After such a long wait for the new football season, I started my pre- season training at one of my favourite venues.
On Tuesday, 22nd of July, I was lucky enough to see the final of the Crammond Cup at ‘The Stanks’ just next to the walls of Berwick Castle. The Crammond Cup is for those teams knocked out in the early rounds of the Berwick Charities Cup, a competition held for over 100 years to raise money for local good works.
The final should have been played on the previous Saturday, but the constant down poor made it unplayable. Both teams, Prior Wolfs and Murder on Zidancefloor were without players who could have made the Satuday match but this didn’t matter to them two teams on the pitch and the well over 150 fans who turned up to watch. A rough count had it at 16 on the ramparts, 24 at the Ice Cream Van end with the rest on the road and wall side. There were behind one end with 16 young boys having their own final. Great noise and celebrations after each goal.
This is a family fun competition run by a small band of dedicated people who epitomises grass roots, football, and community. I have been proud to have supported it for the last 3 years.
This years pitch had been prepared to a lush green grass cover that was pot marked by some bald patches made by mole hills that had been dealt with earlier.
There were grey building clouds, getting darker, which made it seem more like autumn than the outstanding summer we have had so far. The wind was blowing right to left and kept the temperature down, and prompted the need for a jumper.
Berwick Castle Wall Tuesday 22nd July 2025. 7 pm kick off.
Murder on Zidancefloor. White shorts, white shirts that graduated down to blue at the waist. Goal keeper, lime green top, black shorts.
Prior Wolfs, red tops with short navy sleeves, with blue shorts. Goal keeper in an orange top and black shorts.
Prior put on most of the pressure in the first 10 minutes and after a further 10 minutes a quick break from defence to the left saw the ball crossed to the head of number 9 in centre of goal, his attempt looped over the goalkeeper to give them the lead.
Murder on Zidancefloor responded with some attacking zeal. They were the better team right up until half time with their diminutive number 12, the stand-out player of the first half.
After a quick five minute turn round at half time ‘Murder’ continued to be on top for the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Their efforts, though, were in vain when with 17 minutes of the half gone, Prior Wolfs swung in a corner from the right that was headed home, like a bullet, by their unmarked number 7.
Just a few minutes later it was all over when a frree kick from the left was not dealt with by the defence and the goalkeeper managed to palm a shot onto the upright for after a further blocked shot it was rifflef in for 3 nil.
There was no coming back now, although Murder on Zidancefloor did not give up.
On 19 minutes, another inswinger, this time from the right, was met by 9 who headed down and in.
On 21 minutes, it was 5 nil after a tap in to left of goal. The 6th, perhaps the best of the night, when from outside box number 7 controlled a pass swivelled and smashed it into net. As the game concluded, a corner from the right was met by a stooping header that squeezed into the inside of the pot.
A well-deserved wi for Prior Wolfs, but their opponents provided a good test which served up a great final. The winners were also the organisers and the community of fans that enjoyed their night out.
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