Tarmac Silverlands Stadium, home of Buxton FC based in Derbyshire and compete in Step 3 of the non league pyramid in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Nicknamed the “Bucks” as it’s in the name ‘Buxton’. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! And we’re starting 2022 in typical me fashion by going to a game… We’re starting the new year from the top! With a visit to the highest ground in England above sea level at 1,000 feet… Hope they’ve got oxygen tanks up there…
Stafford Rangers are the visitors to Silverlands today who are in mid-table up against a Buxton team who are knocking on the door of the National League North. NYE is over and the majority will be suffering from sore heads this morning… But it won’t dampen my spirits!! Rotherham United, Basford United, Carlton Town or Buxton are the choices… After much deliberation with Tom and the Super Stag, Me and our other mate Lewis are set on Buxton! At long last! The short journey from Sheffield sees us there just in time for kick off. Thanks to Buxton’s Ewan Catt it’s… Free Entry into this one! UNREAL!
Kick Off! “RANGERS! clap clap clap THE RANGERS!” 6 minutes in and Buxton have a free kick just inside the Stafford half, it’s lumped forward into the box, Buxton win it and head it across and here’s Warren Clarke… He heads over. “Come on Stafford come on!” Stafford Rangers in good voice so far!!
A bit of banter between both sets of fans now! 18 minutes on the clock and Stafford have a corner, “Rangers! clap clap clap The Rangers!” In comes the corner, James O’Neil rises up the highest and heads at goal… Buxton can’t keep it out and Stafford Rangers take the lead!!! 0-1!!
“You’re s*** and you know you are!” Stafford fans telling the Buxton fans what they think of their team. “And it’s all gone quiet over there!” Stafford fans still going, are the Buxton fans going to respond? “We are the boys from Buxton town!” There they are! “Stafford boys we are here woah woah!” Stafford fans’ spirits are the highest at the moment you have to say! Can Buxton respond on the pitch?
25th minute and Buxton come forward, it’s played through to Ash Chambers and he’s in here… He shoots… And scores!! They’re level!!! 1-1!! And now the Buxton fans are having their say! “Who are ya!? Who are ya!?”
33 minutes played and Buxton have a corner, in it comes… Josh Granite with the volley… Blocked! It’s loose… It’s out for another corner, “Come on Buxton! Come on Buxton!” in that one comes… Ben Middleton with the header… Over! 37th minute and Buxton have a free kick on the right, it’s crossed into the box, Josh Granite wins the header… It’s wide! He should’ve done better there!
41st minute and Buxton break forward, it’s played through to Warren Clarke, he makes space for the shot… Keeper gets a foot to it and it goes out for a Buxton throw, in comes the throw, Stafford win the ball back and clear. 1-1 at half time here and now for the half time entertainment with the mascot in goal for some penalties! After 15 minutes, the players come back out on to the pitch with a chorus of “Come on Buxton! Come on Buxton!”
Second half, 1 minute into the second half, Buxton come forward down the right hand side, it’s crossed in low, Buxton slide in… They don’t get there but it’s kept in at the far post and played across goal again with the keeper committed, Ash Chambers is there at point blank… He couldn’t miss! Buxton have turned it around!! 2-1!! “E I E I E I O! Up the Football League we go!”
49th minute and Buxton come forward again, it’s played to Warren Clarke on the edge of the box, he turns and shoots… Keeper tips it wide! Corner, in it comes… Stafford clear the danger. The famous Andy Brownrigg chant is being belted out by the Buxton faithful now! They sure have picked out his best traits I’d say! “Oh I love you’re Angry Brow, your 2 left feet, your beer belly, your broken nose, your knobbly KNEES, your double chin…” I hope they loved his footballing ability! “Andy Andy! Andy Andy Brownrigg!” One of the best chants I’ve ever heard!! Fantastic!
67th minute and Stafford have a throw in on the left hand side, it’s a long one into the box… Joe Kenton with the header… Keeper claims. 1 minute later and Buxton play forward, Jason Gilchrist is played in and he shoots… And he finds the net… But the flag is up! No goal! Offside!
76 minutes on the clock and Buxton have a throw in on the right, played to Ash Chambers in the box, he holds off his man and plays it across low, Jason Gilchrist is there at the far post… He can’t get there and it rolls away… 3 minutes later and it’s a long throw in by Stafford into the box again, it’s flicked on to Joe Kenton at the far post and he shoots… Just wide! Buxton beware here!
84th minute and Stafford have a corner, played short, it’s delivered into the box… Ethan Stewart is there at the far post… He heads it in!!! Buxton couldn’t hold on and Stafford have levelled it! 2-2!
It’s a cagey affair now! Will we have a winner? 87 minutes on the clock and Buxton come forward down the right, played in low, the Referee gives a free kick to Stafford for a cheap foul given away there by Buxton, the keeper launches the ball forward, Buxton don’t deal with it and the ball bounces above them and here’s Jake Charles who’s in on goal with the keeper committed… HE’S DONE IT… Would you believe it! The Stafford fans are going crazy! He lobs the keeper and it looks like Stafford Rangers have stolen it here!
Buxton are piling on the pressure for the equaliser now after looking good for most of the second half, they have a corner in stoppage time and up comes the keeper! In comes the corner… Headed away by Stafford, it comes for the keeper who chests it… Stafford get there just in time but Buxton have it back and launch it forward, Stafford win a free kick after another cheap foul… Stafford playing it around the corner flag now but Buxton win the throw in, they play it back to the keeper who launches it forward, is there time for one last Buxton attack…? No! The Referee blows for full time and Stafford can celebrate! Buxton have chucked it away! Game management…
FT: Buxton 2-3 Stafford Rangers
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 9/10 – Fantastic from both sets of fans today but I thought the Buxton fans just edged it for me especially in the second half as they were upbeat and fantastic! Loved the Andy Brownrigg chant and how they got behind their team even after they threw the game away! They certainly did down out any noise coming from the Stafford Rangers fans in the second half.
- The Ground: 10/10 – One of the best in non-league I think! One of Mike Bayly’s 100 and for a reason! Stands with character at 3 ends and great views of the peak district as well!
- Expense: 10/10 – Was it ever in doubt? Even after free entry? I’d have been happy to pay £40 for that!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – A fantastic day out! Delighted to finally tick this ground off at long last! A big thank you to Lewis for getting here and a big thank you to Ewan Catt for the ticket!! Great game as well!
39/40 – WHAT A START TO 2022!! TABLE TOPPERS!!!
Good report, only thing I’d question is the atmosphere, buxton fans were in the covered ends both halves so will seem louder. But to make noise in an open end like we did in the 2nd half, we more than gave it back, just the acoustics didn’t favour us
Honestly mate couldn’t hear you in the second half until you’d scored but I have to say I thought your fans were fantastic regardless and I’ll look forward to visiting Stafford one day!
You should have mentioned the Stafford get battered song, as we took it over after we equalised and then scored the winner.
I did hear it after the game haha
Sounded like a good match day experience, the Andy Brownrigg chant isn’t original it is part of a Stockport County song.
One of the best articles/reviews I’ve ever seen. Well done. I used to live in Buxton but am now in Runcorn. Have you visited Runcorn Linnets yet? The league below but in play-off places at present. You’d enjoy it.
Thank you mate! I haven’t seen either Runcorn team yet but I look forward to one day!