7th Annual
Onion Bag Awards
2016-17 Season
Best Ground Visited
WINNER
Cappielow Park - Greenock Morton
When
you first step inside Cappielow
Park you know instantly that you have arrived in a special place.The
whole place just oozes history and charm.
The
main stand covers the full length of the pitch. On the opposite side
is a massive covered terrace which takes you back to the good old
days of watching football. Both ends behind the goals are open
standing and very spacious. The pitch was in fantastic
condition.
Catering was of a high standard and the prices were both value & sensible. The whole feel around the ground was relaxed and enjoyable.
Catering was of a high standard and the prices were both value & sensible. The whole feel around the ground was relaxed and enjoyable.
Cappielow
has been home of Morton since 1879 and in its early history hosted
International football , Athletics ,track cycling, and even
unlicensed greyhound racing events. Its a cracker of a ground and is
a 'must' visit for any so called football enthusiast.It is a fantastic ground, and i loved it !.
Favourite
Non League Ground Visited
WINNER
The Giant Axe - Lancaster City
I spent a fantastic day visiting Lancaster and the Dolly Blues.The Giant Axe was immaculately presented and looked fantastic in the August sunshine.With its eclectic mix of stands.It feels wonderfully spacious and gives the impression its a proper non league ground.
It is already known the club formed in 1905 as Lancaster AFC, folded in 1910 and was believed to have been replaced by Lancaster Town FC in 1911. However the new club would only have been permitted to join the Lancashire FA if it had satisfied the authorities it had no connection whatsoever with the previous Lancaster club. Today they are certainly a club on the up-curve and have played some excellent football this season and also gained promotion to the Northern Premier League.
The views from the ground are wonderful , which include Lancaster Castle.
WINNER
Hall Lane - Willington AFC
The club was
established in 1906 and joined the Northern League in 1911.They
finished as runners-up in their second season, and won the league in
1913–14. In 1925–26 they won the league again, and in 1927–28
they reached the semi-final of the FA Amateur Cup, losing 2–1 to
Cockfield in a replay. They won a third Northern League title in
1929–30, and in 1938–39 they reached the final of the Amateur
Cup, losing 3–0 to Bishop Auckland at Roker Park, Sunderland.
In 1949-50 they again reached the Amateur Cup Final played in front of nearly 100,000 at Wembley where they beat local rivals Bishop Auckland. That the day the whole town had migrated south for the day.
“Mind,” he adds, “tremendous player, Tommy Holden.”
It was the Winter of Discontent. The miners were on strike, electricity rationed.No floodlights allowed, even if Willington had had them, and none for the replay, either. The replay was played on the Monday lunchtime. Though Rovers had fallen on relatively hard times, briefly in the third division, they were mill town millionaires compared to the thin seam toilers of the former colliery town of Willington.
Today Willington AFC looks fantastic & the iconic main stand and facilities are beautifully maintained by the club's loyal team of volunteers.
Its a very special place and just reeks of history. In my mind its a 'temple' of north east football. Quirky, charming, and beautiful.
Most Friendly Club Welcome
Due to the amount of possible winners i have split this into North & South categories as to choose only one winner would be impossible.
WINNER - South
Bowers & Pitsea FC
Bowers
& Pitsea FC is located just a '5 iron' away from Basildon in
TOWIE land and to use the local vernacular is 'reem' ! The
club was established in 1946 by Bert Salmon as Bowers United and
initially played in the Thurrock and Thameside Combination and today
ply their trade in the dizzy heights of Isthmian League North. Having
just completed their first season in the league finishing a very
creditable sixth place just one win short of the play-offs. They are
certainly a club whose future looks very positive. First team manager
Rob Small is a classy guy and is doing a brilliant job for the club .
The club were originally based at what later became Pitsea Market,
before moving to Gun Meadow. When the A13 was built, the Gun Meadow
ground was subject to a compulsory purchase order, resulting in the
club moving to its current home on Crown Avenue.
What
a fantastic group they are , real football people ,and my welcome
from everybody was as if I was a long lost son coming home. I suppose
being surrounded by West Ham fans only made the visit more enjoyable
being a lifelong Hammer myself. On the pitch I think I caught them on
an off day as local rivals Witham Town banged five goals passed them.
But they conceded the defeat with dignity, which only added to my
regard for them.
Fantastic
day spent with Bowers in every respect and I cant wait to go back at
the earliest opportunity.
WINNER - North
Willington AFC
 |
As
early as September last year I had this earmarked for an OB Award for
the visit was that good. Star of the day was Shaun ,Vice President /
Groundsman / Tea Maker / Teams Organiser etc etc he took
multi-tasking on a match day to new levels. Am not sure how many
'hats' he was wearing but he always had time for the visitor and make
them feel special and welcomed. I saw him in the boardroom one minute
then next minute I passed him using the grass strimmer to ensure Hall
Lane did not have a blade of grass longer than any other.
