Saturday 4 May 2024

Borden Village - Borden Playstool


Borden Village FC
Borden Playstool
Wises Lane
Borden
Sittingbourne
Kent 
ME9 8LP









Ground Number: 1305
Saturday 4th May 2024
Borden Village 5-1 Ide Hill
Kent County Premier









BORDEN VILLAGE FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

Borden Village Football Club is reported to be one of the oldest in the county of Kent having been affiliated to the Kent County Football Association since the 1920's. For the majority of their history, they played in local football, mostly the Rochester & District League. They won Division 3 there in 2001. By 2004, they had progressed enough to join the Kent County League. They started in Division 2 East, winning the title in their first season. Despite a promising 7th place finish in their bedbut season in Division 1 East, results declined over the following seasons and by 2007, they were back in Division 2 East. They would struggle at times, but that changed in 2013 when they were promoted again, this time as runners-up to Sevenoaks. This prompted a sharp upturn in club fortunes and the following year, it was another promotion when they finished as runners-up to Guru Nanak. They've been in the Premier Division ever since, finishing 3rd in their debut season. They have been highly successful and since joining, they've finished all but one season in the top half. In 2019, they were runners-up to Staplehurst & Monarchs United. Last season was their best yet with them winning the title.


They are now the second most senior club in Sittingbourne after Sittingbourne FC who play in the Isthmian League. Others include Gillingham Town who play at Sittingbourne's old ground, Bourne Park. Borden is a village situated immediately southwest of Sittingbourne, from which it is separated by a small area of rural land. The population is around 2,500. The history of the name could be questioned. It may be derived from bor (hill) and then either from denu (valley) or denn (woodland pasture). It may also derive from "boar" "den", as it was known that the wild animals were found in the surrounding areas. Borden was first recorded in the twelfth century as Bordena. However, it is more likely to stem from Sir Francis de Bourdon,(variations today also include Borden/Burden/Bourdon) who descended from the de Bourdons of Bayeux, in Normandy, France. Francis de Bourdon became Lord of the existing castle and surrounding lands, granted to him by William the Conqueror, as a gift to his vassal after the great Norman victory in 1066, at which time became known as Bourdon. The lands were previously lorded over by the Saxon Ethelwolf of Kent, who perished at the Battle of Hastings (1066), Over the next few generations the name had become more English to reflect the Saxon population and became known as Borden.


