Around The Alliance - part six

286. Stocksfield Sports Ground
Stocksfield 0v2 Shankhouse
Northern Alliance Premier League
Wednesday 4th May 2011
Stocksfield is a village situated on the south side of the River Tyne in south-west Northumberland, between Newcastle and Hexham.
Stocksfield Sports Ground is a large complex consisting of cricket, rugby, floodlit 5-a-side courts and three football pitches. The football club use the pitch at the far side in front of the Newcastle-Carlisle train line, which is fenced off on three sides with one side left open to accommodate a second cricket pitch, there’s also a pair of neat wooden dugouts in front of the Tyne Valley line banking.
The cricket pavilion is used for changing facilities and there’s a large car park at the entrance, although this was full due to both cricket and football taking place on the same evening.
The club formed in 2005,winning the Pin Point Personnel Amateur Cup the following year and made progress with two promotions in 2006-07 and 2008-09.
Their first season in the Northern Alliance Premier Division last term was played at the vacant Kimberley Park in Prudhoe, but the reformation of Prudhoe Town has meant a return to Stocksfield.Shankhouse grabbed a well earned win with a goal in each half, with a cross-come-shot from Gustard on 13 minutes and sealing victory five minutes from time with a lovely goal from Dormand, the striker connecting with a corner kick to volley the ball home from inside the box.

Between the goals both sides created good chances, but the visitors deserved the three points, hitting the woodwork and missing a few one-on-ones which would have made the score line look more handsome.

Matchday stats

SfFC 0 ShFC 2(Gustard 13, Dormand 86)
att.27(HC)
Admission and programme:none

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287. Derwenthaugh Park
South Shields United 2v3 Stocksfield
Pin Point Recruitment Charity Cup Final

Thursday 12th May 2011

Derwenthaugh Park is found west of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead on At Well Road in Blaydon. The ground was built on wasteland on the former site of the Derwenthaugh Coke Works for Swalwell Juniors in 1998. The facility has two full size pitches both with dugouts, with the main pitch fully fenced with floodlights and some hard standing. There’s also a large function room with changing rooms and four floodlit astro turf 5 a side pitches.
Swalwell Juniors comprises 18 teams, made up from kids between the ages of 6 and 17. The senior side has played in the Northern Alliance Second Division since 2009 and the club also run a reserve team.

Swalwell FC played hosts to the Pin Point Recruitment Charity Cup Final, the competition gives financial support to good causes and charities in the north east.
The Charity Cup will be renamed the Bill Gardner Memorial Trophy from next season as a mark of respect to the league's long serving Press Officer who passed away in December 2010.
The final turned out to be a cracker and a proverbial game of two halves. Shields were the better side in the opening half, looking dangerous when breaking forward with their pacey strike force. They took the lead on 39 minutes when Aristote Guerin seized on a loose ball in the box then just prior to the half time whistle, a goal to grace any cup final. Tijan Kah picked up the ball wide right, outpaced the defender, pulled off a few lollipops before unleashing an unstoppable and precise drive into the top left hand corner - a tremendous goal!
So 2-0 at half time and the team in the Blyth Spartans reject strips looked set to lift the trophy, but a Glenn Caygill header on 56 minutes halved the deficit which began a great Stocksfield comeback.
Ten minutes later Scott Johnson’s hard work and persistence paid off, poking the ball home from close range before the fight back was completed five minutes from time, substitute Martin Graham finally smacking the ball into the net after an array of missed chances.
Stocksfield deservingly win the cup but it’s a shame that Shields United, having already tendered their resignation from the League couldn’t go out with a bang by lifting the trophy.

Matchday facts

SSUFC 2(Guerin 39, T Kah 45) SfFC 3(Caygill 56,Johnson 66,Graham 85)

att.130.approx

Admission with programme:£2
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288. South Newsham Pavilion

Blyth Town 2v1 Harraby Catholic Club

Northern Alliance Premier League

Wednesday 18th May 2011

I featured Blyth Town in the third part of the Around The Alliance series in May 2008. At the time the club had problems with their pitch and were giving special dispensation from the League to fulfil their fixtures over on the South Beach pitches.

