CRESWELL COLLIERY FC AND ACCRINGTON STANLEY

CRESWELL COLLIERY FC GROUND AND VILLAGE

10 DECEMBER 2022 --- THE AFTERNOON OF

WELCOME TO CRESWELL HOME OF CRESWELL COLLIERY FC

On a cold day after a consistently frosty week with most non league games called off I finally roused myself to try to take in the romanticism of a former non league ground as a requirement for the football meal of a Saturday afternoon.  Although the trip to Creswell on the eastern edge of Derbyshire and a search for their former ground, The Huts, also spelt The Hutts, may not have the pull of Cathkin Park Glasgow, Partk Ave Bradford or even Peel Park Accrington [which features later] this one still adds intrigue to me.

The journey from base would start with a mile walk to pick up the 49 Hulleys service in North Wingfield on their Clay Cross to Clowne service with the intention to alight just short of the town centre for a walk to nearby Creswell around a couple of miles away.  Departing around 40 minutes later on the Ringer estate the greeting of sharp sleet was not what I wanted any way needless to say while walking the old freight route this did disappear and disastrously for my plans of returning in a couple of hours so did the footpath.  I could not find a route out and made the decision to retrace my steps and take up the Clowne Greenway the converted rail track bed for the former line between Clowne and our intended target.  By this stage I was on the phone looking at all options to get back in some sort of reasonable time and with that in hand I could got back onto focussing on the job in hand.

Arriving into Creswell the signage of the track way which now fell into a new build estate was very poor and I ended up trying to short cut a few cul de sacs and failing.  Finally finding my way out I made my way along Portland Avenue, a name that crops up all over the town as the pit investor and owner was the Duke Of Portland.

Coming out onto the villages main street Elmton Road you were greeted by the Black Diamond public house I guess a reference to the coal that made this village famous.  Indeed the village is under the control of Elmton and Creswell Parish Council and the former is just a small hamlet but in the pit development days Creswell did not exist and when deliveries arrived they were left at Creswell's Farm and the name stuck for what became a fast expanding settlement.

So having arrived at the west end of the village, the opposite end to its most famous attraction Creswell Crags, an immediate crossing over the road to run adjacent to The Model Village of which more later.  The footpath was pretty well marked out and took us past the newly developing housing estate which will gradually take up much of the former pit site, indeed with houses advancing this was my main concern about trying to capture anything of 'The Huts', so named apparently by the Nissen Huts that the teams changed in.

THE HUTS WITH FORMER PIT [NOW DEMOLISHED] TO THE LEFT

Walking the first section of the freight line I had to turn around on earlier within a few hundred yards the rise of the embankment gave a view of where the ground was.  The current satellite image shows a grassed and overgrown area with people having walked across it at varying angles and there is some suggestion of the stand having some visibility in its base.  There are very few pictures of the former ground on line, there are a few but they need well searching out and even less of any team pictures of the colliery fc side even though there are many of other sides including Creswell Wednesdays.

Moving along the full length of the pitch I returned to a footpath that would have run behind the village end goal, thankfully I had spotted a chap walking is dog and decided that would be worth the effort and it turned out that way with no fencing up and open spaces in hedges there was a chance to enter the hallowed turf, although there wasnt much of that left now.  Within a few months the whole site will probably be gone with an earth scraper already taking of the top layer to reveal a lower level of hard coal type topping out.

SLIGHT VIEWING OF STAND BASE THAT CONTINUES WITH TREES GOWING OUT OF IT NOW

The interest though was an area in front of the embankment that had a few minor saplings and grass that had not been touched.  Within this section was a brick base area throughout it and this was exposed at one end with a definite continuation right through upon investigation.  I believe this was the base of the stand although and or the furniture of the former Creswell Colliery Fc ground The Huts.

I had one last look before I made my way off the 'pitch' and reminisced of days gone by.

Like many pit villages the whole collection of sports clubs and local facilities sprung up around and because of the colliery and Creswell appeared no different with cricket another main feature.

The pit was first envisaged in 1894 and operated under private ownership until nationalisation in 1947 and for the 48/49 season the football club that bore its name entered The Chesterfield Senior League.  After the initial season they went on to have nearly twenty years in The Central Alliance, the club then made there way around a few other leagues before finding a footing in The Midland Counties League from 78/79 before its development into Northern Counties East League football in 1982/83.  Just one season was to be enjoyed before drifting away into The Mansfield District League and then their last season in 1985/86 The Sutton and Skegby League.  But its those early days that produced the clubs biggest game a first round F A Cup fixture.

