Briggensians, who have generally used Sir John Nelthorpe School's pitch for many seasons, played a team from Keadby in an EC Surfacing League cup-tie, losing after extra-time.
There haven't been many adult games at the Rec involving Brigg-based clubs in recent years - not since the demise of Dying Gladiator and Brigg Servicemen's, though they both played in the Sunday League.
Back in the '80s, Brigg Amateurs had three teams in the Saturday competition - first XI, Reserves and A Team.
The latter was player/managed by local teacher Mike Stevenson, who became known as Hannibal as he was head of the A Team - a reference to a very popular all-action TV show of that period, starring George Peppard in the title role.
Sundays in the 1980s saw teams like Ancholme Valley, Black Bull, Brigg Royals, Falcon Cycles and King Billy vying with 'Geordie' Fox's top-flight Servicemen for use of two grass pitches - some playing in the morning, some in the afternoon.
Today's "New Rec" - lavishly refurbished by North Lincolnshire Council with five-star changing accommodation - has one adult grass football pitch, the other having made way for the "Astro".
We are sure that the local authority, like us, would like to see the grass football pitch in regular use, but Briggensians are now the only Saturday team based in our town other than Brigg Town FC at the neighbouring Hawthorns.
A spokesman for the council told Brigg Blog earlier this week that, following the revamp of the ground and its reopening earlier this year, a couple of senior football games have been played on the pitch prior to Saturday's. So the Briggensians fixture was "one of the first, but not the first."
He added: "Mulligans FC were the first team to use the adult pitch and changing rooms in an official capacity on Sunday 3 September. They are a Sunday league side and have used the pitch twice since."
A good many junior football matches still take place at Brigg Rec, we are delighted to say, on the smaller grass pitches.
Indeed, Brigg Blog understands that a club based in Grimsby has shown "big interest" in using the Rec regularly - mini and full-sized pitch and obviously the new changing facilities, too.
Mulligans, based at a popular Sports Bar in Scunthorpe, drew 2-2 with Dale Park Reserves, in division four, on September 3 - in the game highlighted by the council.
Wrawby team Jolly Miller are playing fixtures on the village playing field in division three.
Brigg footballers from the 1980s may well recall getting changed in a large wooden shed from time to time, close to where the pitch and putt course had been.
But that shed was an improvement on the 1960s when Brigg Primary School players, and others, had to use a former cowshed which had belonged to the farm that operated on the land before the sportsground was created in the 1950s by Brigg Urban District Council.
There was an outside tap provided near the door for washing mud off of your boots or, for hardy souls, rinsing face and other bodily parts.
Not recommended in the depth of winter!
Glanford Borough Council later added a welcome but basic breeze-block changing room block, with showers.
That was demolished by North Lincolnshire Council and replaced by today's top-notch facilities - first used in January this year when the new floodlit "Blue Astro" hockey pitch opened for use by men's, ladies' and junior sides.
Brigg Town Cricket Club is set to return to play home games at The Rec from next May, now the square has been refurbished.
Tennis is also thriving.
So although the "New Rec" has come much too later for many of us 'old stagers' to enjoy, Brigg now has facilities in which the town and its sportsmen and women, boys and girls can take great pride as they take on visiting teams in a variety of sports.
For booking information about Brigg Rec, call 01724 291912, Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm. Or email bookings.pods@northlincs.gov.uk
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| An autumn 2017 view of the cricket square at Brigg Recreation Ground, looking towards the changing rooms and the all-weather pitch. |
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