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TT No.14: Paul Roth - Sat 23rd August 2008; Western League 1; Oldland Abbotonians FC vs. Gillingham Tn; Res: 0-3; Att: 46; Entry: £3; Prog: 24 pp, £1; Weather: Overcast but mild. |
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There's a curious thing about the above 30 letters that go to make up the name of this Western League football club. The letter 'E' does not appear once in the selection. Is this the longest name for a club playing in senior football, in this country, that doesn't contain an 'E'? Let us know here at FGIF if you can come up with a longer one.
This lack of 'E' has got my brain whirring and here's a little brain teaser to stretch those little grey cells over this Bank Holiday weekend, whilst you carry on reading through this article. What is the longest word that you can come up with, in the English language, that doesn't contain the letter 'E'? Answer later on.
The settlement of Oldland Common lies about seven miles east of the city of Bristol, and is a place that has most things the up and coming young man-about-town could ever want. There's a betting shop, a fish and chip emporium, a pub (the Cherry Tree), a Post Office, a 'Mace' convenience store and even a skin waxing salon! Add to that list a very nice venue to watch football at, plus the Avon Valley Steam Railway, which just happened to be running today, and one could be forgiven for not ever wanting to stray too far away from the place.
Castle Road is a narrowing lane, easily missed, in the heart of the village found upon the A4175. This tight access road leads one into the car park and then onto the home ground of my chosen venue for this week's football dosage. £3 gained my entry and a further £1 secured the 24 page programme, resplendent with blue and white striped cover.
The ground here is fully railed and borders rolling countryside. A large area of covering is in situ on the right hand side of the pitch as one enters, with two enormous dugouts attached to the structure on it's flanks.
There is hard standing only on this side and behind the clubhouse end goal. The club pavilion sells large filled baps, booze, tea and coffee. Floodlighting is not present. This idyll is enhanced today by the sound of puffing steam locomotives chugging along the nearby preserved railway track.
Oldland have started the 2008/09 season in fine style, under new leadership of the former Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers professional Dave Hillier, and have won all three of their league matches to date, scoring 12 goals in the process. Newly promoted Gillingham Town, Dorset's oldest football club having been founded way back in 1879, have found things a lot tougher and have only one point to show for their endeavours; naturally I was expecting more goals from Oldland and another convincing win.
Oh no, not a bit of it, and the truth of the matter is this was to be one of the most one-sided games of football I've seen for a long time. If the men in clementine had taken only half the chances they created in that first 45 minutes, then the second half period would not have been worth playing. As it was, they only scored once and then just kept battering away at the woeful home defence, adding two further scores. Not to exaggerate, but It should have been 15 nil to the Dorsetonians.
The likeability factor of this little stadium, in my humble opinion, is a very high one and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here this afternoon.
Just to follow on from last week, I am delighted to report that my pal Steve Hurley was in attendance at the Welsh/Hellenic hop that has just taken place; he's still awaiting extensive test results though, which he should be given early next month, when he visits his gynaecologist!
And finally, the answer to that longest e-less word conundrum:-
FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION---'the act of describing something as worthless'. 29 letters no less!
Footballgroundsinfocus star rating (there isn't an 'e' in that lot either). An e-less, four stars (4*). |
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contributed on 24/08/08 |
