Hanley Town - Abbey Lane

Since starting college in September my progress when it came to ticking grounds off my never ending list had dipped. A number of factors contributed to this: lack of money, lack of time and a lack of effort on my part really. However, one fixture gave me the opportunity to give my groundhopping a kick up the arse – Hanley Town v Atherton Collieries, the latter being the team I support.

For those of you not familiar with my geographical location, I live in Bolton. Hanley is in Stoke. Normally, getting there would be a problem and a financial burden however, thanks to the growing support of the Collieries the club very kindly organised a coach to take us down there from Atherton to Hanley, making it easier for supporters and players alike. As soon as I heard the ‘Fun Bus’ was given the green light I instantly pencilled my name down and my seat to Hanley was booked.

I woke up on the Saturday morning refreshed and ready for the trip to Hanley, no wait, hang on, that’s how I would have liked to of woken up. I woke up on the Saturday morning tired and slightly rough after going out the Friday night before the Saturday with a few mates. However, this was never going to stop as today was the day; the Colls were on the road to Hanley.

Anyway, on with the actual day. First Team Coach Scott Campbell very kindly picked me up at 10:30 in the morning, an early start, just how any away day should begin. After driving through the strangely quiet streets of beautiful Bolton we arrived in the equally beautiful Atherton at around 11:15, after picking defender Gaz Carson and goalkeeper Danny Taberner up along the way.

The four of us were the first to arrive, or so we thought, as we walked through the gates into Alder House, up pops Rob Clarke who had arrived 30 minutes before our good selves, he decided to sit in the Andrew Page Photography Stand happily eating his Pringles. Fair play to him. Slowly but surely
everybody arrived and the coach was full, next stop Hanley Town.

The journey felt longer than it actually should have done. For some obscure reason I craved an apple throughout, as Rob well knew considering I didn’t stop telling him throughout the whole of the journey. The Coach was a little cramped as well, with limited leg room which didn’t help the situation. You may think that I’m exaggerating a little but considering my rather large height of 6ft 2 I did find it a little tight.

Anyway, enough moaning, the Coach soon passed Stoke train station, suggesting that we were nearly at our destination. Following a very tight turn and several ending roles we pulled up in a car park which was labelled ‘Hanley Town FC’ – my suspicions had been confirmed, we had arrived in Hanley.

Our entry price was paid for in our transport costs so the only thing I picked up when passing through
the turnstile was a programme for £1.00. Looking at it now, as I type this very Blog, I would say it was a good purchase. A little light on content perhaps but a full colour publication on glossy paper more than makes up for this. It was very well designed as well which is always nice to see at this level.

Abbey Lane, the home of Hanley Town, is a Farley basic yet characteristic ground. As you enter the ground you are standing on the side that I’m going to name the ‘Main Stand Side’ – simply because this stand is home to the ground’s Main Stand, imaginative I know! The Main Stand is a recent addition to the ground and a very nice one at that, it is a little compact, modern stand that holds around 50 blue seats (this is just a guess) – basic but I like it. This stand is placed right on the half way line. On the corner of this side you will find the clubhouse. Hanley can boast one of the nicest clubhouses in the division. A brand new, modern part of the ground that I presume has recently been renovated. The rest of this stand is basic hard standing.

To the right, behind the goal is again basic hard standing.

Opposite the Main Stand Side is what I’m going to label the ‘Grand Stand side’ simply because this side of the ground is home to what again I presume is one of the oldest stands of the ground. This stand offers sheltered hard standing with a rather cool and tradition ‘Hanley Town FC’ painted on the supporting wall at the back.

The rest of the ground, behind the left goal is not open to the public; I, Gibbo and Rob took advantage of this fact and decided to tie up our Atherton Collieries flags here.

Hanley Town are a Hanley (Staffordshire) based club founded in 1966. Hanley is the largest of six towns within Stoke and this is where the club take their name as this is where they are based (you may have already gathered that). Following their formation, Hanley joined the Mid Cheshire League playing in the second division. In 1982 they were First Division champions following promotion from the Second Division in 1978. However, following this successful period the club were relegated back to the Second Division in 1994 after winning only one game that season. The club achieved NWCFL status ready for the 2013/14 season, finishing it in fourth place and reaching the final of the First Division trophy, which they lost on penalties against Formby.

At this point of the afternoon, I was ready for my dinner and after searching high nd low for an apple (which for some strange reason I still craved) I instead opted for a Meat and Potato pie for £1.50. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the best pie I had ever had, but it still did a job. Anyway, after doing a lap of the ground and catching up with Gibbo, for he had recently moved to York to study Primary Education at said city’s University, it was time for the game to get underway.

