New Hartley Juniors 12 v Horden Community Welfare U18s 2 - 22/09/18 - ground #471 - New Hartley Welfare

I'd been wanting to do this ground for about 2 years, but wanted to do on same day as when SD were at home aswell,as it's only 5 mins away on the bus. This is Horden's first season in this league, so they'll need time to settle. NH are well established in this league & it showed. some well taken goals and 2 penalties in the space of 3 minutes around 37 mins eased them to HT. during the 2nd half I got the X7 down to SD to catch up with that game's first half. I even saw some chances and a goal whilst at the bus stop!

season 2018/19 - 5 new grounds, 46 goals :)

transport -
X10 stockton - eldon square
X7 haymarket - new hartley
X7 new hartley - seaton delaval

Seaton Delaval afc 3 v Seghill fc 2 (a.e.t) - 22/09/18 - ground #472 - Wheatridge Park

the bus stops next to the ground, where there was a lovely litle moggy wandering about outside :)

Seghill were 2 up at the break but couldn't get through to the next round. I didnt have much energy left by this time, as long bus rides knacker me! so I just took a few pics from the "car park end", and sat down to eat my bait & drink me juice & rest!

season 2018/19 - 6 new grounds, 51 goals :)

transport -
X7 seaton delaval - haymarket
X10 eldon square - stockton

Durham City AFC U18s 0 v Spennymoor Town FC u18s 3 - 18/11/17 - ground #460 - North Durham Academy 3G

when I arrived at this venue last time, the game was cancelled, thankfully it was on this time! unfortunately it happened to be on the coldest day of the season so far, with temperatures as low as 4 but felt like -4 !! spenny almost smashed the crossbar in the first half with Durham unable to convert any of their pressure into goals. toes & fingers were numb by the second half, which is when the visitors took control and won the game. only Benfield & New Hartley's grounds required now to complete the league.

I shivered on the buses all the way home, where warmth & a hot shower were very welcome :)

season 2017/18 = 19 new grounds , 113 goals

transport -
X12 Stockton - Durham
16A Durham - Stanley
16A Stanley - Durham
X12 Durham - Stockton

Stockton Town U18s 1 v ryton blacks u18s 2 (a.e.t) - 03/06/17 - ground #441 - Riverside Sports Complex

due to a farce with the buses, I missed the 11am train thornaby to darlo, which would've made the 11.41 to CLS. but I ended up on the 11.26 , which missed the 11.41 by 5 mins (trains are never late when you want/need them to be!!). so with plenty time to kill, I made the short walk over the road to Hogans, where a nice cold pint of Strongbow was enjoyed :)  the 12.41 to CLS was on time & a winner!! (only 3 TPE 185s are required now) , arriving just after 1. this league cup final game was advertised as a 1.30 k.o (as all games are throughout the season)  but started slightly earlier, so some of the match was missed, but didn't ruin the day. the top 2 teams in the league (Stockton finished 2nd) played out a close game on a hot day. FT was 1-1, with ryton winning it in extra time. 
after the game I had enough time for a brisk walk up to the station & caught an earlier than planned train back to darlo, this time just an 8 min wait in darlo was required til thornaby train :)
as it stands, I need 2 grounds to complete the DCFA U18s league, so hopefully they will be soon be ticked off next season :)

season 2016/17 -  29 new grounds , 119 goals

transport -
142079 thornaby - darlo
185114 (winner!!) darlo - CLS

185146 CLS - darlo
142022 darlo - thornaby

Wallsend Boys Club U18s 3 v Washington AFC U18s 0 - 08/04/17 - ground #438 - Kirkley Park

it was explorer ticket time again. I just missed the X10 due to my bus into town being late, so it was off to Billy for the X9. after a minor setback, I still arrived in wallsend with time to spare before the 1.30k.o. a good end to end game in nice spring sunshine. after watching a portion of the 2nd half, I headed to nearby willington quay saints :)

season 2016/17 -  26 new grounds, 105 goals

transport -
36 Stockton - billingham
X9 billingham - heworth
4032+48 heworth - monument
4070+23 monument - wallsend

Spennymoor Town FC U18s 0 v Sunderland Lambton Street U18s 6 - 27/02/16 - ground #405 - Spennymoor Town FC Academy

I almost did this ground a coupla years ago when Spenny reserves played in the Durham Aliance league, but circumstances ment I was usually eleswhere or couldn't get there midweek.. Having completed the DACL last time out, this was one of the 3 DCFA U18 grounds that I needed. I got an arriva day ticket to see me thru the day, arrived at the ground about 30 mins before K.O. the place was deserted, but then a bloke with a bag of balls etc turned up & walked down to the bottom pitch. I made my way down, just as I was wondering if there was a game on, I saw the spenny lads makin the trek down, followed a few mins later by the Sunderland lads.
with Spenny's 1st team plying their trade in step 4 these days, I expected a better showing, but they hardly threatened in the first half, which was bossed by an energetic Sunderland side who led 4-0 at HT. Spenny made a better game of it in the 2nd half but conceeded 2 more.

season 2015/16 - new grounds 26, goals 124 goals

transport -
X12 stockton - Durham
6 Durham - tudhoe
6 tudhoe - Durham
X12 Durham - stockton