Ryhope Community Association 4-0 Penrith, Tuesday 29th September 2020

Ryhope Community Association 4-0 Penrith, Ryhope Recreation Ground, Northern League Division 1, att. 146

Welcome to ...

With Lockdown due to hit County Durham and other areas of the north-east, I’m heading for Confusion Central: Ryhope.  Is it in Sunderland?  Or County Durham?  Or both?  Whose jurisdiction does it come under when the government are banning groups of more than 6 from mixing outdoors, or in?  Is that even the rule?  I dunno, I’m lost myself.  What I do know is that as of weekend gone, the Northern League had further reduced capacity for games from 300 to 150. 

The view upon entry.

This reduced my options somewhat.  As dad is still in hospital, I fancied an ‘outlier’, a Northern League ground far from my south-west Durham base.  Ashington looked good, but was sold out.  Understandable, given they’ve been selling out at 300.  The nearest team is Newton Aycliffe, and they never sell out (they did tonite) but I’m in no rush for that place.  Carlisle City looked a bit far (80 miles) if there were no guarantees of getting in….and besides, I’d rather visit on a Satdy, see a bit of the place.  So I plumped for Ryhope CA (not to be confused with Ryhope CW) on the edge of Sunderland and less than half an hour’s drive away.

Changing rooms.

It’s an odd little finish, driving through a brand new housing estate to get to the ground, but the website warned me in advance.  I drove into a small car park and was directed to a space they’d been holding for a Penrith fan who hadn’t arrived.  ‘But I can turn around and park in the housing estate’ I protested.  No, it was fine, they could still get him in (if he showed himself).  I was close to the entrance gate, which was great on the way in, less so on coming out and being penned in by another driver (who I think might have arrived just to pick a player up at full-time).

The Coronavirus one-way system.

I paid my 6 quid and was in.  The crowd was mainly split between either touchline, with both goals being quite sparse.  It looked very close to 150 (and indeed it was, 146, so I cut that fine).  One side housed the dugouts and fans leaning against the perimeter fence.  Ryhope had taped off every other advertising board to encourage social distancing.  There were no terraces on this side or behind the goals, but on the 4^th side was the Main Stand, which was older than I expected, as well as a couple of steps of terracing under a scaffolding roof in one corner.  I was the only one standing here 1^st half though, as fans made the most of it not raining.

The Main Stand.

I was under no illusions regarding the two teams.  Neither has ever won the Northern League and have never been great shakes.  However, Ryhope were bedazzling with some of their attacking play, particularly from wide areas and hit the woodwork three times.  The levy was breached in somewhat orthodox style with a great cross into the box and the big centre forward crashing home the header.  Unstoppable.  

The covered terrace adjacent.

That was it for the first half.  I was on the phone and not feeling it for a tea, though inbetween the Main Stand and the changing rooms was a bar (Defty’s?) and a few had a pint in hand, despite the temperatures.  I wandered behind the far goal, where the subs were warming up by missing the goal as often as possible.  I retrieved a ball, and hoofed it hard back…narrowly missing another spectator’s head.  I was either very good, or very lucky.  I didn’t kick another one back.

Behind the goal.

I settled at the net Penrith were kicking towards and for 10 or 15 minutes it was pretty even.  What had happened to Ryhope’s attacks?  However, feeling a goal was more likely at the other end, I walked around…and Ryhope engulfed the visitors with 3 goals in 10 minutes.  They were all cracking attacks or strikes too, again the wingers proving pivotal in outflanking Penrith.  I’ve seen Shildon win 5-0 and Consett 6-2, but you’d be hard-pressed to see a better front 3 at this level than Ryhope CA possess.

Looking toward the Main Stand.

It was full-time, I needed a wee, but thought I can wait…and found my car boxed in.  Great.  However, well done to the local pizza guy, who’d come bearing gifts for the players at full-time.  Now, THAT’S timing.  I’m not even sure the players are allowed a shower and change in this Covid-19 climate.  Or ‘unprecedented times’ as I’ve never stopped hearing on the radio and telly for 5 months.

Do not stand here (I).

The Damage:
£6 ent
= £6

The Tunes:
6 Music (Marc Riley/Gideon Coe)

PS, does every non-league team in the Sunderland area play in red and white stripes like their more illustrious neighbours?  Seaham did, and now it's Ryhope CA.  Anymore for anymore?

