Bishops Stortford Swifts
Silver Leys
Hadham Road
Bishop's Stortford
Hertfordshire
CM23 2QE
07549 982119
Ground Number: 1320
Tuesday 2nd July 2023
Tuesday 2nd July 2023
Bishops Stortford Swifts 0-2 Harlow Town
Friendly
BISHOPS STORTFORD SWIFTS FC - A BRIEF HISTORY
Bishop’s Stortford Swifts F.C. were formed in 1953 by a group of 13-year-old lads, including current Vice Chairman Peter Hunt. Due to their age, they were only able to play friendlies until joining the Bishop’s Stortford & District League in 1956. The club moved to their current ground at Silver Leys in 1964 and were founding members of the Essex Olympian League in 1966. Their debut season produced their best finish of 3rd whilst it was a single division. In 1981, a second tier was introduced with the club being placed here after years of struggle. It took them until 1985 to bounce back as runners-up behind Shell Club, the following season was a new high as they finished 2nd to Essex Police in the top tier. Relegation followed again in 1989 and a failure to recover saw them go down to the third tier in 1996. However, this was the jolt that the club needed and they went on to win Divisions 3, 2 & 1 in consecutive seasons. The success did not stop there and they were either champions of the league or runners-up every season between 1999 & 2003. However, by 2008, Swifts were relegated to the second tier and would remain there until 2013 when they won the Division 1 title. Their 58-year unbroken membership of the Essex Olympian League remains to this day with them remaining in the Premier Division since returning.
MY VISIT
This game was spotted quite early on when browsing through various fixture lists but only confirmed the night before. With me assuming that Bishops Stortford Swifts would have a non-floodlit ground, I thought it might be an earlier kick-off. However, they stuck to the 7.30 PM time, presumably to give the players and fans time to get to the game after work. I had the opposite problem with a 4 am alarm for work and was having second thoughts about going. However, I decided to stick with it as it's probably best done by car. I'd already visited the Wetherspoons in the town, so a Saturday on the train was less appealing. It was also reasonably close to home and so I wouldn't be back too late.
Sunday was the usual hard slog at work although I did have the England game later. As usual, it was the usual sitting back and being negative. I liked Slovakia when I visited recently and would like to return sometime to visit Tatran Cerny Balog. On this ground, a train occasionally goes through the middle of the stadium. On the pitch, they were vastly superior for the most part. taking the lead and coming close to scoring a second. England bossed the possession but equalised in the 95th minute with their first shot on target. The up-to-then largely anonymous Jude Bellingham scored a great overhead free-kick to equalise and then straight after the restart for extra time, Harry Kane got the winner. It was barely deserved and although I was really pleased for the fans who made the effort to go out to Germany, I'm finding it hard to get enthusiastic to watch the team though.
The game day came, and it was nice to have a three-hour lie-in. I woke up at 7, rested for a few hours, and got ready before going out at 9. It was the usual unremarkable walk to town and back with me getting some Thai fishcakes for lunch. These were decent but it was just a matter of killing time until it was time to leave at 5.20. It was the kind of journey you would expect during rush hour, two hours to cover 50 miles via Colin. We were there ten minutes before kickoff and the car park was large but very busy. We eventually found somewhere near the back of the complex and I got some photos before the game started.
It was a local derby, step 7 v step 6. Harlow used to play a couple of levels higher but following issues had to take a short break and drop down a couple of leagues. Last season they finished 3rd in the Eastern Counties D1 South whist Bishop's Stortford finished 9th in the Essex Olympian Premier. Both teams in decent shirts, Bishop's Stortford Swifts in red and black and Harlow Town in grey and black. The visitors dominated proceedings but didn't really threaten. That was until 36 minutes when Harvey Livings powered home a free kick from 25 yards. The hosts had a couple of chances on the break but it was Harlow that dominated. They got their second on 87 minutes, Cam Clarke following up from 15 yards after the keeper parried the initial shot.
⚽⚽⚽GOAL!!! ⚽⚽⚽
— ⚽Russell Cox💙 (@RussWWFC) July 2, 2024
36 minutes
Bishop's Stortford Swifts 0
Harlow Town 1
Great free kick from Harvey Livings. pic.twitter.com/SnsnlCbKyH
That was it as far as scoring was concerned, in front of a crowd of around 200. The game finished at 9.20 and after a few minutes walk back to the car, we were on our way. I dropped Colin off at 10.25 and was home 15 minutes later. I got home and got into bed straight away, dropping off an hour later. Energy drinks were needed the next morning after too little sleep and getting up at 4. It was a slog of a day at work too and I finished at 1. The following afternoon was spent doing this blog and catching up, including trying to find a game for Friday. Most likely though, my next game will be at Ledbury Town on Saturday.
THE GROUND
SILVER LEYS is a venue that hosts many sports including rugby and badminton, as well as various industrial units. The rugby club is the most prominent and has the best facilities. There is potential for the football to expand though, but at the moment, the pitch is only roped with a pair of dugouts. They do have a smart clubhouse though with a TV and a selection of drinks. The rugby club have a couple of bars too, or Bishops Stortford town centre is 25 minutes walk, or a bus, away. There is plenty of parking at the ground, although this can easily get full on busy nights.
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