Worsbrough Bridge Athletic FC were originally formed as Worsbrough Bridge Miners Welfare FC in 1923 to provide recreation for the colliers. The club competed in local league football before joining the Yorkshire League in 1971.
This era saw some memorable games in the FA Amateur Cup including a visit from Blyth Spartans that attracted a crowd of 1,603 to Park Road. In 1982 the club became founder members of the Northern Counties East League. Around this time the likes of Mick McCarthy, Mick Wadsworth and later Geoff Horsfield passed through the club.
In the early 1990's the financial backing from the miners welfare ceased and the club changed its name to reflect that. Despite the financial burdens, many ground improvements were made to the Park Road ground.
Further works were carried out at Park Road in the summer of 2014, to enhance what was already a nice venue.
Further works were carried out at Park Road in the summer of 2014, to enhance what was already a nice venue.
Worsbrough Bridge Athletic will play in the Northern Counties East League Division One in the 2014-15 season.
My visit
I arranged a trip up to North Yorkshire to visit friends and relatives so as to coincide with a couple of Scarborough Athletic games and to attend the funeral of occasional Seadog, loyal Hull City fan and absolute gentleman Nick Groombridge. After seeing a win at Thornaby three days previously I got into the car with Jamie, his young son Marcus, Bunner and Carl in good spirits. Boro were chasing a promotion place while Worsbrough Bridge Athletic were floundering near the base of the table.
We reached the village, which is just a few miles from Barnsley, in good time where we parked at the ground and searched out a pub as the clubhouse wasn't yet open. We found a nice, if slightly expensive place back up the hill before returning to the small but friendly clubhouse. Many Seadogs were in good spirits and enjoying the hospitality. Some had visited The Ship pub and were promised free food after the game if they returned after the game.
The Park Road ground shared its facilities with the cricket club who are based at the top end. The Clubhouse End contained the changing rooms and a raised path which gave a good view of the pitch. There was a big slope from the road down to the playing area. Young Marcus had me kicking the ball up the hill to him while he tapped it back down to me. The stone wall at the top was only about 4 feet high which meant passers by stopped and watched some of the action for free!
The ground is easily flooded owing to it been in a valley and a river and weir being located next to the ground. The club battled on despite being hit badly with floods the previous summer and attracting very few supporters. Aside from the cricket pitch and clubhouse ends, the ground has a narrow terrace and cover along the river side and a Main Stand on the top of a bank along the other. It is certainly very pleasing on the eye.
The home side put in an excellent performance on the pitch and should have been awarded a penalty at 0-0. Boro eventually took control and eased to a 3-0 victory. Ryan Morton put in a very impressive performance on his debut while the other highlight was watching the alternative ball boy in action. The ball cleared the cover and went into the river. He went through a gate in the fence and produced a small fishing net on the end of a long pole and proceeded to knock the ball free from some rocks and spoon it out as it got alongside him (see the picture of him about to get into action)!
All in all a good and recommended day out. Our car certainly had a top day as did the passengers of the supporters bus as the landlord of The Ship stuck to his promise and provided free sausages and chips!
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