London Ground Hopper

Turkish Champions go to Shropshire

2013-08-09T19:06:00.002+01:00

It's 6.30am on Saturday 12th July 2013 and my alarm is going off signaling my first away trip of the new 2013/14 season with my match of choice being Shrewsbury Town vs Galatasaray.....yes the 19 times winners of the Turkish Süper League and Champions League Quarter-Finalist last season.

I leave the house for the 7.15am to St Pancras via Blackfriars giving me enough time to grab a bacon roll and cup of tea before the 8.23 departs from Euston to Wolverhampton. An uneventful journey saw me arrive in Wolverhampton just after 10.15 giving me just enough time to nip to the Moon Under Water on Lichfield Street. First pint and pub tick of the day at 10.20am, today could be a good 'un. The Moon Under Water is a large Wetherspoons in the ground floor of the old Co-op store, my pint costs me just £1.65 with my camra card, bargain.

Back at the station I board the Arriva Wales service from Birmingham New Street to Pwllheli, third stopping being Shrewsbury.

Now the last time I was in Shrewsbury was in January 93 when me and an old pal went to the Shrewsbury Town vs Chester City derby at Gay Meadow, my one and only visit to the old ground but at least I ticked it before it went and the Shrews were placed out of town at the Greenhous Meadow...more on the new ground later. That last visit over 20 years ago had the 2 of us drink ourselves to excess, visit various drinking establishments before retiring to sleep to my car with a kebab in the small hours.

Back to the present day and with the train arriving on time I was in my first Shrewsbury pub by 11.30. The Salopian bar is a corner plot pub with a good range of different ales on. The sun is beating down as I sit outside facing the main road and drink my pint. Next stop the Coach & Horses on Swan Hill followed swiftly by the Admiral Benbow a couple of doors down. The summer is truly with us as I sit in the beer garden of the Benbow with an umbrella up protect me from the mid day sun. 3 pubs ticked already in town before I head off to the Three Fishes on Fish Street via a Cornish pasty stop in the high street, I need something to soak the beer up. It's approaching 1pm as I finish my pint and leave the Three Fishes for pub number 5, The Nags Head on Wyle Cop. The Nags is a small pub with a very large sun trap garden where I sit with other Shrewsbury fans getting ready to see their team play one of European Football's greats.

I leave the pub in search of a taxi to take me to the ground but they are non-existent so I walk over the bridge in the general direction of Greenhous Meadow. A few minutes later I stumble upon the Prince of Wales which is also in the guide (there's 7 in Shrewsbury in total this year), I hadn't planned on getting to this pub so it's a bonus. A chat with the landlord leads me to securing a place on the pubs coach to and from the ground at a cost of just £2.25 return, an absolute bargain. I follow a few locals out of the pub and onto the coach for the 10 minute journey to the ground.

Greenhous Meadow looms up just after a roundabout, for a new ground it's well proportioned with 4 completed stands, all pretty identikit to be honest though.

I wander around taking a few photos, pick up a couple of programmes and pop into the club shop which incidentally looks like its been raided before walking back to the turnstile and enter into the west stand. I can already see there are a few hundred Galatasaray fans in the ground displaying banners and their full colours

Tickets for today's game are £18.00 for adults, which sounds a little high for a pre season friendly but it's a damn sight cheaper than the £60.00 that AFC Bournemouth are charging for the visit of Real Madrid later this month.

I take my seat with my individual cottage pie just to the right of the half way line opposite the main stand. There's a decent crowd in the ground and the Turkish fans are certainly putting a show on. The teams are announced and the whole of the Galatasaray team is read out in Turkish by a chap called Muzzy, I don't catch half the names but both Emmanuel Eboue and Johan Elmander are in the starting 11. From the kick off its clear that Gala are here for a victory and the first goal of the game duly arrives on 4 minutes when Emre Colak calmly slotted the ball past Chris Weale following a good passage of play. Shrews continue to play their game with Luke Summerfield having a particularly good game in the centre of midfield just in front of the back 4, picking the ball up from the centre halves at every opportunity and spreading the ball about.

Gala go 2 ahead as Noureddine Amrabat burst's into the box and calmly pushes the ball wide of the outrushing Weale, this is how it stays until halftime but not before the Gala fans light their flares...I bet the locals haven't seen this at Greenhous Meadow before!

HT: Shrewsbury 0-2 Galatasaray

For a pre season friendly in a very high temperature both teams have played some cracking football in the first half. Fathers and their sons are lining the side of the pitch awaiting the appearance of superstars such as Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba, 2 of the biggest names in European Football if not World Football...soon they will both grace the pitch in a small Shropshire town, bizarre to be perfectly honest but fair play to the teams behind the scenes of both clubs in getting this game on, it's dragged me all the way here and I'm loving it!

The 2nd half commences with both teams making numerous substitutes and immediately it's the hosts that start on the attack and they nearly pull a goal back but for a block by the Gala number 5. Eboue charges down the Shrews left and swings a cross in that is turned around for a corner. From this corner Shrews launch a counter attack but again to no avail..this half has started with end to end action.

Then it happens with barely 20 minutes on the clock the last of Gala's subs are made and here come the 'big guns' both Drogba and Snijider are introduced..the grounds erupts and all of the neutrals (like myself) and young kids are pleased as these 'big guns' strut their stuff on he Greenhous meadow pitch.

Shrews are inches away from getting a goal back after good pressure from Jon Marsden saw him close down the Gala keeper, a midfielder intercepted the clearance and fed it to an onrushing home player who skipped past one challenge and then burst into the box before driving a shot across goal but agonizingly past the post.

With just over 5-minutes of the game remaining Galatasaray grabbed a third goal, a good break down the middle from is thwarted by a great slide tackle on the edge of the box but the luck was with the visitors as the ball rebounded back up and into the path of Kurtulus who drove in a shot that McQuaid did well to block on the line only for Sneijder to be in the right place to smash the ball into the empty net.

The last 5 minutes are played out before the referee blows he's whistle to signal a 1 man pitch invasion!

A decent game of football played in a competitive spirit with a large sprinkling of "Gala's stars on show.

FT: Shrewsbury 0-3 Galatasaray

I depart the ground and board the coach back to the Prince of Wales. Declining a pint I head off on the good 15 minute walk back to Shrewsbury station. There are delays on the track in the Telford area which has me back into Birmingham New Street with just over 10 minutes before my booked train to London Euston. I quickly make my way to Tesco's, grab some sushi and cider (great evening meal!) before settling down on the train.

Thankfully the Virgin service arrives into Euston a few minutes early and bar train delays between Blackfrairs & Sevenoaks I'm back indoors just after 10.30pm. A long day but another worth while trip, another league ground ticked as well as 6 new pubs.

Til the next time.....

Enfield Town 0-3 Margate - 16/3/13

2013-04-28T18:04:00.001+01:00

With torrential rain all night on Friday and then all the way through Saturday morning almost every game below the Ryman leagues were postponed leaving me with the prospect of a football free Saturday or to play the sit and wait game.

This I duly did and after the completion of a successful pitch inspection I was off to the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium on the aptly named Donkey Lane for Enfield Town vs Margate in the Ryman Premier.

My first visit to Donkey Lane so as well as managing to get a game in during this bad weather spell I would also be able to get another "tick".

A fellow Dulwich Hamlet fan was also at a loose end so we arranged to meet in the Hamilton Hall Wetherspoons at Liverpool St Station for a couple of pre train pints and a catch up on all things non league.

The train stopped at all stations and 30 minutes after departing Liverpool St we arrived at Southbury Rd station with 15 minutes to spare before kick off. A quick 4 stop bus ride followed and we duly arrived with minutes to spare.

Enfield Town are into their 2nd season of using the QE II stadium and have made a decent job of converting an athletics track into a workable football ground. There is the amazing Art Deco main stand with end café which has now been converted into a bar and viewing platform. Behind each goal sits a temporary stand with terracing and the far side houses another temporary stand this time with a quantity of seats. The stands behind each goal have been moved in from the athletics lanes and make the ground quite cozy while of course still being open.

The game started at a decent pace with Enfield having more of the ball but Margate using the ball much better and looked most likely to get the first goal. After a few chances when the 'gate front line should done better Carl Rook finally broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when he lashed the ball from the edge of the area with Noel Imber in the hosts goal well beaten. 2 chances fell to the hosts to equalize before Imber made another good save to keep the score @ 0-1 as the first half ended.

Off to the bar we retreated while the teams had their half time oranges we supped pints of Enfield Best on tap at £2.80 a pint from the local Redemption brewery, handsome they were too.

Back into the daylight for the 2nd half and after a shot came back off the post Kezie Ibe was on hand to slot the ball into an empty net for 2-0 on 47 minutes. By now it was almost way traffic with Enfield chasing the game and Margate in full flow. From a corner Rook added he's 2nd when he glanced a header home for 3-0 on 63 minutes, the 'gate threatened to stroll away with the match when they were awarded a penalty. Rook stepped up to complete he's hat trick but was denied by a fine save from Imber to keep the score at 3-0.

A couple of missed changed from the hosts towards the end of the game as the referee blew he's whistle to signal full time. Enfield Town 0-3 Margate.

Time to have 1 last beer in the bar before heading off to the station for the train back to London.

My companion left me at Tottenham Hale to join the Victoria line and I stayed onto Cambridge Heath from where I got the bus to Crossharbour and the DLR back to Lewisham, home by 19.15.

Cold but content. A decent game of football, a very nice ground, another "tick" and a couple of new beers.

Til the next time.....

Worcester City 0-1 Guisley - 23/2/13

2013-04-28T18:03:00.000+01:00

A much anticipated trip for me to St George's Lane, Worcester. With Worcester City committed to leaving their home of 108 years this summer time was running out for me to get there before the bull dozers moved in.

I took the early (and cheap) train from Euston to Birmingham New St getting me into Birmingham just after 10.15am, ready for my connection to Worcester Foregate Street at 10.49. I had time to head into the Wetherspoons on Bennetts Hill, The Briar Rose. The pub was already busy with a mix of football fans and very early ladies who lunch as well as the usual 'spoons crowd.

A quick strong pint later and I was on board the train to Worcester. Off just after 11.30am I took a couple of charity shops in on my way to The Plough, the first of 4 pubs in the city I wanted to get to. From here it was next door to The Farriers Arms (not on my list), but a reasonable pub all the same. Next up was Eagle Vaults, a charming corner plot pub in the centre of town.

Pub number 4 was another on the list The Firefly, just the other side of the centre. A very decent brew pub with a great choice of ales but sadly lacking any customers. By now it was almost 1.30pm and time for lunch, the kebab / chip shop opposite the pub looked very inviting. A large helping of fish cake, saveloy and chips later and it was time for pub another 5. The Postal Order is an old style Wetherspoon's establishment in an ex sorting office, a cracking strong pint of Saddler's, Mud City Stout @ 6.6% certainly hit the spot...now it was time for the match.

Guisley were sitting 2nd in the table but the week before Blue Square Betting had paid out on Chester winning the league due to the gap being 19 points between top and 2nd. Worcester sat 9th but they were slipping down the table.

St George's Lane is an absolute gem of a non-league ground and I was purring with excitement as I paid my admission and entered this fantastic looking arena.

2 open ends 1 behind each goal, a long and very impressive Main Stand and a long open terrace opposite it with a large covered area in the corner

The game started with Guisley in the driving seat with the home defence being the busier trying to keep the irrepressable Lions at bay. Chances came and went with Guisley not being able to break the deadlock. Worcester were fairly toothless but did force a half chance towards the end of the first half.

I wandered around the ground snapping away and smiling to myself as I was so pleased to have seen this ground before the bull dozers came in.
Worcester City 0-0 Guisley @ half time, the crowd of 738 was announced as I retired beneath the main stand to the bar to keep out of the cold and read my programme.

For the 2nd half i decided to sit in the main stand and watch the action from there. St George's Lane really is a fantastic venue, really cannot believe within a couple of months it will be lost forever. A selection of unused Guisley players sat in front of me and were very vocal in their broad Scouse accents when decisions did not go their teams way, some good banter ensued between them and the locals.

This game looked increasingly likely to finish goal less as both teams started to get desperate with the hosts coming close of 2 occasions to breaking the deadlock. Then after a Worcester attack the Lions broke away with James Walshaw carrying the ball forward before unleashing a low shot into the Worcester net, 1-0 on89 minutes..what a way to end the match. Worcester looked heart broken but to be honest the goal had been coming and Guisley looked the stronger and more organised unit all match.

I headed back into town after my very enjoyable time at the ground and was a bit gutted that i had left it so long...my first stopping point was The Dragon Inn on The Tything. 4th and last beer guide pub in Worcester, had a pint finished reading my programme and then headed back into town. I grabbed a quick pint in the Horn & Trumpet, then a subway meal ready for the 18.16 train back to Birmingham New Street.

The train arrived on time and this allowed me around 45 minutes to visit The Post office Vaults just up from New Street station. A very decent under ground bar with a large amount of beers available including a very good German bottled selection.

My last stopping point for a pint after arriving into London slightly early was Mable's Tavern, a Shepherd & Neame pub which is located just off the Euston Road. By now it was gone 10.30pm and the day was taking it's toll on me. I drank up in time to catch the train back to Crofton Park and I was in doors by 11.30pm.

