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Playfield Road
Kennington
Oxford.
Oxfordshire
OX1 5RS
Ground Number: 1553
Tuesday 12th May 2025
Kennington Athletic 6-1 Longford Park
Oxfordshire Senior Premier
KENNINGTON ATHLETIC FC - A BRIEF HISTORY
The club was established in 1968. They were primarily a youth side, with players going on to play for other local clubs. Up until 2013, that was Kennington FC, but after years of playing in the top two tiers of the Oxfordshire Senior League, they left the league that year. For a few years, there was no senior side in the village. In 2016, Kennington Athletic established a senior side to allow their youngsters to continue playing for the side. They were an immediate success, winning the Oxfordshire Senior League Division 1 in their debut season. They've been in the Premier Division ever since, finishing 3rd on four occasions. Kennington bettered that last season, finishing as runners-up to Yarnton and were within two points of winning the title. They also won the OSL Presidents Cup, beating Thame United Reserves 1-0 in the final.
MY VISIT
After a blank midweek last midweek, possibly due to the Bank Holiday, I was back at it this week. Even though there were still lots of choices, there wasn't too much choice at step 7. I originally had a trip to Gloucestershire pencilled in, but when Kennington United came up in the Oxfordshire Senior League, that was a better option. It was far closer to home, and I could also tick off Abingdon Wetherspoons for dinner. It was a fairly decent trip back through Birmingham, with a good connection in the city. It was only a ten-minute wait for the bus in Wycombe and £3 well spent to get home an hour quicker, even if Colin did get his trip for free as usual. It was one last pint and a pizza before a late bedtime. It had been a boozy Saturday as usual; maybe I could have cut out one or two, but it had been fun. I was looking forward to at least five days of sobriety, less so the early start in the morning. I was tired, and it was a bit of a grueller at work, with so many people shopping on Sunday and very little else to do that day. I had an hour's nap to catch up in the afternoon and also an earlier night.
It was far calmer at work on Monday, though I took note that Cadent were digging up the road once more on my route home and also the potential route for the game the next day. I filled up with petrol at a station 2p a litre cheaper than work, more out of principle than to save money. Whereas before Israel and the USA's antics gave petrol companies the chance to put prices up, it was usually cheaper at a supermarket; the difference is less pronounced now. The evening was spent relaxing and researching the club's history. Gemini was more of a hindrance than a help, completely making up the details of some of the club's history, although I always try to double-check these things. It was the usual night's sleep, with my body clock refusing to shift from its work pattern. I carried on my Football Manager 2017 save, having guided Hull United to six promotions to reach the Conference North, and moved to Grimsby Town in League 2.
I left it until after 9 to go out to avoid the kids going to school. It was a pleasant walk in sunny conditions, but it was quite chilly. I noticed that the place where I got petrol yesterday had whacked up their prices 4p a litre overnight. I spent the afternoon at home, playing Football Manager. I was concerned about Colin falling asleep and not turning up, but he was early in fact. I had to save my game and go and meet him. It was a convoluted route, the roads in Oxfordshire variable with daft 20mph zones with pervert cameras to catch the unaware as well as nonsensical traffic calming. Abingdon itself was very pleasant looking, but it too had a confusing one-way system with military precision required to avoid going around the whole thing again. At least the parking was free, and the Wetherspoons, The Narrows, was a nice pub, my 515th Spoons. The Buffalo Burger meal deal was very filling, along with a pint of Cranberry juice, it was £8.56. From there, it was a ten-minute drive to the ground where we met Martin, who had come down from Peterborough.
Kennington Athletic were 7th in the table and had won 8, drawn 6 and lost 9. They were seven games without a win, having gone down 5-2 at Chalgrove Cavaliers on Saturday. Longford Park were in 12th, just above the relegation spots. They had won 3, drawn 4 and lost 16. They were in mixed form and had lost 6-3 at Brill United on Saturday. It was a fairly even opening. On 18 minutes, it was 1-0 to Kennington, a decent lob over the goalkeeper. On 23 minutes, it was 2-0, the keeper parried the ball, but it was followed up. On 40 minutes, it was 3-0, a header from fifteen yards. It was all one-way traffic by now, the hosts smashed the bar with a rocket of a shot just before halftime. The onslaught continued into the second half; it was 4-0 around 55 minutes, and a corner from the right was headed home from ten yards. A few minutes later, it was 5-0, a curling shot from the edge of the area by #9. On 75 minutes, Longford Park pulled one back on the break, a placed shot into the bottom left corner from just outside the area. Both sides had chances after this, including the visitors hitting the post. It was 6-1 right on full time with a low shot into the corner.
THE GROUND
PLAYFIELD ROAD is as basic as it gets. Just a pitch with two goals, although three sides feel enclosed. It's a nice, quiet area in a residential area. There are only facilities for players in the changing room block. Seating comprises a couple of benches. Parking is on the surrounding streets, of which there are plenty.
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