The league also operates three cup competitions: the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup and the Shipowners' Charity Cup have been contested since the 1890s, and the League Challenge Cup, from the 1930s.
My previous visit’s the Wearside League grounds have been in attendance for the aforementioned cup finals, played at Teesside Athletic and Wolviston.
Here is the first instalment of my wanderings around the Wearside League.
171. Derwent Park
Annfield Plain 3v1 Hartlepool FC
Wearside League
10th May 2008
Annfield Plain is a village in the Derwentside district of County Durham, between Stanley and Consett. The club began competitive football in 1925, in the North Eastern League. At the turn of the 1960’s they became founder members of the Northern Counties League, but for only two seasons before returning to the NE League, again for only two years, before finding their true home in the Wearside League from the 1964/65 season, twice winning the league in 1986/8 and 1997/98.The ground was difficult to find, tucked inside a housing estate, I knew I was in the right vicinity, but didn’t know the street’s end turned to a dirt track, which led into the grounds car park, entrance is through an old brick turnstile block. The first thing I noticed inside the ground was the goalposts, old fashioned square wooden frames like the ones from my junior school days, they looked as if a good ferocious volley would cause the posts to snap.
The main stand is a covered terrace, with seating accommodation via 14 plastic chairs at the back, most favoured by the villages old folk support, next to this is another concrete terrace, with the changing rooms sandwiched in between. The other sides of the ground are made of grass banks, which was ideal on a rare warm day like day, lying on the lawn, enjoying the sunshine and the football. The ground is sealed off by a corrugated iron fence, bend over forwards at the top, acting as extra shelter against the elements.
Annfield Plain were well worth their two goal lead at half time, thanks to a goal from centre forward Kirkbridge and a good move finished off by Henderson five minutes before the interval. Hartlepool vastly improved in the second half, after an early goal from Chapman, it seemed just a matter of time before the equaliser arrived, but after squandering several good chances, they were hit on the break and Annfield regained their two goal lead and thus assuring the 3 points.
The Hartlepool players became frustrated, firstly the no.9 was sent off, receiving a second yellow card for diving, yes diving! I couldn’t believe it, a Ronaldo-type in the Wearside League? Surely Not! This was followed by another receiving his marching orders for swearing, even though the lad was a good 30 yards from the ref, the offender couldn’t believe he was actually heard. I spoke to the Hartlepool dugout and they couldn’t believe the decisions, it was the last game of the season, nothing to play for and now the two young lads have to fork out and pay fines.
During the first half there was a couple of young’uns, about 10 years old, one wearing a Toon top and the other sporting a makem shirt, they stopped and spoke to me, asking me loads of questions, stuff like “Is it possible for Annfield to go all the way to the Premiership and then play in the Champions League?” “Why have the players not got their names on the back of the shirts?” and “How much do they get paid?” I answered their questions, they then came to the conclusion that if the players aren’t getting loads of money, then they’re wasting their time,. After the game I saw the lad in the sunderland top on the way out of the ground “That’s much better than that Premiership rubbish isn’t it?” I said, “Aye, it was alreet.. better than Newcastle anyway!”
Matchday stats
APFC 3(Kirkbridge 6, Henderson 40, McGhee 70) HFC 1(Chapman 47)Att. 33 (HC)
Admission £2
Programme 30p
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176. Perth Green Community Centre
Jarrow FC 3v2 Washington
Pre-Season Friendly
19th July 2008
Jarrow FC 3v2 Washington
Pre-Season Friendly
19th July 2008
Jarrow FC are based at the Perth Green Community Centre, situated on the Scotch Estate with the Community Association on the site of a former school. The pitch is nicely hemmed in, within earshot of the traffic from the A194 and within sight of the Metro line with trains constantly whizzing by. The dugouts are face to face, with the near side of the ground having a grass bank for a more elevated view, there’s also an unintentional covered viewpoint, courtesy of a Perspex archway with connects both buildings of the community centre.In damp conditions, due to a now typical July day, both teams produced a decent lively game, although a fussy referee tried his best to spoil it. After an even first half and a goal a piece, Jarrow improved after the break, taking the lead when a great cross was turned into his own net from the hapless defender, then a parry from the Washington keeper fell graciously to the Jarrow substitute to extend the lead. A second goal from Washington new signing Joe Betts, with a cracking 20 odd yard shot, was nothing but a late consolation, with Jarrow full value for the win.
The referee had earlier sent off a Washington player for constant swearing, although he allowed him to be subbed considering it was just a friendly, he later sent off an angry Washington manager. After a clumsy tackle in the box, he shouted his disbelief with the aid of a four-letter-word, although it was the challenge that upset him and not the actual non-penalty decision, the ref packed him off to the changing rooms. If this is only a friendly then it’ll be interesting to see how this ref performs when the real league action starts, I’ll hopefully get the chance to see for myself, or maybe hopefully not!
The club are very hospitable, we were all grateful to get out of the rain and go into the community centre at half time, where the offer of free tea or coffee was politely appreciated, they even went to the trouble to seek out a supplementary packet of coconut ring biscuits, nice one Jarra!
Matchday Stats
JFC 3(Barclay 20e, OG 52, Todd 83) Wash 2(Betts 25e,86)Att. 30 (HC)
Admission and programme; none
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179. Boldon Colliery Welfare
Boldon CA 1v2 South Shields
Sam Bartram Trophy Match
2nd August 2008
Boldon Colliery is a former mining village situated in South Tyneside next to Jarrow, the club was a founder member of the Wearside League in 1892, when they were then known as Boldon Swifts.