TREES TO RIGHT FEATURING THE STAND BASE WITH PITCH STRAIGHT AHEAD

That date 20 November 1954 saw them make the trip to play Accrington Stanley, even though they had been drawn at home, at their former home the fascinating Peel Park, a ground which survives to this day as a recreational ground and park, obviously minus its stands that soon became derelict after Stanley dissolved.  Interestingly Peel Park saw its record attendance in the weekdays before the visit of Creswell, at local derby a friendly against Blackburn Rovers on 15 November attracted 17, 634 through the turnstiles.  Again some of the stats from the Colliery sides big day are not readily available we do know the the Creswell Colliery Brass Band made the trip up to Lancashire with the supporters but although the side scored a goal sadly Stanley scored seven and the their cup run was over against the division 3 north side.

The one thing that does seem to have been produced and I guess these will be a big rarity was a programme priced at three pence and produced by Shuttleworths of Accrington it was reminiscent of its time with front page adverts J and N Hopwood seller of fancy goods with the chance of joining their club and Melbo Bar offering snacks drinks [hot and cold] and a variety of sandwiches.  All this was 7 days a week until 10pm and on Melbourne Street opposite the Manchester bus stop.  I wonder how many still exist and if any are loft stored in Creswell.

A WINTERS DAY ON THE MODEL

Exiting around what was the former pit and its yard to basically find away back out onto Colliery Lane there was time to think of the former pit villages glorious pasts.  Looking at the finish of the football side that would have combined with the year long miners strike and whether that had any effect on the ending of the club you can only guess it would not of course help when the pit finally closed in 1991.  

The pit suffered one of the worst mining disasters in the country on 26 September 1950 when eighty men lost their lives when an fire at 3.45am on a conveyor belt trapped many men who died of carbon monoxide poisoning.  Fifty one miners did escape the disaster but it remained so dangerous that initially after 47 bodies recovered on the day of the accident it but it took until 27 March 1951 to recover 27 more with the final half a dozen not being returned to their loves ones until 11 August 1951 nearly a year later.  

Leaving via Colliery Lane the cricket ground is on the left but sadly no village side plays here now, it is used by Clowne Town CC as a 3rds and 4ths ground, there is also the development of a small leisure centre due to open in 2023 to replace the now One Stop shop which developed the old 'baths', on Duke Street.

The Model Village was set up for the miners and is a large doubled lined octagonal  formation best seen from above if you want to have a look, its recently received an investment to upgrade and offers fantastic green space within its inner area.  Of course it was adjacent to the pit with allotments offering some separation from the collieries boundary.  First construction appeared one year after the pit started up and is made up of 280 houses, there was a stylish village institute between the Model and the pit and apparently even had a tram line to take coal from the pit to the miner houses the line also doubled up by taking away the 'night soil' from the ashpit lavatories.  

CRESWELL EVENTS CENTRE

Hopefully you will stop with me for a little tour of the sights of this fascinating village and its buildings never mind its history.  Moving eastwards down Elmton Road the smart war memorial is very well kept.  On the left hand side is the bulk of shops from The Coop to the local chippy and a tremendous local project The Limestone offering much help and advice to the local community alongside its café.  Back to the opposite side of the road is The Creswell Events Centre, the former drill hall, with its wonderful clock tower, again gifted by the Duke of Portland and kept functioning by the miners levy.  Once this disappeared of course it was the Parish Council who had to step in and coordinate a major renovation.

THE STATION HOTEL WITH THE STATION BEHIND IT

The railway line that served neighbouring villages and the larger towns of Worksop and Mansfield alongside the city of Nottingham was re opened in stages between 1993 and 1998 after closing to passenger traffic in the 1964, finally arriving in Creswell in 98.  Passing through the underpass type cutting under the rail line which above carries trains southwards from The Robin Hood Line station we approach Duke Street and a quick walk along the road sees the former leisure centre and bath now re developed as a retail outlet, but a nice touch in leaving the display stones a top the much reduced former building.

ROBIN HOOD LINE GOES OVER ELMTON ROAD WITH CRESWELL STATION TO THE RIGHT

Down now to the Sheffield Road a main carriageway that delivers and takes away a lot of the village traffic and just before arrive at the junction the Portland Buildings, that name again, offer more retail outlets and the former post Office adjacent to these still offers up its name in stone.  With the parish church also in this area we finally arrive at the road junction and the pretty former school is now restored into appartments.

FORMER LESUIRE CENTRE AND BATHS

Before taking a look at the station there is a chance to take the large former cinema and now bingo hall this art deco style building is one of the 'stars' of the village and was built by the 'Roger's' family hence its name then and still now 'Regor', the reverse of the family name.

The station has two sepearate platforms and today we took in the major one which contains a fair approach road and small car park with services leaving here to Nottingham bound trains.

PORTLAND BUILDINGS

Making the way back through the eastern part of the main street and taking in the sites once more there was time to admire the large Railway Hotel no bigger sign of the importance in its day of the construction of the lines and its relationship with the village and its pit.  It would appear today to be converted into flats.

