January

The weather tried to win out in January, with several games postponed, including the FA Vase tie at Worksop on the 17th. It did go ahead on the 24th though and in a highly competitive game it was Jason Carey’s back header in extra time that won the day, Glossop North End taking it 1-0. Only two league games were possible, away wins at Congleton & Squires Gate.

February

A month of cup games! Carey & Lee Blackshaw saw off Chesterfield in the Derbyshire Cup at the start of the month cup before a bad tempered defeat at home to Matlock at the end of it meant a semi-final exit. Carey & Sam Grimshaw defeated Squires Gate in the league cup securing another semi-final. However the main focus of the month was again the Vase and two titanic games against former winners Dunston UTS.

At Surrey Street Glossop North End went behind, took the lead then lost it in a 2-2 draw. Up in the North East, Dunston scored early, but a Matt Russell screamer levelled it before Dave Young & Kieran Lugsden secured a quarter final game with Shaw Lane Aquaforce.

March

The FA Vase dominated the headlines again, with the month bookended by two memorable ties. First up Shaw Lane Aquaforce were beaten in a replay, and in the final week of the month a 2-0 win at St Austell gave the Hillmen one foot into the final at Wembley, a job they finish a week later, despite a 1-0 defeat in the home leg. This led to extraordinary scenes in the torrential rain.

However, the league campaign had to be kick-started too, and games were coming thick and fast. Runcorn Linnets had opened up a sizeable gap at the top, but 6 league wins on the bounce kept the momentum going.

April

13 games in the 30 days of April, but what an extraordinary month in the life of the club. A place in the NWCFL League Cup Final was secured with a 2-1 win over Bootle, whilst in the league the wins kept coming. This despite being forced to play on consecutive days at one point the players kept giving it their all, eventually securing the title with a 3-0 victory over Nelson on 18th April. Two goals from Lee Blackshaw and one from Mark Reed gave the Hillmen an unassailable lead at the top and won them promotion to the Evo-Stik NPL North.

There was more to come. The Hillmen played Atherton Collieries in the NWCFL final, and won out 2-0 with goals from Kelvin Lugsden and Eddie Moran, lifting the trophy for the first time, and completing a rare double.

May

Only one game in May, and sadly it ended in defeat. The 2-1 extra time defeat at Wembley against North Shields hurt, but we can now look back in pride at the achievement of a remarkable squad in that cup run and over the whole season. The town celebrated with an open top bus parade to Norfolk Square.

August

A new beginning! The Hillmen started life in the Evo-Stik North, promoted from the NWCFL after over 30 years of membership. Draws against Spennymoor and Ossett Albion opened the campaign before resounding wins against Prescot, Droylsden and New Mills ended the month. There was also FA Cup progress.

After all the waiting, we were up and running!

September

Wins against Witton and Farsley saw Glossop North End head into the upper echelons of the division before the FA Cup run came to an end when a late late Skelmersdale leveller was followed by an extra time replay defeat.

This was the month that Glossop North End discovered the travelling involved in this new division, with away games in midweek at both Scarborough and Harrogate. Despite the distance, the faithful still travelled in great numbers and proved in those games, a 0-0 draw and a 4-2 win, that they were among the best in the league.

October

More travelling early on, this time enforced as a 1-1 FA Trophy draw against Spennymoor saw us travel up there for a replay on a Tuesday night, only to lose 3-2. As with Skem the previous month, Glossop North End had been the better side in the home tie and ought to have progressed, and were finding out the hard way that you have to make your pressure pay when you have the advantage. That adage was again in the mind when losing on penalties to FC United of Manchester after their Manchester Premier Cup tie finished 2-2.

In the league there were wins against Kendal & Clitheroe, but at Droylsden the team suffered their first league defeat of the season, going down 2-1. Including a spell at the top of the league, the month ended with Glossop North End well placed for the rest of the season.

November

A trip to Spennymoor yielded a battling point but 3 defeats followed; at Marine in the Doodson Cup, at home to Ossett Albion, and away at title rivals Warrington Town. A 2-2 draw at Bamber Bridge ended a testing month for the team.

December

Just one league game so far in this saturated month, a 1-0 home defeat to Burscough, and one cup game, a magnificent 5-3 victory over Chesterfield, in which Dave Young contributed his annual strike from his own half.

As we head into 2016 the Hillmen have plenty of cause for optimism. They are fourth in the league, and well placed to challenge for a play-off place in April. Only one cup competition remains, the Derbyshire Senior Cup, and a quarter final against Belper awaits.

After an extraordinarily busy 2015 – busy enough to be mentioned all over the national media – 2016 could be a little quieter, game wise. However the same hard work and camaraderie that characterised the club in 2015 will continue into the New Year. Can’t wait!

Here’s a few of our favourite photographs from last year.   For more awesome photographs from Jim Lockwood, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/glossopnorthend/ – thanks Jim!

