You can’t beat a double header, and once I’d realised Hebburn were kicking off at 1pm and South Shields were at home at 3, my mind was made up. Hebburn, south side of the Tyne and inbetween Gateshead and South Shields are in their 1st season of playing in the Northern Premier League East division following their promotion from the Northern League. Opponents Stockton are on an identical path, though they’re making a better fist of the new league, challenging for a place in the top 4 while the homesters are lower midtable. A season of consolidation, then.
After the recent Storm Arwen in the North-East, Hebburn’s ground could do with some consolidation, as blown down wooden fences were propped up behind the main stand, and surrounding garden fences were flattened. Otherwise, it’s a smart stadium, albeit one with only 3 floodlights. Is that why they’re kicking off at 1pm? The main stand, on the far touchline from the main entrance, is a lower division version of rail seating, as one can sit down, or stand up and lean on the railing. I felt sorry for the one (old) guy who obviously wanted to sit down while all around stood up.
Not that there’s a shortage of seating at the Hebburn Sports and Social Ground (catchy!) Either side of the Main Stand are 2 open stands of seating, 50 or so seats in each, while there’s more open seating behind the goal. Judging by the cheers for the goals, away fans heavily outnumbered Hebburn on these two sides. The nearside touchline, the one with the managers’ dugouts, had a long line of fans, while behind was another football pitch. Presumably, the ‘Sports Ground’ incorporated cricket back in the day, though they’d have to pull up the touchline paving to do it now. Feasible though…(not sure about the pressbox, on the halfway line)
The far goal had a small roofed structure but nobody to stand in it. Why walk 100 metres to stand on your own when you can take pride of place on the 1st floor balcony of the sports club which overlooked the pitch? It was certainly busy up here, as the locals quaffed their beer and enjoyed the view. The sports club was tremendous, more pub than non-league social club. There were too many in here too enjoying a beer, the warmth…and Man City live in a Premiership game. I get that – but if you’ve paid to see Hebburn v Stockton, watch Hebburn v Stockton.
There were certainly more goals than Man City’s solitary effort, yet another controversial penalty decision from VAR. (Since when is an armpit ‘handball’?) Stockton ran out 4-1 winners. Sounds like a mauling, but it had me hooked till the end, when the Anchors broke away to finally kill the home team off. Leaving earlier would’ve cost me a goal…but saved me 2. By the time I got to South Shields, 3 miles or so away, I’d missed an opener for either side.
The Damage:
£7 ent
= £7
The Tunes:
BBC5Live
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