Pie and Mushy Peas

Dorking Wanderers FC

2011-12-24T23:59:00.000Z

Dorking Wanderers 3 Storrington 2 - Sussex County League, Division Two

Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately 25 miles south of London. Dorking began life as a small staging on Stane Street, the Roman Road that linked London to Chichester on the English Channel. Dorking appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as the Manor of Dorchinges. It was held by William the Conqueror. Its domesday assets were: one church, 3 mills worth 15s 4d, 16 ploughs, 3 acres of meadow, woodland and herbage worth 88 hogs. It rendered £18. Subsequent Lords of the Manor were to include the Dukes of Norfolk, who lived in Dorking until they moved to Arundel. One of them is buried in Dorking churchyard. In the Medieval period, Dorking was a prosperous agricultural and market town, benefitting from its position on the junction of a number of important roads and tracks. Westhumble is a village 1.2 miles north of Dorking. With large country fields, meadows and National Trust landmarks, such as Box Hill and Polesden Lacey close by, Westhumble is a focus for ramblers.

A rare opportunity to take in a match on Christmas Eve and a new ground too. There was a handful of matches scheduled in the Sussex County League, but the one that caught my eye was at Westhumble Playing Field. This venue had been on my ‘to do’ list following an earlier recommendation by Colin Marshall.

I was surprised when purchasing a ticket at Cheshunt station, to hear that I was the second person travelling to Box Hill & Westhumble that morning. However, when questioning further, I ascertained that it was none other than Dave Hughes already en route to Surrey. Strangely, Saturday is the only day of the week when our destination only has an hourly train service. Sunday ramblers would appear to be a greater priority than the occasional Saturday ground hopper!

The journey from London Victoria takes about 50 minutes. On leaving the station, one should head for the A24. Immediately prior to the junction with this road, you pass The Stepping Stones public house. This Pieman spied at least three handpumps at the bar. I did think that this hostelry would have got some of my custom after the match, if had not been offered a lift. However, Flysouth Bysouth reports the pub as being closed between 15:00 and 17:00 (not an issue following a conventional 15:00 kick off –Ed).

The Westhumble Playing Field home of Dorking Wanderers FC is just a further few minutes walk along the A24 heading south, having turned right at the previous junction. The ground backs on to the railway line. The unique (at least for me – Ed) feature of this ground is that almost everything is wooden. Club buildings, railings and fencing. The match kicked off at 13:30 due to Dorking Wanderers not having floodlights. We had arrived with plenty of time to spare but many others were taking in their second Sussex County League match of the day and a few were unsuccessful in securing a copy of the £1:00 match programme.

This match pitted together 3rd v 4th and despite a bit of unnecessary niggle (it is the festive period lads) was slow to get going. Visitors Storrington FC took the lead before the break with a well-taken goal. When they scored again in the second period, it looked very much that all three points would be heading to Sussex. However, the Surrey side had other ideas, levelling through to headers. The match was becoming progressively eventful.

A decent strike from the left edge of the box sealed the win for the home side and a late red card summed up Storrington’s lot. From a neutral perspective it would be easy to offer “they deserved a share of the spoils” view but us hopper types love the drama of a three-goal fight back. £5 was good value for a fine afternoon’s entertainment. I have long enjoyed visiting grounds in the Sussex County and to have Box Hill as the backdrop here was a real bonus.

It was good to see many familiar faces on a pleasant afternoon when the south of England fared better than elsewhere weatherwise. Football on Christmas Eve – I could get used to this! A lift back to Orpington (thanks Adrian) and a fast London Bridge service from there, ensured that I was back at Cheshunt for 17:40.

Admission: £5:00
Programme: £1-00 (44 pages)
Attendance: 184
Tea/Coffee: 70p
Fare: £5:30 travel card + £2:80 extension (both with Gold Card discount)

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Shamrock Rovers FC

2011-12-15T23:59:00.095Z

Shamrock Rovers 0 Tottenham Hotspur 4 - UEFA Europa League, Group Stage

Dublin is situated at the mouth of the River Liffey. It is bordered by a low mountain range to the south and surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west. A north-south division has traditionally existed, with the River Liffey as the divider. The Northside is generally seen as working-class, while the Southside is seen as middle to upper middle class. Similar to much of northwest Europe, Dublin experiences a maritime climate with mild winters, cool summers, and a lack of temperature extremes. The average maximum January temperature is 8.3 °C (47 °F), while the average maximum July temperature is 19.6 °C (67 °F). Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.

Tallaght Stadium is a purpose built, state-of-the-art stadium, which hosts Shamrock Rovers home games. The stadium opened in March 2009, with capacity for over 3,000 spectators. In August 2009, the second phase of the ground was completed, bringing the capacity to 6,500. The stadium is owned by the local authority, South Dublin County Council, with Shamrock Rovers as anchor tenants. Located in the centre of Tallaght, on Whitestown Way, the stadium is easily accessible by public transport. The stadium is just a few minutes walk from the Red Luas line terminal at The Square Shopping Centre and numerous bus stops.

An early morning flight from London Heathrow enabled us to reach central Dublin before midday. We were unable to check in to our hotel before 2pm and opted to fill the gap with a visit to The Confession Box, where this Pieman enjoyed some Guinness! An earlier visit to Dublin the previous June had alerted us to this particular pub and once again we were not disappointed.

The match was scheduled for an early 18:00 kick off and therefore it was necessary to reach the ground earlier. This also assisted in getting a few daylight photographs at the ground. To reach Tallight by public transport, the easiest option is to catch the tram (LUAS) which runs from the city centre. The journey takes around 40 minutes. For €7.50 we purchased an all day travel ticket covering the buses and the trams. The fast express bus service from the airport is also covered.

Outside the ground, I was delighted to meet Frans from FootballFans.eu who had flown in from the Netherlands for the match. This Pieman was presented with a special FootballFans.eu jacket in recognition of attendance at numerous matches over many years. If not familiar with the website, have a look. However, beware - it is addictive!

The Tallaght Stadium boasts two near identical covered seated stands. The main stand being adjacent to the club administration block which also contains the club shop. For this season’s Europa Cup, Group Stage matches; temporary seating had also been installed behind one of the goals. Behind the other goal there are no spectator facilities.

Tottenham Hotspur, as has been the case throughout this competition this season, fielded a team lacking most of their current first team regulars. Despite a comfortable 4-0 in this match, Spurs failed to qualify for next round of the competition. It is no great secret the management of the team was focused on different aims. The pick of the goals being a delightful chip from Andros Townsend.

After the match we caught the tram stopping off at the Black Horse (tram stop Black Horse – Ed) and were able to watch Udinese v Celtic live on TV in a later match. This Pieman was enjoying some Beamish Stout in this hostelry when shortly before 10pm the place became flooded with senior citizens arriving for a late bingo session (you failed to mention that when recommending this pub Andy Scott - Ed) Time to catch another tram.

Attendance: 7500

Admission: € 25

Programme: € 4

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Enfield Town FC

2011-11-16T23:59:00.165Z

Enfield Town 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Friendly Match

Enfield Town used to be a small market town in the County of Middlesex on the edge of the forest about a day's travel north of London. As Greater London has grown, Enfield Town and its surrounds have become a residential suburb. The current borough was formed in 1965 from the former area of the Municipal Borough of Southgate, the Municipal Borough of Enfield and the Municipal Borough of Edmonton. The armorial bearings of these three boroughs were also merged. The world's first solid state circuitry colour televisions were manufactured by Ferguson at their now closed plant in Enfield. The very first Dishwasher to be mass produced was in Hotpoint's now closed Enfield plant. Good Bobwin's Chauffeur, Steve Martin, attended the local Ambrose Fleming school.

Barclays Bank in Enfield was the first place in the world to have an ATM or cash machine, it was officially opened in June 1967 by Reg Varney a television actor and personality most famous for his lead role on the comedy series On the Buses. Enfield Town FC was founded on 23 June 2001 by the Enfield Supporters' Trust after Trust members considered that the regime in charge of Enfield FC no longer had the interests of the club at heart and lacked sufficient will to bring about the return of the club to its home town, having left Southbury Road in 1999. The club originally played at Brimsdown Rovers' Goldsdown Road ground. In October 2008, Enfield Council announced a deal with the club allowing the club to relocate to the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, close to Enfield's old Southbury Road ground. At the end of the 2009–10 season the club was awarded a grant of £81,504 by the Football Stadium Improvement Fund towards the first phase of works on the new ground.

After spending the first few months of the 2011–12 stadium groundsharing at the Cheshunt Stadium in Cheshunt, they moved into the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in November 2011, with the first match being a vicory against Harefield United in the Middlesex Senior Cup.

I travelled to the match by car but can confirm that this venue is within easy walking distance of both Enfield Town and Southbury stations. In addition but buses 217 and 317 stop a couple of minutes walk from the stadium. Alight at the Cambridge Gardens stop. The nearest pub (there is also a licensed bar in the stadium – Ed) is the Halfway House (Toby Carvery). Our correspondent Paul Throp reports decently priced real ale on this particular evening. The pub is a short walk from the stadium at the A10 junction with Carterhatch Lane. Behind the pub is Donkey Lane which is the approach road the the stadium.

Like many, I am not a great fan of football within athletics arenas. However, it has to be said that Enfield town FC has done a tremendous job in reducing the impact of this. Both covered end terraces are within the track, providing the potential for a far better atmosphere and view. The playing surface also deserves a mention, as it was particularly good.

There are also covered seated stands on either side of the pitch outside the track. The main area being part of the existing Grade II listed pavilion and grandstand. The art deco structure reminded one fan of Southgate station. It was designed in 1939 and opened in 1953. Groundtastic reports that this is one of only two Grade II listed structures currently hosting non-league football. Great Yarmouth Town’s Victorian grandstand being the other.

A few familiar faces

Enfield Town FC will have been pleased with their win over a very youthful Spurs side. They will also hope that many of the near 1000 crowd will venture back along Donkey Lane in the future to watch this supporter trust based club play just a few hundred yards away from their spiritual Southbury Road base. It really was not that long ago that the original club was the top non-league side in the country. Twice winning the conference before the days of automatic promotion to the Football League.

Attendance: 969

Admission: £10:00

Programme: £2-00 (32 pages)

Tea: 80p

Aberdeen Angus Cheeseburger: £2:70

Bread Pudding: 50p

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Rubin Kazan FC

2011-11-03T23:59:00.109Z

Rubin Kazan 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - UEFA Europa League, Group Stage

Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the right to brand itself as the "Third Capital" of Russia. The Kazan Kremlin is a World Heritage Site. Since 2000, the city has been undergoing a total renovation. The historical centre, including its Kremlin, has been rebuilt. Kazan celebrated its millennium in 2005, after a city-organised historical commission settled on 1005 as the official year of the city's founding.

Kazan Kremlin

Курбан Бердыев прокомментировал итоги встречи Динамо Рубин и ответил на вопросы корреспондента. – Удовлетворён игрой, особенно во втором тайме. Если в первом таме было небольшое волнение и у "Динамо" были моменты, то во втором тайме ребята сыграли хорошо.Сегрей сыграл на том уровне на котором он привык играть. Это его стабильный уровень. Так он играл в 2008 и 2009 году, и в прошлом году он хорошо стоял. Сегодня он сыграл на своём уровне.

We reached Kazan via Moscow on connecting Aeroflot flights. Reaching our hotel in the early hours meant being able to spend the day of the match looking around the city. My first impression was that this place is one enormous building site (with not a lot of building work taking place – Ed). Many of the pavements are uneven or broken and you have to be careful to maintain your footing.

Having explored for a while, we were able to gain entry to the Central'nyj stadion Kazan' to have a look around and take some photographs in daylight. We were able to view the contained area where the visiting support would be housed, accepting that this would facilitate a poor view compared to elsewhere in the stadium.

The nearby Mirage Hotel contains the Joker Bar, which apart from being a music venue and restaurant , also doubles as a homebrew pub. This Pieman was pleased to be able to sample all three of the beers available. Helles 4.5%, Marzen 4.35% and Dunkel 4.4%. Quality brews with Marzen being my favourite on this occasion. It was important to get some solid refreshment before the match and we were delighted to locate Kazan Ashkane Chai Yorti. This busy café/restaurant serves hearty Tartar food at very reasonable prices. This pieman indulged beef dumplings in gravy, beef with mashed potatoes followed by a rather nice cross between custard tart and cheesecake.

The stadium is typical of many foreign venues, in that the pitch is enclosed by an athletics track. Half the spectator areas are under cover. On entry to the stadiun, we were informed that our tickets were not the visitors section (they were – Ed) and we were waved towards the central part of the main stand. We failed to challenge this assertion and opted to get a really good view of the match instead! The complimentary food in the press area was another welcome bonus, including more of that custard tart cheesecake. The home support were excited to witness a 1-0 victory over a scratch Spurs XI. A result that means qualification from this group is still undecided.

On arrival in Kazan, we had travelled to our hotel by Taxi. Being adventurous, we opted to use public transport for the return leg. The local metro terminus at Prospekt Pobedy connects with the 97 bus to the airport (if you can find the stop!). Metro fares are 15 rubles per journey and the bus fare is 38 rubles covering the 40 minute journey.

Metro

Attendance: 21,250

Admission: 300 rubles
Programme: 32 pages (no cover price but sold at stadium for 100 rubles)

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Morecambe FC

2011-10-08T18:14:00.000+01:00

Morecambe 1 AFC Wimbledon 2 - Football League Two

In 1846, the Morecambe Harbour and Railway Company was formed to build a harbour on Morecambe Bay, close to the fishing village of Poulton-le-Sands, and a connecting railway. By 1850, the railway linked to Skipton, Keighley and Bradford in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and a settlement began to grow around the harbour and railway, to service the port and as a seaside resort. The settlement expanded to absorb Poulton, and later the villages of Bare and Torrisholme. The settlement started to be referred to as "Morecambe", possibly after the harbour and railway. In 1889 the new name was officially adopted. Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort in the mid-twentieth century. While the nearby resort of Blackpool attracted holiday-makers predominantly from the Lancashire mill towns, Morecambe had more visitors from Yorkshire (due to its railway connection) and Scotland. Between 1956 and 1989 it was the home of the Miss Great Britain beauty contest.

2009–10 was Morecambe's last season at their former home, Christie Park. This Pieman was privilaged to have attended the last league match played at the previous venue.Within days of the end of the 2009-10 season, demolition of the stadium commenced and site clearance began. By mid August 2010 the superstructure of a new Sainbury's supermarket occupied the spot where the stadium once stood.

On that previous occasion, this Pieman opted to stand on the Paddock Terrace, in front of the Main Stand. Ciderman and I had already decided that we were going to have fish and chips from the almost adjacent shop, after the match. Accordingly, we did not avail ourselves of the tremendous food available from the serving hatch on the said terrace – something we regretted (although the fish and chips were great – Ed).

We caught the 07:30 Glasgow train from London Euston, arriving at Lancaster just before 10:00. From our previous visit, we knew that the public houses in Lancaster were good and opted to delay our onward journey to Morecambe. The large Wetherspoon breakfast was washed down by a few quality ales at previously visited hostelries. Old Faithful (4.0%) from the Tyrell Brewery was the pick of the bunch for this Pieman.

We then caught the 13:25 , single carriage train service for the short 10-minute connection to Morecambe. This train was jam packed and appeared to contain the majority of the AFC Wimbledon fans that had opted to travel by train. On arrival at Morecambe, we strolled to the Globe Arena. The route, surprisingly not signposted, is fairly straightforward and took no more than 20 minutes.

The Globe Arena, surprisingly for a new build perhaps, has terracing on three sides, with just the main stand being seated. Behind the goals are covered terraces and along the side is an open terrace, replicating the car wash terrace at Christie Park. The main covered stand runs the full length of the pitch and also houses the club administration and corporate facilities.

That missed penalty

As for the match, Christian Jolley's late winner took AFC Wimbledon up to third in League Two as they beat promotion rivals Morecambe. Jolley hit the post early on for the Dons, who then won a penalty when Gary McDonald fouled Luke Moore, but Barry Roche saved Moore's powerful effort. Morecambe took the lead when Stewart Drummond finished following Laurence Wilson's cross from the left wing. Jack Midson levelled by drilling home a low shot from 18 yards and Jolley won it with a header in off the post.

Service with a smile - this lady delivered the Pie and Peas to the Pieman!

We caught the 17:20 single carriage back to Lancaster before enjoying a further refreshment break in this fine city. Back into Euston for 22:45 a long but very enjoyable day out. The football was good with both teams attempting to play a passing game. £14:00 well spent by this Pieman!

Attendance: 2631

Admission: £14:00 (side terrace)

Programme: £3-00 (68 pages)
Pie, Peas and Gravy: £3:00

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PAOK Thessaloniki FC

2011-09-15T23:59:00.049+01:00

Panthessaloníkios Athlitikós Ómilos Konstantinoupolitón 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - Europa League, Group Stage

Thessaloniki, which is one of the few Greek cities to have experienced constant cultural development, has continuously played a significant role in both Greek and world history. For over 4000 years, from the 3rd millennium B.C. up to the present day, Thessaloniki has been a city which has attracted the interest of both specialists and the general public. Visitors to the city can enjoy the combination of aesthetic delight, historical and archaeological knowledge and natural beauty. When king Cassander of Macedonia founded Thessaloniki in 315 B.C, on the site of the Ancient Greek town of Therme, joining 26 townships at the head of the gulf bearing the same name, he named the city after his wife, the half-sister of Alexander the Great. The city subsequently gained the reputation of being "Mother of all Macedonia", a commercial centre possessing connections with all the ports of the East, its own coinage and a cultural development equal to that of the other Greek cities.

