I must have driven past Coxhoe’s ground 50 times. It’s in the same street as the local tip so I’ve always wanted to go, just needed an opportunity. And what an unexpected charm Beechfield Park is. The pitch is a few feet above the road, with a variety of structures. I counted 5 places where you could stand (or sit) for cover. At the entrance there is a small corrugated cover (no terracing) around 3 bus stands long. It’s painted army green, which helps blend in with the countryside surrounds.
Behind one goal, adjacent to a field where horses run wild, is a small shelter with bench inside. It’s set some way from the pitch and a larger bank, as the fields slope up to a nearby wood. Opposite the entrance side is the Main (Jon Purves) Stand. From the road, I didn’t even know Coxhoe had this stand, which shows how small it is. Beside it another small covering affords shelter for the visitors. Yes, Ferryhill have brought some away fans, maybe a dozen. The overall crowd is around 50, not bad for the 12th tier.
The 4th side merely has a net to stop the inevitable wayward shots. Down the embankment is a small barbed wire fence, nothing anybody who’s not a paraplegic couldn’t get over if one wanted to avoid the 3 quid entry. However, most of Coxhoe wouldn’t come visit, even if they knew it was here. A container behind the main stand serves as the refreshment kiosk and the gentleman serving despaired at how how one of his mates in the village was surprised to learn from him that the ground still existed.
There’s no floodlights, never has been (to my knowledge). Not a problem, they’re 2 divisions off the Northern League. Another sign of the low level are the lineman’s kits, or lack of them. I suspect each side has to provide a linesman. Budgetary restraints have to kick in somewhere. As the match kicks off, I notice one linesman running the line with a cuppa. If I thought that was bad, second half, the other linesman, suitably stocked up from said container, runs the line with a cuppa AND a hotdog. (He puts his cuppa down while he eats and flags. He could do with having three hands.) The cuppa is a necessity though. It might be sunny, but it’s cold.
Ferryhill, a much bigger village/town (modern day population c.9,000...is that a town or a village?) used to be members of the Northern League. Having gone bust and re-formed (sort of; another Ferryhill side took over its name and moved their home to nearer where the old Athletic played) they’ve proclaimed the ambition of returning to the NL. Their old ground levelled, they now have no stands to call their own and would love to have something as grand, if ramshackle, as Beechfield Park. Coxhoe, not so long since taken over by Spennymoor Town and forced to play as their reserve side for a season or 2, are simply satisfied to exist as Coxhoe Athletic.
The match is entertaining enough. Ferryhill, chasing a top 3 spot, are always in command and run out 2-0 winners against midtable Coxhoe in the Battle of the Athletics. Ferryhill go ahead early (header from a free kick) and the result never looks in doubt. By the second half I’m under the cover of the shelter by the entrance/exit. There’s a breeze and it’s snug in there. Besides, I can marvel at all these other attendees dressed in shorts. I have lived down south too long. I can also spend most of the second half trying to make out who Ferryhill’s shirt sponsors are. What’s the point of being a shirt sponsor if the writing is so small spectators can’t read it? Was it a local engineering company? I forget.
The Damage:
£2 ent
£2 hot dog
£1 half time draw (‘Preston’ from list of footie teams on a card)...pot £20
= £5
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