THE period after our clocks change to British Summer Time at the end of March/start of April every year is affectionately called the “silly season” in groundhopping parlance.
This is because a multitude of Regional Feeder League matches that were postponed on Saturdays throughout the winter at clubs lacking floodlights can suddenly be rearranged utilising early evening kick-offs on brighter midweek nights.
Incidentally, it is recreational football with no betting or football odds on offer. Here are some of my silly season adventures in 2024…
Hemel Hempstead Rovers 6-1 Bovingdon Reserves
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When: Tuesday 16th April 2024
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Kick-off: 6.15pm
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Where: Reith Fields, Longlands, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4HX
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Competition: Herts Senior County League Division One
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Attendance: 51
Overview: It was the only regularly used ground I needed to visit in the top two divisions of the Herts Senior County League.
Ground description: There is overhang cover for 50 spectators at the dressing room building behind one goal. And it proved very popular on what turned out to be a miserably wet occasion.
Programme details: The host club published a colour teamsheet on their Twitter X feed so interested parties like myself could print it off to keep for information and a matchday souvenir.
The match: Hemel Hempstead Rovers captured a comfortable 6-1 victory thanks to strikes by Collins two (18, 65 minutes), L. Potton (26 mins), Beckwith (35, 56 mins) and Jones (48 mins).
Bovingdon Reserves actually opened the scoring through Davis (8 mins).
AFC Cubo 2-1 AFC Walcountians
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When: Wednesday 17th April 2024
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Kick-off: 7.30pm
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Where: Pitch R1, River Pitches, Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground, Hartington Road, Chiswick, London W4 3TL
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Competition: Surrey Premier County Football League Premier Division
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Attendance: 7
Overview: This place does have floodlights but doesn’t stage many midweek games so it was ripe for a silly season visit. It is located directly across the road from the long-established Polytechnic Stadium in Chiswick.
Ground description: Opened in September 2021, it is one of the best 3G artificial pitch arenas I’ve encountered at Regional Feeder League level.
Facilities incorporate pay and display parking, two uncovered grandstands providing 72 seats in total, elevated viewing on grass banking and an electronic scoreboard.
Programme details: Similar to the previous evening, AFC Cubo delivered a colour teamsheet on Twitter X.
The match: AFC Walcountians dominated early on and led via Yorston (39 mins). But hosts AFC Cubo battled back with Chetwynd (62 mins) and Bain (85 mins) supplying eventual match winners.
Harlington Juniors 1-2 Cranfield United Reserves
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When: Wednesday 24th April 2024
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Kick-off: 6.15pm
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Where: New Grounds Private Playing Fields, Sundon Road, Harlington, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU5 6LS
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Competition: Bedfordshire County Football League Division One
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Attendance: 21
Overview: I had driven through the Bedford village of Harlington hundreds of times in the past on my way to the M1 Motorway. Now it was time for me to stop off there to watch the local football club.
Despite their name, Harlington Juniors are an adult team. Recommended parking was at the village hall but it was absolutely overflowing due to a fitness class taking place and I had to find an adjacent side street.
Ground description: No spectator furniture yet a picturesque tree-lined setting nonetheless.
Programme details: Teamsheet printed off the Football Association’s Full-Time web site.
The match: Harlington grabbed the initiative as L. Renshaw (27 minutes) made the scoresheet. However title chasing Cranfield United Reserves recovered to register goals from T. Young (39 mins) and Elforjani (81 mins).
Hinton 5-0 Lemsford
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When: Tuesday 14th May 2024
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Kick-off: 6.35pm
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Where: Grass pitch, Ashmole Academy, Cecil Road, Southgate, London N14 5RJ
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Competition: Herts Senior County League Premier Division
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Attendance: 43
Overview: The traditional home ground Hinton use at Holtwhites Sports & Social Club in Enfield was unavailable so they switched this fixture to a highly unusual school venue (only normally used in Sunday League circles).
Therefore, I contacted Hinton and asked them to make it a designated groundhopper fixture accompanied by printed programmes. Accordingly, I announced all the details on my Twitter X.
Nearly 40 groundhoppers turned up on the night from as far afield as the Midlands. Hinton were really pleased and messaged me afterwards to say: “Just to let you know we made £103 in programme sales (some generous folk said we could keep the change). Thanks again for the publicity & help on this. Any funds & publicity is hugely valuable for an amateur football club!”
Ground description: Not bad for a school grass pitch affording slightly raised spectating provision at one end.
Programme details: These were sold for £3 (including admission) around the side of the pitch. A four page professionally printed card effort containing Hinton’s club history, welcome notes, a player profile and the team line-ups.
The match: Hinton were too strong - Petrou two (6, 13 minutes), Nicolaou (40 mins) and Hohmann (70, 77 mins) hit the net.
I subsequently discovered there is also a 3G artificial pitch at Ashmole Academy which Hinton sometimes hire for league games during wet weather. Hence I will plan to return for another match in the future.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
