Match Information
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Moulton 5-3 Winslow United
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When: Saturday 14th January 2023
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Kick-off: 3pm
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Where: Brunting Road, Moulton, Northamptonshire NN3 7QF
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Competition: Spartan South Midlands Football League Division One
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Attendance: 141
I had been saving an excursion to Moulton FC’s 3G artificial pitch for a rainy day. This was indeed such an occasion preceded by very heavy overnight downpours.
Therefore, fixtures across the Non-League circuit were being postponed left, right and centre. I originally considered a long drive down to Devon to watch an FA Vase tie at Brixham AFC but it was called off at 7am.
Another venue I thought about visiting was Hucknall Town FC’s newly opened stadium in Nottinghamshire.
Although there were clear assurances by Hucknall that their game would go ahead (and it did), I just thought the weather was too dodgy to risk heading for a grass pitch.
I have suffered a couple of really late postponements in the past where I drove nearly five hours on both occasions only to find the respective referees decided not to proceed less than an hour before the scheduled kick-offs due to unplayable conditions.
I vowed to myself afterwards never to travel anywhere if there was the slightest chance my match of choice would not take place. No such problems at Moulton of course where the aforementioned synthetic surface was always going to drain perfectly.
So I embarked on a rain-splashed 130 mile round trip via the M1 motorway to Moulton which is a Northamptonshire village containing 3,500 residents.
Enjoying a long history dating back to their formation in 1896, the football club are newcomers in Spartan South Midlands Football League Division One circles this season at Step 6 of our national Non-League Pyramid having gained promotion through the Northants Combination League Premier Division in third spot.
Besides the first team, Moulton pride themselves on 20 youth sides catering for 260 boys and girls aged five up to 18 years old from within the village.
Then add in a huge Walking Football section – the Moulton Masters – accommodating 125 players aged between 50 and 78 where camaraderie and rapport shines through.
All in all, I believe Moulton are a shining example of the vital altruistic role Non-League clubs fulfil within local communities.
Ground Description
It is adjacent to a large school. I parked up in an ample-sized car park and noticed the busy clubhouse doing a roaring trade. I liked the homely feel courtesy of attractive club signage everywhere.
The 3G pitch was installed in 2018 featuring access by means of a slope. Spectators can stand on three sides and a prefab 100-seater grandstand protects against the elements.
Further covered accommodation is earmarked for installation next season. There are six outside satellite pitches of various different dimensions for the junior footballers.
I must say Moulton seemed extremely well organised with plenty of club officials present and helpful stewards in hi-vis jackets dotted about.
Programme Details
An appealing front cover displayed the match details and a colour team photograph. On sale at £2 from a friendly chap called Phil at the main entrance hut.
This also stocked Moulton FC lapel badges as well as housing the club’s public address system allowing music to be broadcast on matchdays.
The Match
Fortunately, the rain had stopped by kick-off time so I was able to wander around and watch the action at alternative angles.
Pitting together two teams in the top half of the table, it turned out to be one of the best games I have seen all season. Moulton’s scorers were Derrick Okoye (22 & 54 minutes), Joey Evans (32 & 72 mins, penalty) and JJ McCarthy (81 mins).
Winslow United played their part in this thrilling encounter too as Louie Howarth (5 mins), Harry Dalton (45 mins) and Ollie Power found the net.
The People
It was good to meet Moulton manager Gary Petts who spoke in glowing terms about how efficiently the club is run whilst embracing noteworthy plans for future progress.
Gary has a fine football pedigree since his father John Petts was manager of Northampton Town in the Football League during the 1970’s after previously playing professionally for Arsenal, Reading and Bristol Rovers.
Result of my @SpartanSMFL match@MoultonFC 5@WinslowUtdFC 3
— Tony Incenzo - my 50th football season (@TonyIncenzo) January 14, 2023
Attendance 141, colour programme £2. Football grounds visited - 2,487@GaryPetts1 @fc_moulton @NonLeagueCrowd @NPTNFootball @PhilipParkes @SSML2022 @NorthantsFA @joeyevans_ @dylanweston18#groundhopping #NonLeague pic.twitter.com/pRf72fcgOp
In addition, I spent time during the afternoon chatting to great Non-League ambassador Chris Berezai. He runs organised groundhopping weekends up and down the country through GroundhopUK.
Local football enthusiast Paul Jackson was also present and expertly filled me in on the latest news concerning Northamptonshire teams.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
