Mayesbrook Park
Essex Senior League Premier Division
April 8, 2017
Ground No 194
"THIS must be regarded as one of the best sporting weekends of the year," proclaimed the captain in his programme column, "but who needs the Premier League, Grand National and Masters golf when you've got 14th v 17th in the ESL in sunny Barking?"
My thoughts exactly! On an absolutely scorching spring day, a trip to Mayesbrook Park certainly hit the spot with me.
I can't vouch for the other 18 paying customers but it floated my boat.
I'd chosen this game because my good lady had an appointment not a million miles away and had to change trains at Barking, so I thought I'd tag a long, get the District Line one stop back to Upney and take a leisurely stroll for a mile or so from the tube station to the ground.
What a lovely walk it was too - anyone who thinks outer London is a concrete jungle full of smog and high rises should take a walk through Mayesbrook Park and check out its lake, acres of grassland and play areas.
Nestled behind an £8.1m sports centre and athletics track used as a training facility for athletes competing in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics is the home of Barking since 1973 (although they've merged with East Ham, folded and reformed in that time) and more recently Essex Senior League newbies West Essex.
Today it was the turn of the tenants to open the front door and invite some friends round. Having parted with just a fiver to get in - and that included a programme - the least I could do was put some money across the bar in the modest clubhouse just past the turnstiles.
Thirst suitably quenched by a cool can of Old Speckled Hen, I made my way up to the terracing behind the goal.
Comprising three long, wide steps, it's split by the entrance and exit to the dressing room area, covered on one side of the split, uncovered on the other.
The area behind the right touchline, which houses the dug-outs, didn't appear to be open to the public, while to the left is a long, short stand with terracing making way to seating towards the hard standing at the far end.
With only a handful of spectators in the ground - it's a crying shame that the hard-working people who run non-league clubs don't get the crowds they deserve - there was never going to be much of a matchday atmosphere.
But we were treated to five goals as the hosts triumphed 4-1 in a decent match and I got a free chocolate biscuit with half-time cuppa too. A result in my book.
I made a speedy getaway to meet up with my better half and as I headed out I couldn't help noticing a small pile of programmes in the turnstile booth which had long since been vacated by the club official who'd been manning it. Next to it was a note which read "honesty is the best policy".
It certainly is - I hope the latecomers took note and paid up as they went in, it's the least West Essex FC deserved.
