You’ll Win Nothing With Kids – Fathers Sons and Football
Written by Jim White
Published by Little Brown 2007
This book jumped out at me because my son manages his sons football team, starting last season as under 8’s. It’s been fascinating and sometimes funny listening to how he was going to set the team up and how they played and initially lost. However with a friend they have enjoyed every moment of it and enabled a group of lads to not only enjoy the games but build friendships and get a good grounding in life. It’s a good lesson to understand the highs and the lows.
It also appealed to me because I was there at the start of the 1995/96 season when Villa overwhelmed Manchester United 3.1 and Alan Hansen said on Match of the Day
‘You can’t win anything with kids’. Little did I know I was witnessing the birth of a team that would transform English and European Football. It also heralded one of the most successful managerial reigns in football history.
Because of Jim’s job, he is able to ask different sports professionals and managers, for tips and ideas. Did they work?, you’ll have to read the book to find out.
The journey is fascinating and a good read.
2024 was my seventh year of writing this blog and I thank everyone who has read it this year, making it the most popular year so far.
The year started at Garforth in North East Leeds where on a muddy pitch they were the better team and went on to win promotion later in the season. It was the first of 48 matches including some International Excursions.

There were three excursions outside of England, in theory, with games in Italy, Scotland and Wales (well almost).
The Italian game in Florence to see Fiorentina was a highlight, not because of the game or the weather, but because of the generosity of a local fan who guided me from the railway station to the ground and explained how I would get back. The unique Mussolini era architecture has cover for a very small minority of fans and the rest of us were drenched with a biblical type downpour. Luckily the food stall sold plastic ponchos, I wonder why!

The trip to Gretna was an experience in that I have not seen such avant garde parking. Cars were just abandoned everywhere, with no order but everyone seemed happy and negotiated leaving with no problems at all. The game was a great advert for the Lowland League and the Scotch pie was somehow tasty, I had never been impressed with one before.
On to Wales, but not Wales, as Cymru champion The New Saints played a European Conference League game at Shrewsbury Town’s stadium to meet UEFA standards. Although they lost 2 nil to a very competent Panathinaikos, their exploits at this stage of European football has raised the bar of Welsh football



The stand out game of the year was
Hednesford v Gainsborough Trinity in the F.A. Cup. Down and out, Gainsborough fought back to level at 3.3 at full-time and again came back to level at 4.4 after extra-time. Then the dreaded penalties that saw the away team go through 5.4. This will go down as one of the best games I have ever seen in nearly 70 years watching football.


Other highlights were seeing Loughborough Students gain promotion in a play off final when they overwhelmed Skegness 7 nil. A just reward, having previously been told by the F.A. that they wouldn’t be allowed promotion. A great decision by the F.A. to change their minds.

Another play off game saw, Shirebrook, a team near to me, stun Wakefield 4.0 to gain promotion but not in the completion they were playing in but in The United Counties League. This was due to another F.A. reorganisation. This one tidied up many clubs in the Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, a good sensible move.
Good to see Chesterfield promoted and a great Chesterfield Sunday Cup final at Staveley where Brampton Rovers were winners 4.3 after extra time.
I saw Kiveton Miners Welfare’s last game at Stone Close and also one of Kiveton Park’s first. The ground already looks so much tidier. Just down the road I finally saw a game finished at S J R Worksop, but didn’t make it to Kirton Brickworks ground due to a switched venue because of a waterlogged pitch. Definitely one for the future.
I was bored at Mansfield in December but elated for the Chairman of Biggleswade Town, an old school friend, the month previous, when they came back to win 5.4 at Coleshill in the F.A. Trophy.
A second trip to see a Berwick Charities Cup match left me in awe, again, of this locally organised competition.

As the year ended Ashbourne, the underdogs, almost upset Clay Cross in the Derbyshire Senior Cup and should have reaped an award for their effort.
Finally another aborted visit to Appleby Frodingham’s ground saw me end up at Brigg and a last minute win at a ground soon to join the artificial pitch brigade.
