Berkhamsted Comrades

[Rhodes]

Newbies Berkhamsted Comrades begin their SSML Division Two existence with a visit to Icknield Way on Saturday 19 September where they will meet Tring Corinthians AFC in the first League fixture of the new 2020/21 campaign, it won't be an easy baptism as Tring Corinthians have had a busy pre-season so far with some positive results and will be fighting fit. Steve Hutchins and Kevin Godbold's men will then travel again the following week, this time to Aston Clinton Park to take on Aston Clinton who will be looking to hit the ground running themselves under ambitious new boss Jack Seaton who bleeds royal blue having joined the Club at the tender age of sixteen. We wish Berkhamsted Comrades well in the weeks and months ahead, it goes without saying that we wait with bated breath for the two League meetings with Berkhamsted Raiders as there is no love lost between the two Bulbourne Valley Club's.

[Rhodes]

On 01/09/2020 at 11:36, Rhodes said:

Newbies Berkhamsted Comrades begin their SSML Division Two existence with a visit to Icknield Way on Saturday 19 September where they will meet Tring Corinthians AFC in the first League fixture of the new 2020/21 campaign

I wonder how Berkhamsted Comrades are feeling about making their SSML Division Two bow at Icknield Way this afternoon, I'm sure Steve Hutchins and Kevin Godbold will have them fully primed for the occasion:

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/berkhamstedfootballclub/news/berkhamsted-fc-confirm-hutchins--godbold-to-manage-new-reserve-team-2510078.html

[Rhodes]

On 01/09/2020 at 11:36, Rhodes said:

Newbies Berkhamsted Comrades begin their SSML Division Two existence with a visit to Icknield Way on Saturday 19 September where they will meet Tring Corinthians AFC in the first League fixture of the new 2020/21 campaign, it won't be an easy baptism as Tring Corinthians have had a busy pre-season so far with some positive results and will be fighting fit. Steve Hutchins and Kevin Godbold's men will then travel again the following week, this time to Aston Clinton Park to take on Aston Clinton

Berkhamsted Comrades have made a decent enough start to life in the SSML Division Two considering they have been handed five away games to begin with, presumably due to Broadwater being unavailable until such time as they entertain Bovingdon on 24 October. First up was Tring Corinthians AFC on 19 September at Icknield Way and it proved a bridge just a bit too far for Steve Hutchins and Kevin Godbold's men where they narrowly went down 2-1, last Saturday however (26 September) a team with an average age of just 18 were very unfortunate not to take away all three points from Aston Clinton Park, drawing 2-2 with Aston Clinton equalising in the 96th minute. Next up is MK Gallacticos on Saturday (3 October) followed by a trip to 'whipping boys' The 61 FC (Luton) a week later so at least they will gain their first League victory at the Kingsway Recreation Ground if it doesn't happen come at the Sir Herbert Leon Academy on Saturday.

Edited September 30, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 30/09/2020 at 15:39, Rhodes said:

Next up is MK Gallacticos on Saturday (3 October) followed by a trip to 'whipping boys' The 61 FC (Luton) a week later so at least they will gain their first League victory at the Kingsway Recreation Ground if it doesn't happen come at the Sir Herbert Leon Academy on Saturday

Unfortunately Berkhamsted Comrades travelled to the Sir Herbert Leon Academy at the wrong time following their impressive 2-0 win over Old Bradwell United last Saturday and they continued where they left off yesterday with a 2-1 win over Steve Hutchins and Kevin Godbold's men who actually had the lions share of the play for long periods without being able to convert their opportunities. It was also slightly disappointing that MK Gallacticos Mihail Andrei-Baduleanu saw red on 70 minutes yet Berkhamsted Comrades were unable to take advantage of the extra man. At least next Saturday (10 October) there shouldn't be any problems securing the first three points of the campaign at the Kingsway Recreation Ground when they take on whipping boys The 61 FC (Luton) before facing a tougher challenge at current Division Two 'pacesetters' Codicote the following week.

[tringarmy]

Berko FC petition in relation to their landlords selling Broadwater

https://www.change.org/p/dacorum-borough-council-berkhamsted-fc-savebroadwater

Edited December 30, 2020 by tringarmy

[Rhodes]

I wonder whether Keith Pollard, the Berkhamsted Raiders Chairman, has signed the petition

[Rhodes]

It's 'criminal' isn't it that the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) want to turn this sacred place into yuppie flats, they should be totally ashamed of themselves:

[Savagebee]

16 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

It's 'criminal' isn't it that the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) want to turn this sacred place into yuppie flats, they should be totally ashamed of themselves:

Always enjoyed my visits to the place a nice ground and club.

[Arsenal fan]

If you have the time Rhodes you can search through 1,500 signatures added today to the Comrades petition to save Broadwater for football to see if his name is there.

Does the Raiders statement help you or anyone else?

The Raiders Trustees have agreed to take a neutral view on any planning debate in the town. Our comments relating to the provision of sports facilities are  as follows:

• We will not take a Club view on where housing development should take place. That is a decision for DBC following consultation with local residents.
• Our members and local residents will contribute to the consultation on the Local Plan so that DBC’s decision on sites and locations reflects the town’s wishes
• We welcome any development of sports facilities that offsets the current shortage of facilities in Berkhamsted.
• We aim to ensure that, wherever housing development takes place in the town, there is more than adequate provision of facilities for sport and leisure for both current and future needs.
• The Bulbourne Cross development provides an opportunity for the development of extensive sports and leisure provision and will accommodate the needs of multiple clubs and sports.

[Rhodes]

On 30/12/2020 at 20:13, Arsenal fan said:

If you have the time Rhodes you can search through 1,500 signatures added today to the Comrades petition to save Broadwater for football to see if his name is there.

