Almost Done!
Newton Aycliffe and Stockton Town are the only teams left for me to visit who play above Northern League level.
Today was all about making that just one left to visit, as I headed south to Newton Aycliffe.
The visitors were Belper Town, a friendly Derbyshire club we have already visited and made friends at.
I hope to get to Stockton Town for their game with Morpeth in April, leaving me just a handful of Northern League teams left to visit in the Northeast.
While it’s a good feeling to know I’m almost finished with teams to ‘check off’, it’s also sad.
I guess I will just have to start back at the beginning once I’m done! 😉
Anyway, back to today, let’s get on with the review of Newton Aycliffe and their Moore Lane Park ground…
Newton Aycliffe – The Journey
A relatively late start to the day began with a 10:17 #65 bus to Durham.
The day was grey, cold, drizzly and utterly miserable… unless you’re a groundhopper on his way to a new ground!
However, my enthusiasm was soon as damp as the air after arriving in Durham.
Google Maps (link shows you the bogus stop) had told me to get off at The Woodman pub and head for a bus stop that turned out to be a fictitious one… inside a college campus.
I know this because after wandering aimlessly up and down the same roads looking for the paths shown on Google Maps, I asked a young lady walking by. She told me that she attended this college the year before and there were no bus stops where Google was telling me to go!
This meant walking to the next bus stop on the route, about a mile away and all uphill… steep hill!
If you have ever seen a field full of cows steaming on a cold day, you will have some idea of how I looked by the time I reached the bus stop.
With my coat still under my arm, the 11:23 #7 bus to Darlington arrived.
Despite being the only one on the bus, the windows were soon steamed up! 😂
I arrived in Newton Aycliffe at 12:07 and my steam levels had returned to normal.
While I look for a pub to have a pint, I will let you have a read about the town of Newton Aycliffe.
Newton Aycliffe
Newton Aycliffe is a County Durham town situated twenty miles west of Middlesbrough, with Durham twelve miles to the north.
The footballing towns of Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Darlington and Spennymoor are all within a ten-mile radius of Aycliffe.
Newton Aycliffe is a new town, founded in 1947. Indeed, Newton comes from the phrase ‘New Town’.
In the 2021 Census, the town had a population of 25,766.
Before the new town was built, the site had previously been an Anglo-Saxon settlement known as Acley (Aycliffe). Acley was a blend of ‘Ac‘, meaning ‘oak’, and ‘Ley‘, meaning ‘a clearing’.
The original Stockton-Darlington railway line designed by George Stephenson ran through the town.
Aycliffe was the location for a large munitions factory during World War Two, with women employed at the sites dubbed the ‘Aycliffe Angels‘.
Following the war, William Beveridge was tasked with making Britain a better place to live. According to Beveridge, Poverty, disease, homelessness, ignorance and unemployment oppressed mankind.
With this in mind, he came up with a state system of social security benefits, the National Health Service, council housing, free education for everyone and full employment. This became known as the Welfare State and served Britain fantastically until recent years.
Newton Aycliffe was his flagship new town and the epitome of his vision and so keen was he to make it work, that he lived there himself.
I wonder what such a brilliant mind would think of today’s greedy leaders and the selfish politicians who run the country… in all parties!
Notable People from Newton Aycliffe
Footballers, Jason Steele, Lewis Wing and Brian Atkinson – film director, Scott Mann – singer, David Bryan – Poet, Michael Blackburn.
Spending at least some of their formative years in the town, were comedians, Vic Reeves and Mark Gatiss.
Blakes Sports & Lounge Bar
After leaving the bus on Stephenson Way, I headed to Blakes Sports Bar, close to the clock tower in the centre of Aycliffe.
Inside, it had that American sports bar feel, which, I’m sure is exactly what they were aiming for.
It also had some nice, comfy-looking chairs up by the window that I eyed as soon as I walked inside.
I ordered a pint of Birra Moretti, costing £4.50 and took up residence in a padded, wing-backed chair overlooking the bar.
