Despite heavy rain in the area (yet again!) a check phone call at mid day confirmed that our chosen game had been given the green light by the match referee after declaring the pitch although muddy was still fit enough to play on. Being my first choice game, it was just the news we wanted to hear and within the hour the trusty-ish Wraymobile was heading on a winding route up through the Fens towards the outskirts of Peterborough.

Today we were on the Cambridgeshire County Junior Cup trail with hosts Thorney FC members of the Peterborough & District League taking on Manea from the Cambs County League. I don’t know about you but I always love watching cup games involving teams from different competitions. With the match now at the Semi-Final stage an eagerly anticipated contest awaited as we covered the last few miles of our journey.

The village of Thorney is situated on the A47 between Peterborough and Wisbech. The original name was probably the Isle of Thorns. Rich in history it traces its roots back to around 500AD when it started out as a Saxon settlement. Thorney Abbey made the settlement an important ecclesiastical centre for a long period of time and the village is still the most northerly point of the Anglican Diocese of Ely.

Famous sporting stars associated with Thorney include Ron Jacobs who played rugby union for England, Barbarians and Northampton becamoming president of the RFU in 1984 taking England on tour to South Africa and Pam Sly the 1,000 Guineas winning trainer in 2006 with Speciosa who became the first British female trainer to win a Classic race.

The football club has played its games at Thorney Park since 1968. This is easily reached from the A47 by taking the Wisbech Road (B1167) and following the signs for the village. To get to the playing fields turn left into Woburn Drive and then second right down Tavistock Close. Despite being set in an idyllic location with views of the beautiful Norman-built Thorney Abbey in the distance, the park is a pretty basic venue for watching football and does very little to get the hopping pulse racing.

Enclosed on three sides by local housing there’s enough space here for two pitches (marked at a perpendicular). To the left is an old disused and rather smelly toilet block which is really best avoided. Further along this side is a brick built pavilion providing changing accommodation for both players and officials. A small sign placed above the main inner door displays the legend: Welcome to Thorney. Equipment is stored by council grounds’ staff in a separate room to the side. A patio area to the front offers some hard standing for spectators and is conveniently situated close enough to watch the action on the main (roped off on both sides) pitch which runs parallel. And that’s about it!

Thorney FC who play in the First Division of the P&DL (currently 6/15 teams) had reached this stage of the competition with victories (incredibly all at home) against Fordham (Rd 1); Leverington Sports Reserves (Rd 2); CUP A (Rd 3) and by beating Papworth last time out (Q-F). Opponents Manea FC (mid table in Cambs 1B) had earned a bye in the first round before knocking out Tydd, Balsham and Orwell to get here. Although the hosts had home advantage the result was a hard one for the neutral to predict particularly when the game was being played on a bumpy and heavy pitch in windy conditions!

Despite continous rain throughout this crucial cup game turned out to be an absolute cracker with Thorney running out eventual 4-3 winners. The hosts established a comfortable two goal lead through Andy Littledyke (21) and Tom Florence (50) and looked to be cruising to victory when two second half errors in the space of a minute allowed the visitors to get back into the game as Mark Wales (56 and 57) scored twice to make it 2-2. Thorney soon regained their two goal advantage midway through the half when Littledyke (64) and James Henson (65) made it 4-2 in yet another breath-taking minute of action. In driving rain a late counter attack saw Manea pull one back through Lewis Beeken (82) to keep the result in doubt until the final whistle.     

Thorney will now meet Witchford 96 FC (Cambs League Division 1A) who won 4-1 at Sawston Rovers in the other Semi-Final match that also survived the weather this afternoon. The final will be held at the Cambs County Football HQ (home to Histon Football Club) on Wednesday 24^th April 2013. Indeed it’s going to be quite a busy month for the club as they are involved in another final when they face Doddington in the North Cambs Junior Cup Final at the GER ground (March Town FC) two weeks earlier. How cool is that!?

The game was attended by nearly twenty spectators many sheltering under umbrellas to avoid getting soaked. There were no programmes or refreshments.  I was joined pitch side by the affable John Retzlaff whose two sons Tom and Dan were both playing for Thorney today. He told me that the club publishes its own website with regularly updated news, reports and pictures (taken by John himself). Interestingly a poll on the home page asks the question: ‘If we were to finish in the top two, should we apply for promotion based on the fact we would have to move away from Thorney Park?’ Interested hoppers should go to the weblink below for more details .

On yet another day when the weather did its best (or worst) to thwart the enthusiastic football traveller we were rewarded with a most compelling game for our efforts. It just goes to show that no matter at what level in the pyramid you choose to watch a match it can be equally as exciting can’t it? Have fun wherever you go (even in the rain)!