Hosts: Whitley Bay FC
Venue: Hillheads Park, Rink Way (off Hillheads Road), Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear NE25 8HR
LOCATION REPORT
SatNav: NE25 8HR (or Whitley Bay Ice Rink)
Parking: Hillheads public carpark (2 min walk) = c75+ spaces; limited/very busy on-street on adjacent service roads
Public transport: Metro stations at Monkseaton (9 mins walk) & Whitley Bay (15 mins walk); several local bus, stop at Ice Rink next door, incl #308 & #309 (Blyth-Newcastle)
Public transport: Metro stations at Monkseaton (9 mins walk) & Whitley Bay (15 mins walk); several local bus, stop at Ice Rink next door, incl #308 & #309 (Blyth-Newcastle)
Entry: adults £6, concessions £4
Programmes: £1.50
Programmes: £1.50
Refreshments:
- grill truck, entrance area (£1 hot chocolate, £1.50 chips+curry, £2.00 cheeseburgers)
- "Tommy's Tea Hut", pitchside NW corner (£1 hot drinks, £1.20 hotdogs)
Licensed bar: "Seahorse Pub" onsite clubhouse
Toilets: clubhouse (internal+external), incl accessible
PA system: yes; clear & audible all areas; music/teams/welcome
- grill truck, entrance area (£1 hot chocolate, £1.50 chips+curry, £2.00 cheeseburgers)
- "Tommy's Tea Hut", pitchside NW corner (£1 hot drinks, £1.20 hotdogs)
Licensed bar: "Seahorse Pub" onsite clubhouse
Toilets: clubhouse (internal+external), incl accessible
PA system: yes; clear & audible all areas; music/teams/welcome
Covered seating
(E) the 'East Wing' main stand = c.200 seated, flip/plastic seats
Covered standing/terraces:
(NE) "Wall of Memories" area = cover for top-tier only, c20 standing
(E) the 'East Wing' main stand = c.200 seated, flip/plastic seats
Covered standing/terraces:
(NE) "Wall of Memories" area = cover for top-tier only, c20 standing
(W) opposite terrace = large covered terrace, stepped = c300 standing capacity
Open seating:
(NE) "Wall of Memories" area = 3 x picnic benches, c18 seated
(NE) entrance area = 3 x picnic benches + tables/chairs outside bar/grill truck, c30 seated
(NW) "Tommy's Tea Hut" area = 2 x garden tables/chairs
(E) small row of flip seats at pitch level
Open standing/terraces:
(NE) "Wall of Memories" area = stepped area for c80; lower 4 tiers uncovered
(NE) large open area at entrance
(all sides) paved standing areas & lean-on barriers all round
(NE) "Wall of Memories" area = 3 x picnic benches, c18 seated
(NE) entrance area = 3 x picnic benches + tables/chairs outside bar/grill truck, c30 seated
(NW) "Tommy's Tea Hut" area = 2 x garden tables/chairs
(E) small row of flip seats at pitch level
Open standing/terraces:
(NE) "Wall of Memories" area = stepped area for c80; lower 4 tiers uncovered
(NE) large open area at entrance
(all sides) paved standing areas & lean-on barriers all round
Floodlights: 6 (3 per flank)
MATCH REPORT
Kickoff: 7:30pm Tuesday 6 August 2019
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Weather: dry, overcast, light cool breeze, low evening sun
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Weather: dry, overcast, light cool breeze, low evening sun
Final [h/t] score (team colours):
0 [0] Whitley Bay (blue/white stripes, blue shorts)
3 [0] Billingham Town (all red)
0 [0] Whitley Bay (blue/white stripes, blue shorts)
3 [0] Billingham Town (all red)
Sent Off: 0
Official crowd: 337
Club media [Twitter]: @WhitleyBayFC, @BillinghamTown
NORVENMUNKI's COMMENTS
For the casual visitor, arriving at Hillheads is significantly more straightforward than many venues at this level.
The convenient modes of transport are plenty: there are two Tyne & Wear Metro stations a short walk away, there are local buses passing right by and the fact that the Whitley Bay Ice Rink is a next-door neighbour means that roadsigns to this locale are very common.
I'm driving. The service road past the ground is clogged with parked cars, so it's much wiser to use the skinny one-way track to the Hillheads public car park which sits immediately next to the ground at the northern goal-end; there are scores of spaces, it's completely free and it's a 90-second walk back to the turnstile.
The shadow of the mighty Ice Rink building casts a grey cloak across the entrance area of the ground and the outdoor tables at the Seahorse Pub onsite bar.
