Back to the Start… Luckily!
This weekend, we’re visiting Hallam FC’s Sandygate Road, the oldest continuously used football ground in the world.
Although today could have easily become a disaster, I got lucky.
With me expecting an NPL East Division game between Hallam and Blyth Spartans, I was surprised to see they were actually playing Prescot Cables.
What I hadn’t realised was that the league games had been put on hold, and it was FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round day.
If Hallam had been drawn away from home, I would have been without a game after travelling all this way. This will teach me the important lesson of checking fixtures before travelling.
I have already discovered that next week’s game has been changed, too. Bury were supposed to be playing Avro at Gigg Lane. Now they will be playing an FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round game against Bromsgrove Sporting.
Again, I have got lucky, with Bury being drawn at home.
With this lesson learned, let’s get on with today’s review of Hallam’s historic ground.
The Journey
The day began bright and sunny, with Mrs Hopper assuring me that there would be no rain according to ‘t’internet’.
I decided to leave my coat behind, and for once, ‘t’internet’ was correct.
Mrs Hopper, of course, is always correct!
The previous sentence was sponsored by Mrs Hopper.
I caught the 08:14 X1A to Newcastle, arriving on John Dobson Street at 09:15.
After nipping into Greggs for some breakfast, I walked to Central Station, where I caught the 09:40 Cross Country service to Sheffield.
An uneventful journey (my favourite kind) ended as we pulled into Sheffield at 12:00.
As I exited the station, I was surprised to see quite a large police presence. On a normal matchday, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but with an international break in progress, I knew neither of the two big teams in the city would be playing.
While walking up to the bus stop at Arundel Gate, I came across the latest protest march. What now?
This explained the police presence, as a group of left-wing protestors were marching around holding placards about the far right.
Why can’t people just get along? We all want what’s best for the country. Now we need to sit down and sort it out. Neither side is completely right nor completely wrong.
I just feel like bashing heads together, to be quite honest.
I caught the 12:12 #51 bus to the Crosspool area of Sheffield, arriving at 12:35.
From here, I walked to my chosen watering hole, of which there are only two in the area.
While I walk there, why not have a read about the city of Sheffield?
Sheffield
The city of Sheffield is in South Yorkshire, in northern England.
It sits in the eastern foothills of the Pennines, in the valley of the River Don.
Leeds lies 36 miles to the north, while Manchester is 38 miles to the west. Derby is 47 miles to the south, with Lincoln 55 miles to the east. Hetton-le-Hole is 120 miles to the north.
Sheffield is the second-largest city in Yorkshire, behind only Leeds.
In the 2021 Census, Sheffield had a population of 494,706, up from 490,070 in the previous count.
Sheffield takes its name from the River Sheaf, which flows through the city centre, much of it now underground. ‘Sheaf’ comes from the Old English ‘scēað‘, meaning ‘boundary’, while ‘feld‘ means ‘open countryside’.
Sheffield therefore roughly means ‘open countryside near the River Sheaf’.
Evidence of human occupation in the wider area stretches back around 12,800 years, while Iron Age communities built several hillforts in the surrounding landscape.
During Anglo-Saxon times, the area lay near the boundary between Mercia and Northumbria. In 829, King Eanred of Northumbria submitted to Egbert of Wessex at Dore, now a suburb of Sheffield. The event played a part in the gradual unification of England.
After the Norman Conquest, the Harrying of the North devastated much of the area. Sheffield Castle was built to control the surrounding settlements, and a small town began developing around it. By 1296, Sheffield had its own market at what is now Castle Square.
Metalworking became part of Sheffield’s identity remarkably early. By the 14th century, the town had already earned a reputation for making knives, with Geoffrey Chaucer even mentioning a Sheffield knife in ‘The Canterbury Tales’.
Steel City
By the early 1600s, Sheffield had become England’s main centre of cutlery production outside London. The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire oversaw the growing industry and helped Sheffield develop a reputation for high-quality metal goods.
The Industrial Revolution transformed the town.
During the 1740s, Benjamin Huntsman developed a crucible steel process that allowed manufacturers to produce much higher-quality steel. Around the same period, Thomas Boulsover developed Sheffield plate, a technique that fused silver onto copper, allowing manufacturers to produce attractive silver-plated goods more cheaply.
These innovations helped turn Sheffield into an industrial powerhouse and earned it the nickname ‘The Steel City‘.
