Three Stewards For A Flying Teddy Bear - Kingstonian FC Vs Enfield Town FC, Isthmian League Premier, King George’s Field (20/11/19)

It’s another slightly lonely and quiet solo drive for me today, as I retrace my steps South, as our Wednesday match day handicap means we are heading back to a ground we visited only a couple of weeks ago. Tonight I do have the dulcet tones of former England and Arsenal physio Gary Lewin, no I’m not giving him a lift to Tolworth high street, but he happens to be the guest on the podcast I’m listening to and as interesting, uplifting and slightly horrifying the story is about being credited with saving Eduardo's leg, but it’s not a patch on the witty back and forths I usually enjoy with Tom.

The railway arch that precedes the final few steps to King George's Field, is even more foreboding in the misty darkness, than it was in the light of day. The two men manning the impromptu road block, instruct me to park under the aforementioned arch, right in the middle of it’s deepening shadows and I’m hoping its a case of them offering me the best place to leave my car and not because they think I resemble its usual goat eating resident.

A train races by not far above my head, along the track that runs all the way along one side of the ground, instantly lighting up the place, before quickly disappearing again and plunging my surroundings into darkness once more.

With Tom yet to arrive, I head straight towards the clubhouse, the walls covered in usual trinkets you would expect to find in such a place, framed shirts and a selection of scarves donated by visiting fans from all over the world, as well as one thing not so common, the dark wooden Memorial with the names of those lost during World War One scrawled in gold. They are not though the former players of the team we are here to see tonight, but those of their landlords Corinthian Casuals.

I try my luck asking the person behind the table that by the size of it looks like it's been pinched right out of a primary school if he happens to be selling 50/50 tickets, however the gent in the club tie informs me, he’s a one man StubHub, selling “tickets for the FA Cup” instead.

Kingstonian FC (KFC), this evenings home side, might have been sofa surfing around the local areas non league grounds for a season here or a season there for the last couple of years, but their nomadic lifestyle has done nothing to hamper them cruising all the way to the second round proper of this years FA Cup. Their impending home match is the talk of the town, as is the upcoming visit of the Football Focus crew. Tonight's paltry league game, almost feels like a tedious formality, before Dan Walker and the gang arrive.

Waiting by the single open turnstile, a man in a woolly hat, who has adopted a rather toned down barrow boy persona is flogging programmes, attracting the attention of those coming through with his gentle call, depositing the people's money in the old leather satchel hanging around his neck, with KFC painted on it. I use the word satchel very specifically, on no account is it a man bag or could it pass off as the one Joe wore in Friends, its every inch an Indiana Jones. Just ever so slightly squatter and with the initials of a well known fast food outlet daubed on it’s side.

Never have I seen a more non league sight, then the one currently before me. With my programme secured, and still hovering around waiting for Tom, overhearing the man on the gate being informed in hushed tones that they are expecting the “league president” tonight, repaint the toilet and make sure the helipad is clear, a man, a man is using the top of a wheelie bin to sell his vast array of pins and badges. More than one of them real pearlers, a few with some real age and quality to them. Absent among the many fastened to what look like thin sheets of leather, is an Arsenal tie pin I got for Tom for his wedding day.

The newly arrived players of Enfield Town FC (ET) are far from impressed with quite how cold it is. “Bit nippy isn't it” says a punter freshly arrived towards the well wrapped up programme seller, whose response is ladened with a heavy dose of sarcasm, “really? Cor blimey”. The players are not quiet as eloquent, “its fucking cold” says one marching towards the changing room. Another is not at all bothered by the temperate, his quick tempo is motivated by something altogether more pressing, “need a wee, need a wee”.

I thought the man using a bin as a counter top would be hard to beat for lower league spectacles tonight, however the man clutching the almost toddler sized teddy bear wearing a red and white KFC scarf might just have trumped it.

Tom’s just arrived, and is drawn first to the badges on sale, the proprietor offering up a small torch to assist in his perusal, in the end he opts for a very classy “vintage” one, splashing out an entire £10 on it, he must have won a scratchcard or something. I’m sure his first stop would have been the burger van, but the shutter is still closed, however there has been the odd rumble from inside, and the recent opening of the door to its side has given up a suggestion of what is in store later on.

With both sets of players now out on the pitch doing their best to keep warm on what is turning into a rather frigid evening, Tom has no such concerns, he has no need to jockey around some cones, he is fully kitted out. “Full Scandinavian shit” he explained about the outfit he is wearing underneath his long coat, “a full onesie”. I only have the warming properties of a cup of coffee served in a china mug, and I’m somewhat mystified that a couple of KFC fans we get talking to about how they think the match will go for them, “probably be a draw, hard to call, their playing well, we're playing well” are only wearing shirts.

The man in the ageing Ryman League coat is in the well prepared camp, unlike the under dressed KFC supporters. The choice of music, a spot of Fleetwood Mac and the stylized image of the clubs shirt on the front cover of the programme tick all the right boxes, and with kick off still a short while off, the atmosphere is already building nicely. The bar is busy, the burger van has thrown open its hatch and has quite the crowd around it, which all bodes well for the evening ahead.

Having sampled the food here before, Tom has fond memories of what he will be able to sink his teeth into later, “If I remember correctly the burger is quite good”. My continued search for a 50/50 has drawn a blank, however with the very calming voice piping up over the PA, “good evening everyone and welcome to the  King George's Field” I’ve no time left to fret about that.

“For the Towners” he announces, reading out the visitors starting eleven, before moving on to those lining up “for the K’s”. With those formalities out of the way, he gives the FA Cup tickets one last plug, before a succession of good songs, cementing KFC as one of the better clubs when it comes to Spotify playlists.

I’m pretty sure its the song from the old Milky Way advert, the one with the two battling cars that proceeds what might be the best walk out music, not just in non league football or simply football, but the entirety of sport. Catching glimpses on the far side of the pitch for the first time the players and officials emerge, Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears then starts to play, causing an overpowering feeling of 80’s nostalgia to wash over me. For a second I'm not sure if I'm in a John Hughes film or at a football match, and like a few around us, are compelled to join in and sing along as the players walk out.

Each team are well represented behind the respective goal they are attacking as the half gets underway. This is no great surprise, both KFC and ET are two of the more well followed clubs we have encountered over the years. “Come on you K’s” shouts one of the group to our right, the group to our left are quick to reply with a song only viable on away days, on account of them normally playing in blue and white, “green army, green army”. The away fans just about edging it in the nose stakes, because of the presence of an air horn. “We are the Towner boys” they sing, which is followed by indiscriminate blasts of every half marathon starters go to.

Only three minutes in and someone has already taken the lord's name in vain. “Jesus” he cries in response to the KFC half volley grazing the outside of the post as it flies off the forwards boot.

It’s a breakneck start by the home side, probing into the ET box again they cause a mild state of panic, and the ball is eventually whacked clear after a scramble and the air horn soon follows the first goal kick of the night, the KFC keeper not disturbed a jot by the nearby ruckus.

To say that the KFC manger is vocal, would be a gross understatement. “Well done” he shouts, which he accompanies with some vigorous clapping, his side having just dragged a shot wide of the post, the fans behind letting out a simultaneous “ohhhhhhh”.

Chatty, opinionated or even verbose don't quite fit the bill either, he nigh on dictates every pass, every kick off the ball. His go to catchphrase unwittingly opens a small window into his own personal pursuits outside football. “Lock on, lock on” he commands of one player, sounding like a certain Starship captain. Be it a wild shot wide, that misses the single red and white KFC flag and clatters into the metal stand beyond or a simple side pass completed, he is more than happy to heap praise on whenever it is required.

“He's very animated” says a bewildered Tom, the man has not stopped since the first whistle.