FORMER REGORS CINEMA NOW REGORS BINGO HALL

Before rejoining the Clowne Greenway to walk the route back for the return journey of this trip I wanted to make one special visit which would take me along Skinner Street to the cemetery to pay my respects and take a look at the memorial to those 80 miners who lost their life just going to work in 1950 on that night shift that would see so many families lose their husbands, brothers and uncles.  There are many harrowing stories including of a wife having breakfast ready for husband having not heard of the disaster to a wife who had lost her previous husband in a previous accident at the pit to a family losing three members.

FORMER VILLAGE SCHOOL

The memorial is very well appointed with a plaque explaining its dedications with on two sides the names and ages of those that perished.  There is a new plaque at its base which explains its recent re siting and just a few footsteps away is a wonderful board telling of the accident plus pictures and mini biographies of the men lost.

A fine touch and a sad reminder of the past of this wonderful village but one that it was a privilege to spend a few minutes remembering these men.

ELMTON AND CRESWELL SIGNAL BOX NORTH OF THE STATION, WORKSOP TO THE RIGHT AND THE FORMER CLOWNE LINE JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE BOX

Time with 3pm and loss of light fast arriving to make the trip back to Clowne and the 4.15pm Stagecoach 53 Sheffield to Mansfield service was taken for the ten minute journey to Bolsover.  After fifty minute wander around the town on a bitterly cold night that was now added to by fulsome snow showers the final 49 back towards Clay Cross was climbed aboard.  With a departure again just short of its final destination the pavements were offering up free slides as the ice became more challenging on the return mile or so back to base from what had been a superb visit to Creswell a village and community that has fought and battled through so much adversity recently to come out stronger.  It is though such a shame that so little seems to have been recorded certainly in photographic terms of Creswell Colliery Fc but I guess that was a sign of the times when nobody was snapping away taking photographs unlike our current era.

CRESWELL COLLIERY 1950 MEMORIAL

LIGGINS SENDS GLAPPY INTO THE SEMIS

GLAPWELL 1 BAKEWELL TOWN 0

DCFA DIVISIONAL CUP NORTH QUARTER FINAL AT HALL CORNER

3 DECEMBER 2022 --- 1.30PM

JOY ALL ROUND AS LOGAN LIGGINS RECEIVES A HUG FOR HIS WINNNG GOAL

A Logan Liggins back post strike seventeen minutes from time proved enough to send Glapwell into the DCFA Divisional Cup semi final after a tightly contested encounter that had seen both keepers perform well to deny earlier goals.

The first visit of the season to Hall Corner for this early start of a cup game and upon arrival 90 minutes before the the option to walk around the adjacent estate and it brought forward a lovely bright day if somewhat cold to the fingers, always a pain for the camera men.  Arrival had been after the 'walk and a match' theme had taken in a mile and a half to the neighbouring village to pick up the 49 service to The Young Vanish.

Entry into the ground found almost immediately the weather change dark grey skies with the first signs of rain, something that would not leave us for the duration of the afternoons game.  The grass was looking very long in places but on the walk round there were some really boggy places on the pitch and clearly grass cutting was not an option.  Sadly Hall Corner has seen better days with much of the ground looking unloved now but thankfully it still pushes on for Glapwell in The CMFL.  With Bakewell also in The CMFL North it looked a very close game in prospect for what turned out to be a small gathering.

BETTER DAYS

Bakewell came into the game after a 3-3 draw last weekend at home to Dinnington and Glapwell would be hoping for the game not to go to penalties after they were on the wrong end of a spot kick loss at Clipstone last week.

With the BBC weather forecast woefully wrong again and having looked forward to some pictures in nice bright weather I headed for the stand and again the light affects what can be produced. 

AARON MAUND THREATENS THE GLAPWELL DEFENCE

In the opening exchanges Alex Moth was looking the dangerman for the visitors while Perry Richards was looking lively for the lads from Hall Corner.  With both keepers having to be alert it was Tom Crapper who pulled off a sharp stop from a Richards effort to Glapwell.  

Liam Wajs wasn't to be left put when on his debut he pulled off a lovely save from Bakewell substitute Feddie Hatcher who fashioned a smart header from an Aaron Maund cross.

With eight minutes to go to the break Bakewell were having a purple patch but Wajs was on hand again to deny Moth and keep Glapwell on level terms.  On the stroke of half time Liggins got in a back post shot after a superb cross feild pass but a Bakewell defender cleared the ball off the line.

RYAN BOOKER IN EXPERIENCED PLAYER MODE 

So we had gone into the break goal less and it this been featured on those 30 second half time radio reports it would have gone something like this.  Good game with both keepers on top on a pitch with some long grass and boggy in places.  The lights poor, its cold, its raining and the Bakewell keepers wearing a woolly hat and at half time its goal less.

BAKEWELL THOUGHT THEY HAD SCORED BUT A QUICK VAR CHECK SAID OTHERWISE

Crapper was proving his worth again with an excellent save from a Thomas McTighe 25 yard free kick to deny Glapwell the lead.

