Boysie II Men
This weekend, we will be resuming our attempt to visit every Northern League ground, with a trip south, to Grangetown Boys Club.
Opponents, Tadcaster Albion, would come in the opposite direction, from the North Yorkshire town situated between Leeds and York.
Nicknamed Boysie, Grangetown BC are one of three teams in the Middlesbrough area that I still need to visit, the other two being Boro Rangers and Redcar Town.
It’s a good time to be visiting those two, with Boro Rangers expected to fight for promotion from Division One, while Redcar Town are currently flying at the top of Division Two.
For now, though, our sights are set firmly on Boysie and their big day in the FA Vase competition.
With heavy rain forecast for the weekend, I was just hoping I would get the chance to see a game.
An all North Yorkshire FA Vase game was enough to whet my appetite, though the word ‘wet’ would be more suitable today.
Let’s get on with it, shall we?
Grangetown – The Journey
With heavy rain forecast for the day, I set off in a light drizzle to catch the 10:21 X1 to Peterlee.
It arrived at 10:52, putting down a marker for public transport’s performance.
Happily, I noted that the early pitch inspection at Trunk Road passed. Hopefully, the pitch would continue to hold up as the rain lashed against the bus windows.
Arriving in Peterlee at 11:15, meant I had missed the hourly connection to Middlesbrough by six minutes.
And now my watch begins…
After almost an hour’s wait, I boarded the 12:09 X10 to Middlesbrough.
As we drew near to the town, I started to keep an eye on the guy sitting one row in front of me on the other side.
During the journey, he slowly started to morph into something that had me a little nervous.
Do I Need to be Worried?
In an age where weirdo’s seem to be plentiful, and danger always around the corner, seeing someone put a black mask on and pull what looked like a weapon out of his bag, had me ready to pounce on him.
The woman in front of me was also watching him, and I caught her eye. I mouthed the words “Is that a gun?” and she looked closer. I was relieved when she said “No”, but kept my eye on him nonetheless.
After watching him don a pair of black gloves and a cloak, I started to ponder the possibility of cosplay.
I’m pleased to say, that he was indeed dressed (in his own mind) as Darth Vader, and his ‘weapon’ was a toy light sabre.
Well, sir, you have no idea how close you came to wheezing just like your hero as I watched your neck…
We arrived in Middlesbrough at 12:59, with Darth Vader setting forth, presumably to find his Death Star.
I, on the other hand, was content to find my connecting bus to Grangetown, and headed to Platform 3.
After catching the 13:05 #64A, I got off at South Bank library twenty minutes later, leaving a fifteen-minute walk to the ground, along Trunk Road.
While I do that, why not have a read about the town?
Grangetown
Grangetown is situated four miles to the east of Middlesbrough, and 4.5 miles west of Redcar.
The town is not to be confused with those suburbs of the same name that form parts of Cardiff and Sunderland.
Technically part of North Yorkshires’ Redcar & Cleveland borough, Grangetown lies on the southern extremities of the North East region, with County Durham just on the other side of the River Tees.
In the 2021 Census, Grangetown had a population of 6,388, a slight fall from 2011.
Grangetown takes its name from a farm that it grew up on and around, called Eston Grange. The farm had been in place since the 12th century, belonging to monks at the nearby Guisborough Priory.
The discovery of of ironstone in the nearby Eston Hills in 1840, led to the growth of the town.
Workers from around the country and beyond were drawn to the area as the burgeoning iron and steel industry flourished. From 1881, Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan Co Ltd, employed pretty much the entire population, directly or indirectly.
In 1918, 22,000 spectators flocked to Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Park to watch Bolckow Vaughan Ladies football team, based in Grangetown, play in the final of the Munitionettes Cup.
A power station built near the railway station, was at the time the first in the world capable of generating 11,000 volts. It closed down and was demolished in 1969.
Grangetown grew further between the two World War’s, with the steel companies teaming up with the local council to provide more housing. More council houses were built in the 1950s.
The construction of warehouses and roads through and around Grangetown, means that much of the original buildings have disappeared. Even the town centre was relocated following the construction of the A66, running just north of Trunk Road.
