Rayners Lane

Rayners Lane FC are based in North West London in the Borough of Harrow. The club were formed in 1933 and entered local league football. The Tithe Farm Social Club was formed with the football club being absorbed into it.

In 1951 'Lane' became Middlesex League champions before moving into the Spartan League in 1957. Unfortunately they failed to be re-elected in 1971 and returned to the Middlesex League. Lane soon returned to the higher status but when the league amalgamated it meant another step back.

A new challenge was sought and Lane joined the Hellenic League in 1978. They were successful and remained there until the ground graders came in and enforced higher standards for Premier League clubs. The club were demoted a division and remained there for a couple of seasons before dropping back down to the Middlesex League to regroup.

Lane applied to join the Chiltonian League on a couple of occasions before that league amalgamated with the Hellenic League to become the new Division One East with Lane becoming founder members in 2000.


After many aborted attempts Lane were given planning permission to erect floodlights in May 2011. Lane won the Division One East title in the 2012-13 season, but were denied promotion owing to ground grading issues at Tithe Farm.


Rayners Lane FC will compete in the Hellenic League Division One East for the 2013-14 season.

My visits

I travelled on the tube to have a look at the Tithe Farm ground one day after working on the underground in 2006 and to take some snaps. I was impressed by the neatness of the arena with the tall trees surrounding the pitch on three of the sides, with the social club and facilities down the other touchline.


Rayners Lane 3 Thame United 3 (after extra time). Thame won 5-4 on penalties (Saturday 29th January 2011) Hellenic League Supplimentary Cup Round Two (att: 34)

I was on night shift for the week at work so I looked for somewhere quite local where I hadn't previously watched a game. After I made enquiries as to the kick off time, I got the good news that the game would start at 1.45pm to allow for the possibility of extra time and the lack of floodlights. I reasoned that this would allow me to get to the second half of Harrow Borough v Margate, which was only a fifteen minutes walk away.

I took the train, and clumsily took the wrong Metropolitan line service heading to Watford rather than the Uxbridge one I needed. Not to worry as it turned out because when I alighted at Pinner I found out the H12 bus passed at the bottom of the road and stopped right outside Tithe Farm.

I was soon at the ground and found my way into the clubhouse which was normally for members only. A very welcoming barman told me that I'd get the programmes outside and I'd be hunted down as it also acted as the ground admission. I watched some of the Everton v Chelsea FA Cup tie in the excellent room with a very reasonable pint of Reverend James as company.

I went outside before kick off and was liberated of £3 for admission and an excellent programme. The gentlemen were very hospitable and were delighted I'd chosen their game after initially having me down as a Thame supporter. The last time I had seen Thame in action was in a pre season friendly against Brentford around the turn of the millennium at their impressive old ground, when Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was serving behind the bar.

The match was in the Supplimentary Cup which I was told was for teams knocked out in the first round of the League Cup.

The ground hadn't changed much from my previous call, save for two small stands on the far side. The near side had picnic tables and benches, which I guess would be perfect on a warmer day. It really was cold. So bad in fact that I turned down the invitation to take a beer out with me.

I had a walk round to the far side and sat for a few minutes in one of the stands but the weather necessitated constant movement. The game was an absolute cracker. It was end to end on a decent surface and a very wide pitch. I went back round to the clubhouse side in time to see Lane go ahead to much from players and supporters alike. There weren't many there, but those who did attend really got behind their sides, even if the majority of the away support remained in their cars looking out towards the pitch and using their horns to salute something they enjoyed.

United levelled before half time when I bid a retreat for a small malt for medicinal reasons! I saw the visitors take the lead with a free kick through the clubhouse windows. The game ebbed and flowed with Lane dominating for long spells despite being a division below United.

They drew level but then lost momentum. An old Lane stalwart resplendent in his club woolly hat came for another chat. We agreed what a good choice I'd made. He then insisted on getting me the previous weeks programme so I could read all the league statistics. He was a smashing chap who patrolled the touch line yelling encouragement and acting as a ballboy. I really liked the way he welcomed and had a word for everyone, regardless of age. It's something officials of certain other clubs would do well to follow.

The game went to extra time much to the amusement of fellow fans who had heard of my Harrow Borough plans. I thought about it for all of a second before deciding to stay put. It really was too good to leave. Lane went ahead and it looked like a giant killing of sorts was in store. However Thame equalised and sent the game to penalties. Just like the previous hundred and twenty minutes lead in the shoot out went from one team to the other. Lane had the fifth kick to go through but the visiting keeper remained to form as he pulled off a great save. He had a brilliant game all the way through. If it hadn't been for him I'd have definitely seen the second half down the road.