Μέσα από αυτήν την υπηρεσία έχετε τη δυνατότητα να υποβάλλετε αίτηση για κάποιο πιστοποιητικό και να μπορείτε να δείτε οποιαδήποτε στιγμή σε τι κατάσταση βρίσκεται το αίτημά σας. Σας παρέχεται επίσης η δυνατότητα να επιλέξετε τον τόπο και τον τρόπο παραλαβής που επιθυμείτε. Σας επισημαίνουμε ότι για να αποκτήσετε πρόσβαση στην συγκεκριμένη υπηρεσία, έπειτα από την ηλεκτρονική εγγραφή σας θα πρέπει να προσέλθετε στο Δήμο έτσι ώστε να σας αποδοθεί το δικαίωμα χρήσης της

For this first group stage match, we flew from London Heathrow on the Tuesday evening, via Zurich, with Swiss Air. There is a 24-hour bus service from the airport to Thessaloniki centre (route 78 & N78). The fare is 90c (slightly cheaper if you buy a ticket in advance). Our arrival was in the early hours. Accordingly, we were looking to explore Thessaloniki that afternoon. This Pieman was keen to sample the locally brewed beers and with the exception of Fix found them to be pleasantly palatable. In particular, Axa, Mythos and Verginia. This being the day before the match, we took the opportunity to visit the city’s stadiums. We started at the Olympic Stadium, the nearest to the centre. This stadium is predominantly an athletics venue. It was surprising to see so many people running during the mid afternoon heat (39° C) but I guess they know what they are doing!

After one of many leisurely refreshment stops, we moved on to the Toumpas Stadium, the venue for the following evening’s entertainment. During the day time (at least on Wednesdays – Ed), the road in front of the main stand, hosts a rather smelly street market. At the time of our arrival they were clearing away but in doing so the still air was extremely fishy! We were able to enter the ground to take photographs and witness the rehearsal of the laying of the Europa League flag at the centre of the pitch. Complete nonsense in my opinion but people seem to like the hyped up tripe! The stadium is uncovered with the exception of the main stand but affords a good view of the pitch from all areas.

A short amble through the streets (20 minutes) led us to the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, the ground of archrivals Aris Salonika. With a capacity of 22,800, this venue is compact, when compared to the bowl at PAOK. Once again we were allowed access to the ground and picked up match programmes from the previous weekend home fixture v Atromitos (0-1). On such a hot day, it was nice that the club provided some cold refreshing water to help me on my way.

By the evening of the match, there was no evidence of the smelly street market outside the ground. There was a vibrant atmosphere in the stadium, particularly in the period immediately prior to the match. The home support was choreographed in reaction and song, reminiscent but not quite matching that witnessed at Besiktas. An eventful 90 minutes failed to produce a goal but there were a number of chances for both teams. PAOK thought they had taken the lead from the spot but when forced to retake they failed. Tottenham Hotspur’s gamble in fielding a shadow XI was not punished as they more than matched their hosts.

Afterwards we were bussed back to the centre of town following a lengthy lock in. Our return flight the following morning, involved a change at Dusseldorf, where some large beers facilitated this Pieman’s acclimatisation back into Northern Europe mode.

Attendance: 24,000

Admission: 25 Euro
Programme: None

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Chesterfield FC

2011-09-03T23:59:00.113+01:00

Chesterfield 0 Leyton Orient 0 - Football League One

Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies 24 miles north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Chesterfield began as a Roman fort, which was built around 70 AD. However by the early 2nd century the area was pacified and the Romans moved on. After the Romans left Britain the Saxons arrived. They called a Roman fort a caester. They called open land where animals grazed a feld. So the area around the fort was called Caester feld. In time the name changed to Chesterfield. Chesterfield is perhaps best known for the "Crooked Spire" of its Church of Saint Mary and All Saints. The spire is both twisted and leaning, twisting 45 degrees and leaning 9 feet 6 inches from its true centre. Paul Smith, webmaster of Spurs Odyssey is a notable resident of Chesterfield.

"Official Programme?"

This Pieman had previously visited Chesterfield for a football match. On that occasion back in 1984, both Chris Waddle and Pail Allen made their debuts for Tottenham Hotspur at Saltergate in a pre-season friendly – a long time ago! With Chesterfield FC now residing at their new home, it was good to have an opportunity, facilitated by the international break, to visit the new place.

Our train from London St Pancras arrived at Chesterfield shortly before 11:00 and a sort walk enabled us to visit the Spa Lane Vaults. At this Wetherspoon establishment, my first choice was Delilah (3.7%) from Maxim followed by Owd Bull (3.9%) from the Hereford Brewery.

Prior to this hostelry the bells of saint Mary and All Saints were ringing to celebrate a wedding and when we passed by en-route the nearby Rutland, a second ceremony was due to take place. Could be that Debyshire couples are keen for their big day to involve that crooked spire?

They came from the East

At the Rutland this Pieman delighted in the Best Bitter (4.2%) from the Chesterfield based Brampton Brewery. From here it was off to the match. It took no more than 20 minutes to walk along Sheffield Road to the B2net Stadium. However, as an alternative there are plenty of buses that run along this route.

The new stadium is well appointed, with identical stands behind the goals. The stands along the side differ in that the main West Stand is a taller structure, housing the club administration and corporate facilities. Our view from the opposite East Stand was very good. Unfortunately, the match was not one of the best I have seen. Both Chesterfield and visitors, Leyton Orient are struggling this season and occupied the bottom two places in the table. The scoreless game presented Orient with their first point of the season and consequently Chesterfield doubled their tally.

The match was crying out for a goal but it wasn't to be. After the match we adjourned to the splendid Derby Tup, just a couple of minutes walk along Sheffield Road. This is another quality ale house and Timothy Taylor Landlord did not disappoint (as ever –Ed). We caught the bus back to town and a revisit to the Rutland facilitated a couple of pints of Buxton Best (4.3%) from the Buxton Brewery. Our train back to London was conveniently timed at 19:39 and we were able to reflect on a fine day out. The match may not have been the most entertaining but the friendly locals and good ale more than compensated.

Attendance: 6197

Admission: £21:00

Programme: £3-00 (68 pages)

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Brighton & Hove Albion FC

2011-08-02T20:39:00.031+01:00

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Tottenham Hotspur 3 - Friendly - Official Opening of Stadium

Brighton is located on the south coast of England, and together with its immediate neighbour Hove forms the city of Brighton and Hove. Brighthelmston dates from before the Domesday Book (1086), but it emerged as an important health resort during the 18th century and became a popular destination for day-trippers after the arrival of the railway in 1841. Brighton experienced rapid population growth reaching a peak of over 160,000 by 1961. Modern Brighton forms part of a conurbation stretching along the coast, with a population of around 480,000. Brighton is a popular place to visit, welcoming 8 million tourists each year. With its hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment facilities, which additionally serve a substantial business conference industry. The modern city of Brighton and Hove is also an educational centre with two universities and many English language schools.

For many years Brighton and Hove Albion FC was based at the Goldstone Ground in Hove, until the board of directors decided to sell the stadium. The sale, implemented by majority shareholder Bill Archer and his chief executive David Bellotti, proved controversial, and the move provoked widespread protests against the board. The club received little if any money from this sale. For two years, from 1997–99, the club shared the ground of Gillingham, before returning to Brighton to play at Withdean Stadium.

On 28 October 2005 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced that the application for Falmer had been successful, much to the joy and relief of all the fans. Lewes District Council contested John Prescott's decision to approve planning permission for Falmer, forcing a judicial review. This was based on a minor error in Prescott's original approval which neglected to state that some car parking for the stadium is in the Lewes district as opposed to the Brighton & Hove unitary authority. This caused further delay. Once the judicial review ruled in favour of the stadium, Lewis District Council said that they would not launch further appeals. Building of the 22,500-seater Falmer Stadium started in December 2008. On 31 May 2011 the club officially completed the handover and were given the keys to the American Express Community Stadium, signifying the end of 12 years without a home.

Remarkably there was a special offer on Southern trains which meant that single fares to/from Brighton, could be purchased for 45p with a railcard discount applied. Our carriage from London Victoria was shared with the Millwall Ladies Rugby Club, en-route to a sevens tournament at Worthing. On arrival at Brighton, we headed for the Post & Telegraph for the big Wetherspoon breakfast. Whilst at this establishment, your Pieman enjoyed Brighton Blonde 3.9% from W J King and BOB 4.0% from the Wickwar Brewing Co.

On a warm day it was good to call in at the Lord Nelson, where Harvey's Sussex Bitter 4.0% was in fine form. A few doors along at the Prince Albert, I opted for Hophead 3.8% from the Dark Star Brewing Co. Along with the earlier WJ King offering, this was turning out to be a fine day for Sussex ales.

The Falmer Stadium (American Express Community Stadium as per sponsorship) is impressive and has been built with expansion possible. The Main (West) Stand is the showpiece area. A tiered structure with corporate dinning facilities, it must be dreamland for those Brighton fans that endured the Withdean and Gillingham era following the loss of the Goldstone Ground.

At the Quadrant there was time for a couple of pints of Partridge 4.0% from the previously recorded Dark Star Brewery. Towards the station at the popular hostelry, The Evening Star, further Dark Star ales were consumed in the form of American Pale Ale 4.8% and Carafa Jade 5.0%. Catching the 20:19 back to London Victoria concluded an excellent day out.

Attendance: 17,000

Admission: £21:60

Programme: £3-00 (100 pages)

Fare: 90p Return from London Victoria! The journey to/from Falmer was covered by the match ticket.

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European Football Weekends - Danny Last

University College Dublin FC

2011-06-24T23:59:00.213+01:00

University College Dublin 2 Derry City 2 - League of Ireland, Premier Division

Dublin was originally founded as a Viking settlement; it evolved into the Kingdom of Dublin and became the island's primary city following the Norman invasion. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century, and for a brief period was the second largest city within the British Empire and the fifth largest in Europe. After the Act of Union in 1801, Dublin entered a period of stagnation, but remained the economic centre for most of the island. Following the partition of Ireland in 1922, the new parliament, the Oireachtas, was located in Leinster House. Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State and later of the Republic of Ireland. Dublin is situated at the mouth of the River Liffey. It is bordered by a low mountain range to the south and surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west. A north-south division has traditionally existed, with the River Liffey as the divider.

University College Dublin A.F.C. was founded in 1895 as the Catholic University Medical School Football Club. They began playing regular games the following year. A First XI played College games against other Universities and a Second XI entered outside competitions. The club was founder members of the Leinster Junior League in 1896 and reached the semi-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup in 1897. The club became University College Dublin when the new University annexed the Medical school in 1908. Since the 2008 season the club has played at the UCD Bowl, also home to the college's rugby team.

A reasonably cheap flight with Mr O'Leary from Stansted facilitated a lunchtime arrival in Dublin City Centre. For 6.20 we were able to purchase a Dublin Bus 'Rambler' ticket. This ticket enables a full day's travel on all Dublin Bus services including the fast 747 Airlink bus. The 747 route is toll (motorway and tunnel).

Derry City Ultras

As had been forecast, it was a very wet day in Dublin, so much so that this scribe was forced to take refuge in a couple of city centre pubs. It would have been rude not to partake in sampling the stout (purely for research purposes - Ed) and this Pieman was happy to comply. Having checked in to the Phoenix Park Travelodge, we continued to use our Rambler ticket to get back to the centre and then outwards to the UCD campus at Belfield. There is a bus terminus within the Campus, served by a couple of routes, but many other services also pass the entrance to the site.

Our concerns that the match might be in doubt due to the heavy rain were allayed on sight of the excellent playing surface at the UCD Bowl. There was absolutely no surface water on a pitch that must have excellent drainage. The pitch would not be out of place at the highest level - it was that good. It was interesting to see that 3 other matches (Bohemians, St. Patricks Athletic and Shelbourne) also took place in Dublin on the same night.

On such a wet occasion, the covered seated stand, was a very welcome facility. There was a good atmosphere within and the travelling fans from Derry were in fine voice. My pick from their repertoire being their rendition of Teenage Kicks. The stand is the only spectator viewing facility at the ground.

The college side has been struggling this season, conceding six goals in the previous home match. By contrast, Derry City is having a good season and would most likely have been confident of all three points from this match. Indeed the visitors took the initiative with some storming attacking play early on, only to find Ger Barron, the UCD stopper, in fine form. Gradually UCD started to play their way in and in the solitary minute added on to the first period, Dean Marshall fired home.

Danny Lafferty's headed goal for Derry on 65 minutes was immediately followed by another for UCD as Graham Rusk charged upfield to fire home. In truth the shot from the edge of the box was fumbled by Gerard Doherty before crossing the line. UCD looked to be on the way to three points but Scotsman Stewart Greacen's diving header on 84 minutes levelled the match. This Pieman believes a draw to be a fair result.

Guinness Watch

The Confession Box (Marlborough Street) € 4.00
The Flowing Tide (Marlborough Street) €4.15
The Oval (Abbey Street) €4.25
The Halfway House (Navan Road) €4.50
Kate’s Cottage (Store Street) €4.00
Robert Reade (Store Street) €4.45

Attendance: 258
Admission: €15
Programme: €3
Tea: €2
Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich: €2

Photographic Archive

FootballFans.eu

Cogenhoe United FC

2011-04-26T23:59:00.105+01:00

Cogenhoe United 1 Northampton Spencer 1 - United Counties League, Premier Division

The village of Cogenhoe (pronounced Cook-know) overlooks the valley of the River Nene and is some five miles east of Northampton. Cogenhoe is situated on high ground overlooking the Nene Valley. It has grown into a large village with varied amenities including football, cricket and bowls clubs. People are believed to have lived at Cogenhoe for at least 4,000 years, one of the early settlements lying to the east of the village. Later on the Celts lived there. In the Roman period, a corn-drying kiln was built in the centre of the village and a villa estate developed out of an Iron Age settlement.

The early days of Cogenhoe United FC were not documented. The club was re-formed for the 1967-8 season, competing in the Central Northants Football Combination. By 1978 the club had progressed from the Second Division into the Premier Division. In a six year period thirteen winners' and six runners-up trophies were won. Development of facilities became paramount for promotion to the United Counties Football League. A lease on 3.6 acres of agricultural land was obtained from the Marquis of Northampton. Compton Park was now on the map and purpose-built facilities were developed with a spectator stand and the team gained promotion into the United Counties League in 1985.

A Tuesday evening fixture at the back end of the season enticed us to Northamptonshire. Our route via the A10 and A1 demanded a refreshment stop. This was facilitated by Sainsbury’s at Biggleswade where a fine plate of fish, chips and mushy peas was washed down by a large mug of tea. Onwards, our route skirting Bedford was hindered slightly by a slow moving lorry. We still made it to Compton Park with time to spare.

On a warm sunny day, I would imagine this venue to be a great place to watch football. The high setting and adjacent open countryside provide a picturesque setting. However, no such warm weather for the Pieman’s visit and on a distinctly chilly evening a woolly hat and rain jacket were pressed in to immediate service.

I liked Compton Park, a tidy ground and well looked after. Very impressive when considering how relatively small Cogenhoe is. On one side of the pitch is a covered seated stand, On the opposite side are the dugouts. Behind the goal at the clubhouse end of the ground is a small covered terrace area. For this match a dog watched proceedings from here and I got the impression that this was a regular occurrence.

The clubhouse boasts a licenced bar and I did spot bottled real ale therein during the half time interval. There is also a refreshment window serving hot food (sausage rolls and scotch pies on this occasion) and drinks. The ground is fully enclosed although recent wind damage has brought down some of the fence at the far end of the ground.

In difficult conditions, this local derby was played in good spirit. The home side took the lead through Tom McGowan. the visitors drew level courtesy of Adam Hancock. Overall this scribe believes the draw was probably a fair result. Our journey after the match was straightforward and I was back at Cheshunt for 11pm.

Admission: £5:00
Programme: No (something about a bank holiday and printers!) team sheet supplied at entrance
Attendance: 57
Tea: 75p

Photographic Archive

Huntingdon Town FC

2011-04-25T23:59:00.039+01:00

Huntingdon Town 2 Bourne Town 1 - United Counties League, Division One

Huntingdon was founded by the Anglo-Saxons and Danes. Mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, it seems that it was a staging post for Danish raids outside of east Anglia until 917, when the Danes relocated to Tempsford, before being crushed by Edward the Elder. It prospered successively as a bridging point of the River Great Ouse, as a market town, and in the 18th and 19th centuries as a coaching centre, most notably The George Hotel. The town has a well-preserved medieval bridge that used to serve as the main route of Ermine Street over the river. The bridge only ceased to be the sole crossing point to Godmanchester in 1975, with the advent of what is now the A14 bypass. The town lies on the north bank of the River Great Ouse, opposite Godmanchester and close to the market town of St Ives in the east and the village of Brampton in the west. Huntingdon now incorporates the village of Hartford to the east, and the developing areas of Oxmoor, Stukeley Meadows and Hinchingbrooke to the north and west.

The current Huntingdon Town FC was formed in 1996. Prior to this, the club had been known as Sun FC and previously, the Montague. In resurrecting the name of the defunct Huntingdon Town FC, a football identity has been created for the town. Via the Cambridgeshire League, the club made good progress reaching the United Counties League in 2003.

This was also the time that the club moved to Jubilee Park on the outskirts of town at Kings Ripton Road. Our Easter Monday jaunt to this location was facilitated by a drive of little over an hour from Cheshunt. Our route via Royston was relatively straightforward and we only encountered traffic during our brief time on the A14 from Godmanchester.

