QUIRKY TOWN QUIRKY CLUB REDDITCH

REDDITCH UTD 0 TAMWORTH 0
EVOSTIK SOUTH PREMIER CENTRAL @ THE VALLEY
23 MARCH 2019 --- 3PM

REDDITCH UNITED FC MAIN STAND

We all love quirky don't we?  The definition of quirky 'having peculiar or unexpected traits' may make this seem harsh but this was a very enjoyable first visit to both town and club.
Little care was given to the goalless draw which normally would signal a dour encounter however here at The Valley this was far from uninteresting as both sides served up an highly entertaining game that just failed to produce an end product which would have risen it to top marks.

TRAIN PICS ARE BACK HERES OUR 323 JUST ARRIVED AT REDDITCH

Saturday on public transport started as normal with a one hour stand to Birmingham from base station thanks once again to XCountry but a swift connection onto the West Midlands Train service to the end of the line that is Redditch saw the rolling fields of north Worcestershire appear around Alvechurch.  Departure at the single platform station sees the whole skyline dominated by The Kingfisher Shopping Centre which I guess has been expanded since its 1976 opening by the then Prime Minister James Callaghan.  The precinct sits on a ledge above the station and the enclosed malls are really quite impressive for an average sized town with little retail activity appearing outside.  Having regained out bearings the opportunity to visit some of the tourist spots of this impressive centre were soon back on the agenda.

THE GIANT NEEDLES CELEBRATING ONE OF THE TOWNS FORMER GLORIES

The town was at one stage responsible for 90% of needle production and fishing tackle in the world and this is marked by the a selection of massive threaded needles just outside the shopping centre and adjacent to our next call.
John Bonham drummer with Led Zeppelin was born in the town and has a fantastic memorial to his abilities that marked him out as one of the best in the business.  The impressive 3d type bronze has Bonham playing his drum kit with to the rear a brief history of the man himself.

MEMORIAL TO JOHN BONHAM

Moving out of the town by the local 'Spoons' The Royal Enfield has developed the former cinema and that's where we were heading next the Royal Enfield former factory site that is not the pub!
From 1907 to 1970 the famous motorbike was made in the town alongside cycles too with its famous tag line 'made like a gun'.  Along Hewell Road and within a few minutes the former factory site now has a selection of small industrial estate units and retails outlets but standing out roadside is a former house type building which I guess would have been offices.  On the front wall a plaque commemorating the factory and its production was supported by a side gable being adorned with the former badge and to the front a metal cut out of the motorbike itself.

CUT OUT OF THE ROYAL ENFIELD OUTSIDE THE FORMER FACTORY SITE

A brief journey around the town had found once again enough interesting history to shake more than a few sticks at.  Onwards to the ground and passing a couple of former needle factories arrival around 2pm at The Valley down the sloping entry road saw a fair bit of activity with a good number of Tamworth fans arriving early.
Having had a sneeky look at the ground before the visit I knew what to expect but this adds to the quirkiness and is a cracking stadium one that I fully enjoyed visiting.  Usual circuit walk then and the descriptor is not easy with a new 4g added three years ago there is a fair bit of additional very high green fencing.  Strangely the slope on the pitch as not been removed and I cant think of many other 4g pitches that haven't been flattened but it just adds to that definition of 'quirky'.

MAIN TERRACING BY THE ENTRANCE AT THE ALLOTMENT END

Through the turnstiles to the left are a toilet block, club shop and tuck shop.  Turning right through the gate in the high fencing behind the goal is a sloped tarmac area that is then fenced off from the swiftly rising terracing which offers a small cover to the rear.
The walk around needs to be done from the terracing not the tarmac area as we found out which is fenced off, the narrow walkway offers an excellent lofted view but it is a mean to an end to get to the terraced stepped area running down the far touchline that has a small amount of seats to the rear.  Coming back down to pitch side the far corner offers a remote turnstile to offer entry from nearby houses and behind the far goal the high fencing is back relegating much of the mini grassed banked area as being left to the wilds, gone is the former temporary stand.  Coming back to the interesting but to use that word yet again quirky main stand it stands out and once adds character to this fantastic ground.  The lower part has a shallow row of seats with a mid deck of boardroom seats and behind them a functional clubhouse that offers an excellent view over the pitch.

