TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25
Biggleswade Town 2 Woodford United 1
When checking to see if Biggleswade Town's match is likely to go ahead, the secretary informs me that there are ‘no problems weather-wise down here'.
I can't help thinking that with 57 flood warnings in place around the country, it is a good job Town are nicknamed The Waders!
I arrive at a deserted Carlsberg Stadium. The turnstile doesn't open until 7.00pm. I pay £8 to get in and another £1 for the programme. I happen to notice there are pages missing in my copy and am soon provided with another one. It's not a bad read.
The clubhouse is enormous. Unfortunately, I can only spend about three milliseconds inside because The Nolans are being interviewed on The One Show. I hope there isn't a reunion! Outside, the only source of refreshments, the burger van, is locked.
I go back to the clubhouse and enquire about a hot drink and am told that the van outside should be open. The barman looks shocked when I tell him it isn't and he scuttles off toget a tea urn.
Now, some Hoppers shunned the delights of the North Berkshire League Hop last weekend because they considered it to be too low a level of facilities and football.
Well I can assure them that each and every one of the four clubs involved were 100 per cent more organised than Biggleswade Town!
The match is a blur, won by the home side by the odd goal in three. What does remain in my memory is the away manager. He constantly encourages his players, which makes a refreshing change.
When a Town player slides in with a dangerous high tackle, he immediately tells his men to “get away from the ref and let him deal with it!”
Manager of the season in my eyes and a credit to Woodford.
On the flip side I give you a section of the crowd in the home seats. One lad has a particularly loud voice and, contrary to his belief, is even less funny than Michael MacIntyre.
He crowns his performance by telling the referee to “get back to his own country”.
sad.hopper@ntlworld.com