Shaun
has been there boy and man and it shows. His passion and incurable
optimism for the club shines through so brightly. The boardroom is a
treasure chest of football memorabilia and Shaun even took the time
to offer me a personal tour. Everybody else was very welcoming and
caring and went out of their way to ensure my visit was enjoyable.
The levels of their friendliness held no boundaries.They deserve an
OB Award and a visit to Willington comes with my very highest
recommendation.
|
Prescott Cables , Ball Haye Green , March Town United and Prestatyn Town
Least Friendly Club Welcome
Holders
Fortunately
no clubs visted this season merited consideration.
Therefore Margate
FC retain their trophy for the 5th
season running. Congratulations.
However there was one club in the Northern League who self-inflated ego's seemed out of control. But at least they were not foul mouthed
.
Most Enjoyable Match
WINNERS
Dodworth MW 2 Penistone Church 2
What
a cracking match this was between two teams low in the football
pyramid.
The
match itself was play on neutral ground at Emley. Depite their lowly
status both teams were very well supported. Dodworth (Barnsley)
brought three coach loads of support.
The
roar from the crowd as each team scored or got on top was
impressively loud. The game swung back wards and forward and was
exciting from start to finish. Even extra time could not split these
two teams and in the end Dodworth won the penalty shoot out 5-4.
Fantastic match and totally unexpected. It was so enjoyable that even the Emley fans said it was the best game at their ground all season. Enough said !
Worst Match of the Season
WINNERS
Glasshougton MW 0
Worsborough Bridge 0
That's
two hours of my life I wont ever get back. This was dross and utter
rubbish. No chances on goal. The less said about this evening last September the better !
This was the 4th time i had watched Worsborough Bridge and each time they have failed to score . In fact i saw them receive more red cards than scored goals !
Most Memorable Match Day
WINNERS
Edale 8 Stoney Middleton 4
Hope Valley League
Upon
finally arriving in Edale we could not find the football pitch and in
the end ran out of petrol. Thankfully a kind resident of the village
went home to grab a can of petrol they had saved for such
emergencies. The nearest garge was five miles away in Hope. God bless
those lovely people !
Edale
FC play in the Village playing fields adjacent to a play park.
Players change in the portacabin.The ground has no furniture of sorts
but has spectacular views to Kinder Scout which more than make up for
the lack of facilities. The pitch was long and bumpy all over. The
touchlines were hardly white and were more like deep grooves.
The
match itself was non stop entertainment including some fantastic
goals including a 25 yard screamer in to the top corner, an
up-and-under from level with the corner flag. A 20 yard free kick
curler into the top corner , a clever chip over the goalie , and
plenty more.
Stoney
Middleton actually went 2-1 up midway through the first half and
looked in control and had plenty of chances to go further ahead. But
Edale equalised before half time. HT 2-2. After
a four minute break off they went again and suddenly Edale went
beserk scoring 4 goals in no time to make it 6-2. Stoney grabbed one
back to make it 6-3 , but then Edale scored 2 more quick goals to
make it 8-3 and there were still 15 minutes left to play.Then
a Stoney player was at least ten yards offside …. yes I did say ten
yards ! and the ref played on for them to score and make it 8-4. It was
another 'keystone cops' moment in this astonishing match.
Moment
later the ref blew the final whistle to end a most breathtaking
afternoons entertainment. For the many near misses , excellent saves
this game could of ended 11-8 very easily. The Stoney Middleton
players were still shaking their heads as they returned to the
changing rooms whilst the Edale players were taking the nets down.
Then quite bizarrely within minutes the whole place was empty as if
nothing had happened …
Best Photo Set of the Season
WINNER
Ben Webster - Fair Isle
Just
stunning photography work from Ben. Take a look at his collection,
but beware that you will spend more time salivating than expected.
All his photo sets can be viewed HERE
My
personal favourite set is from Fair Isle have look here …
Just
WOW !!!!!
Non League Person of the Season
WINNER
Mr Michael Clegg - Atherton Colls
What
a guy Cleggy is , what a season had by Atherton Collieries. He
deserves all the applause he can get after securing promotion with
Atherton Colls to the Northern Premier League for the first time in
their history. He deserves a knighthood.
The
way he has knitted together the most 'tightest' group of players. The
bond they have within their squad is like no other I have seen in non
league football.
They
football they have played has been excellent and the banter
throughout the season has been amazing.For all his hard work over the
last three seasons and the progress made by Mr Clegg he fully
deserves an OB Award.
It
would be no suprise in seasons to come bigger clubs will come calling
for him and his backroon team, for he is that good. Quality guy in
every respect.
Best Tea Hut
WINNER
Stocksbridge Park Steels
Homemade Carrot & Ginger Soup
Delicious
food served by Steels and the homemade soup was so tasty.
The
night I visited we had sleet and rain storms so it made the homemade
soup a real winner. All served with a warm crusty bread roll.