Notable People from Grangetown
There aren’t many notable people from Grangetown, but three stand out:
The Right Honourable Lord Horace Maybray-King, the former Speaker of the Houses of Parliament between 1965 and 1971.
Footballer Eddie Latheron, who played 258 games for Blackburn Rovers between 1906 and 1917. Signed for Rovers for just £25, Latheron became Rovers’ all-time fourth highest goal scorer before his death at Paschendale during World War I.
Grangetown’s most famous son, is stand-up comedian Royston Vasey, better known as Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown. Something of an acquired taste, and definitely won’t be on my mother’s watchlist any time soon.
Grangetown Boys Club – Trunk Road
While you were reading about Grangetown, I had made my wet and soggy way along Trunk Road, coming over the rise of the bridge, to get a first view of the ground.
Getting In
After enquiring at the gate if there was a clubhouse, I was told there was, which helped my decision to go straight inside, rather than seeking out the social club at St. Marys, just down the road.
Entry to Trunk Road was £5.00, cash or card, and the gateman was most helpful in pointing out where the facilities were.
Normally, I take advantage of the lack of people to walk around the ground and get video and photos. Today, dripping with rainwater, I just wanted to get inside and dry off a little.
Clubhouse
The Tiger, is Boysie’s new clubhouse, opened ready for the 2025/26 season.
Inside, it is clearly new, with everywhere still feeling bright and fresh. The décor is white, with a decking floor and tables and chairs strategically positioned.
I pulled off my wet coat and shook myself like a dog emerging from a river, without the excited expression on my face.
A small serving hatch is to the right, from where you can buy alcohol in the form of cans and bottles.
I bought a can of Coors (£2.50 cash, or £3.00 card) with cash and enquired about programmes and pin badges.
The helpful lady behind the bar told me they would be arriving in 5 minutes, or so, and I paid for them in advance.
I was a little disappointed with the badge, which was just a cheap button badge, and has since landed in my dustbin, with a proper metal/enamel badge ordered from eBay.
It somewhat cheered me up to see other wet dogs entering and shaking themselves off, as I drank my beer. After all, nobody likes to be miserable on their own…
Programme
The Boysie is the name for Grangetown BC’s programme.
For £3.00 you get 28 glossy pages, with 5 of those taken up by adverts.
Content includes club history and honours, 6 pages dedicated to the visitors, and the Grangetown squad introductions.
Strangely, there is a section on the Northern Premier League, despite neither team being involved in that.
More usual, is the inclusion of fixtures/results and both teams’ respective league tables.
All in all, a decent effort, and for this level of football, a good quality production.
Well done to all involved.
North Side
With around half an hour until kick-off, I headed outside, back into the incessant downpour.
Entry is via the turnstiles at the west end of the ground, but we will start by looking at the west side, which runs parallel to the Trunk Road.
This side contains three of the grounds floodlights, a brightly painted shipping container, and a small covered standing area on the halfway line.
Entry beyond the standing area is closed off by a fence, due to league rules, requiring hard standing areas.
West End
The west end of the ground is also closed to spectators.
It contains just a ball-catching net and a fence behind the goal.
South Side
The south side of the ground contains most of the working facilities of a match day.
The clubhouse is at the east end, with a small stand adjacent to it.
Near the west end, is another covered standing area.
The other three floodlights are lined along this side of the pitch, too.
East End
The east end contains the rest of the match day facilities.
Turnstile, toilets, players entrance, and a snack bar called the Tiger Bites Café, are all at this end of the ground.
Behind these are the club buildings, which form the Grangetown Youth & Community Centre, containing the players’ dressing rooms.
The match officials have their own portacabin-style hut next to the players’ entrance.
Grangetown Boys Club – Trunk Road Gallery
Grangetown Boys Club Tidbits
The Grangetown Boys Club Football Club was formed in 1941.
Boysie won their first silverware back in 1963/64, when they won the MacMillan Bowl. This competition is the League Cup for the Teesside League (now the North Riding Football League).
Boysie won their first Teesside League title in 1998/99, successfully defending it the following season.
