My original plan today had been to cross the Pennines and go and see Workington at Brough Park. After all, how many former football league grounds are left, still in use? Not many outside the National League, I venture. Another possibility had been Hereford United; I could have gone on local side Spennymoor’s supporters coach. Unfortunately, caring duties ruled this one out, too early a start and too late a finish. But Workington? However, I’d not banked on the cat refusing to come back in, so time lost meant I’d be struggling for kick-off, and I didn’t want to risk traffic problems on a road heading towards the Lake District. It called for a Plan B.
I double-checked the Northern League fixtures, and plumped for Ashington, the northern most outpost of the Northern League. Being an hour away from home and the other side of Newcastle, it could be a mission in midweek. Let’s take it easy, cruise up the A68 through the North Pennines and perhaps pick up a bite to eat in Ashington town centre. I pulled up at a service station near Ashington – it was half-two! The Gods were smiling though, as it included a Greggs; I went double: steak bake AND sausage roll.
Ashington have a long and rich heritage, formed in 1883 and past members of the Football League in the 1920s. After bouncing around various leagues afterwards, Ashington joined the Northern League in 1970 and have successfully failed to win it ever since (though they do have a couple of second division championships). At present they lie top half and have the added advantage of the 3rd highest average crowd (the programme told me). Today the attendance was 336…below the Colliers’ 400 average, but still well above the usual Northern League gate.
Ashington’s ground is one of those newbuilds on the edge of town (see also: Bishop Auckland, Consett). Handy for getting in and out, plus they’ve a massive car park. Worrying signs about pay and display were assuaged…it was free on matchday. Joining the 21st century, you can also pay by card on Ashington’s turnstiles. £7 is at the top end of Northern League admission charges, but you enjoy superb facilities and view from the Main Stand, allegedly the 2nd most expensive stand per seat until Arsenal’s Emirates came along. At the top/back is a large social club overlooking the pitch, a la Dulwich Hamlet. The bar might not be so big, nor contain quite the number of craft ales, but I couldn’t resist having a Goose Island IPA. Perfect for taking my seat with.
Sitting at the back of the stand affords a great view of the pitch and stadium. Opposite, a small stand spans the length of the pitch, 4 rows of seats in the middle, with terracing either side, smartly painted in the club’s colours of black and white. Both ends were enclosed by wooden fences, with ballboys swinging off the nets and barrier at one end, while a dozen or so fans viewed from the car park end. Inbetween this end and the Main Stand were 6 or so picnic tables. A lovely perch for a beer on a temperate day like this.
The football? Well, a rather bizarre 4-0 drubbing. Whickham, controlling most of the ball, were let down by some atrocious defending to find themselves three down after 24 minutes, which increased just before half-time. Game over. Was the best goal the 30 yard opener into the roof of the net, which left the keeper flailing? Or the control and sidefoot off the far post? Both were avoidable from a defensive angle (to the frustration of the Whickham fan to my right). And, despite no more goals in the second half, the chant at full time from the Main Stand of ‘Can we play you every week?’ rang true.
The Damage:
£7 ent
£1.50 programme
£3.80 Goose Island IPA
= £12.30
The Tunes:
BBC6 Music (Marc Riley / Gideon Coe)
Ghosteen (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
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