Sunday 6th October 2024 ko 14:30

Southern Counties East League-Premier Division

SUTTON ATHLETIC 2 (Ahmed 89 Fisher 90+2)

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 0

Att 284

Entry £10

Programme £2

For those in the know, Sutton Athletic don’t actually play in Sutton at Hone, but rather at nearby Hextable, but even that isn’t completely accurate. Lower Road is a short distance east of the village, itself a few miles north of Swanley, and within hearing of Brands Hatch motor racing circuit. The club moved from the Roaches Recreation Ground in 2011 in order to find a ground they could develop.

The journey from Longfield was nothing if not interesting. The narrow lanes are difficult to pass other traffic by in a car, but a 60 seater coach was a different matter entirely. We managed it eventually and by changing routes slightly but once at Sutton Athletic it was all made worthwhile.

As an organiser of these events there is an acid test you can apply to a club’s hosting, and that’s how much work you end up doing on arrival. Here save for counting the crowd, there was none to do. I was able to admire the transformation Lower Road has undergone in the 11 years since I first visited, when the club was still finding its feet in the then new Kent Invicta League.

While it is clear that a scaffolding firm is the club’s main sponsor, I rather liked the way the club had approached spectator accomodation, and who hasn’t grumbled when a club has dived straight for the “Arena” catalogue?

But what I’ll remember Sutton for is their hosting, and more specifically their catering. I, and everyone at GroundhopUK was disappointed at the catering on this hop. It was, with very few exceptions unispiring with burgers and chips being the norm, and little or nothing for those who didn’t wish to eat meat. That was even more disappointing when those clubs had the most wonderful example on how to do it really well, and on the first ever SCEFL Hop game too.

Punjab United were the blueprint for everyone else and it was wonderful to see Sutton take their example and in certain cases actually enhance it. Just look at the photos of the catering, interesting cleverly sold, and even this committed meat eater enjoyed the veggie pasta, future host clubs please take note!

One of the mysteries of our time with the Southern Counties East is how Tunbridge Wells are still in the league. We visited Culverden Stadium on the very first hop and both the attendance and facilities impressed all of us. They’ve even got to Wembley in the FA Vase but how so far they have so far failed to get promoted will remain a mystery to me. Who knows, perhaps it could be this season?

For virtually all of the game the spectacle was a dull midfield-dominated slog, with a stalemate seemingly the inevitable result but two quick goals right at the death took the win for Sutton. In truth it felt like reward for some wonderful hosting.

The traffic, needless to say was lousy getting home, we even ended up using the Blackwall Tunnel instead of the Dartford Tunnel. I’m pleased to say though that this time the coach retained all of its wheels….