Otley 14 Sedgley Park 12

National League, Division Two (North)
Attendance: 302

I rarely watch rugger but the football match I’d planned to see (AFC Darwen v. 1874 Northwich) was postponed and I’d wanted to visit Otley rugby club ever since seeing some pics of its so-called scratching shed which is how I ended up in West Yorkshire rather than the West Pennines and a post about a rugby match ends up on a football blog.

Built in 1921, Cross Green is, in my view, the finest traditional sports ground in Yorkshire, woefully off the radar of football groundhoppers (including until recently this one who only lives 20 miles away). Through the turnstiles is a sort of courtyard area with clubhouse to the left and, immediately in front, a passage towards the grandstand, a superb wooden edifice acquired from Preston North End in 1935. Black and white painted bench seating accommodates 499 spectators. The capacity was reduced from 600 to under 500 by painting over some seats to bring it under the threshold for which extra (and expense incurring) regulations apply. A canny Yorkshire move. Access is via one of the three staircases and there’s a picket fence running along the front.

To your right on reaching the pitch is the beleagured scratching shed with the players’ tunnel. It was constructed from materials salvaged from the former grandstand which explains its jerry-built appearance. Now taped off, the shed – or perhaps barn would be a better description – couldn’t look more condemned if it tried. There are gaping holes in the roof and you feel that if you were to as much as gently lean on one of the timber posts the rest of the stand would collapse like a house of cards. Demolition was announced a fortnight ago and won’t be difficult. Catch it while you can - quite literally perhaps if you stray behind the tape. The Chevin (a wooded hill with great walks) looms scenically above.

At the top of the first terraced corner is a tidy bed containing various ferns and alpines and a scoreboard reached by steps like a giant mounting block. The terraces along the side of the pitch opposite the main stand are stone to start with then timber with chicken wire on the top like a walkway at a waterfowl centre.
Continuing the theme there’s a chicken run behind the stand, the angled green timbers here reminiscent of the hull of shipwreck. The terrace is backed by privet hedges and beech trees with the cricket ground and church spire beyond.

 The north end (above) has nine-step concrete terraces and is backed by a row of tall trees with the sewage works and allotments behind. Then we’re back to the grandstand with a lookout post for the cameraman on the near corner. A circuit is complete by more terraces and a small building housing a bar. The combination of a grand old wooden stand, one rather rickety one and lots of terracing hinting of past glories all reminded me of Crook Town.

The ground was full to capacity for its three most notable matches. About 10,000 packed in to see North Division (featuring Bill Beaumont and Roger Uttley) play the All Blacks here in 1979 (see video at end of this post) and Australia in 1988. Remarkably, the ground also hosted the tie between the USA and Italy in the second World Cup in 1991. Part of the reason that a humble Yorkshire market town was chosen as a venue is that Cross Green is one of the few substantial rugby grounds in the north of England. Few others even have terracing.

The vast clubhouse makes a good job of showcasing the history. It contains a display cabinet containing mementos from the club’s greatest matches including a fixture card from 1893/94. Other cabinets contain trophies, faded and tassled caps and items belonging to the Ilkley & District Motor Club.

Otley finished fifth in the second tier of English rugby as recently as 2005. They would’ve turned down promotion as they couldn’t have afforded it. These days the club plays in the regionalised fourth tier. Divisional rivals include Darlington Mowden Park who currently occupy the Darlington Arena vacated by Darlington FC. What a contrast to Cross Green – although the grounds both have a football connection. Today’s opposition was Sedgley Park (aka The Tigers, based in north Manchester).

Cross Green’s days may be numbered. The route of a proposed new road crosses some of the rugby club’s other pitches. In exchange for the land the council will provide additional land with room for a new stadium which could be built from funds from the sale of the current ground in an enviable town centre location. Lovers of old stadia will hope everything stalls. Character, backdrops, ramshackleness, a grandstand that is precisely that, interest in every corner and plenty of support: I can’t recommend a visit to Cross Green enough regardless of which shaped ball you like seeing kicked around on a Saturday afternoon.

