My Matchday - 284 Gillford Park Stadium

Gillford Park 0v2 Marske United
Northern League Division Tw0
Wednesday 27th April 2011
I took a leisurely midweek drive along the A69 to one of the two Cumbrian based Northern League grounds that I still needed to tick off.
Gillford Park FC are based in the southern part of Carlisle, formed in 2004 by Mike Linden and Geoff Andrews, managers of a local amateur team, along with former League player Steven Skinner.
The club were accepted into the Northern Alliance Division Two for the 2005/06 season, playing on a shared pitch with Sunday League team Carlisle Spartans. The club won promotion in their first season, finishing runner-up to Whitley Bay ’A’ with a side comprising of locally based players from the Carlisle area.

The following season the team moved across from the second pitch to the main stadium at Gillford Park. The ground is found before reaching the railway bridge on Pettersill Bank Road, access is via a long concrete track off the main road which leads to the Railway Club and stadium.
The ground has a capacity of 4,000 made up of two seated stands. The Railway End Stand is behind the goal next to the turnstiles and has a cantilever roof with a mixture of red, white and blue flip seats. The stand also has a refreshment bar, changing rooms and a window view at the top which houses the PA system and offices.
The stand behind the team dugouts sits on the half way line, having a block of red seats with a light blue con-iron frame and 6 white supporting pillars. The terrace at the opposite side is fully covered and behind the far goal there's no hardstanding with insuficent room for spectators, so isn't used.
The club made rapid progress, winning the Northern Alliance Combination Cup in 2007 and two further promotions in three seasons brought Northern League football to the city of Carlisle for the first time. Floodlights were erected in the summer of 2009, bringing the ground up to Northern League standard.

Gillford Park have had a difficult season to say the least, locked out of their home for the majority of the season by landlords the Carlisle & District Railway Club after signing a 25 year lease just a few years ago. Thanks to the co-operation of their fellow Northern League clubs they had to reverse all their fixtures, playing all matches away until finding refuge in Whitehaven, at the Copeland Stadium in January.
The Carlisle County Court granted an interim injunction to allow the club the use the ground and facilities, so they finally played their first “home” fixture of the season on March 5th against Crook Town. Since then they’ve had to squeeze in 15 of their remaining 17 sNL Division Two fixtures at home, this game against Marske United being their penultimate match of a hectic finale to the season.
The disagreement with the proprietor seems to have extended into the car park. I arrived at the ground at 7pm where two ladies standing outside the Railway Club politely asked me to park further down away from the social club. I drove a bit further before being stopped by a volunteer from the football club who ushered me inside the stadium itself asking me to park behind the stand, before he cursed the annoying neighbours.

Gillford Park’s opponents Marske United went into this game knowing a win would clinch the third promotion slot along with Newton Aycliffe and Guisborough Town.
The first half produced very little, Marske United played like a team in a hurry, trying to get the required victory as quickly as possible and came close to breaking the deadlock through Karl Charlton, but his effort agonisingly hit the foot of the post.
The Seasiders were more patient in the second half, taking the lead on 55 minutes when Charlton pounced on a loose ball to sweep home from the edge of the box and with a quarter of an hour remaining Chris McGill got on the end of a right wing cross, to produce a sweet volley that clinched victory and sNL Division One football next season.

So after originally finishing the Northern League clubs 3 years ago, due to promotion and relocations I still have one ground left to again complete the set - much further west through Cumbria to Whitehaven. However I may have to do Gillford Park again if the dispute with the stadium landlords isn’t resolved. The football club are “very confident” that Gillford will be at the Railway Club next season, but after that who knows, I wish “Carlisle’s Non-League Team” the best of luck in their efforts in finding stability, be it at their current home or elsewhere in the town.

Matchday stats
GPFC 0 MUFC 2(Charlton 55,McGill 76)
att.TBC

Admission £4

Programme £1



Ground no.284 Gillford Park Stadium - Matchday Webalbum (24 pictures)

My Matchday - 154 Birtley Town Council Sports Complex

Birtley Town 0v3 Marske United
Arngrove Northern League 2nd Division
22nd December 2007
att.90

