TT No.29: Keith Aslan - Sat 8th Septembr 2012; ASLAN v Kimpton Rovers; Herts Senior County League Div 1;    Result: 5-0: Kick-Off: 15.10!; Admission and Programme: Free; Attendance: 28 (16 home, 2 away & 10 neutral).


It is a very select band of men who have had football clubs named after them. Marsh Rangers, Terry Woolen Sports, David Lloyd and maybe a couple more, so you can imagine my pride when newcommers to the Herts County League decided to name themselves after me (perhaps). Aslan is a turkish name something I was unaware of and somewhere along the line I am descended from a turk (the things you learn at football matches). Fellow groundhoppers suggested I am an illegial immigrant and should be deported back to Turkey. Oh how we laughed. I was all for this as I couldn't imagine it to be any worse than this country until a much travelled hopper pointed out that they don't do football programmes in Turkey - so I decided to stay in England.

 

Aslan play in the delightful Pymmes Park in a not so delightful part of North London. It has laid out gardens and a major duck pond with the football pitches on the north side of the park. Easy access by road and rail, it being adjacant both to the North Circular road and Silver Street station (frequent trains from Liverpool Street). As with all London venues buses are flying about all over the place. The ground has little in the way of facilities and is roped off on two sides. No refreshments available on site but the local store across the road did a roaring trade in cold drinks on what was an oppressively hot day. At least the game didn't keep having time outs for mass drink ups as often happens when the sun comes out. As this match showed, it is quite possible to run around for 45 minutes, even in 28 degrees, without dropping down with dehydration.

 

The programmes were easily available from Aslan's high profile chairman/secretary and the print run was such that none of the large contingent of hoppers went without. A glossy four pager, but unlike the prog. for their previous game, this one missed out the line ups which were replaced by an advert in turkish. The match itself produced an "average" performance from the home side. Their record to date 3 wins from 3 with a plus fifteen goal difference, so the 5-0 win was to be expected. Given how good Aslan appears to be I couldn't help wondering what league they were playing in last season.

 

Mention must be made of the referee who, without linesmen, had to check the nets himself - but why did he chose to do it five minutes after the game should have started? Then he had to organise and give instuctions to the club linesmen which he thought, eight minutes after the scheduled kick off, was the right time for this job. As he, plus both teams, were there in plenty of time for a 3 o'clock kick-off one can only put the late start down to "bad punctuality" from the referee, who is supposed to put in his report if the game kicks off late and the reason. My guess is he left that bit out.

Aslan certainly lived up to the high standards you would expect from a team bearing that name. I'm now looking at the Highland League fixtures to see when Keith next have a home fixture.

 

contributed on 09/09/12