Saturday 27th July 2019 ko 17.00

United Counties League Premier Division

ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS 3 (Archer 5 Duffy 57 Henson 66)

LUTTERWORTH TOWN 0

Att 316

Entry £5

Programme £1

The move from Orton Rangers in Peterborough to Rothwell in Northamptonshire added up to far more than a 5 division jump in status, although that fact is one reason I love this hop. It meant that in the event’s fourth game we were taking in a United Counties game for the first game, and fittingly that was marked by a minutes applause for the late league chairman John Weekes. Other than being the reason for this hop and being the person I’d most associate with the UCL, he was a gentleman and like many others I miss him immensely.

Rothwell if you’re a scholar of local history is associated with the Tresham family. They were notable Catholic recusants, paying huge fines for following their faith. Sir Thomas Tresham was responsible for building Rothwell’s Market House in 1578 complete with tacit nods to his faith- the house is shaped like a cross. His son Francis didn’t have his father’s tact, and was implicated in the Gunpowder Plot. He died in the Tower of London before being tried, and almost inevitably executed.

The coach searched for the town amongst red buildings, the area was a centre for ironstone mining for Corinthians’ ground Sargeant’s Lawn. Inevitably talk turned to Rothwell Town, once the preeminent club here reaching the Southern League before falling back into the UCL in 2010. A rent dispute saw the club fold in 2012 and their Cecil Street home is now a close of houses with a quirk of Google Maps showing the ground in “Street View” but the houses in “Satellite View.”

Rothwell Corinthians have never hit those heights, their current status at Step 5 is as good as it has got for them. Sargeant’s Lawn reflects that, its rather cramped footprint making it difficult to for them to progress further than this level. But what it lacks in space it more than makes up for in character. I found a few minutes to stand at the entrance and watch the people react to the signage outside. As a photographer, Sargeant’s Lawn is a rich source of inspiration. I wish I could have lingered a little longer but I had other responsibilities….

That lack of space gave Corinthians a few challenges in hosting a large crowd, but despite the bar being packed throughout they coped admirably. Moving the catering outside was an inspired move, and using the spare goal to protect it was just plain clever!

On the pitch, in an occasionally feisty encounter Corinthians were worthy winners against last season’s Division One champions. But since Town are scheduled to be on next year’s hop they did get something from this game. Because Rothwell Corinthians gave them an excellent steer on how to be a good host club. Thanks to them for that.