Factories, workshops and steelworks spread across the valleys, taking advantage of local streams for power and nearby gritstone for grinding wheels. Cutlery and steel products carrying the Sheffield name reached markets around the world.
Growth came at a cost. The population increased from 60,095 in 1801 to 451,195 by 1901. Crowded back-to-back housing appeared alongside heavily polluting factories, while poor sanitation contributed to a cholera epidemic that killed 402 people in 1832.
Disaster struck again in 1864 when the wall of a newly constructed reservoir collapsed. The resulting Great Sheffield Flood swept through parts of the town, killing 270 people and causing enormous destruction.
Despite these hardships, Sheffield continued to expand. The Sheffield and Rotherham Railway opened in 1838, the town became a borough in the 1840s, and Sheffield gained city status in 1893.
The city continued its tradition of innovation into the 20th century. In 1912, metallurgist Harry Brearley invented stainless steel, helping make rust-resistant and affordable cutlery available to millions of people.
Wartime Sheffield
Sheffield’s industrial strength made it particularly important during the Second World War. Its factories produced steel, weapons and other materials needed for the war effort.
Of course, that importance also made the city a major target for German bombers.
The most destructive attacks came during the Sheffield Blitz in December 1940. Hundreds of German aircraft attacked the city over two nights, targeting industry and transport infrastructure but also causing widespread destruction to homes and businesses.
Hundreds of people lost their lives, thousands of homes suffered damage, and large areas of the city centre were destroyed. Despite the bombing, Sheffield’s factories continued producing materials for the war effort.
Post War
Following the Second World War, Sheffield rebuilt damaged areas and cleared much of its older housing. New council estates and ambitious developments appeared across the city.
For several decades, steel and engineering remained at the heart of Sheffield’s economy. However, international competition and major changes in manufacturing hit the city hard during the 1970s and 1980s. Steelworks reduced their workforces or closed, while the collapse of coal mining across South Yorkshire added to the economic difficulties.
Sheffield gradually began reinventing itself.
The 21st century has brought extensive redevelopment, while education, healthcare, services and advanced manufacturing have become increasingly important. Sheffield’s long association with metalworking has not disappeared either. Modern research and advanced manufacturing continue the city’s tradition of innovation.
Sheffield also has an unusually green character for such a heavily industrialised city. More than 250 parks, woodlands and gardens sit within its boundaries, containing an estimated 4.5 million trees.
Sport forms another major part of the city’s identity. Sheffield is home to Sheffield F.C., recognised as the world’s oldest football club, while Hallam’s Sandygate Road is the world’s oldest football ground. The two clubs, when they play each other, take part in the world’s oldest football derby game.
Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday maintain one of English football’s great local rivalries in the Steel City derby. The city also hosts the World Snooker Championship at The Crucible.
Notable People from Sheffield
Nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow – Chocolatier, Joseph William Thornton – Newsreader, Alastair Burnet – Comedian, Marti Caine – Monty Python star, Michael Palin – Politicians, David Blunkett and Roy Hattersley – Astronaut, Helen Sharman – Jockey and champion trainer, Harry Wragg – and 1989’s World’s Strongest Man, Jamie Reeves.
Actors: Ray Ashcroft, Keith Barron, Sean Bean, Brian Glover (also a wrestler), Elizabeth Henstridge, James Lomas, and Dominic West.
Musicians: Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), Joe Elliott, Steve Clark, Pete Willis and Rick Savage (Def Leppard), Paul Carrack (Mike & the Mechanics), Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Steve Mackey, Russell Senior and Nick Banks (Pulp), Jamie Cook, Nick O’Malley, Alex Turner and Matthew Helders (Arctic Monkeys), Graham Fellows (Jilted John), Martin Fry and Mark White (ABC), Jon McClure (Reverend & the Makers), Phil Oakey (Human League), and Joe Cocker.
Sportsmen (and women): Athletics: Jessica Ennis – Golf: Matt Fitzpatrick – Boxing: ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed, Paul ‘Silky’ Jones, Johnny Nelson, and Clinton Woods – Cricket: Joe Root – Tennis: Roger Taylor.
Footballers: Micky Adams, Keith Hackett (referee), Ritchie Humphreys, Harry Maguire, Kyle Naughton, Tony Parkes, Ellie Roebuck, Billy Sharp, Jim Smith, Mel Sterland, Geoff Thompson (former FA chairman), Jamie Vardy, Kyle Walker, Neil Warnock, Nicky Weaver, and Howard Wilkinson.
