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No.39 - Sat 21st March 2015; Eastern Counties League Division One; 3pm at Catons Lane, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 2DU |
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Matchday images (59) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/FlitwickTownFC06
Saffron Walden Town (0) 0 Haverhill Borough (0) 1 'Borough border raid!' 'This ground holds some great memories for me. It was on a cold Autumn evening back in 1988 when I first visited Catons Lane to watch a game of football. That night signalled what was the start of my hopping career or obsession if you like. After completing the 92 Football League grounds I was looking for a new challenge (as you do) and decided to dip my toe into the 'murky' world of non league football. I remember initially taking in games towards the top end of the pyramid initially with tentative visits to watch Vauxhall Conference, Vauxhall Opel Isthmian, HFS Loans Northern Premier League and Beazer Homes Southern League (as they were referred to at that time) matches. I can now recall (looking at my little blue book grounds book, volume one, to help me) that my hop to Catons Lane on 04/10/88 (match no.24) saw Saffron Walden Town entertain Heybridge Swifts in a Vauxhall Opel League Division Two North fixture. I remember paying a couple of quid for the admission and a programme (which I imagine is now in a box somewhere in the loft) and stood close to a guy (with a monocular viewing device) whom I later discovered was a fellow traveller called John Stancome. The game itself ended 0-2 and the crowd was something in the region of 100 (it's hard to read the writing easily as some of the pages have faded over time!). Being a novice in hopping terms I didn’t really, at that time, appreciate the ground (and it was a bit dark too) that much and after becoming interested in taking football pictures, promised myself to go back one day. Well over twenty five years have passed since that time and I it seems that a re-visit is now well overdue. And I’m glad I did! Founded in 1872, Saffron Walden Town is the oldest club in Essex still in existence and is believed to be the nineteenth oldest in the world. Then club secretary Arthur Smith, a former headmaster of the Boy's National School in Castle Street negotiated the use of land in Loft's Lane which became known as "The Meadow". The nickname of "The Bloods" came about as the result of the club colours of red and black. For the grounds connoisseur the Catons Lane home of Saffron Walden Town Football Club must surely (in my humble opinion) be one of the finest venues in the non league football world. It has everything you would wish for in a football ground: in terms of spectator facilities there is easy parking, plenty of seating and standing cover with great site viewing lines and a well appointed club house and well organised tea bar. There’s also a beautiful rustic charm about the place with lovely views of the surrounding countryside and the stunning vista of St Mary the Virgin's Church (dating back to the 15th century) which provides an aesthetically pleasing backdrop to proceedings. I loved it. Hopefully the album photos can convey this in some small way. It’s Bank Holiday Monday and I’m taking in the Eastern Counties League Division One fixture with Haverhill Borough. With only a few weeks left until the end of the season there’s a lot resting on the result for both sides each having enjoyed a successful season to date. The Bloods (club’s nickname referring to their colours of red and black), currently lying in third place behind leaders Swaffham Town and second placed Long Melford, look good to gain promotion to the Premier Division. For Borough (who are ten points adrift in fifth) there is still an outside chance that they could go up too providing they can put together a good run of results between now and the end of the season. As expected a close but tight end to end derby game follows. With both defences coming out on top there are few clear goal-scoring chances to note. The game is eventually decided by a hotly disputed penalty for accidental handball converted after an hour (it’s the second time this has happened in consecutive home games apparently). Taking into account other results now means that Walden’s promotion fate is no longer in their hands, unless they can score heavily in their next two games, at home to AFC Sudbury on Saturday and away to Woodbridge Town the week after. Then a home victory over Great Yarmouth Town by a sufficient margin in the last game of the season on the 25th April, could see them promoted on goal difference. It is a tall ask but for the neutral it all adds to the end of season excitement! The match played in sunny but blustery conditions on a heavily (side to side) sloping pitch, attracts 446 spectators to The Meadow. It's a superb attendance. A smart, newsy 36 page programme, priced £2, packed with reports, views and stats as well as action photos, is issued for the game. It’s a cracking read. A range of hot and cold food is available from a well-stocked tea bar; as it operates on a deli-ticket type queuing system, the service can be rather slow especially if you are starving and in a hurry to get your gastric juices flowing! The club operates a superb website (see link below) which provides information about the team including league and cup fixtures, results, tables as well as showing directions and a map of how to get there. When you get time have a look. It you’ve not made a visit here yet you must pencil it onto your ‘must do’ list and take in a game in the near future. It goes without saying that you’ll simply love it!'. FGIF Match Stats Scorers: (H) N/A and (A) Forshaw (pen 60) Attendance: 446; Admission: £5; Programme: £1; Match rating: 3/5; Ground rating: 5/5. Links |
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edited on 07/04/15 |