As usual a fantastic year with 2025 beckoning. I wish everyone a Happy 2025.

Last week, Appleby Frodingham and this week, as I arrived at Wimborne’s modern ground with an artificial pitch that is postponed too, waterlogged I pressure, although I had checked social media half an hour previous. Journeying from Derbyshire, I don’t think I will be taking them up on using my pre paid ticket for the re-arranged match. Unfortunately I have previous with Dorset in that I had travelled, again in January, to see Poole play St Albans City, only to find it was postponed due to a frozen pitch, something rare in these southerly parts. After a pasty and a coffee, I felt refreshed and ready for the year ahead.
Match postponed Unfortunately, the following fixture has been postponed: Wimborne Town FC vs Poole Town01/01/2025 at 15:00Wimborne Town Football Club Your tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled fixture. Please keep an eye on communications from Wimborne Town FC on the new date.
I decided to get one more game in 2024 and headed for North Lincolnshire to see Appleby Frodingham but first checked their social media and the league site to make sure the match was on. I have previous with Appleby Frodingham with games cancelled through a frozen and waterlogged pitch. Luckily, in the past, I had been able to switch games. The last few days had been miserable foggy and grey, and they were again as I pulled off the drive, but the sun was out as I whizzed along a quiet M18. The mood changed as the fog returned along the M180, and it thickened through Scunthorpe. It was to get worse when Google Maps took me to a local rugby club. Not deterred, the Northern Counties East web site gave me a different post code and 3 minutes later I was there along with a couple of other people in cars looking at a very closed ground. Social media now told me that the match was postponed, but again, not givingup, I knew that Brigg Town were at home and that was 8 miles away and I had 30 minutes to get there. Pulling into the large car park at 14.51 with the game on, my luck had changed. There was a large lined out car park all part of more sports facilities. I stopped and chatted to a man collecting for James Hitchcock, the Barton Rovers goalkeeper who lost his life on a night out, and walked to the turnstile. Now I was confronted by a queue! Evidently, another helper had not turned up so I managed to get in at 15.04, unluckily they were sold out of programs but luckily no one had scored.
Brigg Town can trace a history back to 1864, one of the earlier teams in the country. Playing for a long time in Lincolnshire Leagues, they moved up to the Midland League in 1976, and in 1982, when League mergers created the Northern Counties East League they were founder members. Their highest league status was reached in 2004 when they were promoted to the Northern Premier League, but 11 years later, they were back in the NCEL. 2017 saw a further fall back into the Lincolnshire League, which they bounced back from the following year and have stayed since. Briggs Cup exploits have been amazing winning the FA Vase on two occasions in 1996 and 2003.
Athersley Recreatin FC has a much shorter history, only being formed in 1979 as Athersley North Juniors and took their current name in 1986. They played initially in the local Barnsley Leagues until 1997 when they were promoted to the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League. Promotion to the Northern Counties East League in 2012 they have played in both the Premier Division and Division one. After a few poor seasons, this year has proved more successful.
It was foggy here too but you could see from end to end. The miserable conditions made everything else look sad, with the undulating grass pitch having as much mud as grass. The good news being that at the end of the season the pitch is to be dug up and a new alweather one installed with six changing rooms for multi use and increased income. A reason to return in the future to see how it looks.
It was grey, damp and only 4 degrees giving a miserable feel.
The two ends of the ground are open with low level covered seating dow almost the length of one side. The other side houses the changing rooms, club house, other rooms, with covered standing in front.
Brigg Town FC CIC 1 Athersley Recreation FC 0
Saturday 28th December 2024.
The EC Surfacing Stadium, Wrawby Rd, Brigg DN20 8DT
15.00 pm kick off. Northern Counties East League Division One.
4th v 10th, The Zebras v The Penguins or ‘The Rec’
Although Brigg were more dominant in the first 30 minutes, Athersley made dangerous quick attacks mainly down the left. With just 5 minutes before the break a second yellow card for Prince Hayward of Brigg meant an early bath and some reorganisation at half time for the home side.
