Mossley FC

Mossley were formed in 1903 as Park Villa and initially competed in local competitions. After just one season the club’s name was changed to Mossley Juniors. In 1909 they became Mossley AFC and moved to their present ground Seel Park in 1912 from their previous site at Luzley. The early years of Mossley AFC were spent in the Ashton & District League culminating in a superb season in 1914-15 when Mossley won the League, Manchester Junior Cup and the Lady Aitken Cup (see above picture), progressing to the South East Lancs League in 1915, the Manchester Amateur League in 1916, the Lancashire Combination in 1918 and then were founder members of the Cheshire County League in 1919, finishing runners up in the first season in both League and League Cup and returning to win the League Cup the following season beating Sandbach Ramblers in the final.
Apart from many successes in the Ashton Challenge Cup and various Manchester Cup wins Mossley had many lean years in the League and rarely finished in the top half of the table, although in 1961 they won the Cheshire League Cup for only the second time when they beat a strong Tranmere Rovers Reserve side 6-3 at Hyde United's ground under the guidance of former Blackburn Rovers star Eddie Quigley.
Mossley’s most successful season in their Cheshire League days was in 1969-70 when Don Wilson's side finished runners-up in the League, reached the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in 20 years losing narrowly in a replay to Stockport County and made it to the quarter finals of the inaugural F.A.Trophy going out to Southern League giants Barnet.
After more than fifty years in the Cheshire League, the Lilywhites were elected to the Northern Premier League in 1972.
During the late 70’s, Mossley grew into a formidable force in non-league football. They won successive League titles in 1978-79 and 1979-80 and finished runners-up in each of the next three seasons. With influential manager Bob Murphy at the helm the club also saw it’s greatest moment. May 1980 saw the Lilywhites at Wembley in the Final of the F.A.Challenge Trophy. After defeating supposedly bigger clubs like Altrincham, Blyth Spartans and Boston United on the way, Mossley unluckily lost 2-1 in the final to Dagenham, their first defeat in 31 games. A crowd of 26,000 were at Wembley, and a memorable day for the Club and town was captured for posterity by Granada TV in their documentary “Mossley Goes To Wembley.” At this time Mossley had the most formidable strike force in non-league football with the legendary Leo Skeete, Dave Moore and Ian Smith alongside first Eamonn O’Keefe (sold to Everton) and then Kevan Keelan.
The following season saw Mossley take their only Football League scalp in the FA Cup when they beat Crewe Alexandra at Seel Park. Other League clubs faced in the glory years were Rotherham United, York City, Mansfield Town, Stockport County, Huddersfield Town and Darlington. The great run of success ended abruptly in 1984 when following financial upheavals the Lilywhites finished bottom of the then one division NPL and had to seek re-election.
A gradual recovery took place through the 80’s with 1988-89 being the most successful since the glory days. Under the guidance of Bryan Griffiths and the now Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Dave Jones Mossley won the NPL Cup, Manchester Premier Cup, Reporter Floodlit Cup and at the start of the following season the NPL Shield. After this, fortunes faded again following further financial problems with the Club narrowly avoiding relegation in 1992. The following year, after a calamitous series of results not even the return of the legendary Bob Murphy could save the Club from the drop. Over the next two years Mossley saw no fewer than six managerial changes and the Lilywhites run of 23 years in the Unibond/NPL came to an end in 1995 when they were relegated to the North West Counties League.
1995-96 saw Mossley make a highly promising NWCL debut, involved in the promotion race for most of the season they eventually finished 4th, reaching the final of the NWCL Floodlit Trophy into the bargain. The following season, after a bright start, the team failed to stay the pace with the leaders and finally finished in 7th position, but did have a great run in the FA Carlsberg Vase, reaching the quarter finals.
In 1997 the Club parted company with manager Kevan Keelan and installed another former Lilywhites player, Benny Phillips as his replacement. Also appointing a new Chairman in the Club’s main sponsor Sam Rigby of club sponsors NEC and with a rebuilt team finished in 9th position.
