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TT No.139: Mike Latham - Sat 8 Dec 2007: |
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I must declare an interest- the Butchers Arms is one of my favourite football grounds and Droylsden one of my favourite teams - whenever I look back on a season and the games watched, matches involving the Bloods always figure highly on the list of most entertaining. So I have been surprised to see them struggle on the big stage this season so far. After many years of trying the Bloods finally reached level 5 or the Conference this season (now re-titled the Blue Square Premier) but have occupied one of the relegation places since the end of August though a 5-3 win over Forest Green Rovers in their last match hinted at a revival. Droylsden’s chairman and manager Dave Pace is certainly a character and has dragged up his beloved club probably far higher than they could reasonably expect. But all credit to him for his industry, drive and determination - they have reached level five without shedding the friendly welcome and family feel that so many clubs lose. I must admit to a depressing week, having paid £16 to watch a dire League Two game on Tuesday and had the insult of being searched entering a ground that rarely attracts many over 2,000, paid £1.50 for a disgusting cup of coffee and then returned to my car to find it vandalised in a nearby street. The following night I experienced just how badly visiting fans are treated at some league grounds - expected to stand on an open terrace bearing the full brunt of the wind and rain with just a mobile refreshment bar and some decidedly dodgy toilets to count as creature comforts. So to Droylsden - where a cheery greeting on the end of the telephone confirmed the game would go ahead despite the dreadful weather that claimed so many fixtures. “We’ve been having inspections every half hour since 8-30am but the pitch is still playable and the game’s on,” he said. Good enough for me. Easily reached from J24 of the M60 Droylsden’s ground is tucked in close to the town centre where just about every known shop is available within half-a-mile’s radius. The market is close - by and some excellent pubs, not least the King’s Head on Though it’s a busy place on a Saturday afternoon street parking is never hard to find and a warm welcome at the turnstile and the purchase of a programme packed with reading material raises the spirits further. The tea bar here is also tops - a cup of coffee and a delicious, generously filled potato and meat pie costs just £1.70. Moreover, the staff are friendly and look like they’re there to enjoy their afternoon, regularly engaging in banter with the customers. There’s no fannying around here - football fans are treated with respect and everyone can gain entrance to the excellent social club inside the ground. There’s no need for segregation either and the Rushden fans - about one hundred or so - choose to stand on the covered terrace behind the goal at the town centre side of the ground. The main stand, to which entrance is gained via a stairwell, gives a fine, elevated view of the action and on the opposite side is a shallow, covered terrace. Only the end to the right, hemmed in by housing and with a large wire meshing fence to stop stray balls disappearing is uncovered. Droylsden’s playing pitch is superb - flat, well grassed and looks immaculate. So despite the incessant rain it stands up well and though the ball does stand still in the water and the players splash around there’s no doubt the referee was right to start and carry on the game. The players from both sides deserve great credit for putting on what was a great spectacle considering the conditions. The first half-hour is even with few chances until the visitors step up a gear. They look more physically well built than many of the home players and seem to have a great team spirit. With less than ten minutes to go before half-time they open the scoring when Hatswell bundles in a corner. Then follows an incredible incident - the lively Problem is, the goal is ‘scored’ at the far end where only a couple of ballboys are gathered due to the rain plus your intrepid reporter. They confirm my initial feelings - that it was a goal. And, upon changing ends at the interval, the visiting fans in the covered end again confirm my suspicions - it was a goal and apparently the video (after one fans rings his mate in the stand) agrees. Incredible stuff but Rushden push to one side their grievances and get on with the job, their powerful striker Michael Rankine notching a second from a rebound off the post just before half-time. The rain comes down even heavier during the break but mercifully the players return for the second half, the slate grey sky now replaced by an odd-looking and angry dark red sky as the rain cascades down. Suddenly it’s penalty time - Roche’s foul on There’s still 28 minutes to play but despite more thrills and spills there are no more goals. It’s a terrific, open game, especially considering the weather, and the atmosphere inside the neat and compact ground is friendly. It really raises the spirits does a trip to Droylsden - a great place to go when you’re fed up of sanitised new stadiums and the way you can be treated, as a paying spectator, at league grounds. Fantastic stuff and if you haven’t visited Droylsden yet then put in on your wish-list: a trip here rarely disappoints. It’s proper football. |
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contributed on 09/12/07 |
