Travels with my Ostrich ....

[TheOstrich]

Old Salts - I've got this vision of the forwards all going "arghhh, Jim lad.."

Actually, Harborne (green / red shirts) appeared the more piratical, Crommers - as you can see from the bearded warrior at the front of the lineout in the 5th picture of the sequence .....

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/harborner ... 32494.html

No Ostrich in these photos - I was standing by the photographer!

[TheOstrich]

Saturday 28/11 – Evo-stik Northern Premier League – (Step 3)
Barwell 2 Darlington 1883 1
Admission: £6 concession, Programme: £2, Golden Goal ticket: £1 (The Ostrich was 4 minutes out! )
Refreshments: £4.50 J2O and sausage cob, containing no less than 6 (!) thin sausages from the Barwell Sports Bar, £3.50 quality beefburger and cuppa soup from the hatch, £1 bar of chocolate, don’t tell Mrs O .....
Attendance: 326

With both sides knocked out of the FA Trophy competition this year, so both having effectively a “free weekend”, this game was brought forward at short notice from sometime mid-week in February, apparently, and I only discovered it was being played when I was looking at various league’s fixtures on Friday afternoon! From Darlington’s point of view, it’s obviously better to get the longer distance trips out of the way on a Saturday, and in better weather, and as far as the Ostrich was concerned, Darlington ranked no.2 on his 25-team hit-list for this season, so this match was an ideal opportunity to “knock them off”.

Darlington, nicknamed “The Quakers”, were elected to the Football League proper back in 1922 and had a fairly unspectacular career as a league club until 1989 when they were relegated down into Step 1 of the non-league pyramid. They were promoted back up the following season, but new owners had ambitious plans for a new 27,000 seat stadium, which was eventually brought into use in 2003 but left the club with debts and eventually it was placed in administration.
From that point, the Quakers’ fortunes spiralled downwards, relegation back to non-league football followed, and after a succession of owners and two further bouts of administration, a supporters group took over control of the club, only for the FA to controversially order them demoted by 4 divisions to the Northern League (Step 5). The club re-grouped, re-named themselves Darlington 1883 (the year the original club was founded), ditched their costly stadium, moved in with Bishop Auckland which is 12 miles out of town (Gal territory, I believe! ), and since then have managed to claw their way back to Step 3. Support for the club is still there – they brought a coach load of supporters down south today for this game.

Which brings us to Barwell …..

Most (well I suspect all of you) are probably thinking “where the ‘eck is Barwell”? Well, it’s a large village in Leicestershire, a few miles north of Hinckley, and Barwell, which was a settlement pre the Domesday Book, translates as “the stream of the boar”. According to Wiki, Barwell and neighbouring Earl Shilton were the site of a meteorite strike when, on Christmas Eve 1965, they were showered with fragments from an object said to be about the size of a traditional Christmas turkey. No one was hurt, thankfully, although some minor damage to buildings and property occurred. One fragment apparently went through a front of a car, destroying the engine. When the owner of the car attempted to claim off his insurance company, they replied that it was an "Act of God" and would'nt pay out. Outraged, the owner went to the local church and asked for the cash, saying "If it was an Act of God, the Church should pay for his car!" Needless to say, the owner never received any money ....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barwell

The football club, nicknamed “The Canaries”, was founded in 1992 by the merger of a couple of local sides, and has managed to wend its way up the pyramid to Step 3 where it has become reasonably well established. It’s quite an easy trip by car down the A5 from Tamworth, thankfully roadworks-free these days, then up the Hinckley by-pass, but there was fun and games in Barwell itself as, since the Ostrich last visited here, they’ve made the narrow Chapel Street one way into the centre of the village, and unfortunately the only exit road back to Hinckley was also closed off after the match for their Christmas Lights ceremony, meaning I had to detour north to Earl Shilton before working my way back to the A47 for Hinckley.

