Szey Does It - Leek Get The Blues: Beached By The Sandgrounders.....

And so to The Pure Stadium, previously the Big Help Stadium, on Haig Avenue in Southport for an FA Trophy Third Round tie between Southport and Leek Town 🙄

The present Southport FC, The Port, was founded in 1888 as Southport Central AFC, playing in the Lancashire League, Lancashire Combination and the Central League. The previous club folded in 1886 and, as Southport Wanderers, set up in 1884 to become Southport Central AFC four years later.

In 1918 the team renamed to Southport Vulcan, having been bought by the Vulcan Motor Company - the first club ever to take a sponsor's name. However by 1921 the club had become Southport FC and joined the Football League in the Third Division North.

The Sandgrounders were promoted in 1967 from the now Fourth Division as runners up on goal average to Stockport County. But the Port was relegated in 1970 before moving back up to the Third Division in 1973; that lasted a single season and Southport FC was voted out of the Football League in 1978, replaced by Wigan Athletic. The club was the last side ever to leave the Football League through the re-election process; automatic relegation commenced in 1987.

The Port reverted to the Northern Premier League and were crowned as champions in 1993, as South achieved promotion to the Conference. But relegation in 2003, into the new Conference North, followed later; The Sandgrounders came up as champions again in 2004/05, but were relegated from the Premier in 2007.

The yo-yo existence continued; champions in 2010 and relegated during 2016/17. Subsequently Southport have consistently finished just above the drop zone in the National League North, the division where they remain - currently 19th just a point outside the relegation zone - but unbeaten in eight 🙄

The club was acquired by the Big Help Group in 2023, but ownership was transferred to David Cunningham and Kieran Malone in June this year - and the ground naming rights changed...

Football was played in Leek from 1876, with Leek FC competing in The Combination in the 1890s. The current Leek Town FC traces its lineage to Leek Lowe Hamil FC, formed in 1946.

The Blues, from Harrison Park, played in a variety of leagues - Birmingham & District, Staffordshire, Manchester, Mid Cheshire and Cheshire County Leagues, where they were champions in 1974/75. Town was a founder member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 and joined the Northern Premier League for the 1987/88 campaign.

Leek were promoted as champions to the Conference in 1997 and spent two seasons in the top tier before relegation. The Blues saw a further demotion in 2001.

However Town was uplifted in 2004 after a league restructure. Relegated again in 2008, the club was promoted, finally, as champions in 2023/24 to the Northern Premier League Premier Division after 5 failed play off attempts. 15th last time, they currently lie 14th.

Numberplates today are PO51BLY, 12 MP and V33VAS. I join the West Lancashire Line at Manchester Oxford Road, in sunshine, after a particularly unpleasant Metrolink experience - but it's even worse on the way back 😳 

There's Brabbin & Rudd at Bolton, and Uncle Joe's Mint Balls at Wigan. Then through Gathurst and Appley Bridge to Parbold Cabin East.

Past Harrock Hall Windmill, straight through Hoscar and I come to Burscough Bridge - Martin Mere Wetland Centre. Then Meols Cop and to Southport - and MiseryRail.

Southport is home of the former Beales department store which closed last year, The Atkinson, Victoria Park and its summer Flower Show and the British Lawnmower Museum. I also take in the fabulous War Memorial, Esplanade, Promenade, Viking Village and Valhalla.

The Wetherspoons offering is the Sir Henry Segrave. Segrave was an early British pioneer, setting three world land speed records, the first at Ainsdale, Southport. He also set a new world water speed record on Friday 13 June 1930, shortly after being knighted - but his third run resulted in a capsizing and death at the age of 33....

It's £11 today at Haig Avenue (it's normally £16.50 to sit). To my left there is the Blowick End away uncovered terracing featuring The Volare Restaurant Terrace.

I'm in the Grandstand and to my right is the Jack Carr Stand. Opposite is the Popular Side, featuring Renacres Paddock and MTC Truck & Van Rental Stand.

The Sandgrounders are in yellow and black, Leek in blue. Today's crowd is 950.

Southport start the stronger - Malakai McKenzie has a fierce effort and Luke Tabone a bullet header, both just wide. Then on the quarter hour Momodou Touray strikes the Leek post.

But the Blues have the best chance of the half on 28, a one on one that sees Lateef Babatunde Olowabi denied by Chris Renshaw. Luke Griffiths hits the Leek bar five minutes before the break, but it remains scoreless.

