Division One Watch - Part Three

The final instalment of our Division One Watch series sees us take a look at the remaining four teams Central will face in our quest to return to the Manchester Football League Premier Division.

OLD ALTRINCHAMIANS

Founded – 1920

Nickname – Old Alts

Home Ground – Crossford Bridge Sports Ground, Danefield Road, Sale, M33 7WR

2022/23 Season – A poor start to the season proved extremely costly for Old Alts as they were relegated from the Premier Division. Six defeats and a draw in their opening seven games saw Old Altrinchamians playing catch up from the beginning and ultimately saw them drop into Division One, six points behind 13th placed Heyside.

Last Time Out – Despite a below par performance from Paul McGuire’s side, Josh Frith’s second half strike was enough to keep Central in the title race back in 2019 as the Outcasts extended their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions with a 1-0 win in Altrincham.

Did You Know? – Old Alts have twice entered the FA Vase making the Second and Third Rounds in 1974/75 and 1975/76 respectively.

SPRINGHEAD

Founded – 1922

Nickname – The Owls

Home Ground – St John Street, Springhead, Oldham OL4 3DR

2022/23 Season – Springhead were relegated from the Premier Division by a single point as Heyside won three and drew once in the final four games of the season. Heartbreakingly for Springhead one of those wins for Heyside was a vital 3-0 victory at St John Street. Despite winning 1-0 on the final day of the season against third placed Atherton, the Owls dropped into Division One for the 23/24 campaign.

Last Time Out – Ahead of the 22/23 season Central defeated Springhead 4-1 in a pre-season friendly. The last time the two sides met in a competitive fixture Marcelo Arhin’s first half finish was enough to secure all three points for Central at St John Street as the Outcasts completed the double.

Did You Know? – This season will be the first since the 1987/88 campaign that Springhead wont be competing in the Manchester Football League Premier Division. In that time the Owls have won the Premier Division once, in 1997/98, and finished as runners up three times.

STOCKPORT GEORGIANS RESERVES

Founded – 1908 (First Team)

Nickname – Georgians

Ground – Cromley Road, Stockport, SK2 7DT

2022/23 Season – Stockport Georgians Reserves secured back to back promotions finishing the season in second just one point behind champions Chadderton Cott. Although they missed out on the league title, the Georgians didn’t end up empty handed as a penalty shoot-out victory against Dukinfield Town Reserves saw them lift the North East Cheshire Cup.

Last Time Out – Central have yet to come up against the Georgians Reserves but last took on the first team on the final day of the 2018/19 season. A draw with Chadderton Reserves in the penultimate game of the season saw Centrals title chances snatched away and a deflated Central side lost their first game in 18 as goals from Dieter Downey and Adam Gardiner gave the Georgians a 2-0 victory.

Did You Know? – Stockport Georgians take their name from St. George’s Anglican Church in the Heaviley area of Stockport, just around the corner from their original home at Nangreave Road which they vacated in 1925.

Tintwistle Athletic

Founded – 2003

Nickname – Tinny

Ground – West Drive Football Centre, Tintwistle SK13 1NB

2022/23 Season – An inconsistent league campaign saw Tinny finish ninth in Division One last season. In cup competitions however Tintwistle’s fortunes were significantly improved picking up two pieces of silverware. A 1-0 win over Glapwell at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena saw Tinny lift the Derbyshire County Divisional Cup North in April. Following up this County Cup success, the Murray Trophy was added to Tintwistle’s trophy cabinet as they came from behind to beat Horwich R.M.I 4-2 at Ewen Fields in May.

Last Time Out – A clinical Central took all three points when the sides met at West Drive in April. Goals from Abolfazl Jadidi, Nuno Mendes Delgado and Emmanuel Sholabi complimented a Thi-Reece Lenihan brace as Central ran out 5-2 winners.

Did You Know? – Tintwistle are one the largest teams in the area with over 30 teams within their set-up all the way from Under 7s up to Adults football including three girls youth teams and a ladies senior side.

That's all for our Division One Watch series having covered all fourteen sides Central will take on in the league this season. With kick-off just a few weeks away now Central are looking forward to battling familiar foes as well as writing the first page of rivalries anew.