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No.21 - Sat. 10th November 2007; Midland Combination Football League Division 1 2.00pm at New Hall Lane, Fazeley, Tamworth, Staffs (Att: 16; Admn and Prog: £1) |
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View matchday images 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Coton Green (2) 2 Droitwich Spa (0) 0 Spa leak goals in damp squib!
When hopping guru Dave Reed sent me a report from his visit to the club back in August (see TT013), I must admit that I didn't really know much about Coton Green Football Club, apart from the fact it was somewhere close to Tamworth in the West Midlands! A quick glance at the excellent Wikipaedia and MCFL websites revealed a little bit more..... Travellers may be interested to know that Tamworth has existed since Saxon times, and once was the capital of Mercia, the largest of all English kingdoms of its time. Its name comes from the River Tame which flows through the town located about twenty miles north-east of Birmingham in the County of Staffordshire. The main industries include logistics, engineering, clothing, brick, tile and paper manufacture. It is also known for a famous breed of pig called the Tamworth pig initially bred here using some imported Irish stock. It was apparently home to the Reliant car company, which produced the famous three-wheeled Robin model and the Scimitar sportscar for several decades. Today tourists coming to the town visit the famous Tamworth Castle, The Snowdome (Western Europe's first real-snow indoor ski slope) and nearby Drayton Manor Theme Park. In recent seasons the town's main football club Tamworth FC has seen some success in the National Football Conference before relegation to the Blue Square Conference North league at the end of last season. Tamworth has, over the years, fielded a number of notable players including West Bromwich Albion legend Bob Taylor and, for one match in the 2005/2006 season, former Aston Villa and Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson. Many will also remember Tony Coton the well respected goalkeeper for Manchester City - he originally came from Tamworth. The town also hosts several other smaller teams who ply their trade in leagues further down the football pyramid. The seasoned traveller will be familiar no doubt with the likes of Bolehall Swifts FC, Mile Oak Rovers FC and Dosthill Colts FC all of whom can be found in the shadow of the Lamb Ground. My trip today was to visit another local club, Coton Green FC, based in the suburb of Fazeley. On a rather dull and gloomy afternoon we headed up to Tamworth via the A14, M1 and A5 to arrive in good time for the Midland Combination Football League Division 1 game against Droitwich Spa. At the start of play 'Green had won their last game (4-0 away to Fairfield Villa) to climb up to fifth place in the table and looked, on paper at any rate, favourites to take all three points. As expected the result went to the form book as the hosts won a scrappy encounter by two goals to nil played on an extremely bumpy surface in front of only sixteen paying spectators. The ground is found at the end of New Hall Lane on land that is bordered by fields and some new houses. A sign next to the car park welcomes visitors to the club. There are two pitches on the site which are positioned perpendicularly to each other: the main one surrounded by a neat post and rail fence runs lengthways from the main entrance with a modern club building situated to the left at the far end. This was financed by a Football Foundation grant in August 2005 and houses the changing rooms, a comfortable lounge and kitchen area. Since gaining promotion to Division 1 at the end of last season the club has carried out some ground improvements with a new walkway leading to the pitch and several sections of hard standing being laid next to the dug outs. On the opposite side a small area has been cleared away to make way for the construction of a new stand. The club has ambitious plans for the future and realise that flooodlights will be necessary in order to gain promotion to the top flight of the MCFL and beyond. A recent planning application has already been turned down by the local council after residents had made a formal complaint. Typical. The club has indicated that should a second application be unsuccessful then they would be prepared to use the second pitch on the far side of the playing field - this seems to be a viable alternative being much further away from the local housing estate and its residents. For the latest developments watch this space as they say. A smart 12 page programme was issued for the game as part of the £1 entrance fee. This computer generated effort depicting the club emblem on the front contains all the basics with essential line ups, league table and recent results (from all the club's teams right down to the Under 8's). Hoppers will be interested to learn that the club also produces an enamel lapel badge (priced £3) to commemorate its 25 Year Anniversary, being formed back in 1982. A visit to the club is highly recommended. As Dave explains in his report it would be better, given the lack of cover, to attend in better weather. After entering Fazeley turn off Coleshill Road (A4091) for New Hall Lane which is next to a new housing development on the left hand side. Continue down this narrow 'streamlined' road until it the end where it opens out in front of the main entrance and car park. FGIF Rating: 3* |
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edited on 13/11/07 |