The Main Stand, showing the pitch slant.

Main Stand and covered terrace.

Looking toward the far end.

Supporters on the touchline.

Cordoned off benches.

Do not stand here (II).

Ryhope attack a corner.

The view from the entrance.

Tonite's main attraction.

Willington 3-1 Brandon United, Wednesday 23rd September 2020

Willington 3-1 Brandon United, Hall Lane, Northern League Division 2, att. 118

Welcome to ....

I’ve driven up from London today.  My dad’s in hospital, giving me licence to go wherever.  Thus, I’d planned on visiting one of the more outlying Northern League clubs, perhaps Penrith.  However, I’d forgotten food needed to be fitted into the equation, so, after chish and fips in Ferryhill, I was off to Willington, another venerable Northern League name and only 20 minutes from my dad’s house.  3 time winners of the league, they’re most famous for winning the FA Amateur Cup in 1950 in front of 88,000 at Wembley.  Different times.

 
Parking in view of the floodlights.

In truth, I’m jealous of Willington.  Smaller than my own town (Ferryhill), it’s somehow clung on to Northern League membership, even if it was relegated to the Wearside League for 7 seasons 14 years ago.  However, as they became members in 1911, that’s over a hundred years of history in the second oldest league in the world.

The social club.

Willington also have a very tidy stadium.  At the entrance lies the social club, sizeable enough to fit in all tonite’s spectators, should they wish.  There is also cover on all four sides.  Until they rebuilt or built anew, even Newcastle and Sunderland couldn’t say that until recently.  A small terrace to the left of the entrance is covered, while behind the other end is another roof, but no terrace.  More of an oversized bus stop.  To the right of the social club are the players’ changing rooms, a small cover making for a cute porch on the halfway line for committee men and other bigwigs.  Commoners not allowed.  But pride of place goes to the main stand opposite, 5 rows of bench seats in a stand proudly emblazoned with ‘WILLINGTON A.F.C.’ on its roof.  No mistaking who plays here.

The small terrace behind the goal.

Another bonus tonite was a match programme – my first of the season (game 6?)  An excellent effort too, with potted histories of both sides, good stats and round-ups of the local action.  Aside from the social club’s beer, there was also a snack bar on the changing room side.  I vowed to have a tea later in the game (the match was played in constant drizzle) but as I parked myself in the main stand, I couldn’t be bothered to walk around.

The small terrace on the byeline.

I could have done with this drizzle the only other time(s) I’ve been to Willington – I learnt to ski here, on the world’s worst artificial ski slope (long gone, I’ve been told).  I think we had to stop every 15 minutes for the brush-like surface to be watered.  Anyway, if you could ski on that, you’d have no problem on actual snow.

The main stand.

The rain didn’t bother the players though.  Well, apart from late on when a Brandon player miscued a cross and shouted ‘F*** OFF RAIN’.    Or the Willington sub who the bench complained took 7 minutes to get ready to come on.  (He was wringing out his shirt BEFORE he came on.)  Those were the exceptions.  It may have been raining, but it wasn’t too cold or windy and they’ll face a lot worse than this later in the season.

Behind the goal.

There was more moaning from the Brandon bench, as a late penalty appeal was turned down.  ‘You’ve had three penalty decisions to make and you’ve got them all wrong’ said one.  For me, the ref was spot on – Willington despatching two penalties after blatant fouls.  Brandon equalised the first one with a lovely 20 yard shot following a sidestep, probably the single bit of class in the game.  Willington bagged a killer 3^rd when they scored on the second…or was it the third…rebound.  Certainly a scramble and a half.  An even game overall, with the one player who impressed me being the Willington keeper.  A safe pair of hands, a safe pair of feet and a couple of cracking saves.  What’s he doing in division 2 of the Northern League?  (Nearly getting beaten by a punt from the halfway line which hit the bar, that’s what.)

The view from the Main Stand.

The Damage:
£5 ent
£1 programme
= £6

The Tunes:
30 Something (Carter USM)
Star (Belly)
Return to the Source (Various)
Disintegration (The Cure)

Bench seats in the stand.

Dark and cosy.

The world's biggest bus shelter.

