RAMBLINGS FOR MATCHES PLAYED IN NOVEMBER 2004


Sat.27th November 2004 - Combined Counties League Cup Round 3 (Att: 35;  programme issued).

Warlingham 1 Cove 2

The Verdayne Playing Fields certainly attracted the travellers on Saturday for this Combined Counties League cup tie. The question was: could the home side from Division One cause an upset and beat their oppnents from the Premier Division? A real battle ensued and the young referee really had his work cut out to keep tabs on things. The boy did well and kept his nerve.The men from Farnborough broke the deadlock with a strike midway through the first-half. The play after this was fairly even with much huff and puff and few chances for both teams. The second 45 minutes was different. It must have been a cracking team talk but the Newcastle look a likes came back out out with a vengeance. Warlingham had almost set up camp in the Cove half. Within five minutes they had missed no fewer than five golden chances. It was exciting stuff and made us feel guilty that we hadn't been charged admission to watch. Then it came; finally the equaliser we had expected. Could this be the turning point? Further attacks came but there were no more goals. The last five minutes approached and it looked like ET. But unbelievably and completely against the run of playit was the visitors who suddenly looked dangerous. The lofted ball beat the offside trap; it was quickly brought under control and chipped delicately over the advancing keeper to drop just under the bar. Cove had won and broken local hearts. They had taken their chances and the hosts licked their wounds. What a great game we had seen!!  

The site is part of the Hamsey Green Playing Fields which is on the bend of a horseshoe shaped road called Verdayne Gardens (it has two entrances from Limpsfield Road). The clubhouse and changing rooms are next to the main entrance and small car park. A brown carpet of leaves from the surrounding oaks lead to the main pitch which runs lengthways behind the clubhouse and is roped off. Part of an adjacent cricket square is fenced off to protect the turf. There is also a mini practice pitch marked out but without any goals. A small tea bar served a range of pies, pasties and snacks as well as a cuppa made to order. Sloppy likes his strong and he was not disappointed. A 12 page programme with line ups was available for an amazing 30p! Our journey involved M11, M25 and approach routes from the A22. For travellers using public transport there is a bus stop near the ground in Limpsfield Road. 

Click here for a map showing  Warlingham FC


Tues.23rd November 2004 - Unibond Cup (Att; 150;  programme issued).

Bridlington Town 2 Frickley Athletic 1

For the first time in months our journey up the A1 was a dream. We were on schedule to reach Brodsworth Welfare (near Doncaster) by 6-15pm. With time to spare we decided to press on and a phone call to the Queensgate ground confirmed that Bridlington Town would be playing Frickley Athletic in a Unibond Cup game. Old Sloppy was pleased as he only needed a handful of grounds to do before completing this league. For me it was nice to be back in my native East Yorkshire. We arrived comfortably, paid £6 admission, £1 for a programme and starving (not literally), headed for the tea bar.

 Game on. It wasn't pretty and we had seen better. During conversation with the locals, it turned out that the guy sitting in front of me shared more than a common interest in football - yes, we both supported the Tigers but amazingly we had at one time attended the same schools and lived in the same street. What a small world! By 90 minutes Town had beaten their opponents 2-1 and this meant we would get home at a decent hour. The ground is near the town centre. It has a very large stand running down the length of one side, a small cover opposite and one to the right of the furthest goal. The tea bar and clubhouse are behind the other goal. A large gasometer dominates the landscape. We approached using the A1M, M18 and M62 motorways before travelling via Howden, Market Weighton and Driffield. Only 390 miles to complete the vist - we need therapy!

Click here for a map showing  Bridlington Town FC


Sat.20th November 2004 - FAV Rd 2 (Att; 191;  programme issued).

