Damage in the Box!: GRANTHAM TOWN (South Kesteven Sports Stadium)

Today was a visit to a town where one of the most (in)famous political leaders of the 20th century was born.

Grantham, which is in Lincolnshire, is the birthplace of ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who divided opinion like no other in recent memory.

I did pay a visit to the site of her birth pre-match (see photos) whilst seeking out the local GBG's. The shop where she was born is now a chiropractice, where ironically people are now helped to have their pain and misery relieved!

Time was spent in the appropriately monikered Chequer's, which served up two local ales, Brewsters 'Hop a doodle do' and Oldershaws 'Alchemy' which went down a treat I can assure you!

Grantham play their home games out of town at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium, which is known locally as 'The Meres' after the park pitches that occupied the site before the ground was built in 1991.

They moved here in the August of that year, but prior to that Grantham played at London Road which, shock horror, is now a supermarket. The ground doubles as an athletics arena, which are not my favourite type of venue, so I'll make no further comment!

All I will say before anyone questions why I went today, it's simply because the ground has to be done and, with Grantham doing well, I thought i'd get to see some goals.

After a few seasons in the wilderness, Grantham have finally come good this season and find themselves atop of the Northern Premier League Division One South, on course for promotion. At the beginning of play the were 8 points clear of the chasing pack with games in hand.

The Gingerbreads, as they are known due to the famous Grantham Gingerbread (It is said that gingerbread originated in the town in 1740 as a result of a mistake by a man called William Egglestone who accidentally put some of the wrong ingredients into the cake he was baking at his Grantham home) were playing host to mid-table Coalville Town in order to maintain their title push.

The game was pretty dreadful to be honest, but in mitigation there was a very strong wind blowing today, which was never going to help with flowing football.

The first half was a complete non-event as neither side forced their opposition goalkeeper in a meaningful save until the last moments of the half.

The second half was marginally better, the homesters having the best of the very few chances but Coalville 'keeper Sean Bowles was in top form.

Grantham also finished the game with 10 men after Martin Ball was red-carded for throwing a punch. The result still keeps the Gingerbreads well clear at the top and on course for promotion.