On arrival at the ground we were able to park in the enormous car park which is adjacent to the impressive clubhouse building. All facilities are housed within, including a licensed bar and a tea/snack bar. I believe it is fair to say that Jubilee Park is a ‘work in progress’. The only spectator facility is a covered standing area, immediately behind the dugouts. The ground is fully enclosed, but the open surrounding area meant it was quite exposed on what was a sunny but blustery day.

The home side had designs on finishing the season in a respectable 4th position and leading by two goals at the break, through Charlie Bowen and Daniel Drane, meant they were on course for the win that would greatly assist this quest. However, the introduction of the experienced Bourne Town manager Darren Munton, revitalised the visitors. His cross from the right was forced home by Alec Robinson just after the hour and his subsequent contributions almost brought about further counters.

As it was, Huntingdon Town took the points with a narrow victory. Off the field as well as on it, the club is certainly moving in the right direction. The potential to improve the facilities at the ground is there. Like many clubs operating at this level though, support from the local community would enhance these prospects. A trouble free journey home enabled this Pieman to be indoors at 6pm.

Huntingdon Town: Dave Beeney, Louie Medwynter (Jake Pinner), Adam Lacey (Gary Marheineke), Joe Furness, Josh Crick, Charlie Bowen, Simon Isaac, Gerard Evans (Ben Colmer), James Peters, Dan Drane, Ryan Spencer.

Bourne Town: Dan Jarman, Andy Moss, Alec Robinson, Seb Hood, Dan Smith, Arron Jesson, Stuart Lambie, Jack Humphries (Darren Munton), Alex Brockbank (Nico Staffieri), Ikharo Leopoldino (Tom Dunn), Giuliano Staffieri.

Admission: £3:00
Programme: with admission (20 pages)

Attendance: 55

Tea: 50p

Photographic Archive

Sandhurst Town FC

2011-04-21T23:59:00.090+01:00

Sandhurst Town 1 Molesey 2 - Combined Counties League, Premier Division

Sandhurst is situated on the River Blackwater in the south east of the Royal County of Berkshire, close to the boundaries of Hampshire and Surrey. It is a town of about 7,500 houses and 22,000 inhabitants. The place is now best-known as the home of the Royal Military Academy. It was established in the parish as the Royal Military College in 1813, when moved from Great Marlow. In 1946 it was merged with the RMA at Woolwich. Sandhurst now has nine public houses, the oldest being the Rose and Crown in the High Street.

Sandhurst Town FC was formed in 1910 and played in the Reading & District League until 1979. Gradual progression via the Aldershot & District Football League and the Chiltonian Football League saw the club gain senior status in 1990 at the time of being accepted into the Combined Counties Football League.

This midweek jaunt to Berkshire presented a number of options on how to reach Sandhurst by train. From London I could have travelled via Reading or Wokingham, but instead I chose to the Farnborough connection. This involved catching a train from Waterloo to Farnborough Main, then walking to Farnborough North station. I timed this walk at 13 minutes, an exercise that would prove worthwhile after the match. There is an hourly service from North station to/from Sandhurst, two stops towards Reading.

I had a while to wait for my connecting service which facilitated a visit to the Prince of Wales, one of two public houses in the village surrounding the station (the Imperial Arms is being refurbished – Ed). This Pieman’s choice of Hophead from the Dark Star Brewery was refreshingly rewarded.

Bottom Meadow is a ten-minute leisurely stroll from Sandhurst station. Effectively along one straight road. However, Yorktown Road is far from straight as it meanders through the town. The ground is surrounded by fences and on one side is also bordered by the railway embankment. There is a small seated stand on the railway side. However due to an arson attack only the front two rows are available for seating.

The clubhouse building is behind one of the goals, containing changing facilities, toilets and a refreshment area which includes a licensed bar. The dug outs are on the opposite side to the stand. For an end of season encounter, I thought this to be a decent match considering the hard state of the playing surface. The first period was goal free until a minute before the break when Ross Hogston put Sandhurst ahead.

Visitors Molesey levelled a few minutes after the break through Riggon and took all three points courtesy of a 75th minute penalty converted by Luke Elliot. The 21:52 from Sandhurst enabled me to take advantage of that Farnborough interchange and I was able to catch the 22:16 Waterloo service from Farnborough main. Via the Victoria line I was back at Cheshunt for midnight on a day when all my travel plans fell into place.

Admission: £6:00

Programme: with admission (32 pages)

Attendance: 86

Tea: £1:00

Mars: 60p

Fare: £11:05 (£5:75 Surbiton to Sandhust Day Return + £5:30 Zone 1-6 Travelcard - both with Goldcard discount)

Photographic Archive

Newport Pagnell Town FC

2011-03-29T23:59:00.077+01:00

Newport Pagnell Town 2 Peterborough Northern Star 1 - United Counties League, Premier Division

Newport Pagnell is a town in the Borough of Milton Keynes It is separated by the M1 motorway from Milton Keynes itself, though part of the same urban area. Newport Pagnell services on the M1 are named after the town. At one time, Newport Pagnell was one of the largest towns in the County of Buckinghamshire (the assizes of the County were occasionally held there) though today, despite its own substantial expansion, it has been completely dwarfed by the growth of Milton Keynes. There were also at one time two hospitals in Newport Pagnell and six fairs were held for the townsfolk throughout the year.

The Swans were founded in 1963 as Newport Pagnell Wanderers. In 1964 they joined the North Buckinghamshire Football League, winning the Division Three shield at their first attempt. When the only other local team (based at the Aston Martin works) folded, many of their players joined the Swans, who won Division Two and then One in successive seasons, before becoming the almost unbeatable champions for three seasons. In 1972 the Swans joined the South Midlands League, playing at youth club facilities before moving to the current Willen Road ground. At the same time the name changed from Wanderers to Town and in 1973 Newport Pagnell Town joined the United Counties Football League.

This midweek jaunt to Buckinghamshire was facilitated by a car journey. The directions on the club website are accurate and having left the M1 at Junction 14 it was a relatively short journey to the ground. We arrive a little under one hour prior to the scheduled 19:45 kick off. The return of British Summer Time a couple of days previously was very welcome as it assisted in getting the required photographs.

Conifers border most of the ground and these trees had been cut in height recently, providing a fresh pine aroma on a mild evening. Both sides of the ground feature small covered seated stands, whereas both ends have no cover at all. Behind one of the goals is the solitary turnstile and pay hut.

The clubhouse and changing room complex is set back from behind this end, adjacent to the car park. The licensed bar boasts three large TV screens and on this particular evening, the England v Ghana match at Wembley was being shown. In addition to the usual crisps and nuts, tea and coffee was also available here but no food was sold. I understand that rolls are usually available.

The match proved to be a decent encounter and this neutral believes that Peterborough Northern Star were unlucky not to have got something from the match. The club, that can trace it origins back to both the Northam and Star Brickworks, took the lead after 18 minutes with a fine goal from the left flank by Josh Moreman.

The home side's Daren Dykes levelled from the penalty spot a couple of minutes after the break and claimed all three points in the 89th minute with a splendid goal from Darren Lynch, when the ball was lifted over the keeper. A prompt getaway on the final whistle ensured a smooth return journey. I was back home at Cheshunt at around 23:00.

Admission: £5:00
Programme: £1:00 (32 pages)
Attendance: 70
Tea: 70p

Photographic Archive

Brighton & Hove Albion FC

2011-03-22T23:59:00.084Z

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Notts County 0 - Football League, One

Brighton is located on the south coast of England, and together with its immediate neighbour Hove forms the city of Brighton and Hove. The ancient settlement of Brighthelmston dates from before the Domesday Book (1086), but it emerged as an important health resort during the 18th century and became a popular destination for day-trippers after the arrival of the railway in 1841. Brighton experienced rapid population growth reaching a peak of over 160,000 by 1961. Modern Brighton forms part of a conurbation stretching along the coast, with a population of around 480,000. Brighton is a popular place to visit, welcoming 8 million tourists each year. With its hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment facilities, which additionally serve a substantial business conference industry. The modern city of Brighton and Hove is also an educational centre with two universities and many English language schools.

Withdean Stadium is an athletics stadium in the Brighton suburb of Withdean. The capacity of the ground is 8,850 all seated. the stadium is a temporary home for Brighton & Hove Albion before a new stadium is built in nearby Falmer. The club's former stadium, the Goldstone Ground was sold for redevelopment in1997 by the board at the time (none of whom any longer has any involvement with the club).

Catching a train from London Bridge to Preston Park facilitated an evening jaunt after work to Sussex. Our prebooked match tickets included vouchers, which meant that the journey south of Haywards Heath was free of charge. To reach the stadium from Preston Park Station takes between ten and fifteen minutes. The walk takes you north along London Road before passing under a railway bridge, bringing you at eastern end of the ground.

On arrival I took advantage of the daylight and with the help of a friendly steward, managed to get some photographs from inside the ground. After this we adjourned to the pub adjacent to the ground. For a pub on top of a football ground (literally – Ed), the Sportsman was ver reasonably priced. I enjoyed Harvey’s Sussex bitter at £2:05 a pint. The pub also doubles as a carvery restaurant. For £3.69 I was able to enjoy, roast beef, turkey and glazzed gammon, accompanied by an abundance of vegetables, yorkshire pudding and stuffing! To be honest, this is pretty much the only facility in the vicinity of the ground and compared to the standard fare of burgers (£3:00 in the ground), the carvery represents extremely good value.

In claiming a narrow 1-0 victory, Brighton extended their winning run in the league to six matches. In truth, this was a hard fought scrappy encounter. The home side failed to take advantage of a couple of very good opportunities in the first period and this could have proved costly. The decisive strike came from Inigo Calderon when he swept in a 63^rd minute cross from the left. This win enabled Brighton to move ten points clear at the top of League One.

It is relatively easy to get back to both Victoria and London Bridge after midweek matches from Preston Park and I was through London and at Cheshunt just after midnight. I now look forward to visiting the new Brighton & Hove Albion ground at Falmer in the near future.

Attendance: 7264
Admission: £25:00
Programme: £3-00 (64 pages A5 size)
Fare: £7:90 Day Return from London Bridge to Haywards Heath (Goldcard Discount). The journey south of Haywards Heath was covered by the match ticket.

Photographic Archive

AFC Kempston Rovers

2011-03-12T11:59:00.004Z

AFC Kempston Rovers 4 Northampton ON Chenecks 0 - United Counties League, Division One

Kempston was once known as the largest village in England but is now a town. Until the 19th century Kempston was a mainly rural parish. It was one of the largest in Bedfordshire with an area of 5,025 acres at the time of enclosure in 1804, and was in Redbournestoke Hundred. Historically there was no central village, but instead settlement was divided between a number of hamlets called "Ends", for example, Up End, Wood End and Box End. Kempston's parish church, All Saints, was in Church End. Kempston in its old form means bent or curved. Therefore when coined the name meant settlement on the bend of the Great River Ouse.

Kempston Rovers FC was founded in 1884 and the club is currently celebrating their 127th year of existence. Known as The Walnut Boys due to the original ground originally being an orchard of walnut trees, the club started out in the Bedford & District League. After a spell in the South Midlands League, the club joined the United Counties League in 1953. The current ground Hillgrounds Leisure is the third ground that the club has occupied on Hillgrounds Road! In 1975 the club reached the last 16 of the FA Vase. 2002 saw the merger of Kempston Rovers, Kempston Town and Kempston Colts under the collective name AFC Kempston.

The original intention was to watch Bedford v Hoddesdon Town in the Spartan South Midlands League and a car journey from Cheshunt was straightforward enough, enabling us to reach Meadow Lane 50 minutes before the scheduled kick off. There was already plenty of activity but unfortunately this was for Bedford Town v Hemel Hempstead Town at the adjoining stadium. I was informed by a turnstile operator that Bedford FC were unable to use their ground due to a fire and that they were playing at Wooton. I may have missed something but I struggled to find any reference to this on club or league websites.

The easy option would have been to go next door and watch the Bedford Town match, but my preference was to visit somewhere new. Without any prior knowledge we headed for neighbouring Kempston, with at best a 50/50 chance of the United Counties League club having a home fixture. We had little difficulty locating the ground as there are signposts to Hillgrounds, although it is not clear that this relates to football. Something in the memory clicked and we were rewarded when arriving to find a match on.

Once inside the ground with 15 minutes to spare, there was opportunity to explore. I came across the clubhouse bar with two TV screens, one showing the Italy v France Rugby union match and another showing the post match interviews from the Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers FA Cup tie. More importantly was the Charles Wells Eagle Bitter on handpump, which I tested (purely for journalistic purposes – Ed).

Apart from the dugouts, the only permanent structure is the stand/changing rooms/clubhouse along one side of the pitch. One side of this impressive block is seated whist the other is terraced and also houses the tea bar. There are additional changing facilities in the same block serving the outer pitch. Between the main pitch and the outer pitch is an astroturf area, both additional facilities were in use at the same time as our match.

The visitors are struggling this season, in contrast to their hosts, but competed well in the first period. They did not concede until the 39th minute when an own goal undid their earlier efforts. However, this was compounded by a reckless challenge a minute later rewarded with a red card. In the second period, further strikes on 54, 58 (a classy goal from Kofi Schulz) and 89 ensured comfortable 3 points for promotion chasing Kempston.

Admission: £4:00
Programme: £1:00 (16 pages)
Attendance: 39
Tea: 80p

Photographic Archive

Macclesfield Town FC

2011-02-26T23:59:00.237Z

Macclesfield Town 0 Wycombe Wanderers 1 - Football League Two

Macclesfield is a market town in Cheshire. It is thought that Macclesfield got its name from "Michael's field" - referring to St Michael, as in St. Michael's church. A person from Macclesfield is sometimes referred to as a "Maxonian". In the uprising of 1745, Charles Stuart and his army marched through Macclesfield as they attempted to reach London. The Mayor was forced, reluctantly, to officially welcome the Prince, and this welcome is commemorated in one of the town's famous silk tapestries. At one point, Macclesfield was the world's biggest producer of finished silk; now, the four Macclesfield Silk Museums display a huge range of information and products from that period. Peter Crouch, the legendary Tottenham Hotspur striker, like the silk, is an export from Macclesfield.

London Road Stand and Terrace

Many years ago (31 August 1987 - Ed) this Pieman attempted to visit Moss Rose, the home of Macclesfield Town FC. He was feeling rather pleased with himself, having persuaded a couple of Chelsea fans, heading for Old Trafford, to drop him off en route. However, the Chelsea vehicle failed to get any further than the M25, leaving this Pieman and his Chelsea chums in need of a tow truck rescue. A second vehicle was pressed into service later, but with time at a premium, we found ourselves at Barnet v Welling United instead.

Some 23 years later, I eventually managed to get to Moss Rose. Spurs had a spare weekend and whilst they jetted off to warmer climes for a break, this Pieman, courtesy of Virgin trains, headed for Cheshire. An early start to facilitate cheap train tickets meant arriving in the town of silk before 09:00. The conveniently located Wetherspoon outlet, The society Rooms was already open for business and bother Ciderman and I enjoyed large breakfasts (always a good start to the day – Ed). I don’t know about you, but I always find I get a thirst when eating in these establishments. This was soon quenched with a fine pint of Kennet Valley (4.1%) from the Ramsbury Brewery. I supplemented this with a good pint of Dinting Arches (4.5%) from the Howard Town Brewery.

Later in the morning we took the opportunity to take a short walk up to the ground (I would estimate less than a 20-minute walk from the railway station – Ed). The photographer’s delight, an open door, greeted us on arrival and this Pieman was able to get some early pictures. Whist wandering, I took the opportunity to chat with the ground staff, who were busy removing surface water from the pitch. It was certainly playable at that stage, but there was a concern that a further spell of rain would put the match in doubt. A match at Moss Rose earlier in the month had been lost in similar circumstances.

Courtesy of an offer in a tabloid newspaper, we were able to buy two tickets for the match for a combined price of £9:50. Having secured these, we took the opportunity to pop back down the hill to the Railway View, where by coincidence a beer festival was taking place over the weekend. My first choice here was Silk of Amnesia (4.7%) from the Macclesfield based Storm Brewing Company. This was followed by an old favourite of mine, Bitter and Twisted (3.8%) from the Harviestoun Brewery.

Moving on, a short walk took us to The Dolphin Inn, where I enjoyed a fine pint of Robinson’s Unicorn Bitter (4.4%). Macclesfield is part of Robinson’s territory and for me this reliable good quality ale. At this hostelry, like the previous one, we were able to watch Swansea City v Leeds United on TV. However, on this occasion the satellite transmission came from an Italian TV channel with appropriate commentary – different!

Moss Rose certainly has character as these photographs will testify and it is a pleasure to visit such venues. Many of today’s modern stadiums are bland and often similar in design. Moss Rose, by contrast, blends old with new. On one side is a modern seated stand with the club admin and corporate facilities housed within. On the opposite side is the smaller original looking grandstand with terracing. Behind one goal is an open terrace, whereas the other end has a terraced standing area behind a seating area.

Our tickets were for this end, the Star Lane Terrace but we opted to move along the side and stood on the London Road Terrace, immediately in front of that fine old stand. Visitors, Wycombe Wanderers, having a very good season under Garry Waddock, occupied 2nd place in the table. Macclesfield Town, struggling to stay out of the relegation places, had won their previous two matches. This encounter promised to be a close affair and so it proved to be.

It was clear to see why Martin Stevens and the Chairboy's faithful are so pleased with their team. Wycombe's patient, crafted approach play was rewarded 5 minutes before the break by veteran Gareth Ainsworth’s close range volley. In the second period, the home side had chances to draw level but failed to make that breakthrough. At the end of the match, after 4 additional minutes had been announced, the majority of the players became involved in a mass brawl. Messrs Sappleton and Sinclair of Macclesfield were red carded along with Wycombe’s Winfield for their part in an explosive incident not in keeping with the previous 90 minutes.

