I started the New Year with a visit to a new venue for me, Garforth Town.

Garforth is 5 miles east of Leeds, within the Leeds conurbation. Its agricultural background was shattered like many villages/towns in this area by coal. With coal gone Garforth at the end of the M1 where it meets the A1M is now well placed for the industrial estates that spring up near these arterial roads. As you drive into the town from the motorway, the ground is immediately on your left within some modern housing. A sign on the main road says the car park is full and directs you to an overflow.

The overflow is an industrial estate on which is the Ginetta factory, the sports car company favoured by many as an initial route into motor racing. The estate unfortunately is hilly and having parked near the bottom the uphill walk was finally greeted by a long queue at the turnstile where Garforth’s largest crowd of the season 385 have turned up. Their opponents. Frickley Athletic is only a short drive away up the A1 and there are some of their fans in the queue.

Getting in with 2 minutes to spare I noticed the snack bar just to my left and bought some chips. This delayed me further and I missed the first 2 minutes.

The pitch sloped slightly from end to end, the surface was undulating and muddy in parts with patches of sand to help soak up the constant rain of the past week.

It was still overcast with some blue sky poking through the grey wispy cloud. The stillness of the day meant the cold air seemed to grip you.

Garforth Town were established in 1964 as The Miners Arms, playing Sunday League Football switching to Saturday Football in 1976. A move to the Yorkshire League in 1977 saw a name change to Garforth Miners an after progressing through the Divisions they were paced in the Northern Counties East Division one in its formation in 1982. Three years later they adopted their current name and moved to division 2 after another league re-organisation but immediately gained promotion back to Division 1. They achieved promotion to the Premier division in 1998 after some impressive seasons but were back ion Division 1 in 2003 after relegation. Their yoyo existence continued with promotion back to the highest division in 2006 and even higher the next season to the Northern Premier League Division 1 North. They were however back in the Northern Counties East League in 2013.

There is mention of Frickley Colliery Athletic Club as far back as 1908 but with the demise of the coal industry the Colliery name was dropped in the 1970’s. Evidence of the mining roots can be seen from the stand as it overlooks an old mining spoil tip that has been contoured and is now used as farm land with the hay bales in the fields which acted as seating for some people to overlook the ground and watch the game. Frickley ‘s best performance in the F.A.Cup was in 1985 when they reached the third round only to lose at home to local rivals Rotherham United. At that time they were playing their football in the highest level of Non League Football and were founder members of the Football Conference the following year. Since then they have slipped down some levels but are a well run and established club.

Garforth Town AFC 4 Frickley Athletic 2

Saturday 6th January 2024; 15.00 pm kick off. Miners v Blues. 7th v 10th

Bannister Prentice Community Stadium, Cedar Ridge, Garforth LS25 2PF

Garforth light blue shirts and shorts; Frickley green shirts and black shorts.

Garforth took the initiative from the start and deservedly took the lead on 11 minutes when Mathew Antcliff parried shot came back to him, he followed up to slot it home.

I took a seat high up in the stand and could see for miles. The stand was very impressive down the centre of one side but apart from a
small corrugated coverd structure one end all other areas were open to the elements.

Frickley countered after this set back and on 27 minutes were back on level terms when Garforth’s attempts at clearing a cross fell to Alhassane Keita who composed himself with his shot beating 4 defenders and the goalkeeper to level.
Only one minute later Garforth re-took the lead when Charlie Marshall received the ball on the edge of the goal area, turned superbly and slammed the ball into the bottom of the net to the right of the goalkeeper.

A bit of luck and skilful play enabled Frickley to level 6 minutes before half time when after some neat passing play Richard Collier shot which deflected off a defender looping over the goalkeeper to nestle in the goal. It stated at two all at half time.

With the light fading badly the home team did not put on their floodlights until 2 minutes into the second half. Electricity saving I presume. Despite the sapping conditions it was a very open game but Garforth regained the lead on50 minutes when Charlie Marshall collected an overhit ball on the left, ran to the by-line and Cleverley slotted the ball past defender for a 3-2 lead.

It continued a great battle when five minutes later Frickley hit the base of the post with a long shot. Charlie Marshall missed three chances in the next 10 minutes as the conditions worsened.

Frickley’s efforts became harder when just over three quarters through the game Alhassane Keita was sent off for kicking out after a strong challenge.

That man Charlie Marshall completed his hattrick with ten minutes left putting the game beyond the away teams reach with a tap in that was made by Sam Barker. Sam Barker seemed to be the player best suited to the conditions skipping over the mud all the game.

The game was a que for both sides to send on numerous substitutes to rest some weary legs.

A very competitive game in poor conditions but which entertained for the full 90 minutes.

Unfortunately the chips for me were warm, soggy and limp a score of 44. My scores are very subjective though as talking to family the next day I found that some liked chips that way!