St Albans City

St Albans City FC are a non league football club from the beautiful old Roman city in Hertfordshire, twenty two miles north of London. 'The Saints' as the club are nicknamed were formed in 1908 and they moved into a ground in the splendid Clarence Park, where football had already being played for several years. A previous club St Albans FC had been formed in 1881, but met its demise in 1904.

The club first competed in the Spartan League, a competition they won on two occasions, before joining the Athenian League in 1920. The Saints won the legue title twice in three years and then progressed to the Isthmian League. Within their first five seasons at that level they had won three championships. These were halcyon days for the club as they reached the semi finals of the FA Amateur Cup three times as well as having a few good FA Cup runs. Brentford were beaten five three in 1924 as St Albans made one of their several second round appearences.

After that the club had a very long period without winning league honours, although several minor cups were lifted. In 1970 The Saints set un unwanted record as they were defeated in a fourth FA Amateur Cup semi final. The club suffered some relegations down the Isthmian League but eventually worked their way back to the Premier Division in 1986 under the managership of former Fulham hero John Mitchell.

In 1993 the team finished as league runners up, but were denied promotion to the Conference because of an hundred and fourty year old oak tree which stood on the terracing behind one of the goals. It was deemed a safety hazard. Five years later the tree was felled.

The club became founder members of the Conference South in 2004 and two years later they were promoted to the Conference National for the first time in their history after a play off victory over Histon. Clarence Park was smartened up and rumours did the rounds that the club may look to move elsewhere.

Manager Colin Lippiatt couldn't keep the side up in their first season, while director and journalist Ian Ridley left the club over policy decisions. John Gibson was Chairman of the time who made his money through his building company William Verry. Richie Hanlon, Dave Anderson and then Steve Castle had time as team manager. Castle was not very popular with supporters, but he had to work with a reduced budget.

Castle did keep the club up on the final day of the 2007-08 season, while Gigson faced increased hostility from fans over the way he ran the club and his plans to move The Saints to a new home on Green Belt land. In the summer of 2009, Gibson's company went into administration, but he assured supporters that the clubs future was secure. Not everyone was convinced as rumours circulated of potential new buyers.

However, things were evidently not right. St Albans were deducted ten points and fined £7,500 by the FA for financial irregularities, which transpired to be illegal payments to players during the 2008-09 season. City were relegated to the Southern League at the end of the season.

On the 12th May 2011 local businessmen Lawrence Levy and John McGowan bought the club from Gibson for an undisclosed fee. Within weeks Castle had been replaced as manager by the highly respected Dave Howell who arrived from Harrow Borough, and Ian Ridley returned to take up the role as club Chairman.

However, Ridley soon departed and Howell followed after an unsuccessful spell to be replaced by joint bosses James Gray and Graham Gold, while the club looked into the possibility of moving from Clarence Park.

St Albans City FC will compete in the Southern League Premier Division in the 2013-14 season.


My visits

St Albans City 0 Scarborough 1 1983 FA Trophy

Scarborough had to wait a week or tweo to find out who their next round opponents would be in the Trophy as City had to travel to Dulwich Hamlet for a replay. I told my pals at school that I was pretty confident that we'd be heading for South London, but that was probably my heart ruling my head. I really wanted to visit the huge Champion Hill ground.

However, City won four three, so it was to Hertfordshire we would go. Actually, I was close to not going. I had been suffering from a chest infection and desperately wanted to play for the school team on the Saturday. My parents were sensible and stood firm and as a sweetener to probably stop my whining, they booked me a place on the supporters bus to St Albans.

My first impressions were of a lovely place. We parked down the side of Clarence Park and walked to the ground. The park had hockey games taking place on what was the cricket ground in the summer. The cricket pavilion looked superb. The rest of the park had plenty of greenery and a large playground.

The ground had terracing round three sides, with the ends curving away behind the goals. The Park Side had a basic cover over the half way line while the Railway Side had a lovely old low Main Stand with bench seating along the whole touchline. A clubhouse stood behind the roof.

Boro had their usual bus load of enthusiastic rowdies with them, as well as two official coaches. The team, under the managership of Jim McAnearney were the better side but they could not break the deadlock. During the first half the figure of a travelling fan (who was later become a good friend and travelling companion of mine) appeared on the clubhouse roof with a large Scarborough Union Jack!

