I'm still knocking out articles & match reports for the Percy Main programme. In fact, here's what I've had published from the Newbiggin game on August 24th to the Winlaton one on October 8th -:
Percy Main 4 Rutherford 1
Percy Main bounced back from an opening day reverse at the hands of title favourites Blue Star, with an emphatic and completely merited win over Rutherford. The visitors themselves had started the season in eye-catching fashion with a decisive victory over Killingworth and showed great attacking intent in the opening period of this game, as their physically dominant front pairing of Liam Heenan and Stephen Hall caused all manner of problems for the Main defence. Thankfully, home keeper Callum Elliott was on top form and the three top drawer saves he made from efforts by the two strikers and a stunning tip around the post from a dipping volley by Romario Karabina, kept the visitors at bay. That said, the Main ought to have been ahead in their first game at the palatial, newly refurbished Purvis Park within seconds of the start when Josh Nicholson broke free into the area, only for Grant Scott in the Rutherford goal to distinguish himself with a fine, sprawling block.
Indeed, the two keepers were the crucial factors in keeping the score blank for the opening 30 minutes. When the deadlock was broken, it was courtesy of a fine, composed finish into the bottom corner by Alfie Livermore, son of the legendary Dennis. This goal saw the balance of play swing decisively in favour of the Villagers and within 7 minutes, it was 3-0. Firstly Carl Collins saw his powerful effort from distance palmed down by Scott, only for Jordan Stephenson to recycle the loose ball, allowing Rob Ridley to nod into an empty net from inside the 6-yard box. The third goal was an elegant, sidefoot effort by Livermore that nestled in the bottom corner, far beyond the grasp of the despairing Scott.
Straight from the restart, Livermore almost had his hat trick, as he was denied by a point blank reaction save by Scott. Indeed, until the hour mark, Percy pinned Rutherford back, playing pleasing possession football, whereby the young team showed their confidence on the ball with a series of sweeping attacking moves. Thus, it was something of a surprise when Rutherford pulled one back Ant Ridley conceded a foul from near the touchline and an astutely delivered free kick was helped into the net by Hall, whose tireless graft on a sweltering evening deserved this reward. From this point, Rutherford came again with renewed belief and fresh impetus, but ultimately their possession did not create tangible chances. It was left to Main substitute Lewis Howes to complete the scoring with a thunderous low finish from the edge of the box on 80 minutes, which wrapped up a superb victory that was warmly appreciated by another 3-figure crowd at Purvis Park.
Whitley Bay A 1 Percy Main
2
After tasting defeat in their opening two away games at Newcastle Blue Star and Haltwhistle Jubilee, Percy Main Amateurs recorded a notable victory on the road at Hillheads Park. For the second season running, the Villagers defeated Whitley Bay A by a score of 2-1. In truth, this was a highly assured and comfortable victory that would have been more emphatic if not for the agility and anticipation of home keeper Craig Towart, who produced several crucial interceptions in the second half when the Main relentlessly pressed the home goal.
The opening period saw Percy Main in the ascendancy from the off, with Alfie Livermore proving himself a constant threat with his astute movement up front. The young striker shaved the outside of the post on 13 minutes after Towart had blocked an initial effort with his legs. Rob Ridley was, as ever, the lynchpin in the centre of the park for Percy Main and he opened the scoring on 23 minutes with the deftest of touches at the near post, squeezing home despite the best efforts of Towart. Jordan Stephenson almost made it 2-0 when ghosting in at the back post, but he was deceived by the extra bounce of the ball and accidentally finished it with his hand, for which he was unlucky to be yellow carded. There was no doubt about the legitimacy of the second goal on 38 minutes. Livermore showed great determination to get between two hesitating home defenders and tenacity to get the ball under control, before firing home from the edge of the box with trademark accuracy, to make the half time score Whitley Bay A 0 Percy Main Amateurs 2.
One notable fact about this game was the return from suspension of Mark McDonnel, who was making his 100th appearance for The Main. Another important event saw Dean Ellis, 13 years from his debut, returning to the claret and blue for his third spell at the club. Without question, the experienced and skilful midfielder was an absolute asset to the team, never wasting a single scrap of possession in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. Whitley Bay, inspired by former Newcastle United striker Kurtis Russell, tried to get back in the game, but the Percy midfield kept them at arm’s length and the Villagers could, and indeed should, have extended their lead on several occasions. However, this wasn’t to be and the consolation goal by Bay after a goalmouth scramble deep in injury time, was only that, as the game had barely restarted when the final whistle blew on a fine win and solid performance.
Ayr B&B
A couple of weeks back, I noticed that Terry had put a call out on social media to all groundhoppers out there, asking them to get in touch and try to explain not what their hobby involves, as that’s almost self-explanatory, but why exactly they do it. I’m not sure if he had any replies, and I don’t think I fit the strict definition of a groundhopper, which is someone who doesn’t follow a particular team, but spends every week trying to visit as many different new grounds as possible, but I do like visiting different places. I suppose you could call me a ground collector. This season I’ve got my eyes on 3 or 4 new Alliance venues; Blyth Rangers, Hazlerigg Victory and Heddon United for definite, with Burradon a possibility, not to mention 2 new Northern League grounds for Chester Le Street United and Washington, but my real passion, and it may take me several years to complete this, is the Scottish League.
