Ferryhill Athletic 1-1 (4-1 pens) Durham United, Wednesday 15th May 2024

Ferryhill Athletic 1-1 (4-1 pens) Durham United, Clem Smith Bowl Final, Dean Bank Rec, att. c.150

How apt that I manage to bookend my time up in the north-east with my first visit in over 35 years to my hometown team. I’m only up here to tidy up the garden, pending the sale of my parents’ old home, but I’ve timed it incredibly well: Athletic are in their first final in over 50 years and, even better, it’s at home.

I had no idea this game was on when I came up today, but checking the post there’s the latest edition of the local free rag, the Ferryhill Ferret. (It’s not called that, but it should be.) And there it is, an advert for said final. It’s on Wednesday 15th. What’s today’s date? I’ve been in Italy the last few days, but I know it’s roughly around the 15th. It IS the 15th. 6:45pm kick-off. I can make that. A few hours in the garden, then Bob’s your uncle.

I could have walked, it’s 20 mins or so away, but the buyers have unexpectedly popped round with the estate agent, so I’m chatting to them, explaining a few things. That gives me just enough time to shower and drive up. My arrival at Dean Bank Rec (recreational ground) is bittersweet. What used to be the finest tennis courts in town are now a car park. What a waste. The surrounding fence has been pulled down, though the floodlight pylons remain. The old bowling green is no longer there either. It’s now the kiddie’s play area, while the old pavilion is boarded up and left to neglect. Only a couple of tarmac spaces suggest where the old swings were, while the wooden fort was burnt down years ago. Of course it was.

However, the park appears to be in rude health. The sky-high council tax is justified by beautiful flower displays, while an old coal tub on a chunk of rail displays a tribute to those lives lost in one of the local mines (the same one the artist Norman Cornish hewed. A new changing room has been built (originally for Ferryhill Town Youth) and where there was one football pitch, there are now three. The old pitch, containing a worrying dip which had you stumbling if you weren’t aware, has been turned 90 degrees, moved along a bit, and a second pitch squeezed in adjacent. Above that, up a small bank, is where a re-formed Ferryhill Athletic play.

The old Athletic, prior to going bust, used to play on a pitch the other side of the two pitches, at Darlington Road. A proud brick wall announced ‘Ferryhill Ath.’ in black writing on a white background. You couldn’t miss it as you drove through Ferryhill on the old A1 (now A167). Now, the wall has been replaced by a ubiquitous mesh fence and the old terracing and rickety old stand gone. The old mud and occasional blade of grass pitch has been turned 90 degrees and replaced with a beautiful mat of green which I’ve never seen anybody use. That’s progress for you.

Proud members of the Northern League from 1923 to 1997 (thrice winners), once the rot set in, it was difficult to stop. Losing Darlington Road, groundsharing at the likes of a leisure centre 5 miles away, dropping to the Wearside League...the club went bust in 2006. Unloved and unmissed (by the vast majority). However, another local Ferryhill club (Durham FC), playing out of Mainsforth on the other side of town, re-named themselves Ferryhill Athletic in 2021 and re-located to Dean Bank. The old black and amber colours were resurrected and plans announced for an eventual return to the Northern League, 3 promotions away.

They’ve a fair way to go yet. There’s no seating and no cover, though the pitch is fairly well enclosed. Trees line two sides, and behind that, farmer’s fields. There are the other pitches down one side, while the changing room block (also containing a café and toilets) is in one corner, at the entrance. Behind the near goal is a mesh fence which allows unfettered view of the pitch. The odd dogwalker (very odd, looking at one of them) occasionally stopped for a watch. The rest of the spectators were funnelled down the side of the pavilion in order to pay the 3 quid entry (£1 concessions), all proceeds to charity.

Yes, tonite was a bit of history, Ferryhill Athletic’s first final in over 50 years. Well, I never said my local side were successful. Someone has to prop up the league, etc. It is the Clem Smith Bowl Final, a competition open to Wearside 1st and 2nd Division clubs (12th and 13th tier of the English football pyramid). Athletic, 3rd in the 1st division, are hosting 9th placed Durham City AFC, so are heavy favourites. There’s an excellent turnout too, around 150 including several visitors.