Season 1998-99 saw the team more than unfortunate not to win the title, losing out in controversial circumstances to Workington on the last day of the season. It was a bitter pill to swallow after leading the table for the last three months which included a club record 12 successive wins. The Millennium season saw Mossley again reach the quarter finals of the FA Carlsberg Vase before going down 3-1 at eventual winners Deal Town and slip from the title race after that blow to finish 4th, but they did reach the final of the Manchester Premier Cup unluckily losing by a last minute goal to Droylsden at Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park.
Last season was a disappointing one after a great start which saw the record 12 successive wins equalled, but hampered by injuries and suspensions Mossley eventually finished in mid-table.
In November 2001 Benny Phillips was replaced as manager by former Coventry City and Stoke City star Ally Pickering and the team finished in 8th position. Last season Mossley were in the title race all season finally finishing third and rounded off the club's Centenary season by winning the Worthington Trophy beating Clitheroe 2-1 at Gigg Lane in the Final.
The 2003-04 season saw Jason Beckford replace Pickering as manager just prior to the season and the club fought tooth and nail to win promotion to the UniBond going on a 21 match unbeaten run up to the new year. They were then hit by a 3 point deduction due to an aministrative error and form took a nosedive as the team quickly crashed out of four cups and lost poll position in the League. The drama continued to the end as Mossley were just pipped to the title by Clitheroe on the last day of the season.
2004-05 season saw Mossley consolidate back in the UniBond League and were unfortunate to miss out on a place in the promotion play off's finally finishing in 7th place. Last season Mossley excelled by becoming Champions of the UniBond League Division One by two points above Fleetwood Town on the last day of the season despite losing their last two games, earning promotion to the Premier Division where they had last competed in 1993.
Unfortunately the joy was short-lived as the Lilywhites were relegated at the end of the season returning to a newly reconstituted UniBond Division One, they were placed in the North Division. Beckford resigned at the end of the season.
The close season of 2007 saw the retirement of the clubs Directors and main sponsors, the Rigby family after a ten year period in control of club affairs. A new Board of Directors made up of club supporters was appointed in the summer in what has certainly been a transitional time for the club.

MOSSLEY AFC
Ground: Seel Park Market Street, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancs Tel: 01457 832369 Website: www.mossleyweb.com Founded: 1903 Nick-name: The Lilywhites County affiliation: Manchester County FA Manager: Gerry Quinn

Mossley were formed in 1903 as Park Villa and initially competed in local competitions. After just one season the club’s name was changed to Mossley Juniors. In 1909 they became Mossley AFC and moved to their present ground Seel Park in 1912 from their previous site at Luzley. The early years of Mossley AFC were spent in the Ashton & District League culminating in a superb season in 1914-15 when Mossley won the League, Manchester Junior Cup and the Lady Aitken Cup (see above picture), progressing to the South East Lancs League in 1915, the Manchester Amateur League in 1916, the Lancashire Combination in 1918 and then were founder members of the Cheshire County League in 1919, finishing runners up in the first season in both League and League Cup and returning to win the League Cup the following season beating Sandbach Ramblers in the final. Apart from many successes in the Ashton Challenge Cup and various Manchester Cup wins Mossley had many lean years in the League and rarely finished in the top half of the table, although in 1961 they won the Cheshire League Cup for only the second time when they beat a strong Tranmere Rovers Reserve side 6-3 at Hyde United's ground under the guidance of former Blackburn Rovers star Eddie Quigley. Mossley’s most successful season in their Cheshire League days was in 1969-70 when Don Wilson's side finished runners-up in the League, reached the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in 20 years losing narrowly in a replay to Stockport County and made it to the quarter finals of the inaugural F.A.Trophy going out to Southern League giants Barnet. After more than fifty years in the Cheshire League, the Lilywhites were elected to the Northern Premier League in 1972. During the late 70’s, Mossley grew into a formidable force in non-league football. They won successive League titles in 1978-79 and 1979-80 and finished runners-up in each of the next three seasons. With influential manager Bob Murphy at the helm the club also saw it’s greatest moment. May 1980 saw the Lilywhites at Wembley in the Final of the F.A.Challenge Trophy. After defeating supposedly bigger clubs like Altrincham, Blyth Spartans and Boston