Stevenage

Stevenage FC are a football club from the designated new town thirty miles north of London in the county of Hertfordshire. The current club were formed in 1976 to take over as the senior football club in the town, after a couple of earlier clubs had some limited success until fincial problems got the better of them.

The first team in the town as also called Stevenage FC and were formed in 1894. In 1899 they took on the name of Stevenage Town FC. The club were members of the Herts County League until it disbanded. They joined the Delphian League in 1951 and five years later they merged with Stevenage Rangers FC to become Stevenage FC. In 1961 they reverted to Stevenage Town and two years later the club moved to their new ground at Broadhall Way as the town expanded.

In 1963 Town joined the Southern League after turning semi professional. Unfortunately it proved a step too far and the club were disbanded in 1968. A new club Stevenage Athletic FC took their place, starting in the Metropolitan League and then the Southern League in 1971. The club resigned from the league in August 1976.

A new club was once again required to represent the town so a new Stevenage FC was set up. It wasn't until 1980 that senior league football returned to the town as the United Counties League was entered with a revamped council owned Broadhall Way as the home ground, after the club had played junior football at the King George V Playing Fields on a roped off pitch. The club was titled Stevenage Borough FC.

In 1984 after a period of success Boro were promoted to the Isthmian League. They won one promotion but were soon relegated, when in 1990 Paul Fairclough took over as manager and transformed the club. Two titles were won in consecutive seasons so Borough found themselves in the leagues' Premier Division. That title was lifted in 1994 and with it entry to the Football Conference.

In 1996 The Boro won the Confeence, but were denied promotion into the Football League as Broadhall Way was deemed to be not up to the required standard. The following season they reached the FA Cup Third Round but lost at St Andrews to Birmingham City, after the game had been switched from Broadhall Way. The next season Boro went one better and reached Round Four. A temporary stand was erected to satisfy the FA as Newcastle United escaped with a 1-1 draw in a game that attracted plenty of fire because of pre match comments from both clubs. United won the replay in controversial circumstances.

Despite two great cup runs the Chairman Victor Green announced that the club was in financial troubles and that he was prepared to close it down, which led to Fairclough moving on. Phil Wallace, a successful businessman in the food industry completed a 90% purchase of Stevenage Borough in 1999. He gradually rebuilt the clubs' finances and the previously rocky relationship with the local council.

Boro reached the 2002 FA Trophy Final at Villa Park, but lost out to Yeovil Town. Wallace provided a brand new training ground as well as Broadhall Way being gradually rebuilt. The following season Graham Westley came in as manager and helped to improve the teams league form. In 2005 Boro got all the way to the Conference Play Off Final, but were denied their cherished League place once again by Carlisle United in the Britannia Stadium show down. 

Westley moved on at the end of the following season to be replaced by Mark Stimpson. Boro became the first team to win a competitive final at the new Wembley, when they came from two goals down to defeat Kidderminster Harriers 3-2 in the 2007 FA Trophy Final with Steve Morison as one of the star players. Stimpson resigned during the next season and then Peter Taylor had an unsuccessful spell as boss.

Graham Westley returned in 2008 and Boro won another FA Trophy in 2009 against York City at Wembley as well as missing out in the play off semi finals against Cambridge United. The following season was the one where Boro finally achieved their dream as they won the Conference and promotion with two games to go into the Football League.

On the 1st June 2010, the club announced it would be named as Stevenage FC as it entered the League. In their first season they reached the FA Fourth Round after avenging some much awaited revenge by defeating Newcastle United 3-1 at Broadhall Way. Even better was to come as The Boro, as they were still nicknamed, were promoted after winning the Old Trafford Play Off Final defeating Torquay United by one goal to nil.

Westley moved on to Preston North End in January 2012 to be replaced by Gary Smith. However, the fortunes of both men were not good as both ended up being dismissed, with Westley returning to the Broadhall Way hot seat in March 2013 for a third spell in the job.

Stevenage FC will compete in the Football League One in the 2013-14 season.


My visits

Stevenage Borough 0 Scarborough 1 (Saturday 6th November 1999) Football Conference (att: 1,743)

I had moved down to London the previous Spring and was keen to get to as many Scarborough away games as possible. I had every Saturday off when cricket wasn't taking place at Lord's so it gave me plenty of scope. Steve Walker was living near Oxford so I managed to talk him into a day out in pastures new.

I had to meet him off his train at Paddington as he couldn't find his way to Kings Cross on the tube! We were soon on our way on the short journey north where we went to our first pub on what was to prove a bit of a marathon session. I can't remember its name, but it was as desperate as its surroundings, so we decided to get a taxi to the ground and use the clubhouse. A crazy man drove us to the ground through a pretty soulless town to be honest, and told us about how he knew some gangsters in the news of late. The clubhouse was a massive improvement, even though it was busy. It had its own bookies and the locals were friendly enough.

