Many thanks to everyone who voted in the online poll regarding the new Wembley, the result is a yes to the yes vote, with 72% agreeing that the new home of English football is classed as a new ground, so anyone who has already visited Wembley or so does in the future (even if you don't agree) can add one to your total."Wem-ber-lee" - Poll Result
Many thanks to everyone who voted in the online poll regarding the new Wembley, the result is a yes to the yes vote, with 72% agreeing that the new home of English football is classed as a new ground, so anyone who has already visited Wembley or so does in the future (even if you don't agree) can add one to your total.Many Happy Returns!
Today is the blogs 1st birthday, within the last year the website has had over 16,000 visitors (but you can take off at least 1000 with my own hits) and the 100 Football Grounds Club now has 65 members.Many thanks to Ian, Rev Nick, Ally GB and a Spurs fan from Perth, Australia (Jack Warner, please get in touch) the original members, who were the first to submit their ground details, when I was trying to drum up some interest and get the site off the ground, and of course sincere gratitude to the next 60 stadiumitis fans who followed.
One year gone and hopefully many more to come, Cheers!
On the subject of birthdays, also celebrating today is the webmaster and author of this website along with my second offspring James (Smid jnr.)Happy 9th birthday to the bairn (and me).
My Matchday - 140 Coach Lane Sports Ground
Team Northumbria 3v0 Leeds Met Carnegie
Pre-season friendly
21st July 2007
att.15
It’s hard to believe that today’s date is July 21st, I originally planned to travel to Marske United, incorporating taking the kids down to Redcar sea front then on to the Marske United v Whitby Town game, but it definitely isn’t seaside weather, so I decided to travel to Darlington Railway Athletic, for their pre-season game with Pathhead Amateurs, but this game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, next on the list was a trip to Esh Winning v Consett, but this too fell victim to the weather, at last, a phone call to Coach Lane and confirmation that their friendly with Leeds Met Carnegie was on, yes today’s date is JULY 21ST not December 21st.
Team Northumbria were formed in 1998 originally as Northumbria University, the clubs creation was part of the university’s sports development programme, originally for students and former students only, the playing staff is now open to all comers.
The Coach Road ground is part of the university’s state-of-the-art sports campus, based in the Benton district of Newcastle, the ground has the basic criteria needed for the Northern League level, there is a covered stand which is set back from the pitch, and houses 100 red seats, the other three sides of the ground are open, behind one goal is the complex’s all weather pitches, and on the far side of the ground there’s the large DHSS building shadowing in the background.
The club’s had large success in a short space of time, winning minor cup competitions until taking their first steps on the non-league ladder in the Northern Alliance First Division in 2002, then into the Premier Division the following year, three good seasons finishing 2nd, 3rd and 1st gained their entry into the Northern League last season.
Team Northumbria consolidated with a middle table finish of 11th, but will be looking to improve this term, on the evidence of this afternoons performance things look promising after easily taking care of North Eastern Counties Division One side Leeds Met Carnegie, TN took an early lead through striker Matty Hill in the 16th minute with a good finish, in a match classed as a friendly, but with a few ferocious tackles in the opening period, the home sides supremacy told in the second half’s pouring rain, with a good goal from Young and another from Hill, this time from the penalty spot after a handball.
I was disappointed that there wasn’t a programme for the game and not even a team sheet, there was also no refreshments on sale either, but I can’t really complain considering it was free admission, I wasn’t expecting a big crowd, most neutrals fancying a game would have been tempted by the Newcastle Benfield v Queen of The South match taking place less than a mile away.
I counted 15 in attendance, I took along my two kids (armed with PSP to keep them entertained) which meant the Smudgers took up 20% of the gate, amongst those 15 were a few ‘professional groundhoppers’ bragging about their latest ground bagging achievements, I was just pleased to get to see a game this afternoon and tick another ground off the Northern League list.
