Ben back for more!

BARNOLDSWICK Town have welcomed back Ben Hall for his second stint as manager of the North West Counties Premier side.

Hall, who was last in charge at Barlick 10 years ago, after taking them from the Lancashire Combination to Step 5, will be assisted by Craig Bradshaw.

“It’s a fantastic club,” said Hall. “Most recently I watched the team up at Colne and particularly for the first hour of that game, it was as good as I’ve seen for a long, long time

“There’s some real leaders in that team, and it’s a crop of players I’m looking forward to working with.”

Former manager Andy Harrison quit following their recent 4-2 home league defeat by AFC Liverpool.

Paul Bradley, Robin Chapman and Adam Waddingham make up the management team.

WHILE talking to a fellow birdwatcher on Scilly in September, I somehow manage to slip into conversation that I watched Clevedon Town on my way to the islands. “Really? I am fixture secretary at Amersham Town. Have you been to Spratley’s Meadow”?

As a matter of fact I had visited but it was many years ago, so I decide to return and pay my new friend a visit when I get back to the mainland. And that is how The Fox and I find ourselves shunting into the tight car park at Spratley’s Meadow on Remembrance Day for this second round FA Vase match against Hilltop FC.

After an horrendous journey down, the setting is a breath of fresh air. It is a glorious day in deepest, darkest Buckinghamshire and the light is showing off the stately trees surrounding the ground in all their autumn glory.

Now I’m here, I ber Spratley’s Meadow. The remem-raised main stand along one side of the pitch triggers my memory of this place, but that’s all I recall of this scenic ground.

Closer inspection of the stand reveals the left side is called The Mike Gahagan Stand, while the right side is called The Graham Taylor Stand. There are 89 seats within.

Bryan, my birding friend, gives us a very warm welcome. He introduces me to the chairman Simon Damery. It turns out Simon is also the groundsman – just the four hours working on the pitch this morning!

SCENIC: Amersham Town’s Spratley’s Meadow ground

Most of the players, home and away, say hi as they pass by.

A circuit of the ground is not possible. The club car park and clubhouse are situated behind one goal, while the other end is blocked by trees and hedging. There is a very slippery grass bank opposite the main stand.

The clubhouse looks tiny from the outside but there’s plenty of room inside. I keep an eye on the serving hatch next to the bar. Food isn’t ready until just after kick-off, by which time there’s quite a queue of hungry customers.

I haven’t eaten since 5am, so I am starving! The Fox gives up: his hunger is abating by the second, so he leaves the queue to take up position on the grass bank to get some action shots.

Apparently, the usual catering ladies aren’t available today, so one guy is trying to manage on his own.

I emerge from the bar with my burger and chips just as Hilltop open the scoring. I am just in time to see the ball sail over the Amersham keeper’s flailing hand from a crosscum-shot. My mate Bryan is not overly impressed.

Town are really clinging on for the first 15 minutes but then the match changes dramatically. The home side fire in three first-half goals to deflate the visitors.

The second half is different again: Hilltop drag themselves back to three apiece, urged on by a vociferous, but good humoured, following. The visiting bench, though, never stop hounding the officials.

The tie goes to penalties and then sudden death before Hilltop win the shoot out 5-4! I feel desperately sorry for Bryan et al but as a neutral, this game is everything one could have hoped for.

PRE-MATCH INFO: 9.5, WELCOME: 10, FACILITIES: 6, FOOD: 5, CHARM: 9.5, PROGRAMME: 0, HOME FANS: 7, MATCH: 9, OVERALL TRIP: 8, OFFICIALS: 9, ATT: 113