In normal circumstances, an end of season game between Worcester (all but safe from relegation) and Hinckley (already relegated) would have had limited appeal. However, today was different as it was the penultimate game to be played at St George's Lane stadium, before the ground was sold off and Worcester moved to pastures new for 2013/14. The final game was an all-ticket affair, and would no doubt be a title parade for Chester as they waved goodbye to the Blue Square North, so I'd opted for today's dead rubber.
The ground was a gem, although I could see why the club wanted to move to more modern facilities. One side had an old stand with a couple of steps of terracing beneath it, while the opposite side of the pitch was terracing, some of which was covered by a corrugated iron roof. The far end rose behind the goal, to the point that you just could see the top of the crossbar over the advertising hoarding. The terracing was cracked with parts covered in moss, and had clearly been darkened and weathered by the elements over the years. This was a classic ground, reminding me of Workington's Borough Park, Gainsborough Trinity's Northolme, and Altrincham's Gigg Lane. I counted 22 steps up the terraces as I took my place under the covered area opposite the main stand - they don't build grounds like this any more!
The game kicked off in ignominious style, with the club announcing a minute's silence for some recently deceased fans, before the referee started the game without anything of the kind! There's a first for everything. Given the relative position of both clubs, I wasn't expecting a classic, but the game defied my expectations. The teams at first seemed evenly matched in different areas of the pitch - Hinckley had some committed players and showed a lot of desire to win the ball back in midfield. Worcester, on the other hand, looked more assured on the ball, but not quite as committed. Hinckley had a David Luiz lookalike who seemed to play a similar role to his Chelsea twin, roaming between midfield, defence and attack. I wasn't sure whether he was playing this role through choice or whether his manager had given him free rein - I suspect it was the former! The opener came for Worcester on 25 mins, with the no 10 making a surging run in from the left wing, before slotting the ball neatly to the keeper's left. It was a neat goal, and put a polish on an otherwise in eventful first half. The second came shortly after, with an in swinging free kick launched into the Hinckley box, before being headed down and poked in for close range by no 9. Worcester seemed happy with their half time lead.
As I wandered round the ground at half time, the announcer apologised for the lack of the minute's silence, and then proceeded to welcome a visitor from Arnold Town in the same breath. I glanced up to the right and there was a lonesome figure with a ATFC flag on a blue and yellow background. I was unsure of the connection between Arnold and Worcester or Hinckley, but thought it must have been a fellow ground hopper. As I took photos from almost every conceivable angle, I noticed that a lot of people were doing the same which was rare - many were home supporters perhaps taking the opportunity to savour memories before the ground was flattened. There were 826 spectators here today - I wonder how many were ground hoppers or neutrals seeing the ground for the first and last time.
The second half began in the same fashion as the first, with both sides looking fairly evenly matched. The difference was that Worcester looked to have had an injection of passion into their game, and it was no surprise when the third goal arrived. There was still determination from Hinckley, which impressed me given their relegated status. Deep into stoppage time, the Hinckley no 11 Brown hit a beautifully curled free kick with his left foot into the Worcester net. It was barely scant reward for their trip from Leicestershire, but at least they had something to show for their final game at this ground, and in this league.
As I walked out of the ground, I couldn't resist one final photo - this time not the pitch or terraces, but the caged tunnel the players emerged from. This had a peculiar clock face above it, split into 15, 30 and 45, I suspect it hadn't been used for years. These kind of idiosyncratic features are what's really lost when these type of grounds gradually disappear from the UK football scene. 108 years of history and St George's Lane would shortly fade into memories, photographs and (presumably) a new housing development.
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