The neon reflection of the subs board.

The porch on the pavillion/dressing room.

The Jackie Foster Terrace.

Best of both worlds.  Benches on the Jackie Foster Terrace.

The away dug out.  Worth a listen for a no-swearing abuse of officials.

Seaham Red Star 2-6 Consett, Tuesday 15th September 2020

Seaham Red Star 2-6 Consett, Northern League Division 1, Seaham Town Park, att. 144

Welcome to ...

I’m up in the north-east for a prolonged period because my aged dad is having a few health problems.  One positive of this is that I’m able to visit places I’ve never been (Tow Law!) and watching sides I’ve never heard of (Sunderland West End anyone?)  Tonite it’s the turn of Seaham Red Star.  Dad is going to bed not long after tea these days…age?  Health?  Drugs?....and so once he’s in bed, I’m in the car and heading north-east.  (Seaham is north-east of Ferryhill.)

Everyone awaits a Seaham free kick.

Unfortunately, I don’t think Google has ever been to Seaham.  I reach the outer edges fine, before Google Maps takes me out of town and a tour of the fields.  So beware entering the postcode of the ground.  Far better sticking in ‘Seaham Red Star’.  It’s heard of them*.  I arrive 15 minutes after kick-off and park up in the rugby club next door.  There’s other cars parked there, but worryingly, a couple of gates.  These had better be open at full-time.  (One wasn’t; I got lucky - I was outside this gate.)

*despite the exotic name, they’re not named after anything vaguely political – though they may share certain views – but after the pub where they were formed in 1973.  A vintage year I’m sure you’ll all agree – I was born.  And for Sunderland fans, the last time they won anything of note.  Perhaps as a nod to the local Superclub, Seaham have come dressed as Sunderland, red and white stripes.  Anyway, from pub team to Northern League Division 1 in 15 years, which isn’t bad.

Miners' lodge banner in the clubhouse.

As I walked to the turnstile (singular) a cheer went up.  Through narrow gaps in the fence I could see the ball in the net at the far end.  Great, I’d missed a goal.  ‘Who scored?’ I asked.  ‘Seaham.  You’ve missed two other goals as well, it’s 2-1 to Consett.’  I didn’t believe the lady taking my contact details for Covid-19, so I asked the bloke who’d took my money.  Yes, it was true.  ‘Well don’t worry, I’ll soon put a stop to that.’  I did.  No more goals followed in the first half.

Inside the Main Stand.

I was recommended a trip to Seaham by the Boro fan I’d befriended at last week’s Tow Law game.  I want an old-style ground, I want terracing, I want a mish-mash of stands.  Yes, Seaham’s was perfect.  A decent sized terrace behind one goal (stretching half the length of the pitch) while opposite, no terracing, but a line of fir trees giving it an authentic enclosed look.  Also, handy for stopping those wild shots.  A small covered enclosure with terracing lay on one halfway line, while a massive clubhouse lay opposite.  I’d have liked a closer nose in as I was impressed with the copy of the old miners’ banner on the wall.  Once upon a time every mining lodge had one and I’m not too young to remember going to Durham Big Meeting under East Hetton’s banner (my grandad's pit).  

Looking towards the pitch.

Next to the clubhouse was a small stand, built in the old style with stanchions, low roof, wooden supports  and built of brick.  Although small, it was quite steep and offered a decent view were it not for my wanderlust.  I spent the first half just past the halfway line, nearest a few from Consett.  I don’t know the ambitions of either side this season, suffice to say Consett are one of the three best supported sides and as such ought to have high hopes.  They demolished Seaham.  After edging the first half, they ran away with it in the second and the score didn’t flatter them.  Mind, I had to question myself on the way home, as Radio Tees gave the score as 2-7.  I’d missed enough of the goals as it was.  Anyway, some of Consett’s one touch play was a joy to behold and totally unexpected from my ignorant knowledge of the Northern League.  Long may they ride.

Fair play to the locals too.  Although not a big crowd, every home substitution was  met with a supportive round of applause for whoever came off.  Perhaps an acknowledgement that although the ability wasn’t there, the endeavour was.

The Damage:

£6 ent
£1 Coca-Cola
= £7

The Tunes:
2^nd half commentary of Middlesbrough v Barnsley (KO 6pm) – Radio Tees

I was ere.

