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Star-Spangled Soccer
So I was wrong. What a surprise.
39 players, no title
Handball hysteria? I'd rather have fun
Of headers, rooftop finishes and beaches
21 down, 45 to go
Surprise surprise, another F1 scandal
Eight men hit for six
Sunny, but no seashells
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Route 66 - Peter Butcher's Blog
Wednesday, 3 February 2010 | |
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Stuck on the wrong side of town
Well, hi again Craig, David, Gavin, Kev, Dwight, Colin, Tony, Richard, Steve, Mark and anyone else who happens to come across these words of wisdom. I'm trying to make it more regular this year so I hope you're enjoying it. If so, please recruit some more fans!
posted by Broadsider at
1:20 PM
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All the talk this week has been about whether a married man who bonks his mate's wife is fit to lead his country. But enough about Prince Charles: on with the show.
Route 66, for any newcomers, is the probable title of my probable book on my probable visits to all 66 Ryman League clubs this season. Alas, spanners continue to drop into the works. My second attempt to visit Godalming (it would have been no.52) on Saturday ended with the dreaded 'it's off' phone call at about 12.15, by which time I was in Richmond. Plenty of time to find another ground, I thought. But a quick check of the fixtures revealed that the only home clubs I hadn't visited were Canvey and Ramsgate, neither of which was much of an option from deep in south-west London.
So it was Sutton v Aveley, another Millers game with plenty of goals and ending in a 3-2 defeat. They're slipping dangerously close to the relegation zone but having lots of fun along the way.
Sunday brought another chance to watch poor old Romford Raiders. Shorn of half their imports, our ice-hockey heroes went down 10-1 at home to Guildford. Interesting thing about it was that all ten goals (well, all 11, I suppose) were scored by different players. Has that ever happened in football.
Aveley again on Monday, a Championship Manager League Cup tie against Hornchurch. It was supposed to be getting, according to our climate change experts, so of course it dropped below freezing and of course there was a late goal (by Sos Yao of Hornchurch) to force extra time.
Millers ended their worrying winless streak with two extra-time goals and we all went home to thaw out. Talking point was a booking for Aveley striker Martin Tuohy for diving. Looked a pretty clear penalty from where I was standing (which was about as close as you could get without copping a banning order). Gavin will no doubt surprise me with a picture showing it wasn't a pen at all. GAV EDIT: Can't give you that one as the ref was standing right in front of it from my viewpoint so will have to make do with a couple of other 'non-pens' from the same game...
Tuesday's plan was Thamesmead v Romford. Thamesmead had already featured on Route 66 but it was a CM Cup tie and I'd like to do a league match everywhere. Half an hour on the Purfleet roundabout put paid to that. Strangely, traffic seemed to be flowing across the Dartford Bridge but getting to it was out of the question, especially with one lorry after another trundling slowly down from the M25 to block all four lanes of the box junction.
A hazardous slalom between the parked juggernauts eventually enabled me to escape eastwards and I made it to East Thurrock just in time for their kick-off against Northwood. Another entertaining 3-2 home win, most of which I spent in amicable disagreement with Essex FA chief executive Phil Sammons.
Now Phil is smarter than your average blazer; he did, after all, play around 600 games for Grays while acting as secretary of another Isthmian club, so he knows his stuff from the bottom up. Then there's me, a humble follower of the game but a quasi-insider with around 4,000 games behind me. Yet we still come to almost every question from radically different viewpoints.
A familiar-looking figure wandered past us at the end of the game. I can never recognise players with their clothes on but as he stopped to chat to Phil I realised that it was the previous night's diver (allegedly). "It was a definite penalty," Tuohy said. "But I admit I went down in instalments."
Now there's the thing. Is it any wonder that players dive when they know that if they try to stay on their feet they won't get the penalty and if they fall over late they'll probably get booked as well? I can't remember the last time I saw a penalty given when the player didn't go down after the foul.
Onwards and upwards: Ilford v Brentwood tonight, if it don't rain, before returning to Route 66 properly next week. No.52 on Saturday is now scheduled to be Sittingbourne, where I can take my punishment for absentmindedly calling them Sittingbourne Town in the league bulletin this week. People adding 'Town' to teams who don't have are among my pet hates, right up there with the greengrocers' apostrophe, so it will be an embarrassed blogger who creeps into the clubhouse.