The second half started with the fog thickening but on the field despite being one man down the home side kept pressing with Athersley still breaking fast. Athersley despite their attacks only forced the Brigg keeper to make one great save when he managed to launch himself and tip the shot over the bar.
There was plenty of passion and endeavour on and off the field as every tackle, foul or clash of heads was greeted with cries to reduce Athersley to 10 men. The referee kept his nerve and the game moved on to the final few minutes with not only the fog but the cold increasing.
With on my watch, time up and added time being played Brigg fought harder and harder and they were awarded a corner from the left. Harrison Coley curled it in and up rose Josh Jordan unmarked to head the ball with some strength into the back of the net. Fans and players of Brigg went wild, while the Athersley team trudged back to the centre circle knowing that they had missed a golden opportunity to get three points. The crowd of 302 was one of the best at this level for the day.
Considering the weather conditions and the cloying , muddy pitch, heavy legs, both teams had served up a fascinating, hard fought match to remember.
The club house was warm and friendly with many photos of old endeavours. TV screens were showing the World Darts Championship which a few chose to watch rather than the game. The chips although hot were tasty but too greasy for my liking, scoring only 54.
I decided on a short trip for football to Mansfield on this busy travel weekend before the festive season. There was also an interesting local Derby between Mansfield and Rotherham and on this usually lean day for football crowds, with shopping being a priority in many families, a good crowd could be expected. It would also be the return of Steve Evans ‘the Marmite character’ to a club he left mid season and not on the home fans Christmas card list. Steve Evans had a football career in Scotland and then fell into management of Non-League and lower English clubs and usually creates a buzz and some excitement on and off the field where ever he has gone. My last brush with him was when he plotted knocking Aston Villa out of the F.A. cup when at Stevenage.
The traffic was bumper to bumper in Mansfield , especially around the ground, which is ringed by ‘Retail Sheds’. I couldn’t believe my luck at parking on the road, only a short walk to the match. My ticket was in the Rotherham end having not been able to get a ticket from Mansfield. A large contingent of the away fans had arrived by coach and on queuing up saw six ‘Father Christmases’ joining. For some reason the stewards were asking everyone to remove their hats to check if anything was concealed but no strip search? For some reason they did not ask me! To my great surprise the food stand was offering chips, some thing that has not been on the menu at the home main stand on previous visits, more of that later. It was also noticeable that this three sided ground had a fourth side as the Bishop Street side has been relieved of its hoardings and remedial work is going on to find a solution to making this a safe seating or standing area to increase capacity. This side of the ground has not been in use for nearly 20years and with crowds nearing capacity for popular games good income is being missed.
It was a grey dry day but with some strong gusty winds that sent darker clouds scurrying across the sky. The grass pitch looked immaculate and was watered heavily before the kick off.
Mansfield Town F.C. 1 Rotherham United 0
Saturday 21st December 2024, English Football League Division One, Kick off 15.00 pm
Field Mill Ground, Quarry Lane, Mansfield. NG18 5DA
Stags v Millers, 11th v 17th
Rotherham started the match with the greater possession but the swirling wind meant that their high balls were difficult to control. Their fans were the most noisy and were enjoying a holiday atmosphere. However as often is the case out of a rare Mansfield attack poor clearances meant the ball fell behind their defence for Deji Oshilaja to run through on his own and plant the ball in the net to the keepers right.
The Rotherham fans silenced and the Mansfield ones more vociferous to the point that Steve Evans complained afterwards about the vitriolic verbal treatment he received.
There is not much more I can say about the rest of the game. The wind totally spoilt it, but my mind drifted back to Hallam’s FA Vase win, when the part timers, in similar windy conditions, hit three goals in the second half by playing football along the ground.
The Rotherham fans turned on their own teams lack of attacks and mistakes.