A very long day but rewarding, a new ground for me that is soon to be "lost", 6 new pubs from the beer guide and a rake of new beers...Til the next time.

Walton Casuals 1-2 Faversham Town - 2/2/13

2013-04-01T11:43:00.001+01:00

Following my away trip to Scotland the previous weekend I decided I would stay much more local and tick off another ground in the Ryman League Div 1 South.

This weekend was the 2nd February the same day that Dulwich had their match at Horsham called off at the 11th hour due to a "puddle of water" on the pitch, by this time I had already decided that I would make a trip to Walton on Thames to visit one of the last 2 grounds I had to do with my match choice being Walton Casuals vs Faversham.

A train just before 1pm from Clapham Junction had me into Walton On Thames within 25 minutes and saw me marching off to the Old Manor Inn on Manor Road for a pub "tick". A quick pint of Doom Bar later and I was off marching again this time all the way to the Riverside Stadium, home of Walton Casuals FC.

The walk isn't for the non experience walker and after a near 30 minute fast stroll I arrived at the aptly named stadium.

Apart from being a fairly sub standard team these days, the club set up and ground is very good. Covered seating or standing is available in part on all sides, with covered terracing at each end and on the side of the dugouts / where the teams emerge from. On the opposite side to the dug outs is a small covered seated stand. All in all a very tidy ground.

The game was even for the first period with neither team really threatening each others goal. Then after a small bit of sustained pressure which saw Faversham awarded a couple of corners in a row the visitors scored when Maxted netted. Casuals then came back into the match with Sol Patterson-Bonner & Mu Maan (2 recent ex Dulwich players) looking especially lively. It was through the latter that Casuals drew level when Maan took the ball through from the left and drilled it past the keeper to take the game into half time tied.

I retreated to the large and spacious bar, not only to keep warm but also to sample the club house...that was the main reason I promise.

As much as Casuals prodded and probed they couldn't break through the Faversham defence and get that much needed winner. Then with just seconds to go a defensive error by the Casuals cost them the game when Harvey strolled around the keeper and dispatched the ball into an empty net...2-1 to Faversham and the game was over. This was a win that kept the visitors in the play off places and based on their overall team performance today they fully deserve to be in the play off hunt.

Ground number ??? for me and now I only needed Ramsgate to "tick" off in Ryman Div 1 South.

I left the ground and took the long and arduous trek back into "town". I called into the rather attractive looking Wetherspoons pub The Regent on my way. I had forgotten that England were playing rugby that evening on the television so I had to endure "fake" rugby fans shouting at the tele while I supped my pint. Enough was enough so with a train every 30 minutes I headed to the Ashley Park Hotel by the station where I had a decent pint in more pleasant surroundings.

Train caught, a quick change at Clapham Junction and I was back home for 19.30 ish.

Good competitive game of football, another new ground, 1 new pub and back home in time for dinner with the wife.

Til the next time.....

Another Scottish Double Header - Part 2 Aberdeen

2013-03-11T14:23:00.001+00:00

I awoke in my Premier Inn bed after a neigh on eleven hour sleep feeling as fresh as a daisy and ready for my long day ahead.

I was dressed, checked out and heading to Greggs the bakers for 11.15am before taking the slow 10 minute walk towards Pittodrie for today's 12.30pm kick off. Today's the Dons would be entertaining Hibs. This would be the 2nd time I had seen these teams against each other in the last 10 months, the last time being at Hampden Park for the 2012 Scottish Cup Semi Final that Hibs won 2-1, here's hoping today's game would be as exciting. Having seen 2 goals at Tannadice the day before albeit in a dire game I was hoping for a much improved SPL match.

The walk from the City Centre to Pittodrie could not be any easier with one road running from the corner of Union St, along King St and into Pittodrie St. I stopped off at the inviting Pittodrie Bar and soaked up the pre match atmosphere with a pint of Belhaven's Best.

My pint finished I headed to the ground with 20 minutes to kick off, the crowd was growly nicely and upon arrival at Pittodrie it was a hive of activity. I take a couple of snaps and then headed off to the club shop.

With 5 minutes to kick off I paid my £23.00 and entered the ground at the Merkland Road entrance bringing me on the South Stand which is now an all seated and most covered area running the length of the pitch opposite the old fashioned Main Stand. The impressive Richard Donald stand faces the Merkland Family Stand behind each goal. This stand is named after the late chairman Mr Richard Donald with seating for just over 6,000 it also has 12 executive boxes. A little fact for you now this was the first all-seated stadium in Britain.

On a bitterly cold afternoon I choose a seat halfway up the terracing but not far enough up to be sheltered from the cold...it was blinking freezing, much colder than Dundee the day before.

The game started and it was clear from the off that this was going to be a close game and of few chances, the pitch appearing to be bobbly. Leigh Griffiths's every touch was greeted with boos, why I am unsure I know it's a t**t and can easily be targeted as a hate figure for the opposing fans but unsure if the booing stemmed from anything more than this!

The game ebbed and flowed with Aberdeen having plenty of success down the left with Peter Pawlett and Jonny Hayes probing and prodding. In the 11th minute Aberdeen should of taken the lead when after Tim Clancy had brought Johnny Hayes down in the box, Niall McGinn's penalty was well saved by Hibs keeper Ben Williams.

10 minutes later and Joe Shaughnessy sent in a looping header for Pawlett to head towards goal but the ball drifted over the top of the Hibs crossbar.

As the half wore off Gavin Rae was pulling the strings in the middle for the Dons. On the half hour mark Hayes had a good chance from the edge of the Hibs box but took a fresh-air swipe at the ball & the momentum was lost. Ben Williams then pulled off a superb save to keep the score level on the stroke of half time from a Robertson effort that came from outside the box.

By now even though I was well wrapped up the tiredness was kicking in from the day before and I was freezing, with the North Sea coming in behind the stand to the right there was nowhere to hide from the wind.

The 2nd half started pretty much as the first ended by the Dons could not find a breakthrough, though Leigh Griffiths could have opened the scoring for the visitors when he broke free inside the Dons penalty area but hesitated and failed to make more of the effort as Jamie Langfield smothered the ball. Aberdeen then responded with a sustained period of possession & pressure that failed to produce an opener, although Rae should have done better with a close-range effort after good work down the wing. Then on 60 minutes Isaac Osbourne unleashed a shot towards the Hibs goal that drifted wide, before Shaughnessy forced a save out of Williams with a pile driver of his own.

The last half and hour drifted by with both teams creating chances but none worthy of winning this game and the referee blew to signal a 0-0 draw the home fans were not amused.

I headed out of Pittodrie towards the University for a couple of pints in the St Machar Bar. A lovely little bar sat at the top end of the University in a real picturesque part of town. I watched the first half of the St Mirren vs Celtic League Cup Semi Final and left at half time to head back to town for food. On arrival back into town I went in the Wig & gown for a pint and some grub, but even though the menu stated food served everyday the girl behind the bar informed they don’t serve food at weekends! I stopped here and watched the match with a big grin on my face as St Mirren knocked Celtic out to claim a place in the cup final.

After a quick pit stop at KFC I made my way down Union St before stopping for a pint in The Howff, a locals bar hidden downstairs from the shopping High St. My bus was due at 18.30 for me to make a pit stop in the Wetherspoons @ the airport before my flight at 20.40.

My last beer in Aberdeen was a stunning strong number in the Brew Dog bar on Gallowgate before a short walk to the bus stop for the airport bus. All had gone extremely well this weekend until I arrived at the airport to find that my plane had been delayed for an hour and half! Oh well at least I could stay in the Wetherspoons until my flight was called, wrong! Halfway through my 2nd pint at exactly 20.30 one of the staff came round to say the bar was closing, oh dear what a pain. The flight actually departed around 21.45 so not as late as first expected but this got my back into Gatwick once my last train had left from East Croydon meaning I either went into London Bridge and came out again or I forked out for a taxi from East Croydon back home, I chose this option and by 01.15am I was back home after a cracking but long weekend.

In summary my latest weekend to Scotland had me take in 2 games, 2 new grounds, I saw 2 goals, drank in 16 new pubs and 17 new beers not a bad weekend!

Til the next time

Another Scottish Double Header - Part 1 Dundee United

2013-02-02T10:18:00.001+00:00

Back in early December I looked at the Scottish fixtures to see if there were any decent games I could make for a day trip, so imagine my surprise when I saw that Aberdeen were hosting Hibs on a Sunday at the end of Jan and that the day before Dundee United were to play Ross County both in the SPL, 2 new grounds for me.

Easyjet return from Gatwick and a night in Aberdeen at the Premier Inn was quickly booked.

A few frantic days before Saturday ensured as snow battered the UK and football games were postponed left right and centre. The morning of my flight came and after roping the wife in to driving me to East Croydon station for a train to Gatwick I arrived in Aberdeen at 8.40am as planned, and boy was there snow about!

The airport bus into town had me plotted up in the Archibald Simpson (Spoons) pub and a breakfast inside me by 10am. I chanced my arm at the hotel that I could check in early but to no avail so off I went to pub number 2, Aitchies Ale House near the station. Cracking little pub and after a very good dark beer and a chat with a couple of patrons I was off to catch the 11.43 train to Dundee.

This was this furthest north I had been so I spent the train journey watching the scenery go by as the train stopped at Montrose & Arbroath before arriving into Dundee just before 12.50pm. Off I went to the first of the four pubs I wanted to tick off from the good beer guide.

First port of call was The Phoenix Bar on Nethergate, a real decent bar that was pretty full, from here it was off to Dukes Corner, a huge bar and restaurant just laying back from the main road. I then made me way to the bus stop for the 10 minute journey to Tannadice Street. I have been to both Dens Park & Tannadice twice before but have never seen a game at either ground.

With snow covering the pavements all the fans making their way to the match were treading very carefully, though United had cleared all snow around the entrances. I paid my £19.00 and entered the Eddie Thompson stand lower tier. The ground was slowly filling up which gave me time to take a couple of snaps of the stands.

3 of the stands look a lot newer than the Jim Mclean stand that runs down the length of the pitch and acts as the Main Stand with some executive boxes. My view from the Eddie Thompson stand was perfect even though I prefer to watch my football from the side of the pitch and not from behind the goals. Really not a lot to say about the game, certainly not in the 1st half which ended 0-0 with the closest either team coming to a goal was when Gavin Gunning's close-range header from a Barry Douglas free-kick hit the side netting for the hosts in the first minute.

Into the 2nd half and the game improved slightly (not really by much) with the hosts pushing for a goal and this duly came on 52 minutes when a good passage of play between captain Daly & the diminutive Johnny Russell resulted in a 20 yard curler into the keepers right hand side by Gary Mackay Steven, 1-0 to the Arabs. From here they kicked on for a 2nd but they almost paid the ultimate price when Ivan Sproule fresh from he's 2 goal salvo in Paisley the week before burst through and from just 8 yards out passed a weak effort towards goal that Cierzniak palmed away for a corner.

Another effort from Sproule then followed as both teams opened up slightly, still this was a poor advert for the SPL. Then on 82 minutes following good work down United's left Ross County's captain and really their best player by a long chalk Richard Brittan popped up with a 20 yard screamer that left the United custodian with no a hope of keeping it out of the net 1-1. The remaining time was played out with the Arabs pushing and Ross settling for a point and the whistle blew on 94 minutes to a chorus of boos aimed at Peter Houston and he's management team from the home faithful. 1-1 the final score and within 5 minutes I was back on the bus into town for just over an 90 minutes worth of drinking before my train left for the Granite city.

Having ticked off 2 of the 4 Camra British Beer Guide 2013 pubs in Dundee before the game I headed to The Counting House, a large Wetherspoons on the corner of Reform Street. Very standard 'spoons pub, busy with a couple of decent ales on as to be expected. My blackberry had died so I took the opportunity and used their electricity while I drank my pint. 3 down 1 to go and the one I saved for last was the Bank Bar on Union St, with this being closest to the station it gave me time to have a pint before grabbing some food for the journey. A cracking little pub the Bank Bar, full of character and definitely worth popping in for a pint in you're in Dundee!

The train arrived promptly at 18.43 and with my quarter pound cheese burger inside me I settled down for the journey back to Aberdeen. A swift 10 minutes walk back to the Premier Inn and within half an hour I was changed and freshened up ready for the first of the 4 pubs I wanted to do that evening.

The first of the 4 was the Old Blackfriars opposite the Archibald Simpson from earlier. Food orientated pub that had a decent acoustic guitarist playing but he was rather drowned out by the chatter of the patrons. Next port of call the Prince of Wales tucked away down a side street off of Union Street. Another very good pub with plenty of real ale choice. 3rd pub of the night was Under The Hammer on North Silver Street, as the name suggests the name came about due to the pubs close proximity to an auction house, which is just above this basement bar. Very busy with standing room only and a couple of decent ales on tap.

The last pub of the evening and the 10th of the day was The Grill on Union St, the main drag through the centre of town. Strange looking bar from the outside as it looks closed but inside it was very much open and at 10.30pm on a Saturday night the place was heaving.

With my eyelids starting to close it was time for me to head back to the hotel as the day had been long and busy. Excellent day all told and tomorrow I was off to Pittodrie for the SPL game against Hibs.

Part 2 to follow....