Kent again next Tuesday, according to present plans, and a first-ever trip to Margate. Then 54 Canvey, 55 Ramsgate (eeps! Kent coast again) and 56 VCD (another maiden visit), with sundry Monday and Wednesday games in amongst them. I'll keep you posted.
Labels: Prince Charles, Romford Raiders, Ryman League
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 | |
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Star-Spangled Soccer
Another one! I think I'm finally getting this blog together (famous last words?).
posted by Broadsider at
11:43 AM
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For anyone puzzled by the reference in the last one, all my blogs suddenly became dated December 9, a glitch which star man Gavin has now resolved.
Northwood last night, then; the 51st Ryman League club I've visited so far this season, just 15 to go.
Good game against Great Wakering, 3-3 (0-1 after 44 minutes, 2-2 at half-time). The officials took much stick from the benches, not much of it justified (if, indeed, you can justify any abuse of the officials). One manager was giving the poor old ref a real haranguing as they walked off at half-time. His opposite number added, "Ref, to be fair, he's spot on." Still, if the FA won't stop Fergie, Wenger and that lot blaming the officials every time they drop a point, Ryman managers are hardly likely to be any different, are they?
For all that, it was an entertaining game on a very chilly night.
Northwood's first goal came from Leon Osei - "Osei can you see?" as I called him in the book when he scored at Wingate a few weeks back (Route 66, available some time in the summer). Pathetically, while in this anthemic mood I failed to notice that another scorer was Chris Seeby. So if Northwood would only sign Kanu (presumably they can pay him more than Portsmouth do), they could have a goalscoring line of Osei Kanu Seeby which should be good for some American sponsorship. Maybe the Glazers would take them over: lucky, lucky Northwood!
While in this ridiculous mood, let's carry on. I'm struggling with 'the dawn' but we have any number of Searles (let's say Mark who used to play for Worthing) and Lees (pick one), and I'm sure there used to be a Light (Danny?) somewhere. Then Steve Watts...
So, so far, our Star-Spangled Soccer Banner goes:
OSEI KANU SEE-
BY the dawn' S EARLE LEE LIGHT
WATT So proudly we hailed....
Any advance, devoted reader (or even readers)?
For the record, by the way, I discovered yesterday that it's pronounced OSS-EYE not O-SAY. But that would spoil the fun.
As Gav would say, I'll get my coat.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 | |
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So I was wrong. What a surprise.
I see all my blogs are now dated December 9, presumably an effort to kick me into writing something by making me feel guilty that I've done nothing since such a productive day.
posted by Broadsider at
12:16 PM
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Well, it worked, and anyway it was pointed out to me last night that I'd said on a previous entry that I didn't expect to see any 'first-class' football this season. It was pleasing to know that I not only have a reader but one who remembers what I said.
This conversation occurred in the press box at Charlton. So out of touch am I with the 'big time' that I didn't even realise that the O's were playing there until I read the paper on Monday morning. I had a vague plan to do Barkingside v Barking that evening but that was almost certain to be off - and it was.
Over the river, then, to watch the Orient for the first time almost three years. Since much of my loss of interest in the club was down to the fact that I no longer recognised any of the players, such was the Brisbane Road turnover, it was nice that the goal was from an old face, Scott McGleish, whom I last saw score for the O's in 1997 and, before that, for Edgware at Aveley in 1994 (gratuitous Ryman League plug).
So here were the O's, desperate for points, one up against one of the division's top teams. What bothered me was how little it bothered me that Charlton might equalise. Something in my heart has definitely gone missing (which is odd, because a surgeon added some bits a few years back).
Charlton are now offering five-year season tickets. Imagine buying one of them, sitting down at of the next season and discovering that the bloke next to you also has a five-year season ticket ... and a drum.
Lloyd Sam was on the left wing for Charlton. I wondered if "SAM 11" used less material (or whatever it is) than any other shirt in the league. My old friend Gary Haines, now part of the team producing the super Charlton programme, immediately came up with former Brentford player Charlie Ide. I've had to check that one, but it was "IDE 25" so Sam probably beats him. But what the guy who just left man City? JO 14, wasn't he? This stuff's important, you know.
I could see the Sky pictures from where I was sitting. They were some seven seconds behind the live action. If you have HD at home, have you ever noticed that the picture there is far enough behind the 'regular' one that you can switch channels and still arrive before you left, as it were?
