Derbyshire Senior Cup Dream Over For Millers

 Clinical Belper hit New Mills for Six.

New Mills Adam Stuart stops the run of Belper's Luke Crosby

Following my visit to see Belper United beat South Normanton Athletic in round 1 I decided to follow the tie and visit New Mills for Belper’s Derbyshire Senior Cup 2nd Round fixture.

An evening car journey after the clocks have been changed for the coming winter months isn’t the nicest trip in to the Peak District but an hour after leaving work I was in New Mills. Unfortunately the pubs that were open weren’t selling food though that did turn out to be a blessing in disguise as I chose the cuisine at Church Lane home of the said New Mills.

A very pleasant surprise was the production of a programme, not the usual fare, apparently, but at a reduced price of £1.50 it was still a pretty good showing containing most of the essentials. A lengthy managers notes, a bit on Belper United, extensive fixtures and results and a really interesting historic look at this day in 2003. It was missing the Belper United line up, though that’s no fault of the home side, and it would have been nice if both clubs respective league tables were in, but hey, that’s being picky cos these days we’re lucky to get a programme and with the information on phones nowadays I didn’t have any of my rights as a programme collector violated.

 

While contemplating what to eat I overheard the Chip Inspector question some young lads, he explained he needed to verify the chips were suitable for consumption. One of the lads even offered him one but he said he needed to pick one himself. I waited till he’d moved on, or did he follow the smell of the chips, before ordering mine just in case. They were really nice and were accompanied by a minced beef pie and gravy. If I’d had some patience I could have had the chicken curry pie but they weren’t ready and I wanted feeding. We’ll return to food later.

The Game.

I spoke to a few club officials prior to the game, Ray the Chairman, Gareth the Secretary and Chris the media officer who all gave me bits of information. Chris provided me with a great booklet titled “The Millers Tale” an historic look back at the 125 year history of New Mills FC by Allan Jones and it was from this that the ambition to lift the Derbyshire Senior Cup for the club by predecessors was obvious. Four finals have been reached but no trophy has been secured at Senior level and that record continues, at least for another year, after a disastrous defensive display.

The game started evenly with both sides testing out the opposition with forays forward and it was something of a surprise when Belper took a 1-0 lead. A corner came in from the left hand side and John Guy just ran in unmarked and smashed the ball inside the near post.

 

Belper take a 1-0 lead with John Guy's shot inside the near post

The events that were to follow this evening were summed up for New Mills just 6 minutes later when they were awarded a penalty, up stepped Rick Tindall and his shot was skewed over the bar. Belper kept their lead and as the game wore on Tindall wouldn’t be the only home player to put shots above the cross bar.

 

Rick Tindall puts his penalty over the Belper bar.

Eric Graves made it 2-0 with the first of his hat-trick on 35 minutes, his shot seeming to take a deflection and wrong footing Dylan Forth as it flew past him and into the right side of his net. At 2-0 there was a chance to regroup and see if they could cope with the quick break aways that Belper were causing most damage with but 3 minutes from half time Jack Tyson broke down the right went in to the box and fired past an exposed Dylan Forth, 3-0.

 

Belper take a 2-0 lead with this goal from Eric Graves (out of pic).

Within 5 minutes of the second half starting it was game over and 4-0 to United as Graves got his 2nd, a tap in following a free kick. Graves hat-trick was completed on 75 minutes another example of poor defending at a set piece.

 

New Mills Chris Rogers brings the ball out as Belper players close in.

Despite the seemingly one sided scoreline New Mills were an attacking threat throughout but the quality was lacking when it came to finishing. If the crossbar had been a foot higher we could have been looking forward to some extra action after the 90 minutes were up, actually, looking forward is not the right terminology on a school night.

Reece Lyndon did get a consolation for New Mills, deserved after a decent spell of pressure but too late to alter anything and in fact the final goal of the night was scored by Belper sub Alec Steadman seven minutes from time to give a result of New Mills 1 Belper United 6.

 

Referee Andrew Wood.

It was a shock to see New Mills get beaten so heavily, they went in to the game on the back of 1 defeat in the last 6 games and that was on penalties but poor finishing and shambolic defending ended the Senior Cup dream for this season.

Church Lane.

New Mills have been at Church Lane 101 years, it’s an established community facility but it is the people at the club that make it so. Apparently, it’s in a very scenic setting, a night time game in November is not the best time to check that out but with St George’s Church nearby and the Peak District’s highest point, Kinder Scout, also visible then it, quite rightly, has that reputation

 

The board outside the turnstiles.

Entrance to the ground, not surprisingly, is via Church Lane with the open double doors exposing the turnstiles and a welcoming sign above. To the right of the turnstiles is a board giving details of the next fixture. I noticed as I left the ground that it had been changed to show Stockport Town were next in line.

Welcome To New Mills.

