Sat.30th October 2004: Bedfont Green 4 Netherne Village 0 (CCL1Cuprd2)
The M25 was kind to us as we made our way (without any bother) to the Ashford Recreation Ground. But then the fun and games started. Old Sloppy pulled into the car park and found space was at a premium. After a couple of minutes sizing up the possibilities, a small gap was created and we squeezed into it. Not a good idea. Within seconds a tirade of abuse was directed towards us by an irate couple whose house backed onto the site.The guy was having a bad day and he vented his wrath onto us! Every other word began with an 'F'. We had unknowingly nicked their space and were being threatened with violence unless we moved. As neither of us had yet gained our black belts, we did and drew level with a large vehicle sporting a Brentford FC sticker in the rear window. Within a minute someone else had parked in the space we had just vacated and soon became the next victim! And so it continued. We realised there were ten minutes to kick-off we chuckled and then calmly moved on. Thankfully and in marked contrast the people at the club were really friendly and couldn't have been more welcoming. Play commenced. Green were too strong for their opponents from Croydon. It soon became clear why; apparently the young lad in goal revealed that a last minute injury to the 'keeper dictated he was shoved between the sticks instead of playing up front. He did well and only four shots (out of twenty) had beaten him by full time. In truth Bedfont Green had progressed easily into round three in front of 32 spectators and numerous aircraft passing overhead from Heathrow. The club are ambitious to succeed and are well supported by an active committee (including an infectious Chairman who also has connections with Brentford FC). After making rapid progress through the local Surrey leagues in recent seasons they had made a pleasing start to life in the Combined Counties. Facilities at the rec.are basic but homely. The main buildings are situated on one side next to the first team pitch; there is a changing room block; refreshment area (serving teas and hot dogs) and a delightful clock tower beyond. There is a small standing cover next to the half-way line. A narrow strip of artificial grass matting makes a path along this side. A second pitch, positioned at right angles to this was used by the reserves in an earlier game starting at one o'clock (explaining why the car park was so busy). A cracking 36-page programme (priced £1) containing a plethora of statistics and everything else you might need, is edited by Stewart Cook (also the club's website designer and third team player)
.To get to the Ashford Rec. by car we left the M25 at junction 13 and followed the A30 through Staines to the Clockhouse roundabout. Take the Clockhouse Lane exit (next to the Esso garage) and continue past the Bedfont Lakes and over a railway bridge. Although the ground becomes visible on the left continue on to the next roundabout taking a left into Feltham Road. To access the main entrance turn left again at the Oaks pub (Hungry Horse) into Chattern Hill until you reach the car park at the end of this road. Sloppy received a text on the way home. What a coincidence! His beloved Bristol City had only drawn Brentford in the next round of the FA Cup. Creepy or what!
Click here for a map
Sat.23rd.October: FAV 1 – Tipton Town 1 Holwell Sports 0 (Att.92; programme)
Yippee! It was FA Vase Saturday again and even Old Sloppy was salivating at the prospect (or had he caught rabies?). He even seemed chuffed with my suggestion that we head for the Midlands. Was it was the lure of Tipton Town (leaders in the West Mids Premier League) against Holwell Sports (top of the Leicestershire Senior) that had swayed him?. Neither of us had been to many grounds in this neck of the woods so it seemed to be the perfect chance to attend a cracking game. Then the big man told me he had other ideas. Sadly he did not want to go to the Sports Academy. Had he suddenly lost the plot? What was he up to? And then it became clear. How could I forget? His beloved Bristol City were playing Walsall. The plan was to drop me off at Tipton en route to see the Robins play at the Bescot. There was method in the madness after all! Soon it was 2pm and absolutely belting down with rain. I found myself standing outside the gound in Wednesbury Oak Road. I don't remember arriving at a ground so early. The football team play at an athletics arena (also