We visit Spennymoor Town on Saturday, but what do you know about them? Here’s our five facts on Spennymoor Town.
- 1. So, a new season, and brand-new opponents?
Correct. We kick off the campaign by visiting the one club in this year’s National League North with whose path ours has never previously crossed.
Not entirely surprising, given that Spennymoor Town only this year turned 12, having been formed as a 10th-tier Northern League Second Division club in 2005, and stayed at that level until 2009/10 – when we (look away now, fellow Hatters) were still plying our trade in League One.
- 2. Not to be confused with the now-defunct Spennymoor United, then?
Well, possibly… and understandably! The ‘new’ Spennymoor is technically a successor club to Evenwood Town, rather than to the ‘old’ Spennymoor that folded before the end of 2004/05. But, by way of added complexity, our hosts this Saturday play at United’s old (and sloping) Brewery Field ground, as well as in the black and white stripes of the original club bearing the town’s name.
This hybrid arrangement was worked out in the course of a meeting at Spennymoor’s Penny Gill pub! But it seems to have stood the test of time rather well so far – with the new club having risen four tiers within seven years, and also won the FA Vase (in 2013).
- 3. No chance of any baggage, with our never having met before, I guess?
Not directly – although current Hatters Jimmy Ball, Michael Clarke and Scott Duxbury will have Brewery Field ghosts to exorcise, after being part of Jim Gannon’s Northwich Victoria side that went down 2-0 in the Evo-Stik Division One North Play-off Final at Spennymoor just over a year ago.
- 4. Ok – but there are surely no players to have worn the shirts of both clubs?
Wrong, if we are allowed to count Spennymoor United. Newcastle-born Ralph Wright (County defender/midfielder, 1971/72) began and ended his career there. And both striker Bob Colville (1987-89) and midfielder Michael Oliver (1994-96), who hailed from Middlesbrough, turned out at Brewery Field after their spells at Edgeley Park.
And while we have former Spennymoor players on our minds, comedian Frank Skinner’s Dad, John Collins, deserves a mention – having played for United before World War Two, and been in the team for a 1937 Third Round FA Cup-tie against West Bromwich Albion.
- 5. I bet there isn’t a Moor in-form team than Town?
You can have that one (pun and all)! A 100 per-cent winning record in July friendlies may not win any trophies, but it is quite remarkable – and Spennymoor boast seven victories out of seven in their pre-season build-up.
Add to this their six-match unbeaten run (five wins, one draw) at the end of the last campaign-proper, and it is almost four months since Town last tasted defeat in any form. Hopefully, the Hatters can both end that sequence and extend their own run of annual opening-day wins to three!
Author: Gareth Evans
