Basildon Town v Shenfield

Basildon Sports and Leisure Ground

Essex Olympian League Division One

March 19, 2016

Ground No 187

IF only Shenfield had been able to field their star player, they'd have had the X factor and really been able to hit the right note.

As it was their recent stellar signing had been injured in only his second appearance for the club a couple of weeks earlier and, in his absence, they crashed 4-2 in a cracker of a match, having fought back to level from being two goals down and had a goal controversially chalked off with the scores all square.

You don't get many star names this far down the pyramid - level 12 - but Shenfield really do have a bloke in their squad you'd take a selfie with or thrust your autograph book towards as he warmed up on the touchline. Albeit someone who found fame for something other than football.

His name? Olly Murs. Yep, the fella who finished second to Geordie Joe McElderry in the 2009 X Factor final, went on to sell millions of records to 30-something housewives and told a poor pop star wannabe she was going home before the results were announced  while presenting the show that made him famous.

Had he been fit for action, however, he'd have approached the ground on the edge of the concrete jungle known as Basildon along a straight, concrete road leading from the new town's industrial and retail park quarter.

And the first thing he'd have seen would be an ugly steel-framed structure that looks like a camouflaged army base. It's actually the Basildon Sports and Leisure Club - it contains the changies, two bar areas and a function room and is actually a good deal more pleasant and welcoming than it looks from the outside.

Having strolled up to the pitchside from the car park without any sign of anyone collecting admission money, I popped into the bar, picked up a free programme and bought a cup of tea ahead of first taste of Essex Olympian League football, thus taking my afternoon's outlay to the grand total of a quid. Bargain or what?

The ground is situated in something of a sporting hub. It's right next to Basildon Rugby Club's home ground - they too were in action in front of a far bigger crowd - and that in turn sits adjacent to The Longman Motors Stadium, home of Essex Senior League club Basildon United who were also playing and, by a stroke of coincidence, also won 4-2. The floodlights from both adjoining grounds are clearly visible.

On the far side are the dug-ours - both wooden and what look like repurposed bus shelters - in front of two other full-size pitches.

To the right is the Post Office Ground - presumably where Basildon's posties play football to keep themselves fit to deliver letters around Vange, Laindon and Pitsea and escape the drooling jaws of homeowners' dogs.

The near side is dominated by the camouflaged army base, sorry I mean the sports and social club, to which access is gained through patio doors, and there's also a small, wooden  covered area, some picnic benches and a kids' playground in front of it.

Basildon's oldest football club won't be the top of your discerning groundhopper's list of venues to visit. But it was only a 10-minute drive from my front door, the game oozed entertainment and screamed value for money. Result.

And if it hadn't been for a sore hammy, I'd have seen a pop star play live too.