Ground: Marley Stadium (1000 capacity) Location: Steeton, England Ticket price: £5
Ah football, it's good to have you back.
I've had Steeton planned as a potential ground ever since their pre-season fixtures were announced. The place itself is quintessentially Yorkshire green belt; houses snoozing along the promenade, blanketed snugly by greenery and valleys; so much so that even the thuds of hiking boots and sticks do nothing to disturb their slumber.
Steeton AFC themselves were founded in 1905 as 'Steeton FC', though their first foray into league football was under the name Steeton Church Lads Brigade in 1908. A second Steeton club was soon formed, but since the 1911/12 season, only one Steeton club exists. The programme notes suggested that this other Steeton, as well as a third club in the village, merged together to create the Steeton we know today. However, this is unclear.
The current manager, Roy Mason, has been in charge of the Chevrons for almost 1/6th of the club's entire existence, with this being his 18th season in charge. A footwear buyer by trade, Mason has guided the team to the West Riding County Cup final, won the League Cup, Keighley Cup and has overseen Steeton's transition from being an amateur side to a semi-pro one. It's no doubt that Roy Mason is a legend of this club, and a shrine dedicated to the gaffer can be found in the Steeton clubhouse.
In the 2022/23 season, striker Andy Briggs bagged 35 goals in 40 games as the Chevvies narrowly missed out on the playoffs. This turned the head of phoenix club Bury FC, luring the striker to Gigg Lane during the off-season. Briggs will be a massive loss, especially considering Steeton's playoff hopes this season. However, Mr Consistent, a lad named Mo Farhan Subhani, has re-signed for the next campaign. A former Rochdale and Halifax Town midfielder, Subhani has played in 89 consecutive games for Steeton, playing 90 minutes in each match. Subhani recently gave an interview after signing a new deal, stating that he feels that it is the duty of every player, whether at Steeton or elsewhere, to take the club they are representing forward and leave it in a better place than where they found it. A good attitude to have.
I arrived at the ground with around 25 minutes to spare, though the stiff turnstile seemed determined not to let me in. The Marley Stadium has a close-knit community atmosphere tied to it, with the only seating area being a few benches under a sheltered deck. Perhaps not the most comfortable but hey, it kept the wind at bay. Steeton were hosting Campion, a team from Bradford who won the NCEL League One (tier 10) to promote to the NCEL Premier Division (tier 9). I remember watching us play Campion at the Millenium Stadium last season and although we won 3-2, Campion were arguably the better team on the day. Lee Ashforth has coached the side into being an aggressive unit that look to overflow the midfield. Once the ball is won back, they look to play quick transitions down the wings and have good technical players on the ball who can create space in the final third.
The game kicked off and it was the Bradford side who looked the most dangerous, their wingers finding a lot of joy down the flanks and Campion's 8 (apologies, I can't find lineups anywhere) doing a sterling job of carrying the ball from the transition to the attacking phase. Every time Steeton received the ball, Campion would pitch their tent discourteously, forcing Steeton to play ambitious passes which never came off. Campion, off the ball, would pester Steeton like a park ranger would to a group of pesky bear cubs snatching food from campgoers, and it was this pressure that saw the Steeton right back gift possession to the Campion winger, who curled the ball past the sprawling keeper, hitting the post and the ball appearing to have ended up in the goal. The Steeton defender then proceeded to punt the ball aggressively out of play, which did lead to some confusion as to whether the ball did actually cross the line. A moment of clarification was needed. After what seemed like an age, the referee pursed his lips and signalled Steeton back to the half way line, deducing that that the goal was indeed valid. 1-0 and Campion seemed hungry for a second.
That second actually came minutes later. As Campion kept trying pot shots from distance, one such shot was sweetly struck, beating the keeper for pace and finding the bottom corner. We're only 15 minutes in.
Slowly but surely, Steeton started clawing their way back into the game. They were being more aggressive in midfield and getting bodies forward. It was just unfortunate for them that Campion were restricting them for space, forcing Steeton's hand into playing non-threatening directionless balls to try and progress the play. The wind didn't help matters either to be fair, the ball had a mind of its own at times.
Campion held firm and the first half ended 2-0 to the away side.
Both sides made a lot of changes in the second half, which is to be expected in a friendly that includes trialists. Campion, again seemed to be in the ascendancy, forcing the Steeton keeper into a couple of decent saves. Campion's direct running also appeared to frighten the Chevron's, with the home side fouling their opponents on numerous occasions.
Campion would soon make it 3. A well worked corner saw a flick on turned in from close range. You could argue it was static defending from Steeton, but you have to credit the Campion attacker for finding the space and timing his run to such perfection that he was able to put it away. Was a fourth on the cards?
A well worked attack down the right flank created a 2v1 situation, with the ball rolled along the goalmouth for the Campion attacker to tap it into an empty net. This was getting embarrassing for Steeton, though their blushes were soon erased as the linesman hoisted his flag aloft. It was very close from the angle I saw, so kudos to the 4th official if he did get the call correct.
The game was fairly even after that, with both sides taking pot shots at each other, each and every effort failing to hit the target. So much so that the Campion goalkeeper decided to take matters into his own hands, rushing out with the ball Neuer style and looking to play a progressive pass on the counter. His pass found Toby Jeffery, who took a touch and rifled it in from some way out. A brilliant goal that had the crowd in raptures!
Unfortunately for the keeper though, Toby Jeffery is a Steeton player and he had just beaten him from inside his own half. A goal worth the entry fee alone. 3-1.
Both sides continued to huff and puff, but it was a pair of kids who provided the last bit of entertainment, racing onto the pitch in the 88th minute, much to the chagrin of the steward trying to control them. 3-1 it ended and overall, a good start to 23/24!
Steeton AFC 1-3 Campion 01/07/23
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