Stokesley Sports Club

Stokesley Sports Club FC is a non-league football club from the market town of Stokesley, which is located in North Yorkshire, around ten miles south of Middlesbrough. The club was formed in 1920.

The team participated in various local leagues: The Stokesley & District League, Langbaurgh League, and the South Bank & District League, playing at The Bypass and Springfield before moving in with Stokesley Cricket Club, before they moved out in 1963 to use several more venues.

The club became a member of the Teesside League in the summer of 1994, two years after returning next door to the cricket club. Stokesley went on to become a member of Division Two of the Wearside League for the 1999-00 season.

The team finished as runners-up in their debut season before the league became just one division for the following season. In 2004, Stokesley Sports Club and the North Riding Football Association won a lottery grant for £894,000 to build a new clubhouse and ground development to meet Northern League standards as the local FA moved into the site.

The 2005-06 campaign saw the club finish as Wearside League runners-up and progress to Division Two of the Northern League, before changing their title to Stokesley FC in the summer of 2009. The team ended the following season as divisional champions, securing promotion to Division One.

Stokesley reverted to their original name in 2011 before they were relegated to Division Two after the 2011-12 season. The 2015-16 campaign saw the club finish bottom of the table to face relegation back to the Wearside League.

The team finished the 2016-17 season in fourteenth position under manager Craig Winter. The Wearside and Teesside Leagues combined in the summer of 2018, with Stokesley becoming members of the Premier Division of the North Riding League. 

Steve Todd was appointed as manager at the start of the 2019-20 season, which, like the following campaign, was abandoned owing to the worldwide pandemic. Dave Howe took over the role before being succeeded by Dan Boswell in September 2021. James Hunter replaced him in the manager's seat.

The team lifted their league crown in 2025-26, winning promotion back to Division Two of the Northern League.

Stokesley Sports Club will play in the Northern League Division Two in the 2026-27 season.

My visit

Richmond Town 0 Scarborough Athletic 2 (Wednesday 25th January 2017) North Riding Senior Cup Quarter Final (att: 165)

My visit to Stokesley kicked off six days of football on the road as I used up the remainder of my annual league. The fixture was being played at the Sports Club, as ‘home’ team Richmond Town had no floodlights at their Slee Gill home ground.

My day had been fun-packed in improving weather as I headed north on the train to Darlington before I obtained a £7.80 one-day bus ticket and visited the home grounds of Darlington, Darlington Railway Athletic, Shildon, Bishop Auckland, West Auckland, Crook Town, and Willington football clubs.

After a quick look at Bishop’s old home at the cricket club, I took a train to Middlesbrough, where it was time to grab some food before catching the 28A bus through the Cleveland Hills to Stokesley.

The floodlights of the ground were visible as we approached the town. I alighted, so I never got a look at the town or its pubs, which in hindsight may have been an error. Instead, I headed straight to the ground and paid the very fair £4 admission along with a programme for another quid.

It was my first time at the ground, so I wasn’t aware that the clubhouse and bar were outside the entrance. The kind lady at the gate let me back out so I could head for the warm on what was becoming a very cold evening.

The clubhouse was neat and tidy, even though there was no real ale. I plumped for a bottle of Newcastle Brown after a warming cuppa as the room began to fill up with Boro fans. The travelling support supplied the majority of the crowd.

Once back inside the venue, I took in the scene. There was a neat seated stand down the near side with two low covers behind the goal by the entrance. The rest of the ground consisted of open flat grass and concrete standing areas.

It was lovely to catch up with old friends: Boro directors Nick Finch and Andy Troughton, along with Colin Whelan, who was giving me a ride to Scarborough after the game, and Nigel Searle, along with the unpredictably entertaining Steve Dixon.

This turned out to be my only Boro game of the season. I really should have made more of an effort, but I didn’t want to attend a home game. This was owing to not wanting to test my emotions too far. Queensgate in Bridlington, where Boro were still tenants, was the last place I’d gone to a game with my Dad before he died.

Naturally enough, I was unfamiliar with the Boro team and was interested to see what Steve Kittrick’s outfit had to offer. At the time, they were in a mid-table berth. Their opponents were riding high in the Wearside League.

