Just follow the floodlights
Thu 1st November 2018 | General | By Ian Templeman
The skies over Wythenshawe will now look a bit brighter on winter afternoons and evenings, as both Wythenshawe Town and Wythenshawe Amateurs have now unveiled their new floodlights.
In the past week, both clubs have hosted their first games under their new lights, and the idea of midweek floodlit football certainly seems to have captured the imagination of the locals, as both clubs attracted their highest attendances of the season for their respective games.
Town started the ball rolling last Thursday with their first midweek game under lights against Stockport Town, which they won 2-1.
The game attracted Town's highest attendance of the season, with 177 people coming down to Ericstan Park.
Former Chairman, Kenny Hope, who stepped down last week after being at the helm for four years, said:
"The achievement throughout the four seasons I have been Chairman has been incredible, blessed with so many caring and ambitious volunteers who has a belief that we would achieve the target we had set, North West Counties within five years.
“Achieving this was a historical moment, and the icing on the cake was our first ever game under the floodlights at Ericstan Park.
"It was an amazing, extremely emotional and proud night for everyone involved in the club.
"Four years ago we announced Wythenshawe Town as a sleeping giant. Now the sleeping giant has been woken by a big bang. Well done everyone. Amazing".
New Chairman, Chris Eaton added: "We are delighted to have played our first game under the floodlights last week, winning in front of our biggest crowd this term.
“The club is well positioned both on and off the pitch, to push on and take on all the challenges which lie ahead.
"We aim to establish ourselves at this level and beyond as soon as possible. Just like the floodlights, the future is bright at Wythenshawe Town."
On Tuesday evening, Wythenshawe Amateurs followed suit, and again the turnout was impressive, with a club record attendance of 308 set for their game against Maine Road, which the Ammies won 3-1.
Club Chairman Basil Kabbani was delighted with the evening's events.
"It was a very big night, and emotional, but was part of my ambition for the club", he said.
"Everything has happened quickly for us but was all part of the plan. We planned to build a ground in 2 to 3 years, and top it all off with floodlights, and we've done that.
"We expected maybe 250 against local rivals like Maine Road, but we got 308 on a very cold, windy and rainy night, which is fantastic.
"It just shows the enthusiasm around here for local football, and people will come out and support it if you produce the right of things.
"It was a night for the history books, and people have been saying when can we come again, when is the next game, and it could be that a game on a Friday night is a possibility if the appetite's there.
"It looks like it really worked, everyone's happy and enjoyed a drink and enjoyed the football, we won and the club made a bit of money.
"Everyone had a smile on their face and been impressed, and that's what we want to do, to attract everybody to come down and enjoy the atmosphere and it looks like they have done.
"I think the biggest thing is that our facilities are really good, and that attracts people to come down as families, rather than just football people and groundhoppers.
"Looking ahead, our aim for now is just to establish ourselves in this league, and have the best facilities we can.
"We have money to spend on other sections of the park that will help the reserves, the ladies and the juniors to play on one site, and that will be the next step".
Just follow the floodlights
Thu 1st November 2018 | General
By Ian Templeman
The skies over Wythenshawe will now look a bit brighter on winter afternoons and evenings, as both Wythenshawe Town and Wythenshawe Amateurs have now unveiled their new floodlights.
In the past week, both clubs have hosted their first games under their new lights, and the idea of midweek floodlit football certainly seems to have captured the imagination of the locals, as both clubs attracted their highest attendances of the season for their respective games.
Town started the ball rolling last Thursday with their first midweek game under lights against Stockport Town, which they won 2-1.
The game attracted Town's highest attendance of the season, with 177 people coming down to Ericstan Park.
Former Chairman, Kenny Hope, who stepped down last week after being at the helm for four years, said:
"The achievement throughout the four seasons I have been Chairman has been incredible, blessed with so many caring and ambitious volunteers who has a belief that we would achieve the target we had set, North West Counties within five years.
“Achieving this was a historical moment, and the icing on the cake was our first ever game under the floodlights at Ericstan Park.
"It was an amazing, extremely emotional and proud night for everyone involved in the club.
"Four years ago we announced Wythenshawe Town as a sleeping giant. Now the sleeping giant has been woken by a big bang. Well done everyone. Amazing".
New Chairman, Chris Eaton added: "We are delighted to have played our first game under the floodlights last week, winning in front of our biggest crowd this term.
“The club is well positioned both on and off the pitch, to push on and take on all the challenges which lie ahead.
"We aim to establish ourselves at this level and beyond as soon as possible. Just like the floodlights, the future is bright at Wythenshawe Town."
On Tuesday evening, Wythenshawe Amateurs followed suit, and again the turnout was impressive, with a club record attendance of 308 set for their game against Maine Road, which the Ammies won 3-1.
Club Chairman Basil Kabbani was delighted with the evening's events.
"It was a very big night, and emotional, but was part of my ambition for the club", he said.
"Everything has happened quickly for us but was all part of the plan. We planned to build a ground in 2 to 3 years, and top it all off with floodlights, and we've done that.
"We expected maybe 250 against local rivals like Maine Road, but we got 308 on a very cold, windy and rainy night, which is fantastic.
"It just shows the enthusiasm around here for local football, and people will come out and support it if you produce the right of things.
"It was a night for the history books, and people have been saying when can we come again, when is the next game, and it could be that a game on a Friday night is a possibility if the appetite's there.
"It looks like it really worked, everyone's happy and enjoyed a drink and enjoyed the football, we won and the club made a bit of money.
"Everyone had a smile on their face and been impressed, and that's what we want to do, to attract everybody to come down and enjoy the atmosphere and it looks like they have done.
"I think the biggest thing is that our facilities are really good, and that attracts people to come down as families, rather than just football people and groundhoppers.
"Looking ahead, our aim for now is just to establish ourselves in this league, and have the best facilities we can.
"We have money to spend on other sections of the park that will help the reserves, the ladies and the juniors to play on one site, and that will be the next step".
