GROUNDS FOR ENJOYMENT.................PART 1

NEW AND SECOND VISIT GROUNDS OF THE 2019/20 SEASON
In this first part a review of the new grounds and those visited for just the second time which was suggested and after what I thought would have been a very short collection of stadia that met the criteria it was a gentle surprise that there were a few fitting the category so much so that there is a need to bring it over two blogs.

ECCLESFIELD RED ROSE FC IN HOME ACTION WITH SOME SUBLIMINAL ADVERTISING GOING ON

During the last few weeks a collection of archive grounds, sports and the obscure have been added to the social media pages of the blog so the chance to look at what a match day has become all about struck home.
Match day is different for many but for me it involves public transport travel [near or far], the grounds, the characters met along the way, the game and of course the chance to sample fish and chips in varying parts of the country and decide on the correct term for a cob, is it batch, roll, bap, bread cake, balm or my preferred cob I will leave you to add your own or make a conclusive decision.


WELL IT WAS A HOT DAY AS CLIFTONVILLE AND AN UNUMBERED CONNAHS QUAY MET

The 'season' started early with a trip over the border to Wales on 24 June and a second visit to Airbus FC who were hosting Connah's Quay who had arranged a pre season friendly against Belfast based Cliftonville as both clubs warmed up for an early European season.  The fist half was forgettable and in the end the Welsh side ran out 1-0 winners but at last I had caught up with Cliftonville after a few attempts previously.

YOU CANT RESIST SHOWING THIS BEAUTY AT DODWORTH CAN YOU

Pre season swung into play locally in July with a second visit to Dodworth M W and a game against Maltby Main a pleasant evening had started at Shaws Chippy and followed by an entertaining match and catch up with home manager Darren Millington.  In the territory of non debut grounds a trip to Gedling MW took in an encounter against newly promoted Newark Flowserve before a third visit later on in the season for the visit of Heanor Town.  A first visit to St George's park at Mosborough saw Chesterfield Town heavily defeated on grass by Sheffield County Senior side Ecclesfield Red Rose and the friendly nature of the visitors encouraged my interest in their league. 
The league season started proper in The NCEFL and a second visit to Maltby Main for a 2-2 draw with Liversedge it started disapprovingly with a fiery crowd who went beyond on a few occasions and a bench whose behaviour disappointed.  Back to the Sheffield County League sides and High Green Villa who I had witnessed at Dronfield Town in pre season had a home game against Houghton Main allowing a first visit to the St George's Park at Throncliffe the top side of Chapeltown with once again a grass pitch utilised.

HIGH GREEN VILLA AT HOME ON GRASS AT ST GEORGES THORNCLIFFE VERSUS HOUGHTON MAIN

The midweek towards the end of the month took me to Parson Cross and Ecclesfield Red Rose for a goal less draw at their Chaucer School base.  It was a shame that no goals were on offer but it was an enjoyable evening and they were a very friendly club to boot whose results I have observed from a far during the rest of the season.  The month of August was closed out with a second visit at Mansfield Hoisery Mills and a heavy seven goals without reply was the offering from visitors Pinxton who were well on form.  The evening also saw local celebratory dog Meg in attendance and the collie follows every ball from her paws on wall position adjacent to the ground.

THE LOVELY OLD MOAT GROUND FOR GRESLEY V FC OSWESTRY TOWN

There are a collection of second visits so far and Septembers first did not disrupt that fact with the classic Moat Ground struggling Gresley witnessing a 3-2 FA Vase victory over NWCFL side FC Oswestry Town.  A new ground was achieved though when Coventry United demolished Selston by half a dozen goals without reply at their Butts Park Arena a ground that offers train views, a massive stand, 3g surface and on the day two red cards all topped off by very warm sunshine.  The area around the ground Spon End offered up much history that I had not come across on previous visits to Coventry.
In the middle of all this a first visit to see Warrington Wolves rugby league side saw the Halliwell Jones Stadium encountered for a play off game against Castleford which matched in wonderfully with the last train back to base thanks to the ground being so close to the station a midnight return was secured.

THE IMPRESSIVE STAND AT THE BUTTS PARK ARENA HOME OF COVENTRY UNITED

The end of September brought a visit to The Triplex Ground home now of Cadbury Athletic for an encounter with Hinckley AFC a interesting little ground that thankfully had enough time built into it to have a trip around Bourneville first and a check up on the Quaker family and village history to add to the day, it also allowed me to familiarise myself with Kings Norton.  A return to the KFC proved a hit with a smart restaurant which looked pretty new serving up a good bit of fast food.

TRIPLEX GROUND HOME FOR CADBURY ATHLETIC

As October burst on the scene so the new grounds picked up pace a journey to the lines end of Redditch found me setting off on a local bus to Studley FC mind you not before I ended up in the ladies loos.  You see the station is adjacent to the large shopping centre and I had never found the toilets indeed this time I ended up in the cinema foyer saw the toilet sign and dashed in only to be confronted by no urinals, it was then that the penny dropped I was in the ladies.

STUDLEY FC OUT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

A strange on the edge of everywhere ground saw Atherstone as the visitors and it was good to catch up with their enthusiastic following.  The return journey saw previous knowledge come to the good with a drop off at Kings Norton for The Cod Pot for this weekends fish and chip tasting an excellent example of the fine art it was too.  Next on the newbies list was Racing Club Warwick who entertained Derbyshire side Long Eaton United in the FA Vase and small understated ground was though ably supported by a the adjacent racecourse and a wonderfully historic town oh yes and did I mention The Chip Shed for post match delicacies.

RACING CLUB WARWICK DEFEND A LONG EATON FREE KICK

All these blogs can be found under the right hand side menu on the main page and hopefully you can join me for some more travelling, eating and new and nearly grounds in part two shortly.