Day trip to Witham

2013-01-13T18:44:00.003+00:00

With Dulwich Hamlet playing down on the Kent coast at Folkestone Invicta coupled with having a family meal booked for mid evening I decide to forgo a Dulwich away day for a trip to Witham in Essex.

Having never been to Witham Town before this was to be another new ground for me and help towards completing the Ryman League North division, a bit of added spice was that their game was a local derby against Heybridge Swifts. With having to be back home at a certain time I decided to drive. Even though the A12 was relatively clear the door to door journey still took me 90 minutes, this was via a stop at a very good chip shop in Witham High Street which had me arriving at the Spicer McColl Stadium at 14.50.

I parked up and paid my £8.00 entrance fee (no free entry for me today) and was stunned to be told by the lad behind the turnstile that all the programmes had been sold, he then went on to tell me this was strange as there were normally loads left.

This match was 9th vs 2nd with Heybridge being the top scores in all 3 Ryman leagues having bagged 67 goals in just 22 league games.
Witham started the game very brightly and had a number of efforts on goal without really troubling Nicky Eyre in the Swifts goal. While at the other end you would never of known the visitors were the higher placed team of the two as the Witham defence held firm. A decent half that ended goalless. With the assistance of the very help club president George Vale I managed to get a team sheet and then on the way to the bar at half time I spied a home programme from November when Witham hosted Potters Bar Town & Ware in a 3 day period.

After a warming cup of coffee the 2nd half started, Heybridge had a good spell with the home keeper having to dive down low to make a good save. The rest of the half played out much the same as the 1st except for a large and loud penalty shout for the hosts that the referee waved away without a 2nd thought. A few minutes of added time was played before the referee blew he's whistle to end the contest which finished goalless. The result left both teams in the same league positions as the start of the match. Even with their biggest crowd of the season of 147 I am sure it was Heybridge that went home the happy team of the 2 leaving with a point gained instead of a loss especially as Maldon could only draw 0-0 at home.

On the way out of the ground I spied that someone had left their programme at the turnstile so I bagged this as I left and returned to the car.

Once in the warmth of the car my journey back to South East London was just an hour with the M25 & Dartford Tunnel being clear, having me indoors with enough time for a sit down and a cup of tea before heading out with the family.

A pleasant day in Essex was had with ground number 318 in the bag.

Til the next time….

Scottish Double Header - Part 2 Dunfermline

2012-12-23T19:30:00.000+00:00

After a busy & long day & night in Glasgow and Motherwell the day before we decided to meet in reception for 9.15am for our departure to Edinburgh on the Saturday morning. A decent nights sleep was had and all was going well, shower, packing and a quick bit of tv until the fire alarm went off in the hotel just before 9am. Confusion and extremely poor organisation had me standing at the back of the hotel waiting in the cold along with another 40 or so guests to be told what was happening. Within 5 minutes the fire brigade had arrived and another 5 minutes after this we were allowed back into the hotel...god only knows where the fire was or what had happened as no-one explained anything....oh well no real harm done.

We left the hotel and walked via Gregg's to Queen Street, bought the train tickets to Edinburgh and boarded the 9.45am for the 45 minute journey. Now as I said in Part 1, my plan was to head back from Edinburgh to Livingston for their game vs Greenock Morton while my companion was going to Tynecastle. I've never been to Livingston and I don't want to offend anyone locals but having mapped and then mapped Livingston again there seems to be nothing there apart from the football ground and an outlet centre..well and 2 Wetherspoon pubs that nearly lured me in. Being a new town and a new'ish ground I was really fighting my reasons for being stuck there when I managed to get wifi on the train and via BBC Sport found that Dunfermline Athletic were at home to Cowdenbeath. A local derby and only 30 mins on the train from Waverley to Dunfermline Town station....decision made I was now going to Dunfermline!

This meant I could have several hours in Edinburgh ticking off more pubs from Beer Guide. We disembarked at Haymarket and walked the 15 mins down Dalry Road to Tynecastle so Mick could get he's match ticket aswell as a programme for me. From here we went to Diggers as the first of the pubs in the guide and the nearest to Tynecastle. Being so close this place apparently gets absolutely packed to bursting on a match day so 11.15 am was a good call. Cracking pub with a really good range of memorabilia on the walls including that great image of Dave Mackay (Hearts legend) grabbing Billy Bremner by the throat during a Spurs-Leeds game in the 70s. Another pint of creamy Scottish ale was sunk and we headed off in search of the next pub.

This was Thomson's a small 1 bar pub on Morrison Street heading towards the castle. We arrived just before noon and had to wait until noon as it wasn't open for service until then. Another new pub and another new ale was ticked off. A very friendly bar maid who was expressing her disgust that her pub had been omitted from the 2013 version of the guide and they had not been informed, we humoured her as of course we didn't know why they were not in the new guide.

From here we walked in an almost straight line to the Blue Blazer on the corner of Bread Street & Spittal Street. This is a cracking little pub with some great ales on, I had a pint of Eden Breweries Seggie Porter as it was the first dark beer I had seen that morning and it was superb, this is a pub that I will be coming back to. By now I only had an hour before the 13.48 to Dunfermline so we headed towards Waverley and past the Bow Bar which we would come back to in the evening. Right by the station was the Doric Arch so we popped in for one. Despite not being in the guide the pub was pleasant enough but was very empty.

I walked down to Waverley and having arranged to meet Mick in the Halfway House just up the Flesh Market steps at around 17.40 I boarded the train for the 30 minute journey to Dunfermline Town station. A short walk across the park and through a lovely residential area brought me to the corner of the ground. East End Park sits slap bang on the main road to Cowdenbeath and looms above everything close to it and opposite houses.

The ticket office was in the corner of the ground between the main stand and the Norrie McCathie stand named after one of the Pars most famous players. £16.00 bought me a seat in the main stand. I went into the club shop to see if they had a fridge magnet as requested by Mick, they didn't but I did get a programme. Once inside the ground I was met with sight of 2 identical sides one behind each goal. The home end is already mentioned named after a Pars Legend. The away end had a smattering of Cowdenbeath fans but nowhere as many as I expected them to bring.

It was cold in the ground as the wind came in at either end and the start of the match had me huddling in my coat with my hands in my pockets as I really started to feel the cold, being tired obviously wasn't helping.

The game was slow to get started but it was the hosts with all of the chances and they deservedly took the lead on 28 minutes through Joe Cardle. Then a strange incident happened, a challenge with a Pars players saw Cowdenbeath Player Manager Colin Cameron collide in the middle of the park with the referee, while this looked harmless this enough this incident was to play a major part later in the game. With the hosts 1-0 up Cowdenbeath pushed on and tried to get their equaliser before half time but it just wouldn't come. So 1-0 at half time it was.

I moved from one side of the Main Stand to the other as I was so cold and I wanted more bodies around me, this did the trick as I instantly warmed up. The 2nd half started a whole 35 minutes late as the referee had gone off injured at half time due to he's collision with Cameron during the 1st half. One of the assistant referee's had taken the whistle but after numerous announcements for a qualified referee or linesman to take over a chap in a Dunfermline tracksuit emerged and the game finally started.

I wanted to get the 17.15 train so with the start of the 2nd half starting so late I left the ground with just under 20 minutes to go and the score still at 1-0 to the Pars. I made the train and once I was sat on my way back to Edinburgh I saw there had been 2 further goals & the hosts had triumphed 3-0. Of the 70 minutes I saw I'd say this was a fair result and. Though my visit to Dunfermline had been brief it was extremely enjoyable but I had 2 more pubs to tick off my list back in the capital.

I arrived back just before 17.45 and made my way to The Halfway House just mid way up the Fleshmarket Steps, a lovely atmospheric pub that resembles someones living room. My companion arrived from Tynecastle a few minutes after me and a pint later we were making the 10 minute walk to the Bow Bar on West Bow, this was the last pub of the day for us and what an absolute cracker it is. A huge choice of Whiskies and a really good selection of ales had me trying another new beer from a Scottish Brewery.

With the time being nearly 7pm, we went back to Waverley station and caught the bus to the airport.

A quick pint in the 'spoons airside was had while the queue was forming waiting for the plane that was around half an hour late. The plan landed at Gatwick just 10 minutes later than scheduled and after a dash to the station I managed to get my connection from East Croydon that got me home just around 11.30pm.

I was absolutely knackered but a great 2 days in Scotland, 2 decent games of football with plenty of drama, 2 new grounds and the added bonus of 13 new pubs.

Til the next time....

Scottish Double Header - Part 1 Motherwell

2012-11-25T15:09:00.002+00:00

After a conversation a few weeks previously with a like minded chap at Dulwich who collects the Scottish grounds I booked myself a flight to Glasgow on Friday 26th October with a return the following night from Edinburgh.

On the Friday I was to take in Motherwell vs. Hibernian in the SPL for one of their Friday night games with a Saturday game the following day before flying back from Edinburgh.

My flight was booked with Easyjet for the 8.50 from Stansted to Glasgow International. The day before the wife had kindly decided to take the Friday off so that she could drive me to Stansted and thus save me an hour in bed.

We departed home just after 6.40am and after hitting a bit of traffic at the Blackwall Tunnel I pulled up outside the set down point at Stansted at 7.50am giving me enough time for my flight.
An on time flight had me leaving the plane at around 10am and into Paisley town centre for 20 past.

I had 3 pubs on my list to tick off in Paisley but unfortunately I didn't manage to do any. After a quick wander round town I arrived at the Wee Howff only to find it still closed, I then wandered around to the Bull Inn but was greeted with a large scaffold board outside the front of the pub that was well and truly sealed off to the public. My last choice was the Last Post, Wetherspoons back by Gilmour Street station but as it was only 10.45 by now they were not serving alcohol until 11am. With this I decided to head into Glasgow, so I went across the road and boarded the train into Central Station.

I was a tad disappointed as I left Central Station and walked across to the Horseshoe Bar on Drury Street, I had been in Scotland well over an hour and hadn't achieved anything yet! However the Horseshoe changed all of that. I had a very good pint, watched a bit of Sky Sports News and admired the decorative tiles (picture below). Pub number 1 ticked off.
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My hotel was a few minutes walk on Ingram Street so I stopped off on route at The Counting House which is a huge ex bank on the corner of St George Square that is now home to a Wetherspoons. The beer festival was one so from a choice of 16 pumps I choose a Lithuanian beer that was new to me which I supped while sitting and fiddling with the internet making full use of their free wifi.

I checked into the hotel and decided that the rest of my day on my own would involve ticking off more pubs in the area from the beer guide. My next port of call was The Blackfriars followed by The Babbity Bowster both of which are close to each other in the Merchant City area. The Babbity Bowster is possibly one of the finest pubs I have ever visited, it's an absoulete gem and well worth a trip if you are in that side of Glasgow. From here I went back to Buchanan St and boarded the clock work orange round to the West of the city at Hillhead.

Out the station and down Byers Road brought me to Tennants (number 4 on my list) where I had the choice 12 ales...love these pubs with a load of choice. After a decent pint I made my way to the last pub in the area being The Three Judges just at the bottom of Byers Road just on Dumbarton Road. Another good selection of ales had me choosing my 5th new beer of the day from this cracking little corner pub.

By this time it was almost 4.45pm and the text had come through to say that my football companion had arrived into Glasgow and was on the bus towards the hotel so I hastily made my way back onto the clock work orange round to the hotel. A local friend of my companion had also meet us after finishing work and the 3 of us made our way to the Blane Valley on Glassford St for a couple of pre match pints.

An hour later and we were on the train from Argyle Street to Motherwell for tonights football encounter. The friend left us a few stops before Hamilton and we continued on our own before disembarking at Airbles for the short walk to Fir Park.

Ground number 313 for me tonight. Fir Park is a tidy ground and there looked to be a fair crowd gathering for the match. A programme was obtained, we wandered around the club shop and then paid our £18.00 entrance into the stand opposite the Main Stand ready for the game.

Both teams were coming off the back of away defeats in the league. Motherwell losing the previous Sunday at Hearts while Hibs had been beaten by the odd goal in 5 at Ross County on the Saturday.

Both teams started well and it was the home side with Michael Higdon leading the line that nearly took the lead only for the final touch to let them down. Slowly Hibs came into the game with Leigh Griffiths and David Wotherspoon looking particuley menacing in the final third. On 28 minutes Hibs took the lead when Wotherspoon picked the ball up 20 odd yards from goal and drilled a cracking shot past ex Charlton 'keeper Randolph in the well net. The score remained like this to half time with Hibs shading the first half but not offering to run away with it!

The rain held off but it was blinking cold sat in the stand opposite the Min Stand as the wind seemed to whip in from the pitch, the hands and fingers going bluer and bluer...how I wished I had brought my gloves.

The 2nd half played out much the same as the first with both teams creating chances but Motherwell just not doing enough to bring an equaliser. Then a long raking ball was played for Griffiths to chase, he outpaced Fraser Kerr who was having a torid time at the heart of the 'Well defence and while he was going away from goal Randolph came out and made a stupid challenge that he really didn't need to make and the ref gave a penalty. Up stepped Griffiths and drilled the ball low to Randolph's left and into the net...2-0 on 64 mins.

