How many of you have ever heard of Drayton Football Club? Apart from a few in the know, not many I suspect. I can’t say I had, until only a few weeks ago when the draw for the Second Round of the Norfolk Junior Cup was made on their website. After a bit of internet research I managed to flag up some useful bits of information about the club which may help. Interestingly the club, based on the western outskirts of Norwich, play in the little-publicised Norwich & District Saturday League, a successor to the former Norwich Business Houses League.

According to club sources Drayton Football Club used to play in the Norfolk & Suffolk League, a fore-runner to the Anglian Combination League before entering the Norwich Saturday League, a competition that originally drew its teams from an originally stipulated ten mile radius of Norwich City Centre. My decision to take in their game today would be a bit of a landmark having attended games involving clubs playing in all the feeder leagues that enter teams into the Norfolk FA Junior Cup, if you get my drift?!  Bring it on!

The club plays its games at the King Georges Playing Field found just off the Drayton High Road (the main A1067 Norwich to Fakenham link road) which is only a short distance from Norwich Airport. A smart stone wall (complete with an ornate emblem carved into both supporting pillars) marking the entrance leads the visitor to a large playing field which caters for both football and cricket. A shallow fenced driveway bears left where car park space is found behind the nearside goal and beyond to the local bowls club in the corner. The smart, clean, tree-lined site is surrounded by local housing on three sides and the expansive FW Frost Engineering Ltd works which manufactures fabrications and components used in both the motor and agricultural industries passes behind the goal at the far end.

The players change in a modern, cream-coloured brick built pavilion located in the far left hand corner of the site. The Parish Council offices are situated on the first floor at the rear of the building and the office I am led to believe is open to the public during the week to discuss matters such as planning, transportation and local police issues. The players change in rooms around the back only a few yards from the corner flag. There is no cover, dug outs or perimeter rope around the playing area. It’s pretty basic stuff here to be honest!

It was going to be a tough ask for the hosts, currently sitting in made table of the N&SDL, to overcome opponents Thorpe Village of the (supposedly) higher ranked Anglian Combination League, to St Georges Park. So can you imagine the surprise and jubilation amongst the home players, staff and fans when Drayton took the lead after only a few minutes when Daniel Jarvis (6) tapped home from six yards following a long throw into the area from the left. Great stuff!

As expected Village replied mid-way through the half when Devin Blundell (21) stepped up to score from the spot after being felled in the area by Nick Parker. Blundell (31) added a second ten minutes later from a direct free-kick drilling the ball through the flimsy wall. Jack Hubbard (43) added a third to round things off just before the interval with a tidy volley scored from a tight angle on the right, making it 1-3.

Hubbard (54) netted another ten minutes after the break showing some neat control and a quick turn to beat home keeper Nathan Ryan at his bottom right hand post. Ali Curran (66) made it five mid-way through the half when he cut inside his marker to score with a clever chipped shot from the edge of the area. Just when it looked like the visitors were going to run riot the hosts managed to get back into the game during the later stages. It was James Arron (73) who pulled one back after chasing a through ball to beat Scott Starling with an accurate low shot. Then against the run of play and with time running out Drayton added another goal to their tally when Jarvis (89) made a purposeful run into the area and after beating two defenders slid the ball calmly under keeper Scott Starling to add some respectability to the final score which read 3-5. A great effort by Drayton but the right result overall.

The match played in warm, sunny conditions attracted only a handful of spectators to St Georges Park. As expected there were no bits of paper or refreshments but I was indebted to referee Ian Selwood for providing  those essential team line ups before kick-off.

For me though one of the main highlights of the afternoon came in the second half when I got into conversation with home assistant linesman Des Jones-Blackett. Incredibly I can report that Des has been with Drayton Football Club for no less than 52 years!! He has represented the team as a player; secretary; chairman; Life President and now official linesman. It was during the second half of a league game here last season that Des came on as a substitute replacing an injured player…at the age of 72 years!!!

At the end of September Des was awarded a special medal and certificate for services to the game from the English FA in an event held at Carrow Road, home of Norwich City FC. The presentation was made by top referee Howard Webb who, like myself, was staggered to learn that in the whole of his 25 year-playing career Des was never ever cautioned. Apparently on the way back to the car park afterwards Des was tapped on the shoulder by one of the guests. As he turned round Des saw Mr Webb standing in front of him holding up a yellow card!! ‘I just couldn’t resist’, he said. Truly a great footballing tale from a lovely man. Another terrific hop. Have fun wherever you go!

FGIF Match Stats

Scorers: (H) A James (6; 73); L Robinson (89) and (A) D Blundell (21; 31); J Hubbard (43; 54); A Curran (66).

Attendance: 11; Admission and Programme: N/A; Match rating: 2/5; Ground rating: 3/5.

Links

http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4383675

http://www.norfolkfa.com/