Ground 140- Coach Lane- Matchday Web album(18 pictures)
Pre-season friendly
21st July 2007
att.15
It’s hard to believe that today’s date is July 21st, I originally planned to travel to Marske United, incorporating taking the kids down to Redcar sea front then on to the Marske United v Whitby Town game, but it definitely isn’t seaside weather, so I decided to travel to Darlington Railway Athletic, for their pre-season game with Pathhead Amateurs, but this game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, next on the list was a trip to Esh Winning v Consett, but this too fell victim to the weather, at last, a phone call to Coach Lane and confirmation that their friendly with Leeds Met Carnegie was on, yes today’s date is JULY 21ST not December 21st.
Team Northumbria were formed in 1998 originally as Northumbria University, the clubs creation was part of the university’s sports development programme, originally for students and former students only, the playing staff is now open to all comers.The Coach Road ground is part of the university’s state-of-the-art sports campus, based in the Benton district of Newcastle, the ground has the basic criteria needed for the Northern League level, there is a covered stand which is set back from the pitch, and houses 100 red seats, the other three sides of the ground are open, behind one goal is the complex’s all weather pitches, and on the far side of the ground there’s the large DHSS building shadowing in the background.
The club’s had large success in a short space of time, winning minor cup competitions until taking their first steps on the non-league ladder in the Northern Alliance First Division in 2002, then into the Premier Division the following year, three good seasons finishing 2nd, 3rd and 1st gained their entry into the Northern League last season.
Team Northumbria consolidated with a middle table finish of 11th, but will be looking to improve this term, on the evidence of this afternoons performance things look promising after easily taking care of North Eastern Counties Division One side Leeds Met Carnegie, TN took an early lead through striker Matty Hill in the 16th minute with a good finish, in a match classed as a friendly, but with a few ferocious tackles in the opening period, the home sides supremacy told in the second half’s pouring rain, with a good goal from Young and another from Hill, this time from the penalty spot after a handball.
I was disappointed that there wasn’t a programme for the game and not even a team sheet, there was also no refreshments on sale either, but I can’t really complain considering it was free admission, I wasn’t expecting a big crowd, most neutrals fancying a game would have been tempted by the Newcastle Benfield v Queen of The South match taking place less than a mile away.
I counted 15 in attendance, I took along my two kids (armed with PSP to keep them entertained) which meant the Smudgers took up 20% of the gate, amongst those 15 were a few ‘professional groundhoppers’ bragging about their latest ground bagging achievements, I was just pleased to get to see a game this afternoon and tick another ground off the Northern League list.
Ground 140- Coach Lane- Matchday Web album(18 pictures)
My Matchday - Victoria Park
Hartlepool United 1v3 Newcastle United
Pre-season friendly
17th July 2007
att.6030
Revisiting Ground No.37 - first visit 14th August 1984, Hartlepool Utd 2v4 Newcastle Utd, Pre-season friendly.
Football’s back (was it ever away?) and my return to spectator action started at a ground where we are always made welcome, Hartlepool United, who on my list of football priorities come in fourth spot with obviously Newcastle and Gateshead first and second, “Have sunderland lost? third, then “Did Hartlepool win?” fourth.
The grounds origins began in Queen Victoria’s Jubilee year of 1886, when West Hartlepool Rugby Club purchased land from the North-Eastern Railway Company, by 1908 the rugby club folded and a new football club Hartlepools United were formed taking up the vacant land, top amateur side West Hartlepool initially ground shared with United after losing their Park Road ground until they too folded in June 1910, with the professional club then taking over that clubs assets.
Pools were the perennial survivors of the Football League, surviving re-election on a record 14 occasions, as well as its host, the ground itself is a great survivor, during World War One German Zeppelins on a bombing raid targeting the surrounding steelworks and shipyards flattened the main stand, it also took a hiding by a German Naval attack on the town, the clubs vain attempts to receive compensation from the German Government fell on deaf ears, they even had the cheek to have another go at the ground during the Second World War, but luckily this time, not unlike the German football team, missed their goal.
A temporary main stand was built after the original was destroyed in that attack in 1916, it stayed right up until 1986 with the only improvements made being patching up work on the leaky roof with congregated iron, the Clarence Road end of the ground lay flat and exposed until finally the ‘Nice one Cyril Knowles Stand’ was opened in 1995, this has a range of blue and white seats with the directors box in the middle of three sections, it also has the players tunnel and executive boxes at the top of the stand.
