No.9 - Sat. 8th September 2007; Suffolk & Ipswich League Division 1                                2.30pm at the Blue Circle Sports Ground, Bramford Rd, Great Blakenham, Suffolk (Att: 48; Admn: N/A; Prog: N/A)

 

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Claydon (0) 1 Mendlesham (0) 2

One kettle, two little pigs and three goals!

My decision to stay local was only made at lunchtime. Daughter Jo required some retail therapy and explained to me that a new kettle (as well as other important essentials) was a 'must have' item before embarking on University life in a couple of weeks time. We jointly decided that the large ASDA store located on the Ipswich Retail Park would be our chosen destination – a veritable shopping oasis and close to enough for me to reach Claydon Football Club (for my selected game)! 

 

Since gaining promotion to Division One of the Suffolk and Ipswich League at the end of last season, Claydon Football Club has made a reasonable start to the new campaign. With two games played the match statistics reveal two draws and plenty of goals scored (3-3 v Thurston and 2-2 v St. Edmunds 65). The next match saw the visit of Mendlesham (also newly promoted) to the Blue Circle ground; this fixture seemed on paper a more difficult test as they were currently unbeaten and top of the SIL Division 1.

 

The game was played on a lovely warm afternoon in front of about fifty spectators some of whom sat bare chested along the touchline (well the men that is!). It was a close contest with both sides playing some entertaining attacking football. All the goals came in an action-packed second half with Claydon taking the lead only for Mendlesham to strike back with two very well taken goals scored within the space of two minutes maintaining their 100% record.

 

Although the football club has the use of three separate venues, the main one used by the Senior sides is actually found in the neighbouring village of Great Blakenham. The Blue Circle ground occupies a spacious site with enough room for two pitches and a training area. The main one is furthest from the main entrance and car park; this is hemmed in by trees and hedges on three sides with a rope separating a smaller pitch which runs parallel to it. A small wooden changing building and ground equipment store are located in the far corner of the playing field where there is a mini floodlit training pitch. There is no cover at present.

 

Amazingly for a club of its size Claydon FC hire outside caterers on match days; as advertised on the club’s excellent website a local firm quaintly named: ‘Two Little Pigs’ parks a small van inside the ground during the game. Appropriately painted in pink this mobile retail establishment provides patrons with hot and cold snacks to combat their thirst and hunger; it is quite apt and enterprising then that a jumbo sausage is the dish of the day (amongst other delights)! I decided not to indulge having just digested a regular Cheeseburger meal from a nearby golden arches restaurant!

 

The football secretary at Claydon FC is a Mr David Knipe. What a smashing bloke. He could not have been more helpful in providing expert directions to the club when I phoned prior to setting off. He also doubles as the club linesman and performs his duties with great care and pride. He even retrieves the ball from the bushes after any wayward clearance. How many linos would do that? Dave explained to me at half-time that the junior club sides use the other two grounds in the village of Claydon (one is at the school and the other is at the local rec). Sadly programmes are no longer issued although they were apparently up until a couple of years ago.

 

Claydon Football Club is within easy reach of the A14 dual carriageway. Leave at junction 38 and take the fourth exit signposted Great Blakenham/Needham Market. Move into the right hand lane and turn right into Great Blakenham. After passing a truck stop (left) and Iveco van site (right) continue for about 100 yards before turning left into the Blue Circle ground (2nd entrance) which is opposite a council depot. There is plenty of parking space alongside the playing fields. FGIF Rating: 3* 

Map Claydon FC website

edited on 09/08/07