Wythenshawe FC, formerly known as Wythenshawe Amateurs, set a new record for their largest-ever attendance this week as the club looks to keep growing as a semi-professional football club.
The South Manchester side dropped their ‘Amateur’ tag and introduced a new crest back in June as they look to further establish both their men’s and women’s teams, and with the club’s infrastructure continuing to develop, they have now managed to pull in their biggest crowd ever.
Playing against the similarly invigorated Bury FC following their return to Gigg Lane and competitive football, Wythenshawe hosted a reported 1,400 supporters on Tuesday evening, comfortably the most fans they’ve ever had come along to a game.
In fact, given the club is still only just starting to expand as they aim to not just become a fully-fledged semi-pro outfit but potentially go beyond that, they even had to turn fans away from their Hollyhedge Park stadium. Massive.
BIGGEST CROWD IN WYTHENSHAWE!
Last night’s attendance against @buryfcofficial was a club-record 1,400 ⚽️
Unfortunately, we had to turn some spectators away.
The home ground itself was only built back in 2017 and despite plenty of loyal match-goers week in and week out, the club hasn’t witnessed scenes like these all that often.
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Still known as the ‘Ammies’, a huge part of the club’s growth over the past year or so has not only come from their promotion into the North West Counties League’s Premier Division but Manchester’s Night-Time Economy Adviser and WHP founder Sacha Lord coming on board as Chair.
Back in April, Lord expressed his excitement to be joining the board and insisted they had “plans to grow attendance and improve the overall experience for fans and visitors, making this a thriving ground with a hugely diverse fanbase.” It looks as though they’re already well on their way to making the vision a reality.
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They new-look club even took pride of place on the big screens at Noel Gallagher’s recent Wythenshawe Park gig — a massive homecoming show that was the first the venue had ever seen and which local lad Lord, along with Mayor Andy Burnham, also helped to make happen.
One of the best parts about Wythenshawe FC managing record attendance numbers and making waves in such a way is that the progress isn’t just limited to the men’s team either.
Earlier this year, around the same time they changed their name and badge, the Ammies also made a commitment to devote just as much time and resources to developing the women’s team as well, taking them semi-pro and appointing a new head coach in James Mulvihill.
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Speaking at the time of the announcement, women’s captain Sophie Whitby said: “This is great news for women and girls throughout our club – showing how much we value them and how ambitious we are for them.
“I think it will send a really strong signal in the footballing world but also in our local community: that equality matters.
“We’ve created a really strong pathway for boys and men to semi-professional football, retaining players within the club. I firmly believe we can do this for women and girls too. I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
Dame Sarah Storey is going on Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Danny Jones
Record-breaking local athlete and Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, is set to become the latest to join the Strictly Come Dancing annals.
With the Strictly cast for 2026 steadily being unveiled, we always keep an eye out for the Greater Manchester names in particular.
That being said, we’re buzzing to see the hugely successful Stockport swimmer turned cyclist will be swapping her Team GB kit for sparkly, sequined ballroom gowns and an entirely different type of sport and fitness.
Announced on Friday, 17 July, Storey is the seventh celebrity to be confirmed for the 24th series of the hit BBC show and dancing competition.
Having represented her country not only at nine Paralympics but across two different disciplines after switching to the racing bike back in 2005, she’s our most decorated competitor in the entire history of the Games with 30 medals to her name – 19 of which are gold.
Absolute GOAT levels.
But now the Cheadle Hulme-born is once again set to show her versatility to see how she fares on the dance floor later this year.
Commenting ahead of the new-look season which starts this September, the 48-year-old said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.
“I have always loved watching Strictly, and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!”
This latest sea-change comes not long after the local legend and sporting icon officially announced her retirement from professional sport more than three decades on from first bursting onto the scene.
Thank you for taking the time to leave all the incredible messages. It’s so wonderful to read them and thank you for being the greatest supporters 🥰
— Dame Sarah Storey (@DameSarahStorey) July 9, 2026
What a career she’s had; it obviously didn’t take her long to get tired of sitting still for once, either.
She will be joined by the likes of Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer and Will Best.
In case you missed it, the upcoming edition of Strictly Come Dancing will be the first since Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and pro dancer Johannes Radebe stepping in as replacements.
In other starring Stockport news, we’ve finally got more info on the final season of a popular programme filmed in the area. Find out more down below.
Oasis’ Wonderwall on the brink of becoming UK number one for first time ever 30 years after initial release
Emily Sergeant
Could Wonderwall FINALLY become UK number one for the first time ever?
England may no longer be in the running to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being knocked out in the Semi Finals by Argentina, who claimed a 2-1 win when the two teams faced off in Atlanta on Wednesday night (15 July), but it looks like that hasn’t harmed Wonderwall’s trajectory to the top of the Official UK Charts.
Oasis’ most-streamed song of all time – and arguably their most famous – is currently sitting right at the top of Spotify’s Global charts, meaning it is in the race to become the official UK number one later today.
Despite the fact it never reached number one when it was first released back in 1996 as part of the band’s second studio album, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, the song has always had such cultural significance here in Manchester.
But after being adopted by the fans of the England men’s national football team during this World Cup, and belted out after every Three Lions victory this tournament, the song has taken on a whole new life.
Wonderwall was described at the time by the band’s lead guitarist and songwriter, Noel Gallagher, as being about ‘an imaginary friend who’s gonna come and save you from yourself’ – with the song’s title inspired by George Harrison’s solo album Wonderwall Music.
Sure, it has nothing to do with football (but neither did Sweet Caroline, let’s be real), but it’s an absolute anthem and one that’s become a symbol this year for the belief that football may have just been coming home after 60 years.
Win or lose, Wonderwall remains.
Unfortunately, while Wonderwall is in pole position as it stands, it’s up against some fierce footballing competition with the likes of Baddiel, Skinner & Lightning Seeds’ enduring anthem, Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home), hot on its heals.
Standing between both of them – and chart glory – is, of course, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s record-breaking duet, Rein Me In, which looks to retain the top spot as it eyes a 17th non-consecutive week at the summit.
It’s also expected that The Beatles’ iconic 1968 hit, Hey Jude, will also find its way into the Top 40 in honour of the tournament’s star player Jude Bellingham.
So, will Wonderwall reign supreme then? Will the Gallagher brothers have another reason to celebrate tonight after the success of last year’s historic Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour? We’ll have to wait and see.
You can tune into the Official Chart Show on BBC Radio 1 from 4pm today.
Danny Jones -
7th September 2023 