home to the famous Tipton Harriers, one of the country's leading track and field clubs). Being an athletics 'anorak' and spending most weekends in the summer months frequenting such stadia, I don't really mind watching football when it is played inside a running track with complementary sand pits, circles and cages. The Sports Academy is a decent set up comprising several indoor tennis and badminton courts, a weights area and beauty suite in a large complex at one end of the site; the athletics/football facilities are accessed around the back through another entrance and turnstile. The rain grew stronger. Thankfully a tidy cantilever stand (named the Dave Edwards Stand) straddling the half-way line with 200 blue tip up seats provided much needed shelter. To the left are a couple of portakabins which act as a committee room and refreshment area. Two large (see-through) plastic dug outs are positioned on the opposite side. By kick-off the rain was bouncing off the track and not surprisingly everyone was under cover apart from a dozen or so ball boys who reluctantly stood motionless at set intervals around the track; it was obvious that without waterproofs they were already drenched to the skin. Against my better judgement the game itself turned out to be a real dour affair with only a handful of chances created; the rain continued to lash down and made a drumming sound on the roof above our heads. Despite this the players adapted well. It was Town who looked the more skilful but were all too often snuffed out by a resolute Sports defence. After half-time, I decided to phone Old Sloppy and find out if someone had scored at the Bescot. No reply. I wondered if the big man was feeling too upset to answer. Had Walsall dared to score? The rain was getting worse. Here, with only ten minutes left on the clock, it looked like extra time might be needed. Then it came - the moment home fans had been desparately waiting for. Tipton pressed again but predictably the ball was cleared. This time though the nippy Scott Stevenson crossed it back into the area. Lurking on the edge of the six yard area was the prolific Lee Rollason who calmly rose to head home. Great delight for those fans wearing black and white. And the winner it proved to be as Town clung on to earn a place in the second round. Sloppy was back at the main gate before 5-30pm and he looked like a pig in thick mud. Sure enough the Robins had won 2-1, having come back from a goal down. It had not been such a grey day after all!
A 20 page programme, mostly adverts (and no league table, fixtures or results) was issued for £1. Refreshments were also available and included snacks (aka a 'crusty' pie) and hot drinks. To reach the club come off the M6 (junction 9) at Walsall and follow signs for Tipton (A461; A41 and A4037) via Wednesbury. From the Gospel Oak Road turn left into Wednesbury Oak Road and the ground is immediately on the left. Both Tipton and Coesley stations are just over a mile from here.
.
Click here for a map
Sat.16th.October: FAC 3Q – Cammell Laird 2 Alfreton Town 3 (Att.276; programme)
It was Saturday and the phone rang at 9-30am. Sure enough it was Old Sloppy on the other end and chomping at the bit. For some reason he was keen to go up to the North West - the Wirral in fact. So after getting the green card from Mrs W it was into the Alsopmobile and we were soon on our way 'up North': it was a toss up between games at Cammell Laird and Vauxhall Motors, both of whom were playing in the FA Cup. The new M6 toll road was almost empty and time was on our side until the gantry lights started flashing with the message 'Wide Load Ahead' - was it a boat or a crane? We weren't sure of that but what was clear the traffic was crawling in front. We didn't really want to hang around that long to find out. Exit stage left (or junction 16 of the M6). It was now down to some expert navigating and taking the best the scenic route through leafy Cheshire - it was slow but at least we were moving again. Within a couple of hours we were on the M53 and in the Wirral. Decision time - we plumbed for Cammell Laird v Alfreton or David v Goliath. After parking up we could see the Laird Sports Club on the right and the main entrance opposite; a very large number of supporters wearing red and white had also descended in their hoards onto the scene, somehow relegating us in the queue. Panic set in - would there be enough programmes left? 'All this way and we were going to ****** miss out'.
