TT NOVEMBER 2005 

INDEX

(120) - 29/11 - Mike Latham: Rossington Main v Carlton Town (NCEL1);                                                                             (119) - 28/11 - Stephen Harris: Hastings Utd v Dulwich Hamlet (Ryman League Division 1);                                                         (118) - 27/11 - Paul Roth: West Wickham v Deal Town (Kent Senior Trophy Rd 1)                                                                    (117) - 23/11 - Paul Roth: Margate v Bromley (Ryman League Division 1)                                                                                                                           (116) - 22/11 - Ron Jones: Takeley v Walthamstow A (ART2); Battersea Ironsides v Brazilian (M'sex Lge) & Chipperfield C v Spelthorne Spts (ART1);(115) - 21/11 - Mick Burt: Buckland Ath v Holsworthy (Devon League);                                                                                                                            (114) - 20/11 - Steve King: Ripon City Magnets v Barwick (WYL1);                                                                                                                                  (113) - 19/11 - Mike Latham: Accrington Stanley v Forest G R (NC);                                                                                                                        (112) - 17/11 - Barry Neighbour: Wellington v Weston St.Johns (Western League) and Brentford v Potters Bar T (M'sex Sen cup);                         (111) - 15/11 - Mike Latham: Droylsden v Gainsborough Trin (NCN);                                                                                                                        (110) - 14/11 - Mick Burt: Godophin Atlantic v Truro City (CSC2);                                                                                                                          (109) - 14/11 - Mike Latham: Stockport County v Barnet (Football Champs 2) and Blackpool v Scunthorpe United (Football Champs1);                         (108) - 13/11 - Steve King: Biddulph Victoria v Alvechuch (MA Lge);                                                                                                                         (107) - 13/11 - Paul Roth: Little Common v Pease Pottage V (SCL3);                                                                                                                         (106) - 11/11 - Mike Latham: Armthorpe MW v Hallam (S&HSC1);                                                                                                                                    (105) - 10/11 - Steve King: Feniton v Buckland Ath Res (D&E Lge);                                                                                                                           (104) - 09/11 - Stephen Harris: Welwyn GC v Sawbridgewth (HSC);                                                                                                                         (103) - 09/11 - Mike Latham: Burscough v Runcorn FC Halton (UPL);                                                                                                                                (102) - 08/11 - Stephen Harris: Barkingside v Waltham A (ESC);                                                                                                                                     (101) - 07/11 - Dave Reed: Bushey Rangers v Colney Heath (HCT);                                                                                                                                  (100) - 07/11 - Barry Neighbour: Met Police v Whyteleafe (Ryman League Div 1) and Buntingford Town v Markyate (FLT1);                                            (099) - 07/11 - Mike Latham: Leigh RMI v Worksop Town (NCN) and Mold Alexandra v Prestatyn Town (Welsh Cup);                                                      (098) - 05/11 - Paul Roth: Rusthall v Tenterden (Kent Int Shield);                                                                                                                                    (097) - 03/11 - Barry N: Ashford T (M'x) v Burnham (Ryman cup);                                                                                                                                  (096) - 03/11 - Mike Latham: Hall Road R v North Ferriby (ERSC);                                                                                                                                  (095) - 01/11 - Ron Jones: Fulbourn Inst (ECL1) and VT FC (Wess);                                                                                     (094) - 01/11 - Paul Roth: Retford Utd v Brodswoth Welf (FAV1);                                                                                                                                   (093) - 01/11 - Stephen Harris: Leyton Orient U18 (FL YA Cup);                                                                                                                                     (092) -01/11 - Barry Neighbour: Risden Wood (FA Sunday Cup). 

29/11/05 TT No.120: Mike Latham - Rossington Main (NCEL1)

Sat 26 Nov 2005, NCEL Div One, Rossington Main 1-2 Carlton Town.  Attendance: 32. Admission: 3; 36pp programme 1. Match rating: 3* 

Rossington is a colliery village situated off the A638 Doncaster to Bawtry road and about six miles from Doncaster town centre.  Take extra care if travelling from the A1 through Doncaster as there must be more speed cameras per mile than in any place in England and the traffic around the racecourse roundabout, leading to the Bawtry road can be very heavy particularly if Doncaster Rovers are at home, as they were this Saturday.

 

After leaving the A638 and going across a railway crossing the miners welfare building looms into view on the right-hand side.  The football ground is located at the end of Oxford Street, just past the welfare on the right and there was room inside the ground to park.

 

Admission was only 3 and a cheery welcome was the order of the day.  An outstanding 36-page programme, superbly designed and containing a host of interesting articles and statistics added greatly to the enjoyment on a cold but mostly dry afternoon.  The tea bar dispensed hot drinks from pot mugs as well as normal football fare and all the club officials were very friendly.

 

Football has been played in Rossington since 1919 and the current ground has been in use since 1921.  With three senior teams and a girls team the Welfare Ground is a hub of the local sporting community and the club relies on a hard-working committee to maintain a good level of football in the village.

 

Despite poor recent weather the pitch was in superb condition, flat and well grassed.  On the entrance side to the ground is a small main stand that also houses the dressing rooms, a tea bar and a covered standing area.  On the far side of the ground was a small seated stand with the letters RMFC standing out on the brick support.  There is a small cover behind one end and the other has large netting to help prevent stray footballs from going onto the adjoining welfare rugby and football pitches.  The two far sides of the ground are tree-lined and there is a huge amount of space to develop more facilities should the need arise.

 

Rossington started well, scoring in the second minute and frequently threatening with their lively forward line.  But second-placed Carlton equalised after a sweeping move on the half-hour.  The second half degenerated into a series of niggling incidents and eventually the visitors had one of their substitutes sent off for aiming a kick at a home player right in front of the referee.  Despite being shorthanded Carlton secured victory with a headed goal two minutes from time.  Though the game fell away after a promising beginning the visit to Rossington was very enjoyable and can be recommended to travellers.

28/11/05 TT No.119: Stephen Harris - Hastings United (Ryman League Division 1) 

Saturday 26 November 2005; Hastings United 1-4 Dulwich Hamlet; Isthmian League Div I; att 286, programme issued, admission 6

I have to declare an interest here as a Hastings supporter. The Pilot Field was the first British ground I ever visited (I had previously seen two games in Nigeria) way back in 1974 and I was a keen follower of the old United club back in my early teens before being seduced by the charms of Leyton Orient. I have followed the fortunes of the various Hastings clubs ever since and still manage to get down to the coast a couple of times a season. Looking back on those far off days of the mid-70s it is striking to realise that many of the grounds we used to travel to for Southern League games are now gone I'm thinking here of the old homes of Canterbury City, Dartford, Waterlooville, Tonbridge, Crawley, Wealdstone, Hillingdon Borough and Chelmsford City in particular.

In my view, the Pilot Field is a great venue and has always been the one on which I have judged other non-league grounds. It is very spacious you can see how it has held crowds in excess of 12,000 in the past with the spectator facilities set back behind the remains of an old cinder speedway track. On the south side there is a substantial grandstand filling the full length of the side. Opposite is a steep grass bank, a popular vantage point back in my youth but now sadly out-of-bounds and overgrown. The Elphinstone Road end has a modern clubhouse with viewing balcony, standing next to a large covered terrace of twenty steps, which dates from 1956. I still know this as the 'Cow Shed', although that name seems to have fallen into disuse. A second large covered terrace used to stand next to this but has now been demolished. On Saturday a new cover was officially opened at the Wood End; the first new spectator development in my thirty years of visiting the ground. The rail has been brought forward at this end, across the track and up to the touchline. A two-step covered terrace now fills the middle third and was well used. Next door is the 'Top Field', the now-derelict ground most recently used by Stamco. A planning application note posted on the fence suggested that this will soon be converted to floodlit ballcourts.

Although the crowd was nearly 100 more than the next biggest in this division, it is still sad to see so few in the ground. In sleeping giant terms, Hastings must be one of the doziest of them all. But there is still great enthusiasm amongst those present and it would not take much success to bring back the missing hundreds. There was much murmuring around the touchline to suggest that manager Neville Southall MBE might not be using his talented squad to best advantage although nobody would be so brave as to say this out loud within earshot of the big man. It is striking to see that he has used 39 first team players already this season and, whilst I am the first to accept that I have only a rudimentary grasp of football tactics, even I thought there was something odd about Hastings' approach to this game. The first half was played with just one man up front against a blanket Dulwich defence, which got Hastings nowhere. Eventually in the second half, a second forward, Sam Adams (the best player on the pitch in my view), was brought on, but two defenders were also substituted at around the same time. This had the effect of making Hastings a more attacking side, but wide open at the back. In the end it was poor discipline which was Hastings' undoing with a series of defensive fouls leading to goals from set pieces. And thus did the better side not just lose, but receive a thrashing. A standard Hastings match programme was issued. Always a good read, this has plenty of information on the wider Sussex football scene.

