Kendal? That’s Mint!
The new season began for us on a nice summery July day in Kendal, and let’s face it, those kinds of days have been pretty rare so far.
This year will bring a new experience for the club we were visiting, as they have been sidestepped into a new division for the upcoming season.
Formerly of the North West Counties Football League, Kendal Town Football Club has been placed in the Northern League Division One. This helps the FA accommodate all the teams but at the same time, does little to appease the affected club.
Kendal Town players, staff and fans now face a much-increased travel plan compared to last season.
After losing an appeal to stay in the NWCFL, the club now face a trip across the country every other week. (Penrith and Carlisle City excluded.)
On the upside, Kendal will be joining a very competitive, yet friendly league where they will be made very welcome.
We decided Parkside Road would be a great place to start this season’s Hopping. Hopefully, spreading the word to fans of Northern League clubs who have never visited.
So, let’s look at how we got on in the south Cumbrian Lake District town.
The Journey
The day began at the unholy hour of 05:30, which, on top of poor sleep for the last couple of nights meant a pretty miserable start.
We arrived at the bus station in time for the 06:33 X1 to Newcastle, arriving at 07:30.
We headed to Greggs for the ritualistic Saturday morning breakfast. After eating up, we set off for Newcastle Central Station and awaited the 08:23 to Carlisle.
I Don’t Think He’s Going to Stop!
While on this train, we came across the most talkative man on the planet. For the duration of the journey, he literally never stopped. A combination of the train guard and the poor lady sitting behind him had their ears chewed off – as did the rest of the carriage due to the loudness of his voice.
At one point, he was showing the guard how to box and came dangerously close to hitting the poor man. I think the guard was only there to make sure that the woman was ok. A position I was grateful for, as I had been keeping an eye on him, too.
It certainly made for an uncomfortable journey. A special mention for the guard and the way he handled the situation. Well done, sir.
We arrived in Carlisle at 10:00 and breathed a sigh of relief as the noise abated. I swear I can still hear that man talking as I write this article!
A thirty-minute wait saw our TransPennine Express train to Oxenholme arrive on time at 10:33. Mercifully, the talkative bloke had disappeared in Carlisle and our journey was nice and quiet.
We arrived in Oxenholme at 11:10 and raced through the subway beneath the tracks, coming up the stairs just in time to catch the train heading to Windermere.
Our destination, Kendal, was the first stop just four minutes up the line.
Kendal
In the past, Kendal has been claimed by both Yorkshire and Lancashire. Nowadays, it lies in Westmorland and Furness in southern Cumbria.
The market town takes its name from the River Kent and the valley in which it lies (Kent Dale). It is located just outside the Lake District National Park‘s boundary, though still classed as the South Lakeland district.
Lake Windermere lies eight miles to the northwest, Lancaster is nineteen miles to the south, Carlisle is fifty miles to the north.
With a population of approximately 29,500, Kendal is the second-largest town in the district behind Barrow-in-Furness, thirty-four miles to the southwest.
Kendal is famous for its woollen products and a specific colour – Kendal Green. This was said to be sported by English archers at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
Kendal Castle sits on a hill between the train station and the football ground. It was built circa the 12th century but is now just a ruin.
The castle was built as a home for the baronial families of the area. The most famous of these was the Parr family. Catherine Parr (sometimes spelt as Katherine) became the sixth wife of Henry VIII and even managed to outlive him with her head still on her shoulders!
Of course, you can’t think of Kendal without thinking of Kendal Mint Cake. A delicious sugary, minty mixture that is used as an energy source. Famous mountaineering expeditions, such as the first ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, were powered by Romney’s Kendal Mint Cake…
…and then there are the likes of Mrs Hopper and I, who eat it just because!
Having exited the train station, we made our way along a baffling series of paths and shortcuts through parks and cemeteries. Led as always, by the intrepid Mrs Hopper and the lifesaving Google Maps.
Our one-mile walk was completed as we came down the final path and got our first glimpse of the Parkside ground across the road from us.
Kendal Town – Parkside Road
Getting In
We crossed the road and into the car park on the northeast corner of the ground.
This is where the entrance is located. We asked an older gentleman where the clubhouse was and if we could get a drink. He gesticulated for us to come around the entrance and up the stairs (which he was standing on) in a manner that suggested we might actually be the stupidest people he had ever met. 😂
We walked through the entrance and we were very early, so there was nobody on the gate yet.
Our tickets had been purchased online from the Skiddle ticketing website at a cost of £8.00 each. They were later checked once we were in the clubhouse.
While the ground was pretty much deserted, I figured this would be the best time to have a wander around and take some photographs.
North End
The clubhouse dominates the north end of the ground – how did I not notice that? Maybe the gentleman was right about us! – which perches atop a six-step terrace running the length of that end.
The clubhouse stretches only half that distance and has a few seats (approximately 140) below the windows overlooking the pitch.
East Side
We started our walk around by going down the east side to our left. Immediately in front of us was a covered section that doubled up as a storage area.
Beyond this covered area was a seven-step terrace, though much shallower and smaller than the one at the north end. Above the terrace was more standing room in the shape of a grassy bank.
