FGIF APRIL 2005 RAMBLINGS

 

Sat. 30th April 2005; Essex Intermediate League Senior Division

(att: 50; programme: no)

 

Old Chelmsfordians (0) 2 Manford Way (2) 7

 

Despite the fact Old Chelmsfordians weren't issuing a programme it did not deter me from visiting their Lawford Lane base for a potentially exciting game in the Essex Intermediate League Senior Division against high flying Manford Way. And a cracking contest it turned out to be. For the best part of 45 minutes the hosts managed to contain their opponents who were by far a classier team with flair in every position on the pitch and deserved a two goal lead at the break. With the sun beating down on the beautifully manicured pitch you would have expected the pace of the game to slow down as the players found the heat too much to cope with. Not a bit of it! Manford Way turned the scew and within sixty minutes led by six goals - some of them scored with great accuracy and from distance. The hosts rallied and realising pride was at stake pulled two back before the end but the 2-7 scoreline showed the difference in class.

The club is based at the Old Chelmsfordians Sports & Social Club which is to the west of Chelmsford on the Roxwell Road (A1060) leading out of the city. A large petrol station next to Lawford Lane (a small cul-de-sac which runs alongside the ground) provides a useful landmark. The site also caters for tennis and cricket and is enclosed by many large trees and fencing which border the field. The football pitch is furthest from the entrance and car park and is roped off on all sides. The playing surface is expertly manicured and rolled and looked impressive considering the season is nearly over. A small stand is positioned near the halfway line and contains about thirty seats; on this occasion it was used by the home team who used it to find some shade from the sun. The large clubhouse is used as a changing facility and a bar; refreshments (including hot food and drinks) are served from an unusually low hatch inside the main building. Every patron using it had to bend double in order to make their orders to the staff on the other side! The club are not currently issuing programmes this season. 

During the game I had a chat with one of the officials from the EIL who claimed that three new clubs (all from the Mid Essex League) could be entering the league for 2005-2006 - the applicants include Runwell Hospital (former members); Ongar and the Billericay-based side Hannackers Farm. 

 

Click here for a map showing:  Old Chelmsfordians FC

 

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Tues. 26th April 2005; Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division

(att: 45; programme: 20 pages - free)

 

Crane Sports (0) 0 Ransomes Sports ()) 1

 

This was probably the poorest game that I had attended so far this season. It was  easy to see why both teams were stuck at the bottom of the Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division. Each side had great difficulty in maintaining possession and this led to a game punctuated throughout with errors and slack play. The hard, bumpy and sloping pitch did not help matters either. The only goal of the game came midway through the second half and was scored by the visitors.  

A basic 20 page programme containing a large number of adverts was issued for the game. Although no attempt was made to hand them out, I managed to get one from a committee member who kindly went into the changing rooms to fetch me a copy. For my half-time cuppa I nipped 'next door' and used the catering facilities at Whitton United (who were hosting a youth game at the same time). 

Thankfully the rain, hail and thunder I had left behind in Newmarket had turned to bright sunshine by the time I had reached Ipswich. The veranda on the green and white painted stand came in handy to block out the sun rather than provide shelter from a possible shower. The improved weather conditions meant that the game (starting at 6.30pm) lasted a full ninety minutes and finished in reasonable daylight. 

 

Click here for a map showing:  Crane Sports FC 

 

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Fri 22nd and Sat.23rd April 2005: Central Midlands League Hop Bonanza 2005 - match results summary

 

Friday 22/04/05 

 

Blackwell MW 0 Gedling MW1

 

Saturday 23/04/05

 

Santos FC* 1 Bentley CW 5 (att. 263)

 

Forest Town* 0 AFC Barnsley 0 (att. 252)

 

Rainworth MW 0 Teversal 2

 

Welbeck Welfare* 1 Pinxton 2 (att. 307)

 

* for images from the games I attended at Santos FC; Forest Town and Welbeck Welfare CLICK HERE

 

2.30pm; Sat.16th April 2005; Anglian Combination League - Div 2; (Att.60; programme: no).

 

Dersingham (1) 4 Anglian Windows (1) 1

 

Having scoured the fixtures on Saturday for a game to watch nothing really stood out that took my fancy. I then decided to look at a few local league tables for some inspiration and discovered that the top two sides in the Anglian Combination Division Two were playing against each other (Dersingham v Anglian Windows). And after a quick phone call to the club secretary Mr. Richmond it was off up to Kings Lynn for the 2.30pm kick-off. Although I like to get a match programme where possible, on this occasion I knew I was going to miss out as the club (like most others in the Division) don't issue yet. But the reason for going was to see a potentially good game and within a short drive of home.