Alton Town 2 Winchester City 6 

As we headed down the M3 it started snowing. Twin daughter Jo looked puzzled as I started to bash the centre of the steering wheel in frustration. She stopped listening to Destiny's Child on the CD player, looked up and realised my predicament. Knowingly she found the phone number for Alton Town and contacted the club. A steward at the ground said that it was snowing but the ref wasn't too concerned and the game would definitely be on. So foot down again with renewed optimism and within half an hour we reached our destination. It was very wet everywhere and the car skidded several times as we drove along a muddy track behind the goal and parked up pitchside. The snap was brilliant with 'Rick's Kitchen' doing a roaring trade in hot food and drinks before kick off. We headed back to the stand and avoided a hole in the roof from where rainwater had started to leak onto the seats in front of us. Game on and the crowd from Winchester seemed in good spirits. It was raining goals too. The fans responded after each one with variations on the same tune including : 'Jingle Bells'; 'Can we play you every week?' and 'You're supposed to be at home'. The Vase holders looked a very strong side and could have stepped up a gear at any time. When Alton pulled two back near the end, the men in blue and yellow did raise their game to regain control . Taunts from visiting fans continued and were wearing a bit thin after several attempts at a Mexican wave in the stand failed when it reached the Alton kop.. The snow came down once more and a chorus of Jungle Bells rang out. The Winchester contingent thought Christmas had come early. The final whistle underlined a comfortable 6-2 victory. The facilties at the Sports Ground are unusualy dotted all over the place. As you enter the ground the bar and lounge (with large screen TV) are on your left and the main stand to the right. It contains bench seating throughout with something more substantial towards the middle for committee members (well hard plastic seats). Further along are some tennis courts through which a tea bar in the corner can be accessed. The players use a pavilion in the opposite corner of the site for chaning. This necessitates a short walk to the pitch (and adds to the atmosphere of the occasion). A concrete perimeter path was invaluable as the rainwater built up to form puddles on the grass. 

A programme with 28 glossy pages, priced £1, was issued for the game (this included an informative, photocopied 8 page insert, devoted entirely to the visitors). The journey involved using both M25 and M3 motorways. We came off the latter at junction 4 and by-passed Farnborough and Aldershot. By picking up the A31 we soon followed signs for Alton which brought us to Anstey Road and the ground on our left. A cracking game which suggests that Winchester will be a difficult side to beat in their quest to retain the illustrious Vase title.

Click here for a map showing  Alton Town FC


Wed.17th November 2004: Pilkington XXX 2 Nuneaton Griff 1 - Bim'ham Midweek Floodlit Cup Rd2 (Att: 32; programme issued)

A cracking game saw XXX progress into the next round of the Cup. This is a decent set up with terracing behind one goal and along one side. A large covered stand (on the side next to the rail line) unusually contained both seats and stanchions. The impressive clubhouse had a decent refreshment bar and served a great cuppa and hot food throughout the evening. A 20 page computer generated programme came with the £2 admission and contained line ups, results and fixtures. To reach the ground in the Kings Norton area of the city we decided to avoid the M42 and come off the M6 using the A45 and inner ring roads instead. We arrived at Pershore Road hassle free; in fact there was even enough time for Old Sloppy to sample the delights of a local Balti take-away before kick-off! For travellers by rail Kings Norton station is close by.

Click here for a map showing  Pilkington XXX FC


3pm - Sat.13th November 2004 : Needingworth 7 Melbourn 0 - Cambs Senior B (Att;24; no programme).

A brisk walk back to the car and it was off to Needingworth. The village was only a 20 minute drive away from Histon and the cross country route meant negotiating some windy little roads. By kick off it was starting to get cold and the extra layers I had packed were added. Needingworth were having a good run and looked in complete control taking a 4-0 lead by half-time. The manager changed the team around a bit in the second half and brought on all the subs including himself. With a minute to go the ball came over and he made contact to head home at the far post; the goal was met with great applause and cheers. A comfortable 7-0 victory was the result. However the man of the match was undoubtedly the Melbourn keeper who saved dozens (well at least ten) good strikes on his goal to keep the score down!. Millfields is off the Holywell road to the south of the village. The entrance leads to a carpark where a barrier prevents you driving right up to the ground.The site itself is a large open area of playing fields with several pitches (including cricket which doesn't affect the football). The main pitch is next to the brick pavilion/changing facility and has railing (with advertising boards) on each side. The floodlights were installed just over a year ago and consist of six pylons (three on each side); considering each pylon has only two bulbs the lights are very bright. According to one of the dad's watching, these can be seen from the neighbouring town of St.Ives! Although tea wasn't served from the clubhouse at half-time, a very kind committee member brought some round (for a donation) on a tray in the second half - a nice touch. Like many clubs in this division of the Cambs League, programmes are not issued. To reach the ground I travelled to Earith Brudge and joined the A1123. After passing through Earith and Bluntisham I turned left for Needingworth (marked). Take a left turn again in the village along Church Street (sign posted Holywell) and continue past the school and cemetery where the ground at Millfields is visible on the left.  

Click here for a map showing  Needingworth FC


12-30pm - Sat.13th November 2004: Histon 2 Shrewsbury Town 0 - FAC1 (Att: 1538; programme issued).

