DODWORTH MINERS WELFARE FC (The Welfare Ground)

SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, DODWORTH MINERS WELFARE 3-0 NORTH GAWBER COLLIERY, ATTENDANCE: 38 (h/c)

After a Friday night in Luton (watching Everton draw 1-1 with The Hatters) I headed across the Pennines to the village of Dodworth, which is approximately 2.5 miles from Barnsley.

This is a ground that has been on my radar since the covid lockdown restrictions forced groundhoppers like myself to look at grounds at step 7 and below. There are definitely some crackers at that level.

Dodworth is a former coal mining village and, like most of the old mining communities in these parts, the welfare ground boast excellent facilities, the football ground being no exception, boasting a large covered enclosure. After 135 years, mining ceased in October 1985, as part of the pit closure policy of the Thatcher government.

The game had something riding on it as the opponents, North Gawber Colliery, needed a win to help in their bid to avoid the drop but that always seemed unlikely as Dodworth dominated proceedings from the off. It was a comfortable victory for the homesters thanks to a hat-trick from Matthew Jacobs.

Acrylic Afternoons - A trip to SHEFFIELD

1230 - PREMIER LEAGUE, BRAMALL LANE, SHEFFIELD UNITED 2-2 EVERTON, ATTENDANCE: 31,124

After 3 winless PL games, with no goals, Everton are at least off the mark...

...but another potential win got away once more. After taking the lead through Abdoulaye Doucoure, there were more than enough opportunities to put the game to bed.

Instead The Toffees had to come from behind to draw 2-2, Arnaut Danjuma equalising. However right at the end it took some goalkeeping heroics from Jordan Pickford to preserve a point.

Onward Evertonians...

⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️

1500 - SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, SHEFFIELD OLYMPIC LEGACY PARK, YOUDAN FC 2-3 THURCROFT, ATTENDANCE: 16 (h/c)

An entertaining match to watch and, as the cliche goes, a game of two halves. Thurcroft 3-0 up at the break and absolutely cruising, Bradley Mears (x2) and Morgan Corbiere scoring the goals.

Youdon came out for second half and proceeded to dominate. They almost, and really should've, pulled off an unlikely comeback but after goals from Bruce Nkomo and Brandon Chan the elusive equaliser just would not come.

The Olympic Legacy Park, which is also home to Sheffield Eagles Rugby League, and is built on the site of the old Don Valley Stadium. I've been informed there is some overlap with the pitch. Therefore does it count as a new ground "tick" or just a revisit? One for the groundhop police...

WOMBWELL TOWN (Recreation Ground)

SHEFFIELD AND HALLAMSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, WOMBWELL TOWN 3-1 DENABY MAIN, ATTENDANCE: 224

As we reach the business end of, thankfully, a largely uninterrupted season games that actually have something riding on them start to become few and far between. However if you dig a little deep, for example at step 7 or below, then you can find some crackers. My game of choice today was no exception.

I crossed over the Pennines to South Yorkshire for a massive game in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League. It was 3rd vs 4th in the First Division (which sits at step 8 in the non-league pyramid) where Wombwell Town needed to avoid defeat to gain promotion to the Premier Division, whilst opponents Denaby Main needed to win the game, then hope Wombwell slip up somewhere in their remaining games in hand, thus allowing them to overtake the Wellers and snatch a promotion spot. It was certainly all to play for this afternoon.

Wombwell is a former mining town around 5 miles from Barnsley. There were once two collieries in operation, Mitchells Main and Wombwell Main, but these closed in 1956 and 1969 respectively.

There have been numerous football clubs over the years that have represented the town. The first Wombwell Town,  founded in the 1890's, won the inaugural Yorkshire league and were the first Wombwell team to enter the FA Cup. This club folded in the early 1900's. Next was Wombwell Rising Star who lasted a season around 1904. Another Wombwell Town was formed in 1920, and reached the 1st round of the FA Cup in 1930, before folding in 1934. The fourth team to represent the town was the one that lasted the longest. Wombwell Athletic was founded just after the second World War and lasted over 50 years, until the millennium. This club played in the Yorkshire League before becoming founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 before they joined the Central Midlands League in 1988. They were in the Sheffield and Hallamshire League, and known as Wombwell Town, when they were dissolved in 2000.

The latest Wombwell Town incarnation was founded in 2018 by former Barnsley FC professionals Karl Rose and Doug O’Connor. The home ground is the Recreation Ground, where the last Wombwell Town had previously played. The club were placed in division two of the Sheffield and Hallamshire League and they won this at the first attempt. The following season the club were on course to make it back-to-back promotions but in March 2020 the Coronavirus pandemic struck and the season was abandoned. Season 2020/21 was also a write off, with just 5 games being played, so finally after two years the club were now in a position to finally clinch that promotion.

It was not a good start for The Wellers as Denaby took the lead after 20 minutes when Christian Baxby raced through to score. Brad Kerr equalised for Wombwell after 37 minutes to ensure it was all square at the break.

Will Harling put the Wellers in front after 69 minutes before Kerr netted his second after 85 minutes to wrap up victory and with it promotion. It was a well deserved victory and I offer my congratulations to The Wellers. All that is left for Wombwell to do now is to win seven points from their three remaining games to clinch the title. Good luck!