Only the other day I was looking at an old photograph of Darwen FC’s Barley Bank ground when they were a Football League team in the late 19^th century.

The memory of that atmospheric ground, hemmed in amidst terraced houses and mills with rolling moorland providing an atmospheric backdrop came back to me as I approached Mill Hill FC, just a few miles away from Darwen, for their early evening kick-off in the East Lancashire League.

Mill Hill is a distinct area of Blackburn, lying to the west of the town and having a mixture of residential properties- mostly stone terraced- and light industry.

If you had to describe the Mill Hill FC ground in a few words they would probably be ‘full of character.’  Hemmed in by the fast flowing River Blakewater on one side, by an industrial unit on the other and surrounded by stone walls much of the ground looks unchanged from the days when nearby Darwen rivalled Blackburn Rovers as a footballing force in the land.

It’s the last week of early evening kick-offs in the East Lancashire League and a good-sized crowd has assembled for the 6-15pm kick-off.  The ground is fully railed and has a shelter on the far side bearing the legend Mill Hill FC. Just down the road another local team, Mill Hill St Peter’s FC compete in the West Lancashire League.

Unlike their neighbours Mill Hill FC do not have a clubhouse but have constructed a building next to the dressing rooms known as the Cabin where half-time refreshments are cheerfully dispensed.

The playing area is simply outstanding - flat, well grassed and immaculately kept - tribute apparently to one of the club’s long-serving supporters who, having retired, now devotes many hours of his week to lovingly tending the surface. Mill Hill are a community club in the fullest sense, having a thriving junior set-up and attracting support through the age ranges.

The standard of football is good - it’s a bright, breezy game played in a good spirit and expertly refereed by an experienced official.  Some of the skills on display are a credit to both teams and would do justice to many leagues further up the football pyramid.

Mill Hill prevail 4-2 as the darkness draws in but the referee’s judicious time-keeping and short half-time interval has ensured that the game finishes before 8pm. Surprisingly, no attempt is made to take admission, take a raffle or raise funds for the match expenses which is a real shame as this was fine entertainment and much enjoyed by those present, one of the spectators being locally born former England international Fred Pickering. Highly recommended.