It turned out to be a very testing evening for the Seadogs as underdogs Richmond flew into challenges and were not prepared to leave anything out on the pitch. Callum Robinson came close for Boro after sixteen minutes, but his drive was saved by Karl Latcham.

The visitors suffered an injury blow shortly after when full back Scott Brown was pole axed with a shocking challenge. He departed with a suspected broken leg. Scott Ryan was proving a handful up front for Town. He twice got round the back of the visiting defence but couldn’t score.

Richmond’s no-nonsense approach was rattling the Boro team, not to mention the supporters. Dan Caisley brought a good save out of Seadogs keeper Jordan Porter from distance. Bro replied with efforts from debutant Matt Lucid, Dave Merris, and Jacob Hazel.

At the break, it was time to head back to the warmth of the clubhouse before returning to take advantage of the excellently priced catering. A Bovril was only 80p, which was an excellent cheeseburger with onions, great value at £2.

We stood in the shelter behind the goal in the second period. Some of the stuff coming from the away support had to be heard to be believed. Referee Wood was having a weak game, but I still think some fans in red and white were watching a different game.

Merris had a free kick turned over the bar, while Hazel saw a volley deflected inches wide of the post. There was an amusing incident when home keeper Latcham began to limp. A teammate took over the gloves, but no substitute came on. Latcham reappeared a few minutes later, having been to the loo to relieve himself!

The match was showing all the signs of ending goalless and going to penalty kicks. Latcham wasn’t the same keeper after his adjournment, as he flapped at crosses. Boro piled on the pressure without breaching the Richmond defence.

As the game entered its final minutes, Boro went ahead when forward Benny Igiehon glanced a header towards goal. Latcham should have saved it, but he could only parry the ball into the corner of the net. It was well deserved after a period of positive football.

Home forward Ryan was shown a second yellow card as Town were reduced to ten men. Jason Newall then fouled Boro’s star man, Robinson, in the box. Hazel stepped up to score from the spot and secure a passage into the semi-final.

Richmond had played their part, if in an aggressive fashion at times. Their fans went away disappointed, but proud at the same time.

Colin drove marvelously as ever, and I was checking into the Premier Inn in Scarborough around midnight, ready for a good sleep. 

After a very pleasant morning and lunch in the town, including magnificent fish and chips at Mother Hubbard's, I headed down to Hull for the second match of my extravaganza; the EPL Cup semi-final between City and Manchester United.

Crook Town

Crook Town AFC is a football club from the former mining town of the same name in County Durham. The club was formed in 1889 after a merger of Crook FC and Crook Excelsior FC. The town’s cricket club took over the running of the new club as they entered the Bishop Auckland and District League.

Matches were played at Millfield, which was the home of Crook Rugby Club at the time. As the rugby matches took priority, some games were moved to the Dawson Street cricket ground.

After finishing as runners-up in 1895-96, as the club moved to the Bankfoot Sports Ground on Peases Westthey joined the Northern League for the following season. In 1898, Town purchased Millfield and moved back in full-time.

‘The Black and Ambers’ came close to relegation to the newly formed Division Two on a couple of occasions before lifting their first major honour in 1900-01.

Darlington and Bishop Auckland were defeated in the FA Amateur Cup to set up a final against King's Lynn. The final at Harwich & Parkeston’s Dovercourt home ended in a draw. Crook won the replay 3-0 at Portman Road, Ipswich. Town became Northern League champions for the first time in 1914-15, before defeating Workington to reach the second round of the FA Cup in 1926-27, falling to Southport. 

Crook won their second Northern League championship in the same season. However, after an investigation into the payment of amateur players, the club was suspended by the Durham County FA. The club spent the 1928-29 season in the Durham Central League after being reconstituted.

The club was accepted back into the Northern League after one season away, but then elected to join the North Eastern League for the 1930-31 campaign under the name of Crook FC after turning semi-professional.

Stockport County and Aldershot were defeated in the same competition in 1931-32, before Leicester City ended the run with a 7-0 win at Filbert Street in the third round. The club’s spell paying players nearly led to bankruptcy, so they returned to amateur status and rejoined the Northern League under their original name in 1935.

