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TT No.16: Paul Roth - Monday 25th August 2008; Wessex League Division 1; Fleet Spurs vs. AFC Aldermaston; Res: 0-2; Att: 40; Programme/Entry: Usually but none today; Weather: Overcast and mild. |
 Thank heavens for the two "e's" in Fleet Spurs Football Club, but never forget, there's only one "f" in Folkestone!
Before going to the match at Kennels Lane this afternoon I drove further down the M3 and visited a couple of GBG listed pubs located just off junction 5. The Four Horseshoes at Long Sutton, next to the entrance to the Lord Wandsworth College (Rugby Unions' Johnny Wilkinson is a former pupil), was well worth my detour. The pub was selling the recently voted champion beer of Great Britain, Triple fff's Alton Pride, for £2.80p a pint, but, and it's a big but, if you can carry it away then it's only 99p a pint. Great value, don't you think?
Spookily, exactly a year ago this Bank Holiday Monday, I was watching football only a mile or so form Fleet Spurs' home, at Farnborough NE, who were thumping Andover New Street 12-0 on that sunny day.
The Kennels Lane pitch has recently had floodlighting installed and on the far side as you enter there's the rather austere and new Southwood pavilion; this houses the changing room blocks and a rather uncomfortable tea room. Two sets of green flip-up seats have been installed at either end of this brick structure, but annoyingly they are so far back from the touchline, and with spectators leaning on the perimeter fence, any view is totally negated. A wire mesh fence encompasses the playing area. Kennels Lane is located about a two minutes drive from junction 4a of the M3 Motorway.
No gate was taken for the match and no programme issued either, apparently caused by the editor having been hacked to shreds by a machete and sea-axe wielding maniac in the Farnborough Asda, earlier in the weekend, whilst waiting to have his bloomer sliced at the bread counter. Excuses, Excuses! Recent programmes however, which appear to be modest efforts, were left in the tea bar for anyone to help themselves to. A nice gesture and much appreciated.
The game wasn't a classic but two well taken strikes in either half gave perennial league whipping boys AFC Aldermaston, from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, all three points. Fleet Spurs are in for a tough season, me thinks.
Myself, I would imagine a midweek game here under the new floodlights might offer a better atmosphere, as the Kennels Lane arena is a bit of a soulless place; only in my opinion though, and others may well disagree.
FGIF RATING 2** |
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contributed on 26/08/08 |