But as both sides battled through this game with gusto it was the home side who would take the lead after 73 minutes.  A patient build up on the right found the final cross nodded on by Grant Mitchell, Logan Liggins was on hand at the back post his first effort hit the side of a defender just off the goal line but his second bite at the cherry made no mistake with the ball nestling in the back of the net and you could say the Glapwell player was somewhat delighted with his goal.

A tough game in difficult conditions with some end to end action that remained a credit to both sides efforts to seal a semi final place but despite a late free kick that saw Crapper leave his goal to join the attack Bakewell could not force the game to penalties and Glapwell had booked their place in the semi fianls, shortly afterwards when referee Richard Thompson blew the final whistle.

BAKEWELL KEEPER CRAPPER SUMS UP THE WEATHER

Thankfully ten minutes from the returning 49 service allowed a sharp move to the bus stop before finishing off on the reverse mile and a half walk back to base with most of it conducted in a downpour.  In the words of the public information advert from the 70's, 'wished I'd brought my brolly'.

LOGAN LIGGINS TURNS TO CELEBRATE HIS WINNER

PINXTON DIVERT TO THE TOP

PINXTON 3 MICKLEOVER RES 0

CMFL SOUTH AT WHARF ROAD

26 NOVEMBER 2022 --- 2PM

HECTIC IN THE PENALTY BOX IN PINXTON V MICKLEOVER RESERVES

Not only did the blog divert to this game but Pinxton produced a comfortable win and the resultant three points that diverted them over Clay Cross Town to the top of the CMFL South table after their game was called off at South Normanton Athletic.  Two first half goals from Robert Fretwell and a lovely finish from Ben Jones in the second half were enough to see off a spirited Mickleover challenge.

GROUND AND SURROUNDING AREA OVERVIEW

As ever a downpour of a week had made selecting a game a risk and in the end after a weather forecast that really could not make its mind up I went for the 'safe' option which proved no to be so.  Setting off on a Comet to Alfreton and departing for the 30 minute walk to the ground I was grateful for a text from Mr B of the hoppers parish to say referee Chris Roberts had just contacted him to say Willington could not raise a team and just over an hour before the game it was off.  Well as ever I had on the list Pinxton at the start of the week having not visited Wharf Road for a little while diversion came into play.

So a quick dash onto a connecting bus to Pinxton now and then realising I had no cash for admission, thankfully I was aware of the Coop near the ground and the machine was working, otherwise I may have been pleading for a pay you later entrance.

EARLY PINXTON PRESSURE

A pleasant greeting at the ground situated off Wharf Road and behind the massive welfare a lot of the ground remains open to viewing from outside but for £3 if you really can stretch to supporting the club its a must because they are always 'there or there abouts', much like Clay Cross Town who normally perform their close promotion calls in the north division but this season will compete with Pinxton for the silverware.

I have covered the ground before but here is a brief overview its a tight affair with changing rooms behind the welfare down a steep slope a small but adequate stand sits towards that corner with Perspex dug outs towards the half way line.  The opposite end of the welfare has a large bank with with a bench seat offering a sit down view that commands the pitch and surrounding area as well.  This end also features the snack bar, toilets and a raised viewing stand.  Down the entrance side its backed up by meshed green fencing with the pay box being the only furniture. 

MORE DEFENDING FOR MICKLEOVER TO DO

With Pinxton in second place and the visitors in a mid table position it could be an interesting encounter once again for a Saturday played in dark conditions but not quite as bad as last weeks at Shirebrook.  The game had been arranged for a 2pm kick off to save some money on floodlights although so dark did it get that shortly after half time they had to be turned on anway.

It was an enterprising start from both sides with the first action being a very early caution for the visitors Charlie Rock.  The home side were looking the most likely going close to taking the lead on a couple of occasions but it didn't take long for the deadlock to be broken.  After fourteen minutes the imposing Fretwell drove home sharply passed Tom Bill in the Mickleover goal.

DRINKS BREAK

Much as Pinxton looked like extending their lead the actual event did not arrive until two minutes before the break and again it was Fretwell whose powerful downward header beat the keeper and defender on the line.

By the time the players were out for the restart the light was poor enough that I had made the call to put the camera away.

Starting brightly though were the visitors with Fin Ryder seeing his shot pushed away by Adam Jablonski in the home goal and then a superb last gasp block in the box denied a sharp effort from captain Ben Horleston.

FRETWELL MAKES IT 2-0

Mickleover were certainly showing some resilience and have a nice young team who could so easily have pulled themselves back into the game.  But Pinxton were just that bit stronger and when the second half seemed to be drifting away from them in possession sense after their first half enterprise they extended their lead.  It was a beauty too with Jones cutting in off the right on his right foot dinking past the defender and firing into the far corner of the Mickleover goal with his left foot.  

