05 January 2013 - Cleethorpes Town v Athersley Recreation

Cleethorpes Town : The Owls

Ground sharing with Grimsby Borough at The Bradley Community Stadium, Grimsby.

2013 is their fifteenth anniversary.

Competition : Northern Counties East League Division One

Result : Cleethorpes Town 4 Athersley Recreation 0

Attendance : 190

The first part of this feature shows photographs from Cleethorpes Town home ground at The Linden Homes Club.  Once they have the ground up to NCEL standards, they'll return here to form part of the club which has thirty teams affiliated.

Cleethorpes Town, originally known as Lincolnshire Soccer School, were formed in 1998 by former Hull City and Grimsby Town player, Tommy Watson.  In 2010 the club merged with LSS Lucarlys to form Cleethorpes Town.  This is their first season in the NCEL Division One, after a successful application to join from the Lincolnshire League.

St Peter's Church, hidden beyond the trees on Church Lane. 

"Rob The Nob" makes his presence known at Cleethorpes Town.

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The following photographs are from the Bradley Community Stadium.

"The Owls" - A Family Club.

Not the Steel City version, these "Owls" reside in Grimsby, whilst Grimsby Town, play their home matches in Cleethorpes.

Cleethorpes Town v Athersley Recreation

Matchday Programme

£62 for a "Dad & Lad" Season Ticket Offer.

A week later, Manchester City returned over 900 unsold tickets, costing £62, to Arsenal for their Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium.

Ticketing prices employed by clubs in not just the Premier League of English football are just one of the reasons why so many more people are saying "no more" and starting to follow the fortunes of clubs in the non league world.  

Cleethorpes Town, have club sides from Under-7s to Under-10s (Mini), Under-11s to Under-17s (Junior), Under-11s to Under-13s (Girls) and also teams representing the club at Sunday League, Under-18 and Reserve League level.  All in all, thirty teams actively play under the name, Cleethorpes Town.

The "Rec In Crew" from Athersley display their flag. 

Athersley Recreation, situated in the S71 postal district of South Yorkshire, hail from Barnsley. Top of the NCEL Division One that day, a good crowd had made the 145 mile round trip to Cleethorpes Town, hoping to see their club move further ahead of the division.

Cleethorpes Town

Northern Counties East League : Fair Play Award Winners : December 2012

Karl Blackburn, NCEL Official presents The Owls with their award.

Cleethorpes Town 2 Athersley Recreation 0

As the players celebrate, the half-time raffle man watches on, halftime approaching, and some lucky supporter will leave the stadium a richer person.  

Not even Fireman Sam can resue The Penguins today. A 0-4 defeat at the hands of one their closest rivals, the top of Division One gets tighter after every match.  Evidence further to show that clubs like Cleethorpes Town & Athersley Recreation are attracting supporters from an early age.

"Watching Daddy... "

The army of travelling Athersley Recreation supporters that day, helped swell the attendance to 190. Second only that afternoon to the crowd at Scarborough Athletic, who sit top of the NCEL Premier Division.

Embracing technology, Cleethorpes Town video most, if not all matches for training and tactical purposes.

Cleethorpes Town, emphasise their dominance by keeping Athersley Recreation at bay and go on to thrashing the team from South Yorkshire, 4-0.

The Bradley Football Development Centre

"The Loneliness Of The Visiting Team's Keeper"

Shaun Penn (Athersley Recreation)

"Warm Down"

A 4-0 home victory sends Cleethorpes Town up to third in the NCEL Division One.

"All Smiles" 

Cleethorpes Town player and "Man Of The Match", Jack Debnam, with his young daughter at full time, who was photographed earlier in the feature.

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Match Reports

Cleethorpes Town 4 Athersley Recreation 0 ) Cleethorpes Town)

Cleethorpes Town 4 Athersley Recreation 0 (Grimsby Telegraph)

Match Video

Cleethorpes Town v Athersley Recreation (First Half)

Cleethorpes Town v Athersley Recreation (Second Half)

After Match Player Interviews

Darren Hanslip (Cleethorpes Town) : Post-Match Interview

Tim Lowe (Cleethorpes Town) : Post Match Interview

All Photography : ©fotografica137

Website Links To Both Clubs In The NCEL Panel At The Side

Click On Any Photograph To Open A Slideshow

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Special Thanks to David Patterson, Chairman of Cleethorpes Town who invited us personally to make this feature and for his help on the day of the fixture and to everyone concerned at The Owls.

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