27/11/05 TT No.118: Paul Roth - West Wickham (Southern Amateur League) in the Kent Senior Trophy

West Wickham  Vs.  Deal Town Kent Senior Trophy 1st round Res:1-3  Att:51  £2 entry including 4 page programme.

On a perishingly raw afternoon I drove up to South East London to the home of West Wickham F C in Corkscrew Hill to watch their KST tie against Deal Town. The entrance to the club could easily be missed as it is (as the road name suggests) on a corkscrew bend in the road. A small sign ushers you into the venue and a sharp right turn inside the complex down a humped road leads to the clubhouse and the main 1st X1 pitch. This is all railed off except for the far side which was roped today. The playing surface is quite superb with perhaps the gentlest of slopes from the clubhouse end down to the bottom goal.

The club play in the Southern Amateur League and are at present having a very good season lying 2nd. The brief history contained in the programme shows them to be a club with quite a history and it recalls it was only back in the 1979/80 season that they reached the last 64 of the F A Vase, an achievment they performed twice in fact. Ah, those were the days ! !

The clubhouse is very well appointed with a bar, and counter selling hot sausage rolls as well as the usual tea, coffee and soup... most welcome on this bitter afternoon.

The 4 page card programme sold for £2 and was a pretty swift read but did include a lucky number on the cover, the prize being an Indian meal in a local curry house to the value of £25..... drinks excluded!

My golden run of seeing entertaining games this season continued with a really fiesty cup tie. This saw Deal coming off second best in the first-half and rather luckily going into the break level at 1-1.... Wickham had deservedly equalised 10 minutes before the interval with a super lob to cancel out the seasider's earlier close range tap in. The second-half was an altogether different affair, aside the homesters hitting the Deal crossbar early on, it was the Kent League outfit that dominated for most of the time, taking two more goals to run out quite easy 3-1 winners in the end.

Another super day out but I must confess that I was glad there was no extra time as I was begining to really lose body heat rapidly.

23/11/05 TT No.117: Paul Roth - Margate (Ryman League 1)

Margate v  Bromley; Ryman Lge. 1; Res :1-1; Att: 401; Programme: £2

On a cold evening I strolled down to the rebuilt Hartsdown Park to watch this localish derby. A lot has been written about the crises besetting the club, so after a couple of seasons playing at Dover, then Ashford, it is good to see the team back at their spiritual home. At the begining of the summer and the old ground still a complete waste ground I personally think the club have achieved miracles. The first noticeable aspect as you enter is the magnificent pitch. It is now completely flat and in super shape. There are portakabins used as changing rooms where the old main stand once stood, and the new bolt together seating area lies opposite. The covered terracing behind the town end is alas no more and is now just an open area albeit hard standing. The clubhouse end is unaltered.

Another area of improvement is the matchday programme. The excellent "Margate Matters" sells for £2 and is a super 30 page read.

Gates have been dwindling at the "Gate" for several reasons since the start of the season: after the euphoria of the club returning to Hartsdown and now with the club struggling in the league despite being "draw" specialists and finally with the onset of the colder weather the highs of crowds of 1300 has now succumbed to around the 400 mark. On last night's performance I can well see why as this was a pretty dull encounter with the match only sparking into life in the last 15 minutes when two players were sent off, one from each side, and the two goals  scored.

The club is just about to start it's climb back up the pyramid and all I will say is watch this space.

22/11/05 TT No.116: Ron Jones - Takeley (EOL) ART2; Battersea Ironsides (Middlesex County League) and Chipperfield Corinthians (HSCL) ART1.

The week leading up to Saturday 19th November I was hoping to go further afield, with a visit to Chasetown v Nantwich in the Vase in mind. Forecasts of slow clearing freezing fog in that area forced a change of plan - Chasetown can keep for another day, (it was Postponed!!), and I settled for Takeley v Walthamstow Avenue & Pennant in the Anagram Records Trophy 2nd Round., Bishop's Stortford was clear and sunny on arrival, from here an hourly bus runs to Takeley, a 15 minute journey. Station Road is one of the branches of the crossroads where the bus stops, and crossing the bridge over a disused railway, the ground comes into view. Enclosed from the road by a metal fence, the club name and a board advertising this match are by the gate. Inside the ground, an area behind the goal provides car parking with the dressing room block, completed in 2000, close to the corner of the pitch. Also in this building is a clubroom with kitchen serving tea etc before the match and hot food at halftime. Takeley use the bar at the village sports club after the match. At present Takeley only issue for matches in this cup, a very well produced 16 pager with a card cover and all the relevant information including league tables, visitors history and two page history of the competition which sold for £1, In front of the club building is hard standing which extends to the halfway line where an enclosed wooden shelter holding about 50 is sited. A nice touch here is a board bearing the club name attached to the roof. The pathway also runs from the corner to behind the goal at the entrance end. The rest of the ground is grass standing, and the pitch is fully railed off. Three sides of the ground are surrounded by houses and bungalows but as these are secluded by trees and bushes and the ground is fully fenced off it all adds to the enclosed impression and comes across as similar to the better county (senior) league grounds in the days before lights and complete hard standing became compulsory - for the Essex Olympian league it's very impressive. On the pitch, Walthamstow took the lead on the hour before the hosts came back to record a 3-1 win in front of a crowd of around 35. With a 1-30 kick off, a favourable connection meant I was back at Tottenham Hale just after 4.30 following a very enjoyable trip.

On Saturday 12th November I made the short journey to Battersea Ironsides v Brazilian in the Middlesex League. The Openview ground is about 15 minutes walk from Earlsfield station, and a bus from Tooting Broadway also passes the ground. At the entrance is a car park with the clubhouse/dressing rooms nearby The clubhouse also caters for the club's rugby side who play in a nearby park, as England were live on TV, their match kicked off early and the club was packed by the time the football got underway. Tea and hot food are available here as well as a bar. The pitch is roped off behind the near goal and along one side, where there are dug outs either side of the cricket square. Behind the other goal is the grounds perimeter fence, while along the other side are tennis courts enclosed by a fence and hedges, with no room for spectators. For this match, Battersea Ironsides did not produce their usual programme but at least they issued - a photocopied 8 pager with match details on the front, and league table, a few lines of notes and the line ups inside. The attendance just about reached double figures as the visitor's weathered early pressure before scoring twice in as many minutes around the half hour mark, with three more after the interval, capitalising on defensive errors with some sharp finishing to run out 5-0 winners. This ground was home to Mascot Sports in the Surrey Senior League some 30 - 40 years ago, and I wonder if the Ironsides will emulate the likes of Staines Lammas and Hanworth Villa in reaching that league's present day incarnation from the Middlesex League.

Chipperfield Corinthians v Spelthorne Sports Anagram Records Trophy 1st Round 5th November 2005 

The Herts. County League clubs ground is situated at the end of Queen Street, an unusual pebbled residential road close to the centre of this very pleasant village. The pitch is fully railed off, with hard standing in the form of a narrow pathway along the side nearest the entrance, with overhanging trees and bushes and a fence behind this, There's also hard standing behind the far end with a two strand wire fence between wooden posts marking out the ground's boundaries, a grass area with a play area and housing set back are beyond this. The wire fence extends the length of the other touchline with trees behind before the land slopes sharply away, leaving a narrow area of grass standing within the ground itself. The dressing rooms are the width of the pitch from the entrance, with a club room and tea bar, where programmes at 60p are also available, although no bar. This issue runs to 12pages and is a regular issue, with full results and fixtures involving HCL clubs on the day and previous week and the visitors table and results to date added to the basic info, the only ad being the Cherry Red sponsors. An overhang from this building provides cover although set back from the pitch. At this end there's a training are with gardens backing on. The overall impression is of a rural setting despite the proximity to London and friendly club to visit. An attendance of 20 saw a match of few chances, with the Middlesex League visitors netting the only goal midway through the second half.

21/11/05 TT No.115: Mick Burt - Buckland Athletic (Devon League)

DEVON LEAGUE
BUCKLAND ATHLETIC (1) 4 HOLSWORTHY (2) 5
ATTENDANCE: 50
ADMISSION £3.50 INCLUDING PROGRAMME

Plans to visit one of the home clubs in the Birmingham Vase were ditched following a "fog forecast" for the West Midlands although the targeted matches at AFC Wulfrunians and Coton Green did go ahead.

I decided to play safe therefore, and head for the milder climes of Devon where Buckland Athletic were entertaining Holsworthy in a Devon League match.  The train from Reading to Newton Abbot ran 30 minutes late and was crammed with Plymouth-bound QPR fans who were not the brightest collection of individuals I have come across but were Mensa candidates compared with the Grays fans who boarded on the return journey!

