Arngrove Northern League 2nd Division
12th january 2008
att.66
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.Guisborough is a market town in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, pronounced locally as ‘Gizbrah’ the towns early football history goes back into the 19th century although records and history have become more a mystery, competitive football from such clubs like Guisborough Red Rose, Guisborough Celtic, Guisborough United, Guisborough Brigantes, Guisborough Boys Club as well as another Guisborough Town who played one season in 1945, all until the arrival of the present club, formed in 1973,when the club proudly declared “a new era of football was born”
The current Guisborough Town starting life successfully in the Middlesbrough & District League before joining the Northern Alliance in 1977, winning the title in their third season, the same season as their glorious achievement of reaching Wembley in the FA Vase, plotting their way through eight rounds including a record gate of 3,112 at the King George V Ground for the semi-final against Hungerford, before losing 2-0 against Stamford in the final.
The 1979-80 Northern Alliance title lead to promotion and a brief spell in the Midland League before becoming founder members of the North Counties East League in 1982, the club moved over to the Northern League 2nd Division in 1985, winning promotion in their second season and stayed in the 1st Division for the next eighteen seasons before the Priorymen were relegated in 2004-05.
To give the ground it’s shortened name, the KGV was developed in the late ‘70’s, the ground has two stands, one on each side with open standing behind each goal, the turnstiles are in the corner with the changing rooms in a separate building. The Main Stand runs along one half of the field with a high pitched white roof with red walls, fitted one half with two rows of red and white flip seats and the other with two red benches, split in between by the press box which unfortunately is out of use at the moment due to vandalism. The seats are set back allowing spectators to stand in front causing no obstructions, with the refreshment bar built into the side of the stand, the social club is at the rear and was reopened in 1997 after the original club house, opened by the clubs prestigious vice-president Selina Scott was damaged by fire. The far side of the ground has a covered standing enclosure, running centrally along a third of the pitch, it has a red and white frame and walls with white supporting pillars, the opposing managers are kept apart with one dugout in front of each stand.
Guisborough Town currently lie fifth, just off the promotion places, but title chasers Penrith came away with maximum points with a typical performance that you’ll see from any club in any league, who are sitting at the top.
The Priorymen started the game lively and created several chances, but the Blues weathered the storm and slowly took control as the half progressed, taking the lead on the half hour with a goal from big centre half and man of the match Wayne Robertson, who after an initial corner and a spot of ping-pong in the box, took advantage when the ball fell kindly at his feet, ramming the ball home from 12 yards.
The second half saw a spirited performance from the home side but the Penrith defence were solid and looked more likely to get another and secure the victory rather than concede, it’s obvious that Guisborough are lacking a good finisher and they’ll have to rectify this if they have ambitions to gain one of the three promotion spots this season, but they did nearly snatch a point deep into injury time, but the foot of the post came to Penrith’s rescue after their defence had been seriously breached for the first time.
Another good ground and day on Teesside plus another Northern League ’tick,’ it’s a shame there isn’t more than 42 clubs in the ANL because i'll miss these 'Northern Ventures' when i've completed the set.
Ground no.158 - KGV Stadium – Matchday Web album (15 pictures)
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