Match Preview proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Date: Saturday 4th December
Venue: Craik Park, Morpeth Common, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2YX
Kick Off: 3pm
Competition: Northern Premier League Premier Division
Highlights: Highwaymen TV
The Highwaymen look to extend their good run of form when they entertain Gainsborough Trinity at Craik Park on Saturday afternoon.
History
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club was formed in 1873 as Trinity Recreationists, set up by the vicar of the Holy Trinity Church for young parishioners. In 1889 they became members of the Midland Counties League, losing their first match 1-2 to Lincoln City and going on to finish 7th out of eleven clubs. The club quickly became well known, and won their first Midland League championship in 1890/91 and after finishing runners-up the following season were elected to the Football League Second Division.
In 1960/61 the league was suspended for one season and Trinity competed in the Central Alliance. On returning to the Midland League the club remained there until becoming founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1969. Gainsborough have never won the NPL although the club twice finished in 4th place and have taken league cup honours on two occasions along with the Chairman’s Charity Shield. Trinity was the longest-serving member of the NPL, ending a 36-year stay after finishing tenth in the Premier Division to earn a place in the extended Conference Nationwide North for 2004/05.
Trinity also has a proud record in the FA Cup, and between 1927 and 1939 established a non-league record by appearing eight times in the Second Round Proper. In the season 2006 – 2007 the club reached the First Round Proper for the 36th time in their history before losing at home to Hartlepool. As a Midland League side they have recorded five victories against Football League opposition, beating Crewe twice in 1928 and 1931, Port Vale in 1937 and Gateshead the following year. The first competition after the Second World War saw most rounds played over two legs, and Trinity recorded a First Round aggregate victory over Mansfield Town.
Trinity has always been a well-run club with a dedicated team of directors who kept the club solvent and, for their size, relatively successful. However, in the spring of 2009 there was a major change in the management of Gainsborough Trinity when Peter Swan, a businessman new to town, bought out his fellow directors and took overall charge of the club. His ambition for Gainsborough and for Trinity was high and fans soon noticed this with the arrival of Luke Beckett; Huddersfield’s Town top scorer who also quickly became Trinity’s top scorer. The pace of major signings continued many with recent Football League/Conference experience.
At the beginning of the next season, it would have been fair to say that there was a real bout of optimism in the town and amongst Trinity supporters. However after very few games in which the lack of success was noticeable, especially at home, the new owner dispensed with the services of the then manager, Steve Charles, and his coaching staff and appointed the very experienced manager, Brian Little, in his place. He brought with him a wide and successful experience as manager; his previous clubs including Aston Villa, Leicester and Hull and it was hoped he would bring the same success to Gainsborough Trinity. As the season progressed it quickly became clear that it was a false dawn – results were not going well for the Blues, this despite the Chairman’s continued investment in experienced players and the past success of the Manager. At the end of the season Trinity narrowly escaped relegation and the optimism at the start of the season had faded into disappointment with results and performances.
A promising start to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier campaign harboured much hope, a resounding 8-2 victory over Chasetown in the FA Cup, but with the play-off dream slipping away with heavy home defeats to Warrington & Farsley, the managerial pack was shuffled again. Club captain, Liam King took the reins alongside experienced forward Ross Hannah, improved results and performances happened immediately, but an unforseen set of circumstances happened as North Ferriby folded, their record expunged and Trinity’s six points lost ultimately cost the Blues the final play-off spot. With the core of the squad retained and key areas strengthened, hopes are high for a successful 2019/20 season.
Last Match
Morpeth won 2-1 against Basford United on Tuesday evening. Ryan Donaldson netted a penalty after Chris Reid had been brought down in the area, Basford levelled on the stroke of half time through Matt Thronhill. The Highwaymen claimed the points on 76 minutes when Liam Henderson hooked home a quickly taken freekick.
Trinity have been without a game for two weeks since they lost 3-1 at South Shields on the 20th November. Alex Wollerton put the Holy Blues ahead in the opening 5 minutes. However, Shields levelled in the first half before adding two further strikes in the second half.