Anderson Shelters or Seaham dugouts?

Looking along the touchline towards the clubhouse

Goal kick in front of the impeccable nets.

The view from the entrance, looking towards the clubhouse.

Seaham Red Star clubhouse.

A small cover opposite the clubhouse.

Turnstile in club colours.

Newcastle University 1-0 Willington, Monday 14th September 2020

Newcastle University 1-0 Willington, Kimberley Park, Northern League Division 2, att. 75

Welcome to ....

In 1950 Willington had their finest hour, beating Bishop Auckland in the FA Amateur Cup Final 1-0 in front of 88,000 spectators at Wembley.  Tonight, they’re playing in front of 87,925 less in a Northern League second division fixture at Newcastle University.  It’s extreme, but it shows how far away ‘the good old days’ are for Northern League clubs.  Newcastle Uni meantime weren’t even a glint in their father’s eye back then; this is their second season in the Northern League (if we count last season’s expungement).  Mind, this Uni team is not to be confused with the OTHER Newcastle uni (Northumbria) whose side, Team Northumbria, were members of the Northern League for around 10 years up to 2018.  Never the twain, etc…but what an intriguing derby that would have been.

Looking towards the Main Stand.

The Uni play at Kimberly Park, in Prudhoe, a town about 6 miles east of Newcastle.  Or east of Gateshead, if we’re being pedantic (it’s the south side of the Tyne).  It’s the former home of Prudhoe East End, who were Northern League themselves up until 1994.  Quirkily, the ground is named after local employer Kimberly Clark, makers of those horrible paper towels you had to dry your hands on in junior school.  Are they still a large Prudhoe employer?  No idea.  Anyway, it’s great that the student get to play in a ‘proper’ stadium, even if it’s miles out of Newcastle.

Why's the stand so far from the pitch?

I parked up in a housing estate nearby, not realising the ground had a car park.  Despite the low number of spectators, the car park was still busy, so maybe I made the right decision, even if I did worry about finding my car in the same state as I’d left it.  A fiver in, which seems de rigueur in the Northern League second division, though the gateman did offer to let me in for four quid after a pound coin I dropped rolled under the shed.  I insisted on retrieval though.  Maybe I was a Catholic in a former life.  I couldn’t handle the guilt.

Looking towards the action.

As you walk in there’s a social club on the corner, with a cover attached.  Tables and chairs outside were a continental touch and you could watch the game from here if you wanted.  Looking into the social club, the only photos I could see were of Newcastle United, which was reason enough not to go in.  Another was I was driving, so no alcohol for me.  Adjacent was a tea bar and if you were hungry (I wasn’t) you could even get a hot dog.

Tables and chairs outside the snack shack.

The ground was a basic affair, with only one small seated stand beside the pavilion.  This was some way from the pitch and from the opposite side it looked like there was another stand beside it.  This was even further from the pitch, as if belonging to a former stadium on the same site.  There was no terrace to speak of on the other 3 sides, though there was grass banking if you preferred a higher perch.

I’d decided to stand opposite the pavilion/social club side, where the height of the barriers depended on the slope of the pitch.  There were also a few away fans in attendance, as they kept referring to Willington as ‘Willo’.  Why not ‘Willie’ I wondered.  ‘Come on Willie!  You can do this!’

Behind the goal.

I also wondered about the University team.  Did they all have to be students?  I asked one of the subs.  ‘No, not in the Saturday team’.  (I knew what he meant; the Northern League team.  Tonight was a Monday.)  Most were though, with only two players not.  I mused whether a new intake of students meant the subs were even less likely to get a game.  Perhaps I should have kept that to myself.

The students won, 1-0.  As I write this I can’t remember the goal.  I do remember the best player being a powerful student who came on as sub…but couldn’t hit a barn door to save his life.  I think he got the goal.  So he did hit a bar door, once.  Shoulda scored a hattrick at least.  And he was the best player…

Looking toward the social club.

The Damage:

£5 ent
£1 tea
= £6

The Tunes:
Grey Area (Little Simz)

Kimberly Park panorama.

Is there a reason the dugout's missing a pane?

Half time teamtalk.

A stand, or utility shed?

A bench behind the goal.

Dazzling Kimberly Park.