Before last Friday I had never seen a match in the Northern League. Now, one immaculately organised ‘Easter Ground Hop’ later, I can say I have seen ten.
The results were: North Shields 3-0 West Allotment Celtic, Whitley Bay 2-1 Newcastle Benfield, Jarrow Roofing 1-0 Heaton Stannington, Washington 1-1 Seaham Red Star, Birtley Town 3-1 Chester-le-Street, Consett 0-1 Durham City, Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 1-1 Whickham, Bishop Auckland 8-1 Crook Town, Spennymoor Town 4-1 Team Northumbria and Newton Aycliffe 1-1 Shildon.
The scene at Washington v Seaham Red Star
I travelled up by train from London to Newcastle on Thursday and took the Metro to Whitley Bay, the location of my sea-front hotel.
The Northern League’s weather department had arranged four consecutive dry and sunny days; the only time I felt cold was behind the far-end goal in the second half at Washington. The Nissan Sports & Leisure Complex is completely open to the wind.
About 20 ‘Hoppers’ were waiting outside Whitley Bay’s Metro Station when the coach picked us up at 9.35 on Good Friday morning for the first match at North Shields, which was fairly close. ‘The Robins’ had already clinched the Northern League Division Two title and were presented with the trophy afterwards. They had enthusiastic support in a surprisingly big crowd of 1,312.
In the 1960s, Dad and I used to watch Sutton United and they beat Bishop Auckland 2-1 in a very exciting FA Amateur Cup Third Round tie in ’66. Then they were handed a difficult draw away to Whitley Bay in the quarter finals, where they went out 0-2. As a youngster I would only be taken to local games in Surrey and there was no chance of being able to go up to Northumberland.
Now, 48 years on, I finally made it to Hillheads Park. I found a ground that once held more than 7,000 to be very impressive and I think it’s my favourite from the ‘Hop’.
I walked back to the hotel after the game, deciding not to go to Ashington on a freezing night when I was still on antibiotics for a chest infection.
The Barber was looking forward to the Bishop Auckland v Crook Town game
I have to admit the game I was looking forward to most was Bishop Auckland v Crook at noon on Easter Monday. They are two huge names from the great days of amateur football and they contested an Amateur Cup Final before a capacity Wembley crowd of 100,000 in 1954. Crook lifted The Cup after edging a second replay at Middlesbrough.
According to Monday’s programme, Bishops hadn’t won at home in the League for more than four months and had lost 1-3 at Crook around Christmas time, their first League meeting for an astonishing 25 years. But it turned out to be an extraordinary game, Bishops rattling in eight goals to a solitary one by the visitors. It was announced as their biggest win at Heritage Park.
I watched the Sunday afternoon game at Ryton with my niece, her husband and their baby son who live within walking distance of the ground. Lochlan, who was just 16 days old, must be one of the youngest ever to attend a Northern League fixture – or any fixture for that matter. He has a nine-year start on me and will no doubt overtake my total one day!
Games this season = 167
Games altogether = 6,632
Twitter: @thebarberfan