Now 6th v 14th didn't suggest a classic encounter but how wrong can you be as I witnessed a simply fantastic game that will remain in the memory forever.

It was a lively start with the visitors, pointless on their travels thus far, taking a 12th minute lead through Spencer Dennis.  The Bucks were soon level when Greg Wilson converted a penalty but Holsworthy were back in front before the break when Mark Bettis clinically finished off a fine move.  I remarked in the excellent clubhouse at half time that there could be a few more goals.  Profound words indeed and seven minutes into the second half Holsworthy skipper Darren Polhill extended his side's lead.  A clumsy and rather needless challenge by Holsworthy's Simon Veal enabled Wilson to net again from the spot, but the visitors edged 4-2 ahead when Home skipper Davis sliced a right wing cross into his own net.  Following this, Holsworthy's Jason Rees beat Sharples in the home goal with a Beckhamesque 45 yard lob, the ball came off the bar to Ian Rowe but somehow Sharples recovered magnificently to block the striker's effort from the rebound.  Buckland were not finished though and the elusive Mark Dyson, a nippy little striker with "good feet", worked his way through the Magpies' defence to pull it back to 4-3.  Holsworthy striker Ian Rowe had caused Buckland problems all afternoon and he did so again before laying on a second goal for Bettis but almost immediately Rob Law struck for Buckland with a looping header to make it 4-5 with five minutes left.  There were in fact no more goals but one tremendous game it had been and played in a good spirit too.

Buckland's new ground (they moved there last summer) finished the league off for me and the "champagne job" could not have been achieved in more dramatic fashion.  Buckland are a very friendly, superbly run club and the new ground, which has plenty of scope for expansion, is a real credit to all involved. Time to form a second division perhaps?  (Only joking Mr Hiscox!).

20/11/05 TT No.114: Steve King - Ripon City Magnets (West Yorkshire League Division 1) 

My visit to RIPON CITY MAGNETS FC.  On Saturday 19th November I went to the delightful small city of Ripon in North Yorkshire to see the West Yorkshire League Division One match between Ripon City Magnets and Barwick at Ripon's Mallorie Park Drive ground. Following Barwick's 6-0 thrashing the week before at Sherburn White Rose, I came expecting plenty of goals and in an evenly contested 1st half, Barwick took a shock lead to go into the break a goal up. The 2nd half saw Ripon dominate and they soon equalised on a bitterly cold day and many other chances went begging but a mixture of good goalkeeping and poor finishing kept the scores level. Near the end a Barwick defender had a rush of blood to the head and hit a Ripon forward as the ball came into the penalty area and was immediately sent off by the referee. The resultant spot kick hit the post and came out again so the scores remained at 1-1.  

The ground is quite good for this level, with a clubhouse in the  corner as you enter the ground, a railed off pitch with dug outs and an impressive small seated stand along one side of the ground with the club name on the fascia.  No admission was charged and no programmes were available. Luckily I had one from a couple of seasons ago when they were in the Premier Division of the West Yorkshire League but they have not issued since being relegated. The attendance was around 50.  

Ripon is a very attractive town with a rececourse nearby, there is a large market square and some interesting pubs. There is a cathedral and lots of shops, restaurants etc. I travelled from London by train to York where I caught another train to Harrogate. At Harrogate station I turned right and walked about 100 yards to the bus station where a Number 36 bus goes to Ripon every 20 minutes at 10, 30, and 50 mins past each hour journey time approx 30 minutes - return fare was £4.60.  It is approximately 7 or 8 miles from Harrogate.  Coming back, again bus 36 is every 20 mins at 05, 25 and 45 mins past each hour. I spent a bit of time in Harrogate and visited the massive and very impressive Wetherspoons there and also had a couple of hours in York when I arrived back following the 2.15pm kick-off at Ripon. All in all, despite being cold, the sun thankfully stayed out and it was an enjoyable day.

19/11/05 TT No.113: Mike Latham - Accrington Stanley (Nationwide Conference)

Fri 18 Nov 2005, Nationwide Conference: Accrington Stanley 2-0 Forest Green Rovers (att: 1,506) 

Accrington Stanley's remarkable rise through the non-league ranks shows no sign of abating.  On a freezing night in East Lancashire they moved into the weekend by going top of the Conference with this 2-0 win and are on target to bring back league football to the town after a gap of over 40 years since the original Stanley's sad demise.

 

Stanley's ground, now known as the Interlink Express Stadium, was formerly known as the Crown Ground.  Located behind the Crown public house on the Whalley Road leading out of the town centre it is a well used venue, also hosting NWCL neighbours Great Harwood and last weekend staging Colne' s game against FC United that attracted a crowd of nearly 3,000.  Despite the use, the playing area was flat and superbly kept, though a coating of white frost virtually obscured the pitch markings come full-time.

 

An easy walk from the town centre, the ground is located in a residential area with some magnificent, imposing stone-built properties nearby and there is plenty of street parking to be found.  Though the entrance fee is £12 adults this also gives entry to the main stand if desired and a 52-page programme was £2.

 

There is a social club just through the main turnstile that, though crowded, offered a warm pre-match refuge on one of the coldest nights of the winter so far and a number of temporary catering outlets sold the local delicacy- Hollands pies.

 

The IES has one main stand that runs all the way down one side of the ground.  With only eight rows of seats the view is inevitably affected and hampered by the constant throng of fans that walk along the gangway in front of the seats on their way to the terraces, toilet, snack bars or club house.  The two ends are both terraced but uncovered and the far side is an uncovered shallow terrace.

 

With no segregation in place due to the negligible number of travelling fans from Gloucestershire the home fans were able to change ends at half-time and roar their team to victory achieved with two well taken goals- the first a sharp strike by in-form winger Roberts, the second a smart shot by Jagielka just after half-time.

 

On a frost covered surface the visitors tried to play constructive football and had plenty of the play but their finishing lacked the quality of their approach play.  The match was played in excellent spirit with no cautions and was superbly refereed.

 

With neighbours Blackburn Rovers and Burnley competing for the local leisure pound Stanley, beginning a run of four successive home games, switched this game to a Friday evening and must have been pleased to have achieved a crowd of 1,500 on such a bitterly cold night.  Their fans behind the goal kept up a constant encouragement and the array of draped and colourful flags was impressive.

 

Though not the best ground to visit on a wet day the IES is a friendly and hassle-free place to watch Conference football and, if you choose your spot carefully, you can get a good close-up view of the action.  Match rating: 3*

17/11/05 TT No.112 - Barry Neighbour - Wellington AFC (Western League) and Brentford (M'ssex Senior Cup)

Saturday 12th November 2005, WELLINGTON AFC 4 Weston St Johns 2, Att: about 40, Rating 4*, 44 Page programme included in £3 admission.

This was a lively full-blooded encounter with the home side taking an early lead which they doubled midway through the first half.  The Wellington player saw the visitors' keeper off his line and fired in a shot from 40 yards. Weston pulled one back to get back into the game before Wellington made it 3-1. Then the fun started when the home side were reduced to 10 men for a second bookable offence. Weston then pulled a goal back but blew any chance of getting a result when they conceded a penalty 2 minutes later after a needless rash challenge. This was duly tucked away to give Wellington a commanding 4-2 lead. There was still time for the home side to receive their 2nd Red card for a lunging challenge that sparked a free for all and had the opposing managers agreeing to take their players to opposite ends of the ground at the final whistle to avoid further confrontation. As usual at the final whistle everyone shook hands as if best mates! The joys of football!

Monday 14th November 2005, BRENTFORD 4 Potters Bar Town 0, Middlesex Senior Cup 1st Round, Rating 3*, 4 Page programme given away with £3 admission.

Brentford have re-entered The Middlesex Senior and Community (Charity) Cups after several seasons' absence. Ironically in both competitions they have drawn Potters Bar Town. A sparse crowd watched this encounter as a young Brentford side dominated proceedings and took an early lead through Scott Fitzgerald. The same player doubled the lead after 22 minutes from the penalty spot after Ryan Watts was scythed down which brought a red card for the Potters Bar defender. 2-0 was the half-time score. An inspired substitution for the 2nd half saw Brentford bring on Karle Carder-Andrews and he endeared himself to the home crowd with well taken strikes in the 66th and 78th minutes to give The Bees a comfortable victory. Credit to Potters Bar who never stopped battling but were well beaten by the classy Brentford Youngsters.

15/11/05 TT No.111: Mike Latham - Droylsden (NCN)

Mon 14 Nov 2005, Droylsden 1-2 Gainsborough Trinity (NCN) (att- 280 est). 

Monday night football at the Butcher's Arms is one of the pleasures of living close to the Greater Manchester conurbation. An historic town centre ground with a chequered history dating back to the late 1800s Droylsden's home has undergone huge changes in recent years.

