Bracken Edge, home of Yorkshire Amateur AFC who are based in Chapel Allerton on the outskirts of Leeds. March 2nd 2013 and it was the day of the visit of Shirebrook Town. Me, the Shirebrook Boys and the rest of the traveling Shirebrook fans were excited for this one. Shirebrook were in a great run of form winning their last 5 in all competitions and winning 8-1 against Yorkshire Amateur in the reverse fixture last season.
As we got into Leeds, we drove past another famous football ground, Elland Road. The Leeds United hating Shirebrook fans on the bus began to sing the famous old chant “We all hate Leeds s**m!” 15 minutes later we arrived at Bracken Edge and made our way to the bar. 15 minutes before the game we made our way into the ground for £3! Fantastic! Me and the Shirebrook boys that travelled raised the Shirebrook Town flag in the stand and were ready to cheer on the boys.
Shirebrook fighting for promotion up against a Yorkshire Amateur side fighting at the wrong end of the table. If I were a betting man, I know who my money would be on (no Bias). Yorkshire Amateur started the better having more of the possession but didn’t pose any real threat on the Shirebrook goal. It was a poor first half of Football but that didn’t stop the Boot Boys in the stand, “Mark Shaw’s Barmy Army!” sounded around the ground. 36 minutes on the clock, a ball played directly up the field was poorly dealt with by the Yorkshire defence and the ball fell to Mitcham Husbands on the edge of the box who went for goal and found the bottom corner!!! “Let’s all do the Poznan!!!” With no other real attacks, the first half ended 0-1 to Shirebrook.
The second half started and Shirebrook began to take control of the game. Wave after wave of Shirebrook attacks and then finally after Mitcham Husbands rounded the keeper and unselfishly crossed the ball for Ellis Wall to head home from point blank. You know what comes next!! However, a first at a football match for me personally, As the goal was celebrated by me and the rest of the traveling faithful, the Referee appeared to be speaking to the Shirebrook manager Mark Shaw, we then found out that the Referee had requested that the Shirebrook Boys quieten down as he couldn’t concentrate, in a crowd of 62 fans? And 4 of us singing? As a big fan of the Respect campaign for Referees, I didn’t get too angry about it but the others were visibly disappointed and I couldn’t blame them on this one.
After being told by the Shirebrook fans to bring his shooting boots, Shirebrook’s number 9 Danny Williams would go on to score twice to make it 0-4 to the visitors. The full time whistle blew and job done by Shirebrook, if only I could have bet on that! 6 wins in a row for Shirebrook but we didn’t say it too loud, we didn’t want to distract the Referee… he would later see the funny side of it all and shook all our hands in the club bar. What a great sport!
FT: Yorkshire Amateur 0-4 Shirebrook Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 6/10 – Plenty of noise from the Shirebrook Boys but we have been louder…
- The Ground: 4/10 – It’s a decent little ground for this level, the stands are a bit run down so I’ll stick with 4.
- Expense: 10/10 – £3 to get in!! Not getting any better than that! If only the professional leagues charged that much…
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – A fantastic day, a win for Shirebrook and to be told were too loud by the Referee.
28/40
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