The ground was fully enclosed in 1962 and team photographs from this time appear to show cover in the background. Whether it is the current main cover on the Church lane side I’m not sure but that cover was there in 1970.

Turning left as you go in the ground takes you to that main stand which runs the majority of the length of the pitch. Actually this is really two stands. The original is a covered terrace leading to 3 separate sections for visiting officials. Just past this there are a few red and black tip up seats followed by three lengths of bench seating. There is a slight overhang on the roof with the club name in the middle, when I first visited in 2004 this was known as the “Ian Lee Stand”.

 

New Mills in 2004

The “second” stand has a slightly lower roof and was constructed in 2011 in preparation for promotion to the Northern Premier League. Neat grey cladding and a similar roof to its sister, with that green edging dropping down, covers 4 rows of red and black seats.

 

New Mills 2022

Photographs from 2014 show that between the turnstile block and the stand was a blue portakabin, possibly used for visiting hospitality? this is no longer there.

 

The cover erected around 2011.

Behind the bottom goal is a narrow strip of half grass and half hard standing with props seemingly keeping the perimeter fence up but this is the Peak District and windy weather is expected. I couldn’t get to the side opposite to the main stand as it is out of bounds though it was possible to watch the game at the bottom end of this side up to where the dug outs are placed up to ten years ago.

 

Behind the bottom goal.

On the other side of the dug outs is another strip of hard standing but, again, it’s out of bounds. Immediately behind this is an all-weather floodlit pitch which was installed in 1997 when substantial work was carried out to upgrade the facilities. Two car parks were laid out, floodlights installed, new dressing rooms were built and the clubhouse was extended. The dressing rooms, possibly, replaced the ones built in 1959/60 when the club also built a canteen for spectators.

 

The out of bounds side with the all weather floodlit pitch.

I’ve visited a few clubs recently who have excellent spectator facilities, Clitheroe, Runcorn Linnets and I would add New Mills to this grouping. Behind the top goal, which would be slightly to the right upon entering the ground, it is slightly raised and terraced. Original terracing was done in the mid-1970’s. The clubhouse and dressing rooms are here and are part of what gives the club that community feel.

The clubhouse has been extended and improved more than once, the latest time was thanks to the Chairman being furloughed during Covid lockdown and, with help, he refurbished the interior giving it a more modern look. Work was also carried out immediately outside with a flat roof added to provide cover over some of the tressle tables set out for spectators. The club bar is also licensed now and open every day of the week and here’s where we return to the theme of the cuisine on offer. New Mills regularly host “Foodie Friday” serving a host of international tastes, this Friday (11/11/22) it’s Colombo Street when Sri Lankan food is on offer. Over the next few weeks the club will be providing Pizza, Japanese, Korean & BBQ. Not only that it is done for families and the kids can use the all-weather floodlit pitch to burn off some energy and the parents can partake in a beverage or two should they wish. That’s what I mean about the people running the club that make it a community facility, I hope the people of this High Peak town realise how lucky they are.

 

Outside the refurbished clubhouse.

Church Lane is an old ground with some worn parts and some more modern bits. The tick boxes are completed with the cover, there’s plenty for the attendance of 72 tonight and hopefully for the increasing numbers for league games. The club though are not standing still and accepting what they have. There are ambitions to improve the facilities, install a 3G pitch, an important facility not just for community use but to counteract the wet weather in this part of the country. The Buxton advertiser reported recently that club officials are looking in to selling some land for housing and using the money to improve the facilities of this aged and wonderful part of the footballing fraternity. Though planning permission has been requested no deal over the land is done yet as club officials stated “Discussions between the Football Foundation and ourselves are continuing independently of the CityHeart planning application and we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that we are committed to ensuring that the football club and its facilities remain at the heart of the local community as it has been for the past 100 years”. Welcome news not just to the home support but to football followers in general.

The bench seating.

Cawarden Derbyshire Senior Cup 2nd Round.

08/11/22.
Ashbourne v Pinxton 2-1
New Mills v Belper United 1-6
Shirebrook Town v Graham Street Prims 1-2
09/11/22
Heanor Town v Sandiacre Town 8-0
15/11/22
Borrowash Victoria v Dronfield Town (tie to be played at Dronfield).

Another view from 2004.

Cawarden Derbyshire Senior Cup 3rd Round

The 3rd round draw will be announced next Thursday 17/11/22 when the County's more senior clubs enter.
Entering in third round: Alfreton Town, Belper Town, Buxton, Chesterfield, Derby County, Glossop North End, Gresley Rovers, Ilkeston Town, Long Eaton Utd, Matlock Town, Mickleover.

Housing development plans if the club sell the land.


Comments

  1. Excellent read Bill as ever. Just needed a picture of the pie and chips in my opinion!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the feedback Rob, it wasn't something I'd considered but maybe for a future blog I'll include it. The food at New Mills was impressive so worthy of a pic.

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