Sunday 8th October 2023 ko 15:00

Southern Counties East Premier Division

DEAL TOWN 2 (T Chapman 46 B Chapman 76)

T Chapman sent off 62 (dangerous play)

Hark sent off 75 (DOGSO)

KENNINGTON 0

Att 535

Entry £8

Programme £2

We left the isolation of Lydd and traced the route of Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway back to Hythe and gradually the view from Shirley’s coach became more urbane. We even eventually reached Deal via Kingsdown which did produce a smile. I’d camped there with the Scouts in the mid-1980’s and as my mum waved off the minibus she looked at the bright sunshine and commented,

” Well you’ve certainly got the weather!”

That night we had the most unbelievable thunderstorm, the local supermarket was hit by lightening, and the bolts were bright and frequent enough for me to read a book in my tent. I’m not sure after all these years I’d have that sang-froid now. Mind you with what happened later, maybe we still do!

We picked our way through Deal’s tight streets and created a little chaos with the parked cars making it impossible for the coach to turn into the Charles Ground. We got everyone off as soon as we could, but it showed just what type of occasion we were walking into. It was a little like Faversham Town in the sense that we were a group of roughly 150 hoppers in a crowd of 500; we knew the club would cope easily with the influx of patrons, but we’d see little more than their normal offering.

That said, the invite into hospitality at half-time was appreciated, and the shout-out on the scoreboard, happens sufficiently infrequently for me to enjoy it whenever it happens. But more than anything else I looked at all that surrounded me, and marvelled at how Deal Town have managed just 3 seasons in the Southern League, in mid-60’s. They are perhaps the most famous club left to have played in the Aetolian League, but that’s just an opinion.

I have a funny feeling most groundhoppers loved Deal Town; there’s so many nooks and crannies to the place. I’m pleased we got their early enough for me to explore, the clubshop and cafe building is full of character. I’m sure on another day I could do an entire photo essay on that building and it’s people.

Kennington, I remember from years back, at a friendly at god-knows-where. I knew they’d love to host, but they groundshare at Ashford United making that impossible, but it does put me statistically in an odd position. Deal Town completes the SCEFL for me, save for Kennington at Ashford; I’ve not visited The Homelands for either club! So, until I get round to visiting, to use a golf term I’m “Dormie” complete!

The game was an odd one, nothing of note happened in first half, Tom Chapman scored within seconds of the second half’s start, but soon after saw red for a dangerous challenge. Then Ben Chapman doubled the lead, but Deal were reduced to 9 men when Liam Hark saw red for the classic “Professional Foul” Sadly for them Kennington showed why they’re struggling at the bottom of the division, and failed to make even a two-man advantage count.

It was a hop that was difficult to set up in a couple of ways, and the fact that it has settled into the diary is down to hard work, and the support of the league, although I’d like their officials to be more visible on subsequent events. That said, there was feeling of a job well done as the coach left Kent and made of the M25. That warm feeling was about to evaporate rapidly, or should I say burst?

We’d made it to the top of the M25, just before South Mimms when the coach juddered suddenly. Shirley managed to both slow the coach down and we made our way over towards the hard shoulder. At that point I assumed it was a simple blowout- the dashcam actually recorded me saying that. But then I became aware of smoke rising from the rear and left of the bus. It was then I watched as two of our wheels rolled by, one heading to the central reservation, the bounced to the hard shoulder.

Now as far as I’m concerned the only time you should see your own wheels overtake you is of you happen to be Wil E Coyote, and you’re chasing Road Runner. Shirley managed to park the coach safely, and we rapidly evacuated. It was only then that we realised just how dangerous the situation had been.

When VOSA examined the coach later they discovered that both wheels on the nearside rear had come off. That had been caused by a single bolt sheering with the shrapnel hitting a metal plate that in turn caused all the bolts on both wheels to fail. It was an act of God, and nothing the coach company and Shirley could have done to prevent. In fact, the emergency services lead told Shirley that as he received the report and orders to find us, he fully expected to see an overturned coach and bodies. Both he and VOSA commended Shirley on her expert handling of the accident. Put bluntly, those of us on that coach that evening owe our lives to her skills and quick thinking.

The M25 was closed while the smoking wheel arch was sprayed with foam, and it was rather surreal seeing the traffic feed on Google Maps turning red due to our predicament. After around 90 minutes another coach company took us all to Hemel Hempstead where my car was parked. Robyn and I headed for home, and the rest of the party waited at a Holiday Inn for the replacement bus to arrive from Nottingham. We all arrived home later than planned, but in one piece. You can be sure I gave Shirley a hug before we left.