My Matchday - 249 Frenchfield Park

Penrith 0v0 Spennymoor Town
Northern League Division One
Wednesday 14th April 2010
“Oh to be in England now that April’s there” is a famous opening line of Victorian poetic gubbins by Browning, or is it Tennyson? (I better google it*) Spring time means we’re moving towards the finale of the season when the pots and medals are handed out, although there’s a club close to my heart who managed to achieve their goal with still half a dozen games remaining.
Anyway the reason behind this pretentious opening link is my matchday calendar has reached the month of April and the shocking revelation is that this is my first Northern League fixture of the season. However in my defence, and just in case club secretary Mr Haworth happens to be reading this and requests the acquiesce of my membership of ‘The Northern League Club’ I have attended games involving Dunston, Whitley Bay and Shildon in this seasons in FA Vase. (* Aye. It’s Robert Browning…Eddy)

Since my previous visit to Penrith at Southend Road in November 2007, the Blues went on to win Division Two that season(as I predicted at the time) and merged with Northern Alliance club Penrith United, reverting to their original name of plain old Penrith AFC. The team went on to finish 7th in Division One last season and reached the finals of both the League and Cumberland Cups.
Last seasons league title was won in Penrith when Newcastle Benfield clinched the championship with a late winner. As football has a habit of regurgitate itself it was Spennymoor Town who headed west to Cumbria needing three more points to become this seasons champions. However it wasn’t to be, as Penrith held the runaways leaders to a feisty draw after spending nearly the whole of the second half with ten men.

Played on a bobbley pitch the game got off to a poor start, Michael Rae came closest to breaking the deadlock, his effort hitting the crossbar in the 35th minute the only decent chance in an uneventful first half.
Minutes after the restart Penrith’s big centre half Robertson was shown the red card, the linesman on the far side saw something that no one else did, drawing the referees attention and grassing up the big lad for apparently picking on Spenny’s Dixon as the players lined up in the penalty area awaiting a free kick.
The leaders should have gone on and took the required three points, Graydon twice went close with free kicks while Cogdon produced a good save from the keeper. As the game progressed Penrith grew with confidence and could have won the game themselves with their best effort coming from Torres look-a-likey Michael Brown.
In stoppage time Rea had a glorious chance to clinch it, but blasted his close range effort over the bar. His reaction to missing such a glorious chance was to push a Penrith player flat on his back in a rage of frustration. It looked like the player had took the piss out of him for missing a sitter and he reacted like a kid in a schoolyard kick about.
Penrith were delighted to hold the champions elect to a draw, while Spenny still have four games and a big lead at the top to be confirmed as Northern League champions.

Due to the current financial climate the Frenchfield project was completed later than expected but Penrith finally took possession of the new premises prior to the start of the season, kicking off with a friendly with Annan Athletic on the 3rd August.
The ground is situated on the edge of the town by the A66, the complex is huge, 30 acres including seven full size pitches, when I arrived the place was a hive of activity with plenty of football taking place.
Frenchfield Park is found in the far corner of the complex. An attractive looking main stand caters for all amenities. The clubhouse is found at the top of the stand which is a like an executive suite at a big stadium, having a glass front which looks out onto the pitch with a separate area cordoned off for club officials and hospitality.
The changing rooms are underneath, both sets of players facilities are at opposite sides of the stand with the refreshment kiosk opposite the turnstile block.
The stand has a large cantilever roof with nine rows of blue seats with a capacity of around 250. The exterior of the stand is decked with wooden cladding which blends in with the grounds perimeter fence.
At the far side there’s a three stepped standing shelter named ‘The Walter Brogden Stand’ named after the life long fan and club secretary. The rest of the ground is made up of large tarmaced standing with a pair of Perspex dugouts in front of the stand.
It’s obvious that Frenchfield Park lacks the character of the previous home of 106 years, but the ground has been well designed and isn’t a quick knock-up-job as you sometimes get with new non-league grounds. The ground’s tranquil setting with the surrounding farmland and the views of the snow covered hills at Hartside Moor make Frenchfields an inimitable new addition to the Northern League and one that, in time, will become a favourable destination amongst sNL groundhoppers.

