Harold Drinkwater who sadly died in March 2021 finally had his ashes scattered across the hallowed turf of Park Road Stadium on a cold and damp Monday afternoon in February.
Whilst Harold had no direct links with Cheadle Town, he did play for Cheadle Rovers who occupied Park Road Stadium in the 1950’s and 1960’s before Manchester City acquired the ground as their training facility. It wasn’t until 1984 that the current Cheadle Town side moved into the vacated Park Road Stadium and began making their own history.
97-year-old Harold was passionate about football and played throughout the Second World War whilst on duty with the Army, but despite not being picked up by a professional football club when the War finished, he still played at a very high standard for Cheadle Rovers.
Unfortunately there is not much history available about Cheadle Rovers, but they do appear to have been a very successful Amateur side during the 1950’s and 1960’. Records indicate that Cheadle Rovers played in the Manchester Amateur League before joining the Manchester League in 1955. Cheadle Rovers were then crowned champions of the Manchester League in 1957-58, 1958-59, 1960-61 and 1961-62. Following finishing a respectable 8th position in 1965-66 it appears that Cheadle Rovers left the Manchester League and presumably folded ahead of Manchester City moving into their new training facility at Park Road Stadium.
It was Harold’s daughter Judy who contacted the Football Club a few weeks ago. Judy told us about her father’s love of football and how he played during the war when he was stationed in Algiers and Italy. On his return back to the UK after the war, Harold played semi-professional football for many years. He even had a trial with Manchester United after he was spotted playing by Harry Gregg. Harold often spoke fondly of his time playing for Cheadle Rovers at Park Road Stadium and Judy thought it was befitting to lay his ashes at the ground in his memory.
