Whickham v Seaham Red Star

Hosts: Whickham FC

LOCATION REPORT

Venue: Glebe Sports Ground, Rectory Lane, Whickham, Tyne & Wear NE16 4PF

SatNav: NE16 4PF

Parking: spaces for c.50 cars at Glebe Sports Centre; space for c.20 at club entrance (Rosa Avenue); adjoining on-street
Public transport: bus #97 Green Arrow (Metrocentre-Newcastle)

Entry: adults £6, concessions £2
Programmes: £1

Refreshments: 'The Corner Cafe' hut (eg £1.20 hot chocolate, £2 cheeseburger, £1.50 for pizza, pasty, hotdog)
Licensed bar: main Sports Bar next door
Toilets: main stand (M+F)
PA system: not used 

Covered stands/terraces:
(N) main stand = c.200+ benched seating plus 60+ standing 
Open viewing:
(3 sides) hardstanding + lean-on barriers all round

Restrictions:
(S) off-limits to spectators [cricket pitch]

Floodlights: 4 (corners)

MATCH REPORT

Kickoff: 3:00pm Saturday 23 March 2019
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Weather: sunny, mild, still, c14°

Team colours:
Whickham = black/white stripes 

Seaham = sky blue shirts, white shorts

Official crowd: 110

Final [h/t] score:
1 [0] Whickham
1 [0] Seaham Red Star

Sent Off: 0

Official League Report

NORVENMUNKI's COMMENTS

We parked up in the adjacent car park, walking around the cricket pitch and entering through the main gate on the opposite side. If you arrive through the housing estate, it's a bit of a squeeze past various precariously parked cars. The gatehouse is along a short path through the trees, behind the plain fence.  

It's a warmish spring day and we head for some grub. The Corner Flag cafe is excellent and the friendly staff make us a fresh cheeseburger on demand. 

Today's match programme has a cool retro cover, and it appeals to my nerdish sensibilities. 

The stand is impressive, mostly empty as we arrive early but soon filling up, with a tall roof. What little breeze there is today is cupped around the stand and appears to blow from behind you!

There are rows of black-and-white wooden benches that could seat around 200 or so, and an overhang to protect scores more standing. Everywhere is clean. 

Around the pitch, there's ample space for standing. The cricket pitch is taped-off to prevent spectators ruining the grass, but all three other sides are well populated. 

Beyond the surrounding fences, it's a quiet residential neighbourhood with gardens backing onto the venue. As well as the customary perimeter trees, there are also some pretty deadly brambles. 

As the crowds pour in, some evidently have popped over from the adjacent clubhouse bar. A couple of friendly dogs chase each other, playfully and responsibly. 

The first half is somewhat forgettable: the home side especially profligate in front of goal, suggesting their current lowly league position is no misrepresentation. 

At half time, people trot back to the bar for a pint. We change ends to get a different viewpoint. 

Substitutes practise curling free kicks at the far end, some of which miss completely and nestle in the hedge awaiting retrieval. 

There's a sprinkle of rain in the air, so we retreat back to the cover of the stand, just in case it gets heavy. 

With the teams back out, the second half gets underway. 

High above each corner, there are floodlights on lofty towers; a convenient post for mobile-phone signal boosters. 

Since the restart, the home side has turned up the pressure. 

Unbelievably, they managed to hit the woodwork three times in the same attack, in addition to forcing as many goalkeeper and defender blocks. It's the kind of frenetic spurt that you often marvel at on YouTube!

Finally, a breakthrough: an absolutely cracking goal. Right-footed volley, di Canio style...1-0!

Immediate response: a less-spectacular low cross turned in through a forest of defensive legs...1-1!

The late afternoon sunshine is in our eyes as we sit in the stand looking westwards. Can either team find one last decisive effort?

Game over: all square. A fair result possibly.

A clutch of the local faithful trudge back to the clubhouse, muttering. But there's a lot to be cheerful about here at Whickham, and the things to most proud of aren't always black and white. 

MORE INFORMATION

Club Twitter: @WhickhamFC