AFC Telford United v Darlington

Saturday 10th September 2022, 3pm

Vanarama National League North

 
AFC Telford United
Bucks Head Stadium, Watling Street, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 2TU. Twitter: @telfordutd Click for streetmap
Tel: 01952 640064

History: Telford United has a long history, born out of Wellington Parish Church Institute, founded in 1872. It first became Wellington Town, competing in the Birmingham and Cheshire leagues, as well as winning the Welsh Cup. The club changed its name to Telford United in 1969, when Telford new town was created and reached the first two finals of the FA Trophy at Wembley, finally winning in 1971, beating Hillingdon. The club won again in 1983, while in the FA Cup in the same season they beat Wigan Athletic. Telford claimed more league scalps in FA Cup runs, including Darlington in 1984/85 on their way to a fifth round tie at champions Everton in front of 47,000. The 1990s saw steady performances in the Conference and another FA Cup win (Stoke City) but after the club's owner got into financial difficulties the club in 2004 went into liquidation. The supporters formed a trust and the club was re-born as AFC Telford in the Unibond Northern Premier Division 1. AFC Telford's is an inspiring story for a supporters' trust and a go-ahead council joining forces. They've not only developed a splendid stadium, but associated educational and sporting facilities make it an important part of the community and the town's development. The club enjoyed successive play-off finishes in the Blue Square North before making further progress with a return to the Conference in May 2011. Back in the Conference North now after a bit of a yo-yo experience, Darlo previously played them in the Blue Square Premier in March 2012 and before that enjoyed a 4-0 win here in 2010/2011 during our FA Trophy winning season. Quakers crashed to a heavy defeat here last season.
Record Attendance: 5,710 (v Burscough, 2007)
Capacity: 6,300 (seating for 2,200).
Last Season: 20th
Honours: FA Trophy winners 1971, 1983 and 1989 (as Telford Utd); Unibond Div 1 play off winners (2005), Unibond Premier play-off winners (2007), Setanta Shield (2009); Conference North play-off winners (2010-11); Conference North champions (2013-14)
Record victory: 7-0 v Runcorn (A, 2006)
Defeat: 5-1 v Southport (H, 2008)
Nickname: The Bucks, The Lillywhites
Colours: White and Black
Manager: Paul Carden
Chairman: Andy Pryce
Famous fans/players/connections: Geoff Hurst (player and manager), Jack Bentley (record goalscorer), Adam Proudlock, Stuart Whitehead (players, ex-Darlo)

Ticket prices (2022/23): Telford operate cashless turnstiles - so no Bucks exchanged. Tickets have to be bought online or from the ticket office on matchday and then scanned or printed off beforehand. Prices have risen. Adult £16; concession £11; youth (12-18) £5; under 12 Free. When segregation is in operation, away fans are housed in the Frank Nagington (South) Stand, providing covered terraced accommodation for 1,200. Seating is usually available for away fans in block A of the West Stand on request.

There are two disabled spectator areas at pitch level - at the western ends of the David Hutchinson Stand and the Frank Nagington Stand.

There is a club bar within the Learning Centre facility on the East side of the ground. This offers most beers (bottled and draught) as well hot and cold snacks such as sausage rolls, chocolate bars etc. However, it's a small bar and although away fans are normally welcome, access may be restricted/controlled if there is a large crowd.

 

From the North: (Darlington 190 miles). It's the A1 and M1, leaving at junction 42, then merging onto the M62 and eventually the M60. Leave the M60 at junction 12, then join the M62 motorway, before joining the M6 south. For the shortest route, leave the M6 at junction 15, then merge onto the A500. At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A519 and follow the signs for Shrewsbury (A53). At Espley roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A442, then at Shawbirch roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A5223. You then at another roundabout take the 4th exit onto Haybridge Road (B5061) and at traffic lightss turn right onto Watling Street - B5061.

You can also take the slighter longer route, all motorway, by taking the M6 as far south as the junction with the M54. The stadium is to the northwest of Telford in the Wellington area, and well signposted from Junction 6 of the M54 (Wellington/Telford West).

Parking: The main car park is behind the East Terrace and David Hutchinson Stand, which you can reach via the Haybridge Road entrance - cost £3. Any coaches from Darlington should contact AFC Telford on 01952 640064 to reserve a free parking space. There is extra pay parking at Telford College of Arts and Technology from Haybridge Road. There is no parking in the hotel car park behind the Sir Stephen Roberts Stand.

Area map

Coach Contact: Darlington FC Supporters Group, call 07376 368 553 to book a seat - £27, leaving 9am. Details of the supporters' group travel can be found here.

Central Cars 01952 50 10 50
K &L Taxis 01952 503031
Ambassador 01952 200600
County Cars 01952 616161

The nearest railway station is Wellington (Shropshire), a 20 minute walk. Turn left outside the station and up the walled steps to Wellington bus station. Follow The Parade ( bus station on your left) to a T-junction. Cross over and continue walking ahead through a residential area, taking you onto Victoria Avenue. Continue along bearing left, to a crossroads with King Street. Cross over into Regents Street – follow the road through housing to a T-junction. Turn left into Telford Whitehouse Hotel carpark and you reach the stadium.

Regular buses also run past the New Bucks Head from Telford town centre and Wellington bus stations. Take number 44 ( every 10mins) and get off at Watling Street.

For more, go to National Rail planner

There are a few real ale pubs in Telford, with the town centre about two and a half miles west of the ground.

Old Fighting Cocks, 48 Market Street, Telford, TF2 6DU
Rowton Brewery-owned pub with a choice of 12 beers, including five changing ales.

Station Hotel, 42 Market Street, Telford, TF2 6DU
CAMRA regular, which likes its Yorkshire beers, with home made bar snacks. Eight changing beers.

Pheasant Inn 54 Market Street Wellington, Telford TF1 1DT Rowton Brewery tap, offering nine handpulls and more keg too. Open from 11am. Local CAMRA favourite. Just over a mile from the ground.

The Cock Hotel, 148 Holyhead Road, Wellington, Telford, TF1 2DL
CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT. This has been a regular CAMRA award winner in the past and now owned by the Joule's brewery, who are planning to reopen in spring 2022. A former 18th century coaching inn, less than half a mile walk from the ground and a warning, and as such it can get very busy when there is a large crowd for the football. DAFTS recommended. Click for Streetmap

The William Withering, 43-45 New Street TF1 1LU is about a mile from the ground and is a Wetherspoon's pub.

See alsoThe Crown, Market Street, TF2 6EA near to Oakengates station and with a wide choice of beers, and The White Lion, Crown Street, Wellington, TF1 1LP, which has some real ale. Not far to walk from station and mile from the ground.

 

 

 

Refreshment kiosk in away terrace, with range of pies, sausage rolls, hot drinks and alcoholic drinks.

   

The official website is very comprehensive. There is a supporters' chat forum

Shropshire Star

Telford Council

Although Telford is a new town, there is plenty to see and do in the area. The Ironbridge world heritage site (south) celebrates the industrial revolution and the engineering mastery of Thomas Telford, with 10 separate museums, including Ironbridge Gorge. Blist Hill Victorian town is in a similar vein to Beamish in Durham.

There is accomodation in Telford and surrounding area, including chain hotels. Nearest to the ground is the Telford Whitehouse Hotel in Watling Street (prices from £90), or The Swan Inn(£30-40)