Anyway, I thought it was about time that this blog got going again, especially as Gavin was at the game and will no doubt slot in a super picture very shortly. Thanks, Gav.
Before I have to press on, though, a quick update on Route 66. The weather has caused a hold-up, of course, but progress is steady. Northwood should be no.51 tonight. The remaining 15 (people do ask me) are Billericay, Bognor, Canvey, Dartford, Horsham and Margate in the Premier, Cheshunt, Concord, Maldon and VCD in 1 North, Chatham, Fleet, Godalming, Ramsgate and Sittingbourne in 1 South. With luck I can save the seaside trips for sunnier days.
Labels: Charlton, Leyton Orient, Ryman League
Wednesday, 9 December 2009 | |
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39 players, no title
Club no.42 on Saturday: Carshalton. It's a place where I have seen many weird happenings. Worthing once went 2-0 down in four minutes there and ended up wining 4-3 with all four goals from the incomparable Micky Edmonds. On another occasion Worthing were only one down after half an hour and lost 13-0. It's also where I saw a goalkeeper sent off for refusing point-blank to take a goal-kick from inside the six-yard box. I never worked that one out.
posted by Broadsider at
1:39 PM
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On this occasion Carshalton lost 3-0 to Aveley, who needed it. Carshalton themselves started the season as championship favourites. So far they've used 39 players, which helps to explain why they're not any more. It was a funny day in the Ryman Premier. Six of the top eight played and collected two points between them (one of them in injury time), five of the bottom eight played and collected 13 points.
Tuesday took me to East Thurrock (not no.43: a repeat visit), where Heybridge had the better of things for 27 minutes, failed to score and found themselves 4-0 down after 34. Not surprisingly, a Heybridge dignatory begged me for a cigarette after that. "It's the first one I've had since I saw you last," he said.
Tonight, with luck, Aveley will get in their Essex Senior Cup game against Billericay at the third time of asking. It's either that or Waltham Forest. It's been a nice warm sunny day but it's clouding over now. I'm not hopeful.
Meanwhile, if you have the remotest interest in films, may I direct you to the http://greercn.wordpress.com/ blog?
Later in the day: Aveley did play, they beat Billericay 4-2, and it was all most enjoyable. Competitive goals scored this season on the four grounds shared by two Ryman League clubs: Ilford 54, Ashford 55, Horsham YMCA 82, Aveley . . . 113!
Labels: Aveley, East Thurrock United, Heybridge Swifts, Ryman League
Friday, 4 December 2009 | |
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Handball hysteria? I'd rather have fun
HERE we are again, at long last. I won't bore you with details of the last few weeks. Suffice it to say that I have been busy. Amid all the chaos, though, progress along Route 66 has been more than satisfactory.
posted by Broadsider at
12:16 AM
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For newcomers to this blog, Route 66 is the predictable title of the book I hope to publish in the summer featuring my travels round the Ryman League this season. My plan was to visit all 66 clubs and it has gone far better than I could have imagined. I've now banked 41 of them which, as you mathematical experts out there will have realised already, leaves only 25 to go.
I've even worked out a provisional itinerary for the last 25 and am due to finish at Fleet Town on April 10. That's just to prove to myself that it can be done. I've included no midweek games after Christmas, since there were none on the original fixture list.
It's all been thoroughly enjoyable and I'm beginning to suspect that, for the first time since I started watching football, I will get through the season without watching a single 'first-class' game.
I can't say I miss it. The hysteria surrounding the Thierry Henry handball sums up everything that is wrong with the game at the higher levels, and particularly the way it is covered by the media. The bloke handled the ball instinctively and got away with it. So what? Can you honestly tell me that the reaction would have been the same if an Irish player had done it?
Replay? You must be joking. But, since other instances have been quoted, let me clarify the position since very few other people have bothered. It's true that another World Cup tie was replayed because of a refereeing error. A successful penalty was disallowed for encroachment and play was restarted with a free-kick to the defending side. The problem there was that the ref didn't know the law which, of course, states that the kick should have been retaken. If the ref makes an error in his knowledge of the laws, a replay is possible.
