No Folly

23 Sunday Sep 2012

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Saturday 22nd September 2012 ko 1.30pm

North Berkshire League Division One

FARINGDON TOWN 1 (Pill 50)

WOOTTON & DRY SANDFORD 0

Att 181

Entry & Programme £4

Badge £3

Food: Ham or Cheese Ploughmans

Beer: Arkells

With the first game at Coleshill there really was only one choice for the second, a trip to Faringdon’s Tucker Park. But have you ever thought about how the ground got its name?

Prior to World War I there was a Thursday Faringdon team, reflecting early closing on that day of the week. After the war the players returned to discover that 6 of them had lost their lives, and that half day closing was a thing of the past. The £30 left in the club’s kitty was enough to buy and re-badge a racing trophy, as the Faringdon Memorial Thursday Cup, and the Faringdon Town ground was named after one of the fallen 6 players, Michael Tucker. The clubhouse you see today is the result of the fundraising done by the Thursday cup competition, and the cup is still played for today.

In fact, the Memorial Cup was a reason to be nervous as organiser as a combination of a final where there’s always a programme, and the unusual day of the week that its played, meant that many of the more senior hoppers would have done the ground, and therefore would look elsewhere. I knew Faringdon are an ambitious club, with their aim being promotion back to the Hellenic, and are improving the ground accordingly. Fence posts have appeared since my last visit, and the club hope to get permission for floodlights in the future. They’re also at pains to explain they’re going about it the correct way; local players only and not spending money they haven’t got.

It was a lovely touch that the town mayor Mike Wise was there to welcome each and every person to his town’s game, and I was pleased to see him tucking into a Ploughman’s lunch later on! Those lunches went down a treat, especially with the small, but significant vegetarian contingent. As one of them correctly pointed out, ” A meat eater doesn’t have to eat meat at every meal.” As I chose the cheese version, I’m a good example. The tombola was a good money spinner too, with some bemused hoppers (me included) leaving with teddy bears!

This day was in marked contrast to the famous town Folly clearly visible above the far goal. The visitors were proudly carrying a 100% record coming into this game, and it was clear that what the game lacked in goalmouth action it made up for in tension and quality. It was hard to see this as Step 7 action.

It was Matty Pill who broke the deadlock firing home from 10 yards after good work from Dan Hoskin. Ultimately Wootton were to have to answer to this strike despite a lot of pressure late on. Luke Ingram should have done far better when clean through, and how Sam Paterson’s header hit the crossbar I’ll never know.

The celebrations at the final whistle were a reflection on what the win meant for Faringdon, and their ambitions for progress. I also felt it was a cheer for hard work earning a fair reward, both on and off the field.

One Man (and what a man!)

23 Sunday Sep 2012

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Saturday 22md September 2012 ko 10.30am

North Berkshire League Division 2

COLESHILL UNITED 2 (Evans 30 47) Evans missed penalty 17 Rees sent off 55 (dangerous play)

ARDINGTON & LOCKINGE 5 (Little 23 25 J Clark 29 72 Eudell 76)

Att 171

Entry & Programme £4

Badge £3

Food: Bacon Rolls, and Sausages

Beer: Old Forge Brewery

It doesn’t seem like a month since we were running round Mid-Wales, but the NBFL hop is very much my baby, and it does have its own challenges. This was a first if only for being the first time the organiser has also driven a minibus. All in day’s hopping I suppose!

I’d approached the 4 clubs some time ago, and soon realised I wanted Coleshill to open the event. I do wonder whether any hoppers turned up erroneously in Warwickshire, as this Coleshill is just about in Oxfordshire! During World War II Coleshill House, on the estate, was the headquarters of the secret Auxiliary Units, who were to resist the expected occupation of the United Kingdom by Nazi Germany. Continue reading →

No, we didn’t!

