Heaton Stannington v Newcastle University
1st December 2007
Stannington are based east of Newcastle city centre in High Heaton, formed way back in 1919 as previous members of the Tyneside and Northern Amateur Leagues, before joining the Northern League prior to the First World War, the club were elected as non-playing members when football recommenced after the Second World War because the ground was still being used by the
military during the 1945-46 season. The club resigned from the league in 1952 and joined the Northern Alliance where they’ve largely played ever since, apart from a ten year break in the Wearside League between 1972 and 1982.
The ground was formerly known as Newton Park but is now recognized as Grounsell Park and has the basic standards for this level, with a white perimeter fence and dugouts on either side, spectators stand in front of the clubhouse on a built up patio area to view the game from over the home dugout where there’s also a diminutive shelter. The car park is inside the entrance grounds with a large portakabin used for changing rooms and storage in the corner.
Heaton Stannington looked to be heading for a comfortable win, but for a plucky comeback from a young University side, coming back from 4-1 down to 4-3 made for a great finish, although Heaton had good chances to secure the victory themselves, they held on the take the three points, so both teams put on a good show, pity it was in front of a near empty ground.
Matchday facts
unofficial HC att. 8
Score 4-3 – scorers: Yates(9,51,54), Scott(45 )-/- Blunt(38,80), Robertson(64)
Ground no.156 - Monkchester Green
Walker Central v Shankhouse
29th December 2007
Walker Central is another club due east of Newcastle, tucked in between Byker and Wallsend; formed in 1988 by amongst others, former Newcastle United player Lee Clark and scout Brian Clark, they won promotion to the Northern Alliance Premier in only their second season. In 1995 the club added Central to their name and won the Alliance title for the only time so far in 2000-01.
In 2004 the club received the FA Charter Standard Community Award, as well as the senior side there is and now over 20 boys and girls junior teams of all ages
The ground has the basic requirements with a spacious clubhouse and changing facilities called the Peggy Shepherd Pavilion (opened by MP Kate Hoey) set back from the park, the club are ambitious and have looked into the possibility of installing lights and eventually progressing to the Northern League.
A great first half performance saw the league leaders race into a four goal lead, it was hard to tell if Walker were good or if Shankhouse were.. well…shank! but an improvement in the second half saw Central only add one more to their total after missing a hatful of chances with the visitors grabbed a consolation goal themselves.
There was a decent crowd present due to the fact that other games close by were hit by the wet weather, amongst those were three ground hoppers who made the long trip from Staffordshire to bag a couple of grounds in Newcastle (they later went up the road to visit Team Northumbria) they like myself enjoyed a very good game with the home side looking a good bet for the title.
Matchday Facts
Unofficial HC att.52
Score 5-1 - scorers - Cave(14) Mills(17) Miley(32,35) Lamb(55) -/- Binney(64)
Ground no.159 Ponteland Leisure Centre
Ponteland United v Heddon
19th January 2008
Ponteland is a suburb north-west of Newcastle, just over the Northumberland border, located close to Newcastle Airport and neighbouring upmarket Darras Hall, a favoured setting for the north-east’s rich and famous.
Ponteland United were formed in 1900 and have played in the Northern Alliance since 1983/84, finishing runners-up in the league twice during the ‘90’s, they’ve also lost nine of the various leagues cup competitions, so the club have won nothing in their time but have come mighty close. In 2006 the club formed a junior section, merging with local side Blue Star Junior FC producing players to eventually make the progression to the senior side.
The ground is situated within the grounds of the Ponteland Leisure Centre, fenced off separately from the complex and the nearby local rugby club, with changing facilities in a building attached at the far side of the centre, there’s a doorway sharing access for players and paying customers with the dugouts at the far side of the ground.
The game didn’t fall victim to the wet weather, with the pitch holding up well, giving way to an enjoyable match
An enjoyable, but at times physical encounter between Ponteland and local rivals Heddon on a pitch which held up well surviving the preceding weeks wet weather, allowing some good football from both teams. Heddon were the better side, it could really have been game over by half-time, after missing several good chances, a fine headed goal from ‘McElroy was all they had to show for their efforts at the break. ‘Pont’ improved in the second half with an equaliser out of the blue courtesy of a long range effort from Willis, but a late winner by Zubairn finishing off a fine move gave Heddon a deserved victory.
The match saw plenty of dirty tackles flying about, surprisingly not only were no players sent off, but there wasn’t a single yellow card issued, I suspect the referee must have forgotten his cards which added to the frustration of the management, players and both sets of supporters, but on a personal level added to the afternoons entertainment.
Matchday Facts Unofficial HC attendance 45
Score 1-2 - scorers - Wills(58)-/- McElroy(30) Zubairn(83)
(click on pics for larger image)
After a wee break from the intrigue and splendour of the Arngrove Northern League, I’m back on the road in my pursuit of finishing off the northern goalfields with a trip to North Yorkshire and my 39th of the current ANL 42.
When I heard the news of St. Mirren’s future departure from their Love Street home, it became my personal ‘Mission to Paisley’ to visit an historic ground before the bulldozers and the superpower of Tesco moved in for the kill, therefore a mission which wasn’t impossible. However the bad weather this week left me flapping that my planned trip north would be a wasted one, but thankfully they’re made of stronger stuff north of the border and a bit snow won’t get in the way of some SPL fitba.
Paisley is the second largest town in Scotland after East Kilbride, located in the West Central lowlands, eight mile south-west of Glasgow in Renfrewshire, the club take their name from Saint Mirin, an Irish monk and missionary who in the 6th century established the first Church on the Banks of the River Cart and after his death the shrine of Saint Mirin became a centre of pilgrimage.
St. Mirren Park affectionately known as Love Street, opened in 1894, their fourth home after initially playing on a field at Shortroods, Thistle Park at Greenhills and then Westmarch, where they were based when they became founder members of the Scottish League in 1890.The Saints wanted to return to their original home at Shortroods, but had to settle on the cheaper option which was just across the road in Love Street, bought for £3,900. Love Street wasn’t so lovely in the early days, in fact it was a right tip, based next to a slaughterhouse with the club raising extra finances by using the land as a public refuse dump.
The first major work on the ground began in 1911 with the first terracing and the construction of a main stand, which was finally completed and opened some ten years later, in 1957 a cover was built over the enclosure and 1959 saw the installation of floodlights making their debut for a Scottish Cup tie v Peebles which the Buddies won 10-0 on their way to winning the trophy that season. The grounds record gate was back in August 1949, 47,438 for a League Cup tie against Celtic, while nowadays Love Street has an all seated capacity of 10,800.
I travelled to Paisley by train, catching the 955 from Newcastle Central to Glasgow Central, and then a replacement bus to my destination, I met up with fellow ground blogger and 100FGC member Jamie McQueen (squad no.81) from 