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From Wembley to Wembley

The philosophers amongst us, and I know that there are many, will recognise the title of this piece as an example of a circularity. The argument goes that if something starts and ends in the same place then there is nothing to say as nothing has happened. Far be it for me to argue the point with some of the most celebrated thinkers of the “well ahead of its time” Greek civilisation of many years ago, but they had obviously never heard of the Circle Line on the London Underground. The Circle Line, or any circular bus route for example, demonstrates that it is indeed possible to have a journey from A to A and, therefore, to tell the story of such a journey. In order to make things a little clearer, and to keep on the right side of the philosophical argument, perhaps we need to start again with another title. Here goes …

From Wembley to Wembley via …

“This is only supposed to happen once in a lifetime” said the erudite Haggis on a Saturday afternoon in April 2015. As the monsoon conditions persisted and the largest crowd Surrey Street had seen for a good while started to disperse. We knew exactly what he meant.

Our story begins almost exactly six years previously as the FA Vase semi final second leg between Glossop North End and Chalfont St. Peter reached the most dramatic of conclusions. None who were there on that fateful afternoon will ever forget the goal from Kelvin, minutes into added time in extra time, from the corner which never was, which brought the match into a penalty shoot out. Nerves of steel and heroics by Ash in goal, propelled Glossop North End to the final to be played at Wembley Stadium. The mighty roar subsided to an almost eerie quiet as small groups of friends realised what this meant. “We’re on our way to Wembley, we’re on our way to Wembley …..”

The FA Vase final in May 2009 was a fantastic day out for over 5,000 Glossop supporters. Well, a weekend for many. All of the pomp and circumstance associated with the most famous football stadium in the world was afforded to two teams from Level 9 in the footballing pyramid as the temperature hit the low eighties. And, as they say, the rest is history.

We move our story forward a few short months as many around the club sought to use the impetus generated by the incredible season to provide a legacy. First out of the blocks were a group of supporters who formed the Glossop North End Supporters Club. Not the first Glossop North End Supporters Club but hopefully one which would last. Properly constituted and all of the recognised positions of the committee filled, the emphasis was on fun but with an edge of realism and an understanding of the art of the possible.

Having recruited around 100 members in a very short time, one of the first actions was to make it easy for Glossop North End supporters to get to away matches. “The minibus is leaving the Friendship at 12.30 on Saturday” was a regular posting on the now vibrant Message Board. This minibus was the forerunner, prototype if you like, of the current hoolivan, a name coined by one of our esteemed Directors of the time who, sadly, will not see the mighty Glossop North End at Wembley this time. There was only one rule – no drinking until we cross Woolley Bridge. Not a great hardship you would have thought given that the journey began from a pub but, as we all know, the Glossop traffic can be very slow and the journey to Woolley Bridge seemed to last almost forever some weeks, but we made it – the rule was never breeched. What happened after that remains in the realms of the great Italian concept which is omerta – what goes on tour stays on tour. My lips are sealed – well, not exactly.

The Chairman (and proud to be) of the Glossop North End Supporters Club was looking for some unsuspecting individual to “write a few words about away matches”. The result can be found in the book entitled Glossop North End Away which follows of the fortunes of the Glossop North End travelling army in season 2009/10 – available from all good book shops. The last bit is a palpable lie but there may be a few copies still available in the Glossop North End Souvenirs Emporium – sounds rather grand doesn’t it?

But back to legacy. One of the eternal debates in non-league football concerns promotion. A simple concept on the face of it – finish in a promotion position and get promoted – but, as with many things, it’s not as easy as that. With the potential for promotion comes the spectre which is ground grading. Very simply, no matter how well you do on the field a club cannot be promoted if the ground doesn’t meet the requirements for the next step up in the football pyramid. The more perspicacious of readers will see exactly where this one is leading – yes, a classic chicken and egg situation. The facilities at Surrey Street were not of a high enough standard for the Northern Premier League so even if the side achieved the one promotion position available to the NWCFL, promotion would not happen.

This stark situation became very clear as two representative of the Glossop North End Supporters Club listened to a debate between the then Directors of the club and the manager. Very simply, it went something like this:-

Manager – “there is no point me assembling a side which can achieve promotion because the ground isn’t good enough”.

Directors – “we are currently 14th in the League. We have no prospect of finishing in a promotion position so why should we do the work on the ground”.

An impasse perhaps but worthy of further consideration as to how such a situation could be resolved. Logically, there is only one way forward here for any club which has promotion aspirations. That is to get the ground up to standard and then work on the playing side. Almost inevitably, such an approach concentrates resources away from the playing side so that any realistic hope of building a promotion chasing side can be forgotten, at least in the short term.

From this situation came the addition to the Board of Directors of the club of several members of the Supporters Club Committee. One of the first actions was to establish the Surrey Street Development Fund which had the sole intention of providing sufficient resources – money in other words – to add to the remaining cash from the 2009 Road to Wembley to achieve the objective of providing facilities at Surrey Street in line with the requirements of the Northern Premier League. Thanks to the generosity and support of many individuals, sufficient resources were generated through this initiative to start the necessary improvements to Surrey Street.