After the match we headed back down the hill, stopping off at The Albion, where another pint of Unicorn hardly touched the sides! At the Three Crowns, there was also time for a decent pint of Holt’s Bitter, completing my liquid intake for the day. A further purchase of fish and chips near the last pub was consumed on the 17:56 departure to London Euston.

Attendance: 1,622
Admission: £4.75 (2 tickets for £9.50 courtesy of tabloid newspaper)
Programme: £2-50 (56 pages)
Tea: £1.70
Fare: £11.50 each way (Virgin Trains)

Photographic Archive

Milton Keynes Dons FC

2011-01-18T23:59:00.000Z

Milton Keynes Dons 1 Plymouth Argyle 3 - Football League One

In the 1960s, the UK Government decided that a further generation of new towns in the South East was needed to relieve housing congestion in London. Studiesidentified north Buckinghamshire as a possible site for a large new town, encompassing the existing towns of Bletchley, Stony Stratford and Wolverton. The name "Milton Keynes" was taken from the existing village of Milton Keynes on the site. The site was deliberately located equidistant from London, Birmingham, Leicester, Oxford and Cambridge with the intention that it would be self-sustaining and eventually become a major regional centre in its own right.

The well documented evolution of Milton Keynes Dons FC has been controversial and I’m not going to reopen that debate. It is good to see a thriving AFC Wimbledon sitting proudly at the top of the non-league tree and although many will always (quite rightly) feel the pain over what happened, I wanted to visit stadiummk to keep on track in my attempts to recomplete ‘the 92’.

I travelled by train from London Euston to Bletchley and made my way straight to the stadium in order that I could take some photographs in the daylight. It is not far to walk and I would estimate no more than a 20 minute stroll from Bletchley railway station. Like many new builds, the stadium is situated in a retail park, with both ASDA and IKEA in close proximity.

Oaksey, a hopping colleague, was also attending this match and following advice from the ever informative MK Gould, had parked his car at ASDA. Having purchased match tickets for the corner section nearest to the vehicle, it was time for a refuelling exercise. We went to the ASDA restaurant, where we enjoyed fish, chips and mushy peas, washed down with mugs of tea.

Stadiummk has been very well designed. Our seats offered an excellent view of the entire arena. The rake of the seating ensures that the view is not hindered by people sitting in front. The upper tier of the stadium has not been completed and with England missing out on their bid to stage the 2018 World Cup, it may be a while before seats are added to this area and the work is finalised.

On a chilly evening, it is fair to say that this match was not the liveliest affair that I have witnessed this season. MK Dons, occupying a play-off position, never really got into their stride. By contrast, the visitors will have been delighted to come away with points, secured courtesy of three superb goals. The pick off the bunch being the second, a long-range effort crashed in off the bar. David Lockett will have been very pleased.

Within a couple of minutes of the final whistle, we were in the car on our way unhindered to the M1. Via the M25 and A10, this Pieman was back home in Cheshunt at around 10:50 . All in all this was a decent trip to a new venue. A very easy place to get to by train or car. As to the future prospects of the club, it will be interesting to see if they can progress. Yes there is an enormous catchment area, but that alone is not always enough to attract regular support.

Attendance: 7189
Admission: £19.00
Programme: £3-00 (72 pages)
Tea: £1.70

Photographic Archive

Fleetwood Town FC

2010-12-18T23:59:00.000Z

Fleetwood Town 1 Newport County 1 - Football Conference National

Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. For most of the 20th century, Fleetwood was a prominent deep-sea fishing port, but, since the 1970s, the fishing industry has declined precipitously and the town has undergone economic difficulties. Fleetwood is also a seaside resort, serving as a quiet contrast to nearby Blackpool. Fleetwood lies at the northern end of the Blackpool Tramway. It is about 12 miles from Fleetwood to the southern terminus at Starr Gate, and about 8 miles to Talbot Square, Blackpool.

Fleetwood Town FC was officially established in 1997 but, in two previous incarnations, the club's history dates back to 1908. Highbury Stadium, next to The Memorial Park, has been the home of football in the town since 1934. Following promotion last season, Fleetwood Town FC is now enjoying playing at the highest level of non-league football, with substantial ground development matching further ambition by the club.

Our visit to this match was intended to be the first part of a weekend double-header, with the Blackpool v Spurs match on the Sunday being the second part. We left Cambridge just after 10:00 am and despite intensive media reports of severe adverse weather across the UK, we had a relatively straightforward journey via the A1 and M62.

It was just as we were arriving at Fleetwood (we had just passed the Fisherman’s Friend factory – Ed) that we received the news that our Bloomfield Road experience had been called off. However, not for the first time, Fleetwood Town FC was able to stage their match when others could not. On this occasion, only 10 games in the four divisions above took place. This underlines the facilities and tremendous effort put in by the club and volunteer fans.

The club has invested in good quality pitch covers and after the army of volunteers helped clear the snow; the foresight was again justified. After a couple of pints in the social club, there was just enough time to grab some warming fish and chips from the conveniently located Highbury Chippy, just across the road from the ground.

The club plays at Highbury Stadium and play in red shirts with white sleeves. However, this Pieman was not going to allow this detail to spoil his afternoon entertainment! The stadium is undergoing tremendous redevelopment with a smart new stand taking shape along the Memorial Park side. There is covered terracing at each end and an established seated stand along the majority of the other side.

Newport County has tremendous travelling support but clearly the adverse weather conditions had a massive effect on their attendance for this match. I counted no more than 25 spectators at the visiting end of the stadium. A steward told me at half time that many from Wales were stuck on the M5 in the Birmingham area. Despite the arctic conditions, both sides were able to demonstrate why they are having a good season. The quality of football was good and I was pleased to hear complimentary comments from the home support about Newport’s positive style of play.

Fleetwood took the lead on 21 minutes through Magno Vieira but Robbie Matthews made amends for Craig Reid's missed penalty, when he levelled on 76 minutes. A draw was most certainly a fair result between two decent teams although the last half an hour of this match certainly had one looking forward to a nice warm car. We were fortunate to avoid any traffic congestion on our return to Cambridge and my onward train journey was also trouble free. Remarkable on such a day of widespread disruption.

Fleetwood Town: Davies, Beeley, Gregan, McNulty (Thorpe 54), Wright (Brown 46), Barry, Worthington, Milligan, Rogan, Vieira, Seddon. Subs Not Used: Coughlin, McGuire, Rowe.
Booked: McNulty, Thorpe. Goal: Vieira 21.

Newport County: Thompson, Bignot, Warren, Todd, Goodall, Rose, Odhiambo, Knights, Collins, Reid (Challinor 90), Deering (Matthews 62). Subs Not Used: Garner, Wright, Smith.
Booked: Warren. Goal: Matthews 76.

Referee: Robert Merchant (Staffordshire). Assistants: JT Wilson & S Durbin 4th Official: R Ackers

Attendance: 1,142
Admission: £12-50
Programme: £2-50 (48 pages) - dated 18 November
Tea/Coffee: £1-20

Photographic Archive

F.C. Twente

2010-12-07T23:59:00.000Z

F.C. Twente 3 Tottenham Hotspur 3 - UEFA Champions League, Group Stage, Match 6

Enschede is a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region. The municipality of Enschede consisted of the city of Enschede until 1935, when the rural municipality of Lonneker, which completely surrounded the city, was annexed after the rapid industrial expansion of Enschede which began in the 1860s and involved the building of railways and the digging of the Twentekanaal. During the Second World War Enschede was one of the first Dutch cities to be captured by the Germans, being the city closest to Germany.

FC Twente was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys. They are the current holders of the Eredivisie championship. De Grolsch Veste (The Grolsch Fortress, previously known as Arke Stadion) is the stadium of football club FC Twente. It is located at the Business & Science Park, near the University of Twente. The stadium has an all-seated capacity of 24,000.

Having travelled by plane to the three previous Champions League away matches this season, it was good to be able to explore a different option for this trip. For an inclusive price of 100 Euros return, we were able to travel by train from London. Our Eurostar service to Brussels was delayed by a power failure on Belgian Railways, which meant a lengthy delay at Calais. In Brussels we had an hour before our connecting train and so a couple of glasses of Jupiler at a nearby café assisted in using up the time.

After Brussels, further changes at Schiphol and Utrecht facilitated our arrival at Enschede. Our hotel was located at the University of Twente; no more than 20 minutes walk from the stadium and the adjacent railway station (Enschede Drienerlo). There are four trains per hour in each direction connecting this local station with the main central station in Enschede. Having checked in to the hotel, it was time to explore the centre of this relatively small city.

Just off the Main Square, we chanced upon Café Het Bolwerk. This quirky old-fashioned establishment has a very good selection of beers. This Pieman was relaxed in sampling De Koninck, La Chouffe, Leffe and Hertog Jan Weizener. Later on, back at the university campus, Vestingbar is run by the student society. I believe it is fair to say that the music here can be a tad loud, but hey! the selection of quality beers and cheap prices make this venue a very attractive alternative to the bars in town.

On the morning of the match, this Pieman was able to gain access to the stadium and managed to take some photographs. I rather liked the stadium, the pitch is elevated but the design ensures a good view of proceedings from all areas. It was also good that the away section, apart from see through panels at the sides, had no obstructions at the front.

Prior to the match we were fortunate to chance upon De Huifkar, a small restaurant away from the main, by now busy, central area of town. The buffet menu is to be recommended and is excellent value at 7.25 Euros. Up until now, Spurs had been involved in some high scoring encounters in the Champions League and this match was to be no exception as they led on three occasions only to be pegged back by a determined home team. This 3-3 draw meant that eight matches including the qualifying legs had produced 40 goals!

Following a brief lock in for the visiting support at the ground, it was good to get the circulation moving on a bitterly cold evening. The walk back to the students bar was brisk in anticipation of getting back to a warm environment and some quality ale. The following day a couple of train connections to Brussels allowed time for a decent lunch, washed down by a couple of obligatory beers before boarding our return Eurostar service to London.

Attendance: 24,000
Admission: 37.5 Euro
Programme: A5 Size 40 pages 1 Euro

Photographic Archive

F.C. Internazionale Milano

2010-10-20T23:59:00.000+01:00

F.C. Internazionale Milano 4 Tottenham Hotspur 3 - UEFA Champions League, Group Stage, Match 3

Milan is a the capital of the region of Lombady and of the province of Milan. The city was founded under the name of Medhlan, by the Insubres, Celtic people. It was later captured by the Romans in 222 BC, and the city became very successful under the Roman Empire. Later Milan was ruled by the Visconti, the Sforza, the Spanish in the 16th century and the Austrians in the 18th century. In 1796, Milan was conquered by Napoleon I and he made it the capital of his Kingdom of Italy in 1805. Today, Milan is recognised as a world fashion and design capital, with a major global influence in commerce, industry, music, sport, literature and art.

Duomo di Milano

The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, is located in the San Siro district in Milan. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano. The stadium is named in honour of Giuseppe Meazza, twice a World Cup winner in 1934 and 1938. Meazza played for Internazionale and briefly for Milan in the 1930s and 1940s. The stadium is located in the western part of Milan and can be reached by tram, line 16 ends right in front of the stadium. The current capacity of the stadium is 80,074 with all seats being covered.

Lambrate (5.8%) and Montestella (4.9%)

This particular fixture was eagerly anticipated by Spurs fans, as a result every man and his dog wanted to attend. Flight prices to Milan were not going to be the cheapest. Therefore, this Pieman flew from Gatwick to Turin with British Airways. Thence by train to Milan, which by intercity services takes one hour. A leisurely start to the morning of the match involved trekking over to the Lambrate district of Milan. Birreria Lambrate is a brewpub with a fantastic range of ales. The choice available is extensive and this establishment also serves excellent food. My first choice of ale was Montestella (Blonde 4.9%). This was followed by Ligera (American Pale Ale 5%), Ortega (English Golden Ale 5%) and finally Lambrate (English Strong Ale 5.8%). The lunchtime session runs from noon to 3pm. Lambrate metro station (Line 2) is only a few minutes walk from the pub. This facilitated two further visits, the first of which coincided with ‘happy hour’.

Happy Hour at this pub equates to a plentiful supply of free food, which is laid out on the bar. Needless to say, Ciderman and the Pieman took full advantage of this hospitality. The Pieman managed a further couple of Lambrate ales (by now his personal favourite – Ed) to wash down the food before heading off to the San Siro for the match. Lotto metro station on Line 1 is no more than a 15 minute walk to the stadium. En route from station we encountered numerous vendors selling refreshments and sounenirs. It probably took longer to reach my seat in the lofty heights of the stadium as it did to walk from the station. The official away support was housed in the top tier of the stadium behind the goal. For this dubious privilage we paid the equivalent of £18 (considerably less than the £49 that Inter were originally going to charge! – Ed)

I will not dwell too much on the match. Spurs were 4-0 down and reduced to ten men when Gomez was given a straight red card early in the match. The second period amazingly contained a Gareth Bale hat-trick, which gave a completely unpredictable respectability to the final score. It was obvious that we would be held back after the match, but once we were on the move, this Pieman did manage an earlier than expected escape from the compound, following two others in order to use a different exit. This paid off, as it facilitated getting back to the metro station and out to Lambrate, just after midnight. The bar was heaving with students and was doing brisk trade. The beer prices are 4.5 Euros during the day and 5 Euros after 8pm. All in all this represents excellent value for quality ale, large glasses and fantastic service. Compared to the rest of Milan that I encountered, this haven is a must when visiting this relatively expensive city.

The following morning involved getting the train to Turin to facilitate the return flight to Gatwick. French air traffic control industrial action was to delay our return so it was important that solid refreshment was consumed. Adjacent to platform 20 at Torino Porta Nuova station is what appears to be a staff canteen. There are no restrictions to the public and it was here that I enjoyed a hearty meal of sausages in a tomato sauce served with potatoes. A second dish of peas and rice accompanied this. We also visited a traditional Italian Ice Cream parlour at which Ciderman’s choice of a double (chocolate and Lemon) inspired me to enjoy the same.

Final Score: Inter Milan 4 Gareth Bale 3

Attendance: 70,520

Admission: 19.5 Euro
Programme: None

Photographic Archive

Werder Bremen FC

2010-09-14T23:59:00.000+01:00

Werder Bremen 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - UEFA Champions League, Group Stage, Match 1

Bremen is the capital of the state of Bremen in northwest Germany, on the Weser River. The state of Bremen was formed in 1947 by combining Bremen and Bremerhaven. The cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven, with their cultural heritage and close location to the North Sea, have a high standard of living and leisure. Known as the Free Hanse City of Bremen, Germany’s oldest port city has been moulded by more than 1,000 years of history. After WWII, Bremen became a part of the American occupation zone, as the USA wanted to have one port town within their zone. This prevented the inclusion of Bremen into the new Land of Lower Saxony that was formed around it within the British zone, and secured Bremen independence as a Federal State in its own right in the new West German federation.

Today, Bremen is Germany’s largest port after Hamburg, and is a commercial and industrial centre trading in cotton, wool, tobacco and copper. Bremen is a modern city whose produce includes ships, aircraft, steel, machinery, electrical equipment, textiles, beer and foodstuffs, particularly roasted coffee. Its maritime museum tells the thrilling story of ships and sea travel through the ages, and a series of magnificent old lighthouses stand as monuments to its proud maritime past.

A Monday afternoon Easyjet flight from Luton facilitated an hour and a half in Hamburg prior to the hour-long train journey to Bremen. Having researched refreshment options, it was good to be able to adjourn to Baumann’s Bierbar, directly opposite Hamburg main station. This was a good venue and here this Pieman enjoyed Duckstein followed by Franzikaner Weissbier. The latter was also consumed on the Inter City Express train (served in a proper glass and sold for the same price as at Baumann’s – Ed).

It was just a short walk from Bremen station to our hotel and shortly after checking in, we wandered along to the Ostertor district. In this area there are many bars and restaurants. This area is en-route to the Weserstadion and is a popular stopping off point for the fans. At Belini, we enjoyed a few glasses of Warfteiner whilst catching the last 20 minutes of an amazing 2^nd Bundesliga match between Energie Cottbus and Karlsruher SC. It ended 5-5, the visitors should have taken the points but for the referee failing to play advantage.

On the morning of the match, we wandered up to the ground. I would estimate a walk of 20-25 minutes from the centre of town to the stadium. The best route from the town is to follow the Weser River, which unsurprisingly gives its name to the stadium. We took the opportunity to wander around the ground and by chance came across the Werder Bremen squad training on one of the many outside pitches. It is remarkable that we were able to get so close to the players, not something we expected.

Werder Bremen training on the morning of the match

On a very wet day, we spent the afternoon in the old town. It was here that we visited Erste Bremer Gasthausbrauerei. This Pieman does like a brewhouse and in addition to some fine beer in the form of Dunkles, he ate a splendid meal consisting of meatloaf and fried potatoes, topped with a fried egg.

The spurs fan with the walking stick at our table enjoyed a peppered version of the same dish. This and a couple of other fine hostelries set us up nicely for the evening entertainment delivered by the UEFA Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur, making their debut in the group stage of this manufactured, money spinning, replacement for the European Cup, took an early 2-0 lead against their experienced German hosts. However this was countered by a goals either side of the interval. A draw was probably a fair result and both sides can look back at a match they could have won or lost.

The Weser Stadion is undergoing rebuilding work at present, with increased capacity being added to the end opposite where the visiting supporters are housed. It was good to be under cover on a very wet evening but less so to have to look through a net at the pitch. It was very good to be allowed to leave the stadium immediately after the match (extremely rare on these occasions - Ed). I would suggest that the police in Seville could learn some table manners from their Bremen counterparts, who appeared to use common sense in not dealing with a problem when one does not exist.