The 2001/02 season saw the Tigers pull off a League and Cup double. Amazingly, they gained back-to-back doubles after repeating the feat the following season.
2002/03 also saw the Tigers win the RT Raine Trophy. This is the leagues version of the Charity Shield, with the previous season’s League Champions and MacMillan Bowl winners meeting.
They also retained this trophy the following year.
Boysie’s last Teesside League title was achieved in 2010/11. The league being part of a merger with the Eskvale and Cleveland League, to form the current North Riding Football League in 2017.
The Tigers reached the North Riding Cup semi-final in 2011/12, suffering a 4-0 defeat against York City.
In 2023/24, Boysie won promotion to the Northern League for the first time in their history.
After finishing as runner-up to Darlington United, Boysie advanced into the league, due to Darlington United (now Redcar Newmarket) failing to meet the required ground standards.
In their first season at the new level, Grangetown Boys Club finished 21st of 22, but remained in the division due to the demotion of Bedlington Terriers.
They will look to do better than that as they seek to stabilise this season under the management of Curtis Collantine.
Grangetown Boys Club – Pre-Game View of Trunk Road
Grangetown Boys Club v Tadcaster Albion – The Game
Form
Coming into today’s game, Boysie find themselves in 18th position in the Northern League Division Two.
That said, it’s difficult to fully gauge where everyone should be, with some teams having played thirteen games, and one team as many as seventeen.
Boysie have 14 points from as many games, and have scored 18, conceding 29.
They have won just three times, drawing five and losing six. However, it’s not all bad news, having won their last two games, both at Trunk Road.
Meanwhile, Taddy play in the NCEL Premier Division, one step above Boysie.
They currently sit proudly atop the NCEL Premier, with 24 points from 11 games, coming into today’s fixture on the back of eight games unbeaten.
Last time out, they drew 2-2 with Albion Sports. In 11 games, Taddy have scored 23, conceding 10.
They have already faced Teesside opposition once this season, being dumped from the FA Cup at Northern League Division One side, Thornaby, back in August.
Today, they will be seeking to put that right, and gain some semblance of revenge. I can only foresee them doing just that, being too strong for Grangetown BC.
Pre-match prediction: Grangetown Boys Club 1 – Tadcaster Albion 4
I don’t want to alarm my regular reader, but that’s now two weeks in a row I’ve predicted the correct score (I’ve yet to type up the Stranraer review as I’m behind with computer issues), and possibly the third time this season.
If Opta did stats on my predictions, their one word summary would be #Unprecedented.
The winners of today’s game will pocket £750 and a place in the draw for the next round. The losers will get £250.
Kick-Off
Summary
The first thing I noticed, before a ball was even kicked in anger, was that a player I had once sponsored was lining up for Boysie.
Yusuf Kareem was playing for Durham City in the 2023/24 season and I coughed up £40 to sponsor him for the year. It will be interesting to see how he performs, as Grangetown play at two levels above where Durham City were at the time.
The second thing I noticed was Tadcaster Albion’s away kit. A gaudy mixture of pink and blue that I’m sure grows on you… much like a carbuncle. 😂
Things started well for Taddy, surging forward at every opportunity and hitting the post on 5 minutes. Three minutes later, Adam Lincoln tipped another shot over the Boysie bar as pressure mounted.
However, things took a turn in the 13th minute, with a mistake at the back allowing Ellis Leka to latch onto a loose ball behind the defence. He coolly placed the ball past the onrushing ‘keeper to put Boysie 1-0 up against the run of play.
Taddy resumed control of the game and in the 24th minute were awarded a penalty, easily dispatched by Matthew Mulhearn.
What Did I Miss?
A good time to nip to the toilet, you might think? While the game resets and calms down, I will be in and out before anything happens.
Wrong!
Taddy took the lead just two minutes after scoring from the spot, and a good strike it was, too. by Alex Green.
Annoyingly, you can just see me emerging from the toilets behind the goal as the ball hits the net. 🙄
Boysie applied good pressure as they tried to force an equaliser, with some goalmouth scrambles where they seemed certain to score.