At the start of the season, with Bonnyrigg Rose replacing Cowdenbeath, I had been to 26 of the 42 venues. Strangely perhaps, only 2 of those were in the West, namely Ayr United and Stranraer, with the rest in the East and Highlands. For many years, the delights of ramshackle, nostalgic Somerset Park had beguiled me and, when searching for a place to book for a short holiday for my partner Shelley and I, the obvious choice was an Ayr B&B (geddit?), to find out if The Honest Men had a women’s team called The Bonnie Lasses (I’m such a card, I really am), as Ayr United were hosting Hamilton Academicals on Saturday 13 August.
Skirting train strikes is something of an art these days, meaning we were almost forced to travel up on Friday 12 and back on Wednesday 17; only 5 nights away, but that’s more than all the other nights away from home since the pandemic started combined. The journey up was utterly unremarkable until we hit Glasgow Central, as the train down the coast, via Irvine, Troon and Prestwick was absolutely rammed, mainly with kids enjoying the last of their summer break (Scottish schools are back now) by indulging in the time old tradition of taking a huge carry out down to the beach for a bevvy and a fight. Coppers lined the platform at Irvine and Troon, confiscating boxes of Tennents and flagons of Buckfast from those without ID. Soon we arrived, totally sober in Ayr and took a taxi to our splendid harbourside apartment, driven cautiously by an old fella who would probably be better off in a hearse than a cab, whether at the wheel or being chauffeur driven to his final destination.
After a quick shop to stock the fridge and shower to freshen up, which each involved a totally sober Shelley taking tumbles and sustaining some awful bruises, we headed out on the town, or as much as you can in Ayr. The first bar we found, Wee Windaes on Newmarket Street, had 6 customers, no real ale, only took cash, had a sign behind the counter stating NO RIFF RAFF and shut at 9.00pm on a Friday. Ayr is not Amsterdam, but it’s a charming, old-fashioned sort of place.
From there, we found Tam O’Shanter’s Inn. As you could probably guess, Ayr is pretty much a Robert Burns theme park and this bar was dedicated to the narrative poem I was forced to learn by heart for my O Level. The Moretti was decent though and, feeling a bit peckish, we searched for food. Now, in all seriousness, if you ever need a curry in Ayr, go to The Rupee Room. The chicken dopiaza I had was cooked to perfection; chicken breast meat, and lots of it, lightly spiced and with a generous amount of sauce, while Shelley’s chicken tikka masala was as far from the rancid pink gloop so common down south, as you could wish for. Additionally, the garlic keema naans and mushroom pilau were both of top quality. A bit steep at £40 for a carry out, but a glorious feast, nevertheless. Shame I got us lost on the way home and we had to take a taxi, but that’s all part of the holiday adventure, I guess.
Saturday morning was hot. Scorching in fact. We took a slow, cautious walk up to the town to rehydrate and refuel, before crossing the bridge and heading north east towards Somerset Park. I noticed that football jerseys were as popular here as in any other town, although I didn’t see any Ayr United ones. Rangers, in a staunch and loyal town that has oft returned Tory MPs and has the remnants of fortifications constructed by Cromwellian forces in 1654 as the old town walls, are the team of choice of 90% of those wearing football colours. Celtic make up the rest, which probably reflects the demographics of this part of Ayrshire. I’d wager not one of the replica shirt wears regularly sets foot in Ibrox or Celtic Park, of course.
Our sedate walk through the indomitable and affluent northern suburbs took us past Ayr racecourse on roads that were almost deserted. I realised that neither Ayr nor Accies were the best supported of sides, evidenced by the two sides drawing 1,504 and 941 to their clashes at Somerset Park last season, but surely there had to be someone going? Finally, we turned the corner and, in near 35 degree heat, saw plenty of fans milling around, many decked out in the traditional Scottish, woollen scarf in respective club colours. Loyalty defeats fashion every time up here.
In the end, a game that had been designated a family fun day, on account of free face painting and a couple of mascots in fancy dress, was watched by a healthy 2,014. Considering that the minimum requirement to be in the Scottish Premier is a 5,000 all-seater stadium, it seems unlikely that promotion to the top flight is on the cards or even a stated ambition for The Honest Men. Sadly, I found no evidence of an Ayr United women’s team, which I’d hope would be called The Bonnie Lasses in a nod to Burns’s near ubiquitous poem.
Unlike other games I’ve been to in Ayrshire, at Irvine where I was stood next to the man with the worst case of Torette’s I’ve ever encountered, this clash was played in a positive and almost respectful atmosphere, with only Shelley getting carried away and using oath-edged talk. Throughout a pacey, intense encounter that swung one way then the other, Ayr’s support stayed with the team. Afolabi Akinyemi opened the scoring for the home side within three minutes, as they began at a high tempo. This wasn’t to last though, as Akinyemi then saw a generous spot kick saved, before Andy Winter drew Accies level before the interval, with a fine curling effort.