Town struggled on until the outbreak of War as the Northern League was suspended. In 1943, Hole in the Wall Colliery and Peases West Welfare merged to form Crook Colliery Welfare. They took Town’s place in the Northern League in 1943, before adopting their name in 1949.

The 1950’s were to be a far happier time for football in the town. A third Northern League title was lifted in 1952-53 before wins against Walton & Hersham, Hitchin Town, and Walthamstow Avenue saw Town through to the 1954 Amateur Cup Final at Wembley against local rivals Bishop Auckland.

The game in North London ended 2-2, before another four goals failed to separate the sides at St James’ Park, Newcastle. The second replay was held at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, with Crook finally lifting the cup following a 1-0 victory. Future Newcastle United manager and former playing hero Joe Harvey cut his managerial teeth at Millfield in the 1954-55 season before taking his first Football League job at Barrow.

A run to the quarter final of the Amateur Cup followed in 1956-57, before Town reached the semi-finals of 1957-58. However, the 1958-59 season was probably the greatest in the club's mixed history.

Town were crowned champions of the Northern League, while in the Amateur Cup, they defeated Oxford City, Briggs Sports, and Leytonstone before defeating Barnet 3-2 in the final at Wembley. The following season, the Black and Ambers reached the second round of the FA Cup before bowing out to York City.

Crook lifted the Amateur Cup for a fourth time in the 1961-62 season. Wins against Dagenham, Wimbledon, and West Auckland Town set up a Wembley final against Hounslow Town. The match was drawn 1-1 before Town took the spoils with a 4-0 victory at Ayresome Park. This success was backed up with a fourth Northern League title in 1962-63. 

The good times continued to roll at Millfield as successes against West Auckland Town, Walthamstow Avenue, and Barnet propelled Crook to Wembley once again in the 1963-64 campaign. A 2-1 win against Enfield at Wembley saw the famous trophy head back to the north east mining town for a fifth time, before Crook's honours board began to dry up. 

To enjoy some memorable Wembley moments, click here, here, here, and here, as well as hearing about the halcyon days from keeper Ray Snowball, who won three Amateur Cup winners' medals while at Millfield here.

Town ended the 1963-64 season as league runners-up; a finish that was copied the following campaign. Crook remained towards the top of the table until the end of the decade, before the club slipped down the pecking order as amateur football was coming to an end.

A period of disharmony also affected the form and the management of the team, as the committee decided at one point that they should pick the team, as the club faced a couple of re-election battles. Manager Dave Carrick resigned in the 1974-75 season after saying his job became untenable.

The club made history in 1976, when Crook became the first English football side to visit India. A game against Mohan Bagan at Eden Gardens in Kolkata attracted a crowd of 100,000. The following season saw the team fight all the way from the FA Cup preliminary round to the first round, where they succumbed to Nuneaton Borough.

The 1976-77 campaign under player-coach Brian Newton also saw a fine run in the FA Trophy as wins over Durham City, Bridlington Trinity, Whitby Town, West Auckland Town, and Witton Albion saw Crook reach round three. They were knocked out at that stage after a replay against Slough Town.

After the brief upturn, Crook returned to being a lower middle table outfit after the departure of Newton to Bishop Auckland. Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shoulder had a spell as team manager. Eventually, they were relegated to Division Two of the Northern League in 1988-89 after a few escapes from the drop.

The relegation occurred in the club's centenary season, as finances hit rock bottom and Crook continued to sack managers on an annual basis. Geoff Wade was the latest incumbent. He was replaced in October 1991 by Paul Adams.

After regrouping, Town won promotion as Division Two runners-up in 1994-95 with former Newcastle United striker Alan Shoulder taking over as team manager and the Main Stand being re-opened after safety works and improvements had been carried out. 

Sir Tom Cowie OBE, the former owner of his own transport business, and later life president of the Arriva Group as well as Sunderland AFC chairman, was made Club President in 1995 as the club looked to regain former glories.

Shoulder resigned in 1997 before returning a year or so later. In the summer of 2000, he departed once more, after a disagreement with the board of directors. Further managers came and went as fears grew that the club might not survive. 

A further demotion came in 2000-01. After another series of managerial appointments, Alan Oliver found himself in the hot seat for the 2005-06 season. His side went on a fine FA Vase run, which saw wins over Ryton, Spennymoor Town, Winsford United, Billingham Town, Ford Sports Daventry, St Blazey, and Arnold Town saw Crook in the last eight.