The story of the construction phase is well known but, briefly, in record time the old clubhouse was gutted and converted into changing rooms, the old changing rooms were demolished – that wasn’t too difficult – and the clubhouse built in the space. The turnstile area was refurbished and, thanks to the Supporters Club, new dugouts were constructed. Add this to the recently replaced “scrattin’ shed” and the ground was improved immeasurably. So much so that a ground grading official from the FA, on re-inspecting the ground after a gap of some five years, commented “the ground is now officially no longer a shit heap” – praise indeed!

Whilst all of this feverish activity was ongoing, the Glossop North End Board were quietly getting on with installing the disciplines of “sustainability” to the business of running a football club at this level. Meanwhile, on the field, there was not much progress as a couple of management teams came and went with few highlights to mark their periods of tenure. Indeed, such was the success of establishing the principle of sustainability to the off field activities that one of the Directors was heard to comment that “we are getting quite good a running a small business, pity we can’t seem to match that on the field”.

The time was now right to try to move forward on the field to match the progress made in running the club. A new management team was installed and, at first, results showed no real improvement. However, the seeds had been sown and considerable progress was made throughout the season with the side eventually finishing 3rd in the League – the highest ever in the top division of the NWCFL – and having been, somewhat controversially, runners up in the Derbyshire Senior Cup. A successful season in the opinion of most of the supporters but, in a telling comment, one of the management team was heard to say in a rather plaintive tone with a distinct Scouse accent “yeh, but we didn’t win anything”. Prophetic words perhaps.

This season started with a new pitch perimeter fence in place – a very necessary improvement to the ground – and a renewed enthusiasm on the pitch after the disappointments of what could have been the previous season. The team spirit of an experienced group of players was evident and an unbeaten start to the season was spoiled in early September by a defeat in the League at home to Runcorn Linnets – how significant was that going to be later in the season? A couple of victories in the very early preliminary rounds of the FA Cup led to a narrow defeat away at high flying Chorley in the second qualifying round. But this was a very encouraging performance against significantly higher level opponents and belief in the playing ability of the side was growing amongst the ever increasing numbers of supporters coming through the gate.

The FA Vase campaign started on November 1st with a narrow victory away at fellow NWCFL outfit West Didsbury & Chorlton. There then followed an absolute roller coaster of experiences as matches in subsequent rounds were postponed, forced into extra-time, replayed, amongst the clear demonstration that this side never gives up. There were many occasions during the FA Vase run when this was apparent but never more so than in coming back twice from a goal behind away to the much fancied Shaw Lane Aquaforce to force a replay at Surrey Street and progress to the semi finals.

Meanwhile, league fixtures were being postponed and the aforementioned Runcorn Linnets were building a huge points gap over the chasing pack. Glossop North End played only two League matches in January and February, a time during which another run in the Derbyshire Senior Cup was being built. In this competition, a victory away at old rivals New Mills just before Christmas was followed by a victory over Chesterfield on a night when Chesterfield also played Preston North End in a League match – you can write your own football trivia quiz question around that one I think. Eventual defeat in an ill-spirited match against Matlock Town at Surrey Street ended hopes of reaching the final for the second successive year.

Come March and league matches needed to be played and played they were. A punishing schedule of matches would have taken a significant toll on the fitness levels and the will of most sides but this team is built of stern stuff, Match by match three points were garnered and the seemingly unassailable lead at the top of the table held by Runcorn Linnets was slowly reduced. Despite the obvious distraction of a two legged FA Vase semi final against St. Austell, six league matches were played and eighteen points banked,

Into April, and a place booked at Wembley on May 9th, and the League matches were still coming thick and fast in addition to a League Cup semi final. Eleven League matches to complete the season needed to be fitted in to 25 days. In the end, only, I say only, eight matches were required to achieve the objective of winning the league championship. Twenty-two points gained from a possible 24, with a successful League Cup semi-final sandwiched in and between, meant that the NWCFL Premier Division Champions for 2014/15 were Glossop North End.

Having been founder members of the NWCFL back in 1982 thoughts turned to when Glossop North End has last achieved promotion. Some wag, not WAG, suggested that it was probably back in 1899 when Glossop North End achieved promotion to the highest level in English football. Not quite the case suggested a few of the older supporters who recall finishing second to Accrington Stanley in the Cheshire League Division 2 in season 1980/81 so gaining promotion to Division 1. Nevertheless, promotion has been a vanishingly rare achievement for the club and the celebrations after winning the championship went on long into the night.

Attention turned to cup matters as the date of the FA Vase final drew ever closer. First of all, the league fixtures to complete and the opportunity to win another trophy, and what a magnificent trophy it is, came in the shape of the NWCFL League Cup Final. A somewhat feisty match at Curzon Ashton against Atherton Collieries saw Glossop North End outsmart their opponents on the night and lift the trophy. Two trophies in the cabinet and one still to play for as full attention switched to the task of defeating Northern League side North Shields. At this point one of the playing staff was heard to comment “we had our day out in 2009; now we go and win it”. Great words and indicative of the massive commitment of everyone around the club.

