Close to Home
This week, I would be venturing to Sunderland RCA’s Meadow Park or LGV Park, if you prefer sponsored names.
I would be doing so without Mrs Hopper, which always feels a little weird.
A combination of cold, rain and her working on a project meant she had little enthusiasm for my hobby this weekend and to be honest, I couldn’t blame her.
The weather is back to being atrocious again, isn’t it?
I had decided a couple of days before that I would head to Guisborough Town for their game against Horden CW. Unfortunately, the game was called off, with Horden unable to field a team.
With the rain pouring down, this may have inadvertently been a blessing, as it allowed me to look for alternative games even closer to home.
I have been saving Sunderland RCA for just such an occasion, and they were playing at home, perfect!
Let’s take a look at how I got on with this short trip to Meadow Park.
Sunderland RCA – The Journey
With little need to rush off on a long journey, I left it until after midday to set off.
I caught the 12:20 #35 bus to Houghton-le-Spring and got off a few short minutes after boarding. From here I caught the #39A to Ryhope, home town of Sunderland RCA.
With my navigational expert not being with me, I asked the friendly bus driver to let me know when to get off. I thought I had a good idea of where the stop was, but best to make sure.
That was the theory, at least.
We approached the stop I was convinced I should get off at and there was no sign of the driver stopping. I panicked and hit the bell, thinking he had probably forgotten.
As I got off, he said he would have dropped me off at the next one but this should be ok, too.
Only when I got back home and checked Google Maps did I realise there was another football club in Ryhope… Ryhope CW. It was their pitch that I had been looking at the night before, instead of RCA.
DOH!
Own It
Not a huge error but I might as well own it and Sunderland RCA was still within easy walking distance. Theoretically, I now had a one-mile walk to Meadow Park.
However, that’s without taking into consideration that Meadow Park is one of the most difficult grounds I’ve tried to find.
Normally, Google Maps is a Hopper’s friend but with rain covering my phone’s screen, it was impossible to get the screen to work accurately.
I walked up and down Burdon Lane, with Google sending me down a side road that ended in a fenced-off piece of grass, the ground clearly visible ahead of me, frustratingly.
Having asked a local the quickest way to the ground, he sent me back the way I had come.
I ended up walking all the way back up Burdon Lane, around a cemetery and along Waterworks Road before finding Beechbrooke and the entrance.
By this time, I was cold, wet through and thinking of Mrs Hopper nice and warm at home…
Ryhope
Ryhope is just under three miles south of Sunderland’s centre and lies just off the northeast coast.
The village takes its name from Olde English – Reof Hoppas – and translates to modern English as ‘Rough Valley’.
This is another northeast village/town built on the back of the coal industry. The Ryhope Colliery was opened in 1859 and operated until its closure in 1966. At its peak in 1930, 2,591 men and boys were employed at the mine.
Before the Durham coalfield was discovered, Ryhope had been a small farming community and approximately one hundred and fifty people lived there. Today, that number has swelled to over fourteen thousand.
Originally, a water pumping station that served Sunderland and the surrounding area for one hundred years, Ryhope Engines Museum is now a museum of local history and its tall chimney is a distinctive landmark
Notable people from Ryhope include; Former Sunderland manager, Mick Buxton and actor, Ronald Radd. Also claiming Ryhope as home, was the paternal grandfather of ex-Scottish National Party leader and First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
Sunderland RCA – Meadow Park
Getting In
Despite the longer-than-intended walkabout, I was still here well before kick-off and nobody was at the entrance gate yet.
It was open, so I walked inside and had a wander around the pitch.
The entrance gate is on the east end of the ground, so that is where I will start the review.
East End
The east end is basically just a path that leads to the club’s main structures on the south side.
Apart from the ticket gate in the northeast corner, nothing else stands out, apart from a net to catch errant footballs.
North Side
The north side is also bereft of much to mention, although the team dugouts are on this side of the pitch, along with four of the eight floodlights at Meadow Park.
