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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