Kiveton Park 0 v Ecclesfield Red Rose 3 - Sheff County Senior League Div 1

"When all else fails... try Wales!"

Wednesday 17th April 2019
Sheffield County Senior League Division 1
at Wales High School, Storth Lane, Kiveton Park
Kiveton Park (0) 0
Ecclesfield Red Rose (2) 3
Matt Young 3,
Todd Guest 30,
Ryan McDonald 76
Point & hope picture gallery from this game: Click HERE

Kiveton Park:

Jonathan Parker, Matthew Blackwell, Adam Bratley, Jordan Cocks, Jonathan Gravelle, Alexander Hardwick, Jamie Harrison, William Hutchison, James Lawton, Jamie Smith, Daniel Stewart

Subs - Jack Mason, Archie Newman

Ecclesfield Red Rose:

Christian Bark, Daniel Barnett, Mark Groves, Todd Guest, Gavin Hunter, Chris Lewis, Ryan McDonald, Alex Radford, Ryan Radford, Jamie Russell, Matthew Young

Subs - James Cantrill, Joseph Long, Luke Parkinson, Robert Womack

Congratulations to Ecclesfield Red Rose, who clinched promotion to the top flight of the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League, by virtue of tonight's win. 

Champions elect, Burngreave FC, are five points ahead of tonight's visitors and have one game left to play: v. Sheffield Medics, Saturday 27.4.19, at Norton Playing Fields, S8 8PS; while 'Red Rose' still have two games remaining, namely : at home against Boynton Sports on 17.4.19, at Chaucer School on Wordsworth Avenue, S5 8NH, And they also travel to Sheffield Medics, for a 6PM kick off on Monday 29.4.19.

Kiveton Park relocated to the Wales High School site from their previous home ground of over one hundred years standing, at Hard Lane, in 2017. Subsequently, Renishaw Rangers made use of Kivo's vacant former home.

To cut a long story short, the move was deemed necessary, because of a lack of co-operation to any of the club's plans for development, from the landowners at Hard Lane, CISWO (the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation), a body who a number of non league teams in the local area have had... and indeed are still having... problems dealing with, as regards obstacles put in their way, when they want to apply for FA grants to make any sort ground improvements that are key to making progress within their respective leagues.

It's probably not my place to post the details of ongoing cases/disputes between certain clubs and 'CISWO', that are currently in deadlock as the ruling body maintain a position of non co-operative silence and virtual secrecy over their plans going forward, nor to comment on the rumours and (as of yet unconfirmed) growing speculation  that are circulating about a number of impending 'land-grab' situations in the not too distant future; that in all likelihood could leave several clubs looking for new facilities to play their home games at, as their current grounds become profitable real estate for 'CISWO', that vanish to make way for property development. Of course, a lot of it is purely conjecture, but that could all be cleared up if the organisation stopped playing it's cards so closely to it's chest and hiding their real intentions behind a shroud of silence.

It wouldn't be right to name the clubs who are being denied the possibility of developing their grounds.. or those whose progression is being curtailed as a consequence, while their ongoing affairs are still very much in a perpetual state of flux. But it is a fact that needs addressing sooner rather than later, instead of 'CISWO' maintaining their stubborn and tight-lipped stance on such a pressing matter, that stands to effect the very future and/or possibly even the very existence, of several clubs, who have represented their local communities for many a long year.

Kiveton Park FC made a sideways move into the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League in 2013, from the Central Midlands League, by way of cutting their cloth accordingly as regards travel expenses. But they were initially entered into the competition in Division Two, of a three league format consisting of a Premier division, along with a first and second division. After four years finding their feet at the that level, they won promotion to the First Division, during the same year that they reluctantly moved out of their previous home.

'Kivo' are now coming up to the end of their second season at this level and are destined for a comfortable top half finish, which will hopefully act as a springboard to bigger things next term.
The Wales High School sports ground that the club have established as their home, is separated from the school by a lane, where their is ample car parking, Note the fenced enclosure that Kiveton Park use, is not one of the sports fields that are located behind the school buildings, that you will see if you observe the area from above on Google maps.

If you travel to Kiveton by train, you need to alight at Kiveton Bridge station and turn left when you emerge onto the main road (i.e. the opposite direction to the Hard Lane), and stroll past the CO-OP store before turning right into Chestnut Avenue, just past the 'Admiral 4' chippy, which leads to Storth Lane.
The portakabins on site, within the grounds, are painted in the club colours of red and black, and house the changing facilities, club equipment and even provide a tea hut for spectators, which incorporates a club shop, where metal badges, hats etc. are available... and though it isn't a requisite at this level, the club also produce a matchday programme.

There are a dozen or so seats in situ, if you prefer not to stand and watch the game unfold on the roped off pitch... and rest assured, if you should take unwell on your visit to Storth Lane the club have defibrillator equipment available.

As for Ecclesfield Red Rose... you could see why they are at the business end of the table, and had that bit more in their tank, than their most hospitable hosts, that saw them over the finishing line, as they clinched promotion.

The home side did have their moments, particularly in the opening twenty minutes of the second half, when both Alex Hardwick and Jack Mason tested Christian Bark, the Ecclesfield keeper. But any hopes of a comeback were curtailed when Kiveton were reduced to ten men, after Mason was dismissed for a second yellow card offence. 

Two first half goals had given the visitors a commanding half time lead, with Matt Young opening the scoring with a back post header, when he connected with a deep cross from Chris Lewis, out on the right... and doubled their advantage, when Kiveton's goalkeeper, Jon Parker struggled to deal with Gavin Hunter's low cross and Todd Guest pounced to stab home the loose ball, as Jamie Harrison was a fraction away from hooking it away to safety.
In the seventy sixth minute, the 'Red Rose' captain, made the points safe, displaying a well executed step-over cum half volley manoeuvre (of sorts) from just inside the Kiveton area, after the referee had played a good advantage... though, I s'pose you wouldn't have thought it was good if you were involved with the home side in any kind of capacity.
FT: Kiveton Park 0 v Ecclesfield Red Rose 3

Kiveton Park's decision, to all but rip it up and start again... at a sustainable rate, at a new facility, seems to be reaping dividends, and they already have the makings of a decent non-league set up here, with plenty of scope for development.
It needs to be said also, that they go the extra mile, to make casual visitors and floating fans alike, feel very welcome, providing the few extras that a lot of teams in this league are lacking... that make a first time visitor feel like returning to Storth Lane when the opportunity arises.

Of course, no visit to Kiveton Park FC, would be complete without mentioning their most famous ex-player Herbert Chapman, or his brother Harry (a Sheffield Wednesday player of some note).

I took this photograph of Herbert Chapman's statue, which stands outside the Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal FC, when I watched the Gunners play against Norwich City in the League Cup a couple of seasons ago.

Details of his distinguished and influential managerial career can be found by clicking HERE.

Many years ago, somebody pointed out a property to me near Colliery Road (adjacent to Kiveton Bridge station) that was said to have been the Chapman family home back in the day, but I've never had the story clarified, or seen a blue plaque on the terraced dwelling; so that might, or might not, be a 100% genuine claim.

Sadly, Chapman died on 6th January 1934 after succumbing to a bout of  pneumonia, aged just 55 years old.
During the few days before he passed away, he'd attended three matches since the the turn of the new year, for scouting purposes, while suffering with a heavy cold, namely: Bury v Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham and an Arsenal third team game v Guilford Town. So it would seem that old Herb was a bit of a ground-hopper at heart too.

A couple if images that I took of Kiveton Park's old ground on Hard Lane, when Kirkby Town visited them in May 2009.