 

And so it turned out to be the case. Windows opened the scoring after only four minutes and then spent the rest of the game defending as Dersingham applied the pressure. The hosts were frustrated though by some fine 'keeping from the Windiows 'keeper who was in splendid form. They deservedly pulled one back to level the scores just before half-time. The next forty-five minutes continued in much the same way until Dersingham were awarded a penalty which they converted to take the lead. It all became too much for the League leaders when the talented Steve Clark helped to put the game beyond doubt by setting up two more before the end. This win meant that they draw level on points with their Horsford based oppenents. A healthy crowd of sixty spectators attended the game on a glorious sunny afternoon.

 

The club is based in Manor Road on a site which shares its football with cricket. The main entrance and car park are on the crown of a sharp bend next to the Feathers Public House. The main pitch on the far side of the playing field is fully roped off with two large dug outs near the half-way line. This is separated from the changing pavilion/tea bar by an adjacent pitch (which on was being used by the club's fourth team on my visit). No cover exists at present.

 

To reach the club I tavelled by car from Newmarket via Swaffham before by-passing Kynns Lynn using several minor roads including the B which takes you close to the Sandringham estate before reaching Dersingham.

 

Click here for a map showing:  Dersingham FC

 

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6.30pm; Tues.12th April 2005; Cambs League - Senior B division; (Att.33; programme: no).

 

Swavesey Institute (0) 1 Wickhambrook (1) 2

 

I was soon brought back down to earth with a bump again on Tuesday evening when village football replaced the splendour and riches of the Bundesliga. The game in its own way was just as exciting though with plenty at stake as first took on second in what was an important promotion battle. Both teams (new this season to this level of football in the Cambs League) fought out a competitive game on what was a bumpy surface. The visitors scored either side of half-time and looked to be coasting to an easy victory. The fenland boys didn't give up hope and their persistence paid off when a beautifully taken free kick simply scorched into the net from all of 30 yards out. The visitors were more determined and managed to hold on to their lead and record an important victory.

 

The club is based at the Green which is just off the main High Street in the village of Swavesey (about two miles from the A14 slip road and close to the town of St.Ives). Other local sides are Over and Needingworth. The site has room for several pitches but the main one is marked at right angles to the road and is bordered by housing/gardens on each side. A row of plastic advertising signs are fastened onto wooden stakes behind the main goal. There is no cover. A small pavilion doubles as a changing area and a small tea bar serving hot and cold drinks throughout the evening. I supplemented my diet with a greasy sausage and chips from a mobile catering van parked at the roadside. Belch. Swavesey don't issue programmes and on this occasion a collection wasn't taken for the game either. Incidently the referee played a full ninety minutes (with the last ten in near darkness). On reflection he should have perhaps started play fifteen minutes earlier at the scheduled time of 6.15; he obviously thought that the light was good enough and decided to delay the start allowing the players time to warm up properly. Unlike the Premier Division in this league, fixtures involving clubs in the lower two (A and B) divisions must appoint their own club linesman.

 

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3.30pm; Sat.9th April 2005; Bundesliga Division One; (Att.33291; programme: 100 pages 1 Euro).

 

Hertha BSC (2) 3 SC Freiburg (0) 1

 

You couldn't have been anywhere else in the world really. Our U-Bahn tube train headed west from Alexanderplatz (in the heart of Berlin) and passed through some places with the most wonderful sounding names: Tiergarten; Zoologischer Garten and Charlottenberg to name but a few. The space in our carriage became progressively smaller as increasing numbers of fans dressed in blue and white football shirts, waistcoats, baseball caps and scarves clambered aboard (with many carrying bottles of their favourite brew). The sound was deafening as more joined in with chorus after chorus of the same song. After reaching the Olympia Stadion station we got off and followed the crowds of 'Herthaners' past several lines of Polizei on towards the magnificent stadium in the distance. The symbollic Olympic rings suspended between two tall brick columns were clearly visible above our heads. A stop at the official club shop soon meant we were several Euros lighter and with an extra bag of souvenirs adding to our load we slowly climbed up several flights of steps and were entering the ground; from the queue I caught a glimpse of the vast bowl in front of me - and before I had chance to say anything my girls both let out out an enormous 'Wow!'. Flushed with excitement (a bit like a kid at Christmas) I quickly grabbed the camera and snapped at anything and everything for several minutes. The pictures in the gallery will save me from a lengthy ground description. For those travellers who do not enjoy watching football from behind a track - most of this one  wasn't noticeable with an array of advertising boards, photographers and a bank of live TV personnel covering large stretches of its blue surface. By now my wife Frances and twins Steph and Jo had found our seats in the Family Section and were settling down (with some tasty Pretzels) to watch Hertha BSC take on SC Freiburg in a Bundesliga Division One fixture.