The pitch is surrounded by a handrail. Oddly, the dugouts are behind the rail, presumably later additions. I said the ground had no cover, even the dugouts don’t, smashed up as they are. Luckily, it’s a pleasant evening...is it late Spring, or early Summer? I wander around the perimeter to find a pew and overhear a few Durham lads talking. They’ve never been to Ferryhill before, so I wish them luck getting out alive (true).

It’s an open game. Athletic miss several early chances before Durham gain a foothold and eventually go ahead when the home keeper comes out, punches, and slips. The visiting forward controls it well before sending it back into an empty net. Half-time, nil one. Not what the majority of the crowd were hoping for. I check out the facilities before standing behind the old bowling green end second half, the end the Latics are attacking.

More chances come and go. The Athletic #8 needs to put his foot through it less and concentrate on getting it on target. Durham’s keeper can’t be much more than 5ft 8, but his height is rarely tested save for a couple of corners headed off target (of course). Then, finally, the goal everyone’s waiting for. Athletic attack from the left and the keeper pulls off a decent save. Unfortunately, with his defence outnumbered, the ball loops up for an open goal header.

The hosts break continuously but can’t find a winner. The visitors meantime test the home keeper with a couple of long rangers, one of them as they were down to 10 men. With 5 mins left, a Durham player goes down injured. He’s fallen badly and for a time I was worried the ambulance would be called, game cancelled, but after a long delay he’s up and staggers off in pain. Dislocated shoulder?

The whistle blows for full-time. I asked a bloke at half-time if extra time would be played, and he didn’t know either. Eventually it becomes clear it’d be penalties. Makes sense. Despite the 6:45pm kick-off, light is fading and there’s no floodlights. The shootout would be at the far end. Of course it will. I slowly head round and watch from the touchline. Athletic are up 1st. Don’t those who go 1st win 60% of the time?

The opener is drilled in, before Durham’s grey-haired fox launches one into orbit. Athletic don’t miss, and it’s virtually decided when Durham’s 3rd taker stutters before his hit. He’s been watching too much Premiership. The kick is weak and at a nice height for the keeper. It’s saved and the hosts 4th is despatched for an improbable 4-1 scoreline. It’s been 50 years but Athletic have won a trophy at last!

I head round for the trophy ceremony. The Durham lads are discussing whether to have a post-match drink. ‘Win or lose, on the booze….besides, I’ve got tomorra off work’ says one. I later hear 2 home players discussing how many pizzas will be ordered for their celebration. Welcome to grassroots football.

The Damage:
£3 ent
= £3

Annfield Plain 0-3 Durham FC Corinthians, Wednesday 24th April 2024

Annfield Plain 0-3 Durham FC Corinthians, Wearside League Premier Division, Derwent Park, att. c.40

Tonite, I am at Annfield. Annfield Plain, a village somewhere near Stanley in County Durham, which is somewhere near Beamish Open Air Museum. If you’re any sort of history buff crossed with football nut, you absolutely need to combine a trip to Annfield with Beamish. There’s even a local steam train line at Tanfield, but I can’t vouch for its amazingness, or how often it runs.

I always thought Annfield Plain were old members of the Northern League, so always planned a visit. Ther slightest of research suggests not. Erstwhile members of the Wearside League (these days a feeder to the Northern) but earlier a member of the North-Eastern League, which had some of the north east’s bigger non-league sides, as well as the reserve teams of the local Football League sides. Indeed, in 1947, Annfield even applied for Football League admittance. This I cannot believe.

The ground is a gem, once my satnav found its way through a residential estate to find it. Up a potholed track, there was a sizable car park. Indeed, given it’s a 6:45pm kick-off (no floodlights) I even beat 1 or 2 players as I arrive at half-six. There’s another car park inside the club gates. I guess the rest of the players have parked up early.

The entrance is brick, the same brick that makes up countless terraces in former mining communities such as Annfield. There’s 5 doors. If they’re all turnstiles, it’s a tad ambitious by today’s standards. Tonite there is only one open, and I’m pleased to see an actual turnstile. An old codger welcomes me, takes my money and asks me if I know where everything is. ‘I haven’t a clue’ I reply, and he’s more than happy to tell me where the stand is, where the refreshment room is, wjere the toilets are. Love it! (Later, as he headed toward the net at full-time – he was the one climbing a ladder to take them down – he tells me he’s 75. Good on him, he’s a credit to the club and a credit to the village.)

