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!!

 

Saturday 27th October 2012

FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round

Stamford 2-1 FC United of Manchester

Attendance: 749

BEDWORTH UNITED (The Oval)

A bonus game today. Having previously though my English season of groundhopping was over, I stumbled upon this fixture in the morning. Having assumed most of the play off final had taken place whilst I was out of the country, it was a pleasant surprise to be able to take in a final today.

Bedworth United were taking on Beconsfield SYCOB for the right to play in the Southern Premier League next season. Bedworth finished 3rd in the regular season, beating Uxbridge to reach the final, whilst Beaconsfield came with a late surge to finish 6th then, surprisingly, beating Slough Town in the play off semi final.

Conditions were appalling today as it rained heavily all day, easing off as the game progressed, the pitch looking particularly heavy. However both teams produced an absorbing contest which was a thoroughly enjoyable watch, despite the tension of the occasion.

'The Greenbacks' always looked the more threatening and took the lead after 19 minutes when Ashley Robinson poked home after his initial header was saved. Beaconsfield, however, did look dangerous on the break and they were soon level. After 23 minutes an attempted back header was misjudged by the advancing 'keeper and in the confusion Victor Osubu nipped in to fire home into the unguarded net.

Bedworth restored their lead on the hour when Mitchell Piggon was put through and his low shot flew into the net, via a slight deflection off the lunging defender. Beaconsfield did their best to force extra time but, as they committed men forward, deep into stoppage time, Ashley Spencer was allowed the freedom of the park to run through and seal the victory.

The final whistle sparked a pitch invasion by fans celebrating the fact that the win sealed Bedworth's first ever promotion in their 65 year history.

 

 

 

Monday 7th May 2012

Southern League Division One Central Play Off Final
Bedworth United 3-1 Beaconsfield SYCOB
Attendance: 830

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.

Saturday 3rd March 2012
Northern Premier League Division One South
Grantham Town 0-0 Coalville Town
Attendance: 332