Since I visited Boro Rangers at the Herlingshaw Centrein January 2019, the club went on to gain more honours, maintaining their status as the number one club in the North Riding Football League. Boro won the Premier Division title 7 times and lifted the North Riding Cup on five occasions, before the ambitious club were granted promotion to the Northern League in 2022. Their debut season as a Step 6 club saw them play outside the town, firstly at New Ferens Park in Durham and then at the Stokesley Sports Club, but this didn’t stop them becoming Division 2 champions at the first attempt.This season the club returned to the town to become the first Middlesbrough based team to play in the Northern League since founder members Middlesbrough F.C. between 1889 and 1899. Boro played their opening fixtures away and are finally set to play at home after they were granted Grade 5 ground status by the FA last Thursday.
Phoenix Park
Trinity Catholic College
Lacy Rd,
Middlesbrough TS4 3Jw
The 3G enclosure has three separate covered stands pushed together with a standing enclosure sandwiched by two seated stands decked out in black and yellow flip seats,
The dugouts are on the opposite side but has no spectator access, but there’s open standing behind both goals and at the side of the stands. The changing room facilities are within the college and the facility also has three grass pitches, a 9-a-side pitch and is home to the club’s 74 junior teams.
( I've saw St Mary’s 1967 at Trinity Catholic College on the outer pitch in April 2019 )
Boro Rangers 3(Weatherold 16 Rose 38,62)
Tow Law Town 2(Dixon 60 Mallaburn 80pen)
Northern League Division 1 matchday 7/10
(16th v 19th)
3pm ko
Att.261
Admission £7
Boro controlled the match from the kick off, twice hitting the foot of the post in the opening minutes before Nico Weatherold scored with a quickly taken free kick from the edge of the box, which surprised everyone on the pitch and in the stands.
The hosts had several chances to extend their advantage before doubling the lead when Stuart Rose fired home from a right wing cross.
Tow Law improved in the second half, reducing the arrears when substitute Liam Dixon headed home from a corner kick, but two minutes later Rose slid in for his second to make it 3-1.
With ten minutes remaining a foul by the Boro ‘keeper presented Brandon Mallaburn to score from the penalty spot, but the hosts held on to make a winning start in their new home.
#Heedhopper
41 mile drive door-to-door
Current Northern League grounds re-completed
I took advantage of a work free Saturday to attend three matches. I started off with a game just along the road and only half a mile away at Cardinal Hume School. The match was a NECF League match between Bill Quay Community and Jesmond Parish played on the 3G pitch. The away team missed a penalty in a goalless first half, but were more precise as the match progressed, running out 3-1 winners.
Following that match it was a nicely timed twenty minute drive to Houghton-le-Spring, arriving just in time for the Wearside League Division 2 fixture between newcomers Project Fitness and Newfield Hilda Park. The home team play on a separate pitch from the main ground at Leyburn Grove and continue to struggle. After showing early promise and drawing level on 16 minutes, they conceded twice before half time and were lucky to lose 2-5 as their keeper made some outstanding saves, otherwise it could have been double figures.
I met up with Lee & Katie for this 12.30 kick off and afterwards we went our separate ways. The North-East Celebrity Groundhopping Couple headed off to Horden v Newcastle Blue Star as I set off further down the A19 to the Boro. Overall and enjoyable Soccer Saturday, watching three decent matches with a total of 16 goals.
