Sunday, September 22, 2013
Odd do a number on Wootton
Odd Down 7 Wootton Bassett Town 0
What with Easter, minor illness and holidays, this was the first Vase match that I'd managed to get to for over 6 months! It had been way too long since I'd been to the Western league and having always loved the city of Bath, this seemed like an ideal destination.
Huge improvements and upgrades are being made to many London stations, Paddington is one of these and you wouldn't recognise the exit from the circle line platform compared to a year ago. I was in good time and on seeing a way-out exit I'd never seen before, I decided to go for a little explore. I was shocked to find myself standing next to the Grand union canal. I've been travelling through London for 30 years and had no idea that this canal was right next to the station. I was fascinated to see a floating book shop on a barge, London as a city is never boring.
My excitement continued as a boarded my train to discover that all the seats had a mini-TV screen such as you gets on planes. Admittedly, the choice of programmes wasn't of the highest standard but that's only to be expected. I found an episode of Miranda and spent the next 30 minutes chuckling away and getting funny looks from the guy who had sat himself next to me.
I got to Bath in very good time and decided to have a nose around the city in search of some lunch. I actually had my pleasant memories of this lovely city shattered somewhat as the place seemed to be full of drunks milling around with cider cans. After about 10 mins, I found nothing to tempt me and decided to make my way to my destination to see if there was something in that area more appealing. I jumped on a number 14 bus that runs every 15 mins and has a stop about a 3 minute walk from the ground. I easily found the ground and decided to walk the streets in search of some lunch. The first road I chose turned out to be solely residential so I re-traced my steps, crossed the main road and headed up the road opposite. I first spotted a pub but it looked a bit ropey so I continued walking, next up was a curry shop but that would be an absolute last resort. 100 yards past this was the groundhoppers best friend, a chippy! One lady was ahead of me and quickly ordered chips with a jumbo sausage. The young lady serving scooped some chips and proceeded to sprinkle vinegar onto them. "I didn't want salt & vinegar" the lady said. The young girl stopped in her tracks with a look of horror on her face. After about 30 seconds, she looked at me, "Did you want salt & vinegar?" She asked. I replied that I was quite happy with this although the young lady still seemed perplexed. "I'll do you a few more chips" she said, despite the fact that it already looked a good portion. I couldn't believe my eyes as she added another 2 scoops. When I then asked for them to be left open, the young lady again froze in her tracks, she asked me to repeat my request three times and clearly didn't seem to know what 'leaving chips open' was. Eventually the manager came over, snatched them from the young lady and poured them all into a box. It was quite simply the biggest portion of chips that I've ever been given. The brilliantly named 'Cod Down chippy' was always stick in my memory.
I walked back down the road and soon found a little quiet area. The hedge was at exactly the right height, I placed my chips on them and ate my lunch with a stunning view of the Mendips. It took a good 10 minutes to eat and I waddled back up the road with a very full belly.
As I walked through the car park, a guy in a car with his daughter asked me for directions to a local school where a hockey match was taking place. It always gives me pleasure when I've just arrived in an area for the first time ever to accurately direct someone, admittedly I'd walked past the school about 2 minutes earlier.
I bought a cup of tea and sat in the large clubhouse to watch the last 30 minutes of Norwich v Villa. Premier league does little to me but it passed the time and wasn't a bad game, although the screen kept freezing every 7 or 8 minutes and then when it started again, the players were running at cartoon speed for a few seconds.
The ground itself was okay, a stone wall surrounds the pitch but don't lean against it as you end up with chalk all over your trousers. There is a covered area behind the near goal and a seated stand on the far side. Hard standing surrounds three sides of the ground although it is just grass behind the far goal.
The match itself was as one-sided as the score suggests, from the moment Odd Down scored with a miss-hit cross after 9 mins, there was no looking back. 3 up at half time, they could easily have hit double figures and Wootton despite having a couple of half chances, were never really in this tie at all.
A memorable trip for many reasons, this turned into a bit of a Vase classic hop for me.
What with Easter, minor illness and holidays, this was the first Vase match that I'd managed to get to for over 6 months! It had been way too long since I'd been to the Western league and having always loved the city of Bath, this seemed like an ideal destination.
Huge improvements and upgrades are being made to many London stations, Paddington is one of these and you wouldn't recognise the exit from the circle line platform compared to a year ago. I was in good time and on seeing a way-out exit I'd never seen before, I decided to go for a little explore. I was shocked to find myself standing next to the Grand union canal. I've been travelling through London for 30 years and had no idea that this canal was right next to the station. I was fascinated to see a floating book shop on a barge, London as a city is never boring.
My excitement continued as a boarded my train to discover that all the seats had a mini-TV screen such as you gets on planes. Admittedly, the choice of programmes wasn't of the highest standard but that's only to be expected. I found an episode of Miranda and spent the next 30 minutes chuckling away and getting funny looks from the guy who had sat himself next to me.
