Arcticterntalk.org

The blog of a travelling psychiatrist and football lover. Who happens to be a halfway decent photographer. Takes a cynical view of the world

Archive for the tag “football”

Walton and Hersham 1 Ramsgate 1


By chance the second time in a few weeks that I have seen  Ramsgate play. A decent enough game played in a low atmosphere ground with a crowd of 100 in attendance. The ground is essentially one sided now with the condemning of the main terrace stand. Walton have had a mixed start to the season under their new manager Steve Baker and on the evidence of yesterday they are a work in progress but going in the right direction. They played good football and generally were entertaining. Ramsgate played a lot more of the physical stuff and a little less of the football, but nevertheless a decent team.  The game got off to a bizarre start as firstly kick off was delayed by 45 minutes due to a major M25 accident. In the second minute Ramsgate had their full-back carried off with what looked like ligament issues. In the fith minute Ramsgate had their number 11 sent off, maybe harshly. Not long after Ramsgate scored and although Walton chased the game it was not until the 80th minute that Walton equalised with a new header from their impressive number 9, Will  Turl. He also had the opportunity to score again in the final minutes with an identical move and header but fell just short.  Interesting aspects of the game? The referee made any number of errors, do not blame him for that, but why not at least consult with the linesman?  The Ramsgate goalkeeper, although competent certainly had eaten some if not all of the pies.  All in all end to end stuff and at this level a highly entertaining game.

Something for real football fans to read and mull over the implications for many non-league clubs

Something for real football fans to read and mull over the implications for many non-league clubs

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Disallowed Walton goal.Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Disallowed Walton goal.Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe. Will Turl

Walton V Ramsgate. Copyright Chris Bushe. Will Turl

Stompond Lane. The Home of Walton and Hersham FC


Stompond lane has been the home of Walton and Hersham, who now play in the Ryman South division, ever since I began watching the club almost 50 years ago.  There have been some famous moments. Walton have played FA Cup first round games here in front of thousands of spectators including against Exeter and Brighton, managed then by Brian Clough. Walton also won the Amateur cup in 1973. Things however have been declining since then almost consistently. Far from being one of the best non-league clubs they are now one of the smallest in crowd terms at their level and things may get even worse. The council plan to redevelop Stompond Lane and force Walton and Hersham to share with their neighbours, also in Ryman South, Walton Casuals.  This plan has not been met with joy by either club however statements only  a week ago suggest that this plan to redevelop Stompond Lane is becoming fairly final.

I do not know enough to really make an informed decision here however one can see a number of aspects that make some sense. The crowd base of both clubs is around 100 each and does this warrant two individual football grounds in Walton? The population of Walton, which is where the club is based, a few miles from Hersham, in 2011 was 24,137.  Neither ground is perfect, although each has character and reasonable parking.  Yesterday I visited to see Walton play Ramsgate.  The crowd was 102. Down at Walton Casuals yesterday the crowd was 163 boosted somewhat by the good start Casuals have had to the season where they top the league.  What is currently proposed is that the two clubs share Walton Casuals ground. What might equally be proposed is that these two clubs if this happens might be candidates to merge in the future. Should either of these things happen?

  1. Stompond Lane is becoming very run down. The whole ground, and I love this ground, is becoming almost untenable. The clubhouse looks sad and jaded and does not invite visitations. The main stand has a huge number of seats missing, plastic bucket seats, that are attached to wooden benches. Many have been removed.
  2. The stand opposite the main stand had warnings yesterday that it could not be used. When this is combined with the fact that no-one stands behind the goals, as the pitch has a running track around it, meaning that behind the goal is almost placing spectators in the centre of the town, the net effect is that this is now a one sided ground with little or even zero atmosphere.
  3. The council have recently introduced parking restrictions on Stompond lane, meaning that 2 hours is the maximum one may park before being fined some hideous amount. Realistically most fans spend nearer 3 hours at each game. This means that parking is now effectively limited to the club’s car park, which is ample and fine for the kind of recent crowds, but gives little hope that the crowd base if ever improved would have anywhere to park.
  4. Should the clubs ever consider amalgamation, they would concieve a club that had a fan base at lowest of around 200 and potentially more like 250-300. This is moving towards the size needed for Ryman Premier football. Although Walton Casuals sit top of the league, should they get promoted one wonders whether things will be in any way successful or lead to an immediate return to this level.  The clubs might consider Inverness, who before joining the Scottish football league had three separate clubs. They all combined and have risen as of yesterday to actually top the Scottish Premiership. Maybe this kind of success might not happen in Walton but maybe also it should be considered. Who should vote on this? Certainly not myself, a visitor now maybe 2-3 times a season, but the 263 fans who do come week in and week out.