But if he just makes an error of judgement, forget it, and quite right too. Should we replay the 1966 World Cup final now that technology has proved that the linesman got it wrong (allegedly, though I have always thought that in the original full-speed film the ball looks well over the line)? And would you replay every match where an offside goal was allowed or an onside one disallowed?
There was a famous case at Spurs back in the '50s. Eddie Baily, I think it was, took a corner which hit the ref and bounced back to him, whereupon he crossed and the winning goal was scored. Now, as the ref doesn't count, Baily had played the ball twice from the corner and the opposition - Huddersfield, I think it was - asked for a replay on the grounds that there had been an error in law. And, if the referee had admitted that he didn't know that you couldn't play the ball twice at a corner, a replay it would have been. But he said that he hadn't realised that Baily had played it twice. Therefore a judgement call and the result stood. It's not that complicated.
But the relative peace on Route 66 has brought lots of pleasure, a few surprises (well, did you know that former prime minister Clement Attlee used to play for Fleet Town?) and a lot of laughs.
Among the latter - the ground bearing a notice assuring punters that they are safe from unwanted intruders because the fence is treated with anti-climb paint. Will anti-climb paint really stop the next-door neighbours? The next-door establishment is, after all, a graveyard.
Then there's the club puzzled by the number of youngsters who bunk in over the fence. They let in kids for free.
I have also learned that the longest-serving member of the Metropolitan Police force is the commissioner's valet.
One club told me of the cheque for £5.03 they had just been given as their share of the gate from an away cup-tie, another proudly displays one for £42,819.71 which they received many years ago for a similar reason.
I saw a goal scored after just 14 seconds at Kingstonian, then beat it by a second at Merstham, where I also saw the visitors hit the woodwork four times from 25 yards or more.
I've seen some great goals and some hilarious misses (though nothing to compare with the one by Harrow's Rocky Baptiste last Saturday, now showing on the web).
And I've heard the aggrieved tannoy announcement "Someone's ordered a hot dog, then gone off and not taken the hot dog".
It's been fun. And it's not over yet.
Labels: football, Ryman League, Thierry Henry
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 | |
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Of headers, rooftop finishes and beaches
Another busy couple of weeks has brought me to within 40 of my route 66 target. Latest to be knocked off the wants list were Boreham Wood, Walton Casuals, Tilbury, Leyton and Worthing.
posted by Broadsider at
5:18 PM
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Of those games, far and away the best was at Worthing last night.
They thrashed Ashford Town 5-1 and it was fairly clear why Ashford had the worst defensive record in the Ryman League (though, oddly, they shared that dubious honour with Kingstonian who are seventh in the Premier Division).
Having said that, the quality of the goals was outstanding, including Ashford's consolation by Joe Fuller. That was a terrific header from a great cross, as were goals by Ben Williamson, Ben Johnson and Ross Treleaven for Worthing (you might quibble and mention that Johnson's header may not have crossed the line, or at least that's what some of the home supporters behind the goal reckoned. Still, the linesman was perfectly placed to give it).
Top-class headed goals seem to happening in profusion in the games I see, including Kayan Kalipha's decider for Tilbury against Thamesmead last week.
Tilbury would have lost at Leyton on Saturday had Walid Matata's chip over advancing keeper Andy Hall, six minutes from the end of a goalless draw, been as good as it initially looked. It was when it landed on the roof of a neighbouring house that I began to suspect that my first judgement may have been faulty.
Worthing, of course, is by the seaside, which leads me to think of the beach. Thinking of Worthing beach reminds me of some merry Friday nights in the long-gone Old England bar on the seafront. It was always exceedingly crowded and if you were sitting towards the front the beach was much more accessible than the gents. That, however, was a hazardous proceeding when the tide was high and the night stormy, as quite a few bedraggled customers were able to attest.
The other thing that goes with beach is ball, which brings us to the referee who displayed his ignorance of the laws of the game at Sunderland. Why is it that, when a Premiership referee is punished for a blatant error, he is sentenced to take charge of a Football League game? Doesn't that display a great deal of contempt for the Football League among the game's authorities (no surprise there, I guess)? Shouldn't they be sent on a training course instead?
Come to think of it, that might not help. The last time I saw an incident where the ref showed that he didn't know the laws of the game (as opposed to making an error of judgement), he did come off the Football League list at the end of the season. I think that was an age thing, however; he was then put in charge of training referees in his home county.
