It was relegation from NL1 for Durham City at the end of season 2015/16 that brought about the first meeting of the two clubs in 2016/17. The first meeting took place on Saturday 27 August 2016 at the temporary ground of Consett, with a crowd of 71. Stan won 1-0 with the only goal of the game on 5 minutes when Sam Walton released Dan Robinson to score. Home keeper Matthew had a very good game. David Luke, played number 8 for Durham that day, a team of talented youngsters. He wears black and white now.
On Wednesday 8 March 2017 Durham made their first ever visit to Grounsell Park. No David Luke but Durham competed well but two second half goals in four minutes set up a home win. Robinson and Josh Holland scored in front of 101.Stan finished 4th and missed out on promotion by 7 points. Durham finished 10th.
Stan travelled to Hall Lane, Willington on Tuesday 17 October 2017 and needed a win to get back on the promotion trail. Stan did win, 2-1 in front of 47 fans. Robinson opened the scoring on 15 minutes, and added a second before Durham‘s Sam Steele fired past Smith.
A record making day in the return fixture on Saturday 21 April 2018. Attendance 117. Were you there? Probably the best match between the two sides, with goal machine Jonathan Wright opened the scoring on 4 minutes, Kieran McWaters equalised with a penalty on 17 minutes, Wright restored Stan’s lead 6 minutes later. He got his hat-trick on 51 minutes, having been brought down in the box, he despatched the spot kick. Durham’s Craig Hennis got a second goal on 61 minutes. But Wright had the last word, on 77 minutes when Abu Salim was fouled just outside the area. Wright hit the free kick into far corner with the keeper having no chance. 4 goals for Wright, the first time in the NL that a Stan player had got 4 in a match.
Three other Stan players have repeated that, but can you name them?
Wright went on to score 42 league goals that season. Liam McBryde notching goals quite regularly, and his two against Boldon last Saturday took him onto 28 goals. How many more can Liam score in Stan’s last 8 league fixtures? Support and cheer him on for those goals.
Stan were to face two teams in the promotion placers next, Northallerton away, and Whickham at home. Both matches won 2-0 and 3-0, bur Stan finished 5th and Durham 11th.
Saturday 24 November 2018. Stan won 5-0 at Hall Lane, with Durham having a new, but temporary manager, Oliver Bernard. Joe Kerridge scored on 10 minutes and then four second half goals from Kerridge again, Holland 2 and Jonathan Fox, watched by 52.
190 turned up on Saturday 13 April 2019 to see Stan win again 5-0 with first half goals from Liam Anderson, Connor Campbell 2,and Thibault Charmey with goal of the match, hitting a free kick into top corner of the net. Campbell got his hat-trick in added on time at the end of the match. Stan finished 4th and missed out on promotion by 9 points. Durham finished 19th. The featured photo is from this fixture!
Saturday 9 November 2019 Home to Durham, postponed, waterlogged pitch. Rearranged for Wednesday 18 December 2019. I was early at the ground, but rain hammered down and match again postponed. Season ended the next day due to Covid. Stan were 5th.
2020/21 Covid still around and after 11 games the season was ended, no fixture completed against Durham.
4 September 2021 Durham 1 Heaton Stannington 4 Att:57 McBryde, Leighton Hopper and James Proctor scored in the first half, with Liam Butler reducing the arrears to 3-1 with substitute Campbell making it 4-1 on 90 mins. Not all teams, not even Durham City lie down and give up.
Not played Durham at home since Saturday 13 April 2019. Weather forecast for Friday night is a fine evening. Best home gate against Durham is 190. Come along and enjoy the occasion, meeting friends, making new ones, and of course, 3 points for Stan.
Brian Pratt
