Warlingham FC

Warlingham 2 Farnham Town 2 - Combined Counties League, Division One

Combined Counties League

Warlingham is a large village on the south-eastern boundary of London. Warlingham is centered on a triangular village green, home to most of the village's commercial activities. Most of Warlingham's populace works in Croydon or central London, making Warlingham part of the London commuter belt. Tony Lavin of Brisbane Australia worked at the White Lion 1983-1984 and wonders "What happened to Alan's sweet shop? Love to hear from anybody that we met during our enjoyable time at Warlingham" (found this on the net - Ed).

I travelled via London Victoria and East Croydon to Upper Warlingham station, from where I walked (mostly uphill) to Warlingham village. It was a very steep climb and brought back memories of a similar experience walking to neighbouring Farleigh Rovers many years back. I would estimate this trek lasted 30-35 minutes but it was at altitude. It is fair to say that Verdayne Playing Fields is a very basic venue. The clubhouse/changing rooms building is the only permanent structure. The Pieman understands that Warlingham are looking for promotion to the Premier Division and if successful will groundshare at Croydon Athletic next season. The long term aim is to develop their own facilities, to the required standard, in Warlingham. Warlingham Sports Club, the parent club, are behind the venture.

Following on from the late drama in the Horley Town v Sheerwater match on Saturday, there were a number of scenarios that could determine the destination of the Combined Counties League Division One Championship this season. Tonight's fixture was to have a big say on the issue.

Scenario 1 Visitors Farnham Town (88 points from 39 matches) were in Pole Position going into this, their final, match. A win tonight would guarantee them the title. Anything less than a win could invoke Scenario 2 as a win for Horley Town (87 from 39) at Farleigh Rovers tonight would see them finish ahead of Farnham on points and probably win the championship. I say probably because Scenario 3 tonight's hosts Warlingham (75 from 35) could, if they won all FIVE of the remaining matches finish ahead of both Farnham and Horley. If both Horley and Warlingham had won tonight then goal difference would come into the equation. Before tonight it was +73 opposed to +55 in Horley's favour. I guess five wins could make it tight. Scenario 4 (another one? - Ed) involves Worcester Park FC (already completed their fixtures 88 from 40) who could also win the title if both Farnham lose, Horley fail to win and Warlingham fail to win at least four and draw the fifth of their five remaining fixtures. If Warlingham finish on the same points as Farnham (possible if tonight's match is drawn) then again goal difference could decide the title, but only if Horley fail to win at Farleigh tonight!

Clear ? (Smid suggested that Carol Vorderman should be enlisted to help with this - Ed)

Farnham Town started the match positively and following an early injury to the Warlingham keeper, were comfortably 2-0 ahead. However Warlingham played some fine football themselves and were rewarded with a goal just before the interval. The home side dominated the majority of the second period and deservedly levelled with about 10 minutes remaining. A red card per team and a missed penalty by the home side merely added to the entertainment. At the final whistle the Farnham team began to celebrate as the news came through that Horley had drawn 1-1 at Farleigh Rovers. This point had therefore been enough to ensure the championship for Farnham. I immediately reflected on that late penalty miss by Warlingham. If it had been converted Horley would have overhauled Farnham on goal difference and of course going back to the late Sheerwater recovery at Horley on Saturday, Horley will be regretting not capitalising on their dominance of that match. It just shows how thin that line between success and failure in football can be.

Warlingham now have three fixtures remaining (the league will meet to discuss the 4th outstanding fixture, caused when opponents Merrow failed to turn up last week) and a maximum 12 points (they will get 3 from the Merrow fixture) would see them end on 88 points like Worcester Park and Horley Town. This would mean that the top four sides would be separated by just one point!

After the match (a 7pm KO) I was able to catch a 403 bus at 21:07 (the 20:52 was either early or cancelled) back to Croydon (Fairfield Halls), a Thameslink service (21:32) to London Bridge, the 21:58 from Liverpool Street to Cheshunt and was home for 22:40. The bus from Warlingham is by far the better option as the mountainous route from the local station is a bit of a trek ('Aye but it twer a grand ride down agen' - Ed).

