Petersfield Town - Love Lane

Petersfield Town FC
Love Lane
Petersfield
Hampshire
GU31 4BW

01730 233416
Official Website
Twitter

Ground Number: 562
Saturday 26th March 2016
Petersfield Town 3-2 Aylesbury
Southern League D1 Central






PETERSFIELD TOWN - A BRIEF HISTORY

PETERSFIELD TOWN was formed in 1993, though there was a previous club in the town called Petersfield United who folded when they were denied permission to switch from the Isthmian League to the Wessex League. They got their wish to join the Wessex, but struggled at first, suffering 2 relegations in 1998 and 1999 which saw them in the Hampshire League Division 2. They bounced back, finding themselves in the newly formed Hampshire League Premier Division. Owing to the expansion of the Wessex League, they rejoined at it's second tier in 2004. It was not until 2014 that they would progress further, but what a couple of seasons they have had. A double promotion has seen them being crowned Champions twice and for this season they find themselves in the Southern League D1 Central. They've done very well too, mathematically safe for next season and with a realistic chance of a top half finish should they get a good run of results together.

This season has also seen their best run in the FA Cup with them reaching the 3rd Qualifying Round. After winning at Moneyfields in the Preliminary Round they gained notable victories over Weymouth and Cirencester Town before a 1-0 defeat to Conference South side St Albans City. Their only game in the FA Trophy saw defeat and the FA Vase proved equally as tricky with just a 2nd Round appearance to their name. They have no local honours Cup wise, though they've been runners up in the Portsmouth Senior Cup and Wessex League Cup.

MY VISIT
Having completed the Southern D1 Central last season I was keen to visit Petersfield Town to repeat the trick after they were promoted last season. They were a bit out of the way for the geographical footprint of the league though and I was quite surprised when they were added. Even so, I was looking forward to visiting and the ideal opportunity came when they faced my fellow hopper Anwar's team Aylesbury FC. Though the fixtures came out in July, we would have to wait to nearly the end of the season to visit, although we were glad that Wycombe moving their home game with Mansfield to Good Friday meant that we could attend the game. Despite all this there was nearly a late change to my plans for a trip to Truro City, however not being able to find anyone to go with put pay to that. Thankfully the ground will live on for another season so I have more time to 'tick' it before it goes. After a lot of wrangling, I was pleased that I’d been able to get 4 days off for Easter. Initially, they had tried to deny me it, but after going to see another manager and explaining that I was entitled to it, they soon backed down. I’d spent the previous day watching Wycombe grab a 1-0 win over Mansfield Town at Adams Park, having worked the good Friday morning. On the day of the game, I woke up at pretty much my normal work time and couldn’t get back to sleep and so was denied a lie in. After getting ready and killing time, I left home at 10.25, planning to stop at Morrisons on the way to pick up Anwar & Carl from Aylesbury.

After getting a few bits I met the lads at 11.15. The journey down was a pain with the M25 being it's usual dreadful self and we got to Petersfield at 1.40 after 45 minutes frustrating delay. I knew where dinner was going to be and it was less than 10 minutes to the local Wetherspoons called The Red Lion. The pub was packed with parents and their kids but we managed to find a table. It's usually a right bun fight for the bar in Spoons but it's a bit posher and civilised in Petersfield with everyone forming a neat line while waiting. I had myself a double Texan Burger with all the trimmings and a Thatchers Gold for £8.50.  It came in a good timely fashion too and by 2.30 we were all finished and ready to go back to the ground. We got there at 2.40 and paid £7 to get in plus £2 for a programme. After taking some pictures of the ground we picked a spot to watch the game from which had to be chosen with care as there was a strong, chilly wind blowing around the ground. The match report from the non-league paper is below.

So an entertaining game, but I’d not bought the best of luck to Anwar’s team with them yet to win in the 5 times that I have seen them. We left around 4.50 and made good time on the way home. By 6.15 I was dropping off in Aylesbury, getting home myself 25 minutes later.  I had a few drinks with the England match. I was initially not expecting much from this game and was merely looking for a football fix with Match Of The Day absent from that night's TV schedules. But what I got from what I initially thought was 'another sodding pointless friendly' was a great performance from England. Even at 2-0 down we looked good. In the absence of Wayne Rooney, a young England side played some of the best football that we have done for years. Fine player though he once was, he's well past his best and drags the team back 10 years when he does play in a proper tournament. The new breed beat the World Champions 3-2 with Jamie Vardy, Dele Alli and Danny Rose especially impressing. For once it was a pleasure to watch and then listen to the after match phone in. It left me wondering what German Chancellor Angela Merkel would have thought about the result - in my merry state I noticed she bore an uncanny resemblance to 1970's kids TV favourite Jeanette Krankie!

THE GROUND

LOVE LANE was a ground that I'd visited before, though not for a game. On the 1st December 2009, I took a look on my way to Southampton v Wycombe Wanderers in a League 1 game. I saw a smart and tidy ground with a 3000 capacity and a 250 seated stand as covered accommodation. On my revisit, it was almost the same, only with the main stand looking a bit worse for wear. There was a further area of cover on the other side, plus a new seated stand being built. There was no club shop that I could see, though badges were on sale at the bar, which had the usual range of drinks you would expect. The tea bar was a bit basic, due to a recent fire at the ground. A decent shout is to walk to the pleasant town centre which is 10 minutes away and has a good range of outlets to cater for most tastes.

