Thursday 20th August 2020
Pre-Season Friendly
The Stafflex Arena, Storthes Hall Park
Shelley FC (0) 1Kingsley Weatherhead 67
Penistone Church (1) 1
Samuel Scrivens 14
Point & hope photo gallery: Click HERE
Given how 2020 has unfolded thus far it seemed quite fitting to be visiting a football ground based in the grounds of what used to be a psychiatric hospital.
Formed in 1903, tonight's host club began their existence playing at Back Lane in Shelley, before moving to Westerley Lane some seventy years ago.
Having folded in 1972, the club re-formed in 1980 and subsequently relocated to Skelmanthorpe Rec' in 2000... they have been Storthes Hall Park since 2011.
Having spent the majority of their days plying their trade in the Huddersfield & District League and West Yorkshire League, Shelley FC have been members of the North West Counties Football League (Division One North) since 2018.
This was my maiden voyage to Shelley FC and as first impressions go... just wow! What an awesome set up and the Stafflex Arena is, tucked away off of the A629 Penistone Road, it's an hidden gem of a ground.
Having navigated the forest trail that meanders through the grounds of Storthes Hall, I was welcomed on arrival by my old pal (he's my pal... and he's old) Malcolm Lumb and given the grand tour of the impressive facilities, while junior and youth team games were being played out on the pitches adjacent to the main ground (which is also used by Huddersfield Town Ladies). It is easy to see how Malc is so enthusiastic about the club and all that it entails.
Mr Lumb, a veritable non-league 'Jack of all trades' if there ever was one, is currently (amongst his other duties) in the process of setting up a programme and memorabilia shop at the ground to raise funds for 'the Shells', so keep an eye out for that if you're ever tempted to venture over this way... and you really should be.
Tonight's visitors are based roughly nine miles to the south of the Stafflex Arena and will no doubt be among the big-hitters in the NCEL Premier Division this coming season. It's always a pleasure to watch Ian Richards' team in action, so their presence was an added bonus when Malc contacted me to ask me if I fancied a trip up this way, along with providing me with meticulous details of how to find the place.
I suspect that even the most optimistic of souls in the Shelley FC camp, probably expected that an away win was on the cards tonight... but in spite of being tested and put under the cosh early on; having gone behind inside the opening fifteen minutes, when Sam Scrivens shot 'the Church' into the lead from twenty five yards out, the hosts grew into the game and were good value for the draw in the end.
Of course, these sort of games of merely a warm-up for the real thing when delayed forthcoming season finally commences, but this very credible and impressive result for Ash Berry's side, won't have done their confidence any harm.
Berry himself, besides being the Shelley manger, was one of the trio (along with Paul Hirst and Steven Shephard) who relaunched the club in 1980.
I think it would be fair to say that he's not shy about expressing himself when he's on the touchline... in fact I'd swear that I saw the Emley Moor transmitter shudder a couple of times when he was particularly animated and the linesman (at Stocksbridge Park Steels) was quaking in his boots too... Okay, I'm exaggerating again, but only a bit.
In the sixty-seventh minute, the home side were awarded a penalty for a handball offence.
Kingsley Weatherhead's initial strike was blocked by Adam Rhodes but he slotted the ball home from the rebound to level things up.
I'll spare someone's blushes by not naming the individual who said: "Oh bloody hell! My camera battery just packed up", as Weatherland stepped forward to take the spot-kick, but he's been mentioned once or twice already further up this blog overview.
In the end, a great work out for the two sides who were both still making this a compelling game and looking for a winning goal as darkness fell.
I'm enjoying my football a lot this pre-season and left Storthes Hall Park with a contented smile on my face tonight.
These are uncertain times for the non-league fraternity and grassroots game in general... and it's a real pleasure to have something else to be upbeat about following my inaugural visit to Shelley FC.
I'll definitely be back soon.
FT: Shelley FC 1 v Penistone Church 1
Good luck to both teams for the 2020-21 season. See you soon!