Game over signs were in place now and despite a good effort from the visitors they could not stop the Wharf Road side from conquering the top of the table position and although Clay Cross have two games in hand the three point lead is points in the bag.

ROBERT FRETWELL RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS ON HIS SECOND GOAL

So the season thread of 'walk and a game' policy really came about at the end of the game with around half an hour to the bus departure with a walk from Pinxton and out to the edge of South Normanton not much more than a mile but I'm counting it, next time I will be counting the walk to the turnstile.

An enjoyable visit to Pinxton hopefully wont be so long before next time.

BEN JONES ADVANCES FOR PINXTON

SOLDIERS AND PELICAN IN GOAL FEST

SHIREBROOK SOLDIERS 4 FC PELICAN 3

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT THE MODEL VILLAGE

19 NOVEMBER 2022 --- 2PM

ENTERTAINING GOALFEST IN SHIREBROOK SOLDIERS V FC PELICAN

Shirebrook Soldiers ran out winners by the odd goal in seven but how Pelican pushed them with a late comeback as the home side battled out much of the closing minutes with ten men after a sin binning.  Soldiers had led 4-1 just after half time but were left watching the clock as Pelican scored from the spot with eight minutes to go.

So once again it was another murky and poor light day but after the rain of the proceeding few days it was great to just get a game on when all looked potentially lost on Thursday.  Here I would like to thank Gary Bryant from the club for his communication on the evening before and again to confirm on Saturday morning the pitch was playable, so off we set to one of my favourite towns to visit as previous blog readers will know.

OVERVIEW OF THE MODEL VILLAGE SPORTS GROUND

Many a winding bus route had been worked out but normally involving a change at Pleasley, well today forget that to accompany the 'walk and a match series' and with the drizzle finally stopping it was a Hulley's Clowne bound bus to Glapwell.  Departure would see a smart little walk through the hamlet of Stoney Houghton and onward down the country lanes to Shirebrook.  From the edges of the town a further ten minutes or so would take me on to The Model, an estate that was built along similar line to toher local ones and here to serve the former pit.  Of course previous readers will know from past meanders around the history of the town while visiting the main football club on Langwith Road that I have popped onto the model for its fantastic chippy before, although today I would somehow avoid the temptation.  Opposite the row of shops that contains the aforementioned is the unbelievably large pub The Victoria.  I'm not sure if this is still open although closed this dinner time it looks like an evening only venue but it certainly would take some upkeep.  We are now adjacent to the former pit site and you can only imagine the busy days that the establishment benefited from then.  Now though its all down to that major sports retailer who has built its distribution centre on the former colliery, although it now looks as though they may be moving in the next few years which will bring further losses to the town centre which there wasn't time to visit today.

GOOD AFTERNOON

To the back of the estate is The Model Village Sports Ground with changing facilities and an open pitch although the ground of interest today was the one running the opposite way guarded by its metal spiked fencing and it offers up some evocative views of terrace houses, of which many have been taken down and re built into modern dwellings.  Beyond the fences that give the ground some security is the town's cricket club which also finds itself behind more metal, it is though a cracking community feel and one that I as always love the feel of.  It is only a shame that the light is so poor and I have to apologise the pictures are few and as good as they get, indeed so dark was it in the last twenty minutes it was a credit to both teams and referee David Dennis for getting us through to the final whistle.

BEN CHARLESWORTH PUTS IN A CROSS FOR SHIREBROOK

The Notts Senior League now comprises of four fairly full divisions and looks a really healthy set up and I would think that Shirebrook Soldiers, after Shirebrook ex Servicemens Club in the town, are along with Borrowash Victoria the only Derbyshire club within its structure.  Pelican arrive from Nottingham and both sides are to be complimented on smart looking kits.

GOOD PERFORMANCE FROM REFEREE DAVID DENNIS TODAY

So to the action and Soldiers were first to score after eighteen minutes when Ben Charlesworth got a shot away the visiting keeper Healey Ntabe let the ball through his grasp at the near post.  The game had been pretty level at this stage and Pelican felt justice when they levelled after 31 minutes when Damilola Sodiq Sanusi [number 9-team sheet was Lee Downer but will go with full time] was on hand when home keeper Harrison Kissane parried an initial shot.

Shirebrook found the goal instinct again with two in three minutes firstly on 35 minutes a sliced clearance fell into the path of Nathan Clarke whose shot took a strong deflection and then the visitors couldn't clear their box and  Frankie Kuncyusz fired in a shot that Absira Siwela [2] could not keep out despite his best efforts on the goal line.

The home side went in comfortable at the break with a 3-1 lead and that was soon to extend in the second half.

