Match Information
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Hucknall Town 0-0 Clipstone
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When: Saturday 28th January 2023
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Kick-off: 3pm
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Where: The RM Stadium, Aerial Way, Hucknall, Nottingham, Notts NG15 6DW
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Competition: United Counties League Division One
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Attendance: 325
An exciting trip to Britain’s newest stadium. It was officially opened as recently as Thursday 8th December by Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough.
I had previously been to Hucknall’s old ground at Watnall Road on 18th April 1998 when they defeated Liversedge 3-0 in a Northern Counties East League Premier Division fixture.
The club made rapid progress after that to reach the National League North for a five year spell which incorporated an FA Trophy Final appearance in 2005. However, severe financial problems later saw them tumble back down the divisions.
Hucknall are now rebuilding in the United Counties League Division One at Step 6 of the national Non-League Pyramid. Watnall Road is currently being flattened for a Lidl supermarket redevelopment having hosted football since 1943.
Meanwhile, this new venue is only a stone’s throw away on the former site of Hucknall Colliery tip. Thoroughly fascinating for me so I set off on a 250 mile round trip via the M1 motorway.
Hucknall itself is a market town housing 32,000 residents based seven miles north of Nottingham.
Ground Description
It is nestled alongside tall industrial units. The stadium is sponsored by local company RM, who employ more than 500 people in Hucknall. There are two car parks – one for players and officials, the other for supporters.
These quickly filled up prior to kick-off but parking was also available without restrictions on the adjacent Aerial Way approach road. The matchday entrance is through a clicking turnstile gate.
Once inside, the well-stocked club shop is immediately in sight containing a varied range of attractive Hucknall Town souvenirs brandishing their yellow and black colours.
The dominant facility feature is a covered enclosure running the full length of one touchline. This has 242 elevated seats and a disabled area in the middle sections plus covered standing towards either end.
Further cover sits behind one goal. Elsewhere, the spacious clubhouse seemed popular with fans of both sides and can be used for various non-football functions to provide additional income streams.
Programme Details
In light of complete sell-outs at some of the new stadium’s early matches, Hucknall Town’s helpful Twitter team told me they operate an “efficient programme process”.
In effect, programme collectors and groundhoppers are invited to reserve copies in advance thereby avoiding disappointment.
I did so myself and when I arrived the programme was waiting in a protective wallet displaying my name. Great service and I gladly handed over £2 to pay for it. A nice glossy production offering lots of interesting reading material.
The Match
I felt I was experiencing a match much higher up the Pyramid due to the excellent amenities and sizeable crowd in attendance for this level of football.
I liked the way home spectators followed the famous old Non-League tradition of changing ends at half-time to cheer on attacking play from directly behind the goal.
Spirited chants of: “We love you ’Ucknall we do…” and “Yell-lows… Yell-lows…” rang out. Hucknall shaded possession with ex-professional Craig Westcarr looking lively on the weekend of a 38th birthday.
He actually started out by becoming Nottingham Forest’s youngest ever first team player at the age of 16.
Subsequent spells followed for him at a plethora of clubs including Cambridge United, Notts County, Chesterfield, Walsall, Portsmouth and Mansfield Town.
Anyway, my game burst into life during the last 10 minutes when Hucknall were awarded two penalties amidst a spree of frenzied dominance. Westcarr confidently shaped up to take both of them. Alas, he blazed the first one high over the bar.
Just three minutes later, Westcarr valiantly tried again only to be brilliantly denied by Clipstone goalkeeper Josh Turton. Indeed, Turton was man of the match in my opinion courtesy of a catalogue of flying saves throughout.
As for Westcarr, it really wasn’t a good day because seconds after missing the two penalties he watched his bullet header hit the inside of the post, then tantalisingly roll across the goal-line before bouncing away to safety.
All in all, I enjoyed a very entertaining affair despite the lack of goals.
*Credit for photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 31st January 2023
