EASTWOOD HANLEY 2 V BALL HAYE GREEN 1
PRE SEASON FREINDLY @ TRENTMILL ROAD, JOINERS SQUARE
18 JULY 2015 KICK OFF 2PM
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| TERRACED VIEWING SPOT AT EASTWOOD HANLEY FC |
Eastwood Hanley returned to their spiritual home for this pre season victory over Staffordshire County Premier League Ball Haye Green. The leek based side were welcome visitors but were two down at half time and although they found a goal in the second half the equaliser would not come.
More on the game in a while but how did the blog come about with a visit to this game. Well a few years ago I tried to take a look if Eastwood Hanley were still in existence having remembered them from an end of season game at Alfreton Town in the then newly formed Northern Premier League 1 around 1987/88 season. By this stage Eastwood Hanley had a strong product around Staffordshire but it would appear it was getting difficult off the pitch with financial difficulties and the constant vandalism of their ground which in the early 90's saw them vacate their Trentmill Rd ground and finally in 1997 the club finally closed down all together. Games against Accrington Stanley attracting a crowd of over 5,000 and Tamworth in the FA Vase added to that a Staffordshire County Cup win were in the records but sadly the club was no more.......until 2014 that is.
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| REMAINING TERRACE WITH FLOODLIGHT BASE IN FOREGROUND |
The ground and pitches around the boundary of the original stadium were being used by Sandford Hill Allstars a club for all ages, except a senior non league team. But for the 2014/15 a senior team was entered into the Staffordshire County Senior League Second Division North and the Eastwood Hanley title was adopted and the club was back on the long road to seeking non league recognition.
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EASTWOOD HANLEY CHAIRMAN
CHRIS WILLIAMS |
Following last weeks Rocester v Port Vale pre season game Eastwood Hanley tweeted the blogs report and this answered my much sought answer to my question 'what happened to Eastwood Hanley'? So following a bit of research I discovered that Leek based Ball Haye Green FC would be visiting Trentmill Rd for a pre season friendly.
As ever with pre season games I made a quick call to club Chairman Chris Williams with whom the blog had a lovely conversation on the evening before the game his enthusiasm for the club and much hoped for future development shone through. The club now has a large site as well as the original ground which has up to 9 pitches available, including mini pitches in this total and operates 27 teams, a tremendous commitment lets hope some of those associated with these teams come along to support the seniors-many of whom are players who have progressed through the club.
The day as ever started at base station with a comfortable change at Derby onto the Crewe bound train...oh how delighted we were to find that our awaiting carriage was a single unit train.
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| TODAYS FOOD STOP |
As ever on arrival at our destination we sought out some delicacy and today a small diversion took us to the Uni Chip. Steady 'eats' on the move and we were soon back onto the Leek Rd and in Joiners Square a small district of Hanley. Trentmill Rd is easily located off the main thoroughfare but the ground is very secretively sandwiched between the river Trent and disused Stoke to Leek railway line. As the road runs out into a track to the left are the additional pitches and too the right through angled metal barriers our stroll back through history to the former Eastwood Hanley ground. Some of the areas dereliction has been cleared away and cleaned up by those hardworking volunteers that all clubs need and often come in too small a number. The pitch is on slightly lower level to the entrance parking area and at this level there are 3 metal container cabins featuring a toilet block, café area and storage cabin. The club house and changing rooms have long gone and there are now three more container cabins with changing rooms and hopefully further facility developments to come around this area. At the side of these nearest the entrance is a former concrete terrace with cover and roof structure now gone but concrete posts and two crush barriers very much still in place. Behind the entrance goal is a slightly raised bank and over to the far touchline a shallow terraced area can still be seen and accessed. At the rear of the far goal the former stand has now gone and the area is very much grassed with little of its former use visible. The site overall is massive of which the security of offers the biggest challenge the club has of developing to a standard they so clearly desire, I hope they can find some funding or benefactor to assist them because their is clearly so much potential here. It is so frustrating when the game at the top is awash with £50 million pound transfers and £250,000 a week wages yet there is little in the pot for the grassroots game.
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| PRE MATCH TACTICS FOR EASTWOOD HANLEY FC |
On approach to the ground today it was nice to catch up with Chairman Chris Williams and then again at half time for a quick chat about the game and Eastwood Hanley.
This is a great opportunity, pre season friendlies still to play, for any hopper to see the new Eastwood Hanley on their former ground because sadly come the league season they move to Milton United to play their games due to County Senior League requirements of showers at the ground, something which the club are working towards for next season.
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| AN EARLY TUSSLE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES |
The Premier League visitors in their first pre season of the new upcoming campaign were 1 down in 14 minutes when Mark Ellerton drove in a sweet finish from 10 yards. It was the home side who were testing their higher league visitors although you always thought if Ball Haye could get going they would be a handful. Four minutes before half time the referee had a decision to make following a foul close to the penalty box, inside or out? He selected just outside and after some arranging of the wall the impressive Asa Tomkinson stepped up and curled the ball in with the sweetest of strikes with a quality goal that doubled Eastwood Hanley's lead.
The half time discussion with Chris Williams revealed that the pitch was a former tip for Wedgewood and the amount of broken pottery in the ground lead to an excellent draining pitch. The pitch had a good reputation previously and today was looking nice and flat for some free flowing football.
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| BALL HAYE GREEN KEEPER CLAIMS A CROSS |
The second half started encouragingly for the visitors when inside the first 10 minutes Mike Keates pulled a goal back in a one on one with the home keeper. The blog waited for the home side to fade but it did not happen and they continued to battle away to secure this victory non more so than four minutes from time when the home keeper at full stretch pushed and edge of the box effort over for a corner and that was enough to secure the victory.
An entertaining game for a pre season friendly and although Eastwood Hanley are well into their pre season this was a superb little performance from a good selection of players with some good pace on show. The visitors were on their first outing and they were quite happy that they will build up to full fitness over the next few weeks to lead them into their Premier League season.
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| KEILAN BOND CHECKS OUT THE BENCH |
During the second half it was good to catch up with Ball Haye Green manager Keilan Bond who explained how he had played for a Leek Town side on this pitch when the former club was still in existence. Hopefully we didn't interrupt his second half too much but it was enjoyable and appreciated that he took some time out to chat.
The journey back once again supplied us with a single carriage train to Derby before a return to base.
A very enjoyable afternoon with a club about to enter its second season under the banner of Eastwood Hanley FC the blog wishes them well and hopes they receive some good local support for their senior team and future development of their Trentmill Road ground.
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| ONE CARRIAGE THIS IS NOT A TRAIN ITS A BUS! |
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