TERRACING  AND SEATING PADDOCK OPPOSITE THE MAIN STAND

To the top side now of the stand is the snack bar where we gravitated to for a selection of food and refreshments.
The game itself was an interesting affair with no goals at the end of a fast ninety minutes of endeavour that probably found the correct outcome for both sides it didn't do much good for Tamworth as they look to push on for a late play off push but it kept Redditch in a relatively safe zone.

REDDITCH CLEAR THEIR LINES

In the first half Joshua Hawker saw visiting keeper Jasbir Singh pull off an excellent save to push away his edge of the box effort.  Whereas at the opposite end his opposite number Adam Whitehouse was quickly out to deny Tyrell Waite with his legs.  Just before the break Waite, again, probably had the best chance of the half but from a tight angle it was Whitehouse who came out on top again.

ROBBIE DADLEY GETS THE GREETING CARDS OUT IN THE SECOND HALF

The second half provided further battling qualities from both participants and in the closing stages Redditch had a five minute period that looked like a breakthrough would come but when it didn't Tamworth took up the challenge and had the upper hand for the remaining minutes and a Ryan
Beswick free kick off the left edge of the penalty box in the final seconds just cried out for a touch that didn't come and it was too end goalless shortly afterwards when referee Robbie Dadley blew for time.

CLOSE IN AS REDDITCH KICK UP THE SLOPE

The ground has the luxury of being a five minute amble from the station and with a more than workable connection in Birmingham arrival at base station was just after 7pm.  Two weeks running at step 3, a level I don't often attend, has proved the enjoyment levels are still high with a well organised club in Redditch United FC backing this up today.  A thoroughly enjoyable visit here with an excellent public address system and a good social media team with highlights package also adding to the experience I look forward to re visiting.

MURRAY IN A HURRY TO GET ROYSTON THREE POINTS

BEDWORTH UNITED 1 ROYSTON TOWN 2
EVOSTIK SOUTH PREMIER CENTRAL @ COVENTRY RD
16 MARCH 2019 --- 3PM

CORPORATE COLOURED STAND AT BEDWORTH UTD FC

Adam Murray sunk bottom side Bedworth United's endeavour with a late winner to keep up Royston Town's hopes of securing a play off spot at the end of the season.  In a game played in horrendous conditions of an increasing gale force wind and driving rain in the second half most people retreated to the stands.  After much travelled Iseyden Christie had levelled Tom Knowles opener it just wouldn't go for Bedworth and as so often happens your lucks out and the opposition pop up with the late winner.
It would be a further visit to Bedworth, with a brief blog and their 3g pitch today with the weather in the East Midlands showing heavy rain and gale force winds much of the programme had been wiped out locally.  Train changes at Leicester and Nuneaton before arriving at Bedworth on the West Midlands Railway service just short of 1.30pm, amazingly this short line to Coventry has upgraded to two carriages from the previous single carriage bus on wheels.
The old jokes about towns going something like 'I went there the other day but it was closed' could be applied to Bedworth today with first sights of the towns streets completely devoid of people on what was in fairness an inclement afternoon.  The town had further deteriorated since my last visit with even the 99p shop, not a penny more, permanently closed and a further card greeting shop operating its last day today much was handed over to the big 'T's' as per many towns of this size.

UPGRADED ENTRANCE TO THE PARK AND THE TURNSTILES

The Memorial Park and its surrounds have been covered before so excuse me for not going into them again however the 'smart' entrance by the park has been, well, smartened up with new gates and a new brick wall giving a well cared for impression.  It was early so my entrance was via the Coventry Road end, in past experiences I have found the club shall we say not one of the most 'open' but today I must state I met all the right people it was friendly all the way with quite a few conversations struck up.  Its always frustrated me because I like the ground, the club and their kit too but have struggled to connect with the Greenbanks.
The stand out feature is the superb stand with moulded base seats too the fore although there are a few full seats, the club house appears to have a new covered boardroom terrace on its roof I cant remember it being roofed previously but I may be wrong.  Debz mini snack bar and supporters shop was already open and once again looking very good and a credit to the club, needing a chip cob [batch] I ventured to the snack bar over by the side of the clubhouse.  Once again a friendly welcome and having enjoyed the first one I cheekily popped back for a second in the break!
Royston were in need of a win to keep their promotion play off push going and Bedworth adrift at the foot of the table were playing for a determination to close the gap.  The game started in a strong wind but dry and after an encouraging start from the home side it was the visitors who took the lead Tom Knowles cutting in off the left to drive under home keeper Adam Harrison after just thirteen minutes.

