TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5
Evesham United 1 Abingdon United 1
THE scramble for matches continues, as does the flooding. I head for the West Midlands for a spot of birdwatching at Chasewater before finally ticking off Wednesfield at the eighth time of asking.
The weather has other ideas and as I am packing away, the heavens open. A quick phone call to the secretary confirms the inevitable and I am left searching for an alternative.
Again! The phone is answered by a bemused Evesham United secretary: bemused because she wonders why I am asking about her match. ‘It's fine here and has been all day!'
Because of queues and a lack of time, I am left with no choice but to use the morally indefensible M6 toll road.
Oh the absolute shame; this must be what Chelsea supporters feel like. I arrive at the Spiers & Hartwell Jubilee Stadium and wonder just how the roundabout and short access road could have possibly cost £700,000: rip off Britain strikes again.
If you remember, the ground was completed before the access routes and then an argument ensued about the cost of the project.
I would have been asking serious questions too! I enter the ground (£9) and find several club officials seeking succour from the cold in the clubhouse entrance.
One kindly fetches me a programme. For £1, I receive the bulging month old original (usual price £2) and a four page, up-to-date insert.
Harrogate Town take note!
The clubhouse is very plush. The line-ups are read out and I am also furnished with a teamsheet. ‘Stay in the warm and we'll announce when the players are coming out'. Nice!
The game is an excellent advert for football at this level (Evo-Stik Southern, Division One South and West).
On a very stodgy pitch, the players manage to put on a skilful display of football, which produces a goal in each half. A draw is a very fair result.
I think I struck it lucky tonight: an excellent match at a very friendly club at a new ground for me (I visited the old ground near the railway station) when very little else was on. Result!
sad.hopper@ntlworld.com