Arsenal Fan - I couldn't spot Mr Pollard's name amongst the now 3000 signatures however would he be allowed to show his allegiance being a Director of the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA).

[Rhodes]

An interesting article from Berkhamsted FC's website. On this afternoon's BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show the Chairman of the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA), Paul Forster, sarcastically said that Bourne End isn't the back of beyond however it isn't the centre of Berkhamsted either and five minutes from the train station. Berkhamsted FC would also have to constantly dance to the BSGCA's tune, have little or no income of their own and be forced to groundshare with Berkhamsted Raiders:

FINANCIAL CRISIS IF COMRADES ARE MOVED TO BOURNE END (pitchero.com)

A forced relocation of Berkhamsted FC to Bourne End would reduce our income substantially. Such a relocation would see the club lose out on admission money, bar and catering income as well as our town centre related income. We believe this would be detrimental to the entire Berkhamsted community.

[Rhodes]

The Cold End has written a nice piece on his Blog about the current situation at Broadwater:

The Cold End: PLEASE HELP THE COMRADES SECURE THEIR FUTURE AT BROADWATER

[Rhodes]

I see that there are going to be two public on-line presentations this week, on Tuesday 12th at 7.30pm and Thursday 14th at 7.00pm, in order to discuss the Bulbourne Cross and Bourne End project, with a representative from unscrupulous Sussex based property developers Thakeham and the Chair of the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA), Paul Forster, present to supposedly answer any questions. That should be interesting and questions may be submitted in advance, see link below for details:

Bourne End Proposal (pitchero.com)

[Rhodes]

An interesting recent article about the current situation with Broadwater entitled 'A PR own goal' and that's exactly what it is, here are a few key extracts from the well written and researched piece from 'Property Investor Today' that says it all about the lack of understanding by the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) who are only seeing the pound signs in front of their eyes:

A PR own goal? Developer and local football team lock... (propertyinvestortoday.co.uk)

The stadium that is now known as the Broadwater ground has seen more than 100 years of football, with the ‘Berkhamsted Comrades’ formed in 1919 by servicemen returning from the First World War. 

To the developers, they provide lucrative land in prime locations, perfect for housing, retail and other uses. But to football clubs themselves, and their passionate fans, grounds hold years of history, emotion, tradition, memories and family connections.

The situation at Berkhamsted is far from unique. Redeveloping local football grounds is a particularly sensitive and emotive subject – and often becomes highly charged and political – because of what they mean to the fans and the local community at large.

[Rhodes]

20 hours ago, Rhodes said:

I see that there are going to be two public on-line presentations this week, on Tuesday 12th at 7.30pm and Thursday 14th at 7.00pm

Bourne End Proposal (pitchero.com)

I wonder how the on-line presentation went this evening, does anybody know

[Arsenal fan]

It went really slowly with the developer that wants to destroy 200 acres of Green Belt land giving the usual environmental window dressing. Turn countryside into a country park etc. and as they will make hundreds of millions from the estate they can add infrastructure. He did say they had not entered discussions to buy Broadwater. Raiders mouthpiece Forster waffled aimlessly.

At least The Emirates is a lot nearer Highbury than Bourne End is to Broadwater but it still lacks atmosphere and the history goes.

[Rhodes]

45 minutes ago, Arsenal fan said:

At least The Emirates is a lot nearer Highbury

Arsenal Fan - That's where the well researched article I posted yesterday was interesting as it mentioned the likes of Highbury, The Dell and Filbert Street, iconic grounds that are now lost forever. The list is endless, Upton Park, Ayresome Park, Baseball Ground, Boothferry Park, Burnden Park, The Den, Eastville, Elm Park, Feethams, Victoria Ground, Old Show Ground, Fellows Park, Gay Meadow, Goldstone Ground, Highfield Road, Leeds Road, Manor Ground, Maine Road, Millmoor, Plough Lane, Roker Park, Saltergate Springfield Park, Sealand Road, Layer Road, Vetch Field, Ninian Park, Somerton Park, Griffin Park, Bootham Crescent, Belle Vue, County Ground (Northampton), Huish, Loakes Park and Underhill. Those are just League and former League grounds, pretty much all sold to unscrupulous developers such Thakenham, it will be a tragedy if Broadwater goes the same way:

A PR own goal? Developer and local football team lock... (propertyinvestortoday.co.uk)

[Rhodes]

On 12/01/2021 at 22:51, Rhodes said:

I see that there are going to be two public on-line presentations this week, on Tuesday 12th at 7.30pm and Thursday 14th at 7.00pm

Bourne End Proposal (pitchero.com)

I wonder how the second on-line presentation will go this evening with a representative from unscrupulous Sussex based property developer Thakeham and the Chair of the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA), Paul Forster, will anybody be listening in, Arsenal Fan said that Tuesday's one went really slowly. Register your expression of interest to attend here:

Bulbourne Cross

Edited January 14, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

It is still possible to comment, until Sunday 28 February, on the Dacorum Borough Council Local Plan 'Emerging Strategy for Growth' 2020 - 2038 and here is the Consultation document. I see that the Chiltern Society have, unsurprisingly, grave concerns about the Plan and are hell bent against it, they currently have an open on-line meeting taking place which it is still possible to join (see third link):  

New Dacorum Local Plan (to 2038)

Draft Local Plan Update | Living Magazines (livingmags.info)

Home - Chiltern Society

 

Edited January 14, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

9 hours ago, Rhodes said:

I see that there are going to be two public on-line presentations this week, on Tuesday 12th at 7.30pm and Thursday 14th at 7.00pm

Bourne End Proposal (pitchero.com)

I wonder how the on-line presentation went this evening, does anybody know