Sutton Park
Blunsdon
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN26 7BB
Ground Number: 1337
Tuesday 27th August 2024
Tuesday 27th August 2024
Blunsdon 3-5 Park United
Wiltshire Senior Premier
Wiltshire Senior Premier
BLUNSDON FC - A BRIEF HISTORY
The village's original club Blunsdon United FC was established in the in the early 1900s. After the end of the First World War, the club were playing in the Vale of White Horse League along with the likes of Fairford Town and Wootton Bassett Town and they finished as runners-up in 1922. As well as playing in the VWH League the early 1930s saw Blunsdon United playing in both the Swindon & District and Cirencester & District Leagues. They won the latter in 1950, moving to the Swindon & District League soon after. By 1968 Blunsdon United had climbed through the divisions and reached the Premier Division but dropped back down to Division 1 before returning to the Premier Division after winning the Swindon & District League title in 1974. In 1981, the decision was made to make the step up to the Wiltshire County League. They were Division 4 runners-up behind Cale Town Reserves in their debut season, earning promotion. Although they suffered the setback of relegation, by 1985 they found themselves in Division 2. 1989 saw them drop back down to Junior status and a third-place finish in Division 4 saw them promoted to Division 3 where they were to remain for the next seven seasons, their highest position in that period being a couple of seventh place finishes. They temporarily left the Wiltshire League in 1996 after a difficult season that had seen them finish second from bottom.
In 2013, an arrangement was made with the local youth side Blunsdon Colts (established in 1998 hence the date on the club badge) to re-establish an adult side with the club rebranded as Blunsdon FC. After reforming they had a short spell in Division 1 of the Wiltshire Football League in 2013-14 but finished bottom of the league winning just one of their 24 games. They then left and joined the Cirencester & District League. Blunsdon played for four seasons in the Cirencester & District League, winning Division 2 in 2017 and then finished 7th in Division 1 the following year. In 2018 they joined the Swindon and District League, winning Division 1 in their first season, winning 17 of their 18 league games. They then did well in the league's Premier Division, winning the title and remaining unbeaten in 2022. This earned them a promotion to the Wilshire Senior Premier. They've been here for two seasons, finishing 5th in their first season and 9th last time out.
MY VISIT
With just a couple of grounds to visit in the Hertfordshire League, Owens was pretty high on the list. It was also a 6.30 PM kickoff which was perfect with me having a 4 am alarm on Wednesday. Colin was keen to complete the Hertfordshire League and was happy to join me. It would have been a nice cheap night but it was not to be. Owing to cricket still being played, the game was moved to a nearby school. This didn't appeal to me unlike some hoppers who would have been all over an unusual venue. For me, I only really like to visit clubs at their normal home ground. For that reason, I looked elsewhere. There were not many options. In the end, the Wiltshire League clash between Blusbdon & Park United. Colin opted not to come to this one, instead catching me up in the Herts League by doing Sun Sports. It was a very busy few days for me with me having games on six consecutive days. Or at least that was supposed to be the case. I'd also spent a lot of time blogging and as it turned out, it was a waste of time for my intended revisit to Chipstead for the Tooting Bec v Newhaven FA Vase game.
It was a tolerable day at work on Sunday. The first 4.5 hours were a breeze as with no customers I was able to put my earbuds on and relax. It was the usual Sunday charade, packed with families doing their weekly shop. My manager asked me to finish 45 minutes early and make it up in the week which I had no problem with as he's fairly decent. It was fairly unpleasant being very busy in any case. Colin turned up at 1 as arranged and we were on our way. As with last time, the M25 was in poor form although we were still at the ground by 2.10, the delay down to pervert rubberneckers slowing down to look at a few cars stopped on the hard shoulder. Entry was a well priced £6 and the programme was £1. I was looking forward to using the tea bar again but it remained stubbornly closed throughout. I was glad I'd bought crisps and chocolate. That turned out to be a portent for the afternoon as the game never got played. There are many and varied reasons for a game to be postponed, but this is the first time that a team has forgotten their kit and the situation has not been resolved. Various rumours flew about but the long and the short of it was that the kit arrived just after 3.30 and the referee refused to play. Nor was he happy with a team playing in bibs and officially I believe, there is leeway to allow the kickoff to be delayed until 4 but this option was not taken. Refunds were paid out and it was just a waste of a day and a tenner in petrol.
After a pleasant afternoon at Liphook after work yesterday, I was looking forward to my day off. I did my research the night before including the extensive club history on the excellent Wiltshire League website. Should the match bite the dust, I had a revisit to Cirencester Town in reserve. Food-wise, I initially had burgers or Chinese but for a similar price, I could partake in steak night at a new Spoons and also get a new cider tick in Thatchers' Non-Alcoholic. The day of the game came and I was hoping for social media confirmation from one of the clubs. In the meantime, it was my usual walk down Wycombe, a bit of shopping and a bus back. It was a relaxed afternoon at home, putting in place a few future plans. I left at 3.50 and had a good journey over to the Dockle Farmhouse Wetherspoons on the edge of Swindon. I was glad to see Park United had tweeted confirmation of the game whilst I was en route. The steak deals turned out to be no cheaper than usual so I had a shawarma wrap, chips and a Thatchers Zero for £5.43. This was all great and compared favourably to a takeaway. From there, it was 10 minutes to Blunsdon. There was no obvious car park, so I parked on the side of the road and walked a short distance. It was a fairly basic setup, but more than worth a visit on a warm evening.
Blunsdon had endured a disappointing start to the season and sat second-bottom of the league. At home, they had been fine, beating Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves 1-0. On the road, they had lost all of their other games. Their latest setback came with a 4-3 reverse at Calne Town Reserves and they had also lost to Farringdon Town, Letcombe, Pewsey Vale and Royal Wooton Bassett Town Development, shipping some 27 goals in the process. Park United, freshly promoted from Division 1 of the league had enjoyed a solid start to the season, sitting 8th. They'd won 3-0 at Shrivenham in their last game and had also beaten Trowbridge Town and Calne Town Reserves, Defeats had come against Faringdon Town and Larkhall Athletic. They had made a fair journey, coming 33 miles from Chippenham for the game. It was a decent opening with Blunsdon on top. They took the lead on 7 minutes, following off a scrappy move. The hosts continued to have the better of the game. Park United equalised on 19 minutes, a sweeping move, a cross-field ball from right to left and a low finish from just inside the area. On 24 minutes, it was 2-1 to Blunsdon, a long ball forward was well controlled and the finish was clean and accurate past the keeper. It was a really good first half, Park United were unlucky to go in behind. The halftime break was a short one, just eight minutes. On 50 minutes, Blunsdon led 3-1, forcing the ball home at the near post after a goalkeeper parry. On 58 minutes, Park United pulled it back to 3-2 when a left-sided corner was headed home at the back post. A brilliant game became all square on 61 minutes, a drilled shot was palmed away and the rebound was followed up to make it 3-3. On 70 minutes, a move down the left resulted in a finish from inside the area to see Park lead 4-3. Blunsdon pushed for an equaliser but Park went 5-3 up with a quick move on the break on 82 minutes. The excellent game finished in dusk at 8.10.
THE GROUND
SUTTON PARK is a basic but pleasant venue. There is a clubhouse, though it's a shame there is no club sign. Inside drinks and snacks are on sale and there is some club memorabilia. The pitch itself is naturally enclosed on three sides with the other side backing onto other pitches including cricket. There is no fixed barrier but the chain in club colours is a nice touch. Parking is available at the roadside or at St Leonard's School.
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