Broadhall Way seemed a decent ground. The away end was a reasonable sized open terrace. The Main Stand was a single tiered covered stand on the left along the full length of the pitch. The East Terrace opposite also ran the full length of the pitch with a nice gable on the centre of the roof. The far North Terrace looked pretty shallow, with a roof from the penalty area to the Main Stand.

Scarborough had a reasonable team, as did Stevenage who had the better of the game if truth be told. However, it turned out to be one of those away games that I love so much, where your team is under the cosh but gradually get into it and end up winning.

Matty Russell got a chance in the second half at our end and buried it to send the hundred or so away fans into ecstasy. The team defended heroically for the rest of the game, so we could go back into the clubhouse with silly grins on our faces.

The locals took it better than I would have done as we chatted, before we got a taxi back to the station. Steve did a great line in wind ups with the lady driver as he initially made out what a lovely place Stevenage was. Amazingly, the lady agreed. I could only guess that she didn't travel far! We went to the entertainment centre in search of a better bar, but found none apart from a plastic establishment in a bowling alley.

We headed back to the station and ended up on a train without a toilet which stopped everywhere. The guard kindly advised us to quickly jump out at the next station and go on the end of the platform, while he held the train up! We got back to Kings Cross and headed for Paddington for a few more beers, including a couple in the Fountains Abbey before Steve headed off and I went back to Willesden.

Stevenage Borough 1 Scarborough 1 (Saturday 19th August 2000) Football Conference (att: 2,032)

I headed up to this game with Simon from Gillingham and Liz on a stunning summers day. My parents were staying in London for a few days, so I had to be relatively sensible on the sauce pre match! Scarborough FC were in a real state financially. John Russell had stepped down as Chairman but was still around the club. No-one expected him to pitch up on the front seat of the team coach after the problems he had caused, yet was still denying.

I met a few mates who were down for the match including Carl from Malton. We were wondering if this was going to be the clubs last ever away game. A high court hearing was due the following Friday after that weeks home game with Morecambe. We were not very happy with things, but we were determined to support the players, many of whom were losing out financially.

Some fans were talking of setting up an Independent Supporters Trust to run the club. This was the first time I'd ever heard of such a scheme. Some of the tales I was told about people in high positions making personal gain from the club didn't help my mood. Some others wandering around saying it was all lies and good people were running it. The team looked a bit of a state as some of their socks didn't match perfectly, which was extremely embarrassing.

Somehow Boro put in a brilliant performance, and we went berserk when Steve Brodie scored our goal. A draw was the least we deserved, simply on courage alone.

I headed straight back to the station, my voice resigned to a whisper, so I could meet my Mum and Dad in The Sir John Oldcastle at Farringdon for tea and a few drinks.

Stevenage Borough 2 Scarborough 2 (Saturday 11th October 2003) Football Conference (att: 1,776)

I headed to this game with Dave Cammish with the promise of a decent away ground to come. We had a quick pint in the Standard Bearer, a Wetherspoons pub in the new shopping mall, before heading by taxi to Broadhall Way.

The ground and clubhouse lived up to its billing and soon we were sat comfortably watching the afternoon's racing. I got off to a cracking start as I got a winner! After a couple of pints we went into the ground, where we were located in the new single tiered covered seated stand purely for away fans.

The game was decent enough. Stevenage went one up with a penalty before Lloyd Blackman levelled after fifty four minutes on one of his few appearances for the club. The home side created plenty of pressure, but Boro defended stoutly. Stevenage's forward Anthony Elding was getting plenty of stick as his team attacked out end for his attempted theatrics in his coloured boots.

He hardly endeared himself when Stevenage scored with just twelve minutes to go with his celebrations in front of us. It wouldn't have been so bad if he had scored the goal! However, we were about to have the last laugh. Chris Senior came off the bench with nine minutes to go and then scored an equaliser with just three minutes to go. It's fair to say we celebrated long and hard and gave Elding our thoughts!




The new stand at Broadhall Way
Picture taken from The Guardian online

Dave and I went back to the clubhouse, where they were showing on big screens, England playing away in a vital qualifier for Euro 2004 in Istanbul against Turkey. The club had put on a special offer on bangers and mash to entice punters to stay. It worked for us! Beckham missed a penalty as he slipped, I drank plenty of ale and pointed out Elding's limitations to the home fans as England clinched their place in Portugal with a goalless draw.

Stevenage Borough 1 Scarborough 0 (Saturday 19th February 2005) Football Conference (att: 1,728)

Karl Theobald had come down from Scarborough for the weekend, which I had off work. We were going to our annual visit to the Masters Snooker at Wembley Conference Centre of the Friday evening to kick off our fun.

We met up on Saturday morning to reflect on the fine performance the previous evening where we'd seen Ronnie O'Sullivan destroy Ding Junhui. Simon Keane was also joining us and as we boarded the train north Karl revealed his full naivety to us. He said he went, paper under his arm, to Starbucks to relax with a nice big coffee. Not realising the parlance in such establishments, he ordered a double espresso only to be given something he said he could balance on his thumb nail.

