DIARY OF A GROUND HOPPER
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH BEDFONT SPORTS 4 SOUTH PARK 0
THE Fox (wrongly) tells me that Hayes & Yeading’s new stadium has an artificial pitch. He also remembers that I’ve only visited their old ground, so this new one would be a ‘tick’ for me. It is blowing a hoolie and the car is being hammered with rain as I arrive at the SKYex stadium – with its GRASS surface – so we decide not to risk it.
Bedfont Sports, of the Isthmian League, is an easy journey away and they play on plastic. It’s a sensible and safe option in these conditions. The decision is made.
I pull into the rough parking area on Hatton Road. I have to nip into the clubhouse because the turnstiles aren’t yet open. There are a few people watching football on telly but it cannot be described as a hive of activity. The gates open at about 2.10pm, allowing me to pay £8 to the friendly ladies (£6 concessions). I am handed a colour teamsheet but am told the programme is only available online. I really hate online versions!
The Hatton Road Stadium is a very tidy venue. I skip from cover to cover for my circuit to avoid the rain. It really is foul weather. It doesn’t seem to be stopping the planes coming into land at Terminal 4 behind the ground, though: there’s a stream of one every 90 seconds or so.
Thankfully, there is a lot of cover available. There are covered terraces and seats behind both goals and there are seated stands down the side I came in on, separated by the clubhouse, teabar and covered smoking area in front. The other side is open but gives a good view of the planes battling against the wind as they drop behind the clubhouse. The impressive electronic scoreboard in one corner is crystal clear. I picture the pilots landing the jets having to don sunglasses!
The burgers are really tasty, as are the ‘proper’ sausages in a bun. Chips would have been nice but the ladies aren’t frying today. Other people plump for the bacon butties.
The rain finally stops just as the teams come out for the match. The announcer thinks he is at a wrestling match and draws out all the home names: “Number 8, Maaaaaxxx WEEEEEEEEEEEEBBBB!” His friendly teasing of the mascot – Eddy the Eagle – is very funny, though.
The contest is over by half-time. Bedfont rattle in four well-taken goals with no reply from South Park. The visitors make a fist of it in the second half but cannot convert any of the excellent chances they create.
Footnote: Hayes & Yeading’s match went ahead and finished 6-1. I still think the decision we made was the sensible one. As coaches will tell you: “play the percentages”.
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