Entering through the old-style turnstile, there's a large open pavement full of families milling around the scattered picnic tables. There are loads of local fans sporting club colours, with merchandise on sale at the club shop (situated behind the east stand) which conveniently takes credit cards and, judging by the sea of blue-and-white hats and jackets, is doing good business.
Straight from work and seeking an evening meal, I join the queue at the scran van, mesmerised by the temptations of the sizzling hotplate. The friendly crew serve up a great chips-with-curry for a bargain £1.50, super-hot and tasty.
I wander around to the opposite side of the pitch, nursing my supper. Others have grabbed a hotdog from Tommy's Tea Hut, and rested-up in the corner of the ground on garden chairs.
There's lots of viewing space here at Hillheads. The tiered concrete-paved areas are all around, with three levels in most places. This means oodles of room for any spectators. Along the southern perimeter, there are big fences to protect the adjoining allotments; whilst the western edge has a concrete fence with what appears like scrub land beyond. In the south-east corner, the rock garden could do with a visit from Ground Force.
The PA system pours out music (a good selection although perhaps a bit dated now?) very clearly across the whole site, but when interrupted by the announcers voice it's a bit muffled - or maybe it's my hearing failing?
The massive main stand - the East Wing - has hundreds of seats, filling up nicely. It's a bit tatty but full of character; could maybe do with a lick of paint here and there, and its exposed bare timber panels look like they'd benefit from some tlc.
A huge 'executive room' with large windows stretches out across the rear of the stand.
High above us are six mighty floodlights. These are not lit from the start, despite the dull grey sky that extends beyond them, but they do warm up later after fifteen minutes of play.
One of these floodlights is perched atop a lofty pole that shoots up through the roof of the East Wing stand.
On the roof of the western terrace structure, there's a cameraman set up. It must be shivery up there, even in August. The wind is blowing in from the coast tonight, and whipping-up in short bursts.
The good-sized crowd chatters constantly, in good spirits and comprised of a wide mix of age-groups.
The players are out. Am I mistaken or are the Whitley Bay shirt numbers in Comic Sans font? The game commences.
At the half-time break, it's still goalless. I pop to the gents, where there's a weird extra door that separates the urinals; quaint, but a bit clumsy when the limited space is full of guys from the bar.
The music system fades in and out repeatedly, for some strange reason: it's very annoying actually, especially so if you happen to like the tracks that keep becoming inexplicably inaudible, and then you get a shock when it thumps back loud again! Someone needs to fix that.
The East Wing has emptied during the break, with a lot of my neighbours dashing off for a quick drink. But it's not that cold this evening, so I resist my customary hot chocolate (and I'm driving home, so no beer either).
Both teams re-emerge and the second half begins. The PA whispers, but there's not much for the PA man to report except a substitute for the home side and an unclaimed raffle ticket prize.
We pass the hour mark and soon we have a goal: but it's Billy who take the lead. A good passing move carved open the home defence and Hutchinson rolls the ball past the stranded keeper: 0-1.
The locals are not happy, but the large contingent of away fans certainly find their voices and roar in support. It's only now that I realise just how many visiting supporters there are tonight, including some big bellowing voices behind me in the stand.
From the restart, it's not long before goal number two. The Whitley Bay defence is losing its composure and the nifty Billy striker steals through to double their advantage: 0-2.
The home bench make a final substitution in the hope of rescuing a point. It's turning into a lively game now, end to end, but thus far the Billy defence have held solid.
A crescent moon is visible above now; the wispy clouds drift slowly by. The evening weather is pleasant, mild even in the encroaching dusk.
We're into the dying minutes now, with tired legs all round. An advancing Billy striker is dragged down in the box, and wins a stonewall penalty. The spot-kick is rifled home by the left-footed taker, it positively zooms in: 0-3.
Final whistle. Away win.
A round of applause from the visitors, their first win at this higher level since their recent promotion, and they've been impressive. Their fans make a guard of honour as they head back to the away changing room.
However, the Whitley Bay team sits glumly on the turf, exhausted. Some of them warm-down on the pitch whilst the coach sums-up.
Contrasting emotions tonight, but there's still a hell of a lot of football yet to play this season.
I head back to the car park and away home. Evening kick-offs are great in August, it's ok weather and it'll still be light all the way home. And those chips were brilliant too, so that's supper sorted.
The convenient modes of transport are plenty: there are two Tyne & Wear Metro stations a short walk away, there are local buses passing right by and the fact that the Whitley Bay Ice Rink is a next-door neighbour means that roadsigns to this locale are very common.