I have, of course, saved Stoke City and England World Cup-winning legend Gordon Banks until last.
Thank you, Sheffield!
The Sportsman
While you were reading about Sheffield and its finest natives, I had made my way along Manchester Road to the first of only two watering holes in the area around Hallam’s ground.
The Sportsman is one of those pubs that looks like it’s owned by a big chain, like Marstons.
A quick Google search tells me it is, in fact, Mitchells & Butlers-owned, under their Ember Inns brand.
Inside, it also has that chain brand feel, and these are definitely not the kind of pubs I prefer to frequent. Give me a quirky, characterful pub any day.
That said, there is nothing wrong with this place. It is clean, well presented and serves food, should that be what you are after.
I bought a pint of Guinness for £5.55 and took a seat by the window.
From here, I watched an elderly couple eat their meal before quietly slipping out in case I disturbed anyone…
Crosspool Tavern
Back down Manchester Road, I found the Crosspool Tavern, which, again, is a chain-owned pub.
Again, this is a Mitchells & Butlers property, under its Stonehouse brand.
Inside, it had a slightly cosier feel, but again, it’s not a pub I would ever willingly choose as my local.
It did, however, rank higher than The Sportsman as a place to sit and have a pint.
Guinness in here was a little cheaper, too, at £5.00 a pint.
There was a TV on the wall showing motor racing, which was much preferable to watching elderly couples eating their meals.
Hallam – Sandygate Road
With nothing much to keep me occupied in the local pubs, I made my way down Sandygate Road for the game.
Upon arrival, I immediately realised my fortune that there was a game on, with Prescot Cables in town instead of Blyth Spartans.
With a sigh of relief, I entered the hole in the wall that led to the ground, passing a small plaque that proclaimed Sandygate ‘The oldest football ground in the world’.
Getting In
After passing the old pay booth, I came to a more modern turnstile entrance, where card or cash is accepted.
I paid my £10.00 entrance fee by card and entered the historic ground.
To my left, I noticed a table with programmes on. I also bought a pin badge from here, which cost me £4.00.
Halftime draw tickets were also on sale.
Programme
For £3.00, the Hallam FC programme provides us with 32 glossy pages of content.
There are just five pages of adverts, meaning just 15.63% of the programme is not football content.
There are words from Danny and Richard Patterson, who are the club’s joint managers.
There is a preview of today’s game, notes about the upcoming AGM in October, squad news, the club history, and player profiles.
A huge six pages are dedicated to opponents, Prescot Cables, who play in the NPL Premier Division, a tier above Hallam.
‘From the Archives’ takes us back 50 years to the first-ever meeting between the two clubs in 1975/76. Each of the four meetings between the clubs has been in the FA Vase, and in each case, the home side won the day (1-3 in Cables’ favour).
There are photos from the previous round, where Hallam saw off Runcorn Linnetts on penalties, a match report from their last game, against Morpeth Town, and the usual league table, fixtures/results, plus today’s squads on the back page.
All in all, I think this is a tremendous effort from a Step Four club. Well done to all involved.
Extra marks for keeping adverts down to a minimum!
North End
The turnstile is in the northeast corner of the ground, and I started my walk around the ground by heading to my right.
The north end of the ground backs onto Sandygate Road, and consists of a flat standing area and a small three-step covered terrace.
This is where Hallam’s more vocal support congregates.
Meanwhile, the Cables fans switched ends at halftime, spending the first half on the flat standing area next to the terrace.
West Side
The west side is where the cricket pitch meets the football pitch and is not open to supporters.
A net barricade is erected along the touchline to provide some semblance of a four-sided ground.
I wasn’t aware at the time that supporters weren’t supposed to be on this side of the ground, and I ended up watching the game from here.
Oops!
South End
The southern end of Sandygate is where the cricket practice nets are located, giving it the moniker of the Cricket Net End.
Other than that, there is just a flat standing area behind the goal.
East Side
The east side is the heart of Sandygate on a matchday, with a main stand, standing areas overlooking the pitch, the clubhouse, a TV gantry, snack bars, and toilets.
The players also come onto the pitch from this side of the ground via the main stand.
As I walked around from the Cricket Net End, I first came across the TV gantry, presumably used for Hallam’s YouTube channel.