The second half followed a similar pattern until Pat Olney pounced to send us home happy. The unofficial bus, AKA Fez's International Tours (they'd once gone to Bangor City!) entered legend amongst those travelling on it when it took part in the 'Battle of Newport Pagnell'. By all accounts it was more of a bunfight than a battle as the fans entered the services and had a food fight while couples and families sat down to their evening meals.

St Albans City 1 Molesey 1 (March 1984) Isthmian League Division Two (att: approx 200)

I was at college in Borehamwood, and staying in Radlett which wasn't very far from St Albans. I wanted to revisit the city after hearing lots of nice things about it as well as being impressed on my previous visit.

I took the train the few stops and then went exploring in the city centre where a market was in full flow. I had a walk to the Cathedral and generally enjoyed the place, grabbing some food at one of the market stalls, before heading to Clarence Park.

The ground was just as I remembered, and even better there was a super programme shop where I bought some local editions. I also went to the clubhouse for a pre match drink. I stood on the terraces with the home fans who cheered on their team playing in an all yellow kit.

City were going for promotion, whereas their visitors from Surrey were further down the table. A home win was roundly expected, but Molesey spoilt the script by going ahead. Well into the second half the City fans were growing with frustration. One fan shouted, "I see you've got your IQ on the back of your shirt, number three", to a timewasting full back. I found that very amusing at my tender age!

City bought a lanky sub on who looked far better than anyone previously on show. His name was Robbie, but I can't remember his surname many years later. He netted the equaliser, but a winner wouldn't come.

I headed back to the station after thoroughly enjoying my day out. City went on to win the division two championship at the end of the season.

St Albans City 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 3 ( Monday 24th January 2000) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: approx 1,100)

I was now back in London full time and staying in Willesden Green. After finishing work at Lord's for the day I got changed, headed for the tube to West Hampstead and took the train to St Albans.

I headed for the clubhouse straight from the station trying to remember where the footbridge was over the railway line. This game promised to be a cracker with The Daggers top of the league and City pushing them close. They really needed a home win to close the gap.

I had a couple of beers and then went to enjoy the decent atmosphere, with a couple of hundred away fans making the journey.

In truth the game was abit of a let down as a neutral as Gary Hill's team were far the better side. Danny Shipp was a real handful up front as Dagenham sealed another victory on their road to the Isthmian League title.

A good thing about a visit to Clarence Park was the vicinity to the railway station and I was in good time for a fast service back home with several happy Daggers.

St Albans City 3 Margate 3 (Saturday 20th November 2004) Conference South (att: 280)

On the Friday night before this game I was drinking with my good friend Colm in Lulas in Willesden Green with the following day off work, as well as it being my birthday! I suggested that he might like to go to a nice place for the day, with the promise of some good pubs.

He agreed, even when I mentioned the match. so we met to go to Cricklewood station before midday. We were soon heading into St Albans city centre and into O'Neills for our first drink. The lunchtime game in the Premier League was Manchester United against Charlton Athletic, but ideally we wanted to watch the Celtic v Rangers game. Sadly we couldn't find a pub showing it, despite much research!

We tried a couple of pubs by the market when we bumped into a City fan and real ale buff who was a real character! We headed down to the fine pub, The Mermaid where the beer was top drawer. It was busy as England were about to play rugby, so we went on our way rapidly down to the ground.

The clubhouse was friendly and met with Colm's approval. It was showing Soccer Saturday on the TVs as I had a pre match beer before heading outside. Colm came with me, but he retreated after about ten minutes to watch the scores come in.

He missed an absolute cracker as both sides went for it hammer and tong. Margate had the county cricketer Peter Trego playing in goal, who's skills I was to enjoy on many a summer afternoon while he played for Middlesex. The visitors from the Kent coast started the season on minus ten points owing to a financial transgression, but their performance on the day must have encouraged the handful of fans who'd made the trek north.

During the game I'd rung Bunner to tell him of my location and how I could still picture him appearing on the clubhouse roof! I popped back inside at half time where Colm had made himself most comfortable.

After the game we went back to The Mermaid and another couple of pubs, including the lively Robin Hood near to the station, where many locals seemed intent on celebrating my birthday all day! The Wales rugby match seemed to attract many afficienados, as any sporting event does when people have been on the pop all day.

We got the train back. I couldn't be tempted to stay out for the Barcelona v Real Madrid game, but young Colm filled his boots. It had been yet another cracking day in St Albans, where I'd yet to see the home team win in four attempts!

Thursday 23rd June 2009

I had the day off work and wanted some exercise to repair my hamstring, which I'd managed to tear through a combination of a lack of fitness and trying to relive my youth as I'd scrambled through for a single in a twenty twenty cricket match.