So after three years I’ve finally got around to revisiting the club at their home turf against Cumbrian based Harraby Catholic Club, the only club in the Alliance Premier who I’d previously never seen in action.

South Newsham Pavilion has two pitches, the main ground is fully railed off with a pair of Perspex dugouts. The pavilion has bar facilities and changing rooms, there’s also a 5-a-side court behind the nearside goal.
At one point I thought there was no football to be had. Harraby still hadn’t turned up by the designated kick-off time of 6.30. The team bus finally arrived at quarter-to-seven having been stuck in traffic, which meant the match was ok to k.o. at a later time of 7pm.

Blyth took an early lead through Hopwood with a header at the far post before an equaliser on 26 minutes, Wordsworth was left unmarked to nod home a left sided free kick.
The match was finely poised and could have gone either way but it was the home side that clinched it, Haig capitalised on a defensive mix-up to skilfully round the keeper and shoot past the covering defenders on the goal line.
Overall quite a good game, which is usually the case and it’s very rarely a disappointing affair when watching games around the Alliance.

Matchday stats

BTFC 2(Hopwood 5, Haig 73)HCC 1(Wordsworth 26)
att.28(HC)
Admission & Programme:none

Around the Alliance - part five

This seasons trip around the Alliance didn’t go as I had planned mainly due to one thing - the weather. I visited Shankhouse back in October then planned more games before Christmas, but consecutive weeks of snow meant postponements, which included visiting Carlisle City being put on hold. (‘till hopefully next season)

231. Northburn Sports & Community Complex
Shankhouse 0v1 Stocksfield Northern Alliance Premier Division 31st October 2009

Shankhouse is the a small village and the oldest team in Northumberland, formed in 1883. The club joined the Northern Alliance in 1891-92, the following year becoming only the second club to win the league (after Sunderland ‘A’).
The current club emerged in the 1990’s, rejoining the Northern Alliance and progressed through the leagues to reach the Premier Division in 1998.
Shankhouse won the Alliance in 2004-05 under the guidance of current manager Gary Kirkup and finished runners-up the following year.
The club have played on many different pitches but have now settled in nearby Cramlington at the Northburn Sports Complex which is shared with Alliance 2nd Division club Cramlington Blue Star.
The pitch is enclosed with a picket fence which separates the ground from the neighbouring pitch at the far side. There’s a pair of Perspex dugouts and a set of three floodlight pylons on each side of the pitch. The facilities in the community centre are used for changing rooms and refreshments.

Shankhouse were up against newly promoted club Stocksfield, who clinched their third away win and in the process recorded a first clean sheet of the season
The winning goal arrived in the 35th minute when a corner kick from Bregstrand went through a crowd of players and fell nicely into the path of Josh Brooks, who poked the ball home from four yards.
The second half saw Pearson twice going close to doubling the lead, but Shankhouse struggled to break down a stubborn Stocksfield defence, comfortably holding on to their slender lead and gained revenge for the 4-1 reversal two weeks earlier.

Matchday stats
ShFC 0 StFC 1(Brooks 35)
Att.34(HC)
Admission and programme: none
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Revisiting 216 Farnacres, Beggarswood Park
Rutherford 0v1 Percy Main Amateurs

Northern Alliance Division One
28th April 2010

My first new ground this season was at Beggarswood Park, where I saw Northern League side Whickham kick off the pre-season. Since my visit back in July, work on the impressive new clubhouse and changing rooms is now complete with a new adjoining car park.
I took a dip into the First Division to see leaders Rutherford up against Percy Main Amateurs in a top of the table clash. Amble United separated both teams in second place, as the three clubs were battling for the two promotion spots.
Percy leapfrogged their rivals with a well deserved win over the league leaders. The decisive goal came early in the game when a right corner was met with a strong header from Tony Browell. Percy should have put the game to bed but missed a catalogue of clear cut chances which kept the game alive, giving Rutherford a chance of snatching a point. But the Main deservingly held on to close to gap at the top to a single point with both clubs going head-to head for promotion in the season finale.
Footnote.
Since that game both clubs remained in the top two with Rutherford clinching promotion on 15th May after a 4-1 win at Berwick United. Percy Main joining them the following week winning their final game (also at Berwick) to finish runners-up.