A small snack bar stands beside it, followed by the main stand.
This is a 250-seat covered stand that spans the halfway line and provides access to the pitch from the dressing rooms.
Beyond is a larger snack bar, known as Anne’s Cabin. While I was here, I felt it would be rude to walk by without indulging…
I bought a large tray of chips and curry sauce, costing £4.90, and I received exactly what it said on the tin. Decent value and a hot, tasty filler.
After wolfing down my snack, I had a quick peek at the clubhouse, which seemed to be a decent size, though I can’t speak to the prices or beer quality.
The foyer area contained a few knick-knacks such as foreign team scarves, a trophy cabinet, and Hallam FC merchandise.
This brought me back to the northeast corner, and I headed over to the cricket pitch side to watch the game.
Here, I got to talk to a couple of the photographers, and it was great chatting to them about the club and their roles.
One was a student, adding another facet to his photographic talents, while the other was the official club photographer.
Nobody told me I shouldn’t be there, so I stayed where I was, enjoying the company and the close-up view of the action.
Hallam – Sandygate Road Gallery
Hallam Tidbits
The Hallam Football Club was formed in 1860.
Hallam’s origins lie in Hallam Cricket Club, established in 1804 by the landlord of the Plough Inn. The emergence of Sheffield F.C. in 1857 encouraged members to form their own football club, leading to the founding of Hallam F.C.
Based in the Crosspool area of Sheffield, Hallam is recognised as the second-oldest football club in the world, behind neighbouring Sheffield F.C. The new club established itself at Sandygate Road, where it has remained ever since.
Sandygate is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest football ground still in use.
On Boxing Day 1860, Hallam hosted Sheffield F.C. in what is recognised as the world’s oldest surviving inter-club football fixture. The rivalry between the two clubs subsequently became known as the Rules Derby, reflecting the Sheffield Rules under which the early matches were played.
Hallam’s most historically significant achievement came in 1867, when the club entered the Youdan Cup. Sponsored by Sheffield theatre proprietor Thomas Youdan, the competition brought together 12 local clubs and preceded the FA Cup by more than four years.
Hallam progressed to the final against Norfolk at Bramall Lane. The match finished without a conventional goal, but under the rules then in use, Hallam secured victory through rouges, an early scoring method derived from the Sheffield Rules.
The victory made Hallam the winners of one of football’s earliest organised knockout competitions. The original trophy subsequently disappeared for many years before resurfacing in the 1990s. Hallam regained it in 1997, when the club purchased it from a Scottish antiques collector for £2,000. It was later valued at £100,000 during an appearance on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.
Bargain!
The Development of League Football
Hallam entered its first league competition in 1892, joining the newly established Hallamshire League. In the following years, the club also competed in the Sheffield Minor Cup League, the Sheffield Alliance, and the Hatchard League.
Hallam won the Hatchard League in 1902/03. The club topped the regular-season standings in each of the following two seasons but failed to retain the championship due to the contemporary playoff system.
Hallam also reached its first Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup final in 1904, losing 6–1 to Barnsley reserves at Bramall Lane.
The club later enjoyed success in the Sheffield Amateur League, winning championships in 1922/23 and 1926/27.
Post-War Success
Hallam’s organised football activities were interrupted during the Second World War. The club finally returned to Sandygate in 1947, initially competing in the Sheffield Amateur League and the revived Hatchard League.
Hallam won the Hatchard League in 1948/49 before rejoining the Sheffield Association League. The Countrymen immediately won that competition in 1949/50.
The following season brought another significant achievement when Hallam won the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup for the first time, defeating Stocksbridge Works at Hillsborough in front of 7,240 spectators.
Hallam joined the Yorkshire League in 1952. During the same season, demand for an FA Amateur Cup tie against Dulwich Hamlet was so high that the match was moved to Hillsborough, where attendance exceeded 13,000.
The club won promotion from Yorkshire League Division Two in 1956/57 and became Division Two champions in 1960/61. After returning to the top division in 1960, Hallam remained at that level for the next two decades.
The Northern Counties East League
The Yorkshire League disappeared following a merger with the Midland League, and in 1982 Hallam became a member of the newly created Northern Counties East League.
The change presented difficulties away from the pitch. The new competition imposed stricter ground requirements, while Hallam had only a limited period remaining on its Sandygate lease. Negotiations eventually produced a 99-year extension, but the club had to raise substantial funds to secure it and improve the ground.
