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