Karl was always full value and we'd told him all about Stevenage, but even he was shocked how bad the town centre was. He was shaking his head in disbelief when he say boards on lamp stands where people were requested to put their discarded chewing gum. Some of the clientele in Mall's two pubs didn't do an awful lot for the towns tourist drive either.

In the clubhouse a group of Seadog supporting Dutchmen joined us. They had flown over on the cheap by courtesy of Eastjet. They really had enjoyed the day out thus far!

The least said about the game the better. Boro were awful and Stevenage not much better. It was freezing cold and our team did little to warm us. To round off a bad ninety minutes the only goal was scored by a former Seadog favourite Darryn Stamp. It was so bad, even some of our loyalist fans were heard to boo.

It was a relief to get back to London for beers with our mate Colm in Cricklewood.


The photos of Broadhall Way where the match is in progress were taken at the match in November 1999. The first two photos of the ground are from 1983 before major works took place.

Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford FC were formed in 1874 and are based in the market town of the same name in Hertfordshire, close to London Stansted Airport.

Originally the club started out in local league football before becoming members of the Hertfordshire County League in 1921. Ten years later 'The Blues' or 'The Bishops', as they are nicknamed, switched to the Spartan League. They remained there for twenty years, when the club joined the Delphian League, lifting the title in 1955.

When that league disbanded The Bishops moved to the Athenian League in 1963. In 1970 they lifted the league's Premier Division title. In the same year The Blues also reached the FA Cup First Round for the first time. In 1971 they moved to the Isthmian League from where they reached the second round of the FA Cup in 1973, where Peterborough United put them out after a replay.

The Main Stand at Rhodes venue taken from the internet

In 1974 Bishops Stortford won the last ever FA Amateur Cup, defeating Ilford 4-1 at Wembley. This came after reaching the semi finals the previous season. 1980-81 saw a great season for the club as they regained top flight Isthmian League football and lifted the FA Trophy at Wembley as Sutton United were defeated 1-0.

In 1982-83, a Football League side were defeated for the first time after many previous attempts as Reading were defeated in Round One at Elm Park. Slough Town were beaten in the next round before The Blues held Middlesbrough 2-2 at Ayresome Park. Boro won the replay at Rhodes Avenue.

A picture of the Main Stand side at Woodside Park taken from the internet

Over the next twenty years the club had spells in the top two divisions of the Isthmian League. In 1999 the club moved from their old George Wilson Stadium at Rhodes Avenue to move to a new stadium on the town's outskirts at Woodside Park. In 2004 The Bishops became founder members of the Conference South with star striker Steve Morison in their line up. In 2011 Rushden & Diamonds went bust meaning that the club based the furthest north had to transfer to Conference North.

After an appeal Stortford were moved, meaning many long journeys, increased expenses and a loss of sponsorships. The Conference agreed to pay the club compensation in lieu of the move. Manager Ian Walker lamented the travelling involved and how it restricted his signings. He departed in December 2011 with the side struggling. Rod Stringer took over the reigns as the sides fortunes immediately improved.

The clubs endeavours were rewarded when they were transferred to the southern section after two seasons of long journeys.

Bishop's Stortford FC will play in Conference South in the 2013-14 season.


My visit

Bishop's Stortford 3 Blyth Spartans 3 (Saturday 3rd December 2011) Conference North (att: 297)

I had been meaning to get to a game at Bishop's Stortford for some time as my old mate Dave Cammish and his lad Ashley went along to Woodside Park whenever they could. I was on night shift and Dave had the day off, so I grabbed the opportunity. While it was going to take me a bit of time to get there, it was nothing to the lunacy created by the placing of Stortford would mean to the days visitors from Northumberland.

I caught the tube down to Finchley Road, where I transferred to the London Overground service to Highbury & Islington. After another tube ride to Tottenham Hale I got aboard the train to Bishops Stortford. I was already in a good mood, as my niece Sally had scored her first ever goal that morning after seasons of trying!

Dave and Ashley were waiting for me at the station and before long we had paid our £12 admission and were sat in the cosy clubhouse watching the Newcastle v Chelsea game on a foreign channel. The bar served a decent enough pint of Greene King IPA to aid my dry throat and the service was very friendly.

The home gaffer, Ian Walker popped in and out to watch the game on TV. Dave asked him about a player who he rated, but had left The Blues of late. Ian explained how difficult it was to keep players on the budget he had because of offers from elsewhere and owing to the considerable distances to many of the away games. He came across as a decent bloke.

