Eyres’ Royal performance and Avro glory
Reporter: John Gilder
Date published: 31 December 2010
AMATEUR FOOTBALL: JANUARY saw the resumption of some fixtures, one of which came in the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League, when Avro overcame local rivals Royton Town in the quarter-finals of the Gilgryst Cup.
In a thrilling encounter, the score was deadlocked at 1-1 following a period of extra-time, but it was Avro who went through to the last four when they won 4-3 after a penalty shoot-out.
High Crompton CC, Khartoum Northern and FC Broadgate were neck-and-neck at the top of the D and J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League Premier Division.
The artificial surface at Royton and Crompton school meant that Heyside’s Huddersfield and District League Challenge Cup second round tie against Lepton Highlanders could go ahead.
But Division Four’s Heyside were swept away with ease, losing 8-0 against their top-flight opposition.
With the weather returning to normal in FEBRUARY, Hollinwood clinched the Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy with an emphatic 6-0 win over Beechfield United.
Jonny Shaw netted a hat-trick for Oldham Hulmeians in their 4-2 Lancashire Amateur League Division Two defeat of Radcliffe Boys.
In the Lancashire and Cheshire League, Santos edged it in a nine-goal thriller with Standians and Chaddy End FC held mighty Langley Celtic to a draw in the first leg of the Manchester County FA Shield.
Golden Buck reached their fifth Vic Marsden Trophy final in the Ashton Sunday League following a 4-1 victory over Warwick United.
In MARCH, Anthony Robinson’s hat-trick helped to secure Hollinwood’s place in the final of the Gilgryst Cup in a 4-2 win against Chapel Town.
Steve Barrow and Dave Ashworth were on target as Chaddertonians maintained their title push in the Premier Division of the Lancashire Amateur League with a 2-1 success at the expense of rivals Failsworth Dynamos.
And Heyside score no fewer than 29 goals in two matches in the Huddersfield and District League. Michael Ward and James Taylor each scored hat-tricks in a 15-1 defeat of FC Railway, while Michael McCabe and Nick Campbell bagged five goals apiece in a 14-3 demolition of Cartworth Moor.
APRIL saw Athletic legend David Eyres make an appearance on the local football scene when he took to Clayton playing fields for a specially arranged ’for one night only’ match in the colours of Rifle Range Royal Blues.
Eyres starred in the 6-0 defeat of Oldham United, scoring one of the goals from a free-kick — a trademark strike.
Keiron Mayall got both the Diggle goals as they overcame local rivals Uppermill in Division One of the Huddersfield and District League, while AFC Oldham 2005 were 2-0 winners against Irlam Steel in the Lancashire and Cheshire League, with Grant Marshall and Callum Fitton on the mark.
In MAY, Diggle ‘A’ celebrated the climax of a memorable season by winning the Huddersfield and District League Reserves Division Two Trophy, after going the whole campaign unbeaten. Diggle’s first team finished as runners-up in the top flight.
Avro’s season ended when they won the Manchester League’s Premier Division title, but Hollinwood lost on penalties to Walshaw SC in the Gilgryst Cup final, while Khartoum Northern were crowned champions of the Oldham Sunday League.
Sad news came at the end of the season when the Ashton Sunday League folded after 51 years.
The summer months — a time known as the silly season — turned out to be a managerial merry-go-round on the local soccer scene.
Out went Avro’s Rob Fuller, Paul Bennett of Hollinwood, Steve Southern (Diggle), Uppermill’s Paul Waterhouse and Duncan Statham, of Oldham Victoria.
AUGUST began with the excellent news that the Oldham Sunday League had bolstered its ranks with the addition of 12 new teams.
The close season merry-go-round came to a halt when Phil Brown, Fred Hardicre (left), Richard Devy, Simon Tait and Richard Rawsthorne were named as the new men in charge at Avro, Hollinwood, Diggle, Uppermill and Oldham Victoria respectively.
In SEPTEMBER, Springhead produced their best display of the season so far in the Manchester League with a 3-0 win over previously-unbeaten Manchester Gregorians.
Elsewhere, Royton Town earned a fine 3-1 home victory at the expense of Prestwich Heys.In their first goalless draw for two years, Avro were held to a stalemate at East Manchester.
In the Lancashire and Cheshire League, Santos inflicted a 9-2 defeat of neighbouring Oldham Victoria in OCTOBER, while Royton Town and Springhead shared four goals in a Manchester League derby.
Crompton Victoria emerged victorious in the Shaw derby in the Oldham Sunday League, winning 2-1 at Shaw Rovers.
In NOVEMBER, Springhead hot-shot Richard Bennett (below) played in goal for Highfield United in the Oldham Sunday League as his side sent Oldham GPO packing in a 6-1 win.
Ashley Simpson and Jeff Whitaker were the Diggle marksmen in a 2-1 derby-day defeat of Uppermill in the Huddersfield and District League.
Following a miserable start to the season, Holders Hollinwood gained some comfort in the Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy with a 5-2 victory over Beechfield United.
Avro went top of the Manchester League and Royton FC reached the Oldham Sunday League summit.
DECEMBER, as we all know by now, has been a miserable time for all those connected with amateur football in Oldham because of the inclement weather.
In the few matches to go ahead, Oldham Victoria slumped to their second 9-2 defeat of the season — this time at the hands of Droylsden Amateurs — while Santos held on to second spot in the Lancashire and Cheshire League Division Two, after a 4-0 success against Moorside Rangers.
A last-minute Neil Hardman penalty gave Highfield United a 1-0 win against Oddies in the second round of the Oldham Sunday League Challenge Cup.
Here’s looking forward to a snow, frost, ice and rain-free second half of the season. Happy New Year!
