This was Guildford & Woking Alliance League Premier Division (Step 10) versus Combined Counties League Premier Division (Step 5), if indeed it was the first team of the visitors. There was, and still is, no mention anywhere on their website or twitter account about this match, so who knows.
Despite there being no goals, it was a game of plenty of chances. The Wrecclesham ‘keeper was ‘man of the match’ which gives an indication of how the match went.
This seemed a strange time and day for two Saturday teams to play a friendly. There was no problem with the F.A. ban on spectators affecting this match, as neither team are in Step 1-7 of the pyramid. Reigatians play in Senior Division 1 South, which is level two, of the Amateur Football Combination, which is not part of the ‘Step’ system of non league football, whilst Frenches Athletic are in Intermediate Division 1 (top level) of the Surrey South Eastern Combination, which is Step 8. Pitch 2 here at The New Defence is next door to the main ground, in the field beyond the left hand goal end if looking from the main stand/clubhouse.
It was a very tight match that was decided by just the one goal, a 30 yarder that the ‘keeper should really have saved.
Rainham Working Mens Club 2 Dagenham United 3, attendance 18
38’ 0-1
42’ 0-2
56’ 1-2
61’ 1-3
63’ 2-3
@ Rainham Working Mens Club
74 Upminster Road South
Rainham
RM13 9AA
No Admission or Programme.
The ground here at Rainham W.M.C. was home to Rainham Town from 1945 to 1948, before they moved to their Deri Park Ground. They had played in the Delphian League, Metropolitan League and Athenian League, before reaching the Isthmian League in 1977. In 1994 they left Deri Park, playing out what turned out to be the remainder of their days at the grounds of Purfleet and Aveley, before finishing bottom of Division 2, seeing them relegated to Division 3, but the club folded before playing at the lower level.
These days it hosts Essex Alliance League games. Both todays teams are in Division 2, the third level of the league, which is Step 13, so no problem allowing spectators in, although you were politely asked to leave contact details for track and trace in case of anyone at the match testing positive for Covid-19.
It was a good even contest which Dagenham deserved to win. Just before halftime it began to rain, then for the next 30-40 minutes it was torrential and the pitch was becoming waterlogged down the centre. A league match may have been abandoned, but the Referee was happy to continue and none of the players were complaining, which makes a change. The last few minutes were played in a light drizzle and it had stopped completely by the time I exited the car park.
Again, there were no problems getting round the ridiculous F.A. ban on attending matches between clubs of Step 7 and above, as this was Essex Olympian League Division 3 (Step 10) versus Southend Borough & District Combination League Premier Division (Step 11).
This was over as a contest once Wakebury made it 3-1. Ashingdon were dreadful, not helped by a total lack of fitness. They played with a different ‘keeper in each half, neither of which were any good. Ten of the eleven goals they conceded would have been stopped by anyone half decent.
As well as this match, there were two noon kick offs on the two parallel pitches beyond ours, with three more matches to follow at 2 o’clock.
Before the F.A. decided to do their best in trying to starve clubs of any possible income during pre-season, by introducing the ‘fan ban’, my afternoon match would have been ‘next door’ at Basildon Town, but as they play at Step 7 and their visitors Sawbridgeworth Town are in the higher level Essex Senior League, then I would have to leave it for another day. A shame really, as the two pitches run end to end and are no more than 20 yards apart. There is even a gap in the hedge so getting there couldn’t be easier……
Above : Basildon Town on the left hand side of the hedge, The Post Office Ground to the right.
Tonight’s offering was between two teams who play in the Sevenoaks & District League. It was Division 3 (Step 14) versus Division 1 (Step 12) and the final score reflected the two divisions apart that they are, but it would have been a much bigger margin if Westerham hadn’t wasted so many chances.
This match was between two clubs from the Essex & Suffolk Border League. Felsted are in Division 4 (Step 11) whilst Flitch are in the Premier Division (Step 7). Despite the F.A. banning spectators at friendly matches involving clubs who play at Step 7 and above, there was no problem attending this one. The league had helpfully tweeted all their clubs matches for this midweek, clearly stating which games were to be ‘behind closed doors’ and this wasn’t one of them. In any case, it would be nigh on impossible to stop people venturing into a public recreation ground.
Felsted had beaten Premier Division side Barnston 2-0 here on Saturday and got a creditable draw against another top level team tonight, although to be fair, Flitch were on top for large periods of the match.
It was only when I arrived here that I realised that both today’s matches were being played at King George V Playing Field, albeit 36 miles apart. Once again there was no problem with spectators attending, as this was Guildford & Woking Alliance Division 2 (Step 12) hosting West Sussex League Division 2 North (Step 10). Far too hot for football, with the only goal being a close range finish after the ‘keeper failed to hold onto a shot from the edge of the box.
This game kicked off early to avoid a clash with the cricket team playing at home in the afternoon. The match was between two sides who play in Division 4 South of the Mid Sussex League (Newick actually ‘won’ the league last season on the PPG method, having a 100% winning record from the 8 games they had played at the time of the Covid-19 shutdown), which is Step 12, so no problem with spectator access, following the ridiculous F.A. ban whereby friendlies involving teams from Step 7 and above are to be ‘behind closed doors’.
Even with the early kick off time it was very hot. In the end it was a comfortable win for Newick with Aden Manning bagging four of the goals.
With last nights instruction from the F.A. that ‘all friendlies ‘should’ be played without spectators’ extended to include all clubs from Step 1 to Step 7, even if they are the away team, meant it would be much harder to find games to go to now.
Of course, it is very hard to stop people watching a game at a public park or recreation ground anyway, if not impossible, unless they cancel matches at all unenclosed grounds. The most ridiculous thing about this though, is where cricket and football clubs share a ground. Spectators are welcome at the cricket, but not the football!
No problem tonight though. Bramley United are a Sunday team, playing in the Basingstoke & District League, whilst Headley United are in the Hampshire Premier League Division 1, which is Step 8, although their club Twitter claim they are step 7!
Chigwell Town are in the Essex Alliance, with Theydon being a Sunday team, playing in the Essex Corinthian League. The ground is home to Abridge Village, who are in the same league as Theydon.
