Sport

Goole is not the sporting mecca of the North, but has a passing interest in various disciplines. Its most famous sporting success is with Goole Town AFC. This team regularly plays at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds and has had a chequered past. Once high in the non-league game, it went bankrupt and was disbanded. The club was re-formed two years ago and has started the climb back again. They have been promoted every season since restarting from the Central Midlands Premier Division and are currently in the North East Counties Premier Division. Surely Europe (or at least the Grandstand vidi-printer) is only a few seasons away?

Other sporting activities taking place around Goole:

• Athletics - The Victoria Pleasure Grounds has a 6-lane running track and there are various facilities at the leisure centre. Goole Viking Striders are the local running club and organise the annual River Bank challenge (it was the Three Rivers Challenge, but they then got lazy). Ex-GGS people are put off running for life when they are forced to compete in the cross-country run to Airmyn.
• Cricket - Lots of pub teams take part in this sport, although it's usually just an excuse for a huge party at the end of the season. West Park and the Cricket Ground of Westfield Banks are the places to go to hear the crack of leather on willow.
• Cycling - Vermuyden Cycle Club is the local club and have masochistic cycling tours every Sunday morning. Goole is ideal cycling country because the Vale of York is so flat. There are many time trials on summer nights and several Audax routes pass by the town. It is also close to the Sustrans network linking Hull with Selby.
• Darts - Although this is not technically a sport, there is a very popular darts league amongst the local pub.
• Fishing - This ranges from stickle-backing in West Park to various organised competitions along the canal and at Thorne. Barry's of Goole (with several branches in Leeds and elsewhere) was a big organiser of these tournaments, but they recently closed down.
• Football - As well as Goole AFC, there is a very healthy Sunday League competition.
• Golf - Boothferry Gold Course situated a Spaldington provides a good 18-hole green so long as it's not rained recently.
• Motorcycling - As with cycling, the flat countryside is ideal for motorbikes. The local motorcycling club (the 'Wobbly-Goolies') meets at the Macintosh Arms pub. Goole also boasts a world sidecar champion rider.
• Pub Quizzes - Every pub has one. To win, simply buy the Daily Mirror and watch Fifteen-to-One the day before taking part.
• Rugby Union - The rugby club has moved from Murhan Avenue to a new factory-like site off Westfield Banks. There is a very popular Sunday League.
• Street-Fighting - Not really a sport, but a common pastime nevertheless. These events are hosted down Aire Street on weekend nights. Audience participation is welcome at anytime.
• Swimming - Goole Baths may have closed, but the swimming pool at the Leisure Centre is the place to go for swimming. There is also a swimming club based in the town.
• Tennis - Goole has a brand-new tennis centre off Westfield Banks, but there are also facilities at West Park and Vermuyden School if you nip over the fence.
• Trainspotting - This seems to be the most popular pastime for Goole Youth nowadays. There's always a large number of youths congregating at the station each night wearing strange coats looking for new engine numbers for their books.