Groninger Braukeller

The following day facilitated another opportunity for some refreshment in Hamburg. Prior to heading to the airport we dined at Baumann’s Bierbar and the Woodcutter’s steak with onions, served with fried potatoes and a side salad certainly hit the spot. Prior to this the opportunity was taken to visit two centrally located brewhouses.

At Brahaus Joh. Albrecht this Pieman was able to enjoy Messing – a pleasant pale beer. This establishment overlooks the canal and is situated on the ground floor of an office block.

A short distance away in a large celler is Groninger Braukeller where the Pieman delighted in Hanseaten Weisse. This popular venue is very extensive and is likely to generate the tradition beer keller type atmosphere when full.

Attendance: 30,344
Admission: 50 Euro
Programme: None

Photographic Archive

BSC Young Boys FC

2010-08-17T23:59:00.000+01:00

BSC Young Boys 3 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - UEFA Champions League, Play-Off, 1st Leg

Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen founded the city of Bern on the River Aare in 1191 and allegedly named it after a bear he had killed. It was made an Imperial Free City by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1218 after Berthold died without an heir. The city was originally built on a hilly peninsula surrounded by the River Aare, but outgrew the natural boundaries by the 19th century. A number of bridges have been built to allow the city to grow beyond the Aare. Bern is built on very uneven ground. There are several dozens of meters in height difference from the quarters on the Aare to the higher ones.

Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 is a Swiss sports club based in the capital city of Bern. The name is often abbreviated to YB, The club is best known for its football teams. In 1897, brothers Max and Oscar Schwab, Hermann Bauer, and Franz Kehrli studied at the University of Bern. They founded Football Club Young Boys on 14 March 1898 and chose yellow and black to be the club colours. The club reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in the 1958–59 season. The club plays its home games at the Stade de Suisse. The club's other sports include field hockey and bowling.

An early evening flight from London Heathrow to Zurich enabled us to catch a train direct from the airport to Bern. The actual travelling time between the two cities was about an hour, discounting the amount of time spent sitting in the platform at Zurich main station. We reached Bern at 23:30 and after a short stroll reached our hotel just before the day of the match.

On the morning of the match we walked to the stadium. It is uphill most of the way but still reachable in about 20 minutes from the town. Another option is the Number 9 tram from the centre of Bern, for which one terminus is immediately opposite the stadium. Also nearby is a local railway station which connects with the main Bern railway station. The intention was to get some daylight photographs of the exterior of the ground. However, this modern construction does not lend itself to such pursuits as much of the ground level is taken up by a shopping centre, fitness centre and administration facilities.

Having ascertained that match programmes would not be available until later, we returned to the town, stopping off for some liquid refreshment at Altes Tram Depot. This establishment is a restaurant and brew house. Considering the quality of the ales available, it is competitively priced for the area. This Pieman enjoyed his first taste of Märzen so much that he stuck with this non filtered 4.9% amber beer for the remainder of time (subsequent vists too – Ed).

Märzen (4.9%) and Helles (4.7%)

As for the match, the 1600 or so Spurs fans situated on two levels in the corner of the stadium, were treated to a truly awful display by their team. After half an hour, the home side had scored three times and struck a post. “Champions League and we’re having a laugh” – I don’t think so! Just before the break, Sebastien Bassong’s header reduced the defecit.

An improved second half showing saw a spectacular strike from Roman Pavlyuchenko, meaning that Spurs left Switzerland only trailing by one goal, with 2 away goals ‚in the bank’. However,those statistics hide the fact that Young Boys should have been 4-1 ahead at one point and missed another decent chance before the end.

Stade de Suisse is a tidy venue, fairly typical of modern stadia. I'm not sure of the value of netting between those seated behind the goals and the playing area. However, a decent view is afforded from most areas. As for Bern, the fast flowing River Aare, the old buildings and the bears (yes we saw them - Ed) make this small capital city an interesting, but not cheap, place to visit.

Attendance: 30,166

Admission: 40 Swiss Francs
Programme: A6 Size 28 pages Free on entry to stadium

Photographic Archive

Cardiff City FC

2010-08-08T23:59:00.000+01:00

Cardiff City 1 Sheffield United 1 - Football League Championship

Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. Until the Roman conquest of Britain, Cardiff was part of the territory of the Silures – a Celtic British tribe that flourished in the Iron Age – whose territory included the areas that would become known as Breconshire, Monmouthshire and Glamorgan. The National Assembly for Wales has been based in Cardiff Bay since its formation in 1999. The building, known as the Senedd was opened on 1 March 2006, by Queen Elizabeth II.

Cardiff City Stadium was built on the site of the former Cardiff Athletics Stadium and forms part of the larger Leckwith Development. The stadium was officially opened on 22 July 2009. Owned and operated by Cardiff City FC, the stadium also hosts the home matches of the Cardiff Blues rugby union team. The stadium is situated only a few hundred yards away from the site of Cardiff City FC's former base., Ninian Park. This Pieman first visited that venue in September 1977.

Houses where Ninian Park stood

This particular match was selected for live TV coverage with a 12:35 kick off. Having established that it was possible to get there by train on the day, in time for this early slot, it was “ all systems go”. The 07:57 departure from London Paddington, arrived at Cardiff at 10:50. A longer journey than usual due to engineering works and being routed via Bath and the outskirts of Bristol.

En route to the ground, this Pieman enjoyed a couple of pints of the locally brewed Brains Bitter (the brewery is behind the railway station – Ed) at The Grange on Penarth Road. This pub is apparently haunted in the cellar by Sid Trickett, a landlord of some 50 years ago. Factoring in this necessary refueling stop, I would estimate a walk of between 15-20 minutes from Cardiff Central station to the stadium. Whichever route is taken, it will involve crossing the River Taff, which runs alongside the impressive Millennium Stadium.

Ninian Park may have been a ground steeped in history and character. It certainly looked and felt like a traditional old football ground. However, the place had seen better days and was ‘falling apart’. The new place by contrast, is impressive. It does not appear to have any unique features but in terms of facilities, comfort and a decent view, it is streets ahead of the previous venue. I was also impressed by the quantity of viewing areas afforded to disabled spectators.

Visitors Sheffield United took the lead in this Championship encounter, courtesy of a 24th minute strike by Welshman Ched Evans. United looked comfortable and likely to add to their tally. However, within ten minutes Matthew Lowton was red-carded for the visitors after a challenge on Kevin McNaughton. This gave City the initiative and they were eventually rewarded when Michael Chopra, on the right of the penalty area, skipped past Steve Simonsen and kept his cool to pick out Jay Bothroyd who showed great composure to volley side-footed past three covering United defenders to level.

Cardiff City: David Marshall, Kevin McNaughton, Mark Hudson, Gabor Gyepes, Gavin Rae ( Ross McCormack 54), Peter Whittingham, Chris Burke, Danny Drinkwater, Darcy Blake, Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd.

Sheff Utd: Steve Simonsen, Chris Morgan, Johny Ertl, Andy Taylor, Matthew Lowton, Nick Montgomery, Leon Britton (Rob Kozluk 68), Stephen Quinn, Ched Evans (Daniel Bogdanovic 68), Richard Cresswell, Jamie Ward (Mark Yeates 87).

Referee: P. Walton Assistants: M. Cairns & M. Yerby Fourth Official: M. Atkinson

Attendance: 20,573

Admission: £18.00
Programme: £3-00 (76 pages)

Photographic Archive

Benfica FC

2010-08-03T23:59:00.000+01:00

Benfica 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Friendly

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 2.4 million. It is the 12th most populous urban area in the European Union. Lisbon is the westernmost city located in Europe. It lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River, about 320 km north-west of Cape Spartel in Africa. Lisbon enjoys a Subtropical-Mediterranean climate, and through influenced by the Gulf Stream it is has of the mildest climates in Eurasia.

Eusébio

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th century, it was captured by Moors in the 8th century. In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city for the Christians and since then it has been a major political, economic and cultural centre. Unlike most capital cities, Lisbon's status as the capital of Portugal has never been granted or confirmed officially – by statute or in written form. Its position as the capital has formed through constitutional convention.

Founded in 1904, in the southwest part of Lisbon, Benfica was one of the founding members of the Portuguese Liga in 1933, and, together with Porto and Sporting, they have never been relegated from the top division. Twice winners of the European Cup, Benfica also has one of the biggest fan bases in the world. As of 23 June 2010, Benfica has a reported 218,216 paid club members. As a multiple sport club, Benfica has departments for basketball, roller hockey, indoor football, volleyball, handball, water polo, rugby, and cycling, among others.

Courtesy of Easyjet, our flight from Luton to Lisbon took just over two hours. From the airport it is then a short bus ride to the centre as Lisbon airport is very close to the city. We did not reach the hotel until about 9pm but as is dictated by climate people tend to go out to eat later in Portugal and it was not long before we were enjoying a meal at one of the many café bars situated in the main area.

On the morning of the match, we ventured up to the ground to purchase match tickets. Lisbon has a decent metro system and there are two stations ( Alto dos Moinhos or Colégio Militar/Luz) close to Estádio da Luz. To use the metro, you need to purchase the Lisbon equivalent of an Oyster Card (50 cents) then add credits for each individual journey (85 cents). The top price for match tickets was 50 Euros. We opted for half that price, electing to sit in the upper tier.

The ground is named after "Our Lady of the Light" (Nossa Senhora da Luz or more commonly Luz) which is the name of the Lisbon parish where the stadium stands. The current capacity of the ‘new’Stadium is 65,647. The previous stadium, bearing the same name, actually held a crowd of 130,000. Even for this friendly (Eusébio Cup) for which the official attendance was less than half capacity, the stadium was mightily impressive.

Prior to kick off we were treatied to the regular pre-match ritual of the Benfica Eagle flying around the stadium before settling on a perch in the middle of the pitch. An impressive sight and certainly something that gets the crowd involved. A much improved Tottenham Hotspur performance (they were awful against Villarreal 5 days previously - Ed) saw them win the match, courtesy of a second half Gareth Bale strike.

Attendance: 30,215

Admission: 25 Euros
Programme: None

Photographic Archive

Morecambe FC

2010-05-08T23:59:00.071+01:00

Morecambe 1 Aldershot Town 0 - Football League Two

Football League

Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It faces into Morecambe Bay. In 1889 the villages of Bare, Poulton-le-Sands and Torrisholme collectively became known as Morecambe, though those areas of Morecambe are still known by their original names. Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort in the mid-twentieth century. While the nearby resort of Blackpool attracted holiday-makers predominantly from the Lancashire mill towns, Morecambe had more visitors from Yorkshire and Scotland. Between 1956 and 1989 it was the home of the Miss Great Britain beauty contest. Morecambe suffered from decline for a number of years following a series of incidents that affected its tourism and local economy. Two piers were lost: West End Pier was washed away in a storm in 1978 while Central Pier, though struck by fire in 1933, survived until 1992. In 1994, The World of Crinkley Bottom attraction in Happy Mount Park closed only 13 weeks after opening and the ensuing 'Blobbygate' scandal led to a legal battle between Lancaster City Council and TV star Noel Edmonds.

Football in the town dates back to the turn of the 20th century; however it was not until 7 May 1920 that Morecambe FC was formed after a meeting at the local West View Hotel. The club then took its place in the Lancashire Combination League for the 1920-21 season. A few years later after the purchase of the ground by the then-President, Mr. J.B. Christie, the grounds' name was changed to Christie Park, in his honour. Morecambe were promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history after winning the Conference National Playoff Final 2007.

Sammy McIlroy - Manager, Morecambe FC

Our journey from London Euston via Lancaster, facilitated getting to Morecambe just after miday. On arrival, we headed straight for the Smugglers Den on Poulton Road. This fine hostelry is situated no more than a 15-minute walk from Christie Park. Whilst at this establishment, this Pieman was able to enjoy Bryson’s Union Flag (3.9) and Lancaster Brewery’s Blonde (4.1).

North Stand

This match was initially scheduled to be the last competitive match at Christie Park for Morecambe FC. Their new Globe Arena will be ready for the start of the 2010/2011 season. However, a late surge up the table had seen Morecambe FC sitting in a play-off position going into this final match of the league season. A draw against Aldershot Town (already assured of a play-off place – Ed) would be enough to guarantee a further Christie Park match.

A packed North Stand

The club marked the special day by producing a commemorative official souvenir programme for £8-00. A lot of money for a League Two programme perhaps, but this really is a superb 132-page A4 publication. In addition there was a marquee situated on the field behind the main stand which was to be the venue for the club’s awards event that evening. Community singing and Aldershot Town fans in fancy dress set the scene for the afternoon. This Pieman had opted for a terrace ticket in front of the stand and it was good to mingle with regulars in that area, The Pie and Peas available from the serving hatch looked mighty tempting but for once restraint was the order of the day.

Main Stand and Paddock

The match promised so much, yet failed to live up to expectations. This was despite the best efforts of both sets of players. A blustery seaside wind did little to help in this respect. It was the visitors who looked the more likely winners if the first period was anything to go by. Approaching half time Morecambe were more assertive and had a couple of chances. The second period saw the home side take the game to Aldershot and the decisive strike from Garry Hunter on 72 minutes was enough to see the Shrimps end the season in 4th position. A defeat for Rotherham United also meant that these two sides could meet again this season at Wembley as opposed to the two legged semi-final.

Car Wash Terrace

After the match, having read a number of favourable reports, we sampled the delights of the fish & chip shop near the away end. This Pieman was relieved that he did not order the large haddock, as the medium variety was a more than adequate accompaniment for the chips and mushy peas! After this solid refreshment pit stop we returned to Lancaster via Bare Lane station which appears to be slightly nearer than Morecambe station to Christie Park.

Away End

Lancaster was to be our base before trekking over to Turf Moor the following day. This Pieman was mightily impressed with the range of pubs and ales available and would certainly recommend Lancaster to anyone searching for gastronomic enjoyment. At the White Cross I enjoyed Old Faithful (4.0) from the Tyrell Brewery, at the penny Bank, a fine pint of Golden Monkey (4.1) came from Brass Monkey Brewery. Further treats followed in the shape of Amber (3.7) from the Lancaster Brewery at the Sun Hotel and Allendale Best Bitter (3.8) at The Borough. In this Pieman’s opinion all of the visited establishments were good with the latter two being top notch.

Attendance: 5,268

Admission: Paddock £13-00
Programme: £8-00
Tea: 80p

Photographic Archive

Bedfont Sports FC

2010-04-27T23:59:00.033+01:00

Bedfont Sports 0 Worcester Park 2 - Combined Counties League, Division One

Combined Counties League

Bedfont is a small suburban town in Greater London, some 13 miles to the west of central London and only 2 miles from Heathrow Airport. It straddles the Staines Road at the west of the London Borough of Hounslow from Baber Bridge on the River Crane to the Surrey boundary at Ashford. Referred to in the Doomsday Book as Bedefunde, the name is thought to be derived from Anglo-Saxon Bedfunta meaning bed’s spring or Bydenfunta meaning spring provided with a drinking-vessel. Bedfont has the unique claim of having two surviving manor houses. Pates Manor, once owned by the Page family, is behind the church and is the oldest house in the Borough with one wing dating from the late 15th century. Fawns Manor, on the south side of the Green, dates from the 16th century and was sold to the British Airways Housing Association in the 1980’s by the Sherborn family, who had owned it from the 17th century.

Another midweek after work jaunt and another dip into the delights of the Combined Counties League. A refreshment stop at the William Morris at Hammersmith was followed by what is best described as a ‘pants’ Piccadilly Line experience in getting to Hatton Cross. However, I was still there for just after 7pm and it takes less than 10 minutes to reach the Bedfont Recreation Ground from the station.

To reach the ground you cross the busy A30 turning into Hatton Road, which immediately bends to the right. Before reaching the ground, you encounter Bedfont FC on the left-hand side. Bedfont Sports FC is the adjacent facility slightly further along Hatton Road on the same side.

It is clear to see that in a relatively short time the club has improved the facilities at the ground. There is hard standing on all four sides and adjacent to the clubhouse (with licenced bar), there is some covered standing accommodation. The tea bar is also situated on this side and these facilities will soon be supplemented by a seated stand in time for next season.

This is Bedfont Sports FC’s first season in the Combined Counties League. They are currently playing catch up having had a number of matches postponed this season. The club appears to have acquitted to this level of football and appear set for a comfortable mid table finish. I saw Worcester Park FC on a couple of occasions towards the end of last season and was impressed with their style and ability. They missed out on the title last time but this season are the favourites to win the league.

Two headed goals in the first half an hour of this encounter put the visitors in the driving seat and it is clear to see why they are doing so well this season. However, this was not a one sided match as the home side are also a very good footballing outfit and certainly made a decent match of it. The game was played in a decent fashion and they appeared to be mutual respect for each other by the two sides. Once again the improving standard of this division has provided good entertainment.

Back at the tube station by 9:45, it was good to see that the Piccadilly line had sorted itself out and it was not long before an eastbound service was speeding me back to the metropolis. A couple of changes at Green Park and Tottenham Hale meant I was back at Cheshunt by 11.20 and indoors not long after that.

