No.15 - Sat. 6th October 2007; Cambridgeshire County League Senior B Division                  3.00pm at The New Shed, Church Hill Road, Helions Bumpstead, Haverhill, Suffolk (Att: 28; Admn and Prog: N/A)

View matchday images  01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Helions Bumpstead (1) 1 Saffron Crocus (1) 1 Bumpstead mark homecoming with a well-earned point Helions Bumpstead versus Saffron Crocus! Who would have believed that a game of football could be contested by two clubs with such wonderful sounding names? On a rather grey overcast autumn afternoon both teams (newly promoted at the end of last season) served up a thoroughly entertaining Cambridgeshire County League Senior B Division encounter. It was contested with pace and skill expected in a match higher up the football pyramid. The result was settled in the first half when the hosts came back to score an equaliser after Crocus had taken an early lead.    Amazingly it was Helions first proper 'home' game of the season. A ground share with the local cricket club dictated that all of their opening matches up to now had to be played on the grounds of their opponents. How frustrating is that? As a consequence the pitch looked magnificent with every single blade of grass contributing to make what was a perfect lush surface.   The New Shed is without a doubt one of the prettiest grounds in the whole of the County League (although the village is actually in Essex). Located on a plateau the traveller will appreciate the rural location with fine views of rolling countryside, roof tops and church spires seen in the distance. The pitch is hemmed in tightly by trees on three sides giving it a lovely enclosed feel. A copse rich with fauna and flora is separated from the pitch by a low wire mesh fence. At the far end a sight screen moved out of position is another reminder of the ground share arrangement here.   The club pavillion stands behind the nearside goal. This building, in keeping with the rest of the place, is lovingly maintained. A smart bar, lounge and changing rooms, accessed by a flight of steps, are found inside here. A weathervane sits proudly on the roof - painted in black the  ornate wrought iron compass points and cut out figure representing a cricket umpire (with a raised finger) is a really nice touch. A row of decorative hanging baskets attached at regular intervals underneath the veranda (useful in the event of bad weather) help to round off what could be described as a picture postcard location.   A crowd of 28 spectators was in attendance. Several locals flitted in and out of the bar as the televised Rugby World Cup game between England and Australia reached its climax. Although the club does not issue programmes, hot drinks were freely available from the tea bar at half time.   Travellers intending to make a visit can reach the village of Helions Bumpstead by approaching from Steeple Bumpstead taking the B1053 and B1054 from Saffron Walden or the B1057 from Haverhill. As you enter the village turn into Chuch Hill Road and continue up the driveway with plenty of parking on the banks of the grassy mound leading up to the pitch.   A visit to Helions Bumpstead is thoroughly recommended to all travellers. A word of caution though - the enforced ground sharing arrangement with the cricket club at the start and end of season obviously means that home fixtures may be played elsewhere (on odd occasions matches have even been played at neighbouring at Linton).                                                                            FGIF Rating: 5*                                                                                                    Map

edited on 28/09/07