I'd been to Bedford, where I'd overdone things, and then Harpenden. I was determined to get the photos I required from Clarence Park, hobbling or not.

Inevitabely the ground was locked and since Mr Gibson had taken over the club, a huge fence surrounded it. I did my best to get some shots from all angles, getting some very strange looks in the process.

I managed to get lost and go the wrong way up to the town centre, and when I got there I decided I didn't really fancy a beer anyway! At least it was a lovely sunny day.

Barkingside

Barkingside FC are a non league football club from the London Borough of Redbridge in North East London. The club were formed by local enthusiasts in 1889, playing home games opposite the State Cinema in Barkingside High Road. The club became members of the Iford League.

The club was disbanded in 1923, but reformed as Barkingside Boys Guild FC a couple of years later. The team played on a pitch at Barkingside Recreation Ground for twenty five years before they moved to a new ground at Station Road, which later became Oakside and then Oakside Stadium.

In 1950 'The Side' progressed from local league football to the London League and then onto the Greater London League in 1964. A fire at Oakside meant a short spell at Woodford Avenue until the clubhouse was rebuilt in the early 1970's.

A downloaded image of Oakside before redevelopment

Many local honours were collected as Barkingside became founder members of the London Spartan League in 1976. In 1996 the league merged so The Side also became founder members of the Spartan South Midlands League.

In 1998 new owners took over the club with high ambition. Oakside was upgraded in the hope of higher grade football being staged. The league title was lifted for a second time, but promotion to the Isthmian League was denied. The club decided that they wished to move into the Essex Senior League, but the FA denied sideways moves across the football pyramid. To counteract this, The Side dropped out of senior football for one season before being accepted as new members in the Essex Senior League a year later.

The following season the club owners moved on mass to join an Isthmian League club. On departure they sold the lease of Oakside to Ford United FC, who would later become Redbridge FC. Jimmy Chapman, the Chairman at the time at Ford guaranteed Barkingside a permanent home at the ground and became the club President.

A new committee stabilised the club on and off the pitch over the next decade and they refurbished the clubhouse in the hope of attracting more members of the community down to the ground. Their hard work paid off as The Sky Blues finished as Essex Senior League runners up in 2012-13 and were promoted to the Isthmian League.

Barkingside FC will play in the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2013-14 season.


My visits

Barkingside 1 Burnham Ramblers 3 (Monday 21st November 2011) Essex Senior League (att:89)

I was really looking forward to this evening's adventures for a few reasons. I had just done three consecutive twelve hour shifts over the weekend, my brother Nick was down on business and was going to the game, as was former colleague friend and Scarborough fan Steve Adamson who was down for a few days break in the metropolis.

The day started well as a colleague took me off my shift early at work, so I went home to relax and enjoy the climax of the enthralling South Africa v Australia Test Match while drifting off for a spell. I headed down to Westminster to meet Nick where we were going to have tea, but we had a change in plan and ended up eating on the move and having a pint and a catch up in The Feathers by St James Park station.

After a couple of packed tube rides we got out at Barkingside, where the floodlights were burning bright over the old tube station. Nick's first impression was, "bloody hell, we're in the back of beyond!" While that wasn't quite true, the area around the station was pretty rustic.

Oakside is infuriating as one side backs onto the railway, but to get to the turnstiles it's a good five minute walk down a couple of roads and over the bridge. If only there was an exit at both sides of the station. Nick kindly paid my £6 admission as my birthday present and we entered the very smart clubhouse. My brother was most impressed with his brief look at the ground and inside the rooms. His previous visit to a game with me had been to Hanwell Town, where the clubhouse offered much from a distance, but very little once inside. Oakside's offering had Sky TV, lovely clean toilets and even a small club shop set up on a table. If only they'd offered some proper beer. I had to make do with ice cold Greene King IPA on smoothflow. Why bar managers have bitter at the same temperature, and therefore the same taste as a McDonalds thick shake was a mystery to many a drinker.

Steve arrived after a nightmare of a journey. I had given him the correct directions, but had forgot to tell him he needed a Central line train to Hainault and that the line had two branches. He ended up going all the way to Epping and then back to Leytonstone. This caused his oyster card to fair because his journey had taken so long. To add to his woes, the bloke at the station said he'd need to go back to Leytonstone to get his card fixed, which was both wrong and unhelpful.