The Sandgrounders eventually break the deadlock on 61 minutes. There's a foul in the build up but the referee plays a good advantage and it ends with Chris Sze rifling into the roof of the net.

Ten minutes later he is tripped in the box. He takes the penalty himself, and scores with a Panenka chip to make it 2-0.

Southport hit the woodwork for a third time but then things get interesting. On 89 minutes Liam Edwards powers in a header for Leek to halve the deficit.

The gaggle of Blues fans celebrate wildly but less than a minute later it's all over. A marvellous through ball plays sub Arthur Gnahoua in and he finishes imperiously past Noah Cooper for the final result of 3-1.

Six Of The Best - Mariners Sail Through, Dunston Fed Up......

And so to The 1st Cloud Arena aka the Mariners Arena in Jarrow for an FA Trophy Second Round tie, and local derby, between South Shields FC and Dunston FC.

A few references have been found to the origins of a town football club playing in the 1870s, but the first recorded public appearance of a named South Shields AFC was in 1888. Several other local clubs flickered but it was the South Shields Adelaide Athletic club, set up in 1899, that went on to be elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1919 as South Shields FC.

 

Lack of public support that meant only the sale of its best players and FA Cup runs kept Shields in business. Inevitably, without money to bail the club out of impending bankruptcy, the only possible viable alternative to closure was to move. In 1930 the club left the town, resettling and welcomed at Gateshead, where it adopted the name of their new home.

 

A new club was established in 1936, nicknamed 'The Babes', before becoming 'The Mariners' in 1950 on its move from Horsley Hill to Simonside Hall. Shields played in several leagues until joining the Northern Premier League in 1968.

 

However 'insufficient match attendances' prompted the directors to sell Simonside Hall in 1974 with a view to returning to Horsley Hill. In a controversial and quite disastrous land fiasco both sites were transformed into housing estates. The club was penniless and homeless - and history repeated itself as the team went to Gateshead again, re-emerging as Gateshead United FC, taking Shields' place in the NPL.

 

A new club, South Shields Mariners FC, was formed immediately, based at the council's Jack Clark Park, and began a 17 year crusade for a home of its own. The club progressed through the Northern Alliance and Wearside League to the Northern League.

 

In 1992 the redundant and vandalised sports club and ground of Filtrona FC in Jarrow became available. It was purchased by club chairman John Rundle and the Mariners had a new home - Filtrona Park. Rundle was a volatile character, twice publicly threatening the club with closure, and (in)famously locking the gates at Filtrona Park ahead of a home match in 2006.

 

At the end of the 2012/13 season South Shields was relegated from Northern League Division One, and the club was forced to move to Eden Park in Peterlee after their lease expired. Two seasons with average attendances of 69 and 70 meant the club faced a huge challenge to survive.

 

After being taken over by new chairman Geoff Thompson in the summer of 2015 he subsequently bought Filtrona Park, renamed it Mariners Park, now The 1st Cloud Arena, and the club moved back. Under the captaincy of ex Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca the Mariners won Northern League Division Two title in 2015/16.

 

The 2016/17 season saw a famous quadruple - the Northern League Division One title, after a 32 game winning streak, the Durham Challenge Cup, the Northern League Challenge Cup and a 4-0 victory in the FA Vase at Wembley against Cleethorpes Town. Average attendances increased to 1,226 - a bit different to 69 or 70...

The Mariners achieved promotion from the Northern Premier League Division One North at the first attempt as champions with 103 points. Two failed play off attempts, after finishing both times as runners up, and Covid, meant Shields only reached the National League North, finally, as champions, in 2023. A 7th first place season boded well but last term was a major disappointment with a 17th place finish: this time the Mariners are second behind Fylde, after Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at (Dial M For) Merthyr.

The away side, Dunston, was established as a works team by John Thompson and other HMSO employees in 1975 as Whickham Sports FC, playing at Longbenton. Sports started in the Newcastle City Amateur League, before moving up to the Northern Amateur League.

A league and cup double was won in 1978 and, on the strength of this early success, the team moved to their current home at Wellington Road. Shortly after, in 1980, the side joined the Northern Combination and was then renamed Dunston Mechanics FC in 1982.

1986/87 saw the club win another league and cup double, with a further name change to Dunston Federation Brewery as part of a sponsorship deal, and a move up to the Wearside League. Back to back titles in 1989 and 1990 preceded a move to the Northern League in 1991.

