No.58 - Sat. 26th April 2008; Bedfordshire  Football League                      2.30pm at Oakley S&S Club, Village Hall, High Steet, Oakley, Bedford. (Att: 17; Admn & Prog: NA) 

 

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 Oakley Sports (0) 3  Sandy (0) 0 

Sports succeed in the spring sunshine 

The hottest day of the year so far! We decided not to travel too far and headed for Oakley Sports Football Club who were playing rivals Sandy in a Bedfordshire Football League match. News came through the hopping gravevine that the club had been issuing matchday programmes this season and so this added a bit of extra anticipation as we arrived at the well appointed Sports and Social club just off the village High Street.

The facilities here are excellent for a club which finds itself at this level of the pyramid. A long driveway leads down to the playing fields which cater for both cricket and football. The venue which is lovingly maintained is bordered by houses and gardens to give it a smashing enclosed feel. It really does look a picture! The main buildings to the left comprise of a separate changing pavilion and a modern clubhouse which has to be one of the best that I have seen so far in this league. The newly refurbished interior is absolutely magnificent and offers a bar and TV lounge. Very nice! Outside a smart patio area with a large number of picnic benches provides some convenient spectator seating. This is definitely an ideal place from which to watch the action and courtesy of some locals who had erected a large gazebo we were soon chillin' out from our shady pitchside location. It doesn't get much better than this does it? Waitress service would have been nice but you can't have everthing!

Oakley were the pre-match favourites. After a cracking season the club has maintained a superb run of form to occupy second place in the league behind current leaders Campton FC. With games running out the club couldn't really make up the points to win the title but this was a massive improvement from 2006-07 when  Oakley struggled to avoid relegation, finishing eventually just below halfway in the table. By kick-off it was baking. As the teams took up their positions ready for the kick-off it soon became apparent that their shirts looked very similar in colour. Wearing varying shades of blue would surely make it very difficult for the referee to tell them apart? But the official was not worried and promptly blew his whistle to start the game!

Understandably the conditions soon took their toll as the players battled in the heat. After a rather dull first half the game thankfully came into life on the hour mark as Oakley (in royal blue) took control of the game and opened the scoring. As the Sandy players (in aqua-marine shirts) squabbled amongst themselves in the sizzling heat the hosts kept up the pressure and seizing their chances scored twice more before the end of the game to round off a decent second half display.

Despite the large number of people present I estimated that only a handful of these were actually watching the game. The majority were much happier partying next to the clubhouse and topping up their sun tans rather than appreciating the finer points of this interesting Bedfordshire Football League fixture. Amongst those present were the affable Harlow-based traveller Steve Coulson and his son (a Manchester City fan) who were enjoying a whole day of hopping - after attending a morning game at Caddington (in the South Midlands League) they had dropped in here before heading for a spot of speedway in the evening. Now that's true dedication for you. We had a smashing afternoon swapping our respective hopping exploits over the last season as we chewed the fat (strange phrase but you know what I mean). We also had half an ear open as we listened to the latest football scores on my transistor radio. Steve's lad looked like a proverbial Cheshire cat. He couldn't hide his joy as his beloved team were already 2-0 up on Fulham. From the sound of the commentator's voice it seemed highly  likely that they would score again to condemn the West London side to the Football Championship...

We were both a bit miffed as the prospect of getting a programme evaporated - we sadly learned that the programme editor was away on business and the club hadn't in fact issued for the game. We left our names with one of the committee members with the intention (and hope) of recieving a copy in the post. And guess what? I don't know if Steve has heard anything yet but I am still waiting (with increasing despondence)!

The club is based in the beautiful village of Oakley which is only a few miles to the north of Bedford. We travelled through the town centre and (after a slow moving journey) managed to pick up the A6. The ground is reached by following signs for the village and driving along the High Street. Although the club entrance (on the left) is clearly marked the narrow driveway can be easily missed. Thoroughly recommended (especially in hot weather)! 

And finally. As Fran and I returned home after the game we tuned in to Radio Five Live once again. Unbelievably as James Alexander Gordon read out the scores we found out that Fulham had scored three quick goals to beat Manchester City 3-2 and so give themselves a Premier League life-line. What a remarkable turn around. I shouldn't imagine Manchester City supporters felt the same though. I do hope Steve's lad still managed to enjoy himself at the speedway...funny game football!    

                                                               FGIF Rating: 3*

edited on 15/05/08