I got to Bath in very good time and decided to have a nose around the city in search of some lunch. I actually had my pleasant memories of this lovely city shattered somewhat as the place seemed to be full of drunks milling around with cider cans. After about 10 mins, I found nothing to tempt me and decided to make my way to my destination to see if there was something in that area more appealing. I jumped on a number 14 bus that runs every 15 mins and has a stop about a 3 minute walk from the ground. I easily found the ground and decided to walk the streets in search of some lunch. The first road I chose turned out to be solely residential so I re-traced my steps, crossed the main road and headed up the road opposite. I first spotted a pub but it looked a bit ropey so I continued walking, next up was a curry shop but that would be an absolute last resort. 100 yards past this was the groundhoppers best friend, a chippy! One lady was ahead of me and quickly ordered chips with a jumbo sausage. The young lady serving scooped some chips and proceeded to sprinkle vinegar onto them. "I didn't want salt & vinegar" the lady said. The young girl stopped in her tracks with a look of horror on her face. After about 30 seconds, she looked at me, "Did you want salt & vinegar?" She asked. I replied that I was quite happy with this although the young lady still seemed perplexed. "I'll do you a few more chips" she said, despite the fact that it already looked a good portion. I couldn't believe my eyes as she added another 2 scoops. When I then asked for them to be left open, the young lady again froze in her tracks, she asked me to repeat my request three times and clearly didn't seem to know what 'leaving chips open' was. Eventually the manager came over, snatched them from the young lady and poured them all into a box. It was quite simply the biggest portion of chips that I've ever been given. The brilliantly named 'Cod Down chippy' was always stick in my memory.
I walked back down the road and soon found a little quiet area. The hedge was at exactly the right height, I placed my chips on them and ate my lunch with a stunning view of the Mendips. It took a good 10 minutes to eat and I waddled back up the road with a very full belly.
As I walked through the car park, a guy in a car with his daughter asked me for directions to a local school where a hockey match was taking place. It always gives me pleasure when I've just arrived in an area for the first time ever to accurately direct someone, admittedly I'd walked past the school about 2 minutes earlier.
I bought a cup of tea and sat in the large clubhouse to watch the last 30 minutes of Norwich v Villa. Premier league does little to me but it passed the time and wasn't a bad game, although the screen kept freezing every 7 or 8 minutes and then when it started again, the players were running at cartoon speed for a few seconds.
The ground itself was okay, a stone wall surrounds the pitch but don't lean against it as you end up with chalk all over your trousers. There is a covered area behind the near goal and a seated stand on the far side. Hard standing surrounds three sides of the ground although it is just grass behind the far goal.
The match itself was as one-sided as the score suggests, from the moment Odd Down scored with a miss-hit cross after 9 mins, there was no looking back. 3 up at half time, they could easily have hit double figures and Wootton despite having a couple of half chances, were never really in this tie at all.
A memorable trip for many reasons, this turned into a bit of a Vase classic hop for me.
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Walsall pact bags for replay
Walsall Wood 0 Guernsey 0
It starts getting difficult at quarter final stage to find a reachable game and particularly a ground that hasn't already been ticked off. The good news was I need three of the grounds. Shildon, Spennymoor & Walsall Wood, Tunbridge Wells I have already ticked off. I had talked myself into visiting Spennymoor, I was even prepared to leave at silly o'clock in the morning to get a cheap rail fare and quite fancied the idea of looking around Durham for a morning. But once again our rail network threw a spanner in the works. A replacement bus service on the return leg between Durham & Darlington left next to no time for unforseen road delays and I just couldn't risk it.
I decided on Walsall Wood. Not the easiest of journeys but possible. The return tickets were not overly cheap. Here's my tip for the day for anyone who doesn't already do this. Try breaking the journey down when buying your tickets. I got reasonably priced advance tickets between Euston & Birmingham. A return from Birmingham to Walsall bought on the day was only £3 and using my network railcard from home to Euston meant that I got very reasonably priced tickets for £20 cheaper than any advance tickets I could find for a journey from A to B.
The journey was very straight forward with no incident of note. The clouds had parted around the Coventry area and as I arrived in Walsall, for the first time in months, I was greeted with a cloudless sky and a pleasantly warm sun on my back. There was a busy around the town centre, the good weather bringing out the crowds. No sign of a declining High street either with all the usual stores open and a thriving market.
I found the bus station and joined a fairly lengthy queue waiting for the number 10 or 10A. It arrived after about 5 minutes and everyone started making their way on board. "Did you see that lady with the pushchair push in" a voice behind me shrieked. Seconds later her shopping trolley crashed into the back of my legs. "Sorry duck, didn't realise you'd stopped" She said and continued to push the trolley into my legs until I thankfully got on board.
