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Monday 19th October 2020

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.48

London Fire Brigade Western 1 Piccadilly 3, attendance 43

22’ 1-0

54’ 1-1

65’ 1-2

78’ 1-3

@ Trailfinders Sports Club, Pitch 2 3G

Vallis Way

West Ealing

London

W13 0DD

No Admission

£2 Programme, sold out, only 20 copies produced.

The ground here is home to Ealing Trailfinders R.U.F.C. who play at the second level of the Rugby Football Union pyramid. I had been here previously to see a match, but it wasn’t a Trailfinders game, but London Broncos versus Halifax in the Rugby League Championship. That was played on the main stadium pitch which, since my visit on 4th June 2017, now has an impressive new seated stand behind the goal at the entrance end of the complex. Tonight’s match was played on the ‘open’ 3G pitch that runs parallel to the stadium.

The pitch is not full size, perhaps 5-6 yards shorter and narrower than the stadium one. With the rugby posts remaining in place and the football goals being in front of them, means the football pitch is quite short. Also, as it is primarily a rugby pitch, the football lines are very much secondary. As they are blue in colour they are very hard to see and more or less invisible at pitch level. The touch lines are white though, as they are the same ones used for rugby.

The game itself was a full bloodied affair and had a real competitive edge to it. LFBW (who play in the Emergency Services Football League) led 1-0 at the break, but Piccadilly (London Underground League) levelled early in the second half. LFBW then had what looked a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside, before Piccadilly went in front. They then missed a penalty, well saved by the ‘keeper, but did add a third goal late on to seal a 1-3 win.