Memories of Wigan Athletic’s Springfield Park away end came flooding back.
Combined, the two features covered most of the length of the pitch, petering out around the penalty area at the south end.
South End
The southern end of Parkside is a path/standing area with a black-and-white striped wall and trees behind it.
Club-coloured walls and edifices always meet with my approval. They look so much better than bare stone walls.
West Side
On the west side of the ground are a few different features.
There are the dressing rooms, a quite remarkable old wooden stand and a covered area that contains a few more seats. More trees stand behind the whole, adding to the picturesque nature of this ground.
The wooden stand is split into two sections, divided by the players’ tunnel.
The stand (pictured above) seems to be in an ok condition but you certainly wouldn’t want Lech Poznan fans doing their bounce in here!
The dugouts are located on either side of the fabulous old wooden stand.
Beyond the wooden stand is another covered seating section. There are holes in the roof, so choose your position carefully on a cold, wet day.
Support pillars hamper the view a little but nothing too bad that it would spoil the game for you.
This brought us back to the north end of the ground and a fantastic view of the overall ground from atop the terracing in the northwest corner.
The pitch consists of natural grass and there are eight floodlights, four on each side. A concrete and metal rail fence surrounds the playing surface.
Kendal Town – Parkside Road Gallery
Social Club
After doing a lap of the ground, we headed up the terrace and into the social club.
Another positive attribute for the ground!
A large room filled with tables and chairs and clearly geared up for the England v Switzerland Euro 2024 quarter-final match that would be showing on the screens after today’s game.
We went to the bar and ordered two pints of Madri, which was quite expensive at £9.40 for the two.
I also managed to get a pin badge from behind the bar, which cost £4.00.
As with so many non-league grounds up and down the country, the atmosphere was friendly and Morecambe and Kendal fans alike, sat enjoying their drinks.
I managed to get a team sheet from a gentleman who was handing them out. While not as good as a programme, team sheets are a welcome alternative as a memento of the games attended, so thank you for this.
Team Sheet
Kendal Town Tidbits
Kendal Town Football Club was formed in 1919 by the employees of a local shoe factory.
The club were originally known as Netherfield, before changing its name to Netherfield Kendal in 1998. A further change was made in 2000, to the now-familiar Kendal Town.
In 1945, the club reached the First Round of the FA Cup proper for the first time, losing 3-2 to Cumbrian neighbours, Barrow.
In 1949/50, the club got to the Second Round where they suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat at Watford.
The 1955/56 season saw Netherfield register a record attendance with the visit of Grimsby Town for another FA Cup First Round game. They lost the match 5-1 in front of 5,184 spectators.
Another Second Round appearance arrived in 1963/64, losing 4-1 to Chesterfield in a replay. (Remember replays?)
In 1968, Netherfield was among the founding members of the newly formed Northern Premier League. They were eventually relegated to the North West Counties Football League in 1982/83.
They were also founding members of Division One of the Northern Premier League in 1987, as the league expanded.
Kendal Town were relegated from the Northern Premier League at the end of the 2021/22 season, since which, they have played back in the NWCFL.
As previously mentioned, the 2024/25 season will see Kendal Town play in the Northern League Division One at the ninth tier of the football pyramid.
The Parkside Road ground currently operates under the sponsored name of the Westmorland Flooring Stadium.
Jimmy Marshall is the current manager and has been in place since his appointment ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Kendal Town – Pre-Game View Parkside Road
Kendal Town v Morecambe – The Game
With this being a pre-season friendly and Morecambe fielding a young team, there is no need to discuss form, or offer a score prediction.
Kick-Off
Summary
In an even first half that Morecambe maybe just about shaded, it was the visitors who took an early lead in the eighth minute.
I didn’t see who scored the tap-in and strangely, there is no mention of the game on Morecambe’s Twitter (X) page.
Five minutes later, Kendal had this free-kick go narrowly wide.
Morecambe hit the post in the 27th minute, with the keeper saving the follow-up effort.
With no real chances for either side, the half wound up with that single early goal as the difference between the teams.
By now, the pollen was starting to affect me and an itchy nose and watery eyes were the future of the day for me.
It may be a selfish outlook but it’s the reason I hope we never change to summer football leagues.
Second Half
In the second half, Kendal looked like a much-improved team and started to take control of the game.
Within the first five minutes of the restart, the Morecambe keeper, Alfie Scales, pulled off a couple of great saves to keep his team ahead.
The first shot was a long-range effort from Bailey Kenny and then the same player had an effort destined for the top corner turned away.
The equaliser deservedly came in the 57th minute via an unfortunate own goal. Steven Yawson forced the keeper into a good save but the rebound ricocheted into the net off his own defender.
Unfortunate for him but no one could deny that Kendal deserved it.
It set the tone for the rest of the half, with Kendal dominating their young opposition. Yawson was starting to shine by now and showed a few flashes of quick feet and skill that seemed above this level of football and I don’t mean any offence to Kendal by that.
