GRIMETHORPE BEAT DENABY UNITED BY ODD GOAL IN FIVE

DENABY UTD 2 GRIMETHORPE SPORTS 3
PETES PATISSERIE SHEFFIELD COUNTY SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER AT OLD LANE
14 OCT 2017 --- 3PM

DENABY UTD V GRIMETHORPE SPORTS AT OLD RD

Two good old South Yorkshire names battled out this Sheffield County Senior Premier League game with Grimethorpe taking the three points by the odd goal.  The visitors were never behind and over the 90 minutes were probably the stronger side but a late goal reduced the deficit and gave Denaby hope of a point that wasn't quite to be.
Last season the blog visited Mexborough for Swinton Athletic's home game versus Denaby Utd and with the chance again of catching up with the famous old club at their Oak Lane home the opportunity was taken with the opposition being of similar non league stature Grimethorpe [Sports].  Last season United were away in Balby Carr due to toilet problems at their pavilion but with these fixed they are back a large goal kick away from the their spiritual home of Denaby Main just over the border in Conisbrough.

DENABY MAIN AND GRAYS CRT SHOPS

This game pitted 5th versus 2nd so with a competitive match on the cards and after some early communication from the home club a departure to allow local viewing time saw arrival 15 minutes late on the Scunthorpe bound train at Conisbrough station just after 1pm.  Last seasons blog in October covers much about the area but it welcomed me into my early non league wanderings that I cant help look at some of the history to the village again.  Walking into the village and its all too self evident that much of the area is still under development after of course the loss of the pit industry in the 1980's and the bitter battles with the powers that were at the time.  There is of course a down to earth homeliness about the place but also a feel of sadness for what has happened to all former mining areas.  The local shopping arcade has a new hot chocolate café enterprise and the shops now look onto a developing mural on the side of the discount store.  Moving through The Salvation Army Hall looks out onto a steel stalled market which is in turn overlooked by the now redundant library, new one joined onto doctors and chemist 100 yards away.

TICKHILL SQ FORMER HOME OF DENABY UTD LOOKING TOWARDS THE WELFARE

Walking up the incline towards the clubs former home at Tickhill Sq all seems vary quite and of course the machinations of their eviction in 2002 are long gone but I fear still hold a bitter place in many peoples heart at what befell the club that saw them fold and never appear back in their home village, apart from now twice a season when they currently play Denaby Main Fc, in league fixtures, who now use the old ground.  With the intentions to climb the footpath up the 'crags' to Conisbrough the hike saw a few regular stops to admire the views and try to gain some heady pictures of Tickhill Sq and beyond.

TICKHILL SQ AND BEYOND FROM THE CRAGS

Having arrived in the ultimate destination a little time had been set aside to take an external look at the castle sadly not enough was available today to do the full tour.  Conisbrough itself at castle and village level seems out of place with the mining areas that surround it although as you climb out of the business district up Old Road you soon see the area change in its outlook and once again the feel of its mining heritage comes to the fore.

CONISBROUGH CASTLE

Arriving at the ground just before 2.30pm I had been aware that there would not be too much furniture to view as the ground is basically one of four pitches on a Doncaster Council recreation area with the changing rooms nearest to the pitch having within its walls a nice bar/snack bar area with a small lounge to enjoy your refreshments.  The pitch has now had a lease granted to the club and hopefully they will be able to develop around it to gain some sort of facility the replicates a step 7 ground with at present the pitch being roped off to allow a space for the club officials and space for the match officials to view the line.

THE IMPRESSIVE DENABY UTD FC PROGRAMME FOR TODAYS GAME

The big selling point at Denaby Utd has been the clubs desire to continue to produce a match day programme something I believe that no other club does in this league so before the game it was good to catch up with James Benfold who is responsible for the fantastic effort amidst many other things along with a small band of club officials.
Although the horse has bolted out of the stable long ago and I must leave it there it still does amaze me the difference required from step 7 Central Midlands League to this Sheffield County Senior League offered the same step status which sometimes only has one referee on the game, normally no programme and no admission.

CAMERAS EVERYWHERE FOR DENABY UTD V GRIMETHORPE

A brief look at the two clubs sees Denaby Utd first reformed in 2011 in the Doncaster and District Senior League and after a champions performance the club moved into the Sheffield County Senior League with promotion at the end of 2015/16 season from division 1 to the premier league which they now enjoy competing in for the second season.  The previous Denaby had a chequered but at times illustrious past competing in the former Yorkshire League as well as the Midland League plus latterly the Northern Counties East League.
Grimethorpe Sports had formed when the village was again without a team after its former side had competed in similar leagues to Deanby until dissolving in 2000 from the CMFL.  Grimethorpe reformed for a season in the Sheffield County Senior League for the 2004/5 season before disappearing again.  Sadly the new 'Sports' entitled club have previously played at Shafton not being able to use the Cemetery Rd ground in the village that became famous for Brassed Off the film and of course the colliery and its band which of course gave birth to the film starring Ewan McGregor, Tara Fitgerald and Pete Postlethwaite.

DENABY UTD IN CONTROL

Last season Worsbrough Bridge Fc had a spell at the ground but the home club were playing their games at nearby Shafton, I guess due to the costs of rental.  After promotion from league 1 last season they are sitting pretty in second spot in this seasons premier league but once again the club have now moved to share Athersley Recs facilities at Sheerian Park something which as also seen them link up with the NCEFL club.  With much training gear showing Atherlsey Rec loyalties there is also a change to the badge upon the players shirts now stating 'Grimethorpe and Athersley Sports' something of which I believe the club will be known by next season.  So once again poor old Grimethorpe has no club and nobody playing in the village so todays game really has nomads versus nomads written across it a sad state of affairs in a formerly strong footballing area of South Yorkshire.  But practicalities must and its no longer a game for the dreamers in the midst of course.
The game started strongly with Denaby pushing Grimethorpe with Sam Hutton testing the visitors number 1 Craig Soar.  But on 19 minutes the visitors struck with James Thompson providing the cross for Joe Jackson to fire into the roof of the net after his initial effort was blocked by Ben Priestley in the home goal.  The match was level on 41 minutes and deservedly so when Steve Ellor superbly chipped Soar from 20 yards out and at the half time whistle Denaby were right back in the encounter.

AGAR [9] AND ELLOR CELEBRATE THE FIRST DENABY GOAL

The second half started strongly for the visitors and they retook the lead after 63 minutes when substitute Joe Oliver turned the ball in at the back post at the other end Ellor again tried an audacious lob and although his effort beat the visiting keeper it fell just the wrong side of the upright.  Grimethorpe looked to have taken the wind out of the Denaby sail with 8 minutes to go when they increased their lead and went 3-1 up when Steven Bennett lashed the ball home from the edge of the box.  The Deanby heads dropped and it looked all over until Ainsley Finney provided a sharp finish from an Ellor assist on 89 minutes to pull it back to 2-3 and hope of a point in stoppage time came to the fore but sadly not enough steam could be mustered to find the equaliser and it was Grimethorpe who would take the points home from Old Road.

THE NEW TITLING PACER

A gentle meander back into Consibrough and a further viewing of the castle and local supermarket for hoppers provisions there was still time to admire some of the former industrial buildings and large sized public houses before boarding the 5.31pm to Sheffield for a leisurely connection to base station with an arrival back at base just short of 7.30pm.  Always an enjoyable trip to this part of South Yorkshire and I can only but hope that some of the former glory days can return to Denaby Utd and the villages and towns of the neighbouring areas.