Central Midlands League
Chairman’s Cup Final
Saturday 3rd August 2019
Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01
Pinxton 5 Bakewell Town 1, attendance 269
20’ 1-0 (pen)
32’ 2-0
33’ 3-0
57’ 3-1
66’ 4-1
87’ 5-1
@ Burton R.U.F.C.
Peel Croft
Lichfield Street
Burton upon Trent
DE14 3RH
£5 Admission
Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by or involving Groundhop U.K. in any capacity.
Although this was called the Chairman’s Cup Final, which was the League Challenge Cup winners (Pinxton) versus Division 1 Cup winners (Bakewell Town), it was really only a glorified friendly. It was part of a double header, with the ‘Invitational Cup Final’ between Netherseal St. Peters (Midland Regional Alliance League) and Renishaw Rangers (Central Midlands League North Division) having taken place at noon.
The fact of whether it was a competitive fixture, or a friendly, was of little importance. The main objective was to see a football match played on the ground used by Burton Swifts and then Burton United (a merger of Burton Swifts with Burton Wanderers) in the Second Division of the Football League between 1892 and 1907.
Apart from the fact that the crowd was largely made up of ground hoppers, it didn’t really have the feel of a normal ‘groundhop’ match. The catering was well below par and seemed to be what would be on offer for a rugby union matchday. The food was well overpriced and after two bites, what was left of the £3.50 hotdog I purchased was deposited in the bin. It was disgusting.
The match itself wasn’t great, not helped by the fact that the grass hadn’t been cut and was far too long to try and play football on and it was too one sided to hold the interest. Pinxton were just far too strong for Bakewell, which was perhaps to be expected.
Two years ago Burton R.U.F.C. announced that they would be leaving Peel Croft and moving to an out of town new build. We passed it on our way to St. George’s Park this morning and it really does look a soulless place. Sadly, Peel Croft’s day’s are numbered and yet another wonderful ground that oozes character will soon be no more and it will become a retail park once the rugby club move out.
