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Post by cornishpasty on Jan 18, 2024 10:37:21 GMT
I had an interesting conversation with a guy who managed Northern League in the 80s, we talked about things we miss or have changed in present day non-league football. This got me thinking, WHAT DO YOU MISS FROM YESTERYEAR? I'll start. # Being allowed to play when the weather is not the best, ie. yellow footballs in the snow, players/officials not being scared of getting a bit of mud splashed on their nice clean kits
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wacker
Junior Member
Posts: 51
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Post by wacker on Jan 18, 2024 10:56:35 GMT
Knowing every ground was built with passion and imagination, having to make and mend. I was talking last week to a former committee man from Ferryhill Athletic, their lights cane from Shildon Wagon works, Hordens I think came from the mines, Northallertons were originally extended street lights , with lamps from Tees docks, Chester le Street also had glorified street lights. Now a lot of grounds are paid for by grants are simply a gage, stand, and lights to tick a box. I know its how times move forward but I like th old style individuality .
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Post by lovingnonleague on Jan 18, 2024 11:10:03 GMT
Knowing every ground was built with passion and imagination, having to make and mend. I was talking last week to a former committee man from Ferryhill Athletic, their lights cane from Shildon Wagon works, Hordens I think came from the mines, Northallertons were originally extended street lights , with lamps from Tees docks, Chester le Street also had glorified street lights. Now a lot of grounds are paid for by grants are simply a gage, stand, and lights to tick a box. I know its how times move forward but I like th old style individuality . The old Jarrow Roofing ground which came and went was literally built with whatever was left at westoe pit after it closed. Floodlights, fence you name it. Albeit now resembles a disused allotment.
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Post by cornishpasty on Jan 18, 2024 11:16:35 GMT
Knowing every ground was built with passion and imagination, having to make and mend. I was talking last week to a former committee man from Ferryhill Athletic, their lights cane from Shildon Wagon works, Hordens I think came from the mines, Northallertons were originally extended street lights , with lamps from Tees docks, Chester le Street also had glorified street lights. Now a lot of grounds are paid for by grants are simply a gage, stand, and lights to tick a box. I know its how times move forward but I like th old style individuality . I absolutely love that, something I didnt know. Great stuff
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Post by england on Jan 18, 2024 19:17:21 GMT
Knowing every ground was built with passion and imagination, having to make and mend. I was talking last week to a former committee man from Ferryhill Athletic, their lights cane from Shildon Wagon works, Hordens I think came from the mines, Northallertons were originally extended street lights , with lamps from Tees docks, Chester le Street also had glorified street lights. Now a lot of grounds are paid for by grants are simply a gage, stand, and lights to tick a box. I know its how times move forward but I like th old style individuality . Love this, a lot of character is certainly lost with flat pack stands etc Half the problem is that’s one of the best ways to get grants etc
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Post by kentrebel on Jan 18, 2024 20:15:57 GMT
The only bit of "The good old days" that I miss is the ramshackle grounds. Todays soulless stadia just don't do it for me hence when I choose my Tuesday night games I'm much more likely to go to Esh, Tow Law and Crook over Bishop, Consett etc. Beyond that, todays skill levels, even at step 5 and 6, is way beyond the past step 4 footy I used to watch; I no longer worry so much about catching salmonella from the tea hut and I can see the pitch with modern floodlights. Even the standard of officiating is better
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Post by rodentcatcher on Jan 18, 2024 20:21:40 GMT
The only bit of "The good old days" that I miss is the ramshackle grounds. Todays soulless stadia just don't do it for me hence when I choose my Tuesday night games I'm much more likely to go to Esh, Tow Law and Crook over Bishop, Consett etc. Beyond that, todays skill levels, even at step 5 and 6, is way beyond the past step 4 footy I used to watch; I no longer worry so much about catching salmonella from the tea hut and I can see the pitch with modern floodlights. Even the standard of officiating is better Heritage Park is not a 'flat pack' new ground like the Consett's and Boro Rangers of this world.
