Match Information
- Sunderland West End 1-2 Jarrow
- When: Saturday 21st February 2026
- Kick-off: 3pm
- Where: John G Hogg Funeral Directors Stadium, Leisure United Ford Hub Sports Complex, Keelman’s Lane, South Hylton, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR4 0HB
- Competition: Ebac Northern League Division 2
- Attendance: 100
Persistent rain has been causing extremely late football postponements all over the country lately. Therefore I opted for a game taking place on 3G artificial turf to make sure I wouldn’t encounter any waterlogging problems.
It was also a chance for me to complete visits to all the grounds in the Northern League at Steps 5 and 6 of our national Non-League Pyramid.
Looking back, I saw my very first match in this famous league on Bank Holiday Monday 30th August 1982 as North Shields lost 1-0 to visitors Evenwood Town at the now demolished Appleby Park (attendance 174).
Bringing the story up to date, Sunderland West End signified a ‘Champagne Job’ for me using bygone groundhopping parlance. The long-standing idea was that if a groundhopper concluded visits to every venue in a particular league, they should march into the clubhouse at full-time and buy a bottle of champagne.
Everybody around the bar would subsequently be offered a glass of bubbly in celebration. I am not sure if anyone actually carried out the generous undertaking although it seems a nice concept!
Anyway bearing everything in mind, I set off early on my 520 mile round trip to Sunderland utilising the A1, A168 and A19. Yet on arrival at 1pm, I found the match was in some doubt.
People were talking in hushed tones about possible health and safety implications of the toilets being out of use. Indeed, four manhole covers were open revealing severely blocked sewage drains.
Accordingly, a Sunderland West End volunteer intrepidly climbed six feet down into a hole in the ground to investigate. Furthermore, one of Jarrow’s club officials is a plumber by trade and he offered his expert advice.
I’m not sure if the matter was entirely resolved but I breathed a sigh of relief when it was eventually confirmed the match could definitely go ahead.
Ground Description
The busy complex has three full size all-weather pitches and is operated by altruistic charitable trust Leisure United.
Numerous children and parents were present for football training and matches. A large car park leads to the main building which contains changing rooms and the ‘Football Café’.
Within the Sunderland West End branded John G Hogg Funeral Directors Stadium, viewing access is available on three sides of the playing area.
There are two identical 50 seater prefab grandstands straddling the halfway line – both prominently displaying the home club’s rousing hashtag of #WESTISBEST. I had previously seen fixtures at similar Leisure United hubs at Jericho Lane in Liverpool and Parsloes Park in Essex.
Programme Details
No programme was issued. However, up to date duplicated colour teamsheets from the Football Web Pages website were distributed free of charge at the entry turnstile.
In addition, Sunderland West End’s helpful secretary Colin Stores said he would email me a digital programme for the Jarrow game.
The Match
Featuring two teams based less than six miles apart as the crow flies. On a mild day, 14th hosted 4th in Northern League Division 2 rankings.
Thus spectators possessing expert football betting knowledge might have expected an away victory. And that’s exactly what happened.
Backed by a boisterous travelling contingent, Jarrow raced into a two goal lead through Luke Hudson (23 minutes, penalty) and Kieren Beattie (28 mins).
Even so, Sunderland West End stepped up their performance after the break to impact those considered opinions of betting enthusiasts in attendance.
Luke McCabe (85 mins) pulled one back for West End thereby delighting an animated group of young fans who banged noisy drums in support. But despite late pressure, they couldn’t equalise and Jarrow secured victory.
Football grounds visited: 2,684.
Footnote: An updated countdown on my life's ambition to watch a match at every Non-League ground in the country.
I currently have two grounds left to visit in the entire National League System. These are Fulwood Amateurs FC (Lancashire) and Ilminster Town FC (Somerset). I hope to finish the mammoth task by Easter this year.
