Saturday 20th December 2025 ko 14:00

Hertfordshire Senior County League-Premier Division

OWEN’S 2 (Grey 77 Chrysanthou 87)

BUNTINGFORD TOWN 3 (Holland 41 73 Hunt 90+2)

Att 27 at Old Owen’s Sports Ground, near Northaw, Potters Bar

Free Entry

Once again it really hadn’t stopped raining, and Robyn, Chris Garner and I were looking for something that wasn’t obvious. We spotted that Owen’s in the Herts League were at home, but credit Chris for spotting that they are based at the Old Owen’s Sports Ground. Before 3G pitches a groundhopper learned which grounds drain well, and those likely to have professional groundstaff. The theory being that if the pitch is being worked on at all times, the game is more likely to be on. The theory worked, and judging by the gaggle of senior groundhoppers in the bar, we weren’t the only ones thinking along the same lines!

The ground is the way it is because its the sports facility of the alumni of Dame Alice Owen’s School in nearby Potters Bar. It’s an 11–18 co-educational, partially selective secondary school, founded in Islington as a boys’ school for 30 students in 1613, which makes it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom, and is named after its founder, the 17th-century philanthropist Alice Owen. Over time, the boys’ school expanded, a girls’ school was built in 1886, with the two schools were merged in 1973; the mixed school moved to its current location at Dugdale Hill Lane in Potters Bar in stages between 1973 and 1976.

It is part of the Dame Alice Owen’s Foundation; its trustees are the Worshipful Company of Brewers. That link is significant, pupils in Year Seven receive a special five-pound coin in a ceremony at Brewers’ Hall in London, while the older years are given money at school by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Brewers on the last day of the academic year. My school never doled our beer money.. just imagine!

Owen’s FC date from 1891 back in Islington and were set up to provide senior mens football for those who attended the school. The club moved to Potters Bar via Whetstone and now have become an open club catering for men’s football of all standards, and play in both the Amateur Football Association and Herts FA leagues.

The pitch was in unbelievable condition despite the deluge it had taken, but my gaze quickly became drawn to the near end. I remember when Manchester City moved to the City of Manchester Stadium they had to convinced that naming one end after Colin Bell might have unfortunate connotations! Well Owen’s clearly have no such qualms!

In terms we were treated to a bone fide classic. Both sides led, and Owen’s must have felt they were worth a point, but that late, late goal for Buntingford was a real heartbreaker….