DIARY OF A GROUND HOPPER
CRAWLEY GREEN 1 SHEFFORD T CAMPTON 5
It looks like it’s going to be a tall order pulling in a new ground before Christmas; that is until The Fox pulls out a little cracker from the box of fixtures. Crawley Green are at home and have a ‘Plastic Fantastic’ pitch, to boot.
Like me, you may have thought that Crawley Green was to be found somewhere in the vicinity of Gatwick Airport. Like me, you would be completely wrong! Earlier this season, The Fox and I visited Luton Town Academy on a Saturday morning before a ‘proper’ match in the afternoon. While making the three mile walk from the main entrance to the youth pitch, we unexpectedly had to skirt round a small stadium: Crawley Green.
I am met at the gate by a rather gruff guy who tells me there is no parking in the ground for spectators and that they aren’t ready for visitors yet anyway.
Back at the turnstile there is a decidedly more friendly welcome. It’s all smiles as I pay £8 (£5 Concessions). Each spectator is helpfully directed to the stadium’s facilities. Access up to the pitch is via a set of steps. Fans emerge next to the main stand, complete with bench seating, along one touchline. I see what looks like a small covered standing area, though find it rammed with kid’s goal frames. I can see the tea bar across the way on the opposite touchline.
The ladies in the tea bar are very friendly. One immediately clocks The Fox and I as Groundhoppers (I don’t take this as a compliment!) and engages us in conversation. It’s a distraction from the awful Christmas cover versions coming from the telly on the wall. For once, my memory is correct; no hot food is available.
I take up position along one touchline for the match. Airplanes regularly swoop over the ground having just taken off form Luton Airport.
Tonight’s fixture is a South Midlands League Premier Division Cup game (second round), with Shefford Town & Campton providing the opposition. Both sides seem to be taking it seriously, which is good to see. However, when the referee starts the match ON TIME, Crawley’s defenders seem as confused as the Robin Redbreast and run around like headless Christmas Turkeys in the face of Shefford’s blistering attack. The home side are four goals down by the break and as the saying goes, are lucky to have nil.
After a warm drink in the busy tea bar, I’m back out into the cold night air for the second half. Play is much scrappier than the first forty-five. Green seem to have worked out a way to counter Town’s attack. The home side even look the better team for long periods.
In the end, the second half is a one-all draw. Shefford Town & Campton ease into round three and The Fox and I ease into Luton’s traffic and back to the East Midlands, pleased to tick off a new ground on a Tuesday night.
PRE-MATCH INFO: 9, WELCOME: 9, FACILITIES: 6, FOOD: 7, CHARM: 6.5, PROGRAMME: 8, HOME FANS: 6, MATCH: 7, OVERALL TRIP: 8, OFFICIALS: 9.5, ATT: 400