HERE are some more of my end of season groundhopping adventures in the Regional Feeder Leagues.
Needless to say, these matches represent pure recreational participation so no football odds or sports betting applies…
Hawkinge Town 2-2 Minster
-
When: Bank Holiday Monday 1st April 2024
-
Kick-off: 2.45pm
-
Where: Hawkinge Trust Pavilion & Sports Ground, Pavilion Road, Hawkinge, Kent
-
CT18 7UA
-
Competition: Kent County Football League Premier Division
-
Attendance: 71
My Bank Holiday groundhopping escapade was dictated by the weather. Heavy rain was forecast for most parts of the country meaning I was extremely wary of travelling far afield only to suffer the crushing disappointment of a late postponement.
Then I spotted the Kent region was going to be dry. And because Hawkinge Town are regular programme issuers, my mind was quickly made up. The host club even sent me a photo of their playing surface on the morning of the game stating: “Definitely no pitch inspection, no surface water and as far as we are concerned we’re ready to go. Unless we get hours of rain which isn’t forecast, we’re good to go.”
So I set off for a 220 mile round trip utilising the M25 and M20 motorways. Hawkinge is a town housing 8,000 residents based three and a half miles north of Folkestone. The last time I drove down this route was to take the Channel Tunnel across to a French League match in Calais with my wife during June 2016.
Ground Description
Two separate sections of overhang cover in front of the bar and dressing room building provide shelter for 100 spectators.
Hot food was available whereby order numbers were helpfully called out all afternoon to those watching the match.
Programme Details
Grant Wilbur has been a fantastic programme editor for several Kent clubs in recent years. His 12 page colour production at Hawkinge Town delivered terrific reading and sold for just £1 in the bar area.
Contents included welcome notes from both the manager and coach, Kent County League news round-up, Hawkinge Town fixtures and results, league table, a half-time quiz, club history, a profile of visitors Minster, a player interview, action photos and the matchday line-ups.
Furthermore, I was intrigued to read a bizarre article on farmyard pigs playing competitive five-a-side football until I realised it was actually April Fools’ Day!
The Match
Second versus ninth amongst the league rankings. Honours were even in a tight contest that ebbed and flowed nicely despite strong winds.
The scorers for Hawkinge were Josh Hastings (71 minutes) and Connor Coyne (75 mins). Meanwhile, Tristan Jevons (5 mins) and Ollie Harris (77 mins) filled Minster’s scoresheet.
A word of praise too for match referee Nick Wheeler who had an excellent game. Nick messaged me afterwards to say: “Thank you Tony for your continued support of grassroots football.”
AS Rawreth 2-2 Pitsea Athletic
-
When: Saturday 18th May 2024
-
Kick-off: 2pm
-
Where: Academy Soccer, The Warren, Old London Road, Wickford, Essex SS11 8SG
-
Competition: Essex Olympian Football League Division Two
-
Attendance: 12
I was originally intending to drive four hours up north for a game at Darlington Town’s new ground but my five year old daughter was sick throughout the night and my subsequent lack of sleep meant I had to stay fairly local.
It was a 110 mile round trip on the M25 and A127 to the village of Rawreth where 1,100 people live.
Academy Soccer Rawreth FC – to give them their full name – possess a thriving youth set-up enabling pathways for young children to progress all the way up to the adults’ first team.
Ground Description
A railed off playing area within a multi-pitch complex. The homely pavilion offered refreshments and the dressing rooms.
Programme Details
Teamsheet downloaded from the FA Full-Time web site. I also obtained a few old programmes featuring past AS Rawreth youth tournaments to supplement my comprehensive football memorabilia collection.
The Match
The marksmen for rock bottom relegation strugglers AS Rawreth were Adam Barrett (28 minutes) and Ethan Bird (45 mins). Seventh placed Pitsea Athletic replied through Albert Gair (32 mins) and Joshua Oteng (66 mins).
ACD United 1-5 Hashtag United Development
-
When: Wednesday 29th May 2024
-
Kick-off: 6.30pm
-
Where: Seymour Field, New Road, Ingatestone, Essex CM4 0EE
-
Competition: Essex Olympian Football League Division One
-
Attendance: 42
An 80 mile round trip although congestion on the M25 saw Google Maps divert me on to the back roads from Harlow over to Ingatestone - a village of 5,400 inhabitants.
Ground Description
A weather-beaten 1977 sign declares: “Seymour Field. Named to honour the memory of H.J.C. ‘Skip’ Seymour.” Apparently, he was headmaster at a nearby school.
There is slightly raised banking along one side of the pitch which is part of a public park. The pavilion was refurbished five years ago and contains dressing rooms.
Programme Details
Teamsheet downloaded from the FA Full-Time web site.
The Match
In view of both sides pushing for promotion amidst the top three, Hashtag United Development surprisingly dominated proceedings thanks to strikes by Matthew Gauci (2 minutes), Thomas Matthew penalty (6 mins), Charlie Bott (14 mins), Sam Pratt (50 mins) and Sam Rawlinson (67 mins).
The consolation for ACD United came from Ollie Williams (39 mins). It was interesting to see a Hashtag team playing as they are admirably bringing new audiences to Non-League football courtesy of massive online content.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
