I drove past the NewYork Stadium where Rotherham United were playing Leicester City on the way to see Wombwell Town play.
Wombwell Town were promoted from the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League last season. They only finished 5th but were the team finishing highest from the league to apply with the correct ground grading. I visited the other team in Wombwell, Wombwell fc, last year, and although they finished second in front of “Town’ their open ground next to and part of a cricket club as many original teams grew from, prohibits them from rising up through the pyramid.
Wombwell Town’s ground is unusual in that one side is bordered by a go cart stadium. The pitch itself is surrounded by a defunct running track which makes the seated stand and clubhouse/changing rooms a long way away. Planned development is in hand with the impressive club house currently being extended to provide more income streams and are working with the NCEL for funding of new floodlights. There is room in the future for a whole complex of synthetic main and training pitches, should they wish.
There was lots of parking extended by the use of the the go-cart facility. The seated stand and large ground made the 123 supporters vanish in the vastness
There have been a number of Wombwell Town teams dating back to 1896 with the last renaissance folding in 2000. The current team were formed in 2018 and considering the thwarted Covid seasons they have done brilliantly to have achieved the development of the club both on and off the pitch.
Glasshoughton started life in 1964 in Sunday football later switching to Saturdays and gaining admission to the Northern Counties East League in 1985. They worked their way to the Premier Division in 1991 through promotion and league reorganisations. Having reached the Premier Division twice they have been back in Division 1 since 20015.
It was a warm 18 degrees, sunny but with white, grey and black clouds dotted around across the sky. A very flat pitch had great grass cover but as I said earlier the old running track made it all look a long way away.
Having last week bought a share in Kings Lynn this week I was shocked at how little I paid, £1 entrance, £1 for a program, £2 for chips, £1 for a coffee and £1 for a raffle ticket, a total of £6 against £28. Wombwell were even organised to post a team sheet on the window of their well equipped club house and copies of the team sheet were passed around the fans.
Wombwell Town 3 Glasshoughton Welfare 2
Saturday 26th August 2023 15.00pm kick off
Northern Counties East League Division 1
Wombwell Recreation Ground Station Road, Wombwell, S73 0BJ
4th v 17th. Wellers v Welfare
Wombwell Red shirts, Black shorts
Glasshoughton, Green hooped fronts to shirts with green arms, the back is green with two white hoops around the bottom. Green shorts.
I only had to wait for 3 minutes to see the first goal when Wombwell’s captain, Edward Agnew ran in unmarked from a corner to head the ball down into the net. Wombwell continued their dominance in the first 20 minutes of the half but after that Glasshoughton showed that they were not going to be push overs. Town kept their lead until half time but it was a slender one.
Welfare came out strong in the second half and with 8 minutes gone they equalised when Bolton Makwedza attacking wide ran through strongly to the by line and his superb cross was met by Harrison Rowley who nodded the ball home.
The game became more frantic and only 5 minutes later Wombwell were ahead again when the goalkeeper parried a shot which was pounced on by Gavin Allott who unopposed tapped it in. The home team now used Owen Birks long throw ability who created problems. Owen Birks had already impressed me with his aerial ability and strength in the back four and was my man of the match.
Glasshoughtons persistence paid off when they equalised after 33 minutes when the home keeper, Johnathan Davis, made a great right handed save which unfortunately fell to Harrison Rowley to score his second.
It looked like a draw but at the end of normal time ‘Wellers’ Gidhafi Kiwanuka was tripped by the away teams goalkeeper and Gavin Allott sent goalkeeper, Alfie Hayes-Daubney to his left and placed his kick in the left hand of the net.
Wombwell saw out the added 6 minutes to have now won 5 out of their 6 league games, a great start for the new boys to the League. Wombwell are a team to watch for the future with regards their results and the development of their stadium.
To the purist these were fries not chips. they were hot, just fried, tasty, crispy , golden, not greasy and had a good centre. The best this year to date and a score of 67.
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