What looks like a rush hour ferry me home to Surrey special, ie, a really, really long train rumbles by and despite the high octane first fifteen, the away side are still very much in the game and slowly start to apply some pressure of their own. “Get it in” demands one of their supporters, the player in possession does just that, firing the ball right across the six yard box, this time prompting the ET fans into an on mass “ohhhhh”, and it’s around this time I noticed the KFC supporting teddy bear from earlier has been been lashed to the front of the stand, slumped, he looks like a hostage whose been tied to a radiator, it's a bit gruesome if I’m honest.

Keeping his instructions a lot less Star Trek, the ET manager is using language a bit more understandable, “don't let him inside” he tells his full back. However by the way the player responds, he might as well be speaking Klingon, because he does just that, allowing the KFC winger to disappear up the side of him, where he cuts the ball into the ET box, only a fraction behind his teammate who was all ready for a tap in.

Squirming at the sight of the ball flirting with the ET goal line, the home fans ohh and ahh as it ricochets around in the visitors box, “come on Kingstonian” shouts one fan, hoping his intervention will draw the ball over the line, but nothing comes of it and their latest attack confirms to both Tom and I that the home side are capable of playing some quite fantastic football at times, more than justifying their lofty league position.

Twenty minutes on the clock and KFC go close once more, testing the ET keepers resolve with a low
driven shot. “Frantic” comments Tom, KFC’s ability to close down the opposition and win the ball back is a joy to see, heavy metal football at it’s finest. The enjoyment of which is only marred ever so slightly in Tom’s eyes because their red and white striped shirt makes them “look like Where's Wally”.

A big shout for a ET penalty is energetically waved away by the referee, it looked close, the KFC supporters let out their loudest chant on the night so far tinged with relief it wasn't given, “come on you kkkkkkkkkk’s”.

Despite all his preparations, Tom is still suffering with the cold, “I think my fingertips may fall off”. The KFC manager is still repeating his now well used phrase “lock on, lock on” and when not checking if he still has all ten digits, Tom thinks he might have got to the bottom of why ET are looking at times a little disjointed in defense. “Bit of a weak link 3” he explains, “all out of position” and he’s noticed this hasn't gone unnoticed among the ET ranks, “6 isn't happy” he points out, the centre back is constantly scowling and Tom is starting to feel a bit sorry for the struggling left back, “he keeps getting shouted at.''

Tom recoils after a foul on a home player right in front of us and the home supporters celebrate that the referee has finally given something their way. A much stockier train passes by and then ET give the ball away at the back, and very nearly getting caught out.

“Fucking forward” screams a KFC player, it’s all they know, attack, attack, attack. The player in question I don’t think it’s one called “Cookie” Tom and I are still trying to work out who that is and the KFC manager makes it clear to his players he doesn't want them to “force” it, but to let things happen naturally, a very Manchester City holistic approach to things.

The main stand opposite us, with the name of KFC’s landlords emblazoned across the front is positively bustling, but one home fan behind the goal seems to have fallen over the railing, getting himself hung up on it, and looks in all sorts of bother. So much so, a fellow fan has to leap over to help him out.

A rare ET effort trickles wide and a brief sing off between the two sets of fans strikes up, but soon peters outs.

The referee at times is finding himself very much the centre of attention, from all corners. When the initial protests from the ET players after a foul on one of their numbers is ignored and with the player still down, the referee signals for play to continue, then pulling it back and instructing the physio to come on. It’s interpreted by the home fans as him doing what the ET player's tell him,and he is losing friends by the second. When a crunching tackle on the edge of the ET box sees them win back the ball and fly off the pitch in a blistering counterattack, is not penalized. Everyone is feeling like the victim.

Not far from the half time whistle, KFC’s managers voice is starting to fail him, “shoot, shoot” he tells his forward, his voice crackling and squeaking like my thirteen year old sons. The tackles are now flying in as we get closer and closer to the break, this inspires a few rousing songs from each set of fans, “we all follow the Towners” and it's their manager who is being forced into an early change, after a long touchline deliberation, they are required to make a substitution.

The home fans are far from sympathetic with the stricken ET player, and how long it’s taking him to leave the pitch, “try running”.

A succession of steps overs from one KFC players goes a long way in getting everyone's hopes up as he edges closer and closer towards the the ET box, his fancy footwork at the end of another blistering home attack, only for as soon as he is the box, does he slip over and all the promise is gone.

It's all KFC, but not before ET have another limp long range shot. If anything KFC might be accused of over playing at times, again they get to the edge of the ET box, but the exchanges and flicks all gets a bit fussy, and they lose the ball. Clattered to the ground on the edge of the home box, ET are awarded a late free kick, the air horn rearing its head as the KFC players arrange their wall. “Come on Towners” shouts an ET fan, the horn accompanying him, only to break mid blast like a teens voice, which gets a sizable laugh.

“Could have taken someones head off” laughs Tom, the walloped set piece missing the goal completely, instead thundering against the top of the stand.

More unnecessary step overs are followed by groans as KFC seem stuck in a loop of doing the same thing and being surprised when they get the same result.

“Four to add” I just about hear the referee tell a player over the latest ET song, “we love you Town we do” and what a four minutes it turns out to be an exhausting end to end blur. ET have another shout for a penalty turned down and despite their best efforts KFC cannot grant one fans wish of getting a “goal before half time”.

Tom’s visit to get food was almost as quick as a KFC attack and I’ve just about finished ear wigging on a couple of KFC fans dissection of their teams first half performance, “not many shots” was the resounding conclusion, and he’s returned, seemingly having only purchased chips. Tom can see the shock written across my face, telling me it's down to his “honeymoon diet”, but I can smell a rat and tell him just that, bullshit, seconds later he's retrieving a burger from his coat pocket. “Double patty” he informs me, “didn't ask for it”

The extra beef, didn't come without a downside though, with a look of chagrin, he tells me he “lost half” of his “onions”, when he “took the lid off” his behemoth to “put some sauce on and they fell out”.

As the players reappear the single home flag is rehung, a passing train momentarily drowns out the music and a single ET fan gives up a confident shout of support “come on green army”. Someone on the ET bench asks the players adjusting to the cold that he wants them to get going right from the start, and Tom tells me his “toes are numb” and it's time to “get the big socks out”.

Lucky for us the new half shows no sign of slowing down, two minutes in and an ET free kick skims off the head of the intended player on the edge of the six yard box and then a few minutes later they have another pop at goal from distance, this time the effort has a lot more venom.

The sluggish start by the home side, means their manager is required to give his captain a bit of a rocket, “get them out the dressing room” he screeches and continuing with his less than orthodox one liners, he tells his team they need to “get information to the ball”. It’s almost like eleven different blokes have come out and the ET supporters can sense the difference, “come on you Town, come on you Town”.

As far as the strung up teddy is concerned, his day just goes from bad to worse, and having not been securely fastened to the stand for the new half, having swapped ends in the break, he has just fallen. ET carry on looking the far better of the two sides, a back heel finds the forward skipping into the box, only for this final touch to let him down and the keeper gathers.

The angry shouts of “off, off, off” go unheard by the referee, not one but two fouls eventually fell the advancing home player. The referee allowing them to play the advantage before he is cut down and the free kick is awarded. “It's all your doing” gripes one of the many KFC supporters barracking the man in change, who they don’t feel he has a good grip on things and it’s their players are feeling the consequences.

More choruses of “off, off, off” flood from the stand and the ET supporters take it as a chance to have a dig at their counterparts, “we forgot that you were here” and not content with giving the referee grief, the teddy bear has just been flung onto the top of the stand.

The long delay before the free kick is taken can mean only one thing, its awful. The teddy is now on the pitch, forcing the referee to intervene for a moment and much to Tom's amusement the presence of “three stewards for a flying teddy bear” who was saved from the pitch, then hurled up into the air again, is like something from a farce.