Birtley is a small area to the south of Gateshead on the county border between Tyne & Wear and County Durham, to be more precise if ‘The Angel of the North’ took a slight glance to her right she would be looking into Birtley.
Birtley Town are newcomers to the Northern League after a successful phase in the Wearside League, after initially joining the league in 1992, the past four seasons has produced two titles and two runners-up spots, the second of those tiles last season gave the green light for promotion after making the necessary ground improvements, including new changing rooms and installing floodlights.
The Birtley name is a past associate of the Northern League, alas for only one season, after being founder members in that historic opening season of 1889-90, they resigned and continued playing in various leagues including the Wearside League and the Northern Alliance until reforming as Birtley Town in 1945.The present set up was formed in 1992 with the club merging with Birtley St. Josephs school in 2002 to develop the playing side from under-7’s through to under-18’s, including a girls team and reserve side, this achievement gave the club the FA Charter Standard Community Award.
The ground itself has the necessary standards required for the step up to Northern League 2nd Division, the ground is set way back from the entrance gate, which doesn’t have a welcome sign or any clue to let you know you’ve arrived at a football ground, a man with a Birtley scarf next to a table with a box of programmes is sufficient evidence that I’m at the right place. The main spectators point is at the far side, across two neighbouring football pitches with the main Eastern railway line facing into the ground, this includes a basic 100 seated stand and a standing shelter separated by the dugouts, with both stands decked in ‘The Hoops’ club colours of green and white. The other three sides are left open, but a patch of land has been marked out on the near side which will be the new clubhouse, thanks to my ‘man in the know’ El Queso Grande the club will be transferring a building from a local senior school, to be reconstructed at the ground.
Birtley’s opponents were my friends from Marske United (my fave club on Teesside) who came away with a well earned 3-0 victory, mainly thanks to some poor first half finishing and some very dodgy goalkeeping from the Birtley number 1. The opening period was sluggish and a bit of a non event, it was as if the players had already started on the Christmas pudding or feeling the affects of a pre-Xmas Friday night out, but Marske finished the half much stronger which they took into the second period. A goal from McPhillipson on the hour started the rout, pouncing on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and shooting home on the half volley, this was followed by two goalkeeping gaffes from corner kicks, firstly for Ben Thompson who’s flicked header went through the goalies hands and limped into the net, followed by a routine catch dropping kindly into the path of defender Michael Waller who gladly accepted his early chrimbo present from the keeper.
Even though it was a bad defeat for Birtley Town, largely due to postponements elsewhere; they stay top of the division, the clubs main priority this season isn’t promotion, but to establish themselves within the Northern League and build towards the future, which looks highly probable as this time Birtley are here for the long haul, unlike the towns original team almost 120 years ago.

LINKS - Marske Utd Match -http://www.marskeunitedfc.co.uk/ReportBirtleyDec07.htm

Ground no.154- Birtley Town Council Sports Complex (13 pictures)

My Matchday - 152 Mount Pleasant

Marske United 4v0 Prudhoe Town
Arngrove Northern League 2nd Division
17th November 2007
att.130

I was advised to wrap up warm whilst visiting Marske-by-the-Sea on the Cleveland coast, Marske United’s Mount Pleasant ground is close enough to the chill that comes off the North Sea, so I was sensibly dressed in ‘me big coat’ and not as a stereotypical Geordie with only a thin t-shirt on.
Marske United FC were formed in 1956 replacing the disbanded Marske Rovers, after earlier playing in local leagues the club joined the Teesside League in 1976, two league titles in the ‘80’s lead to progression to the Wearside League in 1985. United enjoyed cup success in the North Riding competitions until an historic season in 1995-96 saw a clean sweep of Wearside League Silverware; League Title, League Cup, The Sunderland Shipowners Cup and the Monkwearmouth Cup meant the club were obviously too good for this division so a natural step up to the Northern League was the answer. Major ground improvements to Mount Pleasant including the installing of floodlights meant the clubs ambition was fulfilled for the 1997-98 season, a season which ended with a 3rd place finish and another promotion.
The clubs established themselves in the Northern League First Division, including three top four finishes, but after managerial changes and an overturn of players the club were relegated in 2004, last season saw a 5th place finish, so these Marsked men will be hoping to sneak in to a promotion place this time around.
Mount Pleasant has been ‘The Seasiders’ home since 1960, the club run a supporters fund called ‘Friends of Marske United’ which contributes to ground improvements and maintenance, the ground is tucked inside a housing estate, neighboring the local village Bowling Club; on arrival you find the clubhouse is situated in the main car park. When I arrived there was an anticipated crowd (well half a dozen) already forming a queue at the gate, the admission is probably the cheapest in the league; only £2.50 and the National Non-League Programme of the Year priced at a give away 50p, so great value which made the 50 mile journey worthwhile.
The ground is on a higher level, up a flight of stairs, next to the steps is a board showing off the clubs winning honours, and at the top to your immediate left is the Main Stand which is pleasing on the eye, with club colours of a bright yellow frame and flip seats with a blue interior, on the nearside there is also a covered standing area which has 3 redundant leather seats parked in the middle, the home dugout is sandwiched in between and the changing rooms are behind these two sections, back down a flight of stairs adjoining the clubhouse. The most popular spectator area is to the right of the stairs, which is a raised concrete pathway, in the corner is a small covered standing area and the other three sides of the ground is open standing, the far side has a large yellow banner welcoming you to Mount Pleasant with the standing area again raised above pitch level which makes for good matchday viewing, the away dugout is also lodged here.
Prior to kick-off a presentation was made to Marske legend Liam Smith, who has unfortunately had to hang up his boots due to a serious heart condition, he’ll be sadly missed at Mount Pleasant and I wish him good health and all the best in the future.
The match was the proverbial game of two halves, a scrappy first 45 where both teams struggled to get a foothold on the game, with the only notable chance falling to centre half Micky Waller whose free header went just wide, the second half was a different story, four goals and what crackers they were. The first arrived in the 54th minute, courtesy of my man of the match Jon Stott with an unstoppable left foot shot from the edge of the box (a rarity according to the locals, pleased I was here to see it) this was followed by a diving header from Waller on 62 minutes, getting on the end of a corner kick to score from inches out, a superlative chip from left-back Liam McPhillips on 71 minutes made it three and the 2nd half blitz was complete on 81 when Dane Breckon chased a hopeful through ball on the right, he showed a great turn of pace to outmuscle the full-back before dribbling past a couple of defenders and rounding the keeper ‘Ricky Villa style’ to round off a great second 45 for the Seasiders.
I found Marske United a very friendly club, I was spotted taking a few photos and the supporters were interested to know who I was (which makes a change from who’s the sad sack with the camera) and I was pleased that they knew of the 100FGC (good ego boost) so my visit to Mount Pleasant was a very pleasant experience and a warm welcome made up for the cold conditions where even ‘me big coat’ wasn’t enough to protect me from the elements.