So, the day arrived and all re-assembled under the twin towers after six short years. Alas, the treble was not to be as Glossop North End tasted defeat at the home of football for the second time. A huge disappointment at what might have been but, in the true spirit of Rudyard Kipling, this club is more than capable of treating triumph and disaster just the same by looking forward to what is yet to come.

And, so the journey from A to A is complete but this will not be the end of the story. More challenges await in the next level of the football pyramid next season and, after a well deserved break during the summer, we will reconvene at Surrey Street in August to open the next chapter.

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The documentary “The FA Vase – The Biggest Unknown Tournament” is below and is quite frankly, brilliant and goes a long way in capturing the essence and spirit of Glossop North End and the FA Vase.

Sit back and enjoy.

The post The FA Vase – The World’s Biggest Unknown Tournament appeared first on Glossop North End AFC.

https://youtu.be/DJwrew0uvF8

Shorter highlights have been published by the FA and can be seen below.

The post FA Vase 2015 Highlights appeared first on Glossop North End AFC.

Reproduced from http://nwcfl.com/news-articles.php?id=4341

It’s been a season of unprecedented success for Glossop North End, but their hopes of completing a unique treble were dashed by North Shields in the FA Vase final at Wembley.

A goal from North Shields substitute Adam Forster six minutes into the first half of extra time ended the Hillmens’ hopes of completing a league, cup and Vase treble, and it was an outcome that had looked unlikely for much of the afternoon.

Glossop had enjoyed the better of a goalless first half, and took the lead ten minutes into the second half with a goal from Tom Bailey.

But eleven minutes from the end of normal time, North Shields leading scorer Gareth Bainbridge headed home an equaliser, and after Forster put North Shields ahead, Glossop suffered another blow when they were reduced to ten men after skipper Dave Young had to leave the field after sustaining a head injury with Glossop having used all their substitutes.

However, it has been a marvellous season for everyone involved at Glossop, and they can now enjoy a well-earned summer break and look forward to new challenges ahead, as they leave the NWCFL and head for the Evo-Stik League Division One.

Glossop lined up with just one change from the team that played in the Vase semi-final second leg against St Austell at Surrey Street, with Sam Hare coming in to replace the suspended Jason Carey.

They kicked off defending the goal at the end where the noisy army of Glossop supporters were congregated, and began well, enjoying the best of the opening exchanges, with the majority of the opening 15 minutes being played in the North Shields half.

The first clear chance of the game arrived on 13 minutes, when Martin Parker set full back Michael Bowler off on a storming run down the right wing. The full back then arrowed a fine cross into the box on to the head of Kieran Lugsden, who met the ball well but directed it straight into the arms of North Shields keeper Christopher Bannon.

After a brief foray up the left wing by North Shields’ James Lucock, which won a corner that was gathered by Hall at the second attempt, Glossop created another chance from the right wing on 18 minutes, with Kieran Lugsden again involved.

This time, a deep hanging cross from Lee Blackshaw was met by Lugsden on the edge of the box, and his looping header had the keeper anxiously scrambling back towards goal before landing on the roof of the net.

It had been a good start from the Hillmen, and it wasn’t before the game hit the midway point of the half that North Shields began to threaten, with the lively Lucock usually involved.

But the Glossop defence, so miserly all season, and well marshalled by skipper Dave Young in the centre, held firm and keeper Greg Hall had nothing more than crosses to deal with, as his defenders in front of him kept the Northern Leaguers at bay.

It wasn’t long before Glossop were back at the other end putting the North Shields defence under the cosh, and after Lee Blackshaw won a corner, North Shields keeper Bannon put his side under pressure with a weak punch that placed the ball straight into the path of Dave Young, but the Glossop skipper scooped his shot over the bar from eight yards.

Three minutes from half time there was action at both ends, with first Glossop creating another chance, when Eddie Moran’s cross to the back of the area was nodded down by Tom Bailey towards Sam Hare, but a combination of the striker’s head and shoulder diverted the ball straight into the arms of the keeper.

Play immediately swung to the other end, and Greg Hall in the Glossop goal was tested for the first time, getting down well to make a smart save from North Shields leading scorer Gareth Bainbridge.

The last action of the half was at the Glossop end, when Russell conceded a free kick on the right wing, but Michael McKeown’s curling free kick into the box was confidently gathered by Greg Hall.

The referee duly ended the first half after two minutes of stoppage time, and the Glossop players left the pitch knowing that they had certainly enjoyed the better possession and created some good chances in the opening 45 minutes.

However, although North Shields had rarely threatened in the first half, they certainly came out of the blocks quickly after the restart, and almost opened the scoring four minutes in.

Denver Morris played the ball infield to Ben Richardson, who sidetstepped Eddie Moran and unleashed a cracking 25 yarder that beat Hall and rebounded off the cross bar.

Three minutes later, Hall was in action once more, the same combination of Morris setting up Richardson for a shot that Hall did well to palm over at full stretch.

But Glossop well and truly delivered a knockout blow to the bright start made by their opponents, when they took the lead on 55 minutes.