Matchday stats

GRAFC 0 PMAFC 1(Browell 13)
Att.41(HC)
Admission and programme: none

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253. Amberley Park

Killingworth Sporting 1v1 Shankhouse

Northern Alliance Premier Division

15th May 2010

Killingworth Young Peoples Club who this year celebrate their 30th anniversary, formed a senior side in June 2007 to play in the Northern Alliance. The club have made a perfect start becoming champions of Division Two and Division One in successive seasons giving them Step 7 status going into their third season.
The club are based at Amberley Playing Fields which is a large complex with about seven full size pitches. The main pitch is in front of the pavilion which is fenced off with hard standing all round, dugouts but no floodlights, although there are lights on another fenced of pitch.
The KYPC building is fully licensed with a good choice of refreshments available and a big projector screen showing Sky Sports.

An early kick off which was originally scheduled for noon, before being brought forward to an 1130am start, saw a decent attendance with a few groundhoppers taking the opportunity of an Alliance double(rucksacks and carrier backs being the telltale sign)
A goal in each half saw the clubs share the points. Shankhouse took the lead on 19 minutes when Dortmand stayed onside before running through on goal and placing his shot wide to the keepers left.
‘House’ should have doubled the advantage when Cook hit the crossbar with a close range header, as minutes later they were punished after a defensive comedy of errors allowed Bolardo to head home Killy’s equaliser from close range.
Both sides pressed for a winner in the remaining twenty minutes but overall a draw was a fair result in a competitive match played in good spirit.

Matchday stats

KSFC 1(Bolardo 66) ShFC 1(Dortmand 19)

att.40(HC)

Admission and programme: none

Around the Alliance - part four

The fourth part of the football clubs and grounds of the Northern Football Alliance Premier League, featuring two clubs which won promotion last season.


182 Wheatridge Park
Seaton Delaval Amateurs 3v1 Heddon
Northern Alliance Premier League
16th August 2008
Seaton Delaval is a village in the Blyth Valley district, five miles north-west of Whitley Bay in south-east Northumberland.
Seaton Delaval Amateurs joined the Northern Alliance in 1983-84 and have won the championship twice; in 1989-90 and 1992-93. In 1994 the club merged with Seaton Delaval Seaton Terrace, who had been originally formed as High Pit Social in 1981, before changing their name the following year.
The ground is off the A192, and was a bit difficult to find, hidden behind a plot of allotments with no signpost on the main road. I managed to catch a glimpse of a crossbar, so doubled back into a small lane which leads to the ground, where a man standing next to a small hut was waiting to take your quid admission.
Car park spaces are providing behind the nearside goal to the entrance, where you park up facing towards the pitch, meaning you don’t need to leave your vehicle to watch the game, making it another one of those drive-in football venues.
There’s a wooden enclosed terrace, the blue painted roof overhanging from the changing rooms out parallel with the dugouts. There’s terraced steps running towards the near corner flag, and towards the opposite flank is the outside toilet block which was feature in The Football Bog Blog #12. There is uncovered hard standing all around, with a old dugout on the far side used by spectators for extra shelter with a grass bank running pitch length, giving a better elevated view.
Delaval ran out worthy winners, with the game being over as a contest after 50 minutes when Howes made it 3-0, after earlier efforts from firstly Arnos, who caught out the keeper with a well placed lob and then Baird adding to the scoring with a nice half volley, capping a fine first half performance from the home side.
The last half hour was all Heddon, but all they could muster was a solitary reply from John Dunn who capitalised on a defensive error, finishing with a well taking effort, the win took Seaton Deleval top for the first time this season and they’ve remained in contention for the title since.
Overall Wheatridge Park is a tidy little ground, the only main fault being no signposts and no identity inside, as in a ‘welcome’ sign of some sort. However I would recommend it’s worth a visit during the winter months, so you can enjoy the game from the shelter and warm of your car

Matchday Stats
SDA 3(Arnos 26, Baird 31, Howes 51) HTC 1(Dunn 62)
Att. 45 (HC)
Admission £1
Programme;none
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195. Wark Sports Club
Wark 3v0 Amble
Longhorn Hardware Stan Seymour League Cup
20th December 2008

