Now little remembered,  the Greatham Club played for many years before the First World War, they appear to start around the mid 80s when the "Cerebos" salt extraction commenced, and this Concert programme provides a glimpse into the world of the clubs of the 1890s.  A number of the Clubs continue to play today in Rovers, West, Old Boys, Middlesbrough, Thirsk, Stockton and Darlington.

The Club is beleived to have played on a field near to Greatham Railway Station, and a look at the Fixtures reveals that at the time of this programme, most away matches could have been reached by train! 

Two of the fixtures are intriguing,  Shipwrights will be a Shipyard team but whether Central Shops is a side drawn from staff at the Central Marine Engine Works is the subject of more research. The game North v South in Hartlepool would be a "day out" for the players and officials, this game, probably played on the Friarage Field, would be an official England Trial, North of England v South of England, such was its importance, Caps were awarded to any one been selected for the trial.

Greatham Village also has a link with the early England XVs for H.B. Tristram, who played full back for England on 5 occasions in the mid 1880s whilst a Durham City player was born in Greatham in 1861. His father, also called H.B.Tristram, was Master of Greatham Hospital, a canon of Durham Cathedral and a renowned author and ornitholigist in his time.

Date (of image) : 1895

Donor : Hartlepool Museums Service

Creator : R. Martin, "Standard Office" West Hpool

Part of the "Robert Wood Collection" collection