Durham University’s sports facilities must rank up there with the best in the land. One appeal of going to Durham (beyond it’s academic reputation) must be the access to such amazing sporting grounds within walking distance of the city centre (Durham City is very small, approximately 30,000 all-year residents.) Maiden Castle has such a strong reputation that when Keegan took over at Newcastle, he moved their training here, such was the dearth of their own facilities.
I’ve given a lift from Crook to another groundhopper who was doing all this by public transport. (He didn’t do Billingham this morning. Public transport? In County Durham? On a Sunday? Easter Sunday?) I enjoyed being able to get here by my own knowledge, at least once I ascertained which was the road out of Crook. My only worry was whether there’d be enough space in the car park, but there was plenty. But what’s this? There’s no sign of any movement inside the hockey stadium nearest the ground. I’m not worried, as I can see the groundhoppers’ bus, so I know I’m in the right place. I head towards the bus and we see signs pointing us around the corner, to the other side of the main building. Turns out there’s ANOTHER stadium as part of the complex.
Through a proper turnstile, we’re into the ground itself. There’s a running track and one beautiful looking modern cantilever stand down one side. Behind the stand is the main building and with an hour and a half to kill first, so we go inside. There’s a huge cafeteria/bar area, usually host to the students. We grab a beer and go and look at the merch, laid out on trestle tables. There lay the most exquisite souvenir of the entire weekend…a replica shirt commemorating today’s game! I enquire about it, but it seems you needed to order it in advance. It’s difficult to order something in advance that you don’t know about, but I admire it all the same.
Programme bought, and there’s a potted rundown of Durham United’s history. Seems the university merged/took over an existing team and moved them to Maiden Castle. I’d wondered why they didn’t use New Ferens Park, since Durham City (a former league team!) had been forced to move out. Now I know. The team is essentially Durham University FC. There’s brilliant pen portraits of the players. Only one isn’t a student at the university and we’re told what course and year each student (player) is on. Sports Science is by far the most common subject studied, though we also have ‘Natural Sciences’ (what’s that?), Law, Accounting and Finance, Maths, Engineering, Geography, Physics and PPE. But it does amuse me that the programme contains so many typos. Isn’t this one of the Russell Group? The cream of the country?
With kick-off looming, we go out. I’m not one for the stand, especially given it’s behind an athletics track. However, behind the goal, there is a perimeter fence, and many of the hopper elect to cross the track and stand here. But while crossing the track, I find myself chatting on and make the mistake of stopping. I’m told off by a volunteer for standing on the track. But you have to stand on the track to cross it! And, come to think, don’t athletes’ spikes do more damage than my trainers? I must be in a good mood, cos I merely acquiesce and stand by the corner flag. I fail to move from here.
I getting talking to a local. He works for the university but has come out for the game cos his wife’s told him he’s miserable around the house, and he does find his mood improves when he goes to a game. He’s also a font of knowledge. Apparently this is where the Russians trained during the 1966 World Cup, while the Italians trained across the road, at what is now (and was probably then) the Houghall Agricultural College. Fancy that.
I find the chat so invigorating that I never get round to doing a circumference of the ground. (If only I’d brought my spikes!) But inbetween yapping on, we are treated to the best game of the weekend, an entertaining 4-2 win against bottom side Esh Winning. Unfortunately, this means the latter are almost certainly down and the Northern League will lose another classic ground. Bloody students!
The Damage:
£6 ent
£2 prog
£5.90 pint and a half of Birra Murano
£2 prog
= £15.90
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