Mortimer FC
Alfred Palmer Park
West End Road
Mortimer
Berkshire
RG7 3TW
07786 631027
Ground Number: 960
Monday 31st May 2021
Mortimer 1-1 Berks County
Thames Valley Premier
MORTIMER FC - A BRIEF HISTORY
The club was established in 1934 but there is very little information about the club's early years online. The club was a founder member of the Reading League in 1989 and they won the Division 1 Kennet title in their first season here. They then went on to finish as runners-up to Broadmoor Staff in the Premier Division in 1991 and since then have been continuous members of the top tier Senior Division. The league was renamed the Thames Valley League Premier Division in 2014 and the league sits at step 7 of the non-league pyramid. The club's most successful period was in the mid-1990s and they were champions in 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2002. The club also has a reserve team, a ladies team and a number of kids teams.
The village of Mortimer or Mortimer Common is situated seven miles southwest of Reading. The population is just under 4,000 and the village got its name from the Mortimer family. The family were given the manor, along with Wigmore Castle by William I shortly after the Norman Conquest and held it throughout the Middle Ages, as recorded in the Domesday Book. Roger de Mortimer, 1st Earl of March was for three years de facto ruler of England after leading a successful rebellion against Edward II, before being overthrown and executed in 1330 by Edward III, with his lands (including Mortimer) seized by the crown. There are also cricket and tennis clubs in the town as well as a decent range of other amenities. The most famous person to come from Mortimer is the footballer David Tuttle. He played in the football league, most notably for Sheffield United and Crystal Palace. He has also managed Millwall and a host of non-league teams.
MY VISIT
With me keen to see a game on every day of the year, these times were the ideal opportunity to get some of the missing dates filled. Due to work, I'd been unable to find a game on May 30th as it was a Sunday. I thought I was out of luck on Monday too, as I was working until 4 and it was a Bank Holiday. But the Thames Valley League had scheduled fixtures and Mortimer fitted the bill. I'd actually seen Mortimer on Saturday as they played in a drab 0-0 at Reading City. They battled hard for their point, the hosts having a lot of possession, but no serious attempts at goal. It was my first 0-0 for two years and both teams first of the season, so maybe it was just bad luck. I was supposed to be going to Hurst v Wargrave in the first place, but the hosts pulled out the day before the game. It was a good day otherwise, going to see my brother and his family for my nephew's first birthday. It was a good day, but not the healthiest. I sank a fair few drinks and was glad to be taking my usual midweek abstinence. I also watched the Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City. This wasn't much better than my afternoon game as Chelsea won a dull contest 1-0.
On the day of the game, I awoke at 5 am, two hours before I needed to. I tried to get back to sleep before giving up at 7 and getting ready for work. Bank Holidays are never pleasant in retail and although this is far from the worst, it was still packed and with the usual irritants that you wouldn't get on a normal Monday. I got good news when Anwar text me to say that he was going to come. As well as helping out with costs, it would also give me some company and also kill some of the hour spare that I had before the game. I finished at 4, grabbing a drink and leaving to meet Anwar at the station. It was an excellent journey and we were there by 5. With time to kill, we went and sat in the shade and relaxed. I'd noted on Twitter that a team called Kulture Klub were using the Henry Barrass Stadium for a game. As this one rarely comes up as an option, we were both keen to tick it. Normally, it would be a nailed on day out in London but it wasn't the best of journeys on the train, taking over two hours.
The hosts were in 9th place in the league prior to the game. They'd been in mixed form lately with wins against Newbury (1-0) and Windlesham & Chobham (2-0). They'd drawn 0-0 with Reading City, 2-2 with Richings Park and 1-1 with Marlow United. They'd also suffered defeats to Wraysbury Village (1-2) and today's opponents Berks County (1-4) in the reverse fixture. The visitors were sitting in second place. Thry were also in mixed form having won 3-1 at Burghfield on Saturday and also 2-0 against Windlesham & Chobham. They'd drawn 1-1 with the same opponent in the reverse game and also 2-2 against Newbury. They'd had a disappointing start to the month, losing 2-1 to Westwood Wanderers, 4-1 to Finchampstead and 3-2 to Reading City. Mortimer had the first real chance of the game, their #7 shooting narrowly wide from out on the left. High-flying Berks County took the lead on 16 minutes. Their number 20 might have been a big lad, but he was the best player on the pitch and his free-kick beat the Mortimer keeper with ease. Just before halftime, the hosts had a real chance, cleverly beating the offside trap but shooting tamely into the goalkeeper's arms. The referee was consistent, but he was quite fussy, booking a Mortimer man for kicking the corner flag in frustration. He also sin-binned another of their players for something he said to him, which depending on what was said, was the right decision. Referees shouldn't be beyond question, but any dialogue should be in a respectful manner. The hosts improved greatly in the second half but they didn't seem to be testing the keeper. That was until around 10 minutes from time when their #14 did brilliantly down the right, put a cross in and set up his teammate who drilled home from the edge of the area. It was a deserved equaliser and a decent game for the 91 people in attendance. We left just before 8, dropping Anwar at the station at 8.40 and getting in ten minutes later.
THE GROUND
ALFRED PALMER MEMORIAL FIELD is a decent venue for step 7. It has railings of sorts on three sides and a couple of dugouts. At the ground is a small bar selling snacks and drinks. There is a car park although this gets full pretty quickly with players cars. However, there's plenty of street parking whilst the village with its various amenities is a short walk away.
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