Motherwell soon had an excellent chance to halve their deficit when James McPake was penalised for climbing all over Higdon. Up stepped Higdon and he cannoned the ball off the top of the bar and straight into the crowd behind! The groans and moans around me were getting louder and louder, then minutes later the 3rd penalty was awarded this time for Hibs when Wotherspoon was tripped just inside the box (however having now seen this on sky replays, it clearly was outside the box...another soft decision by Stevie O'Reilly who to be honest wasn't having he's best game). Griffiths stepped up again and beat Randolph with a near copycat penalty..3-0 and there as to now only be 1 winner.

The game was halted while the referee left the pitch and was replaced by one of the assistants. As the game wore on and the home fans started to leave in their droves a 4th goal was had as Handling tapped in from a couple of yards to round off a thoroughly convincing 2nd half performance. The 1500 Hibs fans celebrated as they should having seen their team smash Motherwell at Fir Park.

Myself and my companion made our way into the cold night air and off in search of the only 'spoons in town, up near the station. A wrong turn and half an hour walk later we arrived into the relative solitude of The Brandon Works. A couple of pints from the beer festival menu and it was time for the last train back to Glasgow. We wandered down to Trongate and had a pint in Maggie Mays before arriving back at the hotel for a pint in the bar before turning in for the night.

Tomorrow we were off to Edinburgh and I as planning on going to Livingston for their game with Greennock Morton while Mick was going to Tynecastle for the match with Ross County...there was however to be a last minute change for one of us....part 2 to follow shortly.....

A busy couple of weeks....

2012-10-14T12:39:00.001+01:00

has seen me take in 3 games, 1 new ground and a beer festival!

With Dulwich Hamlet out of the FA Cup Saturday 29th September was left free enabling me to pick a game at a new ground. After some deliberation I decided the game would be St Albans City vs. Arlesey Town in the FA Cup and this would also allow me to take in the St Albans beer festival on the same day...double result!

I left home just after 10am and after changing at London Blackfrairs I disembarked at St Albans station bang on 11am. A short walk into town brought me to the Alban Arena where the 17th St Albans Beer Festival had been running since the Wednesday. Free entry was obtained due to me being a member of Camra, my first use of my membership and it saved me £4.00. The hall was relatively empty which gave me a chance to study the programme and seek out the beers I wanted to sample more than others. After sampling 9 new beers from a mix of breweries including Alecraft, Tring & Blue Monkey. I was asked to do a brief interview for the new series of The Apprentice that they were filming on the day as one of the tasks they had was to brew, market and sell a real ale. Their effort was called A Bitter This and was brewed with using a Terry's Chocolate orange, different but not bad at all.

As the clock approached 14.20 I made my way to Clarence Park for the match.

A 10 minute walk later and I was at the home of St Albans City FC. The ground sits right next to a park is hemmed in on 1 side by the railway but it's a very pleasant setting with an interesting main stand and open terracing at the 2 ends.

Having seen Arlesey beat Dulwich in the FA Trophy the week before I knew what to expect and with them sitting one place below St Albans in the table the game promised to be entertaining.A bright but slightly chilly day had brought the St Albans fans out in large numbers and the game started with the hosts pushing for an early goal. That goal duly arrived on 18 minutes courtesy of David Ujah who stabbed the ball home following a ball into the box. Arlsesy then went up the other end and when the diminutive Drew Roberts was tripped in the box he got up and dispatched the penalty home on 22 minutes. The score remained this way until half time.

The second period started slowly but with some St Albans pressure and a good move saw the ball fed back for Shields to fire in a shot on goal which required a good save from Nathan Abbey in the Arlesey goal.
The visitors were then awarded a free kick about 30 yards out as Roberts was again fouled but he put his free kick just over the bar.
The evergreen Barry Hayles was replaced as the hosts tried to break the Arlesey defence down and regain the lead. However a few moments after the change Arlesey made a swift break and a ball forward found Roberts on the edge of the area in space, this allowed him to send a low cross past the keeper for Dillon at the far post and duly smashed the ball into the roof of the net to give Arlesey the lead.

As the game wore on the hosts pushed for an equaliser but it just wouldn't come enabling Arlesey to hang on for the win and a place in the next round.

A decent game played at a good pace in a cracking venue, why Clarence Park has eluded me for so long god only knows. From the ground I walked back to the Alban Arena for another few new beers before boarding the 7pm train back to London. After sampling a total of 14 new beers I arrived back home for 8pm and another good day watching non league football.

Saturday 6th October saw Dulwich back to league action and hosting the current league leaders Folkestone Invicta. A cagey first half saw both team leave the pitch locked at 0-0 but Erhun Oztumer scored a screamer on 54 minutes to put 'Hamlet in the lead then he grabbed he's 2nd on 76 minutes when Delo in the Folkestone goal brought down Nyren Clunis for a soft penalty, duly dispatched with aplomb by the small Turkish forward. This was Folkestone first league defeat of the season and was a good 3 points for Dulwich to bring a run of 3 defeats to an end.

Tuesday 9th October and my last game of the of a 10 day period saw me arrive at King Georges Field for Corithian Casuals v Dulwich Hamlet. A halve of many chances saw another incredible miss from a Casuals player as the half ended when faced with an open goal after good work down the right saw the ball squirm after and off the pitch. 0-0 at HT. Dulwich continued the 2nd half the same way but just couldn't force a goal, a superb save from the Casuals keeper when he clawed the ball away when it was almost in the net kept the game goalless, this was until the 82nd minute when the ball was header over Dulwich's makeshift keeper, a young lad drafted in last minute from Tottenham's youth team and into the net for the only goal of the game.
A disappointing defeat when it should have been 3 points but a draw would of been okay as well.

I trudged back to South East London to prepare myself for Saturday's visit to Maidstone Untied for my first game at their new stadium.

Til the next time....

FA Cup duty with the ‘Hamlet

2012-09-27T19:20:00.004+01:00

Saturday 22^nd September and the sun was shining as I left my house just after 10am for the short journey into London Kings Cross ready for the 11.23 train to Peterborough with Arlesey being my destination.

Dulwich Hamlet had been drawn away to Arlesey Town of the Evo Stick Southern Premier, in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. This was to be the first competitive match between the 2 clubs and with the hosts currently sitting just outside a play off position after a start of won 5, drawn 1 and lost 2 this was going to be a tough game.

7 of us boarded the 11.23 for the 36 minute journey up the tracks to just north of Hitchin. The route to the ground from the station would see us visit all 4 pubs in the village & by 12.05 we were inside the first one The Old Oak. A large Greene King owned pub with the usual selection on draught from which a swift decent pint of Old Speckled Hen was had before the short walk to the renamed Vicar’s Inn (formerly the Vicar’s Inn, then the Steam Engine) . This is the only pub in the village that features in the Great British Beer Guide & has done for the last few years. A very homely little pub that rather disappointingly only had 2 real ales on draught. We all opted for a pint of Cornish Buccaneer from The Wooden Hand Brewery in Cornwall.

Just after 1pm we were on our way again and this time the destination was The White Horse, a good 10 minutes walk from the Vicar’s Inn and more into the village. Another large Greene King chain pub again with the usual fare but they had a guest beer on which was Farriers Best from The Coach House Brewery, a beer I had sampled before but still a nice pint. After watching 20 minutes of the live game on Sky in the back bar it was onto pub number 4. By this time the peloton of 3 were catching us up as they had left the Vicar’s and had by passed the White Horse. Pub number 4 was The True Briton a free house nestled just off Hitchin Road in a residential area.

The pub was okay but very quiet, the pub’s dog was more friendly than the barman but the Brain’s IPA pint was good and the pork scratchings were even better. Within 10 minutes the peloton were upon us after a quick phone call to check our whereabouts and our numbers had swelled. Arlesey Town’s aptly named Armadillo stadium was just a stroll away and we were inside their smart looking clubhouse by 2.30pm.

As well as Dulwich’s first visit to Arlesey Town it was also mine. A very tidy new ground with 2 open terraces, one behind each goal, a half length covered stand complete with seats on the Main Stand side, with a long covered terrace opposite behind the dug outs and oddly half of this terrace also had blue seats installed but no completed, not sure it was meant to be left like this!

Looking down the Arlesey team sheet it showed at least 6 ex Luton Town and league players one of them Sol Davis who played over 300 leagues games for the Hatters & Swindon Town before drifting into non league football. They also had Nathan Abbey in goal another ex Hatter who is assistant manager to he’s brother Zema.

The hosts started the game in control but were soon out muscled in the centre of the park by Vernon Francis and Peter Adeniyi. The Hamlet had a couple of half chances but only 1 produced a save from Abbey. Then on 43 minutes the crowd of just over 150 witnessed one of the worst open goal misses they will ever see. After a corner for Dulwich the ball was punted up to the half way line where Drew Roberts was waiting with a defender glued to him, as the ball dropped said defender slipped and Roberts went away with the ball, Lewis Gonsalves was beaten leaving Roberts with just our youth team keeper to beat which he did with ease by rounding him on the edge of the box only to then smash the ball with he’s right boot onto the bar and out of play….absolute classic miss which left the match goalless as the players trudged off for half time.

A quick bottle of Abbot Ale Special reserve was had in the bar while catching up on the league half times.

The 2^nd half started with the hosts back in control and they should of taken the lead when Roberts crashed a free kick onto the bar midway through the half. A spate of booking for Dulwich followed but no real chances were fashioned. As the game moved into stoppage team and both teams looked like they would do it all over again on Tuesday at Champion Hill, Dulwich conceded a needless free kick just outside the 18 yard box. As the ball was repelled by the defence it fell nicely to Roberts who cut in from the right and unleashed a rocket in the top corner to all but hand victory to Arlesey. Another 4 or 5 minutes was played and it was all Dulwich pressure, a free kick was crossed in but everyone missed it then the best chance of the match fell to Kevin James who was just over 6 yards out with only the keeper to beat but he miscued he’s shot and I caught it in the crowd…less than a minute later and the referee blew he’s whistle signaling that Dulwich were out of their 2^nd cup competition in a week both away defeats!

The ground quickly emptied of Dulwich fans and after bagging a crafty lift from a good natured local 5 of us were back in pub one The Old Oak. 2 pints later we boarded the 18.24 back to Kings Cross ending our adventure to Hertfordshire.

Ground number 310 for me today and as Dulwich have no game next Saturday I will be heading off to another new ground and possibly more adventures…

Til the next time….

Bank Holiday non league double

2012-09-15T10:11:00.000+01:00

After visiting another league ground on Saturday 25th August I decided that on bank holiday Monday I would tick 2 local non-league grounds off of my list.

Coventry City v Bury @ The Ricoh Arena was ground number 307 leaving me 16 league grounds to do, however with the list of non-league venues in the UK almost endless so is my list!

All games in the Sussex County league had been scheduled to kick off at 11.00am so I chose the local derby between East Grinstead Town and Lingfield at the GAC Stadium, East Grinstead. Having left home in the car at 09.30am I had a very clear run through to East Grinstead arriving at the ground an hour before kick off giving me plenty of time to bag a programme and get some snaps of the ground.

The GAC Stadium is a tidy ground with a very nice raised covered seating area which acts as the main stand down one side with the cleverly placed clear perspex dugouts down at pitch level allowing for the game to be perfectly viewed from the seats. To the left of this stand is a covered bank of concrete terracing, with uncovered concrete standing behind both goals and along the opposite side running he length of the pitch.

The game was a barnstormer with Lingfield running out 2-1 winners in a match that boasted 3 penalty's (2 conversions and 1 missed), a comical goal in the home teams favour after a horrendous error by Rob O’Hara in the away goal and the appearance of ex Premier league player Jamie Lawrence who as well as running a successful soccer school now turns out for Lingfield. Dixie Dean in the Lingfield hot seat obviously is doing something right as last season he had ex Premier league players Ian Pearce (Blackburn) and Nicky Forster (ex Reading and current Dover Athletic Manager) turning out for him.

I watched the game with Mishi a follow Dulwich Hamlet fan and part time ground hopper though as mentioned in a previous blog he'll swear blind he isn't a ground hopper...yeah right that's why he's visited over 600 odd grounds here and abroad and takes pictures at each of them!

With Dulwich Hamlet playing away at Crawley Down Gatwick as they are now known at 3pm just down he road I was torn between watching the Hamlet in a top of the table clash against heading towards home and taking in Crockenhill's game at a Kent League venue that has eluded me for some time mainly because it's a bit of a trek and not an easy one at that from the nearest train station in Swanley. Besides I went to Crawley Down in September 2011 for a fixture against Folkestone Invicta in their first season at the Ryman League Div 1 South level.

My journey back up the A22 and then onto the M25 was painless and I arrived at Asda's in Swanley to grab some lunch just after 2pm.

After scoffing my lunch in the car I headed off to Wested Meadow, which should only of been a 10 minute journey but I got lost twice. The first time I went towards the ground but decided I was going the wrong way only then to realise I had actually been going in the right direction in the first place and the ground was just further along the lane and on the left as I went straight past it before putting the anchors on sharpest.

Having parked up across the road as the car park was rammed I made my way into the ground. As I said earlier this ground has eluded me for a few years so today I was ready for the local derby with newly promoted Crown Alexandra. A team from Dartford who until this summer had been playing in the league below and even though they finished 8th last season they were promoted to the top tier of the Kent Invicta League.