Steve mentioned that he'd been into Barkingside town centre and not seen one poster advertising the game and no locals knew where the ground was! He told the bloke on the gate about this who admitted they could probably do more to try and attract fans. We chewed the fat about football in general and Boro as well as our old cooleagues at the Post Office. He also said he was working with Colin Appleton, the former Scarborough and Leicester City hero about writing his biography.

Nick and Steve enjoying their night out

The ground was how I remembered it, with good open terracing behind one goal and down the Railway Side, where there was also a decent sized Main Stand. The far touchline had a low cover with a few steps of terracing along the full length of the pitch. The far end was fenced off as it looked like the back wall was on the verge of collapsing. It was a traditional proper football ground, which met with the approval of both my companions.

The match started with The Side well on top, although their final product was sadly lacking. Their player manager was none other than Matt 'Burger' Frew, whose performance I'd really enjoyed for London APSA on my visit the previous season. He could certainly put in some excellent dead balls into the danger area, to make up for his lack of pace. The home number nine had a ridiculously unjustified whinge at a decision right in front of us when we stood down the covered side. Steve soon put him right and we had fun for the rest of the game wondering whether we should give him some stick. I think his size and general physiche put us off!

Another free kick into the Ramblers box was eventually finished off with a header that turned out be an own goal by Ross Wall to put Barkingside one up. This seemed to wake Burnham up, as they had one or two breaks with Wall showing a real deft touch at the right end of the pitch. Barkingside missed a real chance and then with half time approaching Burnham had a couple of well delivered corners, which should have been finished with a headed finish. The second one wasn't cleared properly and was eventually finished off by Wall to redeem his earlier faux pas. The referee blew for half time so the kick off couldn't even be taken to end the half even. 

We'd had some decent grup before the break so we went back to the clubhouse for some refreshment and to get warmed up while watching the Spurs v Aston Villa game on the TV. Steve came back from the shop with a pile of programmes and fanzines, many of which had been given free on top of his purchase, which was a really nice touch.

After a spell we went to sit in the Main Stand. The two dug outs blocked out a bit of the view, but it was comfortable enough despite the thick mist coming down and making it colder by the minute. Ramblers still played on the break, only on a far more regular basis after the interval. They certainly looked the more likely to score because of the quality of their play. They went ahead with a real screamer from just inside the area from star man Wall to loud cheers from the twenty or so visiting supporters.

Barkingside continued to press, but couldn't find a way through. Ramblers broke away once again and an excellent finish from Martin Llewellyn rounded off another fine flowing move. This saw the exodus from the stand of around fifteen groundhoppers, including some familiar faces, who headed towards the corner by the exit.

The star to us of the last quarter of the game was an official running the line who was surely looking for some kind of award as 'Pedant of the Year'. I appreciate that match officials have a difficult job, but a little bit of common sense wouldn't do any harm. He warned the home bench as they had more than two people standing? They replied that he was wrong and there was three of them! The lino said that if there were, he'd report them! Later he caused a delay over a substitution regarding a players studs, which had Burgers assistants blood pressure going through the roof. We laughed at all of this, but there is a serious side.


It's all very well officials adhering to all these silly meaningless rules to please the assessors and the FA, but it's all very immaterial when they get a vital match changing decision wrong. No wonder coaches, managers and players lose it at times. I sometimes wonder if all officials either work as pen pushers or traffic wardens when not ruining what should be a fun day out.

There was no further action of note and the visitors headed home with three deserved points. Nick didn't think the standard of football was up to the same level at the Spartan South Midlands League game he'd seen earlier in the season, but I thought it hard to tell under the circumstances.

We headed back to the station just as a train was due. Steve got off at Mile End to change trains, so he could hopefully have a stress free journey home, while Nick and I headed for the Metropolitan line back to Kingsbury.

For details of my other visits to Oakside Stadium, please visit the Redbridge FC page.

Retford United

Retford United are a non league football club who come from the market town in the north of the county of Nottinghamshire. They were formed in 1987 and started off life in the local Gainsborough League and then the Nottinghamshire Alliance.


'The Badgers' carried on the mantle of the senior club in the town from Retford Town who were once Midland League members and Retford Rail, who later became known as BRSA Retford. Both those clubs played football in the Northern Counties East League for a spell.


United moved into the Central Midlands League in 2001, a year after moving into their out of town Cannon Park home, and then the Northern Counties East League in 2004. Within two years they had reached the top flight of that league. The following season they won the league title and were promoted into the Northern Premier League.

