A Sycamore, Rothbury FC, and The Magician of the North

There is the wonderful sycamore tree at Armstrong Park. This magnificent tree must have many a tale to tell; not only about the Armstrongs, but also about the history of Rothbury football.
It is the last tree to talk to you on the Rothbury Tree Trail - if you visit this beauty, please take great care on your journey there. No pavements make it a hazardous journey.

If trees could talk, I am sure that this notable sycamore could tell some fascinating tales. It would tell of the 'The Magician of the North': the industrialist, civil engineer, arms manufacturer, and inventor. The man who, in 1863, at the age of 53, decided to build an astonishing country home with magnificent grounds.

This grand old tree might well recall with alarm, the blasting noise and immense dust that rose to the sky when humans began dynamiting the land to create the crag on which Lord Armstrong built his house; Cragside.

Perhaps it wept for the death of William Burn, the quarryman, crushed to death during the excavations.

This superb sycamore, then aged about 30, might also recount Lady Armstrong's part in the design and construction of the gardens and landscape, and I am sure must have rejoiced at the planting of 7 million trees! Many of these would grow much taller than our glorious sycamore. One of them is itself famous, as it is the tallest Scots Pine in Britain - this giant can see far over our sycamore's crown; the last time it was measured it reached over 40m high. Our sycamore is a mere 25m tall.

However, if our stunning sycamore tree could talk, it may well choose to recall some different stories. Looking towards Knocklaw, it would have watched with interest Rothbury Football club (founded in 1876) taking its place at Armstrong Park, in the 1940s.

It must have watched with interest, the fire fighters watering the turf. Later, I am sure it would have been cheering on Bobby Charlton when he played here for Northumberland County Juniors.

And the time Chris Waddle played for the visiting team, Belford. RFC Armstrong Park surely must be one of the most scenic football pitches ever.