Train (Sheffield-Nottingham): £12-80
Tea: 70p
Chips: £1
Bovril: 50p
Entrance: £5
Programme: 50p
Total: £20-50
After
a few weeks off the ground-hopping trail, I was relieved to be back on track
this Saturday. I see ground-hopping as a fatal addition which causes horrible
withdrawal symptoms if I am deprived of my weekly succour of a new football
ground. I’d vowed at the start of this season to attempt to finish off the
remaining (circa) 110 grounds in Northern England over the next 3 seasons. So
today’s visit to Nottingham came at a bit of a tangent to that – and, for once,
the ground had not been on my list previously…in fact I’d only discovered the
club the previous evening.
Radford’s
ground at Selhurst Street is located close to a tram route, and for me was a
45-minutes walk from the rail station, through Derby Road and the Heynsham
Green area. This was closer to home than normal, and to be honest it was some
relief on a colder day like today. The ground was nestled between rows of
terraced houses, and could be easily missed from the main road. I handed over a
reasonable £5 at the turnstile plus 50p for a programme, entering an intimate
ground where a narrow concrete path was close to the pitch. There was a small
row of seats next to the turnstile where I had entered (behind the goal), and a
covered section of terracing on halfway with a few chairs smattered around.
First stop was a cup of tea and some chips, purchased from a rudimentary but
friendly tea hut on the right hand side of the ground. As I waited for my
chips, the woman who commented that she wouldn’t be able to see the game as the
sun was shining directly towards the hut…I joked that she wouldn’t have that
problem in the second half as the darkness closed in!
I
have to confess that I am not terribly familiar with the East Midlands League,
having only been to one match before (at Holbrook Sports in Derbyshire). My
impression of the league from that one encounter was that it was considerably
weaker than the NCEL and the NWCL, with attendances much lower and the standard
of football not as high. The game proved to be a hard-fought and scrappy
affair, not helped by a muddy pitch and players who insisted on chasing after
the ball like primary school children. For the first 20 minutes, it seemed as
if there were no definite formations on either side – almost like jumpers down
for goalposts in the park, with everyone having a ‘free role’!
Gedling
took the lead on 5 minutes when their number 9 slotted when clean through, and
doubled it on 20 minutes when their 11 scored. Radford definitely looked like
the weaker team in what was a bruising and fast match. Nonetheless, the 2 goal
deficit seemed to kick them into action, and they started creating more
chances, with their number 9 firing just wide to warn the away side. Gedling
still looked in control, and rattled the cross-bar just before half-time when
their number 4 hit a stinging shot.
The
second half continued to be a physical affair, with hard tackles flying in
(often late and high). Gedling’s number 10 joined in the attacking action on 65
minutes, having his shot saved by the keeper, before Radford’s 7 drew the same
outcome at the other end. Then the away side made certain of 3 points when the
number 10 flicked a volley on from a free kick to make it 3 nil. They were out
of sight now, but I have to say that the home side continued to valiantly plug
away (if in vain!). Gedling hit the woodwork once more (the post this time),
and then their number 9 wrapped up the game in what must have been the 90th
minute (16:49 by my clock). Radford, rather like Winterton a few weeks before,
had been well and truly out-classed, for all their effort and hard work. I’d definitely
come to an East Midlands game when I venture down from Sheffield again – although
the standard of football wasn’t amazing, the ground was accessible, entry cheap
and there was clearly a strong sense of community here.
