Match Information
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Dearne & District 6-1 Brigg Town
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When: Saturday 7th September, 2024
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Kick-off: 3pm
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Where: Welfare Community Ground, Furlong Road, Goldthorpe Green, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S63 9EH
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Competition: Northern Counties East League Division One
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Attendance: 172
Dearne & District are current newcomers in the National League System having gained promotion to Northern Counties East League Division One at Step 6 of our vibrant Non-League Pyramid. This was due to winning the Central Midlands Alliance League Premier Division North.
They enjoyed a three point advantage over second placed Doncaster City who appeared to possess considerable financial clout and signed an eye-catching gaggle of ex-professionals last year including former internationals Ross McCormack, Charlie Mulgrew and Wes Hoolahan.
So well done to Dearne & District for coming out on top in an engrossing title race. It is also worth noting the two fixtures between Dearne & District and Doncaster City attracted a combined attendance of 1,644.
Extraordinary support for Regional Feeder League football millions of miles away from Premier League betting territory. Looking at Dearne & District, they represent the Dearne Valley region of South Yorkshire playing in Goldthorpe - a village housing 6,000 residents within the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley.
Accordingly, I set off on my 300 mile round trip but things didn’t progress smoothly for me. Firstly, the A1 was shut for roadworks at Sandy in Bedfordshire thereby necessitating a lengthy diversion unexpectedly injecting half an hour to the journey.
Then pre-match weather forecasts for sunny conditions were totally wrong and it was raining heavily when I arrived in South Yorkshire. Fortunately, I had brought waterproof clothing although I noticed numerous people in Goldthorpe were walking around quite happily without jackets or umbrellas!
Ground Description
There is plenty of parking and a local cricket arena sits next door. Dearne & District moved to the Welfare Community Ground as recently as August 2023 following the refusal of planning permission for floodlights at their previous Kingsmark Way home.
Amidst the aforementioned rainy matchday downpours, Dearne & District’s ongoing policy of utilising refurbished old shipping containers to offer spectator sheltered accommodation – courtesy of club sponsors JP Fabrications - was much appreciated by those of us watching the game.
A 50-seater grandstand lies on one side of the pitch with covered standing for 50 fans further along that touchline. In addition, another similar converted container stand was in the process of installation behind the top goal.
I was interested to discover the Welfare Community Ground was originally used by now defunct Non-League team Dearne Community Miners Welfare FC who competed in the national FA Amateur Cup just after World War Two.
Programme Details
Appropriately entitled ‘The Dearne” and on sale at the main entry hut for £2.
Sixteen glossy pages incorporated a club ‘Message from The Top’, manager’s notes, opposition Brigg Town FC history, action photos, player profile, sponsorship news, fixtures, league table, a supporter’s comments and the line-ups.
The Match
Third versus fourth in the Northern Counties East League Division One rankings.
Managed by Yorkshire-born former Saint Kitts and Nevis international player Zephaniah Thomas, Dearne & District racked up six of the best to the surprise of anyone holding in-depth knowledge of football odds.
Jake Phillis was star man supplying a first half hat-trick as he cavorted down the left hand flank. Phillis struck on 20, 30 (penalty) and 42 minutes.
The other scorers for the homesters were Tommy Needham (62, 85 mins) and Shay Evans-Booth (69 mins). Brigg Town’s consolation goal was via a Dayle Hutson spot kick in the 57th minute.
The People
Dearne & District’s head of media Gary Senior told me: “We’ve made rapid strides both on and off the field.
“The most noticeable improvement is at the Welfare Community Ground. That has gone through a major transformation and we’re not finished yet! There are still plans to develop it even more which we are very happy about.
“The club itself continues to expand embracing roughly 35 teams and over 630 registered footballers. We’ve introduced a new under-21s side acting as an extra step in the pathway for players and providing added opportunities.
“Our first team have really excelled in the last couple of campaigns. It has been down to a great deal of hard work from a lot of people involved, past and present. Too many to mention but they know who they are.
“From appearing in front of a man and his dog a few years ago to 835 supporters (our highest crowd last season against AFC Bentley), we are extremely grateful the surrounding area is backing us as we grow. We pride ourselves on being a community club.
“We are generally pleased with life in the Northern Counties East League so far whilst remaining excited for the future.”
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
