Droylsden FC to be reborn?

DROYLSDEN Football Club must get its skates on if it is to play matches next season.

The Butcher’s Arms side has indicated it may come back after owner Dave Pace effectively shut up shop when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

Hopes are high the side known as The Bloods – which withdrew from the Northern Premier League in August 2020 – would regain it place in the non-league pyramid.

But The Correspondent has been told any restart will not take place at that level but in Division One of the North West Counties League.

Droylsden FC

It will also not happen for the 20203/24 season as the deadline for applications to join was December 31.

That leaves the prospect of any new team starting at step seven – the Manchester League or the Cheshire League, in which Dukinfield Town and Denton play respectively.

However, any application must be submitted by March 31 for the former and February 28 for the latter.

Droylsden, who made it as high as what is now the National League, made the decision to withdraw after their main income source stopped with the social club and function rooms at their stadium closing as the Covid-19 pandemic began.

But hopes a new start may come have blossomed after Pace met with supporters and said the pandemic had basically ‘cut him off at the knees’ financially.

However, bookings for private functions at the social club are now picking up,  meaning recovery is more possible.

First on anyone’s list of priorities is renewing the stadium’s safety certificate.

A further meeting will take place on Sunday, January 29, from 2.30pm until 4pm.

But Pace believes the optimism just from that first get together has given him hope Droylsden can come back.

He said: “Since the meeting, which was brilliant, everybody has been so positive and the feedback I’ve received has been great.

“I was a little nervous before the meeting but all the fans that attended were fantastic and made me feel that we still have a special club.”