Heed Hopper

✔941 South Leeds Stadium

South Leeds 2-3 Worsborough Bridge Athletic

Northern Counties East League Division One

Saturday 12th October 2024

Middleton FC formed in 2017 as a Sunday League Team in the Leeds Combination League, switching to Saturday football the following year into the Yorkshire Amateur League. The club progressed through the divisions, winning three promotions and the Supreme Division title last season, which gained promotion to the Northern Counties East League. Less than a week after winning promotion, the club was renamed South Leeds FC, having merged with a local junior club.

The club have 6 teams from Seniors to Juniors,with the Reserves playing the Yorkshire Amateur League Premier Division.

Yorkshire Amateur League:

Division 3 Champions 2018–19

Premier Division Champions 2020–21

Supreme Division Champions 2023–24

Yorkshire Amateur League Hancock Cup Winners 2018–19

Yorkshire Amateur League Cup Winners 2022–23

Leeds & District FA Senior Challenge Cup Winners 2021–22

South Leeds Stadium

The John Charles Centre of Sport

Belle Isle

Leeds

LS11 5DJ

Current NCEL grounds visited 37/42

The John Charles Centre for Sport is a multi-purpose sports facility in South Leeds, which opened in 1996.

The stadium was the first part of the sports centre to be built. It has a two tier stand at the west end of the ground which has a capacity of 3,450 named the Geoff Gunney Stand. It also houses the changing rooms, corporate boxes and the Phoenix Bar. The stadium has a running track and the pitch is shared with Hunslet rugby league club.

South Leeds 2 Worsborough Bridge Athletic 3

Baris NCEL Division One matchday 16/13

7th v 19th

1500 ko

Att.134

Spondoolicks:

Admission £6

Sausage roll £2.50

Coffee £1.50

(Programme available £2)

The match was settled at the restart when Keelan Grist put Athletic three goals up. South Leeds made a decent fist of it with ten men, but ran out of time to gain a point.

26’ 0-1 Lewis O'Connor

29’ 0-2 Lloyd Smith

46’ 0-3 Keelan Grist

63’ 1-3 Jordan Hassiem

70’ Red Card - (South Leeds)

90’ 2-3 Joseph O'Neil

#Heedhopper

98 miles door-to-door

0610 Megabus to Leeds arr 0850

I spent the morning perusing the city record shops and ticked off beers in the JDW Real Ale Festival.

I caught the 75 bus towards Middleton at 12.15pm, stopping off at the White Rose Shopping Centre to meet up with Lee and Katie, to visit a previously uncharted ‘Spoons, before the short drive to the ground.

✔940. Jill Scott Astro Pitch

Jarrow FC Reserves 5-3 Durham City

Clem Smith Bowl Preliminary Round

Saturday 5th October 2024

Jarrow FC Reserves play home matches behind the Perth Green ground at the Jill Scott Astro Pitch. Jill Scott MBE, the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation officially opened the 4G pitch at Perth Green Community Centre in February 2023.

This was the first of 23 grassroots football pitches named after England's Euro 2022 winning lionesses, unveiled in the North East in honour of mackem midfielder Jill Scott.

Jarrow FC Reserves 5 Durham City 3

Clem Smith Bowl Preliminary Round

1330 ko

Att.52hc

A very entertaining cup tie with some cracking goals. The match could have gone either way until Jarrow clinched the tie deep into stoppage time.

7' 0-1 Junior Masandi

19' 1-1 Bradley Holt

20' 2-1 Jak Edwards

47' 2-2 Owen Hayton

51' 3-2 Ethan Mitchell

62' 3-3 Brandon Gredziak

63" 4-3 Bradley Holt

90+9' 5-3 JJ Duncan

#Heedhopper

Current Wearside League grounds visited 49/51

✔939. Consett Cricket Club

Consett Blackfyne 0-1 Ferryhill Town Youth

Wearside League Second Division

Saturday 28th September 2024

Another club to join the Wearside League this season are Consett Blackfyne, who moved from the North East Combination League. The team have played their opening home fixtures at Consett Leisure Centre, but are now finally at their official home now the cricket season has finished. The pitch is tucked away at the back of the pavilion and is fully enclosed.

Consett Blackfyne 0 Ferryhill Town Youth 1

Wearside League Division 2 matchday 7/11 (12th v 6th)

1430 ko

Att.16hc

Both teams were poor in front of goal, with the match settled early in the second half.

51' 0-1 #16

58' Missed penalty(handball) #11 (Ferryhill)

(awaiting team sheet)

#Heedhopper

14 miles door-to-door

Current Wearside League grounds visited 48/51

A leisurely drive up the hill where I met up with Katie for the game.

✔938 Esh Winning Cricket Club

Deerness Valley 8-0 Washington FC Reserves

Clem Bowl Prelimanary Round

Saturday 21st September 2024

Wearside League First Division outfit Deerness Valley have relocated from Ushaw Moor to Esh Winning Cricket Club from this season. The enclosed football pitch is at the far side, above the cricket pitch and changing rooms on top of the hill. Refreshments are available in the bar within the cricket pavilion.

The team faced Washington FC Reserves in the Clem Smith Bowl and took full control of the tie with three first half goals. Another five strikes in the second half including a hat-trick from Ben Urwin saw them run out 8-0 winners.

Deerness Valley 8 Washington Reserves 0

Clement Smith Bowl Preliminary Round

2pm ko

Admission £3

Att.31hc

11' 1-0 Ben Medland

39' 2-0 #7

44' 3-0 Sam Horner

48' 4-0 Ben Urwin

50' 5-0 Ben Urwin

62' 6-0 Ben Urwin

66' 7-0 Sam Horner

68' 8-0 #16

#Heedhopper

17 miles door-to-door

Current Wearside League grounds visited 47/51

My Google Maps sat-nav took me on a tour through Co.Durham, travelling through Sacriston, Witton Gilbert and Langley Park, before arriving in Esh, where I met up with Katie for the game.

County Durham Double

Saturday 14th September 2024

A morning kick off set up a County Durham double involving two newcomers to the Wearside League this season.

The Crook Town Youth side play at Crook Primary School, which is an enclosed pitch with refreshments and furniture behind the goal. They faced Jarrow FC in the Durham Minor Cup, taking the lead against the run of play, before the visitors hit back with two late goals to win the tie.

Thankfully that cup match was settled in ninety minutes, so after a fifteen minute drive I arrived at Middlestone Moor in perfect time, just before the kick off.

Middlestone Community Centre pitch is in a terraced street, fully fenced off with changing rooms and car park behind the goal. They were up against i2i International in the Clem Smith Bowl, going three goals ahead after only 23 minutes. The visitors kept plugging away but Moor were more lethal in front of goal, winning 7-4 in a very entertaining cup tie.

936.Crook Primary School

Crook Town Youth 1-2 Jarrow FC Reserves

Durham FA Minor Cup 1st Round

1130 ko