23 Sunday Sep 2012

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Friday 21st September 2012 ko 19.45

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

DIDCOT TOWN 3 (Clark 62 73p Osborn-Ricketts 77)

CLEVEDON TOWN 1 (Flurry 22)

Att 190

Entry £9

Programme £2

With the North Berkshire League hop the next day, this fixture couldn’t have been more convenient for those staying over the night before. Or in fact anyone who fancied a “warm-up” game. There were even 3 hoppers who’d watched Didcot Casuals, on Town’s training ground 2 years ago. I bet its unusual for the two grounds to be ticked off in that order! The convenience of the fixture lead to a rumour that Chris and I had got the fixture moved to attract hoppers. Not the case I’m afraid, we don’t carry that much clout, but Phil Annets media officer at the NBFL did get the club to put a full-page advert for the hop in the excellent programme!

Continue reading →

Boats, Planes, and Automobiles

20 Thursday Sep 2012

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Tuesday 18th September 2012 ko 7.30pm

Wessex League Cup 2nd Round

HYTHE & DIBDEN 0

EAST COWES VICTORIA 1 (Barnes 77)

Att 37 (h/c)

The original idea was to meet Lee in Oxford then travel south to near Southampton to watch Blackfield & Langley. When I collected Lee, he’d just found out that a 30 foot boat travelling south of the A34 near Newbury had fallen off its trailer, so the carriageway was blocked. A little local knowledge is handy, so I diverted via Wantage down to the M4 and rejoined the A34, but it was too late to make kick-off at our planned fixture. But then Lee pointed out that Hythe is 5 miles closer, and with some creative driving we got there for the advertised 7.45pm kick-off. The trouble is that the game kicked off at 7.30 to allow the visitors to catch the last boat back to the Isle of Wight. You can’t win sometimes! Continue reading →

Dark Thoughts

16 Sunday Sep 2012

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Saturday 15th September 2012 ko 3.00pm

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

SEVENOAKS TOWN 3 (Akokhia 45 Curtis 71 106)  Bricknell missed penalty 10 Jones-Johnson sent off 101 (violent conduct)

CHESSINGTON & HOOK UNITED 2 (Hughes 86p 89) Greene sent off 107 (violent conduct)

Att 38

Entry £6

Programme £1

I’d set out with the intention of seeing Whitstable Town versus Eastbourne Town in the Isthmian League. After two mammoth hold-ups on firstly the M40, then the M25 I had to revise my plans. And to be honest I’d fancied a trip here for some time, as I do have a habit of wanting to visit clubs when I’ve seen their town on a road sign. You do see a lot of signs for Sevenoaks on the M25 too…..

Sevenoaks is a typical leafy suburban Kentish commuter town, with its Arts Centre and the wide open spaces of Knole Park, famous for being the location of two Beatles promotional films for “Strawberry Fields,” and “Penny Lane.” Writer HG Wells lived in Sevenoaks, and The Vine Cricket Ground in the town is the first place where cricket was played with a set of three stumps.

Greatness Park is close to Knole Park, and its clear that the club were once allocated a corner of it and have spent the time since since improving and enclosing it, as funds and planning restrictions have allowed. The bar is the only brick-built structure and is set away from the ground; within the fence the changing rooms, hospitality and catering are all provided via Portakabins. The covered area by the half-way line has been augmented by two prefabricated seated stands either side of it. It ticks the graders’ boxes but the best view of the action isn’t to be found in the ground.

Behind one goal, the land climbs steeply and some supporters actually pay to get in, then leave immediately and sit on the hill. Fine on a warm day, but a non-starter when its cold and wet. The only issue I had up there on a warm afternoon was the din of an outdoor dance class in Knole Park; it wasn’t the kind of game where you could ignore the music either.

The first issue for the fixture was the pitch. Tinder dry, and extremely bumpy, the club had tried to water it. The problem was that with the summer we’ve had the hose hadn’t seen use for months, and when it was rolled out it was perished! Not the pitch could be at all blamed for what went on on the pitch.

Let’s get one thing straight, the club on the outside of the pitch rail were a delight. From the ladies at the tea bar to secretary Andrew Gidley, they all made the kind of impression I hope for wherever I visit. What went on inside the rail was frankly sickening.