Attendance: 66

Admission: £3.00
Programme: £1.00
Cheeseburger: £2.00
Tea: 50p
Fare: £5.00 (All Zone Travelcard with Goldcard discount)

Photographic Archive

Alton Town FC

2010-04-20T23:59:00.065+01:00

Alton Town 0 Bournemouth 2 - Wessex League, Premier Division

Wessex League

Alton is a small market town in Hampshire, to the southwest of Farnham. The River Wey has its source in the town, and the name Alton comes from an Anglo-Saxon word "aewielltun" meaning "farmstead at the source of the river". The Treaty of Alton was an agreement signed in 1101 between William the Conqueror's eldest son Robert, Duke of Normandy and his brother Henry I of England. Henry had seized the throne while his elder brother was away on the first crusade. Robert returned to claim the throne, landing in Portsmouth. The two brothers met in Alton and agreed terms which formed the Treaty of Alton. Part of the main street through Alton is called Normandy Street, probably reflecting this event.

Originally known as Courage & Co, this works football club based in Alton, Hampshire enjoyed a long and distinguished history before joining forces with neighbours Alton Town in 1991. In 1992 the club became known as Bass Alton Town and continued played at the Bass Sports ground where they made further steady progress. In 1998 the club became known simply as Alton Town and after twice winning the Hampshire League title they took their place in the Wessex League in 2002 where they have remained since.

Alton (Bass) Sports Ground is visible from the train just before you reach Alton. The railway station is also a terminus of the Watercress Line – a steam railway. The official title being the Mid Hants railway which runs 10 miles from Alresford to Alton, on the way visiting Ropley and Medstead & Four Marks. The football ground is little more than a five-minute walk from the station.

On arrival at Alton for this midweek post work jaunt, This Pieman and a colleague adjourned to the conveniently located Railway Arms. This delightful freehouse stocks the full range of ales from the local Triple fff Brewery. We sampled Moondance (4.2%) and Alton’s Pale Ale (4.8%). Both in perfect condition and justified our visit.

The ground is fully enclosed with a covered seated stand on one side, close to where you enter. The opposite side of the ground houses the changing facilities. This building is some distance back from the dugouts and has the appearance of a cricket pavilion. There is limited space behind each goal as the ground is hemmed in by housing.

Visitors Bournemouth have had a decent season, whereas their hosts have struggled for the majority of their campaign. It was clear from the start that Bournemouth posed the greater threat. A couple of goals midway through the first period proved sufficient to clinch the points for the Dorset club. This was a fairly tame encounter and certainly had the feel of an end of season match.

Alton Town FC mascots - Flysouth Bysouth, Michael Harding, Sylvester and Tweety Pie

The close proximity to the railway station enabled this pieman to catch the 21:44 service after the match, arriving at London Waterloo at 23:00.

Alton Town: Craig Atkinson, Duncan Bray, Stephen Brown, Ben Dillon, Conor Geoghegan, Stephen Graham, Jonathan Gray, Ian Humble, Curtis Hunter, Lee McGavin, Simbarashe Mlambo. Substitutes: Richard McCann, Mack Phillips.

Bournemouth: James Bates, Jonathan Blake, Daniel Cann, Jordan Cole, Wayne Crutcher, Andrew Culliford, Jason Harvell, Daniel Jones, Joseph Kittle, Oliver Phillipson-Masters. Substitute: Daniel Wilson.

Referee: D.Berry Assistants: M. Ridge, P. Cunningham.

Attendance: 41

Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Cheeseburger with onions: £2.50
Tea: 50p
Fare: 11-95 (All Zone Travelcard £5-00 + Day Return Zone 6 - Reigate £6-95. Both with Goldcard discount)

Photographic Archive

South Park FC

2010-04-13T23:59:00.005+01:00

South Park 0 Farleigh Rovers 3 - Combined Counties League, Division One

Combined Counties League

Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. Reigate and the adjacent town of Redhill form a single urban area. South Park is a residential area of the Borough. It lies to the south of Reigate Priory Park and to the west of Woodhatch.

Another midweek jaunt after work, saw this Pieman travel to Reigate via London Victoria, to once again dip into the Combined Counties League. King Georges Field is a venue that I thought I would have to visit on a Saturday afternoon due to the distance from the nearest railway station. However, some proper research helped to change my mind as AA Classic Route planner states the distance from Reigate station as being 1.8 miles.

From the station it is fairly easy to navigate a clear route to the South Park district via the delightful Reigate Priory and Reigate Park. It does not take long before you are out in the countryside. I confess to taking a couple of detours en route. The weather was so nice that I took the opportunity to trek around the spacious park. For this reason I am not sure how long it took me to walk to the ground but I would estimate 35 minutes taking into account a refuelling exercise at Morrisons.

The football ground is fully enclosed and is part of the main South Park Sports Association complex. Also incorporated is a cricket pitch, adjacent to the football ground. There is also a licensed clubhouse situated in the far corner of the car park from the ground.

The only building within the confines of the football ground is that housing the changing facilities. However this relatively new structure looks very impressive and also houses at one end, a decent sized cafeteria with seating. At present, covered spectator facilities are restricted to the area immediately in front of this building which benefits from a roof overhang. I would suggest that this would be adequate the amount of spectators at most matches in this league. I was told that in the close season, work would begin on a covered seated stand. This would assist South Park to progress to a higher level and I am sure that they have ambition to do so.

There is concrete hardstanding along all four sides of the pitch, which is also surrounded by a sturdy perimeter fence. The ‘dugouts are situated on the opposite side of the pitch to the changing facilities and there are six floodlight masts around the ground. Floodlighting is becoming the order of the day in this lower division of the Combined Counties League. At this stage of the season it must assist greatly in facilitating 19:45 kick offs, enabling players and officials time to arrive from work.

Cafeteria with Chairman Colin Puplett at the fridge

I was very impressed by visitors Farleigh Rovers FC. Prior to this match they trailed their hosts by six points and two league places, although holding a game in hand. Throughout this encounter they were very impressive. Leading 1-0 at the break, they clinched all three points with two strikes in the latter part of the second period.

My journey back to Reigate station took me a bit longer as I opted to walk via main roads where I could. Street Lights in the country are not as prominent as in the metropolis. I was back at Reigate in time to catch the 22:33 service, connecting at Redhill for a train to London Victoria, arriving just before 23:20. With onward connections via the Victoria Line and Tottenham Hale, I eventually arrived home at half past midnight.

South Park FC is a progressive, friendly club and with the ground improvements planned, the members are clearly ambitious. This coupled with the magnificent scenery in the locality make the club an attractive place to visit. I enjoyed my brief visit and would recommend it to neutrals. £3-50 for 90 minutes and a match programme (at Upton Park that will only get you the match programme! - Ed).

Attendance: 53

Admission: £3.00

Programme: 50p
Tea: 60p
Fare: £8-45 (All Zone Travelcard £5-00 + Day Return Zone 6 - Reigate £3-45. Both with Goldcard discount)

Photographic Archive

Wigan Robin Park FC

2010-04-06T23:59:00.090+01:00

Wigan Robin Park 2 St Helens Town 4 - North West Counties League, Challenge Trophy, Quarter Final

Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester. It stands on the River Douglas, 15 miles south of Preston, 16.5 miles west-northwest of Manchester, and 17.4 miles east-northeast of Liverpool. Wigan Pier, a wharf on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, was made famous by the writer George Orwell. In his book, The Road to Wigan Pier, Orwell highlighted the poor working and living conditions of the local inhabitants during the 1930s. Following the decline of industrial activities in the region, Wigan Pier's collection of warehouses and wharfs became a local heritage centre and cultural quarter. Wigan is home to the annual World Pie Eating Championship, usually held at Harry's Bar on Wallgate, Wigan. The competition has been held since 1992 and in 2007 a vegetarian option was added. Wiganers are sometimes referred to as "pie-eaters". William Santus & Co. Ltd, confectioner and producer of Uncle Joe's Mint Balls, is based in Wigan.

Wigan Robin Park FC was founded in 2005, initially the idea of Mike Woodruff (manager of Robin Park Arena) as part of the trust's drive to increase participation at all levels at the borough's sporting facility. The club play their home games at the Robin Park Arena on Loire Drive, adjacent to the DW Stadium.

This Pieman was scheduled to attend a workshop in Manchester and in anticipation of a rail strike had opted to stay overnight. This facilitated a Tuesday evening jaunt over to Wigan. This particular match had originally been a St Helens Town FC home fixture. However, following two postponements, under the rules of the competition, the tie was switched to Wigan, becoming their home fixture.

John Neafcy - Chairman and Manager, Wigan Robin Park FC

The Robin Park Arena is very easy to locate (walked past it enough times – Ed), an easy 15 minute stroll from the railway stations. The stadium is fully enclosed and contains an eight lane running track. There is a decent covered seated stand covering about half of one side. The stand is part of the main complex also house an indoor gym area. Much of the remainder of the ground is bordered by trees. You enter the ground via the main entrance and pay at reception (a bit like going into swimming baths – Ed). This Pieman paid by credit card – a first for this level of football!

St Helens Town FC plays in the top flight of the North West Counties League, a division above their hosts. It was no surprise that the visitors were the more assertive in the opening exchanges. St Helens struck twice in the opening period and looked comfortable throughout. With driving rain falling throughout the match, it is a credit to both teams that they continued to play passing football. A 3rd goal for St Helens just before the hour was followed by a Wigan counter from the penalty spot - the visiting keeper receiving a red card for his troubles. Any nerves for St Helens were settled by their fourth goal before a final consolation for Wigan in the closing minutes.

This Pieman is particularly grateful to Andrew Vaughan, Press Officer for Wigan Park, for his hospitality. It was nice to be invited to the board room at half time for tea and sandwiches. Throughout the match, Robin’s Nest was also doing a good trade in hot pies. It was nice also to be able to chat with Wigan’s manager/chairman John Neafcy before the match. Special mention also to the ball boys who assisted in keeping the game flowing. In vast arenas like this, so much time can be lost when players have to retrieve the ball.

This was a 20:00 kick off and I was back in Manchester just after 23:00. I can now claim to have attended a Wigan v St Helens match – without an egg shaped ball in sight!

Match Ticket

Match Programme

The original Match Programme from the postponed fixture at St Helens Town FC

Attendance: 62

Admission: £4.00
Programme: £1-50
Tea: 70p
Fare: £3-30 Day Return from Manchester

Photographic Archive

Downham Town FC

2010-04-05T23:59:00.096+01:00

Downham Town 0 March Town United 3 - Eastern Counties League, Division One

Eastern Counties League

Downham Market, also known simply as Downham, is a town Norfolk. It lies on the edge of the Fens, on the River Great Ouse, south of the town of King's Lynn, west of Norwich and north of Cambridge. It was an agricultural centre, developing as a market for the produce of the Fens with a bridge across the Ouse. During the Middle Ages, it was famed for its butter market and also hosted a notable horse fair. The town is also known as the place where Charles I hid after the Battle of Naseby.

The club was established in 1881, and were originally nicknamed the Saints. They initially played in junior leagues in the Kings Lynn area, before joining the Peterborough and District League. In 1949 the club gained senior status after being elected to the league's Premier Division. The club became a founder member of the new Division One of the Eastern Counties League in 1988, where they have remained since.

We travelled to Downham Market by car, from Cheshunt it is effectively just one road – the A10. It was a relatively easy journey with most of the bank holiday traffic heading in the opposite direction as people returned from their long weekend in Norfolk. The directions on the club website assisted greatly in avoiding the town centre, as we reached the Memorial Playing Field via Lynn Road.

This three sided venue is situated in a park and is shared with the local cricket club. Both ends are bordered by a wooden fence along with the main side which houses a seated stand, with two additional covered standing areas. The side of the ground also features five enormous trees, reflecting the age of this particular sporting venue. The remaining side is railed for the winter sport and unlike the other sides, is without hard standing.

Free scones and biscuits are available when purchasing teas from the hatch inside the clubhouse and this nice gesture appears to typify this friendly club. The same building also houses a licensed bar. Downham Town FC has struggled this season, registering just six league wins. They have been on the receiving end of some heavy defeats and only two days prior to this match, suffered a 0-9 reverse at FC Clacton.

Accordingly, visitors March Town United FC will have gone into the match confident of securing maximum points. The home side appeared to lack confidence and seemed reluctant to push forward when in possession. Following a fine opening strike, the visitors held a 2-0 lead at the break.

The home side rallied after the interval and were unlucky not to reduce the deficit when a clever shot struck the woodwork. March eventually clinched the points when a cross from the right eluded everyone to make it 3-0. This was an enjoyable afternoon and worth bearing in mind that admission including programme was only 50p more expensive than the price of a programme at Fulham and West Ham this season!

Our journey home was good and I was back indoors at 18:45. I have to say that the Eastern Counties League is a particular favourite of mine and I look forward to visiting more of the member clubs. Without exception I have found club officials to be friendly and helpful.

Attendance: 93
Admission: £4.00
Programme: with admission (extras £1.00)
Tea: 50p
Scones: Free

Photographic Archive

Hartley Wintney FC

2010-03-16T23:59:00.061Z

Hartley Wintney 1 Cobham 2 - Combined Counties League, Division One

Combined Counties League

Hartley Wintney is in the Hart district of North-East Hampshire. The parish includes the joined village of Phoenix Green to the south and surrounding hamlets of Dipley, West Green, Elvetham and Hartfordbridge, as well as large wooded areas such as Yateley Heath Wood and part of Hazeley Heath. The River Hart flows to the north-east of the village. The River Whitewater forms the western parish boundary and the M3 motorway forms the southern boundary. It is recorded in the 13th century as Hertleye Wynteneye which means "the clearing in the forest where the deer graze by Winta's island". Winta was probably a Saxon who owned the island in the marshes where a priory of Cistercian nuns was founded in the middle of the 12th century.

The village has a typical wide Hampshire main street, lined with local businesses, shops, public houses and a Baptist church. It is particularly well-known for a proliferation of good antique shops. At the southern end is the village green and duckpond (with thatched duck house). The red-brick parish church of St John over looks the green and the elegant Mildmay oak trees beyond. The oaks were planted by Lady St John Mildmay in response to the call, in 1807, by Admiral Collingwood following the Battle of Trafalgar for landowners to plant oaks to provide timber for naval ships. The cricket green, home of the oldest cricket club in Hampshire, is behind the shops adjoining a second picturesque duckpond and Dutch-gabled farmhouse.

Hartley Wintney Football Club was founded in 1897 and played in an area situated at Causeway Farm, not far from our present ground. The village side competed well against local opposition, this despite the facilities not being of today’s standard, with only a horse trough or the pond to remove the heavy mud from a sub-standard pitch! In 1953, the club moved to The Memorial Ground and a pavilion was erected. The facilities were once again improved in 1975, when a bar was built within the pavilion.

To reach Hartley Wintney, I took a train from London Waterloo to Winchfield. From the station it took me 25 minutes to walk to the Memorial Ground. The routes takes you under the M3 before reaching Phoenix Green and Hartley Wintey soon after. Not being blessed with professional photography skills, I arrived early in order to take advantage of the daylight.

I was then able to explore what turned out to be a very pleasant Hampshire village. Although dissected by a very busy road, there is enough charm and quintessential Englishness about the place to recognise why it would be a popular place to live. This Pieman also recommends the chips on sale in the High Street.

The Memorial Ground is a tidy venue, more than adequate for this level of football and certainly ready for step 5 should the club reach the higher division of the Combined Counties League. There is a covered stand containing about 100 seats straddling the half way line. On the opposite side is a large clubhouse with big screen Sky Sports.

Adjacent is another building housing the changing facilities. In front of the clubhouse is a raised covered patio type area. This would provide a welcome retreat in poor weather, offering an excellent view of the pitch. The ground is fully enclosed with a ten-foot high hedge bordering the stand side and behind one of the goals. The other end backs on to housing and is the only part of the ground not available to spectators.

This match between the hosts in 3rd place and visitors Cobham in 5th place promised to be a tight affair and so it was. Hartley Wintney held the lead at half time courtesy of a goal after 16 minutes from Matt Brunt. Cobham in their Chelsea kit (complete with club badge and sponsor’s name! – Ed) drew level shortly after the break following an almighty blunder by the home keeper and grabbed all three points with the winning goal on 82 minutes.

This Pieman is old enough to remember when 7:30 kick offs were the norm for midweek football and is indeed a fan of this rarity. It was this factor that encouraged me to embark on this midweek jaunt across the Surrey/Hampshire border. I was back at Winchfield Station in time for a fine pint of Ringwood Fortyniner (4.9%) at the nearby Winchfield Inn, well before the 22:05 return service to London.

Attendance: 57

Admission: £5.00
Programme: with admission (extras £1.00)
Tea (in a mug): 50p
Fare: £11-95 (All Zone Travelcard £5-00 + Day Return Zone 6 - Winchfield £6-95. Both with Goldcard discount)

Photographic Archive

Burton Albion FC

2010-02-27T23:59:00.053Z

Burton Albion 0 Rotherham United 1 - Football League Two

Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a large town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire. It originally grew up around Burton-on-Trent Abbey, the monastery of Saint Modwen, and had grown into a busy market town by the early modern period. For centuries, Burton has been associated with the brewing industry. This is due to the quality of the local water, which contains a high proportion of dissolved salts, predominantly caused by the gypsum in the surrounding hills. This allowed a greater proportion of hops, a natural preservative, to be included in the beer, thereby allowing the beer to be shipped further afield. Much of the open land within and around the town is protected from chemical treatment to help preserve this water quality. Rob McElwee, BBC's long-serving weather forecaster was born in the town.

The town of Burton has had a chequered history of football clubs, partly due to the area's main sport traditionally in the past being rugby union. Many former Burton teams have struggled financially. Albion can claim lineage from Burton Swifts, Burton Town, Burton United, and Burton Wanderers, who were all defunct football clubs in the town. Burton Albion FC was formed in 1950, and joined the Birmingham & District League. Albion began life at the Lloyds Foundry ground on Wellington Street, but high attendances meant that the club quickly searched for a more suitable home. Eton Park was built off Derby Road and officially opened on 20 September 1958, coinciding with their promotion to the Southern League. From then until its demolition in 2005, the Brewers played all of their home games at Eton Park.

