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Rather unsportingly Welbeck have moved to a new ground without telling me, so when the news finally percolated through they immediately went to the top of my to do list. It was a relief to get out of Thanet (and special thanks go to South East Trains for actually running them this Saturday) for with the U.K.I.P. party conference taking place in Margate meaning you couldn't move anywhere on the island without being accosted by the media. I have been lucky so far in not bumping into Nigel Farage who has been "out and about" trying to meet every single person in the South Thanet Constituency. How far away is the election? Give us a break.
When I was doing the '92' Mansfield was the only league club without a station. Now it has two trains an hour from Nottingham and the first thing you notice as the train pulls in is that there is a big hole in the ground where the bus station used to be. They've built a brand new one even closer to the trains with a covered walkway leading straight from the platform to the buses. Integrated transport at it's best. The number 11 has a half hourly service from stand F to Meden Vale, with the ground being no more than a five minute stroll from the bus stop.
Welbeck Colliery altered their name to "Welfare" when the colliery shut down. Now the welfare has also recently gone I wonder what their next name change will be. The old ground is still there and still fine for football should anybody wish to use it. The new ground is about 100 yards away at the top of a steep grass bank and used to be the colliery cricket ground. It is very smart, fully enclosed and fully railed with the dressing room block also encompassing a small kitchen where Wendy was serving a variety of hot and cold drinks and food. How about Burger, Chips and a coffee for £2.50p. I could afford to eat every day of the week at those prices. Welbeck FC badges, mugs, key rings pens etc. were all available for souvenir hunters.
The ground was built with the aid of various grants, and the club have already applied for further funding to build some covered accommodation with floodlights being next on the agenda after that. Some of the money came from the oft quoted "Olympic Legacy" which should please Rebbecca Adlington who lives a mile down the road in Church Warsop.
While things are happening off the field, on it things aren't quite so chipper. Last season Welbeck finished 18 points clear at the bottom of the league with a -134 goal difference. This season is going much the same way so far, 10 points clear at the bottom with -96 goal difference. But they turn up every week, they have a very keen committee running things and it would be a shame if they were to be relegated. The Central Midlands League really do need clubs like this. In this match they excelled themselves, with a rare victory doubling their points total. 1-0 down at half time, they came back in the second half with a cracking free kick and a penalty. In the latter stages Welbeck had their goalkeeper sent off for some extra curricular activity with his hands not involving the ball. An outfield player took over and looked about as comfortable in the position as Lenny Henry in a tube carriage full of Chelsea supporters, but the homesters held on for a famous win. Welbeck really are a smashing club and I wish them well for the future.
On a message board someone had written that the match was attended by a group of the more mature groundhoppers! Is there any other type? |