Worse was to come after the break for Ayr, as despite dominating proceedings, they fell behind when Dan Reilly then put Accies in front. Akinyemi’s luck really was out as he touched in a loose ball in the box, only to be flagged offside. However, there was a degree of redemption, when Andy Murdoch scored a late equaliser with a glorious, dipping volley, to salvage a point for The Honest Men. The ground, which is 75% covered terracing and one small stand, largely went ballistic with this strike, other than the 150 or so Accies followers whose hopes were crushed. But it had been a fine game on a glorious afternoon and we wandered back to the apartment in a contented frame of mind, amused by news of Sunderland’s concession of a 94th minute leveller by the QPR keeper. A check later on found that Ayr United sit third in the Scottish Championship, one point off the top, while Hamilton are seventh. I now need to plan my autumn trips north of the border, for ground collection not ground hopping purposes of course.
Percy Main 2 AFC Newbiggin 1
If ever a contest deserved the epithet “a game of two halves,” it was this one. For almost the entire opening 45 minutes, Newbiggin pinned Percy Main Amateurs in their own half, carving out numerous chances as they did so. It was to be to their ultimate cost that the team from South East Northumberland only took one of the half dozen or so more than presentable opportunities they created in the first period. Tormentor in chief for Newbiggin was burly target man Bradley Higgins, who proved himself a nuisance from the very first whistle. While the first clear opportunity came for the home side, when Oliver Emmerson had his low shot turned smartly round the post by Nathan Sharpe, most of the other chances fell to the muscular Higgins. A deft back header from a hanging cross into the box brushed the outside of the post, before Main keeper Steven Dewar distinguished himself by blocking another effort with his legs. The goal, when it came, had an element of controversy about it. Higgins tussled with a retreating Dean Ellis and managed to win the ball, some said unfairly, after a robust challenge and then slipped it casually home past the advancing Dewar. Whatever the arguments, the goal was given, and the Villagers went in a goal behind.
After the interval, play continued in a similar vein to the opening period, until the introduction of Percy Main’s own barrel-chested battering ram up top. Nicky Whitelaw came on just after the hour and effectively changed the game with his relentless movement and never-say-die attitude, working as part of an excellent double act with the admirable Jay Ellington who had impressed all game. After being in total control, Newbiggin lost their hold over the game as wave upon wave of Percy attacks comprehensively altered the destiny of the points. Whitelaw went close with a spectacular bicycle kick that Sharpe palmed away at full stretch. However, with the game going into the last 10 minutes, Percy were still behind and so, in a calculated gamble, manager Gavin Hattrick brought himself off the bench to effectively create a front three. The effect was instant, with a visibly panicked Newbiggin defence struggling to contain the triple Percy threat. Whitelaw was barged over in the box and a penalty was the inevitable result. Sadly, the hushed crowd watched in disbelief as Mark McDonnell lashed the spot kick over the bar on 82 minutes.
At this juncture, it would have been very easy to accept defeat as inevitable on a bad night all round, but not these brave Percy Warriors. McDonnell redeemed himself on 84 minutes with a pinpoint corner that arrived at the feet of an unmarked Jordan Stephenson on the 6-yard line, who made no mistake. Despite the imprecations of some in the crowd to settle for a point, the Villagers sensed Newbiggin were spent and moved in for the kill. Ellington came so close to the goal his performance warranted when he fired in a scorching shot from the angle that Sharpe could only parry, whereupon the onrushing Hattrick lashed the ball home with some aplomb, ensuring a second successive home win for the Villagers, much to the pleasure of the watching multitude.
The Most Beautiful Game
I sincerely hope those of you reading this see a cracking game between Percy Main and Killingworth. Unfortunately, I’m not here today, as I’ll be participating in the sport and for the club that I really believe saved my life a few years ago. I’ll be trying to hide in the outfield and batting at 11 for Tynemouth Cricket Club 3s away to Lintz 2s in Division 5 South of Northumberland and Tyneside Cricket League.
The point I have to make is that, given the choice between grassroots or professional cricket and professional football, I would opt for the sound of leather on willow every single time. Always at the amateur level, of course. Now, there are many reasons for that, both aesthetic and ideological, but I’ll try to sum the differences up in a single pretentious phrase; to me, cricket is poetry, while football is prose. I’m attempting to communicate the idea that cricket, when played properly (i.e. not The Hundred or a boozy T20 game) is beautiful, elusive and almost always a distinctly personal pleasure, whereas football is solid, down to earth and, except in rare moments of sublime aestheticism by the likes of Messi, Cruyff or Pat Heard, easy to comprehend.
I love football but, at various times and in various ways over the years, it has come close to killing me, whether that be the severe battering I took at the hands of Merseyside Police in The Stanley Park next to Goodison before a 4-0 trouncing in February 1985 or becoming so irate at Newcastle United under Mike Ashley that I almost blew a gasket. By contrast, cricket saved my life. I don’t mean to exaggerate the importance of Tynemouth CC in life, but when I mentally reached rock bottom in 2015 and felt like suicide was the only way out of the stagnant pond of despair I was drowning in, the comradeship and support of people I’m now very proud to call some of my closest friends and, quite remarkably, team mates as well.
