Not a good start when I tried to use my 20 years out of date knowledge of Peterlee roads to direct this week duty driver daughter Dawn, firstly directing her via Ellis Bank and then Armstrong Road, both of which had been closed to traffic for at least ten years.
The new ground is almost opposite the building known as the White House which in years gone by would ironically have been the home of the Horden pit manager, overlooking both the village and the pit head.
On arrival I was as is usual warmly greeted by the committee who were all busy with the normal first match of the season activities distributing new kit and collecting annual membership fees plus the worries of hosting a first match in new facilities.
Chairman John Groves was given the job of the conducted tour and explaining the work that had gone into the new “home”.
The ground is a former Northern League Football ground and is in effect a mini stadium with the pitch within a wall enclosure. The club house which had been a shell when inherited has been transformed by many hours of voluntary work, into a modern comfortable and welcoming environment. The changing facilities and players dining area are in a separate building next to the club house
The only blot on the landscape at present is the need for additional changing rooms to accommodate the amount of rugby within the club and the failure of RFU to give a grant towards providing the needed extra space.
Kick off time. Words you would not have heard at the old welfare park, would you like to sit in the stand, stand on the terraces or stand on the viewing patio immediately outside club house. The club workers had only completed the patio at 7am the previous morning
I elected for the terraces first half and viewing patio second half (nearer the bar).
A crowd of about 150 were there to witness the first match on the new ground.
The Home team contained familiar faces Luke Watson, Davy Heckes and in the unfamiliar number 2 shirt Craig Gilmore all of whom have had spells at my club West.
The medicals side contained one extremely large celebrity who am I am told had been the star of a television program “Young Doctors” leading to an appearance on Harry Hills Burp in which he was chased by a Lasagne
The home side which contained a good balance of young and experienced players won comfortably 34 to 5.
Mention must be made of referee Ray Sutherland who kept the game flowing in wet and slippery condition and had a very good match.
Post-match the club house was full and had a real buzz to it.
When I left a live group was setting up for the evening entertainment.
I suspect there will have been a number of sore heads in both Horden and Peterlee on Sunday morning.
Selection of beers, most popular seemed to be the John Smiths, food for committee very nice buffet.
Don’t know what players were feed due them their dining area being separate to club house.