Further fundraising allowed Hallam to install floodlights, first used in 1992, as well as additional covered accommodation.
Hallam earned promotion from the NCEL Division One in 1993/94 and subsequently spent 17 consecutive seasons in the Premier Division. One of the principal successes of this period came in 2003/04, when the Countrymen won the Northern Counties East League Cup, defeating Mickleover Sports in the final.
Relegation and Rebuilding
Hallam’s long stay in the Premier Division ended with relegation in 2010/11. Several difficult seasons followed.
An important development away from the pitch came through a legacy from lifelong supporter Roger Bell. The money allowed Hallam to improve Sandygate and refurbish its clubhouse. The new 1860 Suite officially opened in April 2012.
Results gradually improved. Hallam reached the Division One play-offs in both 2015/16 and 2016/17, losing in the semi-finals on each occasion. The Countrymen remained in play-off contention until the closing stages of 2017/18 and finished third in 2018/19, although league restructuring meant that no play-offs took place.
The COVID-19 pandemic effectively brought the next two league campaigns to an early end.
Championship and Promotion
The appointment of Craig Denton as manager in 2020 preceded a major improvement in Hallam’s fortunes.
When a complete league campaign finally resumed, Hallam dominated the 2021/22 Northern Counties East League Division One season. The Countrymen won the championship and secured promotion back to the Premier Division after a ten-season absence. The successful campaign also produced crowds of more than 1,100 at Sandygate.
Further progress followed. Hallam finished second in the NCEL Premier Division in 2024/25 and reached the promotion play-offs. After facing Beverley Town in the final, the Countrymen won on penalties and secured promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One East, taking the club to Step 4 of the National League System.
The promotion represented another important stage in Hallam’s long history, taking the club beyond the Northern Counties East League after more than four decades in the competition.
The club’s best FA Cup performance is reaching the third qualifying round in 1957/58, while Hallam reached the FA Amateur Cup quarter-finals in 1924/25. Its best FA Vase performances are fifth-round appearances in 1980/81 and 2023/24.
The club is currently managed by brothers Danny and Richard Patterson.
Hallam’s Place in Football History
Hallam’s importance extends well beyond its league and cup record. Few football clubs possess such a direct physical connection to the sport’s formative years.
The club has occupied Sandygate since its formation in 1860, and the ground staged the first meeting between Hallam and Sheffield F.C. on Boxing Day of that year. More than 160 years later, both the club and its historic home remain active.
The 1867 Youdan Cup adds another exceptional element to that history. Hallam not only participated in football during the period when its rules and competitive structure were still developing, but also emerged as the winner of one of the sport’s earliest organised tournaments.
From those pioneering matches under the Sheffield Rules to promotion into the Northern Premier League in 2025, Hallam has survived enormous changes in English football while remaining at the same historic home. That continuity makes the Countrymen an important surviving link between the modern game and the earliest years of organised football.
They Played for Hallam
Michael Boulding, Harold Brook, Sean Connelly, Fred Furniss, Mick Pickering, Daniel Pudil, Joe Skarz, Mark Smith, and Howard Wilkinson.
By far the most famous player to pull on a Countrymen shirt is former England international Chris Waddle.
Hallam – Pre-Game View of Sandygate Road
Hallam v Prescot Cables – The Game
Form
League form counts for little in a cup game, but for what it’s worth, Hallam have had a poor start to the season, sitting bottom of the NPL East Division.
They have yet to win a game after 9 attempts, have scored just four goals and conceded 20.
The visitors play in the NPL West Division, following last season’s relegation from the NPL Premier.
They are in second place after playing 8 games, with 18 points on the board. They have scored 15 goals while conceding just 4.
With the stats in their favour, it’s hard to see Prescot Cables not winning today.
However, as I said, in cup football, form goes out of the window, and anything can happen.
Pre-match prediction: Hallam 1 Prescot Cables 2
Kick-Off
Summary
The game itself was competitive, and at times, feisty.
Hallam came close to scoring as the half-hour mark approached, with an audacious lob from Leon Howarth just landing on top of the net when it looked to be going in.
Hallam did take the lead in the 42nd minute, and again it was Howarth doing the damage, turning and putting his shot past the Cables goalkeeper.
So, at the halftime interval, it was the home team who went in with their tails up, despite their poor start to the season.
