Butcher, Baker, Papermaker, with help from the Ice Cream Man.

I enjoyed watching football within the walls of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle last year so I decided to return again.

I have written before about the Berwick Charities Cup and can only admire the dedication of the organisers, referees, and players who keep this tradition going each year. It is also a community builder with family groups of all ages turning up to watch with folding chairs, or just sitting on the walls or grass. Over 100 people watched for some or all of the match and as usual a collection box was passed round.

The ground it is played on is called the Stanks, a piece of land big enough for a full sized football pitch just outside the walls of the Elizabethan, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Castle. Now infilled, it was once part of the moat and has now served as a football pitch where thousands of pounds have been raised in the last 100 years.

There is an interesting exhibition in a local gallery showing 30 seascape by Lowry, who was a frequent visitor to these parts. I’m sure it will bring in many visitors but I think more could be made of the town promoting the Charities Cup which must be one of the wonders of the footballing world.

It was a glorious sunny evening with an onshore breeze keeping the temperature to a comfortable 18 degrees. The pitch is a bit uneven and there are flattened mole hills in one corner, but who cares, the pitch looks amazing.

Popworld AFC 3 Butcher, Baker, Papermaker 8

Berwick Charities Cup Group Stages: Thursday 20th June 7 PM Kick off

The Stanks, Berwick Upon Tweed

Popworld; All Royal Blue Strip Butcher, Baker, Papermaker; All Claret Strip.

It took only 13 minutes before ‘Butchers’ took the lead when their number 7 tapped in after the Popworld defence dwelt on the ball, were robbed and the resulting pass was in the net.

Only three minutes later and it was 2 nil when the number 9 waltzed through the defence to clip it into the far corner of the net followed by a screamer from the edge of the box by ‘Butchers’ number 6. Popworld were trying hard and were making a game of it and on 33 minutes managed to get a goal back when their number 10 scored, lifting the ball over the keeper from just outside the penalty area. Already the game was a lot more enthralling than England’s Euros game which had just finished prior to kick off.

Butcher, Bakers, Papermakers had numerous shots and one, with 10 minutes to half time, sailed over the bar, through the serving window of the ice cream van, where it was expertly thrown back to the loudest cheer of the evening.

So at 3-1 at half time it looked like there was still a chance of a Popworld fightback in the second half.

The second half couldn’t have started any worse for Popworld as their opponents scored three quick goals. In the first minute BBP’s number 7 hit the post and scored from the follow up. A few minutes later 7 again scored when he nonchalantly scored after a perfectly placed cross from far out on the right. He scored his third after some neat passing by his team mates.

Popworld scored next with their number 10 making a great turn and a bullet shot past the goalkeeper. This success was short lived when with the second highest cheer of the night, Popworld’s substitute, number 14, went to clear the ball with his head, 25 yards from goal, but it looped off his head over the keeper and into the net.

Popworld came back again when their number 10, again, leathered the ball past the massed defence from a freekick, 5 yard out, after a back pass to the goal keeper was picked up.

There was one more goal when BBP’s substitute, number 15, smashed the ball home and then ran to the crowd with his shirt off.

What a great evening, thank you to everyone. I will be back.