Lane's sixth penalty was missed but the visitor made no mistake winning the game in sudden death. It had been a superb exhibition from both sides and amazing value for money.

Lane were attempting to overturn a previous refusal for the erection of floodlights in February 2011 at the council hearing so that they can be promoted to the Premier Division of the Hellenic League. They can guarantee they'll be seeing me again if they succeed.

Oh and Harrow Borough against Margate ended scoreless!

1. Explaination of Groundhopping

The following article appeared in the Scarborough Athletic fanzine, Abandon Chip in Autumn 2008.

Football grounds have always fascinated me. When I’ve nattered about the game in general to many different fans who’ve been to games, I’ve always asked questions such as “what’s the ground like?” or “how do you get there?” It’s a strange phenomenon that affects thousands of silent sufferers to varying degrees. You can spot “sufferers” on train and bus journeys, as they crane their necks for a passing glimpse of the back of a stand or a set of floodlights they’ve probably seen hundreds of times previously. This can lead to some tense moments as the non afflicted wonder why these weirdo’s keep staring them out for a couple of minutes at a time. Is it really our fault that these ignoramuses decide to sit in the same sight lines as our temples?

I fully admit to been a Grade A sufferer and am quite proud about the fact. I’ve even “come out” when work colleagues and mates ask what I’ve done on my day off. As I live in London, I am in a perfect location for my addiction. Hardly a journey goes by without me passing a sports venue. I can see the Wembley arch from my work place yet every day without fail I check to make sure it’s still there. As my article on the lost grounds of London revealed in AC6, you never know when they may disappear forever.

Over the years I’ve visited over 70 league grounds and over 100 non league, as well as others around Europe. In the last 2 years I have purchased a digital camera, a laptop and a mobile phone with a decent camera on it. I decided to start a collection of photos of grounds. I’d done this previously to very mixed results. With my old camera the results were very average. I had no instant image to make sure I had the photo I really wanted. The cost and time involved was also an issue. If you are paying for every shot and you don’t know what you’re ending up with, so I took a minimum of photos at each venue. His inevitably led to a shortfall of pictures not really encapsulating the ground properly. The advantages of digital are immense as I can take loads of pictures from lots of angles, and simply delete the ones that are no good. I still have a folder from years of visiting grounds when I would painstakingly draw a diagram of each venue as well as putting together details of each club such as club crests and a history of their playing kits. I had hoped one day to either produce a book on the subject. Unfortunately I’ve been beaten to it as many random publications are now available. I am currently pondering whether to invest in producing a web site to show off all my pictures of different standards of grounds and stadiums that I’ve visited. My intention would be to give each venue the same respect so fans of all clubs, no matter what standard they play at could visit the site and not just fans of “big clubs” who receive far too much attention as it is. That’s hopefully one for the future.

When I first moved to London in April 1999, I intended to see a game at each venue. I spent many afternoons and evenings watching a lot of meaningless dross (no offence to the teams involved), when my main focus was the place where the game was played. I still only count a league ground if I see a game on it, but something had to give with non league (especially if there was little chance of seeing my beloved Boro play there). Years ago when I was a young student, living on the outskirts of London I would occasionally buy a one day travel card and visit as many grounds as possible in the same day. In October 2004 I started working for London Underground. One of the perks of the job is I receive free travel on all tubes and buses. Since then I’ve had a few enjoyable days out groundhopping, trying to visit as many grounds as possible in the same day while adding pictures to my collection. I am now about 20 grounds short of visiting everyone of Step 6 (NCEL Division 1 standard) and above within the M25.

Apart from feeding my addiction, the hobby has other hidden advantages. I have seen areas of London I would never of otherwise visited (this is good and bad!). A day out is an ideal form of exercise as there is a lot of walking involved. I now know the transport system and areas of the capital as well as any lifelong Londoner, which is helpful when assisting customers at work. It is also a relatively cheap day out especially if I take a packed lunch with me.

One of the most pleasant features is the people I sometimes meet by chance who are involved with the clubs I am visiting. They are delighted that people take in interest in their clubs. Some realise immediately what I’m doing but some have seldom had anyone take an interest in their beloved clubs. They are so proud of what they’ve achieved, no matter what the standard of their ground. Sometimes I fall behind schedule as the conversation evolves as I explain I’m a Scarborough fan. Last season they wanted to know what was happening whereas now I explain about our new set up. Everyone is full of admiration for what we have achieved (though sorry for what happened) and wishes us success in the future. The other major attraction is stumbling across a hidden gem of a ground. A lot of grounds simply satisfy the ground grading requirements but just occasionally I visit somewhere exceptional for the league it represents because of the clubs former history, an incredibly hard working committee or a former philanthropist.