I overhead 2 guys behind me discussing a football ground and one of them saying that he knew which stop to get off at. I hoped they were visiting the same game as me and I followed them off the bus. Thankfully, I was lucky as I hadn't really a clue where I was and it was only a couple of minutes walk to the ground.
A reasonable stand offered some cover (Not that it was needed), there was also a compact little club house and an interesting view over the fence of a monument for the old Walsall Wood colliery. As well as a burger than, the local ladies had knocked up pork and stuffing rolls and a gorgeous chilli with rice that was worth the visit all by itself. Lots of work is going on which meant that you were required to stand on hard compacted, rutty mud. I believe a training pitch is being made which should be a good facility.
This was my first experience of Guernsey football club. I spoke to a few of their fans before the game and I have to say they were all an absolute delight. I was quick last season to critisise Herne Bay fans after their semi-final game, it is only right that I should praise fans from both Walsall Wood & Guernsey. There was singing and chanting but it was all good natured banter with bad language at a minimum. The whole occassion had a lovely feel to it.
Sadly, the game didn't quite live up to it. It was always interesting, but the pitch was a great leveller due to it being surprisingly hard and bumpy. Walsall had the better chances with the Guernsey keeper making a couple of excellet stops and one dinked effort hooked off the line by a defender. Guernsey hit the bar in the second period of extra time, but you couldn't really argue with a draw.
Great to experience the Guernsey band wagon, I hope to bump into them again before too long.
It starts getting difficult at quarter final stage to find a reachable game and particularly a ground that hasn't already been ticked off. The good news was I need three of the grounds. Shildon, Spennymoor & Walsall Wood, Tunbridge Wells I have already ticked off. I had talked myself into visiting Spennymoor, I was even prepared to leave at silly o'clock in the morning to get a cheap rail fare and quite fancied the idea of looking around Durham for a morning. But once again our rail network threw a spanner in the works. A replacement bus service on the return leg between Durham & Darlington left next to no time for unforseen road delays and I just couldn't risk it.
I decided on Walsall Wood. Not the easiest of journeys but possible. The return tickets were not overly cheap. Here's my tip for the day for anyone who doesn't already do this. Try breaking the journey down when buying your tickets. I got reasonably priced advance tickets between Euston & Birmingham. A return from Birmingham to Walsall bought on the day was only £3 and using my network railcard from home to Euston meant that I got very reasonably priced tickets for £20 cheaper than any advance tickets I could find for a journey from A to B.
The journey was very straight forward with no incident of note. The clouds had parted around the Coventry area and as I arrived in Walsall, for the first time in months, I was greeted with a cloudless sky and a pleasantly warm sun on my back. There was a busy around the town centre, the good weather bringing out the crowds. No sign of a declining High street either with all the usual stores open and a thriving market.
I found the bus station and joined a fairly lengthy queue waiting for the number 10 or 10A. It arrived after about 5 minutes and everyone started making their way on board. "Did you see that lady with the pushchair push in" a voice behind me shrieked. Seconds later her shopping trolley crashed into the back of my legs. "Sorry duck, didn't realise you'd stopped" She said and continued to push the trolley into my legs until I thankfully got on board.
I overhead 2 guys behind me discussing a football ground and one of them saying that he knew which stop to get off at. I hoped they were visiting the same game as me and I followed them off the bus. Thankfully, I was lucky as I hadn't really a clue where I was and it was only a couple of minutes walk to the ground.
A reasonable stand offered some cover (Not that it was needed), there was also a compact little club house and an interesting view over the fence of a monument for the old Walsall Wood colliery. As well as a burger than, the local ladies had knocked up pork and stuffing rolls and a gorgeous chilli with rice that was worth the visit all by itself. Lots of work is going on which meant that you were required to stand on hard compacted, rutty mud. I believe a training pitch is being made which should be a good facility.
This was my first experience of Guernsey football club. I spoke to a few of their fans before the game and I have to say they were all an absolute delight. I was quick last season to critisise Herne Bay fans after their semi-final game, it is only right that I should praise fans from both Walsall Wood & Guernsey. There was singing and chanting but it was all good natured banter with bad language at a minimum. The whole occassion had a lovely feel to it.
Sadly, the game didn't quite live up to it. It was always interesting, but the pitch was a great leveller due to it being surprisingly hard and bumpy. Walsall had the better chances with the Guernsey keeper making a couple of excellet stops and one dinked effort hooked off the line by a defender. Guernsey hit the bar in the second period of extra time, but you couldn't really argue with a draw.
Great to experience the Guernsey band wagon, I hope to bump into them again before too long.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Shildon to the four
Brantham Athletic 1 Shildon AFC 4
I'm feeling positively spoilt. Two Vase matches on consecutive Saturdays at new grounds. I could probably try again next Saturday with all the postponements, but will leave it until the next round.