 

A smart elevated main stand straddles the halfway line and gives an excellent vantage point whilst the terrace behind the goal to the left has been covered and re-concreted. There is also a covered shallow terrace on the far side with the other end uncovered and backed by a huge netting to help prevent wayward shots going into neighbouring gardens. Wherever you stand or sit you are close to the action and in recent years particularly entertainment has been virtually guaranteed.

 

Hemmed in by houses and shops and yards away from the market place, the Butcher's Arms is only five minutes away from J23 of the M60 motorway and on a midweek evening there is plenty of parking on the market car park. If you can avoid the temptations of the Kings Head pub that adjoins the ground (where a hand-pulled pint of Joseph Holts mild costs £1.40 and comes heartily recommended) the club house inside the ground, where the welcome is equally as warm, may draw you in.

 

Admission was £8 for adults with an additional £1 transfer to stand and a newsy 52-page programme with excellent statistical sections and match reports as its main features and updated for games played over the weekend added to the enjoyment of the evening.

 

Droylsden sensibly opt for Monday night football in an area with so many counter attractions on other nights with any number of rival football clubs within a ten-mile radius.  Surprisingly though, this was the Bloods' first midweek home game of the season.  Whenever I have seen them in the last few seasons they can be relied upon to play some excellent and entertaining football and they fail to get the support they deserve, though the fans that turn up are as knowledgeable and passionate about the game as you will find.

 

In the early stages Droylsden's Gareth Morris threatened to take control of the game with a dominant play-making role but Gainsborough drew first blood when the persistence of their impressive striker Danny Steadman set up Charlie Trout for the opening goal. Though Morris equalised before half-time the visitors went away with the spoils when Steadman skilfully converted Trout's deep cross on the hour-mark.

 

There is an excellent tea bar at the ground and the chip muffins, pie & peas and hot drinks all at reasonable prices were much sought after on a cold but clear evening.  Manager and chairman Dave Pace has worked wonders to upgrade the Butcher's Arms ground to its current stature and maintain the team playing at a high level of non league football in an area with so many rival clubs. A visit to Droylsden, particularly for a Monday evening fixture, comes highly recommended.  Match rating: 3*

14/11/05 TT No.110: Mick Burt - Godolphin Atlantic (East Cornwall Premier League) in the Cornwall Senior Cup

Saturday 12 November - Cornwall Senior Cup Round Two; GODOLPHIN ATLANTIC (1) 1 TRURO CITY (2) 2
Attendance: 129; Admission £2 - Programme 50p

Ground - Enclosed, end to end slope, pitched roped-off, superbly drained and looked after,  but no covered accommodation.

I always try to take in a match on a new ground every season in this superb competition. This time round the eight clubs I had left to visit in the competition were dramatically reduced by six after the first round ties were completed. Then Murphy's Law strikes - the two remaining clubs (Godolphin Atlantic and Holmans Sports Club) get drawn at home against high profile Truro City and glamour club Falmouth Town respectively. We subsequently booked a hotel in Newquay for the weekend as, after a lot of soul searching, I plumped for Godolphin.

Having mopped up all there was to win in the Duchy League, Godolphin Atlantic (so named I assume as the Atlantic Ocean is clearly visible from the top end of their Godolphin Way ground), were elected into the East Cornwall Premier League during the close season. They are quite an amazing club, being run by the owner of the close by Godolphin Arms Hotel, Mrs Margaret Ashwood, and her daughter Tanya. They get a lot of support from others, particularly the players and managers which is refreshing in this day and age, but basically it is these two ladies running the show so no sexist comments at this club please!

Having enjoyed the company of Mrs Ashwood and the Christchurch FC Assistant Manager prior to the game (Christchurch play host to Truro City in the FA Vase next Saturday), I then embarked on the sixty second walk to the ground.  My buoyancy rapidly left me around 1.30pm though when a freak hailstorm hit us in the thirty minutes leading up to kick off which resulted in surface water lying on the pitch. The referee, Robin Tucker of St. Austell who had a superb game, was convinced that the players would soon tread the water in and as the pitch drains superbly anyway, he was proved absolutely right.  I did ask him at half time if he was as good at prtedicting lottery numbers as he is at assessing pitch conditions!

Not surprisingly I suppose, Truro, kicking up the slope, went 2-0 up through fabulous strikes from  £15,000 signing Stewart Yetton and Jonny Ludlam in the first 22 minutes, but a break by the tireless Lee Paxton who ran himself into the ground up front for the Godolphin cause, set up Dave Moore to reduce the arrears ten minutes before the break. Going down the appreciable slope after half-time, Truro kept things pretty much under control but a one goal lead is always tenuous and City fans in the noisy crowd were frustrated when Tony Bowker failed from the spot, home 'keeper Rob Moss saving his penalty with twenty minutes left. Godolphin were amazing really. They kept their shape at the back where skipper Tony Macellar was outstanding, and on this performance I feel they could go close to winning the CGECPL at the first attempt. And at the start of the season the ambition was a place in the top 14 to make the cut for the Premier Division next season with the remaining six member clubs being joined by eight newcomers!

Occasions like this, certainly the biggest in Godolphin Atlantic's history, really set apart the clubs with good organisation from those not so good. 'The G' as they are known certainly come into the former category. Not only did Tanya slave on the pitch to get everything ready for the big day, the club also produced an eight page programme (they don't usually issue) which sold for 50p. Then horror of horrors - the pasty delivery failed to arrive on the morning of the game.  Again no problem - substitues arrived in the form of one of the biggest and tastiest I have ever experienced and for only £1.50. You pay £2.90 for the privilege at the West Cornwall Pasty Company kiosk in Maidenhead!

A truly magnificent day, a rousing cup tie played in the best of spirits too. If you're way down west, make sure you pay this tremendous little club a visit.

14/11/05 TT No.109: Mike Latham - Stockport County (FC2) and Blackpool (FC1) 

Sun 13 Nov 2005, League Two, Stockport County 1-1 Barnet (att- 6,056) Match rating: 4*

 

Stockport County's alarming slide through the divisions has been sad to behold. Seven years ago they finished eighth in the old division one- nowadays they are precariously placed in the newly named League Two and in real danger of losing their Football League status.

 

It was pleasing to observe that some standards had not fallen.  County's matchday programme, lovingly compiled by Des Hinks, is one of the best around the leagues, 72 pages chockfull of colour and information for £2.50- an outstanding effort.

 

With this 1.30pm kick-off beamed live on Sky, County attracted their largest crowd of the season after several worthwhile initiatives in the community.  Edgeley Park, now co-shared with Sale Sharks RFC, whose owner, Brian Kennedy, owns the ground, is a friendly place to watch football and it was noticeable how many families had ventured out on a sunny autumnal afternoon.

 

County's most vociferous supporters gather in the magnificent cantilevered Cheadle Stand behind the goals that dominates the ground.  The main stand also gives a good view of play with the Vernon Stand opposite, half allocated to away fans, sparsely populated.  The railway end behind the other goal is open to the elements.

 

With plenty of car parking close by, in neighbouring streets or on the municipal car park part of the Edgeley shopping complex, a visit to Edgeley Park is relatively straightforward and the close proximity of the town centre makes it ideal for rail or bus passengers.

 

Barnet could have been four or five up at the break but had to settle for a draw in the end as County had the better of the second half.  Both goals came within three minutes near the midway point of the first half.  Now run by a supporters' trust County need to act quickly to halt their on-field decline but off it they remain a friendly club that is a pleasure to visit.

 

Sun 13 Nov 2005, League One, Blackpool 5-2 Scunthorpe United (att- 6,016) Match rating: 4*

 

With this Sky game kicking-off at 4pm a quiet motorway system allowed a relatively easy journey to the seaside just in time to see Tommy Wright give Blackpool the lead for the first time in a fluctuating contest.  3-2 ahead at the break, the Seasiders went onto score two more goals in the second half against a Scunthorpe side reduced to ten men.

 

After a traumatic week, which saw manager Colin Hendry effectively suspended following the 1-4 defeat at Doncaster in the FA Cup, Blackpool, under caretaker manager Simon Grayshon, got just the win they needed.

 

Bloomfield Road has been drastically developed in recent years with two sides, the north and west stands most impressive constructions.  The away fans, though, are located on temporary seating on the east paddock and open to the elements in the event of rain.  The south stand remains a derelict building site following the demolition of the old south stand.

 

Easily reached by car just five minutes or so down Seasiders Way from the ends of the M55 motorway, Bloomfield Road has an abundance of pay-and-display car parks close to the ground and is also well situated for the town centre.  The home fans certainly made lots of noise and their favourites took advantage of their numerical advantage to earn a much-needed win.

