An excursion on my bike to Hadrian's Wall yesterday led me and trick cyclist, John Coombes, past a number of Northern clubs. OK I have mentioned West Auckland before (see previous) but finding local league, Haltwhistle Utd FC proved a bit of a problem, especially on our delicately hybrid cycles. The pitches,where most of the club's teams play, was under a bypass, near a railway and on a floodplain. Isolated, there would be no point having a plush club house because it would be ransacked judging by the local graffiti. Nevertheless, we met an old boy and his terrier near the green containers that were the changing rooms, who had played for the club in its halcyon days and when we spoke of Bobby
Robson he had a tear in his eye. Neighbours along the wall, Hexham FC, play in the second division of the Northern Alliance and have a very nice pitch in the middle of a community running track by Waitrose. They were Division Two champions in 2012 and are plying their trade with the big boys now. With Carlisle to the west and Newcastle to the east, football has a strong tradition. Hadrian may have intended to keep the Scots out, but the mix of bravehearts and Geordies along this part of the UK makes for good football. I wonder if much will change should the "vote" give Scotland independence?
The lads from north of the border will need work permits.
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