ADAM MURRAY OF ROYSTON APPEARS TO BE GOING OVER UNDER THIS CHALLENGE

By the interval the weather was taking a turn for the worse and with a now gale force gusty afternoon added to by driving rain football was becoming difficult with many free kicks and goal kicks taking a while when the ball would not sit still on the 3g surface.
There was though joy for the home side when former Mansfield Town front man Christie equalised on 54 minutes and then moments later after two bites of the cherry for the frontman should have put the Greenbacks in front but visiting keeper Joe Welch saved his close range effort.  This gave Bedworth a boost and they looked the more likely to score however they got increasingly frustrated with a selection of decisions going against them and the winner would come at the opposite end when on 77 minutes Murray, a danger all afternoon, converted from the middle of the box.

MURRAY CELEBRATES HIS WINNER FOR ROYSTON

As so often when you are at the bottom things don't quite go for you there was little to pick between these two sides on a difficult afternoon but in the end it was the finer finishing of Royston that won the day.
With 50 minutes to play with at the end before a connection service to Nuneaton and then Leicester there was a windswept wandering around Bedworth before base station was arrived at just before 8pm an enjoyable visit and as ever enjoyed the ground and today a warm welcome.

THATS THE WAY CHADAWAY AS SUB WINS IT IN STOPPAGE TIME FOR AYLESTONE PARK

AYLESTONE PARK 2 HUNTINGDON TOWN 1
UCL 1 @ SAFFRON LANE
9 MARCH 2019 --- 3PM

LATE WINNER FROM MATT CHADAWAY FOR AYLESTONE PARK

A dramatic 92nd minute winner from substitute Mark Chadaway broke the second half deadlock that had seen chances galore go begging but in the process devastate lowly visitors Huntingdon who themselves had been pushing for a winner. 
Journey to Leicester would be a challenging one with Sheffield Wednesday on the same line for their game at Derby and when a delayed XCountry came in with standing room the option to take this and change at Derby for the following on EMT service which should unload a few was taken.  It was then that I realised I may have miss calculated with Leicester City also being at home and todays destination passing the King Power.  However there was a cunning plan Baldrick with a aquamarine special running either way around the route that served Aylestone Park FC.  With time to play with the option of a look around the nearby Wigston centre was opted for, with a lack of encouraging take- aways the option to visit the newly refurbished Two Steeples was taken and a fish and chip meal.
This arrived after half an hour wait and as time drifted on I was fearing having to depart, it was good fayre however they were clearly in chip and pea counting portion control mode which was disappointing for just shy of nine quid.

TOWARDS THE PITCHSIDE CAFE

Hopping back on the circular '48' and after a frustrating delay for a driver change we started to collect City fans on their way to the 'big game'.  As ever to hear the conversations it just make me realise why I enjoy the non league and its volunteers so much more.
Departing more or less opposite the ground and approaching the pay box a warm greeting encouraged you into the ground and with programme, 50/50 and admission all gained in one fell swoop there was time for a look around.
Aylestone Park were last seen in a East Midlands League cup final at Barrow Town versus South Normanton a few years back and the gateman and grounds man well remembered that day of torrential downpour within a minute of the final whistle that left the whole area flooded!  The visit to their home base had been on the list for a while and always put off with the prospects of an uninspiring feel in the forefront of my thoughts, it was though a pleasure to be proved wrong.  From the warm welcome to a smart ground and some excellent catering facilities including a wonderfully pleasant lady in The Pitchside Café this was a very enjoyable visit.

DOUBLE SIDED DUGOUTS TO THE REAR

To the mini tour then to the right of our entrance is the clubhouse along with changing room facilities all added to by a large hang on marquee building.  The far side is out of bounds backing onto a further pitch and has the strange addition of back to back dug outs that are both in one half of the pitch.  The near side touchline is smartly adorned with advert boards a selection of smart wooden park type seats and along the half way a red tip up seated Atcost stand. 
At the top corner is the Pitchside Café a wooden chalet type building were you can also go inside with its fully tabled and chaired sit down area, this was an impressive addition and was well run by the lady on duty today.  Behind the far goal is an uncovered walkway and behind this is the clubs recent 3g pitch which adds a further progressive touch to this complex of pitches.  Overall the ground gave a well cared for and tidy impression to todays visitor.

