SATURDAY, APRIL 13
Bodedern Athletic 1 Pwllheli 2
ONE of my Anglesey bird guides asks if he can come to a match with me. Unfortunately, he never leaves the island but a chance to drag him away from the brain-numbing tedium of Sky's constant blather about the Premier League football and actually get him to see some live action is too good to miss. I choose Bodedern Athletic of the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance.
The ground is easy to find in the featureless village. I park near the clubhouse but when I try and enter the building I am quickly ushered out; there's a children's party taking place and I obviously look very dodgy!
The changing rooms are situated in a converted chapel. The referee approaches and asks if I am “one of those Groundhoppers”. I then get a potted life history, a quick resume of North Welsh football and an invitation to copy down the teamsheets at 2.15pm on the dot.
I finally find my way in and pay £3 to the friendly gateman. He scuttles off to find the programmes but returns empty handed.
“It looks like we're not doing one today”. He is extremely apologetic, bless him. The hatch of the burger van, resplendent in the club's green and white colours, flies open and a lady with her arm in a sling fires up the friers. My delicious burger and chips are soon on the way.
Unfortunately, so is the rain and I have to shelter to eat my meal in the dry. Thankfully, there is a covered stand nestled in one corner. The pitch is partitioned from the clubhouse by an impressive dry stone wall. When they see who is refereeing the game, everyone in the stand groans. It seems my new friend is not a popular man!
The match is dire. My ‘friend' runs the game to the letter of the law. There is nothing too controversial until a final whistle mystery sending off.
At least I see three goals but I feel sorry for my birding mate who must have been wishing he was in front of the telly after a few minutes of this dismal offering.
sad.hopper@ntlworld.com