Initially, emerging from the clutches of an utter emotional breakdown, from the start of the 2015 season, I sat alone, spectating on the far side of the ground from the pavilion at Tynemouth, observing the complexities and intricacies of the game at close quarters. It was wonderful to be back. As a kid, I loved cricket, supporting Leicestershire because Carlisle United’s Chris Balderstone played for them; they won the County Championship in 1975 when I was 11 and, the next year I started playing for my local side, Felling, who I stuck with until I went to university in 1983. Choosing to study in County Derry was perhaps not the wisest move for my cricketing career, but at least the utter indifference of local students and the attendant shrinkage of the pool of potential players ensured I got regular games for our woeful varsity team. After graduation, I rarely played again for 30 years, though I always missed it. Being frank, I wasn’t any use as a batter but having been captivated by watching Indian slow bowlers on their 1974 tour, I desperately wanted to be a spin bowler. I suppose I still do. I did buy a few wickets in the dim and distant past, but I’d assumed those days were gone.
At the end of that first season, I headed to Eppleton in the wilds of County Durham on a glorious Sunday afternoon to see Tynemouth play in the Banks Cup final. We lost, badly. I went by bus. It took almost 3 hours, door to door. Perhaps the best news that day was, as the clock reached 7.30 on an early September evening, a car pulled up to offer me a lift. Now, as you’ll remember if you knew me that back then I had dreadlocks down my back and a beard Topol would have been proud of, which meant I was difficult to miss. That said Vince Howe, a former Percy Main footballer back in the day and Tynemouth’s Director of Cricket, didn’t need to offer me a lift, but I’m so glad he did. Despite the season ending that day, his friendly overtures gave me the confidence to take my place in front of the Pavilion with the regular gang from the start of 2016 and I’ve not moved on Saturdays from April to September since. Until this year at least…
For two years, I was simply a spectator and then, having taken voluntary redundancy from my job as a lecturer, I ended up working behind the bar until I got fixed up with something permanent. I loved the atmosphere and the laughs when serving pints, which is probably why, when a midweek social side was set up, I volunteered immediately. I still couldn’t bat and sometimes I couldn’t bowl, but I loved it. The feeling of taking 4-19 (all bowled) against Benwell & Walbottle will never be bettered, but just having a laugh with the lads made it all worthwhile. Of course, it couldn’t last and the effect of COVID and family commitments meant many players, often turning 30 and discovering parenthood for the first time, had to give the game up. It meant the midweek team folded, but it also gave me an opportunity to play even more, as the Saturday 3s were left short of players.
At the time of writing, I have played in 13 of our 17 games which, considering I turned 58 on 11 August, is pretty good. Unlike my average, which is just under 2, only on account of several not outs, but as any good batter will tell you, it’s all about the red inkers. On the positive side, I hit a boundary this summer; my first one this millennium. I’d like to pretend it was a flashing square cut, but it wasn’t. A tentative prod to a bowler so fast I didn’t even see his deliveries, saw the ball hit the edge and fly over the slips. Rather better was my “mystery ball” against Civil Service, so called as it is a mystery to everyone how it doesn’t get clattered into the next county every time, where my victim took a huge swish, missed the thing and saw it hit middle stump halfway up. I’d like to pretend it was my googly, but it wasn’t. I did enjoy him skulking off and moaning that I was bowling too slow, mind.
Perhaps my finest moment this season was being asked to play for the first XI in a Friday T20 game away to Shotley Bridge: the home club of the great Paul Collingwood no less. Having lost a player to work commitments, it was either me or the skipper’s 72-year-old mother who made up the numbers. I got the nod as the game was in coloured clothing, and I turned up in a pair of New Balance that matched our dark blue kit. Not that I had any kit of course. I ended up squeezed into some cast-offs that fitted me like a Cotton Traders gimp suit. However, ensconced at short fine leg, I fielded the ball once and manage to remain relatively inconspicuous as we roared to a 10-wicket win in double quick time. Well, 9 wickets actually, as I’d taken the precaution of retiring out, just to be on the safe side. In all seriousness, this was one of my most precious sporting memories; the night I was a teammate of former Ireland and Durham player, Stuart Poynter.
As I’ve said, I still love football, but from mid-April to mid-September every single Saturday, weather permitting, I dedicate to cricket. Roll on Burradon & New Fordley, as our last game of the season at home to Newcastle on 10 September is the same day as Chemfica are the visitors
Unwelcome Matt
While the team may be languishing in lower mid table, mainly on account of repeated VAR related misfortunes and a lengthy injury list rather than any major tactical errors by the fella who got Bournemouth relegated, it is fairly exciting being a Newcastle fan at the minute. The football is creative, the team is hard working, and the ground is energised by the positivity surrounding the club. Alright so there’s still a bit of disquiet about the actual level of the club owners’ hands-on involvement in human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and the genocide in Yemen but, as any fule kno, you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs; am I right?
