BLOODS DRIVEN BY PACE MAKER

Stalwart boss relishes Droylsden return

- John Lyons

AMBITIOUS Dave Pace is relishing Droylsden’s return to action – and would love to lead them on a march back up the pyramid.

It was just 15 years ago that the Greater Manchester club were mixing it with the likes of Exeter City, Oxford United and Burton Albion in Non-League’s top flight.

It proved to be a brief stay and by 2020 the Bloods were at Step 4 in NPL Division One North West. Things took an even darker turn when Droylsden withdrew from the NPL ahead of the 2020-21 season, citing the devastating impact of Covid on their finances.

The famous old club – founded in 1892 – have had to watch on from the sidelines over the last three years, but are now set to return to action in the coming campaign.