Brandon United 2-2 Northallerton Town
Northern League Division Two
26.3.11
Admission: Adults: £4 Children: £2
Programme: ?
Attendance: 50
Capacity: 1,500
Seated: 150
Covered: 180
Town: Brandon, County Durham
Shop: No
Floodlights: Yes
Step: 10
'Lee Hitch is a r*****' is the sight that greets every spectator at Welfare Park, scrawled across the back of the stand. It more or less sums up the state of the ground and the club itself. Brandon were 2nd bottom in the Northern League Division Two at the time, and the visiting Town army were keen to secure 3 points that would help seal their place in the FA Cup next season.
I left the decision to follow Town up to Durham very late that morning . I had been thinking about going to the Brewery Field but decided if I was going to go up to County Durham I might as well watch Town and tick a new ground at the same time. I caught a 27 bus to Darlington station only to find that all trains on the East Coast/Cross Country lines had been delayed due to a signal problem. Having already bought my ticket I was wishing I had checked beforehand. I watched longingly as the Northern Rail train left for Marske knowing that a quick check on the internet could have taken me to Marske United.
Eventually a Cross Country train to Taunton was sent back north and would call at Durham. I jumped on a train nearly an hour late. I dashed from Durham station down to the Bus Station. Here I saw the first bus going to Brandon and got on it.
'Where in Brandon you heading for asked the driver?' asked the driver. I replied the football ground and he continued to tell me that I wanted the 49 and not the 50. However as the game would kick off in one minute I said I didn't mind a run. I got on the bus and upon alighting at the Co-op (the only recognisable building in the town) the very helpful and friendly driver gave me directions to the ground. I thanked him and sprinted up the road to the ground. I made it just 15 minutes in and having only missed a Brandon goal. Brandon then scored another to leave the Town fans wondering what was going on.
Town went in at half time 2-0 down. Upon looking round the ground I realised it was a tip. You walk up a dirt track to reach the social club with 'Brandon United Football Club' on the wall. You enter the ground through a gate and up some steps. I believe before kick off someone waits there to collect admission however when I got there I saw no one meaning I got in free. The near side has the dugouts and open flat standing. Behind the goal to your left is more open flat standing, however there is a wooden bench running all the way along which is painted red. The far side has the dressing rooms in the corner and the elevated stand which has 3 steps of terracing, although I think it used to be seating. The end to the right is also flat open standing with another wooden bench running half the way along.
Brandon United had had a very poor season and found themself in 19th place. They only had 4 wins that season with the most recent being in mid January. The club were formed in 1979 and played in the Northern Alliance for a season. They dropped out and two seasons later were in the Wearside League where they spent two seasons. In 1983 they joined the Northern League Division Two. They finished 4th in their first season there and won the division the next season meaning promotion to Division One. They stayed in Division One until 1994, twice escaping relegation on goal difference. In 1994 they were back in Division Two which they won again in 2000. In 2003 the club had their best ever season as they won the Division One title. In 2006 they were back in Division Two where they finished bottom in 2008. The side reached the FA Cup First Round on two occasions in 1980 and 1989, in the latter they took Doncaster Rovers to a replay after drawing 0-0 at Belle Vue. They lost the replay 2-1 which was switched to Doncaster. The club also made it to the Quater Finals of the FA Vase in 1983 and 1984 when they were knocked out by Great Yarmouth Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds respectively.
The second half saw Town make a much needed improvement. A penalty that shouldn't have been given was converted by Darren Mowbray and a corner that also shouldn't have been given was headed in by the same player. However Town then had a player sent off and the 10 men couldn't find another goal to claim the 3 points and had to settle for 1. Thankfully Town gained 16 points out of a possible 24 after this game to seal a 9th place finish and FA Cup football for the 11-12 season.
Brandon United may well be running from the ground graders, however with requirements becoming ever stricter it won't be long before the Welfare Park has to evolve or die.
