THE CAMPUS SOCIETY STADIUM,
IMPERIAL FIELDS
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION
DECEMBER 14, 2019
GROUND NO 223
THE day had begun with a faint fug of a hangover thanks to the previous night's shenanigans at a gin and bourbon festival.
Staying with the family meant a day with the grandchildren was on the cards - doing something that would tick the right boxes for the youngsters and adults alike. Football on a chilly December day wasn't even a possibility.
Then up popped an ad on Twitter informing us that entry was free at Tooting and Mitcham. And there was free face-painting. And Santa was there with presents for the kids.
Oh and The Shak, the Caribbean kitchen inside the ground (but open throughout the week) is legendary in these parts of South London.
So that was that sorted then - off we went.
The Terrors wisely took the opportunity to - along with the stalls, free mince pies and complimentary soft drinks - offer an insight into their future plans for the ground and for interested parties to tell the local council why they should be approved. Which, of course, we did.
The club have only been at Imperial Fields - formerly a training ground used by Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Brentford - since 2002.
But it's anything but a boring new build. In fact I fell in love with it as soon as I walked in.
The modern main stand, with its pitched roof and just over 600 seats, dominates one side of the ground.
Nestled in one corner next to the spacious clubhouse/function room/bar is The Shak. And it's every bit as great as it's cracked up to be.
We were having a big meal in the evening so we passed on a main dish but the chicken jerk sandwiches and saltfish patties we went for were amazing.
Aside from the occasions I've cosied up with the prawn sandwich brigade it was easily the best food I've had at a football match. Even better than the doner kebabs at Bayer Leverkusen.
At either end are not insignificant banks of terracing. In the middle of each is an imposing flat roof held up by four pillars and the back of the steps.
These are the dominant features of the ground and I've never seen anything like them anywhere else.
They remind you of giant school desks. I expected a 70ft student to arrive, pull up an equally outsized chair, open his satchel and start doing his homework.
Separating them, on the side opposite the main stand, is a length of hard standing with a couple of steps at the back.
There's plenty of room, the terraces offer a great view and a good-sized car park too.
After meeting all the kids and hearing how they hadn't been in the slightest bit naughty all year, Santa ventured outside to watch them game.
After an unexpected visit to such a gem of a ground, I was quite prepared to believe that Christmas had come early.
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