After not being able to get to any matches in the opening couple of weeks I kicked off my 2013-14 season in style last week with 3 matches in 5 days.
First up was my maiden visit to Daventry Town on Tuesday evening. The ‘Purple Army’ were hosting Leighton Town and defending a 100% record in their opening 4 matches. On arriving I was greeted by two very friendly ladies on the gate, which is always a plus point. I luckily managed to get the last
programme and headed off towards the clubhouse just as the teams made their appearance.
The clubhouse building at Daventry is very impressive.
First up was my maiden visit to Daventry Town on Tuesday evening. The ‘Purple Army’ were hosting Leighton Town and defending a 100% record in their opening 4 matches. On arriving I was greeted by two very friendly ladies on the gate, which is always a plus point. I luckily managed to get the last
programme and headed off towards the clubhouse just as the teams made their appearance.
The clubhouse building at Daventry is very impressive.
The clubhouse at Daventry Town
A relatively new two-storey affair housing the bar, snack bar, toilets, changing rooms and, I am informed, a conference facility. Members who are so inclined can sit on the balcony with a light refreshment and have a great view of the match. There are also two small covered stands, one either side of the clubhouse. The rest of the ground is open hard-standing with a wooded area behind one goal and a group of 5-a-side pitches behind the other.
Communications Park is a very tidy ground which provides good facilities and is, all in all, a pleasant place to watch a game of football.
The match itself was very good, if not a little one-sided. Daventry ran out 5-0 winners thanks to some nice passing moves and a couple of excellent finishes.
The following evening, thanks to a very generous offer from my wife to do story time for the little one, I was able to nip over to Oxford City which is probably my closest stadium now. This was my third visit to Court Farm Place and the second time that I had seen Oxford City Nomads the club’s Hellenic
League representatives.
Wednesday saw OCN take on Flackwell Heath and run out fairly comfortable 2-0 winners on the night. Court Farm Place is a great little stadium, covered on 3 sides with an open end behind one of the goals. This is also where the snack bar, toilets and clubhouse are located. It’s a really good place to watch football and, even with a sub-100 crowd, the closed nature of the stadium creates some atmosphere.
Finally, on Saturday, I ventured back to my homeland and went to watch the Mighty Glassboys (Stourbridge FC) with my Dad. On the way to the match we were trying to work out when we last went to Stourbridge together. It was most likely in the 70s or, at the latest, early 80s. It’s frightening how
quickly time passes.
The War Memorial Ground hasn’t changed that much over the years. Having said that, the stand behind the Church End goal and the little hut that sold memorabilia have both gone since my last
visit.
Behind the opposite goal, the Shed End, is the Shed stand. This is a covered standing area about the size of the penalty area. The Jones & Attwood side of the ground is covered for about three quarters of it’s length, including a fairly large seating area. Famously, the other side of the pitch is completely open because of the cricket square. This does allow a very good view of the rather impressive cricket
pavilion.
Stour struggled to find any rhythm but managed to scrap a 1-0 win. To be honest, the football didn’t matter too much. I t was just great to be back at Amblecote, with my Dad, watching football, just like I used to do when I was a kid.
So, in 5 days I had seen 3 matches, 8 goals, a saved penalty and loads of good football. The combined entrance fees for these matches came to just £23. This is significantly less than a single game in the Premier League. When you take into account that the last few games I have seen in the Prem have been pretty drab affairs, I call this very good value for money.
Non-league football is the future in my book. Good value, decent standard, honest football. No over-paid players, no dodgy money-induced decisions.
Roll on this evening. more Hellenic League action and my first visit to Ardley United.
Communications Park is a very tidy ground which provides good facilities and is, all in all, a pleasant place to watch a game of football.
The match itself was very good, if not a little one-sided. Daventry ran out 5-0 winners thanks to some nice passing moves and a couple of excellent finishes.
The following evening, thanks to a very generous offer from my wife to do story time for the little one, I was able to nip over to Oxford City which is probably my closest stadium now. This was my third visit to Court Farm Place and the second time that I had seen Oxford City Nomads the club’s Hellenic
League representatives.
Wednesday saw OCN take on Flackwell Heath and run out fairly comfortable 2-0 winners on the night. Court Farm Place is a great little stadium, covered on 3 sides with an open end behind one of the goals. This is also where the snack bar, toilets and clubhouse are located. It’s a really good place to watch football and, even with a sub-100 crowd, the closed nature of the stadium creates some atmosphere.
Finally, on Saturday, I ventured back to my homeland and went to watch the Mighty Glassboys (Stourbridge FC) with my Dad. On the way to the match we were trying to work out when we last went to Stourbridge together. It was most likely in the 70s or, at the latest, early 80s. It’s frightening how
quickly time passes.
The War Memorial Ground hasn’t changed that much over the years. Having said that, the stand behind the Church End goal and the little hut that sold memorabilia have both gone since my last
visit.
Behind the opposite goal, the Shed End, is the Shed stand. This is a covered standing area about the size of the penalty area. The Jones & Attwood side of the ground is covered for about three quarters of it’s length, including a fairly large seating area. Famously, the other side of the pitch is completely open because of the cricket square. This does allow a very good view of the rather impressive cricket
pavilion.
Stour struggled to find any rhythm but managed to scrap a 1-0 win. To be honest, the football didn’t matter too much. I t was just great to be back at Amblecote, with my Dad, watching football, just like I used to do when I was a kid.
So, in 5 days I had seen 3 matches, 8 goals, a saved penalty and loads of good football. The combined entrance fees for these matches came to just £23. This is significantly less than a single game in the Premier League. When you take into account that the last few games I have seen in the Prem have been pretty drab affairs, I call this very good value for money.
Non-league football is the future in my book. Good value, decent standard, honest football. No over-paid players, no dodgy money-induced decisions.
Roll on this evening. more Hellenic League action and my first visit to Ardley United.
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