Wearhead Utd FC was regarded as having the highest altitude of any official football club in the country, at 1107 feet above sea level. Some argue that there might be even higher points on the pitch due to its undulation! Some argue their club may be higher above sea level.Wearhead Utd is 111 years old, being founded in 1918, after the war and despite the rarefied Durham atmosphere and tiny population of around 200, the club maintained a presence in the Crook and District League Division 2 (once the Wearside League) until recently.
Like other elevated rural clubs, such as Alston in Cumbria and Tow Law in County Durham, these clubs just survive on a declining population in regions where jobs are scarce in once busy activities such as lead mining and agriculture.
50 years ago Wearhead had five shops, a pub, a chippy, cinema, haulage company, garage, bank and a railway station. No more! Rural depopulation The pitch and various countryside appear below; BUT not the clubhouse!
In 2001, foot and mouth got to grips with the local area which slowed life down a bit. Bob Murray, local man and chairman at Sunderland Football Club, 70 miles down stream on the River Wear, managed to blag a game against local Wearhead rivals, Stanhope FC at the Stadium of Light. 900 turned up and helped raise some money for both teams. The result was a creditable draw 2-2.
Trying to find recent news of this Durham club, I have found Wearhead United FC which moved from the Crook and District Saturday League to the Wear Valley Sunday League in 2018, hoping to maintain numbers and keep playing at its highest point! Midst teams from Shildon, Bishop Auckland and Spennymore, Wearhead play in Division 2 and have already gathered 3 points from 2 games this season. Howay the lads.
https://groundhoppers.blog/2017/11/25/wearhead-united-elevated-status-lowly-position/
Not fair competition, this is Switzerland!
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