 

A 68-page programme full of colour pictures and several interesting articles was £2.50

12/11/05 TT No.108: Steve King - Biddulph Victoria (Midland Alliance)

On Saturday 12th November I attended the Harvey World Travel Midland Alliance match between BIDDULPH VICTORIA and Alvechurch won 2-1 by the home club. Admission was £4.00 with an excellent 44 page programme available for £1.00 including a glossy colour cover in club colours of sky blue and maroon with plenty of content and stats etc. I travelled by train to Stoke-On-Trent and caught a bus into the city centre at Hanley before getting a regular bus service from the bus station to Biddulph (First Potteries 6a) which run every 15 mins journey time about 35-40 mins. Return fare was just £2.25. The town of Biddulph is fairly nondescript with a main high street running through it and a handful of uninspiring pubs although there is a good Wetherspoons pub there. The ground is just south of the town centre about 7 mins walk from the high street along Tunstall Road on the left hand side. There is a nice clubhouse outside the ground which had Ruddles County on handpump, and behind the near goal is a large area of cover, slightly angled from the pitch, with the rest of the facilities nearby such as dressing rooms, toilets and tea-bar. All the goals were in the first half with the 2nd half fairly uneventful.

12/11/05 TT No.107: Paul Roth - Little Common (Sussex County League)

Travellers can view images from this game in the Sussex County League Album.

Little Common  vs.  Pease Pottage Village,  Sussex County League Div.3,  Res: 3-1, Att: 29. Programme: 16 pages £1 including entry

Over the years I have always enjoyed my trips down to, as the song goes, "SUSSEX BY THE SEA" and this trip to the eastern part of the county was to be no exception.

Little Common are newly back in the Sussex County League after winning promotion last term and a visit today recompleted the league for me. Their well appointed ground, in the middle of a huge but very scenic recreation area, is just off the A259 at the roundabout in the middle of the village down Peartree Lane and first right into Green Lane where the entrance is directly to your left. A large car park is available which again leads onto the ground itself. A very new pavillion is situated behind the near goal which houses the club bar and modest tea servery.....in fact tea was all that was available today, at least! Also behind this goal is parked the small metal stand which could be useful on a wet day. There is NO hard standing and and so one's shoes get very muddy - I was not allowed indoors on arrival home without first removing them. Blue and white striped goalnets add to the loved feel of this very friendly place.

The match was a real game of two halves with the first period being a vapid goalless affair, but after the break with the visitors taking the lead the home side rallied really well......this despite having a couple of their better players out injured apparently......to fight back with three very well taken goals all coming from spectacular long range efforts. Very good finishing for this standard of football I thought.

I had meandered through the Sussex country lanes visiting a couple of GBG listed pubs - the Plough at Crowhurst being especially interesting - to get to my final destination. On my return journey to Margate was more direct only stopping in Hastings Old Town to get Ben [the cat] his special treat; half a lobster. The status qou can't be quite right in our household as when I got in the wife and I dined on baked beans on toast whilst the cat gleefully tucked into his crustacean delicacy!!

Another super day out and I end with a Question taken from the excellent 16 page programme produced by the club for this fixture...colour cover including action pix and bang up to date club info and a prize if you could answer all the quiz questions correctly [I couldn't], all included for £1.

WHAT IS THE ONLY ENGLISH FOOTBALL TEAM WITHOUT A VOWEL IN THE FIRST FIVE LETTERS OF ITS NAME?
I think I got this one right ! ! !

11/11/05 TT No.106: Mike Latham - Armthorpe Miners Welfare (Sheffield County Senior League 2)

Thursday 10 Nov 2005, Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup 1st Round- Armthorpe Miners Welfare (Sheffield County Senior League Div 2) 1-3 Hallam (att- 60)

 

A groundhopping friend of mine, who knows far more about Yorkshire grounds than me, told me that Armthorpe's pitch is one of the best in the league and generally can be relied upon when games are being called off elsewhere.

 

His wise words sustained me on a rain soaked trip across the Pennines with fears of a 'match' sign awaiting me on my arrival growing with every mile as the heavens opened on the M62.

 

Armthorpe is an old colliery village on the outskirts of Doncaster and the football club's Welfare Ground is located off Church Street behind Netto supermarket.  Armthorpe Miners Welfare (who play in the Sheffield County Senior League Div 2) groundshare with Armthorpe Welfare (NCEL Premier Division).  Strangely the two clubs are affiliated to different county organisations.

 

With no telephone at the ground a chance was taken on the game going ahead.  The gamble paid off.  As Doncaster was approached the clouds lifted giving way to a mercifully dry and mild evening and after negotiating the seemingly never-ending roundabouts and retail parks of Doncaster the floodlights of the Church Street ground could be seen shining in the distance.

 

It is probably true to say that this first round tie in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup excited little interest in Armthorpe.  My arrival, offering the match day admission of £2, pushed the gate receipts up to the £20 mark just before kick-off.  A head count just after half-time estimated the crowd at around the 60-mark.

 

Sadly, no programme was issued for this game and the tea bar (which is run by the NCEL club) was also shut, making a half-time trip across the road to a neighbouring petrol station necessary for essential sustenance.  A traveller up from London recommended the adjoining fish and chip shop and there are several pubs in the immediate vicinity.

 

The ground is well maintained with a black and white pained post and rail fence surrounding the playing area and white painted perimeter concrete slabs behind both goals.  There is a small seated stand, with seats for 200, and a small standing cover behind one goal.  The dug-outs are situated opposite one another on the halfway line.  The playing pitch was indeed excellent despite recent deluges.

 

Hallam scored twice in the first half, struck the woodwork on another two occasions and missed several other opportunities.  Armthorpe pulled one back with fifteen minutes to go but Hallam sealed their victory with a third goal.  The match featured some very rough tackling and two Hallam players were forced to leave the field with injuries.  The referee was extremely laissez-faire in his approach and tolerated some extremely bad language from the players throughout the game.

 

A visit to the atmospheric ground, typical of a welfare set-up, was rewarded with an enjoyable evening out, despite the disappointment of a lack of programmes and tea bar.  Match rating: 3*

10/11/05 TT No.105: Steve King - Feniton FC (Devon & Exeter League)

FENITON F.C. of the Devon & Exeter League have started issuing programmes in the last couple of weeks. I attended their home game at Station Road against Buckland Athletic Reserves on Saturday 5th November which the home club won 2-1. Attendance was around 40 and the ground is just a 5 minute walk from Feniton Railway Station on the line that goes to Exeter. Two goals in the first 5 minutes by Feniton and it looked like the game could end in a rout but credit to Buckland - they fought back and scored before half-time with the second half fairly even with no further score. The ground is down Station Road. You see Feniton Sports & Social Club on your left and about 150 yards beyond that is the roped off pitch with dug-outs to your left. In the immediate corner is a newish-looking building housing a spacious tea room, dressing rooms etc. Programmes were available for £1 from here before the match but also were sold to the spectators during the game. This consisted of a glossy full colour shell of 16 pages including photo of the clubroom on the cover plus colour photos of the 1st & 2nd team squads inside, with a 4 page insert which changes for each match containing line-ups, match reports, player profile etc.

09/11/05 TT No.104: Stephen Harris - Welwyn Garden City (SSMLP) 

Tuesday 8 November 2005; Welwyn Garden City 3-1 Sawbridgeworth; Herts Senior Cup; att c.60, programme issued, admission £5

A last minute change of plan meant I suddenly had time to go to a football game last night and, with a wide choice of fixtures, could take in somewhere I'd not been before. A short time later I was on a train to the pedestrian-unfriendly new town of Welwyn Garden City, where the Herns Lane ground was located after something of a struggle across busy roads and along muddy, unlit pathways. WGC have been concentrating on the cups so far this season and their league placing doesn't look pretty - but they have loads of games in hand and talk around the touchline was of "ambitious plans" and "promotion prospects". Tonight's result maintains their good cup record.

The ground is reached across a large car park and past a social club which lies outside the entrance to the ground and which was busy with non-attendees. Once I had found a gateman to take my money, I found a spacious ground with the pitch surrounded by a low white fence and a concrete walkway.  The centre of the near side is occupied by a small stand which has both bench seating and standing room. Opposite, there is an even smaller covered shelter over a patch of flat concrete. This is painted dark green, against a background of dark green vegetation and a dark green boundary fence and thus invisible from a distance to the extent that I didn't even notice it was there until I did a circuit of the ground.  One disappointment - I had been led to believe that there was some fine catering available at this ground - but all I found was a cup of tea.

The game was an odd one. The first half was lacklustre, bordering on inept, and finished 0-0. The only real moment of note came when an away player took a blow to the head, resulting in a full Terry Butcher-like scenario of blood and bandages for the rest of the game. The second half started with a sudden and unexpected downpour which lasted for 25 minutes. During this time WGC played exceptionally well, scored three goals and missed as many more good chances. The rain stopped as suddenly as it started and we were straight back into the poor-quality football we had endured in the first half.  During this final period, Sawbo scrambled in a scruffy consolation goal. The inescapable question is, do WGC only turn it on when it's raining?

