Oxhey Jets FC

Oxhey Jets 1 Cockfosters 2 - Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division

Spartan South Midlands League

Oxhey is a suburb of the borough of Watford in the county of Hertfordshire, England. Oxhey grew in size during the mid-19th Century with the coming of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from London Euston to Glasgow, the settlement being developed to house railway workers. Oxhey's Parish church is St Matthew's, a Grade II listed building, dating from 1880 in Gothic revival style with some elements of early Art Nouveau decoration. The church also features a Karl Parsons window in the Lady Chapel.

A third successive jaunt into the Spartan South Midlands League and just like the previous Saturday at Kentish Town; this Pieman was not disappointed with his choice of match. Having attended a football camp throughout the half-term break, Harry Hotspur was rested for this encounter between the superbly named Oxhey Jets and Cockfosters.

I travelled via London Euston and Hatch End from where I was able to follow a public footpath to the Boundary Stadium. Carpenders Park is a slightly nearer station and having had to negotiate a field of grazing horses, I decided to utilise that option after the match!

Founded in 1972, Oxhey Jets FC has risen from local football via the Herts County League in a relatively short time and appear to have further aspirations from what I could see of the ground, and the work in progress. A community based club for sure and this is evidenced by the impressive clubhouse and associated activities.

All the spectator facilities are housed on the clubhouse side of the ground. A couple of identical covered seated stands (similar to those at Stanway Rovers – Ed) some raised concrete terracing and the refreshment bar. Behind one goal is a newish housing estate, whereas behind the opposite goal the horses graze. Down a dip behind the dugouts is an impressive looking training pitch.

Cockfosters, struggling near the foot of the table, will have been encouraged when Kevin Reade steered the ball home after 28 minutes. However, the home side hit back a minute later through Luke Lloyd’s wonder strike from 30 yards (the keeper saw it coming but there was nothing he could do – Ed).

An equally impressive long-range strike from Danny Hutchings put Cockfosters back in front ten minutes later and despite plenty of good football from both sides, that goal completed the scoring.

Before the match there was a 'minute's silence'. I am not sure of the reason but can report that, as expected this was well observed by all the players and the majority of the spectators. However those entering the ground at this time were not helped by the lady on the gate (all proceedings visible from there - Ed) who just got progressively louder. It was a very long 60 seconds.

A decent afternoon out, I was impressed with the ground. Clearly a lot of work went into levelling the playing surface and it will be interesting to see if the club progress further. I was able to catch the 17.09 service back to London from Carpenders Park and was back at Euston for 17.45 or thereabouts.

Attendance: 59
Admission: £4.00
Programme: Included with admission, extras available at £1.00 (obtained for you Andy, Stan and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely)
Tea: 50p
Crunchie: 50p
Fare: covered by my annual season ticket/all zone travel card - although I must owe someone something for the return leg from Carpenders Park to Zone 6 (Hatch End)

Kentish Town FC

Kentish Town 4 Haringey Borough 2 - Spartan South Midlands League, Division One

Spartan South Midlands League

Kentish Town is first recorded during the reign of King John (1208) as kentisston. By 1456 Kentish Town was recognised as a thriving hamlet, and in this period a chapel of ease is recorded as being built for the inhabitants. The early 19th century brought modernisation, causing much of the area's rural charm, the River Fleet and the 18th century buildings to vanish, although pockets still remain, for example Little Green Street. Between the availability of public transport to it from London, and its urbanisation, it was a popular resort. Large amounts of land were purchased to build the railway, which can still be seen today. Kentish Town was a prime site for development as the Kentish Town Road was a major route from London northwards. Probably it's most famous early resident was Karl Marx who lived at 9 Grafton Terrace from 1856.

After an initial nomadic existence, Kentish Town FC is now settled at Barnet Copthall Stadium. This venue was recently visited by Martin Wray, web editor of Football Grounds in Focus (check out this excellent site – Ed). Martin details additional information concerning the history of the stadium. However, I can add to this with the revelation that in the 1980s, the stadium was the venue for Tony Wade’s wedding reception (remember that MK Gould? – Ed).

I understand that the Wade reception did not receive coverage in the national press, so readers of this report can be forgiven for not recognising the name or event. More importantly the match I attended on that occasion was not of the football variety. Therefore Harry Hotspur and I set off to redress the imbalance. We travelled via Tottenham Hale and Euston to reach Mill Hill East from where we caught a 221 bus the short distance to the stadium.

For an Athletics venue this is certainly one of the best for viewing football, with very little by way of restrictions as to where you can watch the match. The seated stand provides an excellent vantagepoint, whereas there is raised terracing surrounding the remainder of the ground. There is some additional uncovered seating opposite the main stand although I ‘m not sure how often this would be pressed into action for Spartan South Midlands football!

The match was very good and certainly a good advert for this level. Both teams contributed by playing constructive football. Kentish Town took the lead after 20 minutes when Jonathan Donoghue stroked home after holding off a challenge. This was supplemented 10 minutes later when Lee Scott added to the opener with a controlled finish when one on one with the keeper.

However, visitors Haringey Borough were determined to make a game of it and almost immediately after the break Mark Maher’s free kick was too hot for Town’s keeper to handle – game on! From this point Borough were in the ascendancy and most of the play took place in Town’s half. However, the storm was weathered and Donoghue was able to grab his second goal to give Town some breathing space with another good finish. Not for long though as Borough had soon reduced the arrears with their second, as Adeniyi Adedeji headed home as the ball rebounded off a post following another free kick. Almost immediately there was that man Donoghue again to complete his hat trick (his partnership with Scott looks promising – Ed).

