The Latest Crack

Blog post updates
I've updated some previous posts which only had pictures,and didn't have any of my usual crack about whatever is relevant to the ground itself. So I've made changes and updated the Consett Chester-le-Street Town and South Shields posts,I've also updated the previous sunderland 'Derby Day' post as well, where I go into great detail about why I despise this fixture more than any other,all links are now in 'My Matchdays'

Famous HeedArmy Blog
A big well done to David Gaddess webmaster of my 'cousin site' The Famous HeedArmy whose website has been recieving hits from all over the planet,wanting to know the latest goings on at Gateshead FC and the latest adventures (and mug shots) of the Heed Army.
Davy asked if I would make a contribution to the site and write a piece about the first time I ever saw Gateshead play,I was happy to oblige...
http://heedarmy.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-first-heed-game-private-smith.html

100FGC Members
Some impressive new members to the blog over the last month,including Steve Dobson(aka Simple Pieman) a Spurs fan who has been to 461 in the UK alone including over 300 non-league grounds,he also has his own blogspot that you can find on my links list called 'Pie & Mushy Peas' There's also a few new ground lists from non-league fans(best fans in football,in my eyes)Leatherhead fan Matt Ross and Mossley supporter John Cawthorne.I'd also like to welcome Stefan Schnell an Eintracht Frankfurt fan who has been a great help to me in preparation for my trip to his fine country for the UEFA Cup clash later this month.

My Matchday Pics - 117 Albany Park - Washington FC

Washington 1v0 South Shields
Arngrove Northern League Second Division
21st October 2006
att.151

I located my way to Albany Park without managing to get myself lost(anyone who has been to Washington 'new town' will understand)for Washington's Northern League Division Two clash with table toppers South Shields.
Albany Park has been the home of 'The Mechanics' since 1979,and they're planning to stay after leasing the land on an 88 year contract,after their move from their previous home at Unsworth Park.The main feature of the ground is the impressive new club house,where the main stand is housed,it was rebuilt during the 1992/93 season after the original club house was tragically gutted due to a fire.
"Weshintin" as the locals call it, made their debut in Northern League in the 1988/89 season after a successfull application from the Wearside League,there best finish was winning promotion in the 2000/01 season,finishing runners-up to Ashington.Unfortunatly their stay in the First Division only lasted three seasons,but the club is showing enough ambition to regain their top league status.
This was only 'The Mechanics' third home game of the season,after having to play the first 12 competitive games away from home.This was due to the state of the playing surface which has been covered in water,and extensive work has been made to get it in playable order,this included having to enlist the help of the local fire-brigade.
The game was a tight encounter which became scrappy in the 2nd half,with Washington holding on to there early goal scored by Stephen Burns in the 6th minute,and trying to catch Shields on the break.Washington defended well,and could even added to their lead late on,overall they ran out deserved winners, and the win took them up to 5th in the table,and with plenty of home games in hand they look a good bet to return to the Northern League top flight.




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Updates -

May 2007 - Well I was right! I predicted that Washington looked a good bet to go up and so it was, piping South Shields by 5 points to claim third spot and win promotion to the ANL Division One.
Division 2 league table

Nearest Ground

I came across this handy website,which is usefull for finding out which is the nearest football grounds to you.It lists milage,ticket info,club websites and Streetmap links and It's a good source whenever your away and looking to take in a match.

Simply type in a postcode,and click on football from the drop list.
Unfortunatly it doesn't list non-league, only league grounds,but it's still a useful device to have.
http://www.hopewiser.com/cgi-bin/proximity.cgi



My Top 10 are;
Distance------Div--Club Name---------------Postcode
2.86 miles----PR--Newcastle United Football Co Ltd-NE1 4ST
9.72 miles----CH--Sunderland A F C Ltd------------SR5 1SU
22.67 miles---L1--Hartlepool United Football Club--TS24 8BZ
28.87 miles---PR--Middlesbrough Football Club-----TS3 6RS
28.89 miles --L2--Darlington F C Ltd ---------------DL1 5JB
54.69miles ---L1--Carlisle United F.C. --------------CA1 1LL
78.60 miles-- L1 --Bradford City Football Club------ BD8 7DY
80.15 miles --CH-- Leeds United A F C ----------LS11 0ES
83.45 miles---CH-- Burnley Football Club ----------BB10 4BX
88.92 miles ---L1- -Huddersfield Town A F C Ltd--- HD1 6PE


I can clearly see St James Park from my street,but now I know it's 2.86 miles away. :-)

Ground Image Of The Month

This months ground image was taken by 100FGC Member Erik Roos when he visited Torshavn in the Faroe Islands,for Germany's Euro qualifier in June 2003.
What a quaint setting for a football pitch,I would hate to be a ballboy at that ground,you wouldn't wear a tracksuit you'll need a wet suite.

