Bringing together hopes to hit goals

Dec 31 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

HISTORY was played out yesterday in a suitable setting as FA Cup heroes Blyth Spartans took over Seaton Delaval Hall.

The club held its first ever press conference in the central hall of the 18th Century building which is Blyth Valley’s heritage showpiece.

The event brought together the bid by the National Trust to acquire the hall for the nation and the hopes of the Spartans of pulling off what would be a truly historic FA Cup Third Round victory over Premiership Blackburn Rovers – the first side from England’s top tier which Blyth have met.

The venue for Monday’s tie, Blyth’s Croft Park, will also be marking its 100th anniversary from January 1.

“Switching the tie to Newcastle’s St James’s Park was out of the question. Playing the game at Croft Park will be a fitting memorial to the 100th anniversary,” said Spartans chairman Tony Platten.

The legendary tale of David and Goliath was also pressed into service as the statue of the two figures in front of the hall were decked in Blyth and Blackburn colours.

The bid to save the hall, and Spartans’ cup exploits, are helping to put Blyth Valley on the national map and so both the club and the National Trust joined yesterday to back each other’s cause.

A further link is that the previous owner of the hall, the late Lord Hastings, attended Spartans’ matches.

Spartans’ spokesman, Phil Castiaux, said: “We are really proud of the part the team have played in Blyth’s heritage over the last 100 years and we’re right behind the trust’s efforts to champion our local history too.

“As a local man, I’ve driven past the hall for many years and would love to see more public access in the future.

“Holding our first press conference at the hall is a historic occasion. Monday’s match will be the biggest in our history and keeping the tie at Croft Park is in the spirit of the FA Cup and will give Blackburn something to think about.”

Just as the Spartans scored an 89th minute winner in their previous tie against Bournemouth, so the National Trust is hoping for a last minute surge of support to reach its target of raising £2m from a public appeal for the hall, with £1.75m having already been pledged.

The trust has also lodged grant bids to hopefully take the total to the £6.3m needed to secure the hall. A decision on whether the bid can go ahead will be taken in the middle of January when the National Trust trustees meet.

Liz Fisher, the trust’s area manager said: “The Spartans have produced some brilliant performances to make it this far in the Cup. They’ve been a real inspiration to our campaign. Our staff across the region wish them all the best for the big match.”

Page 2: Hall and football club are part of the community