Matchday stats
PAFC 0 STFC o

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Admission £5

Programme £1

Ground no.249 Frenchfield Park - Matchday Web album (19 Pictures)

My Matchday - 158 King George V Stadium

Guisborough Town 0v1 Penrith Town
Arngrove Northern League 2nd Division
12th january 2008
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After a wee break from the intrigue and splendour of the Arngrove Northern League, I’m back on the road in my pursuit of finishing off the northern goalfields with a trip to North Yorkshire and my 39th of the current ANL 42.
Guisborough is a market town in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, pronounced locally as ‘Gizbrah’ the towns early football history goes back into the 19th century although records and history have become more a mystery, competitive football from such clubs like Guisborough Red Rose, Guisborough Celtic, Guisborough United, Guisborough Brigantes, Guisborough Boys Club as well as another Guisborough Town who played one season in 1945, all until the arrival of the present club, formed in 1973,when the club proudly declared “a new era of football was born”
The current Guisborough Town starting life successfully in the Middlesbrough & District League before joining the Northern Alliance in 1977, winning the title in their third season, the same season as their glorious achievement of reaching Wembley in the FA Vase, plotting their way through eight rounds including a record gate of 3,112 at the King George V Ground for the semi-final against Hungerford, before losing 2-0 against Stamford in the final.
The 1979-80 Northern Alliance title lead to promotion and a brief spell in the Midland League before becoming founder members of the North Counties East League in 1982, the club moved over to the Northern League 2nd Division in 1985, winning promotion in their second season and stayed in the 1st Division for the next eighteen seasons before the Priorymen were relegated in 2004-05.
To give the ground it’s shortened name, the KGV was developed in the late ‘70’s, the ground has two stands, one on each side with open standing behind each goal, the turnstiles are in the corner with the changing rooms in a separate building. The Main Stand runs along one half of the field with a high pitched white roof with red walls, fitted one half with two rows of red and white flip seats and the other with two red benches, split in between by the press box which unfortunately is out of use at the moment due to vandalism. The seats are set back allowing spectators to stand in front causing no obstructions, with the refreshment bar built into the side of the stand, the social club is at the rear and was reopened in 1997 after the original club house, opened by the clubs prestigious vice-president Selina Scott was damaged by fire. The far side of the ground has a covered standing enclosure, running centrally along a third of the pitch, it has a red and white frame and walls with white supporting pillars, the opposing managers are kept apart with one dugout in front of each stand.
Guisborough Town currently lie fifth, just off the promotion places, but title chasers Penrith came away with maximum points with a typical performance that you’ll see from any club in any league, who are sitting at the top.
The Priorymen started the game lively and created several chances, but the Blues weathered the storm and slowly took control as the half progressed, taking the lead on the half hour with a goal from big centre half and man of the match Wayne Robertson, who after an initial corner and a spot of ping-pong in the box, took advantage when the ball fell kindly at his feet, ramming the ball home from 12 yards.
The second half saw a spirited performance from the home side but the Penrith defence were solid and looked more likely to get another and secure the victory rather than concede, it’s obvious that Guisborough are lacking a good finisher and they’ll have to rectify this if they have ambitions to gain one of the three promotion spots this season, but they did nearly snatch a point deep into injury time, but the foot of the post came to Penrith’s rescue after their defence had been seriously breached for the first time.
Another good ground and day on Teesside plus another Northern League ’tick,’ it’s a shame there isn’t more than 42 clubs in the ANL because i'll miss these 'Northern Ventures' when i've completed the set.
Ground no.158 - KGV Stadium – Matchday Web album (15 pictures)