A corner played deep into the box found Kieran Lugsden in space, and when he drilled in a low cross across the six yard box that was begging to buried, Tom Bailey obliged by sliding in at the far post to steer the ball into the net from close range.

It was a goal that not surprisingly was celebrated wildly by the players in front of their jubilant supporters, and was just exactly what was needed after the lively start to the half that North Shields had made.

On the hour both sides made their first substitutions, with North Shields somewhat surprisingly withdrawing Lucock who had looked lively in the first half, and Glossop bringing on Danny White for Eddie Moran.

White was involved in the creation of Glossop’s next opportunity, laying the ball back for Tom Bailey to send a cross into the box that Kieran Lugsden headed wide.

A few minutes later, Glossop made their second substitution when Sam Grimshaw was introduced for Lee Blackshaw, and his first touch of the ball was a curling cross into the box that Tom Bailey just failed to connect with at full stretch.

But with ten minutes to go, Glossop were stunned when North Shields drew level with a goal from scorer Gareth Bainbridge.

The goal came from a corner conceded by Greg Hall when he fumbled a shot, and when the corner was delivered, Bainbridge timed his late run perfectly to place a header into the far corner of the net and record his 18th goal in the FA Vase this season.

It was a stunning blow that hadn’t looked on the cards, and Glossop manager Chris Willcock responded by bringing on Sam Hind for Sam Hare.

Hind made his mark in the quarter final replay against Shaw Lane Aquaforce, when after coming on as a late substitute, he rifled home an equaliser three minutes from the end of normal time in a game that Glossop went on to win, and he immediately set about looking to reproduce a repeat performance, as he pushed up front with Tom Bailey.

A minute from the end of normal time, a mazy run from Hind set up Bailey for a shot that was deflected for a corner, and when the kick came in, only desperate defending kept Glossop at bay before the ball was hacked clear.

With five added minutes of stoppage time at the end of the 90, both sides had flurries of action in the opposition half, the nearest to a goal being an effort from Sam Hind that flew wide of the far post.

But 90 minutes had failed to separate teh sides, so an additional half hour was required, and extra time began with the teams attacking the same ends as they finished in the second half.

Tom Bailey had the first effort for Glossop after the restart, firing well over the bar three minutes into the additional half hour.

It was noticeable that several North Shields players were struggling with cramp in the early stages of extra time, but they were given an additional boost of adrenaline when they took the lead in the 96th minute.

A good break down the right from the lively Morris caught out the Glossop defence, and his low cross evaded attackers and defenders alike before landing in the path of substitute Adam Forster, who went for accuracy over power in directing a shot across Hall into the far corner of the net.

Glossop responded with an effort from Kieran Lugsden that the keeper gathered at the second attempt, and a few minutes later Lugsden was yellow carded for a challenge that was late and conceded a free kick.

Lugsden was the creator of the last chance of the opening half of extra time, setting up Sam Grimshaw for a shot that was screwed wide, and the half ended with more problems for Glossop as skipper Dave Young needed lengthy treatment after a clash of heads, and after briefly returning to the action, was led off at half time for further medical examination.

Although Young attempted to return to the action, he was stopped from doing so by the medical team on the sidelines, to his obvious displeasure.

With Glossop having used all three substitutions, it was a blow they could have done without, and Martin Parker dropped back into the centre of the defence to partner Kelvin Lugsden, and with Glossop having to chase the game with ten men and North Shields content to defend deep, the pace of the game dipped noticeably in the second half of extra time, as both teams dropped almost to walking pace at times.

Chances were few and far between, but one last desperate throw of the dice from Glossop saw keeper Greg Hall join the attack in stoppage time, but his and his team mates efforts were in vain, and the referee ended the game moments later.

For North Shields, it was an afternoon they will never forget, and as well as picking up the cup, their lively right sided midfielder Denver Morris was voted man of the match for a fine all round display.

However, although from a Glossop perspective it was a desperately disappointing end to the afternoon, they can nonetheless look back on an outstanding season that will live long in the memory of everyone involved at the club.

Glossop North End: Greg Hall, Michael Bowler, Matt Russell, Kelvin Lugsden, Dave Young (captain), Martin Parker, Lee Blackshaw (Sam Grimshaw 69), Sam Hare (Sam Hind 82), Tom Bailey, Kieran Lugsden, Eddie Moran (Danny White 60).

Subs not used: Ben Richardson, Richard Gresty

North Shields: Chris Bannon, John Grey, Michael McKeown, John Parker, Kevin Hughes, Denver Morris, Gareth Bainbridge (Kieran Wrightson 107), Ben Richardson, Dean Holmes (Adam Forster 69), James Lucock (Ryan Carr 59), Stuart Donnison.

Subs not used: Curtis Coppen, Mark Lancaster.

090515 North Shields FAVF

The post Hillmen Treble Hopes Dashed At Wembley appeared first on Glossop North End AFC.

Glossop North End captain Dave Young was involved in a collision in the 105th minute of Saturday’s FA Vase Final against North Shields, resulting in a head injury.

