The following article appeared in the programme for Racing Club Warwick v Romulus on 17th February 2007.
The ongoing saga of one man’s season.
Saturday 30th December – Brackley Town v Berkhamstead Town, Southern League Division 1 Midlands
Another Saturday and yet another Racing Club washout. On an exceptionally wet day I am once again faced with the dilemma of which match to attend and I opt for the short hop down the M40 to Brackley - it’s less than 30 miles. Brackley’s St James Park is well worth a visit if you’ve got a free Saturday at any time. Their ground is hidden away at one end of a modern housing estate and is very tidy with a well-kept flat and grassy pitch that makes a change from the variety of bare, sloping or apparently ploughed pitches that I’ve witnessed of late. Their clubhouse is modern and homely and seems to be the centrepiece of the local community as is usually the case at clubs in receipt of the FA’s Charter Standard.
Today’s game is a top versus bottom affair with Brackley leading the way and seven points clear at kick off following last season’s agonising play off final defeat. Berkhamstead (or “Berko” as their few followers prefer to call them) on the other hand have collected only thirteen points all season and look to be in trouble. However, as is frequently the case in this league, Berko proceeded to give a good account of themselves and, despite going one down after only four minutes, went in at the break in touch with their hosts. Perhaps the atrocious conditions had something to do with it? No drainage system in the world could have coped with the deluge that occurred during the first hour of this game. The players began splashing around as the second half kicked off and the bounce of the ball became unpredictable (either skidding away of sticking). With 11 minutes to go it was still only 2-1 to Brackley but the home side went on to stick four more away with Matt Murphy notching four in total in the match, his last being the 100th that I’ve witnessed this season in only 30 games. Witnessing four goals for any player in one match is something of a rarity (about once every 170 matches in my case) and the last time I saw the feat performed was by Ubong earlier this season against Alvechurch (does that seem like a long time ago to you too?). Brackley look well set for Southern League Premier status next season and, if their future matches are anything like this one, certainly receive my personal seal of approval as far as entertainment goes.
Monday 1st January – Studley v Racing Club, Midland Football Alliance
2007 and a chance for Racing Club to turn over a new leaf. Today’s match looks to be in doubt due to leaden grey skies and regular torrential downpours. What have our boys done to anger the gods? We make one of the shortest journeys of the season but the feeling is increasingly one of making a wasted trip as we near Abbeyfields Drive. To my great surprise the gateman takes our money and says that the game is going ahead but I keep tight hold of the little admission ticket for a refund as I feel sure that this one won’t make half-time. The pitch is an absolute pudding and it is clear from the evidence of the near touchline that the Referee’s Assistant will be officiating ankle-deep in mud. Nevertheless our match does indeed start and, with both sides doing a good impression of not really wanting to be out there, reaches half-time goalless. The rain is still of the cats and dogs variety and it is still by no certain that we will witness a full 90 minutes. The second half, sadly, saw Racing Club’s 2007 kick-off with a defeat as we shipped (indeed the pitch could have taken a ship and plenty of subs given how wet it was) three goals without managing a reply. In the following week’s Courier Jose complained that the match should never have started and had advised the Referee accordingly beforehand. Possibly so but the performance was exceptionally disappointing and, as the old saying goes, it was the same for both sides. When the going gets tough? It was miserable for the fans too but we paid our money and expected better. Still, the only way is up isn’t it?
Saturday 6th January – Kidsgove Athletic v Buxton, Unibond League Division 1
It goes without saying that Racing’s game is off. We’ll be finishing our season by playing every day of the week if it goes on much longer. It gives me a chance to tick off yet another new ground, this time the enigmatically named Stan Brown Stadium, home of Kidsgrove Athletic situated up near Stoke-on-Trent. The Stadium is a little jewel, with little being the operative word. I don’t think that I’ve ever been in such a tight ground. There is literally only room for one person at a time though some pinch points in the spectator areas and I don’t think that there were more than four rows of seats at the widest parts. We appeared to have stumbled upon something of a local derby as league leaders Buxton had brought a reasonable-sized following.
Three minutes into the match and Kidsgrove, failing to pay enough respect to their opponents, took the lead courtesy of the prolific Michael Lennon. Game on! Buxton were having none of it and levelled a few minutes later. The game was feisty to say the least and, as the teams filed off at half-time and the substitutes came on for a kick-about, I was astounded to see one of the Buxton subs get embroiled in a verbal slanging match with a few Kidsgrove supporters. He had to be restrained by a team mate and there was a real chance of an Eric Cantona moment (no, not seagulls or trawlers!). Brainless! Shortly after the resumption and Buxton took the lead. After that Buxton never really looked like losing it and finished worthy winners.
Saturday 13th January – Newport County v Histon, FA Trophy 2nd Round
No Warwick game once again and therefore another new ground opportunity for yours truly and one that I had understood to be called Spytty Park but seemed instead to be known as the Newport Stadium. I have a bit of a soft spot for County on account of my having completed the original set of 92 League grounds at their former home of Somerton Park back in 1986. Those were truly the good old days for Newport who, since, have lost their league status, went bust, were reformed by the supporters as Newport AFC, played in exile in England on account of their dispute with the Welsh FA and have made steady progress back up the lower levels of non-league football to their current lofty position in the Nationwide Conference South. Newport isn’t that far from Warwick (under two hours drive) and I pulled up outside their athletics stadium home nearly two hours ahead of kick-off. Their social club was already doing a roaring trade.
The problem with athletics stadium-based football clubs is the proximity of the supporters (or lack of it) to the action. How I hate gazing across several running lanes – it reminds me a little of the awful view that you used to be treated to at the old Wembley courtesy of its dog track. Newport had its own dog that uses the athletics track known as (wait for it) Spytty the Dog. Today however we were to be treated to two Spyttys: the official mascot in front of the main stand and another, more dishevelled, version of Spytty who came ambling around to the supporters on the opposite side brandishing a banana! This mystery Spytty leapt over the barrier and into the spectator area before revealing himself to be none other than suspended striker and former Racing Club favourite Julian Alsop. The banana was being waved by our Julian on account of his now legendary departure from a previous club following the alleged insertion of a banana into one of the apprentices (well at least it was one portion of fruit for the poor lad!). Fair play though to Julian for joining the regular fans and improving the relationship between fans and team at a stroke.
Histon possibly went to Newport with some trepidation having been trounced there just seven days earlier 5-1 despite their being Conference South league leaders. County were relishing the opportunity for another go at the Stutes but the game proved to be something of a disappointment finishing goal-less despite several good chances for each side. Pity poor Newport and their supporters for the long trek to Cambridgeshire on the following Tuesday night - at least we don’t have to put up with such marathon journeys in the Midland Alliance!
Keep the faith!
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