Wark is a small village and civil parish located twelve miles north-west of Hexham in Tynedale, west Northumberland, on the west bank of the River North Tyne
The club became members of the Northern Alliance in 1988, two successive relegation in 1995 and 1996 saw them hit the bottom division, they won promotion to Division One in 1998-99 and then last season won promotion back to the Alliance Premier, winning the league with 25 wins out of 30 and scoring 125 goals. Further research on the club was difficult to find, Google results constantly took me to the career of former Ipswich and Liverpool goal scoring Scottish midfielder John Wark.
On arrival you drive through the village, along Main Street which brings you to a single lane weak road bridge, where the Wark Sports Club is at the other side of the river. The ground is situated in the most tranquil of settings, where the only noises to be heard is the baa of sheep in the next field, the calming sound of the river flowing by and the odd tractor going to and from the neighbouring farm.
The Sports Club entrance has a spacious car park, where there’s an entrance to the clubhouse and changing facilities which share the same building block with also access at pitch side and is situated to
the right corner of the pitch. On the left side is a children’s park, a netball court and what must be a football ground first; a skateboard park, which runs parallel to the goal and the corner flag. There’s a pair of brick dugouts at one side and a white perimeter fence, with one side roped off to open up the cricket pitch.
I arrived at the ground at 1pm, with the Amble team still to arrive, then a quarter of an hour later a convoy of five cars crossed the aforementioned bridge, with players spilling out of the vehicles, with just enough time to get changed and warm up.
Wark controlled this League Cup tie from the kick off, missing an array of chance, as if they were determined NOT to score, when the goal finally did arrive on 42 minutes, it was worth the wait, a long clearance found Nixon, who struck a sweet shot on the turn from 20 yards out.
Wark continued to dominate the game after the interval, with further goals from Telfer and a second for Nixon, this time from the penalty spot after he was dragged down in the box, making a final score of 3-0, however Amble can count themselves lucky it wasn’t a heavier defeat.
During the game there was a few bad tackles, with one in the opening minute of the game setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon, ten minutes from time a bad tackle caught one of the Wark lads, everyone knew it was a broken leg straight away, the game was halted and an ambulance had to be called, best wishes to the lad and I hope he’s on the mend soon.
I can highly recommend a visit to Wark, I travelled over after finishing work (meaning I went from work to Wark) and with it being an early kick off I was a bit strapped for time, meaning I couldn‘t stop for a pint and a visit to the GBG listed Battlesteads Hotel at the entrance to the village, which looked a convivial spot and another good reason to make Wark a laudable ‘tick’
Matchday Stats
Wark 3(Nixon 42,62pen Telfer 54)Amble 0
Att.14 (HC)
Admission and programme; none
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196. Recreation Park
Murton 4v1 Peterlee Town
Northern Alliance Premier League
27th December 2008
Murton is a former mining village in County Durham, located six miles east of Durham and seven miles south of sunderland, and forms part of the local government District of Easington.
The club was formed as Murton Colliery Welfare in 1912, becoming Wearside League members the following year, winning the championship twice in 1928-29 and 1936-37. In 1946 they joined the re-formed North Eastern League but returned to the Wearside League five years later, adding another title in 1959-60. In 1988 they joined the Northern League and also dropped the CW suffix from their name, winning the Division Two title in only their second season. Their best performance was finishing second in 1991-92, but after relegation in ‘98 the clubs fortunes nosedived, finally losing their Northern League status, joining the Northern Alliance in 2004-05. Further relegation followed but last season they regained there place in the Alliance Premier after finishing runners-up to Wark.
Recreation Park has cover behind the dugouts and behind the left hand goal, both stands are of similar stature, made from congregated iron and both looking on their last legs, as if a strong gust of wind will see them collapse like a pack of cards. Both stands have a white wall at the front with the stand behind the goal set back from the pitch on top of a slope. Next to the main stand there’s a building block which incorporates the changing rooms and refreshment area.
The ground is surrounded by a cricket pitch, the welfare park and another football pitch where I saw a cracking second goal by local side Hylton in their 3-0 win over Seaham, during the half time interval.
The match was a local derby between the only two Northern Alliance Premier clubs based in County Durham this season. Peterlee took an early lead through Pyle, but were reduced to ten men when the second scuffle in the space of five minutes saw their number 10 sent off, which was a bit more than ‘handbags’ with raised hands and threatening behaviour, this gave Murton the edge and they grabbed an equaliser before half time with a goal from Summerbell.
There was a slight delay early in the second half, in the first minute a wayward pass struck the referee on the leg and he went down needing treatment, the ball wasn’t exactly blasted off him, but he acted as if it was something serious, after a few minutes he finally got on his feet and restarted the game, the whole episode making him look nothing more than a prize soft shite!
Murton made the extra man count in the second half, with a second goal by Summerbell and further goals by Garside with a fine individual effort, and a last minute goal from substitute Walton completed the rout.
Recreation Park could do with a bit work, as it seems to have been left to wreck and ruin, the surrounding Welfare Park and cricket ground seem nice enough but the football ground looks neglected and dishevelled. After being a victim of repeated vandalism and arson throughout the years I suppose it’s like urinating against the wind as far as ground improvements are concerned, which is a shame considering it’s less than five years ago that they were a Northern League club.
Matchday stats
MAFC 4(Summerbell 37, 53 Garside 66, Walton 89) PTFC 1(Pyle 10e)
Att. 47 (HC)
Admission and programme; none
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Around the Alliance - part three