Attendance: 91
Admission: £2.00
Programme: included in admission price
Tea: 70p
Coffee: 80p
Mars Bar: 40p
Fare: Covered by my season ticket - Warlingham is in Zone 6

Stephen Harris also attended this match - his report courtesy of Football Grounds In Focus

Horley Town FC

Horley Town 2 Sheerwater 2 - Combined Counties League, Division One

Combined Counties League

Horley is a town in Surrey, situated between Reigate, Redhill and Gatwick. With fast links by train to London, it has grown popular with commuters in recent years. In early times the Weald was a densely forested and marshy area unsuitable for agricultural purposes. During Saxon times, the Manor of Horley came under the control of the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter at Chertsey. No mention is made of Horley in the Domesday Book and it is thought to have been included in the northern manor returns. The Manor passed to Henry VIII on the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 and changed hands several times during the next sixty years. Horley is home to the Archway Theatre, Britain’s only "under the arches" theatre. Located under the arches of the Victoria Road railway bridge, the theatre consists of a bar, auditorium, studio and rehearsal rooms. The main auditorium seats 95 and the studio seats 40. The company presents 10 full productions each year as well as number of studio events and youth productions.

Hotspur and I caught the train (from London Victoria changing at East Croydon) to Horley station and I was pleasantly surprised to find a Wetherspoon pub 'The Jack Fairman' a couple minutes walk along Victoria Road. Here I enjoyed a pint of 'Five Generations Bitter' from W.J.King of Horsham. Where possible in these establishments, I try to sample the local brews and this proved a good choice (do you know this beer Mike Parsons? - Ed). I should not have been surprised to bump into Colin Marshall in this pub (him of Bacon Roll fame - Ed) as he is known to frequent Wetherspoon establishments in tandem with non-league football. He had already visited the new Wetherspoon outlet at Gatwick Airport before we met.

The ground can be reached in 20 minutes from the station if you take advantage of a couple of short cuts through a housing estate. The Pieman visited Horley Town's previous ground back in 1994, witnessing a 1-1 draw with Farleigh Rovers. That venue was on the opposite side of town. Sited on land that had been held in trust since 1947 for the people of Horley in memory of those that died in the defence of their country. The ground was named “The Defence”.

The New Defence is a well appointed ground. The clubhouse (serves real ale - Adnams bitter on Saturday), changing facilities and seated stand are housed in one impressive block. There is also additional covered terracing behind one of the goals. On a previous visit, Colin had wondered why he had been the only spectator sitting in the stand. It was some while later that he was tipped off that he had been sharing the seats with a wasps nest! Thankfully that was some time back and Colin, now a senior citizen according to the gateman, was able to return to the stand for the second period of this match.

Going into this match, Horley Town had a great chance to win the Division One League title. This was one of two remaining fixtures and maximum points would guarantee the title. All was going well for most of the match. An early goal following a goalkeeping error was added to before the break and Horley appeared to be in control. However, 5 minutes before the end of the match Sheerwater pulled a goal back and as can often happen in these pressure situations, panic set in. This was compounded when the home keeper was lobbed with a precision strike in the last minute. 3 points had suddenly been reduced to 1 and the destination of the league title is still uncertain.

It appears that the match scheduled for Tuesday (Warlingham v Farnham Town) will have a bearing on who wins the title and the Pieman is seriously considering signing off the 2006/7 season with that one. Watch this space.........

Attendance: 70
Admission: £4.00
Programme: "Nah blokezin Germany" (A programme was produced retrospectively and has been scanned by Colin Marshall)
Tea: 60p
Adnams Bitter: £2.30
Cheeseburger with Lettuce & Onions: £1.70
Fare: £3.10 from Zone 6 with Gold Card discount

The Pieman's earlier visit to The Defence

Stowmarket Town FC

Stowmarket Town 3 Downham Town 1 - Eastern Counties League, Division One

Eastern Counties League

Stowmarket is a small market town situated in Suffolk, England, on the busy A14 trunk road between Bury St Edmunds to the West and Ipswich to the South-East. The town is on the main rail line between London and Norwich, and has an approximate population of 16,000. Stowmarket lies on the River Gipping, which is joined by its tributary, the River Rat, to the South of the town. In the 18th century the Gipping was made navigable between Stowmarket and Ipswich by a series of locks. The newly created canal was known as the Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation. The town takes its name from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘Stow’ meaning ‘principal place’, and was granted a market charter in 1347 by Edward III. A bi-weekly market is still held there today.