Links - Marske United Match Report - http://www.marskeunitedfc.co.uk/ReportPrudNov07.htm

Ground no.152- Mount Pleasant – Matchday Web album.(16 pictures)

My Matchday - 136 Teesdale Park

Thornaby 1v0 Marske United
Arngrove Northern League Division Two
21st April 2007
att. 51

Thornaby is a civil parish deep in the heart of ‘Smoggieland’ within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees,the football club were originally called Stockton when they were formed in 1980 playing in the Wearside League until moving up into Northern League Division Two in 1985/86,yo-yoing in between the two leagues with three promotions and two relegations until changing their name to Thornaby-on-Tees in 1999.
The new name didn’t change the clubs fortunes as relegation followed in that first season and so the club dropped the ‘on-Tees’ bit and won promotion again in 2000/01 the following two seasons the club continued in the same vain,down and back up again (are they the sunderland of non-league soccer?) but last season it wasn’t their performance on the field which led to their demise it was their facilities,the Northern League decided that the ground was considered unsuitable and were demoted into Division Two.
When entering Thornaby the ground is well signposted,which is just as well because it would be difficult to find otherwise,the ground is in between a row of houses and through a back lane,you come to the ‘Welcome to…’ sign and then your faced with three different routes,so obviously it took me three goes to pick the right direction to the ground,I should have gone for option A,the dirt track on the left hand side,which takes you down a hill where your greeting by a club official waiting to take your money.I can only describe this as a drive-in-football-ground,you pull up,wind you window down,pay your money and park up facing towards the pitch.
There is another main car park which is behind the canteen,but your free to park facing the pitch which is above a raised terrace which is now out of bounds for safety reasons,likewise the ugly grey concrete stand behind the right hand goal,this also has been cordoned off and looks like it was once a seated stand,behind the same block is the canteen and the toilets. The main stand incorporating the changing rooms is made up of five rows of benches,this also is in need of some work,particulary the removing of graffiti on the back wall,finally the standing area behind the left hand goal which has a congregated triangular roof for shelter and two rows of seats that are visibly never used anymore,the clue being the entrails of bird droppings on the padded seats.
Teesdale Park is a ground in need of major surgery,there’s been no new changes to the grounds facilities in the last 20 years and it shows,the club are currently waiting news over the ground development and when it will start,this may probably be the last game played here in it’s current state,with the club promising a ground with the facilities that’ll be the envy of every club in the Northern League.
The club are looking to ground share next season so it may be a while until they return home,it was noted in the match programme that the club could maybe play some early games at home and then several away,it all depends on the developers time schedule and if they can find a club to ground share with.
The match was a Teeside derby with Thornabys opponents being local rivals Marske United,there was a sparse crowd in attendance but there was a police presence amongst the spectators,two policeman arrived on bicycles prior to kick off,but I don’t think they were attending the game in the name of the law,it looked like they were skiving off,they had a pie and a cup of tea and after watching a boring first half decided enough is enough and left.
I’ll most likely revisit Teesdale Park in a few years time,it’ll be interesting to see the ground after the development and to see the major changes made to a site which has great potential to be a top non-league ground,but I’ll make sure I visit on a cold winters day so I get the benefit of the luxury of watching the game from the warmth of the car or in football ground terms,my executive box on wheels.(see bottom picture)

LINKS -match report from Maske Utd - http://www.marskeunitedfc.co.uk/ReportThorApr07.htm