Harrow Weald Recreation Ground
Boxtree Lane
Harrow
HA3 6HW
Ground Number: 1376
Saturday 30th November 2024
Kodak (Harrow) 3-0 Camden United
Middlesex County Premier
KODAK FC - A BRIEF HISTORY
Kodak FC was formed in 1935 for workers at the factory which was located on Headstone Drive, near Harrow & Wealdstone station. Built by the American Kodak company in 1890, it was their largest factory in the United Kingdom and at its peak in the mid-20th century employed up to 6,000 workers. Production of photographic film ended in 2005 and the plant closed its doors in 2016. As for the team, they played at the nearby Kodak Sports Ground on Arbus Crescent which was sold in the early 2000s, eventually closing in 2011. It is now Headstone Manor & Museum. They relocated to the adjacent Headstone Recreation Ground before settling at their current home, the Harrow Weald Recreation Ground.
Various leagues were played in before they joined the London Commercial League in 1973, at the time known as Kodak Sports. In 1988, they joined the Chiltonian League and remained for five seasons, finishing 3rd in Division 1 for a couple of seasons around 1990. It was around this time that they changed their name to Kodak (Harrow) to differentiate from similar-named teams in Hertfordshire. They then returned to the London Commercial League. In 2007, the club joined the Middlesex County League, finishing as champions of Division 1 West in their first season. In 2009, they finished 7th in the Premier Division but results deteriorated and in 2013 they were relegated back to Division 1 West. A long spell in the lower tier followed but in 2022 they were champions of Division 1 North West and returned to the Premier Division. They remain there to this day and last finish had their best-ever finish of 6th. Local cup wins include the Middlesex Intermediate Cup in 2006.
MY VISIT
It had been a good Saturday, although the bit between leaving Wetherspoons in Putney and saying goodbye to Colin at Amersham had been fraught with minor travel issues. The thought of the 4 am alarm whilst others enjoy a proper weekend is always hard to take. It had been a good day though. Geoff the Ref had been great company at the game, and we chatted with a Wealdstone fan called Steve on the train home. I was back at 9.15 and disappointed that no Football League highlights were available. I had a couple of nightcaps and watched Match Of The Day. So much for an early night, but I wasn't in the mood for one as I heard the rain messing up my Sunday plans. The disappointment of Woodley United v Wycombe Wanderers Women being called off was tempered by the fact that it was horrible out and I could have an afternoon nap to catch up on sleep. Monday was fairly peaceful at work and my day off on Tuesday. I made my 950th visit to Adams Park for Wycombe Wanderers v Mansfeld Town. The game was as dull as ditchwater but somehow we managed to find a 90th-minute winner thanks to Luke Leahy's speculative cross-shot.
Wednesday saw me do my research on Kodak FC for my blog, something that I enjoy doing. As with last week, I also turned on notifications on the club's Instagram account so as to keep up to date with any changes. The rest of the week was busy at work but quiet at home. I'd have liked a game on Friday but there was nothing nearby. Instead, it was a sober night in, having had a couple before the Wycombe game on Tuesday. I was in bed by 9.30 and up at 6.40 when my alarm went off. It took me a while to get going but I managed to get to the bus stop by 7.25 in advance of my 7.30 bus. I'd taken that rather than the 7.50 to give me more time to make the next connection. I got a meal deal including Currywurst Roll from Tesco as I'd not had time for breakfast. I was planning to get an earlier train, but that all went to pot as cowboys at Chiltern Railways were running late.