I’ve always found them a very friendly club, and I finished up today (after arriving at the ground unseasonably early) having a pleasant chat with the Club Chairman before heading to the Sports Bar for a pre-match bite to eat. The Kirkby Road ground is actually a bit of a sports complex with a cricket pitch, a large indoor bowling arena, and ample parking. Today was the Ostrich’s fifth visit; back in 2014, I attended possibly one of the worst goal-less draws I’ve ever seen (vs. Trafford) – it was summed up by a Trafford supporter standing next to me a few minutes from the end who phoned a mate on his mobile and said “it’s 0-0 – and to be honest, we’re lucky to have got the 0 ….”

Today was a murky day, with rain and wind blowing down the slope towards the bottom goal, and Barwell trying to take advantage of the elements in the first half. Although the home side were creating chances, Darlington also looked menacing on the break, but just when it seemed like we were in for a goalless first 45, Barwell’s Alex Tomkinson hit a speculative shot that looked as if it took all sorts of deflections on its way into the net.

That set up what promised to be an interesting second half with Darlo attacking down the slope, but on 50m, Barwell made it 2-0, Towers stealing in to convert a near-post corner which the defence failed to cut out. Darlington pulled a goal back on 65m with Portas chasing a long ball through the defence and steering it past the keeper, and that set up an entertaining final period with Darlo chasing the equaliser and Barwell fairly grimly hanging on for the points. The home side eventually secured their victory thanks to a, shall we say, full-blooded performance; more than a few heavy tackles and a fair bit of whinging at the referee from both sides today! Nevertheless, an always watchable game and a fair result.

[Ally]

Thanks Ossie - if VV has a 2015 award for most entertaining thread then you've nailed it!

Two things:

1. (Sorry about this bit ) but there was I yesterday with temps in the 70's and basking in the warmth; wondering what part of a wind swept Midlands you'd be at today.

2. The refreshments. When you list them. Is that what's on offer or is that what you personally buy and eat?

Your chocolate confession is safe. What happens in Barwell stays in Barwell.


Thanks for a great read Ossie. x

[Kaz]

I think it's what Ossie actually eats, Ally!!! Knowing how he likes his food

We won't tell about the choccy

Oh and this thread is definitely the most entertaining thread on VV this year! I think we should award The Golden Sausage Cob trophy!

[TheOstrich]

LOL, thank you kindly, both of you.

The food list is indeed what I actually consume, Ally! Most soccer clubs above Step 7 offer something; catering and "the bar" represents a fair chunk of income for them. As you can see, I regularly spend more on food than on admission. I've known Barwell, in the past, offer up a magnificent tasty chicken curry and chips - no sign of it today, unfortunately - but the so-called "Barwellburger" was an excellent half-time substitute, and quality fayre. The traditional football fan drink of Bovril was also on sale for just 50p, but I find it too salty, TBH, it's not to my taste.

The chocolate bar was a full size Cadbury's Milk for £1 (I've known some clubs try and pass off one of those small fun-size Mars bars for 70p ) and it was a regrettable sin; they were out on the counter right under the Ostrich's beak .... no discipline, you see ..

A lot of matches throughout the country succumbed to the weather yesterday - it rained heavily overnight and alternatively drizzled and deluged most of the morning here. I think I was quite lucky with Barwell in that it seemed to have avoided most of the heavy rain - and it does have a proper 250-seater cantilever stand. I had been thinking about going to Bewdley vs Bromyard (a new ground for me) but by last Wednesday, the Bewdley website was showing the fixture had been reversed because of doubts over the condition of their Ribbesford ground, which is right on the banks of the River Severn and susceptible to flooding, and I'm pretty sure that Bromyard's Delahay Meadow ground, right at the "bottom of town", can also be a tricky one ..... back 30 years ago, non-league teams would play through anything - not so these days thanks to 'elf and safety, and player insurance ....

[cromwell]

I admire you for going to a match yesterday Os!

I remember the Darlo ambitions - their chairman at the time was an ex-safe blower who had gone on to found a chain of stores (Magnet?).

As for people lolling around in the sun in November - it's plain unnatural!

[Ally]

I admire you for going to a match yesterday Os!

I remember the Darlo ambitions - their chairman at the time was an ex-safe blower who had gone on to found a chain of stores (Magnet?).

As for people lolling around in the sun in November - it's plain unnatural!

I was not lolling Cromwell I was basking.

