Daily Archives: September 25, 2011

Gemini

25 Sunday Sep 2011

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Saturday 24th September 2011 ko 7.30pm

North Berkshire League Division One

AFC WALLINGFORD 0

CROWMARSH GIFFORD 2 (Hedges 42 79)

Att 157

Entry by Programme £3

Tea 60p

Badge £3

By the evening game, I was flagging a bit. Organising these hops is stressful enough, but doing so with a hernia made things just made things tougher. Still, I propped myself up, did what I needed to (deliver the badges, organise the team sheets, do the crowd count etc) then enjoyed a nice cup of tea.

I have time for AFC Wallingford, as life has been tough for them. From beating AFC Wimbledon to the Combined Counties League title in 2001-2 little or nothing as gone right for them since,and they’ve had real problems with their landlords. We’d annoyed them by bouncing a children’s party to host this late kickoff. Continue reading →

…Like hot cakes!

25 Sunday Sep 2011

Posted by in S

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Saturday 24th September 2011 ko 4.30pm

North Berkshire League Division 2

SUTTON COURTENAY 4 (Foster 14 Oram 15 Pitson 64 Druce 71)

BERINSFIELD 1 (Stockford 80)

Att 182

Entry by Programme £3

Badge £3

Tea 50p

Homemade Cake 50p

Cheeseburger £2

By the third game I’d relaxed, it was obvious the crowds were going to be of an acceptable level, and the club I knew from a visit late last season were both keen and ready to host a hop game. I was relieved we’d hired a mini-coach as I’m not sure whether we’d have got a full sized vehicle down the Old Wallingford Road!

Once again a barbeque was in full swing, but the act of genius was in the clubhouse, where home made cake was on sale for 50p a slice! I had two pieces! Someone can bake in this corner of Oxfordshire. Again the teamsheet was pinned up in good time, but I still managed to watch the opening few minutes some distance from the pitch! I’d caught up with Jackie Cullen secretary of visitors Berinsfield, and a wonderful advert for the club who have overcome major problems in the past, to win both the League cup and division 4 last season, their first back in the NBFL.

I’d fully expected Berinsfield to win this one easily, but when Courtenay can boast players of the calibre of Luke Bennett (ex Oxford United) perhaps I should have known better. In a high quality game, Courtenay ran out worthy winners, but as organiser I was also pleased the large numbers of the NBFL committee present. One quietly told me he didn’t think I’d get this many people to the games, and how pleased he was to be proved wrong. Comments like that are appreciated!

Razzmatazz

25 Sunday Sep 2011

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Saturday 24th September 2011 KO 1.30pm

North Berkshire League Division 1

DRAYTON FC 3 (Curran 72 76 82)

HARWELL VILLAGE 1 (Hinchcliffe 90)

Att 168

Entry by programme £3

Tea £1

Cheeseburger £2.50

Cheese & Onion Roll £1

Old team shirt £2

Badge £3

The second game of the hop was a mere mile and a half from the first, at the Recreation Ground, off Lockway.

The previous evening I’d had a bit of a nose round, firstly to see where to put the coach, and to see how they’d cope with a crowd. It looked easy enough to secure, but other than the village hall there didn’t look to be much space.

I needn’t have worried as the club put on a super show, complete with a gazebo borrowed from Tilsley Park, in nearby Abingdon. The place was packed out, and one hopper Martin Heyden from Cheshire even decided to cycle between the first 3 grounds! The locals pocked their noses over their fences and whinged at the number of people present, again there was a roaring trade in badges, and burgers, and I was impressed at how hard the Drayton FC people worked at their 2 hours in the spotlight.

The game was a complete non event for 70 minutes, then portly striker Danny Curran entered the fray. 10 minutes later, and 3 chances, he’d collected the match ball, Drayton the 3 points, and all was left to do was watch Martin climb on his bike just after a goalkeeping howler gave Harwell Village their consolation.

Life was getting better every minute…..

Epicentre

25 Sunday Sep 2011

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Saturday 24th September 2011 ko 10.30am

North Berkshire League Division 2

STEVENTON 3 (Margetts 7 McArdle 18 Cooper 69)

MARCHAM 2 (Northcott 15 Banks 33)

Att 190

Entry by Programme £3

Badge £3

Tea and Bacon Roll £2.50

The North Berkshire League hop had been over a year in the making, and as organiser its never easy bringing a league and its clubs up to speed on what to expect and how to go about making the most of the day. The league were, and are a pleasure to deal with, but you never know…. until the coach drove past Steventon Green for the pick up at Didcot station , and there was the barbeque fired up, the pitch roped off and the the hoppers already tucking in.

I’d picked Steventon because of the league rule that all grounds have to be within 20 miles of Steventon Green, so why not start at the centre of things!

Raffle tickets were sold, the programmes sold out, and people enjoyed a cracking game, in the autumnal sun. Neither side seemed capable of defending which believe me hoppers love!  I’ve never met a hopper would didn’t like goals!!!

I did hear a lovely comment from one visitor when we announced the attendance, ” I bet that’s double what they normally get!” Little did they know, when I first visited Steventon FC, the attendance was 7!

I climbed back aboard the bus, knowing things were all going to work out nicely. Thanks guys!