League and cup doubles were achieved again in 2003/04 and 2004/05, and in 2007 the club name changed once more to Dunston Federation FC after the brewery was bought by Scottish & Newcastle and sponsorship ceased. A new sponsorship deal in 2009 with UTS (Utility Technology Services), with the club rechristened as Dunston UTS, saw UTS crowned as FA Vase winners in 2011/12, beating West Auckland Town 2-0 at Wembley.

In 2019 Dunston won the Northern League Division One champions, finishing 17 points clear. The Fed were thus promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One North West, now East, but forced to remove UTS from the club name, due to league rules prohibiting advertising in the team name. 

Third in 2024 and second last term saw play off heartbreak both times; this season The Fed are seventh, after a 4-1 away demolition of Consett on Tuesday, with games in hand.

To Manchester with its new Santa, Christmas Markets and Schola Mancuniensis 1870. Numberplates en route are P1RK U, MAY 0D and T1CKS.

Then past the Etihad and Coop Live before reaching Seel Park at Mossley. On through a revamped Huddersfield Station to Versa Leeds Studios and the National Railway Museum at York.

And next Darlington, celebrating the 200th anniversary of rail travel, before Durham and its Cathedral. Thereafter Chester-le-Street, home of Durham CCC, and The Angel of The North brings me to the Tyne Bridge and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

And Newcastle, home of The Lazy Bear, Victoria Comet, Gunner Tavern, and naturally, The Magpie, doesn't disappoint. The Biscuit Factory, Ouseburn Farm and Seven Stories takes me back to the Tyne Bridge. Then Baltic Square and Quayside towards the Millennium Bridge, the Northern Design Centre and the Glasshouse, formerly known as Sage.

That brings me to Greys Monument, the Castle and Grainger & Bigg Markets. Further on I chance on the Cathedral, Life Science Centre and the Discovery Museum.

The whistle stop tour sees me arrive at St James Park and the Stephenson Monument. And the finish ends up at the Great North Museum plus the Laing Art Gallery.

Matchday arrives and via Nexus through Gateshead and its Stadium, Felling, Pelaw and Hebburn (is a place on earth). I stop off at Hebburn Town FC, established in 1912 and FA Vase winners in 1920. 

I walk round the Trustmark Group Stadium with its Hungry Hornet Cafe and Bob Tatum Stand, one of the original Hebburn Hecklers. Then with potential 86 minute tram delays I arrive at Jarrow, renowned for the 1936 March, and to Bede, famous for St Bede or the Venerable Bede, and also Barbour headquarters.

Inside the 1st Cloud there is the main Wolf Competitions Stand, and opposite is the Durata Stand, flanked by the Clock Stand (more a balcony), clubhouse and marquee. There is covered terracing at both ends, with today's segregation starting at Sima Shed at the far end. An artificial pitch lies behind the 200ish Dunston fans in the away area and entry is £10 to stand - the crowd today is 1,203.

Shields are in claret, blue and white, whilst the Fed wear a psychedelic blue and white strip. The Mariners start on top and Danny Ward clips the bar after 6 minutes.

But for all their slick interpassing and dominance it's UTS who take the lead on 19. Home keeper Tom Watson fluffs his lines, hesitating then charging off his line and clattering onrushing Dunston forward Dan Nelson. The result is a yellow card and a penalty kick which Nelson duly despatches.

The Fed's goal is leading a charmed life as 9 minutes on Shields hit the woodwork again - this time the post for what would have been an unfortunate own goal. However seconds later David Carson plays in Lennon Wheeldon who shoots through the legs of away custodian Dan Lowson to tie matters up.

That precedes three further home goals before the break. The first sees Paul Blackett outmuscling his defender and shooting high into the net (31), Wheeldon scores his second from Ward's cutback (38) and Blackett gets his double in similar circumstances to his first; 4-1 to the Mariners at half time.

The second period is all about damage limitation for Dunston. They survive until the hour when Todd Alcock pinches the ball just outside the box and lays off to captain Will Jenkins who fires into the opposite corner across Lowson.

Surprisingly the Fed pull one back with 11 to play. Daniel Dodds' error is punished sumptuously by Josh Richardson for 5-2, and Dunston hit the post with a minute left; the rebound is wastefully blazed over when it should have been buried 🥴

But fittingly the final word goes to Shields. A long ball beyond the final defender and Cedwyn Scott, from his own half, showing electric speed, runs on, outpacing the last man, and then beautifully dummying Lowson before putting the ball into an empty net; the 6-2 annihilation is complete 😊

Five Star Hoops OutKlahsa Sporting !!!