THE SURROUNDING TERRACES ADD TO THE GROUND ATMOSPHERE

Within ten minutes of the re start it looked like a romp for Soldiers when Fraser Howarth cut through the middle of the penalty box to fire his shot into the roof of the Pelican net to make it four.  But the visitors were not going to rule themselves out of this game when within three minutes they reduced the arrears with a superb back post strike from Jayden Wilkes [I had the number 12 but full time has Jayden Wilkes there would appear to be differences to team sheet].  Onward to the closing stages as this game intensified and the visitors were awarded a penalty with eight minutes remaining the number 9 [see earlier for name issue] was adjudged to have been brought down in the box and Nicky Jones converted from the spot.  In the process Shirebrook were reduced to ten men when Mitchell Wilton was sin binned for dissent.

NATHAN CLARKE [10] CELEBRATES HIS GOAL

With the light now faded further the back yard spotlight of a neighbouring house was providing little assistance as these two sides battled it out with the home side desperate to hang on mounting a few forays into the visitors half to try to secure a goal on the break.  While the visitors sensed a leveller they drove forward on what must have now been weary legs to provide a further exciting period in this game with stoppage time Wilton would return for the last few seconds and Shirebrook were over the line as the street and car lights illuminated the surrounding area.

3-1 TO SHIREBROOK

A superb little game with a great finish from an enjoyable first visit to a ground that had been long on the cards to do.  Return journey was a reverse through some now dark country lanes accompanied by drizzle with arrival back in the street lights of Glapwell time allowed for a further stretch out down to Bramley Vale were the returning Hulley's bus was caught back to North Wingfield before a twenty minute walk back to base.  Would have liked some better weather for the pictures but this was an all round enjoyable afternoon with a good community club.

ITS NOT AS LIGHT AS IT LOOKS

BARGATE PAY THE PENALTY AS THEY EXIT THE CUP

BARGATE ROVERS 2 HOLBROOK ST MICHAELS 2 [HOLBROOK WIN 3-1 ON PENALTIES]

DERBYSHIRE FA DIVISIONAL CUP SOUTH AT MANOR REC

12 NOVEMBER 2022 --- 1.30PM

TOM LEWIS OF BARGATE TRIES TO GET A SHOT AWAY BEFORE THE TACKLE

Bargate came back from behind twice against CMFL neighbours Holbrook St Michaels in this Derbyshire Divisional Cup South tie but ultimately they could not secure victory losing 3-1 in an agonising spot kick conclusion to this game at Manor Rec.

In the words of that famous quiz show 'I've started so I will finish' because the need to see through this tie after last weeks abandonment for the serious injury and the intriguing nature of the tie with the two nearest of footballing neighbours made it a must.

CLOSE UP FIRST HALF MIDFIELD ACTION

So the repeat journey was made once again via the Trent Barton waggon to Kilburn crossroads and a repeat of the walk to Openwoodgate before picking up Kirk's Lane which this week on a clearer afternoon offered some more encouraging views of the expanding town of Belper.  Once leaving this former lane now footpath its a five minute stroll at the most to the ground.  Arriving with a good half an hour to spare it has to be said for all you hoppers a nice welcome was given from the club officials now and during the afternoon with the obtaining of team sheet photographs added to this courtesy.

EARLY HOLBROOK PRESSURE

Last weeks blog, previous one to this one if you fancy a look, covered most aspects of this pre game coverage and so I wont go into it again save to say the local nature of the game was always what drew me to it alongside having seen Bargate at Sleetmoor United earlier in the season were they looked a pretty good outfit.  The injury to Jordan Butcher turned out to be a double fracture of the leg but the player was here today to witness the re arranged game and hopefully will have a speedy recovery.

The side lines were again well roped off and a Bargate Rovers banner awaited the teams entrance to the pitch, there was no gazebo on the touch line or covering the tea table this week but that was due to the low bright sunshine starting to bathe Park Road as opposed to last weeks murky day that threatened rain.  The crowd of around 100 last week were no were in sight ten minutes before kick off but fear not they turned up in bigger numbers than the previous week to support their local sides.  Last week this game had seen Shane Burrows score a 'worldie' to give the underdogs the lead in what had been a hectic opening to proceedings before the abandonment.

BROUGHTON GETS THE OPENING GOAL WITH A POWERFUL HEADRER

Today's encounter started again with Bargate attacking down the slope towards the changing rooms end and the opening exchanges seemed more tentative than last weeks but it didn't take long before the tempo moved up a gear.  It would be Holbrook who showed first awarded a free kick 25 yards out Joel Cain striking the post with Sam McCartney beaten in the home goal.  A further chance came shortly afterwards when a corner off the right was met by the head of visiting captain Ali Broughton who was only denied by a wonderful push over by McCartney.  But the warning signs were appearing and the visitors took the lead after 35 minutes a corner off the left from Sam Smithurst again met by a powerful header from Broughton to nestle in the back of the Bargate net.