Generally, though, aren't you sick of managers whining about referees? Wouldn't it be interesting if the national media made an agreement not to use any quotes at all for the rest of the year? It might be tricky for some of the tabloid boys who would have to think up their own stories, but ten weeks without Fergie, Wenger and the rest would be blissful.
On the speedway front, meanwhile, there is eager anticipation for this week's two finals. Lakeside travel to Coventry on Friday for the second leg of the Elite League Cup final and have a suitably massive lead that they should have few problems lifting their first-ever trophy at the top level. I'm hoping for a decent weather forecast so it's worth making the trip.
Then, at the weekend, it's Rye House v Workington in the final of the Young Shield. Rye won both their quarter-final and semi-final by a single point on aggregate, and this could be another cracker. One slight problem; the first leg at Rye House (which is near Harlow, for those who don't know) will finish about 9.30 on Saturday night. Then men and machines have to find their way to Workington for a 3pm start on Sunday. I fear I may miss the climax of this epic competition (and let's not make too much fuss about the fact that it's for teams that finished between 5th and 12th in their league).
Thursday, 8 October 2009 | |
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21 down, 45 to go
On Tuesday I watched Romford lose 2-0 at Enfield Town. Romford's Remi Nelson was sent off.
posted by Broadsider at
7:44 PM
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I mention this because I fancy that in the prevailing conditions (poor lights, heavy rain, unexciting match) even such a talented snapper as Gav might have struggled to get any decent pix apart from when the unhappy Mr Nelson walked past him. We shall see.
That was stop no.21 on Route 66 which, for any newcomers, is the attempt to produce a book on my visits to all 66 Ryman League clubs this season. Much interesting material has surfaced so far (I hope). The tally so far is eight clubs apiece in the Premier Division and One North, just five in One South.
The balance will adjust itself soon; as long as the Rye House speedway season continues I have to be north of the river on Saturday afternoons. Once that's over my evening attention will switch to ice hockey at places like Slough, Bracknell and Basingstoke, and Div 1S will come into its own.
The past few days were frustrating. I had planned to do Croydon Athletic v Walton & Hersham on Tuesday which, from what I've seen of both teams, could have been a scorcher of a game, followed by a pleasant outing to Eastbourne Town on Wednesday. But both games were wiped out by FA Trophy replays, as was every other league game this week apart from the aforementioned Enfield Town match. Why I decided that Route 66 had to be accomplished entirely in league matches I have no idea, but I'm stuck with it now.
It was, by the way, the fourth time I've seen Romford this season. P4 W0 D0 L4 F0 A16. And, Boro fans, I haven't done my Route 66 visit to one of your home games yet. Be afraid . . .
Anyway, 45 clubs to go with, by my reckoning, 35 full or fairly full Saturdays and Tuesdays left. It shouldn't be too difficult to finish the task. Should it?
This, I hope, will be the last long gap between blogs. Apart from anything else, Gavin deserves better for the time and effort he's put into setting it up. Considering I'm only working part-time, I'm still puzzled by the lack of hours in the day.
Apart from more Route 66 stuff, there will soon be a look back at what I found to be a fascinating speedway season, despite all the sport's off-track problems, much of them of its own making. This blog, after all, was intended to be mainly about speedway until events overtook me. And I'm still basking in the glory of correctly forecasting the first four, in the right order, at the recent National League Riders Championship - during which, incidentally, a few of us had a lengthy grammatical discussion. Should Riders have an apostrophe? I thought so but I was persuaded otherwise. We're not dumb, us speedway fans.
Labels: National League speedway, Ryman League
Wednesday, 23 September 2009 | |
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Surprise surprise, another F1 scandal
Another week passes in the mad world of sport.
posted by Broadsider at
12:13 PM
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F1 offers us the great Renault scandal. Remarkable, isn't it, how the world's most tedious sport manages to keep itself in the headlines with one shock horror story after another? Cynics might think they were doing it deliberately; all scripted, like those various initialled wrestling soap operas.
And, by the way, why all the fuss whenever a driver lets his teammate pass him because he needs the points more? Hasn't anyone noticed the TEAM bit? Do people complain if Wayne Rooney passes to Michael Owen instead of shooting for goal himself?
