A season working as club photographer for Frickley Athletic Football Club
Frickley Athletic are a semi-professional football club based in South Elmsall, South Yorkshire, who play in the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division.
I took on the role as Frickley’s official club photographer at the start of the 2021/22 season.
My campaign began with talking with Michael, head of media at the club to discuss what I wanted to achieve and what Frickley required. That was easy enough so it was onward to my first game.
The Westfield Stadium is local to me but I had not visited the ground in years. As soon as I entered the ground I met “Bainsey” the gateman and lifelong Frickley supporter. Top man! Me and this gentleman were to have many conversations, home and away, as the season progressed.
Memories came flooding back. I remembered attending matches with my father when Frickley Athletic were called Frickley Colliery.
My first game was a pre-season friendly back in July 2021 versus Hallam FC. Temperatures hitting 30 degrees at The Westfield Stadium.
Frickley came out winners 2-1 with goals from Joe West and Brad Wells.
My first home game was under the lights – Frickley V Brighouse Town. An hard fought battle by both teams. Frickley were quick out of the blocks and were in front after 15 minutes after a well crafted move was converted by Kieran Wells.
Brighouse equalised only 5 minutes later but the points were secured for Frickley with a goal from Brad Wells.
My first away day was a trip to Worksop Town. A draw and a hard-earned away point was looking the most likely outcome when Reiss Harrison’s 89th minute through ball ended up in front of Leon Mettan, on as sub, 8 yards from goal. Metts put his laces through the ball, drilling it low into the net. Frickley celebrations ensued. FT 1-2.
Jump forward to November, Frickley’s last home fixture prior to Remembrance day and a home fixture against Liversedge.
When money is no object and you are top of the league as Liversedge were, it is always going to be a difficult game. This certainly was for Frickley with Liversedge running out winners.
November 17th and another away day. This time up in Stocksbridge, the place where Jamie Vardy started his career. I remember this game for two reasons 1) Joe West played a flighted ball over the defence for Piteu Crouz. “The Missile” had 2 six foot defenders either side of him but he controlled the ball, took it away from them & swivelled & smashed it into the top corner from the edge of the area. 2) Caffrey’s on draught in the stadium bar was almost as good as Piteu’s goal.
Into December and Frickley host North-East side Shildon AFC. A dismal & wet day at The Westfield.
It was difficult to tell the difference between a team in third position in the league, and a team mid table as Frickley were at the time. A 1-1 draw and a share of the spoils.
December 19th – last home game before Christmas saw Hebburn Town visit The Westfield. It was a covid-depleted Frickley that were beaten 1-0 by a workmanlike Hebburn Town in the pea-souper at Westfield Lane…
Boxing Day and a trip down the road to Pontefract Colleries. The local derby dubbed as “El-classicoal”
The 400 & odd who turned out would have been hoping for a Xmas cracker – instead they got 2 average teams & a below average spectacle that would only tempt the fanatic or the foolhardy from their armchairs on any other given Saturday
Pontefract take the points with 2 second half goals
New Years day and a home fixture against Worksop Town. Big crowd at The Westfield hoping for a repeat result of the away fixture earlier in the season.
The game was full of incident – unfortunately hardly any of it to do with matters relating to action on the pitch. These games are usually blood & thunder but this was a fairly dreary affair between 2 average teams with Worksop being the better team in the first half & the Azzurri being the better team in the 2nd half. Worksop had 2 good chances & scored 1, Frickley had 3 good chances & scored none – that seemed to be the story of Frickley’s season.
Into January and the visit of Stockton Town to The Westfield
Stockton Town recorded a regulation win at Westfield Lane, easing past Frickley by three goals to nil.
Early February and struggling Frickley travel to league leaders Liversedge. you would have been hard pushed to know which team was top of the table & which team was at the bottom in the first half & the Azzurri had the home defence on a string & could / should have taken the lead on numerous occasions.
A fine performance with nothing to show unfortunately as Liversedge took the points winning by 2 goals to nil.
Still in February Frickley host Stocksbridge in an evening kick off. It was not desperate measures yet, but Frickley were in need of points. This was a good Frickley performance and a well deserved 1-0 victory.
Dunston at home was the next fixture – Another day, another defeat – the back line defending like lions, the front line not converting their chances.
What it lacked in quality and clear cut opportunities, it made up for in frantic end to end action.
Yet it was to be another defeat. This time by 2 goals to 1.
Into March and for a few weeks now, I guess a few had been targeting the Pickering away fixture as one that Frickley should / could win – but thinking it & putting it into practice are different beasts, especially given the run that they had been on.
3 or so minutes to go and assistant player/coach Metts scores to give Frickley a well deserved (and much needed) 3 points.
March 12th – Fresh from the win at Pickering the week before Frickley travelled to Ossett.
For an hour Frickley were on blistering form – the best I’ve seen them play this season – constantly threatening the Ossett goal & looked comfortable at 2 nil. Then came the second of 2 major talking points – a straight red for Ossett. The first being an absolute horror ‘tackle’ on Michael Hollingsworth. Everything started to fall apart from that point onwards.
What could have/should have been 3 points for Frickley turned out to be a defeat by 4 goals to 2
Into April. Frickley well and truly in a relegation battle travel to Cleethorpes Town playing on the best pitch I had seen all season.
It was a game of two halves. Frickley defended like men possessed in the first half but the second was a tale of missed penalty decisions and clinical Cleethorpes finishing.
A 3-0 defeat was the outcome.
Snap to the final game of the season travelling north to Shildon who were in a play-off position. It was simple. Frickley needed a win and other results needed to go their way.
A intense game of football. 20 minutes left. The clock ticks down, 7 minutes left & a through ball sees Josh Scott burst into the box & it’s in the net, 2 each.
final score 2-2 and as it turned out every result went against Frickley so if they had won they would have still ended up 2nd bottom. 2nd bottom is an automatic relegation spot – but then I hear that Yorkshire Ams have been relegated & with rumours swirling about regarding other clubs Frickley still don’t know if they are relegated automatically or in the relegation play-off.
The dust settles – The news breaks and Frickley are relegated automatically from the Northern Premier League for the fist time in their history.
It’s been an enjoyable but frustrating season for a club photographer. Many more lows to photograph than highs.
Frickley will be playing in the Northern Counties League next season and with managerial changes and board changes still to be confirmed hopefully they will get promoted and give their loyal supporters plenty to celebrate.
