WITHAM TOWN v HANWELL TOWN

SIMARCO STADIUM

FA TROPHY1st QUAL RD

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

GROUND NO 229

THE phoenix on Witham Town's crest represents the club rising again from the ashes after the Second World War, having folded when hostilities broke out.

After a difficult start to the 2020-21 season, they could do with the mythical creature flapping its feathered wings and bidding the flames goodbye again if they're going to rise again from a difficult start to the season. 

A whopping 7-0 home stuffing in the Isthmian League North Division the week before and now an early exit from the Trophy.

But with only 15 fewer fans heading through the turnstiles for the visit if Hanwell, it seems most of those who attended the drubbing by Hullbridge seven days earlier were prepared to give it another go. Good on them.

They'd have entered through the turnstiles and emerged in the Tony McCulloch Stand, a small seating section on one side and standing on the other. 

Like everything in the Simarco Stadium it's low lying and the video gantry above the seats pretty much doubles its height.

We did a left and headed past a new brick building in the throes of being constructed and headed towards the clubhouse - in truth because there was a chilly breeze and we were keen to warm up a bit rather than because we fancied a pint.

As it turned out we couldn't find an entrance - I ready later it's only accessible from outside the ground so I guess that explains that - although an open window and a queue signaled that the tea bar was open.

The grassed area with picnic tables, sat back and fenced off from the rest of the ground would have been a great place to sit with a drink and a snack had autumn not waded in with its size nines and sent summer packing.

On the opposite side of the ground ins another modest stand, stretching either side of the halfway line and also containing seats.

And behind each goal are covered sanding areas. There's a commendably large amount of covered areas in the Simarco Stadium and the proliferation of steel around the ground suggests there's a sheet metal worker somewhere in  north Essex who got the beers in after celebrating being given the Witham Town gig.

A compact and functional ground, the Simarco Stadium - opened in 1975 - is neat, pleasant and worthy of its Isthmian Leauge status. A few goals and the home fans will find it an even better place to be.

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WILLINGTON V HEATON STANNINGTON

HALL LANE

NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

GROUND NO 228

THE picture on the cover of the programme shows a jubilant group of players proudly parading a glittering trophy at a packed-to-the-rafters Wembley Stadium.

The occasion was the FA Amateur Cup final in 1950 and Willo had just tonked neighbours Bishop Auckland 4-0 in front of 88,000 fans to lift the famous and prestigious silverware.

Since then there have been some tough times for both Willington AFC and the former pit village in County Durham in which they're situated.

The pit closed in 1967 and the effect on the community was felt like a miner's pick axe crunching into the coal seam. Sadly it was a familiar story in many villages around the North-East - an area that's close to my heart.

And the club, who had twice reached the first round of the FA Cup and indeed took Blackburn Rovers to a replay in 1974, suffered a decline in fortunes in the 80s. They even lost their Northern League status and twice finished bottom of the Wearside League in the Noughties.

But this is a proud club and a proud village.

Not content to rest on the laurels of past glories or dwell on the lean years, Willo are a  club for the here and now. 

Their social media presence is chatty, friendly and informative - and I felt welcome at the ground before I'd even made the 300-mile journey to get there. They've got a supporters' app for the die-hards too and you can't get more up-to-date than that!

I'd been told by a Heaton Stannington fan on Twitter that this would be a great trip for a discerning groundhopper... and he was spot on.

I fell in love with non-league football because of the Northern League, and because of grounds like this.

After parking up in the quiet residential area that surrounds the ground and passing through the entrance you immediately sense the rich history of this famous old club.

The main stand glares at you from the other side of pitch. With five rows of bench seats on a concrete base straddling the halfway line, WILLINGTON AFC screaming at you in big, white letters at the top, it has a beautiful starkness to it. It even has a press box you know.

There are small, covered areas behind each goal, sitting neatly in front of grass banking.

You could imagine, in days gone by, these grass banks being filled with fervent fans, rattles in hand, cheering on their side - many of them perhaps with coal-tarnished faces after rushing from a shift at the pit.

Opposite the main stand is a modern changing room block with seats for officials in front. To its left is the tea bar and the Jackie Foster Terrace.

Opened in 2017, this area of concrete steps (and two benches) was named in memory of former player Jackie Foster.  His son Lee helped with construction and some his ashes are buried within one of the steps. A nice touch.

Like the rest of the ground, it's very well maintained. Hats off to those who look after it.

Sitting back from the pitch next to the entrance is the clubhouse - small but functional with Sky TV, an array of trophies and a white wonderful framed poster for that FA Cup clash against Blackburn.

A combination of the warm weather (well it was when the match kicked off, anyway....) and these crazy days of social distance protocols meant there were tables and chairs outside as well, offering a splendid opportunity to watch the action while supping a pint. 

I might have done just that if I hadn't done my bit to support the licensed trade in rather eager fashion the night before.

The Willo supporters were enthusiastic throughout the match - even more so after watching their side battle back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

I'd endured six long months without a live football fix because of the Covid-19 crisis and I genuinely couldn't have picked a better match or a better ground to end that wait.

On Twitter? You can follow me at https://twitter.com/Pavedwithgoals