Spartan South Midlands League

Division 1

Tuesday 11th February 2020

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.50

Stotfold 0 London Lions 0, attendance 168 (official)

@ New Roker Park

Arlesey Road

Stotfold

SG5 4HE

£6 Admission

Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

I visited Stotfold at their old Roker Park ground back on 23rd February 1995, when they beat Potton United 5-1 in a United Counties League Premier Division match. On Saturday they played the first match at the brand new ‘New Roker Park’, attracting a very impressive 644 crowd, although it doesn’t look like many of those will return, as tonight’s crowd was only 168 and over twenty of those were groundhoppers.

The ground is exactly what you would expect of any new ground built these days for Step 5 or Step 6 clubs. A seated Atcost stand, a small metal section of standing area and a green barrier around the pitch. The only difference here is that it has a grass pitch, as opposed to the usual 3G pitches that are becoming all too common. As far as dull and bland goes, it is up there with the best!

The match itself was absolutely dreadful. It was 6th versus 8th in the league table, with very little to choose between two very negative teams. London Lions did have a goal disallowed for a foul and also managed a shot against the crossbar. I think Stotfold did have one shot, or perhaps two. Neither chance looked like being a goal.