Mansfield’s win meant that they went up one position in the League and Rotherham dropped down one after their recent form revival. Certainly no Christmas cheer here and perhaps the shops had the better offer for the 8401 who had made the effort.
The chips were a good quantity, crispy, hot, but greasy, and as I eat more the greasiness seemed to overwhelm the taste, to a point where I stopped half way through. A poor score of 58.
I headed west on a miserable, grey, drizzle ridden day with a temperature of just 6 degrees. I was headed for Shrewsbury, where ‘The New Saints’ were playing Panathinaikos in their latest European Conference League game. £16 had secured me a ticket, a lot less than other UK clubs playing in Europe. The game was being played in Shrewsbury due to the fact that their ground in Oswestry did not meet the UEFA standards, Shrewsbury FC is only 21 miles from TNS’s ground.
TNS are the first football team from Wales ever to reach a European Group stage of a European trophy and capped that achievement by winning one of their league games at home to Astana.
Others would argue that Swansea sitting 9th in the English Championship, Cardiff 22nd, Wrexham 2nd in League 1, Newport County 17th in League 2 and Merthyr Town top of the Southern League Premier Division South all play at a higher level. For me, these are just outliers as unless they spend billions of pounds, they are never going to compete in Europe when TNS are doing it now. The Cymru league offers a pathway that playing in the English Leagues never will.
The history of TNS goes back over 150 years when in 1860 Oswestry Town Fc were formed, but it was their merger with Llansantffraid that forged todays club. llansantffraid had been successful in climbing the Welsh Leagues to enter the Premier League and changed their name to Total Network Solutions in 1997 due to a worthwhile sponsorship deal. They first qualified for European football in 2000. The merger with Oswestry was completed in 2003, and the name of The New Saints was adopted in 2006 when the sponsors company was sold. They have stayed near or at the top of their league ever since. Although they have developed a very good ground with other sporting and leisure facilities it is not big enough for their European nights.
Panathinaikos based in Athens, were founded inn 1908 and throughout their history have been considered one of two leading teams in Greece having won numerous national leagues and cups and being European football finalists.
The New Saints 0 Panathinaikos 2
Thursday 12th December 2024, Kick off 20.00 pm. UEFA Conference League
The Crowd Meadow, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6ST
The Saints v Panathenians TNS 2nd in their League, Panathinaikos 4th in theirs.
TNS; Green and White hooped shirts with white sleeved shirts and green shorts. Goalkeeper in all orange.
Panathinaikos; Royal blue shirts and shorts that had a purple hue under the lights with a green dart on the shorts. Goalkeeper in all pink.
Panathinaikos had brought a good contingent of fans with them who kept singing and chanting all game.
The Shrewsbury stadium is modern with covered seating on all four sides with a flat grass pitch that has hardly been cut up at this point of the season. The drizzle of the day had luckily stopped for the game.
Panathinaikos played a very pleasing controlled game across the back of their defence, then suddenly trying to break the well drilled TNS defence. TNS suffered a blow after only 11 minutes when one of their central defenders had to be subbed for what looked like a leg injury. Four minutes later the TNS keeper Connor Roberts, made a fantastic left handed save but almost immediately he was called to save again, this time with an outstretched leg from point blank range, only for it to rebound to Duricic to knock it into the net. TNS looked like they would comfortably hold out until half time but Connor Roberts was again asked to perform heroics with a save at the near post just before half time. The half time score of one nil to the visitors meant the game was still all to play for.
Panathinaikos started the second half well and had good chances to increase their lead, which they did from the penalty spot on 61 minutes after one of their forwards was upended in the area. It was Ioannidis who coolly despatched the ball into the left hand side of the goal.
TNS showed a few flashes of attacking intent but never really threatened the Panathinaikos team that was sprinkled with a majority of international players.
A thoroughly enjoyable game for the 5716, and still the faintest chance of TNS staying in the competition if they win their last game.
Unfortunately no chips, but a great food offering.
N.B.