There was no clue as to what was going to happen as Jake Bricknell missed an early penalty for Sevenoaks, although Chessington’s encroachment was something to behold! As the game wore on the players became hell-bent on arguing each and every decision made by referee Freddie Collins. He had a good game, the assessor said as much, but when 10 players get booked, 9 of them for some form of unsporting conduct you question the intelligence of the players. When 1 gets booked for dissent, surely you take note. But 10? Words fail me. I should be fair to both sides, and comment that 8 of the bookings went to Chessington & Hook players.

Add to that 2 dismissals, both for violent conduct. Eschewing the straightforward punch-up, these two opted for the cowardly, sly kick-out after a challenge, perfected by David Beckham. I depaired then, and I despair now.

At least the better side won. Sevenoaks took the lead with virtually the last touch of the first half, Sam Akokhia’s fine glancing header gliding in at the back post. That lead was doubled by Ramone Curtis’ strike on 71 minutes, and that should have curtailed the unpleasantness after 90 minutes. But a sloppy penalty was conceded and converted, and when Mickey Hughes fired home an excellent shot for 2-2, I groaned, and I bet Mr Collins did too, this game didn’t need any more time added to it.

Jamie Jones-Johnson collected his marching orders for a nasty kick following a heavy challenge, before Curtis bagged his second, finishing with a thumping shot after beating the offside trap. There was enough time for Chessington’s Frank Greene to be sent off for an even dafter sly kick, he hadn’t even been fouled! The assessor shook his head in disbelief, and made a note that he wasn’t going to be making a quick getaway after the final whistle. I did, I’d more than had my fill.

As I drove away I felt pleased that no children had been watching, the players gave a dreadful example of what is meant to be sport. The visitors were the bigger sinners, but I pondered that if this fixture had been taped, and played to the participants, I hope their behaviour would make them hang their heads in shame.

Castling Banjos

16 Sunday Sep 2012

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Tuesday 11th September 2012 ko 7.45pm

Hampshire Senior Cup 1st Round

EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA 4 (Baker 8 40 41 Day 13)

WHITCHURCH UNITED 3 (Jupp 4 Dallarda 64 Walker 81)

Att 22 (h/c)

Played at Cody Sports and Social Club, Old Ively Road, Farnborough

Entry & Programme £5

Coffee £1

I was a little surprised to be the only hopper at this game. Had everyone else been here when Farnborough North End were based here? Incidentally they’re now playing in the West Surrey League and are based at Southwood Fields. Eversley needed a floodlit ground, as this cup competition stipulates thus and the lights at their normal ground, Fox Lane aren’t expected to be ready until December.

The club used to be called Eversley FC, but merged with Wokingham-based youth outfit California FC for the start of this season. Eversley means “Wild Boar Clearing,” but this gives no clue as to the well-heeled nature of the village. Statistically speaking it forms part of the least deprived borough of the UK. There are 3 major stately homes, Firgrove Manor, Glaston Hill House and Warbrook House, and the local churchyard is where author Charles Kingsley is buried. For 35 years he was rector of the parish, and in that time wrote “The Water Babies, ” and “Westward Ho!”

The feeling of affluence leant itself well to their temporary home. Situated down a tree-lined lane, the Cody Sports and Social Club, started life as a club for the various companies in the aeronautical industry still evident in the area. Both the sport and social sides of the club survive, with archery and children’s football finishing up in the half-light when I arrived, and in the clubhouse, there was still more going on. In one room a chess club was in progress, and in another, set suitably away from the former,  a banjo club was plucking away. With a heavy cold in its early stages, I plonked myself in the plush clubhouse, bought myself a strong coffee, and read my programme alongside the ladies’ book club who were reading something altogether more highbrow.

Other than the location I was attracted to this fixture, because it pitted together sides from different leagues, E & C from the Combined Counties, and Whitchurch from the Wessex. It proved to be an entertaining evening’s entertainment as  E & C recovered from conceding an early goal, to find themselves 4-1 up at the break, due to no small part to a superb hat trick from Matt Baker. His first, a curling 25 yard free kick was out of the top drawer.

Eversley made two changes at half time, presumably to rest players for the weekend, and that was very nearly their undoing, with Whitchurch finding an outlet in George Dallarda. He scored, and set up Luke Walker for Whitchurch’s 3rd. But, despite constant pressure for the last few minutes, they couldn’t force extra-time. And with my cold making my head swim, I was grateful for that small mercy! I wonder though where Eversley will opt to play their home tie in the next round?