I have heard this ground described as idyllic in the past but to be honest today it just looks run down. A very old main stand with wooden seats sits in the middle of terracing either side along the side as you enter & this is the only shelter and seating in the ground. To the right of the main stand is one goal with no standing this is pretty much the same on the opposite side to the main stand. There is a small overgrown terrace that has clearly seen better days behind the other goal.

Both teams were sitting in middle table coming into this match but Crown started the much brighter and should have been ahead with the chances they had before Ryan Golding scored he's 6th goal of the season for the hosts. Crockenhill had one of the most annoying players playing in centre midfield that I think I have seen in a blinking long time, even though he was a very skilful player he was just a little sh*t that constantly took pleasure in complaining to the ref, winding up the opposing players and the small bands of supporters (more like friends) that had travelled to the game.

With the hosts leading at half time I retreated to the clubhouse that from the outside resembled more of an Anderson air raid shelter than a football teams clubhouse. Inside however the walls are adorned newspaper cuttings, photos and history of Crockenhill FC. The ceiling is covered with scarves and pennants from various league and non-league teams from around the country, very impressive this is to. I was particularly proud to see a Dulwich Hamlet scarf up there.

Back to the action and the 2nd half brought much of the same with Crown being the better footballing side but not taking their chances and being punished by a superbly taken free kick from just outside the 18 yard box for 2-0 to the hosts. Crockenhill could of added a 3rd as the game drew to a close but the effort whistled narrowly over the bar with the Crown keeper beaten all ends up.

In terms of chances taken 2-0 was certainly a fair result and I had seen another 5 goals in 2 games at 2 new grounds on the same day, I do like it when the local leagues use common sense and stagger their games on a bank holiday.

After today's additions my list sits at 309 grounds in total and will remain at this number until at least the 8th September as I off to New York for a friends wedding though I will be watching the New York Yankees play the Toronto Blue Jays at the new Yankee stadium on Wednesday.

Til the next time....

Two league grounds weekend......Blackpool

2012-09-15T09:55:00.003+01:00

So after spending the day before watching Crewe Alexandra destroy Hartlepool at Gresty Road today I was off to take another new league ground in at the revamped Bloomfield Road where Blackpool would be entertaining Morecambe.

Before the wife and I left Great Sankey and her family behind we went for a morning out to Knutsford, where Karen's Cousin and Husband used to have their coffee / sandwich shop for 12 years before selling it a few months back. After wandering round Knutsford for an hour or so we headed back to the house to collect our stuff and head off for the 3pm kick off at Bloomfield Road.

The drive took an hour and after spending 10 minutes looking for a parking space in the car park adjacent to the ground I headed off to get tickets for the match. I called the club on the Thursday to order 2 tickets but was told by the chap on the phone that they had only sold 3,000 tickets so that buying a ticket on the day would not be a problem. Apart from a lengthy queue getting a pair of tickets was easy and by 14.50 we were heading into the ground. I just had time to stop and take a photo of the statue of Blackpool legend Jimmy Armfield which proudly sits on 1 corner of the ground.

I had been to the ground when on a family holiday as a child but it was out of season and I only took photos of the outside. I was also in Blackpool on a short holiday back in 93 and on that occasion they were playing Wolves on a Friday night in a pre season friendly but having spent the day in a pub with a group of Wolves fans I declined their offer of going to the game with them, meaning I still hadn't ticked this one off!

Bloomfield Road has been dramatically developed in recent years and now comprises of a hotel at one end of the ground with 3 sides wrapped around into one with the stand opposite the main stand being the only temporary stand remaining, this is the home to the away fans normally being halved to also accommodate home supporters.

The new stands all look really good and are most defiantly an improvement on the old stands but I do love nostalgia.

Morecambe being 2 leagues lower than last seasons Championship play off losing finalists started with a full strength 11 as you would expect against better opposition with Ian Holloway also putting out a full strength 11 with only the injured Kevin Phillips absent. This meant that the dangerous Gary Fletcher Taylor and Mattie Phillips alongside influential midfield talisman Barry Ferguson would look to punish their lower league opponents.

A crowd of over 6,000 had now arrived as Blackpool took the game to Morecambe in the early exchanges with Taylor-Fletcher prodding and probing. Then on 6 minutes the outcome of the game swung in favour of the visiting side as Lewis Alessandra received the ball from outside the 18 yard box and drove a low hard shot to the right of Gilks who though got down well could not prevent the ball entering the net to the delight of the 800 or so travelling Shrimps fans who went hysterical. With Morecambe in command on the scoreboard they then started to soak up and out muscle a surprisingly inept home side even with the vastly talented Thomas Ince on the right wing driving forward as often as he could. Surely this boy will soon be going onto great things he really does have the footballing world at he's feet.

The Morecambe fans were in great voice the home supporters were very quiet as the fist half ended and their team trudged off to surely be given a talking to but the ever amusing Ollie. Whatever he said obviously had an effect as from the kick off they went at the visitors attempting to get a goal back to kick on for a victory, this goal however never came and on 56 minutes from a breakaway Andrew Fleming dummied keeper Matt Gilks from Andrew Wright's through ball and slotted home to extend the Shrimpers advantage and really put the pressure of Ollies boys.

With the withdrawal of GTF and introduction of Barkhuizen Blackpool pushed again to get themselves back into the game but were almost punished again when ex Fleetwood man Richard Brodie who had been introduced as a substitute went one on one with Gilks in a very similar position to one that Fleming had been in to make it 2-0 only on this occasion to have he's effort saved.

From this moment on the Tangarines laid siege on the Morecambe goal and from a double corner pulled one back through Alex Baptiste on 77 minutes. Mattie Phillips then hit the post from outside the box after a great run by Ince who was growing and growing in confidence as the visitors defence struggled to contain him. corner after corner was launched into the Morecambe box with Ian Evatt now playing as an additional striker but still the equaliser would not come.

The 4th official held up the board indicating 5 minutes additional time as Ince drove into the box only to be tripped by a Morecambe defender but the referee waved away the protests. Then after a superb run beating 4 Morecambe players Ince once again drove into the box from the left and was blatantly tripped so blatant that most of the players stopped dead while all of the Blackpool players screamed at the ref.....same result as a few minutes previous....no penalty...absolute stonewall it there ever was one!

Barely a minute later the final whistle was blown and the hosts were out of the Capital One cup at the first hurdle. An enjoyable cup tier played at a decent pace with the visitors rightly leaving victorious.

Back to the car and within half an hour we were well on our back south down the M6. Two new league grounds ticked off in two days, two very enjoyable cup games producing 8 goals and very different results. We passed the Olympic Stadium as the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics was in full swing arriving home just before 10.30 pm to catch the last 90 minutes on the TV.

Next Saturday sees the start of the Ryman League season with Dulwich hosting Ramsgate at Champion Hill, the following Saturday I have booked train tickets to Coventry to watch the sky blues host Bury in League 1 and my first visit to the Ricoh.

Til the next time....

Two league grounds in 2 days....Crewe Alex

2012-09-15T09:30:00.000+01:00

Saturday 11th August the Capital One cup started in Round 1 and the draw threw up the perfect chance to do 2 new league grounds...well actually 'old' grounds.

My decision was Crewe Alexandra vs. Hartlepool United on the Saturday followed by Blackpool vs. Morecambe on the Sunday and with my wife's cousin living in Great Sankey near Warrington we had our bed for the night sorted.

Me and the wife left home at 10am for the drive to Crewe, which I anticipated, would take around 3 hours. After stopping for lunch at Corley Services I pulled up near Crewe station at 1.45pm and said goodbye to the wife who then took the car up to Warrington to spend sometime with her cousin.

I walked over to the Express to catch the 2nd half of Rangers first game in Div 3. A disappointing 2-2 draw is not the ideal start to life in the lowest tier of Scottish football, but it's a long season so we will see how this pans out.

I had been to both Gresty and Bloomfield Roads as a kid on a summer holiday but had never seen games at either ground so today was the first tick of these two that had eluded me since childhood. Being excited to visit The Alexandra Stadium I queued to get my ticket for the main stand, all tickets were priced at £15.00 for adults so after a look in the club shop I headed inside the ground.

Now I know the ground has had a complete overall since I as last here (same as Bloomfield Road) but I really like Gresty Road. The Air Products Main Stand is a whopper and dominates the local landscape as well as holding half of the grounds capacity. Small stands running the length of the pitch behind each goal and the brilliant named Ice Cream Van stand is opposite and houses the away fans. There were 2 blocks of 'Monkey Hangers' in attendance and in bright sunshine the game started.

Crewe's young team took League 2 by storm last season but they had to earn promotion by way of a play-off final victory at Wembley over Cheltenham Town. Hartlepool however sent the previous season in League 1 and this would be the first of at least 3 meetings between the 2 sides this season.

The pace and skilful passing from the home side started to show and within 7 minutes they had the first goal of the game as AJ Leitch-Smith lifted the ball into the roof of the net beyond Flinders in the 'Pool goal. On 13 Minutes it was 2-0 as Mathias Pogba teed up Max Clayton and as Crewe swept forward the 3rd and 4th goals arrived before half time courtesy of Pogba and Clayton. Byron Moore was dominating the game down the right wing and even though Hartlepool had various chances in front of goal through the big target man Steve Howard they left the field well and truly beaten with another 45 minutes still to play.

The 2nd period started with Hartlepool still trying to force a goal to kick-start a comeback but it just would not come. Their manager Neale Cooper was obviously not impressed, as he made no substitutions meaning that all 11 starting plays saw out the full 90 minutes. A few minutes from the end of the game Crewe got their well deserved 5th when Pogba swept home at the far post. 5-0 as the whistle blew and a great result for the first competitive game of the new season, albeit the first round of the Capital One Cup.

On the way back to the station I came across the Crewe Alexandra programme shop which I had walked straight past on the way to the ground...WOW...as I only had 20 minutes to my train departed I had a quick look round and purchased a few £1.00 bundles.

The Virgin train from London arrived promptly to carry me the 18 minute journey to Warrington Bank Quay, from where I was collected by my wife and her cousin and taken off to see family in the area before settling in for the evening.

The following day I will be off to another Capital One cup game up at the revamped Bloomfield Road, Blackpool.

Til the next time....

Pre season action in the Dover sunshine

2012-08-19T14:06:00.002+01:00

After my long and extremely fruitful weekend in Hamburg it was back to pre season friendlies on the last Saturday of July.

Looking at the fixtures in the Non League Paper gave me at least 6 'local' options and after deciding to bring the car into the equation I decided on Dover Athletic vs Dagenham & Redbridge. I have given thought to visiting the Crabble for the last couple of seasons but for one reason or another it had evaded me.

So on a warm lunchtime I jumped in the car for the 70 odd mile journey. The roads were clear and the anticipated journey time of 1 hour 10 mins was about spot on as I drove down Crabble Road with the entrance to the ground appearing on my left.

I parked up in a side street and made me way up to the ground. After stopping briefly to look at the Rugby club which shares the same entrance as the football club I strolled up the short hill to the turnstiles where to my horror I was greeted with the entrance price of £12.00 for an adult....Really it's only a pre season friendly against a lowly East London based league club! Having taken in a sharp gulp of air I begrudgingly paid my entrance fee to the chap at the turnstile.

Don't get me wrong I do not begrudge a non league club charging these prices but for a lightly attended friendly, I still think this is steep.

Once into the ground I was very surprised and pleased at the ground, it's a little gem. 2 stands with seats joining in the middle with a little portakabin stuck on top for execs runs the length of one side while behind the 'home' goal is a long covered terrace and a similar shallower stand at the opposite end.

In the end corner is the tunnel where the players emerge from, and next to that is a small covered seating stand.

The club shop was well stocked and had a good range of programmes both league and non league.

Dagenham fielded a relative strong side with a smattering a 'well known' players with the most well known no doubt being new signing Gavin Hoyte. I must admit I do think this level is a bit too low for him but either John Still is a good salesmen or he has other reasons that aren't finance driven for him to drop to League 2. Dover's big name Nicky Forster he is of course the player manager remained on the bench.

I chose to watch the 1st half from the terrace behind the home goal which the Daggers would attack first.

From the off it was clear that even in a friendly Dagenham were the stronger side forcing a couple of saves from Mitch Walker in the home goal and generally bossing the game. A reckless challenge just outside the 18 yard box led to a Daggers free kick which was duly dispatched hard and low into the corner by Micky Spillane making it 1-0. This score remained and the teams trotted off at half time.

A visit to the bar to see if Wiggo or Cavendish had claimed a gold in the cycling road race on the official day one of the Olympics was met with disappointment as neither had done enough to be in the medals. Off I trotted once more to the club shop to shift through those programmes. A 10 minute rummage later had me with 5 in my hands having carefully picked my prey!

Back out into the sunshine for the 2nd half and I chose to sit in the small stand down by the tunnel for this half which started a bit brighter for the home team as they probed the Daggers defence a bit more. The game ebbed and flowed until Dagenham won another free kick in almost the same position as where they scored the 1st goal from. Same player, same result 2-0.

Both sides made many substitutions as the game changed pace with Dagenham introducing fringe players and youngsters while Dover continued to press for the goal they so craved but not really deserve. As the game wore on Ricky Modeste was tripped in the area and Callum Willcock Duly dispatched the penalty to reduce the arrears, 2-1 and this is how the game ended.

