Wednesday 10th July 2013 ko 19.45

Kevin Sinton & Colin Blunsden Memorial Match

WANTAGE TOWN 2 (Odhiambo 33 Lachacz 54)

OXFORD UNITED XI 1 (Ashby 61)

Att c150

Entry £6

No programme

It’s impossible to think of Wantage without thing of Alfred the Great. The famous king of Wessex was born here in 849 AD and was king from 871 until his death in 899. He is the only English monarch to be accorded the epithet “the Great.”  Alfred’s reputation has been that of a learned and merciful man who encouraged education and improved his kingdom’s legal system and military structure. His statue dominates the town’s square.

The town’s other famous son was born a little later, 1935 to be exact! Lester Piggott was born conveniently for the stables at Ardington, Lockinge and Lambourn nearby. The whole area is notably affluent, even down to the entrance to Alfredian Park being down an easy-to-miss tree-lined lane.

I’ve been to Alfredian Park a lot over the years, Oxford United often send sides here, the welcome is fulsome and the football good, and the North Berkshire League uses the ground for some of its cup finals. In fact my most recent visit was Continue reading →