OVER THE LINE IT GOES FROM BROUGHTON [5] HEADER

One things for sure though the home side don't lie down and Tom Lewis forced Jack Morley into a double save as he broke through on goal.  The equaliser came with three minutes to go before the break and a deep cross off the left was met at the far post by Fenwick Butcher whose intelligent looping header flew back over Morley to send the sides into the changing rooms all square.

STRESSFUL TIME ON THE BARGATE BENCH

The tempo seemed to rise in the second half with the visitors now looking for the lead again and it came just after the hour mark with a lovely diving header from Arron Leeman.  But you know what's coming then a re doubling of Bargate's efforts and within three minutes this time they were level again the ball was poorly dealt with by Holbrook in their box and on the edge of the area a clearance fell to Lewis who struck home a glorious volley to send the home supporters into delight.

BARGATE CLEAR THEIR LINES

The game had really opened up now and although Holbrook looked to be gaining the upper hand the threat of Lewis on the left wing for Bargate was ever present and he so nearly scored again when his run ended with a sharp shot that Morley saved well in the visitors goal.

As Holbrook now pushed on for the winner it looked like they had achieved their aim with seven minutes remaining but for a wonderful goal line clearance that saw the ball hooked away somehow by Burrows.

So as time elapsed and Bargate battled to hold on it would be referee Chris Petcu whose whistle would bring an end to the action with the scores level it was the dreaded penalties.

FENWICK BUTCHER CHARGES THROUGH

I guess here Bargate would have liked an end to proceedings they had done so well to achieve this full time score and when penalties came you just had that feeling that Holbrook had the confidence with them and so it turned out to be. 

Both of the opening penalties were successful the next two saw Holbrook score and Bargate fire high over the bar before the post intervened with their third kick.  So going into the fourth Bargate had to score to remain in the tie and unfortunately Burrows, the man who had kept them in it right at the close, saw his effort saved by Morley. 

Cue scenes of joy for Holbrook St Michaels who all piled on and they had gone through to the next round after a very hard fought cup tie in which both sides gave their all in a superb advert for The DCFA Divisional Cup.

TOM LEWIS WEAVES HIS WAY AROUND TWO VISITING PLAYERS

Time to leave straight after and a reverse along the route would at Opnewoodgate see a continuation of the walk with time in hand to pick up the Ripley bound bus at Heage to connect on the final service back to base at just after 5pm.

A fine afternoon and once again I enjoyed my time watching Bargate hopefully I shall be able to catch up with them again sometime during this season they will certainly be one to watch out for in The MRA.

HOLBROOK ARE THROUGH WITH KEEPER MORLEY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE

BARGATE BELPER TWO GROUNDS IN A DAY

BARGATE ROVERS ABND HOLBROOK ST MICHAELS ABND [BARGATE LEADING 1-0]

DERBYSHIRE FA DIVISIONAL CUP SOUTH AT MANOR REC

5 NOVEMBER 2022 --- 1.30PM

AND

BELPER TOWN 1 GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 4

NPL PREMIER DIVISION AT CHRISTCHURCH MEADOWS

5 NOVEMBER 2022 --- 3PM

LEWIS MANGHAM PENALTY SAVE BUT HE DID FORCE A SECOND REBOUND HOME IN BELPER TOWN V GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY

A disjointed day with a serious injury in what was to be the feature game at Bargate Rovers leading to the games abandonment was followed by a first visit for a good while to Belper Town as the replacement game with the later kick off, with The Nailers on the end of a 4-1 loss against a clinical Gainsborough side.

So in the week building up the study of fixtures showed a collection of appetising county cup games in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, in the latter category non more so than Mansfield Hosiery Mills v Mansfield Hosiery Mills Reserves a strange pairing.  In the Derbyshire element of the county competition quite a few CMFL sides found strong opponents in Hope Valley clubs so there was a selection that tempted me one way then the other.  But the over riding star of the bunch would be a first visit to Bargate for their match against their village neighbours Holbrook St Michael pitting MRA v CMFL.

BELPER FROM KIRK'S LANE

The game would mean a trip on The Comet bus with the option of changing in Ripley onto another bus or departing at Kilburn cross roads for a half an hour walk to Manor Rec on The Parks Estate Belper, just down the road from Bargate itself and to aid the 'walk and a game' this was the option that came to be.  Walking the busy road to Openwoodgate allowed for the option to take Kirk's Lane connecting to the estate that housed the ground.

Once again it was a dark and murky day but this pretty little former lane offers some lovely panoramic views towards Belper although todays was clearly affected by the weather.  The ground itself is very much a council recreation pitch but the club had made valiant efforts to put up respect ropes to protect the linesmen and an area for club officials and subs marked out.  They had also put in place a gazebo for the collection of home supporters that seem to support both home and away with the club, they certainly took a few to Sleetmoor the other week. 