A decent game played in a fairly competitive spirit but the class of the league side did shine through and 2-1 was a fair result with both sides getting a decent work out.

With ground number 302 under my belt I retreated to the car for the journey back to South London via the local Tesco's for a real ale stock up.

Til the next time

German triple header in Hamburg - Part 2

2012-08-19T14:06:00.000+01:00

Part 2 of the Hamburg trip started around 8am as my alarm went off signalling it was time to get up, washed and dressed ready for breakfast and to leave the hotel at 9am for our 10am meet on the other side of Altona.

As I was flying home at 21.45, I would check out of the hotel after breakfast and go straight from the football at the end of the day to the airport.

The four of us staying in the same hotel, had breakfast before heading off firstly in the wrong direction before one of the party decided we really should take a taxi as the walk looked quite far....how right he was...it was miles! After a 15 minute cab ride and a short walk we rocked up to meet the rest of the team outside Altona's ground.

We were met by 2 of Altona's fans Jan and Peter. It was Jan that had worked hard to get this match on after he's chance meeting with our supporters team manager Mishi a year earlier when he had been at an Altona home game and was wandering around their ground taking snaps. The game was to be played on the main pitch at the ground and we would be playing from the 2 penalty boxes upwards but using the full width, a large ask when on having 7 players a side.

Altona have a lovely old ground with a large wooden stand with seats running the length of one side of the pitch and a bank of terracing behind each goal. On the opposite side behind the dugouts was another small teach covered with grass. As we sat in the dressing room putting our kits on ready for the 10.30am I reminded everyone that this was my 300th ground and after thinking for some time where I should take my 300th ground in this was going to turnout to be the perfect venue.

Just like the day before the weather was glorious but not exactly the hot weather you wanted while running around a football pitch after a day and 2 nights of excess...oh well, when in Rome. Our hosts were already out on the pitch and getting well warmed up with most of their players drinking beer, I just couldn't bring myself to have one at this time.

The game started and it became clear who was the more prepared and it wasn't us as our hosts sailed into a 2 goal lead while we struggled to contain their pace and we were found just lacking all round. We started to get back into the game but then one of our team turned he's knee in a nothing challenge and he hobbled off not to appear again...as we regained control of the game with a few good passages of play we let 2 more silly goals in before finally pulling one back...we then went on to grab another goal before half time with yours truly stooping low (not quite a diving header) to head into the bottom corner of the net...our hosts then scored twice more to leave the half the halftime score 6-2.

By now the sun was hotter than ever and though it was glorious it was blinking hot to play football in. Our host from yesterday George had brought he's decks along and was blasting out northern soul as we sat and gathered our composure ready for another 30 minutes. We started pretty much as we had played during the middle part of the first half and were really getting back into it when we shipped 2 more goals to go 8-2 down, this was looking like a cricket score. We broke down the right and after the ball as flicked in I stuck out my left boot to guide the ball into the net. Now the momentum was with us and after a tussle in the box were rewarded a penalty. Even though i was on a hat-trick, one of our more experienced campaigners took the kick only for history to repeat itself and England missed from the penalty spot against the Germans, who then went down the other end and scored their ninth goal.

From the kick off I received a great through pass through the middle and dispatched the ball into the bottom corner to claim my hat-trick, my first tour, my first goals and I was now on fire. Goals 4 and 5 quickly followed before I took myself off as I was shattered. A few minutes later after we had grabbed 2 more goals the game ended with the score a much more respectable 13-8 to the Germans.

As the game ended the hosts brought 2 crates of German beer over for all of us to share and the brewery was started in 1893 a fitting drink to toast our cracking game of football with.

A quick change and shower later and it was back outside for more beer, talking, soaking up the sun and the lovely bratwurst and currywurst that was being cooked up on the bar b q. Around 1.15pm we all made our way out of the ground and off to watch the Altona first team play in a pre season friendly. Around 30 of us made our way on 2 buses the near 9 kilometres from Altona's ground to the ground of Eintract Lokstedt. This was to be ground number 301 for me and the 3rd of a so far enjoyable weekend.

A basic pitch with a rail around it and a bank of grass acting as terracing on 1 side & the rather bizarre sight of a large artificial climbing wall greeted us on our arrival just as the 2 teams entered the pitch.

I learnt that the home side were a league or 2 below that of Altona 93 and the way the game started it certainly suggested there was only going to be 1 winner today. All of us parked ourselves on the local grass banking and started to dismantle several crates of beer. So much so that at the end of the 90 minutes it was unclear whether the game ended 6-0 or 7-0 to Altona as everyone seemed to lose count a bit and no-one could decide the correct score! Within 10 minutes of the end of the game another match started which seemed to be the Eintract Lokstedt reserves against a local Iranian team. We started to watch this game but the combination of a poor first half and all of the beer running out (probably because we had drank it all) we decided to move onto a local bar.

Next to the Hagenbecks Tierpark U bahn station is a Turkish take-away restaurant that also has a large seating area / patio which we gladly took over and spent many a € on their finest cans of beer chips and kebabs. My flight was at 9.45pm so as 7.30pm approached it was time for me to say my goodbyes to all of the cracking fellas from Altona that had really made us welcome and had helped ensured the day had been a huge success. Friendships have been made and with the promise of a squad of them coming over to Dulwich for a return game in 2013 ringing in my ears I boarded the bus for the airport.

The bus took just under 30 minutes and the flight was on time, even landing at Gatwick half and hour early...then the fun started. I got a fast train to East Croydon to find there were no onward trains to Honor Oak Park, I then boarded a train to Norwood Junction in the hope that an Honor Oak Park bound train would be coming through from West Croydon how wrong I was. A 10 minute wait followed by a train to Crystal Palace, a 5 minute walk up the hill then after another 10 minute wait the 122 bus appeared just before midnight that had me home for just after 12.15am! A long testing journey home but this could not put the gloss on a smashing weekend in Hamburg.

With Germany being such hot bed for all things football related I will definitely being going back for another trip in the not too distant future.

Til the next time

German triple header in Hamburg - Part 1

2012-08-06T21:00:00.004+01:00

On Sunday 22nd July, the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Team were scheduled to play the supporters of Hamburg based non league side Altona 93.

With both clubs being founded in 1893, the first teams had played each other only once and that was the 3rd game of Dulwich’s inaugural European tour back in 1925, so this coming together of the supporters team was much anticipated not least by myself as it would be my first tour with the team since I volunteered to play back in February this year.

The travelling squad was 12 handed with another 2 arriving via way of residing already in Germany for one reason or another. Half of the squad arrived on Thursday from either Heathrow or Luton and a few more arrived on Friday with me personally arriving on Friday night via an Easyjet flight from Gatwick.

I had been to Hamburg once before but it was an all to brief visit nearly 20 years ago and the city looked very different in 2012 then it did in 1993! After taking the S line train direct from the airport to the Reeperbahn station (next to my hotel) and a quick unpack I was out to meet the rest of the guys in a local bar. The evening run into the morning and in broad daylight I made my way back to my hotel ready for the 10.30am St Pauli stadium tour.

Breakfast was had at the hotel before I walked along the Reeperbahn to the Milerntor stadium, the home to FC St-Pauli Hamburg’s 2nd team and very much a cult club over the years. The outside of the stadium is very impressive and the club shop resembles more of a trendy clothes / music shop than a fans shop for a football club. Everywhere you look you will see the famous St Pauli logo (this does wear thin after 2 hours).

4 of us joined a tour that was all in German conducted by a true St Pauli fan that obviously loved her club and takes these tours more for the passion of spreading the word of her club that for the money…though it did cost €9.50 each. The tour even though in German (of which none of us understood, our fault entirely) was excellent and the access was as equally excellent. We were given a tour of the dressing rooms, the phsyio room, showers etc, allowed to wander around the inside of the ground taking photos at will. We were then taken up to the 1st floor and shown the huge open bar area that was more like a German beer keller than a bar you would find inside a football stadium. Now the stadium has been brought up to date with 3 sides already re-built and the 4th opposite the Main Stand in the process of being re-built this is very much a 21st century stadium but with the ethos still very much in the 80’s but progress = money and all businesses need to make money.

The tour ended after 110 mins and then everyone was encouraged to spend money in the shop by the way of giving all tour goers a €5.00 discount on anything purchased that day.

The four of us had arranged to meet an Altona 93 fan called George who had promised us a non league pre season friendly that involved a boat trip to get there! The meet was arranged for 1.30pm, so after a quick beer George arrived and we were off to the ferry terminal just over the foot bridge where we were joined by another Altona 93 fan Stefan and he's girlfriend Lena, a St Pauli season ticket holder.

A very pleasant journey up the Elbe on the boat and we were disembarking at Finkenwerder on the opposite bank after about half an hour. Finkenwerder is a small commuter village and the houses and quiet Saturday afternoon reflected this.

After a short walk along the side of the river and past a Lido we reached the ground of TuS Finkenwerder ready for their pre season game with FTSV Alterverder. This small enclosed ground had no stands as such but did have a clubhouse that also housed the changing rooms and a grass bank outside served as the area to sit on garden chairs and watch the match. The pitch was an ash pitch so there would be no sliding tackles on this surface!

This was ground number 299 for me.

We were met at the ground by one of the German dwelling members of our travelling party and 6 of us settled down on 2 benches by the side of the pitch beers in hand ready for the kick off. None of our hosts had been here before so it was a tick all round though not everyone is a ground hopper ( you keep telling yourself that Mishi!). George informed me that the home team & their opponents were in different leagues with TuS being in a league above the visitors. From the outset the 2 teams seemed evenly matched and it was hard to confirm who was supposed to be the team from the higher league, as the opening exchanges were evenly matched. The games was to be played in 3 halves of 30 minutes each and after the first half the score as 0-0 with not a great deal to report. The sun was beating down and the beers kept coming so it was certainly a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The game finally came to left in the 2nd period when the opposition scored the first goal of he game and ending the half 1-0 in front. As much as TuS huffed and puffed they could not break through and Alterverder added 2 more goals to finish the 3rd and final half as 3-0 victors.

After gathering our group together we headed back to the ferry terminal for our trip back into Hamburg. Another half an hour later and we were back again on terrafirma in Hamburg and heading for a 'little bar just off the Reeperbahn' that Stefan and Lena said would be the perfect place for our group to spend the evening. Bottles of German beer brewed just 10 kilometres from the Danish border we sunk at a rate of knots followed by many shots of Mexicana, a mini version of a bloody Mary served in a shot glass with a lethal Tabasco kick as the drink fell down your throat.

The rest of our touring party arrived throughout the evening and the drinks kept flowing as the jukebox pounded out a strange mix of Country and Western, Soft Rock and various forms of German anthems until it was almost midnight and your blogger had finally had enough as he's bed was calling. After a quick stop to purchase a Doner box containing Doner meat, chips and salad which was duly polished off while wandering the short trip back to the hotel.

A great day was finally over as my head hit the pillow for a well earned kip ready for the next day's double dose of football including the real reason we were in Hamburg, our supporters match.

End of part 1, now for part 2....

New grounds visited in Season 2011/12

2012-07-26T13:26:00.003+01:00

Starting in early July 2011 I visited the following new grounds during the course of the 2011/12 season.

Amy Lane - 15/7/11 - Chesham United v Crystal Palace Academy

Wibbandune sports Ground (Colliers Wood FC) - 19/7/11 - AFC Wimbledon Youth v ??? (Unsure who the away team were)

The Hunts Post Community Stadium - 23/7/11 - St Neots Town v Peterborough United

The Eyrie - 23/7/11 - Bedford Town v Luton Town

Banks Stadium - 6/8/11 - Walsall v Leyton Orient

The Harry Abrahams Stadium - 13/8/11 - Wingate & Finchley v Dulwich Hamlet

Stadio Romeo Menti - 31/8/11 - Juve Stabia v Hella Verona

The Sports Pavillion - 10/9/11 - Lingfield v Ringmer

The Haven - 10/9/11 - Crawley Down v Folkestone Invicta

The New Defence - 17/9/11 - Horley Town v Dulwich Hamlet

Glanford Park - 8/10/11 - Scunthorpe United v Leyton Orient

Winch's Field - 15/10/11 - Herne Bay v VCD Athletic

Weston Homes Community Stadium - 29/10/11 - Colchester United v Notts County

Albufeira Municipal Stadium - 5/11/11 - Imortal FC Albufeira v Os Armacenenses

Butlin Road - 26/11/11 - Rugby Town v Beaconsfield SYCOB

The Meadowbank - 17/12/11 - Dorking v Molesey

The Runnymede Stadium - 2/1/12 - Egham Town v Hanworth Villa

Alwyns Lane - 2/1/12 - Chertsey Town v Fleet Town

Sheerwater Recreation Ground - 7/1/12 - Sheerwater v Guernsey

Wallace Binder Stadium - 21/1/12 - Maldon & Tiptree Utd v Harlow Town

Stadio Braglia - 21/2/12 - Modena v Albinoleffe

Grand Drive - 28/2/12 - Raynes Park Vale v Collier's Wood United

Buzzlines Stadium - 10/3/12 - Folkestone Invicta v Dulwich Hamlet

Spotland Stadium - 17/3/12 - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic

Mile End Stadium - 28/3/12 - Bethnal Green Utd v Barking

Belmont Road - 31/3/12 - Whitstable Town v Dulwich Hamlet

Stadio Renzo Barbera - 7/4/12 - Palermo v Juventus

Hampden Park - 14/4/12 - Aberdeen v Hibernian

American Express Community Stadium (Brighton & Hove albion FC) - 26/4/12 - England U18 v Ireland U18

Edgar Street - 5/5/12 - Hereford United v Torquay United

Woodside Park (Bishops Stortford FC) - 7/5/12 - Blues Legends v Blues Academy

Coles Park (Haringey Borough) - 26/5/12 - FC Romaina v Willesden Constantine

Villa victorious in Burton sunshine

2012-07-18T14:18:00.001+01:00

I left home bang on 7.40am for my 7.45am to Elephant and Castle before changing for the St Albans train to St Pancras International, from here I walked to Euston station and got myself a sausage roll and a tea ready for the 9.03am to Brimingham New St.

