Division One Watch - Part Two

From Bolton to Hindley, welcome to part two of our look at this season's opponents.

BOLTON UNITED

Founded – 1999

Nickname – BUFC

Home Ground – St Johns Park, Tempest Road, Bolton, BL6 4HJ

2022/23 Season – Having been promoted to Division One as champions in 21/22, expectations were high for United going into the 22/23 season. However, the team never really got going in division one finishing a disappointing tenth, something they will be determined to improve upon this season.

Last Time Out – A fiery affair at St Johns Park back in November saw Central storm into a 3-0 lead before mayhem broke loose and the referee made the call to abandon the fixture with the league deciding the match wouldn’t be replayed. The last time the sides managed to finish a game Central ran out 2-1 winners courtesy of a Fuad Kasali brace.

Did You Know? – As well as their 11-a-side teams and youth setup, Bolton United also run a seven-a-side pitch next to their Hub Community Centre on Hibbert Street in Bolton.

CHADDERTON COTT

Founded – 2018

Nickname – The Cotts

Home Ground – Failsworth Soccer Centre, Brierley Ave, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9HA

2022/23 Season – The Cotts were promoted as Division Two champions at the end of the 22/23 season, their first as a Manchester Football League Club. A 3-1 win at home against Baguely on the final day of the season ensured Chadderton would go up as champions, pipping second placed Stockport Georgians Reserves to the title by a single point.

Last Time Out – The Cotts are another side that Central have yet to do battle with having only joined the Manchester League system last season.

Did You Know? – The Cotts Division Two triumph last season was actually their second consecutive league title having finished top of the Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division One in 2021/22.

EAST MANCHESTER

Founded – 1960

Nickname – The Blues

Home Ground – Wright Robinson College, Abbey Hey Ln, Gorton, Manchester M18 8RL

2022/23 Season – After a slow start to the season that saw East Manchester lose their first five matches on the bounce, The Blues struggled to find any form of note and finished the campaign down in 12th place. Picking up only one home win all season will have been a particularly disappointing feature that The Blues will be determined to turn around.

Last Time Out – A rampant Central side saw off East Manchester 6-0 at Wright Robbie towards the end of January. Goals from captain Dan Dolling, Kaine Martin and Dennis Raposo complemented a Fuad Kasali brace after an East Manchester own goal got the ball rolling for Central.

Did You Know? – East Manchester won the Manchester Football League Premier Division back in the 1991/92 season, scoring a mammoth 107 goals in 34 games along the way.

HEYWOOD ST JAMES

Founded – 1882

Nickname – The Jimmies

Home Ground – The Pheonix Ground, Shepherd Street, Heywood, OL10 1JW

2022/23 Season – The Jimmies were relegated from the Manchester Football League Premier Division at the end of last season having picked up only one win from their 30 league games. A hugely disappointing season for St James was made even worse as they were deducted a total of five points, falling foul of rule 20 E twice, seeing them end up with a total of just two points.

Last Time Out – Central welcomed Heywood St James to the Seashell Trust in last season’s Manchester Challenge Trophy. Goals from Fuad Kasali and Ruben Abreu were matched by the visitors Charles Ogunsola and Aaron Nuttall as the sides finished level at 2-2. A tense penalty shootout then followed with Central progressing 4-3 after the lottery from 12-yards.

Did You Know? – At 143 years old Heywood St James are the oldest club in Division One. 1882 also saw the founding of Tottenham Hotspur, then known simply as Hotspur FC, and Old Etonian’s became the last amateur team to win the FA Cup beating Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at the Oval.

Hindley Juniors

Founded – 1991

Nickname – The Deers

Home Ground – Harrison Playing Fields, Hindley. Wigan. Lancashire. WN2 3RX

2022/23 Season – Having been deducted five points for various breaches of the rules, The Deers finished the season 13th out of 14 teams, avoiding relegation by five points. Having won their opening two games, Hindley would have to wait until the beginning of February to pick up another win after losing 10 of their next 13 games. Four wins and six defeats from their final 10 league matches was enough for The Deers to beat the drop, and they will be hoping to see a marked improvement this season.

Last Time Out – A tightly contested battle saw a below par Central defeated 1-0 in Wigan towards the end of last season. A second half penalty kick was the only thing to separate the sides as Hindley picked up a vital three points in their bid to stay in Division One.

Did You Know? – Last season Hindley Juniors were awarded the highest possible accreditation from England Football - the prestigious 3-star rating. The award, that replaced the FA’s Charter Standard, is designed to promote safe, respectful, and inclusive environments for players of all abilities and recognises clubs that provide accredited player pathways for male, female, and disabled players.

Part Two of our Division One Watch is complete. Keep an eye out for Part Three as we round off the series by taking a look at the final four sides joining Central in the Manchester Football League Division One for the 2023/2024 campaign.