Stockton Town - Bishopston Road West

Stockton Town Football Club,

The Map Group UK Stadium

Bishopton Road West,

Stockton-on-Tees

TS19 0QD

Official Website

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Ground Number: 1345
Saturday 14th September 2024
Stockton Town 3-2 Marine

FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round

STOCKTON TOWN FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club can trace its roots back to 1979, established as a five-a-side team called Hartburn Juniors, switching to 11-a-side two years later. They were predominantly a youth side, changing their name to Stockton Town in 2003. Senior football returned in 2009, following a 26-year absence, a previous incarnation of Stockton Town met it's demise in 1983. A single season in the Teeside League saw them finish 4th before they joined the Weardside League in 2010. It would take them a couple of seasons to get adjusted but when they did, they won the title four times on the trot between 2013 & 2016. Legal battles with a local school halted their plans for ground improvements but finally, in 2016 they were able to take promotion to the Northern League. They were Division 2 champions in their first season and then results over the two pandemic seasons were good enough for promotion to the NPL D1 East. Three seasons were spent here with 4th place finishes and playoff heartbreak in the last two. Finally last season, a second-place finish saw them win promotion to the NPL Premier for the first time.

Today's game could see the club have their best-ever run in the FA Cup, previous progress to the 2nd Qualifying Round saw them lose 1-0 at Guiseley in 2019 and 4-0 at Curzon Ashton in 2022. The FA Trophy has seen little progress but they did reach the FA Vase Final in 2018, losing to Thatcham Town at Wembley Stadium. Local cup wins include two Wearside League Cups, two Monkwearmouth Charity Cups and the Shipowners Charity Cup in 2015. The town of Stockton On Tees is located in County Durham and has a population of around 85,000. At the centre of the High Street stands Stockton-on-Tees Town Hall, dating from 1735, and the Georgian-style Shambles Market Hall. Around the town hall, the largest outdoor market in North East England, which has been in existence since the 1300s, continues to be held every Wednesday and Saturday. A number of famous people were born in the town and these include footballer Lee Cattermole, actor James Gaddas and Auf Weidersehen Pet creator Franc Roddam.

 

MY VISIT

Back when I arranged my North East trip, it was initially with a view to going to the Stockton Town Women's game on Sunday and I booked my train home with that in mind. £30 was a great price to avoid the overnight coach and get back at a reasonable hour. I also booked a non-refundable hotel in Whitley Bay thinking that I'd be doing something up there on Saturday. It turned out to be a bit of an error when I changed my mind to do Stockton Town v Marine in the FA Cup on Saturday. I'd initially dismissed it as they play in the same division but I decided carry on my run of seeing a game in every round of the FA Cup. There was no chance of me even seeing a replay due to being away the following midweek. The whole trip had been a bit disrupted towards the end what with fellow hopper Colin deciding not to come late on and also me losing my game at West Auckland due to Crook Town's FA Cup progression. It was what it was though, at least by going up to Whitley Bay I'd be able to visit some of my favourite haunts in Newcastle, the whole reason for me initially booking was because Middlesbrough and Stockton were quite limited in pubs that did real cider.

From my game in the Sunderland Over 40s League, it was a ten-minute walk to the bus stop, then another ten minutes wait for the bus. I was dropped a few minutes from the Thomas Sheraton Wetherspoons, my 354th in the chain. It was a good one, three bag-in-box ciders, although none were included in the meal deal sadly. I wanted to work up an appetite, so I ordered a pint of Cockeyed Pear Mania at £3.52. Two early goals made the Northampton Town v Wycombe Wanderers game 1-1. Wycombe commentator Phil Catchpole was as excellent as ever. It was appropriate to be watching the Chairboys, given the history of the pub name. Thomas Sheraton (1751 – 22 October 1806) was a furniture designer, one of the "big three" English furniture makers of the 18th century, along with Thomas Chippendale and George Hepplewhite. He was born in Stockton, hence the pub taking his name, his speciality was chairs.

Fish and chips are on the specials menu so I opt for that with a bottle of Angry Orchard for £9.61. Wycombe are well on top of Northampton but it's all square at the break. The fish and chips are excellent, and very well cooked. Wycombe take the lead too, a real mess-up between the Northampton keeper and defender allows Richard Kone to slot home. That's how it stays until full-time, a further pint of Stowford Press for £2.10 keeps me lubricated. I leave at 2.30 and although the bus is late, I am still scheduled to make kickoff despite a driver change. Stockton looks like a fairly pleasant town, a shame I have to leave soon after the final whistle. There are further delays due to the large number of passengers on the bus. I get to the ground with five minutes to spare and am in before the teams come out.

Stockton are by far the better side early on, they take the lead through Glen Butterworth's excellent free kick on 23 minutes. Marine hit the corner of post and bar on 39 minutes as they seek an equaliser. They'd hit the woodwork ten minutes earlier too before the ball was cleared. Pressure told and Marine levelled it with the last kick of the half, Owen Robinson taking down a long ball well before blasting into the net. A well poised match, Tom Coulthard heads home to regain Stockton the lead on 59 minutes. They put the game seemingly beyond doubt on 64 minutes, Michael Fowler finishing after an initial powerful shot is parried. Marine wouldn't lie down though and they pulled it back to 3-2, initially hitting the post before Chanka Zimba followed up on 77 minutes. That was it as far as scoring was concerned and upon checking the scores, exits for Truro, Willand Rovers and Morpeth meant that I've visited every ground left in this season's FA Cup.

It was a bus back to Stockton, then a long bus to Heworth. I gave myself the mammoth task of inputting all of the divisional winners of the Sunderland Over 40s League which took me the entire journey. It was a seamless change onto the Metro and another lengthy journey. I was in Whitley Bay at 7.15 and at my room ten minutes later. I dumped my bag and put my stuff on charge before going out. It was a nice evening and I had a couple of places in mind. First up was The Mean Eyed Cat, a short walk from Haymarket Station. No new cider tries that I could see, I settled for a pint of Hogan's Panking Pole which was pleasant. It had been a boozy few days so I got on my way following that. I was expecting to head out of Newcastle but the Spoons app notified me of an unticked pub. The Luther's Bar was strange, didn't give the best impression being understaffed. But I got to try an excellent Student brewed cider called Corbridge which was delicious and dry. Not really in my comfort zone mind, full of youngsters. But it was a great drop. There was one more Wetherspoons on my radar. The Job Bulman was awkwardly located for Metro users but it wasn't going to tick itself. Back to Haymarket and the green line to Regent Centre. It's a short walk to the Spoons for a Shawarma Wrap, chips and a pint of Dark Fruits for £6.31. From there to South Gosforth station where there is a 14-minute wait for the train to Whitley Bay. Once I get there, I'm parched. To the Spoons then for a double Captain Morgan Spiced rum. with Cranberry Juice as I watch the dying embers of Match of The Day. So much for a quiet night, I am back at midnight and climb straight into bed and to sleep.

THE GROUND

BISHOPTON ROAD WEST is a smart and modern setup for the level. There's not much character in the pre-fab stands but at least there is plenty of colour. There's two seated stands holding around 300 and a small terrace holding around 50. There's a decent amount of parking and well served by buses. Otherwise, it's 30 minutes walk from the pleasant town which has a good Wetherspoons. At the ground, cans are available. There's also a hospitality bar and apparently a supporters one too but I didn't come across it. There's a good selection of food, sadly the Parmo burger had sold out by halftime.