Newark Town - YMCA Sports Village

Newark Town FC

YMCA Activity Village

Lord Hawke Way

Newark

Nottinghamshire

NG24 4FH

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Ground Number: 1249

Saturday 2nd December 2023

Newark Town 4-3 Gedling Miners Welfare

United Counties D1

NEWARK TOWN FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The original Newark FC was formed in 1868 and played for much of the time in the Midland  League. Their best finish here was 3rd, achieved twice during sporadic spells  The club disbanded at the start of the Second World War. For a brief period in the 1970s a group of players played under the Newark Town banner but it was not until the late 1980s that the club properly reformed. Initially, the club only fielded junior teams but the decision was taken in 1994 to start an adult side and joined the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1997 which is probably a more accurate formation date. Starting in Division 2, finishes were not spectacular but they were moved to Division 1 in 2003, despite only finishing 15th. This was due to a league reorganisation but it improved the club's fortunes immensely and they finished as runners-up in 2004. Despite many clubs opting to join the newly established Notts Senior League, Newark Town joined the Central Midlands League. Four seasons were spent in the step 8 Premier Division before they were moved up to the Supreme Division in 2008. This increased level actually improved finishes but in 2011 the league was changed to a regional split. Newark Town spent the first couple of seasons in the South division but were switched to the North in 2013. They won the title in 2022 and with ground improvements, this allowed them to gain promotion to the United Counties League Division 1 where they finished 5th last season.

The old version of the club reached the FA Cup 2nd Round in 1930, beating Football League side Rotherham United 2-1 along the way before losing 6-0 at Crystal Palace. This season saw them enter the FA Vase under the new club. They beat Holbeach United 6-0 at home before drawing 1-1 at Lincoln United in the 2nd Qualifying Round. However, they went on to lose on penalties for an early exit from the competition. Newark-on-Trent is a market town and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district in Nottinghamshire It is on the River Trent and was historically a major inland port. Often shortened to Newark, it was the subject of a Jasper Carrott joke as being the only town in the country to be an anagram of 'wanker'. By road, Newark is 21 miles from Nottingham, 19 miles from Lincoln and 40 miles from Leicester. Newark originally grew around Newark Castle, now ruined, and a large marketplace now lined with historic buildings. The town is also represented by Newark & Sherwood United, although they play seven miles north in Collingham. They are a tier above in the United Counties North. They once had a home in the town and were known as Newark Flwoserve. However, upon entering the pyramid, they were forced to drop their suffix due to it being a sponsored name. They also lost their home when the landlord sold it for housing. The most famous person from the town is Norman Pace, part of the comedy duo Hale & Pace. The overall population of the town is just under 30,000.

MY VISIT

Once I had planned my trip to York City on Friday night, I knew that I'd need a hotel. The most reasonably priced one I could find was the Travelodge in Doncaster, this was en route and would provide me with a useful place to find Saturday games. I was originally intending to head to something in the Sheffield & Hallamshire League, probably Oughtibridge War Memorial. My thinking was to do one that wasn't going to be available on a normal midweek. However, the weather looked horrendously frozen so I thought it best to go for a 3G. This was good in a way as it meant that I could get one of the remaining one of two I needed in the United Counties League Division 1. Newark was the best part of £100 on the train due to disgraceful fares and so it was definitely one to drive to. It would leave me with only Southwell City to do in that league. I was very disappointed when sod's law dictated that both of those grounds would be on the United Counties League Hop earlier this year, only on Sunday when I was stuck in work. It was a bitter pill to swallow but the reports of the clubs were favourable and I was looking forward to visiting.

I had come across Newark Town a few times before and it hadn't been a happy memory on one occasion. I was due to see them at Glapwell back in May 2021. However, they pulled out on the day of the game, just before midday. I'd not made any contingency plans with it being a hot sunny day. With me driving, as well as doing all the research and checking of Twitter, I only found out when we stopped for lunch just before 2. Futbology was not covering any games at that level at that point and so it was left to an urgent search around Twitter to find a game. The added complication of Covid restrictions further muddied the waters. I had to settle for a recreation ground in South Normanton, as pleasant as it was, it was very basic but at least I got a game. There were better options out there and I was initially very annoyed at Newark Town and let off some steam on Twitter, thankfully not tagging the club in my rant. That was over two years ago now and it was water under the bridge as far as I was concerned.

