No.28 – Tues. 14h November 2006; Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division   7.45pm at the Bardon Close, Bardon Hill, Coalville, Leics  (att: 68; prog: 12pp w/a £3)  View matchday images  01 02 03 04 05 06 07  Bardon Hill (0) 0  Kirby Muxloe (1) 1      Hill miss chance to reach summit   Courtesy of my mate and fellow-traveller, Old Sloppy, a rare midweek visit to the East Midlands was made possible. Our destination was Bardon Hill Football Club who were entertaining Kirby Muxloe in a Leicestershire Senior League fixture. Since gaining promotion at the end of last season, the club has made an impressive start to the new campaign and currently lie in second place in the Premier Division. Indeed victory tonight would send the club to the top of the table which obviously made our visit more interesting. With the the lure of a programme added to this you could rightly say that my cheuffeur and I were definitely in ‘hopper heaven’!   After successfully negotiating the A14 and M1 in windswept conditions we found on arrival that the kick-off had been put back to 7.45pm to allow a couple of players more time to escape the traffic jams which had enforced their delay. This gave us enough time to sample the tasty hot pies and cheese salad rolls available from the club house before the game. For once I can truly say that it wasn't just OS who ate all the pies!!!   The game was a fine advert for the county League. Played in blustery conditions, both sets of players adapted well to the swirling wind and greasy surface to produce a fast-paced and entertaining game. The visitors were a good match for their Coalville based counterparts and looked on balance the more likely to break the deadlock. Indeed this happeneed after thirty minutes when quick-footed attacker Mark Ashton turned his defender (not for the first time either) and sent a rasping shot into the roof of the net from close range.  'Hill could not find an equaliser and will rue the chance to put pressure on their rivals and go to top of the league.   The game was attended by almost seventy spectators including several travellers who braved the elements on a bitterly cold evening. A smart 12-page computer- generated programme was issued for the game and came with the £3 admission charge. Complete with the match details on the front cover, the content comprises a welcome page, latest results, forthcoming fixtures and that all important league table. The line ups printed in the centre pages are accompanied by a mini thumbail depicting the club colours of each team. A nice touch.   The club is based in Bardon Close and found on the outskirts of Coalville. The extensive site,  incorporating two other pitches, is dominated by six tall rectangular floodlight pylons which tower above the main railed off playing area. An excellent brick built pavilion housing both the clubhouse, changing rooms and toilets is found at the end of a very large car park. This modern building is set at an angle to the pitch behind the nearest goal.   Bardon Hill FC can be easily reached from junction 22 of the M1 motorway. Follow signs to Coalville using the A511. After a couple of miles take the 3rd exit at the Grange Road roundabout . Bardon Close is about two hundred yards from here on the the right hand side. A worthwhile visit and a great tick! Cheers Old Sloppy and thanks for a great evening.          FGIF Rating: 4*  Links - Map