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Matchday images (23) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/6276684493031255985
A gloriously sunny evening in Northumberland and a trip to an old colliery
village about three miles from Alnwick close to the A1.
Shilbottle Colliery Welfare have a long history and play at the Welfare Ground
in the village which has a large community hall, re-built five or six years ago
following a fire that destroyed the old building.
The football pitch is on a slightly higher level than the rest of the
recreational area that encompasses a children's playground which was well used
during the course of the game.
The set-up is typical of many in this well organised league, being a pitch surrounded
by a post and rail fence. The bulk of the spectators and the managers and subs
of both teams elect to stand on the top side of the pitch with some stunning
views across to the coast and the port of Amble about five miles distant, a
good choice as the glare of the setting sun if standing on the far side would
make a lineman's job very difficult.
Amble had a very decent side in the Premier Division of the Alliance and I
visited there a couple of years or so ago for a game against Blyth Town that I
enjoyed. But, as one of the home players informed me, that club folded after
the sad passing of their main organiser and so many of the Amble players are
now part of the Shilbottle side that is swiftly moving through the leagues
having been in the North Northumberland League not so long ago.
Having won Division 2 of the Alliance, Shilbottle are now on course to win the
first division providing they can overcome a vast fixture pile-up that leaves
them with nearly half their games to cram in during the last few weeks of the
campaign.
Though the Welfare Ground looks pristine during the spring sunshine after a dry
period of a few days in the north-east it does tend to waterlog along one side,
so I am told during prolonged wet spells.
The visitors are also behind with their games and though this is a meeting of
sides placed third and fourth it could potentially be a title decider.
Newcastle University look a decent, well prepared and athletic side but they
are simply blown away by the pace and invention of a Shilbottle side that plays
some great football during the first half as they build a 4-0 lead.
The second half sees a slackening off and Shilbottle eventually run out
convincing winners by five goals to one after a really good advert for the
league both in terms of the quality of the play and behaviour of the players.
The spectators watch attentively and are a friendly bunch and the veteran
referee has a firm control of proceedings.
With a prompt 6-15pm kick-off and a finish by five minutes to eight after a quick
half-time there's plenty of time to explore the new Indian restaurant in
Shilbottle- it's excellent. A really enjoyable evening in a lovely part of the
world. Highly recommended.
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