Biggleswade Town FC

Biggleswade Town 2 Royston Town 1 - Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division

Spartan South Midlands League

Biggleswade has a rich history and much of its character comes from buildings that have remained largely unchanged over the years. The town centre features the Market Square where a general market is held each Saturday. It is surrounded by shops, many in attractive converted buildings such as the old Market house. The river Ivel runs along the northern and western boundaries of the town causing development to be very one-sided, with housing estates in the east and south. On 22 July 1661, Samuel Pepys stopped off in Biggleswade (called ‘Bigglesworth’ by Pepys) to buy a pair of warm woollen stockings.

River Ivel

Harry Hotspur and I had a wedding reception to attend on Saturday evening, but with careful planning were also able to visit Biggleswade Town FC for their South Midlands League encounter with Royston Town. Having made my last ever trip to Highbury last weekend for the highly charged North London derby, I was privileged on this occasion to witness the last match at Biggleswade Town's Fairfield ground. Biggleswade are relocating to a new ground at Langford Road. The electricity was being disconnected after the match and even if the new venue is not ready for the start of next season, this was 'curtains' for this place.


We arrived at Biggleswade railway station via a very busy Finsbury Park (Kings Cross closed for the weekend) and made our way through the bustling market square to the ground which can be reached with a leisurely 15 minute stroll. En route we adjourned to the Coach & Horses (Greene King) just in time to see Wayne Rooney stretchered off at Stamford Bridge. The compounding sight of John Terry limping around the pitch with the title already clinched has to be questioned.


A recent email exchange with Nigel Maitland included him describing Biggleswade Town's 'Fairfield' ground as 'basic'. Now if Nigel deems it basic, with his standards you are in trouble! To be fair though, I can see what he meant but prefer to use the 'dated' description. This is one of those joint facility venues with cricket sharing the site. There is a small seated stand along one side with the river Ivel running behind. The far end of the ground borders the 'Second Meadow' home of Biggleswade United also of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. The opposite end houses two very distinctive buildings. The dressing room complex/cricket pavilion is where you can purchase hot drinks whereas the other building, housing a licensed bar, is more akin to something from a Battle of Britain aerodrome !

Ian Scott

As for the match, Biggleswade edged a close but scrappy encounter by the two goals to one. It was a typical end of season affair. Ian Scott who managed teams at Senior level (including Haringey Borough at this venue) informed me that the football in this league is often not in keeping with it's standing in the pyramid system. On the evidence of Saturday he may well have been right, but perhaps part of the problem on Saturday was the referee, who booked virtually everyone in the ground. Hotspur and I escaped unlike the Royston assistant manager who was banished from the touchline. The visiting centre half received a red card in the last few minutes and I can only assume that his turn had come round again. 0 out of 10 from the Pieman, Ref!


It is 25 years since Spurs beat Manchester City in the replayed 1981 FA Cup final. A special reunion dinner (attended by the same former Haringey Borough manager) was held last week and both Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricardo Villa were presented to the crowd at Sunday's Spurs v Bolton match. Yesterday both Argentineans were present at Cheshunt's Brookfield shopping centre and Harry Hotspur was mightily impressed when they shook the Pieman's hand ! (Looks like "Ossie's Dream" finally came true after all these years - Ed)
























Attendance: ?
Admission: £4.00 (Hotspur should have paid £2.00 but a smile got him in free)
Programme: With admission (extras 50p - thus ensuring copies for Andy, Stan and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely)
Fare: £6.80 Cheap Day Return from Boundary Zone 6 with Goldcard discount (Hotspur: £2.00)
Tea: 40p
Cheese & Onion Crisps: 30p

Biggleswade Town FC

The Pieman's subsequent visit to Langford Road

Sevenoaks Town FC

Sevenoaks Town 3 VCD Athletic 3 - Kent League Premier Division



The importance of Sevenoaks grew from the merging of the two main roads from London and Dartford into one main route heading south through the Weald to the coast. It was therefore a suitable venue for a market and this was probably established some time in the mid 13th century.

Sevenoaks has remained a market town to this day. A Wednesday evening jaunt to Sevenoaks enabled me to visit my first Kent League ground since 2003. On that occasion I accompanied the cigar puffing Jonny Ketchup to watch his beloved Cray Wanderers at Tunbridge Wells. Is that really his name ? (Jon Smith actually, but of all the different rumours circulating the Square Mile, the one that seems to be most credible is that he is the sauciest in the insurance sector - Ed)


Although there is a much nearer railway station to Greatness Park (Bat and Ball - 5 minutes walk), I opted to use the main Sevenoaks station before and after the match. Faster trains and a greater frequency being the reason.




Greatness Park boasts a couple of small seated stands separated by a covered standing area. The refreshment kiosk and changing rooms are located behind one goal. Whereas the clubhouse can be found adjacent to the car park a couple of hundred yards away (still not metric me !) from the turnstiles (no stile and nothing turning but you know what I mean). Sevenoaks sit bottom of the league whereas visitors VCD Athletic occupy sixth place, having also secured the Kent Senior Trophy via a penalty shoot out against Tunbridge Wells. Therefore it was refreshing to see the home side take the game to their visitors, scoring early and adding another midway through the first half. VCD were always a threat and got back on level terms with goals either side of the break. This end to end match saw VCD (Vickers Crayford Dartford) take the lead with a superb free kick and it was they that looked likely winners. The referee had already checked his watch on a number of occasions when Sevenoaks grabbed a last gasp equaliser for a deserved share of the spoils from a very entertaining match.