If you have a picture you would like me to post for Novembers 'Ground Image Of The Month' then send it to me @- Sm1d@blueyonder.co.uk

My Matchday Pics 2006 -116 - Nethermoor Park -Guiseley

Guiseley v Gateshead
F.A.Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
30th september 2006
(score 1-0 att.402)








I took myself along with the wife and kids(or should that be dragged the wife and kids)down to Guiseley in West Yorkshire to watch Gateshead's progress in the F.A. cup come to a premature end.

Guiseley is a town on the outskirts of (dirty)Leeds and is famous for the foundation of Harry Ramsden's chippy empire where he set up "The worlds biggest fish & chip shop" it was also the place where the parents of the Bronte sisters were married(and propably consummated)in Guiseley, and of course, most important of all, it's the birthplace of Sooty!

Nethermoor is a smart little non-league ground,it's basically made up of a seated stand situated along one third of the touch line,ajacent is a standing area which has two seperate covered stands with an open terrace in the middle behind the dugouts.Behind each goal is a small open terrace which is close to the pitch,this is good if you want to give the keeper some stick,the Guiseley keeper saw the funny side with our chants of "There's only one Bobby Davro"

The game was a typical cup tie, and was finally balanced until a late defensive error let in Guiseley to snatch victory and a place in the 3rd Qualifying round,and another step away from facing one of the big lads. Arrre! the romance of the F.A. Cup,who the hell came up with that expression? It's a phrase that throughout the years I've grew to dislike because my football romances end with a broken heart. :-(
match reports @-http://www.guiseleyafc.co.uk/Match%20Reports%20First%20Team/GatesheadH_FACup2QR.htm
http://www.gateshead-fc.com/report.php?i=511

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My Matchday Pics 2006 -115 Ironworks Road, Tow Law Town

Tow Law Town
v
Gateshead
Durham Challenge Cup
Preliminary Round
26th september 2006
(score 1-2)

As the nights draw in and the first chills of autumn are upon us,what better way could there be to fill your tuesday evening, than spending a chilly night in the depths of County Durham,to see Gateshead's quest for a rare trophy at Tow Law Town in the Durham Challenge Cup.

Tow Law is a former iron works and mining town,and lies in the west side of Co.Durham at the brow of the Wear Valley,the gateway to the North Pennines.'The Lawyers' have been in the Northern League since 1920 and have played at Ironworks Road since the late 19th Century,their ground was built by volunteers during the mining strike in 1892/93.The ground features a main stand decked out in the clubs colours of black and white stripes,there is also a covered terrace behind the goal and the main feature of the ground is the slope which runs across the pitch and is steep enough to sledge down on a snowy day.

The Durham Challenge Cup is a competition open to clubs affiliated to the Durham FA,and features clubs from Tyneside,Wearside,Cleveland as well as County Durham itself.Tow Law are previous holders of the trophy,way back in 1895-96 season,but they'll have to wait another season to try and get their hands on the trophy again as the 'Heed Army' march through to the first round proper.The Tynesiders will be hopeing to become county cup winners,in a county that we're not even a part of,but we won't quarrel about geography if we can get our hands on a pot come the spring.

match report @-http://www.gateshead-fc.com/report.php?i=508

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My Matchday Pics 2006 - 114 Boldon CA Sports Ground -Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA F.C.

Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA
v
Pontefract Collieries
The F.A.Vase (2nd qualifying Rd)
23rd September 2006
(score 4-1 att.108)





With Newcastles match against Everton moved to Sunday with it being the live Sky TV game I took the opportunity
to tick off another Arngrove Northern League(the 2nd oldest league in the world)ground of my list.I took the short trip along the Tyne to Boldon Community Association Sports Ground,home of 'The Roofers' for their F.A. Vase clash with Pontefract Collieries.

In 1991 Jarrow Roofing developed an unused site in Boldon as part of their long term ambition to progress to the Northern League.After progressing through the pyramid via the Wearside League,their ambition was fulfilled when they took their place in the Northern League Division 2 for the 1996/97 season when they finished runners-up to Northallerton, and they've consolidated there position in the top league ever since.
I was expecting an entertaining game with plenty of goals,'The Roofers' first 10 games this season has produced 55 goals including two 5-2 wins,a 5-4 win but also two 5-1 defeats.I wasn't dissapointed either,after a competitive first half the scores were level at 1-1 and just before half-time Pontefract were awarded a penalty,when the kick was awarded a young Pontefract fan turned to the few of us sitting in the main stand and said "Me Dad takes the penalties,he's bount to miss",his Dad didn't let him down either as he smashed his effort against the bar.In the 2nd half Jarrow got a grip on the game and hit the Yorkshiremen with a three goal burst early in the second half and ran out convincing winners by four goals to one.
So 'The Roofers' progress in to the next round of the FA Vase where they'll be hoping to go one better than their performance in this competition 2 years ago, where they lost out at the semi-final stage to Didcot Town in front of a record crowd of 1,100. Good Luck to them :-)
match report @- http://www.jarrowroofingboldoncafc.co.uk/REPORTS.HTM







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