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Urchins nick late goal to share the points
After my first attempt to visit the Terence McMillan Stadium in Plaistow ended in a queue of heavy traffic on the M11 a couple of weeks ago, I was delighted when a rare Thursday fixture gave me another opportunity to complete the task. And so, along with a large contingent of 'hoppers, including many familiar faces, I attended the club's Essex Senior League game against AFC Hornchurch. As the visitors had already won the League title (incidentally the first team in the nation to achieve this feat) I expected to see a decent game of football.
In a match with few chances, the Urchins took a deserved first half lead. APSA managed to retain parity and then add a second before the visitors levelled at the end. Amazingly it was almost ten o'clock when the final whistle sounded; one hopper standing next to me looked at his wristwatch and confirmed that something like fifty seven minutes had been played in the second half! At least the band of travelling away fans went home happy, if not slightly relieved by the result.
A PC-generated programme consisting of 16 glossy pages, including match details printed on the colourful front cover, was issued for the game and cost £1. The club content was supplemented by the informative ESL news bulletin (entitled Centrespot). Interestingly reference was also made to the history of the club which was apparently formed in 1993 when a group of friends at Newham's East Ham College merged their football team with a local youth side called the Young Muslims, under the guidance of Zulfi Ali (the current Chairman). APSA, then known as Ahle Sunnah, were crowned as the first Asian Champions and this achievement was well documented on the BBC and CH4 news. Hard work finally paid off in 2003 when the club first entered Senior Football with the help of Aveley FC who provided a home (as the Terence McMillan stadium was not up to the required standard at the time). The team are now proud to be playing back in the local borough of Newham again.
Unlike some athletics stadiums which are used to host football, the ground has the advantage of providing cover for spectators. There are plenty of seats inside the main stand which runs parallel with the home straight on the track. However viewing can be made difficult by the position of two large portable wooden dug outs which are placed next to the half way line on this side of the ground. It certainly would not be advisable to stand at pitch level to watch the game. A two-storey building in the corner to the right, houses squash courts and an upstairs bar. Tea was served from here throughout the evening. Looking back towards the stand (from the opposite side) provides a spectacular and atmospheric view of the imposing towers at nearby Canary Wharf.
Thankfully I had a reasonably hassle-free journey this time, despite a short section of roadworks near to Stansted on the M11 (dictating a 40mph speed limit for about five miles). From here I continued along the A406 (the South Circular Road), joining the A13 west towards the City of London. Turn off at the A112 for Plaistow and travel down Prince Regent Lane (next to Newham Leisure Centre). Turn right again down Maybury Road to reach the ground entrance. Although there is limited car parking on site, travellers can find spaces along many of the local streets in the area.
Looking through my record books on the following evening I was quite surprised to note that my last ever visit to watch an Essex Senior League match took place nearly ten years ago. On that occasion (the 2nd November 1996) Ilford beat Hullbridge Sports by a single goal at Lower Road. How time flies!
FGIF Rating: 2* | 