Tow Law Town - Ironworks Road

Tow Law Town FC 

Ironworks Road

Tow Law

Bishop Auckland 

County Durham

DL13 4EQ

Official Website

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Ground Number: 1538

Saturday 4th April 2026

Tow Law Town 1-1 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion

Northern League D2

TOW LAW TOWN FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club was founded in 1890 as Tow Law F.C., before adding the Town to their name in 1905. During their formative years,  they played in a number of local leagues, including the Auckland and District League, the South Durham Alliance and the Crook and District League. They first joined the Northern League between 1894 and 1900 before returning to local football. They rejoined the Northern League in 1920 and have been continuous members ever since. Whilst it was a single division, Tow Law Town were champions in 1924 & 1925, though they struggled in the late 1930s. The league was expanded to two divisions in 1982, and Tow Law remained in the top tier for many years, winning the title again in 1995 and finishing as runners-up on three further occasions during this period. They were relegated to the second tier in 2012 and had to spend quite a while there. They were finally promoted back in 2022 after finishing 4th and winning a playoff semi-final against Boldon CA. Despite losing to Heaton Stannington in the final, a vacancy later became available, and they were able to return to Division 1. However, they were relegated at the end of last season after a bottom-place finish.

In 1967, Tow Law had their best-ever run in the FA Cup. They beat South Bank, Crook Town, Ashington and South Shields in the Qualifying Rounds to seal a 1st Round game against Football League side Mansfield Town, who whey remarkably beat 5-1 at home. They then managed to hold another league side, Shrewsbury Town to a 1-1 draw before losing 6-2 in Shropshire in a 2nd Round Replay. The team still went into the third round draw and were drawn against Arsenal at home. Arsenal were said to be "saved from a fate worse than death – a trip to Tow Law in January. This was a quote relating to the widely held belief that Ironworks Road is the coldest ground in the country due to its exposed nature. They also reached the FA Vase Final in 1998. After beating St Helens Town, Rossendale United, Dunston Federation Brewery, Histon, Sudbury Town, Sudbury Wanderers and Taunton Town, they faced Tiverton Town at Wembley, where they lost 1-0.  In reaching the final, Tow Law, with its population of only 2,200, became the smallest town ever to reach a Wembley final. The team took around 4,000 supporters with them down to London, about twice the population of Tow Law at the time. They've also reached the FA Trophy 2nd Round twice. Local cup wins include the Northern League Cup in 1974, the Durham Challenge Cup in 1896, the Durham Amateur Cup in 1893, the J.R. Cleator Memorial Cup and the Rothmans Overseas Cup in 1977. They've also won the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Trophy five times.

The most famous player to turn out for the club is Chris Waddle. Waddle began his senior career at Ironworks Road before joining Newcastle United for £1,000 in July 1980. While playing for the Lawyers, he worked in a sausage seasoning factory in Gateshead. Waddle quickly rose from non-league to stardom after his 1980 move to Newcastle, going on to play for several top clubs and gain 62 caps for England. Big striker Steve Howard was also a youth player at Tow Law. The town of Tow Law is located in County Durham. It is situated a few miles to the south of Consett and 5 miles to the north west of Crook and has a population of around 2,000. The town is mentioned in Mark Knopfler's song "Hill Farmer's Blues" from his album The Ragpicker's Dream. The name "Tow Law" is from the Old English tot hlaw, meaning "lookout mound," the name of a house which stood there before the iron works and the village were built. There was rapid growth in the mid-19th century after the Weardale Iron and Coal Company was established here in 1845. Blast furnaces were built, and collieries were opened; the population was about 2000 in 1851, and 5000 in 1881.

ABOVE: Pictures from my visit on Tuesday, 20th March 2012. 

MY VISIT

Out of all the grounds on the Northern Hop, this was the one I was looking forward to the most. It was one of the best-regarded grounds in the country, thanks to its rugged location and murals, amongst other things. I visited on 20th March 2012 for pictures whilst on the way to Gateshead from Curzon Ashton. With me at Everton the following night, it's fair to say my hopping in those days was not so well organised. I was still prioritising grounds at the higher levels and didn't have much knowledge of anything below step 4. It was also done solo in my car, whereas now, I'd favour public transport for one game a day. That was something that would be harder for Tow Law, with it being so isolated, and the same thing could be said about accommodation. Therefore, it was great to have it on the hop and visit multiple games in one day. One thing that I have learned in the intervening years is that Tow does not rhyme with go as is normal with the word; instead, it rhymes with cow.

It was a beautifully scenic drive to the next game at Tow Law, and we had plenty of time to admire it, with us being stuck behind a slow tractor for a fair while. We got there at 5.15. Our allotted parking was on a piece of wasteland, a former steel foundry. I took it very gingerly over the bumpy and rutted surface, but the main thing was to avoid street parking on the narrow local streets so as to avoid upsetting local residents. After parking, we went in. I think it was a fiver, but Colin paid to knock some off what he owes me for the Somerset Hop hotel. He also got my pint of Old Mout Cherries and Berries, which was £5. I  sat in the clubhouse for a bit and typed this blog as well as sorting photos. I went outside to see that the food was an uninspiring outside caterer, repeating the same stuff that had been offered everywhere else. It was windy, so I located myself behind the goal with Anwar, Colin and Richard.

 

Tow Law Town were in 18th and had won nine, drawn six and lost twenty-two.  They were on a good run and were unbeaten in four before their game at AFC Newbiggin on Wednesday. Ryton & Crawcrook Albion were in 9th and had won eighteen, drawn four and lost sixteen. They were unbeaten in three and had beaten Boldon CA 4-2 last Saturday. The wind made football difficult, so it was a relief when Tow Law went ahead on the half hour, Joe Bates scoring with a volley on the turn. Straight after, Ryton equalised, the goal scored by Louis Anderson was up the other end, so I didn't have the best view. In the second half, Ryton were the better side with Tow Law surviving a couple of goalmouth scrambles. Tow Law went for it near the end, but this tie was always set to end as a draw in blustery conditions.

 

THE GROUND

IRONWORKS ROAD is one of those iconic non-league grounds, and it is easy to see why. Situated in scenic countryside, the views are excellent. The ground itself is magnificent too, with a decent-sized main stand being painted in club colours with murals, around 250 seats in all. Behind the goal is a full-sized covered terrace for around 600. The far side is open terracing, whilst there is a small bit of terracing behind the other goal. Plenty of parking was made available, but I'm not sure about public transport. The only letdown was the extra bits. A smart but small bar with a limited range, a disappointing outside caterer and a small range of merch. It was a shame not to see the club make the most of the day, but it remains a must-visit for any serious groundhopper. Plus, in their defence, maybe it was a lack of volunteers that stymied them and I certainly wish them all the best for the future.