The third and final part of my mini-tours around the grounds of the Northern Football Alliance Premier Division for this season, I've enjoyed visiting these clubs and attended some great games, I look forward to continuing the series next season.
(click on images to enlarge)

Ground no.168 - Sporting Club of Cramlington
Cramlington Town v Shankhouse

16th April 2008

Cramlington is a small town 9 miles north of Newcastle in Northumberland, Shankhouse Black Watch joined the Northern Alliance 2nd Division in 2000, winning promotion in their first season and changing their name to Cramlington Town a year later, last season the club won promotion to the Alliance Premier after finishing runners-up to Gillford Park in Division One.
Sporting Club of Cramlington is based within the grounds of Cramlington High School, the ground was opened in November 2003 at a cost of £10,000, thanks to local funding and an award from the Football Foundation, giving the ground the basic requirements of spectator barrier system, dugouts and technical area.Additional facilities for both school and community use, were provided by Northumberland County Council, using capital from the sale of surplus school land to allow the original £3m sports complex proposals to be developed.
The Sporting Club is an active place, I missed the kick-off as I struggled the find a parking space, as well as the Cramlington Town match there was another five or six games taking place, mostly involving junior girl matches on the many football pitches around the complex.
The game was very competitive with an above average count of late tackles, near neighbours Shankhouse scored the only goal of the first half; be it a fortunate one, a cross from left back Heppell took an unkind deflective, spinning over the helpless keepers head. The result seemed settled after an hour, a scramble in the box produced a few efforts at goal with one shot stopped on the line by a defenders hand, the referee had no hesitation in giving a penalty and a red card, Armstrong made no mistake with his spot kick. Shankhouse looked comfortable, soaking up any pressure from the ten men, looking more likely to add to the score until five minutes from time when a great save from the keeper stopped a late consolation goal from Town, but from the resulting corner the ball fell to Miller on the edge of the box who’s shot went through a packed defence and into the net. Then amazingly, to everyone’s surprise, Cramlington rescued a point in injury time via the same player, again a corner kick wasn’t cleared and the ball fell nicely in his path, blasting a shot into the roof of the net. Overall a spirited and entertaining game with both clubs sharing the spoils in the Crammy Derby.
Matchday Stats
Unofficial HC attendance 44
2-2 scorers - Miller(86,90+1) -/- Heppell(19) Armstrong-pen(59)

Ground no.170 - Cochrane Park
Newcastle University v Carlisle City
26th April 2008