On a local level, there is evidence that John Spence High School deserves some kind of award for fostering local, NUFC related talent in the sporting and musical spheres. Not only did the school produce Tynemouth CC’s opening bowler and explosive middle order batter Sean Longstaff who, much to the chagrin of mean-spirited cynical social media begrudgers everywhere, has now clocked up over a century of games in central midfield for the Magpies, but also Norman de Bruin’s drinking buddy, tunesmith Sam Fender. Those following developments in the local music scene will no doubt be aware that Sam is playing a headlining gig at SJP next summer on the 9th of June. Could anything be more appropriate than the return of a local hero on Blaydon Races Day?
And yet, while all in the garden seems rosy, there is still the foul stench of rancorous frustration to be perceived amid the undergrowth. About 10 years ago, Sam’s older brother Liam was spoken of most approvingly in folk and roots circles. A far less commercial singer / songwriter than his sibling, Liam sought not to create populist anthems that appealed to those partial to slices of Clash / Oasis / Springsteen flavoured bluster, but to set his cap firmly in the direction of Bob Dylan and the electric folk of Neil Young. Sadly, Liam’s star waned and, despite seeming well placed for breakout success, he remained undiscovered and, by all accounts, bitter beyond words. No doubt his young’uns mega success has been a tough one to take.
As we all know, Sean has a brother operating in the same field of dreams as well; brother Matty who, according to received wisdom back in the day, was nailed on to be the more successful of the two. You never know; this may still end up being the case, but it seems almost inevitable that Matty’s next shot at fame and fortune will be away from Tyneside and that really is a shame. In fact, it is almost unbelievable when you recall that Matty burst onto the scene by scoring the winner against Manchester United at St James’ Park on his debut less than 3 years ago. Remember that stunning strike? It was voted Goal of the Month and he almost matched it for quality twice more that season: firstly, putting us 1-0 ahead at Old Trafford on Boxing Day and then almost taking the pegs out at the Leazes End when we banjoed Rochdale in an FA Cup replay. Indeed, Matty was on a right roll, playing 8 games off the belt until COVID hit in March 2020.
For whatever reason, though Bruce’s complacent incompetence is doubtless a major contributory factor, Matty’s progress was halted by lockdown, as he played only 3 further games after resumption. We lost them all. Though he’d been rewarded for his initial brilliant performances with a 2-year contract, in the face of interest from Serie A and other Premier league rivals, there was to be no celebratory renaissance in 2020/2021 either, as he failed to develop as a player; 5 games between November and January, with the solitary point amid a raft of losses, coming from a dogged, backs-to-the-wall showing in a 0-0 at home to Liverpool. Rock bottom had been reached when ace tactician Bruce, having already conceded defeat in the press conference the day before, left Matty and Isaac Hayden hopelessly outclassed and outnumbered away to Man City on Boxing Day, telling them at the break; “Don’t worry about it, lads. This lot are brilliant.” Thank goodness Eddie Howe has abandoned such a defeatist mindset.
Come the start of 2021/2022, with Bruce still doing Ashley’s bidding, Matty made what seemed to be an astute move, heading on loan to Aberdeen. New Dons’ boss Stephen Glass was presumed to be a breath of fresh air and player coach Scott Brown possessed exactly the kind of tenacity and flair Matty could learn from. After initially impressing, it simply didn’t work out; Glass played power games with the board, saying he’d not wanted to sign Matty in the first place. He appeared in a mere 5 games, twice from the bench, and only once after October. He was back on Tyneside at Christmas, with Glass out the door a matter of weeks later. At least there was to be a silver lining for Matty, in terms of a loan move to Mansfield, under the auspices of that quietly spoken true football man, Nigel Clough. Matty played 18 times for the Stags, propelling them up the table with 13 wins and 6 goals in that time. Indeed, he was only twice on the losing side. Sadly, the latter occasion was the play off final at Wembley, when Port Vale pummelled them 3-0 and ruined a potential fairy tale, though at least Eddie Howe rewarded Matty’s efforts with a further 12-month contract.
Back on Tyneside and appearing miles away from even a place on the bench, it really was a no-brainer that he went out on loan again. Barnsley was mentioned as a potential destination and I felt that would be a great move for him to join a side renowned for playing decent football. Instead, out of nowhere, came a deadline day move to Colchester, though his debut was far closer to home in a 1-1 draw away to Hartlepool. The move is only until Christmas, presumably to get him some game time, with the hope of a move to a more prestigious club in the January window. I know little or nothing about Colchester, but I feel Matty is better than League 2 and I certainly hope he can show this in the months to come.
