Hellenic League

Division 1 East

Saturday 18th February 2017

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Headington Amateurs 2 Bicester Town 1,  attendance 38

20′ 1-0

22′ 1-1 (pen)

32′ 2-1

@ Horspath Sports Ground

Oxford Road

Horspath

OX4 2RR

No Admission

£2 Programme, 20 pages.

This one became a priority ground to visit as it is rumoured to be a temporary move for Headington. The pitch here is beyond the Athletics Stadium, on the right hand side of the driveway leading into the complex. To the left is just an open expanse of pitches, where there was another game taking place in the far left hand corner of the field. The clubhouse has seen better days, although at least you could get tea and coffee in here and the bar did look as if it may have been open, but not really obvious when I was in there around 45 minutes before kick off.

Programmes were available behind the tea bar and unless you hunted one out, no one made any attempt to sell them, which is a pity, because it contained all the information you need from a programme.

Having been told it was ‘just a pitch’, I wasn’t looking forward to this one, especially as the Hellenic League is probably the worst Step 6 league in the country for making no attempt whatsoever in making clubs meet ground grading criteria, as so many awful ‘grounds’ that have hosted games in this league in the past confirm. It turned out to be ok. At least the pitch had an enclosed feel, especially if looking from the goal end backing onto the driveway.

A decent game as well, as 2nd edged out 5th in the league table. Glad I did it on a dry day, as no chance of any shelter if it had rained.