Albion held firm, though, and with half-time fast approaching, they got a third goal against the run of play.
A well-worked free-kick routine ended with Oliver Green dispatching the ball into the net.
Half-time – Grangetown Boys Club 1 Tadcaster Albion 3
Second Half
The rain continued to pour during the second forty-five minutes, though the goals dried up a little.
The game remained entertaining though, and Boysie never gave up the fight.
Despite this, they couldn’t prevent a 79th minute fourth goal for Taddy, and it was poor defending that gave it away.
A loose pass was seized upon by Green, and he made no mistake in adding to his earlier goal.
Overall, the game was an entertaining one, with both sides contributing well.
Ultimately, as predicted, Albion were just a little too strong for a Boysie side who are still growing into this level of football.
Their day will come, and when it does, I will be happy for this lovely little club on the outskirts of Middlesbrough.
If and when a Match Report becomes available, I will post it here.
Full-time – Grangetown Boys Club 1 Tadcaster Albion 4
Attendance – 78
Entrance Fee – £5.00
Programme – £3.00
Grangetown Boys Club v Tadcaster Albion – Match Highlights
As the match highlights are unlikely to become available, I will post the post-match interview with Taddy manager, Ryan Qualter, instead.
Up Next
Next up for Grangetown is a trip to newly-promoted Durham United on September 25th.
The 30th sees another away day, travelling to FC Hartlepool, where they will once again run into Hoppers Guide (sorry).
October begins with a home game against Sunderland West End (4th) and a trip to Sunderland RCA (11th).
Meanwhile, Taddy will have three more away days to contend with before returning to their Ings Lane home.
First up is Rossington Main (23rd), Liversedge (27th), and finally Golcar United (3rd October).
Ings Lane awaits Parkgate on 11th October.
Grangetown Boys Club Thoughts
Despite the rain, (did I mention that it never stopped raining all day?) I enjoyed my visit to Trunk Road.
Friendly, helpful staff, decent facilities and an entertaining game of football, made for a great day, albeit one where I needed a hot shower when I got home!
Nice to see that Grangetown produced a decent quality programme for the game, well done for that!
Not so impressive, were the pin badges. I would advise returning to proper metal, or enamel badges in the future, as the cheap button-style badges are not what collectors want.
Boysie have a lovely club crest, please show it off in the best possible way.
That was my only real gripe of the day, though, so no complaints from me, just that word of (unwanted) advice.
The clubhouse was a welcome refuge from the British weather, and it would be nice to one day see draught beer for sale there. In the meantime, there are cans and bottles for thirsty punters to enjoy in comfort.
Thanks to all at Grangetown Boys Club for treating this groundhopper well, and good luck for the rest of the season (see you next Saturday!)
Also, a shout out to the club’s Twitter admin, who was on hand to help me with a couple of questions before and after the game.
Thank you!
Grangetown – After the Game
Following the final whistle, I made my way out of the ground and turned right, where Trunk Road becomes Broadway.
A right turn at the roundabout brought me into Birchington Avenue, where a bus was already waiting.
I boarded the #64A Middlesbrough-bound bus, leaving five minutes later.
We arrived at Middlesbrough bus station at 17:30, with just another 40 minutes to wait for my connection…
The 18:10 X10 to Newcastle arrived on time, and I was relieved to see no rogue Jedi’s aboard. Arriving in Peterlee around 19:00, yet another 45 minute wait was my prize.
The X1 arrived at 19:47, and I arrived home around 20:20, relieved to see the back of both buses and the constant rain.
Another successful, but wet, Hop in the books!
Next Up for Hoppers Guide
Next week, we continue our aim of completing the Northern League, with a visit to FC Hartlepool.
Ironically, they will be facing Grangetown Boys Club in a Division Two game.
Boysie will be hoping for a different result from today’s FA Vase game, but will again find it tough going against a solid Hartlepool side.
FC Hartlepool play at the Grayfields Sports Pavilion, 1.2 miles away from Hartlepool United‘s Victoria Park.
This will be our first visit to Grayfields Sports Pavilion, and I look forward to it.
Onto the next!
