Seaham Red Star v North Shields

Hosts: Seaham Red Star FC

LOCATION REPORT

Venue: Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium, Seaham Town Park, Stockton Road, Co Durham SR7 0HP

SatNav: SR7 0HP

Parking: local carpark adjoining = c.20+; local public carpark; on-street
Public transport: various buses along B1285 (incl #9 [Jarrow-Murton], #22 [Durham-Sunderland], #23 [Hartlepool-Sunderland], #60 [Sunderland-Parkside], #238 [Sunderland-Houghton-le-Spring])

Entry: adults £6, concessions £3, kids £1
Programmes: £1

Refreshments: snack bar (eg 80p hot drinks, £1.70 for chips+curry)
Licensed bar: clubhouse
Toilets: clubhouse
PA system: yes (music, barely audible)

Covered stands/terraces:
(N) main Jimmy Cahill Stand = c.150 seated
(S) JF Eilbeck Stand = covered standing for 30+ (plus 9 random flip-seats)
Open viewing:
(W) stepped banking behind goal
(all sides) hardstanding + lean-on barriers all round

Floodlights: 6 (3 per flank)

MATCH REPORT

Kickoff: 3:00pm Saturday 2 March 2019
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Weather: dry, overcast, chilly crosswind

Team colours:
Seaham Red Star = red/white stripes, white shorts
North Shields = all-blue

Official crowd: 114 (league season average = 124)

Final [h/t] score:
2 [1] Seaham Red Star
0 [0] North Shields

Sent Off: 0

Official League Report

NORVENMUNKI's COMMENTS

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside, even on a windy day like today.



Red Star's ground is enclosed behind mighty fences that tower above the footpath, up on a hillside slope overlooking the Town Park with all its kids' and family amenities. Across the tree scattered ravine, you can see the roofs of the church and the high school. 

We find seats in the main Jimmy Cahill Stand and snuggle together to mitigate the cold, recoiling into the protection of the stand, up against the rear wall, but still not totally away from the piercing wind. Thank goodness for the warming properties of the hot chocolate.
There are Grandads and grandkids around us, and some old men in red-and-white bobble hats looking not unlike Santa Claus.



The ground is very clean and well-maintained. Testament to that cleanness is that it's notable that there's nothing blowing around on the breeze. Everywhere is painted in a red-and-blue livery, including the blue roof of the clubhouse. The Cahill, referred to by some as the Kylie, has rows of clean red and blue seats, and well-kept whitewashed walls.




We take a look through the programme, which is a high-quality product with very good content and production values.

The pre-match announcement includes mention of a tree planted in memory of club stalwart Gordon Hargrave, to which we pay our due respects.

Once the usual handshakes etc are done, it's game on.

After 20 minutes, the home side are awarded a penalty following a clumsy grappling tackle from a Shields defender. The kicker runs up....saved! It remains goalless.



About six minutes later, however, Red Star do take the lead; a rally of head tennis ends with a nod into the corner over the keeper's glove: 1-0 to Seaham.

At half-time, we pop back to the snack bar. The staff are really friendly. My daughter decides on some chips and curry to warm us up, very good idea.



The second half is barely a few minutes gone and it's 2-0. A lovely through pass cuts the Shields defence and is driven home with gusto by the happy Red Star striker.

Up above, the sky is darkening as evening approaches. The floodlights flicker on after around 55 minutes, with a faint greenish hue before warming to a solid white.



Game over: 2-0.
We wander back to the car and the powerful heater!

MORE INFORMATION

Club Twitter: @SeahamRedStar