I FORGOT TO CHECK WHO THE CLUBS SPOSNOR WAS.

Thankfully the clubs manager had confirmed todays game was on with no problems mid morning its just a shame that the club are not to active on social media because as ever there is a smashing little set up on hand here in Leicester.
There was not too much to play for the young Aylestone Park side were pretty well in mid table security whereas Huntingdon would like a few points to pull away from the bottom two of the table but will probably be ok.  The weeks wet weather had given way to gusty winds which really wrecked most of this game for the purist but overall the pitch looked in steady condition for this time of the season.
The first half didn't produce too much in the terms of chances for the visitors Christian Le forced Tom Holyoak into a finger tip save before the deadlock was broken with a screamer against the wind from 25 yards by Riley Davoile just past the twenty minute mark.

COREY KINGSTON EQUALISES FOR HUNTINGDON

The second half though produced a selection of chances that probably proved why these two sides are in the position they are, they just couldn't finish otherwise this could have been 5-5.
A fair few of the chances fell to visiting captain Corey Kingston who stretched and endeavoured to get a touch on quite a few occasions but it looked like it would not be his day that was until just over the hour mark when he turned in a group of players to fire home from close range to level the scores.
For Aylestone Park Cory Holden had forced the visiting keeper into a save that saw his effort ultimately strike the bar.

SHIRT SWAPPING COMES BEFORE THE FINAL WHISTLE

An exciting open second half had seen both sides attack and it looked neither would get the winner that was until we entered the second minute of stoppage time when the ball found Chadaway unmarked and he fired home from close range to win it for Aylestone Park.

REFEREE BULLEN OBSERVES AND BLOWS THAT WHISTLE

The final whistle saw a few of the Huntingdon players slump to their knees they had given so much to this game and you had to feel for them with this last gasp winner but they had contributed to a superb second half taking into account the conditions.

CHADAWAY [LEFT] CELEBRATES THE LATE WINNER

Return journey saw us through the traffic fairly quickly with a comfortable seat gained return around 7pm at base station and once again proving the ones that you put off are sometimes a really nice surprise.

A STRANGE DAY IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS 1 KIRBY MUXLOE 2
UCL PREM @ SERGEANTS LAWN
2 MARCH 2019 ---3PM

EARLY ROTHWELL CORINTHIAN PRESSURE

When the day ended in the neighbouring town of Kettering at a famous High Street fast food restaurant with the information that there was no ice cream it just about summed up a peculiar day in North Northamptonshire for the ultimate finish to this establishments meal for me is one of their famous delicacies!
My melancholic mood was fed by the events of the day and left an obscure feel around the experience and probably the main event.  It started in the normally but recently unusual manor of standing to Leicester and then again on the connecting service to Kettering.  It would be the first time I had departed the front of this station and walked the pavements of the town centre having previously visited the delightful old lady that was Rockingham Road home of Kettering FC a fair few years ago.  The ground is now demolished and The Poppies find themselves way out of town at Burton Latimer a great shame to all football fans although upon leaving in the evening a station conversation struck up with a fan informed me the club have now purchased land on the edge of town, but this will be a long term project.
Kettering Town FC had a exciting cup pedigree but were a club that never quite made it you feel and on todays visit the town centre felt very much the same.  With Scunthorpe topping the table for a town with no redeeming features todays expedition around the Northamptonshire town had them well up in the play off zone to challenge the leaders. 
I guess it was a mirror image of failing high streets with the loss of its M & S, same corporate id's of the local spoons and Stagecoach that added to the air of melancholy, which was probably down to my developing mood who knows.  The one thing that cheered me up as I left on the Desborough bound bus was the sandwich shop entitled 'butter me up' yea a smile had briefly approached my face.

