TT No.110: Andy Molden - Sat 23rd February 2013; Wittering United (0) 0 Haywards Heath Town (0) 1;
Sussex Intermediate Cup Semi Final; Att 23 (H/c); Admn/Prog: £1.50 (from Bar - 16 pages full colour); back issues £1 or downloadable via PDF from website; Coffee 70p, Tea 60p, Handmade Sausage Roll £ 1.50, Homemade Pasty £1.50, Homemade Soup and Mini Loaf £1 (did not try all of them).

 

 

Matchday images (19) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/WitteringUnitedFC


It was a toss up between this and Forest Town and with this having a 1.30pm it got the nod, a very easy 102 miles drive found me at Wittering. We had four officials on this game but they were paid for by the county F.A. A phone call the previous evening to the home sec Lynn Waller had confirmed everything would be OK the next day. She also said they were doing a programme despite the normal editor being ill and that there would be plenty of homemade food available, the sec being the cook. The secs husband is chairman and the programme shows there are only a couple of other people on the clubs committee. Arriving at the ground we found sec and chairman doing almost every job going, and by their own admission they are not in the first flush of youth. You do fear for many clubs as when these sort of people give up there does not seem to be anyone to replace them

The ground is very basic and the club confirmed there is no way it could be upgraded to county league level as it is more or less an village rec, there is a long walk from the dressing rooms to the pitch and to get into the Sussex League they have been told they would have to put a tunnel of barrier up!. At present they are in the 2nd division of the West Sussex League but have a chance of going up to the top division if they win their games in hand, which are numerous as they have managed only 5 league games all season and their first defeat was only last week against Yapton. They were also saying that the West Sussex League losing it's step 7 status has help a number of clubs because many grounds in the league are on public land and would never have been able to get the required facilities. Though off of the field the clubhouse, dressing room block, car park and toilets (up there in the top looes of the season) are fine.

The pitch which is a good way from the dressing rooms, the pitch appears to have been moved 10 or 15 yards since last season and at present the club are suffering from a mole problem -- in fact I was unable to have a go on any off the facilties in the play area as it had been closed for Health and Safety reasons due to Mole damage..

The visitors who were at the ground over an hour before the game were always slightly better than the homesters though the first half was very even, the pitch made it hard for both sides to play any football on and at Half Time the game was still in the balance at 0-0. And like many other around the area we were cold and had endured a snow shower or two.

After a cracking cup of homemade soup (maybe containing your 5 a day) and mini loaf we braved the elements for the second half. Haywards Heath started to get on top and the only goal of the game came after 58 minutes when Joe Ransom headed home to give them the lead and ultimately a place in the final. In fairness towards the end they could off added a couple more goals.

Out of interest in the other Semi Final Hassocks Reserves booked their place in the Final thanks to a 3-2 win over East Sussex Premier side Langley Wanderers. The Final is due to be played on 16th April at Culver Road Lancing.

A note of thanks should also go to the Haywards Heath sec who was most friendly and helpful all afternoon. All in all another cracking day out.

 

contributed on 24/02/13