Which brings us to Sparky Hughes and his magic watch. Funny that, for once, Fergie didn't whine about added time. But come on, folks. Even an amateur basketball team manages to have a clock on the wall that starts and stops at the referee's signal, so everyone knows where they are. Is it beyond Premier League football clubs to do the same? Problem solved in an instant.
What else happened? Oh yes, we lost 6-1 to Australia in the one-day series. Anyone care? I thought not.
As for proper sport, my week included two Aveley games, both 4-2s. The first was an FA Cup replay against London Colney who looked very much better than Spartan League Div One and led 2-0 at half-time before manager Rod Stringer's flying teacups sorted his team out and they finally made the three-division gap count.
Millers reached the lofty heights of second in the Ryman Premier on Saturday (a mere eight points behind Dartford) but were on the receiving end of the 4-2 scoreline this time. Talking point here was the volunteer linesman who took over when the proper one hurt himself soon after half-time. Aveley were told by the ref, who was from Lancashire and knew no better, that the newcomer was 'a Maidstone official' . Cue outrage on the Aveley bench when he flagged for offside to cost them a goal. Stringer and centre-back Darren Blewitt, who had just been substituted, were invited to depart the premises (though I heard no moaning sufficient to justify such drastic action, and I was standing pretty close to the bench). Alongside me was Aveley secretary Craig Johnson, who gave me the 'Maidstone official' story. I hurriedly pointed out that the deputy, who was on the far side of the pitch, was nothing of the sort. He was, in fact, league vice-chairman Nick Robinson. Craig grabbed his phone just in time to ensure that Stringer, who was about to pass Nick en route to the stand, was not tempted to comment further on the decision - which was, incidentally, perfectly correct.
Just to make it the protest even sillier, Nick's signal led to an Aveley penalty a couple of minutes later - and that was a correct decision as well.
In between the two Aveley games I paid my first visit of the season to Hornchurch, a club in total financial chaos for the second time in five years. Manager Colin McBride has somehow kept them going and there seems a general belief that a buyer will soon appear to rescue them, though no-one seems to know who it might be.
On the speedway front, there was a heavy cup semi-final defeat for an injury-hit Rye House and a disappointing play-off display by Lakeside Hammers at Wolverhampton on Monday. I watched the latter on TV, which meant suffering a Tony Millard commentary with its three stock phrases, one of them being the semi-meaningless 'teammate and partner' which comes out about three times in every race. And he kept getting the riders' names wrong. Hammers' in-form pair of Finns, Kauko Nieminen and Joonas Kylmakorpi, were right out of form so, needing a 20-point second leg win to force an aggregate draw, the Essex men are probably finnished.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009 | |
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Eight men hit for six
I decided on an overseas trip last night and so it was off to Canvey Island for the FA Cup replay between Concord Rangers and Romford. It was to be a bizarre affair.
posted by Broadsider at
1:57 PM
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Things started badly for Romford when James Gammons was sent off after three minutes (which included two minutes of mass pushing and shoving) for allegedly headbutting Nicky Cowley, the Concord captain. Gammons, who apologised to club officials at half-time, accepted the decision but the visiting fans behind the goal, never the most unbiased group, were none too happy.
Imagine their delight when Joe Sweeney put Concord ahead on the half-hour with a goal that might have been offside and/or handball, provoking Boro defender Paul White to shout "Don't worry about this chap" as play restarted. Words to that effect, anyway, and he didn't say chap. Now it was 11-9.
Concord failed miserably to make the most of their two-man advantage and managed to add only a Danny Heale penalty before, remarkably, it became 11-8 with 15 minutes left when Richard Oxby's wild challenge earned him a second yellow. The curious thing about it was that it wasn't a particularly dirty game and that Romford's nine men had more than held their own against their star-studded opponents.
A three-man deficit was a bit much to cope with, though, and Concord knocked in another four goals. Just to rub it in, the sixth and last was a backheel by Cowley, not the visiting fans' favourite player.
It's long time since I've seen a side reduced to eight men, though I have fond memories of a brutal Essex Senior League game that finished 8-9 and that only because the referee simply refused to issue any more red cards. He was left with no choice, however, when a home forward broke through and the keeper rushed ten yards out of his box to scythe him down with a thigh-high tackle. He had to show red for the 'professional foul' or the height of the challenge, but out came a yellow card. This was doubly unfortunate because the keeper had been wearing the no.5 in the first half and had been booked in that role.