A player of the club Neil Harvey became their first international when he appeared for Barbados in the Caribbean Cup. More honours came to Cannon Park as they won the Northern Premier League Division One South title in 2008 under the player managership of Peter Duffield. However, promotion was denied as Cannon Park was deemed unfit for the higher division.

Not to be denied, United once again won the right to promotion to the top division the following season. They played home games at Ashby Avenue, the home of Lincoln United until Cannon Park was upgraded to the required standard.

The Badgers finished bottom of the league at the end of the 2010-11 season, but rather take relegation to the second tier, the club put in their resignation and applied to rejoin the NCEL owing to financial constraints at the club after their major backer withdrew.

Retford went on to lift the NCEL title in 2011-12, but they were denied promotion owing to the FA being unhappy with the clubs financial situation.

Retford United FC will compete in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division in the 2013-14 season.


My visit

Retford United 1 Scarborough Athletic 1 (Saturday 12th November 2011) Northern Counties East League Premier Division (att: 383)

I had booked the day off work well in advance of this game as it was the FA Cup first round day (well we can all dream!) and the match at Retford promised to be an important clash as well as me getting a new ground in.

Rustic in Retford. No pavements on the way to the ground!

I woke in good form on a beautiful late Autumn day. I enjoyed a marvellous fry up at a place I'd never used before while reading the paper and then got my bets on. I arrived at St Pancras at just the right time to board my train and I found a good seat in a quiet coach. All was good in the world.

Engineering works on the East Coast main line meant either a long journey involving buses, or going a longer way round via Sheffield at a cheaper price. It was a no brainer. In just over two hours I was in the superb Sheffield Tap pub on platform one of the station enjoying a couple of pints of fine ale. I then took the train to Retford through the former mining country of South Yorkshire.

I was in good time so I decided to walk to Cannon Park through the charismatic market square and town centre before I set off into the country down Leverson Road towards the ground. Now I realise some grounds have to be out of town (Arnold Town's new place springs to mind) but I'd never walked to a venue before where there were no footpaths for half a mile. I arrived shaking my head, to have my good mates taking the mickey out of me.

Cannon Park looked a neat enough venue, but it really must have made the bear minimum requirements for the level of football it had previously staged. The ear end was a thin strip of flat open standing which went down the far touchline. This side also had a modern assembly type seated stand straddling the half way line. The far end was more of the same with a cover across the eighteen yard area. The final side had all the facilities stood behind a slightly sloped open path. There was changing rooms, a boardroom, club shop and a sizeable clubhouse which had a small overhang in front for smokers and spectators.

The latest heat of Mr Scarborough 2011 taking place in Retford

I went in the clubhouse to join my mates and hand out some flyers to try and raise some money for the Seadogs. There was no choice of proper ale either in tap or in a bottle, which was a shame as the clubhouse itself was pretty good. The snack bar where I later bought an excellent Pukka Pie was also of a good standard.

The match kicked off with the low sun making watching hard work. The game was of a high standard on an abysmal playing surface which didn't do justice to the players on display. Retford looked to have a definite penalty turned down when a clumsy challenge sent Carl Haslam tumbling. Boro were aware of this lad's talents before the game and he didn't let us down. He had dyed his hair bright pink. We agreed that anyone who had the confidence to do that must have been able to play.

Boro got into the game after the first fifteen minutes. They were missing the suspended Gary Hepples and Ryan Blott, plus their excellent full back Paddy Miller owing to a bout of food poisoning. It didn't stop the team dominating for the rest of the half, with the home defence on the ropes. Veteran Seadog Dean Windass hit the foot of the post with an excellent free kick, but the ball wouldn't go in.

Afte half time United went ahead, when Haslam broke away from a suspiciously looking offside position and scored. For a few minutes this set Boro back, but they gradually fought their way back into the game, led by the quite brilliant Joe Naylor. United made a substitution and the player who came on remarkably grabbed Naylor by the neck and assaulted him in the penalty area while play was elsewhere. The travelling fans went berserk and the linesman flagged to get the referee's attention. Remarkably he gave a free kick ten yards outside the box and booked both players.

Boro full back Dave Kemp was fortunate not to be sent off when he deliberately handled a through ball, much to the annoyance of the home fans who were as vocal as the travelling Seadogs. I was with Fred, Jason and Andy who had offered me a ride back into the town centre. They had to be away on the full time whistle as two of them had tickets at the KC Stadium for the England v New Zealand Rugby League International, so we moved to where the home fans were in hyper moaning mode near the gates.

