Match Information
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Steeton 2-4 Ilkley Town
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When: Saturday 23rd March 2024
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Kick-off: 3pm
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Where: Marley Stadium, Aireworth Road, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD21 4DB
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Competition: North West Counties League First Division North
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Attendance: 146
This was Non-League Day which is always an important juncture on the annual football calendar.
With the international break weekend in full swing, supporters of Premier League betting and Championship sides are encouraged to visit nearby Non-League venues by event founder James Doe.
He has promoted everything magnificently on a voluntary basis for the past 14 years injecting literally millions of pounds into Non-League’s cash-strapped economy. Some of the teams involved think outside the box to attract extra interest on NLD.
One of the best examples are Suffolk-based Bungay Town FC. In 2013, the Anglian Combination members paid 5p to each person entering the ground for a home game. And 12 months later, Bungay handed out free punnets of mushrooms to those attending the Maltings Meadow arena!
Anyway as I scrutinised nationwide fixtures for NLD 2024, I was fully aware that heavy showers were forecast on the Saturday morning.
Cautiously fearing multiple late postponements, I once again opted for the safety net provided via a 3G artificial pitch and Steeton AFC fitted the bill perfectly.
Their manager Roy Mason graces the delightful name of @SteetonJose on Twitter and has repeatedly invited me up to watch a match.
Spanning 44 years of service in local football, Roy is currently fulfilling an 18th season managing Steeton. His wife runs the club’s tea shop and his daughter is programme editor so it is a real family affair.
Bearing all these ingredients in mind, I set off on my 400 mile round trip up the A1, across the M62, through Bradford city centre and 10 miles north-west to the market town of Keighley. (Steeton itself is a village four miles away housing 4,400 residents.)
Steeton AFC joined the North West Counties League First Division North at Step 6 of the national Non-League Pyramid in 2018/19 having gained promotion from the West Riding County Amateur Football League.
They began NWCL life groundsharing at the Cougar Park Rugby League stadium in Keighley to meet grading requirements. Then in 2020, Steeton moved to their current Marley Stadium headquarters.
Ground Description
Bradford Council funded a £280,000 Marley Stadium redevelopment programme preparing facilities to host Step 6 football. Extensive work included relaying the 3G pitch to FIFA-accredited standard and improving the floodlights.
Moreover, a pay box turnstile was installed plus new fencing, dug-outs, perimeter privacy mesh screens, a refreshment cabin and secure walkway access for players connecting respective changing rooms to the pitch. Meanwhile, an existing meeting room was adapted to create a matchday hospitality suite.
Furthermore, a bench seater grandstand for 50 spectators now sits along one touchline and there are two separate covered standing areas behind the far goal ingeniously using converted shipping containers.
Marley Stadium is also home to fellow NWCL First Division North side Route One Rovers FC.
Programme Details
An excellent chunky colour production on sale at the main gate for £2.
Steeton have been prolific programme issuers – even for pre-season friendlies – and it was a really nice addition to my collection of groundhopping memorabilia.
The Match
Played amidst wet and extremely windy conditions in this picturesque valley location featuring towering hills rising beyond both goalmouths.
Accordingly, I sought shelter within one of the covered standing areas to observe local derby bragging rights pitting 14th versus sixth in the NWCL First Division North rankings.
Ilkley Town only had to travel 12 miles over the moors. I love their totally unique Baht’atters nickname reflecting the traditional Yorkshire dialect folk song called ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht ’at’.
A strong away performance unfolded incorporating strikes by Blake Wood (15 minutes), Nathan Hunt (73 mins), Kevin Gonzalez (80 mins) and Alfie Dean (84 mins) for play-off chasing Ilkley Town.
The homesters registered a Luke Baldwin brace (28 and 90 minutes, penalty). Incidentally, everyone I chatted to at Steeton was very friendly so a groundhop there is thoroughly recommended.
My current total of football grounds visited: 2,561
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