About a minute before leaving home, there was a knock at the door with two Jehovah's witnesses itching for a discussion. I let them down politely, "Do you follow a different faith??" they asked, "No, I follow the FA Vase" was my slightly cheeky reply.
Once again my first train was 6 minutes late, then all the way into London, a door between two carriages kept swinging open every time there was a slight jolt. It ended up with a guy leaving his foot there to try and keep out the howling gale. Still, fares keep going up and this is the shocking service that we have to put up with.
I went via Highbury & Islington to Stratford, where I caught the connection to Manningtree. It was piddling down with rain at Stratford, so I was pleasantly surprised when arriving at Manningtree to see there was barely a cloud in the sky. Mind you, I nearly missed my stop as I was so gripped reading 'Scarecrow' by Matthew Reilly. If you've never read any of his books, give them a go. Thrill a minute stuff!
A brisk 20 minute walk from Manningtree station to the ground mostly along a busy A road. I actually thought that Brantham was in Essex, but it's just over the Suffolk border in a quiet little area with a nice looking Chinese restaurant which seemed somewhat out of place to me.
Lunch was a cheeseburger and chips from the busy clubhouse. Not bad although the chips were slightly undercooked. However, the ladies behind the hatch were working their socks off.
The ground really reminded me of Littlehampton where I'd been earlier this season. A raised gallery over the clubhouse and no hard standing on the near side where both common features. There was a stand on the far side and a covered seating area behind one area of the near goal, I understand there seats came from the old Layer road.
The PA was blasting out disco music, being a kid of the 70's, I was foot tapping and singing along to myself quite happily. A word here for the PA announcer. He was absolutely hillarious throughout the game with his good spirited quips and banter whenever the opposition scored. Great fun!
As so often happens when Northern teams travel at this stage of the Vase, they brought a lot of fans with them. Much beer was drunk but everyone thankfully behaved themselves and was in good spirits.
The game was never really in doubt. Brantham couldn't take a couple of early half-chances, but were actually out-played, out-thought, out-fought and generally well beaten by a team that seemed to get to every ball first and just wanted it more.
They scored on 17 mins from a header and got 2 more early in the second period. Brantham did pull one back but then immediately gave away a penalty which was converted to restore the 3 goal cushion.
All in all, a satisfactory trip complemented by some football chat with a couple of other travellers on the train back to London.
I'm feeling positively spoilt. Two Vase matches on consecutive Saturdays at new grounds. I could probably try again next Saturday with all the postponements, but will leave it until the next round.
About a minute before leaving home, there was a knock at the door with two Jehovah's witnesses itching for a discussion. I let them down politely, "Do you follow a different faith??" they asked, "No, I follow the FA Vase" was my slightly cheeky reply.
Once again my first train was 6 minutes late, then all the way into London, a door between two carriages kept swinging open every time there was a slight jolt. It ended up with a guy leaving his foot there to try and keep out the howling gale. Still, fares keep going up and this is the shocking service that we have to put up with.
I went via Highbury & Islington to Stratford, where I caught the connection to Manningtree. It was piddling down with rain at Stratford, so I was pleasantly surprised when arriving at Manningtree to see there was barely a cloud in the sky. Mind you, I nearly missed my stop as I was so gripped reading 'Scarecrow' by Matthew Reilly. If you've never read any of his books, give them a go. Thrill a minute stuff!
A brisk 20 minute walk from Manningtree station to the ground mostly along a busy A road. I actually thought that Brantham was in Essex, but it's just over the Suffolk border in a quiet little area with a nice looking Chinese restaurant which seemed somewhat out of place to me.
Lunch was a cheeseburger and chips from the busy clubhouse. Not bad although the chips were slightly undercooked. However, the ladies behind the hatch were working their socks off.
The ground really reminded me of Littlehampton where I'd been earlier this season. A raised gallery over the clubhouse and no hard standing on the near side where both common features. There was a stand on the far side and a covered seating area behind one area of the near goal, I understand there seats came from the old Layer road.
The PA was blasting out disco music, being a kid of the 70's, I was foot tapping and singing along to myself quite happily. A word here for the PA announcer. He was absolutely hillarious throughout the game with his good spirited quips and banter whenever the opposition scored. Great fun!
As so often happens when Northern teams travel at this stage of the Vase, they brought a lot of fans with them. Much beer was drunk but everyone thankfully behaved themselves and was in good spirits.
The game was never really in doubt. Brantham couldn't take a couple of early half-chances, but were actually out-played, out-thought, out-fought and generally well beaten by a team that seemed to get to every ball first and just wanted it more.
They scored on 17 mins from a header and got 2 more early in the second period. Brantham did pull one back but then immediately gave away a penalty which was converted to restore the 3 goal cushion.
All in all, a satisfactory trip complemented by some football chat with a couple of other travellers on the train back to London.
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