We went outside and Dave and Ashley went into the Main Stand, while I had a walk around to take photos (see bottom of the page!). I aren't the biggest fan of a lot of new stadiums, but I really liked Woodside Park. The Main Stand was on the half way line above the changing rooms and clubhouse. It had flat standing at either side to allow for future developments if they are required. There was terracing behind both goals with a roof over both centre sections. The far side had terracing at each end and a second seated stand in the centre, stood back from the touchline.

I went to join my friends after trying one of the very nice, but pricey cheeseburgers for £2.50. The game was fairly scrappy, with both defences being generally on top. The match was a real six pointer at the wrong end of the table, with Blyth bottom of the pile and Stortford a couple of places above. Chances were generally limited to longer range efforts, but Stortford went one up through skipper Reece Prestedge who Dave rated as their best player. We went downstairs for a warm at half time, where unfortunately no half time scores were being shown. It was the only downside I found on the whole matchday experience.

Well I say that, but I was a bit down from the news coming via texts from Queensgate where top of the table Scarborough Athletic were two down at the break against Liversedge. This was definitely not good news.

Actually it was just like being at a Scarborough game sat in the stand with the regulars, as they bemoaned anything that went wrong and blamed the officials - though without the harsh cynicism found in the north! Their team cheered them up by doubling their lead just after the hour when David Adepipe slid home. Around the same time Boro had gone three down a couple of hundred miles away.

Spartans were cheered on by around thirty to forty hardy travellers, including a very loud gent in the directors box who amused the locals, and the gradually got back into the game. Dave forecasted that Stortford were poor at closing out games and he thought manager Walker was reactive rather than proactive with his substitutions.

A lovely move sent in Neal Hook to reduce the arrears to upset the home fans around us. The pressure gradually built and Glen Taylor was given time without anyone challenging as he ran and then fired home from the edge of the box. The Blues fought back, but it was of no surprise to me when Lee Mason fired Blyth ahead with a powerful shot. I thought the Blues keeper Jordan Archer could have kept it out. It was a shame as the youngster on loan from Spurs looked pretty good, save for that.

There were another couple of hopeful northerners in the stand in Dave and I, as news was coming through that Boro had rallied and were now only 3-2 down. There was still hope!

The home fans were not best pleased, whereas the northerners were in jubilant mood. One old local bemoaned the fact he'd turned down a couple of free tickets to have gone to Newcastle for the lunchtime game, to watch "this lot". Just before we went downstairs to the flat standing near the gate for the last few minutes, so we could make a quick getaway at full time, a text arrived to say Boro were now drawing 3-3.

Some Spartans fans were giving the linesman hell over one or two of his decisions, and then lack of them. The home fans also offered plentiful feedback, much of which was directed to their team.  The board went up showing that there would be a minimum of three added minutes added on, and seconds later the skipper Prestedge headed the equaliser from close range.

How the emotions changed amongst the fans! They could have done even further as Stortford pushed for an injury time winner, but the visitors held firm. A draw was the correct result in my opinion, but sadly it wasn't of much use to either side who looked likely to face a battle all season against relegation.

We had parked by the gate and were back at the station in plenty of time for me to catch the 5.09 train back to Tottenham Hale. My journey home meant coming into contact with plenty of happy Spurs fans on their way home from their victory against Bolton Wanderers as I received plenty of texts telling me Scarborough had got away with murder.

It had been a good match, nice ground amongst decent folk and lovely to catch up with Dave and Ashley. I was happy to see them supporting a local club. If only Boro had of got a late winner I'd have been really chipper, but the odds on the two games I was following closely both ending 3-3 must have been large!?

I took lots of photos at the game, and consequently deleted them when downloading the next day when half asleep after nights. Some extra pictures have been taken from the internet to complete views of the ground.

FC Halifax Town

FC Halifax Town, from West Yorkshire were formed in 2008 to replace the former club Halifax Town AFC who entered into administration at the end of the 2007-08 season. The club is generally regarded by fans to be the same.

Halifax Town AFC were formed at the Saddle Hotel in the town on the 24th May 1911. The club played in the Yorkshire Combination and then the Midland League in 1912. In 1921 'The Shaymen'  became founder members of the extended Football League Division Three North as they moved into their new ground at The Shay.

The club remained in that division until reorganisation saw them placed in Division Three in 1958. They remained there until 1963 when they were relegated to the League's bottom tier. Halifax were successfully re-elected several times to keep their status as well as struggling financially, before Alan Ball Snr arrived in 1967 as manager.

Promotion was won in 1969 and two years later they finished one place short of reaching the old Division Two. Manchester United were beaten the same year at The Shay in the Watney Cup.

To watch the great day at The Shay, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lObtYecN0Iw

The team were relegated once more in 1976 and entered a period of struggle, both on and off the pitch. One bright spot was an FA Cup run in the 1979-80 season, when The Shaymen reached the fourth round. Scarborough, Walsall and then Manchester City were seen off, before the run ended at Burnden Park against Bolton Wanderers.