There had been a great feeling of anticipation all week. The Cambridge Evening News even had a 'countdown to the game' column every day and the thought of giant-killing was a reality. On Thursday evening the doorbell rang and my coveted ticket had arrived courtesy of Kendo (alias Neil Kennedy, one of Histon's star strikers and neighbour from down the road). He told me the club were well up for it especially as the Shrews were struggling without a manager and the Stutes were on a nine game unbeaten run. And so arriving at the ground I parked up and walked along Bridge Road. You could feel the atmosphere already as fans made their way to the ground which was swaming with police and stewards. A local pub was full of blue and yellow replica shirts, scarves and woolly hats - were the away fans in need of Dutch courage? I queued with the locals who were supremely confident of a victory; souvenirs, including free posters of the team, were on sale near the turnstiles. Inside the ground the noise level grew. The travelling Shrews fans didn't seem so confident and admitted their chances were not great. This was confirmed after 4 minutes when Ian Cambridge scored amid riotous noise and a mini pitch invasion. Histon had taken control of the game. With mobiles out it was the home supporters who were phoning family and friends with their unbelievable news. The far end of of the ground was silenced. Was this going to be the first cup shock of the day? A glimmer of hope came though when Rodgers hit the Histon bar with a looping effort. This changed the game as the men from Salop looked for an equaliser. They pressed for long periods in the second half but without reward. Histon had to work harder now. Time was ticking by and the hosts brought on their subs - was this to waste time? No. A long ball was despatched over the half way line and the fresh faced Cameroonian Charles Liban gave chase. The defence were in no man's land and it left only keeper Howie between him and glory. Was the long legged sub to become a hero? He quickly latched onto the ball and lobbed the advancing keeper. The ball headed goalwards and bounced crossing the line. As the net bulged the silence was broken and every red and black shirted player mobbed their star. The whistle went. Three sides of the ground went hysterical and whilst the other end booed. The tables had been turned. Funny to think how the Shrews had not so long ago beaten Everton in the cup. You could predict what the reporters were going to write. For home fans and neutrals this had been a memorable day in the tiny Cambridgeshire village of Histon.

Click here for a map showing  Histon FC


Fri.12th November 2004: Newmarket Town 3  Mildenhall Town 1:  Ridgeons Eastern Counties League Premier Div (Att: 216; programme issued).

Only 5 minutes walk from home. Nice to see a decent crowd turning out on a bitterly cold evening. The Jockeys, without five regulars and fielding a makeshift defence, took their Suffolk rivals to the cleaners (in the first half at least). They could have netted half a dozen with appeals for a penalty turned down and the woodwork denying them on a couple of occasions.The game was played in great spirit by both sides considering how much local pride was at stake. With three points earned the Jockeys now move up to fifth in the table. As usual plenty of refreshments available including a constant supply of tea to raise the body temperature. A 28 page programme was was issued for the game which attracted over 200 spectators.

Click here for a map showing Newmarket Town FC


Sat.6th November 2004: Eccleshall 1 Daisy Hill 4 (NWCLccup2) (Att: 52; programme issued).

I don’t know what the visitors put into their half-time cuppa’, but it made all the difference to the outcome of the game. After a dour first-half which saw the hosts take the lead, Daisy Hill came back with a vengeance to win the match with four second half strikes and progress comfortably into the next round of the League cup. The two ‘hoppers from Newmarket had felt that the last minute decision to drive past Heath Hayes (original destination), and to go to a game further up the motorway, had been a good one. Eccleshall, newcomers and most southerly side in the NWCL Division Two this season, have made great progress off the field since promotion from the Midland League. Entrance to the ground is through a small car park and pay booth/gate in the near corner. The rural site is completely enclosed by wooden fencing and newly built perimeter path. Immediately to the right is an old clubhouse with a bar, refreshment area and committee room. The veranda and recently concreted steps provide terraced standing cover for thirty spectators. Further along is a gent’s toilet block. On the opposite side are two new dug outs with a small stand positioned between them. The floodlights are also new and apparently have a lux value close to Conference standard. These will be 'officially' switched on for a forthcoming match against Port Vale (the programme notes pencil this in as Monday 13th December). Considering it had rained the day before and for most of the ninety minutes, the pitch held up very well indeed. The £3 admission included a decent 36 page programme with all the relevant bits and few adverts.

 

Statistics reveal that home attendances average at about 62 for this season. Rolls, pies, pasties and hot drinks were available throughout the game. I was also told by one of the officials (all of whom wear smart club track tops to give a corporate feel) that the club also produce a range of souvenirs including badges. To reach the club (which is based in neighbouring Pelshall) we travelled by car up the M6 coming off at junction 14 Stafford North. After following the main road to Eccleshall (A5013) for about five miles continue through the town centre (towards Loggerheads) along the Chester Road (B5025) into Pelshall. The ground is soon visible on the right hand side. For travellers using rail, the nearest station appears to be in Stafford. 

Click here for a map

End