On my football grounds website I have many photographs of Stompond Lane and should the club move I shall add many more http://www.footballgroundz.co.uk

A good report on recent matters can also be found here

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/new-plans-submitted-stompond-lane-5908373

A few here however just to introduce the novice to the ground that is and was Stompond Lane.

Stompond Lane. Copyright. Chris Bushe

Stompond Lane. Copyright. Chris Bushe

Stompond Lane. Copyright. Chris Bushe

Stompond Lane. Copyright. Chris Bushe

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Stompond Lane. Copyright. Chris Bushe

Stompond Lane. Copyright. Chris Bushe

 

 

Carshalton 1 Billericay Town 0


An entertaining Ryman premier league game that saw Carshalton win their first home game of the season. the reality of the game was that in the first half Carshalton should have been at least 3-0 up and that in the second half Billericay should have scored. That they did not says much about the staunch defending from Carshalton combined with excellent usage of the substitutes. This is a young Carshalton team and they will improve.  From the photos I leave it you to count the number of impressive kung-fu moves in the penalty area and in the whole series of photos there were plenty of shirt pulling episodes, all missed by the referee and his team.  Carshalton is friendly place to watch football and the football played yesterday was actually exceptional at this standard by both teams.  Good movement off the ball, intelligent running and some decent tacking too.  Players who really impressed yesterday included Kieran Woodley, number 11 who scored a decent goal and tommy Bradford number 7 who never stopped running all afternoon.  Maybe the oddest thing though is that man of the match would have to go to the Billericay goalkeeper Billy Lumley. Great saves throughout.  Game stayed interesting right until the end when Ricky Sappleton was sent off for two yellow cards around 10 seconds before fulltime.

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Tooting and Mitcham 3 Ramsgate 4


A truly great game of football marred by the broken leg of Luke Wheatley.  No point giving you a report but here are the photos. Enjoy.

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Ramsgate First goal versus Tooting

Ramsgate First goal versus Tooting

Sad moment when Luke Wheatley broke his leg versus Tooting

Sad moment when Luke Wheatley broke his leg versus Tooting

Sad moment when Luke Wheatley broke his leg versus Tooting

Sad moment when Luke Wheatley broke his leg versus Tooting

Another Ramsgate Goal

Another Ramsgate Goal

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The moment when a player breaks a leg. Luke Wheatley


Broken legs are a tragedy in football, and elsewhere.  Thankfully they are relatively rare considering the force that one sees all over the pitch. On saturday Tooting v Ramsgate in Ryman South  a Ramsgate left back called Luke Wheatley went in for a simple tackle and came out of it with a broken left leg. By chance the camera was pointing at him the moment it happened.  from the forum he had his operation Sept 16th and we all wish him well.

Sad moment when Luke Wheatley broke his leg versus Tooting

Sad moment when Luke Wheatley broke his leg versus Tooting

Sad moment when Luke Wheatley broke his leg versus Tooting

Sad moment when Luke Wheatley broke his leg versus Tooting

Kettering Football Club . The demise and the fossilised frog


Kettering a few years ago were a thriving club which is featured on my football grounds website http://www.footballgroundz.co.uk.  a club seemingly destined for the football league. The town itself was large enough to host a conferemce and league club. Since then the demise has been rapid. Today Sept 7th 2013 it is possible that the club has played its last game ever.  This photo was posted today by a fan who found a fossilsed frog on the terracing. I hope this does not happen and would like in my small way to support the club by way of this blog.

http://www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk/story.php?story_id=1365

What is said there is this:

The Club learned today that Kettering Town F C Management Limited was wound up in the Royal Courts of Justice by virtue of the Winding Up Order brought about by Rushden and Diamonds 2008 Limited. The Club’s lawyers had requested another adjournment of this case today.

