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Travellers and heavy showers descend on Bentley!
When 'hopper extraordinaire Brian Buck told me that Great Bentley Football Club were going to issue a programme for their match on Saturday, the opportunity was just too good to miss. So along with a large contingent of other travellers, I headed towards the Heckfords Lane Playing Fields for the Border League Division One clash with Glemsford & Cavendish.
As I approached the clubhouse, excitement quickly turned to despair when I was informed by the team manager that there wasn't to be a programme for the game after all. Was he speaking the truth or a simply winding me up? Not knowing really what to think I reluctantly headed back to the car to await any further development. In the meantime, more travellers arrived and went inside the clubhouse. What would their reaction be to this fateful news?
By 2.30pm I returned ever-hopeful to the changing rooms. Surely I had been stitched up by the would-be hoaxer? My perseverance finally paid off and I was in luck. Looking to my left I noticed that the large brown cardboard box sitting on one of the lounge tables, did in fact contain a pile of programmes. A most helpful official could be seen handing out copies of the eagerly awaited matchday magazine to the group of familiar faces who by now had gathered in the bar area. This was programme editor, fixture secretary and hero of the moment, Tim Tricker!
His worthy eight page effort was definitely well recieved! Complete with a striking colour cover, all the match details were printed neatly on the front. An interesting editorial, results and tables followed inside. I was by now beaming with pure delight and feeling at ease with the world, spontaneously placed a £1 coin on the table next to the box. I set off back to the car walking more purposefully this time whilst clutching my bounty.
By now the rain was coming down quite heavily. Spectators carrying an assortment of the latest designer umbrellas had already crossed over the road to the main pitch situated on the other side of the green. Daughter Steph who had accompanied me on the trip was not so concerned about the world of Border League football. After one look at the big black clouds in the sky, she decided to stay pitchside and read her copy of Inside Soap from within the warm confines of the Wraymobile. How could my hobby ever compete with the lives of Coronation Street's stars such as Frankie and Danny Baldwin or even the Battersby-Browns for that matter?
Before the game, Great Bentley knew that a victory could possibly secure them a promotion place as the two teams directly above them in the League were not certain about their own futures; leaders Tiptree Heath might be losing the use of their ground whilst second placed Witham Town reserves could be playing in a different league completely next seaon. So it was game on and definitely all to play for.
For the record both sides adapted to the wet conditions and managed to play some decent flowing football on what was a well-grassed surface. Great Bentley scored the only goal of the game just after the interval to secure all three points. Visitors Glemsford looked a much stronger side than the one I seen earn a draw at home to Bradfield Rovers a couple of previously (see the report and pictures in Ramblings Match No.54 ); it certainly was a performance to belittle their current position at the bottom of the league. Many felt they were unlucky not to get something from the game and had it not been for the heroics of the home 'keeper who used his legs to great effect on a couple of occasions, they might well have done. At half-time, hot and cold drinks were dispensed from inside the clubhouse, a cosy retreat to escape the storm outside.
The club itself is based on the Green, a large expanse of land in the centre of the village which as you would expect, is very open. The clubhouse is not difficult to miss being painted in white with the club name proudly displayed on the end wall. Adjacent is an unusual barrel-roofed changing room building -this looks similar to an old air-raid shelter. Players and spectators have to cross the road and walk about hundred yards from here to reach the main pitch. Weeley Road which runs parallel along the far side, also borders more open land occupied by the neighbouring Cricket Club. There is no cover at all pitchside.
The village has its own railway station (about a mile from the club) and many travellers had arrived on the train, coming from nearby Colchester. Our journey by car involved the A14, A12 south (by-passing Ipswich), A120 and A133 (towards Clacton) before turning off to Great Bentley on the Heckfords Lane. The ground is found on the approach to a T-junction with the pitch on the left and the club building on the right hand side. There is plenty of parking nearby and at pitchside (although several signs advise drivers not to do so).
Travellers may also be interested to note that should the club gain propmotion into the Premier Division, there may be a strong possibility that editor Tim Tricker could issue programmes for all home games next season. Watch this space!
FGIF Rating: 3* | 