The Metropolitan turned up as scheduled and despite a couple of minutes delay I was at Harrow On The Hill well on time. An impressive array of buses were on offer but the one I needed, the 395 to Greenford (where I had lived for the first six years of my life) turned up on time. The service was delayed though thanks to inadequate roads making life difficult for the driver. It eventually came to a halt when a builder's lorry was blocking the road, only allowing cars past. No ones fault really but I got out and walked to the pub. It was busy with drinkers already but due to the delay, I only had time for one pint of Black Dragon with my breakfast muffin, plus an energy drink to take away. Leaving the peaceful place and roaring fire was a shame, but I had a train to catch. It was then that I discovered the Picadilly was up the spout, but other than having to get a shift on, it was of little consequence. It was a 20-minute walk to Greenford Underground and the central line to Ruislip Gardens. I chatted with a nice Irish groundhopper and spent around a tenner in the club shop on programme, magazine and fridge magnets. It was also nice to meet up with my brother who had come down from Bromsgrove. Wycombe took the lead in the first half through an excellent Beryly Lubala free kick from which I had a great view. Against the run of play but needing the bog meant a restricted view in the second period. I eventually found a better space, just in time to see Richard Kone score a second. I made it to Ruislip tube station after the game, earlier than scheduled. With a few games falling in the Middlesex League, I was loathe to spend money on a taxi, so bus it would be. Everything was delayed though, so my early arrival saw no benefit to my original plan. Crap roads through graffiti-riddled slums further delayed my arrival, as did traffic lights every few feet.
Kodak Harrow were in 10th and last week they beat Kensington Dragons 2-1. Camden United were 4th, last week they had beaten Eagles Land Cricklewood 2-1. A few others had made the trip from Wealdstone and we arrived at 14:12 with the game having kicked off six minutes late. It was a scrappy contest with Kodak edging it but creating no serious chances. The second half kicked off at 15:10 after an elongated half-time. Kodak took the lead on 55 minutes, just forcing the ball over the line in a goal-mouth scramble. A few minutes later, Camden were awarded a penalty but the Kodak keeper made a great save to preserve his team's lead. It was really lively now and the hosts came close to doubling the lead on the break. A header from the cross made it 2-0 on 68 minutes. The game got quite tense and the linesman had to break up a minor set-to between the benches after the Kodak coach strayed into the Camden technical area. A well worked passing move and a low shot made it 3-0 to Kodak with five minutes remaining. It was a deserved win, Camden showing some brief flashes of why they were near the top of the league but not enough.
Top picture of the goalmouth scramble taken by fellow spectator Torquay Groundhopper
Top picture of the goalmouth scramble taken by fellow spectator Torquay Groundhopper
The only notable result so far was Fleetwood Town 0-0 which poor PuffPuff had spent the thick end of a ton ticking what sounded like a terrible game. From the ground, it was a five-minute walk to the bus stop and then another five minutes wait for the delayed bus to Hayes. The traffic was a bit better now and the place looked a lot better in the dark with a decent range of takeaways. The bus was packed though, even though it was a double-decker. It was over an hour on the bus but I was kept entertained by the excellent Wealdstone programme I'd bought earlier. Ideally, I'd have typed my blog but with it being a big game, I'd avoided bringing more than I needed. We got turfed off the bus halfway there but an identical one was waiting to take us the rest of the way. I was at the Botwell Inn at 5.20, lamenting the loss of Hayes's former Church Road with my £1.99 pint of Stowford Press. It was certainly a multi-cultural area with plenty of Sikhs enjoying a pint. There were also lots of interesting takeaways but I opted for a bag of random East European crisps and a can of Scrumpy Jack so I could start heading home. The SL9 was a slightly quicker bus to Harrow station. It had been out of the way, but the Hayes Wetherspoons was one that fellow hopper Colin had ticked, so it made sense to get it done. From there, the Superloop to Harrow, the Metropolitan to Amersham and a bus home with me getting in at 8.10. I typed this blog whilst watching the AFC Wimbledon v Dagenham & Redbridge game.
THE GROUND
HARROW WEALD RECREATION GROUND is a very basic setup with the pitch area consisting of two goals and a rope along one side. There are a few bits to make it more homely, a club room looks great and toilets are provided. Plenty of food and drink choices are under ten minutes walk away and it was a nice place to spend a mild afternoon. Not much is parking is available but it's served by a number of bus routes and is not too far from Harrow and Wealdstone Station.
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