Maybe it's the treatment of the teddy or the fact the home side haven't exactly been dynamic since the restart, but there has been a definite shift in mood. Where the fans were content with singing among themselves, they are now serenading each other, “shit club no fans” sing the KFC supporters, “shit fans no ground” reply the ET ones.

Sipping from a red mug, the KFC manager has been notably quieter as of late, the air horn officially
replacing him as the loudest thing here and it's taken his side almost twenty five minutes to “get out of the dressing room” as he put it, showing their first flash of class when their forward ventures forward, only to lose the ball at the vital moment.

Why it's taken them quite so long as it has to stir only they will ever know, but KFC are soon in again, this time one on one with the ET keeper, but the low shot is saved, sending one substitute leaping from the bench in frustration. “Come on kkkkkkk’s” chant the home fans, who stay on the edge of their metaphorical seats when the resulting corner is whipped in, showing plenty of promise, but it's cleared.

A low buzzing helicopter hovers close by and the game is building towards a thrilling crescendo. “Come on you Town” ripples from one end of the ground, “come on Kingston, come on Kingston” from the other. KFC have truly found their stride, turning well in the box, the player slams his shot goalwards, but it’s blocked. Now well and truly up to speed they go close again, one player shimmy's past the ET defense with ease, but his shot is high and wide.

“Keep your heads up boys” insists one home fan, with all these missed chance, he is concerned perhaps they might be talking a bit of a toll on morale. Flitting about the police helicopter, looking I suspect for the teddy chuckers, is a mild distraction and the ET fans are growing restless with their teams performance, they've had plenty of the ball, but their final pass is severely lacking, “come on Enfield”.

Trains, choppers, horns and the constant loop of “ETFC, ETFC” means one could be forgiven for thinking ear defenders could be in order. Tom is enamored with one KFC players facial hair, “proper maverick” and again the home bench are on their feet in anticipation of taking the lead when a shot from the edge of the box hurtles through a sea of legs, and surely unsighted, is saved by the ET keeper.

“You fucking bald cheat” screams one KFC fan, after the ball having bobbled along the ET goal line is hooked clear, but they are sure it was over.

Such is the current home onslaught, the nearby ET supporters are taking comfort in small mercies, “we'll have that” says one, after the home pressure is relieved when a foul is awarded. “Come on Towners” pleads a single voice, however the relief the foul gave is only momentary, and their goal is being peppered, it's all one way traffic.

The pressure their team is currently under, does not stop the ET fans behind the goal cracking into a country classic, with a North London twist, “take me home, country road”, although they do hesitate for a second when one of their players takes a ball straight in the face, leaving him prone and looking dazed to say the least. The home fans think he is just wasting time, so one ET supporter fills them in on the finer details, “he was hit in the head you fucking moron”.

“Play, play, play” says the KFC manager, his voice all but gone, he’s been reduced to a whisper. Far from losing their voice, the KFC supporters are still in rousing form “we got a foul, we got a foul” they sing, the free kick in a promising position might just break the deadlock, but the shot is high and Tom’s now sure any chance of seeing a goal has gone, “yep 0 - 0”.

I’m not so sure, hunting in pairs, the KFC players are voracious in their hunt for possession. Only an away foul stops them in their tracks, and the sight of a yellow card has one away fan confused, “it's not a bookable offence”.

“Fucking hell, drinks frozen” says Tom sipping from his subzero Coke, the match now in a constant state of flux, one team piling forward in search of the winner, only to loose possession and then beat a hasty retreat to try and make sure they don't get overrun themselves.

Now only able to squeak, the KFC’s managers voice has “gone” chuckles Tom, lucky for his team because they just gave the ball away on the edge of their own box, allowing ET to turn and shoot. The match is so there to be won and its either going to be a mistake or a stroke of genius that will do it.

“Go on Billy” urges an ET fan as their prolific front man shapes up to shoot, letting fly, it’s blocked and then the home keeper goes all sweeper keeper, charging out of his box to coolly and with good feet control a wayward through ball, only once the ball is cleared are home hearts able to return to where they belong.

ET continue to be unable to make that all important forward pass, “nooooooo” moans one of their fans when just a straightforward ball to the front man would have made all the difference, and it’s not a chance of their creation, but because of a KFC foul on the very edge of their box, that hands ET the chance to pinch the win. “That's cynical ref” says an ET fan, it's then their turn to suggest a player should get his marching orders, “off, off, off”.

The free kick joins the rest taken tonight as not being a very good one, this one whacking against the wall, making every spectator wince.

If we hadn't been entertained enough tonight, we get one last treat when the KFC manager storms up the touchline to remonstrate with the linesman, “what the fuck are you doing?” he asks right in front of us. Less than a few feet away, the referee of course can't stand for this behaviour, blowing his whistle he stops the game. “If you want a conversation, wait until the end” he tells the seething manager, who slowly starts to back away towards his technical area, “come out that far again, I’ve only one choice”.

The ET players and staff applaud the travelling fans stuck on repeat come the final whistle, “ETFC, ETFC” and quite the crowd made up of both home and away fans surround the tunnel to cheer off the departing players.

We all like to see goals, not as much as we like to see giant teddy bears flung about or men using bins as a pop up pin shop, but goals are where for most people the entertainment lies, the excitement derives from, and I’m no different. I want to see thirty yard screamers and bicycle kicks as much as the next bloke, but tonight it just wasn't meant to be and if I’m totally honest with you, I didn't mind one bit.

Rubbish I hear you cry, but hand on heart the lack of goals really made no difference. The match had more than enough going on, on and off the pitch to keep me happy. It's not just the 4 - 4 or wins after being behind that stick in the mind, but the 1 - 1 and 0 - 0 have their place too.

I can confidently say that was probably the best 0 - 0 I’ve seen……………I think.

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Felt Like I Was Sucking On A Cow - Hampton & Richmond Borough FC Vs Wealdstone FC, National League South, Beveree Stadium (16/11/19)

There are certainly some grounds and therefore some clubs who for one reason or another we have passed through the turnstiles of and spent more time in the company of, then others. Be it because of a personal obsession with a certain non league club in N17, the fact it’s the team of your other half or that particular club just happens to play on Wednesdays, which for the last couple of years has been our go to midweek match day.

The fact that Hampton & Richmond Borough FC (HRB) are neither local, play on a Wednesday or as far as I know are not supported by any known loved one, I'm not quite sure why our visit today to their tidy West London home, The Beveree, tucked away at the end of cul-de-sac a stone's throw from the banks of the Thames, is our third, having seen them play a total of five times at home and away.

No end of nice cars, parked outside nice houses surround their little corner of the football world, and when I finally find a place to park with what in comparison to some of the motors, is a complete shit show of a car with it’s broken rear window windscreen wiper, drooping down like a gun dog's tail, it is a more than an agreeable walk to the ground.

The blue wrought iron gates, and similarly coloured turnstile at the end of Beaver Close, no really it is called that, are all very familiar, so are a few of the faces as we walk on in. The lady selling the golden goal tickets from the bespoke white wooden box with a hinged lid and the person managing the table outside the club's supporters trust office, which is a re-purposed shed, all ring a bell.

One thing I naively didn't expect to see, in such an affluent part of the capital was a table set up to accept donations for a local food bank. The lady behind the heaving table makes it clear in no uncertain terms that my assumption that such a thing can’t surely be necessary in an area where a river side dwelling costs probably the same as some small nations defence budget. In fact the necessity for such things is so great, they have just opened the “fifth” one in the borough recently.