We travelled by car from Cheshunt and opted for the scenic route via Ongar, Braintree, Halstead and Sudbury. It takes considerably longer this way but you get to see so much more. For anyone looking to visit via public transport, I would estimate no more than a 10 minute walk from Stowmarket Railway Station (London Liverpool Street to Norwich line) to the ground.

This was another opportunity for a Pie family outing. Mrs Pieman and Daughter spent the afternoon visiting the centrally located Museum of East Anglian Life.

The Greens Meadow ground has a sloping pitch running downhill from the side where the main stand and clubhouse facilities are situated. In between these structures is another covered area, a lot of which is used for storage but there is some additional seating here too.

Visitors Downham Town have struggled this season and finished the season second from bottom. This was the last match of the season for the teams and on a hard dry surface both sides went looking to end the season with a win. Stowmarket took the points having finished the match stronger.

Prior to my visit to Stowmarket I had read on the 'net' about a certain Stowmarket supporter who is very vociferous at matches. The item on Fanzone is worth a read.

"Anywhere"

Well I certainly came across this gentleman at the match. Standing next to one of the dug outs, "Anywhere Ron" as he is known, was never shy in offering his opinion to the match officials, players and anyone else in the firing line! When one of the Downham Town bench queried a Ron comment with "but he did kick his head" a member of the Stowmarket bench sportingly advised "don't rise to it" - great banter enjoyed by the Pieman and young Harry Hotspur.

Smid, on his excellent 100 grounds club website, has recently been publishing a series entitled 'The Football Bog Blog'. I believe I now have a rival series 'The Pie & Peas Tractor Factor' - This follows the earlier sighting at Godmanchester Rovers last month. Not sure if either of these superb specimens are pressed into service at these grounds anymore (can you still get the spare parts? - Ed)

We travelled home via the A14, A11 and A10. A lot quicker but a lot less scenic.

Attendance: 48
Admission: £3.50 (Hotspur free)
Programme: £1.00
Mug of Tea: 60p
Cheeseburger with Onions: £1.20
Pint of Greene King IPA: £2.20

Colliers Wood United FC

Colliers Wood United 1 Cobham 0 - Combined Counties League, Premier Division

Combined Counties League

Colliers Wood is an area in South London, England, in the London Borough of Merton. Colliers Wood takes its name from a wood that stood to the east of Colliers Wood Road, approximately where Warren, Marlborough and Birdhurst Roads are now. This wood remained at least until the 1870s.

Colliers Wood United FC play at the Wibbandune Sports Ground which is adjacent to the A3 between Kingston and Wimbledon. According to records, the "Woods" were founded in 1874. The easiest way to reach this venue by public transport is via the 265 bus route (Putney Bridge Station to Tolworth). Apart from the obvious District Line interchange, there is a bus stop adjacent to Barnes (South West Trains) Station. I am particularly grateful to Glaswegian John Broodle for his local knowledge and advice regarding this bus service.

I was not sure what to expect of the ground. I had heard that it was 'basic' with little by way of spectator facilities. Therefore it was a pleasant surprise to find a 102 seat covered stand along one side of the ground. On the opposite side is the clubhouse and there is also some covered 'veranda' type accommodation at the front with a few seats and tables.

For an end of season encounter, this match wasn't bad entertainment. Colliers Wood took the points courtesy of a header from a corner.

The ground is enclosed by trees on 3 sides and I would suggest that the enormous conifers behind one goal are essential in preventing the loss of footballs to the fast moving A3 traffic. Behind the trees at the other end is Beverley Brook (runs from through Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common before entering the Thames at Putney- Ed)

After the match, which ended at 21:34, it was a quick trot over the footbridge to the northbound bus stop in time to catch the 21:39 (very convenient) bus to Putney Bridge (on the station at 22:00).

Attendance: 65
Admission: £5.00 (includes match programme)
Programme: Additional copies for cover price £1.00 (obtained for you Andy, Stan and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely)
Mug of Tea: 60p
Cheese & Ham French Bread: £1.20