Frimley Green - Frimley Green Recreation Ground

Frimley Green FC
Frimley Green Recreation Ground
Frimley Green Road
Frimley Green
Surrey
GU16 6GY

07832 494075
Official Website
Twitter

Ground Number: 571
Tuesday 22nd March 2016
Frimley Green 1-0 Dorking Wanderers Reserves
Surrey Premier Cup Semi Final

FRIMLEY GREEN FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

FRIMLEY GREEN FC was formed in 1919. Up until 1981 they played in local leagues such as the Surrey Senior and London Spartan. For the 1981-82 season, they joined the Combined Counties League. For their first season, it was split geographically and Frimley Green finished 7th in the West Division. The following season it reverted to a singular division due to lack of teams. The club remained here up until 1994 when financial issues forced them to resign mid-season and return to junior football. They remained in the Surrey leagues until 2002 when they rejoined the Combined Counties League. They generally found the going tough in the top division, but they kept clear of the relegation zone. It was ground grading issues that caused them to be demoted to Division 1 in 2006 and although things were quickly remedied, they didn't return to the Premier Division until 2013. Despite a 12th placed finish in their first season back, they finished bottom last season and were relegated. Back in Division 1 for this season, they sat 10th at the time of kick off.

The FA Cup has not bought a huge amount of success with the best run being the Preliminary Round. The FA Vase has been a little kinder. In 2008/09 they beat Bookham, Redhill & Binfield before losing in a 3rd Round replay to VCD Athletic. In terms of local competitions they've won the Surrey Intermediate League Cup, the Dan Air Elite Cup and the Surrey Junior Cup. Away from football, the village of Frimley Green also has sporting history in darts. The Lakeside Country Club in the north of the village has hosted the BDO World Professional Darts Championship for the past 30 years.

MY VISIT

Pretty early on, I sensed that I would be on my own for this groundhop as all the people I usually go with had their own plans, or said they were unlikely to be available. With very little that inspired me unless I fancied spending a load on fuel, I was thinking that a revisit was in order. I eventually picked Camberley Town and was quite looking forward to it as I’d not got any of my own pictures last time, nor had I done much of a blog on it. However, when looking on the Combined Counties League website, I found that Frimley Green were at home to Dorking Wanderers Reserves in the Surrey Premier Cup Semi Final. Ironically Frimley Green were the home side on my only previous visit to Camberley’s Krooner Park as their own ground was deemed to be unfit to host AFC Wimbledon in a Combined Counties Premier Division clash. The travelling Dons won 3-1 on their way to their first ever promotion, having been formed just under 2 years earlier. On the day of the game, I woke to hear of terrorist attacks in Belgium. A number of dad pathetic lowlifes had murdered several people via a bomb, all in the name of religion. I’ve never seen the attraction of that particular hobby, though I respect people who follow their story in a peaceful manner, though not those who take it to extremes. After breakfast and a bath, I did my usual Tuesday walk down town, buying some various things in Morrisons. I came home for the afternoon and was pretty bored as I'm used to leaving for football mid-afternoon. After having dinner I left just before 6. The journey was decent apart from the usual delay around Heathrow on the M25. I  got to the ground at 7.15 though there was no one on the gate and no sign of any programmes so I went in, getting some pictures at first, then going in the bar while I caught up on Facebook. Interestingly enough Frimley Green had played Dorking’s other side on Saturday, losing 2-0. Their own Twitter account was pretty frank about the game, with them reckoning that they should have had a couple of penalties. It’s only a shame all Twitter accounts could not be so honest, but knowing the authorities they’d start stamping their feet and throwing a hissy fit while crying ‘bringing the game into disrepute’

Back to tonight’s contest, league-wise Frimley Green would be favourites, 4 places above their opponents and boasting a good home record as opposed to the visitors' disappointing record on the road. This proved to be the case in the early stages of play with Frimley Green having the better of the chances and the visitors relying on chances on the break. The hosts thought they had taken the lead on the half hour. A smart ball was played across the edge of the 6-yard box and was fired low into the net from the left-hand side but the finisher was adjudged to be offside. Just before the end of an entertaining first half, they did take the lead. A smart through ball set up Cardona for a chance that he gobbled up with aplomb. Despite their manager's great encouragement, Dorking Wanderers couldn't find an equaliser despite their best efforts. Frimley Green will go on to play Nottsborough in the final after the Southern Amateur League side beat Worcester Park in a game played at Carshalton Athletic yesterday. Interestingly enough I'd seen Worcester Park win at Abbey Rangers recently to reach this stage and probably would have been favourites to beat a team that was formed off the back of Nottingham and Loughborough University students meeting and forming a team in London, hence the name. I drove home without any traffic issues, getting back at 10.30. I watched TV until around midnight before going to sleep.

THE GROUND

FRIMLEY GREEN RECREATION GROUND is a smart and tidy venue that has seen much improvement over recent years. There are 100 seats on one side, then covered standing for the same amount on the other side. The rest of the ground is open. There is a smart bar which does the usual range and also food on request. I'm not sure what was directly outside the ground but there are some pubs and takeaways within walking distance if you have time to spare.