Glossop North End 1 Belper Town 2
FA Cup Preliminary Round
Although still in Derbyshire, Glossop is one heck of a trip from Belper Approximately 57 miles within the same County, and starting from the middle of it at that.
Scribblers turn to drive, so It’s a trip in the Mitsubishi Lancer today. After a brief stop at Ambergate to get some petroleum on board we head off up the A6 towards Matlock. Sadly we only make it to a mile outside of Cromford before we join the back of a long queue. After a couple of minutes we both agree that a swift U-turn is required and we head back to Whatstandwell and off towards Middleton & Wirksworth. Comforted by the feeling of making progress we’re soon cursing the tourist in the people carrier who pulled out infront of us and the proceeded to drive at approx 35 mph. Next up we managed to ad a tractor to the growing convoy of vehicles heaing northwards. As we travelled through a small village we came across a fleet of EON work vans that had parked strategically to stop the tractor getting passed so all progress ceased as the disgruntled driver had to move one of the offending vehicles to allow old MacDonald past.
Finally we made it to the A515 Whitehaven Road – at last a chance for Scribbler to get his foot down and make up some time, or so we thought. For the first time in my driving life we got stuck behind a motorbike. Not one of these annoying mopeds that sound like a wasp stuck in a bottle, but a full blown mans bike ridden either by someone who had been caught speeding before or was lacking confidence. On more than one occasion scribbler was tempted to overtake but resisted and eventually we lost him near Buxton. Surely now it was a clear run to Glossop? Well yes to Glossop, but not to the ground itself. The sat nav took us straight to Surrey Street but there was no sign of the ground. What we didn’t know was that the street had been closed off just up from the ground which meant you couldn’t get to it from this side. Confused we turned round and tried the other end of the street – again no football ground (how do you lose a football ground????). Scribbler had a scrap of paper with some directions on, which he had copied from a picture on the Glossop website. He had Brook Street as the street you turn up so we put that
into the sat nav – just round the corner. First attempt we missed it. Having turned around we headed back down the High street and turned into Brook Street – BIG MISTAKE. Brook Street is about 4 feet wide with pavements of about three feet high on each side ! After a 46 point turn and a few scratches on the new alloys (ouch!) while I was ringing Foggy Laughlin for directions – we finally headed back up the High Street (for the Third time) and turned into the retail park which leads to the Ground (about 30 feet from where we started in Surrey Street – on the other side of the blocked off road. If you ever need to go to Glossop make sure you have good directions, that’s my advice.
The ground was, like Rushall, rather basic. No cup of tea or programme as is the norm in the UniBond on arrival, but again made up for by the friendliness of the staff. The first half ended in a 0-0 scoreline and then it was off to the portacabin that doubles as a hospitality suite. A quick cup of tea and biscuit, then I headed into the bar to buy a club badge.
Just before the start of the second half, one of the locals saw my camera and asked me about photographs – the usual question “Did you get any good action shots” – the conversation then moved to the subject of the ground.
The story he told involved a previous chairman who (allegedly) sold the ground to the council in a pub for a brown bag full of money, and then ended up in jail. The Council now own the ground and won’t give it back, but a new ground is planned, not far from the current location. I’m not sure how much of that story is actually true but it’s a fact that right next to the ground is some sort of old factory (pictured) which is in the process of being demolished, presumably to make way for more retail units. This would suggest that the ground itself is probably worth a fair amount of money in it’s current location.
The second half saw Glossop take the lead, Belper finally find an equaliser from
Ben Walker and then a last minute winner from Ant Wilson to see Belper into the 1st Qualifying Round with relief.
At the end of the game we headed back to the motor and I took a photo of the semi-demolished factory next to the ground. When I turned round Scribbler had made friends with a local feline. Back in to the car and we set off back along the twisting roads to dear old Belper.
Next Up
Glapwell – UniBond Division 1 South
FA Cup Preliminary Round
Although still in Derbyshire, Glossop is one heck of a trip from Belper Approximately 57 miles within the same County, and starting from the middle of it at that.
Scribblers turn to drive, so It’s a trip in the Mitsubishi Lancer today. After a brief stop at Ambergate to get some petroleum on board we head off up the A6 towards Matlock. Sadly we only make it to a mile outside of Cromford before we join the back of a long queue. After a couple of minutes we both agree that a swift U-turn is required and we head back to Whatstandwell and off towards Middleton & Wirksworth. Comforted by the feeling of making progress we’re soon cursing the tourist in the people carrier who pulled out infront of us and the proceeded to drive at approx 35 mph. Next up we managed to ad a tractor to the growing convoy of vehicles heaing northwards. As we travelled through a small village we came across a fleet of EON work vans that had parked strategically to stop the tractor getting passed so all progress ceased as the disgruntled driver had to move one of the offending vehicles to allow old MacDonald past.
Finally we made it to the A515 Whitehaven Road – at last a chance for Scribbler to get his foot down and make up some time, or so we thought. For the first time in my driving life we got stuck behind a motorbike. Not one of these annoying mopeds that sound like a wasp stuck in a bottle, but a full blown mans bike ridden either by someone who had been caught speeding before or was lacking confidence. On more than one occasion scribbler was tempted to overtake but resisted and eventually we lost him near Buxton. Surely now it was a clear run to Glossop? Well yes to Glossop, but not to the ground itself. The sat nav took us straight to Surrey Street but there was no sign of the ground. What we didn’t know was that the street had been closed off just up from the ground which meant you couldn’t get to it from this side. Confused we turned round and tried the other end of the street – again no football ground (how do you lose a football ground????). Scribbler had a scrap of paper with some directions on, which he had copied from a picture on the Glossop website. He had Brook Street as the street you turn up so we put that
into the sat nav – just round the corner. First attempt we missed it. Having turned around we headed back down the High street and turned into Brook Street – BIG MISTAKE. Brook Street is about 4 feet wide with pavements of about three feet high on each side ! After a 46 point turn and a few scratches on the new alloys (ouch!) while I was ringing Foggy Laughlin for directions – we finally headed back up the High Street (for the Third time) and turned into the retail park which leads to the Ground (about 30 feet from where we started in Surrey Street – on the other side of the blocked off road. If you ever need to go to Glossop make sure you have good directions, that’s my advice.The ground was, like Rushall, rather basic. No cup of tea or programme as is the norm in the UniBond on arrival, but again made up for by the friendliness of the staff. The first half ended in a 0-0 scoreline and then it was off to the portacabin that doubles as a hospitality suite. A quick cup of tea and biscuit, then I headed into the bar to buy a club badge.
Just before the start of the second half, one of the locals saw my camera and asked me about photographs – the usual question “Did you get any good action shots” – the conversation then moved to the subject of the ground.
The story he told involved a previous chairman who (allegedly) sold the ground to the council in a pub for a brown bag full of money, and then ended up in jail. The Council now own the ground and won’t give it back, but a new ground is planned, not far from the current location. I’m not sure how much of that story is actually true but it’s a fact that right next to the ground is some sort of old factory (pictured) which is in the process of being demolished, presumably to make way for more retail units. This would suggest that the ground itself is probably worth a fair amount of money in it’s current location.
The second half saw Glossop take the lead, Belper finally find an equaliser from
Ben Walker and then a last minute winner from Ant Wilson to see Belper into the 1st Qualifying Round with relief.At the end of the game we headed back to the motor and I took a photo of the semi-demolished factory next to the ground. When I turned round Scribbler had made friends with a local feline. Back in to the car and we set off back along the twisting roads to dear old Belper.
Next Up
Glapwell – UniBond Division 1 South
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