As we’ve been at pains to point out in various articles this week, we’re all very excited about the prospect of playing our very first competitive game in the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) this weekend and tomorrow we travel to Brantingham Road, home of Maine Road FC.
Here’s a little bit about our very first opponents.
Maine Road FC were formed in 1955 under their original name of City Supporters Rusholme. Having previously played in the Manchester League they moved to the NWCFL Division Two (now Division One) in 1987 and earned promotion within three years to Division One (now Premier League). Despite relegation back to Division Two in 2002, Maine Road FC were quickly promoted yet again two years later.
Over the following ten seasons the Sky Blues had their most successful years as a NWCFL club winning the NWCFL Challenge Cup in 2008 and were Premier League runners up as recently as 2013, followed by a fourth place finish the following season. Unfortunately, the club were relegated to Division One in 2018 and during the last full season of 2018-19 (prior to two curtailed seasons due to Covid-19) they finished ninth in Division One (South).
As both their original and current club name suggests, it’s no surprise to learn that Maine Road FC play in the light blue of their bigger city brother.
The side have been managed by Jeff Newman since the 2018-19 season.
All of us at FC Isle of Man are really looking forward to our first competitive game and its extra special to fulfil that fixture against such a historic club.
We’ll see all you Sky Blues on Saturday! Can’t wait.