With The Beveree you just about get the perfect mixture of charm, dilapidation and proper football. A tuck shop hidden away down the side of the slightly incongruent and extremely deep covered terracing on one corner of the pitch. A ramshackle all seater stand alongside it’s older neighbour in marginally better condition, are just a few of the options as to where to watch the match. If that’s not for you, you can always shelter underneath the mixture of scaffolding poles and marine ply behind one goal or if you’re feeling revering, you can take a seat in the stand named after the man who wrote such comedy classics as Steptoe and Son and Hancock's Half Hour, who until his death in 2017 was the clubs Honorary President.

Trees starting to lose their leaves surround almost the entirety of the ground, poking up into the murky Saturday afternoon sky, and they are all that separate the nearby houses from the match day goings on. Such is the proximity of the clubs next-door neighbours that if I remember correctly from a previous visit, they are not allowed to play music, but it does little to hamper the building atmosphere.

One thing any half decent non league ground wouldn't dare be without, is of course the humble portacabin, be it for a clubhouse, club shop or changing room, the building site staple that is front runner of affordable accommodation, is ever present today adopting a role rarely seen, and in a slight twist to the norm, is where we will be spending the afternoon.

An unexpected email was a welcome surprise among all the usual spam about penis enlargement pills and compensation claims. An invitation to join the guys of Fotmob, for a day of prawn sandwiches, that was only my assumption, any potential food that might be available was not outlined in the initial email, in surroundings somewhat far removed from what we usually do at a match, plus the chance to go to a game in daylight at a ground we’ve always enjoyed visiting, was too hard to turn down.

The second of the blue double stacked portacabins behind one goal, with the clubs crest adorning one end is where you will find the Chairman's Lounge, accessed along a narrow passage and winding blue metal staircase, that feels almost intertwined with the adjacent tree. Once inside the it’s not quite what I imagined, less VIP, more annex at the end of the garden built for an elderly relative so they can have some semblance of independence, but are close enough at hand for when they take a tumble that you can help, just minus the cats and the floral covered armchair.

The small tablecloth covered table with a kettle and selection of tea and coffee only strengthens this feeling, however I’m not sure Grandma has a small fridge containing completely beer. A small TV secured to the wall is not showing rolling Sky Sports News as I’m sure happens in such surroundings higher up the pyramid, but some random European rugby, that happens to be on channel four.

We are not alone however, and because of this, neither of us are brave enough to peel back the see through plastic that covers, if I'm not mistaken and I know my shop bought sandwiches, so I doubt I am, two platters of M&S’s finest.

Being the two salt of the earth kind of guys we are, somewhere to lean and a hot cup of Bovril is normally all we require, but with high life though does come the odd perk other than free coffee. The view the Chairman's Lounge allows is one of them. Ask me this again when someone has finally peeled open the delicacies and I might have a different answer for you, but for now the sliding patio doors allowing us exclusive access to the balcony and the obscured vista, is just about defeating the internal turmoil I’m experiencing, that we might have sold out.

Below us those having to struggle with only standard admission tickets seem happy enough, but really they don't know what they are missing.

“For the Beavers” says a well spoken voice over the PA as it crackles to life, the kind of voice from a person one might imagine wears a monocle and a freshly cut carnations in their buttonhole pocket, as he proceeds to read out the homes starting eleven.

With their allegiances not clear until now, the ever growing crowd, something that has been lacking somewhat on our recent outings, soon make which side they are rooting for abundantly clear. Catching me out somewhat the followers of Wealdstone FC (WFC) most if not all have congregated under the roof of the sloping covered corner terrace, break into song, “we are the Stone”. The home fans are quick to reply, with what I still stand by is the nicest football nickname in the world, a nickname that from as far as I can work out no one knows why they are called it, that could not be more diametrically opposed to something hard and coarse like stone, “come on Beavers”.

Combined both sets of fans make a fair old din when the players emerge from almost directly below us. For a moment it goes all very GTA circa 1997, our birds eye view of the top of the players heads filling out from our lofty position on the now almost full to capacity balcony, no one has taken up one of the single line of fold down chairs, is a new experience for us.

If I’m honest the thought hadn't even crossed my mind standing up here, but the WFC fans seem to
be goading us to “shit on the bastards below” or is their latest song about someone else? Whoever it may be, I feel for the unsuspecting people below in direct firing line of any potential dirty protest, should a certain section of the crowd get their way.

The home fans now down the opposite end of the pitch, sound faint compared to the rowdy gaggle of travelling supporters standing around the base of our ivory tower, who reply quickly not with songs about pooing, but something far more PG, “Beavers, Beavers, Beavers”.

Tom impervious to the vulgar exchanges and animal based chanting, mutters in my ear that he is quite fond of the blue and red faded shirt being worn by the WFC players, which is paired  with neon orange shorts, but I have to admit it looks like the kit man has packed the wrong kit. A kit clash, all in one strip.

We don’t have to wait long until the first chance of the match, a lashed HRB shot from close range skims over the bar, prompting a “ohhhh” from the home fans and a nervous “weyyy” from the away ones. There also isn't long between songs from the sizable WFC support, “oh when the Stones go marching in” they sing, the home fans respond as any good home fans should, by rattling the hoardings.

The flood lights flicker on and one person on the busy balcony comments “I didn't expect to watch a game under the lights”. Sounding like someone doing a Friends impersonation, one home defender does his best to emphasise to the referee that he is sure the ball has gone out of play “hello, hello” he repeats, only for the throw in not to be given, and the WFC attack is allowed to continue, culminating in a slightly panicked clearance, nudging the WFC supporters to belt out their next chant.

Another shout from the home players goes up that the ball has gone out, but it’s not given and again the table topping visitors are able to fashion another chance, much to the dismay of the angry HRB players. All the calling for the ball being out, means some are out of position when the ball is eventually cut into the box. This time the chance is over, however the away fans know full well they have had a stroke of luck, so thank the referees assistant accordingly, “nice one lino”.

Not one, but two quickfire saves from the man between the sticks for HRB keep the score level. Two saves one after another, which proves that the speed I’m able to get up off the floor after playing with my daughter is of concern, because he was up in a flash. “Well done keeper” applauds one home fan close by. WFC showing every inch of their league leading credentials, crafting the chance with some excellent football, turning it on all of a sudden like the manager had flicked a switch in the dugout.

Seemingly not needing much of an excuse to sing, the WFC supporters crack out another, “we play in white, we’re fucking dynamite”. One of their flags hangs over the railings and their singing does a cracking job in drowning out the constant call of the still covered sandwiches. Everyone is either too polite to be the first or they are just not quite as obsessed with free food as us too, so are yet to tuck in. By being the person to break the seal, I only reinforce age old stereotypes I’ve spent thirty five years trying to quash, ‘oh look at the fat bloke tucking in, typical, no wonder our NHS is struggling’.

A home fan spins their old wooden rattle and WFC chalk up another effort on goal, this time a wild volley, the player in question watches the ball dropping from way on high, but his connection is poor.

Having admitted to not really feeling very well, and having looked all sorts of sad when we met earlier, Tom is feeling the side effects of allowing someone to pump him full of rubella and typhoid, the inoculations for his honeymoon taking their toll. He does look a little grey and pasty, but the draw of football on a Saturday was too good to miss out on, so he’s resorted to the age old remedy of Coke a Cola and Ibuprofen, to keep him going. “Feeling rough” he says, as he necks his umpteenth white pill.

“They're threatening” Tom ponders between sips of coke. HRB in a matter of about five minutes go close to taking the lead on more than one occasion. “Ohhhh” gasp the home fans at the sight of a header going wide from a corner. A quiet cry from the far end of the of the pitch for a penalty is waved away, with the rest of the place stony silent and then on the stroke of twenty five minutes their best chance of the match. An up and under pass is plucked from the air by the forward, who has just enough time to bring it down and shoot, however the WFC stopper is out quickly to meet him, deflecting the ball out for a corner.