The north end of the ground is the away section, the Rink End has covered seats which were installed in 1992, opposite is the Town End terrace which is also covered and of a similar size which gives the stadium an equal balanced look.
The Millhouse Stand now renamed the Camerons Brewery Stand has a cantilever roof separated into two tiers, divided into seats in the upper with standing underneath, the ground still has the classic tall floodlight pylons which were installed belatedly in 1968 after a young up and coming manager named Brian Clough led Pools to promotion to Division Three.
Residents of Hartlepool have throughout the years been giving the tag ‘Monkey Hangers’ after the legendary tale of the hung monkey, thought to be a spy, when a French warship was washed up on the Hartlepool coast during the Napoleonic Wars, I think once upon a time the local folk may have took offence at this, but now it’s all taking in jest, the clubs mascot and former town mayor is H’Angus the Monkey, who was also in action earlier in the week, finishing second in the Mascot Derby to some Hippopotamus from Stoke City.
Hartlepool v Newcastle has become quite a regular pre-season fixture in recent years, the last appearance from the Toon was in 2004, a 6-0 win which included an Alan Shearer hat-trick, my personal last visit was in 2002 where I was to witness the United debut of a one Titus Bramble, who on that evening reminded me of that big plasticine man Gillespie from Tony Harts Morph, the great lummox had a nightmare start to his Toon career and set the trend for the next five years.
Again there were new debutants at this years fixture, Joey Barton and David Rozehnal had very impressive starts and of course it was Big Sams first game in charge, starting with a win with hopefully many more to come, but the top man on the night was Shola Ameobi, complete with a new hip, he was like a modern day Steve Austin, rebuilt and ready for action, it could be a big season for the Nigerian from Walker, Shola grabbed a brace on the night with a Michael Owen goal sandwiched in between, amazingly only the second goal I’ve seen from the England star in a black and white shirt, this was after Pools took a shock lead from James Brown (he felt good!)
Overall it was a very entertaining game, which didn’t lose any of its flow considering all the substitutions that were made, both teams can be pleased with their nights shift, again I enjoyed another revisit to Victoria Park and hope Pools have a good 2007/08 campaign and a long and successful stay in League One and beyond.
Revisiting Victoria Park Web album (25 pictures)
Links-HUFC Match Report
NUFC Match Report
Update May 2008 - Another false dawn with 'Big Sam' and as far as Shola Ameobi is concerned, his season peaked with this good performance v Hartlepool, he never impressed when giving his chance, and was finally loaned out to Stoke City in the January transfer window.
Pre-season friendly
17th July 2007
att.6030
Revisiting Ground No.37 - first visit 14th August 1984, Hartlepool Utd 2v4 Newcastle Utd, Pre-season friendly.
Football’s back (was it ever away?) and my return to spectator action started at a ground where we are always made welcome, Hartlepool United, who on my list of football priorities come in fourth spot with obviously Newcastle and Gateshead first and second, “Have sunderland lost? third, then “Did Hartlepool win?” fourth.The grounds origins began in Queen Victoria’s Jubilee year of 1886, when West Hartlepool Rugby Club purchased land from the North-Eastern Railway Company, by 1908 the rugby club folded and a new football club Hartlepools United were formed taking up the vacant land, top amateur side West Hartlepool initially ground shared with United after losing their Park Road ground until they too folded in June 1910, with the professional club then taking over that clubs assets.
Pools were the perennial survivors of the Football League, surviving re-election on a record 14 occasions, as well as its host, the ground itself is a great survivor, during World War One German Zeppelins on a bombing raid targeting the surrounding steelworks and shipyards flattened the main stand, it also took a hiding by a German Naval attack on the town, the clubs vain attempts to receive compensation from the German Government fell on deaf ears, they even had the cheek to have another go at the ground during the Second World War, but luckily this time, not unlike the German football team, missed their goal.
