Match Information
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Watton United 1-0 North Walsham Town
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When: Saturday 29th April 2023
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Kick-off: 2.30pm
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Where: Watton Sports Centre, Dereham Road, Watton, Norfolk IP25 6EZ
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Competition: Anglian Combination Division 2
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Attendance: 151 (my headcount)
Watton United have been hovering on my football groundhopping radar for a long time ever since I recall them being firmly established Eastern Counties League participants from 1986 onwards encompassing a 14 year period.
It would have been the modern day equivalent of Step 5 in the national Non-League Pyramid. Indeed, Watton were able to compete nationally in both the FA Cup and FA Vase amidst that period.
Reports suggest their floodlights eventually didn’t pass required standard tests so they were sadly unable to meet ECL requirements and consequently resigned league membership in April 2000.
Watton have subsequently regrouped in the Anglian Combination through various different divisions albeit enduring a season without playing in 2013/14 due to financial problems which threatened the club’s future.
Thankfully survival was achieved. Bearing all this in mind, I set off on my 170 mile round trip up the A11 to Watton - a Norfolk market town housing 7,200 residents.
Ground Description
Located behind the large Watton Sports Centre buildings that contain recreation, gym and leisure facilities plus a licensed bar.
The football pitch is still floodlit and has two sturdy covered standing areas along one touchline for 200 supporters. But it is interesting to note how ground grading obligations have moved on in the past two decades.
Watton United would now need to install seating provision, hard standing and an entry block gate if they ever wanted to play at Step 5 again. Also present on site is the Watton Junior FC clubhouse headquarters serving youngsters aged nine up to teenage years.
Programme Details
An excellent production from locally based publishers Barnes Print (E.A) Ltd. I enjoyed wholesome reading material focusing on Anglian Combination affairs as well as the football world in general incorporating numerous fascinating statistics.
Barnes Print supply programmes free of charge to several grateful teams across East Anglia.
The Match
Going into this final fixture of 2022/23, divisional leaders Watton United needed a point to secure promotion via a top two finish. Meanwhile, victory would probably clinch the title although surrounding mathematics were a little complicated.
They were level on points with second placed Loddon United who could actually pip Watton and become champions themselves by overturning a seven goal difference swing in their concluding game against Gayton United taking place at the same time.
A delicate scenario creating great intrigue around Watton Sports Centre and I counted 151 spectators in attendance. Superb numbers for Step 9 football.
The occasion was enhanced because Watton United concurrently hosted a ‘Sponsors’ Day’ inviting club backers to sample food and drinks in the new ‘John Softley Lounge’. This is named after the town’s former sports association chairman who passed away in 2020.
The match itself turned out to be a tight and tense contest where fourth placed North Walsham Town gave a very good performance. Matters were decided on 88 minutes when a colossal long throw from the right led to Watton’s Mitchell McArdle powerfully heading home.
@McardleMitche11 WITH A BULLET HEADER TO WIN THE LEAGUE 🚀
— Watton United FC (@WattonUnitedFC) April 29, 2023
This man gets it done at both ends of the pitch, a strikers worst nightmare!#HUGE #HEAD #WALLOP #UTG pic.twitter.com/PKjcBQ2Eii
Jubilant celebrations followed as McArdle ripped off his shirt and gleefully ran towards ecstatic home fans. Watton then missed a penalty deep into injury time before the final whistle sounded.
Beyond that, their players gathered together in the goalmouth to agonisingly await crucial news concerning Loddon United’s result. Several minutes elapsed until everyone heard Loddon had won 5-0.
And so Watton United were confirmed champions on a slender three goal margin. The champagne corks started popping immediately and I got showered in bubby while taking my post-match photos!
The People
I spotted Watton United chairman Robert Taylor out on the pitch congratulating his players afterwards. Robert is a well-known former professional footballer.
In fact, I remember him famously scoring all five goals for Gillingham during the 5-0 triumph away to Burnley in a 1998/99 Division Two encounter.
Additionally, he played centre-forward at several other League sides including Leyton Orient, Brentford, Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Now aged 52, it is lovely to see Robert putting something back into grassroots football with Watton United.
*Credit for photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