SHANE BURROWS [RIGHT] CELEBRATES HIS WONDER STRIKE THAT GAVE BARGATE THE LEAD

The club and referee kindly allowed a quick photograph of the team sheets and walking to the pitch side there was a further nice touch with a donation tea bar, so clearly a club who want to try to do a few little extras on a match day.  Holbrook is just a mile up the road and the two clubs had met in a pre season friendly but this was clearly eagerly anticipated probably more so by Bargate than Holbrook.  

The whole area around Belper offers up a wide selection of non league fixtures of a weekend with three clubs in Holbrook, Inter Belper, Belper United, Inter Belper and of course Bargate so there is no shortage of options in this hot bed of non league footy.

By the time we got to kick off there was approaching 100 gathered to watch in what was now not just murky but down right dark skies thankfully the showery stuff was holding off but as ever it was making pictures difficult for the whole afternoon.

BARGATE DEFEND A HOLBROOK CORNER

Bargate would find themselves kicking down the slope towards the changing rooms and it was keenly contested as Holbrook looked to build up some pressure that would be overturned by the sheer force of Bargate attacking down the incline urged on by the vociferous crowd.   

It would be the home side who took the lead after just eleven minutes when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out.  It was Connor Mason who saw his strike take a 2 way deflection and the ball fell out to Shane Burrows who on the right hand side of the box turned and hit the most remarkable cross goal shot that struck the underside of the bar and then the far post before nestling in the back of the Holbrook net, a strike to grace any occasion never mind this one.

Then the incident that saw the game abandoned came on 22 minutes when on the half way line the home sides Jordan Butcher went down and immediately he knew something was wrong referee Chris Petcu stopped the game and an ambulance was called while the player was covered with blankets to keep warm.  Never a nice sight but this seemed to have come from nowhere and hopefully he can make a speedy recovery.

MILL, SCOREBOARD, CLUB SHOP, CHURCH AND NEW STAND GREAT PANORAMIC AT BELPER

After about fifteen minutes I could hear no ambulance and if it was a serious injury the player even then would not be moved for a while so a decision had to be made to leave because it looked unlikely that the game would continue through ever fading light.

This would be the second week running that Bargate would suffer an abandonment the previous weeks home fixture met the same outcome after a opposition disciplinary issue during the game.

While planning this during the week there was always a fear of the game being called off late if the rain came heavily and so I was aware that down in Belper Christchurch Meadow would feature Town v Gainsborough Trinity in an NPL Premier Division game at 3pm.

So after around ten past two the decision was taken to walk through Belper Park Nature Reserve into the Market Place and through the town to arrive just before 2.30pm.

IMPRESSIVE MAIN STAND AT CHRISTCHURCH MEADOW

This superb ground which I have covered in a previous blog has just moved on not just one step but many in the last few years, with a new stand behind the town end goal adding to the already smart main stand.  Everything about their organisation signals to a well run club from, from programme to club shop and from catering to the just overall tidy nature of this picturesque ground.  Indeed one of the additional catering facilities now runs by the catchy name of  The Pies The Limit.  A very healthy crowd had gathered [548] and although Belper are finding life hard in the top league the club is star shining bright off the field.

MINUTES APPLAUSE BEFORE KICK OFF

A respectful minutes applause for a former player was excellently observed before the action could start and it was the home side who would take the lead from the penalty spot after Brodie Litchfield was brought down, Luke Mangham saw his pushed back into his path by Trinity keeper Matt Yates his follow up hit the post and once again rebounded to him and this time he made no mistake, 11 minutes.

Gainsborough were level also from the penalty spot Clayton Donaldson and Harry Lewis combined before the latter went one on one with the keeper his lob fell wide as home keeper Dan Moore wiped him out and referee Ben Robinson pointed to the spot and it would be Donaldson who made no mistake with the kick.  

The visitors would go into the break 2-1 to the good again Lewis and Donaldson combined the formers effort was blocked with the latter making no mistake for his second of the half.

GO ON JUST TURN ROUND FOR ONE PICTURE

 

The second period saw a hard working Gainsborough keep Belper at bay and for all their possession they could not break down a resolute defence.  Fast and sharp in attack though the visitors would add two further goals.  First on 65 minutes a ball that flew across the goal found Harry Lewis at the back post who made no mistake to fire home before with ten minutes remaining when the impressive  Donaldson registered his hat trick when he drove home Gainsborough's fourth.

Having watched a lot of  step 7 and 8 sides over the last few seasons it was nice to get back to an excellent ground like Christchurch Meadow.  The game was fast and furious with clearly some very sharp players involved but I also found myself really appreciating the grassroots of grassroots football I have been watching.

It was a shame the injury led to the curtailment of an enthralling cup tie up the road at Bargate but you can only wish the player a quick recovery and hopefully a return to football soon.

Now a dark bonfire evening saw a return by bus to Ripley with a connection on The Comet back to base stop and from leaving the ground that was a achieved in a efficient one hour ten minutes.

THERES A FEW BEERS GOING DOWN THERE