Diary of a Ground Hopper
SATURDAY OCTOBER 28 Blyth AFC 3 Tow Law Town 3
- ON my dash north, I pick up Twitcher Sam from Newcastle at about 11.00am. The drive up the A1 seems to have really dragged so far this morning, though it hasn’t taken any longer for me to get here than normal. Some journeys are just like that. After an 80-mile detour to look for a bird that was definitely there but sensibly not showing in the very strong wind, I arrive at the South Newsham Playing Fields as the players are waiting to come out of the changing rooms. I have somehow managed not to register that this is a 2.30pm kick off. The Northern League is by far my favourite in the whole Pyramid. The football is generally good, hard and honest and there are some wonderful grounds. Sadly, South Newsham is definitely not one of those wonderful northern grounds. Having said that, the club has done an enormous amount of work and spent nearly half a million pounds on improvements to what was until recently a park pitch. The pitch is now fenced off all around with new hard-standing and there are new floodlights, clubhouse and changing rooms. A small At-Cost stand shelters the small crowd from the wind and new bus shelter type dugouts protect the subs and managers. It is a perfectly adequate venue for a Division One match in this league; just not that scenic for those who like that sort of thing (i.e. me!). I pay £6 at the entrance shed and another £1.50 for the programme. As play kicks off, I next head for the burger van: I am starving! The burger and chips are passable, though the burger bun is very flaky; I have to make sure I eat well away from other fans or they would have been peppered with crumbs! It’s a good job I do make it for kick off because there’s action from the off. Tow Law look to have scored within two minutes. The linesman flags to indicate the ball has crossed the line in a goalmouth scramble but after a lengthy discussion with the referee it is decided no one got a touch from the throw-in and a goal kick is given. Town take advantage of the wind to go two goals ahead and are looking for more when Blyth finally get a handle on conditions and start to attack. After missing a sitter and then watching the Lawyers’ keeper make a superb save, they are back level by half time. Time for a breather! The clubhouse is decked out for a Halloween party and is surprisingly welcoming. I use the half time break to scan through the programme. It’s an absolute belter! Professionally produced with plenty to read, it’s one of the best I’ve seen this season and I look forward to finishing it tonight (I always read my matchday programmes while MOTD pundits are spouting nonsense for long periods in between the short periods of football). The second half is completely dominated by Blyth. It takes them a while to adjust to not over-hitting shots and passes but they finally, and deservedly, take the lead. They squander many chances and go on to pay the price when the visitors equalise late in the game. Breathless stuff !
PRE-MATCH INFO: 9 WELCOME: 6 FACILITIES: 5 FOOD: 6 CHARM: 1 PROGRAMME: 8.5 RESPECT: 3 HOME FANS: 5 MATCH: 8 OVERALL TRIP: 6 OFFICIALS: 8 ATT: 42