Arngrove Northern League 2nd Division
27th January 2007
att. 84
Whenever conversation turns towards Whickham FC and their home The Glebe Ground, if I happen to mention that I still haven’t been there,the response is usually “Eh! yi haven’t been to the Glebe?” so I’m pleased to finally rectify this and make the short trip up to the posh end of the Gateshead Borough to see the club nicknamed ‘The Home Guard’ in their Northern League Division 2 game against league leaders Spennymoor Town.
Whickham is just west of Gateshead and to have the postal address which ends with Whickham,Newcastle-Upon-Tyne,NE16 usually means you’ve got a few bob,but I don’t see it that way,yes!there is some lovely real estate in the area,but my personal view is,well it’s just Dunston with double glazing. :-)
Whickham FC were formed in 1944,and originally called Axwell Park Colliery Welfare where they played within the Derwent Valley League,they changed their name to Whickham FC in 1962 and went on to win the Northern Combination League on three occasions after a brief spell in the Tyneside Amateur League.
They’ve been members of the Northern League since 1988 having progressed through the usual route of the Wearside League,where they played their football from1974,winning two titles and two League Cups.
The clubs biggest success was winning the FA Vase at Wembley in 1981,coming from behind to claw back a two goal deficit and beat Midlands club Willenhall 3-2 after extra time,with the backing of a good 5,000 who travelled down from Tyneside.I vaguely remember seeing the FA Vase at a match in Wallsend,when Whickham were the holders, and the trophy was on display at the side of the pitch,little was it known at the time,but that turned out to be the last ever victory for a team from our region at the twin towers.
The Glebe Ground has a capacity of 4000 and is a three sided ground due to there being a cricket pitch parallel with the touch line.The main stand is behind the goal,and is a small stand with the seated area made from black wooden beams,next to this is ‘the corner flag café’ which sells a smashing cup of tea(in a mug as well)and top quality pies(Simple Pieman,get yourself here!) all served by friendly smiling staff.
There are four proper floodlights, when I say ‘proper’I mean one in each corner of the ground and of course,a Northern League tradition,a pitch with a slope,which runs from the cricket field side towards the dug-outs,but this particular slope is not as steep as the one you’ll find at Tow Law.
So I’ve finally crossed Whickham FC-The Glebe Ground of my list and next time it’s mentioned I can say I’ve been there, it’s a friendly club which sells a lovely cuppa!
Whickham is just west of Gateshead and to have the postal address which ends with Whickham,Newcastle-Upon-Tyne,NE16 usually means you’ve got a few bob,but I don’t see it that way,yes!there is some lovely real estate in the area,but my personal view is,well it’s just Dunston with double glazing. :-)
Whickham FC were formed in 1944,and originally called Axwell Park Colliery Welfare where they played within the Derwent Valley League,they changed their name to Whickham FC in 1962 and went on to win the Northern Combination League on three occasions after a brief spell in the Tyneside Amateur League.
They’ve been members of the Northern League since 1988 having progressed through the usual route of the Wearside League,where they played their football from1974,winning two titles and two League Cups.
The clubs biggest success was winning the FA Vase at Wembley in 1981,coming from behind to claw back a two goal deficit and beat Midlands club Willenhall 3-2 after extra time,with the backing of a good 5,000 who travelled down from Tyneside.I vaguely remember seeing the FA Vase at a match in Wallsend,when Whickham were the holders, and the trophy was on display at the side of the pitch,little was it known at the time,but that turned out to be the last ever victory for a team from our region at the twin towers.
The Glebe Ground has a capacity of 4000 and is a three sided ground due to there being a cricket pitch parallel with the touch line.The main stand is behind the goal,and is a small stand with the seated area made from black wooden beams,next to this is ‘the corner flag café’ which sells a smashing cup of tea(in a mug as well)and top quality pies(Simple Pieman,get yourself here!) all served by friendly smiling staff.
There are four proper floodlights, when I say ‘proper’I mean one in each corner of the ground and of course,a Northern League tradition,a pitch with a slope,which runs from the cricket field side towards the dug-outs,but this particular slope is not as steep as the one you’ll find at Tow Law.
So I’ve finally crossed Whickham FC-The Glebe Ground of my list and next time it’s mentioned I can say I’ve been there, it’s a friendly club which sells a lovely cuppa!
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