And so to what was the RAW Charging Stadium, rebranded this week as The MGroup Stadium at Marsh Lane in Marston and Oxford City FC; City at home for an FA Trophy Second Round tie against Sporting Khalsa.

City played their first recorded match on 15 March 1884, having been founded in 1882. Fixtures were irregular over the next decade, but the club was reorganised and reconstituted in 1897 and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1906, beating Bishop Auckland 3-0, before joining the Isthmian League the following year.

In the latter half of the 20th century, the club went into decline and soon fell behind Headington United (now Oxford United), who turned professional in 1949. Attempts were made to restore success when it became a limited company in 1979 and they later appointed Bobby Moore as manager, with Harry Redknapp as his assistant.

The Hoops reached their nadir in 1988 when they were evicted from their White House Ground by landlords Brasenose College, who sold the land off for housing. Forced to resign from the Isthmian League, City did not reform and return to senior football until 1990 when, based at Cutteslowe Park, they joined the South Midlands League Division One, winning promotion in their first season. The return to the Isthmian League in 1993 coincided with a move to Marsh Lane. 

The club continued to climb through the divisions during the 1990s and reached the FA Vase Final in 1995, losing 2-1 to Arlesey Town.

Two seasons in the Isthmian League Premier Division prefaced an epic FA Cup run in 1999, culminating in a three-game battle against Wycombe Wanderers in the First Round Proper. City were eventually edged out 1–0 at Oxford United's old home, the Manor Ground. 

The first replay had been abandoned because of a fire alarm just as the penalty shootout was about to start; this remains the only FA Cup tie to go to a second replay since the FA ruled all ties should be settled after a maximum of two games. This rule change meant that City's other FA Cup record – the six games needed before losing to Alvechurch in 1971-1972 in the qualifying rounds – is unlikely to ever be beaten.

In 2005 the club was relegated back to the Spartan South Midlands League, but achieved promotion at the first time of asking, up to the Southern League Division One South and West. Further elevation was achieved in 2008, after a 1-0 win over Uxbridge, as the Hoops reached the Southern Premier Division.

In 2011–12 Oxford City finished as runners-up, narrowly missing out on the title, but they won the play-off final against AFC Totton to ascend to the Conference North for the first time in their history. After a successful first season, finishing in 10th place, the following year proved more of a struggle, with the club initially finishing in the drop zone after a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player, but The Hoops were reprieved from relegation after Vauxhall Motors resigned from the Football Conference.

In 2015-16 City was laterally moved from Conference North to South, which was relabelled National League South; sadly chairman Colin Taylor hung himself at the ground in November 2016, due to worries about the club's finances. Two years on Oxford enjoyed a historic run in the FA Cup, knocking out league opposition for the first time with a 1-0 win at Colchester United, and narrowly being defeated in the Second Round from an injury time goal by Notts County.

2020-21 saw another FA Cup scalp beating EFL Northampton Town 2-1. But 14 May 2023 was the famous date that Oxford City was promoted to the National League Premier - after finishing third, play off semi final victory against Worthing (2-0) and a 4-0 drubbing of St Albans City in the final saw The Hoops rise to the fifth tier for the first time ever. However City struggled, in a one season stay, and eventually finished comfortably bottom with 33 points from their 46 matches.

Manager Ross Jenkins left the club to take over at Boreham Wood, succeeding Luke Garrard. Wood had also been relegated from the National League last season, somewhat unluckily with 52 points. Jenkins only lasted 8 games and 12 points before leaving 'by mutual consent': Garrard was reappointed the day after.

City's relegation hangover has continued this season in the National League North, and they have made a terrible start. So bad in fact that new boss Sam Cox was sacked; bizarrely Jenkins was reappointed Hoops' manager shortly after..... and results have improved with City now in 19th, one defeat in seven after last weekend's 95th minute equaliser by Zac McEachran against Scarborough Athletic.

After a committee reorganisation in 2004 the club rejoined the West Midlands (Regional) League, immediately gaining promotion. In the following year Sporting became the first Asian semi professional club in the country to own its own ground - Abbey Park Stadium, formerly the home of Bloxwich Town FC.