The game also featured an outfield player taking over in goal following an injury to the home 'keeper. This was the third time I had seen this happen in my last six games watched, which I feel must be some sort of a record. An excellent, informative match programme was included with admission; the best I have seen at non-league level for a while. Match Rating 3*

09/11/05 TT No.103: Mike Latham - Burscough (Unibond Premier League)

Tuesday 8 Nov 2005, Unibond Prem- Burscough 2-2 Runcorn FC Halton (Att- 350) 

On a day when rain showers of an almost tropical intensity hit parts of the north-west the search was on for a game with many fixtures falling by the wayside. Burscough came to the rescue. Despite large pools of standing water on the approach roads from the M6 at Standish the playing pitch at Victoria Park, helped by the sandy soil with its close proximity inland from Southport, was in immaculate condition.

 

After their FA Cup heroics over Gillingham, Burscough were made to fight hard for a draw by Runcorn in a fast and skilful encounter. The visitors twice came from behind to earn a draw their display thoroughly deserved after spurning an early penalty. Both of their second half goals came from corner kicks. But Burscough played some terrific attacking football at times, particularly in the first half to leave the 350 crowd- 1,600 down on the Gillingham game- richly entertained.

 

Victoria Park is a pleasant and civilised place to watch football. The ground is situated just off the main shopping street of the Lancashire village and there is a friendly air about the ground as soon as you dispense £7.50 at the turnstiles. A 40-page programme packed with interesting editorial cost £1.50.

 

With a small elevated main stand and standing cover on two other sides (the far side terrace does have a few seats, as well) there was plenty of accommodation for the squally showers and in brief interludes without rain close-up views of the action could be gained from behind the dug-out areas on the main stand side and behind the nearside goal where the well-stocked club shop is situated. An excellent snack bar did a roaring trade and the cheese and onion pasties (£1.10) come highly recommended.

 

Burscough run a large number of junior sides and have made a real effort to become a community club and there is a sense of pride from their supporters.  They can look forward to a new ground, to be situated virtually next door to the current one, in a couple of years or so, so a visit to Victoria Park needs to be near the top of everyone's 'hit list' if not ticked off.  Highly recommended.  Match rating: 4*

08/11/05 TT No.102: Stephen Harris - Barkingside (Essex Senior League)

Monday 7 November 2005; Barkingside 2-1 Waltham Abbey; Essex Senior Cup; att c.70, programme issued, admission £4.

Monday evenings usually present my best chance of seeing a midweek football game and Barkingside are kind to me by often playing on that night of the week. It is also an extremely easy ground to get to, lying adjacent to Barkingside station. These two factors combined mean that I am quite a frequent visitor to the Oakside Stadium.

Both of tonight’s clubs have had a difficult recent history, disappearing from the Spartan League into intermediate football, before reappearing in the Essex Senior League. Both have made good starts this season in the league and Barkingside in particular have made it clear that they are focussed on promotion.

Some people will say that Oakside has been bodged-up on the cheap and barely complies with the ground grading necessary for former tenants, now landlords, Redbridge FC to play at a higher level. I’m not one of them, and I like the place. The fact that everything is homemade and individual gives the place a character lacking at plenty of other recently developed non-league grounds. The stand is a haphazard mix of wooden boards, scaffold poles and plastic seats in a variety of colours. Either side of the stand and at the near end are unique raised, open terraces which give a great view of the game. The remaining side has a couple of terrace steps, covered along its full length, with uncovered standing at the far end. All of this is more than adequate for the meagre attendances attracted by both clubs who play here and paradise compared to the bleak facilities which existed here ten years ago.

There is also a relatively smart clubhouse and a busy refreshment hut – although you really have to be over seven foot tall to see what is on offer at the latter. A new feature this season is a small shop offering a selection of old programmes and badges, operating from a table in the clubhouse.

This game was not played to an enormously high standard, but it was very competitive – as befits this prestigious competition. ‘Side scored from a well-taken, long-range shot in the second minute and then withstood an hour of Abbey pressure. The equaliser eventually came from a penalty, but ‘Side soon went back ahead and hung on for a just-about deserved win.

A match programme sold for £1 and was thin but informative, based around the Essex Senior League Bulletin. Match rating 3*

07/11/05 TT No.101: Dave Reed - Bushey Rangers (HSCL) in Herts Centenary Trophy

With travelling companion Ken, I visited Bushey Rangers on Saturday for their Herts Centenary Trophy game against Colney Heath. The game was packed with incident, the visitors taking the lead early on and then having their keeper sent off after eleven minutes with their central defender and captain taking over in goal. The home side then equalised through a monster own goal by the visitors' no 4 who under no pressure hit a great shot past the stand in keeper. Bushey then went ahead, a lead that they kept until the interval. During the break, Colney changed their keeper, putting their goalscorer between the sticks and a very good job he did too. The no 4 redeemed his earlier mistake by scoring two goals to put his side back in front, including one shot from at least 45 yards after a poor clearance from the home keeper. A fourth, relatively straight forward goal saw the visitors through to the next round. Incidentally, the line ups for each side contained three brothers.

The ground is located within a public park and the pitch is railed off in quite pleasant surroundings.  Certainly not the worst of it's type. A twenty page programme was available free of charge from the bar in the clubhouse but although many of the pages were blank, at least they issued.  With no admission charge either it certainly was a 'value for money' afternoon!

07/11/05 TT No.100: Barry Neighbour - Metropolitan Police (Ryman League Div 1) and Buntingford Town (HSCLP) in FLT Rd1

Friday 4th November 2005, Metropolitan Police 3 Whyteleafe 1, Ryman Division 1, Att: 165, Rating: 3*, 20 page programme (10 Pages Adverts) included in £8 Admission. Met Police have a nice stand down 3/4 of the pitch and covering the full length behind one goal with the other two sides being open. The ground was neat and tidy which you would expect from the Police. The game itself saw Whyteleafe looking the better team throughout and fully deserved their 1-0 half-time lead. Defensive errors in the 2nd half cost the visitors dearly as 'Leafs keeper could only parry a vicious shot out to the foot of Mets forward to sweep in the equalizer. Another loose ball which Whyteleafe failed to clear was converted to make it 2-1. The third came in the last minute when the visitors again failed to deal with a cross and it was scrambled in. An interesting feature was the amount of use of the F word coming from the home bench; and this from the authorities who are supposed to be clamping down on such language!!

Saturday 5th November 2005, Buntingford Town 3 Markyate 0, Anagram Records Feeder League Trophy Round 1, Att: 40 (Headcount), Rating: 3*, 16 page programme by donation. Buntingford have a nice set up which is easily found of the A10 to the south of the town. If they can secure a longer lease then I am sure they could progress through the leagues. The clubhouse has a balcony which gives a pleasant elevated view of the action. Buntingford were always on top of their South Midlands League opponents and led 1-0 at half-time. Two more goals in the 2nd half secured progress to the next round although the margin should have been higher; credit must go to a young Markyate team who never stopped battling despite looking outclassed on the day.

07/11/05 TT No.99: Mike Latham - Leigh RMI (NCN) and Mold Alexandra (in the Welsh Cup)

Fri 4 Nov 2005, Conference North- Leigh RMI 0-1 Worksop Town (att- 205) 

It's just over ten years since Horwich RMI left their much loved and idiosyncratic ground at Grundy Hill with its vast slope and views of Rivington Pike and moved several miles away to Leigh.  The trustees of Grundy Hill sold the ground for housing, with the nature of the pitch having ruled out any hope of remaining in the pyramid for much longer had RMI stayed put.

 

With Leigh rugby league club in financial difficulties, Grundy Hill Estates bought their Hilton Park ground and moved lock, stock and barrel in a groundshare arrangement that effectively saved the rugby club from going out of business and the ground being developed.  Hilton Park, named after late rugby club chairman Jim Hilton  is one of rugby league's most atmospheric and loved grounds.  Built in 1947 largely due to voluntary townspeople after the rugby club was forced to leave its Mather Lane home during the war, it was formerly the site of allotments.  Two of the ground's former landmarks, Parsonage colliery and a large cotton mill have now disappeared and a town centre by-pass road now runs along the former site of the Manchester-Liverpool railway line behind the far goal, one of the first to be built in this country dating back to the 1830s.

 

A vast atmospheric ground that once held over 31,000 for a rugby league cup-tie against St Helens, Hilton Park staged Super League rugby in 2005.  Leigh remains a rugby league dominated town and despite occasional flurries of interest, such as when Kevin Keegan's Fulham visited for an FA Cup-tie Leigh RMI appear to have made little impact on the town's sporting map, though they run a vast number of junior sides.