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Post by sikirk on Jan 18, 2024 20:25:27 GMT
Knowing every ground was built with passion and imagination, having to make and mend. I was talking last week to a former committee man from Ferryhill Athletic, their lights cane from Shildon Wagon works, Hordens I think came from the mines, Northallertons were originally extended street lights , with lamps from Tees docks, Chester le Street also had glorified street lights. Now a lot of grounds are paid for by grants are simply a gage, stand, and lights to tick a box. I know its how times move forward but I like th old style individuality . The old Jarrow Roofing ground which came and went was literally built with whatever was left at westoe pit after it closed. Floodlights, fence you name it. Albeit now resembles a disused allotment. It looked like a alotment with the stands resembling pigeon lofts when it was in use
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Post by sikirk on Jan 18, 2024 20:27:46 GMT
What i miss from years ago is clubs who spent huge time and money to gain promotion to the league. Now clubs seem to bluff there way in via ground shares or half baked grounds, not all Like that thankfully
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Post by kentrebel on Jan 18, 2024 21:46:23 GMT
The only bit of "The good old days" that I miss is the ramshackle grounds. Todays soulless stadia just don't do it for me hence when I choose my Tuesday night games I'm much more likely to go to Esh, Tow Law and Crook over Bishop, Consett etc. Beyond that, todays skill levels, even at step 5 and 6, is way beyond the past step 4 footy I used to watch; I no longer worry so much about catching salmonella from the tea hut and I can see the pitch with modern floodlights. Even the standard of officiating is better Heritage Park is not a 'flat pack' new ground like the Consett's and Boro Rangers of this world. I know it's not a "flat pack" but it is totally devoid of any character thus one I try to avoid whenever possible
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Post by eastdurhamhopper on Jan 19, 2024 9:20:59 GMT
The only bit of "The good old days" that I miss is the ramshackle grounds. Todays soulless stadia just don't do it for me hence when I choose my Tuesday night games I'm much more likely to go to Esh, Tow Law and Crook over Bishop, Consett etc. Beyond that, todays skill levels, even at step 5 and 6, is way beyond the past step 4 footy I used to watch; I no longer worry so much about catching salmonella from the tea hut and I can see the pitch with modern floodlights. Even the standard of officiating is better This is something i can totally agree with. Theres not many grounds around now like that. Horden losing their stand was another i used to love to visit. Much like you I would say Esh is probably my favorite ground to visit, Or maybe Bedlington. Not great grounds by any stretch but full of character.
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Post by cestrian on Jan 19, 2024 9:35:46 GMT
Southend Road Penrith. Loved going to that old ground, always a great atmosphere
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Post by cornishpasty on Jan 19, 2024 10:35:19 GMT
A big loss for me modern day is the lack of characters, the craic, tricks and that went on. A club I was involved with had a player turn up before the game with a white suit on a clothes hanger as he was going to a wedding straight after the match. Unfortunately one of our subs decided to go put the white suit on and when he was introduced to the game preceded to do a belly flop into a huge muddy puddle on the pitch with the guy attending the wedding chasing him around the pitch Couldn't see anything like that going down these days
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Post by handifan on Jan 19, 2024 21:16:59 GMT
At half time sneaking into the home or away dugout to “borrow” a couple of cigarettes from the boxes left unattended. We were wee bairns at the time! Having the odd kick around at half time in the goals without getting hoofed off the pitch by grumpy old bastards. I loved the character of the old grounds mentioned here, and the characters inhabiting the old grounds. The bovril was definitely better back in the day RCW corned beef pie has to get a mention but occasionally you’d hit upon top quality home made grub for a great price. Now it’s much of a muchness everywhere. The rivalry with bishops fans could get feisty at times.
Folk mentioned the grounds. I think what is lacking in new grounds is simply the history. I remember as a kid travelling around the north east to new grounds and being in awe of the grounds with history and I always bought a program which usually had a page on the club and ground’s history. I still google stuff quite a bit today to read up about the old grounds, history, record crowds, big games, famous players…I love the stories from Blyth Spirit.
Honourable mentions from me are ( I can’t remember some of the names) most were within cycling distance of my home which is how me and my mates used to get to away games… In no particular order… North Shields Crook Willington Consett Synners Kingsway Horden Tow Law Blyth Ferryhill Whitby
Later in life.. Celtic nation Roofing (there was a ramshackle charm about the place and the bait was good) And quite a few others my son played at which I enjoyed just for that fact.
The rest (I may have missed some) were much of a muchness for me.
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Post by jackthelad on Jan 19, 2024 22:22:02 GMT
Got some brilliant memories of 'Kingsway' which will stay with me for a lifetime, but love 'Heritage Park' which is certainly not 'souless'.
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