Newcastle University have several sports facilities throughout the city but the principal competitive venue for football, rugby and cricket is found at Cochrane Park, located north-east of the town centre.
The venue houses 4 football pitches, 3 county standard rugby pitches, 1 cricket square and 5 tennis courts, with the ground the football club use situated at the far side of the complex. The site has an attractive looking pavilion, used as team changing rooms, with a function suite and bar facilities.
Newcastle University have played within the Alliance since 1988 and have been in the Premier Division since the 2000-01 season, last season they finished 6th their highest position to date. The University’s football club squad is now picked from current students only, they struggled earlier this season, but have finished the campaign well, lifting themselves off the foot of the table.
Carlisle City provided physical opposition to the students, after a goal from Foote on 19 minutes, City equalised after half and hour, a good finish from Gardner from a tight angle making it level at the break. Uni were the better side in the second half, taking the lead on 66 minutes when Kewn turned a right wing cross goal wards, a defender on the line tried to stop the ball with his hand but the shot proved too strong, the goal scorer appealed for handball, but within a second later turned away to celebrate the goal, forgetting about his penalty plea. The Students secured the win and capped a fine 2nd half display with a late goal from Crockett, giving them another valuable 3 points in their pursuit of avoiding the drop.
Matchday Stats
Unofficial HC attendance 11
3-1 scorers; Foote(9) Kewn(66) Crockett(85) -/- Gardiner(32)
















Ground no.172 - South Newsham Playing Fields
Blyth Town v Alnwick Town
12th May 2008

Blyth Town were originally formed as a junior boy’s team in 1995, the adult side began in 2002-03, the previous seasons Under 18’s made the step into senior football and won the Alliance 2nd Division title in their debut season. The club now run 26 teams from Under 6’s boys to men and girls Under 10’s to ladies.
The adult side progressed, winning promotion to the Alliance Premier in 2005 and this season they’ve won the NFA Senior Benevolent Bowl, beaten Wark last month at Whitley Park by a goal to nil.
The ground lies on the main A1061 road into Blyth, where you find the car park and the club pavilion, which has recently undergone major improvements, including expansion to the changing rooms and a function suite.
On arrival I noticed the players walking away from the ground, crossing the road and heading through a pathway in between two housing estates, this lead towards a large playing field with two football pitches, one of which was a daisy field roped off for use as the venue for the match. Obviously this couldn’t be the home ground of Blyth Town, being not correctly fenced off, without dugouts and not meeting the Level 7 requirements. I made enquiries about the main ground and was told after a league inspection, it was deemed unfit for use, with the club giving special dispensation to play at this ground until the former is passed fit. Looking at the club website it shows they have 8 pitches, 4 at South Newsham and 4 at South Beach, the fixture was listed as South Beach-pitch 2, so after being disappointed at not seeing the club play on their proper home ground, at least I’ve scored for an extra ‘tick’ and I’ll make a revisit when they’re back across the road playing on the main pitch.
Alnwick Town were the visitors to South Newsham Playing Fields, sorry… that should be South Beach-pitch 2, I didn’t know it at the time, but last season I witnessed their last game in the Northern League before Demotion into the Alliance, last seasons squad have now gone and they find themselves a place behind Blyth in 13th
They returned back up the A1 with a comfortable 2-0 win, with a goal in each half, the first a header directly from a corner on 14 minutes from Patterson and the second from Keen on 65, there was more chances to add to their tally but the front two struggled to stay onside, blaming the linesman for their badly timing forward runs.
At half time Blyth Town made a couple of substitutions, one of them was a lively left-winger who was shithot fast and keen as mustard, he was constantly involved although his eagerness saw a couple of late tackles, one of which resulting in an unfortunate accident, as he overstretched he snapped his leg, letting out a scream which could be heard as far away as Ashington. The upshot of this was the game was stopped for 25 minutes as the lad couldn’t be moved, with the players and spectators having to hang around waiting the arrival of the ambulance. I spoke to a few Alnwick supporters and we agreed the game should be stopped, with only 10 minutes left to play, the 2-0 score line should stand, I decided that personally the game was over and decided to head home, hoping I wouldn’t find that Blyth Town made a remarkable recovery winning 3-2 in those last ten minutes, however it did stay 0-2 so I didn’t miss anything and I managed to get home for the second part of Coronation Street.
Blyth Town have major ambitions; with their main wish to eventually become a Northern League club, they’re also looking to make major developments at South Newsham, to establish themselves and show there’s more than one club in Blyth.
Matchday stats
Unofficial HC attendance 32
0-2 scorers; Patterson(14) Keen(65)