Ground: The Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium (capacity 5,000)
Location: Selby, England
Ticket price: £6 - Pay at ground only
Selby, aside from being a nice little market town in North Yorkshire, is perhaps best known as a train stop between Leeds and Hull. Unfairly so, in my opinion, as Selby has a lot to offer. The Selby Town Hall and Selby Abbey are both rather impressive constructions and with the river Ouse trickling alongside, it really is a quaint little place. As is the Fairfax Plant Hire stadium, home of Selby Town FC.
Selby Town were founded in 1919 and in 1920, became a founding member of the Yorkshire Football League. They were one of the most successful clubs in that league, winning it on three occasions prior to the Second World War. In 1982, the club joined the Northern Counties East League Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division in the 1995/96 season where they remained until their relegation in 2011/12. Arguably the club’s most successful period post war was under the guidance of Barry Walker and Tony Carter, and then under Bob Lyon, where they won the Presidents Cup, Barkston Ash Cup and the Vets Over 40’s all in the space of one year. In an effort to attract more fans to the ground, the club recently opened a VIP section where fans can drink tea and coffee to their hearts content, enjoy a pre-match and half-time meal whilst sitting in a warm room with comfortable chairs - all for the measly price of £20.
As heavy rain lashed down onto the field and the purple twilight sky morphed into dusk, it was a good time to take in the Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium which is a pretty cosy little setup. You have the stands dotted around, a food van right behind where you can stand under a shelter serving up cheap burgers, chips and booze and sections around the ground where you can get a good view to watch the game unfold. The Selby fans were a passionate lot too, with a ‘Pride of Yorkshire’ flag drooping proudly from the stand.
We saw the first goal just 6 minutes in. A needless challenge from Cory Woodward saw Selby loft in a free kick. The header is saved brilliantly by Henry Kendrick, tipping the ball onto the bar, however Matthew Turnbull was on hand to poke it home. Wakefield had started the brighter, but again it was their defending on set pieces that was their undoing.
Wakefield were enjoying more of the possession, but creating seldom opportunities, much to the chagrin of many in the crowd, including myself who was urging the players to shoot. The conditions were perfect for it; damp and the ball was skidding across the service like wet soap on an ice rink. On the occasions when Wakefield's players did take shots from distance, Selby goalkeeper Burnett was struggling to control the ball, letting it slip from his grasp on numerous occasions. That said, he and his defenders did enough to keep Wakefield at bay going into half time.
The chips at Selby are something to die for. Look at that, they even have the skin on. Now that’s a proper fry.
The second half, however, began in the same vein as the first – with a goal! Jake Morrison, who had been brought on at half time, linked up well with Billy Mole to see him 1 on 1 with the keeper and when he’s in that situation, there’s only ever going to be one outcome. Billy, Billy Mole, he does indeed, score goals. It felt as if Mozzini had reminded his team of the wet conditions on the pitch as his side were trying to play less and shoot more. Selby’s defence were on top form, creating a barricade of red so fierce that even an army of pissed off bulls would struggle to break it down. However, whilst they may be able to stop rampaging bovines, they were unable to get anything in the way of Cory Woodward’s 30-yard strike, which sailed past keeper Burnett in a flash and into the net. It was great to see Woodward atone for his earlier mistake and Wakefield’s shooting pay off.
Selby, who had barely had a sniff all half, had possession of the ball in the dying embers of the game. The ball was played in, it met the head of a Selby player and… Kendrick makes a stupendous save to keep the ball out! A fantastic save from the Barnsley youth keeper which may just have earned his side all three points.
It was a save that seemed to galvanise Wakefield. Sure, they had been by far the better team, but football is one of those games where if you take your foot off the pedal for even a split second, you could find yourself in a ditch. Thankfully, Kendrick put the brakes on that happening and it was the Falcons’ own turn to break, with a flurry of movement in the box. Shot, save, bobble, block. Selby just couldn’t get the ball away. It fell to Billy Mole and with the ball bouncing on the line he made sure to make it 3 goals and surely the same amount in points for the away side to take home.
Wakefield were not done there. Callum Charlton, bursting down the wing, played a peach of a cross that Jayden Sandhu was only too keen to put away. 4-1, a score which I think flattered Wakefield somewhat, but a win which was fully deserved.
I was speaking to one of the Wakefield fans after the game and we both agreed that Kendrick’s save seemed to be the turning point of the game as it was that moment which seemed to spark new life into Wakefield. He said that Burnett, the Selby goalkeeper has been scouted for a while by York City. I couldn’t really judge his ability due to the wet conditions, but it’s good to see professional clubs scouting in the NCEL in search of talent. Nathan Sheppard, a player I was impressed with when I went to watch Pontefract Collieries, was signed by League One Barnsley in the summer. Could Burnett be the next?
Selby Town FC 1-4 Wakefield AFC 12/09/2023
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