My £12 drainpipes

14 Friday Sep 2012

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Monday 10th September 2012 ko 6.00pm

Cheltenham Association Football League Third Division

PRESTBURY ROVERS 2 (Jones 25 Davis 77)

ANDOVERSFORD 3 (A Cleal 19 B Wright 24 70)

Att 3 (h/c)

Entry FREE

Nothing for sale

So why this one? Well it was on, and I could get to it. The Cheltenham League played on a Monday for no reason anyone could fathom, so I simply picked the game nearest to work, and I’ve no regrets on that decision.

The Gloucestershire village of Prestbury sits on the outskirts of Cheltenham, and the Playing Fields are tucked away off of New Barn Mews. The village is best known for Prestbury Park, known also as Cheltenham Racecourse, and the Horse Racing festival there represents a major annual boost to the local economy. According to The Penguin Book of Ghosts: Haunted England, Prestbury is the most haunted village in England.

Ghosts however isn’t what I’ll remember Prestbury for, no that will be the rain. I usually wear hiking trousers for hopping, as they dry quickly if it rains. A few months ago I bought a pair of blue drainpipe trousers from a supermarket for £12. They’re comfortable, they fit well, but when they get wet, they stay wet. So which trousers was I wearing when I parked in the middle of a rainstorm. No prizes I’m afraid!

My lack of comfort excepted, this was a hugely enjoyable visit. Andoversford took the lead direct from Ashley Cleal’s inswinging corner. Prestbury failed to learn that lesson and were two down when another inswinging corner was headed home unopposed by Ben Wright. This roused Prestbury and a minute later Chris Jones’ lofted drive from 20 yards was worthy of a far grander stage. Sadly it was to be his last meaningful contribution as he soon limped off with a thigh strain.

At 2-1 the game was highly competitive, taking into account this is the 12th tier of the non-league pyramid, and the winner when it came was of the highest quality. Ben Wright found himself on the right-hand touchline 25 yards out, looked up and his scorching shot whistled past Sonny Martin into the top left corner. That’s nothing against Martin, it would have beaten a far better keeper.

Of course Prestbury had to make the last few minutes interesting so as to make me forget my cold wet legs, Luke Davis notching for 2-3, but that was to be mere consolation. Mention too for referee Keith Iles who officiated with both common sense and humour; he and both teams made for a great evening’s entertainment and I wish all concerned good luck for the rest of the season.

There was to be a postscript though. As I drove back through Cheltenham I wanted to get to Oxford as quickly as possible to dry out. That of course is when my phone rang; it turned out it was someone wanting information, and a ticket for the North Berkshire League Hop. I found a lay-by, pulled in and got the enquiry sorted out satisfactorily, and 20 minutes later still with my £12 blue drainpipes soaking wet, I headed for home.

Grecian 2012

14 Friday Sep 2012

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Saturday 8th September 2012 ko 3.00pm

League 2

OXFORD UNITED 2 (Forster-Caskey 54p Potter 63) Constable sent off 81 (2nd booking)

EXETER CITY 4 (Cureton 11 50 Bennett 26 O’Flynn 72)

Att 6,405 (695 away)

Entry S/T

Programme £3 (inc’ Oxford Mail)

The day started with a fond farewell, but no the one it looked like being for the majority of the preceding week. Better-informed folk than I had linked OUFC manager Chirs Wilder with the vacancy at Coventry City, but on matchday nothing had happened, not even an approach, so the goodbye was to goalkeeping coach Alan Hodgkinson. He’s now 76, but the experience gained from playing for England, Sheffield United and Manchester United will be sorely missed.

It was two veterans that undid United, John O’Flynn, and particularly Jamie Cureton. I never did get to the bottom of why Bristol Rovers let Cureton go to Reading for a pittance, all those years ago, but wherever he’s been he’s scored routinely. Today was no exception, as with just 10 minutes gone, the defence let him run at them so he let fly from 20 yards, and the ball flew into the top left hand corner. A stunning strike, but one that should have been never allowed to happen.