Eton Park was dismantled to make way for housing, as the club had just completed a new stadium, at a cost of £7.2 million. It is situated directly opposite Eton Park and was named the Pirelli Stadium, situated as it was a short distance from Pirelli's factory in Burton. The stadium has an increased capacity, firstly set at 6,200, but then later raised to 6,912. Having secured bargain priced tickets from London to Birmingham the onward journey from Birmingham to Burton on Trent was relatively straightforward, with a half-hourly service taking half an hour. On reaching Burton we headed straight for the Pirelli Stadium, purchasing seat tickets for the main stand from the club shop.

We were now free to seek the appropriate liquid refreshment in a town that boasts to be the home of the brewing industry. Not a problem you might think. It was 11:00am and the nearby Beech Hotel was our first port of call. However, the rather unsympathetic barman at that hostelry informed us that he was not opening until midday. This was probably a blessing in disguise as the Great Northern (Burton Bridge Brewery) and probably slightly nearer to the ground (over the railway bridge – Ed) serves a fine pint of Bridge Bitter (4.2%). Although this pub also is scheduled to open at midday, the door was open at about 11:45. Many visiting Rotherham United fans were also frequenting this establishment and there was a good friendly atmosphere.

The Pirelli Stadium is a decent enough new build which, although lacking in character, certainly has all the requisite facilities. It affords a good view from all areas. The only available seating is in the main stand; the remaining 3 areas of the ground are terraced and covered. Should the club progress there appears to be scope to increase the capacity and upgrade the facilities of the stadium.

As for the match, Burton edged the first half but rarely troubled Andy Warrington in between the sticks for the Millers. During the second period, the rain, which had held off before the match, got heavier. The deadlock was broken when Warrington took a long free kick that skidded off the head of Burton’s Tom Parkes. League Two’s top marksman Adam Le Fondre, was able to get a faint touch to get the goal that was to settle this contest. After this the visitors were by far the stronger team and should have added to their tally.

After the match we headed back towards the station (just over a mile) and en route took refreshment at another Burton Bridge hostelry, The Alfred, another friendly pub with an impressive selection of real ale. Apart from Bridge Bitter, I also enjoyed Golden Delicious (3.8%). It was here that I also bumped into Duncan Adams, the man behind the Football Ground Guide. Although we had not met previously, by coincidence Duncan had emailed me a couple of days before. A fine day out was compounded by a brief pit stop near Birmingham New Street station before heading back to the metropolis.

Attendance: 3,568
Admission: Seated £15-00
Programme: £2-50
Train: £7-00 each way London - Birmingham £9-30 CDR Birmingham - Burton

Photographic Archive

Shrewsbury Town FC

2009-11-14T23:59:00.055Z

Shrewsbury Town 1 Torquay United 1 - Football League Two

Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire. Lying on the River Severn, it is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council. Consequently, it is the second largest town in the county of Shropshire, after Telford. Shrewsbury is a historic market town with the town centre having a largely unaltered medieval street plan. The town features over 660 historic listed buildings, including several examples of timber framing from the 15th century and 16th century. Shrewsbury Castle, a red sandstone castle fortification, and Shrewsbury Abbey, a former Benedictine monastery, were founded in 1074 and 1083 respectively, by the Norman Earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomery. The town hosts one of the oldest and largest horticultural events in the country, Shrewsbury Flower Show, and is known for its floral displays, having won various awards since the turn of the 21st century, including Britain in Bloom in 2006.

Shrewsbury Town FC was formed in May 1886, indirectly following the demise of Castle Blues. The Blues were a rough team, leading to their demise after several games were marred by violence. The new team hoped to be as successful but without the notoriety. Press reports differ as to the date the new club was formed, The Eddowes Shropshire Journal of 26 May 1886 reported the birth of the club at the Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury. The Shrewsbury Chronicle reported the club's being formed at the Turf Hotel, Claremont Hill, Shrewsbury. It may be both accounts are true, with a get-together at the Lion being finalised at the Turf.

This Pieman visited the club's previous Gay Meadow ground for a match against Crystal Palace in August 1985. On that occasion the match had been put back 24 hours due to a clash with the Shrewsbury Flower Show. With severe gales and heavy rain forecast for the country, it was with some trepidation that we set out from London Euston. Our journey involved a change of trains at Birmingham New Street. On arrival at Shrewsbury, we were pleasantly surprised that, although blustery, the rain was limited to sporadic showers (game on – Ed).

In search of refreshment, we made our way to the Shrewsbury Hotel, where as part of the Wetherspoons festival of ale, Bat’s Hat (Banks & Taylors), Old Vic (Butcombe) and Coppergate (York Brewery) were sampled. A short walk from this establishment is The Armoury where Shropshire Pride, a fine brew from the Worfield Brewing Co, was enjoyed. Still the best was yet to come at the, GBG listed, Salopian Bar, in the shape of Station Bitter from the Stonehouse Brewery. All three establishments are located alongside the River Severn and are less than 10 minutes walk from the railway and bus stations.

It was from the bus station that we took advantage of the special bus service to the New Meadow (Prostar Stadium for sponsorship purposes - Ed). It has been reported that this new stadium lacks in character and originality (unlike Gay Meadow – Ed). To be fair I can understand such comments but to balance the argument, there isn’t a bad view anywhere to be had. The pitch was very good considering the weather and allowed both teams to demonstrate good passing ability. The four stands are similar in design with the main stand housing some corporate facilities. Behind each goal were some excellently sited wheelchair facilities.

This match pitted the home side, still smarting from a home defeat to Staines Town in the FA Cup the previous week, yet just outside the play-off positions, against Torquay United, third from bottom of League One. The goal free first period was decent enough for the neutrals present to appreciate both sides trying to play positive football. The blustery conditions would not have helped such endeavour. The game sprang to life on 54 minutes when Kieran Charnock was given a straight red card following a challenge. To their credit 10 men Torquay United kept their shape and scored through Chris Hargreaves with a quarter of an hour to play. The home side levelled four minutes later with a fine strike from David Hibbert. A draw was a fair result with neither side doing enough to deny their opponents a share of the spoils.

This Pieman spent the last couple of minutes of the match in the front row of the stand and I can confirm that it was getting a tad chilly down there! What this does demonstrate though, is the fine shelter that these stands offer, as it was only at this point that I realised how cold it was. The special bus was on the move 10 minutes after the final whistle and we were back in town in plenty of time for a pint before catching a direct train to London Marylebone courtesy of Wrexham & Shropshire Railway.

Shrewsbury Town: Chris Neal, Dean Holden, Graham Coughlan (C), Kelvin Langmead, David Hibbert, Paul Murray, Steve Leslie, Shane Cansdall-Sherriff, Jamie Devitt (Rizza 77), Waide Fairhurst (Bright 77), Kevin McIntyre.

Substitutes: Terry Duffield, Omer Riza, Nathan Elder, Kris Bright, Harry Hooman, Andreas Arestidou, Will Richards

Torquay United: Michael Poke, Kevin Nicholson, Chris Robertson, Lee Mansell, Tim Sills (Williams 67), Tyrone Thompson, Chris Hargreaves (C), Wayne Carlisle, Danny Stevens (Benyon 46), Kieran Charnock (sent off 54), Jake Thomson (Ellis 55). Substitutes: Scott Bevan, Mark Ellis, Chris Todd, Elliot Benyon, Scott Rendell, Saul Halpin, Marvin Williams.

Referee: G D Scott
Assistant Referee (yellow): R J Jones
Assistant Referee (plain): D P Meeson
Fourth Official: R Fletcher

Attendance: 5,072 (310 away)
Admission: Seated £16-00 (£2 discount for advance purchase)
Programme: £2-50
Bus to Stadium: £3-00 return
Train: £19-50 (£9-50 out £10-00 back)

The Pieman's earlier visit to Gay Meadow

Photographic Archive

New Bradwell St Peter FC

2009-10-10T23:59:00.037+01:00

New Bradwell St Peter 3 London Colney 1 - Spartan South Midlands League, Division One

Spartan South Midlands League

New Bradwell St. James Football Club was founded in the 1880's, its headquarters being at the Forresters Arms. The club was named Stantonbury St. James, formed by members of the St. James Church on the Newport Road. Soon after, they were renamed Stantonbury St. Peter. In 1946/47 they changed their name again when New Bradwell Corinthians Football Club found themselves in difficulties and merged with the Peters, thus the change from Stantonbury to New Bradwell St. Peter. Still later, came another change of ground, from the Mutual Meadow to the Bradwell Road Recreation Ground, using the New Inn for training, then known as The Progressive Club. At this time the Football Club invited the Cricket Club to join them in an effort to build a Sports Pavilion on the Bradwell Road Recreation ground. After lengthy discussions with the local council, the venture came to fruition and the New Bradwell Sports Club was officially opened by Councilor Dr. Love.

The plan was to catch the 13:13 departure from London Euston. This service arrives at Wolverton at 13:58. Arriving at this time would allow an hour to walk to the Bradwell Road Recreation Ground. However, a flurry of emails the previous day, facilitated this Pieman and Harry Hotspur being met at Wolverton station by the legendary MK Gould and his lads. The lift to the ground (estimate 20 mins walk – Ed) took a slight detour, as we took the opportunity to have a look at the old Wolverton ground. Sadly I never got to see a match at that venue, a real shame considering the hundreds of times I must have passed it on the train. The place is now a green meadow with the only glimmer of a footballing past being a covered shelter in the style of that fine old stand of yesteryear, adjacent to the huge imposing factory wall.

I remember Brian Buck (celebrated Ground Hopper - Ed) telling me many years back, that getting to New Bradwell St Peter FC was simple, “just head for the windmill”. How right he was as the fine old structure certainly gives a rural feel to this part of Milton Keynes and is right next door to the shared cricket and football facilities. An earlier than anticipated arrival enabled us to enjoy the facilities of a decent clubhouse, the added bonus being Charles Wells Eagle IPA on handpump!

Apart from the clubhouse building, there is also a separate building housing the changing facilities. This is situated next to the fully railed off pitch with concrete walkway. In front of this building is a hardstanding forecourt a few seats. On the opposite side, behind the dugouts, is a large covered terrace with some bench seating at the front. Plenty of cover for all when the weather turns I would suggest.

We did not have to wait long for the first goal of the afternoon. The home side taking the lead when John Mulholland expertly guided the ball home. As the first period progressed, visitors London Colney FC started to impose themselves on the match. However, rushed or wayward shooting often spoiled good build up play. When the equaliser did come it was from a fine strike by Frankie Jowle via the left side upright.

The home side was soon back in front through Joey Acheampong. At the break we enjoyed tea and hotdogs from the clubhouse before settling to watch the remaining 45 minutes. However special mention must go to referee Mr J Groom who clearly enjoyed being the centre of attention. Whenever he had to speak to players, he made such a song and dance of it (just get on with it ref – Ed). 45 minutes became 55 and any chance of the 17:04 train from Milton Keynes Central evaporated.

The closing minutes of the game were enlived by a fine 3rd goal for New Bradwell St Peter when Adam Castagnetti's fierce drive eluded the fingertips of the keeper and sealed a good win. 24 points from twelve matches is an excellent start to the season for the club.

Courtesy of MK Gould we only just missed that 17:04 train but were pleased to be allowed to catch the 17:19 Virgin service which arrived at Euston only a minute after that earlier service. On days like this it is possible to appreciate the benefits of the upgrade of the West Coast Main line (long time coming – Ed). A fine afternoon out in good company, a friendly club to visit and a windmill - what more could you ask for?

Attendance: 79
Admission: No charge
Programme: £1-00 (20 pages)
Tea: 40p
Fare: £15-05 (All Zone Travelcard £5-00 + Day return Zone 6 - Wolverton £10-05. Both with Goldcard discount)

Photographic Archive

Queen of the South FC

2009-09-19T15:00:00.058+01:00

Queen of the South 2 Dundee 0 - Scottish Football League, Division One

Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland and is situated close to the Solway Firth, near the mouth of the River Nith. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. People from Dumfries are known colloquially as Doonhamers. Dumfries was the hometown of Robert Burns from 1791 until his death in 1796. The poet is now buried in St. Michael’s Churchyard in the Burns Mausoleum. Burns was born in Ayrshire and spent many years there before moving to Dumfriesshire. Dumfries got its nickname Queen of the South from David Dunbar, a local poet, who in 1857 stood for Parliament in the General Election. In one of his addresses, he called Dumfries "Queen of the South" and this became synonymous with the town.

Early in 1919, a handful of Dumfries football enthusiasts met in their homes to discuss not only the restoration of competitive football fixtures locally (following the end of World War I) but also the formation through amalgamation of a local football club to compete at more than a local level. Queen of the South applied unsuccessfully to join the Scottish League for seasons 1921–22 and 1922–23. The ambition bore fruit in 1923–24, however, when they were invited to join the Scottish Football league at its lowest level, the newly created Third Division.

With the recent upgrade to the West Coast mainline, it is once again possible to visit Dumfries for a Saturday afternoon fixture and get back to London comfortably the same day. The added incentive on this occasion was that I was able to secure rail tickets for £12 each way. A 7:30 am departure from Euston with a change at Carlisle should have facilitated an arrival at Dumfries before midday. However a delay meant missing the connection and being forced to drink real ale in a pub near Carlisle station.

On arrival at Dumfries, further refreshment was required en route to Palmerston Park. Just before crossing the River Nith in the direction of the ground you will come across the conveniently situated the Cavans Arms. The CAMRA recommended establishment is widely recommended and it is easy to see why. They were doing a roaring trade on meals this lunchtime and I understand that this the norm, (evenings too when you are advised to book – Ed). Whilst here this Pieman delighted in a couple of pints of Wildcat, a 5.1% offering from the Cairngorm Brewery. This splendid dark liquid set me up nicely for the brief onward stroll to the stadium.

Palmerston Park is a mixture of old and new. Along one side is the main stand, from where I watched the first half. My central front row seated was immediately above the Dundee FC bench. I am particularly grateful to Queen of the South FC for their generosity in providing Pie and Mushy Peas a complimentary ticket for this match. In front of the main stand either side of the tunnel and technical areas, are terraced enclosures. Only one of which was in use. Opposite the main stand, running the full length of the pitch is a smartish looking covered stand. Although perhaps lacking the character of the rest of the stadium, it provides a good comfortable view of proceedings.

Behind one goal is a section of unused uncovered terracing, offering a glance at a bygone era perhaps. At the other end is a groundhoppers delight. A partly covered large terrace that is clearly a throwback to when each football ground had its own uniqueness. It was not long before this match exploded into life with the award of a penalty to the home side on five minutes. Dundee custodian Tony Bullock was red carded for bringing down David Weatherston. The resultant spot kick was converted by Steve Tosh.

This Pieman switched to the terrace for the second period in order to sample the atmosphere. It was good to enjoy the freedom of that environment (something alien to the Premier League – Ed). It was very noticeable that there were a lot of young children present at the match. Queen of the South is clearly a community club and this was good to see. It certainly bodes well for the future. Admission for under 16s is just £3 and with a season ticket this is reduced to £1.

Darren the Drummer Boy

Despite having a decent proportion of he play, big spending Dundee will have been disappointed not to have converted any of the chances that came their way. A second counter compounded this failing for the home side scored by Derek Holmes. Even at 2-0 Dundee continued to press the home side and created the better chances. On two occasions it seemed certain that they would score but the woodwork and wayward shooting determined otherwise

It takes a little over fifteen minutes to reach Dumfries railway station from Palmerston Park. So the 17:32 departure for Carlisle should never pose a problem for a Saturday afternoon match. Scottish matches also tend to be completed on time without any fuss. The connecting train from Carlisle reached Euston at 22:45 and I was home at Cheshunt before midnight. A long but enjoyable day. If you have not been to this friendly club and fine town before, I can thoroughly recommend it.

Queen of the South: Ludovic Roy, Craig Reid, Robert Harris, Stephen McKenna, David Lilley, Marc McAusland, Paul Burns, Stevie Tosh (Rocco Quinn 82), Barry Wilson ( Jamie McQuilken 73), Derek Holmes, David Weatherston. Subs Not Used: David Hutton, Gerry McLaughlan, Jim Thomson.
Booked: Craig Reid, Rocco Quinn. Goals: Stevie Tosh 6 pen, Derek Holmes 61.

Dundee: Tony Bullock, Eric Paton, Eddie Malone, Gary MacKenzie, David Cowan, Maros Klimpl, Paul McHale (Craig Forsyth 72), Colin Cameron (Rab Douglas 5), Gary Harkins, Leigh Griffiths (Sean Higgins 61), Colin McMenamin. Subs Not Used: Chris Casement, Brian Kerr.
Sent Off: Tony Bullock (5). Booked: Maros Klimpl, Leigh Griffiths, Sean Higgins.
Referee: Thomas Robertson
Assistants: Francis Andrews & Stuart Hodge

Attendance: 2,875
Admission: Seated £12-00, Terrace £15, Concessions, £6 Under 16 £3
Programme: £2-50
Scotch Pie: £1-50

Photographic Archive

Ipswich Wanderers FC

2009-09-04T23:59:00.044+01:00

Ipswich Wanderers 1 FC Clacton 5 - Eastern Counties League, Division One

Eastern Counties League

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk, on the estuary of the River Orwell. Under the Roman empire, the area around Ipswich formed an important route inland to rural towns and settlements via the Orwell and Gipping. King John granted the town its first charter in 1200, laying the mediaeval foundations of its modern civil government. In the next four centuries it made the most of its wealth, trading Suffolk cloth with the Continent. In the time of Queen Mary the Ipswich Martyrs were burnt at the stake on the Cornhill for their Protestant beliefs. A monument commemorating this event now stands in Christchurch Park.

