No.18 - Sat 5th November 2011; Suffolk FA Junior Cup Round 3;                                1.30pm at the Victory Sports Ground, Nowton Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 2BT.

Matchday images (50) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/Sporting87FC02

Sporting 87 (0) 0  Mildenhall United (1) 2

Sporting rue missed chances

Travellers who enjoy watching football in this part of the world may be interested to know that Suffolk & Ipswich League side Sporting 87 Football Club is now playing home games at the Victory Sports Ground in Bury St Edmunds this season. It was with eager anticipation that I decided to travel the short distance from racing HQ to take in their Suffolk Junior Cup 3rd round tie here against Mildenhall United FC members of the local St Edmundsbury League.

The ground is easily reached from the A14 by taking the third exit for BSE (East) and then following the second exit on the second roundabout (the one after the A143 turn to Sudbury). Continue along Nowton Road for about 200 yards until the Victory Sports Ground becomes visible on your left hand side. The large multi purpose sports site which comprises a large number of beautifully maintained pitches is most impressive. Apart from from hosting sporting activities including football, rugby and tennis it is also a popular venue for the Suffolk County Cricket side who play here in the minor counties cricket competition during the summer months.

It is also interesting to note that both home and away teams use separate changing accommodation here. The hosts have access to a smaller wooden pavilion a short distance from their visitors who enjoy the more spacious facilities in the main cricket pavilion (nearest to the entrance). Sporting 87 FC play on a pitch marked out on the far corner of the recreation ground. This is bordered along the sides by some local housing, a number of tall trees, thick evergreen hedges and the rather well-heeled BSE Croquet Club whose members are lucky enough to occupy a small club building with roped off lawns and a unique artificial playing area! Calling all anoraks: have you ever been to a ground that doubles as a croquet lawn? Answers on a postcard please.

Having the benefit of full time grounds' staff it is not surprising that the well grassed playing area is beautifully manicured. Certainly you couldn't tell from the surface that there had been heavy rain fall in the area on the day leading up to the game (hoppers take note!). Two new sturdy portable dug outs fashioned from perspex are in arranged beside the half-way line on the far side. In addition a couple of heavy wooden folding advertising sign boards representing local major brewers Greene King are placed behind each goal to add a splash of colour. To round things off a length of blue rope supported by yellow plastic tubular posts stretches along the nearside to separate it from the other mini pitches and cricket square beyond.     

As we made our way to pitchside we were met by affable club secretary Jonathan Warnock who had kindly confirmed the important match details over the phone earlier that morning. He explained that the club is really excited about their recent move to the Victory Sports Ground having access to much better facilities (both on and off the field) compared to their previous base at the neighbouring Nowton Park. He said that a substantial redevelopment of the main pavilion should improve things in the future for all clubs based here.

Both sides had earned their place in the third round of the competition after impressive victories. Last time out Sporting 87 travelled to Barton Mills and came away with a comfortable 4-0 win over the Cambs County League side. Mildenhall United won by the same goal margin beating Barningham 2011 FC (St Edmundsbury League Div 2) easily with a 5-1 scoreline at home. On paper it would be a tight cup game but higher status-based hosts (currently lying third in the SIL Div 2) perhaps looked to have the edge today. 

But as football fans know only too well current status and league form doesn't necessarily decide cup games such as this. For the record it was the visitors from Tuddenham who won by two goals without reply to book their place in the quarter finals. Despite having the lion's share of play and missing countless chances Sporting 87 will really blame themselves for their earlier than expected cup exit. Sadly top scorer John Malone was unavailable today. By contrast United who spent most of the game penned in their own half won courtesy of two well worked counter attacks both coming at the start of each half. Chris Marchant (4) was really lucky to grab the first when the ball cannoned off his body and into the net after advancing keeper Lloyd Croll failed to deal with a poor back pass. Just after the break pacey diminuitive winger George Taylor (47) beat the offside trap after timing his run perfectly to control Marchant's through ball and drill it hard and low past Croll into the far corner of the net.

This thoroughly entertaining match played mainly in cloudy conditions on a sloping pitch (from left to right) attracted less than a dozen spectators. Incredibly there were at least four times this number watching the club's Under 10's on the adjacent mini pitch! Although the threat of rain showers did not materialise it was possible to detect the rather sweet smell of sugar beet fumes diffusing in the air. If you stand on the near side touchline you can spot the thick white smoke belching into the atmosphere from the large chimneys at the local British Sugar works further down the A14. Mrs W always reminds me that too much sugar can be bad for you!! Phew!!

It was well respected fellow hopper Mick Burt from Slough who contacted me last season (via -Mail) with the interesting news that Sporting 87 FC was issuing matchday programmes. No doubt Mick and the rest of the paper chasing hopping fraternity will be very pleased to learn that the club is continuing with their programme production this term. After publishing bits of paper for every home game since September Jon Warnock (who incidentally remembered Mick and Nigel Roe taking in a game at Nowton Park) unfortunately hadn't been able to do anything for today's game (due to a hospital appointment towards the end of the week). There's a law about that isn't there? He has promised to send me one in the post from another game when the gets time. Cheers Jon!

Sporting 87 FC is a most pro-active club running at least ten sides ranging from under 10's and girls' sides right up to adult football teams. It's a really cracking little set up run by many hard working people. Details about the club, its teams, location, contact addresses etc are all covered in their excellent website (see address below). I certainly hope that they can achieve promotion to SIL Div 1 after missing out by just one goal at the end of last season. A visit to the VSG definitely comes with my highest recommendation. You'll love it. The joys of hopping continue. Have fun wherever you go.    

FGIF Match Stats

Scorers: (H) N/A and (A) C Marchant (4); G Taylor (47)

Attendance: 10; Admission and Program: None; Match rating: 3/5; Ground rating: 4/5.

Links

http://www.suffolkfa.com/default.htm

http://sporting87.co.uk/

edited on 06/11/11