It didn't look like Boro would score despite having most of the play. Retford were employing some time wasting tactics and the clock went into stoppage time. We all agreed that even if we lost, there would be no despair as we had played so well. Then as we had just about given up Tony Hackworth who'd gone forward to try and salvage something, set up Joe Naylor who hammered home the equaliser in the ninety third minute. We went crazy, much to the disgust of the locals.

They moaned about how useless Boro were and how unjust the equaliser was. I offered plentiful feedback in return. The whistle went soon after and we all thanked each other for the game. It had been a brilliant game of football and probably the correct result.

Fred held cars up in the park so Andy could hit the road and they kindly dropped me near the local Wetherspoon's pub. I celebrated with a fine pint as the locals watched the England v Spain game begin. They didn't know what they had missed just a mile down the road. I grabbed another half before arriving on the station where I met Matt and a young fan called Will who was studying at Leicester University.

We grabbed another pint at Sheffield and grabbed some fine bottles from the York Brewery for the return ride. We chewed the fat about all things to do with the club, before Will alighted. I fell asleep and woke in London. I was glad to get home with a take away after an outstanding day out.

If only all Saturday's could be like that, with a few wins thrown in of course!

Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest are a non league football club from the East of London who have been known under many various guises over the years since their formation in 1964.

The club were originally called as Pennant FC and playing in local league football, before joining the Metropolitan League in 1975, a competition they won at their first attempt. In 1983 Pennant joined the London Spartan League, winning promotion at their first attempt.

In 1988 Walthamstow Avenue were swallowed up by the complicated Redbridge Forest (later to become Dagenham & Redbridge) merger, so the club changed their name to Walthamstow Pennant FC to keep the name of Walthamstow alive in senior football while playing at Wadham Lodge.

A league and cup double allowed for promotion to the Isthmian League in 1991, but it was denied because Wadham Lodge was deemed not up to the required standards. Neighbours Leyton Wingate decided that they had no future at their Lea Bridge Road home, so they decided to merge with Pennant to become Leyton Pennant FC and keep the place in their Isthmian League.

The old titled club badge

This decision has caused numerous discussions and fall outs, over club histories, especially when another club called Leyton FC were set up at Lea Bridge Road. Please visit the page on Leyton FC to make your own mind up!

Pennant had a decent spell in the higher echelons of the Isthmian League, before they suffered a relegation and gradually found their level.

In 2003 under the Chairmanship of Harry Ramis, the club changed its name once again to Waltham Forest FC to reflect the borough that the club represented and to try and encourage more support and sponsors. The chairman's brother Hakan Ramis-Heyrattin managed the side but in 2006 he decided to take the reigns at Thurrock FC so his brother sold the club.

For the next few seasons a succession of managers and owners came and went at the club as the team struggled on the pitch. The faced a further blow when the landlords at Wadham Lodge put the rent up to an unaffordable amount during the summer of 2008, meaning Forest moving out to share Cricklefield Stadium with Ilford FC and a local athletics club.

Two photos of Forest's shared Cricklefield Stadium home until 2013


It looked for a time in October 2010 that further improvements to Wadham Lodge would prompt a return to the clubs' traditional home, but nothing became of it.

However, the news that all at Forest hoped for came in July 2013 as an agreement was signed for the club to return to Wadham Lodge.

Waltham Forest FC will play in the Isthmian League Division One North for the 2013-14 season.


My visits

Leyton Pennant 0 Uxbridge 1 (Saturday 22nd April 2000) Isthmian League Division One (att: approx 80)

I took a tube ride from the centre of London up to Walthamstow Central, with several Spurs fans who were on their way to their home match with Wimbledon. I walked through the busy market area and caught the bus up to Wadham Lodge.

There were several football pitches in the complex as well an all weather court, a bowling green and a changing room block with a clubhouse upstairs near to the entrance to Pennant's enclosed arena. I had a couple of pre match beers and read my programme, containing some intersting words regarding which club held the history of Leyton FC, before entering the ground.

Wadham Lodge was a neat enough venue with low covers behind each end of the ground and a seated stand along the touchline by the clubhouse. The rest of the ground consisted of flat open hard and grass standing. A nice and rare touch for a club at that level was a small club shop near the turnstiles.

The visitors from Middlesex had a sprinkling of fans in the low crowd who enjoyed their half time refreshments. Their day was made when Uxbridge won one nil against a hard trying but ineffective home side, who would end the season bottom of the table.

