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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2012 1:35:30 GMT
I was at Staveley Miners Welfare v Scarborough Athletic on Wednesday evening. This was a game in the Northern Counties East League which is at the same level of the pyramid as the Western League. In other words, that of Buckland Athletic. Or, indeed, Willand Rovers who Staveley played in last season's FA Vase. I wasn't going to take many pictures as it was dark when I arrived and my phone camera isn't quite good enough for consistent night shots. Apologies for lack of clarity but Staveley's ground is such a gem that I couldn't resist. It's neat, tidy and wonderfully maintained with an eye for detail in the wide use of blue-and-white stripes and the club badge. The bar is excellent, the pie and peas first-class and the whole atmosphere is extremely welcoming. And, in case you've not heard of Staveley, it's very close to Chesterfield and to the south of Sheffield. Scarborough Athletic are the club that has arisen from the demise of the former Football League team. There have been other pretenders but this is the most significant club in the town. Well, not quite in the town as they play at Bridlington. The plan is for a new ground, close to the old Scarborough FC, by 2014. I'd guess that over half of the crowd at Staveley were from Scarborough which is a fair old haul. A lengthy trip too for one of Scarborough's players who is currently working at RAF Brize Norton. Result: Staveley Miners Welfare 1 Scarborough Athletic 2. First and last minute of the first half for Scarborough; a goal for Staveley towards the end of the match.          |
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Post by chambta on Sept 27, 2012 6:34:41 GMT
Is that an electronic scoreboard? I must confess despite living within a half dozen miles I've not been since I was a child.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2012 6:53:40 GMT
Ayup, I see we're back to pies again  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2012 9:06:50 GMT
Yes it's an electronic score board at Staveley complete with the current time. It so impressed a bloke from Scarborough that he headed over during the second half to take a closer look. I'd recommend a visit to Staveley. Note they tend to play at home on Wednesdays rather than Tuesdays.
The programme - £1, no adverts - has an article about the Staveley FC of the 1880s and 1890s which played in the Midland League and competed in the FA Cup (getting turned over by the mighty Blackburn Rovers more than once). Apparently they tried to join the Sheffield League in 1892 - along with Eckington Works and Chesterfield Town - but ballsed up the application. FA Cup results at FCHD.
No adverts in the programme is most unusual. I don't know much about Staveley's finances but it looks like a fair amount of money has been spent in recent years. The club is sponsored by a business called Baris - based in Sutton-in-Ashfield - who also sponsor the league.
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Post by lambethgull on Sept 27, 2012 9:19:52 GMT
Cracking looking ground, and the pie and peas looks superb.
I've never quite 'got' the ground-hopping thing tbh, but I do now.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2012 9:34:12 GMT
On my birthday in 1885 Staveley beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the FA Cup. Sadly I missed the match because I was busy opening my presents.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2012 9:45:38 GMT
There's a lot to be said for the ground hopping thing, Lambeth, certainly as you get older. I was always interested in visiting Football League grounds but didn't really get into non-league until I'd spent years watching professional football. It's often said that ground hopping is a dying hobby - because many hoppers are of a certain age - but maybe it's something some people do after exhausting other avenues. For me it replaced watching football on telly. I believe it's best done to your own level of interest - and selection - rather than slavishly making lists and completing sets. Groundhopping certainly has an extreme and hardline fraternity. The Ground Trots take no prisoners when it comes to defining a "tick". Change of club name? Go back, you can't count it! But, for me, it's just a case of enjoying the match, the immediate surroundings and the locality. And the pie and peas.....
And, for a step 5 ground, there's something unusual in the "look" and "feel" of Staveley. It's as if somebody knew what they were doing. Even the bins have the club logo. It's almost corporate but not overbearingly so. Then you realise the sponsors are in the facades and interiors business.
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Post by chambta on Sept 27, 2012 12:11:47 GMT
Staveley are being bankrolled by a one particular businessman. Last season they had a genuine international player but his name and nationality escape me. He ended playing in the Europa League for someone later in the season.
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Sept 27, 2012 21:36:35 GMT
Someone who played for Shamrock Rovers? Or even better than that?
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Post by chambta on Sept 27, 2012 22:17:50 GMT
Middle Eastern I think from memory and he ended playing for a team I'd literally never heard of. He was signed after being released from Sheffield United. If you're interested I can find out.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2012 10:40:27 GMT
And they're got one of those tunnels........  |
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Sept 28, 2012 16:26:18 GMT
Middle Eastern I think from memory and he ended playing for a team I'd literally never heard of. He was signed after being released from Sheffield United. If you're interested I can find out. Aymen Tahar, Sheffield-born Algerian Under 20 international who plays for Romanian side Gaz Metan Medias? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2012 16:41:10 GMT
James is likely to be correct.
That would be hard to concoct.
You'd need the imagination of an Alpine Joe.
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