Horden Community Welfare

Welfare Park, home of Horden Community Welfare based in County Durham and play their trade in Step 6 of the non league pyramid in the Northern Football League Division Two. Nicknamed the “Marras…” I’m guessing it’s a Northern accent thing? Formerly known as “Horden Colliery Welfare” but since 2017, the club is now known as Horden Community Welfare.

It’s a famous day in this club’s history as today is the final game in front of their home ground’s iconic stand… I’ve had this day pencilled in for a while for that reason! Tow Law Town are the visitors today who are sitting in mid table whereas Horden are pushing for the play offs. Home banker?

A long drive from Sheffield up the M1 and A1 sees me here at the ground with 1 hour and 15 minutes to go before kick off! Lovely! £5 for this match! Impeccable! Time to head to the clubhouse to watch 2 of my most hated teams: Everton & Manchester United… Everton 1-0 up but can they hold on…? They can… And they have! Poor from Manchester United you have to say!

Time to head out now and Hoyland John has been spotted!! Get in! Along with Dave and Jack which is great to see! How many more hoppers are here on today of all days? The players walk out for the last time in front of this iconic stand! Will it be a happy one for the home team?

Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Horden play a long ball forward, Maskell brings it down just outside the box and he goes for the lob… Wide! Looked closer than it maybe was. 10 minutes now and Horden play a long ball again into the middle, it’s headed down for Dobinson in the box who takes a touch and he shoots… Blocked brilliantly by the Tow Law defender! And they clear. 11th minute now and Tow Law come forward now, the ball is played to Marley around 25 yards out and he shoots… He’s hit the post… What a screamer that nearly was!!

“Are you the Topliss guy?” For the second week running, I have been picked out!! Am I famous now!!? A big thank you to Katie for that one and it’s great to meet here along with Lee today!! 26 minutes on the clock and Horden play down the right, it’s played across for Dobinson to shoot… Good save and it’s loose… Maskell gets to it first… He’s Offside! Free kick to Tow Law.

29 minutes gone now and Horden play forward again, the ball is played to Wright in the box and out comes the keeper… Wright chips him… It rolls wide but here’s Bowes sliding in… It’s gone out but it is a corner for Horden, in it comes… Cleared by Tow Law.

2 minutes later and Tow Law play down the right wing, it’s played across to McAloon on the edge of the box in space to shoot which he does… He’s shanked it! And it goes wide! Tow Law growing in the game for the first time and are looking the better of the 2 teams as we get closer to half time but at the break it is still 0-0… This game needs a goal! Great to see John McClure here too!!

Second half, sitting in the stand now for the first and only time before it gets stripped down… But at least we can say we were there!! “Da da dadada dadadada Horden!” One fan trying to get some noise going now!!

On the hour and Tow Law play forward, Aaron Hardy is played through on the right in the box, 1 on 1 and he shoots… And he scores!!! The game does have a goal!! Tow Law get it and they lead here 0-1!!

67 minutes now and Tow Law are looking good here now! They play forward again, it’s played to Aaron Hardy running in, he gets into the box and puts it onto his right and he goes for the top corner… And he finds it!!! He’s scored again!!! 0-2!! Great finish!!

72 minutes now and Tow Law have a goal kick which is hit long, it’s flicked on to Aaron Hardy who is through again, is this the hat-trick…? No! He’s put the shot wide… “We love you Horden we do! OH! Horden we love you!” A few Horden fans in the stand giving it a good go now!!

Horden piling on the pressure in the closing stages but Tow Law defending really bravely here you have to say!! 82nd minute and Horden get it out to the right, it’s played into the middle and it comes for Turnbull who shoots first time… Straight at the keeper… He had time but he didn’t know it…

86th minute and Tow Law stop another Horden attack and launch the ball forward, Brown gets onto it and he’s past the last defender, he goes for the lob… He doesn’t connect correctly and it rolls away…

Into stoppage time now and Tow Law play down the left, Nick Marley carries it forward and gets into the box on the left, he goes for the curler… He’s hit the bar… Did that bounce in…? It doesn’t matter as it’s headed in by Lake! It will be 0-3!! The linesman flags and it will be Nick Marley’s goal!! A great finish!! And it’s a great day for Tow Law!!

Horden continue to press… But the Referee blows for full time and that is that!! And it’s goodbye to the famous old stand on a day where a team nicknamed the “Lawyers” would’ve been great for any defendant!!

FT: Horden Community Welfare 0-3 Tow Law Town

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 3/10 – A bit of noise in the stand but not much else sadly.
• The Ground: 7/10 – A great ground with a great stand which will be sadly missed! Not too much else around the ground but I did love the steps which offered a great view along with banking and a good view of the sea front! I like the view the stand offered as well with the houses in the background!
• Expense: 10/10 – £5 for a decent game!! Thank you Horden!
• Overall Experience: 7.5/10 – A good day out all in all! Great to see Hoyland John along with Dave and Jack! Great to meet Katie and Lee and great to see John McClure here as well!

27.5/40