24 - Stalybridge Celtic vs Hyde

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
WITH MICHAEL BRIERLEY
Stalybridge Celtic FC,
together with its home of
Bower Fold, was founded in
1909 by Herbert Rhodes.
The Celtic name does begin to
appear in records from 1906
onwards but crucially appears
to have never been affiliated
with any league and seemingly
played friendly matches only.
From formation and that very
first game, development was
more than a fairly rapid affair
and the success of football
played, via the Lancashire &
Cheshire League, Lancashire
Combination, Central League and
Southern League was immediate,
testament to the level of ambition
that existed.
Following its decision to expand,
the initial dream of election to the
Football League was achieved
and two seasons were spent in
the Third Division North. This
brought more than acceptable
results and a highest-ever
finish in the footballing pyramid,
together with a best-ever
performance in the FA Cup in
front of a record gate of 9,753.
Voluntary resignation, due to
financial concerns and being
the first to ever
do so, saw the
journey start all
over again. The Cheshire County
League was joined before further
pyramid reorganisation saw
progress made through the North
West Counties League to the
Northern Premier League.
Stalybridge Celtic FC and Bower
Fold first entered my life for a
home game against Frickley
Athletic, in the Northern Premier
League, on 2nd March 1991.
My first game was to see a dour
0-0 draw (Hughes, Bennett,
Coathup, Dixon, Aspinall,
Blackman, Booth, Armor,
Diamond, McNally, Leicester).
Entrance £1.40, programmes
50p, old wooden main stand,
popular side, sleepers and
cinders, railway carriage, pie
and peas, hot dogs are all early
memories and all part of this
fan’s history.
When asked to recall a first
game seen, doubtless the
reminiscences can stretch, even
down to the minutest detail,
many years later. From the cost
of admission and matchday
programme, to starting line up
22
THE OFFICIAL STALYBRIDGE CELTIC MATCH DAY PROGRAMME