I’m hungry, so I try to follow his directions at the back of the stand. I timidly open a door and find I’m in the right place, a room the size of some people’s dining rooms, with a small counter and a pile of used paint tins in the corner. I have a tea and a Snickers. I thought £1.50 was cheap but the Snickers is TINY. Is that really the size of them these days? Mustn’t grumble though. I’m trying to lose weight.

Derwent Park is GEM. Three sides have grass banking, thereby ensuring a good view wherever. One and a half sides have a corrugated fence which leans over at the top, enough to shield you from the elements (as long as those elements don’t bring the whole thing down). Behind the dugouts on the far side is a former brick building of some description, an unused toilet block perhaps. Then there’s the Main (only) stand side, the Marshall Lawson Stand. Marshall Lawson is the club’s oldest ever player, once turning out at 66 in a game v Marske (as club secretary he was desperate for the club to fulfil its fixtures, though his debut was at 17).

The Marshall Lawson Stand is some construction. 4 small rows of seats, covered by a barely sloping corrugated roof on stilts. ‘I have LITERALLY got a shed as big as that’ messaged a mate. It sits one side of the halfway line and the players come out of an adjacent tunnel which leads into the building behind, containing changing rooms, snack bar and toilets. Later, presuming the toilet was in the same corridor as the changing rooms, I entered via the tunnel only to find myself in a changing room. I beat a hasty retreat.

The other side of the tunnel is 6 or 7 uneven steps of terracing, sadly now fenced off. Decrepit it may be, but I’d have thought a consenting adult might just about manage not to do damage to themself by standing there. Some of it was a bit loose, mind you. At the far end a couple of kids hung off a tree behind the goal but outside the stadium itself. Perhaps they’re the same kids later trying to climb another tree, as the ball nestled in its upper reaches. ‘Can I have your shirt after the game?’ one shouted to the keeper. I think both kids (and their friends) could’ve fitted in it. The Annfield keeper made the game for me.

Corinthians go ahead from a penalty. The defender has gone straight through the back of the player before making contact with the ball. Over an hour later I can still hear the keeper moaning ‘it was never a penalty.’ Upon the decision having been made, the keeper holds onto the ball, before the ref eventually tells him to part with it, so he nonchalantly kicks it past the taker. The (young) ref obviously doesn’t want to yellow card him, so lets it go. 0-1.

Second half, the keeper has an early spat with the Corinthians’ physio, who has had the temerity to walk behind his net. He stares him out before giving him verbals. Weird. (There’s a game on at the other end.) Then the keeper spills an easy cross for a tap-in. 0-2. ‘Fuckin’ Elvis Costello in goal’ the physio creases himself, though I don’t get the reference. Isn’t Elvis Costello a singer? A singer who looks nothing like the Annfield keeper. Is it a comedic reference to Abbot and Costello? Was Costello’s forename ‘Elvis’?

Half-time does nothing to calm this keeper down. After criticism from a teammate, he’s like ‘and what the f*** are you doing?’ and ‘there’s no point in booting it up, it comes straight back’ (he may have a point there). Then he safely catches a throughball, but the centre forward crashes into him. He’s up, obviously wanting a fight, but the forward, possibly realising size and anger are not on his side, collapses, holding his face. He must be mistaking the Wearside League for the Premiership. There are calls for the player to be sent off (‘that’s 2 yellows referee, one for the foul, one for the rolling around’). I get that, but by my reckoning, the keeper should be on 4 yellows by now. After consultation with the linesman (which seems to be this ref’s get-out clause) a pair of yellows are brandished to the keeper and centre forward. A sensible resolution.

Corinthians nick a late 3rd, a crashing finish from 20 yards. More comments from the keeper, and one or two locals complain about the ref (their ire not helped by a disallowed goal in 1st half injury time, but mainly now at what they see as inconsistency in how the ref is treating injured players). Personally, I thought the ref had a decent game and did his best to keep 22 players on the pitch. There were some feisty challenges, one player carried off and another limped off. But all’s fair in love and football. It’s handshakes all round at the final whistle, in the dusky gloom of north County Durham.

The Damage:
£3 ent
£1.50 tea and Snickers
= £4.50