North Ferriby

27 April 2013

Northern Premier League

North Ferriby United 1 Chorley 0
Gate: £9
Atten: 435







View all Photos from North Ferriby

A lovely day was spent in the beautiful village of North Ferriby. It looks a decent place to live just a few short miles from Hull and the humber coast.
Linda was in a good mood and we arrived hassle free.

Luncheon was served at the Yorkshire Larder and family run deli cafe, hidden from those who are unaware of it, fortunately i bumped into it by sheer luck, and how pleased i was.  I ordered the Hot Pork, Stuffing and apple sauce sandwich and salad and it was superb. Tasty in every way.


Ferriby's ground is also hidden down a lane by the cricket club behind the allotments.The bar lounge is modern spacious and excellent for this league.


Its a great little ground and is maintained with much care and professionalism. They are definately a club on the up curve.

Todays visitors from Lancashire were Chorley along with three bus loads of  supporters. Ferriby won a tense match with a penalty to continue in their quest from the Championship. A win next week against Ashton United will all but secure the title. It is going to be a long seven days !



Ground: 8/10
Match Enjoyment: 6/10

Stocksbridge Park Steels

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/87/Stocksbridge_Park_Steels_F.C._logo.png25 April 2013


Northern Premier League
Stocksbridge Park Steels 0
AFC Fylde 2


Gate:£8
Atten:124




Ground:
A trip to Bracken Moor had long been on my tick list and today i finally made it. This was Steels' third home game in six days due to a fixture backlog. Opponents AFC Fylde were trying to secure a precious three points to secure a play off place.

Stocksbridge Park Steels F.C. was formed in 1986 as the result of the merger of Stocksbridge Works, the works team of the local British Steel plant, with another local club, Oxley Park Sports F.C. The new club was immediately admitted to the Northern Counties East League Division Two, the works club having previously played in Division Three of the same league,which was discontinued in 1986.


The Steels have always played their games at what was originally called the Bracken Moor Stadium, the former home of Stocksbridge Works. In 2006 it was announced that the stadium was to be sponsored by local newspaper Look Local for a term of five years, resulting in its official name being changed to the Look Local Stadium.

The ground was a cricket pitch until shortly after the Second World War, when it was purchased by a local steelmaking company and converted into a football stadium. Stone-built changing rooms were erected in the mid-1960s, replacing a small hut, as was a seated stand and terracing. The main stand has a distinctive angled awning which extends from the fascia and seats which came from Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium. Floodlights were installed at the stadium in 1990 and the terracing partially covered four years later.
As one side of the ground directly adjoins a cricket pitch, the club was required to erect a dividing fence in order to gain entry to the Northern Premier League. The fence is temporary in nature and is removed during the cricket season. It was partially funded by money raised from friendlies against Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.



I was made very welcome by all the Staff at the club. The ground is a little corker and has a special feel about it. However i am certain to come in mid winter one would experience artic conditions due to its lofty position. My invite inside the boardroom was gratefully expected as it was much warmer and i met some very interesting committee members, many were former players.

Surrounded by eye catching penine views the ground is a must visit for any serious football lover. 8/10



Match Enjoyment:
Days earlier Steels had secured a place in the division for next season with a 5-2 romping of Nantwich. But tonight would be different and so it proved against a decent side from the Fylde coast just a decent 5 iron from Blackpool pleasure beach.



Early doors Steels showed their mettle and it was hard to tell who the promotion chasing side were for at least 44 minutes, until Fylde scored and from then on they were in full control and secured the win with a beautifully worked second late on. 6/10






Marsden

24 April 2013

West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division
Marsden 2-2 Lepton Highlanders

Gate: No Charge 
Atten: 15 (head count) 


Ground & Match Enjoyment : 8/10

As i arrived in Fall Lane with Linda and bird the ground slowly appeared on my left above and behind some dry stone walling, typical of the area. At first glance there appears not a lot to see, but look again and you will notice there is plenty to enjoy. It all unfolded before me in the early evening spring sunshine this little diamond glistened so brightly like a precious jewel. There were no floodlights, no stands, no dugouts ... less is more.







The match itself wasn't too bad and Lepton dominated the first half playing some good football at times but were unable to create many meaningful chances. Marsden equally were unable to create a great deal but their no 11 scored a contender for goal of the season, a turn and volley into the top right hand corner from the right channel 25 yards out, an absolutely amazing finish and worth the visit in itself. This came on 39 and the half ended 1-0 Marsden. 


One strange thing happened as the ball was going out of play but for some reason the Marsden goalie charged out and kicked the ball so hard and far it went out of the ground, over the fire station and finished in the high street ! he only had to tap it a few inches to get the same result.

The second half was pretty much the same but Marsden probably had the better of the play and doubled their lead on 74, a low shot wrong footing the keeper and squirming into the goal. It looked to be game over but there had been a lot of squabbling and a couple of players down injured so a bit of injury time was to be expected. Lepton gave themselves hope on 83 when a corner was whipped in and 10 headed home from the penalty spot, 2-1 and game on?

It didn't look that way and as we entered stoppage time it looked as if it would end 2-1, what we didn't know what how much had been added on. With 4 minutes extra played the visitors snatched an equaliser, the right winger played a ball into the box and the two strikers played an accidental looking one two with 10 tapping in from 2 yards at the near post, 2-2! Lepton players danced for joy as they somehow got a draw from nowhere.






As the final whistle sounded the sun was nearly set and darkness was only minutes away. But even in darkness Fall Lane still shines, but only for those who are prepared to look behind what they first see.