Bury Town won the quarter-final tie at Millfield in front of a crowd of 2,500. However, it had been the best season in many years despite the team narrowly missing out on promotion. Oliver was sacked at the start of the following campaign.

Record appearance holder Dennis Pinkney stepped in for a second spell as manager. The club was in such a mess that he was forced to make a comeback at the age of fifty. Former Newcastle United and England defender Steve Howey had a brief spell in charge of the team.

More managerial mayhem followed, before Crook lifted the Division Two title in 2012-13 to regain their top-flight status under manager Gary Pearson. The Black and Ambers were relegated in the 2014-15 season, with the club in dire financial straits once more.

Crook finished the 2016-17 campaign in seventeenth place in Division Two of the Northern League under manager Tony Boakes. The side led by Mattie Thompson was promoted back to Division One through points accumulated during the two abandoned seasons for the 2021-22 campaign. Gary Forrest was appointed as manager in December 2025.

Crook Town AFC will play in the Northern League Division One in the 2026-27 season.

My visit

Wednesday 26th January 2017

My trip around the southern towns of County Durham before heading to Stokesley to watch some North Riding Senior Cup action was going well. I was in particularly good form after departing from West Auckland after a pint and some real history.

A number 6 bus took me to the club at Watling Street, on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland, before changing for the Max 1, which deposited me in Market Place in Crook. The town seemed quite vibrant and not unattractive as I headed off for Millfield.

A short walk along West Road saw me by the closed gates of the wonderful old venue. Fortunately, the view from a public path and banking gave me great views for my photography.

The Main Stand, with its raised seating, was a stunner. A sizeable covered terrace next to it was also old school. The near end had a decent-sized open terrace, while the other sides had a few open steps backed by grass banking. It reminded me of the home of Prescott Cables, which can be viewed here, in many ways.

Once done, I wandered back into the market square and then took the X46 service towards Willington. This wonderful area was deserving of a future visit.

Crook Town 0 Consett 5 (Wednesday 20th October 2021) Northern League Division 1 (att: 503) 

My return came when table-topping Conny went nap on a cold evening in the north-east, while Crook never gave up. The visitors, cheered on by a healthy following, at least numbers-wise, went ahead in three minutes when Dale Pearson put away a low centre from Jermaine Metz.

In fifteen minutes, the lead was doubled when James Metcalf met a free kick from Luke Carr to volley in at the back stick. Just before the half-hour mark, Ryan King headed home a corner from Jake Orrell. Five minutes later, it was 4-0.

 

Crook keeper Aaron Skelton pulled off a superb save from Carr and Callum Guy, but could not prevent Pearson from netting. The striker completed his hat-trick soon into the second half after fine play from Dan Marriott.

It came close to a half dozen when Guy hit the post, and King saw his effort cleared off the line with some heroic defending. Consett relaxed a little, allowing Crook to form a few attacks. The game got tetchy at times, leading to referee Helen Conley brandishing her card on a few occasions and offering words of advice.

I was in the excellent company of inaugural Scarborough Athletic chairman Simon Cope. We both enjoyed the evening in a super ground. We got great value and were good people. What more do you want?

Our Black & Amber burger merely added to the experience. Meat, bacon, cheese, and black pudding, along with fried onions in a soft, large bap. It was tremendous football food and provided a full meal, washed down with a piping hot Bovril.

 

As ever, the match was just part of my day. It reminded me to laugh just a bit louder the next time some politician mutters the phrase Northern Powerhouse. Now I realise that there are large hills up the middle of the country, but the train took four and a half hours from Barrow to Durham, just a hundred miles as the crow flies. Can you imagine the uproar if that were in the south-east?

My day had started well. An exploring bus ride and walk to go and look and take photos at Holker Old Boys, along with the cricket clubs of Barrow and Furness. Then a brekkie at Wetherspoons before another chance meeting with another ground hopper from the night before. 

My train up the most scenic Cumbrian coast came to a halt at the not very scenic Sellafield, and then again while we waited for a train manager to arrive by car because of flooding at the Whitehaven tunnel. All meant I was forty minutes late in Carlisle, thus missing my connection.