After five years at Abbey Park the Lions purchased the 5 acre freehold grounds of Willenhall Town FC from the Receivers and Aspray Arena was born. Division One was conquered that season and the Premier Division awaited....

As champions of the Premier League in 2014/15 Khalsa was promoted to the Midland League, finishing third in their first two terms. A £1m redevelopment at Noose Lane in 2017, necessitating a groundshare with AFC Wulfrunians, saw Sporting slip from first to fifth. The revamped stadium, with 5G pitch, was opened in July 2018 - and the Lions were lying in second in 2020, with games in hand, before a second season was Covid null and voided.

No matter as Khalsa was elevated to the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands in 2021. Finishing 8th, 4th (play off defeat to Spalding) and 12th in the subsequent campaigns, the Lions are currently fourth after the Walsall Wood resignation adjustment and despite consecutive 1-0 away reverses at the Mikes of Boldmere St Michaels and the Methodists of Quorn, who top the table.

En route numberplates today are SHO3S, URB4N and S1LLA - a black Range Rover. These alongside BJS removal vans showcasing 'As Strong As Worcester Sauce', 'Leaving Early for Lands End' and 'Sent to Coventry' and a cart advertising Oh! Crepe - Savoury Jianbing....

On the way to Manchester I come across Cheese FM advertising hoardings, that Taylor Swift mannequin and The Briton's Protection. Then The Armenian Lounge, Museum of Illusions, Tegtat Turkish Restaurant and Yum Cha Tea before Piccadilly and its Victory Over Blindness statue.

Through Stockport and the Hat Works and a soon to be Pyramid Curry House. The Chiverton Tap at Cheadle Hulme precedes The Old Millstone at Macclesfield.

A combination of sun and enveloping mist appear as I arrive belongside the rusty water at Kidsgrove. Beyond is Hoppecke Mill in Newcastle under Lyme and the Hand of Chronos at Stoke on Trent.

Thence Wellbeing Park at Yarnfield in Stone and rail grinders at Stafford before Molineux at Wolverhampton. That brings me to Birmingham, the Bullring and Leaves of the Tree and One Giant Leap of Humankind.

On the way out it's past St Andrew's and to Birmingham International (Airport). Afterwards the cathedral at Coventry and the Art Deco station at (Royal) Leamington Spa.

We move into the Oxfordshire countryside and reach Banbury, with Prostechnic and the Puritans of Banbury United's Spencer Stadium visible from the train tracks. Finally into Oxford and a hike up to Cowley, passing The Paste Tree, CBD Maniac and Cycloanalysts.

Friday brings sunshine and a walk into the dreaming spires of Oxford. Breakfast is at Wetherspoons' Four Candles, and yes it is named after that iconic Two Ronnies sketch. The other Oxford 'Spoons are The Swan and Castle and The William Morris - a famous Oxonian textile designer.

Avoiding the cyclists, it's a trip to the Botanic Gardens, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Museum of Natural History, the Bodleian Libraries and Radcliffe Camera, Bridge of Sighs, Martyrs' Memorial and the Ashmolean Museum. Then atop the Castle Mound at Oxford Castle & Prison, Folly Bridge, Tom Tower, the Story Museum, Carfax Tower and finally the Covered Market all the while marvelling at the city's historical attractions including the JRR Tolkien Bench. Pubs Cow & Creek, Jude The Obscure and The Old Bookbinders Ale House feature - along with restaurants The White Rabbit, Dirty Bones and The Giggling Squid in Jericho....

Past the Sandwich Shop selling Milksakes (yes really !!) and into Marston beyond Crotch Crescent brings me to Court Place Farm. 

The stadium houses the main stand, opposite which is a covered terrace with windshields and dug outs, bookended by seated areas, one covered and one open.

Marsh Lane itself is dominated by the clubhouse, food hatch and club offices and features the entrance gates to the club's former nostalgic White House ground with flat standing. At the other end is a small covered terrace; the 3G surface was installed in 2018.

City are in blue and white hoops as expected, Khalsa in change scarlet and black. Reduced admission is £8 (£13 early bird normally 👌) - the crowd is 309, with at least 25 Khalsa fans.

Sporting, under the captaincy of Tesfa Robinson, are really up for this and create the first chance from Andre Landell. But the Hoops get into their stride and Josh Parker is denied by a superb save, the first of many, from Khalsa keeper Brandon Ganley.

