Match Information:
- Thornton Cleveleys 2-1 Chester-le-Street Town
- When: Saturday 23rd August 2025
- Kick-off: 3pm
- Where: Gamble Road, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 4JH
- Competition: The Isuzu FA Vase – First Round Qualifying
- Attendance: 188
I love my roaming reporter role for competition sponsors Isuzu and I make no secret of the fact that the Isuzu FA Vase is my favourite spectacle anywhere in football.
The reason for this is because virtually any team who enters the Vase stands a chance of winning it. You simply need some favourable cup draws and a little bit of luck along the way.
And excitement builds rapidly towards the ultimate showpiece occasion at Wembley Stadium on Non-League Finals Day in May.
Accordingly, I headed for my Vase First Round Qualifying match of choice on the Fylde Coast. Some 31,000 people live in Thornton Cleveleys which is a conurbation embracing the village of Thornton and the town of Cleveleys.
I enjoyed a gentle stroll down the Cleveleys seafront prior to kick-off.
Ground Description
Situated adjacent to Fleetwood Town FC’s Poolfoot Farm training ground. Everything feels cleans and fresh at Gamble Road. Not surprising really since Thornton Cleveleys only moved to this 14 acre £1 million complex in 2021.
The club departed their previous headquarters at Bourne Park where they had played for more than 20 years before it was redeveloped for housing.
The new site met ground grading requirements for promotion as West Lancashire League champions in 2024 to the North West Counties League First Division North at Step 6 of our national Non-League Pyramid.
Spectator comforts consist of a 100-seater grandstand beyond the top goal and three steps of covered terracing on one side. Floodlights were opened last October.
The very well-appointed clubhouse offers ‘The Salthouse’ live sports/music bar and ‘The Wembley Suite’ function room. These facilities are hired out to local residents and community groups for private functions. In addition, parking spaces are available for 140 cars.
Programme Details
On sale at £2. Entitled ‘RED’ to reflect the home team’s colours.
Contents included notes by the manager and chairman, potted history of both clubs, Isuzu FA Vase focus, a match report, colour action photos, women’s team news, fixtures & results, NWCL table, the in-depth story of football matchday programmes, player sponsorship particulars, the Non-League Paper column and squad line-ups.
Overall an excellent publication worthy of claiming the NWCL First Division North programme of the year award in 2024/25.
The Match
I prefer to watch Isuzu FA Vase ties between teams from different leagues. This one featured the hosts entertaining fellow Step 6 opponents Chester-le-Street Town of the Northern League Division Two.
So anyone holding expert football betting knowledge would’ve expected a tight game on a hot sunny afternoon although these two teams occupied 6th and 15th positions in their respective divisions.
Incidentally, the visitors departed County Durham at 9.50am for the three and a half hour coach trip, with some away supporters even travelling 24 hours beforehand for an overnight stay.
They were looking to replicate the illustrious past pedigree of numerous Northern League clubs who have won the FA Vase thereby satisfying Wembley betting patterns.
Indeed, Luca Nelson poked C-L-S ahead on four minutes following a basic goalkeeping mistake. But playing in their first ever Isuzu FA Vase fixture, Thornton Cleveleys roared back in the 53rd minute courtesy of Josh Few’s powerful downward header after a right flank corner.
This brought feverish celebrations involving the 20 young ultras housed behind the net with a rhythmic drumbeat enhancing chants of:
“Sea, Sea, Seasiders…”
“We’re just a tram stop in Blackpool”
“Shoes up if you love Thornton” (holding their assorted footwear above their heads!)
Then on 76 minutes, fascinating drama unfolded once Thornton Cleveleys were awarded a penalty. Adam Sumner took the kick, C-L-S keeper Alex Lawrence made a sprawling save and in the manic ensuing scramble Jacko Bateman fired home.
C-L-S protested furiously about a possible handball and Bateman standing offside. This led to goalkeeper Lawrence being shown a straight red card and midfielder Tyler Brownsword was sent to the sin bin.
Due to no sub keeper named on the bench, C-L-S skipper Nick Little went in goal and pulled off some unorthodox saves during the closing stages.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