You may be wondering how I decide which grounds I put together on a day of groundhopping and how I put a schedule together? I have a good map of greater London as well as bus plans. I decide on an area I’m going to select (for instance South West London and Surrey). I then write down the clubs I’m targeting and try and link them together with transport routes. I bear in mind that I don’t want to finish in the middle of nowhere as I’m likely to be tired by then. A sensible journey home is a necessity. If it’s at all possible I try and start at the furthest point but I also need to consider an escape route home if anything goes wrong (weather, illness or general fatigue). Sometimes time and light can beat me so I have to think on my feet and abort visiting somewhere that I can tie in with another day out. Because of this, I never contact a club before I call. This gives me flexibility but can have its drawbacks, the main one been a locked ground. This can often be overcome as a lot of pictures can be captured from outside (low fences or ones with holes in, even gaps underneath!) I have received some very strange looks from local residents and passers by as I contort myself to get my missing snap. On the mentioned Surrey trip I ended up balanced on a plank above a compost heap in a semi-private allotment behind some very posh houses just to get an image of the main stand at Wheatsheaf Park, Staines. It’s only a matter of time before I have to explain myself to a local bemused police force having been reported in by some suspicious local.

As I mentioned earlier I will soon complete grounds within Greater London. As I pen this piece I am getting ready to embark on my first “hop” elsewhere. I am booked on a bus to Brighton to clock up grounds along the West Sussex coast. Further districts around the South East will be next on the agenda, before hopefully spending some time during my works holidays later next year visiting cities and districts far and wide.

I realise some of you will probably have me and any fellow groundhopper down for requiring psychiatric treatment, and you may have a point in some cases. Hopefully though this article may save one of my fellow sufferers filthy looks or in the worst-case scenario physical violence. We are not staring you out. You are probably blocking our view of a football ground. Please treat us kindly.

Bohemian (Ireland)

Bohemian FC, who were formed in 1890, are based in the suburb of Phibsborough in North Dublin. 'The Bohs' or 'The Gypsies' to give them their two nicknames are often known as Bohemians.

Soon after their formation The Bohs adopted red and black as their club colours. They played in the Irish League before becoming founder members of the League of Ireland in 1921, which was formed after Southern Ireland was declared a republic.

A downloaded picture of Dalymount Park in better days

The Gypsies started out life playing at the Polo Ground in Phoenix Park, before moving on the Jones Road which later became Croke Park. They were soon on their way to a site now occupied by Old Belvedere RFC where they could charge admission and build some finances for the first time. From there they went to Whitehall Farm Glasnevin, which was out of the way of public transport so once again they searched for another new ground. They found a site in Phibsborough where Dalymount Park was developed and opened in 1901. Over the years it became home to Irish football before internationals were shifted to Landsdowne Road permanently in the 1980's.

 

On the pitch Bohemian quickly established themselves as a leading club in the League of Ireland winning the title five times in the first fifteen years, as well as lifting two FAI Cups. There then followed a pretty barren run although they did enter European competition for the first time in 1970.

Two more league titles followed in 1975 and 1978 along with another couple of cups around the same period. The Bohs then had to wait until the turn of the millennium for another championship, but they then won four titles within the decade as summer football took a hold in the Republic.

The Bohs are owned 100% by the members but financial troubles blighted the club for several years. In 2006 the members voted to sell Dalymount Park to a businessman, Liam Cooper in a deal that would see them better off financially than ever before. The deal would see the club move to a new 10,000 stadium at Harristown near to Dublin Airport which would also have restaurants, bars and a gym.

 

 









In 2008 the club lost a court case which prevented the move as they had previously sold the land on which the old Tramways End stood to a company called Albion. Albion offered a deal for less money to the club in 2009 but offered to build the new stadium. As of January 2011 the club had yet to decide what to do. 

Successful manager Pat Fenlon who had led the club to honours was tempted away to take the vacant job at Hibernian in November 2011 after Bohs had turned down a compensation package from Dundee United a year earlier. Aaron Callaghan stepped into the managerial hotseat at Dalyer.

Bohemian FC will play in the League of Ireland Premier Division in the 2013 season.

My visit

Bohemian 0 Sligo Rovers 1 (Friday 15th October 2010) FAI Cup Semi Final (att: 4,500)

 I was in Dublin for a few days groundhopping and sightseeing. It was nearing the end of the 2010 season and I originally had intended to go to the Bohemian v Shamrock Rovers crunch match on the same date. However, the game had been moved forward for live TV coverage to the previous Tuesday, in a game the Bohs won one nil.

As it happened the Cup semi final was arranged to replace it. The side drawn out of the hat first got home advantage with no neutral grounds being used. There was plenty to play for as the final was to be staged at the new Aviva Stadium, which was formerly Lansdowne Road.

