Train (Sheffield-Derby) £11-30
Train (Derby-Stourbridge) £17-20
Entry £10
Programme £2-50
Tea £1
Provisions £2-36
Bus £1-50
Total £45-86
Like last week’s game against West Brom, King’s Lynn’s FA Trophy trip to Stourbridge felt like the end of a chapter. The game today meant that for 14 consecutive seasons I have been to at least 1 King’s Lynn away game. This has taken in FA Cup and FA Vase runs, the glamour of the United Counties league, right through to the Unibond, Evostik, and Southern Leagues and our one solitary season in the Conference North. With our new arrival on the way, I may be less able to get to games in future, so it was nice to have one final opportunity – and in a ground I’ve not been to before.
Stourbridge is not too far away from Kidderminster, and has a similar feel about the town. There are winding streets with independent shops and it is good to see that the town has retained its identity with so competing many towns and cities nearby in the West Midlands. The town’s football ground – the War Memorial Athletic Ground - is a vintage Southern League ground. The ground is set back a little from the main road, behind some red gates and some high stone walls. With brown leaves now under foot, this felt like a worthy way to close a chapter this season.
Inside, the ground did not disappoint. Behind the far goal was some covered sweeping terracing, with a corrugated iron roof, while the main stand to the left was something of a classic. The intimate feel of the main stand reminded me of Gresley Rovers’ Moat ground. From a distance the main stand looked like a barn or even a cow shed - inside there was a narrow walkway at the back, with red seats seemingly squeezed into any available space. To top it off, there was a row of covered terracing just alongside the stand, where supporters were starting to gather for a smoke and chat before kick-off. Like Gresley’s ground, the War Memorial Ground is three-sided, as they share their grounds with a cricket club (internet research now reveals that international cricket has been played here in the past!). I could also wax lyrical about the floodlights, but there is not enough space here to do them justice!
So to the game. Stourbridge actually currently play in the Evostik Premier, and are doing very well this year, and have had a magnificent FA Cup run (they eventually reached the 3rd Round in the end, defeating Northampton en route and losing only to a late goal from Wycombe Wanderers). King’s Lynn were very much underdogs today, as they are now pretty much an average Southern League side. To put the cat amongst the pigeons, we scored early on, when Toby Hilliard slotted in from a central position in the box. Stourbridge were huffing and puffing but couldn’t carve many opportunities – the most I noted was a catalogue of penalty appeals, and an effort from Kayelden Brown which went askew. Then just as the half began to close out, Stourbridge’s Stuart Pierpoint gave away a penalty, which Michael Clunan coolly converted. What a first half!
The banter and atmosphere from the home crowd was building – at one point the ball came flying towards the terraces and a fan punched it straight back. One home fan yelled out ‘That’s the beach volleyball team sorted – and you’re in George!’ The game was on a knife-edge now. King’s Lynn were reduced to 10 men when Kurtis Revan received a second yellow card. But still we clung on. Luke Benbow rifled a free-kick about a foot wide for the home side, and then Alex Street pulled off a brilliant point-blank save to tip another effort over. The pressure continued as Stourbridge grabbed corners and free-kicks in dangerous positions. Somehow we withstood the pressure and came away with a fantastic 2-1 win, taking us into the FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round. This was a special trip and will live long in the memory even if I don’t make it to a King’s Lynn away for a while.
