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ALTHOUGH the present club was
formed in 1919 another club, simply called Hyde FC, had been in existence
since 1885 being best remembered for the 26-0 beating at the hands of
Preston North End in a FA Cup tie at Deepdale in 1887, still a record
score for a competitive match in England.
The new club, Hyde United, joined the Manchester
League and by 1920 had won it five times and the Gilcryst Cup twice.
They moved into the Cheshire County League in 1930 and won the League
Cup four years later. The decade after World War Two proved to be the
Golden years for the club, the Cheshire Senior Cup win in 1946 being
the first of many trophies to arrive at Ewen Fields during the next
ten years. In 1953 Hyde United won the League Cup and this was
followed by a league and cup double a season later. Season 1955-56 saw
Hyde retain the championship and finished runners up in the following
three seasons. The FA Cup first round was reached in 1954 losing to
the then Football League side Workington 5-1 away.
The sixties saw Hyde make steady progress and in 1968 became founder
members of the Northern Premier League. However after just two
seasons they resigned and rejoined the Cheshire League where they
remained for the rest of the decade. The League Cup was won in 1973
and in 1981 finished runners-up in the League. A year later the title was
won for a third time, being enough to allow the Tigers back into the
Northern Premier League. The first year back saw the club score 91
goals and a year later saw the club reach the League Cup final to loose
on penalties to South Liverpool. A quick return to Maine Road saw the club
win the League Cup in 1985-86 beating Gateshead 1-0.The following
summer the club took the step of installing an artificial surface at their
Ewen Fields ground and during that season won the Lancashire
Floodlight Trophy. In 1987-88 the club finished runners-up in
the League and retained the Lancashire Floodlight Trophy.
In 1987-88 the club finished runners-up in the League
and retained the Lancashire Floodlight Trophy. In the following
season a tremendous campaign saw Hyde again finish in the runners-up spot
and reach the semi-final of the FA Trophy as well as losing the Clubcall
final on penalties to Barnet. Their performance during that season
earned the award of North West Team of the Season. The good fortune
continued in 1989-90, fourth in the League, League Cup winners, defeating
Gateshead 1-0, winning the Cheshire Senior Cup against Macclesfield and
for the
second year running losing in the final of the Clubcall Cup. Manager
Peter O'Brien left the club the following season and players
Graham Bell and Terry Megram each had a spell in charge of team
affairs, but without any success.
Eventually Cliff Roberts took over in 1991 and began
the hard work of rebuilding the team. However he could not finish the
job he undertook due to the club's financial problems and he voluntarily
terminated his contract to help the club through this difficult period.
New manager Ged Coyne took over in October 1992 on a much reduced
budget, and in 1993 Peter O'Brien returned for his second spell as
manager. He took the club to ninth in the League, losing finalists in
the League Cup and winners of the Manchester Premier Cup for the first
time.
O'Brien re-signed at the end of the season for
another post and in June 1994 Mike McKenzie, a successful and much
sought after manager, was appointed on a long contract. McKenzie's first
season in charge promised much for the future as Hyde reached the
first round of the F.A. Cup and the semi-final of the F.A. Trophy as
well as retaining the Manchester Premier Cup. The 1995/96 season saw the
end of an era as the Ewen Fields Club returned to the more traditional
grass surface which played host to another F.A. Trophy semi-final
appearance.
The Season 1998/99 saw the silverware return to Ewen
Fields as the Tigers won the Manchester Premier Cup for the 4th time
and 1999/2000 saw the Tigers claim runners up spot in the league and
win the Unifilla Cup beating Emley in the final. Much was expected
the following season, but after a promising start only a mid -table
position was achieved. The 2001/02 campaign started disastrously
with only one point out of thirty. at the end of September 2001, Mike
McKenzie left the club by mutual agreement and was replaced by former
player Dave Nolan. Fortunes did improve
slightly on the field, but the Tigers only escaped relegation by other
teams not achieving the required ground grading. Coupled with early
Cup exits, the season was definitely one to forget.
The following
season the Tigers were relegated despite appointing Steve Waywell as
manager at Christmas. A new team was assembled and the Tigers completed
the transformation with the First Division Championship and the Chairman's
cup in his first full season. Last season Steve Waywell continued his
success with the Unibond Premier Division Championship and the Manchester
Premier Cup. The Tigers hope to be amongst the front-runners in the
Conference North this season.
In 2003, the Tigers were relegated, despite appointing
Steve Waywell as Manager in the New Year. A new team was assembled and the
Tigers completed the transformation with the First Division championship
and the Chairman's cup in 2004. The following season, Waywell continued
his success with the Unibond Premier Division Championship and the
Manchester Premier Cup. In their first season in the Conference
North the Tigers made a sluggish start, but put a fine run together
mid-season and ultimately finished a credible 11th. Coupled with the
retention of the Manchester Premier Cup after a thrilling last minute
victory over Droylsden and a victory over Matlock Town in the Peter Swales
Memorial Trophy.
Last season the Tigers again made a slow start but improved dramatically
to just miss out on a Play -Off place by three points. Waywell
maintained his record of silverware at Ewen Fields by winning the Ray
Stanley Memorial Sheild. The Club also started a Reserve team
in the Lancashire League and likely to start a Football Academy in the
next year as the club expands on and off the field.
With a settled team hopefully staying injury free, Hyde expect to be
amongst the front-runners again in the Conference North this season.
Honours
List
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