Young was unconscious for over a minute and, on regaining consciousness, was treated on the side of the pitch by the Glossop North End club physio with members of the Wembley medical staff team present.

The player rejoined the field of play, however the Wembley medical staff team informed the match officials that Young required further assessment and, due to him losing consciousness, was told he was unable to continue.

This was following a football-wide agreed protocol introduced at the beginning of this season which states referees must act on advice from medical staff on matters relating to head injuries.

For more information on head injury’s in football, the FA website has a comphrehensive piece.

http://www.thefa.com/my-football/head-injuries-in-football

The post Head Injury Clarification Following FA Vase Final appeared first on Glossop North End AFC.

A game that will go down in Glossop folklore, as around 300 Glossop folk travelled to Cornwall for a weekend away. It must have been like this in wakes week back in the day!

There is too much to say about this trip. It was just an extraordinary day for both clubs, players, officials and supporters. The best thing to do is to let the supporters talk you through the day, but first the facts.

North End won 2-0. It could, probably should, have been more but chances were missed and a couple were ruled out for offside. However, Lee Blackshaw did net a beauty in the first half, a half volley from the edge of the area, whilst Ben Richardson sparked a pitch side pile-on by netting in second half injury time, pouncing on the rebound when Tom Bailey hit the bar.

What happened next will be an abiding memory of the day. St Austell had set up a huge beer tent and after the post-match formalities with the squad entered the tent to be greeted by an almighty sing-off. St Austell fans to the left of them, Glossop to the right, the fans were belting out songs at each other in turn before all converging in the middle for a rowdy version of One Step Beyond.

As the referee left he met one club official and as they both surveyed the scene he remarked ‘I wish I could be in the thick of that!’ It was magnificent, a credit to the open friendliness of both clubs. It made the weekend.

So, what did the Glossop North End fans make of it?

‘Pullmyfinger’ – “That was easily the best away day I’ve had with GNE. A great welcome from the Saints fans and the atmosphere before, during and after the game was excellent, and the fan banter in the marquee after the match was something else. The match wasn’t too bad either. Taking a 2 goal lead into the 2nd leg is everything we could’ve hoped for before the game, but the lads were excellent today and the performance deserved more.

Let’s hope we can give the St Austell fans as warm a welcome as they have given us for the second leg.”

‘Argentinakit’ – “The banter before the game and of course the brilliant performance from the team who must have been feeling the strain from being on a coach for 10 hours the previous day. All this topped off with the superb sing we had in the beer tent with those great Saints fans. I will always remember “pasties and cider” and “One step beyond.”

‘Shifty’ – “The post match entertainment was second to none and the best set of supporters I have met in the six years I have been following GNE. For anyone that missed the impromptu sing off between the fans will no doubt get fed up of having stories relayed to them over the next few days/weeks. There are a couple of videos already on YouTube and would ask anyone who has others to please upload them so those of us that we’re there can re-live them and those that weren’t can only wish they had been.”

Ian Barber – “Highlight of the day for me was to meet up with Steve Young, the man responsible for similar events in 2009. To meet him standing in the crowd, behind the goal says everything about the club and all those involved. There are no pedestals, just an honest bunch of northern folk who give what they can to make the best of what we’ve got.”

Dave Hampson – “Everyone connected to GNE from 1 to 200 were an absolute credit to our town and great Club. St Austell F.C and everyone who came to support them were brilliant and a credit to their club, the beer tent after the game is something that I think will live long in the memory and will have us all reliving it at every opportunity. The atmosphere in there was electric with banter and the to-ing and fro-ing of the chants and songs was incredible and a pleasure to be in.”

Tom Lyon – “St Austell was mine and Lucy’s first wedding anniversary which we spent travelling back from the best away game I personally have been involved in. From the sing song at the Brewery before the Match to the tent sing off pre and post-match. The whole weekend was special.”

It’s fair to say that people enjoyed it. There was however one final quote from everyone at the club that became a mantra on and off the pitch – “It’s only half time!”

Semi Final Second Leg – 28 March 2015 – Glossop North End 0, St Austell 1.
Attendance 1303

The Hillmen fans were confident, and in fairness they had every right to be. They had been so superior a week before even Cornish reporters were saying St Austell could not have complained had it been five.

It was an incredibly busy day for everyone at the club. Most club staff were at the ground before the pubs were open trying to make sure that everything was in place for the teams, the press, the visiting dignitaries and of course the fans, in the hope that the afternoon would go smoothly. There were some pernickety complaints from one particular source, but eventually the game went off smoothly, as we always knew it would. The fans were already mates from the week before and that camaraderie continued.

St Austell could rightfully think that they did have one ace up their sleeve, and that, like North End earlier in the run at 1874, was that their opponents had not seen the best of them by a long chalk. However, the North End faithful were sure that they could withstand whatever was flung at them in during the game providing nothing silly happened early on…

Uh oh! With just around 5 minutes gone, referee Darren Bond, normally a referee in the football league, gave a football league decision. Matt Russell slid in on Neil Slateford, and momentum took him into his leg. It was a foul, but the referee saw it as a dangerous tackle and sent Russell off. Suddenly, with a man advantage and 85 minutes to go, St Austell thought they were back in the game.

