It has been a long time coming. Glossop North End joined the NWCFL when it was formed in 1982, and has remained within its umbrella ever since. 32 years in the same league, some of those years very dark indeed. On Saturday though the weather proved a metaphor for the North End of the present and future outlook for the club – bright and sunny. For on Saturday they escaped the NWCFL…by winning it!
Glossop North End 3, Nelson 0
North West Counties Premier Division
Saturday 18th April 2015
Glossop North End win the NWCFL Title and are promoted to the Evo-Stik NPL league
Match Report – Jonathan Haggart
Photographer – Jim Lockwood
Excitement had been building in the town all week. They had known that 7 points from their three games in the week would secure the title, no matter what main rivals Runcorn Linnets did, and with an eye on a big finish at Surrey Street, rare points had been dropped on Monday in a 0-0 draw whilst Wednesday saw them win 1-0. The Glossop public responded positively, 914 having enough sense of occasion to give the home side their largest crowd for a league fixture for donkey’s years.
The Glossop North End players rose to the big occasion too with a flying start. Clearly wanting the job done quickly they were at Nelson from the get go, but couldn’t find a breakthrough. When keeper Ben Woodhead allowed a soft shot from Lee Blackshaw to trickle through his legs, it tricked behind the lurking Tom Bailey & Jason Carey.
Shortly afterwards, when Ben Richardson’s short range header seemed destined for the back of the net, Woodhead frustrated like his namesake road can, causing delays to celebrations with a flying save.
North End had to be careful not to try and force matters, and were guilty at times of rushing to shoot rather than crafting an opening, although Kieran Lugsden’s turn and first time shot in the area was just over the bar.
As the half wore on, Nelson grew more in confidence, and captain Peter Wright just failed to reach a header across the box. Meanwhile, just before the break, Kelvin Lugsden headed over the bar meaning a 0-0 half time score.
Nelson continued to threaten after the break when Peter Wright shot just over the bar, but then the glorious breakthrough came in the 50th minute.
Tom Bailey was the architect, working hard on the right flank to create himself some space to put in a deep cross to corner of the six-yard box where Lee Blackshaw was waiting to head home his 50th goal for the club and remove any weight that was beginning to gather on Glossop North End shoulders.
Nelson were restricted to half chances, Ben Hoskin volleying wide, whilst North End began to play again with freedom. Carey’s cross was just inches away from Bailey and Blackshaw but on 72 minutes the game was effectively sealed.
This time Carey made it with some hard work on the left touchline, keeping a ball in and laying it inside for Blackshaw at the corner of the box. His cross was deflected and looped high into the air, and whilst everyone else seemed to stop and watch as the wind kept the ball in play, Mark Reed – only on the pitch for a minute or so – nodded his first touch of the ball home for a 2-0 lead.
With Linnets losing elsewhere, excitement was building on the sidelines inside and outside the perimeter fence as the fans finally sang ‘Championes’ and the bench produced some well hidden ‘Champions 15’ t-shirts. Then, with 3 minutes left, Blackshaw put the icing on the cake with a sharp finish from Sam Hind’s low cross.
Now the celebrations could really begin, with only the referee’s whistle required to get the party started. There was a mini pitch invasion as the man in black blew up for time, but not enough to put a glorious trophy presentation in jeopardy. Captain Dave Young, 12 years after making his debut for the club, lifted the first trophy the club had won since 2001, but the most important since beyond 1982. This one meant Evo-Stik league football next season.
Peter Hammond has been the club secretary for every single one of those 32 NWCFL years, and has attended most of the games. He’d nearly seen it all in that time…most of it hard. The club came extremely close to going out of business in the 80’s and struggled through the 90’s and early 2000’s with finances still extremely tight. The club is now debt free and thriving. In all the celebrations a huge number of people will delight in this success, but after nearly a lifetime of service, Peter may perhaps quietly delight in it the most.
And there are still two cup final more opportunities to enjoy this magnificent season even more.