The facts of this matter as we see it are as follows:

In April,prior to the takeover, the club was issued with a statutory demand by Rushden and Diamonds 2008 Limited. An amount of £58,000 was demanded. The then club owner did not take legal action against the order.

Both prior to, and post takeover, the new owner was in contact with Rushden and Diamonds 2008 Limited .The club disputed the amount owed as it had been prohibited from accessing Nene Park from mid December 2012.

Despite this we had verbally agreed a settlement figure of £50,000 with Rushden and Diamonds 2008 Limited.

Legal paper work was drawn up and presented to Rushden and Diamonds 2008 Limited in July. From July 17th until 31st August, Rushden and Diamonds 2008 Limited’s lawyers failed to respond to our lawyers request for information.

On the 1st September 2013 (yesterday) Rushden and Diamonds 2008 Limited requested that Kettering Town FC agree to cover the business rates for the period after Rushden and Diamonds 2008 limited repossessed the stadium.

A total amount of £70,000 was demanded. Kettering Town FC refused this demand.

In the courts today the legality of what was, or was not due, was not debated.

Kettering Town F C Management Limited has sought details of the statutory demand on several occasions, as it is the basis of the winding up petition.Rushden and Diamonds 2008 Limited have never provided these details.

Kettering Town will look to challenge the order made by making an application for a Rescission Order in the next seven days which would overturn the winding up order.

The current management team would like to thank our fans for their support and assure them that everything possible has been done, and will be done, to ensure the survival of this historic club.

In the meantime, tomorrow’s game at Dunstable and Saturday’s home game against Aylesbury United have been sanctioned to go ahead by the Southern League, and the Team Management and players are preparing for these two games.

 

Fossilised Frog watching Kettering FC

Fossilised Frog watching Kettering FC

How can you help?

We have been overwhelmed by offers of help this week and wish to thank everyone who has approached the club and the Supporters Trust via Twitter, phone and email.

It is going to be impossible to thank everyone individually but thank you to you all, collectively, and as a Club we want to make sure that any donations of offers of money are used solely for a fighting fund for our current situation – namely to pay off the creditor and the legal costs involved in appealing the winding up.

How can you help?

There are currently four ways that you can help Kettering Town F C at this time:

____________________________________________________________________

Make a donation to our just giving page where the  target is £20000

HTTPS://WWW.JUSTGIVING.COM/LOCAL/PROJECT/SAVEKETTERING        

or alternatively on

HTTP://BIT.LY/14TG3YX

 

______________________________________________________________________

Come to Saturday’s home game against Aylesbury United at Latimer Park kick-off 3pm. We hope this will not be the last home league game ever…. See http://www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk for more details in the ‘next match information’ section.

Non League day gives a special offer of £5 entry fee for any season ticket holder for teams in the Premiership,Championship and Football League

______________________________________________________________________

Make a donation direct to the Kettering Town Poppies Supporters Trust.

Bank details: Sort Code 30-94-68 Account number 00306003.

______________________________________________________________________

Come to the Trust organized fundraising game on Thursday 12thSeptember at Latimer Park: Kettering Town v Burton Park Wanderers – kick off 7.45pm

Entry by ticket and a £10 donation to the Trust, with opportunity to donate more on entry.

Strictly 1300 tickets only

Ticket sale points and times will be advertised and will be available to buy at this Saturday’s game.

