Droylsden....3 points

The nice thing about playing in the Conference….ooops the Blue Square Premier….is the exotic nature of the fixture list. Oxford, York and Cambridge are place names probably known to inhabitants of Los Angeles and Washington DC. But Histon, Farsley and Nailsworth….gosh they are exotic. And for me the endearing attraction of the Conference.

First , my apologies for the late posting of this the Droyslden account…..a new Company structure is to blame. Work. It can be so annoying and particularly when the ‘Business Plan’ now takes in Farsley, Histon and Droylsden.

Droylsden is a small town within the Tameside borough of Greater Manchester and about 4 miles from the city centre. Like great swathes of the north west the town grew up around the cotton mills established in the mid-19th century along with the Ashton Canal….sorry, and not forgetting the Forest Canals.

As for famous people….Ancient Shot will remember Peter Noone, from Herman’s Hermits and what about Davy Jones of the Monkees’ fame..

At this point I got a bit bored with my research ……but I do look forward to the return fixture and what will be my first trip to Droylsden.


Droylsden FC was founded in 1892, playing in black and amber, changing to blue and white….and then after the Great War, red and white. The ‘Bloods’ probably a recognition of the tragic loss of life during the 1914/18 War.

And two days after we beat Torquay United on Feb 17th 1973, in our first promotion season….Don Revie switched on Droylsden’s new floodlights in front of 4000 fans packed into the Butchers Arms to see the ‘Bloods’ take on Manchester City. Scorers for the Shots on the 17th, Steve Melledew and Jack Howarth, of course.

Football convention determines that teams hoping to finish in the promotion places should lose only to other top teams….over the season they will all beat each other. But never ever lose to the bottom clubs….no one loses to them. Droylsden will be a bottom 6 club this season and Aldershot delivered promotion winning form.

But steady on….too much Chablis. The second half was good….Harding was impressive….Dixon and Grant will get sharper. But the defence….have a look at the Torquay video Gary, and their big boys.

But of course the result was not just down to a change in approach after half time….no.

I took my brother to the game in my new red two seater….1v0.
We arrived at the Rec before my younger brother ….2v0.
My older brother refuses to buy a season ticket….2v1.

I bought a pie after a couple of pints in the Social,…3v1.

Football is a pretty simple game Gary.

So what can we expect at Histon. A tough game following a bloody long drive from Wales. Despite my son having been born in Bury St Edmunds….I can’t recall ever having been to Histon. I look forward to the experience.