Saturday 10th December 2022 ko 15:00

Combined Counties League- Premier Division North

ASCOT UNITED 2 (Matthew 32p A Grant 74)

Bouwers sent off 27 (dangerous play)

EGHAM TOWN 0

Att 161

Entry £7

Programme online only 

In my groundhopping life I’m used to having a backup plan. In simple terms it means having an alternate game to go and watch if something happens at my intended destination. I’m far less used however, to having to find another game when I’m on season ticket duty at Oxford United. That said, I did have notice, the frost was bitter and the game was called off early. All I had to do was pick an interesting ground to show my wife Robyn.

Many will remember Ascot United from the 2009 Hellenic Hop. We caught the club on the cusp of promotion to the Premier division, but most will remember the ground. As the name would suggest the Racecourse ground lies adjacent to Ascot Racecourse’s sprint track, and what those on the hop will have missed (it was dark!) is the view of the huge stand by the finish line. 

There have been three major changes since GroundhopUK’s visit. First is the switch to the Combined Counties League, the second is the reason we were there, the main pitch is now 3G, but the third is the most profound. Everywhere you look, there are small-sided pitches, as this is a club built on junior and youth football, in fact it was a real shame that due to the frost the only game taking place was this one. Nevertheless, the foundations of the club were all to see.

It was interesting to watch Egham Town so soon after seeing them at Windsor FC. There they looked suspect at corners but had a real weapon in Danny Campion’s pace. Here they still looked vulnerable at corners (Ascot’s second goal came direct from one!) but despite losing Louis Bouwers to a red card for a quite dreadful challenge Ascot were able to keep Campion quiet. 

It was of course a freezing afternoon, and early evening and one or two fans did forsake the last few minutes to watch Portugal exit the World Cup in the bar. We did have to pick our way back to the car afterwards, but it was lovely to see a club so comfortable in their own skin. All the best to them.