2004/2005 was the first season for the Duke of Wellington, we didnt really have high expectations of winning the league at first. We were just a group of lads who wanted to play football. However when the serious stuff started, we could play abit. The first seven league games we picked up 16 points out of a possible 21 only losing once during that run and that defeat would be against Bridge Inn who would be promoted that year.Brett Hannah's goals shot the Duke to second in the table behind 1853 Stand CC, and a rare hat trick from Martin Attree in the 5-3 demolition of Riley's establised the Duke in the league standings as no walkovers.
|
10 Sept 04 |
Westdene |
1 |
V |
2 |
Duke of Wellington |
|
12 Sept 04 |
Duke of Wellington |
1 |
V |
2 |
Bridge Inn |
|
19 Sept 04 |
1853 Stand CC |
1 |
V |
2 |
Duke of Wellington |
|
26 Sept 04 |
Duke of Wellington |
8 |
V |
0 |
Crumpsall & Hove Albion |
|
3 Oct 04 |
Duke of Wellington |
3 |
V |
3 |
MPG Bay |
|
31 Oct 04 |
Duke of Wellington |
5 |
V |
3 |
Riley’s |
|
7 Nov 04 |
Crumpsall & Hove Albion |
0 |
V |
1 |
Duke of Wellington |
As the season progressed the Duke would start to devolop a hero, in goal scoring sensation Brett Hannah. Brett would finish the season as the clubs leading goalscorer with 26 goals. However over Christmas time the Dukes form would drop off, picking up just 3 points out of a possible 18 from the following games, not promotion form really.
|
28 Nov 04 |
Duke of Wellington |
3 |
V |
3 |
Swan & Cemetery |
|
12 Dec 04 |
Radcliffe Wanderers |
3 |
V |
0 |
Duke of Wellington |
|
16 Jan 05 |
Duke of Wellington |
4 |
V |
7 |
Crumpsall Town |
|
23 Jan 05 |
MPG Bay |
2 |
V |
2 |
Duke of Wellington |
|
30 Jan 05 |
Duke of Wellington |
2 |
V |
4 |
Heywood Reform |
|
6 Feb 05 |
Duke of Wellington |
1 |
V |
1 |
Broadfield |
The christmas dip had cost the Duke a vital playoff place as they slid down the league table. With all the other teams around the Duke winning, it looked like the Duke could fall into mid-table obscurity. But with some grit and determination the Duke finished the season on a high, considering the last four games were all away from home. Another positive at the end of season was the goalscoring form of Joe Gorski who scored his first goal for the club in the win at Red Lion and scored in the next two games to finish on 5. Joe actually scored the last goal for the Duke in that season at Riley's.
|
10 Apr 05 |
Bridge Inn |
7 |
V |
3 |
Duke of Wellington |
|
17 Apr 05 |
Red Lion |
0 |
V |
1 |
Duke of Wellington |
|
24 Apr 05 |
Swan & Cemetery |
2 |
V |
6 |
Duke of Wellington |
|
23 Jan 05 |
Riley’s |
0 |
V |
2 |
Duke of Wellington |
A final push from the Duke had them finish a respectable 6th place in their inaugral season. The final league table standings were as follows:
Team |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Heywood Reform |
22 |
20 |
1 |
1 |
83 |
24 |
+59 |
61 |
|
2. Bridge Inn |
23 |
17 |
4 |
2 |
103 |
40 |
+63 |
55 |
|
3. Crumpsall Town |
24 |
16 |
1 |
7 |
123 |
50 |
+73 |
49 |
|
4. Radcliffe Wanderers |
24 |
15 |
1 |
8 |
76 |
59 |
+17 |
46 |
|
5. 1860 Stand CC |
23 |
14 |
2 |
7 |
87 |
58 |
+29 |
44 |
|
6. Duke of Wellington |
24 |
10 |
5 |
9 |
57 |
59 |
-2 |
35 |
|
7. Westdene |
24 |
9 |
4 |
11 |
59 |
71 |
-12 |
31 |
|
8. Red Lion |
23 |
9 |
2 |
12 |
61 |
65 |
-4 |
29 |
|
9. Riley’s |
23 |
8 |
1 |
14 |
63 |
67 |
-4 |
25 |
|
10. MPG Bay |
24 |
4 |
8 |
12 |
52 |
78 |
-26 |
20 |
|
11. Broadfield |
23 |
5 |
3 |
15 |
42 |
94 |
-52 |
18 |
|
12. Crumpsall & Hove Albion |
24 |
5 |
2 |
17 |
39 |
99 |
-60 |
17 |
|
13. Swan & Cemetery |
23 |
2 |
2 |
19 |
40 |
121 |
