A century on Mill Lane

One ground, one club, one hundred years, and the family that has kept the gate for four generations.

By Tom Ashworth | 29 October 2026| 9 min read

The turnstile at Mill Lane was installed in 1931 and it still clicks on every turn. The Pearsons have stood beside it for four generations, taking coins, then notes, then cards, and always the same small talk about the weather and the back four.

“My grandad said the gate is where you meet the whole town, one at a time.”
Sue Pearson

The centenary will be marked with a friendly, a dinner and a new coat of paint for the main stand. Sue Pearson will be on the gate, as usual. She has asked that nobody makes a fuss.

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