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England U20s v Czechia at Mansfield FC, Thu 12th Nov. Tickets £5/£3/£1

Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Hallam FC v Glasshoughton Welfare AFC

A large billboard welcomes visitors to Sandygate, the home of Hallam F.C., the world's oldest football ground. The billboard announces the next home game against Glasshoughton Welfare on August 20th at 7:45 pm. Below this, a green banner displays the Cactus lettings logo and contact information. A green sign for a cricket club is visible to the left, and a black fence with the word "spencer" in white cursive lettering is in the foreground.

Football for a fiver at Sandygate, home of Hallam FC, on Tuesday evening when an energetic first-half display from the hosts, playing down the slope at the world’s oldest ground, earned them a 3-0 lead at the break, Glasshoughton Welfare consoled only by a late goal that failed to deny the hosts their first win of the season in the Northern Counties East Division One.

Perched high up in the Crosspool district, I always feel that Sandygate amplifies the prevailing weather conditions.

I was there, for instance, last summer the day before England’s World Cup semi-final against Croatia when the baking heat made for a quite beautiful evening looking out from the main stand across the countryside as Hallam took on the youngsters of Sheffield Wednesday in a pre-season friendly.

Last night when darkness came it came quite sharply and there was a definite autumnal chill in the air after half-time.

But there’s always the smartly refurbished bar and the welcoming tea hut to provide warmth and sustenance as the temperature starts to drop and at £5 for adults you are guaranteed a warm welcome, a competitive game and a slice of football history.

The next home game is against Retford FC on Tuesday 3rd September at 7.45pm.

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