No.56 - Mon 14th May 2012; North West Norfolk League Division 1;                                   6.30pm at the Terrington Sports Club; Churchgate Way; Terrington St Clement; Lincs; PE344LZ.

 

Matchday images (37) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/TerringtonFC

Terrington (3) 5 Lynn Napier (0) 0

Terrington end season with fine win...

Forget Monday Night Football on SkySports. This is the real deal as I head towards King's Lynn for my rare Monday night fix, in what is the final game of the North West Norfolk League season, as Terrington Football Club take on Lynn Napier in a mouth-watering Division 1 fixture. Despite being only forty miles or so from Racing HQ my short journey through the sticks involves travelling through no less than four counties with Suffolk, Cambs, Norfolk and Lincolnshire all safely covered en route! After coming off the town ring road the last leg of my journey involves a short section along the A17 before turning right into Terrington St Clement next to the tourist sign posted African Violet Centre.

Thankfully the heavy rain storm (with some massive hail stones thrown in for good measure) over Downham Market which had earlier threatened to postpone my hop had now blown over being replaced by bright warm sunshine shortly before kick-off. As the local fish and chip shop is sadly not open on a Monday evenings (there's a law about this sort of thing) I decided instead to search out some sustenance from the local Co-Op store which is just a stone's throw from the ground in Chuchgate Way.

The large sports ground which runs parallel to the main road is fully enclosed on all sides being bordered by fences, trees with the local village cricket club which backs onto the adjoining field away to the left and the tennis club beyond. Entrance (only by human foot here) is through a wrought iron gate which leads to a modern village hall/pavilion (found behind the goal to the right) upgraded in 2009 at a cost of £398,000 funded by Football Foundation and Lottery funding. The smart building incorporates a function room (used this evening by a keep fit class); changing rooms and an equipment store all secured by padlocked shutters after use. A narrow path in front of the hall provides some hard standing from which to watch the game played on the main and only unroped pitch on site. Apart from a couple of wooden benches in situ there are no dedicated spectator facilities here. The corner flag posts (without the flags) are painted in alternate red and white hoops to resemble basic surveyor's poles used to mark out building sites. 

Interestingly a large beacon supported on top of a tall wooden telegraph pole which overlooks proceedings carries the plaque and wording: 'Fire Over England - This beacon was one of four hundred lit around Great Britain on 19 July 1988 to celebrate the 400 anniversary of the sighting of the Great Spanish Armada of 1588'. Was this an omen? Would the game tonight set the place alight or would it end in a flicker?!

Despite the fact this was an end of season fixture, both sides had managed to organise all of their players ensuring a prompt kick-off was adhered to. This was most heatening considering that the hosts could not improve on their fifth placed league position and the visitors (dressed in an all red Liverpool look-a-like kit representing the Lord Napier pub in town) had finished rock bottom of the ten team division (although a win would leap frog them over Ingoldisthorpe FC). For the record it was Terrington who took all three points taking comfortable three goal lead into the break before adding two more in the second half to run out 5-0 winners.   

Unbelievably for the second time this season the match referee failed to show for a game here. However club coach Jason Nicholls stepped up to the plate and was a joy to behold. His calm, assertive and composed manner was respected by all players (on both teams) and led to a fast, free flowing game of football. Well done mate, you did a great job and saved your club a hefty fine imposed by the league for avoiding an unplayed game. 

The match played on a wet well grassed surface in mostly sunny conditions was attended by a crowd which peaked at 21. I spent most of the second half chatting to Gordon Rasberry (known affectionately to Rasb by everyone here) who gave me a potted guide about the club amongst other football topics during our cracking conversation. Aged seventy he's a most enthusiastic football person who genuinely loves his local club and is kept extremely busy during matchdays putting up the nets, organising the changing rooms, generally welcoming visitors to the club and tonight obliged by helping to fill in the vital gaps on my FGIF Match Stats Card as the goals went in!

Rasb' told me that a football team had existed in Terrington several years before the start of the Second World War. A team called Terrington Wanderers FC played on a site close to the main road in the village from and was from 1947 coached by Ash Nelson the present day club secretary. Competing as Terrington Minors the club moverd to a new playing area close to the magnificent Parish Church(1) [clearly visible in the distance from the pavilion] approximately two years later before later relocating to the current sports field. Rasb' explained that the club, with over fifty players on its books, is happy at present playing in this league and has no aspirations to climb up the pyramid ladder. Like many other teams it is felt that the pressure involved in playing at the next step up (possibly the Anglian Combination) would be too much in terms of match expenses (eg. travelling) and attracting players with greater experience. He has a point there, doesn't he? 

A visit to Terrington Football Club comes with my warmest recommendation and hoppers will be made to feel very welcome. Information regarding the club (and others in the competition) can be found on the excellent newly-revamped North West Norfolk League website which provides a superb club directory (contacts; phone numbers and maps) as well as covering current fixtures, results, cup competitions and tables. It's worth a look - see the links below. Ah the joins of NWNL village footy continue. I just love this competition. Have fun wherever you go. 

Note(1) The Parish Church dedicated to St Clement (i.e. Pope Clement I), is known as the "Cathedral of the Marshland", was built in the 14th century by Edmund Gonville, Rector of Terrington, who founded Gonville Hall (now Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge University.            

FGIF Match Stats

Scorers: (H) A Hayes (8; 86); A Archer (27); M Prudence (33); A Butters (68pen) and (A) N/A

Attendance: 21; Admission and Programme: N/A; Match rating: 3/5; Ground rating: 3/5.

Links

http://www.nwnfl.co.uk/

edited on 13/05/12