My Matchday-151 Southend Road

Penrith Town 3v0 Hebburn Town
10th November 2007
Arngrove Northern League Division Two
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A successful trip to Southend Road, the home of the most Westerly based club in the Arngrove Northern League, after missing out the last time in seeing ‘The Blues’ in action, this was also the ideal fixture and excuse to make my escape from another game that was happening today.
Penrith were formed in 1894, apart from one unsuccessful season in the North Eastern League in 1907-08, the club enjoying a successful period during their early years winning many honours within the clubs home county of Cumberland. The Blues later gained entry to the Northern League in 1948; their first of two spells in the league, their major achievements during this era were runners-up to Stanley United in 1961/62 and reaching two League Cup finals.
The club joined the newly formed North Western Counties League in 1982 and won promotion to Northern Premier League Division One in 1988, their highest status within the league pyramid, but by the turn of the ‘90’s the club were relegated and after a gap of 15 years the club transferred over to Northern League Division One, the clubs true football home. Their first season back started with a 6th place finish, but the next season saw relegation, the club have alternated between the two divisions but have won their first ever trophy in the Northern League, winning the Craven Cup in 2001 with a thrilling 5-4 extra-time victory over South Shields.
This is maybe the last full season that football will be played at Southend Road, or to give it its brand name The World Group Stadium, the ground has two turnstile entrances, the main access is behind the Main Stand, where there is a small office and also the changing rooms and old club house which are both decorated in bright blue, behind each goal is open standing, with the Penrith Leisure Centre side housing port cabins representing the refreshment bar and clubhouse. The far side there is a covered standing, which has adequate room giving shelter to the middle third of the terrace, the away dugout is on this side along with the second turnstile in the far corner. The pitch has a slight slope running across the pitch, there’s three floodlight pylons on each side which were installed in 1975 and another ground feature is the Tannoy announcer, who sounded like his other occupation is the bingo caller at the local working men’s club, with his Cumbrian accent having a swaggering drawl to it.
The Main Stand is quite charming in appearance, with its blue frame and the club name and crest on its peak, inside it has a basic row of four wooden benches, but it’s high levitation gives good views of the match, below the stand is the home dugout and to either side on the white panel wall is the inscription “Winners make it happen” and “Losers let it happen” judging by the performance from the Blues this afternoon, it’s the former message that the team inspire to as they easily took care of Hebburn Town 3-0, with the club from South Tyneside lucky it wasn’t more.
Penrith bossed the game from start to finish taking the lead on quarter of an hour with a well taking goal from Michael Hodgson, who found himself with plenty of time in the box to chest the ball down and pick his spot, this was followed by a similar goal on 40 minutes with more slack marking from the visitors, this time it was Barry Irving who took advantage to give the Blues a 2-0 lead at half time.
The second half matched the first, with the home side looking to stretch their lead while Hebburn relied on scoring from a breakaway, but rarely threatened, a third goal finally arrived in the 68th minute when a right wing corner was flicked on to Wayne Robertson to nod home, Penrith could have extended their lead, wasting further opportunities but can be satisfied in making it 10 wins from the last 11 games.
Penrith look a very good side, with this win taking them up to 3rd in the table, 5 points behind leaders Birtley but with 4 games in hand; if it was possible to bet on this level of football then I would be piling on them now to win this Division, amongst this fine Penrith side one player shone; midfielder Derek Townsley ran the show and reminded me of a modern day Frans Thjssen, but without the Dutch forehead and the ‘70’s porn star tache.
I travelled across to Penrith by train and had an enjoyable day out in Cumbria; I stopped off at Carlisle on the way, where I spent time at a local tavern and enjoyed a pint and a valuable goal scored on the TV, so what personally could have been a depressing day for me (a defeat for you know who, by you know what) turned out great, I could enjoy my time in Penrith and look forward to returning next season in the clubs new ground, which on today’s evidence will be in Arngrove Northern League Division One.

Ground no.151 Southend Road – Matchday Web Album.(16 pictures)

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Update May 2008 - Penrith Town went on to win Division Two ahead of second placed South Shields by two points.
They also announced a merger with Northern Alliance Division One club Penrith United and from next season they are dropping the ‘Town’ from their name and reverting back to plain Penrith F.C.

My None Matchday - not 144 Southend Road

27th August 2007

Penrith Town’s Southend Road ground is the furthest journey in the Northern League, not only for me but for most of the clubs playing within the league; they are the only club in Cumbria, situated in the Eden Valley, touching distance from the bootiful, bootiful Lake District.
I took advantage of Bank Holiday Monday to make a major tick off my Northern League list, the Smid family set off and headed west along the A69, then south down the M6 to combine the groundhop with a trip to one of the nearby lakes. After arriving at 12.50, we parked up at the ground and had a look around the town centre, went for a drink and headed back to the ground at 2.35, on arriving we were unable to gain entry, then a group of tracksuited Thornaby players appeared boarding a mini-bus, they informed ourselves as well as another two groundhoppers (who arrived just after us) that the game had kicked off at 12.00. …..aarrrghhhhh!
I checked the fixtures on the Northern League website on Friday and I noticed a couple of games with an early kick off, but Penrith wasn’t one of them, I meant to check before I set off (but didn’t) so there goes my “major tick”, with any luck I’ll have another attempt to get to Southend Road sometime this season, but I’ll ring the club first to confirm the kick off time.
It wasn’t a wasted journey after all, we took a detour to Keswick and had an enjoyable day out, I’ve never been there before, but it truly is a stunning part of the country, me and the breadknife wouldn’t mind going back for a weekend away, maybe it could coincide with Penrith Town being at home, now that’s a canny good idea!

For the record the score was; Penrith Town 1v0 Thornaby.