TT No.2: Keith Aslan - Sat August 16th 2014; Hillingdon v Indian Gymkhana; Middlesex County League Premier; K-O: 14.58; Result: 4-0; Admission & Programme: Free; Attendance: 16 (5 home 7 away 4 neutral) 

Having travelled to deepest Cornwall for my longest trip of the season last week, seven days later this was to be my shortest search for a new ground; the anticipation was equal for both excursions. Joy of joys, it is the first day of the football season (well it isn't actually, but there were no Premier League fixtures last week so it apparently doesn't count!) and Hillingdon were playing their first match on new premises, having relocated from an athletics stadium in the north of the Borough to an athletics stadium in the south.

Not as bad as it sounds, you can stand inside the track here, and with only six very narrow lanes the groundhopping fraternity made use of the picnic tables on the outside, being quite close enough to the action. The building behind us on the halfway line (never quite worked out what it was) has an overhang which would prove very welcome in wet weather. The ground is a little way from the modern changing room block which contains a very comfortable "reception" with food and drinks machines and a wide screen TV.

I chose to walk from West Drayton station, a surprisingly rural stroll that took around 35 minutes. Uxbridge station would be a bit closer, but for the stagnant groundhopper no need to walk anywhere with four bus routes stopping outside the entrance to the ground in Kingston Lane.

The game was entertaining although there was only ever going to be one winner, and as usual, the Middlesex League came up trumps in the programme stakes. Never failed here since it became compulsory in the top division. No need for anything fancy, just a 4 page fold over that contains everything you want from a programme. A credit to the club and the league.

The match finished at 4.42pm. Ah the nostalgia. And to cap an excellent day, Manchester United lost, a setback in their bold bid for Europa league football next season. How long before the chants of "Bring back Moyes" echo round Old Trafford. Life doesn't get much better than this.

contributed on 17/08/14