West End
The west end of the ground backs onto Ryhope Cemetery.
A small grass bank with a green fence atop it stands between two of the staples of Ryhope life… and death.
South Side
This brings us round to the main features of Meadow Park, which are all on the south side.
First up, is a covered standing area at the cemetery end of the ground.
This structure highlights the slope to the Meadow Park pitch, slanting down from the northwest to southeast corner.
A path lies between the standing area and Sunderland RCA’s main stand.
The stand is covered, although today’s rain was getting to all but the furthest row back. It comprises a concrete structure with wooden topped seats laying on bricks.
Red and white corrugated metal makes up the backdrop and plain red for the roof.
A white wall runs in front of the stand, while the rest of the perimeter is a concrete and metal rail fence.
In the southeast corner are the remaining two buildings.
First up is a grey structure that houses the player’s dressing rooms. Beyond this is a building that contains the social club, committee room and toilet facilities.
I accidentally took a photograph of myself while attempting to wipe the water off my phone and it pretty much sums it up. 🤣
Sunderland RCA – Meadow Park Gallery
Sunderland RCA Social Club
Despite the sign above the door saying ‘Ladies’, this was actually the entrance to the social club.
Because of the sign, I had held off from going inside until I had seen a couple of other people walking in and out. I hadn’t wanted to be the cause of any screaming ladies! The last woman I made scream was giving birth to my son and I aim to keep it that way. 😂
I ordered a pint of Carling (£3.50) from the gentleman behind the bar and asked if pin badges were available. They were and it cost me £4.00. I also told him I hadn’t yet paid to get in and gave him the extra £3.00 for the entrance fee.
It was a quiet day inside and I struck up a conversation with the only two other people in the club, the barman and a young man who was here to watch his brother play a trial game for Sunderland RCA.
The barman was an older gentleman and another excellent example of volunteers in non-league football. Despite admitting he prefers rugby to football, he was willing to put in the time and help out his local club.
Fair play, sir!
This felt like a low-key friendly game, despite Farringdon only being three miles west of Ryhope.
The clubhouse itself had a nice feel to it and I imagine on busier days has some good craic but today, it felt a little bit like my library book was overdue.
There were plenty of photographs and memorabilia scattered along the walls and it would be good to come back here another day when it’s busier.
Sunderland RCA Tidbits
Sunderland Ryhope Community Association Football Club was founded in 1963.
Originally known as Ryhope Youth Club, the name was changed to Ryhope Community Association in 1971.
Following a three-year hiatus after being rejected by the Wearside League, the club reformed in 1978, playing in the Northern Alliance League.
A successful spell followed that included winning the League Challenge Cup at St James’ Park in Newcastle, and a league runners-up spot.
They used this success as leverage to persuade the local council to give them some land and Meadow Park was the result.
In 1982 RCA became a founding member of the new Northern Football League Division Two expansion.
Promotion to Division One followed just a season later, they remained there until 1988.
A period of change began in 1999 as the club merged with Kennek Roker, to form Kennek Ryhope Community Association. 2006/07 saw another merger take place, this time with Sunderland Springboard. This formed the current incarnation of the club, Sunderland RCA.
The club gained promotion back to Division One in 2009/10 and two seasons later achieved their best-ever finish of fourth, a feat they managed to equal in 2017/18.
Turmoil
2022/23 saw the club enter financial difficulties and they tendered their resignation to the League.
Fortunately – the issues were resolved and the club was able to continue.
Unfortunately – all the first team players had left after the resignation was tendered and it was left to the reserve team to complete the clubs’ fixtures.
One of the club’s previous bosses, Martin Swales, returned in their hour of need and convinced some of his older retired players to return and help out. They achieved the unlikely and managed to retain their Division One spot.
The reprieve was brief, however, and 2023/24 was a dismal season for RCA, seeing them relegated to Division Two.
They will be hoping to bounce back this season, although realistically, it may take a period of stability before they are ready to push for promotion again.