I mentioned this fact to a league official after the game and he turned rather pale before rushing off to the officials' dressing room, returning ten minutes later to announce that the no.4, not the no.5, had suffered the first-half booking. Yeah, right.
What made it even more entertaining was that the home side had invited all their local councillors and quite a few of them turned up, including the mayor whose chain was heard to be rattling furiously as the game went on.
I had toyed with the Halstead-Enfield replay last night, Halstead being one of the closer senior grounds I've never visited. I tried to once, but became hopelessly trapped in a traffic jam behind a major accident. It was most frustrating; five minutes earlier and I'd have missed it all. But that would have been even more frustrating in the end because the opposition got stuck as well and failed to arrive. Anyway, the Halstead game finished 2-0 to Enfield on penalties, which doesn't speak well of the marksmanship. The national press had it as 4-0 on penalties which, if you think about it, would have been a world record.
Labels: Concord Rangers, FA Cup, Romford
Tuesday, 15 September 2009 | |
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Sunny, but no seashells
The past few days brought my first three-sport weekend for a while.
posted by Broadsider at
12:11 PM
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Route 66 took me to Great Wakering Rovers and there can be few more pleasant places to watch football on a warm, sunny afternoon than this village in the Southend hinterlands.
Rovers used to be famous for having a path round the pitch made of seashells; very nice, unless you were barefoot I guess. Sadly, that was not 'hard standing' within the terms of the ground grading rules and they had to replace them with boring concrete.
They remain an endearingly modest club despite their steady progress from local Southend football to Ryman One. Survival is their stated aim for this season and you have to press quite hard before they'll admit to hopes of finishing in the top half of the table.
They are, however, very proud that when a young Michael Kightly, then playing for Basildon in the Essex Senior League, was advised to find a bigger club in order to advance his career, Great Wakering was the club he chose. It worked very quickly. The future Wolves and England Under-21 star played only one match for them (some say it was none at all) before moving onwards and upwards via Grays Athletic.
Opponents for the day were Tilbury, who rather unexpectedly won the League Cup last season but have struggled to make an impact this time.
A beautifully-taken volleyed own goal by Rickie Hayles gave Rovers the lead but Dockers soon equalised with a Joe Keith penalty and 1-1 it stayed.
Own goals . . . now there's a topic that could take up a blog or two. My favourite remains the stunning 18-yard header by Liverpool's Tony Hateley at Highbury in 1967. It was only just after Liverpool had signed him what what was then a massive fee and for many years I kept a press photo of the event which showed the Reds defenders, including Emlyn Hughes, in a state of shock. "WHAT have we bought here?"
Dockers probably should have won it but Wakering came closest when Neil Richmond's shot was cleared off the line by his Aveley colleague of last season, Glen Golby.
That match was bookended by a couple of speedway meetings. Play-off bound Lakeside Hammers enjoyed a routine victory over Ipswich on Friday night but there was more entertainment at Rye House the following evening.
Rye's Tommy Allen was the star of the show. Allen, not the luckiest man in the sport, literally flew over the safety fence and a ten-yard grass strip before crashing back first into the inner rail of the old dog track which, fortunately, is made of plastic. You have to be scared by a back impact of such force and Allen was receiving attention for a long time. The old speedway rule that the worst-looking crashes are (usually) the ones that do the least damage came into play, however, and the sight of Allen walking away allowed us to 'enjoy' the spectacular mishap. He withdrew from the meeting with concussion, which was odd as his head seemed the one part of his body that hadn't hit anything during its journey.
Two men down (they were already without Robert Mear), Rockets did well to hang on for a 45-44 victory against a Newport side without an away win all season. After all, Rye had been in action at distant Edinburgh the night before and lost two riders during that match (Allen being one of them), though both were declared fittish for Saturday.
Alas, the 63-27 defeat in Scotland was the first leg of the cup semi-final and although Rockets are famously strong at home on their day, it might be too much to ask in the return this Saturday.
The weekend finished with Romford Raiders' first home ice hockey match of the season, a bad-tempered 'friendly' against Milton Keynes which they lost 6-2 to follow up a 7-2 defeat in MK the previous night. Romford's new import forwards struggled to make their mark but it's early days. My word, it was cold in that rink.
Labels: Great Wakering, Michael Kightly, Rye House