🎄 ⚽️ BOXING DAY 2023 ⚽️ 🎅

May I start by wishing you and yours a very Happy Christmas. Like most people, after the celebration and over indulgence of yesterday, I needed to blow the cobwebs off and what better than a Boxing Day 'double header' of football.

It was actually great to get in a couple of new grounds as it had been over a month since my last newbie, in South Wales, so it was early start for a trip up to the North East and an 11am kick off on Teeside...

NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

PHOENIX PARK, TRINITY COLLEGE 

BORO RANGERS 2-2 REDCAR ATHLETIC 

ATTENDANCE: 254

My Boxing Day double began with a very entertaining game at Phoenix Park where it was honours even in the 'A174 derby'. Middlesbrough based Boro Rangers were hosting near neighbours Redcar Athletic in the Northern League division one. 

This is Boro's debut season at this level, having won the division two title at the first attempt having gained promotion from the North Riding Football League. This was actually the sixth season in a row Boro Rangers had won a league title having won the Teeside League (2016 & 2017) and the North Riding League (2018, 2019 & 2022). Not bad for a club that only formed in 2003.

The club are based on the 3G pitch at Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough and, given the weather over the Christmas period, this was part of thinking as it was virtually guaranteed to be on.

After a fairly even opening period Redcar took the lead through Donny Holdsworth (35) but a penalty just after half time, converted by Danny Lofts (48) levelled things up. Redcar were then reduced to 10 men when Joe Ferguson (54) recieved a second yellow card but it was the 10-men re-took the lead when Lewis Riston (74) headed home. Lofts (81) then equalised for the second time, but despite late pressure from Boro a winner wasn't forthcoming. 

The draw was a fair result in my humble opinion.

From Phoenix Park it was then a 40 minute up the A19 to...

NORTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION TWO

BOLDON COLLIERY WELFARE 

BOLDON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 3-3 JARROW

ATTENDANCE: 144

My Boxing Day double concluded with a trip to the  Boldon Colliery Welfare Ground. I had been next door many years ago to see the now defunct Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association but this was my first visit to this ground.

Formed in 1892 as Boldon Star, Boldon CA had been mainstays of the Wearside League for over 70 years before gaining promotion to the Northern League for the first time in their history in 2021, after an appeal to the FA after the season was curtailed due to the covid pandemic.

Boldon Villa was another previous name of club, hence the signage around the ground, and 'The Villa' is the clubs nickname. Legendary Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Sam Bartram was born in Jarrow and played for Boldon Villa in his youth.

Today I witnessed a superb 'South Tyneside derby' which ultimately finished honours even in the but that wasn't half the story!

Jarrow were in complete control of the game from the off and goals from Luke Hudson (14) Lutfur Karim (32 penalty) and a brilliant strike from Chris Brennan (36) put the visitors in a commanding position. It was them imperative that the homesters scored the next goal and that is what they did through Levi Collins (39). That lifeline was well and truly grabbed!

The second half saw a complete turnaround and it was Boldon who were the dominant force. Jude Harrison (70) headed home to make it 3-2 and with the clock ticking into stoppage time the homesters were awarded a penalty of their own, which was converted by Collins (90) to bring the score level at 3-3.

A tremendous match for the neutral and a great advert for the Northern League.

🎄🎅 MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR.  SEE YOU IN 2024! ☃️🎄

KIRKBYMOORSIDE (The Sports Field)

WEARSIDE LEAGUE, KIRKBYMOORSIDE 2-2 JARROW, ATTENDANCE: 35 (h/c)

Having chosen this game ahead of Vase Semi-final, I hoped my first ever dip into the Wearside League (step 7 of the non-league pyramid) would not let me down.

Kirkbymoorside is a small market town in North Yorkshire and the Kirkbymoorside Sports Field is on the edge of town and there is every chance you have seen this ground if you have ever travelled along the A170 between Helmsley and Pickering.  The facillty has a bowling club, cricket pitch and, most importantly, a football club.

Formed in 1890, Kirkbymoorside played in the Scarborough and District league for many years before joining the Teeside League in 2005, after finishing runners up in 2008, they were promoted to the Wearside League where they have played ever since.

Today The Moorsiders were taking Jarrow and it was a really decent game.

Jarrow began brightest and the Moorsiders were guilty of a few robust challenges as they tried to get into the game. Once John Brown let fly from 25 yards, to blast a screamer into the top corner, the homesters settled down and began to play football.

The visitors drew level a couple of minutes into the second half when the home 'keeper spilled a shot and Grant Pressling had the simple task of rolling the ball into the net (pictured left).

Jarrow were soon in front when another long range effort, this time from Peter Kirkham found the back of the net.

I was having a wee chat with a Jarrow official and when Kirkbymoorside got a corner he remarked that Jarrow struggle against height due to some of the players they have missing. Right on cue the corner was swung in and Jordan Rivis headed home to level the game.

Honours even, and in my opinion fairly so, this was also Kirkbymoorside's first league draw of the season.