A LOOK INTO HISTORY 223

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE

DROYLSDEN FC RECORD CUP ATTENDANCE

Though originally formed in 1892 our story relates to more modern times and after the Second World War and having played for 20 years in the Lancashire Combination, Droylsden returned to the Cheshire League but didn’t achieve great things ending around mid-table in most seasons.

This brings us to the subject of our story and the Match Programme for a F A Cup First Round tie with Grimsby Town on Saturday November 26th having competed from the 1st Qualifying Round. That win over Glossop found further success against Alfreton, Worksop Town and Winterton Rangers before the record attendance at their Butchers Arms, Market Street ground pulled in 4,250 to see a 0-0 draw. The programme had a red cover and priced at 10p consisted of the teams, Managers notes, pen pictures of both sides and a photo of the home side. The replay at Grimsby resulted in a 5 3 win for the Football League side who the crashed out to Chester 0-1 in Round 2. Droylsden’s Cheshire County League season ended in 16th place from 22 with Winsford champions.

When the late 1970s side broke up, Droylsden's fortunes suffered badly and they finished a distant bottom of the newly formed Cheshire League First Division in 1982. They were spared relegation when the Cheshire League voted to merge with the Lancashire Combination to create the North West Counties League. Droylsden were placed in Division Two of three.
In 2004 the club were invited to join the Football Conference as founder members of the new regional North Division. On 21st April 2007 they won promotion as Conference North champions with two games in hand. However, they struggled in the Conference National, and were relegated back to the Conference North on 8 April 2008.
Droylsden were expelled from the F A Cup in 2008-09 for fielding an ineligible player in Round Two but a good FA Cup run came in the 2010–11 season, when the club took Football League Leyton Orient to a replay in the Second Round. They were 2–0 up at Brisbane Road after 54 minutes, only for two late goals to draw Orient level and force extra time. Any hopes of a giant killing upset for Droylsden were quickly crushed as Orient scored freely to win the game 8–2 after extra time.
On 6 August 2020, Droylsden withdrew from the Northern Premier League citing the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on the club. On 26 May 2021, the club announced they would not field a team in any competition for the 2021-22 season, due to the financial impact of the pandemic and this situation continued for the 2022-23 season but there was great news for their very enthusiastic fans when they were elected back into football for season 2023-2024 having received necessary funding and joined the North West Counties Football League First Division South. For 2024-2025 they laterally moved to the First Division North.