West Allotment Celtic
Northern Amateur League and Northern Alliance before the club
earned an elevation to the Northern League in 2004. Promotion to
the top tier followed immediately, where the club have remained,
apart from a three-year sojourn in Division 2 between 2011-14.
One of the drawbacks of growing organically is that the pace of
development can be slow in comparison to more cash-rich regimes.
Those running the club, and several of the current committee are
descendants of those founding fathers from 1928, have always been
innovative and thrifty. In 1939, a local referee, Tommy Thompson,
officiated at the FA Cup Final between Portsmouth and Wolves;
it was promptly arranged for him to bring the match ball along
to Allotment, where a set of posts were hastily erected and locals
charged 1d to take a shot with the Cup Final ball.
Such inventive activities have been the hallmark of the club
through the years and have helped keep the club afloat when so
many others have withered but, compared to some rival outfits
in the Northern League, Allotment deal in “pennies” rather than
“pounds”. It is a position that made watching Morpeth Town win
the FA Vase in May a bitter-sweet affair. There was genuine joy
for Dave Malone and Nicky Grey, the Morpeth management team,
both of whom have long links with Allotment. You then scan the
team sheet and note that seven of the Vase-winning squad have
been on Allotment’s books in recent seasons. It is hard not to think
“What if……?”.
While Morpeth were winning on a national scale, more locally
Allotment did outstandingly well to maintain their First Division
status (ironically, a late-season 2-1 win over Morpeth was critical).
Starting with very few players at the start of the campaign, the
new management team of Jon McDonald, Andy Wright and Richie
Mitchell had to use competitive matches as trials. It took until well
into the autumn before the team became settled and of sufficient
standard to start to pick up points. Fortunately, the baseline is
much higher this term and, whilst, maintenance of a spot in the
top tier of the Northern League remains the priority, there is a
strong feeling that it will be achieved much more comfortably this
time around.
Although there is a positive vibe around the club, there are
many challenges to be faced. The lack of a significant support
base is one, as is the on-going battle to obtain sponsors and there
is the constant battle to acquire youth off the field as well as on
it. West Allotment is one of the few village teams to still exist
in the area; the result of much blood, sweat and tears down the
past 88 years. Once this club gets into your soul, it is virtually
impossible to exorcise it – the challenge is to attract a few more
souls! It is a real challenge, especially given the number of rival
clubs in close proximity. That said, the village of West Allotment
is growing significantly; the trick is to get these new people to
buy into the club. The junior section will help but there is nothing
like success to attract supporters so there is a genuine, and highly
testing, balancing act going on between the long- and short-term
requirements of a smashing little club that has always punched
above its weight.
Thomas Potter was established in 1923 as a stockist of industrial
fasteners, now part of the Arndale group it has probably the
largest range in the North East of England.
In addition to literally millions of fasteners and fixings we have
heavily invested in the pipe and fitting side of the business.
We now stock pipe, fittings, flanges and valves in the following
materials:
Carbon steel | Malleable iron | Wrought iron
Stainless steel | Hygienic Stainless steel | Copper | Plastics
Main Club Sponsor of West Allotment Celtic
Tel: 01670 591 100
Web: www.thomaspotter.com
Unit 1G, Admiral Business Park, Nelson Way, Cramlington, NE23 1WG
Seashells of Monkseaton
TRADITIONAL FISH & CHIPS
Parties catered for
For the Perfect Fish and Chips Every Time
Visit Seashells of Monkseaton
Opening Hours
Mon- Fri 11:30-22:30
Sat 11:30 22:00
Sun 12:00 20:00
0191 2524477
13 Front Street, Whitley Bay NE25 8AQ
www.sportip.biz
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