Star turns: Famous former Otley players include ex-England skipper Nigel Melville and Luther Burrell, a loanee, who made his debut for England against France last Saturday.

Credits: Thanks to the old fella who told me some of the ground info at half-time. Apologies if some of the facts are inaccurate.

Programme notes: Sedgeley Park’s first ground “was primitive with a cowshed for changing rooms and a farmyard pump for washing”.

Further viewing: Just down the Wharfe valley from Otley is Ilkey rugby club with its magnificent new clubhouse which is also throughly well worth a visit. Click here for my pics and a short write-up. Below are the full Rugby Special highlights of that match at Otley against the All Blacks, bouncy signature tune, people standing everywhere on roofs, Nigel Starmer-Smith and all.
 

Whickham 1 West Auckland 3 (aet)

FA Vase, fourth round

Attendance: 341
 

I'd wanted to visit Whickham FC (in a small town near Gateshead) ever since seeing a pic of a rainbow over their stand in When Saturday Comes. Their big Vase tie today was a golden opportunity. They’ve passed this way before, though, and well beyond. Whickham won the competition in 1981 and were twice semi-finalists in the same era. It's always a bit disappointing when a Vase draw pairs teams from the same League but, in West Auckland - bookies’ favourites for the Vase, 2012 finalists and beaten once only in the League this season - I was guaranteed a passionate contest and a relatively big crowd.

I was a bit confused on arrival at what looked like a municipal sports ground. Furthermore, a sign referred to Hebburn, “FA Vase QR” and “6/9” which, on subsequent investigation, proved to refer to the qualifying round when this cup run started four months ago. Spotting some gold and black West Auckland scarves, I confidentally strode to the garden shed that it is the entry to the ground. The fella within called pounds “punds”. I love the north-east accent. Later, when the linesman called out to the players to explain a decision, the man next to me said: “Can tell he’s not from round here”. I felt foreign.

First impressions of The Glebe? Ah. Well. It’s essentially  a railed pitch, open on three sides, one of them bordering a cricket pitch (see above). There is, of course, that one stand, sited curiously behind a goal, but the quaint home-made sign on the fascia has been upgraded since the pic I’d seen was taken and there was about as much chance of a rainbow today as the two teams about to play in black and white stripes and all white representing Newcastle and Real Madrid.  Cold, grey and drizzly too. I was so glad I hadn’t brought my young son with me. The programme revealed that extra-time would follow if the teams were level at 90 mins and, even before kick-off, I had a feeling what fate had in store …

The first major chance of the match didn’t come until 30 mins. Campbell of West Auckland beat the offside trip but blasted wide despite having plenty of time. A similar burst through by the same player just before half-time gave the visitors the lead. Whickham, one division below West Auckland, battled on valiantly, though, very much stayed in the match and got a deserved equaliser on 75 mins when a cross from the right was jabbed in from close range.

Full time: 1-1. I wasn’t the only neutral in the ground not wanting extra-time. The fourth official wanted to pee. Amazing what you find out standing between the dugouts. Too much information, in some respects. It was a family affair for the Whickham manager. His wife and kids stood right behind him and the barrier, one of them asking why “that man has a flag”. A Whickham player appeared to be elbowed in the face and all sorts of remonstrations followed from the bench. In the professional leagues all you get is a sanitised, media trained account of the game from the manager after the final whistle; at this level, providing you’re standing in the right place, you get it as a live stream.

By now darkness had long descended, the drizzle had stopped and spectators had ventured from the stand and were strung out pitchside. The atmosphere was building. West Auckland restored their lead when a cross cruelly bobbled below a Whickham defender’s foot and, one pass later, the ball was in the net.

Soon afterwards the home defence was sliced open down the right and it was game over. Whickham did get a penalty when one of their lads was upended but it was blasted over the bar. No upset then but worth staying until the end.

Programme notes: Whickham’s Liam Barnett “made his debut against Brandon and took four minutes to open his account”. Remarkable how efficient online banking is these days.

Photographic notes: I always feel a dreadful nerd taking pics at football matches. My camera goes straight back into my pocket after each pic. Clearly this geezer isn't so self-conscious.

