No.36 - Sat 21st March 2015; North West Norfolk League Division Two Cup Group Stage;               2.30pm at the Flitwick Community Football Centre; Ampthill Road; Flitwick; Beds; MK45 1BA 

 

Matchday images (59) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/FlitwickTownFC06

Flitwick Town (1) 2  Sandy (1) 2

'Title hopes buried!'

'Today I’m taking in a game at the newest ground in the Bedfordshire County Football League with a visit to Flitwick Town who are entertaining Sandy in a Premier Division fixture. The club has recently moved from its well established leisure centre base (about two miles away) to the impressive Flitwick Community Football Centre, a purpose-built, Football Foundation funded facility located on the Ampthill Road, just off the main dual carriageway. It is also home to many of the club’s junior sides which play collectively under the Flitwick Eagles banner. 

It’s an expansive site (as I can testify from my pre-match aerial vantage on the flyover bridge) with a range of pitches of varying size marked out on several acres of open land. A signed entrance (opposite the local petrol station) with the banner ‘Central Bedfordshire – A Great Place to Live and Work’ leads to a recently landscaped car park and well appointed pavilion complete with plate glass doors, tasteful bar and lounge area with Sky TV installed, dedicated cafe, toilets and comfy seating for patrons. Table football and table tennis facilities are offered for youngsters too to give it that family feel.  

 

There are several changing rooms which cater for a vast number of teams and casual users who can book the site for their own use. Indeed a neat wide white board and mini map attached to the outside wall at the back provide information (with a grid) to show which teams and pitches are in use - currently there are eight playing areas marked out on the field. Players cross a smart patio area as they leave the changing rooms and make their way along a temporary fenced walkway onto the playing field which is enclosed around its perimeter by a mixture of wooden and green mesh fencing down one side and hedgerows opposite.

 

Typically, my chosen game was being played on the furthest pitch from the changing rooms. It was a bit of a hike! At the moment the playing surface which looks patchy in too many places leaves a lot to be desired. Judging by the numerous irrigation lines stretching across the field it appears that a great deal of money has been invested in improving the drainage. I was told by one of the committee members that once the grass has bedded in all the hard work will eventually pay off.  

 

For the record it was the visitors who took all three points with a lucky 2-1 victory. Despite drawing level midway through the first half it was second placed Flitwick who fell behind again following a quick counter attacking goal scored just after the hour mark. Sadly the hosts squandered too many missed chances and will feel that they should have got more from the game especially if they want to challenge for the title. The game played in dull, overcast and cold conditions attracted a small crowd of a dozen or so spectators including fellow hopper Gordon Whittington from Bedford. We have known each other for many years and have kept in touch since our days when taking pictures for Team Talk and The Non League Directory. It was nice to meet up and I wish him well in his recovery following a recent knee operation. 

Further details about the club and the league can be found by clicking on the links shown below. A visit to the new Flitwick Football Centre comes highly recommended to all travellers. Have fun wherever you go.'.     

FGIF Match Stats

                Scorers: (H) Bevan (19) and (A) Barker (10), Stratford (72)  

Attendance: 11; Admission and Programme: None; Match rating: 3/5; Ground rating: 3/5.

Links

http://www.bedfordshirefootballleague.co.uk/

http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=7195521

edited on 22/03/15