Consolation was on hand as the Tornado steam engine had just arrived, pulling an excursion. There was time for a brief look outside of what looked like an interesting place, and grabbing some excellent late lunch from the chippie before my onward journey. 

There wasn’t much time once in Durham, aside from for a cuppa at the Travelodge and to chuck in my bag before heading into town on a nice walk, taking tourist snaps. There was just time for a quick pint at The Water House before boarding the X46 towards Crook.

Time for a pint after the match at The Horseshoe, waiting for my bus back, where I enjoyed the beer and ambience of The Head of Steam in Durham, even if I was twice as old as everyone else in there. 

My plan was to end up in the late-opening Bishops’ Mill, where I’d spent some quality time with my dad after a trip to Spennymoor several years ago. No chance on this occasion. I hadn’t accounted for Freshers Week. The queues of loud youngsters were enormous. I waved the white flag and got a cab home. I know when I’m beaten!

The following morning, I had my usual Wetherspoon breakfast before the train back to London, after what had been a superb time away from the capital, seeing different new places and being around good, honest people.

Darlington Railway Athletic

Darlington Railway Athletic FC is a non-league football club from the north-eastern town of the same name, who were originally formed in 1919.

The club became a member of the Northern League between 1919 and 1925 before returning to the Darlington & District League. League titles followed in 1932-33 and 1964-65 before completing the league and cup double in 1967-68.

Railway progressed to the Teesside League, where they remained for many seasons. The club bounced back from finishing bottom of the table in 1986-87 to become runners-up in 1988-89. The improvement saw RA move to the Wearside League for the 1990-91 season.

All was well at Brinkburn Road as the team won promotion to Division One of the competition at the first attempt, before the club folded at the end of the 1991-92 campaign, before being reformed to compete in the Darlington & District League.

'The Railwaymen' rejoined the Wearside League in 2000-01, going on to win the championship in 2004-05 and promotion to the Northern League in the following season, where they became members of Division Two.

In their debut 2005-06 season, Railway were promoted to Division One after a third-place finish. The club retained its status for just one season as it finished bottom of the league and was relegated back to Division Two.

Fifth-place finishes in 2011-12 and 2012-13 were as close as RA came to a return to Division One, with the team generally finishing in the lower half of the table, which continued to 2016-17 under manager Peter Mulcaster.

The team was relegated to the Wearside League at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, where they finished ninth in 2022-23 under manager Scott Craggs, before the top level of the enlarged competition was renamed the Premier Division. Liam Coleman succeeded Craggs as the side was relegated in 2024-25 to Division One.

Darlington Railway Athletic FC will play in the Wearside League Division One in the 2025-26 season.

My visits

Wednesday 9th January 2008 

I had just had an early morning visit to what remained of Feethams, the old home of Darlington FC, after alighting from a train from London.

I checked my map that I had printed from Google Earth and thought I'd walk to Brinkburn Road. It was uphill through what seemed like miles of terraced streets. I really didn't think the town was that large. Not for the first or last time, the map had not shown the distances as I had imagined.

I eventually got to the ground, only to find it locked up with excellent security fencing. I did my very best to take some photos from the angles and gaps available.

From what I could make out, the ground had a path running around the pitch with some flat grass standing. There were small covers behind both goals, with another small stand with seats on the halfway line. The opposite side backed onto the cricket ground. The clubhouse and changing rooms were by the corner flag behind the Brinkburn Road goal.

All in all, a bit disappointing not to get inside or a better view. However, I feel that was more because of the distance I walked there and back, although at least it was downhill on the return. Brinkburn Road was not much to write home about in truth, but it's no doubt more than adequate for the crowds who attend games at the level the club is comfortable at.

Wednesday 22nd January 2017

Disappointed that I didn’t gain access the first time around, I decided to give it another go on a visit to southern County Durham before heading off to watch Scarborough Athletic in action in the North Riding Senior Cup at Stokesley.

This time, I used the Max1 bus as part of my excellent one-day pass from Tubwell Row, which dropped me off at the Brinkburn Road stop. From there, it was just a couple of minutes' walk to the ground.

The venue was just as I remembered and imagined from my previous obscured look. This time, the gate was open to enable me to get photos from a better vantage point, albeit through thick fog.