The acrid smell of a nearby bonfire is soon masked by the sweet smell of one tropical fruit or another as Tom takes a large hit on his vape. The wooden rattle goes up another gear and lets off its loudest salutation so far and the visiting fans in ever growing voice inform us all they “care about is Wealdstone”.

One conundrum I didn't expect to encounter during our VIP experience was Tom fretting about wanting a burger, but not wanting to bring it in to our luxury surroundings. He could just sit on one of the steps below us and have it, where one man passing does a fine job carrying a tray with three pints on and a Kit Kat, watching the match with one eye and the path ahead with the other, without spilling a drop.

Spelling out the name of their beloved team, “e…….a……..l” the WFC supporters deviate from their en masse spelling bee, to berate the free after their forward was clattered from behind as he shaped up to shoot on the edge of the HRB box at the end of a breakaway. “He's gotta go” insists one man about the guilty looking home defender.

The resulting free kick right on the very limit of the HRB penalty areas sees them bombard the home goal with not one, not two, but three shots, each one blocked in turn, until one WFC player mixes it up with a floated cross to the back post which has to be headed out for a corner. The defencive masterclass, the likes of which Tom could only dream of seeing from his beloved Arsenal pull off, inspires his one word review, “solid”.

I’m weak, I could not even hold out until half time, I got a sandwich. The break is only minutes away, but the lure of an egg mayo was too great.

A groan from the home fans follows a poor cross and Tom is starting to wonder if we have been “cursed” this season. We’ve not exactly been blessed with thrillers this year, the two we were supposed to go to, but missed because life as is its habit of doing so, got in the way, were both 4 - 3 barnstormers. Today's match although it's been OK, has hardly really got going.

“The referee has indicated two added minutes” says the voice over the PA. “No rush keeper” jokes
one WFC fan, the HRB stopper is not exactly hurrying to take his goal kick and come the double blast of the referee's whistle, it's a bit of a slow trudge off by the players. “Come on lads” urge the WFC supporters gathered around what is not an extending tunnel as has been the case on previous visits, but temporary fencing right off a building site and someone loudly reports in the lounge that “they got sweets downstairs, we’re missing out”.

Another potential stumbling block I didn't think we would encounter was what I call the Goldilocks Effect, it being a bit too chilly on the balcony but far too warm inside, so I’ve no idea where to put myself. The fans who don't have such dilemmas, swap ends and with the WFC ones departing it’s a lot quieter now. The whole of the covered terrace opposite us is now packed out, with their expectant faces peering out waiting for the restart.

I must admit not having to watch Tom eat a cheeseburger is quite a pleasant reprieve, I spend my half time for once chowing down. Scoffing coronation chicken and discussing parenting tips and stories of soft play. On tea duty, Tom is unhappy with my overuse of the milk, “felt like I was sucking on a cow” he tells me, but I’m not really listing, someone has just opened some spring rolls.

It’s the turn of the HRB supporters to serenade us now. Lower in number, they are are though no less passionate, “come on Hampton, come on on Hampton”. With ten minutes gone WFC appeal for a penalty, however nothing is given and the home fans are let's say far from impressed with how easy one visiting player goes down, claiming a foul. “Get up you inbred” shouts one, “thats unkind on inbreds” adds another.

Tom’s fears for another dull match are soon out to the sword. When a roar goes up for another home penalty, the referee is having none of it and then WFC race right up the other end and go close themselves. However with fifty six minutes gone and I think somewhat against the run of play, although Tom disagrees, HRB take the lead.

The quality of the finish and the subsequent celebration with the fans following the goal where the scorer effectively waited for the WFC keeper to sit down having gone one way, then another before poking it in, just about make up for being three minutes out on the golden goal, three minutes. Actually what am I saying, I’m gutted.

Seconds after the restart and WFC hit the target with a bobbling shot, the tension around the ground is palpable and for the first time both ends are quiet. On twenty three minutes HRB almost double their lead with a rising shot from a very tight angle that ripples the wrong side of the net, chatting a few home fans out, who have to cut short their celebrations.

“I get no pleasure watching” says the chain smoking HRB chairman, who I think spends as much time on the steps lighting up, than he does watching the match. He squirms and contemplates his next gig, at the sight of an edge of the box shot by WFC being touched over the bar.

WFC are starting to pile on the pressure, with a quarter of an hour to go. The smooth voice of the announcer giving the attendance goes unnoticed. The HRB keeper is forced into a rash punch to clear the ball and then pulls off another smart save low to his left to keep the visitors out. “Hampton fucking stick in there” pleads one fan. The feeling of impending doom only lifting for a moment when laughter breaks out among the fans, because of a bit of a shonky kick from WFC keeper.

It feels a bit like tempting fate, but the latest HRB song “you're top the league, you're having a laugh” could maybe considered a tad ill advised when they're only one goal to the good. Firing the ball back and forth across the HRB six yard box, not one of the WFC players are able to hit the target, instead they thrash the ball across the home penalty area, causing hearts to reside in home mouths. “Come on Beavers” chant the loudest section of the home fans, the home team now forced right back up against their own goal, the WFC hitting against them time and time again.

HRB’s one and only outlet when they have possession is a loan forward found with a big lump up field. A tactic probably sneered at in some circles, but it's working for them. With less than ten minutes left, they close one and one with only the keeper to beat, the forwards side foot finish is wide. “Ohhhhhh” go the home fans, who knew full well that was the cushion they so desperately need.

What better way to distract yourself from the anxiety of just about holding onto a one goal lead, then giving the opposition goalkeeper some grief, “you're going bald in the morning”. They then resort to some more traditional prose, with a less personal song, “aly o aly o red and blue army”, before all hell breaks loose, and all that tension dissipates in a heartbeat.

A well measured pass across the WFC box, a well timed run at the back post and side footed finish via the face of the away keeper and again against the run of play, although Tom still disagrees, HRB double their lead. The crowd below us erupt, pints are spilt not quite summer 2018 style but close and more than one person takes a tumble down the steps.

“Is there a fire drill?” they ask as some of the away fans who have seen enough, start to make their way home, “we can see you sneaking out”.

Two goals up against the league leaders and with less than five minutes to go, what better way to celebrate than slagging off your rivals, “we hate Staines Town”, as well as rubbing salt into the wounds of your opponents, “2-0 to the Hampton boys, 2-0”. The small group underneath us have hit
peak loudness, the hoarding is getting a kicking and they are struggling to comprehend how the team they look very close to beating, are so much higher than them in the table, “top of the league you're having a laugh”.

The final throes of the match all belong to the away side, the nerves at new levels, but you wouldn't know that judging by the fans below us, “cheerio, cheerio” they sing waving to the departing WFC supporters. The name of their manager is now stuck on loop “Gary McCann’s red and blue army” and one person hopes the WFC faithful have enjoyed their “stay in the good part of Middlesex”.

“4 minutes of added time” enunciates the PA, dripping with such regal magnificence , I feel like a have to curtsy in his presence. Every WFC error is greeted with a relieved “weeyyyy”, each one eating into their time to potentially score and make the last few minutes unbearable.

A third for HRB might have been a bit flattering, but with nigh on every WFC player in the home half, they were always going to be vulnerable to the counterattack might and bearing in on goal, one on one with the keeper, they miss the chance to once and for all put everyone's mind at ease. Which for some reason prompts one person to ask “are you Tottenham in disguise?” bit rude.

There is a collective "yeahhhh" from almost every HRB fan come the final whistle, separated by only the recently erected semi permanent tunnel, both sets of fans go at it. "We are top of the league" sing the WFC ones putting on a brave face, after I would imagine was somewhat of an unexpected defeat. The reply from the home ones is loud, with plenty of banging, every flat hard surface close at hand is whacked with a clenched fist.

