An everyday story of country folk

10 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by laurencereade in I

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Ambridge, Ed Fittter, Henley Forest, Inkberrow, Midland Combination, The Archers, The Bull

Tuesday 2nd April 2013 ko 18.00

Midland Combination Division Two

INKBERROW 0

HENLEY FOREST 1 (Fitter 38)

Att 12

Entry FREE

Programme NO

With Silly Season kick offs this early I wonder how on earth amateur players manage to reach the ground on time. From Banbury I only just made kick off on time, and I didn’t have to change or warm-up.

The Worcestershire village of Inkberrow is one of those pretty-as-a-picture places that you’d enjoy a drink at the local pub, and take a picture at the church, but then move on to the next place on your itinery. However it does have one massive claim to fame.

The world’s longest running soap opera is Radio 4’s The Archers, and the fictional village of Ambridge and its pub, The Bull, is based on Inkberrow and it’s pub The Old Bull. The series started on May 29, 1950, and since January 1, 1951, five 15-minute episodes (since 1998, six 12½-minute episodes) have been transmitted each week, at first on the BBC Light Programme and now Radio 4. The actor Norman Painting played Phil Archer continuously from the first trial series in 1950 until his death on 29 October 2009. He holds the title of longest-serving actor in a single soap opera in the Guinness Book of Records. The series is now over 15,000 episodes old!

Since my previous visit to Sands Road, the club has moved pitches, over the hedge on to what was a farmer’s field. Football Foundation money has seen that field levelled and drained, and the result is two excellent pitches. The trouble was that those pitches are on top of a hill. The views are spectacular, but the wind ruined the game, and watching anything is difficult when you’re uncomfortable! Some spectators commandeered an upturned dugout for shelter!

One goal settled it, Ed Fitter, finishing well after a good move from the right. Inkberrow continue to be a notably friendly, go-ahead club running a number of teams where the population base would suggest one would struggle. When you go, do pay a visit to the Old Bull, but check how windy it is first!

Sweet Tooth

10 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by laurencereade in B

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Bedford, Bedfordshire League, Caldecote, Hatters, Jack Boyd, Jason Simons, Meltis, newberry fruits, Ryan Grant

Monday 1st April 2013 ko 18.15

Bedfordshire League Premier Division

BEDFORD HATTERS 2 (Grant 7 Simons 66)

CALDECOTE 3 (Boyd 6 45 70)

Att 30

80 minute game

Entry FREE

Programme NO

In groundhopping terms the last few weeks of the football season, when the clocks have gone forward are referred to as “Silly Season.” Its when there are a multiplicity of evening fixtures at clubs without floodlights, as the evenings are just about light enough to fit a game in providing the participants aren’t too fussy about fripperies such as 15 minute half time breaks!

It was a quirk that the Bedfordshire League was the only league to hold its Bank Holiday programme in the evening. The reason apparently was to attract hoppers, itself odd as the league has a groundhop each October to do precisely that! It takes all sorts I suppose!

The Meltis Sports and Social Club is tucked away in suburban Bedford, so with the both Bedford Town and Bedford FC playing out-of-town towards Sandy, it became my first game within town boundaries. Meltis were the manufacturer of Newberry Fruits, a fruit jelly sweet manufactured at a factory in Bedford. The firm were bust in 1996 and the name was bought by Hostas, and production was moved to Germany. Meltis Albion also play in the Bedfordshire League and use Pitch 1, nearest the clubhouse.

The use of Pitch 2 meant one thing to me, it was too darned cold and windy! Amongst the hoppers there, the number of grounds visited ran into the thousands, but not even the combined experience of all those miles could find a way of escaping the wind. That was a real shame, as the game was worthy of being remembered for reasons other than the cold.

The difference between the two sides was Caldecote’s Jack Boyd, who’s hat trick was a justified reward for a man-of-the-match performance. The Hatters worked hard, and managed to equalise twice through Ryan Grant and Jason Simons, but never looked liked getting more than a point. To be honest though, at the end of it all I was glad to get back to the car and put the heater on!