Percy Main 1 Burradon & New Fordley 0
On account of the huge turnover in players for almost every club in the Alliance each season, it is often hard to effectively compare performances from year to year. Suffice to say, seasoned observers of the local game at our level would suggest that Burradon are probably second only to Blue Star in terms of strength, which was clearly borne out by the league table prior to kick off that showed Burradon top of the pile with a 100% winning record. That said, Percy Main are turning into a very different outfit than the sides we’ve seen over recent seasons, especially at home when Rutherford, Newbiggin and Killingworth have all been recently blown away to Gavin Hatrick’s comeback kings. Today, we saw a very different Percy Main way of winning; competitive, combative, dogged and determined, aided by as reckless and foolish a piece of self-destructive play by opposition substitute Ian Lee that you’ll see all season.
The first half, from the very off, was a tight, combative affair of few chances and much thoughtful possession-based play. Neither side could ever claim to be in the ascendancy and both teams fashioned only the slightest of chances. For Burradon, JJ Waugh was always a nuisance and he fired in a low effort that Callum Elliott did well to hold on 13 minutes. At the other end, Dillon Blake showed himself to be a handful and caused Tom Shanley some discomfort, requiring the Burradon keeper to make a sprawling stop at the foot of his near post, before clutching an attempted curler from Oliver Emmerson. The last chance of the half saw Burradon’s Joe Besford profiting from a rebounded clearance and moving into the box, only to fire wide. The last action of the half saw Percy Main’s Dean Ellis forced off the pitch with a head wound after a collision from a corner in the opposition box. His replacement, the more naturally attacking Jordan Stephenson, was to prove crucial after the break.
Whether it was the effect of the Main’s tactical reshuffle or just greater momentum from the visitors is a moot point, but the second period began and continued with far more pressing from Burradon. While the introduction of Liam Hudson brought the visitors up a level in terms of attacking play, the Villagers remained indomitable, with Stephenson and fellow sub Jay Errington taking the game to the visitors on the break. The breakthrough came on 70 minutes when Shanley was seemingly distracted by the need to straighten his socks and failed to adequately deal with a through ball, miscuing his fly kick, providing Blake with the opportunity to head the ball into an unguarded net. It came out of the blue and resulted in a passage of play that could only be described as frenetic. In one crazy 30 second burst, Stephenson set Errington away with only Shanley to beat. Unaccountably, the Main forward’s legs gave way under him and the ball was cleared to the other end of the pitch where a melee in the box saw Burradon denied what appeared to be the clearest penalty for handball seen all year. No VAR in the Alliance and we played on.
Soon, Burradon played their final card; the veteran Ian Lee has been a pantomime villain in the Alliance for nigh on two decades, including a brief spell at Purvis Park. His returns, from a particularly unpleasant occasion in the colours of Whitley Bay A in December 2009, until the present have often been shrouded in controversy. So was it again today when, barely a minute after joining the fray, he lost the run of himself after a minor skirmish and headbutted both Rob and Ant Ridley, necessitating the issuing of an inevitable red card. Much to Burradon’s credit, the rest of the team condemned Lee’s senseless behaviour. Sadly for them, the momentum they had was lost and Percy Main saw the game through for another excellent 3 points.
The Collapsing Pyramid (Pt
1)
At the next level up from Percy Main in the non-league pyramid, things appear to be in a state of constant flux. The unavoidable result of teams such as: Consett, Dunston, Hebburn, Morpeth Town, North Shields and Shildon migrating upwards to the Northern Premier League in the last couple of seasons, not to mention the disappearance of Durham City, Jarrow Roofing and Ryhope CW, is a changed and somewhat volatile constitution of the previously unchanging Northern League monolith of the Mike Amos years. For a start, the league is down to 40 clubs from 44 and it seems likely that the promotion of each season’s champions and the opportunity for runners-up to follow them via play-offs, means that both a geographical increase in the league’s footprint (Pickering Town are newcomers this season, with hints that Harrogate Railway and Knaresborough are likely to follow in the future) and a dilution of the quality of competing teams. This is especially true of the bottom of Division 2, where up to 3 sides are liable for relegation, to be theoretically replaced by one from each of the feeder leagues, in the shape of the Alliance, the Wearside and the North Riding League.
Recently, the Alliance has provided the Northern League with a rebuilt Blyth Town, now free from any malign external influences, Newcastle University and their landlords Prudhoe YC, managed by Kennie Melia, ex of Chemfica of course. All 3 clubs are doing well. The North Riding League has only offered 1 new team; Boro Rangers, who are apparently a dynamic and well run club with dozens of teams from U7 upwards, in the process of building a new facility within the town. Unfortunately, in the interim, their ground is New Ferens Park, once home to Durham City (RIP); formerly, this was a splendid arena, but a decade and more of neglect leaves it looking tired and unkempt. Thankfully, it is only a temporary base and Boro Rangers, like their South Tees neighbours Redcar Athletic and Redcar Town, will soon be a credit to the league. The one blot on the landscape for Teesside is Billingham Synthonia’s enduring ground issues since leaving venerable Central Avenue for Norton and Stockton’s old place.
