A Message from a far Away Land

[The Invisible Man]

Hallo Towners and all Essex Leaguers. This post is coming to you from a far-away place called Yorkshire where I now live.

 

Being unable to get to many Town games I went along on Wednesday night to see the first game of of the season at my new local club, Brighouse Town. Err, yes, that's right, Brighouse Town.

 

They play in the West Riding County Amatuer League, and were champions in 2002-3 but after a poor finish came third in 2003-4. I had assumed that the WR CAL was equivalent to the ESL, ie County League Step 5 status but not so. There seems to be an extra step up here, as this league feeds up into the Northern Counties East League, which is Step 5 and equals the ESL.

 

Anyway, the ground has a rail round it but no infill, and concrete on two and a hald sides. Along all of one one side is single large step and four steel stanchions that presumably once formed a small stand like our bus shelter, but the roof is gone now. There are no dug-outs and no player's tunnel, but there are 6 floodlights. Changing rooms are in a proper stone faced structure but the clubhouse comprises two portakabins (painted green at the instence of the planners!). There is no bar and no burger bar but you can get tea/coffee and a bar of chocolate, and the programme is as good as most in the ESL - colour cover and black and white inside, loads of adverts.

 

The ground is not shared and is solely for Brighouse's use. There is what appears to be a second or training pitch as well. I don't know if I was supposed to pay to get in as I arrived 10 minutes late and couldn't see anyone to pay - there are no turnstiles or anything. The club is ambitious to progress and intends to enclose the ground during this season - deja vu! There;s a rather nicer view than than at Brimsdown however!

 

The gate was disappointing, no more than about 50. Maybe some stayed in to watch the England game.

 

The pitch is very nice and flat, but the brass could be a tad shorter perhaps. The game was most enjoyable - good football, a passing game played on the ground and none of this hoofing it nonsense. The keepers always rolled or passed the ball to a colleague, no thumping it randomly upfield (well he did once).

 

It finished Brighouse Town 3, Ovenden 1. I reckon Brighouse would survive in the ESL, if the defence was a quicker - they'd give us a game but would get punished by cmore clinical finishing. Having said that they've got some decent strikers themsleves.

 

So I'm missing the Town but looking forward toTown's game tomorrow, at home to Wibsey or something.

[Southport - TOWNER]

so no whippet racing then?

 

[Pavagrotti]

I thought they were called Brighouse and Gastric. Have I got the wrong? Wondered where you had gone hadn't seen you arround recently!

[Junior]

cus he's invisable!! and in yorkshire!

[Pavagrotti]

No flies on you!

[Southport - TOWNER]

she's no pudding!

[Junior]

huh?

[Steph]

Quote:

The Invisible Man said:

The pitch is very nice and flat, but the brass could be a tad shorter perhaps.

I dont know a good brass band, and Brighouse are reputed to have a good brass band, can be quite enjoyable! I suppose it was the flat notes that were the problem.

[Southport - TOWNER]

"where there's brass there money"

 

[Guest]

Underestimation of the ESL once again as the NECL have two divisions, one at Step 5 and one at Step 6 so, your West Riding League must be Step 7 ( a few Step 7 Leagues have lights which may confuse many folk) Shows you how important it is to keep hold of what we've got , but it won't be easy !

[bigboybubs]

Invis, any brass up there, or they all out in there tractors.

[The Invisible Man]

Err, don't know about that sort of brass Bubs, haven't looked! The other week I did inadvertantly wander into a brass band competition in the middle of Brighouse. Absolutely awful din, I've no idea what they see in it, nearly as bad as bagpipes. I thought I'd wandered on to the set of Brassed Off.

 

We had another home game on Wednesay night and drew 2-2 with Wibsey. Fair result overall but Brighouse had enough chances to win it, and suffered from some comedy goalkeeping. Went 1 down when the keeper came to edge of the box to clear but booted it straight into an onrushing forward. Yes, it rebounded back into the net. We then went 2-1 up by half time but lost the lot in the second half and Wibseyy equalized with a hopeful cross from the left sideline which drifted over the hapless custodian into the net. Chopper, if you ever fancy a move to Yorkshire........

 

Mucch as I've enjoyed the two games of my new home town club, the big down side is that they play in orange and black!!!!! This does upset me a bit. Essex guys won't understand but Enfield people will.

 

One other thing, I would say that the standard of refereeing in the two games I've seen is better than most ESL games, despite being two steps lower!

 

We're away to Campion on Wednesday night but I'll be in France for a couple of days. Home to Hall Green on Saturday.

 

Come on the Towns!