TT No.151: Mike Latham - Wed 26 Dec 2007 (Noon kick-off): Eagle Bitter United Counties League Premier Div.  Sleaford Town 1-0 Bourne Town. Attendance: 130; Admission: £5; 32pp programme: £1.

View matchday images  01 02 03 04 05    The estimable Andrew Gallon has expertly covered  Sleaford’s new ground earlier this season (TT78-017) so just a few words and photographs are required here.   With the UCL having a range of kick-off times on Boxing Day, and plenty of chances for double headers on a mild afternoon, the early kick-off (noon) at Sleaford certainly attracted some well-known faces among the 130-sized crowd.   This was the first league meeting between these sides apparently and a dire affair it was, too.  One groundhopper, with a vast knowledge of all things Yorkshire in general and the Northern Counties East League in particular was damning in his assessment of the play.  He reckoned the NCEL Premier League clubs would have made mincemeat of either side.   It was difficult to argue and certainly not difficult to see why they occupied two of the bottom three places in the league going into this fixture.  Such was his feeling of dread, one venerable groundhopper was walking around the ground from the early stages in a bid to bring about a goal.  By half-time he was depressed, not only by the standard of play on offer but also by the slim chances of a goal for him to christen the ground.   Finally, a chink of light- the dismissal of the Bourne goalkeeper, Aaron Bellairs, for a foul outside his area midway through the second half raised hopes of a breakthrough.  A fullback went in goal and coped well until the breakthrough came on 73 minutes, Lunn striking a firm left-footed shot through a crowd of players for the winner.   Despite the poor fare on offer on the pitch there is plenty to admire about Sleaford’s new Eslaforde Park ground.  It is impressive and there is plenty space for improvements should the need arise.  Located out of town on the Boston road and easily reached off the A17, there is a spacious car park and a well appointed club house with a small seated stand on the far side.  The rest of the ground is flat standing behind a post and rail fence.   The programme had been used for the club’s three festive fixtures with a page insert for the particular game. There was a good tannoy system and the tea bar was decent though big queues built up at times and everyone connected with the club was very friendly. With other pitches on the complex the ground is a tremendous facility for the town and as one of the best supported clubs in the UCL Sleaford Town are clearly a club with considerable potential for the future.  But sooner rather than later they need to sort out their first team because on this showing, despite the victory, they are going to struggle to establish themselves in the Premier Division.

contributed on 27/12/07