SUNDAY LEAGUE CLUB MAKES GOOD
Northern League Brandon United are not the only team to move
over to Saturday football but are certainly one of the most
successful, here we print a brief history and recall one of their
early triumphs – the 1976 Durham County Sunday Cup.
Brandon United - a brief history
Brandon United were originally formed as a Sunday morning
side called Rostrons, the name of the waste paper company where
most of the founders worked. They began by
playing in the Durham & District Sunday League
in 1968/69, Joining the Third Division and
gradually played their way up to the First Division.
They were basically local lads, however the inclusion
of Northern League and Wearside League players
turned the club into one of the most powerful Sunday
football sides in the North East.
From 1968/69 until 1976/77 they were First
Division champions four times, Durham County FA
Sunday Cup winners three times, then the ultimate,
F.A. Sunday Cup winners in 1975/76, defeating
Evergreen 2-1.
In 1977, the club now called Brandon United,
changing its name at the start of season 1972/73,
made a switch to Saturday football, joining the Northern Alliance
League where they played three successful seasons, winning the
League Championship and League Cup twice.
Brandon United's proudest moment came in 1979/80 when
entering the F.A. Cup for the first time, they reached the first
round proper, on the way taking care of Northern League
opponents Spennymoor United, Tow Law Town, South Bank and
North Shields. In the first round proper, Brandon were beaten 3-0
by Football League opponents Bradford City, in a game played at
Spennymoor.
Having resigned from the Northern Alliance, they failed to
gain Northern League membership and with all other major
leagues full, they finally joined the Northern Amateur League for
one season.
The club joined the Wearside League in 1981/82, winning the
Sunderland Shipowners Cup. The following season they reached
the quarterfinals of the F.A- Vase and repeated the same the
following season.
On the 6th June 1983, Brandon United's dream came true
when they were admitted to the Northern League's Second
Division. United won the Second Division title the following
season.
For the next nine seasons Brandon were a First Division outfit
and during this period had four players leaving the club to join
Football League clubs; Bryan Liddle going to Hartlepool in 1984,
Dean Gibb also to Hartlepool in 1986, Paul Dalton to Manchester
United in 1988 and Neil Richardson to Rotherham United in
1989.
In 1988 United once again reached the first round proper of
the F.A. Cup playing Doncaster Rovers twice at Belle Vue before
losing 1-2.
In 1992/93 Brandon played Seaham Red Star in the League
Cup final at Bedford Terrace home of Billingham Town, only to
lose after a penalty shoot out.
Flashback - April 9th 1976
Durham County Sunday Cup Final
All conquering Brandon United members of the Durham Sunday
Football League added the Durham County Football Association
Sunday Cup to their list of successes when they defeated Hartlepool
Lion in the final at Horden CW having already won the league's
Staffierri Trophy and the First Division Title.
Before a large crowd Brandon took the lead after five minutes when
Tommy Holden chased a back pass causing the
Hartlepool keeper to miss the ball, it rolled into the
empty net. Both teams were playing open fast football that had
the crowd clapping, at both ends the goalkeepers
made some great saves in the early stages of the game.
Hartlepool drew level with a great passing
movement that split the Brandon defense
wide open, the shot leaving the Brandon
keeper with no chance. This stung Brandon I
n to action, eventually they had the ball in
the Lions net only for it to be kicked out, the
referee being unsighted waived play on
much to the dismay of the Brandon players
and supporters.
The second half saw Brandon gain the upper
hand and again they had the ball in the Lions net
only to have the goal disallowed for offside.
Two minutes later a cross from the right was met by Brandon
forward Dave Jones who powered an unstoppable header into the
back of the net. Brandon now had victory in their sights only some
brilliant saves by the Lion keeper keeping the score down. This was
Brandon United at their best a great team performance with Colin
Temple outstanding in midfield, John Heaviside, Mel Heckley and
Peter Joyce outstanding at the heart of the Brandon defense and
some great saves by keeper Tony Brunton in the first half kept
Brandon in the game.
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