Highlights of the Manchester City game at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGofgn5pi7Q

Eventually, the constant struggle beat Town and their League place was lost when they were relegated to the Football Conference in 1993. They found that league just as difficult and the future didn't look too promising until veteran manager George Mulhall took over the reigns towards the end of the 1996-97 season. Amazingly the club were promoted the following season to regain their League position, with Geoff Horsfield running riot up front.

At the start of the 1998-99 season Mulhall decided to retire for reasons that were never revealed, but it sadly returned Town to their old pattern of struggle. In 2002 Town became the first ever club to be relegated from the Football League on two occassions.

Chris Wilder was appointed as team manager and he gradually built a good side. Town reached the play offs in 2006, but lost the final to Hereford United at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester. Continual financial problems led to the break up off that side, leading to more struggles on the pitch with attendances dipping.

At the end of the 2007-08 season it was announced that the club were around £2M in debt, including owing HMRC over £800,000. The Conference demoted the club from their leagues' and Town's Supporters Trust looked to set up a new club as a local consortium put Town into administration and then wound it up.

However, the same directors of Town took charge and set up FC Halifax Town, who were placed in the Northern Premier League Division One North with the team remaining at The Shay.

Despite being placed in a lower division The Shaymen found the going far from easy. Neil Aspin took charge for the start of the 2009-10 season and got the club on target as they lifted the championship. Their success was repeated the following season as crowds and interest in the club were high, meaning promotion to the Conference North.

Town appeared on live TV in the FA Cup Round One in November 2011, when Charlton Athletic visited The Shay and ended the dream with a 4-0 win in front of an impressive crowd of 4,601. That season ended in defeat in the Play Offs to Gainsborough Trinity, but Aspin's side regrouped and reached the final in 2012-13. This time they made no mistake as Brackley Town were beaten to seal a return to the Conference national.

FC Halifax Town will play in the Football Conference in the 2011-12 season.


My visits

Halifax Town 2 Scarborough 0 (Saturday 24th November 1979) FA Cup Round One (att: 3,778)

Scarborough were one of the prominent non league clubs in the country and the memories of the glory days at Wembley were still reasonably fresh in the mind. Indeed Boro under the Chairmanship of Don Robinson had attempted to buy Town and move them to the coast to secure Football League status. Town meanwhile were perenial strugglers.

We went through to West Yorkshire as a family on the train. My Mum went shopping with Paul, while Dad took Nick and I to The Shay. His workmate Don had told him it was a twenty minute walk to the ground from town, yet we were through the dark industrial streets on the miserable afternoon in half that time. The weather really did suit the town, with its steep hillsides and tall old buildings setting the stereotypical scene.

The Shay around the time of my first visit
Picture taken from the internet - Speedway Plus

The Shay also fitted in well. To be honest, it was a dump. The pitch had a dirty speedway track surrounding it with a mud splattered white wall. There was crumbling terracing and shale banks at the Town End with a thin cover at the rear. The far Bus Depot End had a bit of shale banking with no cover. The Main Stand was built into the bank and had a block of covered terracing where the vocal Shaymen stood and then seating. The Family Stand on the far side was a lot smaller and housed the changing rooms. It also had a few seats and some covered standing. The majority of the Boro fans were in there and behind the goal.

We were quite optimistic before hand, but Town went two up and never really looked back. One of the goals was a long range low effort from a winger called Andy Stafford who cut in and fired home. Boro huffed and puffed without really looking like scoring.

We all met up for something to eat at a local cafe at full time. There was a sneering home fan laughing at claims of Boro being a good club. A visiting fan soon put him right on the comparitive condition of both clubs home grounds!

Halifax Town 1 Hull City 2 (Monday 4th April 1983) Division Four

The Tigers were chasing promotion under the managership of Colin Appleton and former Scarborough Chairman Don Robinson. I was a regular at Boothferry Park and had started taking Nick with me. Dad decided we would go on the train to this Easter Bank Holiday game on the train.

I remember the excitement when waiting for the connecting train at Leeds station, a steam train came through. We got to Halifax quite early, which proved to be a bit of an error as it resembled a ghost town, save for the sprinkling of football fans. We went into the beautifully restored Piece Hall, but there wasn't too much to do inside. I thought it an apt name for a building in Halifax as it could be interpreted that it somed up what was there.

The Shay hadn't changed, but it looked slightly more aesthetic as the weather was pleasant. City secured a valuable win after Town had come from behind to equalise. As was usual at the time, Brian Marwood and Les Mutrie stood out for The Tigers.

We waited behind at the end as Don Robinson gave us good news of results elsewhere, while the groundstaff prepared the stadium in readiness for the evenings entertainment as the Halifax Dukes Speedway Team were at home.

Halifax Town 1 Cardiff City 1 (Friday 31st October 1986) Division Four

I was invited along to this match with my Cardiff City and Scarborough supporting mate, Gary Griffiths. The plan was to go to the match and then stay with university pals of his in Levenshulme at Manchester overnight, before going to a few grounds the next morning and then the match between Chester City and Walsall.

