'Although I’ve always wanted to watch a game of football at one of the many hallowed and well respected Cambridge University Colleges, it is something I’ve never got around to doing – that is, until now. In fact my interest grew a couple of weeks ago when I attended the Cambridge Professional Cup Final between Cambridge City and rivals Histon at Westwood Road home of St Ives Football Club where City will ground-share over the next couple of seasons whilst their new ground at Sawston is being built.

It was during the half-time break when flicking through the match day programme that I noticed that a full list of fixtures for the City Reserves for the coming 2015-16 season had been printed. To my surprise I read a note at the bottom of the page saying that the club would be playing home games at the Trinity Old Field in Grange Road, a venue that is found to the west of the city. Spoiled for choice the club had been allocated up to no fewer than six home matches in its first seven games of the season. Although I mentally pencilled in a visit here for the games against either Great Shelford (on 18/08) or Lakenheath (05/09), two of the division’s better sides, I couldn’t wait and decided to take in this one instead, the first of the new Cambs County League season programme.

Trinity Old Field itself belongs to world-renown Trinity College, located off Trinity Street, situated some three miles away in the glorious city centre.  It has around 600 undergraduates, 300 graduates, and over 180 fellows, being the largest college in either of the Oxbridge universities.

Members of Trinity have won 32 Nobel Prizes out of the 90 won by members of Cambridge University, the highest number of any college. Trinity alumni include six British prime ministers (all Tory or Whig/Liberal); physicist Isaac Newton; the poet Lord Byron, philosophers Ludwig Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell (whom it expelled before reaccepting), and Soviet spies Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, and Anthony Blunt.

Two members of the British Royal Family have studied at Trinity and been awarded degrees as a result: Prince William of Gloucester and Edinburgh, who gained an MA in 1790, and Prince Charles, who was awarded a lower second class BA in 1970. Other notable British Royal family members have studied there without obtaining degrees, including King Edward VII, King George VI, and Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.

Trinity has many college societies, including the Trinity Mathematical Society, which is the oldest mathematical university society in the United Kingdom, and the First and Third Trinity Boat Club, its rowing club, which gives its name to the college's May Ball. In 1848, Trinity hosted the meeting at which Cambridge undergraduates representing private schools such as Westminster drew up the first formal rules of football, known as the Cambridge Rules.

The Old Fields themselves are located on the western side of Grange Road, next to Burrell's Field. It currently houses the college's gym, changing rooms, squash courts, badminton courts, rugby, hockey and football pitches along with tennis and netball courts. Travellers may also be familiar with the Grange Road Stadium, home of the Cambridge University Football Club located further along (and on the same side) this road.

The facilities at the fully enclosed sports ground are second to none with the changing rooms and tea bar found just inside the entrance. Check out that lovely ornate clock on the fascia. Pride of place goes to the beautifully manicured playing surface which has been lovingly prepared beforehand by several full-time ground staff, a feature of not only this site but all other college sports fields belonging to the University. I’ll let the album pictures serve as a better description.

Tonight City is definitely one for ‘firsts’. Recently promoted Fowlmere are playing the club’s first ever Premier Division fixture since gaining promotion to the top flight and young referee Tom Beresford is taking charge of his first ever game at this level – it’s a tough baptism as he is also being assessed by a Mr Leach, a county league referee’s official (there’s no pressure there then!).

The game is an absolute cracker. A strong City side settle more quickly and take control of the game bagging two early goals (including a penalty) inside the first twenty minutes. However the new boys keep their composure and are soon back in it after scoring twice themselves (also including a penalty) to go into the interval level at 2-2. It is difficult to separate either club in an exciting end to end second half but it’s City who break the dead lock and take all three points when young Jason Lynch beats the offside trap to head home following a direct free kick floated into the box. It’s harsh on the visitors who at the very least deserved a share of the points.

The match played on a terrific surface in dull and at times showery conditions attracted exactly forty spectators. This included many away fans who had made the short twenty minute journey and two fellow (Southern based) hoppers Bob and Tim who had come from up for the game from Wandsworth and Catford respectively. Despite the lack of a programme a range of hot and cold drinks and refreshments were cheerfully dispensed from a well stocked elevated bar next to the pavilion.

Travellers intending to make a visit to this magical venue may be interested to learn that City Reserves will be playing their next few games (all Kershaw Premier Division matches) here (provisionally) on: Sat 18/08 v Foxton (3pm); Tues 18/08 v Great Shelford 6.15pm); Sat 22/08 v Hemingfords United (3pm); Sat 29/08 v Linton Granta (3pm) and 05/09 v Lakenheath (2pm). For more details about both the club and the league competition click on the valuable links shown below. The joys of hopping in lovely surroundings continue. Have fun wherever you go'.