It got worse, as the OUFC defence debated a decision to give Exeter a corner. It didn’t look over the line, but the concentration levels had dropped, and Scott Bennett headed home from the corner kick. It wasn’t that United were failing to create chances, it was just when they arrived they weren’t converted. Sean Rigg saw two efforts blocked and Simon Heslop shot wide as United attempted in vain to find a quick reponse.

I expected a change of tactics for the second half, but nothing was altered until Exeter got their 3rd. Michael Raynes will wonder how a 37 year old managed to but nutmeg and outpace him, but the former Norwich man’s finish was superb. In fact the warm applause from the home support as Cureton limped off a few minutes later, was as much a sigh of relief as it was appreciative.

United found a way back into the game when Damian Batt’s run into the box was crudely ended by Craig Woodman, and Jake Forster-Caskey made no mistake from the penalty spot, sending Artur Keysiak the wrong way. When Adam Chapman’s free kick was headed across goal by Jon-Paul Pittman for Alfie Potter to bundle home, there was a sense of belief. That was tempered by a missed header by Deane Smalley that looked easier to bury and blunted completely by Exeter’s other veteran Paul O’Flynn, who beat Jake Wright and fired home across Ryan Clarke.

If that was the door closing on OUFC’s chances, then the dismissal of James Constable was that door being bolted. Only on the pitch for 8 minutes, he picked up a booking for a marginal foul, then a minute later a booking which I couldn’t fathom, but was later put down to “Unsporting conduct,” saw the big man troop off furious, and United’s chances disappeared down the tunnel with him.

So, let’s go back to where we started. Will Chris Wilder go to Coventry? Who knows, but if he doesn’t, will that be because Oxford United want to keep him, or that Coventry aren’t interested? Given the current lack of information coming from Grenoble Road, I reckon we’ll find that one out from the Midlands.

 

Smoke and Peas

13 Thursday Sep 2012

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Friday 7th September 2012 ko 7.45pm

FA Cup First Qualifying Round

WORKSOP TOWN 0

FRICKLEY ATHLETIC 2 (Aujla 57 Allott 62)

Att 274

Entry £10

Programme £2

Tea £1

Pie, Peas and Chips £4

A trip to Sandy Lane is one that quite a few people thought I’d done years before and for a long time I thought I’d missed out on. When the landlord kicked the club out after a rent dispute, to exile at Hucknall then Ilkeston then Retford, life looked bleak for the club where Chris Waddle ended his playing career. But then the Sandy Lane ground was bought by Parramore FC who settled here, changing their name to Worksop Parramore, and they invited Worksop Town back home for the start of last season.

This former coal mining town is in Nottinghamshire, but has a Sheffield postcode. With the demise of coal mining, the area saw mass unemployment, but with firms such as Wilkinson’s and Premier Foods basing their distribution arms here, taking advantage of the excellent transport links, the town has had something of a renaissance in recent years. Famous people who hail from here include actor Donald Pleasence, former England manager Graham Taylor, Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, golfer Lee Westwood and murderer Neil Entwistle.

The somewhat convoluted ownership of the ground gives a clue as to why the fixture was being played on a Friday night. Ostensibly Parramore were due to play on the Saturday too, so you’d have thought it was a simple case of landlord pulling rank on the tenant? Not quite, as Parramore sometimes take the Friday slot when there’s a clash, and judging by the attendance, augmented by a few hoppers, it’s not a bad tactic.

The ground has a large main stand, but sadly the covered terrace opposite has been demolished. Behind that is a rubbish tip, which a few young boys climbed to get decent view of the action. When they got bored they lit a fire and ran off. So if you think these pictures have more atmosphere than normal, it’s just the foul-smelling smoke! Not that the smell put me off the staple football in this part of the world. Pie, Peas and Mint sauce is a classic of the non-league scene in the East Midlands, and it would have been rude have me not to indulge.

The game pitted 2 Northern Premier League Premier Division sides against each other, and in the case of Frickley, a side with a real quirk. They’re the former Frickley Colliery side, from South Elmsall, the other side of the A1(M) from Doncaster. But here’s the thing, the actual hamlet of Frickley is little more than a row of houses, so given that Frickley have played in the Conference, has club from somwhere so small ever played so high up? Perhaps Hoffenheim, but that’s a completely different set of circumstances.