The second half was only five minutes old when Cables scored with a header from Che Trappaso-Tully.
Things started to heat up with the introduction of Cables’ John Murphy, who had a running feud with Hallam captain Jack Dando.
They eventually received a yellow card each and a stern telling-off from teammates of both players, telling them to just play football.
They finally did that, but there was still a little bit of needle in the air.
You can watch a good chunk of the second half in the video below, should you wish to.
An amusing moment came after the linesman on my side of the pitch gave a decision that the Cables’ fans behind the goal didn’t agree with.
His hair became a hot topic for the next couple of minutes, drawing amusement from most, including the lino himself.
I dunno, it’s not that bad, is it? 👀
Despite the hustle and bustle, neither side could find a winner, with Cables doing most of the pressing as the game wore on.
A penalty shootout will decide the tie… Which you can watch below.
Still Needle?
After the winning penalty went in, Josh Gregory ran the length of the pitch in full-on Adebayor madness mode.
He ran to the Hallam supporters with arms held wide, taunting his tormentors.
Needless to say, this didn’t go down well with the Hallam staff and players, and more pushing and shoving ensued.
Happily, there was no major incident, and both sides went to applaud their supporters
If and when a Match Report becomes available, I will post it here.
Full-time – Hallam 1 Prescot Cables 1 (2-4 on pens)
Attendance – 701
Entrance Fee – £10.00
Programme – £3.00
Hallam v Prescot Cables – Match Highlights
If and when match highlights become available, I will post them here.
Hallam Thoughts
The first thing that struck me about Sandygate was the sloping pitch.
It has a 1:29 gradient, meaning the pitch drops by about 11 to 12 feet from the north end to the south end.
The crossbar at the bottom end is well below the bottom of the posts at the top end, and winning the coin toss is a more important thing than at most grounds, I would think.
There is an account I follow on Twitter/X that follows Hallam, and he describes it in his bio as “the world’s greenest ski slope”.
Funny, but pertinent.
I’m not sure if this is a compliment or not, but despite the ground’s age, it doesn’t feel old.
The main stand looks in good shape; the clubhouse is relatively new, as is the covered standing area.
The west side of the ground isn’t used for spectators because it’s the cricket pitch. This gives the ground a lop-sided feel, with nearly all the spectators favouring the north and east sides, though there were a few at the south end.
Food is fairly priced, and if my chips and curry are any indication, the portion sizes are good, too.
A printed programme, with very few adverts, is a good thing, and Hallam earns bonus points for that.
Happy to say that pin badges were also for sale, a staple of many groundhoppers’ ‘must-haves’ on a visit.
It’s a shame there aren’t any better pubs in the vicinity, and if I were to revisit, I’d probably take advantage of the clubhouse at Sandygate. Though I can’t speak on prices or quality as I didn’t use it.
All in all, Sandygate is a must-visit for any serious groundhopper.
It’s not every Saturday you can say you visited the world’s oldest football ground… not even Hallam fans can do it EVERY Saturday!
Hallam – After the Game
Following the final whistle, I headed out of the ground after taking a few last photos.
The bus stop is just up Sandygate Road, and from here I caught the 17:20 #51 bus back into the centre of Sheffield.
I got off the bus at 17:45 on Paternoster Row, leaving a short walk to the railway station.
The 18:22 Cross Country service to Newcastle departed Platform 2 on time, and another peaceful journey saw me get off the train at Durham at 20:30.
I got to the bus station in time to catch the final bus home at 20:48, with the #65 bus dropping me off in Hetton at 21:15.
I was home five minutes later, another successful Hop in the books!
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Next Up for Hoppers Guide
Next weekend, we head south once more, with Bury and Gigg Lane in our sights.
Again, I have gotten lucky that a game is on at Gigg Lane, with the FA Cup granting them a home tie with Bromsgrove Sporting.
Originally, when I booked train tickets, they were due to play Avro, so I am happy that I don’t have to go searching for an alternative game.
As an ex-Football League club that has hit hard times, it’s good to see Bury rising back up the leagues, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them back in the league within a few years’ time.
For now, I’m sure their fans would settle for another promotion, and with the club in the top six, they are on course for a shot at just that.
Promotion would put them into the National League North, just two more steps away from that return…
As always, I am looking forward to my visit to Bury Football Club.
Onto the next!