Football in Wales looks like growing in strength with the expandeded Cymru Premiership for the 2026/27 season sharpening competition next year. With more teams upgrading their facilities to be able to apply for the Premier League the supporters should get an enhanced experience.
With storm Darragh battering the UK and many games postponed I was surprised that the FA Vase game at Wombwell was still on.
Arriving at the ground with the temperature of 4 degrees, and colder with the strong cold wind which was sending the grey clouds scuttling by, I found a flat grass pitch that looked as if it had soaked up all of the rain and could comfortably deal with more. Wombwell Town have made great strides in recent years both on and off the pitch. Entry to the Northern Counties League Division One in 2023 and now sitting third with games in hand on the two above. The ground has changed too with new club house, changing rooms, hospitality area and function rooms, new perimeter fencing and concrete concourses for spectators. One side also boasts a smart all seater stand and on two sides it is open bounded by the ‘South Yorkshire Karting’ facility who were enjoying their Christmas Weekend event noticeable by the constant buzzing as they whizzed by.
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. They were promoted into the Northern Counties East League Division One in 2023 and have established them selves as a top team in the competition.
There is much to write about Hallam FC’s history but here are a few highlights, they are officially the second oldest football club in the world, playing at the oldest ground and holders of the Youdan Cup presented to the winners of the first ever football competition. Hallam also played in the first ever match on Boxing Day 1860, against Sheffield FC a British football tradition still kept today. They played in local leagues with some interruptions when although not playing, kept up their affiliations to the local Football Association. In 1982 they were founder members of the Northern Counties East League where they still play today, now in the Premier Division.
Wombwellm Town FC 0 Hallam FC 4
Saturday 7th December 2024, Kick off 15.00 pm, FA Vase Third Round.
Wombwell Recreation Ground, Station Road, Wombwell, South Yorkshire, S73 0BJ
The Wellers v The Citizens. Wombwell, third in Division one of the Northern Counties East League Division One, Hallam 7th in the Premier League of the same competition.
Wombwell; Red Shirts, Black Shorts, Goalkeeper in Pink. Hallam; Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts, Goalkeeper in Purple.
Hallam played with the strong wind behind them in the first half and its influence was immediate as a speculative through ball wasn’t intercepted by the Wombwell defence and they were luck that the shot hit the post. The wind was so strong that the Wombwell keeper couldn’t kick the ball as far as the half way line as it just drifted backwards on the wind. Hallam’s pressure didn’t have any effect as high ball often went through for the keeper to pick up or for a goal kick. With 23 minutes gone, out of the blue, Hallam’s Brodie Lichfield riffled the ball from 30 yards on the right, and it sailed into the left hand corner of the net after clipping the post. Hallam missed a great chance 13 minutes later and the half time talk must have been about their missed chances with the advantage of the wind.
Wombwell were unlucky not to get level after just 9 minutes of the second half when Josh Nodder hit a rocket from further out than Hallam’s opener but the ball hit the crossbar bounced down on the goal line and out for the goalkeeper to collect.
Football is often cruel as after pressure by the home side, Jack Brownell played a ball in from the right which was brought down and laid off to Brandon Bradbury who beat the goalkeeper to give Hallam a two goal cushion. Hallam put the game beyond a Wombwell rally when James Cadman bamboozled the Wellers defence with a great run on the left by line and placed the ball along the ground to a colleague who passed it on to Rio Allen at the back post to tap in.
With 20 minutes left the rain increased its ferocity again but it didn’t stop Hallam’s progress as they continued to press forward having changed from a first half of high balls to keeping the ball on the ground. Leon Howarth drove into the Wombwell penalty box and was fouled to gain a penalty. After a delay, Rio Allen’s penalty hit the crossbar and was cleared away on 75 minutes but 5 minutes later Hallam had their fourth when Brodie Litchfield ran through the midfield and fired the ball through defenders into the bottom left hand corner.
Callum Ward came on for Hallam and within minutes was sin binned for dissent, but despite Wombwell not giving up and continuing to keep trying for a goal Hallam saw out the game to progress to the next round.
