A Brief History of Wilmslow Albion FC

Wilmslow Albion was formed back in 1919, and spent the large part of its early history competing in the South East Lancashire League, the best league position attained being the runners-up slot in season 1928/9. However success was to be found more frequently in the Cup competitions, the League Shield being won twice in seasons 1937/8 and 1939/40, and the Brown Cup being won in 1936/7. Albion were also runners-up in the League Shield in both 1936/7 and 1949/50.

Success was also to be found in the Altrincham Senior Cup, this being won in successive seasons 1937/8 and 1938/9, Albion having been runners-up the previous year.

The Mid Cheshire League was the next port of call for Albion, culminating in the winning of the League Cup in 1960/1, following the success of the previous year in finishing runners-up in the league behind Linotype.

There then followed a decline in fortunes when Albion became members of the Manchester League, and the club very nearly went out of existence. However a merger with local side, Lindow, saw a change of name to Wilmslow Town. The club were now competing in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur League with their base at the Old Carnival Field on Water Lane.

Very soon, however, the name of Wilmslow Albion was revived, having broken away from the Wilmslow Town set-up, to merge with another local side, Dean Vale in 1976/7.

We joined Division 3 of the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur League and soon the club's fortunes followed an upward trend. Promotions to Division 2 and then Division 1 were quickly achieved, and despite a hiccup when being relegated to Division 2, season 1982/3 was to see possibly the most impressive playing record in our history. Our first team secured promotion back to Division 1 by winning the second division championship, whilst the second and third teams also finished as champions of their respective divisions. The S.E. Woolan Aggregate Trophy also found its way into our trophy cabinet, and we were also runners-up in the Rhodes Cup, with our second team winning the Wray Cup.

The Macclesfield F.A. Challenge Cup was won in 1983/4, and then in February 1986 we moved to our present home at Oakwood Farm. In 1988 we rejoined the Mid Cheshire League winning the second division at the first attempt. The Macclesfield F.A. Challenge Cup was also won for the third successive season.

Our first season back in the top flight saw us finish in a creditable mid-table position, and we now look forward to the future with great optimism.

Factfile

Honours

Oakwood Farm

Oakwood Farm has been home to Wilmslow Albion FC since 1986. The ground is in Styal just north of Wilmslow, opposite the entrance to Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Country Park. The club moved after being forced off their long term home at The Carnival Field in central Wilmslow. The Carnival Field ground had a stand and clubhouse as well as dressing rooms, but today all that remains is the pitch, which is still used for local amateur and junior games. However, look closely and you can still see the outline of the stand in the grass.

Plans are currently progressing for improvements to the stadium at Oakwood Farm to provide better spectator and community facilities.

Click here for details of all Wilmslow Albion pitch locations.

The Non-League Pyramid

The Non-League system in English football is set-up so that, theoretically, a team from the amateur leagues can make it all of the way up to the Premier League one day. Wilmslow Albion play in the Manchester League First Division, officially at Level 4 of the English game, eleven divisions below the Premier League and seven below the Conference (The highest level of Non-League Football)

The Manchester League is still classed as an amateur competition, although many of the teams within it can easily compete on the field with those immediately above them in higher leagues. Ultimately, the club is hoping to progress up to the Unibond League and beyond.

The Non League Pyramid: (North West Region)

The Premier League
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The Championship
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League One
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League Two
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Conference
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Conference North
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Unibond Northern Premier League
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Unibond League Division One
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North West Counties League Division One
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North West Counties League Division Two
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Manchester League Premier Division
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Manchester League Division One