The sending off changed the game plan and probably ruined the game as a spectacle. What followed though was a defensive masterclass of the ilk that has been the backbone of North End success in this season. St Austell could hardly get near the Glossop North End 18 yard box to create anything of note, whilst Tom Bailey went closest with a shot that hit the outside of the post.

No report on this game can be complete though without mentioning Martin Parker’s Cruyff turn in the build up to that Bailey shot. He completely bamboozled a defender on the right hand side to give himself space to cross, and Martin was gutted to discover that as the match was being filmed by both the BBC and ITV the club had no cameraman available so he could review the footage!

With about 20 minutes left it started to rain. With 15 minutes left it REALLY started to rain. With 10 minutes left the precipitation became biblical. In a bizarre finish both sides were playing in rain that almost hurt, trying to knock the ball around on a rapidly soaking pitch.
In injury time St Austell’s Liam Eddy finally got some room in the box and despatched a smart shot past Greg Hall to set up a semi-anxious finish, but it was too late. Just as well, because had St Austell scored again the game would have been abandoned, and it doesn’t bare thinking about what that would have meant with regards to travelling and for both club’s already bulging fixture list.

The referee’s whistle cued huge celebrations, including the infamous slide in front of the Trenches. The party (which included another sing-off with the superb St Austell fans) went on long into the night. The road to Wembley was over. It had been travelled in full, and the side would be playing there in 5 weeks time.

Just one quote required, from Jim Lockwood.

“Flippin’ eck!”

The post FA Vase Memories, Semi Final – AFC St Austell appeared first on Glossop North End AFC.

Another Saturday, another Vase game. Or so we thought.

The game at Shaw Lane was originally set for Saturday 28 Feb, but with the pitch unplayable after a huge amount of rain an alternative venue was being sort, and we eventually had to settle for a Sunday. All sorts of venues were considered, including Surrey Street, but eventually our Sunday trip was to be at a familiar venue, Sandy Lane, home of Handsworth Parramore, but also home of…Worksop Town!

The change in date was to be a boon for some and a bind for others. Jim and Pat Joyce were furious at the change, unable to make the revised date, but fellow home-and-away fans Keith & Glenys Thompson were delighted, having arranged a function for the Saturday that meant they had to stay home that day. Yin/Yang! Or is that Yang/Yin?

The familiar venue had one advantage according to Steve Hind –
“The Grafton Arms at Worksop was a real ale drinker’s delight; it seemed to find favour with most of us. As we were the away team but the ground was not exactly home for either of our opponents we rather took it over (in a nice way of course).”

Ian Barber recalls a nice bit of teasing from the Glossop North End faithful –
“A very healthy contingent of GNE fans soon settled in behind the goal. “You’re supposed to be at home” set the tone for the first half banter.”
And so, the game. It was the brothers Lugsden who were right at the thick of this one.

To get to the final of any competition you need a touch of good fortune along the way, and this was perhaps where Glossop North End got theirs. When Kelvin brought down Lee Morris in the area on 10 minutes, the big striker was just about heading away from goal, but it certainly looked a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity. In showing just the yellow card the referee got it right in the laws of the game, but every Glossop North End fan had held their breath, as many referees would have dismissed him. Morris scored the spot kick, eventually, to give Shaw Lane Aquaforce the lead.

It was Kieran who levelled things up on 22 minutes latching onto Michael Bowler’s pass, but Glossop North End conceded yet another penalty in the first 10 minutes of the second half when Kelvin was harshly adjudged to have handled. However, who was that nodding home from a corner in the 78th minute…only Kelvin Lugsden!

Extra time was subdued; soaked by driving rain that also tired out bodies that were already flagging from an attritional 90 minutes. All back to Surrey Street next Saturday!

Replay – 7 March 2015 – Glossop North End 3, Shaw Lane Aquaforce 1 (AET).
Attendance 1010

It’s fair to say that by now the town was gripped by ‘Vase fever’. In the build up to the week estimates of attendances went up and up from club officials, from ‘we might get 800 or so’ on Monday to ‘I can see it being four figures’ by Friday. As it was, 1010 people packed into the ground to see another titanic battle between two strong sides.

Wind made it difficult to play and this was a muscular battle for the most part. A lot of long ball was played as territory became important in the gales. There was one glorious first half chance, but Chris Denham hit the side netting.

The game opened up a touch in the second half, and Martin Parker forced a good save from the SLA keeper but no breakthrough was made until the 77th minute, and then it was Shaw Lane that got it.  Joe Thornton had slipped his marker and latched onto a pass into the box and banged his shot into the corner to send the visiting fans wild.

Almost immediately from a corner Martin Parker hit the post as Glossop tried to apply pressure, but as time ran out there was some anxiety off the pitch. Some fans believed, some fans thought it wasn’t going to happen, but they were all determined to back the Hillmen until it was fully played out.

