TT No.206: Dave Reed - Sat 1st March 2008; Midland Combinaton League Premier Division;          Coleshill Town v Highgate United; Admn: £4 (£2 for us OAP's) incl. programme; Att: 96; FGIF Match Rating: 4*

Friend Ken Kenealy and I travelled to rural Warwickshire to take in Coleshill Town’s top of the table game against Highgate United.  After locating the ground, in easy reach of Junction 4 of the M6, we drove on a couple of miles to the excellent GBG listed Griffin Inn at Shustoke where eight hand pumps should be enough to satisfy the thirsty Traveller.   Returning to the ground at two o’clock and passing through the impressive entrance gate we began to take our usual photographs and soon received a warm welcome from the club’s Communications Manager Alan Beckett who provided us with information about future plans for the ground.  At present there is just one small area of cover on the far side and in order to progress to the Midland Alliance a new stand is planned on the road side of the ground.   Everything about the club seems very well organised as witness the teams being posted on the board outside the clubhouse at 2.15pm.  Almost unheard of for a three o’clock start!  Unusually, there was a player called Neil Kitching on both sides.   With the benefit of a strong wind, the home side were soon on the attack and went ahead after eight minutes.  They could not add to their advantage before the break but did so within 30 seconds of the restart.  Highgate, befitting their status as League leaders, came back strongly to score three times to take the points and leaving Coleshill regretting that they had not managed to score more than once when they had the benefit of the wind.   A visit to this friendly and well run club is highly recommended and their website, run by the aforementioned Mr Beckett (www.coleshilltownfc.co.uk) provides further information.  He also produces the programme which is a little basic (24 pages inside a colour cover) but comes free with admission.  All in all, a good day out and worth the 300 mile round trip.

contributed on 07/03/08