The club have had a few name changes over the years, they became Boldon Villa in the early 20th Century, then as the local coal mine began to prosper became Boldon Colliery Welfare in 1933.
The clubs connection to the local Community Association on New Road gave them their current name, although to local folk are affectionally known as Boldon Villa, this is reflected in the match programme, with all links to the team printed as Boldon Villa.
Those of you who have visited Jarrow Roofing will know of Boldon CA, as they both share the same car park along with the Welfare Cricket ground, they must be two of the closest football grounds in the country. On entering the gate, to your immediate left is a covered tea bar and standing shelter, the dugouts face one another and the changing rooms are a separate building in the near corner, painted brick red, it has a distinctive wood panel box on the roof, resting against the chimney, with the words Boldon CA FC (The VILLA) looking outside and The Villa in bold capital letters facing inwards in white paint.
The Villa have won the Wearside League title on four occasions, the last of those in 1996/97 and became first winners of the Sam Bartram Trophy, back in February this year, beating Cleadon on penalties after a thrilling 4-4 draw.
Sam Bartram was a goalkeeper, born in South Shields, who grew up in Boldon. He was a centre forward for Villa, but due to an injury to Villa’s regular keeper, he went in goal for a game, a scout from Charlton Athletic was at this match and noticed his talents, recommending his signing, even though he was playing out of position. He went on to play in goal for Athletic for 22 years and is the Addicks all time appearance holder, playing 623 games. A bronze statue of Sam stands proudly outside The Valley, funded by donations made by Charlton’s fans, the game with South Shields marked the second Sam Bartram Trophy Match.
Hail stones the size of liggies greeted kick off time, after the players adapted to the damp conditions, Boldon created some good chances but were hit by a two goal burst after a quarter of an hour from Shields, a left wing cross saw Johnson rise highest to nod home, then within a minute Scroggins ran from deep in midfield, before finishing with a well placed shot from the edge of the box. It looked as if we were in for a high scoring game, when four minutes later Meek met a deep left wing cross with a firm header to the goalies right, to get Villa back into the game.
Unfortunately the second half failed to produce more goals, although the sky continued to provide spells of heavy rain, between bright warm sunshine. Shields had chances to kill the game off, but some poor finishing as well as some plucky Boldon defending kept the game alive. Both teams provided an entertaining game and a healthy crowd of over 100 saw South Shields become second winners of the Sam Bartram Trophy. All that was left was the presentation of the medals to the players and officials and the trophy to the winning captain, and then right on cue just as the trophy was getting handed over, the heavens opened up once more.
Boldon CA 1v2 South Shields
Sam Bartram Trophy Match
2nd August 2008
Boldon Colliery is a former mining village situated in South Tyneside next to Jarrow, the club was a founder member of the Wearside League in 1892, when they were then known as Boldon Swifts.The club have had a few name changes over the years, they became Boldon Villa in the early 20th Century, then as the local coal mine began to prosper became Boldon Colliery Welfare in 1933.
The clubs connection to the local Community Association on New Road gave them their current name, although to local folk are affectionally known as Boldon Villa, this is reflected in the match programme, with all links to the team printed as Boldon Villa.
Those of you who have visited Jarrow Roofing will know of Boldon CA, as they both share the same car park along with the Welfare Cricket ground, they must be two of the closest football grounds in the country. On entering the gate, to your immediate left is a covered tea bar and standing shelter, the dugouts face one another and the changing rooms are a separate building in the near corner, painted brick red, it has a distinctive wood panel box on the roof, resting against the chimney, with the words Boldon CA FC (The VILLA) looking outside and The Villa in bold capital letters facing inwards in white paint.
The Villa have won the Wearside League title on four occasions, the last of those in 1996/97 and became first winners of the Sam Bartram Trophy, back in February this year, beating Cleadon on penalties after a thrilling 4-4 draw.
Sam Bartram was a goalkeeper, born in South Shields, who grew up in Boldon. He was a centre forward for Villa, but due to an injury to Villa’s regular keeper, he went in goal for a game, a scout from Charlton Athletic was at this match and noticed his talents, recommending his signing, even though he was playing out of position. He went on to play in goal for Athletic for 22 years and is the Addicks all time appearance holder, playing 623 games. A bronze statue of Sam stands proudly outside The Valley, funded by donations made by Charlton’s fans, the game with South Shields marked the second Sam Bartram Trophy Match.
Hail stones the size of liggies greeted kick off time, after the players adapted to the damp conditions, Boldon created some good chances but were hit by a two goal burst after a quarter of an hour from Shields, a left wing cross saw Johnson rise highest to nod home, then within a minute Scroggins ran from deep in midfield, before finishing with a well placed shot from the edge of the box. It looked as if we were in for a high scoring game, when four minutes later Meek met a deep left wing cross with a firm header to the goalies right, to get Villa back into the game.
Unfortunately the second half failed to produce more goals, although the sky continued to provide spells of heavy rain, between bright warm sunshine. Shields had chances to kill the game off, but some poor finishing as well as some plucky Boldon defending kept the game alive. Both teams provided an entertaining game and a healthy crowd of over 100 saw South Shields become second winners of the Sam Bartram Trophy. All that was left was the presentation of the medals to the players and officials and the trophy to the winning captain, and then right on cue just as the trophy was getting handed over, the heavens opened up once more.
Matchday stats
BCA 1(Meek 19) Shields 2(Johnson 14, Scroggins 15)
Att. 110 (HC)
Admission £2
Programme; Free with admission.
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