Ipswich Wanderers FC started as an under-14 boys team and based in Bramford near Ipswich in 1980 and two years later they entered the lowest division of the Ipswich Sunday League. Managed by Colwyn Rowe, sponsorship resulted in a name change during 1988 to Loadwell Ipswich F.C. For 1988–89 they became founder members of Division One in the Eastern Counties League. The club was renamed Ipswich Wanderers in 1989. The club finished the 1997–98 as Division One champions, nine points clear of Maldon Town, losing only three league games all season. Their first season in the Premier Division was a struggle and they were saved from relegation only by the merger of the two Sudbury clubs.

The club was relegated back to Division One on the last day of the 2002–03 season. Former Ipswich Town player Jason Dozzell was appointed in his first coaching post the following season, and in 2004–05 the club won the division and were promoted back to the Premier Division, finishing the season with a 26-game unbeaten run, collecting 28 points from the last 10 games and not conceding a goal in the last 6. The 2007–08 season saw Ipswich Wanderers relegated back to the First Division as they finished bottom of the table, conceding 119 goals in the process.

A Friday evening jaunt to Suffolk involved this Pieman gratefully accepting the offer of a lift from Local Bus Driver. We left Cheshunt at 17:15 and were pleased to reach the SEH Sports Ground just over 2 hours later. Not bad considering the Friday evening rush hour traffic. On reaching Ipswich via the A12, we switched to the A14, travelling in the direction of Felixstowe. This route facilitates circling the town in order to reach the ground, located in Humber Doucy Lane.

I was immediately impressed with the spectator facilities, with cover on both sides and behind one goal. Other structures include a cosy clubhouse and bar, club shop and refreshment kiosk. The great thing about watching football at this venue is that despite it being a progressively chilly evening, there is sufficient cover all round the ground to ensure a comfortable experience.

FC Clacton, riding high in the league, took the game to their hosts from the start and could have been ahead inside two minutes. Their pressure told after 15 minutes when they took the lead through James Dunkley. An Ipswich leveller from Maurice Fike was merely a consolation for Wanderers as the visitors regained the lead after 30 minutes when Matt Waters converted a rebound to his saved penalty kick.

After the break the visitors never looked troubled and both Dunkley and waters scored again along with Lee Peacock to ensure an emphatic win for FC Clacton. A decent evening out and home before 23:30 – Ipswich Wanderers is a friendly club, well worth visiting. Although I had a lift, there is a regular bus service (route 66 - Ed) from Ipswich Railway Station operating 4 times per hour on Saturdays.

Ipswich Wanderers: Gary Hammond, Scott Welton, Kevin Morrison (C), Craig Taber, Craig Rumens, Ben Hammond, Tom Deller, Leon Parnell, Maurice Fike, Rob Forbes, Liam Hunn Subs: Sarvio Moore, Jamie Tynan, Ricky Coleman, Floyd Croll.

FC Clacton: Darren Gould, Lee Peacock, Andy Taylor, Dan Smith, Gregg Heighway, Chris Ribchester, Karl Andrade, Paul Hillier (C), James Dunkley, Sean Hillier, Matt Waters Subs: Gareth Gibson, Sam Briscoe, Kevin Coyle, Craig Rulton, Tommy Noble.

Referee: John Mitchell
Assistants: Daniel Keeble & Jonathan White

Attendance: 111
Admission: £5
Programme: £1 (36 pages)
Tea: 70p
Coffee: 80p
Chips: £1-20

Photographic Archive

Doncaster Rovers FC

2009-08-26T23:59:00.049+01:00

Doncaster Rovers 1 Tottenham Hotspur 5 - Football League Cup, Round Two

Doncaster is located about 20 miles from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny". The town began when the Romans built a fort in the area about 71 AD. After the Romans left the Saxons invaded Eastern England. The Saxons called a Roman fort a ceaster. When they arrived in South Yorkshire they called this one Don ceaster. In time the name changed to Doncaster and they created a village nearby. Doncaster is one of the oldest established centres for horse racing in Britain, with records of regular race meetings going back to the 16th Century. In 1776 Colonel Anthony St. Leger founded a race in which five horses ran. Today the St. Leger Stakes remains the world's oldest Classic Horse Race and features in the Horse Racing calendar as the fifth and final Classic of the British Flat racing season. This takes pride of place every September on the famous Town Moor course.

Doncaster Rovers FC was formed in September 1879 by Albert Jenkins, a fitter at Doncaster's Great Northern Railway works in response to the emerging popularity of the game in the nearby city of Sheffield. They were first elected to the Football League in 1901. In 1920, with the help of Doncaster Corporation, a new ground was built for the club and named Belle Vue. This remained their home until the Keepmoat Stadium was opened on New Year's Day, 2007.

The second round of the Football League Cup presented this Pieman with a rare opportunity to visit a new ground with Spurs. I had visited Belle Vue on a couple of occasions, the first time being to witness an emphatic 0-4 victory for the visitors Reading in 1985.

The draw for this round of the competition was made less than a fortnight before the matches were due to take place, not very convenient when looking to book cheap advanced purchase rail tickets. For this reason I travelled early to get a 'deal' and arrived at 'Donny' late morning.

I took the opportunity for an early visit to the ground and reached the Keepmoat Stadium in 25 minutes. Following a pleasant stroll through the centre. I was also pleased to be allowed access to the stadium in order to take some photographs.

This interlude was followed by a return amble back to town, where I headed for the excellent Corner Pin public house. Lunch for this Pieman consisted of an enormous homemade Yorkshire Pudding filled with chips and gravy. The landlady informed me that such is the demand, she prepares the batter the night before. This delightful meal was washed down with a few pints of Texas Brown from the Saltaire Brewery. The Corner Pin is only a few minutes walk from the railway station and presents a decent refreshment option for anyone changing trains.

The Keepmoat stadium is a tidy, if unspectacular, venue. A good view of the proceeding is afforded from all areas. 'Functional' best describes the place, with all four sides resembling each other. Clearly the club had to move from Belle Vue but the fans I spoke to, still desired the atmosphere of the old place.

Tottenham Hotspur eased through to the third round with five goals. However, early on in the match, Carlo Cudicini had to be at his best to thwart early attempts by Rovers. In the end Rovers did score from the penalty spot. An emphatic win for Spurs but the home side did play some decent football.

Doncaster Rovers: Smith; Chambers, Lockwood (Webster 45), Hird, Roberts; Stock (Fairhurst 59); Oster (Fortune 59), Woods, Spicer; Hayter, Guy. Unused substitutes: Wilson, Shiels, Sullivan, Heffernan.

Tottenham Hotspur: Cudicini (Button 82); Naughton, Corluka, Bassong (Prince-Boateng 59), Hutton; Bentley, Huddlestone (Rose 72), O'Hara, Giovani; Crouch, Pavlyuchenko. Unused substitutes: Lennon, Palacios, Defoe.

Referee: RJ Booth
Assistants: KJ Mattacks & D Naylor
Fourth Official: SJ Cook

Attendance: 12,923
Admission: £23-00
Programme: £3-00
Yorkshire Pudding in Corner Pin: £2-60

Photographic Archive

The Pieman's initial visit to Belle Vue

Coulsdon United FC

2009-08-22T23:59:00.030+01:00

Coulsdon United 0 Staines Lammas 7 - Combined Counties League, Division One

Combined Counties League

Coulsdon, known by locals and historically as Coalsden, is a town on the southernmost boundary of the London Borough of Croydon. It is surrounded by the Greater London greenbelt of the Farthing Downs, Coulsdon Common and Kenley Common. Coulsdon has a strong and vibrant local history, which includes ancient burial mounds on the Farthing Downs, an ancient church recorded in the Domesday Book and Marlpit - an industrial chalk quarry. Old Coulsdon once boasted one of the oldest cricket clubs in the world - founded in 1762. Old Coulsdon were one of the strongest teams in the country in the late 1700 / early 1800s and once boasted 8 Internationals (England) in their ranks, as well as a young Stuart Surridge. The club was quite possibly the first to use three stumps and two bails.

Coulsdon United FC was established in 1968 as Reedham Park F.C. and played in the Croydon Saturday League. In 1975, the club moved to the Surrey Eastern Intermediate League, which became the Surrey South Eastern Combination following a merger. In 1989, Reedham Park joined the Surrey Premier League, changing its name to Netherne F.C. in 1992. In 1994, they were promoted into the Combined Counties League, where they played for a few seasons before once again changing names to Netherne Village F.C. in 1998. The club dropped out of the Combined Counties League following the 1998-99 season, but became founder members of the league's new Division One in 2003. In 2005, the club's name reverted back to Netherne F.C. Only a year later, they once again changed names to Coulsdon Town F.C. In 2007 the club merged with Salfords and changed the name of the club to the present Coulsdon United Football Club.

I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to get to Netherne Community Amateur Sports Club. I jumped on a fast train at London Bridge, changing at East Croydon, from where I caught one of the frequent (4 per hour) services to Coulsdon South. On leaving the station and turning left, I followed the Brighton Road as far as Woodplace Lane, where I took a left turn crossing the railway line. To stay in Woodplace Lane requires a right turn into the continuation and to reach the ground you follow this road as it climbs until you pass the last of the domestic dwellings. Soon afterwards you will see the football ground on the left.

It is fair to say that the clubhouse and changing facilities are in need of a bit of TLC and have certainly seen better days. In the gents toilets there is a sign detailing the progress of the fund to repair the roof. The pitch is fully enclosed, with a small covered standing area opposite the dugouts for shelter in adverse weather. No such climatic issues on this fine hot August afternoon though!

Visitors, Staines Lammas FC, have won this division the past two seasons and on the occasions that this Pieman has seen them, they have played some fine attacking football. This continued at Coulsdon where they were ahead after 10 minutes. Further strikes before the break ensured a 3-0 cushion prior to a well-deserved cold drink. In the second period Lammas looked likely to score whenever they went forward. The final tally of seven was conservative considering their domination of proceedings. The home side deserved credit for sticking to their task despite the obvious gulf in class.

Despite the second half not starting until 16:07, This Pieman was back at Coulsdon South station in time (just!) to catch the 17:16 fast service to London Bridge. Accordingly, the Netherne location is not as difficult to access as I had long though it was.

Attendance: 24
Admission: £3-00
Programme: 50p
Tea: 50p
Mars: 60p
Fare: £5-00 (all Zone Travelcard with Goldcard discount)

Photographic Archive

CB Hounslow United FC

2009-08-15T23:59:00.038+01:00

CB Hounslow United 2 Knaphill 4 - Combined Counties League, Division One

Combined Counties League

Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. Hounslow grew up along both sides of the Great Western Road from London to the West Country and in 1211 the Order of the Holy Trinity built a priory at the western end of the High Street, on the site of the present church. These friars used one third of their tithes to pay for the release of hostages captured during the crusades. Edward I granted the Holy Trinity a charter allowing them to hold a weekly market and an annual fair where they levied duties on goods sold.

For some time I had been curious as to what the CB prefix to the Hounslow club's name stood for. One hopping acquaintance (Nic Adamou? - Ed) suggested Crawfords Biscuits. However the club website and match programme explain that CB stands for Cater Bank, the current Chairman's late father's company - an early sponsor.

To reach Osterley Sports Club I was able to follow the precise directions provided by Andy of Kent on his superb site. Specifically, Left out of Southall station into South Road, left at roundabout into Merrick Road, right at next roundabout to stay in Merrick Road, straight over next roundabout then left into Havelock Road, right into Poplar Avenue and over bridge, left to remain in Poplar Avenue and ground is opposite junction with Tentelow Lane at end. Excellent directions although I took a slight detour to walk via the towpath of the Grand Union canal (two Saturdays running following Kings Langley - Ed)

On reaching the Osterley Sports Club, it was a pleasant surprise to find a fully enclosed ground – not always a case in this division of the Combined Counties League. There is a clubhouse building, which serves as the changing facilities for the outside pitches too. There is also a functional licensed bar with satellite TV. It was at the bar that I was able to purchase a match programme (£1). At no other point was I asked to part with any additional cash and perhaps the programme covers admission for anyone honest enough to buy one.

An additional refreshment facility (tea, burgers & bacon rolls) is located in the car park, near the ‘turnstile’. The ground boasts cover on three sides with a substantial 4 rowed seated stand behind the goal at the clubhouse end. The club is ambitious and aspires to having a purpose built ground. For them to progress up the football pyramid this would be essential. However, I was impressed with the spirit of the place, everyone was friendly and they certainly make the best use of the facilities they have.

The match was a slow starter but by midway through the first period, visitors Knaphill FC had started to create some very good chances, some of which should have been converted. The goal free first period seemed to inspire the home side who started the second half in a far more assertive fashion. The decisive breakthrough came in the 62nd minute when a cross shot from the left found the net to give Knaphill the lead. Further goals within the next ten minutes sealed victory for the visitors who were able to relax and apply their passing game in the 79th minute a red card for a Hounslow player was severely contested by the individual. His threatening outburst indicated that he strongly disagreed with the decision.

As he made his way back to the changing facilities, he took a kick at a batch of water bottles sending them hurtling over the fence and flying past a startled Pieman. This journalist has experienced much over the years but it is some time since he has been so close to the action. However, I obliged in returning the said bottles (6) to the appropriate area. A further Knaphill goal from the penalty spot on 85 minutes was surprisingly followed by two late strikes for the home side. An eventful end to the match!

Attendance: 30
Admission: ?
Programme: £1-00
Tea: 50p
Cheeseburger: £2-50
Fare: £5-00 (all Zone Travelcard with Goldcard discount)

Photographic Archive

Kings Langley FC

2009-08-08T23:59:00.014+01:00

Kings Langley 1 Ampthill Town 3 - Spartan South Midlands League, Division One

Spartan South Midlands League

Kings Langley is a historic English village 21 miles northwest of central London on the southern edge of the Chiltern Hills and now part of the London commuter belt. The major western portion lies in the borough of Dacorum and the east is in the Three Rivers district, both in the county of Hertfordshire, England. It was once the location of a Royal palace of the Plantagenet kings of England. The twelfth century parish church of All Saints houses the tomb of the first Duke of York. His first wife, Isabella of Castile, was buried in Kings Langley Manor House. The London orbital motorway, the M25, passes just south of the village (Junction 20) on an imposing viaduct across the River Gade valley.

Kings Langley was the home of the makers of Ovaltine and the listed factory facade is now all that is left and still stands alongside the railway line among a new housing development. The Ovaltine factory itself has recently been converted into a series of flats and duplexes. Ovaltine was based on the vitamin-rich properties of malt extract and combined with Milk, Eggs and Cocoa it quickly became recognised as an ideal combination of essentials nutrients in a delicious and satisfying warm drink.

Kings Langley FC spent the majority of their history in the Herts County League, they joined the Spartan South Midlands League in 2001, and are currently members of Division One. My 'competitive' season is now up and running following my trip to Gaywood Park, the home of Kings Langley FC. I travelled via London Euston from where the journey takes just over 20 minutes.

On reaching Kings Langley, I took a detour in order to get a photograph of the Ovaltine development. This building will be sight familiar to thousands who have travelled on the main West Coast route over the years. The railway and the Grand Union Canal dissect Kings Langley. Effectively I had two options to reach the ground. Rather than backtracking towards the station, I continued along Railway Terrace as far as Nash Mills, turning left along Red Lion Lane, over the Grand Union Canal and left along Hempstead Road. This route takes you past a couple of decent looking pubs.

Gaywood Park is easy to spot from the main road as the club now have floodlights in place. Promotion to the top division was denied last season despite the club clinching the runners up spot. The required ground improvements being completed too late. However, from the comments of others, it is clear to see that major improvements have been made. On entry to the ground there is clubhouse containing a bar and tea bar hatch. The changing facilities are also housed in the block with the car park adjacent.

An extended wooden stand, containing bench seats is situated along the Hempstead Road side of the pitch. Currently it will be possible for 100+ spectators to view proceedings from there under cover and I have to say, the view was decent, providing shelter from the scorching sun! The opposite side of the ground, where the dugouts are situated backs on to the Grand Union Canal, with the West Coast main line crossing the waterway just north of the ground.

This match was slow to get going only livened up on 16 minutes when the home side took the lead with a fine volley. With further chances to increase the lead spurned, the visitors took the initiative and netted a 37th minute leveller with a tap in at the far post following a cross from the right. In the second period, Kings Langley again had chances to score but were made to regret not doing so when they were reduced to ten men with ten minutes to play. A handball on the line saw the resulting penalty converted and visitors Ampthill Town FC secured victory with a 3rd strike after 86 minutes.

Gaywood Park is good venue for watching the beautiful game, the people are friendly and the improving facilities will certainly assist the club’s ambitions. On leaving the ground I walked in the Watford direction along Hempstead Road, through the village centre where there are a few more pubs, fish and chips and an Indian restaurant recommended by a colleague. Heading in the direction of the imposing M25 viaduct, I turned left along Station Footpath, crossing the Grand Union Canal and up to the railway station. This particular match was late starting (something about a goalie’s jersey) and did not end until nearly 16:55. An earlier conclusion would have given me a sporting chance of catching the 17:11 train. However, the 17:41 still got me into Euston at a decent hour and I was back at Cheshunt before 7pm – a decent excursion.

Attendance: 45
Admission: £3
Programme: with admission
Tea (in a mug): 60p
Chesseburger: £2-00
Fare: £7-60 (All Zone Travelcard £5-00 + Day return Zone 6 - Kings Langley £2-60. Both with Goldcard discount)

Photographic Archive