Mellor Amateur Football Club currently runs five open age teams, playing on Saturday afternoons. It was founded in 1923 in Mellor, Stockport, Cheshire by members of the Hambleton family.

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 four 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, the last silverware captured. 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.

The second season witnessed a major change in personnel. Pressure of business forced Stewart Kelly to withdraw from the running of the club and he was replaced by player and assistant manager Paul Andrews. Only four of the players from the first season wore the Friendship's colours in its second year. The side was stronger and more skilful but still only managed sixth position in the division.

The following season, in a restructuring of the league, the Friendship competed in Division Two and finished third, having led the table at one stage. Phil's backroom team was strengthened by the arrival of Thomas Hood, whose son Grant played in the side. Phil's other son Ben, then 16, appeared as a substitute for the Friendship.

Following an approach by Roy Conner, manager of Mellor's experimental under-17s, whose son played for the Friendship, the possibility of a merger with Mellor was discussed early in 1999. After meetings, the deal was agreed before the end of the 1998-99 season.

Sadly the marriage did not last. Halfway through season 2000-2001 Phil Norbury stood down as first team manager citing pressure of work. Stuart Thorley became player manager and results immediately began to improve. At the end of the season a number of former Friendship players left Mellor to form a new club calling itself Govan Athletic, a reference to the birthplace of Sir Alex Ferguson. However a significant number of ex Friendship players stayed. The merger undoubtedly saved Mellor and gave the club a new lease of life.

Govan Athletic eventually joined the Lancashire and Cheshire League in 2002-2003 season. Mellor FC defeated them both home and away in two very tense and emotional matches.

Promotion

At the end of that season Mellor FC finished runners-up in Division Three and were duly promoted to Division Two. We also appeared in the Stockport Senior Cup Final at Edgeley Park, for the first time in the club's history.

The final was player manager Stuart Thorley's last game in charge. He stepped down at the end of the season to be replaced by Simon Dalby, formerly with Poynton.

Simon took the club into the Premier Division in his first season in charge by finishing runners-up in Division Two. Mellor also again reached the final of the Stockport Senior Cup, this time losing 3-1 to Hazel Grove. The following season he steered the club to a Stockport Senior Cup Final success 2-0 over Spurley Hey. In his third and final season in charge Simon achieved Mellor's highest ever Lancashire and Cheshire League position, second in the Premiership behind Heaton Mersey.

The Alan Whelan era

Work commitments meant Si Dalby had to stand down as manager for the 2006-07 season. He was replaced by Alan Whelan and Steve Hutchinson. The side began with three wins out of four. But a string of defeats from November to the end of February saw Mellor fighting relegation. The rot was stopped thanks to an Alex Young goal against Newton Heath (who were eventually relegated) in a nail biting game in March. Four further wins saw Mellor finish eighth.

Pete Jamieson

At the end of the season Alan and Steve moved on to manage Stockport Georgians and Mellor again needed a First Team manager. The committee decided to appoint Pete Jamieson who had run the Seconds, finishing sixth that year in Division A. A bad start to the campaign, coupled with the loss through illness of centre back Mark Oldham meant that the team struggled. Through November and January it again founnd itself in a relegation battle. Ironically, the side enjoyed a wonderful run in the Cheshire Amateur Cup, only losing to Cammell Laird in the quarter final. In the league confidence returned after a 5-0 thrashing of relegation candidates South Manchester and Mellor began climbing to safety.