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Published: August 31st 2016
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I wrote a blog last year, which featured a whole host of photographs of the Wroclaw dwarves. It was an experiment, mainly to see if there was any correlation between a blog that actually said anything and went somewhere interesting or whether just a few headline pictures could grab the attention. It was moderately successful in it's aim and it is not without hits. The question then would be was anybody in the slightest bit interested in the Durham coalfields, Time will tell! As ever, this was primarily a trip into football oblivion with my travelling companion on North East missions - a small dog with an interest in football called Crystal. Switch off at your peril. You could learn something. I did!
I have driven through Tow Law many times, but rudely paid no attention. It is on the main A68 heading towards the border. Indeed, if Nicola Sturgeon has her own way ...a border it will be before you can say Nigel Farage. It might be a main artery towards Scotland, but it is not a road to speed up. The Durham Constabulary are quite keen on speed restriction, so it is no surprise to find
Tow Law Town AFC
Crystal studies the play.... their College of Policing on route to my destination. The literal meaning of Tow Law is Lookout Mound. We are at a serious height in the North Pennines, so the view cannot be faulted. I was heading to the 2nd highest senior football ground in England - Tow Law Town AFC. Buxton incidentally in Derbyshire is the highest, but it gets lost in the world of spa water. I would add that this was not really the interesting Tow Law fact. We have to go back in time somewhat further to the Crimean War. It might appear a "
blink and you miss it town" today, but in the days of the Charge of the Light Brigade we would be in the centre of cannon ball production. The campaign of the British and French against the Russians was fought with Tow Law cannon balls. I drove through town and turned off on Inkerman Road. The hamlet of Inkerman is named after the 1854 battle. In the "Soldier's Battle", the British and French were massively outnumbered in men and guns. It was seen as a turning point in persuading the Russians the war could not be won.
The focal point on
Inkerman Road is signposted about 300 metres on the right. The Bee Hive Coke Ovens are a few of the last remaining in the area. Coke production followed the opening of the coal mine here in the 1850s. The ovens, whilst not exactly unique, are sadly neglected. There is an info board, the remenants of a coal yard to one side and a few rusting vehicles. Sad, really. There is so much industrial history. I went back to town, passing the road signs pronouncing "Tow Law", that have small beehives to the right hand end. The high street was not happening. A long stretch of maybe 2 miles with stone fronted buildings. There was little open on this Bank Holiday Monday. An interesting military supplies shop was closed for the day and there appeared a For Sale sign outside Alex's Bar and the North Point Hotel, which suggested they might doing likewise in the future. Another pub advertised pints at £1.90. Who needs a Wetherspoon? The focus of town was the Co-op. A succession of cars came and went, as the locals sought provisions. The sun was beating down on the War Memorial on the corner of Wolsingham Road. The
white marble contrasted against the blue sky. The number of names on the Memorial commorated in 1921, gives an indication that this was more than a town of 2,000 souls in 1914.
I parked the car on Ironworks Road, home to Tow Law Town AFC. It was "Derby Day" against Willington. Consett are in Northern League Division 1, so this is the big game. In the hot bed of football, Tow Law wouldn't normally get a mention. The passion for the game is high, but a chill wind from the hills tends to cool the enthusiasm. In modern times, the team of Tow Law is noted as the start of Chris Waddle's journey from sausage factory to Local Hero at the Toon and onwards to Tottenham, Marseilles and Sheffield Wednesday. Well brush over penalties with England. Tow Law sported a Newcastle looking strip, but the next Chris Waddle was absent. The quality was low and a half time sub was branded as a 'a sign of desparation' by one unimpressed local. 'Top of the league last week and look at 'me now'. I was commended on the choice of day to visit - not because of the football, but
the weather. 22 degrees and pleasant sunshine is not the norm in Tow Law. I admired the Main Stand. All black and white stripes.The Lawyers spelled out at the front. The 2nd half didn't improve. A Willington goal sent the mood lower. 'There is no sign of Edna today' quipped a local. It was decided she had gone on a bus trip to Redcar. 'I wish I had gone' came a response. The sun continued to shine. What more could anybody want?
Appendix 1 Northern League Division 2 Date: Monday 29 th August 2016 @ 1300 Hours
Venue: Ironworks Road, Tow Law, County Durham
Tow Law Town AFC 0 - 1 Willington FC
Scorers: 0-1 R Brown (Willington) 62 Minutes
Attendance: tba
Tow Law: to be confirmed
Willington: L.Cowie (Y)89m, L.Black, B.Hunter, A.Comby, C.Storey (Capt), G.Brown, R.Williamson, S.Hackett (Stephenson 45), J.White, M.Brown (Mohamad 82m), R.Brown (1)62m Subs: I.Mohamad. D.Middleton (gk) G.Stephenson.
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