WYTHENSHAWE AMATEURS (Hollyhedge Park)

NORTH WEST COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH, WYTHENSHAWE AMATEURS 3-3 STONE OLD ALLEYNIANS, ATTENDANCE: 152

After visiting Cheadle Heath Nomads last weekend, this was my second successive weekend in Greater Manchester. I was meeting up with a friend from Hamburg so needed somewhere close to the city centre and a visit to another North West Counties League newcomer, Wythenshawe Amateurs, was the order of the day.

It was an early start for a liquid brunch in Piccadilly before boarding a tram from Market Street to Benchill (Gately is the nearest train station but Northern rail were on strike today) and from there it was a 10 minute walk to Hollyhedge Park.

Founded in 1949, Wythenshawe played in various leagues before becoming stalwarts of the Manchester League after joining in 1972. They won the league 3 times and been runners up on 10 occasions and, for good measure, also won the Manchester League cup 7 times.

The club led a nomadic existence with nowhere permanent to call home until 2017 when the club set up base at Hollyhedge Park in Sharston. Work began in 2016 on transforming a corner of the park into a purpose built ground after a £382,317 grant from the Premier League and FA helped towards the £700,000 costs.

The ground now has a clubhouse and a covered stand, with the groundwork being laid for a seated stand behind the goal in the near future. Floodlights are now erected and will be switched on next Tuesday evening. Manchester United legend Bryan Robson officially the ground in May this year and the new facility allowed Wythenshawe to accept promotion to the North West Counties League as part of the restructuring to the pyramid.

Most importantly though the pasties served at the ground were delicious, which is obviously a priority when it comes to football grounds!

There was an excellent crowd of 152 present and they were treated to an absolute humdinger of a game as visitors Stone Old Alleynians came from 2-0 and 3-1 down to grab a draw.

Wythenshaw Amateurs went two goals up thanks to David Wright (17) and Dominic Lillie (23) before Samuel Wilson (40) halved the deficit for Stone just before half time.

The Ammies restored their two goal advantage soon after the break when Wright (53) tapped home his second goal. Jack Tomlinson (59) made it 3-2 before Michael Williams (85) scored a late penalty for the visitors to grab a draw.

In the last moments of the game either team could have grabbed a winner but I thought neither side deserved to be losers today. A fabulous advert for the North West Counties League football.

At the end of the game it was a quick dash back to Benchill station to catch the 1704 tram and I was back in a popular city centre drinking establishment with a pint in my hand before 6pm. Another great day out!