BRIDLINGTON HIT BRIGG FOR 7

BRIDLINGTON TOWN AFC 7 V BRIGG TOWN 1
NCEL PREMIER LEAGUE @ QUEENSGATE
20 FEBRUARY 2016 --- 3PM

THE IMPRESSIVE MAIN STAND AT BRIDLINGTON TOWN AFC

Early Brigg joy when Luke Anderson fired home after 9 minutes was soon evaporated when The Seasiders hit 7 goals in reply to send them to second spot in The NCEL by the final whistle.
The radar had scanned Bridlington for a first visit many times over the last few seasons and finally today all was in place for an attendance for a game, I had previously visited the ground a few years ago on a summer trip to the seaside town, but just to take a look!
First the boring bit again the weather had played up in mid week and seen Brid's game called off and so a text to the home secretary was a must and thankfully Joe replied with positive news and a promise of a call if the game was in doubt following my Friday evening enquiry, more of Joe later.
Base station start was just before 10am with a train to 'Sheffield only' I love those announcements they should re name it.  Off to purchase a paper before boarding the 1041 to Bridlington and a seat was secured comfortably, indeed our previous experiences on this service have been that you can normally have a pleasant journey to Hull and its become a favourite of the blogs this season.  Passing through Goole were we did the usual are people from the town called 'Goolies' and onward to Brough were we discussed the former horse racing commentator Brough Scott, the things we do to pass the time.  Today was to be quite a test for the tight seats would question our resolve for what was to be a 2 1/4 hour journey from Sheffield alone.  Hull was soon reached and then it was onward past the impressive Beverley Minster and finally arriving in Bridlington just before 1pm.

ONE VIEW OF BRIDLINGTONS BUSY HARBOUR

Greeted by the smell of fish and chips, candy floss and screeching seagulls, well the latter only and of course as in any town there was a big 'T's' by the station entrance.  We had opted for the earlier train to allow for a look around the town and harbour.  We made it a bracing walk around the latter with a wide selection of pleasure crafts moored alongside the working boats that would be in action collecting the shellfish that Brid has become famous for. 

TOO SMALL FOR OUR LUNCH

As the seagulls swooped and cried out we protected all things un attached to us and even toyed with the large hot dogs but when it appeared they were not as big as the signage we moved onwards passing the cracking little harbour by.  Back through the bustling streets of Bridlington town centre we made our way to the Hudgell Solicitors Stadium to give it its sponsored title home of Bridlington Town AFC and of course Scarborough Athletic.  Back roads and the little footpath beside the ground soon found us at the car park and the entrance to Bridlington Town wondering about food we opted for the Queensgate fish shop opposite the ground which provided steady fayre.  Mick had selected chips and curry of which the latter was so strong I could smell it from 20 yards away, if there was a coach 'F' on the return train he would definitely be in there!  Bridlington Rugby Union Club have a ground and smart clubhouse that sides onto the football club and their seconds were in action today, a tempting wuick visit was resisted.
Entrance to the ground was paid along with a raffle and then to the left hand side a couple of programmes, excellent effort by the way well done, from the hut were added.  At this point we met Duncan who is a loyal supporter of Brid and whom we had met a few years ago on our travels to watch a game at Uttoxeter, its was good to catch up with him again and I think he enjoyed what was to follow on the pitch.  There was time during the circuit of the ground to meet Chairman Pete Smurthwaite and secretary Joe who has an interesting story.  Joe is from nearby to the blogs base he is from Ripley and has a lovely story of how 15 years ago he was coming along to his caravan for holidays in Bridlington when he spotted a football fixture versus Mickleover Sports he came along and the rest his history, hooked!

HOME SECRETARY RIPLEY RED JOE IN LOFTED POSITION

The ground tour then turning to the left as mentioned is a programme selling hut with alongside and behind the immediate goal snack bar, bar and an old style static caravan which just looked so right on the east coast football ground.

