Northern
League Div 2Tow Law Town 1
Darlington Railway Athletic 2
Atten 50ish
Gate £5
Atten 50ish
Gate £5
View all Photos from Tow Law
After a long wait i finally made the
pilgrimage to Ironworks Road. As you drive up high into the Weardale
hills going to Tow Law feels like going to Mecca.
I arrived earlier than usual and spent time visiting the war memorial in the village centre. It's awesome, a soldier with rifle and bayonet and a huge list of local men who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today. Pre-match meal was enjoyed at "The Pantry" in the high street. A delicious freshly cooked breakfast , the best i have had for a long time, all washed down with tea from the most inaccessible regions of the himalayas where the leaves of tea are rolled on the inner thigh of a geordie lass before your very eyes.
The ground is situated on Ironworks Road - a steep hill to be more precise. The Clubhouse and Social Club are situated just outside the ground and hanging on the wall proudly are photos from the good old days. Including their visit to Wembley in 1988 when the whole village had descended from the Durham Coal fields to the smoke and bright lights of London. I got chatting to an elder who was enjoying his lunch time tipple who had lived all his life in the village and how he remembers those days with much fondness and how his famly go back generations following their 'heroes' in black & white.
I arrived earlier than usual and spent time visiting the war memorial in the village centre. It's awesome, a soldier with rifle and bayonet and a huge list of local men who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today. Pre-match meal was enjoyed at "The Pantry" in the high street. A delicious freshly cooked breakfast , the best i have had for a long time, all washed down with tea from the most inaccessible regions of the himalayas where the leaves of tea are rolled on the inner thigh of a geordie lass before your very eyes.
The ground is situated on Ironworks Road - a steep hill to be more precise. The Clubhouse and Social Club are situated just outside the ground and hanging on the wall proudly are photos from the good old days. Including their visit to Wembley in 1988 when the whole village had descended from the Durham Coal fields to the smoke and bright lights of London. I got chatting to an elder who was enjoying his lunch time tipple who had lived all his life in the village and how he remembers those days with much fondness and how his famly go back generations following their 'heroes' in black & white.
The Lawyers first ground was in Church Lane but the present Ironworks Road ground was built by volunteers during the miners strike of 1892/93.
Another memory was the tremendous F.A. Cup run of 1967/68. Having reached the first round Tow Law beat Mansfield 5-1 and in the second round drew 1-1 with Shrewsbury at Ironworks Road. The Lawyers went into the hat for the Third Round and drew a home tie with Arsenal. Sadly it was not to be after they went down 6-2 at Shrewsbury in the replay. Frank McGee reported after the replay "Arsenal were saved from a fate worse than death - a trip to Tow Law in January".
The
game itself was not the best as both teams struggled with the very
strong winds. The wind turbine was at full speed and noise !. Tow Law
scored with their first real shot on target possible against the run
of play. Visitors RA equalised before half time as the game entered
its later stages the only winner looked like being the wind. But the
RA goalie made at least thress excellent saves and mnutes before the
end RA broke clear to score the winner and complete the smash and
grab.
The
obvious focal point of the ground is the impressively painted main
stand , possibly the most colourful in the league. The views over
Weardale are spectacular and a typical warm geordie welcome awaits.
I decended down the hills from 'Mecca' and entered civilisation again. Going to Tow Law is like visiting another world. I wonder what it's like here in January ?
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