✔886 Slazenger Sports Club

Horbury Town 2-2 Retford UnitedNorthern Counties East League Division OneSaturday 19th August 2023

Horbury is a town in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, situated north of the River Calder about three miles south-west of the city center. (population:15,000)

The name is listed in the Domesday Book as Horberie, deriving from Old English ‘horu’ - 'dirty land' and burh which translates as 'filthy fortification' or 'stronghold on muddy land'. The name perhaps referred to a fortification near an old fording point of the River Calder

Horbury Townoriginally formed in 1965, playing in local leagues. The club won the Wakefield League Division 2 stepping up to the West Yorkshire Association League in 1988. Horbury resigned from the league during the 1999-2000 season and returned to the Wakefield League, but were back in 2005, winning the Second Division title in 2006-07.

In 2013 they were promoted to the Premier Division after finishing third in the First Division. The club finished league runners-up in 2021-22, winning promotion to the Northern Counties East League. Their debut season in the NCEL saw a 6th place finish in Division One and narrowly missing out on promotion after a play-off final defeat to Rossington Main. 

Slazenger Sports & Social Club

Southfield Lane, 

Horbury, 

Wakefield 

WF4 5EX

The Reds moved to the Slazenger Sports Club in the summer of 1994. The changing rooms, clubhouse and Reds Cafe are at the entrance. The pitch is further along with two covered seated stands, dugouts and a PA area/club shop all on one side. The ground is surrounded by various size pitches which are used by the junior teams. 

Horbury Town 2(Ward 53 Aug 90+2)

Retford United 2(Fieldsend 37 Haydock 76)

NCEL Division One matchday 5 (18th v 3rd)

3pm k.o.

Att.194

Admission £5

Pin badge £2.50

Programme available  £1.50

Bait: Chicken Tikka pasty and coffee £4.50

A late equaliser from Benjamin Agu earned Horbury their first point of the season. They fell behind when Owen Fieldsend was on hand to knock in a right wing cross, but a lovely 25 yard chip from Danny Ward brought them level early in the second half. Retford looked to have won it when Eyles teed up Alister Haydock at the back post, but with time running out the ball fell into the path of Agu, who fired into the roof of the net from close range.  

#Heedhopper 

104 miles-door-to-door 

Logistics: 0700 Megabus Newcastle - arrive Leeds.0855

  0915 train Leeds - arrive Wakefield Westgate 0930

  1235 126 Arriva bus Wakefield - arrive 1255 Horbury 

 A good old fashioned matchday on the lash, which unfortunately are rare occasions nowadays. After a Spoons breakfast in Wakefield, I visited the Polka Hop, Luis Bar @ Fernandes and the Wakefield Labour Club (AKA Red Shed) before heading to Horbury. I’m no stranger to Horbury having visited the town several times. stretching way back to 1975. While on a family holiday to Pontins with my mam, dad and little sister we met a family from Horbury who we stayed in touch with and remained friends with to this day. Although my parents are now gone, I’ve kept in touch with them via Facebook, so I made a surprise visit to the Firth family before the match. After leaving Sue & Brian’s I had time for a swift pint in the Calder Vale Hotel, before heading up to the ground. 

I stayed in Horbury after the match to visit another two GBG pubs, namely Boons and the Cricketers Arms, before the onward return journey back to Leeds. I still had plenty of time for a few bevvies in the Lamb & Flag and the Duck & Drake, before jumping the bus back home. 

On a day when everything went according to plan, I knew it must have been too good to be true. There were problems within the Megabus network with a broken down coach, so I got home later than expected, but it didn’t put a dampener on a thoroughly enjoyable day.