Some people visit Teversal to try to view ‘The Manor’ which is believed to be the basis of the fictional Wragby Hall in D. H Lawrence’s 1928 novel ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover.’
On Saturday I visited this small Nottinghamshire village for my love of football and there was as much passion on display but on this occaision between Teversal F C and Armthorpe Welfare F C in their Northern Counties East Division One 2021/22 season opener. My dream was that this first game of the season would foretell a time when there would be no disruptions or early ends to the campaign. 133 others had turned up to see the game on a grey, dry, but warm afternoon and like me had been greeted by a friendly atmosphere and an open club house where I was able to get my first Chips of hopefully many.
I was asked what did they score in my chip League and my reply of 4038% which reflected that they tasted so good after everything we have gone through to get back to a very little thing that I enjoy. In reality they have set the bench mark for the season with a score of 69 being extremely hot, thick, tasty but with a taste of the oil too strong to get a higher score. The food in general here looks excellent and if I go again the curry and rice looked and smelt lovely. My coffee and chips were only £3.
You arrive at the ground through some houses into a very large tarmacked carpark that also serves a Bowling Club and a very popular walking and biking trail. The pitch looked green and lush but was a little undulating. There is a club house, seated area and behind one goal two batches of Tesco trolley parks so that you can shelter from the rain if needed. Everything has a warm and friendly community feel. Teversal have been moved back to this league as part of the F.A. reorganisation.
There has been a football club here since 1905 and had the words Miners Welfare in the name for many of the ensuing years reflecting the two local pits of Teversal and Silverhill. The miners influene, but not the heritage, ended in 1989 when the local district council took over the complex and still run it today. They have maintained their current level ‘s with a few ups and downs and look forward to the new challenge of the Northern Counties East League.
Armthorpe Welfare too as the name indicates come from a heavily ex mining area near Doncaster having been formed in 1926. They moved around local South Yorkshire Leagues until the early 1980’s when they joined their Current League. They were only relegated from the Premier League in 2017 and this season have virtually recruited a completely new team to compete for a place back in a higher level.
Teversal F.C. 0 Armthorpe Welfare 1
For the first 20 minutes Armthorpe looked in control although Teversal were dangerous on the break and on one of these hit the left hand upright. The game was dirupted quite a few times with the ball going over the concrete perimeter fence, some extended netting would be a benefit to a more flowing game. The game continued in the same pattern until the end of two minutes of added time when the dangerous Mathew Hughes received a through ball on the left wing and cut inside to riffle the ball into the net beating the Teversal goalkeeper who was the stand out player on the field. The referee blew his whistle as soon as Teversal restarted the game.
Despite some huff and puff from both teams the score did not change although Teversal did hit the bar with a thumping header. Armthorpe did get the ball into the net near the end but was diallowed and their Manager was yellow carded as he drew the ire of the referee for his remonstrations. You will need a few more results to put this game in context as to where these two teams will end up in theLeague table.
The game sounds a little dull but was amazing and has set me up for a season of hope.
Payonthegate 