Sat.9th.October: Cambs County League – Percy Oldham Cup Round 1 – Ely Crusaders 1 West Row Gunners 3 (Att.18; no programme)
With the England v Wales World Cup qualifier affecting the fixture programme, there were several opportunities to get in a game with an early kick-off. The Wraymobile headed for the nearby city of Ely (12 miles from Newmarket) where ‘Crusaders’ (new to Senior B this season) were playing the ‘Gunners’ from Mildenhall in the League Cup. The ref arrived late and we started just before one o’clock. The visitors (kitted in the Arsenal strip and sporting some brilliant tattoos) were always in command and ran out worthy 3-1 winners to book their place in the next round. The club is based at the Paradise Leisure Centre and swimming pool; this is close to the town centre (and in the shadow of the beautiful cathedral). For snappers the skate park next to the car park spoils the view. There are two pitches on site at the back and Crusaders play on the one furthest from the changing rooms. The other is strictly used by the Sunday sides. A cricket square separates both. The main pitch is roped on one side only. There is no cover at present. Hot drinks and snacks are served from a table set up at half-time but for those travellers wishing for something more substantial there is a good chippie just around the corner. Like the majority of sides in this division (if not the league) programmes are not issued. You can easily access the ground by turning off Bray's Lane and then left into Prickwillow Road. The Centre is sign posted with the main entrance next to the High Flyer public house. Ely, as many travellers will know already, is well served by trains being on a main line; I should think that the ground is a good twenty 20 minute walk from the station – a detour past the Maltings is recommended if you have the time and fancy a good pint. Beware the geese though; they come after you in search of food and can become aggressive at times (it's worth keeping the stale corned beef sandwiches just in case!!).
Click here for a map
Fri.8th.October: Unibond Premier League – Frickley Athletic 2 Witton Albion 1 (Att.204; programme)
Never again!! This sentiment matched the frustration of having set off from home at 2-15pm, spent the best part of two hours waiting in a 14 mile queue of traffic somewhere near Nottingham and eventually reaching SouthElmsall FIVE HOURS later. There was absolutely no doubt that Friday night football was becoming increasingly unpopular! Luckily the match was an eight o'clock kick-off and despite having bleary eyes and a stinking headache I felt much better when I rolled into the car park at the Millenium Worldwide stadium (great name) and saw the players warming up. Frickley put on a cracking performance and ran out 2-1 winners to record their first win of the season. For those with a Broadband connection on your PC, the goals can be seen by visiting the club website at www.pennocks.freeserve.co.uk . Equally entertaining were the OAP's, donned in cloth caps, who made up a noisy 'kop'. Collectively they created a great atmosphere not with their singing but with some 'below the belt' banter; for the best part of ninety minutes it was the poor old ref who took the brunt of this! The ground itself is big, old and enclosed to give the impression of a concert bowl; there is a large stand which dominates proceedings and a long low cover stretching the entire side opposite. Uniquely some old fashioned crush barriers are positioned randomnly on the grass banking behind each goal. A mobile catering van provided refreshments and a portakabin doubled as a club shop in the corner. The best part of a tenner went towards admission (£6) and a 40 page programme (£1-50). The club can be reached from the A1 near Pontefract. Take the A638 sign posted South Elmsall (4 miles); on entering the town turn right into Doncaster Road and then left (marked FAFC) up Westfield Lane. The ground is 400 yards from here on the left just past Oxford Street. Incidentally, it took just about two hours to get home. Now there's a law about that isn't there!
Click here for a map
Sat.2nd.October Herts Senior County League 1 – Buntingford Town 5 Hertford Heath 2 (Att: 40; programme)
Deja vu? Not quite. It was only a week ago that I had passed Town's new ground at the Sainsbury's Distribution Centre on the A10 (going to Standon). This time I turned left at the roundabout and headed for the main car park. And what a surprise! The main stand is directly in front of you, with easy access into the balcony from where there is a wonderful panoramic view of the pitch below and the countryside beyond. A range of hot food and drinks is served from the bar throughout the match. The chips, sausage and bacon sandwiches were well received by twin 2 who had accompanied me on the trip.Steps at the end of the balcony lead down to the pitch which has a plastic post and rail fence perimeter fence. A small shelter provides a bit of standing cover; this was a life saver when the heavens opened in the 80th minute of the match.Town were soon in command and led by four goals at half-time courtesy of some rather unorthodox goal keeping! Heath came back fighting and won the second half. The deficit was too much to overcome and the game ended 5-2 to maintain Town's unbeaten start to the season (with a completely different side and manager to last year). A cracking 24 programme crammed with news and photos was available for a donation. Enthusiastic editor Chris Thurgill explained that the club had a three year lease on the ground at the moment and so thoughts of further development may be put on hold for the time being. The club has a website which is found at www.buntingfordtownfc.com. A really friendly club who welcome 'hoppers; great to see Cliff and Roland who had driven up from Kent - funny we had bumped into each a couple of years ago at, you've guessed it, Buntingford!! Travellers can reach the ground off the A10.
END