1933, at which time the ground was capable of accommodating approximately 8,000 people, whilst the covered stands held 2,500. The playing pitch, up until 1936 was practically grass free, and was a constant source of fun with the local football scribes, who often referred to Droylsden's 'solitary blade of grass'. In 1900, a Grand Athletic Sports day was held on the ground, with events ranging from a tug-of-war contest to a cricket ball throwing competition. In 1923, Droylsden Football Club arranged many local sporting events on the ground in order to raise 5,000 shillings for the improvement of the ground. Amongst the many ideas the committee came up with was a cricket match between Chancery Lane and Droylsden FC, a bowling handicap on the green behind the Butchers' Arms Hotel - which attracted 130 entrants - and a billiard handicap, which took place at the Half Way House on Edge Lane. On a Friday evening in August 1926, the first in a series of boxing exhibitions took place on the football ground. The evening was well advertised and attracted about 800 spectators to view the six bouts on show. Mostly local lads took part in the contests, the first bout being between Nightingale of Droylsden and Young Elam of Gorton. Other fighters on the bill were: Teddy Talbot of Gorton, Boy Hewitt of Salford, the Cooper twins of Manchester - who fought each other, Percy Jordan of Gorton, Young Phipps of Collyhurst, Hubert Riley of Droylsden, Billy Kennedy of Ancoats, Billy Talbot of Gorton and Kid Doyle of Salford. The referees for the evening were Mr. Harold Jones and Mr. Matt Riley, both of Droylsden.
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