Borough Sports Ground
Combined Counties League Premier Division
November 14, 2015
Ground No 179
No it's not a strange dream after eating too much cheese before bed or the start of a short story in one of those magazines middle-aged housewives read, it was me about five minutes into my visit to Gander Green Lane.
The tea bar is down the tunnel, to the right, past the bar (which had an enticing selection of ales), and at the end of the clubhouse which, despite a match being in progress, was filling up with wedding reception guests. There are five function suites hidden away there somewhere so I guess they were having a swift half before heading there.
I was tempted to ask for a slice of wedding cake to go with my burger and cuppa but I thought better of it. The tea was marvellous by the way - I can't recall a better one at a match. And the burger wasn't bad either.
Home of Sutton United, this is a ground which has seen some big games - who could forgettop flight big guns Coventry City getting dumped of the FA Cup out there in 1989 just 600 days after lifting the trophy?
From this season it's also home to SCR who have seen a number of name and venue changes in their relatively short history.
As such the ground is a good deal too large for their current needs, but ideal when you've chosen a wet November day to take your baby granddaughter to her first football match (she seemed to enjoy it, even if she tried to eat the programme).
A you walk along the residential Ganders Green Lane, the last thing you expect to find is a football ground, but suddenly there's an opening, the turnstiles are ahead of you and the Borough Sports Ground opens up in front.
My fears that the heavy rain would scupper any hopes of seeing a game were wiped out by the cheery welcome at the turnstiles and then reinforced by my first glance at the pitch. It's a 3G all-weather surface so the game was never in danger.
Originally home to a running track, the oval shape of the ground means than some spectator areas are a fair distance from the pitch. Falling into that category is the side you first come to on entering.
There's some terracing before you get to the main stand but before you get to the perimeter fence there's an expanse of synthetic grass extending from the playing area, itself some way from the other side of the fence.
That said, we sat in the main 765-seat stand (its blue seats apparently acquired from Chelsea so maybe I'd sat in that very seat before during my days as a Stamford Bridge regular) and I didn't spend the game thinking 'goodness me, we're a long way from the pitch'.
Concrete terracing surrounds the remainder of the ground, each with good-sized covered areas which, on a day like this, were warmly embraced by the smattering of die-hards present.
Those fans went away happy as a 1-0 victory - secured after a their keeper pulled off a first half penalty save - moved them away from the relegation zone.
In all, a stinking day weather-wise but a non-league ground well worth visiting. And a historic first game of many for little Isla!
No comments:
Post a Comment