MY VISIT

This game was decided around a week ago. I was hoping that Essex-based due Daniel & Richard might offer me something, but it wasn't to be. Clutton looked like a lovely ground but pre-match options were very limited if you went by car. Another, Caldicot Town, had limited options. In the end, they opted to do their own thing at South Normanton where I'd already been. As ever, Futbology was my guide and it was a fairly easy choice. I was well on my way to completing the Kent League and so Borden Village was a decent choice. It required a bit of work as I had been to Sittingbourne before and so I planned to stop off at Rainham. I also considered visiting Borough Market beforehand but opted to have a lie-in instead. It certainly indicated the standards that I expect from a groundhog. Firstly I only did down to step 4, then step 6. I then looked for any enclosed ground with a stand, then anything with a rail around the pitch. Ever since Futbology introduced step 7 to the app, it's a case of anything goes. I do prefer something such as a sign and a clubhouse to let you know that the club plays there and Borden Village had that. The pitch area was very basic though but it was pleasant-looking enough for me to look forward to it.
I awoke at 5 am on Thursday, tired and listening to the sound of thunder and rain and the flashes of lightning. I'd heard that the weather was going to be dodgy and couldn't believe I might need to make backup plans for a game in May. However, upon further investigation, it was not going to be so bad. Thursday was generally a positive day with me finding a potential Friday night game in AFC Walcountians v Battersea Ironsides although it seemed strange scheduling, so I wasn't getting my hopes up. I was right not to as it was moved to Cobham with a later kick-off. It wasn't for me having been there earlier in the season. I started this blog and my research that evening. Having read a couple of other blogs, I noted that the game would possibly moved for cricket. However, the Kent County League seemed pretty on the ball and communicative and the club hadn't said anything when I announced my intention to go. It'd be a Friday night in with a few drinks to wind down after a week at work. I'd already worked out the ticket cost, which I thought was not the greatest value. It was £26.80, up over £3 from a couple of years ago. However, it was further than I thought, an 182-mile round trip so under 15p a mile. I hadn't realised it was quite so far but I was determined to relax and have a decent day.
Friday was a hard day at work and it was disappointing not to have a game to go to in the evening. Instead, it was a few cans at home looking at potential future plans. It was a fairly early night and as a result, I awoke at my normal work time. I got ready and killed time until I left at 8.30. I purchased my train ticket on my phone and it was not a good start. I'd opted to take the later train in the hope that there would be more space on the slightly slower service. But the platform was still busy and as well as having to mess about printing tickets, the train was delayed by 8 minutes. This was reduced to 6 eventually but I'd still be tight for time. By the time I got to Marylebone, another three minutes had been made up. It was all a bit more comfortable now but I didn't hang about. In the end, I was 13 minutes early for my train to Ramsgate from St Pancras. The train was more or less on time to my planned pre-match destination of Rainham. There, the Railway Wetherspoons was full of revolting families making lots of noise. I got shawarma wrap, chips and a bottle of Kopparberg Sweet Vintage Pear for £8.67. Soon, the family with a screaming infant left and it was far more pleasant for everyone. With it not being especially decent and people making a racket again, I decided to stick at one drink and head early to Sittingbourne. There were delays aplenty, so it was a decent decision. I got some stuff from Lidl on the way. The route was a varied one, the grubbier bits of Sittingbourne, some residential areas and pleasant open countryside before I reached the village and ground at 2.20. Everyone was very welcoming but surprised I'd come so far.
It was a top-of-the-table clash with Borden Village in 3rd and Ide Hill in 4th. The two sides had only met last week, Borden Village winning 3-1 in the reverse fixture. They'd only lost once in eleven games. Ide Hill had lost three in a brown and only one in five since I'd seen them beaten 6-1 at Hawkinge Town. It was an even start. Ide Hill took the lead on ten minutes, a well-worked move and the ball was in the bottom left corner from on the right. The scores were level on 21 minutes. A free kick was repelled but won back. A smart move and a neat low finish came after Ide Hill had started to dominate. On 29 minutes, the hosts led 2-1, drilling home after a left-sided corner. They were dominant now and Ide Hill were starting to fall apart. On 31 minutes, it was 3-1 when a cross was headed home from ten yards. Not deterred, Ide Hill smashed a shot against the bar soon after. They then forced a great save out of the home keeper. It was all for nothing though as on 42 minutes, Borden went further ahead, capitalising on sloppy defending to make it 4-1 from close range. From then on, it was one way traffic. A bullet header met a corner from the right to make it 5-1 on 64 minutes. That was it as far as scoring was concerned despite Ide Hill having a late rally. The goals were credited to Ricky Gundry (2), Joe Loft & The Lord. Borden Village secured a credible 3rd place finish with this result.

At half-time, I'd popped up to have a look at the village. Like the ground, it was pleasant and peaceful. I retreated to the far side in the second half, the trees giving some protection from the rain. It gave me the taste for random villages. Whilst I'm busy at work, the Village Cricket Cup is played out. I can take or leave that sport but the thought of somewhere in Herefordshire, Somerset or Gloucestershire alongside a local pub selling obscure cider really appeals. 26 were in attendance at the game, mainly locals but a few had made the 30-mile journey from Ide Hill who are near Sevenoaks but play at Tonbridge Angels. The game finished at 4.32 amid the weather's favourite backdrop of rain. I put Five Live on my phone and with a bit of pace, was able to make the 5:15 train and get half an hour ahead. I was due back in London at 6.20, the last train to Wycombe that allowed me to get the last bus was 8.37 from Marylebone. I'd decide what to do on the fly, but it had been a decent day whatever happened.
THE GROUND

BORDEN PLAYSTOOL is a pleasant venue but very basic. The club building is the main focus, in here you can get a basic range of drinks and snacks. Car parking is quite tight, so street parking is needed. The pitch is partially roped with some metal barriers on the far side as well as pop-up dugouts. The village is up the slope at the far end of the pitch, this has a church and a pub within easy distance. Occasional buses run, otherwise it's under 45 minutes walk from Sittingbourne Train Station.
 
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