 

The game started with HBSC (not to be confused with a well known bank which contains the same letters in a slightly rearranged order) in complete control and with plenty of neat passing and committed build up play looked a dangerous force. The visitors from S-W Germany (who were firmly rooted at the foot of the table) were clearly on the back foot and struggling. And then something special happened. The small but robust Brazilian Marcelinho, sporting striking orange highlights in his dyed crop, collected the ball just inside his own half and dribbled forward; with expert precision he looked up and, noticing SCF's keeper standing on the penalty spot, struck the ball goal ward. The crowd drew its breath and watching the flight of the ball could sense that it had beaten the giant stopper and was dipping shaply. Moments later a huge roar filled the air as the ball fell under the bar and came to a stop to nestlting gently against the back of the net! It was a remarkable goal indeed. It was several minutes before the flag waving and claxon sounds died down. Before the interval the inspired South American had doubled his total with a deft side footed dead ball strike from the penalty spot. But then Freiburg came back into the game and put on a tremendous second half display. They got one back mid way through the half and raised their game. They had several more chances and with well timed crosses into the box created three or four near misses. The Berlin faithful were not happy and urged their charges on. With only a few seconds left on the clock Freidrich rose at the back post to head home from close range putting the result beyond doubt. After the final whistle the players went over to their fans to receive a communal salute and applause; this lasted over ten minutes and was a splendid gesture.

 

A massive one hunderd page glossy programme (Offizielles Stadionmagazin) was issued for the game and cost the inexpensive sum of 1 Euro. What a bargain! There was plenty of hot food and drink for consumption during the game. A constant flow of cheap (priced) alcohol was readily available and dispensed in oversized plastic tankards (with special handles which could be clipped over the side of the spectators' seats).

 

One final note - the stadium was probably only half full with few away fans making the long trip north. There will be no doubt though that this fine stadium will be full to capacity come the World Cup Final next summer. The only problem according to the Germans will be getting those much sought after tickets to watch the game. I reckon they will cost more than the 42 Euros we paid for all ours!      

 

Click here for a map showing:  Hertha BSC FC.

 

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3.00pm; Sat.2nd April 2005; Central Midlands League Supreme Division; Att.41; programme: 24 pages £1.00).

 

Radford (0) 1 Rainworth Miners Welfare (0) 0

 

Old Sloppy and I had a right job finding this one. Radford play at the Sports and Social Club in the Hyson Green area of Nottingham. The address is given as the Dorridge Road West (off Radford Lane) and trying to find it on the best AtoZ map was not easy. So at 2.40pm our navigational skills were really called to the test but with only twenty minutes to kick off we were become slightly irritated. Down Dorridge Road we went in search of what could be the only plot of grass for miles. Time was running out and we were now driving at a snails pace down a narrow street with cars parked on both sides, an endless series speed humps and behind what must rank as one of the world's slowest road users. This brought out the worst in Sloppy and he vented his wrath on the elderly driver in front several times. We decided that this route was not helping our cause so we performed a U turn of staggerring proportions and with a smell of burning rubber lingering in the air we turned back (in Starskey and Hutch fashion) and tried once again to find the illusive entrance. With Sloppy chomping at the bit we were soon back at the Radford Lane junction and in yet another queue. But this time the delay in traffic proved to be our saviour; whilst surveying the surrounings I spotted a sign marked Radford FC in a narrow cul-de-sac opposite. Sure enough it was the entrance to the ground and along with one house and garage formed what is the Dorridge Road West!

 

The ground as expected is fully hemmed in by houses, gardens and a local primary school. The main entrance leads to a small car park and old clubhouse complete with bar lounge and changing facilities. Next to this is a section of low cover and hard standing behind the nearest goal. The pitch has a perimeter fence, hard standing and dug outs on the far side. 

 

The game was a niggly affair with Radford on top for most of the ninety minutes. They fully deserved to score the only goal of the match which came after a goalmouth scramble early in the second half. A 20 page programme was issued for £1 and contains a few brief notes and team line ups. There was also a small notice advertising for a new programme editor for the start of next season; apparently the present scribe cannot devote enough time to the job!  Refreshments including hot and cold drinks and snacks were available throughout the game.

 

Now on to directions - we approached from the A52 Grantham to Nottingham ring road before turning north up the A6514 Middleton/Western Boulevard. At the next major roundabout turn right along Aspley Lane (B690) and then into Alfeton Road (A610). A left turn into Bobbers Hill Road brings you into Hyson Green. To find the club turn RIGHT off the main Radford Road into the Berridge Road West (opposite Lovejoys Pet Supplies). It's that simple!