I had been on a wander during the morning before doing a tour of Croke Park. After a much needed siesta (the Guinness had been particularly good around Temple Bar the previous evening!) I set out for Dalyer as the locals call it. I had intended to take a bus but ended up walking up the hills out of the centre of the city.

My plan was to have a couple of beers in the pubs near to the stadium before having one at the bars inside. I wasn't keen on indulging post match as I had a very early flight the next day to East Midlands before heading to Long Eaton United against Scarborough Athletic, where I'd agreed to co-commentate on the game.

I had my Scarborough shirt on as it was generally a conversation piece in bars full of fans. Sure enough I ordered a Guinness in the very smart 'The Bohemian' bar and an older chap asked me how many fans we'd be bringing? He thought it was a Sligo shirt, but I soon explained and got sat down to have a chat about football and The Bohs. His name was Tom and he was a smashing bloke. He never stopped smiling and he'd soon bought the first of what was to be many rounds of drinks.

We finished our beer and we headed round to the ground, which was just a few minutes away. A coachload of away fans had just pulled up, with some using the front gardens of the terraced houses as toilets which I found a bit over the top. I went inside while Tom had to wait until the season ticket gate opened. I bought a programme and went out to the front of the stand to take some photos. I got chatting to a steward and I commented how I liked what I saw. He told me it wasn't a patch on how it used to be. It transpired he had holidayed near to Scarborough the previous week.

Tom came in and directed me to the members bar. He had also bought me a programme which summed up his generosity. We then got stuck in to some superb dark stuff in the bar, while I was introduced to some other Bohs fans. The two lads behind the bar were an exhibition in itself. They served the massed bar with efficiency that had to be seen to be believed. I had soon joined in with everyone else when ordering and just signalled two to them. Within a couple of minutes the stout was in front of us.

It was time for kick off so we went out to the stand while arranging to meet up in the bar at full time.

Dalymount Park had undoubtedly seen better days. The Jodi Stand was a replacement to the old Main Stand which was demolished in 2000. It was a single tier of seats with facilities underneath. To the right was the Tramways End, which was a large open terrace but was shut owing to the fact that the club no longer owned it. This continued around the corner to form the open far side. This had been converted to seating and had the final third demolished. The side was empty for my visit, save for the TV gantry as the match was being shown live on RTE. Where the terrace once stood was now flat standing, which was being used for vehicles and the away fans coaches. Finally the Shed End had a roof covering around two thirds of the seats below.

I managed to find a seat amongst some youths on the very back row of the stand halfway towards the Shed End. It was quite vociferous as The Bohs younger fans tried to get behind their team. I was impressed to see over a thousand away fans in attendance with the Sligo supporters also making plenty of noise and waving flags.

 

I was joined by a really nice man in the seat next to me after about ten minutes who told me it was chaos outside with the club under estimating size of the crowd. Their was not many chances being created with Sligo under the management of former Wolves, Wigan Athletic and Burnley (amongst many others) midfielder Paul Cook showing great composure.

It was scoreless at half time with a goal not really looking like coming. I went to the only catering point, a fish and chip van in the corner of the ground. Like the lads in the bar, they made light work of the long queue and before long I was soaking up my ale with chips and a battered burger!

I asked my new pal in the seats if there had been a big crowd the previous week for the friendly match with Celtic? He said he didn't know as he'd been in Brazil. "Very nice" I said but he just muttered and shook his head. It was at this point I'd realised I'd put my size elevens in it. On the Wednesday evening I'd read in the evening Herald paper about a local football team who'd suffered a nightmare trip to Brazil and hadn't been allowed out of the airport:

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/team-tells-of-being-barred-from-brazil-2376685.html 

He had gone as the clubs referee. He wasn't very complimentary about the treatment they'd received. I quickly changed the subject!

Rovers were playing well against a toothless Bohs side and it was no surprise when they went ahead from a set piece move. Bohs did their very best to get back into the game, but there was no way through and I'd have doubted if they'd have scored if we'd been there until midnight.

I returned to the members bar. Tom came in a little later. There was natural disappointment in the room which was difficult for me to show as I was relatively neutral despite wanting Bohs to win for my new mates. We started putting away some more sublime Guinness as we chatted away.

 

Before the game I had mentioned my Croke Park tour to Tom. He was obviously not impressed and told me that not many others at Bohs would be. When I mentioned my love of cricket, Tom enthused. He told me of Bohs own cricket team. The day before I was refused entry into Tallaght Stadium, the home of Shamrock Rovers to take some photos. He and others said they weren't surprised (Rovers are Bohs bitterest rivals). He then told me of why he didn't like those involved with Croke Park and the games played there.