 Son of Whickham: The Whickham club crests includes a bust of Lang Jack, a giant (more Geordie speak: “lang” as in long) 19th century local character renowned for humping boulders for long distances. A monument to him which used to stand next to his (demolished) house is today positioned on the town’s high street.

Not a son of Whickham: The club cheekily expressed interest in signing Pierre van Hooijdonk on loan from Nottingham Forest in 1998. Dave Bassett, Forest manager, sent back a fax saying that the ‘want away’ striker would “prefer a move to Eastbourne Town where it would be a little warmer for him”.

Making a stand: Nice story on BBC Online about the purchase of a stand through eBay by Vase fourth rounders and wonderfully named Brightlingsea Regent. Fairly humble affair, as you'd imagine.

My video highlights are here but, for the goals, view below.
 

 

Harrogate Railway Athletic 0 Darlington 1883 2

Northern Premier League, First Division (North)
Attendance: 1,026

The name Harrogate Railway will forever be associated with the club’s momentous FA Cup runs in the 2000s, both climaxing with second round ties. Since then the biggest matches have been those involving the visits of reformed ex-League clubs paddling their way back up the divisions. Previously Railway had hosted Halifax and Chester and today Darlington (who I saw in September at Clitheroe) came calling.

The ground has been further improved since my last visit for the Mansfield FA Cup tie in December 2007 (since when Railway has only won twice in the Cup, incidentally). The club sold the land occupied by its old clubhouse to developers of a care home and, with the proceeds, built a very smart new clubhouse closer to the pitch. Pleasingly, the old wrought iron gates bearing the club’s name have been incorporated into the new perimeter fence.

Access to the pitch is via a 10-yard fenced tunnel. Pity that the clubhouse couldn’t have been closer still to the pitch ideally along the touchline with a viewing balcony like they have at Ilkley rugby club (although I suspect they have a few more pennies to rub together).

The closest you get to an elevated view at Railway comes courtesy of the pitch’s pronounced slope or, if you’re lucky, a spot in a tiny stand on the half-way line (above) or on timber steps pushed up against a dugout. Despite the improvements Station View remains a ground that Darlo fans would more associate with where they came from last season (step five) rather than where they may well be going (step three).

 

We queued briefly to get in (not something that Railway’s average crowd of around 100 will be used to) as the PA announcer addressed the “lay-deez and gentlemen, boys and girls!” in the style of Bruce Forsyth and a bingo caller. Fully in his element announcing the crowd number, he clearly relished his role on the club’s big day as did a group of about 20 ragamuffins cheering on Railway from the seats designated for the home and away directors. All power to the lads! They were far outnumbered but weren’t out-sang.

The opposition (in natty pink) were the stronger side throughout in all respects. They took an early lead and put the match to bed just before half-time when a good move ended with a cross, chest down, and half-volley into the net. In contrast, Railway were woeful, final passes nearly always going astray and rarely threating the Quakers’ goal. The game lacked ebb and flow which made for a poor contest.

The sun had soon set and the subsequent gloomy chill did little to perk up my son, nephew and I. As the final whistle blew I turned to my boy and saw a drip hanging on the end of his nose. He left without seeing the “close up” goal he’d hoped for by standing beside the Darlo posts. The PA announcer recommended a visit to the clubhouse “for a glass of your favourite tipple with Lisa and Katie”. Um, not today, thanks. Home, Jeeves.

 

For all the pics from the match click here.

Programme notes: The editor recalls the Bristol City cup-tie: “Temporary stands adorned Station View, Sky TV beamed the game around the globe and the club was the focus of the football world for a couple of hours”. My eyes moisten at the memory.

Footballers’ haircuts: I witnessed a great battle of the barnets at Middlesbrough v. Reading over Christmas. Boro’s Marvin Emnes, dreadlocks bunched, tussled with Chris Guthrie of Reading who boasts a magnificent mohican. Meanwhile, here’s a report about Tom Huddlestone’s new hairdo. All seems a far cry from when Reading goalie, Steve Francis, boldly sported a new tache on the opening day of the season c. 1988.