Ground: Miners Welfare Stadium (capacity 800 approx.)
Location: Rotherham, England
Ticket price: £6 - Purchase at the ground
There were two options. One was a cosy evening watching our brave lads donning the famous Three Lions jersey face off against the might of Italy (one win guaranteeing us victory at the Euros). The other option was a chilly Tuesday night in the wilderness of outskirts Rotherham, watching 22 lads kick the shit out of each other on a sloped pitch whilst a chorus of kids call us wankers from whatever shack they’re hiding under. One has Jude Bellingham, the other, Jayden Sandhu. Eerily similar in ability of course, but I know who I’d rather watch play.
Swallownest are a relatively new side themselves. Founded in 2006 under the name ‘Aston’, they started life in the South Yorkshire Amateur League, winning promotion from Division 1 and subsequently winning the league-proper the season after. In 2010 they renamed themselves Swallownest Miners Welfare and tried to gain entry to the NCEL but unfortunately failed a pitch inspection. They were eventually admitted to the league in 2017/18 and have remained there ever since. Last season they narrowly avoided relegation due to an expansion of the league and remain rooted to the bottom in this. Given Wakefield beat fellow strugglers Ollerton Town 11-0 the previous match, it could be a long old night for the Swalls at the Miners Welfare Ground (or Swall Siro as they like it to be called).
The 'Siro' is a 45 minute drive away from Wakefield. The ground is very similar to others in the league such as Parkgate and Armthorpe Welfare; a pitch, a small stand (which needs to be erected to meet league guidelines), a cosy looking clubhouse. Proper NCEL Division One stuff, but isn’t that part of the beauty of football at this level?
Wakefield fielded a relatively strong squad. With Woodward partnering Durkin in defence, it allowed Nathan Hawkhead, often deployed to partner one of the two, to play further up the field. A midfielder by trade; how he performed in his more natural role would be of interest. Oli Rodriguez, who has returned from suspension after an incident at the Glasshoughton Welfare game, was on the bench.
As the first whistle blew, you already got the sense that this was going to be an incredibly scrappy game. In fact, watching the first goal of the game was reminiscent of that, with Nathan Hawkhead striking the ball from just outside the area, catching a wicked deflection and bouncing slowly past keeper Beever, catching the keeper well off guard. Given it took Wakefield over 20 minutes to get their first against Ollerton Town, it only took the Falcons 3 here. This could have ended up being a cricket score.
The second goal came 20 minutes later, Cameron Barnett slotting the ball past Beever to double the Falcons’ lead. It was a goal that was coming in fairness, despite the endeavours of the Swallownest backline. In fact, the home side were making it quite difficult for us, making the most of the pitch conditions to slow the game down as much as possible, flooding the midfield and being quick to pounce whenever there was a loose touch or a bobble of the ball. I remember one incident by a Swallownest player where the ball jumped like a grasshopper onto his arm from the floor. Someone from the NCEL needs to get a roller on that pitch.
Swallownest did have some good players on the pitch, particularly their number 11, Woodhouse, and their 9, Moss, causing us no end of issues. It was the former’s dribbling ability that was hurting us and given he was used to playing on this surface, he could manoeuvre and guide the ball at his leisure. There were a few occasions where he found himself in a non-threatening position but due to talent and endeavour, he was able to bulldoze past a flurry of legs put out to impede him and carry the ball up the pitch. Still, he couldn’t stop Sandhu from grabbing Wakefield’s third, as he placed the ball accurately into the corner of the net.
“We lose every week, we lose every week, you’re nothing special, we lose every week” chanted the crowd as a dejected Beever punted the ball towards the centre circle. Strangely, this seemed to spark something in Swallownest; perhaps a dogged determination to prove them wrong. Their wings no longer clipped, they showed an air of grace in their play, pushing numbers forward to try and grab a consolation goal (and perhaps something more). Keenan had the chance to do that, one on one with George Bristol in the Wakefield goal. The keeper, somewhat hesitant to rush out, could only spread his legs and hope as the Swallownest striker slid the ball under his calves. The kids behind the goal ran towards the net and GOAL! A goal for Swallownest! Jubilation in the stands! Their 14th goal of the season and one to savour.
Swallownest came close to making it 3-2. Woodhouse made a run forward and found himself one-on-one with Bristol. This time he was more committed to the rush but could do little to stop the Swallownest player glide past him. He slotted it towards the empty goal but a fantastic block by Cory Woodward denied him. It proved to be the last action of the half.
I was discussing the price of food and drink with a punter at half time, comparing Wakefield’s prices (£5 for beer, £2 for crisps which is absolute madness) to the price of cuisine at Swallownest. Here, a packet of crisps was a mere 70p. Cheap as chips, pardon the pun, which just goes to show how much the cost of living has crept up on us here. We’d be scoffing at those prices 10-15 years ago (unless you shopped at Waitrose of course). Given that we do groundshare with Wakefield Trinity, it is them that ultimately set the prices, but with a new owner who knows? Perhaps they’ll recognise that Wakefield is actually quite a bit away from London, despite the meagre 2 and a bit hour train journey, and charge reasonable prices.
Morrison came on for Ceesay at half time, presumably to give him some minutes before the vital clash against Parkgate next week, however it was Swallownest who ended up finding the back of the net, bundling in a ball that Bristol had tipped away. However, the linesman was on hand to flag and ensure that Wakefield kept their 2 goal advantage. The club afterwards said that if not for Woodward’s block and that goal, which they believe should have stood, they would have earned a very credible draw against us. True, but I believe the linesman got it spot on.
But that aside, very little happened. There was one moment where Morrison expertly flicked the ball into Oli Rodriguez’s (who was brought on later on in the half) path, but despite his best efforts, the Swallownest players crowded around him like flies to halt his progression.
In fact, the real drama took place in the game behind us, a bunch of kids having a kickabout which led to the ball finding its way onto the actual pitch. After the second time of this occurring, one of the fans signalled to one of our players to pass it over to him so he can boot it away. The player obliged and the fan proceeded to whack it over the fence and into a tree. One of the kids’ dads came over to make the point that the ball cost £30, but I'm sure they can wait a day to collect the ball from within the bushes. They shouldn't be kicking the ball about anyway. 3-1 it finished.
Swallownest 1-3 Wakefield AFC 17/10/2023
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