But the game changes just after the midway point: on 24 minutes Chay Tilt's sumptuous volley for Khalsa is controversially and belatedly ruled out for offside. Four minutes later Zac McEachran's intelligent break and unselfish cut back sees Josh Parker gleefully ram home and City lead 1-0.

Six minutes on Alfie Potter is played through and is thwarted by another outstanding save from Ganley. But the resultant corner is headed in by Phil Croker and Oxford lead 2-0 at the break.

The second period sees the Hoops throttle back and Khalsa grow into the game. Gurjit Singh has their best chance, but wide.

That all changes on 69 minutes, a defensive error and McEachran dinks the ball over his man, sidesteps Ganley and walks the ball home for 3-0. Corie Andrews' beautiful back heel plays in Jayden Carbon to make it four ten

minutes later.

It finishes 5-0 to the Hoops as Tom Scott benefits from another error to sweep home with two minutes left. The referee has seen enough and plays no stoppage time, despite numerous substitutions and injuries.

Seadogs Tipped Over The Sedge.... !!

And so to the Clayborn Ground on Quaker Lane in Cleckheaton, on the border with Hightown in Liversedge - this afternoon an FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying clash between Liversedge FC and Scarborough Athletic.

Liversedge Football Club was founded in 1910 following the demise of the old Liversedge Rugby Club, starting in the Bradford League for three seasons and winning it in 1920/21. The Sedge was a founder member of the West Riding County Amateur League in 1922/23 and went on to be the most successful club in the league’s infancy, taking the league title three times in its first five seasons (1924, 1926 and 1927) and, later, again in 1965 and 1966.

The club was accepted into the Yorkshire League for 1972/73, and promotion to Yorkshire League Division One was achieved prior to the amalgamation of the Midland and Yorkshire Leagues to form the Northern Counties East League in 1982. 

 

Second in 2005/06 and League Cup winners, but promotion to the Northern Premier League was denied due to insufficient facilities - apparently no separate changing rooms for female referees !! Never relegated, Quaker Lane was flooded in October 2015 resulting in no home games for 4 months.

 

Following the last two seasons being curtailed dramatically by the coronavirus pandemic, Liversedge FC was promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One East due to finishing both the 2019/2020 and 2020/21 seasons in the top three of the table (based on a table using a Points Per Games calculation). They currently sit top with 11 wins and a draw from 12 league fixtures.

Scarborough Athletic FC was set up on 25 June 2007 by the Seadog Trust. This was five days after the liquidation of Scarborough FC - £2.5 million in debt and unable to sell the McCain Stadium to a housing developer due to a covenant restricting it to sporting activities (it is now a Lidl supermarket....)

The Seadogs joined the Northern Counties East League Division One, groundsharing at Bridlington Town's Queensgate stadium. Two seasons in they were crowned as champions and promoted to the Premier Division, with Brian France as manager. In their second season in the top flight France was struck in the face by a ball at, strangely, Liversedge and suffered a brain haemorrhage - he never managed the club again.

 

In 2012/13 'Boro clinched the NCEL title and were promoted to the Northern Premier Division One South (bizarrely !!) under their magnificently named Romanian manager Rudy Funk. The Seadogs were moved laterally to Division One North after one season.

 

In July 2017 the club, after ten years at Bridlington, finally returned to the town at the new Flamingo Land Stadium at Weaponness. After play off defeat in 2017 the Seadogs were promoted to the Premier Division as runners up the following year but, despite attendances having nearly trebled, have flattered to deceive ever since - this season six wins, three draws and six defeats.

 

As an extension of their youth team a nursery club Scarborough Town was established in 2008, initially competing in the Teesside League. The team moved up to the Wearside League and were champions in 2010 before folding in June 2013.

 

The original Scarborough FC was founded in 1879, moving to the Athletic Ground on Seamer Road in 1898 and staying there until dissolution. From the Midland League Scarborough became a founder member of the Northern Premier League in 1968, crowned as FA Trophy winners three times in 1973, 1976 and 1977 (beating Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers and Dagenham respectively) and runners up in 1975.

 

The Seadogs joined the Alliance Premier League on inception and were champions in 1987, becoming the first ever automatically promoted club to the Football League. 8 May 1999 saw the club relegated back to the Conference after goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored for Carlisle deep into injury time to preserve their league status, and rendering the Seadogs' 1-1 home draw with Peterborough, already celebrated as survival, irrelevant. Thereafter in 2006 Scarborough were demoted due to 'financial instability'. The end was nigh....