United on the way, Mossley unluckily lost 2-1 in the final to Dagenham, their first defeat in 31 games. A crowd of 26,000 were at Wembley, and a memorable day for the Club and town was captured for posterity by Granada TV in their documentary “Mossley Goes To Wembley.” At this time Mossley had the most formidable strike force in non-league football with the legendary Leo Skeete, Dave Moore and Ian Smith alongside first Eamonn O’Keefe (sold to Everton) and then Kevan Keelan. The following season saw Mossley take their only Football League scalp in the FA Cup when they beat Crewe Alexandra at Seel Park. Other League clubs faced in the glory years were Rotherham United, York City, Mansfield Town, Stockport County, Huddersfield Town and Darlington. The great run of success ended abruptly in 1984 when following financial upheavals the Lilywhites finished bottom of the then one division NPL and had to seek re-election. A gradual recovery took place through the 80’s with 1988-89 being the most successful since the glory days. Under the guidance of Bryan Griffiths and the now Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Dave Jones Mossley won the NPL Cup, Manchester Premier Cup, Reporter Floodlit Cup and at the start of the following season the NPL Shield. After this, fortunes faded again following further financial problems with the Club narrowly avoiding relegation in 1992. The following year, after a calamitous series of results not even the return of the legendary Bob Murphy could save the Club from the drop. Over the next two years Mossley saw no fewer than six managerial changes and the Lilywhites run of 23 years in the Unibond/NPL came to an end in 1995 when they were relegated to the North West Counties League. 1995-96 saw Mossley make a highly promising NWCL debut, involved in the promotion race for most of the season they eventually finished 4th, reaching the final of the NWCL Floodlit Trophy into the bargain. The following season, after a bright start, the team failed to stay the pace with the leaders and finally finished in 7th position, but did have a great run in the FA Carlsberg Vase, reaching the quarter finals. In 1997 the Club parted company with manager Kevan Keelan and installed another former Lilywhites player, Benny Phillips as his replacement. Also appointing a new Chairman in the Club’s main sponsor Sam Rigby of club sponsors NEC and with a rebuilt team finished in 9th position. Season 1998-99 saw the team more than unfortunate not to win the title, losing out in controversial circumstances to Workington on the last day of the season. It was a bitter pill to swallow after leading the table for the last three months which included a club record 12 successive wins. The Millennium season saw Mossley again reach the quarter finals of the FA Carlsberg Vase before going down 3-1 at eventual winners Deal Town and slip from the title race after that blow to finish 4th, but they did reach the final of the Manchester Premier Cup unluckily losing by a last minute goal to Droylsden at Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park. Last season was a disappointing one after a great start which saw the record 12 successive wins equalled, but hampered by injuries and suspensions Mossley eventually finished in mid-table. In November 2001 Benny Phillips was replaced as manager by former Coventry City and Stoke City star Ally Pickering and the team finished in 8th position. Last season Mossley were in the title race all season finally finishing third and rounded off the club's Centenary season by winning the Worthington Trophy beating Clitheroe 2-1 at Gigg Lane in the Final. The 2003-04 season saw Jason Beckford replace Pickering as manager just prior to the season and the club fought tooth and nail to win promotion to the UniBond going on a 21 match unbeaten run up to the new year. They were then hit by a 3 point deduction due to an aministrative error and form took a nosedive as the team quickly crashed out of four cups and lost poll position in the League. The drama continued to the end as Mossley were just pipped to the title by Clitheroe on the last day of the season. 2004-05 season saw Mossley consolidate back in the UniBond League and were unfortunate to miss out on a place in the promotion play off's finally finishing in 7th place. Last season Mossley excelled by becoming Champions of the UniBond League Division One by two points above Fleetwood Town on the last day of the season despite losing their last two games, earning promotion to the Premier Division where they had last competed in 1993. Unfortunately the joy was short-lived as the Lilywhites were relegated at the end of the season returning to a newly reconstituted UniBond Division One, they were placed in the North Division. Beckford resigned at the end of the season. The close season of 2007 saw the retirement of the clubs Directors and main sponsors, the Rigby family after a ten year period in control of club affairs. A new Board of Directors made up of club supporters was appointed in the summer in what has certainly been a transitional time for the club.