BRIDLINGTON ABBEY OVERVIEWS PROCEEDINGS

Moving round the far side saddles up with the rugby grounds stand backing onto the football clubs 'bus shelter stand' a cracking little raised terrace placed just behind the dugouts and enough to give Teversal's Tesco trolly shelter stands a challenge for the quirkiest match day accommodation.

THE BUS SHELTER WHERE IS THE 3.20?

The whole ground has a deep walkway around it and the town end goal has a superb Bridlington Town banner which shines out bright from all corners of the ground, the far corner has a small covered area before we reach the highlight of Queensgate.  A 3/4 length stand which sees us reach a raised terrace with brightly painted red barriers before the seats appear and either side of the entrance tunnel two raised hospitality/officials rooms.

VIEW FROM THE TERRACE

Passing the tunnel we reach more seats and a small terraced area before we come back to our original entry point at the main turnstile.

ENTRANCE ONTO THE QUEENSGATE PITCH

The perimeter fencing is a unique slanted tin corrugated fence with advert boards placed upon them at regular intervals.
The crowd slowly came in for todays 'top v bottom' or third v second bottom to be accurate and somewhat of a local derby it has to be said the 97 regular supporters are to be applauded but Bridlington population where are you?  Your home club is doing superbly well and following the Chairman's observations recently it must be so frustrating that the gates are not higher.
As often happens with these games the team who were expected to be poor if their league position was to be believed took the lead!  A neat finish after 9 minutes from Anderson following good work from Lewis Dennison and Scott Hellewell. 

LUKE ANDERSON OPENING GOAL FOR BRIGG, SECOND BEHIND BRID NUMBER 5

Normal service was to resume two minutes later when Will Waudby dribbled his way through before firing low and hard past Jody Barford in the visitors goal.  Half way through the first period Joel Sutton set up Chris Adams  for a powerful finish to give The Seasiders the lead.

 
Brigg were fighting hard and were rather unfortunate to be three more goals down by half time a double strike on 33 and 38 minutes from Joel Sutton made the score 4-1.  It was 5-1 on the stroke of half time with some real hard luck keeper Barford raced out to clear and as he struck the ball it smacked against striker Chris Adams backside and flew back over the goal line for his second.

PETE SMURTHWAITE BRID CHAIRMAN AND BBC RADIO HUMBERSIDE STAR!

Half time gave the blog a quick chance of a photo op with Mr Chairman who was also prominent on a board advertising the supporters trust.
Half time score lines like this often lead to a subdued second half and so it meandered away, was it Brigg battling to get a 2nd half 0-0 or the home side taking the foot off the gas?  Two more goals were added the first on 71 minutes when once again Brigg were doubting their luck, Chris Adams provided a low hard cross that Scott Mathews could only turn into his own goal as he tried to clear the ball.  Four minutes later it was 7-1 Waudby fired in a low cross off the left and substitute Jamie Reeson was on hand to convert with an accurate close range finish.

LOOK AT THE BANNER, LOOKING GOOD

With a ten minute dash back for the 5.05 train we bade goodbye to Queensgate overlooked by Bridlington Abbey and today the deflated green gasometer.  We made it over the railway line before the barriers came down and even had time to pop into the old style station buffet which was, it appeared, privately run and thankfully still open for a few snacks and cans of pop for the long journey ahead.

BRIDLINGTON STATION WITH TO THE LEFT THE OLD STYLE BUFFET

As the train came in on time from Scarborough we were soon re counting a cracking afternoon out as we rattled our way through Driffield and Beverley.  After a short wait for time and crew change at Hull we arrived back in Sheffield via Selby for a 15 minute connection that brought us back to base station at 7.45pm
An enjoyable afternoon at the match in Bridlington with some cracking locals who are enjoying the hard work put in by the clubs volunteers enjoy it 'Seasiders'.

1705 APPROACHING BRIDLINGTON STATION