THE UNIQUE MARKET HOUSE IN ROTHWELL

Arriving in Rothwell by the busy A14, something which would constantly challenge your senses while in the small town centre, we were soon departing and on Bridge St.  It was all fairly familiar territory even though only having visited once previously its a small centre with some very interesting historical buildings.  The impressive highlight is marked by The Market House which now has a charity shop within its confines, the Parish Church offers a smart walkway around and sitting by the side is the former Jesus Hospital and Alms-houses and the quaint row of stone terraces that make up Hospital Hill. 
Having waited in the local chippy the order arrived with meat item I had not ordered on it surprisingly for the second time this week at different establishments of course, while in there a conversation was struck up with a chap who had Sammy Lee as a cousin, his mum had dated Gordon Banks and Trevor Francis was also connected to his family, it was an obscure day.  So I decided to take a short walk to Cecil St the reason for my last visit.
Approaching two decades ago a visit to the ground of Rothwell Town for an FA Cup game found a side that had graced The Southern Premier League and a lovely little ground with a cracking stand and inappropriately placed floodlight right at the front of it.  However I remember an enjoyable afternoon spent there, the field of former glories now has a housing estate on it and sadly forlorn and friendless on one of the houses front garden was a football, my levels of melancholy rose again did the owners even know they were somewhere approaching the penalty box?
From the stand the day of my previous visited you could view the distant ground of  Rothwell Corinthians at the time the smaller neighbour in The United Counties League and now the only club representing this small town.

ONE OF THE TWO SEATED STANDS AT SERGEANTS LAWN

Reading the local notice board the library proudly announced it was 'open for now' with the sad state of things in the county many are closing or are being farmed out to volunteers as Northamptonshire County Council looks to sort out its budget difficulties, the irony wasn't lost on me that The Conservative Club was its very close neighbour.  These establishments are the hub of communities like Rothwell and looking at some of the activities and events that are still being staged at these worrying times within its walls lets hope the volunteers and supporters can keep the library operational.
There was though humour along the way mainly supplied by the rail network which surpassed itself with todays announcements starting with the train from Leicester to Kettering which had no catering facility.  The corporate declaration was "we apologise there is no catering today...this is due to Rail Gourmet being unable to provide a host", this was probably bettered by the pre-programmed call for the 1845 Kettering departure to Corby "this train is made up of five coaches.  This train has four coaches".  When it came to the 1900 service I required the dreaded "This train is reported as full and standing" normally a sign that the third class roof seats are required but amazingly they must have all got off at Bedford because on arrival it was probably the emptiest train of the day.

NO GOAL LINE TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED HERE AS KIRBY CLEAR THEIR LINE

Rothwell Corinthians are based on the Desborough Road just to the top side of the cricket club and entrance to the ground is by the quaintest of footpaths to the pay box.  Small stands on both sides with the near side having a small additional covered terrace, there has been some upgrades done and everything is functional with the far goal being out of bounds three sides remain accessible.  The clubhouse is a small dark affair but remains comfortable for the small crowd today and offers basic snack and bar facilities.  Both clubs are very infrequent visitors to their social media accounts and I have often wondered about the correlation between low attendances and a lack of publicity.
The relegation charged affair was just that full of effort and when Corinthians led at half time through a nice finish from the number 8, who upon checking the team sheet had been replaced by a number 17 so who knows but I can only guess at Ryan Clark, you could not see them losing.
However the second period found Kirby Muxloe in a different mood, non melancholic probably, and they equalised with twenty minutes remaining thanks to Aaron Love who hit a sweet 25 yard free kick into the Rothwell net and then just nine minutes later Mark Tinsley stretched to turn the ball home to secure a vital three points for the Leicestershire side who even missed a penalty on 89 minutes when Adam Parry scuffed the spot kick well wide.
Did I mention melancholy?  It was a strange day.