After brinner, it's past Seven Heaven Kitchen, with numberplates today featuring B16 HOT, A B10WER and BR04DEN. Washway Road takes me to the M60 beyond the Bodhi Tree Buddhas at Utopia, Thai Massage at Po Thong and a Chinese takeaway at Panda Mama. Not forgetting the haunted Eyebrow Cottage....

 

Beyond Beyond (aka Chill Factore) on the M60 then the M62 and Saddleworth Moor, Scammonden and the M62 Summit - the highest motorway point in England. More lorry trailer advertising hoardings, predominantly Radiator Outlet but, yes, another CBD one. The weather changes from sunny spells to heavy rain, the thermometer ticks down from 14C to 9C and the motorway is closed on the opposite carriageway at Junction 23 due to a severe multivehicle accident.

 

Past Outlane Cricket Club next to the hard shoulder and off at J25 Hartshead Moor where the motorway closure has caused local gridlock so a hastily revised route is improvised.  Coal Pit Lane, then left at the Gray Ox to Windy Bank Lane onto the A649 and left at Casa Luli into Hightown Road. The ground is well hidden at the foot of Quaker Lane on the right, an inadequate unadopted alley with one car's width.

 

The return journey takes me back via Cleckheaton, past the local Wetherspoons - The Obediah Brooke, a 19th century local farmer - to rejoin at J26. Needless to say the car park is insufficient for a bumper crowd of 571 so I park on the adjoining housing estate, and it's £6 on the gate.

 

Clayborn features a clubhouse to the top West corner of the ground with a drinks terrace, covered seating at the North (The Stuart Silverwood Stand) and another bar - The Huntsman - and a small covered terracing stand to the West behind the goal - The Cowshed. The historic slope has now long since gone, but the North and West sides are elevated above the pitch, with the ground framed by new detached houses, trees and, to the South, a picturesque view of fields looking onto the outskirts of Mirfield.

Sedge are in white and blue stripes, Seadogs in red with white trim and it's a quiet start. That is until the 11th minute when the rhythm is fractured as a home free kick is only half cleared and Jack Stockdill shoots from the edge of the box; his shot hits the post and rolls in, and Liversedge lead 1-0.

For a brief period Sedge are dominant, incisive and threatening with Athletic spoiling the home attack with a series of fouls. However the Seadogs start to take advantage of Sedge's open defending, and on 20 minutes Nathan Cartman breaks through resulting in Michael Coulson's shot being cleared off the line.

Brilliant sunshine gives way to a brief flurry of drizzle and a rainbow as Scarborough start to dominate. Luca Colville's fizzer is going in but Kieran Weledji adds a final touch into the net and is deemed offside, and then home stopper Jon Stewart comes up with two super saves from Coulson and Ryan Watson, one with his hands and the other with his feet.

At the other end Nicky Walker cuts in from the right and strikes the near post, before teeing up Stockdill whose effort is blocked. A breathless first half ends with Sedge a goal to the good.

Five minutes after the break a challenge in the Liversedge box sees Coulson, not for the first time, tumble to the turf (with an alacrity suggesting 'a weed and feed addiction') and he is booked for simulation. Three minutes on and a Sedge cross sees capless, hapless Seadogs' keeper Michael Ingham blinded by the sun and in the ensuing shenanigans an attempted defensive clearance is struck straight at Paul Walker and into the net.

Paul Walker should have made it 3-0 shortly after but his air shot produces a defensive deflection that casually loops just wide. At the other end Stewart performs more heroics in keeping out efforts from Colville and Bradley Plant.

End to end now with Liversedge sitting off and soaking up Seadogs' pressure - the home side fashion a chance for Ben Atkinson, who creates space and shoots across Ingham but just beyond the far post. However their next opportunity on 74 minutes sees Joe Walton bully his opponent off the ball and in a two on one he squares for Atkinson, who composes himself and then fires into the corner for 3-0.

Then the piece de resistance: with 9 minutes to play the ball finds Nicky Walker's feet, he bamboozles the full back and shoots left footed from outside the box and the ball hits the inside of the opposite post before going in. Not so much a peach as a full tropical fruit salad....

Aside from a wholly unnecessary melee at the death that's it - a 4-0 'giantkilling' with the man of the match being the underdogs' goalkeeper. The 100+ disgruntled Scarborough fans, 'you're all just walking' are met with home cries of 'See you next season'... and on this showing that's highly likely !