Irlam F.C.

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Irlam

Full name

Irlam Football Club

Nickname(s)

Mitchells or Shack

Founded

1969

Ground

Silver Street
Irlam
Salford
(Capacity n/a)

Chairman

to follow

League

Manchester Football League
Premier Division

2005/06

15th





Home colours





Away colours

Irlam F.C. is an amateur football club situated in Irlam, Greater Manchester, England.

The first team currently plays its football in the Manchester Football League Premier Division.

1 History
2 Playing History
3 Playing Records
4 Sources

[edit] History

Irlam Football Club was formed as Mitchell Shackleton Football Club in October 1969 by a group of employees working for Mitchell, Shackleton and Company Limited, an engineering company based in Patricroft, Eccles. The founding members were Bob Cowlishaw (chairman), Bill Russell (secretary) and Charlie Flynn (treasurer). Mitchell Shackleton FC entered the Eccles and District Amateur Football League in 1970.

Initially the club was financially supported by Mitchell Shackleton's active sports and social club, but the recession of the late 1970s led to the company restructuring its business interests and resulted in a reduction in the workforce. That in turn led to the closure of the sports and social club, and since then the football club has been self-financing.

The club was initially headquartered at the Oddfellows Arms, Patricroft, before moving to St Michaels Community Centre, Peel Green, in 1973. The club now plays its home games at its Irlam ground in Silver Street.

It was in the Manchester Amateur League that the club's reputation began to grow, winning the Third Division (1973-74) and Second Division (1974-75) Championships in successive seasons, and in 1975 a reserve team was formed.

Between 1976 and 1978, the club went through a transitional phase with younger players being introduced into the first team, and the formation of a new management team of George Walker, Billy Hall and Jimmy Preston.

During this period, a re-structuring of the league saw Irlam competing in the Industrial 'B' Division, in which the club was runner-up in 1979-80.

In season 1983-84 Irlam finished Industrial 'A' Division runners-up, but ended the season on a high by winning the Gosling Cup.

Industrial 'A' Division runners-up once again in season 1985-86, and defeated finalists in the Gosling Cup of 1988-89 signalled the end of the club's 17 year association with the Manchester Amateur League.

Irlam joined the Manchester League in 1989, gaining promotion to the Premier Division at the second attempt, finishing as First Division runners-up in 1991.

A change of management saw Paul Traynor and Kenny Davies take on the first team responsibilities, with George Walker and Ron Parker managing the reserves.

In 1993 Irlam reached the Gilgryst Cup Final, only to lose out to Woodley Sports in the final.

1994 saw the formation of a third team which was entered into the Eccles and District League, and in the same year, Paul Traynor departed and Kenny Davies assumed control, assisted by Billy Hall.

This management team took Irlam to its highest ever league position in the Premier Division, runners-up to Abbey Hey in 1995.

Prior to the start of 1997-98 season Kenny Davies walked out, taking with him several first team players to local rivals Monton Amateurs.

Dave Rowan and Craig Woodley, who had forged a successful partnership with the reserves, were promoted and asked to rebuild the side. Roy Bluer, a successful manager in Sunday football, was recruited to run the reserves.

By the end of December 1997, the first team were bottom of the Premier Division and facing relegation. However a run of six wins, three draws and only two defeats saw Irlam catch the side above them. Losses in the next two games saw Irlam drop into the bottom two, but a dramatic win against fellow strugglers Wythenshawe Town and mid-table Monton Amateurs saw the club avoid relegation.

The start of 2001-02 season saw the club change its name to Irlam MS in anticipation of its move to Irlam. In 2006 the team dropped the Mitchell Shackleton suffix to become Irlam Football Club.

It also saw the departure of Craig Woodley, and the formation of a new management team of Rowan, former Willows boss Gary Fellows, and team coach Dave Mann, who rebuilt the squad and introduced several young prospects.

League form fell short of early expectations, but the team did put together a good Gilgryst Cup run to reach the semi-finals.

The reserves side, under the guidance of Anthony Ashton, Duncan Beaumont and Mark Murphy, had a more productive season, clinching a top three spot in the Second Division plus a final tie in the Open Trophy.

Irlam won the Albert Booth Sportsmanship Trophy in 1998-99.

[edit] Playing History

1990-91: Manchester League Division One runner-up
Promoted to Premier Division
1994-95: Manchester League runner-up
2001: Changed name to Irlam Mitchell Shackleton
2002-03: Manchester League Champions
2004-05: Manchester League runner-up
2006: Changed name to Irlam FC.

[edit] Playing Records

League Positions:
1989-90 Manchester League One 6th/18
1990-91 Manchester League One 2nd/19
1991-92 Manchester League Premier 7th/18
1992-93 Manchester League Premier 9th/18
1993-94 Manchester League Premier 14th/18
1994-95 Manchester League Premier 2nd/16
1995-96 Manchester League Premier 8th/16
1996-97 Manchester League Premier 10th/16
1997-98 Manchester League Premier 14th/16
1998-99 Manchester League Premier 5th/15
1999-00 Manchester League Premier 3rd/16
2000-01 Manchester League Premier 4th/15
2001-02 Manchester League Premier 8th/15
2002-03 Manchester League Premier 1st/16
2003-04 Manchester League Premier 7th/16
2004-05 Manchester League Premier 2nd/15
2005-06 Manchester League Premier 15th/17