FARTOWN A GROUND NEARLY LOST

FARTOWN AND HUDDERSFIELD RUGBY LEAGUE, CRICKET AND FOOTBALL
FEBRUARY 2019 NOSTALGIA AROUND HUDDERSFIELD

FARTOWN TODAY THE FORMER HOME OF HUDDERSFIELD RUGBY LEAGUE

The sporting complex of Fartown one mile to the north of Huddersfield town centre clings on to its existence by the skin of its teeth but is a sad reflection of its former glory days when the towns rugby league side, Yorkshire Cricket Club, FA Cup football, baseball and athletics graced its expanse.
Nostalgia is lost on youth, to badly misquote a similar observation, as you enter your more thoughtful years I guess it all starts in your 40's and then develops to 'those were the days' meanderings and in an all too infrequent feature on this blog its time to echo those thoughts once again.
Huddersfield is fairly well known to me in its centre and former Leeds Road football ground but until last summer I have to admit to being oblivious to Fartown and its sporting history.  All that though was changed by Dennis Kaye during a chance meeting at Kirkburton Cricket Club where the 82 year old waxed lyrically along with his scrapbook about the good old days at the ground.  The glory days are often seen as a time anywhere in the first 70 years of the last century when travel was not as easy and the massive industrial population turned out in numbers to support their home town sports and so the wonderful story of Fartown by Dennis set me off on this journey.
Having researched a fair bit about the ground along with the recollections of Dennis it only took me about eight months to actually get aboard the train from base station to change at Sheffield for the beautiful journey via the Penistone line, normally I would be admiring the countryside but having done this so much last summer there was a semi blasé attitude to the fore as I engrossed myself in this weeks Rugby League Express an excellent publication.

 IT ALL STARTED RIGHT HERE

Out onto the station precinct to be greeted by Huddersfield's own Harold Wilson in jovial statue form the important part of this impressive square is the George Hotel which sits to the left hand side, with our back to the station, and now sadly since 2013 a closed establishment.  The building is a smart reflection of its time and carries grade 2 listed building status.  Its relevance to todays story and
Rugby League is the initial breakaway to from rugby union to form Northern Rugby Union came about in a meeting at this hotel on 29 August 1895, later on in 1922 the change was completed to The Rugby Football League.  The proprietor of the hotel was the original owner in 1868, as Huddersfield St Johns Cricket Club who merged with the athletics club, of our intended main destination today and up until its closure housed the Rugby League Heritage Centre within its basement.
Before nostalgia could commence there would be a requirement for sustenance for the afternoon and walking along the Bradford Rd in Hillhouse Mother Hubbards Fish Restaurant was spotted a smart establishment that served up an excellent bit of fayre and also added to the days gone by feel.  The whole restaurant was adorned with old scenes of the town and its first restaurant in Bradford which was opened by Coronation St characters Stan and Hilda Ogden, those were the days!

MEMORIAL TOWER BY THE ENTRANCE TO FARTOWN COMPLEX

Cutting through the back streets and coming out onto Spaines Rd the complex opens up before you first noticing the massive stone built memorial clock tower sitting proudly in front of the cricket ground, I say clock tower but sadly that has been removed due to vandals and now has a Yorkshire white rose firmly in place. 
Its here where the history starts oozing out with Yorkshire using the ground for over 70 first class matches including touring teams the memorial pays tribute to three of Huddersfield's greatest.  Yorkshire and England players Wilfred Rhodes, George Hirst and Schofield Haigh indeed Rhodes played into his 50s and still has the record of oldest player in a test match at 52 years and 165 days in 1930.  Yorkshire first played at the ground in 1873 with the last appearance for the county game in 1955, although the Sunday and at times sponsored John Player League one day game was an irregular performer between 1969 and 1982.

LOOKING TOWARDS THE FORMER SCOREBOARD END

The cricket ground itself had a large pavilion to the left hand side of our entrance and this was fronted by a sweep of banked seating overlooking the playing area which was separated by a wide track area around the outfield.  This would probably be a reminder to the complex's original developers the athletics club and this is still within history's grasp as the clock tower sitting atop the mothballed pavilion carries the title 'HC & AC FARTOWN'.
Today sees a rugby pitch on the hallowed turf and the only activity is a walker getting their step count up by briskly completing circuits of this former glory days site.

FORMER NORTH TERRACE WITH FLOODLIGHTS AND FENCING STILL IN PLACE

Moving up the embankment and we approach the former Fartown home of Huddersfield Rugby League Club a need for structure here and not getting carried away with history is always a problem so deep breath and here goes.  Thankfully the ability to take pictures and the five set of lights sitting to the front of the former north terrace were still in situ but with just two lights on the poles the original eight were clearly no more. 
The terrace in pictures of old was a massive viewing area most viewable only show half of the terrace with the area to the top and rear closed off over the years but there area a few showing it in its entirety.  During an external walk around the site through rough walked fields I later realised I would have been stood at the summit of this terrace which is now sadly taken over by nature and full of trees and undergrowth.