That Penalty

There was still time for the visitors to set up a dramatic finale when they were awarded a penalty but Kieran Donnelly's fierce penalty kick smashed against the underside of the bar and bounced down almost onto the line and the home keeper somehow got up to tip Chima Obiji's virtually point blank header over the bar.

At half time I met Cliff Rhodes, Public Relations Supremo of Kentish Town FC. Cliff explained a bit about the efforts that the club is making within the community and also gave me some back issues of the match programme. Thanks Cliff – hope you received the pictures. After the match, Hotspur and I again took advantage of the 221 bus service. However, on this occasion we travelled as far as Wood Green where we caught a W3 service (passing Haringey Borough’s ground – Ed) to White Hart Lane from where we caught our train home to Cheshunt.

Attendance: 34
Admission: £4.00 (Hotspur £1.00)
Programme: Included with admission, extras available at £1.00 (obtained for you Andy, Stan and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely)
Tea (in a mug!): 50p
Fare: covered by my annual season ticket/all zone travel card

Later on in the season (2 April 2008) it was the turn of Paul Roth, regular correspondent for Football Grounds In Focus, to visit Kentish Town FC. The club noticeboard has a familiar look about it!

www.footballgroundsinfocus.com

Anorthosis Famagusta FC

Anorthosis Famagusta 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - UEFA Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg

Larnaca is a city on the east coast of Cyprus. The major international airport of Cyprus, Larnaca International Airport is located in this city. In ancient times, Larnaca was known as Kition, or (in Latin) Citium. Larnaca is colloquially known as "Skala" (Greek: Σκάλα) to the Greek Cypriot community and "İskele" to the Turkish Cypriots. It is the island's second commercial port and an important tourist resort. The city of Larnaka is well-known for its picturesque sea-front which includes rows of palm trees. Much of the activity is centred around the city promenade during the major festivals. The most important of these for the city of Larnaka is Kataklysmos or the Festival of the Flood, celebrated in early summer with a series of cultural events. Among the 13 worldwide places that Larnaca is twinned with, is Haringey (well there you go - Ed) home borough of Tottenham Hotspur FC.

«Συνεστήθη εν Βαρωσίοις και υφίσταται από 30 Ιανουαρίου 1911, αναγνωστήριον υπό την επωνυμίαν Ανόρθωσις, επί της ηθικής αναπλάσεως, της ελληνικής μορφώσεως και της ψυχαγωγίας των μελών αυτού». Ήταν το πρώτο βήμα μιας δύσβατης πορείας, που οδηγούσε όμως πάντα σε ξέφωτα. Ελληνικά ξέφωτα... Ήταν ο θεμελιός, γέρος θεμελιός, ενός οικοδομήματος που άντεξε τους θυμούς του χρόνου και τους τριγμούς δύσκολων καιρών.

Ήταν η πρώτη σελίδα ενός κεφαλαίου που άνοιξε για να μην κλείσει ποτέ... Με λέξεις γραμμένες από ιδρώτα και αίμα. Ανόρθωσις Αμμοχώστου. Και ανάπλασε, και μόρφωσε, και ψυχαγώγησε τα παιδιά της. Και τα παιδιά των παιδιών της. Γενιές και γενιές. Από το 1911 μέχρι σήμερα. Μέχρι αύριο και μεθαύριο. Για πάντα...

Anorthosis Famagusta FC (Greek: Ανόρθωση Αμμοχώστου = Anorthosi Ammochostou) is a Cypriot football and a volleyball club which comes from Famagusta. It was founded in January 30 1911. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, Anorthosis became a refugee team and is now based at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. The Anorthosis Home Stadium in occupied Famagusta, is G.S.E. (Gymnastic Club Evagoras) which has been abandoned and in a bad condition since 1974.

A Wednesday morning flight from Heathrow enabled us to reach Larnaca a full 24 hours before the match. A late successful bid by Channel 5 resulted in the match being brought forward by 3+ hours. Those supporters travelling a day later on the equivalent Cyprus Airways flight will have been grateful that even with a delay they were just able to get to the stadium in time for the match.

We stayed in central Larnaca and took advantage of the opportunity to explore some of the many watering holes available. To be honest the variety of local beer was limited to the bland Keo and Leon brews. However the exception was to be found at The Brewery (pub/restaurant), where a varying selection of home brew was available. However the quality meant that at this establishment you pay four times the price of the mass-produced brands.

We were fortunate to be given a lift out to the ground but after the match our walk back into town only took half an hour at a leisurely pace. On this basis I would guess that the stadium is around 2 miles from the centre and coast. With Spurs leading 6-1 from the 1st leg, the interest from the Cypriots was diluted. Initially Spurs were allocated less than 500 tickets but on the night this figure swelled significantly. It was clear that holidaymakers were bussed in from other parts of the island (some additional duties for tour reps – Ed).

Holidaymakers over From Pathos?

The stadium being relatively new, offers a good view of the proceedings from most angles. There are two covered tiered seated stands along the sides. Behind the goals are uncovered seated stands. Torrential rain, thunder and lightning later in the evening meant that that the visiting support and the home fans in the opposite end were spared a soaking by the early kick off (Thanks Channel 5 – Ed). The match was effectively a non event. Anorthosis Famagusta took the lead in the 2nd half with the benefit of an overlooked blatant handball. Spurs levelled through Robbie Keane.

The following afternoon, the pilots of Cyprus Airways staged a lightning strike (More lightning – Ed). Our return flight to Heathrow was delayed by 3 hours. This Pieman is particularly grateful to Good Bobwin’s chauffeur (Steve Martin) for the lift home to Cheshunt.

Attendance: 8000 according to THFC
Admission: 20 Cyprus Pounds
Programme: 2 Cyprus Pounds (obtained for you Stan, the Pittsburgh Steeler and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely)
Lift home from Heathrow: Priceless - thanks Steve!