A temporary main stand was built after the original was destroyed in that attack in 1916, it stayed right up until 1986 with the only improvements made being patching up work on the leaky roof with congregated iron, the Clarence Road end of the ground lay flat and exposed until finally the ‘Nice one Cyril Knowles Stand’ was opened in 1995, this has a range of blue and white seats with the directors box in the middle of three sections, it also has the players tunnel and executive boxes at the top of the stand.
The north end of the ground is the away section, the Rink End has covered seats which were installed in 1992, opposite is the Town End terrace which is also covered and of a similar size which gives the stadium an equal balanced look.
The Millhouse Stand now renamed the Camerons Brewery Stand has a cantilever roof separated into two tiers, divided into seats in the upper with standing underneath, the ground still has the classic tall floodlight pylons which were installed belatedly in 1968 after a young up and coming manager named Brian Clough led Pools to promotion to Division Three.
Residents of Hartlepool have throughout the years been giving the tag ‘Monkey Hangers’ after the legendary tale of the hung monkey, thought to be a spy, when a French warship was washed up on the Hartlepool coast during the Napoleonic Wars, I think once upon a time the local folk may have took offence at this, but now it’s all taking in jest, the clubs mascot and former town mayor is H’Angus the Monkey, who was also in action earlier in the week, finishing second in the Mascot Derby to some Hippopotamus from Stoke City.
Hartlepool v Newcastle has become quite a regular pre-season fixture in recent years, the last appearance from the Toon was in 2004, a 6-0 win which included an Alan Shearer hat-trick, my personal last visit was in 2002 where I was to witness the United debut of a one Titus Bramble, who on that evening reminded me of that big plasticine man Gillespie from Tony Harts Morph, the great lummox had a nightmare start to his Toon career and set the trend for the next five years.
Again there were new debutants at this years fixture, Joey Barton and David Rozehnal had very impressive starts and of course it was Big Sams first game in charge, starting with a win with hopefully many more to come, but the top man on the night was Shola Ameobi, complete with a new hip, he was like a modern day Steve Austin, rebuilt and ready for action, it could be a big season for the Nigerian from Walker, Shola grabbed a brace on the night with a Michael Owen goal sandwiched in between, amazingly only the second goal I’ve seen from the England star in a black and white shirt, this was after Pools took a shock lead from James Brown (he felt good!)
Overall it was a very entertaining game, which didn’t lose any of its flow considering all the substitutions that were made, both teams can be pleased with their nights shift, again I enjoyed another revisit to Victoria Park and hope Pools have a good 2007/08 campaign and a long and successful stay in League One and beyond.
Revisiting Victoria Park Web album (25 pictures)Links-HUFC Match Report
NUFC Match Report
Update May 2008 - Another false dawn with 'Big Sam' and as far as Shola Ameobi is concerned, his season peaked with this good performance v Hartlepool, he never impressed when giving his chance, and was finally loaned out to Stoke City in the January transfer window.
St James Park pictures
The website frequently gets ‘googled’ with visitors looking for pictures of the home of north-east football, St James Park.Therefore I’ve put together a web album of photographs from my personal collection, along with pictures that I’ve found over the internet over the last few years, that I’ve had stored on my computer, in time I’ll add more pictures to the collection.
St James Park web album
Ground Image Of The Month
This month’s image features a ground that sadly won’t see football action again, Scarborough FC were wound up at Leeds Crown Court on June 20th after the club had ran up debts of over £2.5M.Boro played at the Athletic Ground, Seamer Road from 1898, starting life in the Northern League, they went on to play in the Midland League before becoming founder members of the Northern Premier League and then one of the original clubs of the Alliance Premier League (later Conference) in 1979.
The Seadogs became the first club to gain automatic promotion into the Football League in 1987, and in the following year the club made the unique move in selling the grounds naming rights to frozen food company McCain, the club enjoyed 12 years of League football, losing out on further promotion twice in the play-offs.
The McCain Stadium, Seamer Road becomes another one of the growing list of ‘lost’ grounds, but sadly the grounds hosts are no more, another club on the football history scrapheap, RIP Scarborough F.C.
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