Harrogate & District League Premier Division
11.9.10
Ground: Leyburn Road
League: Harrogate & District League Premier Division
Admission: None
Programme: None
Attendance: 22
Capacity: 860
Seated: 20
Covered: 50
Town: Just outside Bedale
Club shop: No
Floodlights: No
Step: 14
Bedale is a small town in Hambleton, North Yorkshire. It attracts visitors mainly because of the fact it is a simple market town in the heartland of the County. At last check the town had a population of 4,530.
The main highlight being the station from which you have acces to Leyburn and Redmire. There is also Thorpe Perrow Arboretum and Big Sheep Little Cow Farm to keep youngsters entertained.
Bedale used to be part of Hangshire. It got this name due to the fact Scots were hung in Finghall in the distant past for attempting to tresspass into the country. However later it split and Bedale went into East Hang. There are still hamlet names in the area that show this grim past (Hutton Hang).
The town is set by the River Swale which runs by Bedale Beck. This certaintly helps the local agriculture.
To get to the ground from Northallerton station, get the 73 Dales & District bus on the opposite side to the station on Boroughbridge Road (this costs £3.70 return). Get off in Bedale market place and walk out West along the A684 past the Golf Club. After about 300 yards you will see the ground on the right.
Because of Bedale's low down position it is very hard to find out about their history. This is mainly because a) there is nothing on the Football Club History Database. b)The website is small, and c) there was no programme issued. Hopefully a rise in status may trigger a programme production or an upgrade to the website.
Bedale Athletics club is located outside of Bedale to the West on the A684. Enter through the drive and turn right past the pavilion. You will then see the football pitch to the right of the Cricket pitch. Behind the near goal is just grass standing as is the right hand side which contains one lone crush barrier. Who knows why it's there. The opposite goal is pinned right up against the bushes behind meaning there is no access. The left hand side is the one of interest. The half closest to the entrance is fenced off with ad boards (although this may be for the Cricket pitch). Located either side of the half way line are two dugouts, brickbuilt with 'Home' and 'Away' painted in blue on the back of each. Between the two dugouts is the small stand that gives the ground its interest. It has a blue wooden shell with Bedale Town FC on the front. Inside there are 3 wooden steps, the top one is higher so it can be used for seating. The others are used for standing. The stand has a low roof providing cover that is the envy of all clubs in the league (it's something very, very rare at this level).
There were no refreshments on offer on matchday, neither is the pitch railed off apart from the forementioned section.
This was a match Bedale had to win if they were going to have any chance of pushing for the title. They started well hitting the bar 3 times in the opening 20 minutes. This was before they got a penalty which was easily converted. Bedale began to rue those early chances as Stynas equalised before going ahead in the second half. Bedale had lots of work to do and it took some quality passing and finishing to get the equaliser and then the winner. A close call for Bedale, but they got the crucial 3 points in the end.
Overall, if you're a fan of small stands and little clubs in the English countryside then I definitely recommend a visit. This is a club with so much potential and every bit of help can help them achieve that.
