Daily Archives: May 9, 2014

Just Beautiful

09 Friday May 2014

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Monday 5th May 2014 ko 15.00

Devon & Exeter League Premier Division

THORVERTON AFC 5 (Osmond 18 Riggs 35 Khoo 77 Place 87 90)

BUDLEIGH SALTERTON RESERVES 0

Att 31

Entry FREE

Programme NO

If you were to trace the line of the River Exe north from Exeter, in around 8 miles you’d reach the pretty village of Thorverton. Its a peaceful place, with cobbled streets, a square, and a pub in the middle. It’s the kind of place that has a garden open as part of the National Gardens Scheme, and there was, but there is a more turbulent history to the place. The name suggests a Viking background, although that’s unproved but the village did change hands during the English Civil War, and a garrison of American soldiers was stationed here during the Second World War. Continue reading →

The Ex’s

09 Friday May 2014

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Monday 5th May 2014 ko 11.00

South West Peninsula League Division One East

EXWICK VILLA 3 (Harris 23 Taylor 69 Chalke 71)

EXETER UNIVERSITY 5 (Bouwers 29 Hale 39 Blenkinsop 45 Jones 89 Yates 90)

Att 51

Entry & Programme £3.50

Badge £2

Tea 70p

For such a popular league with groundhoppers, League Secretary Phil Hiscox did ask me to stop telling people what a top bloke he is. “Tell ’em I’m a miserable so-and-so,” he said, whilst gaining the line-ups for the gaggle of hoppers that made up the vast majority of the attendance. Phil, my friend I think you rather were foisted by your own petard there! And you and I both know how popular the Easter Hop will be in 2016. Still while Phil was helping me out with the line-ups it did allow me to explore a little. Continue reading →

Empathy

09 Friday May 2014

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Saturday 3rd May 2014 ko 15.00

League 2

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 (Marquis 29 Toney 33 Kouo-Doumbe 50)

OXFORD UNITED 1 (Williams 6) Williams sent off 19 (violent conduct)

Att 7,529 (1,358 away)

Entry £19

Programme £3

I’ve watched my team lose their league status, and its a perfectly horrible experience, and one I wouldn’t wish on any fan (well perhaps Swindon, but that’s tribal!). The Conference may well be a quasi-League 3 but the process of falling into it still hurts a lot. 6 months ago, Northampton were racing favourites to take that drop, sacked manager Aidy Boothroyd, recruited Oxford United’s Chris Wilder more here, and went into this game out of the relegation zone for the first time this year, needing a point to guarantee League football.

In contrast Oxford had been in the play-off positions virtually all season, but since Wilder’s departure form had slumped with the club destined to finish 8th whatever the result. They had nothing but pride to play for, but the Cobblers’ conundrum was as follows. If they lost and either Wycombe or Bristol Rovers won, they were down, so how the club decided to stage the game surprised me.

Continue reading →