Newcastle Benfield

Although Newcastle Benfield FC have only been on the go since 1988, they have certainly had an interesting history.

Their history started at Brunswick Village FC but changed their name to Heaton Corner House FC after just one season. After one season they moved to their current home at Sam Smith's Park from Walker Park and changed names to Newcastle Benfield Park in 1990.

At this time the club were members of the Northern Alliance and remained there until 2002-03 when promotion was won to the Northern League after they had merged with North Shield's club, St. Columba’s and renamed themselves Newcastle Benfield Saints. Promotion to Division One of the competition was achieved in 2003-04.

In 2005 they changed their name again, this time to Newcastle Benfield Bay Plastics after their sponsors. 2007 saw the club change its name to their current moniker, a few months after going out in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup at home to York City under the managership of former Hartlepool striker, Paul Baker.

Tom Wade had been appointed as manager by the 2008-09 campaign, which ended in triumph on the final day as a goal from Stephen Young two minutes from time away to Penrith put Benfield top of the Northern League for the first time all season as they lifted the title.

Baker returned soon after, then resigned for a second time in September 2011, with Ali Bangaru, a star player and former captain taking over the role. However, he was replaced within a few months by Perry Briggs, who in turn was succeeded by Anthony Woodhouse in the autumn of 2012.

Steve Bowey came in as player-manager in early 2013, remaining in the post until the summer of 2014 when Neil Saxton succeeded him. Within a few months, Bowey returned for a second spell at the helm as the side continued to secure their status in the top division of the Northern League.

Paul Brayson consistently put away the goals before Bowey departed in October 2015. In his place, Benfield opted for the joint manager partnership of Paul Brayson and Mark Convery, with the striker continuing his prolific run for the club on the pitch.

Soon into the 2018-19 season, a returning Wade took over as team boss, before Stuart Elliott was given the job four months later. Paul Brayson was then given the manager's role, remaining in charge until September 2024, after fifteen years with the club.

Andy Ferguson was appointed as the new manager of the Lions.

Newcastle Benfield FC will play in the Northern League Division One in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Saturday October 4th 2008 

I was out and about on a wet morning before heading off to Esh Winning v Scarborough Athletic. I had been to two previous grounds and was under the impression that I needed to get a bus so I could then connect with a train to Walkergate Metro station before taking a ten-minute walk to Sam Smith's Park. 

Although my plans would have been spot on if I'd had come from the centre of Newcastle, I realised I had been within fifty yards of Cherrywood, the road that leads to the ground on the earlier bus and wasted at least thirty minutes.

I continued undaunted and found the entrance of the ground. It was at the end of a smart residential street and not somewhere you'd generally expect to find a football venue. I took some photos over the perimeter wall before realising that the small entrance gate was unlocked so I went inside. 

The entrance was by a corner flag and to my right was flat standing behind the goal with some facilities housed in what looked like green storage containers. The far touchline was made up of a mixture of open hard and grass standing apart from what looks like the start of the construction of a small stand. 

I noticed some tip-up seats stacked next to the clubhouse so I presumed they would be fitted at a later date. To my immediate right was the clubhouse and changing rooms. Further up the touchline was a covered seated stand with a covered shelter next to it for those wishing to stand up.

I left the ground and walked further up Benfield Road away from the station which led me to the main Coast Road from where I caught a bus into town for a very large brunch!