The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) are an amateur body who promote traditional Irish sports such as Gaelic Football and Hurling. Until 1971 they banned anyone from participating who played or even attended other sports such as football, cricket and rugby. Tom was like many young enthusiastic schoolkids. He loved playing sports and found he was quite good at them. He was told that if he was to progress in GAA games that he was to give up British games. Tom went on to play football at a decent level and play for Drumcondra FC, but he was still bitter about the treatment he and many of his friends was dealt with in his youth.

It was gone eleven o'clock when I staggered out of the bar and found a taxi rank on the crossroads near to the bar I had started in. The ride took me back to my digs on a far more direct route than I'd walked to the ground. I'd know for next time.

I woke up the next morning with a hangover from hell and a ride to the airport ahead of me where I was joined by the depressing sight of hundreds of football fans heading to England to watch the big teams instead of supporting their local clubs.

Three weeks after my visit. Bohs finished second in the league on goal difference to Shamrock Rovers, while in November Sligo beat Shamrock on penalties in the FAI Cup Final.

Coventry City

Coventry City FC were formed in 1883 as Singers FC by workers at the cycle firm of that name. They changed their name to Coventry City in 1898 and moved into their Highfield Road home in 1899 after brief spells at Dowells Field and Stoke Road

In 1908 the club joined the Southern League before being admitted into the Football League in 1919. City played out the majority of the next forty years in Division Three South. Things changed dramatically in 1961 when the former Fulham player and PFA chairman, Jimmy Hill was appointed as manager.

Hill set about revolutionising the club in what was called 'The Sky Blue Revolution' starting by changing the club colours to sky blue from royal blue and white. He wrote the fans the Sky Blue Anthem to the tune of the Eton Boating Song and took the team to promotion to the second tier in 1964. Three years later he took them to the top flight, then Division One. During his time at the club he also implemented the first proper matchday programmes and pre match entertainment while two new stands were built.

Hill controversially left the club before their first season in the top tier to pursue a career in the media. Noel Cantwell took over and led the club to sixth place in 1970 to qualify for the UEFA (Fairs) Cup, only to go out to Bayern Munich. After that the side were mainly involved in battles at the wrong end of the table.

To see a great moment in the clubs history, go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjq2xT-tx38

Hill returned as Managing Director and then Chairman and in 1981 Highfield Road became the first all seater stadium in England in an attempt to avert hooliganism, but the idea didn't work so areas of terracing were reintroduced. Hill tried to get around the ban on shirt sponsors being displayed on live TV games by applying to change the club name to Coventry Talbot, in a deal with the local car manufacturers. However, the plan failed.

 

A few years earlier Hill had caused more controversy when City needed a better result than relegation rivals Sunderland. Hill had Coventry's home game against Bristol City put back ten minutes 'to allow latecomers entry' while Sunderland kicked off on time at Everton and proceeded to lose two nil. The news was displayed on the scoreboard so City knew they only had to draw to stay up which they did.

In 1987 City won a classic FA Cup Final, defeating Tottenham Hotspur after extra time. In the league they continued to dice regularly with relegation. In 2001 they were eventually demoted from the top flight, then the Premier League.

They found second tier football hard at times and in an attempt to raise finance outside football the club left Highfield Road to move to the outskirts of the city to the newly built Ricoh Arena in 2005. Unfortunately the move nearly crippled the club financially and they were saved by a consortium under the leadership of former full back at amongst others Manchester City, Ray Ranson in 2007.



 

City's struggles continued as gates gradually fell with manager Aidy Boothroyd losing his job as a consequence. Andy Thorn took over but he could not prevent his side being relegated at the end of the 2011-12 season. Soon into the new season Thorn departed to be replaced by Mark Robins with the team near the bottom of the table who set about the difficult task of trying to steady the ship and get the team back up.

Robins did a fine job, but the uncertainty behind the scenes along with an offer to take the managers job at Huddersfield Town, with Steven Pressley taking over. Owners SISU did a deal to place part of the club into administration and moved the team to Sixfields, the home of Northampton Town for the 2013-14 season. This was despite the owners of the Ricoh Arena offering City a rent free deal and much outcry from the Sky Blue fans. The owners announced that they were closing in on a deal to build a new stadium for the club elsewhere in the city.

Coventry City FC will play in the Football League One in the 2013-14 season.


My visits

Coventry City 5 Sunderland 0 (Wednesday 24th January 1990) League Cup Fifth Round Replay

I was at a loose end in Scarborough after finishing work at lunch time, so the chance of going to a new ground definitely appealed to me. I went in the car with fellow Seadog and Sunderland fan Jon 'Doomie' Dyer and a couple of others.

