Here is a gentle stroll around some small but undeniably lovely grounds, lesser luminaries if you will, that prove to be rather marvelous places to watch a match.
Bedale Town
Leyburn Road, Bedale DL8 1HA
Harrogate & District League Division One
Bedale have played in the Teeside League in recent years but now ply their trade in local football. Their ground lies on the Leyburn Road just out of town, and boasts this small but perfectly formed pitched roof stand.
Boroughbridge
Aldborough Road, Boroughbridge YO51 9EB
West Yorkshire League Premier Division
The earliest traces of a Boroughbridge AFC date to 1900 competing for many years in the Ripon League and the Harrogate and District League. They currently play in the top division of the West Yorkshire League. Their home ground is on the outskirts of this historic market town and boasts a really first class pitch.
Snowdown Colliery Welfare
Spinney Lane, Aylesham CT3 3AF
Sadly Snowdown are currently in a period of abeyance having left the Kent County League a couple of season ago. Former members of the Kent League and Aetolian Leagues, the club were FA Cup entrants until as recently as 1979. The ground currently has a reduced sized stand but remnants remain of the extensive terracing that once surrounded the ground. This area of Kent was once a haven for coal colliery football grounds, Tilmanstone, Betteshanger and Chislet collieries all having decent standard facilities.
Brereton Social
Red Lion Ground, Armitage Lane, Brereton
Staffordshire County League Division Two
As industrial backdrops go, Brereton Social’s Red Lion ground has one of the finest, with Rugeley power station forming a dominant skyline to their humble little stand. Formed in 1899 the club has had spells in the West Midlands (Regional) League but in recent seasons have dropped through the Midland Combination and are now well down the divisions in the Staffs County League. Midland Combination side Rugeley Rangers also share the Red Lion Ground’s decent facilities.
Watton United
Watton Sports Centre, Dereham Road IP25 6EZ
Anglian Combination Division Five
Former members of the Eastern Counties League until 2000, Watton United have fallen on hard times recently, dropping into the Anglian Combination. In the past close season the club asked for voluntary demotion to Division Five to allow them to rebuild. The club were formed as long ago as 1893 and were originally called RAF Watton. With floodlights and two wooden stands, the ground is well up to a more senior level of football.
Penybont
The Racecourse Ground, Penybont, Powys
Mid Wales League South Division One
Penybont play well down the Welsh football pyramid but their ground is a real beauty. The racecourse ground is used every August for trotting, an activity that has not uncommonly seen crowds in excess of 1,000 to this remote Powys village. The grandstand is slightly at angle from the pitch but it is unexpectedly commodious.
Beer Albion
Furzebrake, Stovar Long Lane, Beer EX12 3DY
Devon and Exeter League
Beer Albion were formed in 1919 and joined the Perry Street League. They played their games at the time on a field called the White Cliff. In the late 1930’s the move was made to the current ground in Stovar Long Lane. The club progressed to the Devon and Exeter League for the 1952/53 season. The current stand replaced a rickety old shelter that somehow managed to stay erect despite the exposed location of the ground.
Mundford
The Glebe, St.Leonards Street, Mundford IP26 5DX
Anglian Combination Division One
Formed in 1907 the football club played its games at the Glebe, which was shared with the village cricket club. For 35 years from 1952 the club played on a field in Mundford Road before returning the Glebe in 1988. A separate pitch was set up adjacent to the cricket field and was enclosed with a railings. A smart brick build stand was also erected and while floodlight pylons have gone up in recent years, lights have yet to be attached to them.
Bungay Town
Maltings Meadows, Pirnhow Street, Ditchingham NR35 2Ru
Anglian Combination Division Two
The Black Dogs were formed in 1925 and played at the Recreation Ground in the small Suffolk town until 1953. The current ground at Maltings Meadows is actually within the Norfolk boundary in the neighbouring village of Ditchingham. The first match at the new ground in August 1953 saw 300 people witness the official opening and a match against Eastern Coachworks from Lowestoft. While the ground has wonderful facilities, sadly the eye catching backdrop of the old malting house is no more having been largely cleared for a housing development.
Outwell Swifts
The Nest, Wisbech Road PE14 8PA
Cambridgeshire County League Senior ‘B’
The Swifts benefited from the brief haitus of the areas major club, Wisbech Town, to Outwell. Town had left their legendary ground at Fenland Park and needed refuge until their new ground was ready. The Nest was done up with several stands installed, all but this one were removed to the new ground, and floodlights were also erected.
Lakenheath
The Nest, Wings Road, Lakenheath IP27 9HB
Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division
Although scant records exist, Lakenheath were first recorded as a competitive club in 1907 and since the early days have competed variously in the Ouse Valley League, the Mildenhall and District League and the Essex and Suffolk Border League. They have been highly successful in recent seasons in the Cambridgeshire County League. Their lovely home at The Nest lies in a verdant hollow and is a wonderful place to watch a game of football.
Brook Motors
Jagger Lane, Honley, Huddersfield HD9 6BT
Huddersfield & District League Division Three
Brook Motors, the company, were formed in 1904 and became the largest manufacturer of alternating current electric motors. In their heyday they had ten factories in the Huddersfield area and employed over 2,000 people. The football club were formed in 1939 and have played at this well appointed ground in Jagger Lane for several decades.
Chagford
War Memorial Playing Fields, Manor Road, Chagford TQ13 8AS
Devon and Exeter League Division Three
Chagford graced the Devon County League for several seasons until they finished bottom of the table in 1994/95. They joined the South Devon League but now find themselves well down the divisions in the Devon & Exter League. Their War Memorial Ground boasts unrivalled views of the edge of the Dartmoor National Park and is a real undiscovered jewel of Devonian football.
Kilkhampton
Lamb Park, Kilkhampton
East Cornwall League Premier Division
Sitting in the centre of the village the club have really progressed in recent years. The ground has this covered enclosure plus a stunning wooden clubhouse which opened in 2009. A club to watch in the future.
Chalford
Highfield Way, Chalford GL6 8LZ
Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two
Chalford can date their formation back to 1891 and have always played on pitches around this hilly village. This fine stand completes a homely rural venue which boast stunning vistas of the Frome Valley.
Garforth Rangers
Micklefield Recreation Ground, Great North Road, Micklefield LS25 4AF
West Yorkshire League Division Two
Mickelfield AFC were formed in 1953 and enjoyed a golden era in the 1970’s and 1980’s when they won a slew of amateur leagues and cup finals. However, the club sadly folded in 2004 citing lack of support so it was no surprise that Garforth Rangers, themselves formed in 1996, took over the excellent facilities at the Recreation Ground.
The Itinerant Football Watcher 