Following their amazing title win and promotion to the North West Counties Premier League this past weekend, Wythenshawe Amateurs FC have announced that Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser Sacha Lord is set to become the club’s new Chair.
The Ammies secured the NWCFL First Division South Title on Saturday, 15th April, with a 4-0 win over Foley Meir, earning automatic promotion to the NWC Premier Division League.
As part of the celebrations of the club moving onwards and upwards, it was confirmed that Lord — co-founder of Parklife and now the world’s favourite nightclub, The Warehouse Project — is soon to replace Carl Barratt when he steps down to vice-chair in the coming weeks.
Having been born in Wythenshawe and remained a long-time supporter of grass-roots football, the Night Time Economy Adviser said when the chance to take over arose it was simply an opportunity he “couldn’t turn down, especially in such an exciting time for the club”.
GM Night-time Economy Adviser, Sacha Lord, to become new Chair of Wythenshawe Amateurs Football Club as it is promoted to the NW Counties Premier League
— Wythenshawe Amateurs FC (@wythenshaweafc) April 20, 2023
Speaking following the announcement, Sacha said: “I have been aware of ‘The Ammies‘ for some years now after many friends watched the team during the COVID-19 pandemic from the hill in Hollyhedge Park when games were being held behind closed doors.
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“Over the last few months, I’ve attended quite a few games and when the opportunity arose to take over the reins this was something I couldn’t turn down, especially in such an exciting time for the club, following promotion.
“I am looking forward to helping to lead the next part of the journey at Wythenshawe. The Club has so much potential, along with the board, have plans to grow attendance and improve the overall experience for fans and visitors, making this a thriving ground with a hugely diverse fanbase.”
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As you’d expect, the scenes in the changing rooms after their emphatic promotion win were delightful and with Sacha’s WHP team providing hospitality as well as food and drink vouchers for Saturday’s game against Pilkington FC, it’s set to be a great atmosphere.
— Wythenshawe Amateurs FC (@wythenshaweafc) April 15, 2023
Current Chair, Carl Barratt, said: “The board and I are incredibly excited to take the club forward with Sacha at the helm. We are proud of what we have achieved since opening our new home at Hollyhedge Park and are delighted that Sacha has identified the true potential of our community-owned club.”
“Sacha also will be joining us following the recent news that we have had approval by the FA, Lancashire County FA and all 14 leagues to remove the word ‘Amateurs’ from our name to reflect the progress the Club has made, and we will shortly commence rebranding across all our platforms.
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“Wythenshawe means the world to me, and I cannot stress enough my enthusiasm and support for Sacha and his plans. He has a superb track record of building destination venues with passionate and active communities and I know that we are in very capable hands when I hand over the baton in the coming weeks.”
As mentioned, Carl will remain as vice-chair and continue to head up the junior ranks as the club revels in “a solid moment in [its] history”, now playing at the highest level they’ve ever been at and continuing their legacy of never being relegated in the 77 years since it was founded.
Speaking of the club’s board and the Ammies’ heroics, in general, their 4-0 win felt like a fitting reward following their impressive charitable efforts over the weekend.
Spread over two days, current vice-chair Martin Howe and a number of other volunteers embarked on a massive 35-mile walk to raise money for The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, raising over £1,500 for cancer research and treatment.
Ruben Amorim reportedly paying for staff members flights ahead of the Europa League final
Danny Jones
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly covering the cost of flights for several staff members and families around the club ahead of this month’s Europa League final.
Taking place on Wednesday, 21 May, Man United take on Spurs in UEFA’s second-string continental competition, giving the Red Devils a chance at lifting the trophy for the second time and, more importantly, getting into the Champions League next year.
Not only is this European final in a United manager’s maiden season a feat only previously achieved by Jose Mourinho, who also won it in his inaugural campaign at the club, but it also happens to be the first of Amorim’s career full stop.
With that in mind, the Portuguese head coach is hoping to rope in as much positivity and support as possible, so despite cost-cutting measures around the club over the last 18 months, Amorim is reaching into his own pocket to pay for staff and some of the family members to be at the final.