I'm driving. The service road past the ground is clogged with parked cars, so it's much wiser to use the skinny one-way track to the Hillheads public car park which sits immediately next to the ground at the northern goal-end; there are scores of spaces, it's completely free and it's a 90-second walk back to the turnstile.
Entering through the old-style turnstile, there's a large open pavement full of families milling around the scattered picnic tables. There are loads of local fans sporting club colours, with merchandise on sale at the club shop (situated behind the east stand) which conveniently takes credit cards and, judging by the sea of blue-and-white hats and jackets, is doing good business.
Straight from work and seeking an evening meal, I join the queue at the scran van, mesmerised by the temptations of the sizzling hotplate. The friendly crew serve up a great chips-with-curry for a bargain £1.50, super-hot and tasty.
I wander around to the opposite side of the pitch, nursing my supper. Others have grabbed a hotdog from Tommy's Tea Hut, and rested-up in the corner of the ground on garden chairs.
There's lots of viewing space here at Hillheads. The tiered concrete-paved areas are all around, with three levels in most places. This means oodles of room for any spectators. Along the southern perimeter, there are big fences to protect the adjoining allotments; whilst the western edge has a concrete fence with what appears like scrub land beyond. In the south-east corner, the rock garden could do with a visit from Ground Force.
The PA system pours out music (a good selection although perhaps a bit dated now?) very clearly across the whole site, but when interrupted by the announcers voice it's a bit muffled - or maybe it's my hearing failing?
The massive main stand - the East Wing - has hundreds of seats, filling up nicely. It's a bit tatty but full of character; could maybe do with a lick of paint here and there, and its exposed bare timber panels look like they'd benefit from some tlc.
A huge 'executive room' with large windows stretches out across the rear of the stand.
High above us are six mighty floodlights. These are not lit from the start, despite the dull grey sky that extends beyond them, but they do warm up later after fifteen minutes of play.
One of these floodlights is perched atop a lofty pole that shoots up through the roof of the East Wing stand.
On the roof of the western terrace structure, there's a cameraman set up. It must be shivery up there, even in August. The wind is blowing in from the coast tonight, and whipping-up in short bursts.
The good-sized crowd chatters constantly, in good spirits and comprised of a wide mix of age-groups.
The players are out. Am I mistaken or are the Whitley Bay shirt numbers in Comic Sans font? The game commences.
At the half-time break, it's still goalless. I pop to the gents, where there's a weird extra door that separates the urinals; quaint, but a bit clumsy when the limited space is full of guys from the bar.
The music system fades in and out repeatedly, for some strange reason: it's very annoying actually, especially so if you happen to like the tracks that keep becoming inexplicably inaudible, and then you get a shock when it thumps back loud again! Someone needs to fix that.
The East Wing has emptied during the break, with a lot of my neighbours dashing off for a quick drink. But it's not that cold this evening, so I resist my customary hot chocolate (and I'm driving home, so no beer either).
Both teams re-emerge and the second half begins. The PA whispers, but there's not much for the PA man to report except a substitute for the home side and an unclaimed raffle ticket prize.
We pass the hour mark and soon we have a goal: but it's Billy who take the lead. A good passing move carved open the home defence and Hutchinson rolls the ball past the stranded keeper: 0-1.
The locals are not happy, but the large contingent of away fans certainly find their voices and roar in support. It's only now that I realise just how many visiting supporters there are tonight, including some big bellowing voices behind me in the stand.
From the restart, it's not long before goal number two. The Whitley Bay defence is losing its composure and the nifty Billy striker steals through to double their advantage: 0-2.
The home bench make a final substitution in the hope of rescuing a point. It's turning into a lively game now, end to end, but thus far the Billy defence have held solid.
A crescent moon is visible above now; the wispy clouds drift slowly by. The evening weather is pleasant, mild even in the encroaching dusk.
We're into the dying minutes now, with tired legs all round. An advancing Billy striker is dragged down in the box, and wins a stonewall penalty. The spot-kick is rifled home by the left-footed taker, it positively zooms in: 0-3.
Final whistle. Away win.
A round of applause from the visitors, their first win at this higher level since their recent promotion, and they've been impressive. Their fans make a guard of honour as they head back to the away changing room.
However, the Whitley Bay team sits glumly on the turf, exhausted. Some of them warm-down on the pitch whilst the coach sums-up.
Contrasting emotions tonight, but there's still a hell of a lot of football yet to play this season.
I head back to the car park and away home. Evening kick-offs are great in August, it's ok weather and it'll still be light all the way home. And those chips were brilliant too, so that's supper sorted.
No comments:
Post a Comment