The purpose of my trip today was to take in a game at the Pirelli Stadim in Burton on Trent and thus tick off one of my remaining 21 league grounds.

After a change at Rugby, I arrived at platform 1 of Tamworth low level station and made my way into town to visit one of their 2 Wetherspoon pubs. I arrived at The Silk Hat on Church Road after a short walk and had a very good local pint. An interesting spoons as this place used to be an old electrical store and still retains some Art Deco features.

I made my way back to the station to catch the 11.36 to Burton but the 11.09 to Nottingham was running late due to a vehicle hitting a bridge somewhere on route so I jumped on this to arrive into Burton at 11.45. I had picked my 6 pubs to visit and proceeded to the nearest one The Devonshire Arms which was just a few minutes walk away but already pretty full with the visiting Villa fans. I stood outside enjoying my pint of Stairway to Heaven from the Burton Bridge Brewery as being a small pub the standing space was at a premium.

From here I headed to the Coopers Arms on Cross St, but again being a very small pub the place was mobbed with Villa fans so I didn't stop for a pint as the q to the bar was about 9 deep!! The place really does seem a gem and I will get there to enjoy a pint at some stage. After a wander round town looking in every charity shop I stopped at the Lord Burton (Wetherspoons) for a pint. Thankfully being a large ex Woolworth's and having a beer garden out the back service at the bar was swift and I managed to find a seat to chill for a bit.

I moved on from here after a pint as the pub I really wanted to visit was the Bridge Inn, the home of the Burton Bridge Brewery and it certainly did not disappoint. A cracking little pub with 2 separate seating areas but served by the same bar. I had 2 pints and scampi, chips and salad for lunch which was handsome. I really could of stayed here all afternoon but I had a new ground to tick off.

After a 15 minute walk I arrived at the Pirelli Stadium and duly proceeded to the club shop to collect my pre booked match ticket for the Main Stand. I'm glad I took the trouble to call the ticket office and buy a ticket in advance as the seating area was sold out. This being my first visit I was impressed by the set up the ex non league club have built for themselves with local help. It really is a tidy little set up and one that has obviously been lovingly bought into and I am glad they are a league club.

After picking up my ticket I headed inside to the Main Stand with around 15 minutes before kick off. The Villa contingent was growing behind the goal and there seemed to be a large amount in the Main Stand seats, these being the only seats in the ground. The game started and it was very clear that Paul Lambert was going to take this friendly seriously as he lined up with Robert Marshall, Ciaren Clark, Alan Hutton, Charles N'Zogbia and Darren Bent (Captain for the 1st half) in the starting X1. Burton also started with a first team heavy X1 including several new signings and it was one of these new signings Robbie Weir who struck first blood for the Brewers with a long range effort on 9 minutes that caught keeper Marshall unawares before nestling in the back of the net.

The game then ebbed and flowed with Villa gradually getting on top and N'Zogbia particularly menacing down the left flank. Unable to grab an equaliser it finally arrived just before half time when after work down the left the ball was drilled in and the unlucky centre half Holness slid the ball into he's own net. Half time 1-1.

After the rather amusing site of Villa fans fighting each other on the concourse at half time and a few arrests, I made me way back to my seat for the 2nd half. Both teams made considerable changes for the 2nd period and Villa changed their whole outfield leaving only Marhsall on the pitch to see the 90 minutes out. Villa's subs included Stephen Warnock, James Collins, Nathan Delfonso, Barry Bannan, Gabby Agbonlahor and new signing Holman.

Most of the 2nd half was played out in the Burton half as both Agbonlahor and Delfonso tormented the home defence that now included ex Aberdeen centre half Zander Diamond. Burton were restricted to a few chances and the winner duly arrived on 83 minutes when Holman was allowed too much time and space to pick he's spot and curl the ball into the bottom corner. 7 minutes later and the referee blew he's whistle to signal the end of a thoroughly entertaining pre season friendly.

I was booked on the 19.13 train from Rugby so I had time to stop in the Alfred on Derby Street on my way back to Burton station. Again the pub was filling up with Villa fans and after another good pint from the Burton Bridge Brewery I left for my connection back to Tamworth. On arrival into Tamworth I had time to walk up to the 'Spoons I missed earlier The Bole Bridge and have a pint before yet another train to Rugby to make my connection.

I eventually arrived into London Euston at 20.25 after a short delay in the Northampton area. A couple of train changes and an hour later and I disembarked at Crofton Park to driving rain and it made me think I had been in 2 different countries in the same day as the weather in Staffordshire couldn't have been any different to this!

A visit to the local take away later and I was sitting down with my Chinese ready for the David Haye / Derek Chisora fight at Upton Park live on Box nation.

Again I had travelled a long distance in one day to take in another new ground but it had been enjoyable and set me up perfectly for the season ahead.

On Friday 20th July I am off to Hamburg to take a couple of games in as well as new grounds and to play in a supporters match against FC Altona 93 for Dulwich Hamlet...both teams having been formed in 1893.

Til the next time

Cray Valley PM vs Dulwich Hamlet

2012-07-13T13:31:00.004+01:00

On Thursday 12th July I took in my first pre-season game of the 2012/13 season at Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, SE9 with the game being played at the old badger sports ground that is now the home to Cray Valley Paper Mills FC.

Their opponents were Dulwich Hamlet and this game was chosen as the match to officially open the new floodlights that have been installed at this Kent Hurlimann League club, however due to a huge downpour that started late afternoon the game was moved to the pitch behind the main pitch as the main pitch was waterlogged.

Apart from home games at Champion Hill this was supposed to be the easiest journey of the season with the ground being fairly close ground to my house and should of been 1 direct bus. However after a short wait for a bus the total journey took me over an hour as the traffic and the weather contrived against me and I arrived at the ground's entrance 5 minutes after kick off.

I have been here before a few years back when I played in a summer 5 a side tournament and the ground has changed completely. There is a sparking new large club house & dressing rooms, a railed off pitch complete with 2 covered stands opposite each other. It's a really decent looking Kent County league set up and there is obviously money going into the club. There was a funeral reception going on in the main bar (but to be honest it was more like a party than a funeral), so the committee bar was open to all and what a nice bar it is, full of signed photo's and memorabilia from sports stars from yesteryear and last season's signed Millwall squad photo.

This game was a perfect opportunity to see the 'Hamlet in action for the first time since that horrible play off defeat to Bognor Regis Town back in May and to see if any of the new faces will be on display as well as seeing how Gavin and Junior line up at the back without the ever popular Francis Duku, who has been let go due to the small playing budget of the squad. However the 'Hamlet line up included only 2 players from last season in a starting X1 that included as many trialists as it did youth players. This was opposite what I presume was a near full strength Cray Valley team.

The hosts took to the weather much better than Dulwich and were quickest to the ball and stronger in the challenge. the game ebbed and flowed with Cray Valley gradually getting on top and deservedly taking the lead after a long shot was fired in hard and low from the left that the trailist keeper (Albanian I believe) got down well to save before palming it into the path of an on rushing player who duly tapped it into the empty net. A few minutes later and just before half time they should of had a 2nd but the home player missed the goal when it looked easier to score after being put through. As the rain continued to fall the ref blew he's whistle for half time.

A quick turn around by both teams caught a lot of the supporters out as they headed to the bar to seek some comfort from the never ending rain, myself included. When I reappeared Dulwich had leaked 2 more goals as well as scoring 1 to make it 3-1. The rain continued, a few subs were made to make a total of 4 Dulwich first teamers on the pitch at the end of the game which ended 3-1 to Cray Valley.

After retiring again to the bar area for a few more beers it was finally time to leave for home at around 11.15pm, thankfully the journey home took me just 20 mintues...pity the journey there wasn't the same time. All in all I was impressed with the set up that Cray Valley now have and I am sure there season could be fruitful looking at the commitment that some of the players showed all be it in a pre season game on a very wet evening.

Tonight's game starts the season for me and one in which I hope to finally complete the 92 league grounds starting on Saturday with my trip to Burton for their home friendly with Aston Villa.

Til the next time

My last game of the current season....

2012-05-27T10:39:00.004+01:00

saw me arrive in Wood Green, North East London at Coles Park Stadium, the home of Haringey Borough FC.
Haringey had rented their ground to FC Romania of the Cherry Red Records Middlesex County League so they could complete their season against their visitors Willesden Constantine.
Having never been to Coles Park or seen FC Romania play before this was the perfect chance for another tick at my last game of the season. This was game number 66 for me and my 32nd new ground of the season.

A season that has seen me take in grounds from Palermo to Horley Town, Sheerwater to Scunthorpe United, surpassing the target I set for myself at the start of the season and including 6 leagues ground to get nearer to the 92!

The sun was shining and the temperature was threatening to hit 26°C in London when I left home just after 12.30pm for the journey to Wood Green via Highbury Corner with The White Swan (Wetherspoons) being my destination. A couple of new ales sank & ticked off it was time to hit the tube network for Wood Green. 15 minutes and 1 change later and I was alighting into the sunshine in N22 on a busy shopping Saturday.
After a 20 minute wait for a W3 bus to Coles Park, I eventually arrived at 2.45pm ready for the 3pm kick off. A programme had been promised for this fixture so I wanted to make sure that I got one before all the "hoppers" took them, I missed the programmes but thankfully that well known Dulwich hopper "Mishi" had purchased one for me so on arrival I duly handed him my £2.00 for a well put together 12 page issue.

Haringey Borough have a nice little set up here and having had this one on my radar for a few season's I was glad I finally got here.

FC Romania sat 2nd in the table at the start of today's game, 12 points behind the leaders and in no danger of being ousted from 2nd spot while Willesden sat 4th.
Kick off was prompt at 3pm and the sun was shining on all sides of this open ground, the game was played at a fairly relaxed pace with FC Romania doing the early pushing as you would expect and taking a 2-0 lead at half time with the giant Romanian goalkeeper mainly a spectator.
A trip to the bar at half time and a £2.00 can of strongbow later and it was time for the 2nd half, which started with the hosts scoring again to make it 3-0.
Then the fight back started, after a passage of play in the middle of the park Willseden forced a corner, from which they scored their 1st goal, less than 10 minutes later and they had another, a cracking finish into the top corner. A few of us were beginning to think this could be heading for a 3-3 draw when a 3rd was put in to really give the game a grand stand finish. Unfortunately a defensive mix up and a goalkeeper error was punished by the Romanians and they grabbed the winner in the 93rd minute from close range.
A great 2nd half played in the right spirit on this very warm day and 7 goals to boot!

An enjoyable afternoon of football in the sun in N22 and as mentioned another new tick for me bringing the season to a close until 14th July when I am booked on a train bound for Burton on Trent for the pre-season friendly between Burton Albion & Aston Villa. Next season I am planning to complete the 92, but wether this happens depends on me and me solely so hopefully a year from now I would finally have completed the 92 !

Enjoy the summer and let's hope England don't disappoint too much in the Euro's...but I don't expect too much from Woy's Boy's, though last nights win in Oslo was a big positive.

Til the next time.

High tension in Herefordshire....

2012-05-06T08:32:00.000+01:00

I set off for Hereford just after 7am for the long train journey from Paddington, with my train departing on time @ 8.21 and a whopping 16 stops in front of me before Hereford Station came into view at around 11.45.

This being the last league game of the season and with the home team needing a win and for Barnet to not get a victory at Burton to ensue their survival in the league for another season. Torquay are at the other end of the table needing a win and for Accrington to get something from their game at home to Crawley Town to gain automatic promotion, though a play off spot was already guaranteed. Edgar Street is a ground that has evaded me for several seasons mainly because I was never ready for such a long dull train journey but today as the perfect to get this proper old ground ticked off.

I have only been to Hereford once before and that was as a kid on the way back from a family holiday, my only real memory being the cattle market! So upon leaving the train station I headed towards the The Kings Fee which is the local Wetherspoons, then onto the Lichfield Vaults which is listed in Camra's good beer guide and it did not disappoint. After a couple more beers in town with a few pals from Torquay it as time to head off towards the ground.

With today's game being important for both teams it was made all ticket with tickets off sale from the night before. The crowd was large and expectant with around 1,300 Torquay bringing the crowd to over 5,200 which was the largest on the season of Hereford. As it was my first visit I separated from my pals for a few minutes to have a walk around the outside of the ground in an attempt to take some photos but it's very unattractive from the outside. I really like Edgar Street it has loads of charm and you can almost feel the nostalgia of the famous day Newcastle came to town and were promptly beaten by Ronnie Radford et al. I don't know if the locals have ever had any high expectations of their team but surely they must get fed up of keep being in a fight to stay in the league every season!