Then, on 87th minutes the leveller came. Lee Blackshaw delivered lovely pass into the path of Sam Hind, entering the box on an angle. With no time to think, Hind instinctively leathered it across the face of the keeper and into the net, celebrating with the ‘tongue out’ pose that has become a defining image of this run.

In extra time Glossop North End were in the ascendancy, and the late goal seemed to have drained Shaw Lane legs of energy. There were 102 minutes on the watch when a ball was lofted over the full back towards Jason Carey at the corner of the 6 yard box. There was only a moment’s hesitation from the defence, but that was all Carey needed as he chested the ball down and poked a shot past the keeper. 2-1!

Glossop North End looked the more likely to extend, with SLA nearly spent. The keeper made a couple of good saves as time ticked away but then from a short corner Carey, expected to hold the ball and run down the clock, found a gap in the coverage and took the ball past two men, into the box, and shot across the keeper into the far corner, making it 3-1.

That was it. Injury time was almost up and memorably, as Shaw Lane tried to launch an attack, Skipper Dave Young was smiling and bantering with his opposite number Lee Morris – his words were along the lines of – don’t bother making another run Mozza, I’m tired and we’ve won it now!

Supporter’s club stalwart Dave Hampson summed it up nicely –
“What a game of mixed emotions. I thought we were going out when Shaw Lane scored but when we equalised we looked like the only winners.”

A fantastic result for everyone connected to this great club. It was like old times after the game with players and supporters heading back to the Friendship and celebrating together. This team is outstanding in the way it refuses to throw in the towel and keeps grinding away, our fitness is incredible and credit to the coaching team and the work of our Physio George. I also give HUGE credit to our gaffer who never lost the faith in his team and was picking others up who were beginning to fear the worse.

It’s true to say that this felt like a win for the whole club. A reward for the effort everyone had put in. And what a reward…a semi final of the FA Vase and a trip to Cornwall to play St Austell. It felt like we’d booked a family holiday!

The post FA Vase 2015 Memories, Round 6 – Shaw Lane Aquaforce appeared first on Glossop North End AFC.

We will be incorporating the feeds from our social media sites, and a few external ones, to make sure those that can’t travel get the best insight into the day that we can.

That will include the Twitter feed at @glossopnorthend where we’ll keep you up to date with the goings on of the whole weekend and of course the match itself.

Similarly, our instagram site (account name – glossopnorthendfc) will bring you the best pictures from the weekend and we’ll be all over Facebook too…www.Facebook.com/GlossopNorthEnd for that site.

If you are tweeting about your trip to Wembley, don’t forget the hashtag #vivagne so that we can keep up with you. We’d love to see your days too!

Of course, the best way to take memories of the day is to make some of your own. Tickets are still available via http://ticketing.thefa.com

But if you can’t make it, make sure and follow us, or like us, or whatever so that you don’t miss a moment!

The post The FA Vase Weekend Starts Here! appeared first on Glossop North End AFC.

The highlights will be on BT Sport 1 starting at 10pm which by our reckoning is when quite a few of the coaches should be arriving in Glossop after leaving Wembley!  The highlights are also repeated at 01:30am on Sunday morning.

Several of the pubs in Glossop have been in touch to say that they will be showing the highlights, these are:

	The Friendship – Arundel St, Glossop A stone’s throw from Surrey Street, match highlights will be on in The Frenny in both the bar and the pool room.
	The Beehive – Hague Street, GlossopThe Beehive will be showing the highlights on several screens in the pub, along with serving great food between noon and 9pm.
	The Surrey Arms – Victoria Street, GlossopJo-Ann and the team at the Surrey Arms will be showing the coverage as well as playing the radio commentary live for an all day Glossop North End party.   Doors open at 12 until late.
	The George Hotel – Norfolk Street, GlossopOver the road from Glossop station, The George Hotel will be showing the highlights and will be open until late.
	The Prince Of Wales – Milltown, GlossopThe Prince of Wales will be screening the highlights. They are also having a disco/karaoke night on Saturday to cheer the lads/ladies on who will be doing a sponsored bike ride the following week to raise monies for Macmillan Cancer x
	The Jubilee – Simmondley Lane, GlossopThe Jubilee will be showing highlights in the pool room.  They also have entertainment on in the main lounge with Electric Red duo till late.
	The Howard Arms – High Street East, GlossopThe Howard Arms will be showing the match highlights in the TV lounge and on the big screen in the back lounge.   There will also be a DJ and Karaoke on from 8 until late.
	Pear Tree Inn – Hadfield Road, HadfieldLocated in Hadfield near Glossop, The Pear Tree Inn will have the BT Sport match highlights on and are open until 1am.
	Last Orders – Victoria Street, GlossopSituated at the bottom of Victoria Street, David and his team welcome you to watch the highlights in Last Orders.   There will also be karaoke and a disco on from 8pm until 2am.
	Queens Arms – Shepley Street, Old GlossopOne of the jewels in Old Glossop, The Queens Arms near Manor Park will be screening the highlights on BT Sport.

The post Where To Watch FA Vase Highlights In Glossop appeared first on Glossop North End AFC.