DIARY OF A GROUND HOPPER: Desford 2-2 Burbage Old Boys

DESFORD 2 BURBAGE OLD BOYS 2

TUESDAY, APRIL 5

THERE is nothing that grabs the imagination of a Groundhopper more than a club playing on a ‘rare pitch’. Such an occasion arose a couple of weeks ago when Desford announced they would play midweek home matches at Bosworth Academy. The venue has a plastic pitch and lights, unlike their usual home in the town.

The Fox gets in touch to say he is going to Desford at Bosworth Academy and is offering a lift tonight. He susses out a few chippies along the way as the ground has no facilities. After a slap up fish supper, we park in the large car park with about 30 minutes to go before kick-off.

Access to the pitch is round a corner of a building, where we are met by a large, heavy gate. I instinctively give it a push and it screeches open. I suspect most spectators would see the menacing gate and turn around to try another route!

We follow a long path through a courtyard and down a hill to the caged pitch. A club official awaits at the gate. On a previous night, Desford didn’t charge for entry and missed out on quite a payday from the gaggle of Hoppers attending. Learning from this error, the friendly official takes £3 from each of us (£1.50 Concessions) tonight to help covercosts.Thereisnoprogrammeorfoodand the toilets are a way back in one of the college’s austere buildings.

Two weeks ago, Desford played in a blue and black striped strip, so I naturally assume the players wearing sky blue shirts and navy shorts are the home side. More of this later. Tonight’s visitors for this Everard’s Tiger League Cup Quarter Final are Burbage Old Boys, a trip of about ten miles.

The tie is an entertaining one. It is level at the break. Thankfully, neither players nor the officials take the long walk back to the changing rooms during the break. I could still have been waiting for them now if they’d done that! It looks like one of the Old Boys’ subs is warming up in a onesie!

Mr. Onesie – Marley Henry – comes on in the second half and shoots the visitors into the lead with his very first touch after just a few seconds. It is about this time that I realise Desford are playing in the red kit!! I really shouldn’t be let out.

The match could have swung either way but Desford manage an equaliser very late on (I am pretty sure it is Desford, anyway!). The tie goes straight to penalties.

The shoot out is a high quality affair. There are some excellent spot kicks and some good saves. Burbage shoot through into the semis with a 7-6 victory (if only I could count these ‘goals’ in my totals).

PRE-MATCH INFO: 7, WELCOME: 9, FACILITIES: 2, CHARM:1, HOME TEAM RESPECT: 7, HOME FANS: 6, MATCH: 8, OVERALL TRIP: 7, OFFICIALS: 9, ATT: 55