TT No.120: Richard Panter - Sunday 18th November 2007; Airbus UK Broughton v Haverfordwest County; Welsh Premier League; 3 - 1; Attendance 143; Entry £6; Programme 36pp £1; Match rating 3 stars.

Located off the A55 in Broughton the ground is adjacent to the the main gate of the Airbus factory which surrounds two sides. A practice pitch and runway bound the remaining two sides. I would guess that this branch of the pan-European company makes wings as their nickname is 'the Wingmakers'  For those interested in foreign travel the English border lies a mere 1.3 miles to the east.     I paid my £6 and the man on the gate confessed to being a groundhopper, and on asking me where I came from he listed many grounds in the Leicestershire area which he had visited. Said official also relieved me of a quid for a copy of the neat and tidy full colour programme. There was an insert inside offering all Airbus employees the chance to contribute to the supporters club, for £1 a week the members can gain access to all the teams home matches free of charge, a bargain or what?   Once inside the ground there are two stands to your immediate left. The first being the established six row facility housed in an articulated trailer, with its wheels still intact. Next up is a new brick built main stand. This fine structute also has six rows of blue plastic seats and unusually for most new buildings has plenty of leg room. On this windy and wet afternoon this was the place to be as the bitingly cold wind whipped over the vast plain where the whole complex lies, it was nice to have this to our well protected backs. There is hard standing all round the playing area. Opposite the main stand is the pavillion which houses changing rooms, offices, toilets and hospitality. There are also two rows of covered seating to the front of the building. The WPL also insists on a TV gantry at each ground, this was to the left of the pavillion. A refreshment bar and exceptionally well stocked club shop are tucked away in the far corner. Four lights on top of a total of eight floodlight pylons were on before the 2.30pm kick off in an effort to pierce the increasing November gloom.   In truth there was little to get excited about in the first half, bar a Lear jet taking to the skies behind the northern goal mouth. The home side went in at the break one up thanks to a neat finish from James McIntosh.   The second half was a more feisty affair played out on an increasingly treacherous surface. Danny Desormeaux, the best player on the day scored a brace within a minute to settle things for Airbus. His first was a sweetly struck volley, rapidly followed by a diving header when he found himself unmarked in the box. A just reward for a fine display from the tireless midfielder. Ian Jones pulled one back for the visitors on seventy minutes but it was too little too late.   Everyone at Broughton was very warm and welcoming to me. The gateman, the lady in the tea bar, both in the club shop, the man who printed me a team sheet, the two die hard County fans who seem to always be fighting with their flags and all those in home the crowd who had the time to chat with a stranger, are to be commended for their friendliness...oh and thanks FIFA for the European Championship qualifiers.   I look forward to a repeat visit to Airbus UK Broughton.

contributed on 19/11/07