We arrived and parked up relatively early and saw a pub outside the ground that was full of away fans so we tried to get in for a beer. Unfortunately many of the fans were in 'high spirits' and damage had been done, meaning the local constabulary shut it got the evening before we got served. Instead we had to make do with an Indian takeaway and a bottle of pop.

We got inside well before kick off into the already packed away section. We were close to the players tunnel which was at that time near to the corner flag. David Speedie had managed to cause a near riot in the first game at Roker Park getting a Black Cats player sent off. The travelling support weren't slow in showing him their feelings.




 
 








Highfield Road was a decent ground. We were in the Swan Lane End which was separate sections of open terrace. To our left was the Main Stand, This was a single tier of seats with boxes at the front and then a disused paddock. The last two sides were all seated. Behind the goal was the two tiered Nicholls Street Stand. Finally was the Thackhall Street Stand which was a stand behind a large converted paddock.

Sunderland were in the Second Division at the time and were no match for City who slowly got on top before outclassing the visitors. Once again Speedie upset a Sunderland player until he did something silly off the ball to receive his marching orders. The away fans were superb to the end of the game, giving the team an ovation at full time.

We stopped off in Hinckley on the way home for a brief wander round a few pubs where I sampled some majestic Marstons before we suppered on pizza to keep us going on the way home.

Highfield Road after my visit

In its final fifteen years Highfield Road was given a tidy up to deal with the demands of the Premier League and the new age corporate supporter. A single stand was built at the Swan Lane End with a high roof which continued around and covered the Thackhall Street Side. The Main Stand was made single tier with seats right down to the pitch. The final game there was on Saturday 30th April 2005 and saw a 6-2 victory against Derby County.

Coventry City 1 Cardiff City 2 (Tuesday 19th October 2010) Football League Championship (att: 14,604)

 

I was on my way back to London after a marathon few days on the road visiting grounds and watching games in Dublin, Merseyside and Nottinghamshire. A week or two earlier I looked at rail fares and match ticket prices to see if there was any value about.

I got a return from Liverpool to London including a stop at Coventry for £21 and City were offering advanced tickets for a tenner, so it was an easy decision to make. I arrived early in Coventry but found out that the railway station wasn't in the city centre and nowhere near the bus station where I'd need to catch the shuttle to the Ricoh Arena.



 










The Pool Meadow Bus Station didn't have a lot around it so I kept warm in an internet cafe for thirty minutes until I went for the bus. I'd bought a 'match day ticket' which covered all my travel for the night for £3.50 and soon I was on my way. The stadium really did seem a long way out and took a good fifteen minutes to arrive there.

I had a walk behind the impressive complex which also has a theatre, exhibition centre and casino built into the back of the stand on the far side. I soon found my entrance which was opposite where the players come out. The facilities under the stand were fine and much like many other new stadiums. There was the usual bookies, bars and refreshment counters in a very wide concourse with TVs showing Sky Sports News.

I went up to my seat a few minutes before kick off with a bovril and a pie. Purchasing those was interesting in itself. There were stalls for card holders. The prices at these concessions were slightly cheaper but you had to charge your card up in denominations of a fiver. I suppose it saves money if you are a regular, but I bet the club gain money when fans lose them or don't use the full credit.

The Ricoh Arena was impressive once inside. Three sides had a continual single tier of steeply raked seats. The final side had a small tier of seats overhanging the larger lower tier, with a row of corporate hospitality boxes, running along the back of the lower section.

The noise created by the fans was extremely loud and I was struggling to hear the updates on my radio. Cardiff had over a thousand fans in attendance and were soon celebrating when they were awarded a dodgy penalty much to the disgust of the bloke sat opposite me. He was certainly guilty of using industrial language. The stand wasn't very busy and I moved further back. I was glad of the space as I had my travel bag with me.


 









Cardiff had two former Coventry men up front in Craig Bellamy and Jay Bothroyd. Bellamy was getting plenty of abuse, caused by his comments when he'd left the club slating the club, the city and its supporters. In fairness he was having a decent game and The Bluebirds looked good.

Coventry equalised through a fine Gary McSheffrey goal before half time although they couldn't capitalise on it. At the interval the DJ tried to enthuse anyone listening with a competition on the pitch and then the news that one of the prizes to the half time draw were tickets to see Jim Davison at the Arena that weekend. Hardly a good selling point for the vendors I wouldn't have thought?

Coventry bought on controversial signing an serial offender Marlon King but the game looked like finishing level. I made a move to ensure I'd be on the first bus back into town. As I was half way there 5 Live reported on the decisive Cardiff goal. 


 



 










I was back at the railway station with fifteen minutes to spare and another ground off my list. I was glad I was tired and managed to sleep on the train as the carriage was busy with a group who seemed intent on drinking the buffet dry and act accordingly.

