'After a day of almost incessant rain hanging over Racing HQ, the sun finally appeared late in the afternoon to offer a bit of hopping hope of finding a game for the ground collecting addict. It wasn't long before I eagerly headed out through the sticks towards the outskirts of Dereham where Swanton Morley Cockers were taking on Walsingham in the Central & South Norfolk League, my chosen game for the evening.

However upon arriving at the village hall and adjoining playing field I found the place to be almost deserted and soon realised that my chance of watching some football had evaporated (pardon the pun!). Although the the pitch looked playable a quick reccie suggested otherwise and was on closer inspection rather soggy particularly in the goal mouths. Incredible to think that a game in August is postponed!

But just as I was about to get back in the car and contemplate the drive home, fellow hopper Paul, from Norwich,  (known as mxhornet on the Kempster forum) greeted me and realising our predicament suggested that we could still both make it over to the neighbouring village of Beetley in time to watch the local derby match between Dereham Athletic and Dereham Taverners. It was definitely a joint team effort (as Paul provided the ground post code and I did my best to get us there with some basic navigating) meaning we successfully negotiated the winding three mile route in tandem vehicles to arrive ahead with the teams warming up just in time for the scheduled 6.15pm kick off. Game on...phew!

This was in fact the opening fixture of the campaign for both sides tonight. Taverners (last season's Norfolk Primary Cup winners) were far too strong for their opponents and won the game easily by a deserved and convincing 13-0 score-line which included some cracking goals and superb build up play. To be honest after leading 8-0 at half-time they changed things around and took their foot off the gas a bit in the second half. As hopping neutrals we certainly had our work cut out logging all the goals. An appreciative crowd of nearly thirty spectators was in attendance for the game which was played on a well grassed, undulating and rain-free surface in thankfully bright sunny conditions. As expected neither a match programme or refreshments were on offer. 

The basic but homely ground which is shared with fellow C&SNL side Beetley Bees (the landlords), is found down High House Road in the village of Beetley some three miles from Dereham town centre. Also used by the village cricket team the ground is fully bordered by tall trees with a small changing pavilion situated near to the entrance. Hoppers may note that although both clubs share the same equipment shed each side do in fact have their own quite separate set of goal nets to match their team colours (red and black for Athletic and yellow and black for the Bees. In short the site really is a lovely leafy sporting oasis at this time of year.

Having watched Beetley Bees FC play here last season (see http://footballgroundsinfocus.com/R141514.htm) I suppose most of you would count this matchday visit as a bracketed tick. Nevertheless I was still chuffed to complete the (Beetley) set, see a few goals and above all meet up with fellow hopper Paul on an evening when it looked at one point as if neither of us would even see a ball being kicked. You need a bit of luck don't you...the joys of hopping and all that...'.