I departed back down Kitchener Road and Brookscroft Road, but instead of waiting for a bus back to Walthamstow I headed the other way near to Walthamstow Stadium, where I took a bus to Blackhorse Road. I caught the North London line back to West Hampstead to avoid the busy city centre. It took a bit longer but it was far more interesting, plus I built up a thirst by the time I got back to Willesden Green!

Wednesday 26th September 2007

I was out and about in North Est London and Essex on a marathon days groundhop catching up on the grounds that I didnt have photos for. Wadham Lodge was to be my twelth and final call.

I arrived on the bus from my last call, Leyton FC only to find the gates to the complex locked. I walked all the way around the surrounding roads looking for an alternative entrance to no avail. I'd got all the way to the end of Garner Road and onto the North Circular Road where I'd just about given up.

Then I saw a gap in the fence where some young locals had taken advantage of to play in the goalmouths of one of the outer pitches. I think they were a bit concerned to see a stranger coming through the bushes and approaching them, but they needn't have worried!

The ground was padlocked, but the fences were low enough to enable me a decent view to take my snaps. I headed home, with plenty of aching limbs for a nice lie down and a much needed meal!

Parkgate

Parkgate FC are a non league club based on the outskirts of Rotherham in South Yorkshire. The club were formed in 1969 as B.S.C. Parkgate FC joining the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League, before progressing into the Yorkshire League in 1974.

In 1990 the club became R.E.S. Parkgate FC in 1990, eight years after becoming founder members of the Northern Counties East League. In 1994 the club dropped the initials on their title to be known as Parkgate FC.

'The Steelmen' enjoyed some successes in local cup competitions and climbed to the Premier Division of the NCEL. The club finished as runners up in the title race in 2011.

Parkgate FC will compete in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division in the 2013-14 season.

My visit

Parkgate 1 Scarborough Athletic 1 (Tuesday 8th November 2011) Northern Counties East League Premier Division (att: 252)

I was really looking forward to this encounter for several reasons. Boro were on a tremendous run of form in the league coming off a 5-0 away win at Thackley the previous weekend. Parkgate were also up there in the title race and all Seadogs knew only too well that this fixture could provide a huge hurdle in our championship hopes.

Just a few weeks earlier a feisty clash at Parkgate's Roundwood home had seen the home team win 2-0 and Boro finish the game with just nine men. There had been a huge fallout from the game as Boro's supporters were facing an FA charge following some of the conduct on show. This had been allegedly caused by a very questionable performance from the referee Mr David Hunt as well as some theatrics from the home players. The Seadogs were also fined for the conduct of their players leading to a collection being taken voluntarily by the clubs' supporters to try and ease the finances and to show a collective spirit.

Indeed, some Seadogs were so enraged that they called for a boycott of the game to try and hurt Parkgate in the pocket and show disapproval of their players' antics. Even Boro boss Rudy Funk said he was understanding if anyone stayed away, but he promised it wouldn't affect the team.

Personally I was not in favour of a stay away. A Parkgate official had been most complimentary about the vast majority of the Boro fans in the aftermath of the Vase clash. I think all clubs should be looking to help each other wherever possible, especially in the austreric times of the day.

I had just finished my set of night shifts and travelled up to this match by courtesy of Megabus to Meadowhall where I sat next to returning Barnsley fan who'd been to watch The Tykes at Brighton the previous Saturday. I caught a train to Rotherham, where the sillouette of the new stadiums girders were visible in the moonlight. It was just about the most glamourous images in the town. I had a couple of pints and a meal at Wetherspoons before taking the 109 bus from the Interchange.

I had foolishly left my map at work, so I was a little concerned that I'd struggle to get off at the correct stop. I needn't have worried. Two local brothers, both in their seventies got on board, with one wearing a Boro badge. It turned out that they went to watch Scarborough whenever they played in the area and they weren't watching Rotherham United. We had a good chat about how much we all loved Scarborough as a town as they invited me to get off the bus with them before the ground and go for a beer.

The Horse and Jockey turned out to be a lovely pub, but sadly it didn't have hand pumps. Old racing and football memoribilia including lots of old programmes featuring South Yorkshire clubs adorned the walls. The three of us walked down to Roundwood where I grabbed a programme before heading upstairs to the plush clubhouse, which once again sadly lacked 'proper' ale.

