Damage in the Box!: STAMFORD AFC (Kettering Road)

For today's journey it was a trip to the town of Stamford which, according to their tourism website, claims to be the "finest stone town in England" The town is in Lincolnshire and stands on the River Welland.

Stamford AFC were taking on FC United of Manchester in the FA Trophy.

When the draw was made this tie, for me, screamed out as the one to watch for a myriad of reasons. Potential banana skin for Northern Premier League FCUM against a team in a the league below them, the likelihood of a good crowd in attendance and also, as the train was taking the strain, a chance to tick off some GBG entries!

However, the most important reason, as a groundhopper, is that the days of Stamford's Kettering Road ground appear to be numbered, so this was a "vulture job" for me!

Planning permission was granted earlier this year for new homes to be built on the existing site, whilst the club are going to be re-located to a new ground 2 miles up the road. The timescale for this in unclear from the articles I've read, maybe someone could enlighten me?

Pre-match was spent catching up with a FCUM fan I know on the hopping circuit, so to speak, and paying a visit to some of Stamford's finest ale houses. The Jolly Brewer and The Green Man were most enjoyable!

Stamford AFC have one best nicknames in football, as the back story is brilliant. How many clubs are nicknamed after someone who was once the fattest man Britain?

"The Daniels" comes from Daniel Lambert, reputedly the fattest man in English history, weighing in at 52 stones at time of death, who died in Stamford and is buried in St Martins churchyard close to the ground. Mind you after the pre-match ales and pasty, I felt a wee bloated myself!!!

The crowd did not disappoint as, despite the dreary weather, 749 came through the turnstiles. This was apparently Stamford's biggest crowd for over seven years. It made for a good atmosphere as the The Daniels came from behind to win.

It was United who made the better start to the game and went at their hosts from the off. It took just 9 minutes for them to register, Mike Norton scoring. Stamford were not at the races at all and it took them until midway through the half to have any sort of attempt at goal. It was all United and Norton should have doubled his, and his team's, tally but a header came crashing back off the crossbar.

Stamford finally got themselves into the game with a few minutes remaining of the first half and carried this on into the second period when, after 50 minutes, they were level. James Spencer slipped, as he came out his goal to collect a long punt up field, and this allowed Gary King to nip in to level the tie.

Spencer's day got worse when he was forced off the pitch because of an injury and there was no replacement on the United bench. Dave Birch went in goal and had little to trouble him until 7 minutes from time when he had to pick the ball out of net!

Danny Brooks unleashed a 30 yard screamer into the top corner, which Birch had no chance of saving, to clinch Stamford's place in the next round and spark some wild celebrations (pictured left).

The ground is only a few minutes walk from the station, so the 1705 train was easily made. This allowed for a couple of hours in Birmingham, before my connection home, where old favourites The Wellington and Post Office Vaults were paid a visit. An enjoyable day out!!