The game looked a home banker with Frickley having just the one draw to show for a slow start to the season, and Worksop did have a goal disallowed after 9 minutes, Steve Towers’ header being judged offside. The first half saw more or less consistent home pressure, to the extent that Worksop keeper, Boston United legend Paul Bastock was barely involved.

That changed in the second half as Frickley found a novel way to disturb their hosts. That’s right, they roughed them up! On two occasions the benches cleared after a late challenge and twice the referee and linesmen had to separate the warring factions. It worked though, as Gavin Allott set up one goal and scored the other. It was his run and cross from the right teed up Inderjeet Aujla to slide home from 6 yards out. 5 minutes later he picked the ball up in the middle of the Worksop half before sprinting down the right flank before cutting in and firing an angled shot past Bastock.

The game finished to a chorus of boos from the home faithful who clearly had expected much better. Much to consider it would seem for the home management. I was just glad to get the place ticked off!

 

Us & Them

09 Sunday Sep 2012

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Wednesday 5th September 2012 ko 7.45pm

Football League Trophy 1st Round

OXFORD UNITED 1 (Potter 88)

swindon town 0

Att 7,746 (1311 away)

Entry £20.50

Programme £3

There’s a fairly well established routine for Oxford United’s involvement for this competition. Prices are reduced to a uniform £10, and the North Stand isn’t opened for home fans. The programme is smaller, and a weakened side put out. There is of course of exception to any rule of Oxford United, and that is swindon town, so none of the above happened!

If you don’t understand the rivalry, then please have a read of my previous A420 post and I think you’ll get the picture. I’d also point out that with the way the draw is regionalised, and that the competition is only for the bottom two divisions of the league, another A420 derby was perhaps more likely than you’d expect!

Last season both sides got something out of the rivalry. Oxford completed a double over the Robins, including a first win at the County Ground since 1973. swindon took the championship, and did so in some style. To add a certain piquancy to the tie, if any were needed, swindon were yet to score at the Kassam stadium, the FA Cup fixture in 2002 finishing 1-0 and last season’s league fixture 2-0. You felt that a side having strengthened in the summer further, would put to bed at least one of those statistics.

There was also the Paolo Di Canio factor to consider. There’s no arguing with a championship in your first season, but there’s always the propensity for the excitable Italian to explode. Already this season Captain Paul Caddis has been shipped out on loan following a bust-up with the manager, then another bust-up this time with goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, was papered over. I noted that the swindon fans seemed wholly behind their keeper, so perhaps they felt their manager calling their player “The worst professional I have ever worked with,” was a little wide of the mark. You just wonder what could happen next with Di Canio, it certainly isn’t dull at the other end of the A420!

It was a frantic affair as all local derbies should be. Smoke bombs were thrown, insults hurled, and there was an atmosphere I’ve never encountered at a FL Trophy game. Oxford with a midfield injury crisis gave a debut to Arsenal loanee Daniel Boateng in holding midfield role. He showed what a great prospect he’s considered to be, at centre half. swindon made by far the better start and missed a hatful of chances, the most glaring being Darren Ward’s free header from Adam Rooney’s free kick from the right. Adam Chapman’s dipping free kick after 40 minutes represented the U’s best chance of the half.

What turned the game was the introduction of Alfie Potter (for Boateng) on 53 minutes, his desire to run at defenders and a devastating turn of pace gave the Robins defence something different to worry about. Di Canio’s reaction was to sacrifice midfielder Giles Coke in favour of centre half Aden Flint. It cost his side the game, as Flint collided with Ward allowing James Constable space in the left channel. He looked up and his measured pass found Potter making a late run into the box, and he made no mistake slotting home under Foderingham.

That took the fight out of the visitors, as Oxford found it straightforward to play out time, for a victory that will be hard to put into context. Both sets of fans will either enjoy the win, or mourn the loss depending on their allegiance, but despite Di Canio’s pre-match comments about targeting this trophy the relevance of this result to both sides will be how they perform in the following weeks.