 Kettering used to play in Kettering but of late have been playing at the old ground of Rushden and Diamonds, Nene Park.  Below are photos of the old ground 

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Kettering Football Club. Photos of the old ground. Posterity


These and more are hosted on my website

http://www.footballgroundz.co.uk

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Brentford v Shrewsbury. October 26th. This may be a Pay what You Want Game


Brentford have had some marvellous initiatives over the last few years and encouragingly not only are the crowds starting to rise but a quick visual inspection tells you that there are far more juniors around than in years gone by. This is good news for Brentford and also for football. This week Mark Devlin tweeted that Brentford v Shrewsbury may be the next pay-what-you-want game.

Football everywhere is starting to see sense. Non-league clubs such as Hampton are allowing season ticket holders from league clubs in half price and non-league has many other similar ventures that attempt to persuade fans to watch football every saturday.

Any football fans here please forward on this post and lets try and get Brentford packed!

Yoevil V Brentford 2012-13

Yoevil V Brentford 2012-13

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Painting of Gothic tower at Painshill Park


Painshill Park is a wonderful park in surrey near Cobham, with lakes and beautiful walks. It was built with a number of follies around 250 years ago created by Charles Hamilton between 1738-1773.  One of the follies is the Gothic tower which is on the edge of the A3. If one were an estate agent one might describe it as a tower with good access to pylons.  these are not really paintings but my attempt to create a photographic painting through a little manipulation here and there.

Painting of Gothic Tower at Painshill Park by chris Bushe

Painting of Gothic Tower at Painshill Park by chris Bushe

Gothic Tower

The Real Heroes of non-League football. Fans of Woodford Utd


Woodford united ply their trade in the EvoStik Southern, Central division. This is the eighth their of English football. Image Or at least they did this season. Having lost all 42 of their games played they will hopefully be relegated to a milder level of football next season. I took a look at their website. Interesting.  “All new players welcome. Just turn up at a training session”. Is this the reason they have lost all 42 games or as a response. I just wish I had got to see them play. Can they be so bad? Which part of the team is the worst. What does their programme say? What can their manager say? Do they have a manager? Do they invite managers to just turn up? All these questions. 

The website tells us that Paul Oddy is both the mnager and the Team Administrator, and guess what there is a link if you want to apply to be a team administrator. The league table tells its own story. A negative goal difference of 164 over 42 games does not bode well. Scoring only 21 goals also does not suggest that the forwards run riot. The forum on the website has one posting from a ” new fan” who lives in Bolton and will try and see a game. On researching a little more they play in a town called Woodford Halse, near Daventry. The ground allegedly has a capacity of 3000 but last weekend their crowd was 42. 

It is proving difficult to find out exactly how and why they are so bad. There must be salient reasons? But on a website at 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/jobs/woodford-united-football-club-urgently-need-new-players/1004522429

We can start to see why. This is an advert for new players.

Woodford United Football Club play in Woodford Halse, and are members of the Evo Stik Southern League Division 1 Central. 

The club is currently bottom of the league with 0 points, and change is urgently needed. 

That is why the club is looking out for new players from the Northamptonshire area (and other areas too!) whom would be interested in playing football with us. The club is seeking players mainly in the 16-25 age range, although players aged 25+ will be considered. 

All the club asks is that you are fit and able to withstand the challenge of Southern League Standard football, and that you are willing and dedicated to training and playing. 

Players in ALL positions are required, and Football CV’s should be addressed to the following: 

FAO Mr. Andrew Worrall (Club Chairman) 
Woodford United Football Club 
Byfield Road 
Woodford Halse, near Daventry 
NN11 3QR. 

You may also contact the club via 01327 263 734. 

Strictly no time wasters, many thanks. 

 

Now having read all this, there is an alternative view from ENTS.com ( incidentally a website that I like that brings news of bands and gigs. But maybe their football acumen is not so good? They write this.

 Home of Woodford United Football Club, members of the British Gas Business Southern League – Division One Midlands, and one of the most successful and thriving clubs in the region – a club at the very heart of its community.

22. Woodford United 42 0 0 42 21 185 -164 0 0

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