Wensleydale Cup Final

The Dales Cup

4 May 2013

Wensleydale Creamery League
Dales Cup Final
Richmond Town 0-1 Unicorn FC
@ Spennithorne & Harmby FC
 Leyburn
North Yorkshire 
Atten: 100+
Gate: £2

View all photos from The Dales Cup Final

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Stunning scenery everywhere !

Wensleydale,perhaps above all others is the dale that most people associate with this part of the world. At nearly forty miles long the pasture land grazed by flocks of Wensleydale Sheep is only broken by the dry stone walls. Where other dales have more rugged features Wensleydale's are rounder, softer,and greener.
After leaving Richmond in Swaledale, i headed over the North Yorkshire countryside to Wensleydale the journey was simply outstanding. From Leyburn to Bedale  the views are particularly outstanding. I did not know which way to look first such was the beauty of the region. If i took a photo of every great view i would have to stop the car every 30 yards or so.

As i arrived at the home of Spennithorne & Harmby FC , hosts for todays final i was greeted with a smile. It is a well appointed venue which has a good stone-built clubhouse, A tea bar was in operation but there was no programme. The club has achieved FA Charter Standard and is clearly a big community asset. The final was hard fought but a largely uninspiring contest decided by a goal midway through the first half as Unicorn achieved a league and cup double. Their opponents missed a great chance to equalise with a nailed-on penalty blasted yards wide late in the first half and thus producing the loudest cheer of the afternoon.
The last few minutes Richmond kept pressing but to no avail as by then Unicorns name was on The Dales Cup.

Unicorn in their distinct purple kit celebrated loudly and proudly and at the prize giving even the ref was joining in the celebrations. They sprayed the champagne, sung and danced.

As the crowd dispersed and the fizz of the champagne had gone flat i started to make my farewell and express how much i had enjoyed my visit to The Dales.

As i made my way back to base i continued to enjoy the wonderful surroundings that had delighted me the whole day. Like earlier i kept getting tempted to stop the car to take 'just' one more photo as i passed the rolling green fields with the sheep and spring lambs meandering all protected by the superb dry stone walls. But i was unable to as my camera battery was now flat from over usage ...... and who could blame me ?