We all stand together

DEARNE AND DISTRICT 1 HORBURY TOWN 3

NCEFL PREMIER @ CENTURY CLADDING WELFARE COMMUNITY GROUND

31 OCTOBER 2026 --- 3PM

Horbury Town came to Goldthorpe and shocked the league leaders with a supreme effort that saw them leave the Century Cladding Ground with all three points. Dearne struggled to get a foothold in the game and they suffered their fifth league defeat of the season when they were starting to look somewhat invincible.

Welcome to Goldthorpe former mining town and of course like all towns that had suffered the loss of the mining industry just over 40 years ago after the national strike it is looking very sadly worse for wear, I know coming from one that lost its neighbouring pits and steel pipe works. The community spirit remains but sadly the facilities gradually disappear.

The times of Margaret Thatcher were not good for our villages and her declaration of there is no such thing as community could be seen in the way she destroyed many communities across the country but non more so than in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and South Wales. Forty years on and communities are still struggling but the people of Goldthorpe got it they knew what these industries and pits meant for that word community.

Indeed on the passing of the former Prime Minister the town became synonymous for performing a n effigy funeral procession through the streets before burning the look alike on a large bonfire on the already appearing waste grounds of Goldthorpe. It earned the town a notable recognition or reputation especially amongst the media but the populace were angry at what had been done to their hardworking miners and consequently their community.

So todays journey found a good price offered by local taxi company for the 30 mile journey which saw me arrive 2 hours before kick off for a look around the town centre with the former cinema an building converted to shop units, the old Coop was visibly recognisable but long since gone. The kids and mums were moving along to Halloween parties in their various attire as I ventured around the adjoining streets looking at boarded up terrace houses with every third one still being occupied, one expects by some old lady or gentleman whose house it had been for most of their life.

The local council was regenerating block by block with new builds replacing these fast evacuated terraces but as a few people mentioned to me it appears the money may have run out because the process seems to have come to a halt. As with all places the community does remain and its people are warm and welcoming of conversation. Indeed while taking a few pictures of the street scene I did spot a customer of the Pigeon Club on its steps having come out for a nicotine break. There was always the thought that somebody would object to somebody taking pictures but no a lovely ten minute conversation followed from discussing the town to the best of the 2 local chippy's to visit and the virtues of the best pork pies supplied by Elmhurst Farm Products. Sadly the shop was just closing as I did the initial venture down Doncaster Road and so there would be no sampling.

After forty five minutes it was time to move towards the ground and with both fish and chips shops on the way to the ground I had already made the selection to go to JJ's on the reviews I had seen although there was little to pick between the two. Chips and a local made fish cake not the Yorkshire fish cake you would often get around here, as ever something of the takeaway variety is a must if visiting a new ground. How was it I hear you ask? Well I have had better and I have had worse so I suppose if after a while we are restarting the chippy league table they would be secure in a mid table position.

Approaching 2pm at the ground there was a chance to take a look at the impressive theatre in the Welfare Park while on the other edge is a youth centre, medical facility and a chemist. Sports wise there was a cricket ground which had The Pav bar and social facility which was used for the football today but it was situated outside the ground so much so that football club have their own bar Dearne in one!

Previously coming through the Doncaster local league and The Central Midland League and playing at Kingsmark a rejection on planning permission saw the club move to the other end of the town to their current location. Its a location I had seen many times as just a football pitch and cricket pitch as I stared of the train of the adjacent banked train line heading northwards through to West Yorkshire and beyond. A wondering was gradually confirmed when I saw the fast rising Dearne and District take on this ground.

The ground is enclosed within a school type grey spiked metal fence on at least three sides with one side already tilting away from the goals at the Furlong Road end. This ground would have offered some real challenges to the people running the club to get it up to ground grading as the club progressed very quickly to step five. There is though a feel that it could be the cabin and container ground with the cut out shipping containers offering three of the stands, cabins for hospitality, toilets and snack facility. there is a return to the containers behind the goal for both teams, the match officials and storage.

There is just 2 and a half sides of the ground accessible behind the entrance goal, the full side adjacent to the cricket pitch and half of the railway end where the changing cabins are plus a container stand perched on the mound which is fronted and surrounded by rubble and half bricks. Probably the newest facilities were the modern dug outs.

The terracing behind the entrance goal had quite a bit of rubbish floating around and there were overflowing rubbish bins and upturned house bin to give some ambience as you entered. I know how hard it is for clubs I've been in this position there are only so many people volunteering I have been there but the ground really needs some house keeping to make it feel a step 5 ground. The danger would appear if the club do secure the title they could be denied progress by the ground condition, this would be a great disappointment as they look to advance their superb start to the season.

Entrance at £7 was paid at a trailer another unique vehicle and seeing a programme advertised looked to secure a couple only to be told its of course one of the online jobs which I did have a look at. It was a quiet welcome to the ground where I think I was just about noticed.

The game itself would be controlled by Hampshire FA referee Mark Bradley who had been at Uni in Leeds and was now working in the area but of course his registration was still down south, he was assisted by Anthony Tierney and Ian Jenkins.