With the ground all but empty, the last few fans who stuck around following both teams elongated tunnels have left, I take in my surroundings one last time and deliberate with myself if I've room for just one last sandwich. I also mull over the pros and cons of watching football this way, and I'm scared to admit that I quite liked it, which I'm not sure why makes me feel a bit annoyed with myself.

Who doesn't want a great view, plenty of room and the odd few nibbles too? I used to turn my nose up at those in the corporate seats, fat cats killing the game we all love, that don't care about the match, they're just there for the hospitality. Am I turning into everything I once loathed, is this a slippery slope, I've tasted it once, so now chasing the high? Sniffing around boardroom doors for a biscuit or the chance of a coffee in an un-chipped china mug?

I'll tell you one thing I understand why they call them fat cats, it's the sandwiches, all the bloody sandwiches. If I am going to take this up as my new way of watching football, I might have to get a gastric band or something, otherwise I'm going to become a very fucking fat cat indeed.

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In Direct Line Of The Burgers - Guildford City FC Vs Hanworth Villa FC, Combined Counties League Premier, Spectrum Football Ground (30/10/19)

Bumper to bumper traffic and 40 mile per hour speed restrictions make for slow going, but at least I have the unusual, but not to say enjoyable mix of the Queens of the Stone Age, George Michael and Soundgarden to entertain me, as I journey along the M25. With no Tom, the music fills a void, however I miss our banal chatter and friendly bickering. Tonight, as has been the case on a few occasions this season, because of the location of our destination, we are both travelling solo.

Entering the Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex, the UK’s number one leisure complex by all accounts, the name I accept is quite a mouthful, and not one I think that will be remembered in the annals of time with other more evocative stadiums like Anfield and the Camp Nou, is visible from quite a distance.

Illuminated like something from a Spielberg film set, it's about as far from the usual non league set up then we are used to then you could imagine. The rows and rows of parking bays, many if not most are filled, signs pointing off in all sorts of directions towards one thing or another, an ice rink and bowling alley and not one of them says club shop. Modern, bright, and more concrete then you could shake a stick at, a monolith built in honour of wholesome family entertainment.

“I left the house it was 11.5” is Tom’s opening gambit, me barely out of the car, and he’s already miffed that it’s a bit chilly. He recounted how his on board thermometer tumbled the closer he got, until stopping almost at zero, although the way he is going on about it, you would think it had gone well below, “freezing”.

A long white banner fastened to a high green fence lets us know, in no uncertain terms we are in the right place, the club's name Guildford City FC (GC) written across it, however there are no obvious hints that there is a ground anywhere nearby other than the towering floodlights. The green fence doing a good job of obscuring what is beyond. Something that is vast, much, much larger than your average bottom of the pyramid football ground, and I’m curious to investigate. It’s not until Tom escorts me through a small open gate, that our venue for the night, comes into full view.

Imagine a bowl cut out of the earth by General Zod’s World Engine. Then drop into it, all the necessities for an athletics stadium. The red running track a lone runner is doing laps of as we arrive, hammer and discus cages at either end, the steeplechase hurdle, and blue tarpaulins covers the long pit jumps. There's a large steep grass bank at one end, and an even steeper bank of concrete steps at first floor level down the home straight, and of course a football pitch far out in the middle, and you have yourself the Prospect Football Ground.

There is more than a smattering of the Eastern Bloc about the place, one would not be shocked to see a steroid pumped shot putter appear and start hurling things about. The noise of the nearby main road is a constant and the newly arrived players and staff of Hanworth Villa FC (HV) who have just trekked down the formidable steps like a troupe of Sherpa's arriving at base camp, each ladened with one giant bag or another, mill about on the edge of the pitch, looking less than impressed by the facilities to say the least.

The vast complex that surrounds us, that not only includes the athletics track and football pitch, but also we’re told an ice hockey rink too, where a game is also on tonight, and I think I'm correct in thinking the now home of the former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Peter Cech, is in direct “competition” with our match, which according to one GT volunteer, will cause a bit of a dent on their gate, “lucky to get fifty” he tells us. Fifty that is unlikely to include any away fans, “not much hope the visitors will bring many, if any,” we are informed they “don't travel well”.

The clubhouse, a pitch side portacabin accessed by a single file path that I’m just about able to get along, without getting stuck, reminds Tom of his exploits on a “building site”. Between his brief stint in the army and time as a hairdresser, what he knows about building sites, I'm not sure, but I take his word for it.

Signs around the rather bare room allude to better times in the club's history, and their stint in the Southern League. A ghetto blaster straight out of 1981 witters away on a small table, the unmistakable drone of TalkSport tumbling from it’s tiny speakers.

A somewhat makeshift looking bar takes up one end of the room, its red and white frontage, with the club crest on is currently unmanned. A shelf with everything available for the anticipated customers, does not give them many options. Next to our table on a blue notice board, four pennants hang wonkily, each one a memento from a previous FA Cup or Vase encounter.

“Two years ago it won best programme” says the man selling the clubs match day offering, from a bag for life. My money along with the few others who have bought one, goes straight in a small red metal lock box, the likes of which once upon a time you kept your Christmas and birthday money. The kind that was about as secure as a chocolate safe and if you lost your key, a swift whack from a hammer would open it.

I’ve yet to see anyone make their way through the single turnstile perched halfway up the side of the large bank of grass, the way down to the pitchside a zig zagging path, that makes you go back on yourself as you descend, like a day at a theme park.

A few of the green plastic seats in the covered section of the first floor stand sandwiched between the huge slab steps have been occupied. Below the teams appear for the warm up, first hit by the blinding orange glow that radiates from the running track, then the cold. Many with hands secured in sleeves, wishing they had not forgotten their gloves.

I’m happy to be accosted by a teen with a book of green raffle tickets in one hand and a plastic money bag clutched in the other. Tom then shares some advice for when and if I decided to visit the loo, “take a torch” but on opening the door when I do go, I’m not sure what he was going on about, it was perfectly well lit.

“A fucking queues forming” says Tom under his breath, standing at the rear of the baying mob waiting for food. The lifting of a blind to allow the fixing of a menu to the inside of the window, is like a red rag to some. The crowd surges slightly, but the shutter remains down. Nearby a committee of three kids write the teams out on a white board. The two dictating take no end of pleasure from winding up the scribe, sniggering loudly, forcing he with the pen to rub out great swathes of what he’s written, because he’s not noticed that starting in goal for the home team is I. P. Freely.

Tom’s transition, by his own admission, from summer to winter wardrobe has been a rather slow one, however this evening has prompted him to quicken the pace, “time to get the long-johns out”. The crowd shuffles a few steps further forward when one lady looks close to opening the hatch. The false sense of hope coming from the throng of bearded anorak wearing men, Tom included, when she doesn't, is palpable.

A traffic light system would be more than appropriate for the single file traffic in front of the clubhouse, however the bottleneck soon clears when a young woman throws open the shutter, “look at them go” mutters Tom. The stampede which he refrains from joining, lunge at the window in search of something to eat. We hang back, Tom sticking to his half time regime, surrounded by those also not eating, but instead occupy their time by defacing their programmes while updating the starting elevens.

“Testing, testing, 1, 2” says a quiet voice over the PA lifting the place out of just somewhere people have gathered to eat outside in the cold, towards somewhere in the realm of an actual football match. To be fair to him, I can't work out if his voice sounds quiet, because he is a softly spoken type or just because where we are is so vast. It wouldn't matter if it was Brian Blessed, it would still sound rather mousy.