Indeed, Yawson fittingly scored the match-winner in the 72nd minute to cap a great game for him and he gets our Hoppers Guide Man of the Match award.
Calm down, Steven!
From what I saw on Saturday, I feel he could be playing at least a couple of levels above the Northern League Division One. A little research tells me that he was voted the NWCFL player of the season last year, so this was obviously no one-off performance.
Unfortunately, I didn’t catch any of the goals on video but the one below does highlight the sort of dominance Kendal were enjoying in the second half.
Attendance – 450
Entrance Fee – £8.00
Programme – Teamsheet available
Kendal Town v Morecambe
As no match highlights are available, I have instead included the post-match interview with Jimmy Marshall, Kendal Town’s manager.
Up Next
Next up for Kendal Town will be another home friendly against EFL opposition. League Two side, and fellow Cumbrian’s, Carlisle United will be the visitors to Parkside on Tuesday, July 9th.
The club’s debut Northern League Division One campaign will kick off with an away trip to Redcar Athletic on July 27th.
This will be followed by back-to-back home fixtures against Guisborough Town and newly promoted Newcastle Blue Star on August 3rd.
This will be followed by another trip across the hills to Crook Town for a midweek fixture on August 6th.
Crook Town’s Sir Tom Cowie Millfield ground is another fantastic little place to watch football, if you are thinking of going, Kendal fans.
Kendal Town Thoughts
To a connoisseur of old-fashioned football grounds, this is a sexy little addition to my list of favourites.
Yes, it could do with a little TLC, especially in the old wooden stand but the overall aesthetic of the place is very pleasing to the eye.
Of course, the sunny day (interspersed with a downpour during the game) helped but I think even in the middle of winter, I’d enjoy watching a game at Parkside Road.
I was surprised at the lack of Kendal Mint Cake advertising or references anywhere other than the club’s nickname. I would fully expect them to be the team’s shirt sponsor at the very least.
Imagine a nice blue and white Mint Cake wrapper-style away kit. That could be a big seller among football shirt enthusiasts if done well.
This is Kendal’s most famous export and the company should be looking to promote the town and its football club – as well as themselves – as the team travels around the northeast this upcoming season.
Speaking of which, I know Kendal didn’t want to be in the Northern League Division One this year but they need to be looking at it in a positive light. This could give them an opportunity to advance via promotion and give them an insight into what will be involved (travelling wise) should that be achieved.
They looked a very capable side on this performance and will be one of the teams fighting towards the top half of the table, in my humble opinion.
Kendal – After the Game
After the final whistle, we headed back into the social club to watch the first half of the England game.
Due to the Kendal v Morecambe game being switched from a 15:00 kick-off to 14:00 at late notice, our train wasn’t until 18:19.
As mentioned, there hadn’t been much sleep for these two Hoppers the last two nights. Couple that with three pints of Madri, a long day’s travel and a Gareth Southgate England game and it was no surprise when eyelids started drooping… much to the amusement of the people at the next table.
We did manage to stuff some welcome sandwiches down, which were leftovers from the players’ lounge and were being passed around the bar.
It was good to briefly meet Kendal Town’s vice-chairman, John Wharton. Unfortunately, it was just as we were having to leave, otherwise it would have been great to have a chat with him about the club.
After watching another boring forty-five minutes of Southgate ball, we left the club and headed back towards the train station.
This time, we went via Castle Hill (yes, we love to torture our unfit bodies on a Saturday) and had some great views of Kendal and the surrounding countryside from the top.
Some Random Pictures From Today
Our train arrived on time and we started the long journey back, arriving in Oxenholme four minutes after departing Kendal.
A long wait for the train to Carlisle ensued, with the train due immediately before ours first announced as running twenty-four minutes late, before disappearing into the ether with no further announcements.
Luckily, ours wasn’t affected and showed up on time, depositing us in Carlisle at 19:55.
Our final connection to Newcastle was already on the platform and departed at 20:08. The later trains between Carlisle and Newcastle are always a bit ‘lively’ and this one was no exception.
A combination of people out for the night and England fans who had been out all day made it a very noisy and crowded journey home. We were even treated to a Sunderland v Newcastle sing-off at one point.
Yeah, I was expecting that to escalate too but I think they may have been workmates out together and it remained civil, despite a few glowering looks from other passengers.
Newcastle was also a little more hectic than normal and while we were waiting for our bus home, we were treated to someone blowing chunks all over the pavement in the queue next to us, while his girlfriend looked on with a “I’m sorry” look on her face. We caught the X1 home at 22:10 and finally got through our front door clutching a pizza at 23:15.
A long, ‘interesting’ but enjoyable day and sleep didn’t take long to come once we lay down.
Next Up for Hoppers Guide
Next week is still a little up in the air for us, with nothing set in concrete.
Possibly a trip to Redcar Town for their game against Marske United, or Guisborough Town v Horden Community Welfare. Another possibility is Sunderland RCA’s game against Farringdon Detached.
Or, we may decide to take a week away from the pollen – Sunday was a bit miserable for me this weekend and contributed to this article being posted a day later than usual.
I will update the pictures below once our next game is decided.
Onto the next!