[TheOstrich]

Saturday 05/12 – West Midlands Regional League Premier Division – (Step 6)
Wolverhampton Sporting CFC 4 Wellington Amateurs 0
Admission and programme: £3.50,
Refreshments: £1.80 scampi fries and chips with yoghurt and mint dressing before the game, £1.50 a more traditional Black Country chips ‘n curry sauce at half-time
Attendance: 20

The Ostrich rather wimped out today in the light of the weather. Plan A had been Banbury v Slimbridge, but surfing the Network Rail site this morning, there was evidence of cancelation of some Chiltern rail services due to lack of train drivers, and that made my journey there and back a bit iffy, especially as the Birmingham – Banbury services also involve long-distance Cross Country trains that might have been subject to the weather disruption further north.
Plan B had been South Leicester RUFC v Sandal, but I didn’t particularly fancy a 94 mile round trip by car down the M6 and up the Lutterworth road, given the gale force weather conditions. Additionally, I know from a past visit that the South Leicester rugby ground is set on a pretty bleak escarpment at the very edge of the city, open to all sorts of virulent weather, and with absolutely no shelter around the pitch, and rugby in a forecast 50 mph gale probably wouldn’t be the greatest spectator sport anyway.

So, a late decision to go with Plan C and a 3rd trip of the season to our old friends, Wolverhampton Sporting Community at Hazel Lane, Great Wyrley for the visit of Wellington Amateurs, team no.14 on the Ostrich’s hit-list. The journey up a reasonably quiet M6 Toll (£4.80) was ropey enough with driving certainly affected by heavy gusts of wind on the more exposed sections around Lichfield and Chasewater, which I felt vindicated my decision not to make the long drive over into Leicestershire. Huge flocks of seagulls were evident around Cannock, surfing the gale.

I managed to get parked reasonably easily at the ground today – it doesn’t have a huge capacity – and quickly ascertained the game was on, there having been a cursory pitch inspection during the morning. The ground was heavy (and took its toll of players during the match) and had been sanded in the centre. The pathway down by the dugouts was roped off out of bounds as they were apparently a bit concerned about some of the trees bordering the road because of the wind, so the Ostrich spent the game roosting in the first-floor Wolfies Bar, perched on top of a radiator, with a panoramic view out of one of the windows behind the near goal - not a bad location in the event.

Fourth upstairs window from the left …..
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hazel ... 59GFfXM%3A

Wolverhampton Sporting CFC are having a pretty good year, currently 5th, and are hoping to push for qualification for an FA Cup place next season – I think they have to finish in the top 10 or thereabouts. In contrast, Wellington Amateurs, from Telford, are one off the bottom of the table, and the match went according to form book, Westwood opening the home team’s account as early as 4m, stealing in to side-foot home a cross into the 6 yard box, and he nearly repeated the feat two minutes later. On 35m, Delaney skinned a defender and slipped the ball home to make it 2-0, and Westwood curled in his second on 43m, just after the home side had a pretty cast-iron penalty shout for hand ball ignored by the referee.

After the interval, the game became more even, with Wellington creating a fair number of shooting opportunities, but it wasn’t their day, and one of Wolverhampton SC’s substitutes headed in a corner on 77m to make it 4-0 before the away keeper had to be replaced by an outfield player for the final three or four minutes due to injury.

No grumbles at the result – Wolves could have scored more – but Wellington Amateurs played their part in an entertaining affair, and if they’d notched a consolation goal or two, I’m sure no-one would have complained.

There’s a priced menu board by the side of the food hatch / kitchen in the Wolfies Bar. Before the start, they added ‘Mulled Wine - £2.50’. “Got a consignment from down the market last week”, the bar manager confided. Then, as an after-thought, he added ‘(Cup)’. “If I don’t, they’ll all be expecting to get a pint!” he said.

[Ally]

Ossie - not only do you win the VV award for most entertaining thread of 2015 but I am now officially naming you as most intrepid reporter of the year.

Oh...and did you really eat two lots of chips?

If you did...high five to you my good man!!!

I am green with envy. Cos I luvs chips.

Thanks again Os for taking the time to write these reports....I really do enjoy them x

[cromwell]

Good on you for going to a game Os. No way was I venturing from the fireside yesterday!

WD on the chips as well!