Sunday 6th October 2024 ko 11:00

Southern Counties East League Premier Division

CORINTHIAN 2 (Arnold 10 Fitzgerald 13)

ERITH & BELVEDERE 1 (Melconian 80)

Att 247

Entry £9

Programme £2

I’d long since changed my way of thinking once it became clear that in my terms the SCEFL Hop was going to be, in my terms, six revisits. Other than a social event, there was the idea of how 200 or so hoppers might react to each of the host clubs. However I knew everyone would love Corinthian…

I was in the odd position of having been to Gay Dawn Farm twice, as in essence there’s two grounds here. 1 regular one for SCEFL games and another at the back for friendlies, itself floodlit and with a stand. But then there’s the fact that that you’re on a working farm, and that there’s still the feel of “Field of Dreams” about the place. The club was the brainchild of Ron Billings who fostered the ideal of amateurism and the Corinthian spirit in the Kent countryside near Longfield.

The Billings family are still heavily involved, and yes England cricketer Sam Billings is a relative. In fact from a groundhop perspective our only real issue was getting a brand new 60-seater coach down the narrow lanes to Longfield. It wasn’t a day to be coach driver for us, but we got there, and once there enjoyed Corinthian’s gentle charm.

I do find Erith & Belevedere’s position in the SCEFL Hop interesting, and it involves their home at Park View Road. GroundhopUK’s rules are straightforward, we visit grounds only for the club that owns or is primary tenant there. But what it the position if both Welling and the Dere’s each own half a stadium? I suspect may will take the view that since Welling are higher up the footballing pyramid they take precedence, but I’ve been to a Welling home game and quite fancy sitting in the Erith & Belvedere side for one of their games!

Here Corinthian caught their visitors completely cold, with two goals in three minutes. Once they got themselves adjusted the visitors became competive, scored and on another day could have forced an equaliser. As for the coach party we had some country lanes to negotiate.