Roundwood was a tick for me in the new grounds column so I was naturally looking forward to seeing what it was like. I was not to be disappointed. Once I'd paid a very decent £5 to get in, I was right behind the goal. This end had a small standing cover, a tea bar, portaloos, the referees room and a seated stand. A tall hedge formed the boundary down the left hand side where there was no spectator accommodation. The spectators on the other side had a small standing cover and then some good open terracing which was raised above pitch level. Some local residents watched the game through their windows looking down on the crowds. The final end behind the goal was a mixture of grass and concrete open standing. Rotherham United's training ground was behind the hedge.

The weather had been damp and gloomy but mild all day and this continued albeit in the dark. It meant the pitch was slick allowing lots of good tackling and fast play. Parkgate came flying out of the blocks and went one up after thirty seconds thanks to some woeful defending. Thankfully for the large contingent of Seadogs who ignored talks of a boycott, Paddy Miller netted from a corner after ten minutes.

Boro then had the large majority of chances but poor finishing and what boss Rudy Funk later described as bad decision making, meant the score remained level. The home side also had a couple of chances on the break.

Some of the travelling Seadogs in good spirits

After half time Parkgate really got into the game, with Boro still probably having more possession. However the home side came closer in front of goal of a few occasions. It was a really good end to end hard game of football. Neither side really deserved to lose, although Boro should have taken home all three points but a huge misunderstanding in front of goal between Joe Naylor and Curtis Bernard with just a few minutes remaining meant the chance was gone. Both sides got a well deserved ovation at full time.

I was kindly given a lift to the seaside to stay with my Dad by loyal supporter Colin Whelan. It had been a really good evening out.

Parkgate 2 Scarborough Athletic 4 (Saturday 16th March 2013) NCEL Premier Division (att: 254)

Generally I'm in Scarborough as soon as I get my monthly weekend off to spend time with my dad and friends. However, on this occasion i decided to make use of a couple of extra days at home to attend a couple of matches and then travel to Rotherham on the morning of the game, before heading to the coast.

The rain was still falling as I took the train from Harrow down to Marylebone before walking to Baker Street for breakfast in the Metropolitan Bar. Wetherspoons breakfast wrap with a tea and a fine half of hoppy ale from Saltaire got me in the mood while I picked out my football bets. The train from St Pancras wasn't too busy and arrived in Sheffield on time, so all was going well.

I was going to the match with my old mate Guy Watson, who's based in Leeds. After a misunderstanding, which saw me looking for him in the wrong town, I got to Rotherham and found him in a pub. He had to find one a few minutes from the station as four coachloads of Cardiff City fans had stopped off on their way to their match at Hillsborough. There was also a heavy police presence as there was to be a BNP march later in the day.

After a pint we caught the 109 bus, which dropped us at the end of the lane to Roundwood at around 2.20 so we had time for another libation in the clubhouse and to catch up with the rest of the Seadogs; many of whom were exiled fans. We paid our £5 admission, plus £1.20 for a programme and went to stand on the far terrace down the side.

Boro started out very well, but the grumbles were that the dominance wasn't being converted into goals. It was a vital game as fellow challengers for the tile, Bridlington and Brighouse, both had relatively easy home games. Ryan Blott settled the nerves when finishing off fine work from Tony Hackworth to put the vast majority of the crowd in a good mood.

Unfortunately Boro took their foot off the pedal and it came as no surprise when Parkgate equalised, with Sam Smith slamming home a penalty after Matt Plummer had fouled. Despite having the majority of the play it looked like the Seadogs would have to go in level, until Ryan Blott set up Jimmy Beadle who bulletted a header home.

It was 3-1 before the interval. Hackworth and Denny Ingram had been complaining to the inconsistent referee Mr Smith all the half. Finally he saw that Hackworth was being unfairly grappled in the box and pointed to the spot. Bryan Hughes made no mistake sending the keeper the wrong way.

After a happy half time pint we returned to the action and I met with the author of the No Clash of Colours blogsite, who was a good bloke. We chatted away near to the end the home side attacked, when Mr Smith gave a bewildering decision to award another penalty, adjudging Plummer to have fouled when it was the other way round. Even the home supporters and linesman were laughing. Justice was done when Sam Smith hammered the ball against the top of the bar.

Boro were struggling as Blott and Milne had gone off and they were not retaining possession. The warning signs were there and it came as no surprise when Jamie Smith pulled a goal back   with fifteen minutes remaining. The away support roared the team on and they found another gear. They came close a few times before Jimmy Beadle finished off a move with just a couple of minutes to go.

I was given a ride back to York with Nick Finch before catching a train to Scarborough for a top class night out with my mates.