 

Named after the railway mechanics institute in Horwich, the club's history can be traced back to 1896 but only a handful of the stalwarts that once lined the Grundy Hill terraces can now be seen at Hilton Park.  Despite a spell in the Conference, ended by relegation last season, RMI struggle on poor gates and attracted only 205 for this Friday evening fixture despite the presence of several travellers and a number of Worksop supporters.

 

Despite heavy rain the pitch was in superb condition.  Hilton Park has two open terraced ends and a small main stand, the framework of which dates back to the Mather Lane ground.  For RMI games the crowd tends to gather on the supporters' club stand side, built in the 1950s and since named the Tommy Sale stand after the  rugby club legend.  With a terrace in front of neat rows of seats and further standing behind the facilities are excellent and give a great view of the play.  The Mick Martyn bar underneath the stand is open to spectators and a tea bar, named Bellybusters, in the corner of the ground dispensed a good range of drinks and hot snacks.

 

Hilton Park still retains the feel and atmosphere of a rugby ground and it still seems strange for many people to see football played on the hallowed turf.  RMI had no luck at all, striking the woodwork several times and having other goal attempts cleared off the line while a Worksop defender should clearly have been sent-off for a last man foul on a home striker in the first half, the referee doling out only a yellow card.  Worksop's goal came from their only shot on target all evening- a long range strike from captain Paul Dempsey.

 

With plans for a new ground further down the by-pass gathering momentum as part of the Leigh Sporting Village Hilton Park's days are numbered and a visit to this historic ground is to be recommended.  A well produced 32-page programme, costing £2, was on sale but this had only 12 pages of editorial and was dominated by advertisements.  Match rating: 3*

 

Sat 5 Nov 2005, Welsh Cup third round, Mold Alexandra 0-5 Prestatyn Town (att- 100)

 

Travellers can view images from this game in the MFP Album.

 

The Football Traveller really comes into its own on occasions such as this.  With an early kick-off preferred ahead of the rugby league Tri-Nations game between GB and Australia kicking off at 6-15 at Wigan, this one o'clock kick-off in north Wales shone out like a beacon.

 

Mold, founder members of the Welsh Premier League in the early 1990s, now play in the third tier of Welsh football after relegation from the Cymru Alliance last season.  Their opponents, who have ambitions of one day reaching the top tier, are at a similar level.

 

Alyn Park, Mold's ground, is situated down a narrow road just off the road to Denbigh out of the town centre.  There was plenty of parking outside the gate and a pleasant club official, who later transpired to be the chairman, collected the £2 gate money.  A magnificent, and I mean magnificent, 60-page programme sold for only 50p though as only 32 had been produced these were in short supply.

 

With tons of reading material, including histories and pen pictures of both clubs, a history of the Welsh Cup, detailed match reports and statistics, a quiz, photos, list of Welsh football websites, an explanation of the Welsh pyramid system and much more this was an outstanding effort and the best the writer has seen on his travels this season considering the status of the club.

 

A small seated stand straddles the halfway line at Alyn Park, offering a good elevated view with a covered standing area down the right-hand side with the rest of the ground open standing behind a post and rail fence.  There is plenty of room with grassed areas behind one goal and behind the far side.  The chairman explained that the ground is owned by a neighbouring manufacturing company and the club currently do not have a lease.  But the club are helped by the fact there is a condition that the owners would have to find the club a new site should they wish to develop the land.

 

The Colonel's CafÃà’©, run by a man known as Colonel Kev, will, the programme informs 'gladly serve you with a variety of goodies and dare I say it baddies.'  A separate advert describes it as a 'twilight zone, run by Basil Fawlty but it is worth a visit.'  Unfortunately the modest shack ran out of hot dogs long before half-time but served hot drinks.

 

Prestatyn, marshalled superbly by their 40-year-old player manager from defence, made a terrific start and led with a second minute penalty after earlier hitting the woodwork.  They were 2-0 up at half-time and ran away with things in the second half with Mold losing their goalkeeper through injury.  The pace of the game fell away in the second half but the visitors impressed with their neat build-up play and the game, though one-sided, was played in a good spirit.  Clearly a friendly club kept alive by an enthusiastic committee the visit to Mold was an enjoyable one on a mild afternoon.  Match rating: 3*

05/11/05 TT No.98: Paul Roth - Rusthall (Kent County League)

Travellers can view Images from this game in the Kent County League Album. 

Rusthall vs. Tenterden Tigers; Kent Intermediate Shield; Sat 5th November 2005 k o 2pm; Res: 6-0;  Monthly Magazine free at the bar

Originally I had intentended to see Little Common Albion in Sussex today but espying this cup tie in the Traveller and a quick glance at the relevant league tables soon persuaded me to opt for this local cup tie.

Rusthall are making a good start to life in the top division of the British Energy Kent County League and after a couple of suuny, drying days I had little fear of a postponement at their Jockey Farm ground in Nellington Lane, a couple of miles to the west of Tunbridge Wells. Before I go any further I must say Rusthall F C is one of the most rural set ups I have ever had the pleasure to encounter and reminded me a lot of Crockenhill.

Arriving half an hour before kick off I had time for a chat with the homester's secretary in the club's atmospheric clubhouse where sandwiches and the monthly club review "Rustic" were free to all comers (no programme today but usually there is  for all first team games - I was given last weeks free of charge). He told me the club were very go-ahead and have floodlighting which only needs the nod from the planning authorities to get installed. £20k is available to have the pitch levelled and there are schemes afoot to demolish the present clubhouse and erect a more modern building with up-to-date changing rooms.

The ground itself is fully railed off with wire netting below it to stop the ball constantly going way off the playing area and amazingly for this level of football hard standing all the way around the perimeter. Green and white goal nets add to the ambience.

The tie looked a mismatch on paper and with Rusthall racing into a 3-0 lead on 8 mins. I expected a cricket score. It didn't materialise and Tenterden were at times the better team and it was only 3 goals in the final quarter that made the scoreline so top heavy in the home team's favour.

This place is SUPERB and a dream to all lovers of the old fashioned. They are a go-ahead club so for god's sake go there before they "go-ahead" and spoil it !! If you go, make sure you give the horses a fuss on the way up the short driveway, in their stables and do use the loos..........the old pictures and framed shirts are museum pieces in the passageway. It really is that good.

An early start meant I was home in Margate in time for a pre prandial campari and soda, the next round of Strictly Come Dancing and to plug Ben's--our persian cat--earplugs in before the fireworks really started to upset him...whatever happened to the 'umble sparkler!

FGIF rating 4** just for what the place is
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03/11/05 TT No.97: Barry Neighbour - Ashford Town (Ryman 1)

Tuesday 1st November 2005; Ashford Town 5 Burnham 0; Errea Cup 2nd Round; Rating: 3*;  Programme: 12 Pages text inside 16 page adverts etc, £1.  Ashford (Middlesex) have replaced the temporary stand they had on my last visit with a traditional brick built one; they also have two covered areas on the near side covering up to the half way line. Although not the biggest of grounds it is neat and tidy. With the big FA Cup match against Aldershot on Saturday Burnham fielded a reserve line up in this game. It showed as Ashford took a grip on the game from the early stages and spurned a great chance to take a 20th minute lead when they missed a penalty given (when the Burnham keeper brought down the home forward). They only had to wait another 5 minutes before taking a deserved lead. The game was sown up in a devastating 11 minute spell either side of half-time with goals in the 39th, 41st, 47th and 50th minutes gave Ashford an unassailable 5-0 lead. After this it was damage limitation for the young Burnham side whose goalkeeper was excellent and was mainly responsible for keeping Ashford at bay as they peppered the visitors goal to no avail.

03/11/05 TT No.96: Mike Latham -  Hall Road Rangers (NCEL1)

Travellers can view Images from this game in the MFP Album.

Tues 1 Nov 2005, East Riding Senior Cup 2nd round, Hall Road Rangers 0-2 North Ferriby United (att -120) 

Hall Road Rangers currently prop up the first division of the NCEL with only one point from nine league games but they gave a good account of themselves against the leaders of the Unibond Premier League.

 

As so often happens when a side is struggling, decisions often fail to go their way.  So it proved as, after holding their own for the first 20 minutes, Rangers conceded a controversial goal, their defence stopping after an upraised flag from the linesman for offside that was ignored by the referee and visiting striker. The goal was allowed to stand and a well-worked second before half-time saw North Ferriby safely through.

 

Situated in the village of Dunswell, about eleven miles from the Humber Bridge between Hull and Beverley, Dene Park is located in semi-rural surroundings with several football pitches and a large club house.  There is plenty of parking and £4 admission was good value for an entertaining game played in good spirit. A 20-page programme, with full colour cover and good information on the visitors and up-to-date statistics was £1.