Once I’d completed my task, I toddled back down the hill to Cockerton Library for the next service to Shildon, and a previously unvisited town.

Bexhill United

Bexhill United is a non-league football club from the seaside town of the same name, who were formed in 2002 following the merger of Bexhill AAC and Bexhill Town FC. However, it wasn’t the first merger that led to the present club.

Bexhill Town were originally called Allen West FC as they joined the Sussex County League in 1923-24, before being renamed Bexhill FC in 1926. The club re-emerged after World War Two as Bexhill Town Athletic FC, all the time playing at The Polegrove.

In 1950, the club merged with Bexhill Amateur Athletic, while keeping the Bexhill Town Athletic name. The 1956-57 season saw Bexhill crowned as Sussex County League champions before finishing runners-up the following campaign.

Further league titles followed in 1965-66 and 1966-67. A hat-trick of triumphs was denied as Bexhill finished runners-up on goal average in 1967-68. In 1969, the club split with Bexhill Amateur Athletic to become known as Bexhill Town FC.

After a decade in the league’s top flight, Bexhill were relegated to Division Two in 1980-81. A further demotion to Division Three followed in 1984-85. The club quickly regrouped and won promotion to Division Two just twelve months later.

The Division Two title was secured in 1989-90 as the club remained in Division One until they were relegated after the 1993-94 season. A further demotion came in 1997-98 as Bexhill found themselves back in Division Three.

Following the 2002 merger, Bexhill United won promotion as Division Three runners-up in 2007-08. The club was relegated just a year later, but fought back immediately to return to Division Two in April 2010.

Ryan Light became the team manager as his side was gradually transformed. The two seasons abandoned due to Covid-19 saw enough points being accumulated to win promotion in 2021 to the Premier Division of the Southern Combination.

Fourth and seventh places followed prior to John Wright taking over for the 2023-24 campaign. This proved to be less successful, leading to a return of Light in June 2024. He remained at the helm until May 2025, when he was succeeded by Jay Skinner-Swain.

Bexhill United FC will play in the Southern Combination Premier Division in the 2026-27 season.

My visits

Tuesday 12th December 2007

It was a bright but cool winter’s day as I explored the south coast by rail and on foot. Having already visited the football venues of Lewes and Eastbourne, I caught the train a few yards from the sea before alighting at Collington.

After a short walk, I was at The Polegrove, a pleasant venue catering for football, hockey, bowls, and cricket. While there was a rail around the football pitch, there was nothing of note for spectators on three sides.

However, there was hard standing on the fourth side with a quite majestic grade two listed raised seated wooden stand straddling the halfway line. Unfortunately, I lost the photos of the day owing to laptop issues a year or two later.

Once I’d completed my recce, I wandered towards the town centre to catch a train from Bexhill to Hastings, to discover another new town and to see what football offered along the coast.

Monday 24th July 2017

My trip to the Sussex coast had gone really well after visits to three venues before heading to Brighton for a brief break. Beers had been taken in The Victory and then The Queen’s Head before grabbing some snacks for a train eastwards.

Having changed at Lewes, the Ore service dropped me at Collington from where I walked down Richmond Road before entering through a gap into The Polegrove, the town’s main sports venue.

Some serious-looking games of bowls were taking place on several greens, while some lads were in the cricket nets over the hedge. A funfair was in the process of being set up on much of the cricket field.

Meanwhile, a small-sided veterans football match was just about to get underway in front of the majestic Stand.

The structure was a crowning glory of a relatively basic venue, which was really a football pitch in a park. Toilets, changing rooms, a tea bar, and a clubhouse were also alongside the only cover in the ground.

Despite the temptation to hang around and watch some football, with the announcement of a barbecue to follow, I headed along the seafront to add some yardage to my daily keep-fit campaign. Bexhill-on-Sea was the sort of place I expected to bump into Dad’s Army’s Captain Mainwaring on his way home from the bank. 

It was sleepy, but nice with an Italian influence, looking at some of the cafes. I’d walked further than I intended and had the option to take a train back to Eastbourne or go by road. I decided to take the bus to take in some extra coastal views on my way to visit The Oval, home of Eastbourne United Association.