Take a bow referee Mr I Fissenden, who with a no nonsense approach and excellent time keeping enable me to catch the 22.02 from Sevenoaks to London Bridge (it was a very brisk walk up and down some less than user friendly slopes !)



Attendance: 46
Admission: £4.00
Programme: £1.00 (obtained for you Andy, Stan and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely)
Tea: 50p

Matlock Town FC

Matlock Town 2 Marine 5 - Unibond League Premier Division


A Wednesday morning meeting at Castle Meadow, Nottingham facilitated an overnight stay and a wonderful opportunity to explore the delightful spa town of Matlock.

Matlock is the County town of Derbyshire (I didn't know that) The Romans are thought to have mined lead here but the town was relatively unimportant until the early 19th century, when it developed rapidly as a spa. The Midland Railway brought further prosperity in the latter half of the century before the spa declined. There is also Matt Lockwood but he plays for Leyton Orient.

I was joined on this excursion by colleague and long time Spurs sufferer John Warcup. John did not need much persuading, his diary page for Tuesday was blank and he actually muttered something along the lines of 'Billy no mates'. I am not sure that this is altogether true, as I certainly recall that rather dubious chef Kevin Hulse, who lived and worked in a hotel at Great Malvern. Kevin had amassed the complete collection of ITV's London's Burning on video and this collection took up the majority of his broom cupboard sized bedroom - yeah ok John perhaps you are wise not to acknowledge this !

As I had to change trains at Derby, there was time to meet John for a swift pint at the Brunswick opposite the railway station. The late Fred Dowry often said that the Brunswick was the best pub in the country. True or not (I still have a few to visit !!), it is certainly up there with the best of them. An ever changing selection of guest ales coupled with their own home brew upholds the long standing reputation of this fine establishment. I opted for Silver Knight but failed to register which micro brewery was responsible for this delightful ale (It was only when in the fabulous 'Ship & Mitre' after the Everton v Spurs match on Saturday 15 April that I realised this beer was 'Shining Knight' from Slater's of Eccleshall - for research purposes I sampled another and can confirm the quality - Ed).

I have long yearned for the opportunity to visit Matlock. Previously I have been restricted to the view (fine that it is) from Ian Scott's car, as we made our way to and from Manchester via the A6.

On arrival at Matlock we made our way to The Boat House Inn, a Hardys & Hansons establishment across the road from the continuously meandering River Derwent. Four real ales were on offer and I sampled both 'Olde Trip and 'Kimberley bitter'. This pub is good for both beer and food. Although not eating there, we did witness a group of contractors enjoying theirs (Ian - Haggis is on the menu with sponge pudding and custard one of many traditional desert options !) The prices seemed very reasonable for what is a tourist location.

The Causeway Lane ground is very centrally located and only a few minutes walk from the railway station. However, for a midweek match (19.45 KO) the 21.39 departure will be tight, with the only other return option (Nottingham via Derby) being the 23.00. Not a problem for me as I was staying over and had intelligent company as far as Derby.

The ground can be best described as old fashioned and those who have been there (Nigel Maitland saw a whole match there unlike his 45 minute appearance at neighbouring Belper Town) will know what I mean. There is covered accommodation on three sides, with a hotchpotch assortment of stands. Behind the remaining goal is a cricket pitch but the ground is fully enclosed with a large wooden fence separating the summer and winter arenas. This has to be one of the more scenic venues on the non league scene. Matlock is surrounded by peak district hills and the cricket end of the ground is looked down upon by the ruins of Riber Castle. There are two refreshment kiosks selling the usual 'northern fare' - John and I opted for the Pie & Peas and this was an excellent choice on a progressively cold evening (Alex, one day I will make the comparison to those served at Ramsbottom !)

What about the match Pieman ? Well, visitors Marine (4th in the Unibond League) raced into a 2 goal lead with some slick attacking play. A stunned home side did extremely well to level the scores but then undid all their hard work by conceding again before the break. The scout hut clubhouse was warm and welcoming at half time. After the break the merseysiders grabbed a 4th goal and their 5th arrived ten minutes later. To their credit, Matlock battled away and were unfortunate not to have added to their tally. Marine looked good throughout though and still have their eye on the Unibond League championship.

Just one other football experience to report. I was able to impress John and the Marine supporters by returning the ball to the pitch with an Ian Hutchinson style throw - superb technique ! However, on reflection, I should add that I am a bit surprised as it was rare for me to get such an opportunity when playing Sunday football some years back. Mick Gould will confirm that any non contact situations such as throws, free kicks, penalties and even tossing the coin were the domain of Duck/Chef from Woolworths, who even on a wet muddy day always went home with clean kit - not even Hoddle managed that !

After the seven goal feast, John and I adjourned to the 'Crown' (Wetherspoons), followed by the Railway Hotel (Hardy & Hansons) for some further liquid refreshment. Trams were still running when I got back to Nottingham at midnight - worth knowing about for potential midweek excursions to Hucknall Town. Ten minutes later I was at the Park Plaza ready to retire.





























Attendance: 231
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.20 (obtained for you Andy, Stan and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely)
Pie and Peas: £1.50
Fare: £6.30 (Cheap Day Return from Nottingham)

Matlock Town FC

Tim Rigby's subsequent visit - April 2007

The Smid's subsequent visit - September 2007