After last week’s freeze I drove North to watch Goole AFC play Silsden AFC with an outside temperature of 9 degrees.

Luckily driving East on the M62 the Goole turning is just before the roadworks for the repairs to the Ouse Bridge. The bridge repairs are needed, but anyone travelling this way regularly will have endured the frustration of the 30 mph limit, that feels like walking pace and the bullying of some drivers through the roadworks. The estimated finish date has now been put back to the end of August, really!

Coming off the motorway, you immediately notice the vast swathes of new housing and tidy industrial premises. The ground is in the Old Town within post war and older terraced housing. I parked in one of the terraced streets where there were plenty of to let boards and houses being renovated. Opposite the ground entrance they are building some new modern terraced housing.

A friendly crew took my money for my entrance, programme and raffle ticket, I still have never won one but must have paid for a few new balls by now.

You immediately see why a portion of the money set aside for some regeneration of Goole is to be spent on this community asset. The pitch is surrounded by a running track that looks very tired, there aŕe panels off some of the covered standing, the hospitality is a small portacabin, food is provided by a mobile wagon and let’s not talk about the toilets. Firstly let’s say we’ll done to the fans and officials who have kept this club going and wish them well in their new all weather pitch with new, changing rooms, function rooms and new toilets. The club will be able to generate a renewed football focus for all ages and generate more income. Their youth team for instance will not have to play home games away in Snaith.

I have seen the ground before from the train passing through to Hull which is very visible from one corner. What is also visible are the salt and pepper pots as they are known locally, two much needed water towers for these flat lands of the Humber Estuary.

It felt colder than 9 degrees which could have been accounted for by the proximity of Goole Docks. I cold see the outline of the top of a moored cargo ship. The sky was a clear light blue, criss crossed by a few vapour trails, with the sun shining brightly. The grass pitch was flat and looked lush apart for some wear in the goal mouths. It was obviously muddy which showed up by the dirt kicked off the boots as the teams left the field after warming up.

Goole has seen a football team for over 120 years, with Goole Town being famous for their efforts in the Midland League and cup exploits. Unfortunately financial problems forced them to close in 1996 but a Leeds Entrepreneur started a new club a year later. They immediately won the Central Midlands League and later were promoted to the Northern Counties League. Their rise continued to the Northern Premier League in 2005 but Administration difficulties halted the progress in 2009 and by 2017 they were back in the NCEL where they sit today.

A Silsden football team were formed in 1904 with the current senior team founded in 1996, similar to Goole. Having been successful in the Craven Amateur Football League they joined the North West Counties League in 2004, promoted to the Premier Division in their first season, but relegated in 2010 and promoted again in 2018 as champions. They were transferred laterally to the NCEL in 2019.

Goole AFC 3 Silsden 0

Saturday 27th January 2024.  17.00 pm kick off. Vikings v Cobbydalers, 19th v 10th

Victoria Pleasure Gardens, Marcus Street, Goole, DN14 8SL

Goole; Red and black vertical shirt fronts, red backs  with black shorts.

Silsden; Lime yellow shirts with grey shorts.

The first fifteen minutes of the game were very equal except for a point blank save by the Goole goalkeeper. It did seem a long way away from the action, something the new ground will help to redress. What struck me in these first minutes were the foul throws that have entered into the modern game, not only here but in many games I watch. Perhaps FIFA could put this on their list of things to tighten up on.

Goole kept plugging away on the heavy pitch and a great bit of skill by their Lucas Robinson, who looked a class above most players, on 36 minutes, hit a pass from the left over the top of the away defence for the on rushing Liam Flannagan to collect and drill into the net past the advancing goalkeeper.

Eight minutes later with half time approaching it was Lucas Robinson again who beat the full back and from the by-line slid the ball along the ground for the unmarked Daniel Ward to tap in. Goole went in at the break good value for the 233 fans, one of Goole’s highest gates of the season, to contemplate a chance of victory.

Silsden put the pressure on in the second half but rarely threatened to reduce the deficit. Goole’s forwards, prominent in the first half, were pushed back into defending but Brice Ghussein who had been their main threat in the second half continued his unselfish running and with the 90 minutes up, raced down the right and supplied a inch perfect cross for Luca Grant to complete the three nil win. The referee checked with the linesman for offside but the goal stood.

A first win for Goole in 10 league matches which should have eased their relegation worries if all the other teams around them hadn’t won as well.

Great afternoon out and it looks like Goole is on the up along with Goole AFC who ended their poor performances and it looks heads up for the development of the new ground. Thank you to the Goole fan who updated me on what is going on in the club during the second half.

The chips were good too, being hot, tasty, cooked to order and a good texture. Having almost lost heart in my chip quest it was good to be able to give a score of 70. This may soon be the end of the current chuck wagon with Goole looking to organise their own food in the near future, before the ground update, to help generate income.