Town as ever were struggling for money and were asking for fans to put an extra ten pence into a bucket for every programme purchased. The game itself didn't stand out in any way, but it meant the start of a decent mini weekend break.

I know the pub once we got to Manchester was most welcoming!















Halifax Town 2 Scarborough 2 (Monday 4th April 1988) Division Four (att: 1,747)

By now Scarborough were a Football League club and I travelled regularly on a mini bus run by George Johnson from the Post Office and the Gas Board Club. We had a happy throng and the trips were usually full of laughter.

As ever george had done the business and brought a tray of pies from Sam Bairstow's fine emporium on Dean Road and we stopped at a pub on the hill down into Halifax for pre match refreshments.

Our happy throng in the away end at The Shay

It was the first visit for many of my travelling pals to The Shay. Someone joked that it must have been a squeeze when The Beatles had played there! They weren't massively impressed. The police were heavy handed as well removing a few Boro fans and making poor old Trevor Pole from our bus stay in the same position under the cover all afternoon. They were severely lacking in sense of humour.

Trev enjoys the hospitality at Halifax, while Siggy offers his sympathy

The scores alternated and ended two each. We stopped as ever for a few pints on the way home. All in all, it was a decent way to spend a Bank Holiday.

Halifax Town 1 Scarborough 2 (Saturday 10th March 1990) Division Four (att: 1,490)

I went to this match by car with Brian Marshall and his pal, along with Barry Rewcroft. We set off nice and early and arrived around 1pm as I had a treat in plan before the match.

Through reading many fanzines and books I believed I had found the perfect pre match pub, which had a huge selection of real ales. It was about ten years ahead of its time in that respect. The Shears Inn was extremely difficult to find as we descended down the valley down some narrow lanes, but were well rewarded when we got there. There were even doubts pointed in my direction that I didn't know where I was going! How dare they?

Boro played well enough and went on to win the game two one. It appeared that my decision to go by car had proved to be a wise one as there had been a few altercations as the lads from the train and mini bus had been offered some poor hospitality in their watering holes. The way home was apparently even more eventful when stopping in Tadcaster!

Halifax Town 1 Scarborough 0 (Friday 26th December 2003) Football Conference (att: 2,136)

I was up from London for Christmas with the family and the chance of a ride to The Shay with Jamie Nunns was too good to turn down. Boro were having a good run and were getting ready to travel to Southend United in the FA Cup Third Round thirteen days later.

We got inside a pub with uninspiring ales near to the ground and watched Charlton Athletic take Chelsea apart in the Premier League in the lunchtime kick off. We then wrapped up and walked around the corner to the away turnstiles.

The Shay had changed massively since my previous visit. The first change was that the away fans were now at the Town End. This had being reprofiled, the same as the other end with large steep terracing and roofs. These were now called the North and South Stands. To the left the stand had been tidied up with new seating and was now called the Skircoat Stand. On the final side a new large single tiered East Stand had been built. This had not been completed as the money had run out and was only open for the changing rooms and directors area. The work had been carried out by Calderdale Council, Town and Halifax RLFC who had sold their Thrum Hall home so that they could enter the Rugby Super League if the opportunity arose.

The match turned out to be a real rough affair. It was tight early on and then an incident in the thirty sixth minute overshadowed everything else. What seemed like not much at all turned into a twenty two man brawl, or should I say twenty two men posturing? I don't wish to sound biased, but the perpetrator was a home defender and former Seadog James Dudgeon. Referee Rob Shoebridge sent him off, but remarkably he sent off another Town player, as well as non plussed Boro mean Matt Redmile and Wayne Gill. 

The rest of the game got really niggly. The away fans were naturally very displeased with goings on. Five other players (three of Scarborough) were shown yellow cards. I heard a remarkable shout from one of my Seadog bretheren, when he complained that we were giving Town too much room. Well at a guess I'd have put that down to the game being nine a side!

Town scored the only goal with fifteen minutes to go to add to our frustration. I wasn't in the best of moods after the game, but two weeks later I was back on form after a great result at Southend!

Wednesday 17th September 2008

I was in West Yorkshire after going to the Glasshoughton Welfare v Scarborough Athletic game the previous evening. I had stayed overnight in Leeds and bought myself a days rover for public transport. After calling at Park Avenue and then Horsfall Stadium a little ahead of time, I was about to get the bus back into Bradford when a Plan B entered my head.

The bus stop near Horsfall Stadium was on Halifax Road and there was a regular service, with a bus due so I jumped on board. I grabbed a pie and soup at Gregg's and then walked past some welcoming stone pubs on the hill down towards The Shay. The town of Halifax looked much improved on what I remembered and had obviously had a lot of work spent on it.

