There were no northern teams in this 1871/2 competition, save Queen's Park of Glasgow, who got FOUR BYES to the semi-final and then gave Wanderers a walk over after a 0-0 draw because they could not travel south again. The Wanderers then beat the Royal Engineers 1-0 in the final. In the 1872-3 competition the Cup holders Wanderers earned FIVE BYES to reach the final??!! and then beat Oxford University 2-0.
Back to the Trophy-Absque Labore Nihil-"nothing is without labour" is the motto of the Celtics, who have carried their name since 1906, when a team played friendlies at North End in the East of the Manchester region. The Northern Premier club now plays at Bower Fold which can hold 6,500. The main club was started in 1909 by local Herbert Rhodes, a local businessman and philanthropist, who spent a lump of his fortune on developing the new ground. He played for the team and designed the playing strip that was based on his horse racing colours. Joining the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur League, they turned professional and played in the Lancashire Combination becoming champions first time round. By 1920-1 the Football League was expanded to include a Third Division and the following season this was increased to Third (North) and Third (South) which allowed the Celtics to become members of the FL. They finished 7th in their first campaign and 11th in 1922-3 before resigning due to lack of finances and expensive travelling costs. In the 1922 FA Cup the Celts played WBA forcing a replay and more recently they reached the Second Round against Carlisle and Chester.
Other teams in the FL Div 3 North at the time included Ashington, Durham City, Nelson who won the division around then, as well old favourites Barrow, Southport and Bradford PA.
Stalybridge joined the Cheshire County League, moved on to the North West Counties and upwards through the Conference to their present status.
Oh yes, today the Celtics beat Rushall 3-2 in an exciting cup tie at a very serviceable stadium.
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