With Leicester v Arsenal on the TV, this was much better than pacing up and down the mountains of Durham.
After a couple of pints, it was time to head towards the Moore Lane Park ground, just under a mile away.
I passed the town’s war memorial along the way and it was a little different from most I’ve seen.
It almost had a Nordic feel to it, with standing stones and writing which looked almost runic.
Along St. Cuthbert‘s Way (that guy is all over the Northeast!), left at the Big Club onto Sheraton Road, left onto Shafto Way, right on Greathead Crescent, left into Gunn Lane and a final right turn onto Moore Lane.
Seeing Belper Town’s parked team coach told me that Google Maps hadn’t got this bit wrong, at least!
Newton Aycliffe – Moore Lane Park
Getting In
The first thing you see is the large clubhouse belonging to the complex, with Newton Aycliffe’s Moore Lane Park ground also home to rugby and cricket.
The entrance to the sports fields is to the right of the clubhouse.
Once through here, you follow a path that leads past the cricket pitch and to the turnstiles into the football ground.
A club-crested gate neighbours the turnstile. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice this until looking back through my photographs, so I don’t have a close-up.
Entry was by cash or card and cost £9.00.
No programmes were on sale, though I got a team sheet later on from outside the club shop.
Andy Mac
The day before the game, I was told by Newton Aycliffe’s social media man on Twitter, to let him know when I arrived.
I told the gate man and he took me through to point to a couple of figures coming from the top end of the ground towards us.
These were the chairman and Andy Mac, the social media guy (and kit man, PA announcer, digital programme writer, ball boy and all-around good egg).
We chatted about the club and how quickly they had risen through the leagues since the mid-2000s. He seemed a little apologetic that the ground wasn’t the Stadium of Light or St. James’s Park.
I explained that I care more about feeling welcome, and the friendliness of a club than I do about structures.
While it’s nice to see big grounds and unique features at stadiums, football is, first and foremost, about people!
Andy was a nice guy to chat with and even offered to buy me a Bovril.
A big thank you to Andy for welcoming me to Moore Lane Park and I hope to catch you again sometime on my travels.
Time now, though, to do my customary circuit of the pitch.
Moore Lane Park is tilted at a ninety-degree angle, with the entry gate in the northwest corner.
To make things easier, we will call that the north end and start by heading right, to the west side.
West Side
The west side of the ground contains three structures.
There is a covered seated stand, a gantry, presumably used for recording matches, and a three-stepped, covered metal terrace.
All spectator structures at the ground are of the ‘temporary’ kind that will be familiar to non-league fans.
Three of the ground’s six floodlights are situated on the west side.
South End
The southern end is the only side of the ground with nothing in the way of structures.
It is a flat-standing area with a wooden fence and hedge behind the goal.
A sign declares the sponsored name for Moore Lane Park is the Ashcourt Stadium.
East Side
The eastern side of Moore Lane Park is mainly flat-standing, with another covered, seated stand near the northwest corner.
The technical dugouts and other three floodlights are also on this side.
North End
The north end is the hub of the ground, containing the entrance turnstiles, dressing rooms, can bar, snack hut, club shop, toilet facilities and a ‘board room’.
The pitch at Moore Lane Park is natural grass, while the ground’s capacity is 1,000.
Club Shop
The club shop looks like your Uncle Bill’s garden shed but contains everything you expect to see, including replica shirts, hats and scarves.
I purchased a pin badge from here, costing £4.00.
The guy inside was keen to point out his charity pin badges and other merchandise.
Here is a link for anyone wishing to support his worthy ‘Missed a Beat‘ charity, raising money to install defibrillators around Newton Aycliffe.
Newton Aycliffe – Moore Lane Park Gallery
Snack Time
With a couple of pints earlier and no breakfast, it was time to head for the belly-filling hut.
I saw the special and had to have it. Corned beef pie, chips, mushy peas and gravy for £6.00?
Yes, please!