“That's all from me, enjoy the game” is how he signs off, having read out the starting lineups. The away team complete their final shooting practice, “you don't save those ones” shouts one player having slammed the ball past the diving keeper, and soon the pitch is clear, the referee and his assistant appear to lead the teams out over the running track and onto the island pitch surrounded by a red sea.

“It’s chappin” says the home captain, his team in a classic get up of red and white stripes, his opposite number, the visiting captain, heads up his team who have effectively been dressed to look like yellow highlighter pens.

The home manager is booming to say the least, “leave everything out there,” he tells his team, standing in front of the Subbuteo looking plastic dugout, resting on wheels to allow it to be wheeled

away and off the track come the end of the night. “We start early, come on” he beseeches before restating his previous point, just in case nobody heard him the first time, “leave nothing out there, I mean it”.

A few late comers are pacing down the hill from the turnstile as the referee completes his final checks and such is the gap between the back of the goals and the edge of the ground, it's got to be at least sixty, seventy metres, two ball boys are standing fast, and they better be on it or we are in for about twenty minutes of added on time, come the end of the match.

Tom’s review of the tea is to the point, “hot”, and even though we bought them about ten minutes ago, it’s still scalding. There is little more I can add on my thoughts of the phenomenon that is the temperature of non league tea, but really someone should set up some kind of study group. He then tells me he “likes” the neon yellow away kit, but my mocking of him for this laughable opinion is interrupted because of our proximity to sustenance. Sitting as Tom puts it “in direct line of the burgers” the smell wafting up from the burger bar directly below us is verging on the overpowering.

The first chance of the match falls to the visitors, all because of a mistake at the back by GT, a goal for the highlighters is only prevented by the home keeper in a Jens Lehmann shade of orange, gathering up the ball moments before the HV forward can take advantage of the error. The home manager continues to be the loudest thing here, a little petered by this teams slow start, “It's fucking embarrassing. We've gotta get back quicker”.

Ten minutes gone and a goal bound GT header is cleared off the line, the man behind us tucking into his sandwich brought from home is only able to muster a muted “ohhhh” on account of his mouth being half full of cheese and branston pickle.

HV then go close with a flashed shot wide and less than a minute later a ball cut into the box is cut out, seconds before reaching its intended target. The home side then get a chance to catch their breath, after a high HV tackle poleaxes one of their midfielders, which in turn ignites a fleeting scuffle. “Fucking referee” shouts the home manager, the man in charge soon has control of things, “It's a physical one” snorts Tom.

Strutting around in midfield, you can see how the GT keeper might just be able to add to his goal tally this season if he stays that far up the pitch, “he clearly wants another goal” says Tom, having scored one in their last match. “What's he doing, on the edge of the centre circle?” ponders my fellow ex keeper, his positioning causing him some concern, “he's not the smallest bloke to run back” he adds, “he’s gonna get lobbed”.

Skipping into the box, and after a spot of good fortune, the GT defence tests their managers patience again, letting the visitors in, but luckily for them the shot is tame and right into the midriff of the keeper. A home shout for a handball is declined by a stern “no” from the referee and then off his line at a rate of knots, the GT keeper makes Tom eat his sizeist comments, out to clear a through ball in a flash.
The visitors are bossing it, the Villains as HV are known aren't letting GT have a touch, and the away side are soon in again after another lapse at the back, a last ditch block stops the close range shot hitting the target.

“Can you smell rosemary?” asks Tom, turning towards me with a rather perplexed look on his face. He’s convinced that the ladies in the kitchen are whipping up a bit of “roast lamb” and his craving for a bit of a midweek carve up, prompts him to tell me to go and get him some “roast potatoes”.

The first cold feet dance of the season sees Tom frantically tapping his feet, doing his best to get some life back into them, “my toes are frozen”. However the thawing technique is soon forgotten when a home breakaway, a slick and well rehearsed overlap pulled off by the full back and the winger is brought to an end by a “Guendouzi” type tackle. Tom laughs out loud at the similarities in the move more commonly seen at Twickenham. Imagine the young Frenchman's recent tackle against Crystal Palace, but with a heavy dose of Boris Johnson at Soccer Aid chucked in too.

“Think that's the weirdest goal I've even seen” suggests Tom, slack jawed. The combination of not one, but two flicked headers in a row following a GT corner, sees them, quite against the run of play take the lead, and before the delighted sounding PA can confirm the time of the goal, I do love a stadium announcer who can clearly be heard to be delighted that the home side have scored, someone, much to Tom’s annoyance, informs everyone that “Liverpool” are “beating Arsenal” in their game at Anfield.

Blessed with an ungodly amount of pace, the HV winger on the far side is soon flying once again, causing the home side all sorts of issues. His latest foray down the touch line is ushered out by one defender, much to the delight of one concerned home fan at the sight of him striding goalwards, “come on”.

It’s fair to say Tom takes pleasure in the simplest of things, a good cup of tea, some well cooked chips, tonight however it's not food that’s got him grinning, but the name of one of the players, Cyril. “Kind of love that” he says, “a name from football yesteryear”.

The away bench does it’s best to rival the noise of the home one, when following a particularly big tackle they go all “braveheart” as Tom describes it. “Well done” cries one man, overflowing with enthusiasm after his player won the ball back.

Into the last five of the half and HV are in again, but put it wide from a narrow angle. Tom has taken to his feet, in an attempt to wake up his extremities, “I’m getting frostbite”. With me still sitting he suggests I’m going to need an “inflatable” if I stay on my arse for the rest of the game, increasing my chances he thinks of getting “piles”.

“He nearly missed that” scoffs Tom, who I can just about hear over the one women cheer squad along to our right, celebrating the home sides second goal. The simple tap in is almost sent the wrong side of the post, but gets in the end to double GT’s lead. “Cheese that” says Tom, it being this close to half time I imagine he’s talking about his burger, but actually its some FIFA 20 lingo. A “cheesy goal” he goes on to explain is lots of R2 to sprint down the wing, a touch of X to pass it to the player in the box, and a dot of O to roll into the empty net, but the scorers connection was a tad scuffed, but he was spared any blushes.

GT’s keeper is elated, the HV keeper is not. “What the fuck?” he asks of his team mate, arms stretched out, not because as Tom points out he has “no number” on his shirt, but because his defence were non existent in the face of the GT attack

Bang on the stroke of halftime, what looked like a comfortable lead for the home side is halved. “Looked innocuous” says the man behind me, a tackle in the GT box has resulted in the referee pointing to the spot and curiously and for no apparent reason, the player brought down to win it, picks himself up and at nearly at full pace runs away from the scene of the crime, back to his own half. Very odd.

“Yes” exclaims the HV manager, “we go again” shouts GT’s, both of them keeping up the battle of the loudest gaffer right to the death.

An injury to a home player holds up halftime and Toms inevitable dash for food. The vigorous massaging looks to have done the job and the downed player is soon back up on his feet. “Bad sportsmanship” tut's Tom, when instead allowing the customary throw back to the keeper after the ball was put out of play, is instead kicked back out for another throw in.

Tom is absolutely chomping at the bit, “is it not half time yet” he wines. Barking his instructions, “hold, hold” the GT keeper makes sure there are no more slip ups, and such is his volume that I can barely hear the half time whistle.

“Our staff will be happy to serve you” says the young man over the PA, with Tom already on his way to put that to the test. It’s quiet as the teams depart, with neither managers having anything to say. As I unfold my 50/50 ticket I’m sure I’ve won, “211, 211” confirms the voice, but on second glance mine says 217, six out, my heart sinks, fuck. Tom thinks it's very funny when I explain just how close I was on his return, seeing it fit to nigh on laugh in my face, but he has his own problems to deal with, so his mocking is short lived.

“This is not going to end well” he prophesizes, the height of his ginormous burger, his huge, double patty burger, that looks close to toppling over that he admits to having been “too scared” to put sauce on.

