West Didsbury & Chorlton A.F.C.

The club was formed in West Didsbury as Christ Church A.F.C. in 1908 by a local Sunday School Superintendent. Christ Church joined the Manchester Alliance League, in which they played until 1914.[3] For the 1920–21 season, the club changed its name to West Didsbury A.F.C. and joined the Lancashire and Cheshire League. West played at the top level of this league for many years, finishing runners-up four times and winning the Rhodes cup in 1932. The club was relegated in 1951–52 but were promoted back the following year. In 1959–60, West were again relegated, but this time took six years to regain a place in Division One.[3] This was short-lived, however, as West were relegated again in 1968–69. Despite this, the club won the Rhodes cup for the second time in 1969–70. After again achieving promotion to Division One in 1970–71, two relegations in three years saw West playing in the Lancashire and Cheshire League Division Three, in which they stayed until the late 1980s.[3] In the 1987–88 and 1988–89 season the club achieved back to back promotions as champions.

In 2003, the club changed its name to West Didsbury & Chorlton, to reflect its new location after an earlier ground move. In 2006, they entered the Manchester League Division One, won two Murray Shields in three seasons, and were crowned champions in 2010–11, gaining promotion to the Premier Division.[3] In the 2011–12 season, the club played in the FA Vase for the first time, and were knocked out in the Second Qualifying Round by Ashville F.C.[4] For the 2012–13 season the club had its application to enter the North West Counties Football League Division One accepted.[5] This was the first time the club has played at level 10 of the English football league system. The club finished 3rd in their first season at level 10, and due to the failure to meet ground criteria of title winner Formby, West Didsbury were promoted to level 9 for the 2013–14 season for the first time. They also won the NWCFL Division One Cup competition defeating Abbey Hey 1–0 in the final. West Didsbury were relegated back to Division One South in the 2018–19 season.

After the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the club won promotion back to the Premier Division in 2021–22, securing their finish as champions on 23 March 2022 with a 2–1 win over Barnton.

West's colours are white and black shirts, with black shorts and socks.[6] The away kit is pink and blue shirts and shorts, with pink socks.[7]

The club originally played at Christie Playing Fields, but this ground was sold off. The club moved to Brookburn Road in Chorlton for the 1997–98 season and later changed their name to reflect this.[3]

The club typically draws support from the wider Chorlton-cum-Hardy area, with a small proportion drawing from the team's historical roots in West Didsbury. In recent times, the team have been noted for their celebrity support, including local indie pop band Dutch Uncles, who launched their fourth album O Shudder at a game in 2014.[8] The band form part of the club's Krombacher Ultras faction who take their name from Krombacher beer, a beverage sold in West Didsbury's clubhouse throughout matches. England international players Marcus Rashford[9] and Izzy Christiansen[10] have also attended West games.

In anticipation of the 2020–21 season an independent supporters club, Union 1908, was formed by West supporters with the aim of expanding the clubs fanbase, along with supporting local causes in the South Manchester area.[11]

West fans have been noted for their creative & humorous chants, often singing songs about humous, quinoa, vegetarianism, Bird's Eye Potato Waffles, and their love of Krombacher. In a similar fashion to fans of fellow non-league clubs such as Clapton CFC, Dulwich Hamlet, & Eastbourne Town FC, West fans are known for their left-wing political stance. Antifascist, LGBT, & pro-refugee flags are flown at most games.

As of 14 February 2023.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ENG Andrew Jones (vice-captain) — DF  ENG Matthew Cook (captain) — DF  ENG Markell Foulds — DF  ENG Callum Graham — DF  ENG Ben Hampson — DF  ENG Connor Hancock — DF  ENG Luke Vayro — DF  ENG Kiel O'Brien — DF  NIR Matthew Smyth — DF  ENG Thomas Westall — MF  ENG Daniel Billington-Boateng — MF  AUS Rhain Davis

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ENG Liam Delaney — MF  ENG Samuel Dickinson — MF  ENG Callum Jones — MF  ENG Jack Ryan — MF  NIR Darren McKnight — MF  ENG Lawrence Taylor — FW  ENG Jean-Jacques Kirongozi — FW  ENG Max Lewens — FW  ENG Billy Matthews — FW  ENG Joel Swift — FW  ENG Ben Elliott — FW  ENG Ezekiel Eme

West Didsbury & Chorlton has won five league championships and six cup competitions in its history.[3]

• Manchester League Division One
  • Winners 2010–11
  • Runners-up 2009–10
• North West Counties Football League Division One South
  • Winners 2021–22
• North West Counties Football League Division One Cup
  • Winners 2013–14
• Lancashire FA Trophy
  • Runners-up 2021-22
• Lancashire and Cheshire League Division One
  • Runners-up 1922–23, 1931–32
• Lancashire and Cheshire League Division Two
  • Winners 1988–89
  • Runners-up 1952–53, 1965–66, 1970–71
• Lancashire and Cheshire League Division Two
  • Winners 1987–88
• Murray Shield
  • Winners 2007–08, 2009–10
  • Runners-up 2008–09
• Rhodes Cup
  • Winners 1926–27, 1969–70
  • Runners-up 1922–23, 1931–32
• Whitehead Cup
  • Winners 1976–77

• FA Cup
  • First Qualifying Round 2022-23[4]
• FA Vase
  • Quarter-finals 2022–23[4]

Players in this list have either played professionally, internationally or are otherwise of note before, during or after their time at West Didsbury & Chorlton.

• Jeff Tate
• Jamie Coombes
• Carlos Mendes Gomes
• Paul Heaton[12]
• James Hooper
• Remy Longdon
• John Pritchard
• Jack Sergeant

• Official website

53.433469°N 2.282594°W / 53.433469; -2.282594