 

The main facilities to the ground are at the entrance behind the goal.  Here is located a small stand with four rows of bench seating named the Ted Richardson Stand, tea bar and committee room. The tea bar was well frequented and served hot drinks from proper pot mugs, tasty hot dogs and pies and, typical of the club, was manned by cheerful staff.  The rest of the ground is hard standing behind a neat blue and white post-and-rail perimeter fence. Behind the far goal are some mature trees which make the pitch less well-lit than the rest of the playing area which was illuminated by three posts of floodlights on either side. 

 

The respective dug-outs were opposite one another on the halfway line and the pitch was well grassed and undulating in places and had obviously soaked up a considerable amount of recent rain.

 

A considerable number of North Ferriby supporters had made the 30-mile round-trip and helped swell the crowd to around the 120-mark. The home side belied their recent form with a determined display and never stopped trying to play constructive football and the evening in a pleasant setting was most enjoyable. Match rating: 3*

01/11/05 TT No.95: Ron Jones - Fulbourn Institute (ECL1) and VT FC (Wessex League in the FAV1)

22nd October 2005 - Fulbourn Institute v Tiptree United ECL 1.

 

Fulbourn is easily reached by bus from Cambridge station, around 30 minutes journey although a “round the houses” route. The ground is about a five minute walk from the stopping point in the village centre. The playing area in the Recreation Ground is in the far corner, with a roped off pitch and no cover and is enclosed by a claret and blue metal fence running behind one goal and up to the halfway line along one side. A fence and houses border the rest of this side, while trees and the park’s boundary fence border the other end and far side. An opening at the corner provides the entrance for players (who have a 150 yard walk from the pavilion) and spectators and admission £3.50 (including programme) is taken here, a mobile burger van just outside this entrance provides spectator refreshments, with the pavilion now serving official’s refreshments.

A crowd of 146 saw Tiptree run out 6-2 winners, a sad note being a 40 minutes delay during the second half while an ambulance attended an injured Tiptree player. Despite the limitations of the current ground, it was good to see the locals supporting the club, and I hope they are able to develop a ground within the village to match their new status.

 

29th October 2005 - VT FC v Hythe Town FA Vase 1st Round.

 

A 15/20 minute bus ride from Southampton to a stop right outside the ground, though it would be walkable from Sholing, the ground is accessed from a short driveway off the main road signed VT Sports ground. Along here is a pay box where admission of £5 is payable and programmes at £1 are sold. The small clubhouse, changing rooms and tea bar portacabin are across the car park from here, close to the corner of the main pitch. Behind this goal is a covered shed set back from the pitch and a building housing the Vosper Thorneycroft pigeon club! Hard standing extends behind this goal and along the far side, which is bordered by stables and a field. Along this side are two covered stands with individual seats, holding about 80 and 50 respectively with the home dug out between them, with the visitors the other side. Permanent standing continues along this side and half of the far end. A plastic mesh pathway is laid down on the near touchline side (which borders the cricket square), and the rest of the far end. With two other pitches within the ground it does have a somewhat open feel but the 95 crowd, including 20 or so from Kent created a lively atmosphere as the visitors won a close match 2-1 with a very late extra time penalty.

 

 01/11/05 TT No.94: Paul Roth - Reford Utd (NCEL1)

Retford United vs. Brodsworth Welfare; F A Vase 1st round proper; Res: 4-0; Att: 180; Programme: £1; Entry £4

G N E R has always proved the quickest way to get up country for me and I made use of some cheap rail tickets (singles each way) to travel to Nottinghamshire to take in this F A Vase tie.

On arriving at Retford and walking into town things don't auger well as my first impressions are of a somewhat dowdy place but a pint in the GBG listed Rum Runner and a stroll into the market square, quickly followed by another beer in the Turks Head, have me warming to the place. Walking out of town along Laverton Road you pass over two bridges - as per Mick Burt's article in the Traveller of a couple of weeks ago - and arrive at Cannon Park, Retford's home, now totally surrounded by lovely rolling green countryside. A real contrast. Inside the stadium is a most impressive clubhouse bedecked with TVs showing Sky's coverage of Wigan's game with Fulham. Next door is a world class cullinary establishment selling the much revered pie and peas and all other forms of fast food. Oddly the arena has no stand but hard standing is provided all round and the feel is of a comfortable place to watch football.

A read of the 20 page programme, an above average effort with colour action photo enhancing the cover, before kick-off, sets me up for the action. With the floodlights on from the start Retford are soon one up and only luck and poor finishing prevents an avalanche engulfing the Doncaster based side. The second half turns on Brodsworth missing an early penalty and then Retford stepping up the ante and fully deserving to run out 4-0 winners and gaining a place in the 2nd round draw (home to Trafford). Incidently the 3rd goal is my candidate for my goal of the season so far (only because I can hardly remember last weeks action)

The walk back to the station takes half an hour - again as Mick Burt states - but with an hour and a half to kill, longer did I but know it as my train was late, I can afford to linger in a couple of the town's more pleasant watering holes. I am back in Margate by 11o'clock after one of the more gentle days on my feet - 14165 steps.

01/11/05 TT No.93: Stephen Harris - Leyton Orient U18 (FL Youth Alliance Cup)

Saturday 29 October 2005; Leyton Orient U18 2-1 QPR U18; Football League Youth Alliance Cup; att c.85, no programme issued, admission free

It would not have occurred to me to write about this game were it not for the fact that there was a little gaggle of groundhoppers in attendance on Saturday morning, en route to afternoon games elsewhere.  I guess there may be others who visit such grounds and who might be interested to hear of Orient’s latest youth team venue.

As a staunch O’s-man I try to get along to watch the youth teams occasionally, and the re-location this season to a ground just 25 minutes walk from my house means that I have seen more of the Under 18s lately than usual. Games are now played at the Ive Farm Sports Ground, which is in Ive Farm Lane, off Church Road, Leyton, E10.  If you find yourself in Ive Farm Close, you are very near, but not quite in the right place. Orient youth sides have played here in the past – but not for 10 years at least – and the ground has been used at various times by intermediate sides including Walthamstow Trojans. But when I passed by one day around a year ago, the site appeared to be lying semi-derelict. The place has seen much recent renovation and has a greatly improved pitch, but still provides rather little for spectators. There is a brand new dressing room block, which provides a tiny bit of shelter from the elements depending upon which way the wind is blowing. The pitch itself is within a gravel running track and is roped off on one side. Most spectators stand behind the rope, on the long-jump run-up. No refreshments are available, and Orient have not issued teamsheets for youth games played away from the main stadium for many years. Games kick-off at 11am, and the attitude of the club is generally one of surprise that anyone should be interested enough to turn up and watch.

Personally, I would like to think that potential professional players of this age group would be taught to respect the referee’s decisions, to button the swearing and to concentrate on their own game. This never seems to be the QPR way though and we were treated to a very physical and verbal approach from the visitors. Fortunately, the young O’s did not rise to it and answered in the best possible way by playing the better football. Unfortunately, one or two parents seemed less restrained in their reactions.  Orient were cruising at 2-0  when their keeper took a blow to the head. He staggered to his feet, said he was fine and promptly let in a goal. He was then taken away to be stitched up, and young Congolese triallist forward Tierry Makengo-Miangu (definitely a name to watch out for) took over between the sticks for the last 10 minutes.

Nearby Brisbane Road is itself worth a look for anyone who has not been there recently. It is currently three-sided, with two new stands and a gap where the North Terrace used to be. The only familiar survivor is a truncated Main Stand – the stand which was moved here from Mitcham Stadium in the 1950s. Otherwise, the old ground is starting to take on something of a modern appearance, and has residential blocks appearing in each corner.
Match rating 3*

01/11/05 TT No.92: Barry Neighbour - Risden Wood FC (FA Sunday Cup)

I usually avoid the M25 as much as possible but a Sunday trip on 30th October 2005 to Waltham Abbey proved to tempting. The game I saw was Risden Wood 2 Travellers 1 AET. FA Sunday Cup 2nd Round, Rating: 2*, 24 Page Programme full of news and features included in £2 Admission, Attendance about 60.

My last visit to Waltham Abbey saw one of my all time lowest attendances (11) the crowd was a bit higher for this game but the ground is still a disappointment with stinging nettles growing through the pitch surround and litter strewn around the ground making it look a very scruffy and a not well looked after venue. There is covering down one side and behind the goal but with no seats as such.

The game itself was also a disappointment with Travellers taking a deserved First half lead then the Home side equalizing at the beginning of the Second half. This was One of these games devoid of real chances and we were praying for a goal to relieve the tedium of Extra Time but it was not to be and as so often happens in these situations Risden Wood scored in the First Minute of Extra Time, If only they had scored a minute earlier it would have saved us sitting through another Half Hour. There were no other goals and the Home side progressed through to the next round.
I do have a small number of programmes available from this game which I will swop for any other Sunday game. Just send to me at `The Beehive` 23 High Street, Little Sandhurst, Sandhurst, Berkshire GU47 8LJ and I will send by return of post.

End