Ruben Amorim has paid for 30 of his Man United backroom staff to take their families to next week's Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain, after being told by the club that his coaches, physios and support team would have to pay for their own tickets, sources have told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/rC2GkGsvZb
Now this is the kind of leadership supporters like to see.
According to ESPN sports writer Mark Ogden, at least 30 members of his backroom staff have seen their travel to the final paid for after the club said they would not be covering the increasingly inflated prices, with flights to Bilbao unsurprisingly skyrocketing.
The Athletic‘s Mark Critchley has gone on to detail that “coaches, physios and support staff would instead be able to purchase up to two tickets”, while only two complimentary family tickets have been granted per player.
If you’re wondering why fans continue to make his name echo around the Theatre of Dreams in spite of poor performances, gestures like this should tell you why.
The 40-year-old’s debut Premier League season might be one to forget, with his team set to record United’s worst-ever finish, but a final at the first time of asking, even with a squad that’s visibly struggling to adjust to yet another period of overhaul, is still an achievement – especially a European one.
In addition to admitting that he’s been left “embarrassed” by the league form, he says one of his biggest fears is that everyone around Old Trafford is “losing the feeling of being a massive club”, both inside and out. Obviously, he’s hoping that potentially winning another European title will help fix that.
United played out a forgettable 2-0 loss to West Ham this past weekend in what should have felt like a bit of a free hit, but ultimately resulted in starting centre-back Leny Yoro picking up another injury and key players exerting a lot more energy than many would have hoped.
Most fans were expecting to see the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Amad Diallo and so on rested to keep that balance between sharpness and recovery, but many first-choice players played far more minutes than was arguably necessary.
Whether or not this is all in line with his thinking, we’ll have to wait and see when the Reds rock up to the Basque Country a week from now
Four players set to leave Salford City as club confirms retained list
Danny Jones
Salford City FC have announced their retained list for next season as this year’s EFL campaigns come to a close, with four players confirmed to be leaving the club.
It’s been another up-and-down year for the Ammies, with Karl Robinson’s side ever so narrowly missing out on the playoff places despite looking like they might just sneak in only a fortnight ago.
The Greater Manchester club has somewhat plateaued following their streak of promotions in the immediate years following the Class of ’92 buyout – even Gary Neville himself admits they’ve “lost some momentum” – but with another new era beckoning, who knows what the next few years hold?
One thing that we do now know is which players will be staying at the Peninsula Stadium, with Salford City revealing the four names set to depart upon the contract expiry this summer.
Following a sixth consecutive League Two season, Robinson and the administration will no doubt be looking to once again freshen up the squad in the coming transfer window.
That being said, while the likes of ‘Player of the Year’ Ossama Ashley, and fellow first-team stars Haji Mnoga and Luke Garbutt all seeing their deals extended into at the very least 2025-26, not mention seven new contracts offered to new players, they will be losing some key players and fan favouries.
Right-back Liam Shephard has also decided to join those parting ways with the Ammies head of next season, with many fans gutted to see the popular squad member heading for the exit door.
The club are going about sharing farewell videos for each of them, knowing full well a few will feel tought to take for some supporters.
Thank you for the past 4 years Shep ❤️
Across 92 games, a nearly 50% win percentage along with 4 goals and 13 assists, we thank @Liam_Shep2 for all his hard work 🫡 pic.twitter.com/G2cPLYx9hx
Crediting all of them for the years of service, especially given the roles that many of them played in helping Salford reach the playoffs in the 2022/23 season, the club expressed their gratitude to the senior quarter for their contributions.
Meanwhile, in terms of the youth set-up, there due to be even more departures, including the likes of Callum Morton, Jez Davies, Marcus Dackers, Sandro Da Costa and more.
You find out the full details from the 24/25 retained list HERE.
With a second modern takeover of Salford City having just been confirmed this month, the new ownership group will be looking regain some of that monentum Neville talked about and bring in replacements for the outgoings as they look to continue climbing the pyramid.
Danny Jones -
20th April 2023 
