The following article appeared in the programmes for Racing Club Warwick v Stourbridge on 22nd February and 27th April 2005.
We seem to have been somewhat lacking in league games recently. Saturday 5th February sees Racing Club with a blank Saturday due to having pulled-forward the originally scheduled fixture against Boldmere following our earlier-than-planned exit from the Vase. It’s time therefore to scan the Non League Paper for interesting-looking fixtures at grounds that I haven’t visited yet. One of my criteria when selecting a match to go to is that I prefer Cup competitions so I’m pleased to see that there’s a fourth round FA Trophy tie involving Eastwood Town at home to Hayes and another new ground for me.
So where is Eastwood? It’s in Nottinghamshire, not far off of the M1 and, today, “the Badgers” are the lowest placed club left in the FA Trophy. Eastwood normally ply their trade in Unibond League Division One alongside our old foes Willenhall Town and Rocester. The journey from Warwick to Eastwood’s home, Coronation Park, takes only about 75 minutes and we are soon enjoying a pint in Eastwood’s smart clubhouse. The ground itself is tidy with one new-looking stand and a small seated area on the opposite side. Coronation Park has a pronounced slope which is not particularly surprising since the club is perched at the top of a hill. The visitors, Hayes, are actually placed two leagues higher up the pyramid than Eastwood in Conference South so we are to witness a possible giant killing (perhaps the term “giant killing” is inappropriate for a fixture involving two non league clubs but this is at least the equivalent of a small furry animal against a spider – can you find an analogy involving badgers since I can’t think of a predator for a badger – help me nature lovers!).
In the early exchanges Hayes look comfortably the side with the better touch, Eastwood having elected to play in a fairly direct style. Inevitably it is Eastwood who create the better chances against the “Fancy Dans from down south” (could somebody tell me what a “Fancy Dan” actually is? Is it something to do with Danny La Rue?) and they take the lead after 23 minutes. As the match progresses, Eastwood look more and more comfortable and Hayes possession creates little pressure for the Eastwood defence to deal with. Hayes’ manager, the wonderfully monikered Willy Wordsworth, becomes more and more animated as the game progresses and his side fails to exhibit any poetry in motion. Wordsworth is barracked throughout the second half by a Hayes follower in the main stand who sounds an extra from Eastenders. Loud cheering and much local celebration greets the final whistle as little Eastwood have made it into the last 16 and a home tie again, this time against Hereford. Badgers against Bulls? I wonder!
Saturday 12th February and the weather once again puts paid to a Racing Club game, this time the one against Westfields at their allpay.park home (sounds like a website address doesn’t it?). My luck is in this Saturday as my other favourites, York City, are away to Forest Green Rovers which is only about 60 miles from Warwick. How many of you know where Forest Green is? Well you can put away your AA guide now because if you go to the Forest Green listed in there you’ll end up in totally the wrong place (this does happen to travelling fans occasionally I believe). Forest Green Rovers (or FGR as they seem to brand themselves) are based in the Gloucestershire village of Nailsworth. If you’re still none the wiser then let me tell you that Nailsworth’s nearest big town is Stroud. If you don’t know where that is then you need to get out more!
Forest Green and York are struggling at the foot of the Conference. Both have had a change of manager this season (two in York’s case) with Alan Lewer attempting to guide FGR away from the foot of the table and Billy McEwan enjoying the first game of his reign at Kit Kat Crescent (the new name of York’s chocolate friendly home). FGR’s home is known as The Lawn. This is about as far away from the truth as you could possibly get. The pitch resembles something closer to a ploughed field than a lawn and the man on the mike sighs as the rain lashes down and informs us that FGR’s previous six home games have been rain affected. The Lawn is another ground that is located at the top of a hill. This particular hill is really rather steep in keeping with some spectacular hills and vales that characterise this corner of England. FGR style themselves as “The Friendly Club on the Hill” and this label at least seems to be rather apt.
The game itself? It’s dominated by the Minstermen who take a first half lead only to be pegged back in the second half courtesy of a rather dodgy penalty that is despatched by FGR’s leading scorer Charlie Griffin. At least my personal run of dreadful results when watching York is over – hopefully this match represents the turning of a corner and some upward mobility in the Conference. I’m already looking forward to seeing Racing Club again…
Keep the faith!
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