My ticket was bought for me in the away seating area above a lower terrace along the side of the pitch.
Both teams fielded almost full strength starting 11's and It was the gulls that started off the brighter with a couple of early chances before a ball was lofted in from the right and Delroy Facey rose to put the ball between the keepers legs to give the home side the early advantage. Torquay continued to press but the ball would not fall for a clear cut chance. Then he first controversial moment of the referee's day came when he awarded Hereford with a soft penalty. Harry Pell duly stepped up and made it 2-0. At the time Burton had against Barnet and all was looking rosy for the home team and their fans. Then the 2nd moment came when a corner was floated in and it clearly looked like a Hereford player handled on the line to keep the ball out but the ref was having none of it and instead the gulls got another corner.

After a poor passage of play in the middle of the park & a half clearance Hereford went 3 up. Half time 3-0 to Hereford coupled with Barnet drawing meant they looked safe. Martin Ling made 2 half time subs bringing on 2 strikers and taking the ineffective Rene Howe off plus Lathorpe from the centre of the park, within a minute of the re-start Torquay had pulled one back, cue the nail biting for the home fans, on 64 mins Torquay had a 2nd and Barnet had scored a 2nd as well, perfect timing as it all started to go wrong for the hosts. A nasty looking leg injury for Kenny Lunt and he was stretchered off in a leg brace...the Barnet game remained at 2-1 and the gulls pushed for a third but as close as they got it wouldn't come and game ended in a 3-2 victor for the hosts but results elsewhere contrived against them and they exited thought the football league trap door......Torquay meanwhile have a noon kick off at Waddon Road booked for Sunday week against Cheltenham in the play off semi final.

I was booked on the 20.02 from Worcester Foregate St so I had until 19.15 in Hereford before catching a local train to make my connection. I decided to abandon this and via the 'spoons I headed off to the station to catch the 17.40 to Worcester Foregate St in search of a quicker route home. On arrival into Worcester I grabbed some food and beer and boarded the 18.48 to London Paddington. So I arrived into Paddington at 21.30 and made my way to Victoria to get the local train back home.

After leaving home at 7am I eventually returned home at 10.30pm, an extremely long day but having now ticked off Edgar Street and ground number 295 I had a nightcap before retiring for a well earned kip before setting off at 9.30 the next morning for breakfast and the coach to Bognor for Dulwich Hamlet's play off final at Nyewood Lane against the rocks.

Til the next time.

My 1st visit to the Amex Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion

2012-04-28T08:21:00.001+01:00

On Thursday 26th April 2012 I made my 1st visit to the Amex Stadium in Falmer, near Brighton to watch England Under 18 Schools entertain their Republic of Ireland counterparts in a Centenary Shield match.
With the stadium having been open since July 2011 this was my first serious attempt to catch a game here and with most Brighton home games only having 1,500 tickets spare for home fans, a schools game gave me the perfect oppertunity.

After much debating over which train to take and whether to go via Lewes or Brighton I opted to drive and left home just after 5.15pm for the 54 mile journey (calculated with google maps). As with any drive to Brighton the journey was pretty easy until I hit traffic on the A23 which meant my first view of the "new" stadium was at 19.15 as I exited the A27 to look for a parking spot.

Having parked by The White Swan public house, I made my way across the footbridge and set off to the stadium with just 15 mintues until kick off.
The outside of the stadium really is impressive and as much as I don't generally like new out of town stadiums this does have some style to it.
After a really quick circuit of the car park looking at the outside of all of the stands I made my way into the West Stand (which was the only stand open for this match). The concourses were extremely busy but I had time to grab a couple of pies...I had to buy 2 as they are award winning!! With pies in hand I took my seat.

The view from my seat was unobstructed and was perfect. As I looked over at the other 3 stands I did wish that I had visited when a full house was in so I could really feel the benefit. Image below taken looking towards the East stand from my seat.

This really is a well put together stadium but the 2 stands behind the goals look much bigger on television than they are in the flesh. I do hope the Brighton fans feel proud of their new home as it's a belter. Granted it's not the Goldstone Ground but it is a ground to call their own and is a marked improvement on the Withdean, which of course is just an Athletics Track with a clubhouse.

The game started and England went at the visitors with real gusto in the first few minutes with a great chance on just 4 minutes but then the Irish got back into the game with Conner Sidley-Adams in the England goal making 2 great saves to keep the scores level. On 35 minutes England did take the lead when Michael Sweet was released down the right before drilling the ball perfectly through the keepers legs and into the net.
5 minutes later he had a similar chance from the left but this time the balled rolled agonisingly wide. Then from a corner at the other end Ireland thought they had equalised only for the ref to rule the goal out for a foul. Moments before half time England and Sweet got their 2nd goals when released through the defence again he made no mistake in taking the advantage to grab he's 2nd of the match.

The 2nd half started with a couple of substitutions and England continued to press attempting to get a third and really kill the game off. After several chances Ireland got back in the game when Sean Maguire headed into an unguarded net to reduced the arrears towards the end of the match. 5 minutes of added time was played before the ref blow for full time and England claimed the Centenary Shield, a win that was celebrated in style by the young England lads & staff.

This was ground number 294 for me and my first new one since Hampden Park on 14th April, time to step it up if I really want to get to 300 grounds by the time the season ends. Off to Burgess Hill on Saturday to see if Dulwich can take 3 points and the Whitehawk result goes our way to claim the title.

Til the next time.

Juve go top of Serie A in Sicily

2012-04-19T19:04:00.003+01:00

On Easter Friday the wife and I flew to Palermo in Sicily for a long weekend, and with tickets for the game at the Renzo Barbera all ordered and just needing to be collected.

A stupid o'clock flight on Ryanair from Stansted saw us at our hotel in the centre of town for 11.30am. a quick check in later and it was time to explore Palermo and grab some lunch.

Having been to mainland Italy many times this was my (and the wife's) 1st visit to Sicily. Palermo is a very interesting city in that it has a mix of very old and very ruined buildings to the nice and new flashy buildings. The "tourist" areas are mainly bunched together and once you are there are pretty small in size and range from the wow to the why did I bother factor!

I booked the tickets for the game on line with www.listicket.it at a cost of €40.00 each (cheapest available) in the Curva Nord. The tickets had to be collected between 16.30 & 19.00 on Friday or from 9am on the day of the game.
Having checked out the stadium on google maps I knew that it was one straight bus ride of 20 minutes from near our hotel, I thought going up to the stadium for 18.30 on Friday would be a safe bet & less hassle than the day of the game....little did I know but listicket had the box office opening times wrong and should in fact been shown as 16.00 to 18.30!

A very kind chap working at the ground informed me of this fact and that if we returned in the morning obtaining the tickets would be a smooth process. After a quick look around the outside of the ground and posing under a banner advertising the match it was off back into town.

The Palermo nightlife is very good and they have this fantastic tradition where as all of the bars put out free food for their customers...so after several good quality German beers and some local and national finger food (well more like a 3 course meal) it was time to retire after a very long day ready for the match.

Up bright and early and after filling up on espresso and pastries for breakfast we were on the same bus off to the stadium again to collect tickets for the match that was kicking off at 18.30. 10 minutes after alighting from the bus we were heading back to the bus stop with the tickets safely tucked away and with me beaming like a Cheshire cat.

Several hours spent looking around the shops and various attractions that we hadn't seen the day before and another hearty lunch it was getting close to 5pm. With me not wanting to arrive at the stadium bang on kick off time we made our way back up to the stadium by bus.

The police were out in force for this spicy clash but strangely the police were not inside the stadium only outside, only stewards were inside the perimeter which I found to be quite strange.

Entering the ground was easy with stewards at each gate to help you put your ticket on the electronic scanner which turned green and let you inside the ground. With this obstacle our of the way and the match less than 15 minutes from kick off we found out stair entrance and off we went to the top tier of the Curva Nord, and wow what a site greeted me, this really is a cracking old ground even if it does only have 1 covered side.

All 4 sides of the ground are double tiered, with only the main stand having a roof as well as executive boxes. The Curva Sud is where the "normal" Palermo fans gather, with the Juve fans (around 3,000 of them) in the corner between the Curva Sud and West side. The long West Stand which runs the length of the pitch was a bit mixed with many "local" Juve fans gathered there but not making their selves heard until their team scored. The Curva Nord is the home to the Ultra's and thinking the Ultra's gather on the lower tier I ordered upper tier tickets (all the same price) only to be extremely surprised that the seats I had purchased were slap bang in the middle of the Ultra's...much to the amusement of my wife!
Deciding our purchased seats were a bit too lively we retreated 20 seats to the left along with the younger Ultra's and some families. As the game started the atmosphere intensified and became quickly apparent how much Palermo hate Juve with many songs consisting of lots of swear words and inviting the travelling fans to do various things with their own mothers!!

The 1st half was played out mainly in the Palermo half as Juve went at their hosts straight away but for a lot of midfield play chances on goal were few and far between and Juve were forced to take pot shots from outside the 18 yard box.

Half time came and with the teams locked at 0-0 there did only seem to be one winner and it wasn't going to be the home side. Several minutes of bangers and fire crackers being lit and set off right by us had us moving over to the corner for the 2nd period. Juve already buoyed by the fact that their ex player Amari had given Fiorentina a 2-1 win at the San Siro that afternoon to defeat Milan meant a win would take them to the top of the table. 11 minutes into the 2nd half and the first goal duly came, when Andre Pirlo floated a corner in for Bonucci to head home.
5 minutes after the first goal the 2nd duly arrived with Quaglirella skipping away from he's defender after a nice 1-2 firing the ball low into the corner, cue mass hysteria from the travelling fans and the game was as good as won. A couple of half chances from Miccoli and the game was over. The home fans left very upset especially as there were quite a few Juve fans in the 2 stands along the side of the pitch and no-one was doing anything about it....lots of gesturing but no action.

We left the stadium and made our way back to town after a entertaining evening and another ground ticked off for me, one that I had been wanting to visit for some time.

Sunday was spent at Mondello, a lovely little seaside town just outside Palermo and only a 20 mintue bus ride, the rain fell Sunday evening and after a nice local pizza and a couple of good Italian beers the weekend was almost over.

All in all a very good weekend away and especially good to see Juve go top of Serie A with a well executed win.

Til the next time

Another win for the Hamlet on the road

2012-04-11T20:27:00.000+01:00

On Saturday 31/3/12, myself and 35 others set off from Champion Hill at 11am for the short trip down the Kent coast to Whitstable to see The Hamlet take another 3 points in their quest for promotion from the Ryman Division 1 South to the Ryman Premier Division.

The coach journey all went well and by 11.40am we were disembarking in Whitstable High Street in search of refreshments.

A breakaway group of 5 of us took in visits to The Smack, a Shepherd & Neame pub just off the High Street, before walking down to the sea wall to visit the Old Neptune, a couple of pints later and we were off back to the High St to visit the Ship Centurion to join another Hamlet regular who had travelled down on the train.

After the Ship and before taking in the next pub I needed to have my ration of seafood so I wandered down the High Street to Wheelers as recommended by a local, 10 minutes and a gallon of jellied eels (it felt like a gallon!) later I was off to the 'new' Wetherspoons the Peter Cushing, named after the great actor as he lived in Whitstable in later life before he's death in 1994. Now I didn't know the great man but I am sure he wouldn't have been too pleased to have visited the establishment that carries he's name and seen the clientele that frequent it, of course my group are excluded from this comment!

By the time we had finished our drinks it was time for the match and off we went to Belmont Road. Now this was my first visit to Whitstable's home so this was ground number 291 for me.

A crowd of 260 was swelled by the 80 + Hamlet fans that had made the trip and what a worthwhile trip it was. Dulwich came flying out of the blocks and after having a perfectly decent goal ruled out for an infringement, a penalty (rather soft if I say so myself) was awarded and the ever reliable Kevin James stepped up to make it 1-0 on 12 mins. The rest of the half was all Dulwich and they were rewarded when a 2nd goal duly arrived on 34 mins when Ishmail Kamara netted. 2-0 at HT then.

Into the 2nd half and it was pretty much a game of 2 halves as Whitstable snubbed out nearly all of Dulwich's good work and then snatched a goal back from a well worked free kick that was headed in at the back post by Dulwich old boy Marc Cumberbatch on 81 mins, after a series of free kicks and corners. A nervy last 10 minutes ensued before the referee blew he's whistle and Dulwich had come away with 3 points. At this time Crawley Down were beating Bognor 3-2 but Bognor equalised at the death to snatch a draw, this still put Dulwich 2 points clear at the top of the table but Bognor had their game in hand to play.

We made our way back along Belmont Rd to the Whitstable Labour Club for a couple of well deserved pints before our coach departed just before 6pm for the journey home.
After being dropped off close to home and via the Chinese for a take away I arrived home at around 7.45pm after a cracking little trip to the seaside.

A midweek trip might be in order to get another ground in, if not it will now wait until Easter Saturday when I shall be in Sicily with the wife and taking in Palermo vs Juventus at the Renzo Barbera.

Til the next time.