Glasshoughton Welfare 0-4 Wakefield, Saturday 26th July 2025

Glasshoughton 0-4 Wakefield, Northern Counties East League Division 1, WrapStyl Stadium (Leeds Road), att. 200

It is a new dawn. Or a new season, at least. And the Northern Counties East League have kindly opened their account a week before the EFL season, which allows a gentler introduction for those of us expecting a tough season ahead for our own teams. I message Molly. He’s in, though he’s been to my initial suggestion, Thackley. Surely he’s not been THERE, I thought. I’d never heard of it. I looked it up, it’s somewhere near Bradford. But I’m overtaken by events anyway; my partner needs dropping in Wakefield. Where’s near Wakefield, who have a game?

I’m thinking Horbury or Glasshoughton (Castleford). Moll adds South Leeds to the mix. Horbury aren’t at home, South Leeds sounds a bit Leedsy. Let’s go Glasshoughton. Another team I had to look up last season as I learn what it takes to visit the NCEL. Appleby Frodingham, Club Thorne Colliery, Nostell Miners Welfare. Where are these places? (Molly and Loko put me right; Nostell Priory is...near Wakefield!) Oh yes, we’ve been joined by Loko. He threatened to visit me on Sunday and I put late feelers out. After all, Glasshoughton is easier for him than me (M62 an’ all).

It is a glorious sunny, summer’s day. And next door to the ground, the thwack of leather on willow can be heard on the cricket pitch. I watch an over and would love to stay (kick-off being half an hour away) but the urge to visit the toilet takes over. I must get in and avail myself of the facilities. Upon entering the ground, there’s a large building to the right, housing the changing rooms, toilets, and Lord knows what else.

One other thing it apparently contains is the social club, but it’s off limits to us football fans today, as cricket has 1st dibs. This would explain the can bar at the refreshment kiosk. I thought it was a bit basic. The crowd today is a healthy 200, though half appear to be from Wakefield, judging by the shirts. They have a slick merchandise operation, though no ground in Wakefield. (They’re back to sharing with Featherstone rugby league team, after sharing with Wakefield Trinity.) They’re ambitious, but they need their own ground in Wakey.

The visitors are undoubted favourites, and romp this game 4 nil, though the two things I enjoyed most were eating blackberries at half-time (every ground should have overhanging blackberry bushes) and the unbelievable Wakefield miss towards the end of the game, from a yard out, only slightly offset by the uneven bounce of the pitch.

We spend the 1st half on the social club side, before wandering anti clockwise around the ground at half-time. Behind the goal is open, flat standing, with a wall tight to the perimeter. But thanks to global warming, the blackberries are out earlier than usual. Opposite the social club side is a small, seated stand. It’s basic, with nearly as many supporting pillars as seats, but with a cordoned off section for the directors of both clubs. No-one sits here.

There is a small cover on the 4th side, behind the goal and as we take our positions here for the last 5 mins as we are treated to the most appalling / brilliant miss. Still, it’s a statement win from Wakey, and perhaps a sign of a promotion bid to come. And I also win our very own ‘guess the crowd competition. ‘About 200’. It is EXACTLY 200. I can die happy.

The Damage:
£6 ent
£1.50 prog