Despite the atrocious conditions I was amazed to have witnessed a very competitive and skillful game.
The chips were warm, crispy outside but mushy inside with a taste of burn fat that left a greasy after taste. A low score of only 52.
Having not been to a match at the weekend, I saw that Clay Cross. Town were playing Ashbourne in the third round of ‘The Derbyshire County F.A. Senior Challenge Cup.
It is suggested that there has been a football team in Clay Cross since 1881 with the current clubs inspiration taken from the team of 1909. It played in local football in different guises until in 2012 when a new ‘Town’ club was reinvigorated. Disappointment in missing out on promotion was finally forgotten when they made it to the Northern Counties East League Division One in 2023 and moved to the United Counties League Division One for this season following a regional reorganisation. They are third in the league with games in hand on the two teams above them.
When thinking about football in Ashbourne thoughts are immediately drawn to what’s known as the ‘Ashbourne Game’. This game that has been played since 1667, on Shrove Tuesday, and may be longer, between large groups of players from two areas of the town, has been promoted as one of the fore-runners of the modern game. The team on show was only formed in 2009 with the merger of Ashbourne United and Ashbourne Town. They have made it to the Premier Division of the Staffordshire County Senior League despite being based in Derbyshire and currently sit in seventh position.
Clay Cross Ton FC 2 Ashbourne 0
Tuesday 3rd December 2024, The Derbyshire County FA Senior Challenge Cup, third round.
Clay Cross Town FC Mill Lane, Tupton, Derbyshire.
The Millers v The Shrovetiders
Clay Cross; Blue and white vertical stripes to front of shirts with white backs and dark dark blue shorts. Ashbourne; Red and white vertical striped shirts and red shorts.
I heard before the game started that the home team had made changes to their line up with an FA Vase game looming on the following Saturday.
Clay Cross playing down hill in the first half had most of the play in the but it was Ashbourne who came closest when against the run of play they grazed the bar with a long range shot. Both teams left the field with it 0.0 at half time with the Millers unhappy with their performance.
Ashbourne’s goal keeper kept making good saves as his outfield players made a defiant rear-guard performance with occasional break aways. This pattern of play continued throughout the second half with the small band of away supporters making the most noise and giving the most encouragement. But with 85 minutes gone a long ball was latched on to by a player on left who clipped it in and at the second attempt Reece Clegg hit it to the right of the Ashbourne goalkeeper to give Clay Cross the lead.
Ashbourne threw everything forward now and with their previously rigid backline now out of shape, and minutes later Ross Duggan was left on his own to run on to place the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net for 2 nil.
Ashbourne were disappointed, but considering they play at a lower level than Clay Cross they performed brilliantly, for me their number 6, Logan Cuthbert, was the man of the match, he left everything out there on the pitch like all of his colleagues.
The chips were really good, hot, golden, crispy on the outside, tasty, thick and with no greasy aftertaste, a great score of 72.
At half time I decided another hot drink was needed to try to thaw out. I chose a cup of hot Bovril which did the the trick regarding warmth but it was so thick that it seemed more like Bovril soup.
A big shout out to Clay Cross for producing a really magnificent program for a match that was never likely to draw a major crowd. Thank you, others should take note.
The Bromley Boys – The true Story of Supporting the Worst Football Team in Britain.
Written by Dave Roberts , Published by Portico in 2008
Another charity shop find and relevant on many levels, a planned visit to Bromley, a potentially interesting football book and a period when I watched St Albans City who were in the same League as Bromley. I had also read one of Dave Robert’s books before, ’32 programmes’ and enjoyed it.
The book is about Bromley’s 1969/70 season which was a disaster for the team but an extraordinary adventure for the adolescent Dave. The book is just fun and would remind any adolescent of their hopes, fears, views on life, just growing up.
New season expectations soon evaporate into despair, and a mind blowing adventure unfolds. The story of his life and Bromley are a must to read in a book that you will not put down.
