TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19
Bishop Sutton 2 Cadbury Heath 1
A BIRDWATCHING/groundhopping friend – they are increasing in number – suggests we head south west for a day of rarity hunting and football.
It turns out that we have picked a perfect day for our travels: it is wonderfully sunny and mild on the Somerset Levels.
I shed my coat while standing waiting for the bird to appear (Pied-billed Grebe), though my peculiar mate still dresses for the Arctic.
By evening, it is definitely coat weather when I hop out of the car at Bishop Sutton on the banks of Chew Valley Lake. I must admit part of the draw to this club is the name of the ground: ‘Lakeview'.
A quick glance reveals that the Trade Descriptions Act police should pay a visit to ‘Lakenotinview'! I find the clubhouse locked but a man inside sees me lurking outside and rushes to open the door. And what a welcome I am given!
He sorts out a programme for me (the original January issue with today's date scrawled on the front in felt tip pen).
Food won't be ready for a while but I notice an advert for a chippie in the programme. It's time to support a local business.
The pub is quite strange. It's old fashioned and full of blokes having a pint after work: nothing odd there, then. However, there is a hatch by the bar where you can order an Indian meal or fish and chips to take away.
Back at the now freezing ‘Lakenotinview', Sutton and Cadbury Heath lay on a match played at a ferocious pace. Are the players just keeping warm or is this the usual tempo of Toolstation Premier Division games?
Three first half goals manage to keep the cold at bay for the crowd. At half time, three local Hoppers overhear us talking about birds. It turns out one of them is a birder too and a happy, goalless second half is spent chatting like long lost friends.
If you love a friendly atmosphere at a club but definitely don't want to see a lake, then Bishop Sutton is the place for you.
sad.hopper@ntlworld.com
