New Mills is a town in the Borough of High Peak in Derbyshire, 13 miles from Manchester. The town is situated on the confluence of the River Goyt and Sett, close to the border with Cheshire sitting above the Torrs, a 70 feet deep gorge cut through carboniferous sandstone, on the north-western edge of the Peak District national park.(population 12,000)
The town was first noted for coal mining, then for cotton spinning, bleaching and calico printing. It’s served by the Peak Forest Canal, three railway lines and the A6 trunk road. Redundant mills were purchased in the mid-twentieth century by sweet manufacturer Swizzels Matlow.
"No frills, handy for the hills, that’s the way you spell New Mills"
New Mills formed in 1886, progressing through the local leagues, including the Manchester League. The original club disbanded before New Mills St Georges were formed, winning a number of honours in league and cup before the First World War.
The club was once again disbanded due to the Second World War, but reformed again afterwards, entering the Manchester Amateur League, then progressing once again to the Manchester League, lifting their third title in 1956. Joe Martin became manager in 1959 and he led them to seven league titles before his retirement in 1972.
The club stepped up to the Cheshire County League, then became founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982-83, which turned out to be their final season due to financial problems, which led them to fold. However, Birch Vale and Thornsett F.C. were looking for a new ground, so became tenants at Church Lane. Eventually, they took over the running of the club and became New Mills Football Club.
Manchester League 1984 - 2004.
North West Counties League 2004 - 2011: Division 2 Champions 2007-08, Premier Division Champions 2010-11
Northern Premier League 2011 -2016
NWCL 2016 - present
Church Lane
New Mills
High Peak
SK22 4NP
Current NWCL grounds visited 34/60
New Mills moved to Church Lane in 1922, situated on the same lane as the majestic St George’s Church and amongst the backdrop of Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District National Park.
The admission entrance is in the left corner, where the clubhouse, changing rooms, refreshment bar and picnic tables are behind the goal. There are two sections of cover joined together running down one side, with a mixture of seats and terrace. The opposite side has the dugouts but with no spectator access and the far goal is open with hardstanding.
The exterior of the ground was used in the Sky One series 'Rovers' starring Craig Cash and Sue Johnson in 2015.
New Mills 1 ( Havens 2)
Winsford Town 5(Davies 4 Stanton 25pen Aikenhead 56,57 Leblanc-Akpo 87)
NWCL Division One South matchday 11/12 (17th v 18th)
3pm ko
Att. 145
Spondoolicks:
Admission £6
Coffee £1.70
Chicken & mushroom pie £4
The bottom two teams went into this game both without a win, with New Mills just above their opponents with two points.
The hosts got off to a great start when Ollie Havens was sent clear through on goal and fired them ahead in the second minute, but that lead didn't last long, as Reece Davies side footed the ball home two minutes later.
Winsford took the lead with a Thomas Stanton penalty, then just before half time a crazy sixty seconds from The Millers. A penalty from Danny McLoughlin was well saved and when the ball was cleared Kwame Osigwe was sent off for a late lunge.
In the second half two well taken two well taken goals in as many minutes by Ross Aikenhead put United in charge, then Jeany Leblanc-Akpo made it 1-5 with a few minutes left.
To add to the home team's misery MacKena Bradshaw was also shown a straight red in the 79th minute, which just about summed up their afternoon.
141 miles door-to-door
Following our week in Mexico we rounded off our fortnight vacation with a few days' pub ticking in Greater Manchester. The three day break was finished off with a trip into Derbyshire, catching the 1218 train from Manchester Piccadilly to New Mills. Our pub tour continued in the town, stopping for refreshments at the Masons Arms, Pride of the Peaks, Beer Shed and the Rock Tavern.
While I was at the match the breadknife enjoyed a stroll around the Torts and a few more bevvies, before we headed back into Manchester after the game. We then boarded the bus back to Newcastle to conclude our summer holiday.