I eventually found a gate into the stadium. Some business folk were entering the rear of the Main Stand, but said I was OK to pop inside and take some photos. I stood in the corner between the East and North Stands. The new stand still wasn't completed - it eventually opened in March 2010.

I walked back to the refurbished railway station and caught a service to Bradford Interchange, ready to go to my next ground: Valley Parade.

St Albans City

St Albans City FC are a non league football club from the beautiful old Roman city in Hertfordshire, twenty two miles north of London. 'The Saints' as the club are nicknamed were formed in 1908 and they moved into a ground in the splendid Clarence Park, where football had already being played for several years. A previous club St Albans FC had been formed in 1881, but met its demise in 1904.

The club first competed in the Spartan League, a competition they won on two occasions, before joining the Athenian League in 1920. The Saints won the legue title twice in three years and then progressed to the Isthmian League. Within their first five seasons at that level they had won three championships. These were halcyon days for the club as they reached the semi finals of the FA Amateur Cup three times as well as having a few good FA Cup runs. Brentford were beaten five three in 1924 as St Albans made one of their several second round appearences.

After that the club had a very long period without winning league honours, although several minor cups were lifted. In 1970 The Saints set un unwanted record as they were defeated in a fourth FA Amateur Cup semi final. The club suffered some relegations down the Isthmian League but eventually worked their way back to the Premier Division in 1986 under the managership of former Fulham hero John Mitchell.

In 1993 the team finished as league runners up, but were denied promotion to the Conference because of an hundred and fourty year old oak tree which stood on the terracing behind one of the goals. It was deemed a safety hazard. Five years later the tree was felled.

The club became founder members of the Conference South in 2004 and two years later they were promoted to the Conference National for the first time in their history after a play off victory over Histon. Clarence Park was smartened up and rumours did the rounds that the club may look to move elsewhere.

Manager Colin Lippiatt couldn't keep the side up in their first season, while director and journalist Ian Ridley left the club over policy decisions. John Gibson was Chairman of the time who made his money through his building company William Verry. Richie Hanlon, Dave Anderson and then Steve Castle had time as team manager. Castle was not very popular with supporters, but he had to work with a reduced budget.

Castle did keep the club up on the final day of the 2007-08 season, while Gigson faced increased hostility from fans over the way he ran the club and his plans to move The Saints to a new home on Green Belt land. In the summer of 2009, Gibson's company went into administration, but he assured supporters that the clubs future was secure. Not everyone was convinced as rumours circulated of potential new buyers.

However, things were evidently not right. St Albans were deducted ten points and fined £7,500 by the FA for financial irregularities, which transpired to be illegal payments to players during the 2008-09 season. City were relegated to the Southern League at the end of the season.

On the 12th May 2011 local businessmen Lawrence Levy and John McGowan bought the club from Gibson for an undisclosed fee. Within weeks Castle had been replaced as manager by the highly respected Dave Howell who arrived from Harrow Borough, and Ian Ridley returned to take up the role as club Chairman.

However, Ridley soon departed and Howell followed after an unsuccessful spell to be replaced by joint bosses James Gray and Graham Gold, while the club looked into the possibility of moving from Clarence Park.

St Albans City FC will compete in the Southern League Premier Division in the 2013-14 season.


My visits

St Albans City 0 Scarborough 1 1983 FA Trophy

Scarborough had to wait a week or tweo to find out who their next round opponents would be in the Trophy as City had to travel to Dulwich Hamlet for a replay. I told my pals at school that I was pretty confident that we'd be heading for South London, but that was probably my heart ruling my head. I really wanted to visit the huge Champion Hill ground.

However, City won four three, so it was to Hertfordshire we would go. Actually, I was close to not going. I had been suffering from a chest infection and desperately wanted to play for the school team on the Saturday. My parents were sensible and stood firm and as a sweetener to probably stop my whining, they booked me a place on the supporters bus to St Albans.

My first impressions were of a lovely place. We parked down the side of Clarence Park and walked to the ground. The park had hockey games taking place on what was the cricket ground in the summer. The cricket pavilion looked superb. The rest of the park had plenty of greenery and a large playground.

The ground had terracing round three sides, with the ends curving away behind the goals. The Park Side had a basic cover over the half way line while the Railway Side had a lovely old low Main Stand with bench seating along the whole touchline. A clubhouse stood behind the roof.

Boro had their usual bus load of enthusiastic rowdies with them, as well as two official coaches. The team, under the managership of Jim McAnearney were the better side but they could not break the deadlock. During the first half the figure of a travelling fan (who was later become a good friend and travelling companion of mine) appeared on the clubhouse roof with a large Scarborough Union Jack!

The second half followed a similar pattern until Pat Olney pounced to send us home happy. The unofficial bus, AKA Fez's International Tours (they'd once gone to Bangor City!) entered legend amongst those travelling on it when it took part in the 'Battle of Newport Pagnell'. By all accounts it was more of a bunfight than a battle as the fans entered the services and had a food fight while couples and families sat down to their evening meals.