Like some kind of sick wind up, the PA pipes up again informing us that the “50/50 has not been claimed” maybe this means a redraw, the ticket six away gets the prize instead? “I’ll have it” shouts one local optimistically, but any hope of my first win of the season, that our petrol money might be covered, is soon dashed to the floor, “quick update, it's just been claimed”.

Tom’s quiet, which can only mean he’s enjoying his food. “Sorry I’m dripping juice on you” he tells me, breaking away from his furious chewing. His apology and the constant pinging of his phones notifications as the goals fly in at Anfield is all I can hear, in fact all anyone can hear, until one home player appears buoyant for the new half, “come on Guildford”.

Bemused I think is how you would describe the expression on the face of the GT player, when for no clear reason an HV player next to him crumbled to the floor in search of a free kick. The visitors mind you are not the only ones guilty of a bit of play acting. The blood curdling scream that follows a tackle on a home player, surely means his leg is broken, no both of them, but soon he is back up, like nothing has happened.

The half time oranges have done little to dispel GT’s wobbles at the back, a cross into their box is crudely hacked away and the foul play is increasing too. “Never” screams a home fan when HV are
awarded a free kick on the edge of the box “he fell over him”, however GT have nothing to worry about the set piece is woeful.

“Start playing, start playing” pleads the the GT manager after what has been a pretty uninspired start to the new half. When they are in possession of the ball it inevitably ends up out on the wing. “He can’t catch you” shouts one home fan, when the wide man is off on one of his gallivanting runs, “he’s nowhere near you” they confirm. Only for the defender who looked right off the pace, who is now the new poster boy for perseverance sticks with him, and against all odds recovers well and wins the ball back.

As the clock ticks down the rate of theatrics increases. “Embarrassing” shudders a GT supporter, “get up” shouts another. In an attempt to win another penalty one HV player has just gone over very easily in the GT box, but his efforts go unrewarded.

The halftime break has also done little to defuse the increasing physicality. “Thank you,” says one man sarcastically, when a poor HV tackle ends up with the home side being awarded a free kick in a promising position. “Do not lose the work rate” says the home bench, offering up a few words of encouragement, that ultimately have the opposite effect than intended. This free kick, just like all the others that preceded it, is poor.

GT are growing increasingly sloppy, determined to chuck their lead away, and their manager is losing it. “Don’t let him cross” begs a home fan, but the defender does just that and the HV player sliding in at the back post is only a fraction away from tapping in for the equaliser.

Long time readers will know how fond of shorts I am, how it was only recently I retired mine for the year, so because of this Tom is happy to do a bit of short shaming, when a man comes into view, who is not one of the twenty two players or any of the three officials, sporting the aforementioned no leg garment in November, “putting you to shame”.

A long range HV shot is on target and has to be beaten away by the GT keeper, who has been nowhere near as cavalier with his positioning so far this half. All this pressure on his team, is causing the GT manager to hit new levels of audibility, forcing him to call out Tom’s favourite player, “Cyril concentrate”. What must be even more frustrating for the GT manager is when his team do knuckle down for just a second, they are able to dissect HV with ease. “Clip him” instructs one visiting midfielder after a GT players just skipped past half the team, bearing down on goal he ends up running somewhat down a dead end, the chance to pass has gone and the home fans are livid, getting the most animated they have been all night.

In on goal, one on one, GT have the best chance so far to create themselves a bit of breathing space, but the side footed shot is wide, stirring an “ohhhh” from the crowd, whose half own half time refreshments, has clearly livened them up.

“One, two, three, four” counts the home manager, his over the top delivery, is an attempt to highlight just how many HV fouls have gone unpunished, pointing to each spot of the pitch one of his players have been taken out. One home fan, ensures to make sure the players are not dejected by this rather underhand tactic, “boys keep your heads up, you're still the better side”

What looked like it could have been a nasty one, a challenge on the GT keeper, goes neither punished or results in an injury, the man in goal rolling out of the collision like an old pro. The wind is picking up, and I feel a little exposed on the side of the man made mountain, the temperature is dropping and the game, well, the game is not great.

The closer GT get to securing the three points, the closer they get to chucking it all away. “He’s in acres of space” bemoans a home fan, HV are away down the wing, the player cuts the ball into the box, tees up his team mate, the equalizer looks nailed on, however the shot is wild. “Weyyyyyy” cackles one man, the shot way, way over.

A soft flicked header causes the GT crowd to squirm, but the late effort on goal is right into the hands of the keepers. Tom decides it's time to “get his little mittens out” and the home supporters, no rival to their managers noise of course, have though really come out fighting this second half, “switch on” bellows one. The recurring issue of major lapses in concentration at the back strikes again, HV are in, but can't take the chance, causing one grown man to briefly sound like a toddler, when he screams at one of the offending back four, “you stupid”.

It’s a mistake by HV at the back which presents GT with their next chance, in on goal, the third goal looks only moments away, but for some completely unfathomable reason, the player with the ball squares it, instead of shooting and Tom is dumbfounded, “why?”.

Falling short of stamping his feet and holding his breath, but sounding a lot like my two year old daughter, the boy in the shorts repeats “we've lost it, we've lost it” as HV get closer and closer to the goal, with only the keeper to beat. A block of John Terry esq proportions, flinging his whole body in front of the ball, stops the goal bound shot, the HV players appeal for a hand ball, but nothing is given.

The wind gets stronger and is cutting through me like a knife and the home defence again, do everything they can to throw the three points away, despite the shouts of “urgency, urgency” from one supporter. Some miscommunication at the back ends with the one GT defender and the keeper coming together in an almighty heap, neither of them with the ball, which pops out as if it was a bar of soap in a cartoon, skidding through the box and wide of the goal.

“Clear” shouts a home defender, sounding like the last man alive in the fox hole, when HV send another ball from out wide into the box, and goes close once more. GT are on the ropes, exploiting them on every occasion from wide areas, HV are in the box, only for some last ditch defending forcing the ball wide. The home fans are only able to show their displeasure now by making low guttural noises, “aghhhhhh”.

The resulting corner, despite its best efforts misses everyone, every single HV player in the box is forced to just spectate as it’s whistles by, by the time it's travelled all the way though, its eventually hoofed clear, but the chances keep on coming for HV. “That was close”, gasps a home supporter, the GT keeper at full stretch can one watching as the ball sails past him and the post.

Conspicuous in their absence, the ball boys are nowhere to be seen and when they do pop up, they are far from as energetic as they were in the first half, the time it takes for the ball to get back into play, slowing the last throes of the match to a snail's pace.

Having clearly seen enough, those making their way back up the hill towards the way out, are stopped in their tracks by an almighty to-do, that plays out in one corner of the pitch. “I didn't stamp on him” states the HV player accused by a GT one, of just doing that. Close to all twenty two players are involved at one point, but soon calm returns. Allowing those drifting off early, to continue their climb.

Doing their best to torture their supporters right until the very last whistle, the GT players continue to make things hard for themselves and the home fans patients is wearing thin, “keep. the. ball” orders one, “simple”, and come the final whistle one lets out a very loud and relieved “yessss”.

If you put your hand on your heart, I think you will admit that the idea of watching a football match in an athletics stadium is very, very low down your list of things to do. I admit to being of those people, I'll hold my hand up and admit that a little bit of me cried inside on the realisation that GT played in one, but I can also admit I was pleasantly surprised. The elevated view makes for a very agreeable vantage point. That and the chance of a prize winning programme, and the chance of seeing a goal keeper score, I'd suggest a visit to the Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex, see it actually rolls right off the tongue, will not be a wasted one.

For all of our photographs from the match, click HERE

Watch our video from the match ↓ HERE

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