Mellor FC was founded in 1923 in Mellor, Stockport, Cheshire by members of the Hambleton family. The Marple club based at Wood Lane currently run three adult
Early days
John Hambleton, who played for the team in its early days and who was later a committee member, followed the club's fortunes until he died in February 2005. The club has played on a number of grounds over the years including Gibb Lane, Mellor and behind The George in nearby Compstall.
Its home for many years was Brabyns Park, Marple. In the early nineties, following lengthy negotiations by the committee, the club became part of the Ridge Sports Association, a three-way link-up between Mellor AFC, Marple Rugby Club and the Ridge Sixth Form College. Home games are now played on a private pitch at Wood Lane, Marple.
Initially the team changed at the Buxton Lane site of the Ridge College. But in the summer of 2000 a 12-year dream was finally realised with the construction of a new £267,000 pitchside clubhouse and changing room complex at Wood Lane, to be shared with the college and the rugby club. To celebrate its opening, the club staged a friendly match against a Manchester City veterans X1, with two goals from John Cosgrove securing a 2-1 win for Mellor.
In a league of their own
Since 1962 the club has competed in the Lancashire & Cheshire League. In the late seventies, when the longest serving members of the present committee first came to the club, it ran two teams, the League's minimum requirement. However, the club expanded and at one point ran five teams.
The 'Golden Era'
Its most successful period in the L&C was over seasons 1985-86 and 1986-87 when it achieved a double double, winning the Rhodes Cup (for the entire League) twice and the championship titles of Division 3 and the Division Two in consecutive seasons.
In 1991-92 its third team won the Division E championship. In 1998-99 the first team reached the semi-final of the prestigious Stockport Senior Cup, the furthest Mellor had ever progressed in that competition until that date. Ironically, the season also saw the club almost fold. Managers were struggling to find quality players who could be relied upon to play every week.
The idea was conceived of a merger with Romiley Friendship, a relatively new club playing in the Stockport League but with ambitions to enter the L&C. Given the club's history the committee naturally wanted to retain the name Mellor and after lengthy discussions with officials of Romiley Friendship this was agreed, with the proviso that the Friendship's name appeared on shirts and a newly designed club badge. The union was finally agreed and initially proved a great success. But after two seasons some ex Friendship players left to form a new club as you will read below.
Joint venture
Friendship Romiley was formed in 1996, primarily because manager Phil Norbury wanted to fulfil a long standing ambition to play in the same team as his 19-year-old son Jack. Prior to that Phil had been playing in open age and Jack in junior football. The team was initially called Romiley Athletic and Phil, helped by close friend Stewart Kelly, enrolled the side in Division Four of the Stockport League.
In its first competitive season the team finished sixth and before the end of that first season had moved its base from the Stockdove pub in Romiley to the Friendship, where the landlady Ann Phillips seemed more interested in its fortunes.