EDIT: Sunderland RCA recently ran a campaign to raise money with the prize being to name the ground.
The winner was Lillian’s Blinds and Meadow Park will be known as the Lillian’s Blinds Arena for the 2024/25 season.
Sunderland RCA – Pre-Game View of Meadow Park
Sunderland RCA v Farringdon Detached – The Game
Kick-Off
Summary
With Farringdon Detached playing their football in the Wearside Premier League and Sunderland RCA playing two divisions above them last season, it would be fair to expect a comfortable home win.
As it turned out, that’s exactly what happened.
The first half started with some very combative tackling, befitting a local derby game.
The early testiness died out and it soon became apparent that RCA was the superior team on the day. They raced into a 4-0 lead by halftime.
Callum Hughes, a diminutive striker who, ironically played for Farringdon last season, scored a first-half hattrick and gained an assist to put his former club to the sword.
It’s always fun to watch two big guys battling it out on a football pitch and RCA’s captain, number nine Connor Gales and Farringdon’s number eleven gave us a great example of that.
A few niggling shoves and pushes off the ball but nothing untoward. Love it.
The second half saw a more even game with RCA adding just one more goal to the scoresheet.
I will add a Match Report here, if and when I find one.
Attendance – 39
Entrance Fee – £3.00
Programme – N/A
Up Next
Sunderland RCA begin their NFL Division Two campaign with consecutive home games against Boldon CA (27th July) and Billingham Town (30th).
These are followed by a trip to Chester-le-Street United on August 3rd before returning to Meadow Park to host Billingham Synthonia (7th).
Farringdon Detached’s Wearside Premier Division season also kicks off with two home fixtures. The first, against Brandon United on July 27th and followed up with the visit of Hartlepool Pools Youth FC Seniors.
Try working that name into a fan-friendly chant!
Sunderland RCA Thoughts
Despite the weather and the lack of people, including Mrs hopper, I enjoyed my trip to Meadow Park.
The few people that were around were friendly and happy to chat.
The ground has a bit of character about it and I like the fact that they have incorporated club colours into the structures.
A shout out to whoever looks after the pitch at Meadow Park is in order. He can do nothing about the slope but the pitch looked to be in great shape ahead of the new season.
I’m not sure if the club usually produce a programme or not but there was some surprise when I asked if teamsheets were available and it turned out there weren’t any. A sign that there usually would be, maybe.
I would suggest making it more obvious that the social club isn’t the ladies toilet. Obvious once you know, but visitors new to the ground aren’t blessed with this knowledge.
I would also like to see the ground made easier to find, maybe sign posts dotted around the locale pointing the way?
Even one of the club staff I spoke to as I entered the ground said that it’s a difficult place to find unless you know where you’re going.
I truly hope Sunderland RCA’s financial and off-field problems don’t bring the club down.
Please support your local non-league teams, folks – you could be the reason they are still here next year…
Ryhope – After the Game
Following the final whistle, I consulted my (now dry) phone and Google Maps. There was no problem this time around and I retraced my steps out of Meadow Park.
Along Beechbrooke, onto Waterworks Road, follow the path behind the cemetery and back onto Burdon Lane. The bus stop was just to the left as I exited the cemetery path.
Easy when you know!
I caught the 17:10 bus back to Houghton-le-Spring, caught the connecting X1 to Hetton and was home before 18:00.
Groundhopping doesn’t come much easier than that.
Next Up for Hoppers Guide
Next week, hopefully, Mrs Hopper will be back in the navigators seat!
If so, I hope it will be easier fo find West Terrace, the home of Esh Winning Football Club.
Esh Winning, like Sunderland RCA, are members of the NFL Division Two.
Their opponents in next weekend’s friendly, will be NFL Division One side, Shildon AFC, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Northern Premier League last season.
A trip to the foothills of the Northern Pennines west of Durham? What could go wrong in this glorious British Summertime?
I’m sure the weather will be great and I’m looking forward to visiting another picturesque Northern League ground.
Onto the next!