From my morning game, I left at 12.20. It was a slow journey out of Sheffield thanks to traffic. I was in Newark by 1.45 although Google Maps directed me to the wrong place, a park around two miles away. It was another five minutes to the YMCA Village. I didn't have time to go into town, so I made use of the Cafe. I'd have preferred a proper meal but as it was, the sausage cob and brownie were excellent and filling. It was slightly spoilt by the butter but it was a delicious local sausage and the brownie was great too. It was then into the ground, entry was £6 and a decent programme was £1. As it was so nippy, I went back into the Cafe to read the programme and type this blog. Around ten minutes before kickoff, I went back out for the game.

Both teams were in decent positions with Newark Town in 3rd and Gedling Miners Welfare in 8th. The hosts had won four in a row and were unbeaten in seven. Their latest win came last Saturday when they won 5-0 at Sandiacre Town. The visitors had not won in three league games, their latest result a 2-1 loss to Asfordby on Tuesday. Newark started on top and it didn't take long for them to take the lead. A great through ball found Ryan Smith whose excellent finish gave them the lead on five minutes. On 18 minutes, it was 2-0, Smith with his second after the keeper clawed the ball out but the goal was given. On 32 minutes, Gedling pulled a goal back, the keeper parried the initial shot but Gianfranco Ciaurro followed up into the bottom right corner. Lewis Chambers headed home from a corner on 37 minutes to restore Newark's two-goal lead. On 42 minutes, a powerful low shot from Josh Randall made it 4-1. The hosts were impressive and on 54 minutes Jack Beckett smashed the crossbar. Newark remained on top but they were more resilient and their keeper made some great saves. The home side hit the bar again before Gedling pulled another back through Ciaurro on 82 minutes who followed on to a great through ball. There was a grandstand finish when Kieran Harrison drilled home a low free kick on 88 minutes. Both teams had been a credit to the league and the 145 who braved the cold were richly rewarded.

The hosts were given excellent vocal support by some enthusiastic youngsters who made noise all game. It had also been a brilliant game to watch. To be honest, it was a novelty seeing a team in light and dark blue win. Back home, Wycombe had turned in a pitiful performance against Morecambe to lose 2-0 in the FA Cup. A team who had lost 6-0 to Wrexham last week had 80% possession against us and from what I'd seen, fans were not happy. I left at 5 and put Wycombe Sound on the radio to listen to a roundup of the game. That gave way to BBC Five Live at 6. It was dark and foggy on the way home and it barely got above zero degrees. I was in at 7.30, having a few drinks and catching up with things. Had I gone to the Wycombe game, it'd have ruined my weekend but it was a case of out of sight, out of mind. It had been a good weekend but I'd much rather have done it on public transport. I'd driven 442 miles and been behind the wheel for eleven hours so I was glad of the chance to unwind before work tomorrow.

Good vocal support for Newark Town today, it's a novelty seeing a team in light and dark blue win and play well for me. They currently lead Gedling Miners Welfare 4-1. pic.twitter.com/Ugv7QPym5N

— ⚽Russell Cox💙 (@RussWWFC) December 2, 2023

 THE GROUND

NEWARK YMCA SPORTS VILLAGE is a decent venue for a 3G cage. Previously I believe, it was a basic 3G cage but now you can walk all around the pitch. There are two metal seated stands with the rest of the ground open aside from a small area behind the goal. It's around 150 across the two stands. Outside, the parking is abundant. The town is around half an hour's walk and looked pleasant. The modern Cafe offers a range of locally sourced products and excellent cakes. It also has a basic bottle bar. Items of Merchandise such as hats and scarves are available for £15 each.