University Challenge

Sunderland University Sports Journalism student Jackson Byrne asked me a few questions about how COVID has affected my Northern League viewing experiences this season. Here are my answers -:

1.     How has Covid affected you and your experience of the Northern League?

Without question, the primary impact of Covid on my club Newcastle Benfield was the death from the after effects of the disease of our chairman Dave Robson, who had given 14 years of devoted service to the club. Coming hard on the heels of the death of our previous chairman Jimmy Rowe, in September 2019, it is a grievous blow for the club and I miss them both enormously.  Additionally, my dear friend Gary Thompson, who is also Benfield’s secretary, was also struck low with Covid, though he is now on the road to recovery. Impact in such a profound way shows just how Covid has devastated certain sectors of society.

As regards the impact on my experience of the Northern League, I simply found it almost impossible to see a game.  That said, I’ve attended 20 games in 2020/2021, but almost entirely in public parks at Northern Alliance level. The season, such as it was, saw Northern League grounds struggling with an uneconomic 150 capacity, which meant no room at the inn when we played at Ashington, Consett, Hebburn and Stockton, where over half the home support were locked out, never mind finding space for travelling fans. Not every club is so well supported, as I could easily have accessed the terraces to see us at Billingham Town, Newton Aycliffe, Penrith and Thornaby, save for the fact they were midweek games, I don’t have a car and don’t finish work until 5.30 in North Tyneside. The curtailment of fixtures at Northern League level meant the last game I saw Benfield play was a crushing 5-2 Vase defeat at Liversedge in West Yorkshire, the day the second lockdown was announced. Great memories eh?

Without wanting to come across too smug or wise after the event, when the first lockdown took effect in March 2020, I immediately suggested we did not abandon that season, as future waves of the virus and pitifully reactive lockdowns were obviously in the post. To me, rolling it over to be a 2019-20-21 campaign, especially as there were 8 teams left in the Northern League Cup and 8 others in the Ernest Armstrong, was a no brainer. As how most clubs played around 15 league games in 2020/2021, a similar number of fixtures would have been enough to complete a hybrid, aggregate season, allowing both the league reconstruction that the FA are so keen on and making meaningful cup games possible in spring 2021. I think the fact the 2020 Vase final hasn’t taken place yet shows the folly of embarking upon 2020/2021 at any level above grassroots. 

2.     Apart from size, what would you say is the biggest difference between a Northern League ground and a football stadium? 

It’s the quality of the welcome at most grounds; the sense that your attendance is appreciated. It is being treated like a human being in the bar, club shop or pie hut, where you aren’t just a walking wallet to be exploited. At just about every ground, you can choose to stand among other folks, ready to discuss events, or pick a spot away from the numbers, if you just want to watch the game.

Obviously certain clubs have a minority of puddle drinking meatheads who go out of their way to be as brusque and unpleasant as possible, but these are only a tiny minority and can safely be ignored. After all, you won’t pass that was again for another year. Instead you’d be better focussing on the wonderful little eccentricities to be celebrated in all the grounds; for instance, you wouldn’t find a cement mixer in the bogs at the Emirates, unlike at RCA’s Meadow Park.

3.                 Which ground would you say is your personal favourite to visit? 

If I’m being nostalgic, it is a dead heat between Crook Town’s Millfield and Shildon’s Dean Street. Both are venerable throwbacks to an era when local grounds would be thronged by supporters of the local team. Whether work or poverty kept them from Newcastle or Sunderland, who knows or cares, but local pride took centre stage and still does in such theatres of football. At Crook you have two distinct structures along the side of the pitch; a cavernous standing terrace and a charmingly brittle aged grandstand. At Shildon the famous pagoda main stand is apparently to be replaced. Alright, it’s a death trap, but it’ll be missed.

Whitley Bay is an excellent venue at our level, comfortably accommodating 2,500 if necessary and I have to say my beloved Benfield’s Sam Smith’s Park is the most improved ground in the whole league, just shading West Auckland’s Darlington Road.

 

4.                 What is the best game you’ve seen at Northern League level?

 

As a neutral, Whitley Bay 5 Bedlington Terriers 2 in December 2008. It was tipping it down all day; while most other games had fallen foul of the weather, at Hillheads over 400, all squashed in the main stand and paddock, took in a magnificent contest that ebbed both ways. Bay, in the season they’d claim the Vase at Wembley, had a magnificent side, though Bedlington were no slouches either, and the home side ran away with it in the second half. Each goal was volubly cheered to the echoing rafters by a crowd who had incredible value for money. It was also the first time I’d ever seen a player take a penalty, hit the woodwork and tuck the rebound home. Luckily as I’d seen this same scenario in a 1974 Roy of the Rovers, I knew it would be a goal kick. And it was.

Being biased, I can’t look any further than Penrith 0 Benfield 1 on May 4^th 2009. It was the last league fixture of the season, which saw Benfield win the title courtesy of an 86^th minute goal by Stephen Young in the final game ever played at Penrith’s old Southend Road ground. We had never topped the table at any point during the whole season until it hit the net. Seemingly compelled to constantly play catch up, an unbeaten run from mid-February to the end of the season saw us reel Consett in. I can still see Young’s curled finish into the top corner and will remember forever the crazy on field celebrations at full time. Sadly, I couldn’t have a pint to celebrate, as Penrith used to go back to the Conservative Club after games and you have to draw the line somewhere.

5.                 Are there any grounds you haven’t visited yet that you would like to visit?

 

I’ve managed to visit every current Northern League club, though I need to revisit Sunderland West End’s Ford Complex as it has been totally remodelled since my last trip. Also West Allotment Celtic are moving to Northern Alliance side Forest Hall’s East Palmersville home, which has been upgraded to Northern League standard, so I’ll be calling in to see how it has improved. Apart from that, at the other end of the scale, the ground I most want to visit is Tottenham’s new home, mainly because they sell Camden Ales and have a gourmet cheese stall instead of a pie hut.

6.                 Finally, what would make up the perfect Northern League ground? 

Ideally, a windproof structure, if such a thing were possible, would be heaven on earth.  In all seriousness, a large, modern stand and clubhouse, similar to those at Ashington, Bishop Auckland and Penrith, offering easy access to shelter, toilets and liquid refreshment, on hand pull if possible, would be essential. Stepped, concrete terracing behind both goals, such as the glorious examples at Chester-le-Street, Crook and Whitley Bay would provide the best possible spectator experience for those rare occasions when we get good weather on a match day and, to finish this imaginary non-league palace off, a covered standing terrace opposite the main stand, such as the one at Shildon’s Dean Street, for the 90% of the time when it isn’t. Add in a club shop, selling programmes and miscellaneous other goodies, as well as a bait cabin offering a wide range of hot food, including vegetarian options, then you’ve got the closest thing you’ll get to a perfect ground for our level.