HALL LANE
NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
GROUND NO 228
THE picture on the cover of the programme shows a jubilant group of players proudly parading a glittering trophy at a packed-to-the-rafters Wembley Stadium.
The occasion was the FA Amateur Cup final in 1950 and Willo had just tonked neighbours Bishop Auckland 4-0 in front of 88,000 fans to lift the famous and prestigious silverware.
Since then there have been some tough times for both Willington AFC and the former pit village in County Durham in which they're situated.
The pit closed in 1967 and the effect on the community was felt like a miner's pick axe crunching into the coal seam. Sadly it was a familiar story in many villages around the North-East - an area that's close to my heart.
And the club, who had twice reached the first round of the FA Cup and indeed took Blackburn Rovers to a replay in 1974, suffered a decline in fortunes in the 80s. They even lost their Northern League status and twice finished bottom of the Wearside League in the Noughties.
But this is a proud club and a proud village.
Not content to rest on the laurels of past glories or dwell on the lean years, Willo are a club for the here and now.
Their social media presence is chatty, friendly and informative - and I felt welcome at the ground before I'd even made the 300-mile journey to get there. They've got a supporters' app for the die-hards too and you can't get more up-to-date than that!
I'd been told by a Heaton Stannington fan on Twitter that this would be a great trip for a discerning groundhopper... and he was spot on.
I fell in love with non-league football because of the Northern League, and because of grounds like this.
After parking up in the quiet residential area that surrounds the ground and passing through the entrance you immediately sense the rich history of this famous old club.
The main stand glares at you from the other side of pitch. With five rows of bench seats on a concrete base straddling the halfway line, WILLINGTON AFC screaming at you in big, white letters at the top, it has a beautiful starkness to it. It even has a press box you know.
There are small, covered areas behind each goal, sitting neatly in front of grass banking.
You could imagine, in days gone by, these grass banks being filled with fervent fans, rattles in hand, cheering on their side - many of them perhaps with coal-tarnished faces after rushing from a shift at the pit.
Opposite the main stand is a modern changing room block with seats for officials in front. To its left is the tea bar and the Jackie Foster Terrace.
Opened in 2017, this area of concrete steps (and two benches) was named in memory of former player Jackie Foster. His son Lee helped with construction and some his ashes are buried within one of the steps. A nice touch.
Like the rest of the ground, it's very well maintained. Hats off to those who look after it.
Sitting back from the pitch next to the entrance is the clubhouse - small but functional with Sky TV, an array of trophies and a white wonderful framed poster for that FA Cup clash against Blackburn.
A combination of the warm weather (well it was when the match kicked off, anyway....) and these crazy days of social distance protocols meant there were tables and chairs outside as well, offering a splendid opportunity to watch the action while supping a pint.
I might have done just that if I hadn't done my bit to support the licensed trade in rather eager fashion the night before.
The Willo supporters were enthusiastic throughout the match - even more so after watching their side battle back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
I'd endured six long months without a live football fix because of the Covid-19 crisis and I genuinely couldn't have picked a better match or a better ground to end that wait.
On Twitter? You can follow me at https://twitter.com/Pavedwithgoals
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