TT No.198: Dean Mcclean - Saturday 16th February 2008. Ryman League Div 1 (South).            Whitstable Town v Worthing. Res: 3-1; Admission: £7; Programme: £1; Att: 197; FGIF Rating: 4*

A recent return to the Garden of England afforded me the chance to visit a ground I used to frequent many a time in my youth. Before I was old enough to travel further afield, the local Belmont Ground was where I would watch my football most Saturdays and Tuesdays-mainly we would taunt an unfortunate opposition goal-keeper, depending on his weight or (lack of) hair!   This was my first visit to "The Belmont" for over three years and the club is certainly on the up. After winning the Kent League last season, the club is hovering dangerously above the Ryman League trap door. However, a fine performance and result today suggests they should be playing Ryman League football again come next season. One hopes they can survive and establish themselves in this league, as there is real potential for this club to progress up the football pyramid.   A crowd of just under 200 saw Town storm into a 3-0 lead inside the opening half an hour, as they threatened to rout their visitors from the Sussex coast. To Worthing's credit, they didn't throw in the towel and gave a strong second half performance. Only stout defending and astute goalkeeping kept them at bay and a penalty 10 minutes from time was merely a consolation.   The ground is very impressive and is in immaculate condition (as was the playing surface). A medium sized slate roofed stand with wooden seating, with the seating painted in the club's red and white, really is a striking feature of the ground. It does though fail to offer a good vantage point, due to numerous concrete pillars and as such is thinly populated with the majority of people deciding to stand on the covered terracing behind the left hand goal. A good sized clubhouse is located on the opposite side of the ground, which backs onto the cricket club. A tea bar, doing a roaring trade on a bitterly cold day, and a club shop are in front of the bar in the corner of the ground.   An excellent programme is produced at a good value £1. With plenty of reading material to keep one occupied during half-time. Interestingly, our very own Paul Roth's Kent County League reports are reprinted from this very website and I read with interest on his recent trip to Chipstead.   All in all an excellent afternoon out and home before 5pm. A trip here comes highly recommended.

contributed on 19/02/08