The book was later made into a film and Brimley have gone on to greater heights, this season playing in League 2.
Storm Bert ruined my plans but I was lucky to take up a Community ticket offered by Chesterfield FC through a local school.
The continual rain and wind battered me as I walked down a hill from where I had parked, but at least it had removed all of the snow. I still had to wrap up despite the temperature changing from freezing the day before to 13 degrees.
I have to own up to this being my favourite modern stadium. Despite all of the quirks and history of the old Saltergate ground, which was iconic, I still prefer the newer incarnation. I bought a program from a couple who stand there in all weathers and hurried into the North Stand. My cheap ticket was brilliant, last row, at the back, next to an aisle. It also meant that the sweeping rain lashing across the pitch didn’t touch me in this all seater stadium.
Chesterfield and Barrow, their opponents, both seem to have found their feet in League 2 and I hope neither drop back into the National League in the near future. Chesterfield sat 11th and Barrow 12th after 16 matches with 22 points each.
Chesterfield formed in 1866 claim to be the 4th oldest league club still in existence. A chequered history of league status and liquidation led to their reincarnation when they re-joined the football league in 1921. They have been up and down the leagues in their history but reached a low point in 2018 being relegated to the National League. Off the field problems were resolved by a take over in 2020 by a Community Trust who with great local support have steered the club to a new era of major ownership by local Paul and Ashley Kirk. Now back in the EFL they look to rise up the leagues again.
Barrow Fc were founded in 1901 playing in local Lancashire Leagues where they stayed until the First World War. Restarting after hostilities they won the Lancashire League and were welcomed into the football League’s Third Division North where they were mainly in the bottom half up to the Second World War. They struggled again and were placed in the newly formed Fourth Division in 1954 but in 1967 they finished a magnificent third and gained promotion to Division three. But this rise only lasted two years and by 1972 had to seek re-election to stay in the EFL. They were beaten by Hereford in the ballot with many complaining that the logistics of travelling to the outpost that is Barrow being the main reason for their defeat.
Initially playing in the Northern Premier League they were able to be accepted into the newly formed equivalent to todays National league in 1979 but only a few years later they were back in the Northern Premier League. From 1983 to 2020 they went up and down the Northern Premier and the National Leagues until in 2020 via the play offs they finally made it back into the Football League system, finally writing the wrong of 50 years previous being voted out. During their years in the Non-League system they did find cup glory when in 1990 and 2010 they won the F.A. Trophy at Wembley.
Chesterfield 1 Barrow 0
English Football League Two, Saturday November 23rd 2024, 15.00 pm kick off.
Chesterfield; Royal blue shirts white shorts… Barrow; Yellow and Black vertical stripes to front of shirts with black backs and shorts. Spireites v Bluebirds
Mr Blue Sky blared out as teams came on to the pitch, which seemed like a joke considering the conditions, but that is their normal entry music.
The rain just kept pouring down and after Chesterfield’s initial spurt it was Barrow who were on top. In fact on 33 minutes a long ball by Farman, the Barrow keeper was flicked on by Dallas past the home defence and goalkeeper Ryan Boot to somehow only hit the post and roll along the goal line as everyone seemed to stand still. Finally a Chesterfield player regained their composure and cleared. That was the only real chance of the half where effort and skill were being tested by the conditions.
The second half not only saw the teams change round but also the sway of the game as Chesterfield started to dominate. Early on the Barrow keeper tipped a well hit shot onto the bar and over. The rain stopped and started throughout the game but Chesterfield kept up the pressure and from their second corner in a row, this one from the left, Jamie Grimes, the club captain, soared above everyone to head the ball into the centre of the goal and the net with 88 minutes on the clock.
The 263 Barrow fans who had made the long journey in terrible conditions looked desolate and must have felt miserable on the way home having being so close to earning an away point. The remaining 7438 saw Chesterfield creep into the last play off spot and create dreams for the future.
One thing that does disappoint me at Chesterfield is that there are no chips!
payonthegate 