Pre-season friendly
21st July 2007
att.15
It’s hard to believe that today’s date is July 21st, I originally planned to travel to Marske United, incorporating taking the kids down to Redcar sea front then on to the Marske United v Whitby Town game, but it definitely isn’t seaside weather, so I decided to travel to Darlington Railway Athletic, for their pre-season game with Pathhead Amateurs, but this game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, next on the list was a trip to Esh Winning v Consett, but this too fell victim to the weather, at last, a phone call to Coach Lane and confirmation that their friendly with Leeds Met Carnegie was on, yes today’s date is JULY 21ST not December 21st.
Team Northumbria were formed in 1998 originally as Northumbria University, the clubs creation was part of the university’s sports development programme, originally for students and former students only, the playing staff is now open to all comers.The Coach Road ground is part of the university’s state-of-the-art sports campus, based in the Benton district of Newcastle, the ground has the basic criteria needed for the Northern League level, there is a covered stand which is set back from the pitch, and houses 100 red seats, the other three sides of the ground are open, behind one goal is the complex’s all weather pitches, and on the far side of the ground there’s the large DHSS building shadowing in the background.
The club’s had large success in a short space of time, winning minor cup competitions until taking their first steps on the non-league ladder in the Northern Alliance First Division in 2002, then into the Premier Division the following year, three good seasons finishing 2nd, 3rd and 1st gained their entry into the Northern League last season.
Team Northumbria consolidated with a middle table finish of 11th, but will be looking to improve this term, on the evidence of this afternoons performance things look promising after easily taking care of North Eastern Counties Division One side Leeds Met Carnegie, TN took an early lead through striker Matty Hill in the 16th minute with a good finish, in a match classed as a friendly, but with a few ferocious tackles in the opening period, the home sides supremacy told in the second half’s pouring rain, with a good goal from Young and another from Hill, this time from the penalty spot after a handball.
I was disappointed that there wasn’t a programme for the game and not even a team sheet, there was also no refreshments on sale either, but I can’t really complain considering it was free admission, I wasn’t expecting a big crowd, m0st neutrals fancying a game would have been tempted by the Newcastle Benfield v Queen of The South match taking place less than a mile away.
I counted 15 in attendance, I took along my two kids (armed with PSP to keep them entertained) which meant the Smudgers took up 20% of the gate, amongst those 15 were a few ‘professional groundhoppers’ bragging about their latest ground bagging achievements, I was just pleased to get to see a game this afternoon and tick another ground off the Northern League list.
Ground 140- Coach Lane- Matchday Web album(18 pictures)
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