As regards new clubs from the Wearside League, revived Horden, energetic Jarrow and community-based Sunderland West End are all doing well, even if the latter play at the most soulless 4G cage I’ve ever had the misfortune to visit, at Ford Quarry on the South Hylton / Pennywell interface. This was where Washington, who’ve never been a settled outfit since leaving their original home at Albany Park (now houses) for the Nissan Complex, played while waiting for their new ground to be completed, of which more in a bit. Somewhat appallingly, it is also where last season’s Wearside League winners Chester Le Street United, not to be confused with the original Chester Le Street Town team of 50 years standing, will now play their games.
In the Alliance, we are used to teams coming into the league, then discovering they lack the infrastructure, talent or enough volunteers to keep going, and subsequently disappearing into the ether after a single, inglorious season. However, this has not been the case in the Northern League, until now. Chester Le Street United were formed in 2020, as an outlet for young players studying BTEC sport qualifications at Park View Academy in the town. Yes, a glorified college team. There’s nothing wrong with that of course, as Marc Nash with Shields and Ian Bogie at Gateshead, used to harvest the best young talent at Tyne Met College for their teams. The problem is when a team entirely composed of college players, who will possibly stay only for 2 years maximum, has to deal with a fallow crop. Like a Corinthian Athletic Club, instead of only signing those born in the Basque Country, they only sign lads barely old enough to shave. Fair play to them for winning the Wearside League, which is a tough competition with little room for sentiment or compromise, meaning they are in the Northern League on merit. Of course the elephant in the room, and the reason that the wider Northern League community is up in arms, are the ground issues surrounding this club.
Initially, Chester Le Street United intended to play their games at the rear of the Riverside cricket ground. Having been there several times outside of the normal cricket season, to watch Tynemouth CC in the All England Indoor 6-a-side regional qualifiers, I’ve noticed a couple of football pitches; one grass and one 4G. As these visits have been on a Sunday morning, I didn’t notice whether there were any floodlights. I never even thought to check for cover, seats or hard standing. Apparently, the place was in order though, as it passed an advisory ground grading inspection, allowing the club to be promoted. As the deadline for any works to be completed is September 30th after the season starts, there is nothing that can be done to prevent Chester Le Street United abandoning this ground to use the Ford Quarry hub in Sunderland. The main issue with the Riverside is that the floodlights only focus on the 8-lane athletics track surrounding the pitch, as the requisite bus shelter style covered seating and standing is in place. The 4 games they played at the Riverside were all on Saturday afternoons, so the lighting was not as issue. However, Durham CCC and the local council have no plans to upgrade the lighting at this stage, meaning the decampment to Pennywell may be at least in the medium term, if Chester Le Street United continue beyond this season of course.
Meanwhile, one success story is that of Washington FC. After almost two decades of rootless wandering and a hand to mouth existence, they are now a fully-fledged community club, where the first team is the top of a pyramid of teams from U7 to adult. Their new home is at the Washington Hub, formerly known as the Northern Area Playing Fields. I took a trip there on a freezing, rainy Friday night to see them host Redcar Town. I have to say that the ground isn’t really finished; no food, no bar and no inside toilets, but it will be great when it is ready. The lack of lighting in the car park from the main road to the entrance could be a serious health and safety issue on dark nights as winter bites. By far the best thing about this facility, is the superb pitch: wide, flat, well grassed and a delight to play on. While Redcar’s 1-0 win from a late rebound wasn’t the best of games, to the extent it had me asking myself after an hour whether I really liked football anymore, the decent crowd of 180, including proud home supporters and optimistic Redcar followers, enjoyed proceedings. I doubt it is an experience to be shared by those who follow Chester Le Street United any time soon…
The Collapsing Pyramid (Pt 2)
Last week, I discussed the new teams in the Northern League and so, this time, I’m about to discuss what has been happening in the Alliance? Prudhoe YC have moved upwards, as has already been noted, while Cullercoats have thrown in the towel, meaning Cullercoats Reserves are now called Cullercoats, AFC Newbiggin are at Hirst Welfare not People’s Park and Burradon are back at their original ground of the Welfare. AFC Newbiggin Central are now known as Ellington, whose original teams have left the league. In the bottom flight, there are 10 new teams in a division that is running one club short; Amble (the High School), Blyth Rangers (Cowpen Park), Cramlington Blue Star (Action Park), Gateshead Redheugh 1957 (Eslington Park), Hazlerigg Victory (Dinnington Welfare), Heddon United (Walbottle Campus) and Stocksfield (Cricket Ground) we’ve seen before in various iterations, while the U23 sides of Wallsend Boys Club and West Moor and Jesmond are of no surprise. Hence, the only truly new club is Benton, who are based at Churchill Playing Fields. For me to recomplete my Alliance set, trips to Burradon, Blyth Rangers and Hazlerigg Victory were required. While a home fixture for Blyth is still awaited, I’ve pencilled in Burradon v Seaton Delaval when the Main don’t have a game on October 22nd, while I decided on visiting Hazlerigg at their new, albeit temporary, base at Dinnington Welfare while PMA were away to (whisper it) Wallington on September 24th.