Honours: Northern Premier League Champions: 1978/79, 1979/80 Northern Premier League Runners up: 1980/81, 1981/82, 1982/83 UniBond Northern Premier League Division One Champions: 2005/06 Northern Premier League Cup Winners: 1978/79, 1988/89 Northern Premier League Cup Runners up: 1975/76, 1981/82 Northern Premier League Challenge Shield Winners: 1989/90 Northern Premier League Challenge Shield Runners up: 1979/80, 1980/81, 1981/82, 1982/83 North West Counties League Division One Runners up: 1998/99, 2003/04 North West Counties League Worthington Trophy Winners: 2002/03 North West Counties League Floodlit Trophy Runners up: 1995/96 Cheshire County League Runners up: 1919/20, 1969/70 Cheshire County League Cup Winners: 1920/21, 1960/61 Cheshire County League Cup Runners up: 1919/20 FA Challenge Trophy Runners up: 1979/80 FA Challenge Trophy Quarter Finalists: 1969/70, 1980/81 FA Challenge Vase Quarter Finalists: 1996/97, 1999/00, 2002/03 FA Challenge Cup 2nd Round Proper: 1949/50, 1980/81 FA Challenge Cup 1st Round Proper: 1969/70, 1977/78, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84 Non League Champion of Champions Cup Runners up: 1979/80 Manchester FA Premier Cup Winners: 1988/89, 1990/91 Manchester FA Premier Cup Runners up: 1999/2000 Manchester FA Senior Cup WInners: 1971/72, 1976/77 Manchester FA Senior Cup Runners up: 1970/71, 1978/79 Manchester FA Intermediate Cup Winners: 1960/61, 1966/67, 1967/68 Manchester FA Intermediate Cup Runners up: 1958/59, 1963/64 Manchester FA Shield Winners: 1937/38 Manchester FA Shield Runners up: 1936/37, 1938/39, 1946/47 Manchester FA Junior Cup WInners: 1914/15, 1933/34 Reporter Floodlit Cup WInners: 1974/75, 1988/89 Frank Hollingworth Memorial Trophy Winners: 2006/07 Willow Wood Hospice Charity Cup Winners: 2001/02, 2005/06 Willow Wood Hospice Charity Cup Runners up: 2002/03, 2004/05 Lancashire Combination Manchester Section Runners up: 1918/19 Ashton Challenge Cup Winners: 1921/22, 1922/23, 1929/30, 1934/35, 1948/49, 1951/52, 1953/54, 1955/56, 1961/62 Ashton Challenge Cup Runners up: 1919/20, 1923/24, 1926/27, 1928/29, 1949/50 Ashton & District League Division One Champions: 1911/12, 1914/15 Ashton & District League Division One Runners up: 1912/13, 1913/14 Ashton & District League Division Two Runners up: 1909/10 Lady Aitken Ashton & District League Challenge Cup Winners: 1913/14, 1914/15 Lady Aitken Ashton & District League Challenge Cup Runners up: 1911/12, 1912/13 Ashton Junior Cup Winners: 1909/10 Ashton Junior Cup Runners up: 1911/12, 1912/13, 1913/14, 1914/15