If you take the Dearne Valley Expressway off the M1 you will eventually come to a sign that says Thurnscoe which is on the right side of the road and it is Goldthorpe on the left where Dearne & District FC play. You will have had to negotiate the numerous roundabouts and view the many new vast sheds and the infrastructure for more. I often wander what happens to all of the old warehouses, is there a home for old ones.
Dearne and District FC are a very progressive community club in the Central Midlands North Division. Their Facebook page on Friday said it all.
Talking to a local fan whose son is in the under 16’s the club can involve over 650 players competitively over a weekend, an amazing feat. A feat that is replicated in differing numbers all over the country that keep grass roots football alive, amazing.
Dearne & Districts ground is in Goldthorpe in what was the edge of town but is getting surrounded by a growing large housing estate which is one of the reasons they are preparing to move to the Welfare ground where lights are being installed ready for a move up the non-league pyramid structure.
It was a beautiful sunny day with a few grey fluffy clouds moving over a bright blue sky, my coat I had brought with me stayed on the bench next to me. The pitch was a vivid green with thick grass and a few bare patches which sloped from end to end. There was a small corrugated stand on one side of the ground and some containers in one corner that served as changing rooms, club house and bar/food counter. Small but very homely which reflected the family atmosphere with a crowd that had a good mix of ages as six boys kicked into one goal up to the start of play, /no one seemed to mind, I estimated the crowd of about 70/80.
I was unable to find anything about the history of Dearne and District except that they were formed in 1982 and that this Goldthorpe based club has many teams of all ages, sexes, and abilities but I would suggest that there is a good story to be told here as they progress.
I have written about Staveley Miners Welfare before nut they too only have a short history going back to 1962 starting in Sunday football and have grown in the same way that Dearne must want to emulate.
Dearne & District FC 9 Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves FC 0
Well where do you start, a minute into the game and the home team were already ahead when Nick Guest hit home from a cross in a melee of players. Dearne’s dominance took another 13 minutes before they scored again when a clearance from their goalkeeper found Callum Clarke on the left side of the goal area who riffled it into the right side of the net. Six minutes later and Nick Guest made it 3-0 with a close header and it was soon four as a player cut in from the left and placed the ball across the Staveley keeper to end up just inside the far post. Another went in just before half time when Carlton Carty made no mistake when given a free hit on goal after a clearance.
So leading by five nil Dearne did not let up in the second half when Jimmy Ghaichem was gifted a rebound that he put away with ease. With 63 minutes on the clock it was seven nil when what looked like a cross sailed into the net. Nick Guest made it a hat trick on 72 minutes when he ran past the static Staveley back line to score and to end his happy day he made it four for him and nine for the home side when he tapped in after a ball was headed on to him.
So Dearne & District move up to second in the table behind Retford who are unbeaten in the League. There is hope though as they have beaten Retford in the cup.
Staveley did keep at it to the end and a few substitutes in the second half seemed to make them a little more competitive.
No chips here but there were pies, peas and gravy which I didn’t savor as I try to keep my weight in check, a coffee had to do.
Good luck to Dearne, I admire your enthusiasm and will be back in the future to see your new home.
Payonthegate 