THE festive period is always a busy but rewarding time for groundhoppers with a glut of football on offer.
Here are the particulars of two new grounds I went to just after Christmas at opposite ends of the country…
Blyth Town 0-3 Hallam
- When: Boxing Day Friday 26th December 2025
- Kick-off: 3pm
- Where: Gateway Park, South Newsham Playing Fields, Sandringham Drive, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3PW.
- Competition: Pitching In Northern Premier League - East Division
- Attendance: 336
Overview: Perched on Northumberland’s seaside coast, the town of Blyth is internationally famous in footballing terms. It is entirely due to Blyth Spartans’ incredible FA Cup exploits in 1977/78 whilst members of the Northern League.
They battled through eight rounds (starting in the First Round Qualifying) and won 3-2 at Stoke City along the way. This led to a highly commendable 1-1 draw away to Wrexham in Round Five. I recollect massive tabloid newspaper headlines declaring: “HAIL THE MIGHTY SPARTANS”.
There was so much interest in the replay against Wrexham that it was moved to St James’ Park – the home of Newcastle United - and a staggering 42,157 spectators witnessed Blyth narrowly defeated 2-1. Bringing the story up to date, Spartans are presently members of the Northern Premier League - East Division.
But what really fascinated me is to see Spartans have been joined at NPL level this season by near neighbours Blyth Town. Rapid progress means Town ascended from Non-League Step 7 in the Northern Alliance to current Step 4 membership courtesy of three promotions inside five years.
Bearing such a great story in mind, I set off on my 560 mile round trip up the A1. Blyth itself is an industrial port town housing 38,000 residents.
Ground description: A prefab 100 seater grandstand sits next to similar covered terracing for another 50 spectators.
Programme details: An excellent 32 page edition. The online version is available free of charge on publisher Match Day Creative’s web site. Furthermore, printed copies can be ordered at £2.50p each before being mailed out.
The match: It was 21st versus 15th in the NPL East Division standings. Therefore anyone possessing expert football betting knowledge might have expected an away win.
Beyond a scoreless first half, Hallam racked up goals via Benefit Ndlovu (51 minutes), Danny South (59 mins) and Kurtis Havenhand (90+6 mins). These strikes were loudly cheered by Hallam’s noisy travelling contingent known as the ‘Shed End Boys’.
The people: Blyth Town chairman Scott Douglas has an admirable hand-on approach standing alongside the entry hut to personally welcome every spectator arriving. Scott spoke to me at length about his club’s fantastic quick-fire rise to the NPL and their future hopes.
Canterbury City 0-3 Kent United
- When: Saturday 27th December 2025
- Kick-off: 1.45pm
- Where: Thanington Recreation Ground, Thanington Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3XR
- Competition: NRG 24HR Gym Kent County Football League Premier Division
- Attendance: 53
Overview: Canterbury City voluntarily dropped out of the National League System for this season. They had finished sixth in the Southern Counties East League First Division at Step 6 during 2024/25 but are now playing in the Kent County League Premier Division.
Effectively, the club decided to cut costs and return to their own area after a series of expensive groundshares elsewhere culminating at Margate FC. It was a 200 mile round trip for me to Thanington Recreation Ground utilising the M25 and M2 motorways. Some 55,000 people live in the renowned cathedral city of Canterbury.
Ground description: An open public space containing changing rooms and car parking spaces. The pitch is roped off for Canterbury City’s home games. A temporary gazebo is erected on matchdays for the sale of refreshments.
Programme details: A well-researched 16 page effort lovingly edited by club enthusiast Dave Morgan. Copies were available at the gazebo for £2. It is truly praiseworthy when a Regional Feeder League club like Canterbury City makes the effort to produce a programme.
The match: This featured 18th hosting 8th in the Kent County Football League Premier Division encouraging any betting enthusiasts present to anticipate an away triumph.
And that’s what happened amid windswept conditions. Kent United amassed second half goals through Rhys Irani (56 minutes), Tom Cullen (66 mins) and Anndy (two N’s) Braima (80 mins).
The people: Canterbury City chairman Trevor James was buzzing around performing multitudes of tasks yet still found time to chat.
He went into immense detail about his club’s long-term aspirations in sharing a freshly built stadium with the local rugby club. It will be part of major community sports hub facilities south of Canterbury at Merton Park.