Having been frozen, soaked and bored at Washington 0 Redcar Town 1 the night before, I needed some excitement to fall back in love with the game. This was initially lacking as stress became the primary emotion, as it took me 4 kinds of public transport to reach Dinnington from High Heaton. I should have taken the bike. Anyway, wandering down sunlit and deserted streets in a sleepy hamlet adjacent to the airport, I soon located Dinnington Welfare. This is better. This is the kind of place I want to spend my leisure time. A scenic welfare ground in a somnolent village on the far fringes of the city, which is where Hazlerigg are playing until their new facility, paid for and to be constructed by the developers who are building 570 bespoke detached homes on former greenbelt land in the village, is finished, which could be at least a year away. However, in their defence, at least Hezzy (as they are uniformly known) and the man who makes the club a reality, Mark “Bully” Bullock, have a realistic, time-specific, manageable and costed plan for the future. The village needs a football team and Bully will ensure it has one.
One can but hope that Hezzy’s new changing facility is closer to the pitch than Dinnington’s. In a show of utter indolence, half a dozen players drove from the changers, in an attempt to conserve energy I presume. It worked, as Hezzy tore into the visitors, West Moor and Jesmond U23s from the off. As I caught up with Bully and his assistant Andy, who I’ve known for a decade or more but not seen in ages, it became clear why West Moor had lost all of their previous games and why Hezzy are near the top of the table. The home side made and missed several gilt-edged chances, before ruthlessly pouncing twice in a minute before the 20 minute mark. This really should have been game over, but a hilarious piece of comedy defending, whereby the Hezzy keeper came flying out of his area and completely missed the ball, allowing the West Moor lad a chance to tap in to an empty net, made the game a contest again. Before the break, Hezzy restored a 2 goal lead with a great low finish, then the keeper messed up another clearance, hitting his defender on the back, but breathed again as the lad who tapped it home was miles offside. Strolling round the well-grassed pitch, observing the various locals walking their dogs or pausing on bike rides, I had a strong sense of calm and relaxation. This, to me, is football: community based and played for the love of the sport. It almost stopped me pining for cricket. Almost anyway…
After the break, the ref gave a soft penalty each; West Moor scored and Hezzy had theirs saved, but class and fitness told in the end as West Moor ran out of legs and Hezzy relentlessly cut through a stretched defence and punished them ruthlessly. The final score was a scarcely believable 9-2, but it was, sadly, a fair reflection on the game. At the end of September, dappled sunlight and decaying leaves were the appropriate garland for such a game. I’m glad I was there. I’m glad I sponsored the match ball, and I can’t wait to visit Blyth Rangers.
Incidentally, last week Hezzy beat Heddon 4-2 at home and things got no easier for poor West Moor and Jesmond, who lost 20-0 at Wallsend Boys Club.
Percy Main 1 Cramlington
Town 2
The
Main’s 100% home record came to a juddering halt in the first ever contest
between the two sides, through a combination of poor finishing, bad luck,
inspired keeping by visiting goalie David Hansen, a pair of world class finishes
by opposition players and unsympathetic officiating. On another day, the
Villagers could, and should, have notched half a dozen against a cautious
Cramlington side, who rode their luck and lustily celebrated the three points
at full time.
Anxious to get the previous week’s heavy loss at Wallington out of their system, Percy Main began at a high tempo, taking the game to their opponents. In particular, Dillon Blake and Alfie Livermore were the epitome of all-action attackers, constantly harrying the Cramlington back line and creating several presentable opportunities. Blake ought to have opened the scoring on 15 minutes when he miskicked in front of goal after a surging Rob Ridley run and pinpoint cross had left him clear in front of goal. Moments later, a quick break from the back left Blake racing into the area, only for a retreating Cramlington defender to unceremoniously sweep his legs from under him. From his position in the centre circle, the referee deemed the challenge to be a fair one and played on. Almost inevitably, this led to Cramlington taking the lead when Ryan Smith connected perfectly with a loose ball 30 yards out and arrowed his shot into the postage stamp between bar and post with Callum Elliott left a bemused spectator.
A certain equaliser was denied when Hansen made an incredible block from point blank range as Jordan Stephenson prepared to celebrate tapping in from almost on the line from a perfect Blake cross. Unfortunately, further bad luck dogged Blake who was forced to spend a period in the sin bin after questioning the reason behind a series of decisions that saw a breakdown in communication between the referee and his pavilion side assistant. Despite being a man down, the Villagers continued to push their opponents back, without finding a breakthrough and going in a goal down.
The second period began with Percy still denied the services of Blake and, from absolutely nowhere, Andrew Anderson exploited this deficit by thundering an unstoppable second goal for Cramlington from wide on the right. This was the cue for Blake to return to proceedings, but he was no luckier than before, launch a good opportunity miles over the bar with his first touch. A further penalty appeal for a shove in the back was ignored and substitute Matty Nesbitt rattled the bar with a clean strike from 20 yards, before the realisation crept in that this would not be our day. When Matty Nesbitt pulled a goal back with a shot under Hanson in injury time, it wasn’t even a consolation, as the final whistle went soon afterwards, leaving Percy Main to reflect on what could and should have been.
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