LOOKING TOWARDS POPLAR ST DOWN THE MAIN STAND TOWARDS THE WEST STAND

The pitch was freshly whitewashed as thankfully St Josephs still apply their trade in amateur rugby league to this day supported by some changing room cabins which sit on the site of the demolished main stand, along this side there are still some remnants of the footings for the dug out areas.  The far end to the east the former scoreboard end is again largely overgrown as is the opposite end behind the posts this was the business end with changing rooms and the barrelled roof synonymous with many sports grounds of the day with the stone rowed houses of Poplar St still overlooking the proceedings to this day.  Again the nature of neglect showed through but strangely with the terracing ripped up, stands demolished the two consistent survivors was the pitch boundary metal fencing and the floodlights, although the chances of the latter working I guess are very remote.
The famous faces that graced the turf are too many to mention but Holmfirth born centre Harold Wagstaff was one to the top of the list making his debut for his home towns side of Underbank Rangers at 14 he moved onto the claret and golds to make his first appearance at just 15 years old.
Ground facts are many here are just a few to whet the appetite, Huddersfield Rugby League from 1878 to 1992, Challenge Cup Finals 1908 and 1910 alongside internationals and semi finals, formerly known as The St Johns Ground the record attendance was on 1947 for a cup semi final 35,136 with Huddersfield's top gate 32,912 with the polar opposite being in 1986 just 303.  The last game on the ground was against Ryedale York with 1,619 in attendance.  For the footy fans the FA even staged a FA Cup semi final at Fartown in 1882 between Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday who fought out a 0-0 draw.  The complex even welcomed baseball for one exhibition fixture.
In the latter years as the stadium fell into need of repair the club added the suffix Barracudas and renamed the ground Arena 84 sadly not much seemed to work and the club gradually were engulfed by their ageing stadium and in 1992 moved to share at the football clubs ground Leeds Road which also went the same way before both clubs moved to their current ground sharing arrangement.
During the research I came across an interview with Keith Burhouse who has sadly passed away but his love for his club tells the story of so many people and their team.  Volunteering in the early eighties to try to get Fartown up to speed nothing was rejected as a job to help the club even his tale of climbing half way up the floodlights to change a bulb and realising he was scared of heights but then considering this was for his beloved Huddersfield Rugby League Club he gripped on harder got to the top and changed the bulb! 
A great selection of tales about Keith's involvement and then as Associate Director with the Giants makes you not only warm to the man but the sport who thankfully recognised his additional monumental efforts to also record the artefacts of the heritage museum.  It was a heart warming story and one that will put Keith and people like him forever in the clubs history.
Before leaving Fartown one recommended viewing, by the usual sources, is 'the battle of Fartown' in 1981which gives some background to the ground a particularly memorable fixture when Wigan came to town for a second division promotion fixture that ended up with Manchester referee Vin Moss sending off half a dozen players as emotion spilled over!

CENTRE SPOT AT FORMER LEEDS RD GROUND

It was time to depart Fartown and having stood and walked in the footsteps of many of the greats and spent time considering the spectators that had once packed these terracing it just remained a sad observation that there was enough electrical equipment, alongside other rubbish strewn around the site to stock your local retailer plus a nice collection in soft furnishings to make up a non matching settee.
Leaving Fartown under the Leeds bound railway line and over the canal the first site of our closing destination of The John Smths Stadium came into sight but not before we crossed the busy Leeds Road and started taking pictures of the car park floor in the B and Q retail park to the amazement of quite a few.  For here is the centre circle, nicely marked out with a memorial plaque, of the former Huddersfield Town ground, somewhere I had attended a game on a few occasions previously.
A grand old ground again with a massive stand and equally massive terracing and the famous cowshed end given its name due its barrelled roof, much like Fartown, making it look very much like a barn type of building.

THE NEW HOME FOR FOOTBALL AND RUGBY LEAGUE

Anyway before security arrived to move me on a short goal kick away is the newish home of Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Giants its varying stadium names from Kirkless to Alfred Mcalpine and Galpharm to the current John Smiths give way to a modern unique stadium offering a very different sightline to many of the modern stadia.  Its a bowl sitting in a bowl and very difficult to take external pictures of with a game on in the evening against Wolves the whole place was very busy in preparation for kick off.  There was though time to observe a lovely nostalgic touch with a set of turnstiles and wall from the old Leeds Road ground proudly rebuilt inside the new stadium.
For the blog though it was time to bid farewell for now to Huddersfield and having missed him on arrival Felix the famous station cat was now on shift at Platform One to see me away back down the Penistone line with memories intact of an engrossing visit reliving the memories of Huddersfield sporting days which now belong to nostalgia.