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No.37 - Sat 18th February 2012; Anglian Combination League Division 3; 2.30pm at Waters Lane, Hemsby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; NR29 4NH. |
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Matchday images (65) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/HemsbyFC
Hemsby (2) 2 Southwold Town (0) 1 Hornets sting visitors into submission... As we park up everything looks so grey and deserted. Since our last visit here back in August the transformation couldn't be more apparent to the casual visitor. The sea front once bustling with happy go lucky holiday-makers wearing eye-catching T-shirts, shorts and hats, carrying buckets and spades, satiating their appetites on a blood coagulating diet of fish and chips, ice cream, candyfloss and fizzy drinks have long gone. As the watery sun now fades across the barren seascape with abandoned beach huts the distant sound of a solitary dog barking on a desolate sand dune breaks the eery silence, it all somehow seems more tranquil, more appealing.
The sign says Welcome to Hemsby. This is a typical British seaside town in the middle of the cold, unforgiving winter months. The locals can regain their own territory once again and enjoy a real feeling of inner sanctum. It won't last long though before the nameless hordes return from distant suburbia to take up temporary residence in fresh, newly painted chalets and spruced up caravans. The place will soon be filled with that unmistakable repetitive loud noise and bright flashing lights coming from crowded amusement arcades and fairground rides with the waft of onions diffusing from greasy hot dog stalls thrown in for good measure. A windswept passer-by, hidden under a thick, dark, warm woollen coat, is quick to share his thoughts with us: 'Enjoy it while you can!'.
We say our good-byes and come inland some half a mile along the Beach Road as we make our way to Waters Lane, home of Hemsby Football Club. It's a ground we have been aiming to tick off our quite short 'to do' list for some time now (along with the first teams of Norwich St Johns, Sprowston Wanderers, Waveney and Yelverton) in order to complete the perfect ACL set. It has to be done. Today The Hornets, as they are affectionately known in these parts, are playing Southwold Town in an eagerly-awaited Anglian Combination League Division 3 fixture.
By kick-off the skies look even greyer and more menacing as the wind has grown in strength. I set off solo on my compulsive crusade. Mrs W decides to remain in the car and keep the latest copy of the i newspaper close at hand, well at least for the time being. A knowing look in her eye suggests that this could last a good ninety minutes (what great widom). I plan to return half-way through the game to see whether my beloved will need any help completing the cryptic crossword (not a bit of it methinks). There's also chance to a thaw out with a warm cuppa and a blueberry muffin!
The club's HQ in Waters Lane is a tidy set up and will appeal to the traveller. A large car park inside the entrance leads to a smart new brick-built pavilion opened recently courtesy of a Football Foundation grant at a cost approaching nearly £1/2 million. Look out for the large FF/Sport England endorsed cheques proudly mounted on one of the corridor walls. It's a tremendous facility with changing rooms for up to four teams, match officials and a smart function room with kitchen. Adjacent to this two large fully enclosed playing fields (separated by some large trees) which run in tandem and contain a number of adult and junior pitches. The first team now play in the furthest field on a pitch marked out and shoe-horned to the (top) left hand corner of the field. It's a good two minute trek from here!
A tall wire perimeter fence runs close behind the left hand touchline (where two modern curved perspex dug-outs are situated) and also behind the far goal. On the opposite touchline a lower three bar wooden fence complete with a number of colourful local advertising boards gives the playing area an enclosed feel to it. I was intrigued by some of the posters in situ which included the local Hemsby Fish and Chip shop in town. As you cast an eye across the field the huge blades from several local wind turbines can be seen beyond the roof tops of some neat residential housing.
There's definitely no mistaking where you are with an abundance of yellow and black (the club colours) reflecting the Hornets nickname and logo which adorns the many smart fixtures and fittings throughout. This contrasting splash of colour is found on the corner flags, sturdy goal nets, club name banner, dug outs and even on the back of the players' socks!! Most enterprising.
The Hornets maintained their lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 victory today. Considering the visitors turned up with a bare minimum of eleven players they successfully contributed into making this a terrific spectacle and a closely fought contest. Hemsby opened the scoring through Alan Harper (27) with a well disguished chip from 20 yards which caught keeper Danny Clarke off his line. Despite a valiant attempt to back-pedal and clear the ball away the referee adjudged (rightly) that the ball had already crossed the line. The hosts doubled their lead five minutes later when Julian Bissell (32) skilfully lobbed Clarke from nearly 30 yards out with the ball just dipping under the crossbar and into the empty net. Although Southwold managed to pull one back when Terry Brooks (90+1) scored through a hotly disputed penalty awarded deep into second half stoppage time, they left it too late to grab an equaliser. This result now gives the homesters a slender two point lead over second placed Cromer Town Reserves and a chasing pack consisting of Martham, Freethorpe and Marlingford all who have games in hand. Can Hemsby set a new club record as they challenge for their fourth successive promotion in the ACL? It will be big ask but only time will tell...
The match played on a beautiful, flat playing surface held up incredibly well taking into account the absolutely atrocious weather conditions which featured a freezing cold wind and torrential driving rain, particularly unrelenting in the second half. It really was horrible!! A crowd of some ten spectators (complete with brollies) gathered on the grass embankment along the far touchline. This included affable club secretary and Brighton & Hove Albion FC exile Mick Tingley who joined me for refuge in the visitors dug out during the last fifteen or so minutes. A nicer guy you could not wish to meet.
Mick explained how Hemsby Hornets was formed back in January 1999 and following the amalgamation of adult and youth teams in 2007, became Hemsby FC a year later. He also told me with great pride that the first team had gained promotion over the last three seasons. As well as a Reserve team who currently play in the Anglian Combination Division 6 the club also has two teams in the Great Yarmouth Sunday League with the Hemsby Hornets youth sides playing in the Norfolk & Suffolk Youth League with teams at U8, U9, U10, U11, U12 and U14 level. The Club currently has over 180 players, supported by 30 adult helpers with coaches from all sections reaching FA Level 1 Coaching status. They also hold a youth age weekend tournament annually, which has now evolved into a highly regarded event by clubs that have taken part.
As far as facilities are concerned the club in conjunction with Hemsby Parish Council was successful in securing a £526k grant from the Football Foundation, to increase and improve facilities for football in the village. New pitches (including the one used by the first team) have been provided on what was former farm land to ensure that more sides will be developed and can play in the village. The club has also established roles for a pitch co-ordinator and ‘groundsman’ who marks pitches and installs nets and corner flags for home games.
As you can see this is a most proactive club run by an extremely hard-working committee who are very keen to achieve access and provide football opportunities for all age groups in the area. For more information travellers can also access the club website which provides some essential information including club details, match statistics and directions on how to reach the club. A visit here comes with my highest recommendation though I would advise you to wear plenty of warm layers to combat any cold weather! And finally, if you are feeling a bit peckish may I direct you to the E&B Taylor Fish and Chip shop in neighbouring Martham. It not only serves great fayre but must surely be the only fried food establishment in the country that boasts a thatched roof! The joys of seaside hopping (even in winter) continue, have fun wherever you go...
FGIF Match Stats Scorers: (H) A Harper (27); J Bissell (32) and (A) T Brooks (90+1) Attendance: 10; Admission and Programme: N/A; Match rating: 3/5; Ground rating: 4/5. Links http://www.hemsbyfc.co.uk/club/Home http://www.angliancombination.org.uk/ |
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edited on 19/02/12 |