In the same fixture last season, Colls ran out 5-1 visitors after having goalkeeper Phil Priestly sent
off. Gareth Peet, Paul Atherton (X3) and Mitch Leece with the goals for the Collieries.

Atherton started the brighter of the two sides and found themselves in front just three minutes into the game. Kristian Holt won the ball in midfield and ran down the right wing. Holt, with plenty of space, spotted the run of Mark Battersby and played the ball through to Battersby who fired into the bottom right hand corner of the Hanley goal.

Minutes later and the Collieries had a chance to make it two. Ben Hardcastle won the ball and passed to Holt on the half way line. Holt passed the ball back to Hardcastle who attacked the right wing. Hardcastle crossed the ball in for Battersby to shoot. His shot however was saved by Dane Jackson in the Hanley goal.

On nineteen minutes Hardcastle again caused problems for the Hanley defence. Hardcastle made his way through the Hanley back four, rounded the keeper but only for his shot to hit the side netting instead of the back of the Hanley net.

With three minutes remaining until half time Colls doubled their lead. Goalkeeper Danny Taberner knocked the ball up for Battersby to reach before goalkeeper Jackson. Battersby with space and time passed the ball across to Holt who tapped into the empty goal.

Half Time – Hanley Town 0-2 Atherton Collieries

Just six minutes after the restart Atherton made it three. Mark Truffas on the left wing did what he does best and twisted and turned his way past three Hanley defenders to have a chip shot on goal. In

an attempt to the save the shot the keeper palmed out straight to Brad Cooke’s feet, Cooke controlled and tapped in.

With the game 70 minutes old, the Collieries had another chance off goal. Mark Battersby fired over having ran clear of the Hanley defence.

On 78 minutes the Colls had their fourth. Truffas, again causing problems for the Hanley defence, ran into the box and curled his shot around Jackson.

Nine minutes later and it was five. Hardcastle was clear on goal so hit a 12 yard shot into the corner of the Hanley goal, a fine goal from Hardcastle who deserved his goal. Two minutes later, on 89 minutes, the Collieries had another goal. The Collieries defence sent a ball over the top for Battersby to be clear on goal. One on one with the keeper, Battersby slid his shot into the Hanley goal for his second of the game.

Full Time – Hanley Town 0-6 Atherton Collieries

Another fine win for the Colls against tough opposition in what was a very entertaining day down at Hanley.

After the game, I, Gibbo, Stew (from Non-League Review) and Rob made our way into the clubhouse to calm down after what was a fantastic game of football. Opting for a quite area of the building we opted to find a seat on the coach in the corner, antisocial being our middle names.

The players were soon ready to board the coach and make the way back to Atherton. Personally, I was looking forward to the journey back, after our pre-season trip to Whitley Bay I had high expectations and rightly so. My high expectations lived up to their full potential and the journey back was an entertaining affair. Similar to the trip to Whitley Bay, drinks were shared and songs were sung (my personal favourite being a reminition of ‘All we want is a team of Jake Kenny’s which was sung for around 15 minutes). My craving for an apple had now gone and all was good.

Thinks took a turn for the worse when a number of the passengers announced they needed the toilet, desperately, with this the driver had to improvise as a) the on board toilet was out of order (when are they ever in order?) and b) the next service station was miles away. The driver did well, negotiating his way down country lanes to find a McDonalds we could take refuge in, as well as making use of the facilities I got myself a Happy Meal for the remainder of the journey. An added treat was noted when we past Crewe’s Gresty Road.

Not long after our short pit stop we arrived back in Atherton, the coach pulling back into Alder House. Another short stop in the clubhouse (30 minutes) and a conversation with Nicky Hunt (yes, THE Nicky Hunt) later and it was time for me to make tracks, literally. Making my way towards Atherton train station with Stew, we caught the train to Salford Crescent (parting there) then I went on to get the train to Bromley Cross and a taxi home (I’m a lazy bastard).

Overall, it had been a great day out with the Colls. Hanley are a fantastic and friendly little club with high ambitions for the future. If you every get a chance to make a visit to Hanley I recommend you do so, it won’t be regretted.

Till the next time folks!

Saturday 27th September  – Hanley Town 0-6 Atherton Collieries – The NWCFL – Abbey Lane – Game #29 – Ground #44

Ground: - 7/10 – Nice but basic ground – recommend to tick.

Programme: - 8/10 – Great design, lacked content.

Food: - Pie – 5/10 – Did a job.

Match: - 10/10 – Very entertaining.

Miles Travelled TO Ground: - 55.7 miles

Money Spent: - £15.00