The pictures of Highfield Road have been taken from the internet as I didn't take any on my visit and the ground was demolished on my return to the city.

Cambridge City

Cambridge City FC were formed in 1908 as Cambridge Town FC. They played in the Southern Amateur League before being invited to join the Football League in 1936 to spread the game in East Anglia. City decided they wanted withhold their amateur nature so they turned it down, with Ipswich Town stepping up instead. They had moved into the City Ground on Milton Road in 1922.

After the Second World War the club spent a few seasons in the Spartan League before joining the Athenian League in 1950. Cambridge was granted city status in 1951 so 'The Lilywhites' and their neighbours Abbey United both applied to change their name to Cambridge City. Town got the nod as their application was received first, while Abbey became Cambridge United.

In 1958 the club left its amateur status to join the Southern League. They were the city's prominent club and up to 1974 they made five applications to join the Football League. In the late 1950's and 60's City attracted some of non leagues largest crowds as they went on to lift the league title in 1963.

In 1970 United were elected into the Football League while City weren't as successful as before which led to dwindling crowds. When United had a spell in the League's second tier City's crowds dipped to below two hundred.

City spent several years in the second tier of the Southern League in its different guises until they returned to the Premier Division in 1986. After many seasons of moderate returns the club were founder members of the Conference South in 2004. United were relegated in 2005 meaning the clubs were just one division apart.

However City hit financial problems. and the club's City Ground was sold to an Isle of Man company called Ross River, which was linked to Brian York, a man who had briefly been a director of the club. The then board announced that it was to scrap the first team and make the reserve team into a feeder for Cambridge United. At that point a Supporters Trust was formed and within weeks they had control of the club.

They took River Ross to court and it was found that the club were victims of fraud and bribery. The former Chief Executive was found to have taken a £10,000 bung. Unfortunately the deal was not overturned. however they were given permission to stay at Milton Road until 2010 and would receive 50% of any development profits from the deal.

In May 2008 City were demoted to the Southern League because The City Ground failed to meet requirements. The club had agreed to a three year groundshare at Newmarket Town FC for three years while looking for somewhere nearer the city of Cambridge. They were given an extra year reprieve at Milton Road at the last minute.

However, the club eventually moved at the end of the 2012-13 season as the decamped to Bridge Road with Histon FC.

Cambridge City FC will play in the Southern League Premier Division in the 2013-14 season.

My visit

Cambridge City 0 Windsor & Eton 0 (Tuesday 9th November 2010) Southern League Premier Division (att: 218)

I was resting after night shift and mulling over several options. In the end the thought that it may have been a last chance to see a game at Milton Road made my mind up. I caught the fast train from Kings Cross and within an hour I was aboard a bus towards the ground.

This wasn't my actual first visit to the ground as I'd had a look in March 1985 when in the city with my mates to watch Hull City play at United. It was in a bit of a mess as it was being transformed. Before it was changed it held up to 22,000 and from the late 60's it held greyhound racing.

I got off at the correct stop but couldn't see a way to the entrance despite seeing the glare of the floodlights in the night sky. I wandered around to no avail and nearly got sidetracked into an appealing looking pub before asking advice from a taxi driver.

The ground was round the back of a modern looking administration clock, which was part of the old stadium before the land was sold. I was soon in the car park and heading for the clubhouse. This was located under the Main Stand and was relatively basic and quiet. It wasn't in keeping with the beauty of the rest of the city which I regrettably didn't have time to look around. It did however have some great framed pictures of the clubs past including a youthful Neil Harris before he moved to Millwall.

I wasn't expecting a very big crowd as United were at home on the same evening to Grimsby Town. When I spoke to my brother Nick on the phone I had told him I was in Cambridge and going to watch the battle of two stunning cities. I think he was being ironic when he said that Grimsby isn't very nice, or words to that effect.

 

I paid a tenner and entered the ground and had a look around. I really liked it, especially as it belied the fact that it was relatively modern, unlike some flatpack stadiums of today.

There was an elevated Main Stand with some standing in front. A newer addition had been added at the far end of it. It was flat narrow standing behind both goals with high wire net fencing to keep the balls in the stadium. The far side was made up of some terracing in the centre with a cover in three parts over it. A grass bank and housing stood behind that side.

City were flying high in the division with Windsor near the play off spots. They were another club in financial strife and the word was that they could fold within weeks. I predicted a home win on my fixed odds coupon.

I had a wander and some grub from the portable caravan providing catering before sitting in the stand extension. It had not been very well designed with many sets having restricted views. All the corporate boxes at the rear lay dormant.

The game was scoreless at half time with not too many chances at the interval when I sought sanctuary back in the bar for a medicinal wee dram!t was encouraging to see quite a few youths in attendance and patronising the clubhouse as well as trying their best to create some noise in the shed on the far side.

