Building for the future

The muddy fields upon which he made his name as a "towering" right-half during the Sixties are to be levelled off to make way for a neat patchwork of modern pitches.

While the old clubhouse where he used to celebrate victories in the old South Bank and District League and Jefferson Cup is to be demolished in July and replaced by a much larger, state-of the-art building.

Such change has become possible thanks largely to the efforts of the Football Foundation who put in the lion's share of a £1.4m development and the decision by the North Riding Football Association - who themselves have contributed £320,000 to the project - to relocate their headquarters from Middlesbrough to Stokesley.

And while Taylor, who is now the chairman of Stokesley FC, still looks back with some fondness he is equally excited - if not more - about the football side's blossoming future after years of living in the shadow of their more successful cricketing neighbours.

Under manager Ted Watts, in his fifth season in charge, the club are top of the Wearside League on goal difference going into the final stages of the season and are looking like favourites to win the Championship for the first time in their history.

All this with the considerable amount of money invested into developing the Sports Club, which could see the club attain Northern League status within one or two years, and it seems Taylor has good reason to feel optimistic about the side's prospects.

"These are exciting times for Stokesley," he said.

"When you consider that not long ago the players had to get changed in a £200 hut or in their own car and then had to chase the sheep off the field before they could start the match to have a new clubhouse with six changing rooms will be a massive boost."

The new clubhouse - which will incorporate the new North Riding FA headquarters - is expected to be completed by August while work on the new pitches will go on throughout next season.

The North Yorkshire club also have planning permission to build a small stand and are hoping to add floodlights within one to two years.

"We want to be in the Northern League within a few years," said secretary Peter Grange, who is also the chairman of Stokesley Sports and Social Club.

"Once we get phase one out of the way with the clubhouse, the facilities and the pitches we can start concentrating on getting the football club up to Northern League status by building the new stand and getting permission for the floodlights."

Such progress is a far cry from the team that were virtually evicted back in 1963 after their home pitch was dug up to make way for a bypass.

The team returned 29 years later after leading almost a nomadic existence moving from one rented council pitch to the next.

Ironically the spell coincided with arguably one of the club's most successful periods as they won the Second Division championship of the South Bank and District League in 1979 and then the First Division title the following season.

And Taylor believes that was all down to the spirit and unity of the team through trying times.

"This is a club that very much revolves around the local community" he said.

"Back in 1968 I remember they used to say that Saturday afternoon was the best time to commit a crime in Stokesley because we only had three policeman and they all played for the football club.

"There was also a time when me, David Helm and Gerald Chase had to leave the field during a match because we were all part-time firemen and the siren had gone off.

"The referee refused to stop the match so the team had to play with three short."

Family is also very important to the club with many Stokesley sons following their fathers into the team.

Taylor himself followed his dad into the side as did secretary Peter Grange, whose father Tom played with Boro legend Wilf Mannion in the army.

Both Peter's two sons have played for Stokesley.

"It's not nice being constantly reminded that your father was better than you, but that is just the way it is here," Taylor said.

"It's different nowadays though because the kids don't seem to be as passionate about playing for their local side."

One player that is making waves playing for his home town, however, is Nathan Haslam, who has scored four goals in three games since joining from Billingham Synthonia, including a tremendous free-kick in a 3-0 win over Whitehaven last Saturday.

However, the main reason behind Stokesley's recent resurgence on the pitch is manager Ted Watts.

During his four-year spell at the North Yorkshire club, he has already guided Stokesley to their first success in the North Riding County Cup.

And the 36-year-old, who recently qualified for his UEFA B coaching badge, could guide his side to the Wearside League Championship for the first time.

Stokesley head the table on goal difference, but have five games in hand on Boldon.

"We are playing well at the moment so who knows," he said.

"I have a great deal of confidence in the players and I believe we can go on to win the title."

Watts is also positive that his side would be able to cope with the leap into the Northern League if the club was accepted in the next few years.

"We have players here that have good experience of playing in the Northern League," he said. "I can't see why not. It depends on whether we can hang onto our best players long enough."

Any sadness to see the old clubhouse demolished? "Yes, and it is nice to hear Eric's old stories.

"But that is in the past and the club has to move forward and progress.

Published: 25/03/2003