It arrived quickly and was nice and hot, although a sturdier tray to eat it from would have been nice.
While I eat my tasty snack, I will leave you to read a little bit about Newton Aycliffe Football Club’s history.
Newton Aycliffe Tidbits
The Newton Aycliffe Football Club was officially founded in 1965.
After playing in local leagues, including the Auckland and District League, Aycliffe joined the Wearside League in 1984/85.
Their best finish was a seventh place in 1988/89.
The club folded in 1993/94, following a run of games that saw them gain just two points from twenty games.
The club was reformed, playing in the Darlington & District League.
From 2007/08, the club went on a meteoric rise, winning the Durham Alliance title. The following season they won the Wearside League.
After finishing ninth in their inaugural Northern League season, they won the Division Two title in 2010/11.
Off the pitch, ground improvements were also taking place, with seated accommodation introduced to Moore Lane Park in 2010. A metal standing terrace was installed in February 2011.
Their first season in Division One again saw them finish ninth, playing in the FA Cup for the first time.
The next twelve years saw incremental growth and stability achieved. They won the Durham County Challenge Cup in 2015/16
In the summer of 2020, further ground improvements took place, with a drainage system installed, resurfacing of the path leading from the clubhouse to the ground and a turnstile put in place.
2021 saw new LED floodlights installed. In the same year, Brian Atkinson, ex-Sunderland and England U21 player, and 1992 FA Cup finalist, took over as manager.
2022/23, saw ‘The Cliffe’ win the Division One title and promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One East, where they remain.
In 2023 the new dugouts and goalposts were added and at the season’s end, new ladies’ toilets, a second turnstile and a new seated stand completed the improvements… for now.
They Played for Newton Aycliffe
Paul Robinson – Mark Tinkler and current Reading player, Lewis Wing.
Newton Aycliffe – Pre-Game View of Moore Lane Park
Newton Aycliffe v Belper Town – The Game
Form
Before today’s game, Newton Aycliffe and Belper Town were sixth and third, respectively in the NPL Division One East.
Having played 29 games, the Cliffe have won 14, drawn 8 and lost 7.
In the process, they have become the division’s leading scorers with a whopping 70 goals, conceding 50.
Meanwhile, Belper Town has played 29 games, too, winning 18, drawing 2 and losing 9. They have scored 53, conceding 41.
In their matches in February, Aycliffe has played three times, beating Bridlington Town 5-0, losing 3-1 at Cleethorpes Town and, last time out, registered a 4-4 draw with Consett AFC.
Belper has played two games this month, a 2-1 win at Liversedge and a 3-1 loss at home to Carlton Town in their last outing.
Given that neither side seems able to keep a clean sheet and both also know how to score goals-a-plenty, I failed to see how this couldn’t be a high-scoring game.
Pre-Match Prediction: Newton Aycliffe 2 Belper Town 3.
Summary
The game lived up to my pre-match expectations, with both sides working hard and creating chances in an entertaining game.
Aycliffe started the better of the two teams and had the ball in the net in the sixteenth minute. Unfortunately for them, the linesman’s flag was raised and the goal chalked off.
It was Belper who took the lead in the 38th minute and you can see the goal, scored by Harry Draper, in the video below.
Fast forward to 6:10, for the goal.
The Derbyshire side grabbed a quick second, via Jerome Greaves, just moments later and this time there is no need for you to fast-forward.
Just before the interval, Liam Adamson managed to get Aycliffe on the scoresheet.
Go to 2:20 to see the goal.
During the interval, I wasn’t particularly shocked to see Stoke were losing at halftime. Also not surprised that ex-Stoke player, Josh Tymon scored the goal for Swansea.
Imagine my shock at full-time, that we had turned it around and won 3-1!
Brightened the grey skies for this groundhopper, anyway.
Back to this game and the action was just as good in the second forty-five minutes.
Second Half
Just two minutes in, Aycliffe got the equaliser they had been searching for, scored by Adamson again.
