BRANDON UNITED F.C.

Northern League's 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 defence wide open, the shot leaving the Brandon keeper with no chance. This stung Brandon into 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.

randon 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.