Ringwood Town - Long Lane Community Stadium

Ringwood Town FC

Long Lane Community Stadium

Long Lane

Ringwood

Hampshire

BH24 3BX

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Ground Number: 1264

Tuesday 20th February 2024
Ringwood Town 4-0 Frimley Green

Wessex D1

RINGWOOD TOWN FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The Ringwood Almanac says that the Ringwood Town Football Club was formed in 1879. The club was first mentioned in county records in 1886 when it used the title of Ringwood Hornets. The team was disbanded during the 1914–1918 war and was re-established in 1918 as Ringwood Comrades, consisting mainly of servicemen returning from the battlefields. In 1936, the club reverted to the name of Ringwood Town Football Club but was disbanded again during the Second World War. In 1946 the club was listed as Ringwood & Welworthy Football Club but soon reverted to the title of Ringwood Town and has played under that name ever since. They played in local leagues at first, joining the Hampshire League at some point.

In 1976, they were Division 3 runners-up behind Horndean. They remained in Division 2 until 1986 when another promotion was achieved as they finished 3rd. Two seasons were spent in Division 1 before the team was relegated in 1988. They were relegated again in 1994 and spent three of the next four seasons in Division 3, the exception being when they were champions in 1996. They had a stroke of luck in 1999 when reorganisation saw them placed in the Premier Division. Finishes here were unspectacular and in 2004 the top tier was merged with the Wessex League. Ringwood spent a couple of seasons in the lower tier before a 9th-place finish in 2006 was good enough for promotion to the Premier Division following changes further up the pyramid. Two seasons were spent in the Premier Division, with a club record finish of 19th at step 5 in 2007. They've been in Division 1 since 2008 with two 5th-place finishes their best showing. Last season saw their lowest finish yet of 17th but they were well clear of relegation. This season has seen a slight upturn in fortunes with them in 14th place.

Ringwood Town have participated in six FA Cup campaigns. Their best run came in 2010 when they beat Cowes Sports 5-0 and Yate Town 4-1 before a 5-0 defeat at Cinderford Town. They have competed in the FA Vase every season since 2004 but it took until 2014 for them to get their first win when they were 3-2 victors at Cadbury Heath. They went out in the 1st Round, losing 3-1 to US Portsmouth and that remains their best progress, matched again in 2020, albeit with an extra qualifying round on the latter occasion. Local honours include four Bournemouth Senior Cups and the Russell Cotes Cup in 1980.

Ringwood is a market town in south-west Hampshire, on the River Avon close to the New Forest, northeast of Bournemouth and southwest of Southampton. It was founded by the Anglo-Saxons and has held a weekly market since the Middle Ages. Its current population is just under 14,000. Ringwood is home to Ellingham and Ringwood Rugby Club who play at Parsonage Barn Lane. There are also two Cricket clubs, Ringwood Cricket Club who play at Carvers Recreation Ground and Ellingham Cricket Club who play at Picket Post. Until 2022, Speedway has been staged at nearby Ringwood Raceway at Matchams Park. The team, known as the Ringwood Turfs, featured in the Southern Area League in the mid-1950s. The swimming pool, sports hall and exterior scenes of the BBC television comedy series The Brittas Empire were filmed at Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre, at the time known as Ringwood Recreation Centre. Some scenes from some episodes of Not the Nine O'Clock News were also filmed in the town.

MY VISIT

It had been a pricey old time since my last new ground with my annual car MOT and service. After a relatively cheap year last year at 5p a mile, this year was much more expensive at 8p a mile. This was mainly due to some swine crashing into my car and driving off without exchanging details. Though I had no claims bonus protection, I still had to pay a £350 excess to get it repaired when it was due to someone else's negligence and dishonesty. Add in three new tyres and a new set of brake pads and my bills for the year came to over £1,000. As I factor in servicing to my football travel costs, it meant that I'd paid more than I had charged my passengers this season. I feel this is the fairest way to compare the cost via public transport and doesn't include insurance or depreciation as cars will always cost you plenty however little you use them. I was pretty happy with my Kia Rio. The fuel economy is not the greatest, worse than my last three cars but the build quality is far superior and it's well designed and nice to drive.

The lack of new grounds was frustrating with the nearest on Friday being either Swansea or a basic 3G cage in Nottingham. Therefore it would have to be a night in. I had by then decided to go to Wycombe Wanderers v Oxford United on Saturday. Plenty of groundhops interested me, most pertinently Gillingham Town and they had reasonable train fares. However, with just a couple of Saturday home games left that I could make, I decided to go down and support my team as the quirks of the fixture list had not worked in my favour versus other commitments. As it was, Gillingham Town was called off as I left to go to Wycombe, so a bullet dodged there. The usual excellent pre-match in the Rose and Crown was enjoyed but I fancied a curry too. The Dhansak Curry and Keema Naan were pretty good. The game itself was not bad, though it was 0-0. It was the usual day of junk food and booze although I did walk over 16 miles.

