Durham United 4-2 Esh Winning, Sunday 6th April 2026

Durham United 4-2 Esh Winning, Northern League Division 2, The Graham Sports Centre (Maiden Castle), att. 382

It’s the final game of Easter Sunday’s Northern League groundhop and the one I’m most, and least, looking forward to. Most, in that of today’s games, it is the only venue I’ve not been to. Least, because it’s probably the most characterless, a ‘stand off a lorry’ beside a plastic pitch and home to Durham University’s hockey team for the best part. I have the wrong ground.

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

Newcastle Blue Star 2-1 Carlisle City, Saturday 4th April 2026

Newcastle Blue Star 2-1 Carlisle City, Northern League Division 1, Scotswood, att. 592

Of all the sides in the Northern League, the one I consider to have the most potential is Newcastle Blue Star. Based in the west end of Newcastle, they have a tidy ground, with a good mix of seating and standing, together with exec facilities. There’s space to expand, if needed, while a massive marquee houses the social club. And, of course, tapping into Newcastle United’s heritage, with their black and white stripes and the blue star logo of 80s’ sponsor, Scottish and Newcastle Brewery.

Since I was last here, Blue Star have built a terrace of 6 steps behind the near goal. The roof is half-constructed, but I snuggle myself under a roofed part, hiding from the cold. It nearly works. The stand on the halfway line to my left is busy, as is the standing area opposite, outside the marquee. Meantime, I love the couple of buildings in one corner, connected by a 1st floor walkway, and housing the best views.

The hospitality arrangements though make this place stand out form the crowd. Although a small bar under the exec bit wasn’t open, the marquee is vast. And you get to ogle signed shirts of Magpie legends such as Keegan, Gazza and Beardsley. Even with a crowd of nearly 600, there was still space to spare in here. (It helped that the food stalls were outside).

The home side went on to win 2-1, a match I’ll mainly remember for the size of one of the Cumbrian players – he was HUGE. Given I only noticed him with about 20 minutes left, he must have come on as sub and for 10 minutes those around me marvelled at his girth. Such a pity then that with his side a goal down, they stuck him up top. The man could barely move.

The Damage:
£5 ent
£2 prog
= £7

Boldon Community Association 1-3 Easington Colliery, Wednesday 16th March 2022

Boldon CA 1-3 Easington Colliery, Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup, Boldon Colliery Welfare Ground, att. 80

Time is starting to run out on the season, at least if I am to fulfil my stated aim of seeing a game at every Northern League ground during 2021-22. With seven grounds to go, and a season ticket at Barnsley, this makes a trip to Boldon tonight non-negotiable – the only other home game I can make clashes with Ryhope CA’s only home game I can make. Having toyed with the idea of leaving one of those at half-time and driving the 10 miles or so to the other, I decide to brave the rain.

This evening it is the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup, a competition for those in the second division. 8th placed Boldon play host to 2nd in the league Easington, a side I’ve seen twice over the last year and been impressed both times. Sure enough, their fast, slick, play leads to a break and a shot is lashed into the roof of the net from 20 yards. Hang on though – it’s Boldon. A look at the league table suggest Boldon are no pushovers either, 17 wins and 9 defeats from 33 games.

I arrived as the teams were about to take the field, the clubhouse being behind the goal and towards the corner flag. Large lettering above proudly announces them to be ‘The Villa’, homage to their original founding name, Boldon Villa, in 1892. Afterwards, they were Boldon Colliery, though latterly, they are Boldon Community Welfare; one of several former colliery teams to have replaced ‘Colliery’ with ‘Community’ thereby better reflecting their post-industrial future. Shame that, but at least they still play at the ‘Boldon Colliery Welfare Ground’. Never bury your past.

I was able to muse on more history as I stood for a time on the Sam Bartram Terrace. Yes, I knew he was a legendary Charlton goalkeeper, but did I know he played for Boldon? No, but there was a fantastic plaque to the great man, paid for by the Charlton Athletic museum. Underneath a low roof, half a dozen chairs were bolted onto a plank of wood on top of a couple of breezeblocks. It’s what he would have wanted.

From the turnstiles, turn right and it’s the refreshment kiosk and Sam Bartram Terrace. The kiosk was wonderfully supplied too, given the attendance, including pies and all sorts. Beyond that lay the usual open touchline. I peeked through the metal fence to see what lay in the inky blackness beyond – why, it was the Boldon CA cricket pitch. The difference between here and Whickham’s ground being at least here there is a permanent division, not simply a rope along the touchline.

Behind both goals hung giant netting not seen this side of the Bundesliga. Probably wise at the clubhouse end, as houses overlook the pitch. On the far side was a second stand, running half the length of the pitch at the clubhouse end. Another low roof, but a step at the back. Bizarrely though, along the front were benches tight to the fence. Sit here and you are right on top of the action. Despite the constant drizzle though, I found it slightly claustrophobic. I yearned for the rain.

In an even opening half, Boldon held on till half-time. I continued my circumnavigation of the ground and stood on the halfway line opposite the dugouts. The drizzle never stopped, but I had to admire the players, who, although looking cold when coming back out, gave it their all. The pitch was zippy, and so were Easington at the resumption. Adamson cut inside a defender from the left and equalised low to the keeper’s right. I began to have negative thoughts. I could do without a penalty shootout (especially as Washington and Bedlington Terriers last week broke the world record, having a penalty shootout lasting 56 kicks, 16 more than the attendance). The Boldon defence duly obliged, pressing up to the halfway line against faster opponents and being outpaced with a throughball. There were 73 minutes on the clock, but the game was up 10 minutes later as a defender miscontrolled and tugged the forward back. Penalty, sending off and the odd sight of the offender shaking hands with the away bench on the way off. The Northern League – home of the gentleman.

The Damage:
£5 ent
= £5

The Tunes:
Ministry of Sound House Anthems (Various); only 50p from a charity shop last week!