HORBURY SHOCK LEAD DEADERS

DEARNE AND DISTRICT 1 HORBURY TOWN 3

NCEFL PREMIER @ CENTURY CLADDING WELFARE COMMUNITY GROUND

31 OCTOBER 2026 --- 3PM

Horbury Town came to Goldthorpe and shocked the league leaders with a supreme effort that saw them leave the Century Cladding Ground with all three points.  Dearne struggled to get a foothold in the game and they suffered their fifth league defeat of the season when they were starting to look somewhat invincible.

Welcome to Goldthorpe former mining town and of course like all towns that had suffered the loss of the mining industry just over 40 years ago after the national strike it is looking very sadly worse for wear, I know coming from one that lost its neighbouring pits and steel pipe works.  The community spirit remains but sadly the facilities gradually disappear.

The times of Margaret Thatcher were not good for our villages and her declaration of there is no such thing as community could be seen in the way she destroyed many communities across the country but non more so than in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and South Wales.  Forty years on and communities are still struggling but the people of Goldthorpe got it they knew what these industries and pits meant for that word community.  

Indeed on the passing of the former Prime Minister the town became synonymous for performing a n effigy funeral procession through the streets before burning the look alike on a large bonfire on the already appearing waste grounds of Goldthorpe.  It earned the town a notable recognition or reputation especially amongst the media but the populace were angry at what had been done to their hardworking miners and consequently their community.

So todays journey found a good price offered by local taxi company for the 30 mile journey which saw me arrive 2 hours before kick off for a look around the town centre with the former cinema an building converted to shop units, the old Coop was visibly recognisable but long since gone.  The kids and mums were moving along to Halloween parties in their various attire as I ventured around the adjoining streets looking at boarded up terrace houses with every third one still being occupied, one expects by some old lady or gentleman whose house it had been for most of their life.  

The local council was regenerating block by block with new builds replacing these fast evacuated terraces but as a few people mentioned to me it appears the money may have run out because the process seems to have come to a halt.  As with all places the community does remain and its people are warm and welcoming of conversation.  Indeed while taking a few pictures of the street scene I did spot a customer of the Pigeon Club on its steps having come out for a nicotine break.  There was always the thought that somebody would object to somebody taking pictures but no a lovely ten minute conversation followed from discussing the town to the best of the 2 local chippy's to visit and the virtues of the best pork pies supplied by Elmhurst Farm Products.  Sadly the shop was just closing as I did the initial venture down Doncaster Road and so there would be no sampling. 

After forty five minutes it was time to move towards the ground and with both fish and chips shops on the way to the ground I had already made the selection to go to JJ's on the reviews I had seen although there was little to pick between the two.  Chips and a local made fish cake not the Yorkshire fish cake you would often get around here, as ever something of the takeaway variety is a must if visiting a new ground.  How was it I hear you ask?  Well I have had better and I have had worse so I suppose if after a while we are restarting the chippy league table they would be secure in a mid table position.

Approaching 2pm at the ground there was a chance to take a look at the impressive theatre in the Welfare Park while on the other edge is a youth centre, medical facility and a chemist.  Sports wise there was a cricket ground which had The Pav bar and social facility which was used for the football today but it was situated outside the ground so much so that football club have their own bar Dearne in one!

Previously coming through the Doncaster local league and The Central Midland League and playing at Kingsmark a rejection on planning permission saw the club move to the other end of the town to their current location.  Its a location I had seen many times as just a football pitch and cricket pitch as I stared of the train of the adjacent banked train line heading northwards through to West Yorkshire and beyond.  A wondering was gradually confirmed when I saw the fast rising Dearne and District take on this ground.

The ground is enclosed within a school type grey spiked metal fence on at least three sides with one side already tilting away from the goals at the Furlong Road end.  This ground would have offered some real challenges to the people running the club to get it up to ground grading as the club progressed very quickly to step five.  There is though a feel that it could be the cabin and container ground with the cut out shipping containers offering three of the stands, cabins for hospitality, toilets and snack facility.  there is a return to the containers behind the goal for both teams, the match officials and storage.

There is just 2 and a half sides of the ground accessible behind the entrance goal, the full side adjacent to the cricket pitch and half of the railway end where the changing cabins are plus a container stand perched on the mound which is fronted and surrounded by rubble and half bricks.  Probably the newest facilities were the modern dug outs.

The terracing behind the entrance goal had quite a bit of rubbish floating around and there were overflowing rubbish bins and upturned house bin to give some ambience as you entered.  I know how hard it is for clubs I've been in this position there are only so many people volunteering I have been there but the ground really needs some house keeping to make it feel a step 5 ground.  The danger would appear if the club do secure the title they could be denied progress by the ground condition, this would be a great disappointment as they look to advance their superb start to the season.

Entrance at £7 was paid at a trailer another unique vehicle and seeing a programme advertised looked to secure a couple only to be told its of course one of the online jobs which I did have a look at.  It was a quiet welcome to the ground where I think I was just about noticed.

The game itself would be controlled by Hampshire FA referee Mark Bradley who had been at Uni in Leeds and was now working in the area but of course his registration was still down south, he was assisted by Anthony Tierney and Ian Jenkins. 

Both teams seemed to have a resolute pre match warm up with Horbury's seeming particularly impressive

From the off Dearne seemed a tough physical sided who looked to rely on a lot of big ball to go forward but maybe Horbury were not letting them get into any sort of stride.  it was of course the visitors who upset the proverbial apple cart on 20 minutes when a mistake at the back allowed Joseph Angell to take up possession and round the home keeper to slot home.

Within a minute Dearne were level and there was a hope this would fire up the home side for a confident victory.  The equaliser saw a determined press and escape down the right Horbury filed to clear and Jack Boyle took his chance.

Horbury would go into the break ahead when they scored their second this time Angell turned provider with a cross that found its way to the back post for Luca Smith to slot home.  The remainder of the half saw an impressive work rate from the visitors deny  the home side any chance of playing their normal game, with at time the frustration showing as they were denied.  Horbury were denied a third by the post in the closing seconds of the half.

Surely the second half would see Dearne take hold of the game and force 3 points their way, well no because it was Horbury who shocked their hosts when they extended their lead a fine ball and move down the right saw substitute Jake Roberts deliver the cross for Keenan Davies-Mosley to send the visitors into more joy. 

From now on in Horbury got every block in, every tackle in and every header in there were some absolute massive individual performances that came together in a superb team performances.  Dearne were getting chances to get some edge of the box efforts away but were distracted enough by the attention of the men in blue that these efforts flew off target.  Something that on another day would and probably have gone in judging by the impressive season Dearne are having so far.

I guess the Horbury manager has to say 'well lads youve done it here today now you should be able to go on and do it every game'  of course football is not like that but if they can they wont be far off the play offs come the end of the season.

For Dearne a bad day at the office and for a side that's had such a good start I'm sure this will be a blip, they look a very strong side and physical unit that this will be put behind them by team and manager Zeph Thomas alike.

Good to finally get to Goldthorpe and Dearne and District Fc as the suitably attired populace hit the streets for the Halloween night it was time to jump the taxi back with arrival back at base about an hour later, I shall enjoy watching how these two progress.

Once again a few more pictures than waffle so hopefully you can enjoy the few pictures that follow below.