Spennymoor Town 1-0 AFC Fylde, Tuesday 21st September 2021

Spennymoor Town 1-0 AFC Fylde, FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round, The Brewery Field, att. 1,094 (54 away)

It’s 35 years since I last saw a match at the Brewery Field. The Main Stand had burnt down, or was simply demolished, leaving the brick pillars only; behind one goal lay a stagnant pond, the whiff of which you could smell within the ground and the team turned a 3 goal half time lead against Hartlepool United into 3-5 friendly defeat. Worse followed, back in 2005, as the club was forced to fold following the social club burning down and a consequent inability to fulfil Unibond League fixtures. So, to see where Spennymoor are these days, riding high in Conference North, is somewhat of a fairytale. However, for myself, there’s lots to question.

Upon United’s folding, they bought out Evenwood Town, a proud Northern League side representing a village the other side of Bishop Auckland, moved them to the Brewery Field and renamed them Spennymoor Town (the FA have since twice refused the club’s request to reclaim ‘United’). Thus, they’re more of a Milton Keynes Dons than an AFC Wimbledon. Town even took over Coxhoe Athletic in the Wearside league, just to give their reserves a run about. (The name has since reverted to Coxhoe.) They also play in black and white stripes, never a good thing in my mind, and were the local rivals to my own town’s team (now defunct), Ferryhill Athletic. So, lots to abhor.

However, Evenwood were going bust anyway, the black and white stripes currently have an amber flash, so they’re more Notts County than Newcastle, and they’re now cleverly marketing themselves as a team for County Durham, not just Spennymoor. Indeed, if Tyne and Wear claims Sunderland, and Hartlepool is a unitary authority, Spennymoor can currently claim to be County Durham’s premier side, half a league ahead of Darlington, whose own renaissance has coincided with Spenny’s.

It helps to be bankrolled though. The club owner has invested heavily. All 4 sides of the ground have been rebuilt, or roofs added. The Main Stand includes a large corporate facility, while the stagnant pond end now has 4 rows of covered seating, as well as a state of the art scoreboard which is superior to my own side, Barnsley, 4 levels higher in the Championship. Opposite the Main Stand is a small terrace, the pick of the spots surely being to stand above the dugouts. The Wood Vue end (where the turnstiles are) is similar in size and roof to the other end, but is pure terrace. And for the commoners, a covered bar named after club legend Jason Ainslie, as well as a smaller bar in the opposite corner. All in all, a very smart stadium, as well as a pitch to die for.

I spent most of the first half wondering if the pitch was artificial, such was its’ carpet of green and only the players’ stud marks gave it away. A Gateshead fan, who, like me, had nought better to do than watch some local football, told me it’d cost £100k. It was the perfect surface for what was possibly the pick of the round’s ties; Conference North leaders AFC Fylde taking on 4th placed Spenny in a replay after a draw on Satdy. And the game didn’t disappoint, played at a terrific pace with the home side dominant. However, despite plenty of shots and not a few chances, it took a penalty just before half –time to decide the tie, as Spenny talisman Glen Taylor stepped up after a debatable foul.

Half-time, and most of the seated stand behind the goal changed ends, vocal element included. In a throwback to the good old days of my youth, it was great to see the teenagers of present year follow every goalkick of the Fylde keeper with a ‘You’re sh*t , ARRRGHHHH’. Later, I heard them sing a derisory song about Darlington. I’d better not tell them who my second team is. Either way, I’ll be back. Loved it, black and white stripes and all!

The Damage:
£10 ent
= £10

I’d have had a programme too, if they hadn’t sold out 10 minutes before kick-off. Oh well.

The Tunes:
BBC6 Music (Marc Riley / Gideon Coe)