I took a position on the far side for the second half stood near the Windsor bench. They offered great entertainment and plenty of humour as their side slowly got on top. City missed a few chances but didn't have as much of the play. A visitors goal wouldn't have shocked me.

The game finished blank with a little animosity as the visitors keeper Delroy Preddie, who had starred for Yeading in their FA Cup run a few years previously, had a tiff with a City forward and they needed to be separated at full time.

I caught the bus back to the station which was tantalisingly just too late to sneak in a pint but necessitated standing on a cold platform. The train back had plenty of United fans who seemed pretty fed up with their draw. They can only imagine how veteran City fans feel!

Cambridge City 1 Scarborough Athletic 2 (Wednesday November 6^th 2013) FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round Replay (att: 227)

After City had played out a goalless draw the previous Saturday at Queensgate against my beloved Scarborough Athletic, I had to make some major changes to my planning. I was due to travel to Scarborough on the Tuesday morning after night shift to attend the home game against Brigg Town. Instead I made arrangements for my Dad to come to me for a few nights and attend the replay. My brother Paul also confirmed that he wanted to go with us, so I got on and booked the train tickets.

It had been a wet and grey day in London, which saw Dad and I go and visit the RAF Museum at Hendon before a rest and then catching the tube down to Kings Cross to meet Paul. Our express train had us arriving into Cambridge in just over an hour, and we were happy that the rain had stopped when we got there.

I had already worked out how to get to City’s temporary home at Histon, but Dave Cammish also confirmed he was going to the game with his son Ashley, and they would try to pick us up on the way. We enjoyed a tremendous meal at The Regal, a magnificent Wetherspoons pub that had once been a cinema. The addition of ‘Chicken Night’ proved a winner!

Dave proved to be an absolute hero as he negotiated the one way system to pick us up outside the pub, before my IPhone map app once again proved invaluable. We got to Bridge Road and into the car park with a good half hour to spare. Admission was a tenner, while the programme cost £2. The bar upstairs in the Main Stand was been patronised by the loyal Boro following, which numbered around fifty.

There was some surprise with the Seadogs starting line up. They had been playing with three up front, but manager Rudy Funk elected to utilise Gary Bradshaw on his own, and use five in midfield. We took our place behind the goal for the first period.

Boro played a high line at the back, which was catching City offside several times. When they did get in sight of the visiting goal, the shots and headers were woefully off target. Chances were sparse at the other end, but the formation was working in what was gradually becoming a masterly away performance. I commented after fifteen minutes that we’d win 1-0.

Gradually Boro imposed themselves going forward and caused the clumsy centre backs some moments of panic. I chose my moment to visit the loo to perfection, as I came out just as Boro pressed forward as right back Matty Plummer somehow found himself in the left wing position to rifle home from the edge of the box.

Boro were extremely unlucky not to double their lead before the break as they dominated the final few minutes. The tactics were working to perfection, and it was a very optimistic clubhouse at the interval.

Soon after the restart City fans howled for Andy Milne to be shown a red card after the referee adjudged that he handled the ball on the edge of the area. Mr Evans only cautioned him. In sharp contrast,  there were loud cheers at our end shortly after when Bryan Hughes scored with a brilliant forty yard shot judging the wind perfectly as the ball looped over home keeper Zac Barrett.

However, City were soon handed a chance to get back into the game. Joe Cracknell in the Boro goal collided with Adam Marriott as he was going away from goal, with referee Evans pointing to the spot. It seemed a soft decision, and definitely one meriting the sending off the City fans once again bayed for. Cracknell was booked before keeping out Marriott’s penalty kick before the taker put the rebound wide.

Within a couple of minutes Evans gave a second penalty, which was apparently for handball. The Boro players complained vehemently to no avail. This time Marriott scored.

Every single Boro player dug deep, including several who were carrying knocks. Cambridge went forward looking for the equaliser, but Boro broke well and always looked like they could extend the lead. Ryan Williams was especially unlucky with an effort that was deflected wide.

In the final seconds Cracknell pulled off a wonder save from a Lee Chaffney header in what would prove to be his last game on loan for the club. Shortly afterwards, the ref blew his whistle to end a heroic performance. We waited by the tunnel to cheer the boys in.

The mood in the car was jubilant as we listened to other scores coming in. Ashley had really enjoyed his evening out, which was definitely promising for the future. Dave drove like a legend down the M11 and got us to Bishops Stortford station for us to catch a fast train back to London.

To round off a tremendous day, Dad and I got back for the last forty minutes in the local Wetherspoons near my to flat.

For a description of City's temporary home please visit the Histon page at:

http://worldgroundhoptwo.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Histon