Sunday was the usual hell at work, packed out with crying children, daft questions and general stress. I also got the news that I would be without Colin as he was off to Concord Rangers. Monday was far better but it was still a pain getting to and from work due to badly managed roadworks (or more accurately abandoned hole in the road) by Thames Water. I offered Uttoxeter Town to Anwar, again having to pay more to make it reasonably priced for him but he was waiting on fellow hopper Richard's intentions. I decided that if he could come, I'd do Uttoxeter, if not I'd do Ringwood as it was fiddly on public transport. New Milton was far easier on the train so I decided to leave that for the time being. Another option was Pelsall Villa Colts but I preferred to leave that ground for a Sikh Hunters game. Anwar turned down Uttoxeter for the second time, opting to stay local although it was postponed a fortnight ago and they'd hardly played recently. This wasn't all bad news as I'd be getting home an hour earlier, with a 5 am start, this was most welcome.

It was a standard Tuesday for me, a day off and a walk to town and back. Nine miles and a can of Irn-Bru later I was back home, having some chicken for lunch. I had a few hours at home before leaving, sorting out some stuff to sell on eBay. With so many games off, even locally, I was glad to see that Ringwood had no issues and had indeed not had a home game called off this season. I left at 4.20, hoping for a good journey. It was not a bad one, with the bulk of the half-hour delay coming on the M3 at Eastleigh. I was in Ringwood at 6.40, going to the China Town takeaway for a pancake roll and salt and chilli chips for £6.90. Happily, they took card, a rarity for a Chinese takeaway and it meant I didn't have to worry about getting cash out to get in. These were decent but the chips cost above average at £4.60. After eating them I filled up with petrol at Esso and went back to the ground. It was a pain to find a parking space in the small car park at first but there were a few spaces spare. The club also took card and it was a nice friendly welcome as ever.

Ringwood Town were in 14th place, having gained 35 points from their 31 games so far. Frimley Green were in 18th with 17 points from 26 games. The hosts had won two and drawn two of their last four including a 2-1 win over Andover Town on Saturday. They'd had two unexpected draws this season, drawing 1-1 at leaders Downton but providing New Milton Town with one of their two points in a 2-2 home draw. The visitors had lost their last six league games, including a 2-0 defeat to Newport IOW on Saturday, They had last won on 23rd December, when they beat Ash United 3-2. The game kicked off late at 7.50. Ringwood Town started on the front foot and were awarded a penalty on five minutes for a trip in the area. Harry Smith stepped up to convert the spot kick and make it 1-0. The rest of the half saw Ringwood dominate possession and Frimley Green play on the break. The keepers weren't really tested with the half ending at 8.39. Half time was exactly fifteen minutes and Ringwood started strongly again. They made it 2-0 on 47 minutes, with a header from a short corner by Davy Newbold. On 56 minutes, Ringwood made it 3-0, Lee Vint chasing down a sloppy backpass and finishing with a low shot. There was only going to be one winner from now on and the game got quite niggly. The hosts made it 4-0 after some persistence in the box on 69 minutes, Jamie Wintle finally getting the ball in. It should have been five right at the end. A great curling shot from the edge of the area smacked the right-hand post and was followed up, only for the goal to be ruled offside.

With me having been to tonight's game, it left me with just Downton, Hamworthy Recreation, New Milton Town and Verwood Town to visit in this division, plus Portland United and Sherborne Town in the Premier Division. Most are doable for evening games but it's a shame that the stubborn Wessex League are so dead set against a groundhop event from what I understand. A notable result from the league tonight saw the bottom two face off. New Milton Town got their first win of the season at the 23rd attempt, beating AFC Aldermaston 3-0. I left just before 9.50 and had a decent journey home. Some podcasts kept me company and although the M3 was closed for a couple of junctions, it was well-managed. I was back in at 11.35, typing my blog before going to sleep. It had worked out around £40 in travel costs, more than I'd have liked but not too bad.

THE GROUND

LONG LANE or THE RINGWOOD SPORTS HUB is a ground very much in transition. This is due to building work on a new pavilion and as a result, parking is quite limited. It is around a mile from town should you come on public transport. There is a basic clubhouse at the ground and it was only drinks and snacks when I visited. It is quite large though. The ground is restricted to one side while the work is ongoing. This includes a large stand with bench seats, holding around 150. It is still a pleasant place to watch a game but will be better once everything is completed.