Friday 14th & Saturday 15th August

[RendonBodgers]

Not much tolerance and compassion on this thread. We can't all afford 4G pitches and a Sparky mate who can sex up a Lux test result. This is the tenth tier we are on about. Sure, some of the pitches are pony most of the winter, the dressing rooms are dated, damp and dismal, the walk to the pitch is insecure, downright dangerous, or dicey. Lay off the negative waves and have a little love. What goes around comes around. If everybody else had better facilities than your team, you would soon get voted out into the County leagues. Try cutting the grass on the pitch with a domestic mower ( I have ) and then share your thoughts.

Or just allow players to play on a pitch with a default setting of "ankle break". A little roll once a year before a grass cut isn't difficult even Kings Langley could do that. Come on Fella welcome to 2015.

[Winslow Boy]

Not much tolerance and compassion on this thread. We can't all afford 4G pitches and a Sparky mate who can sex up a Lux test result. This is the tenth tier we are on about. Sure, some of the pitches are pony most of the winter, the dressing rooms are dated, damp and dismal, the walk to the pitch is insecure, downright dangerous, or dicey. Lay off the negative waves and have a little love. What goes around comes around. If everybody else had better facilities than your team, you would soon get voted out into the County leagues. Try cutting the grass on the pitch with a domestic mower ( I have ) and then share your thoughts.

That's all well and good but from what I hear the club spend a great deal trying to get the pitch right, seems wrong then that others in the league don't have to and everyone just has to get on with it when they aren't even up to a basic standard.

[Winslow Boy]

Or just allow players to play on a pitch with a default setting of "ankle break". A little roll once a year before a grass cut isn't difficult even Kings Langley could do that. Come on Fella welcome to 2015.

Agree with that.

[Karen Browne]

Guess what ground we are due to play at Saturday!!!!

 

A Ryman League ground

[Uncle T]

Ground Hoppers report.

 

Broxbourne Borough 1 Brantham Athletic 2 (FA Cup) Att: 50ish 

In contrast to last night, I found everyone to be very friendly and welcoming here and everything was really good fun until - 

the game started. It was pretty turgid stuff for much of the time; the visitors were worthy winners - they also hit the woodwork twice and at times played some half decent football. But I really don't get a lot of enjoyment from listening to 30 odd players and managers hurling verbal abuse at three pretty competent officials for the entire 90 minutes, when most of the problems were due to their own inadequacies, not the shortcomings of the men in black. If this is Step 5 football at its best, the sooner I head down the M5 for some playing fields the better. The football isn't significantly worse, but the behaviour and atmosphere is a lot better. 

The ground is super - lots of lovely homemade stands, and seats for about 350, I would guess. Step 4 should be no problem should they ever wish to progress. Admission: £6, including small but decent prog. Good cup of tea a quid, as was a go on the golden goal.

[Uncle T]

Bedford 0 Cogenhoe 6, FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, Att: 65, Admission: £6 inc Prog 

Totally one-sided game in which the visitors were a class apart, despite both being at Step 5. Bedford sneaked promotion in third place last season and then lost their manager and all but two players and it showed. Cogenhoe were two up at half time and scored at regular intervals in the second period ad Bedford's heads quickly dropped. McMullen Park, behind Bedford Town's Eyrie ground is basic for Step 5, the only structure of note being a part seated, part terraced stand on half way, although additional cover could be had in a couple of portacabins with the fronts removed. The rest of the ground is flat standing and rather overgrown grass and has a bit of an unloved feel. Oddly there is an inbuilt pitch watering system which we only just avoided as it sprung into life just before the start. Off the pitch, it is a work in progress, a collection of new cabins being introduced as a clubhouse/changing room block.  

Pre-match refreshments courtesy of the excellent George, Tiffield and the more ordinary Watts Inn, Hanslope.

[Uncle T]

FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND 

ENFIELD 1893, (0) 0, LONDON COLNEY (3) 4 
Played at Harlow Town F.C. 
Admission £6/£3, programme (24 pages) £1.50 (overpriced) 
Attendance; 55 est 

London Colney had this game wrapped up by half time. They scored after two minutes and were 2-0 up after sixteen minutes also had the luxury of missing a penalty. A third goal after thirty three minutes put the the game to bed. In the second half Enfield had more possession but London Colney were cruising. A penalty just after the hour for Enfield was spurned by hitting the cross bar and going over. The away side also had several more chances with the Enfield penalty area sometimes resembling a pin ball machine. A fourth goal four minutes from time made the score line a fair reflection of the game. One mention of the referee and his assistants who controlled the game very well as at times it became very feisty indeed. London Colney are a good footballing side but they lack discipline in certain areas of their game which may well cost them in suspensions by the end of the season.