|
"The old hills, no longer
used, were turning grey and their sides were cracked wide open and
dotted with patches of weeds which would soon be flowering into tall red
willowherb and yellow ragwort daisies, an incongruous gaiety in that
desolate land".
Out of Darkness by E. G. Thorpe
This notion of beauty blossoming out of the ashes
of the derelict old pits on the Notts & Derbyshire border perfectly befits
Bracken Park - home to Underwood Villa Football Club. When
Underwood pit closed 1985, the townsfolk were not about to let their
pride in their community disintegrate. Bracken Park is testimony to
this.
The new millennium
has signalled a period of sustainable success for Villa - both on and
off the pitch. Between 2004 - 2007,
Villa faired well at the top end of the Midland Amateur Alliance,
most notably winning the MAA
Senior Cup in 2006.
After finishing fifth in the MAA Premier Division,
the Villa senior team decided to join
the NSL for the 2007/08 campaign. Having become an F.A. Charter Standard club
due to its dedication to developing local youth football they were also rewarded
for their endeavours in developing
local youth talent in the area, being named both Notts & East Midlands
Development Charter Standard Club Of The Year for 2006.
The entrance to the ground is on Felley Mill Lane,
upon which local hero D. H. Lawrence's lover,
Jessie Chambers, resided.
You can't fail to miss the entrance thanks to a large welcoming sign,
proudly alluring to Villa's Charter Mark status. From here the world
opens up somewhat, as you enter a large rusty coloured car park with the
football pitch evident down a slope ahead of you.
Lawrence referred to this part of the world as
"the country of my heart" and it is clear to see the attraction. Villa's
home is hidden by hedgerows from the main Mansfield to Eastwood road on
one side and bordered by the park which bears it's name to the other.
The only blight on the landscape of this western outpost of Nottinghamshire is perhaps the various array of outbuildings at the top
of the slope behind the
Felley Mill Lane End. Here, an array of
unsightly porter cabins hosting, among other things, the players and
officials changing rooms, slowly decay (helped along by the occasional
spot of vandalism).
There is however, one building of note,
the likes of which you're unlikely to find anywhere else in the county,
and perhaps beyond. The clubhouse is housed in a most unusual brick
building with a continuous curved roof. This is covered entirely in
shiny navy blue corrugated sheeting with the front of the building
encased and extended by a metal navy blue structure. At the front of the
building, the club have attached a well lit covered canopy, held aloft
by five wooden stanchions with hard standing beneath. From here
spectators are afforded excellent views of the action below. Also from
here leads a staircase down the slope to the pitch below for the player sto make a dramatic entrance.
The pitch itself is entirely surrounded by a
modern concrete and metal poll pitchside rail. The only pitchside
furniture on offer are the two dug outs on the Mansfield Road side of
the ground. These are twinned, containing both home and away dug outs.
The structures are made from breezeblock and are adequately roofed.
However, whilst well made they offer little room for comfort.
At half time, or should the game be passing you
by, you can always take yourself off for a leisurely stroll round
Bracken Park. you may even find a discarded football or two. |
From
M1 J27 -
Follow the A608 to Underwood. After 1 mile take 1st
left into Felley Mill Lane North. Bracken Park is 50m on your left, and
there is a large car park on site.
Trentbarton - Rainbow 1 (Nottingham -
Alfreton) stops on Alfreton Road in Underwood. It's then a short stroll
up Mansfield Road to the ground.
Newstead
- 3.5 miles (Robin Hood Line) or Alfreton - 6 miles (Central
Trains)