The game went a whole twenty minutes without a goal before the Nailers retook the lead in the 67th minute.
Go to 2:02 for the goal.
Four minutes later, parity was restored, with Liam Jarvie grabbing a good solo goal.
Sorry, Liam, I only managed to catch the great finish and missed the run that got you there.
Both sides kept battling to the end but neither could grab a winner, despite their best efforts.
Like both of today’s teams, I had put in a good effort with my 2-3 pre-match prediction but had to be satisfied with coming close – I was right for two minutes!
All in all, this was a great game of football and another reminder of why I’ve fallen in love with non-league football.
You can read a full Match Report here, courtesy of the Belper Town website.
Full-time – Newton Aycliffe 3 Belper Town 3
Attendance – 229
Entrance Fee – £9.00
Programme – N/A (Team sheet available)
Newton Aycliffe v Belper Town – Match Highlights
If and when match highlights become available, I will post them here.
League Table After Today’s Game
Up Next
Next up for the Cliffe is another home fixture versus Liversedge on 18th February.
That is followed by a trip to Carlton Town on the 22nd.
They begin March with back-to-back fixtures against Grimsby Borough (1st) and Garforth Town (8th).
Belper Town ends February with two away games against Pontefract Collieries (18th) and Consett AFC (22nd).
March begins with consecutive games at the Raygar Stadium against Garforth Town (1st) and Bishop Auckland (8th).
Both teams will look to continue their push for promotion, most likely via the playoffs, though Belper has an outside chance of catching the leaders, Cleethorpes Town.
Newton Aycliffe Thoughts
As I said to Andy Mac, football is about people, and grounds are measured by things other than the stands.
He extended me a warm welcome and gave me insight into the club, for which I once again say, thank you, sir!
The clubhouse is part of Newton Aycliffe Sports Club and is used by the cricket and rugby teams, too.
It is large, with two rooms and though I never used it today, it seemed like a great place for pre and post-game drinks for those attending games here.
The facilities at Moore Green Park are good and the food was very good.
As always, I will have a slight moan about no printed programme but Aycliffe is by no means alone in dumping the programme.
I have downloaded and printed myself a copy of the digital programme online and as I said, they do at least provide a free team sheet.
It should also be noted that the club are currently providing excellent entertainment for the fans and that shouldn’t be overlooked in what is, at the end of the day, an entertainment business.
A fact that some teams have forgotten in today’s win-at-all-costs mentality.
I look forward to watching out for further improvements on and off the pitch and wish the club much luck going forward.
Newton Aycliffe – After the Game
Following the final whistle, I managed to speak to Andy again and he seemed to think that the draw had ended their playoff hopes.
I’m sure it was just disappointment talking in the heat of the moment because I disagree and think they still have a good chance of being in them at the end of the season.
Dunston and North Ferriby are just three and four points ahead of Aycliffe, though Dunston has two games in hand.
If they can just shore up the defence a little, they can certainly score the goals to clinch a playoff place and I wish them luck in doing so.
After thanking Andy for his time and the welcome, I left Moore Green Park and headed for the bus stop.
I walked back the way I had come but turned left at the Big Club, to the bus stop on St. Cuthbert’s Way.
I was expecting the #7 at 17:43, so it was a bonus when it arrived twenty minutes earlier. Either it was a late bus, or Google Maps was laughing at me again…
We arrived back at Durham bus station at 18:10, where I had a 35-minute wait for the #65 back to Hetton.
It arrived on time and I was back home around 19:25, another successful Hop in the books.
Next Up for Hoppers Guide
Next week, Mrs Hopper will join me as we head to the Midlands for a family visit.
While we are down there, I will take advantage of being closer to a bucket-list ground I’ve wanted to tick off for a long time.
Hereford FC’s Edgar Street is a real old-school ground with curved terraces behind the goals and it’s one I’m excited to check out.
The visitors are another Derbyshire team, Alfreton Town, who will be popping down from the Midlands to keep us all company for this National League North fixture.
Onto the next!
