NEW MILLS AFC

 We were off to Derbyshire today; a mere few miles over the Woodhead Pass. It's my better half's annual Swanwick Grammar School (Derbyshire) reunion. Enterprising couples from her year group arrange a gathering each year, which involves a bit of a walk and a pub lunch. Some make a weekend of it...depends on the availability of Real Ale. During the lunch I discovered that I had played against an Old Swanwickian....Keith A Carby then of St Edmund Hall, who was playing for Oxford University against Cambridge at Wembley! His lot lost 0-1, the winner scored by a college pal of mine, Jerry Wallwork....who also learned his footy trade (and one or two others) in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

So today, midst rain, we ventured over the Pennines, not too far to Lyme Park, a stately home and grounds and then to the local pub in New Mills, a town of 12,000.

It is coal, iron and cotton country. These raw materials were the basis of the local industry where cloth was produced from imported cotton, feeding the mouths of lads and lasses.

Founded in 1886, the New Mills AFC joined the Manchester League and worked its way through the various "steps" eventually going no further, being disturbed by World War 1. They disbanded of course and later reformed as New Mills St George's, enjoying their freedom, winning local cups and drawing crowds of several thousands.

During WW2, the club declined again, playing in the Cheshire County League at the time and after, with peace, joined the North West Counties League when the club reformed as the local Birch Vale and Thornsett FCs merged. The pub we visit is the Pack Horse Inn, sited at Thornsett and near Wistle.
To be recommended-the pub that is but hopefully for you on a sunnier day.

In 1977, playing in the Manchester League, The Millers developed its Church Lane ground and inspired by this, the club won 2nd Division League Championship Cup in 2006-7, the League Challenge Cup in 2008-9 and became champions of the North West Counties League in 2010-11. Celebrating their 125th year, New Mills hosted a Manchester United XI managed by Alex Ferguson. The club seemed to have a rosy future! Not so.....2014-15 saw a relegation although the club was reprieved.

During the 2015-16 season, the club was playing in the then "Evostick sponsored"  League, but lost 26 out of 26 league and cup matches on the trot and only ended up with 3 league points from 3 drawn matches, a Northern League low and no cups!

New Mills AFC, known as The Millers, now play in the Hallmark Security North West Counties League, Division One South. Step 6.

In season 2016-17, The Millers won their first match, beating Cammell Laird, their first victory for 18 months. More managerial changes occurred and newly appointed manager, Calum Sykes from Stockport Town FC, brought the entire Stockport Town squad with him but this ploy didn't work and he saw the team relegated again. Local comedian wrote a book about their season called "Winless". Morale was not high. Their plight made the BBC news! The BBC got involved and bless them The Millers still grind on.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35959714