St Albans City 1 Molesey 1 (March 1984) Isthmian League Division Two (att: approx 200)

I was at college in Borehamwood, and staying in Radlett which wasn't very far from St Albans. I wanted to revisit the city after hearing lots of nice things about it as well as being impressed on my previous visit.

I took the train the few stops and then went exploring in the city centre where a market was in full flow. I had a walk to the Cathedral and generally enjoyed the place, grabbing some food at one of the market stalls, before heading to Clarence Park.

The ground was just as I remembered, and even better there was a super programme shop where I bought some local editions. I also went to the clubhouse for a pre match drink. I stood on the terraces with the home fans who cheered on their team playing in an all yellow kit.

City were going for promotion, whereas their visitors from Surrey were further down the table. A home win was roundly expected, but Molesey spoilt the script by going ahead. Well into the second half the City fans were growing with frustration. One fan shouted, "I see you've got your IQ on the back of your shirt, number three", to a timewasting full back. I found that very amusing at my tender age!

City bought a lanky sub on who looked far better than anyone previously on show. His name was Robbie, but I can't remember his surname many years later. He netted the equaliser, but a winner wouldn't come.

I headed back to the station after thoroughly enjoying my day out. City went on to win the division two championship at the end of the season.

St Albans City 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 3 ( Monday 24th January 2000) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: approx 1,100)

I was now back in London full time and staying in Willesden Green. After finishing work at Lord's for the day I got changed, headed for the tube to West Hampstead and took the train to St Albans.

I headed for the clubhouse straight from the station trying to remember where the footbridge was over the railway line. This game promised to be a cracker with The Daggers top of the league and City pushing them close. They really needed a home win to close the gap.

I had a couple of beers and then went to enjoy the decent atmosphere, with a couple of hundred away fans making the journey.

In truth the game was abit of a let down as a neutral as Gary Hill's team were far the better side. Danny Shipp was a real handful up front as Dagenham sealed another victory on their road to the Isthmian League title.

A good thing about a visit to Clarence Park was the vicinity to the railway station and I was in good time for a fast service back home with several happy Daggers.

St Albans City 3 Margate 3 (Saturday 20th November 2004) Conference South (att: 280)

On the Friday night before this game I was drinking with my good friend Colm in Lulas in Willesden Green with the following day off work, as well as it being my birthday! I suggested that he might like to go to a nice place for the day, with the promise of some good pubs.

He agreed, even when I mentioned the match. so we met to go to Cricklewood station before midday. We were soon heading into St Albans city centre and into O'Neills for our first drink. The lunchtime game in the Premier League was Manchester United against Charlton Athletic, but ideally we wanted to watch the Celtic v Rangers game. Sadly we couldn't find a pub showing it, despite much research!

We tried a couple of pubs by the market when we bumped into a City fan and real ale buff who was a real character! We headed down to the fine pub, The Mermaid where the beer was top drawer. It was busy as England were about to play rugby, so we went on our way rapidly down to the ground.

The clubhouse was friendly and met with Colm's approval. It was showing Soccer Saturday on the TVs as I had a pre match beer before heading outside. Colm came with me, but he retreated after about ten minutes to watch the scores come in.

He missed an absolute cracker as both sides went for it hammer and tong. Margate had the county cricketer Peter Trego playing in goal, who's skills I was to enjoy on many a summer afternoon while he played for Middlesex. The visitors from the Kent coast started the season on minus ten points owing to a financial transgression, but their performance on the day must have encouraged the handful of fans who'd made the trek north.

During the game I'd rung Bunner to tell him of my location and how I could still picture him appearing on the clubhouse roof! I popped back inside at half time where Colm had made himself most comfortable.

After the game we went back to The Mermaid and another couple of pubs, including the lively Robin Hood near to the station, where many locals seemed intent on celebrating my birthday all day! The Wales rugby match seemed to attract many afficienados, as any sporting event does when people have been on the pop all day.

We got the train back. I couldn't be tempted to stay out for the Barcelona v Real Madrid game, but young Colm filled his boots. It had been yet another cracking day in St Albans, where I'd yet to see the home team win in four attempts!

Thursday 23rd June 2009

I had the day off work and wanted some exercise to repair my hamstring, which I'd managed to tear through a combination of a lack of fitness and trying to relive my youth as I'd scrambled through for a single in a twenty twenty cricket match.

I'd been to Bedford, where I'd overdone things, and then Harpenden. I was determined to get the photos I required from Clarence Park, hobbling or not.

Inevitabely the ground was locked and since Mr Gibson had taken over the club, a huge fence surrounded it. I did my best to get some shots from all angles, getting some very strange looks in the process.

I managed to get lost and go the wrong way up to the town centre, and when I got there I decided I didn't really fancy a beer anyway! At least it was a lovely sunny day.