TT No.84: Steve Hardy - Tues 3rd May 2016; AEI Rugby 1 Dunlop 0; Coventry Alliance Premier Division; Admission: Free; Programme: No; Attendance: varied between 13 and 25. |
Matchday images (15) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/6280877837283537681 The Coventry Alliance is a former
works league, although unlike other works leagues around the country it is
actually flourishing. My visit today was to watch two long standing works teams
who have adapted well to the changes that have been thrust upon them over the
years. AEI Rugby groundshare at the
magnificent Rugby Town Juniors set up, in Kilsby Lane, Rugby, and benefit from
being able to use a fully railed off pitch, with floodlights and hard standing
along two sides of the pitch. They are having a really successful season with
three trophies already won, and two more in the pipeline, including the league
championship itself. In contrast, visitors Dunlop are currently bottom of the
league and looking like slipping out of the top division altogether. Kick off last night was supposed
to be 6.15pm, but with Dunlop not arriving until 7pm it was always going to be
a long old evening. Luckily there is a tea bar in the superb club house which
kept us waiting fans well fed and watered throughout. With several of Rugby
Town’s junior sides training on adjacent pitches, the crowd at the start of the
match reached 25 by my headcount. As training ended though, and parents
collected their kids and went home, the crowd shrank to just 13 by the start of
the second half. On the pitch, the expected easy
AEI victory just didn’t happen. The visitors more than held their own and just
after the break had a very good chance to actually take the lead, but their man
blazed over the bar. Eventually though the very loud AEI
Manager, who kept bellowing that their performance just wasn’t good enough, was
able to relax a bit as AEI scored what turned out to be the winner. AEI are a very friendly and
welcoming club, who told me they have no interest in being promoted to the
Midland league as they think the standard of football in Midland league
division three is far inferior to what they already have. If you add to that
the extra travelling and expense of Midland league membership, I must admit
they have a point. |
contributed on 04/05/16 |