Match Information
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West Allotment Celtic 1-3 Shildon
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When: Saturday 29th July 2023
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Kick-off: 3pm
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Where: East Palmersville Sports Pavilion, Palm Court, Palmersville, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 9HF
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Competition: Northern League Division One
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Attendance: 110
After my Friday night match at Redcar Town versus Sunderland West End in the Northern League Division Two, I stayed overnight near Middlesbrough in preparation for an epic double groundhop.
This comprised a 3pm kick-off at West Allotment Celtic followed by a mad dash up to Berwick-upon-Tweed for the 6.30pm Charities Cup Final at the iconic Stanks (more to come in my later groundhopper blogs).
I had previously seen West Allotment host a home game on Saturday 26th October 2013 at their old Whitley Park venue in Benton which is the Northumberland County Football Association headquarters.
On that occasion, I witnessed a 0-0 draw against North Shields (attendance 429) as part of an official Northern League groundhopper event where I also took in fixtures at Heaton Stannington and Team Northumbria.
Celtic have switched home three times since then via Druids Park in Woolsington and a groundshare with Newcastle Benfield FC before settling at East Palmersville Sports Pavilion two years ago. So it was high time to revisit them.
Incidentally, Whitley Park now accommodates the Newcastle United under-21 team. West Allotment itself is a village in North Tyneside just under two miles from Palmersville.
Ground Description
Located six miles north of Newcastle city centre. A spacious car park adjoins the imposing pavilion.
This building houses a number of sporting and community activities including the Forest Hall Boxing Club, craft sessions, a games club and miscellaneous private functions.
The main football arena is enclosed and floodlit. Two 50-seater prefab grandstands straddle one touchline plus a compact covered terrace is directly behind one goal.
West Allotment share these facilities with Northern Football Alliance League outfit Forest Hall Celtic FC.
Programme Details
A nice homespun affair on sale at a table next to the entry gate. Twenty pages including the histories and pen pictures of both teams.
The People
West Allotment Celtic chairman David Dodds spoke extremely proudly about the club’s progress over recent years in telling me: “We moved to Palmersville ready to play in the 2021/22 season after completing work during the summer to meet ground grading specifications.
“Prior to then, we were based up at Druids Park near Newcastle International Airport. However this was miles away from our traditional catchment area and attendances were so poor together with a very bad playing surface. It meant we would have ceased to exist if we stayed there.
“Palmersville already had a railed off pitch so floodlights, stands, dug-outs and hard standing were all needed. Thanks to the Foundation Foundation, we obtained the maximum grant of £100,000 to reach necessary Northern League requirements. The total build including VAT was about £180,000. Club committee members raised the balance alongside some sponsorship.
“We aim to gradually add extra facilities for food and drinks provision in addition to a club shop. The sports pavilion are planning to extend their bar as well to enhance the overall matchday experience. Having obtained a 40 year lease, this gives us time to grow everything in a sensible and sustainable way. Hopefully no more relocating ground for some time to come.
“We try to promote a family feel here. Our juniors field six teams and regularly contribute mascots for Northern League fixtures. The West Allotment Celtic ladies’ side sometimes play at Palmersville too and many of the ladies come along to watch the men’s team in action.”
Furthermore, it was interesting for me to chat to local football writer Mark Carruthers. He is the North-East’s top Non-League reporter and has a real passion for the Northern League.
The Match
An entertaining contest at Step 5 of the National Non-League Pyramid.
Freshly relegated down from the Northern Premier League Division One East, visitors Shildon dynamically raced into a 3-0 lead through Joe Posthill (17 minutes), Ciaran Banks (28 mins) and Alex White (31 minutes).
Celtic’s Cyril Giraud pulled one back 10 minutes later but chances of further recovery diminished when Liam Beeston failed to convert a penalty in first half stoppage time whereby away goalkeeper Harrison Bond brilliantly blocked the kick.
Not much happened beyond half-time and once the full-time whistle sounded I sped off north in my car towards Berwick.
*Credit for photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