Both teams seemed to have a resolute pre match warm up with Horbury's seeming particularly impressive

From the off Dearne seemed a tough physical sided who looked to rely on a lot of big ball to go forward but maybe Horbury were not letting them get into any sort of stride. it was of course the visitors who upset the proverbial apple cart on 20 minutes when a mistake at the back allowed Joseph Angell to take up possession and round the home keeper to slot home.

Within a minute Dearne were level and there was a hope this would fire up the home side for a confident victory. The equaliser saw a determined press and escape down the right Horbury filed to clear and Jack Boyle took his chance.

Horbury would go into the break ahead when they scored their second this time Angell turned provider with a cross that found its way to the back post for Luca Smith to slot home. The remainder of the half saw an impressive work rate from the visitors deny the home side any chance of playing their normal game, with at time the frustration showing as they were denied. Horbury were denied a third by the post in the closing seconds of the half.

Surely the second half would see Dearne take hold of the game and force 3 points their way, well no because it was Horbury who shocked their hosts when they extended their lead a fine ball and move down the right saw substitute Jake Roberts deliver the cross for Keenan Davies-Mosley to send the visitors into more joy.

From now on in Horbury got every block in, every tackle in and every header in there were some absolute massive individual performances that came together in a superb team performances. Dearne were getting chances to get some edge of the box efforts away but were distracted enough by the attention of the men in blue that these efforts flew off target. Something that on another day would and probably have gone in judging by the impressive season Dearne are having so far.

I guess the Horbury manager has to say 'well lads youve done it here today now you should be able to go on and do it every game' of course football is not like that but if they can they wont be far off the play offs come the end of the season.

For Dearne a bad day at the office and for a side that's had such a good start I'm sure this will be a blip, they look a very strong side and physical unit that this will be put behind them by team and manager Zeph Thomas alike.

Good to finally get to Goldthorpe and Dearne and District Fc as the suitably attired populace hit the streets for the Halloween night it was time to jump the taxi back with arrival back at base about an hour later, I shall enjoy watching how these two progress.

Once again a few more pictures than waffle so hopefully you can enjoy the few pictures that follow below.

CLAY CROSS TOWN 2 GRESLEY ROVERS 3

UCL PREMIER NORTH @ MILL LANE

22 AUGUST 26 --- 3PM

Gresley Rovers left with all three points thanks to a brace from Sam Grouse and inflicted the third consecutive defeat on the early pacesetters in the UCL Premier North. Gresley with a round one of everything, win, draw and loss whereas in the league The Millers had three wins. However it had all gone wrong with two losses in the FA Cup and FA Vase affecting that early confidence and today it wasn't there again as Rovers took full advantage.

It was nice to catch up with one of today's assistant referee Andy Wood who I had not seen for a while and a few minutes with the officials always interesting to see their take on things all things refereeing wise.

So Clay Cross were desperately looking for a return to confidence and a visitors squad would be looking to get their season into full flight. The early stages saw the home side look more likely with some more direct play than in previous weeks it took Gresley a while to get a foothold in the proceedings. But it was Akeel Francis who was at this stage still awaiting his first goal for the home side since his close season signing looking most likely he drift a header wise from a cross off the left when he probably wasn't expecting it to get past his tight marking defender and then he pulled a ball back across the penalty box when he looked better suited to getting a shot away. He did though get a superb shot off storming into the penalty box but Rovers keeper Bradley Catlow stood firm to a strong effort. Indeed the number one had an excellent game never mind the first half when he also deflected away a couple of goalbound efforts with his legs.

Half time came and Clay Cross would regret those missed chances as an increasing threat from Gresley towards the end of the first half. It would though be the home side who would open the scoring and on 50 minutes the ball fell to Francis who took the ball to the right hand side of the box it drew Catlow and the confident slot home past number one and defender Callum Martin. The close season signing is now off the mark and hopefully the relief will help him onwards in the goal chart.

The talking point in the game came just a minute later when Brodie Litchfield was brought down by two players coming into him from either side, it was just outside the box but how referee Vayro waved it away remains unclear. But Gresley took advantage while the home side were left stunned and challenging the call the visitors stormed forward and Grouse scored a beauty with a low drive from just outside the box to level the scores.

Gresley were unleashed now and substitute Haydn Brown hit a sweet drive across the The Millers keeper only to see it fly back off the far post. But Gresley were not to be denied an extension to their lead and if the first goal was a beauty with keeper Dylan Wharton wandering away from his goal line Grouse, for his second, from a long way out spotted it and absolutely walloped the ball with serious intent over the keeper into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Gresley nearly made it three after 86 minutes when the lively Brown who threatened so much got his deserved goal with the Clay Cross defence caught cold and statue like he ran on and rounded Wharton to slot into an empty goal.

Clay Cross were deflated and with just minutes to get through Gresley were invigorated not just by having the lead but by the quality of the finishes.

There was time in the fourth minute of time added on for Basille Zotus to get a second for The Millers to reduce the arrears. But it would not be enough as shortly afterwards the referee ended the action.

Good win for Gresley three pints that kick starts their season but for Clay Cross it leaves questions over the recent performances admittedly with a back line missing two to three players over these games.

A delighted Gresley would have an enjoyable trip back to South Derbyshire.