A Bridge? That Slides?
Hallam 0 v Garforth Town 4
Northern Premier League, Division One East (Step 4)
Tuesday 24 February 2026
Grimsby Borough 2 v Hallam 4
Northern Premier League, Division One East (Step 4)
Saturday 21 February 2026
Ground Tick #540
Last Saturday's trip out to the Bradley Community Stadium was my 540th ground tick watching a game of Association Football.
I'm sure you are aware of the Vazon Sliding Railway Bridge, over the Staniforth & Keadby Canal. The original bridge was built in 1860. And it was converted to a Sliding Bridge in 1925. It remains the ONLY Sliding Bridge on the UK Rail Network.
The main thing to know about a Sliding Bridge is … well it slides out of the fucking way to allow barges up n down the Canal. Then it slides back in to allow trains over it. Yep. Slides I said.
Congratulations. You Have Just Been Informed By The Carrier Bag Firm
A bridge that slides!!! Sounds a bit - might work, might not. At one bit, the Carrier Bag Firm thought we wouldn't make Grimsby. As the Train Manager made a number of announcements as we were stuck in Crowle Station.
Alluding to the Sliding Bridge weren't Sliding.
But. Thankfully. Got there we did.
A former CBF favourite, Reece York, a Graduate of the Sheffield United Shirecliffe Academy, has played at Grimsby Borough for a good few years. And we hoped to see the young fella turn out. However, we had been checking the Borough teamsheets of late. Reece, absent.
Just as the Reece-less teams were being Sharpied up, one of the CBF paraded a Social Media post explaining that Reece had just signed for The Zebras at Brigg Town. Drat. Missed him.
No doubt. Across the two games. We saw the best and worst of Hallam, in this Step 4 Step Up season. Not with it at all in the Sandygate game against Garforth Town. Comprehensively beaten. An early goal, another on 28. And then two take it away, seal it all up goals, on 60 and 63.
Fair do. Hallam made a load of subs at half time and just after to try and liven it all up. One of the things Hallam have deployed to get by at Step 4 is - Be Direct. Midfield ballers, previously bypassed as they look skywards at the ball, they've been dropped back to full back or pushed up top.
Tall, bulky, experienced Centre Backs (think Danny South) are pushed up top for fifteen minutes. Looking to knock down the high balls. Looking to knock on the high balls. Looking to fucking shake things up. However, in its own way, that's a bit unedifying.
Hang on. What's happening here? That #9 has gone Centre Half now.
Are my eyes deceiving me? He's gone back up front!!!
It is what it is.
No doubt. The shuffling paid off at Grimsby. Hallam had the best of the first half. Some great chances in the first 20. South put the ball into Clayton's stride. But his first timer went wide.
Brandon Bradbury hit the post on 27. However, Borough took the lead on 35. Hugo Warhurst made a good save, but a defender slips attempting the clearance, another shot was blocked, possibly by a hand, but once all the pinball stopped, the Borough lad knocked it home. Borough finished the half very strongly. Hallam under a lot of pressure, just couldn't get it out at all.
Grimsby also started the second half strongly. Coping very well with Hallam’s long balls. Then. A neat turn and finish by Clayton. And it's one each.
Sustained pressure paid off. A deflected Chaz Staniland cross dropped in. And Hallam were in front on 75.
Staniland was bombing now. A great right wing break. Decent ball in. South knocked home. Three One on 79. Danny South (up top version) added his second, Hallam's fourth on 86.
An unnecessarily nervy end, as Grimsby clawed one back on 90. And gave it a bit of a go.
That trip to Grimsby also involved a night out in York, at “another event”.
Brew York Beer Hall and Tap Room
Unit 6, Enterprise Complex, Walmgate, York YO1 9TT
I've been in the upstairs Beer Hall before. The more sedate, and therefore Carrier Bag Firm friendly, downstairs Tap Room has limited opening hours. But, that night, we bagged seats down there.
Brew York, Teleporter, Porter on Keg at 3.5%
Brew York, Hop Cat, Citra Pale Ale on Cask at 3.9%
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