DIARY OF GROUND HOPPER
SATURDAY, APRIL 23RD WALTHAMSTOW 2 STANWAY ROVERS 1
I WAKE at silly o’clock to pick up The Fox early for birdwatching in Cambridgeshire. The plan is to continue south along the M11 to watch Essex Senior League Champions, Walthamstow, take on Stanway Rovers.
After a pleasant morning, we are soon in east London parking up at Wadham Lodge. While I snooze in the car, The Fox goes walkabout. He returns with the news that Walthamstow Reserves are kicking off at 12.30pm in a title-deciding match against Woodford Town U23 in the Essex Senior Reserve League, Division Two on the 3G pitch. The Fox has earned his lift home!
The visitors claim the trophy with a 2-1 victory. During half-time, I scuttle off and get the Walthamstow 60-page programme (£2).
There are quite a few pitches on the site. Clapton officials are setting up for their game on an adjacent pitch. When did they move here?! I enter the main ground. I pay £7, though many fans have printed-off tickets. I head for the snack bar only to be told all hot food is served in the clubhouse.
Back I go and climb the steep stairs to the bar. Burger and chips is fine. The food takes ages to come but it is worth the wait. Inside the stadium, there is a friendly atmosphere. There are loads of families enjoying the day and a high proportion of female supporters.
Stanway form a guard of honour for the champions. Confetti guns go off.
The atmosphere goes dead once the match kicks off. About the only sound I can hear is the yapping of a sausage dog that barks at everyone who walks past. If an animal is that nervous, why bring it to a potentially crowded, noisy football match? Sigh.
The ground has covered terracing behind both goals. The ‘Stow Ultras’ position themselves in these stands for each half. There’s a seated stand down one touchline, mainly populated by families and a small terrace straddling the halfway line on the opposite side. Many of the surfaces are covered with anti-fascist stickers from around Europe.
The first half is a damp squib. One save from the Stow keeper is all I can remember. The second half is better - three goals. Home sub Callum Ibe, makes the difference. He wins Walthamstow a penalty tucks it away and sets up Connor Scully for the winner.
Cue more confetti and the presentation of the trophy. I am on my way long beforehand to battle the North Circular Road.
An mention for the programme: this was editor Andrzej Perkins’s 400th issue and it is a corker! The genius is the emphasis placed on articles from fans about the club’s first title for 37 years. Superb work, Sir!
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