This year’s eagerly awaited football tournament took place in familiar circumstances with traditional weather greeting the teams as they arrived at the venue - blizzards, sub-zero temperatures and frozen ground. Outside conditions were even worse. A slimmed down 10 team competition reflected the current mood of austerity with some familiar names missing. But the quality on display did not suffer, benefitting from the longer game format and resulting in more open games and more goals.
The debate about goal-line technology was reignited early in the group stages when a goal was awarded following a shot from Stockton’s John Dixon which crashed off the underside of South Durham’s crossbar. Surely it is now time to finally address this issue once and for all, and for the RTPI to approach Sepp Blatter to ensure that next year’s tournament does not suffer the same problems. If Councils have the capability to catch house holders placing rubbish in the wrong bin, surely they can use the same technology to establish beyond doubt whether the ball crossed the line.
Robin Newlove was making his swan song in the competition for URS after more than 30 appearances, a record that will probably never be broken – a great ambassador for the RTPI and this competition. Meanwhile, after presenting the trophies in 2012, last year’s RTPI Chair Joe Ridgeon finally made his debut as a player, resisting the natural temptation to pick the ball up, form a ruck, and push over the try line. His George F White side started promisingly, recording an early win, before fatigue appeared to take hold in the later group matches.
The final was deservedly played out by the best two teams in the competition as South Durham attempted to make amends for their defeat by current holders Stockton in last year’s semi-final. South Durham took the lead with a goal from Player of the tournament Chris Baxter and the win was secured by some robust defending and a memorable late save from Stuart Timmiss. Durham’s win was their first ever victory in this tournament, in over 30 campaigns and saw them finally fulfil their potential as one of the north east’s heavyweights.
Earlier Stockton had overcome NLP in a frenetic semi-final, whilst South Durham’s semi final victory over Ward Hadaway was achieved in spite of a bizarre penalty incident, awarded after an encroachment by Ward Hadaway’s veteran captain David Brocklehirst. Chris Baxter stepped up to take the spot kick, but faced with the usual decision about whether to go for power or pace, Baxter instead decided on a third option, an attempt at an audacious chip, once pioneered by Dwight Yorke. Being kind, the outcome was ‘disappointing’. In days of old, the goal keeper would have had chance to light a cigar before making the save. With the smoking ban in place, he now had time to apply a Nicorette patch and enjoy the hit, before gently kneeling to collect the ball.
Grant Folley took the Fastest Goal award with a speculative strike straight from the kick off for North Durham against Bellway Homes, whilst John Dixon took some consolation from his side’s final defeat by collecting the top goal scorer trophy which he shared with Ross Ward from Ward Hadaway.
RTPI NE says a fond farewell to Rick Long Sports Reporter
We are sorry to have to report that this account of the 2013 Football Competition is the last that will be submitted by our ace sports reporter Rick Long, who has been the principal organiser of the competition for many years. Unfortunately RTPI NE was unable to meet the extortionate wage demands submitted by Rick's South American-based agent, and Rick is believed to be moving to Derbyshire. It is to be hoped that they come to appreciate his rare talents as much as we have enjoyed his football reports. But don't worry, next year's competition is already being planned by a mystery new organiser, brought in at great expense from a leading team in the region.
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