Hidden Gem

Oughtibridge War Memorial  2 Wombwell Main  6

Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League – Premier Division

If anywhere could be accurately described as a hidden gem, then it would be the wonderfully named Oughtibridge War Memorial Sports Club.

I first encountered the place in January 2011, it was a cold Saturday afternoon, and after managing to skip out of work early and make a couple of phone calls to see if the game was on, I made my way across Sheffield and watched them play against Dinnington Town Reserves.

I was mightily impressed by the place, a superb setting, and some covered pitch side accommodation, which to be fair, is the exception rather than the norm when it comes to the Sheffield County Senior League.

Every now and then, I drive through Oughtibridge and look down on the sports ground, recalling the day of my visit, and wondering when the next opportunity would present itself for another jaunt?

With ‘silly season’ now upon us and a plethora of 6pm kick offs to go at, it did indeed present itself perfectly on a Wednesday evening, on the back of a glorious Spring like day in the City of Sheffield.

Oughtibridge is accessed via the A6102 which runs from the back of Hillsborough, all the way up to Stocksbridge. With a slightly rural feel to it, the village sits in a valley, with the River Don running through the centre of it. It is a very pleasant place to visit, and clearly, a sought after place to reside.

Parked up at the ground, I made my way to the very smart Cock Inn which sits close to the weir, it had a decent selection of ales, and after careful consideration I plumped for Carling. Locals came in and out after work, and the food smelt very good, but, with something at home sat in the microwave awaiting my return, I was unable to partake….

Since I last went to the ground, it has changed somewhat in the sense that a smart clubhouse and dressing room building has been erected, and this serves both the football and the cricket. Previously some portakabins had been in use, but nowadays they look like they are used for storage.

Walking out across the field, directly in front of you is a steep bank covered with foliage and trees, while beneath it are the spectator facilities. A bit of stepped hard standing then leads to four separate, albeit small, sections of cover, mainly for standing but with the odd bench thrown in for those who like to sit. It’s quirky, it’s effective, and painted wholly in green, it’s actually in keeping with the location.

The pitch is railed own this side, and this is where the dug outs also sit, but elsewhere is just open. The views from the cover over towards the village itself are also pretty spectacular, with the newly built apartments dominating the skyline, but again, built with local stone, they are again, in keeping.

The game itself was a cracker, mid-table Wombwell Main produced an excellent display of finishing, and after holding a 4-1 half time lead, they went on to win 6-2 to leave the hosts in the bottom five of the table, but not in any significant danger of the drop.

Wombwell’s goals came from Ryan Hallsworth, Kyle Wyatt with a brace and a super hat-trick from Ryan Winegrove, who scored a spectacular half volley. Winegrove looks like a player who could go on to better things. Apologies to Oughtibridge, I don’t have your scorers and they aren’t on Full Time!

All in all, a great night’s entertainment, and even when the rainfall came, it didn’t put a dampener on the occasion (had we not had some cover I might have been less enthusiastic!). For anyone who hasn’t experienced a game at Oughtibridge, I would urge you to take the opportunity, and also take a look around the village, it won’t leave you disappointed.

I'll be back, sooner rather than later, besides, the Carling was to die for........!