MANCHESTER United return to town this weekend! Melksham Town FC will again host the Manchester United legends for another thrilling match and there is still time to get your ticket for the hottest game in town!
After last year’s successful match against Melksham Town that saw a 2,000-strong crowd fill the stands at Town’s old ground at the Conigre, the Manchester United legends are returning to Melksham to play at the new Oakfield Stadium.
And Liverpool legends could be next, with Town in advanced talks to bring them to Oakfields in March.
A Select XI made up of ex-professionals from the local scene, picked by Melksham Town FC chair Darren Perrin, will kick off against the former United players at 2pm on Sunday 12th November.
The night before the big game on Saturday 11th November, the Manchester United legends will visit the club’s Sky Bar for an exclusive (and free) question and answer session from 8pm.
“This weekend will be a really big event for the football club,” said Darren.
“It’s fantastic that the fans will get a chance to meet the team and ask them questions. The Manchester United squad is more or less the same as last time, including stars like David May, Denis Irwin, Lee Martin, Mike Duxbury, Clayton Blackmore, Russell Beardsmore, Peter Davenport, Andy Ritchie, Arthur Albiston, Frank Stapleton, Sammy McIlroy and Fraser Digby.
“Playing against them on Sunday for the Select XI team will be two ex-Melksham players, Fitzroy Simpson (Manchester City/Swindon Town) and Matthew Bound (Southampton/Swansea City), alongside other ex-professionals like the current Bristol Rovers manager Daryl Clarke, Swindon Town favourite Steve White, Bristol Rovers’ Lewis Haldane and Bristol City’s Steve Phillips.
“For the special day, Melksham Town Football Club will be showing their support and raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust with an auction packed full of great prizes and 25% of ticket sale profits being donated to the cause.
“This charity is something that is very close to the club, due to one of our main sponsor’s daughter having had cancer in the last 18 months. We are delighted to be able to help in our small way.
“The prizes on offer include signed first team shirts from Chelsea, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Southampton and Bournemouth, a signed Bath Rugby 1st team shirt and a signed Bristol Rovers football by the 1st team.
“Also up for grabs are two tickets for a championship game at Ashton Gate to watch Bristol City, and two tickets for the Royal Albert Hall next year, plus many others on the day.
“During the day on Sunday, Tyrone Mings the professional centre-half from Bournemouth will be attending the game and will be happy to sign autographs and take selfies with any youngsters.”
Tickets for the match can be bought from the club offices at the Oakfield Stadium. Tickets bought in advance for members cost £9 for adults, £6 for OAPS and £4 for children under 16.
For non-members tickets cost £10 for adults, £7 for OAPS and £5 for children under 16.
Family tickets (2 adults 2 children) cost £24 for members and £28 for non-members.
Tickets on the day cost £12 for adults, £9 for OAPS and £7 for children under 16.
More to come…
If the visit from the Manchester United legends wasn’t enough, plans are also afoot to welcome the Liverpool legends to Oakfields Stadium next year in March.
“We are very close to confirming this game,” said Darren. “To all those that attend the Manchester United game, please keep your ticket stub, as this will give you first option on tickets to the Liverpool game at a reduced cost.”
![Melksham Times Past
A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis
The Independent Chapel and Women’s Rights in the 1840s
A document I recently transcribed lists the baptisms performed at the Independent Chapel. This record is especially helpful in that, along with baptisms, a lot of them include birth dates - one of the ways I discover which day someone was born.
The following is taken from a Wiltshire Times article published on 9th November 1878 which reports a speech given during the 100-year services and to celebrate their renovations (what we now know to be the Rachel Fowler Centre).
One speaker, Rev. T. Mann, minister in Trowbridge, talked about the Chapel’s origins when he related how Rev. Honywill came to Melksham and how he’d gone on to remain as the minister for the Independent Chapel for almost 60 years. [Honywill and his family lived on King Street in what we now call “Legion House”.]
Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.](https://scontent-lhr6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/505444438_18038424887647822_3264519508333556874_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=gXZQJoHTNiEQ7kNvwHezuPI&_nc_oc=AdlrJvMDapuork_EjycPOcegNeMnCA37GEIudkxkTeCfTgvB5iijE05ojpwlYCd5gN8&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0ZY31jxOGx2M8z1ZqYNvEg&oh=00_AfPY_C0B8EndpVcx78sVp9qVJgtm368WREf36ZX1_jO3mg&oe=6855C74A "Melksham Times Past
A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis
The Independent Chapel and Women’s Rights in the 1840s
A document I recently transcribed lists the baptisms performed at the Independent Chapel. This record is especially helpful in that, along with baptisms, a lot of them include birth dates - one of the ways I discover which day someone was born.
The following is taken from a Wiltshire Times article published on 9th November 1878 which reports a speech given during the 100-year services and to celebrate their renovations (what we now know to be the Rachel Fowler Centre).
One speaker, Rev. T. Mann, minister in Trowbridge, talked about the Chapel’s origins when he related how Rev. Honywill came to Melksham and how he’d gone on to remain as the minister for the Independent Chapel for almost 60 years. [Honywill and his family lived on King Street in what we now call “Legion House”.]
Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.")
