In 1920, Albion became founder members of the Cheshire County League, enjoying considerable success in the following decade, sweeping league titles and cup triumphs galore. Perhaps unluckily, Witton were overlooked when the Northern Premier League was formed but in 1979 they stuck it up the blazers’ arses and won promotion to the division on merit anyway. Ten years of mid-table obscurity followed before Witton made any tangible impact. In 1991, they finallyly won the NPL Premier Division title and secured promotion to the top-flight of non-league football. Even more excitingly, the promotion also secured them an appearance as a playable club on Premier Manager 2.

The step up proved too much, too soon, and Witton were relegated in 1994. It was the first relegation in their history, but another followed just three years later as Albion found themselves languishing in NPL Division One. They would return to the Premier Division, but only as a consequence of the pyramid reshuffle.

The last two seasons have seen something of resurgence in fortunes and Albion fans can count themselves as quite unlucky not to have won promotion to the Conference North. In 2006/2007, Witton were denied the title by one measly goal, with Burscough scraping home. They were defeated in the playoffs by Telford.

Oddly, the final wasn’t being streamed live to 8.3 billion people but an incident during the match involving a streaker and Witton captain Brian Pritchard would become the focus of widespread media attention. Controversy raged when, with the match between Witton and Woodley Sports delicately poised, the streaker raced onto the pitch, organs a’danglin’, evading what little security was present at the venue (which you probably won’t be surprised to learn was Altrincham’s Moss Road).

The Witton skipper was, understandably, less than impressed and decided, as many disgruntled sportsmen do, to take matters into his own hands. And why not? He was a policeman by day, after all. Pritchard tripped the naked man, sending him tumbling briefly to the pitch. The streaker was shortly afterwards apprehended and escorted away.

Then, Pritchard, to the disbelief of the crowd, received a straight red card. Indeed, the crowd were so engulfed in raging disbelief that they started punching each other. That’s the kind of thing that happens when you visit Moss Road. Thomas Pitt would have been right at home: “Draw your sword, rascal! Take that! & that!”

Witton eventually lost the game 2-1.

Thankfully, it appears that the great salt rivals have not allowed their historical industrial heritage to impinge on football matters. Try as we might, we simply couldn’t find any evidence to back up our fears that fans of Nantwich and Northwich gather in pub car-parks and chuck at each other before police arrive to disperse the sodium chloride ruck.