Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2009 20:18:28 GMT
The final SW League table for 1990/91 certainly points to a faltering start to Clyst's season and the recovery that followed:
I'm not sure if Ricardo started the game at Porthleven back in 1990 or whether - like me on Saturday - he spent most of the afternoon on the bench. Following our earlier discussions about memorial benches - a subject close to Dave's heart - I can recommend these at Gala Parc for watching football (picture from the excellent Pyramid Passion website: www.pyramidpassion.co.uk):
What's more Saturday's game - against St Austell - was an absolute corker.
The background to the match is that Porthleven are top of the SW Peninsula League Div 1 (West) - basically a division covering Cornwall and Plymouth - but have asked not to be considered for promotion. This sounds like lack of ambition until you look at a map and eventually find Porthleven which is probably the most southerly place in England where people pay to watch football (with the possible exception of Mullion). Elevation to a league that extends to the northern wastelands of Witheridge and Cullompton could easily result in increased expenditure and reduced revenue. Consequently "The Fishermen" seem content to plod along at a lower level (or are they "pot hunting" without wanting to mix it with the big boys?).
By contrast Penzance - further west of course - and St Austell want promotion and are throwing money about (by Cornish standards) in their quest. Both can catch Porthleven and it may be that - if neither wins the title (in a "one up" league) - the higher-placed gets the prize.
So, on Saturday, St Austell had much to play for and - after dominating the first half-hour - went a goal behind. Then pushing forward, helped by the gale blowing down the valley, they scored two quick goals just before half-time. From this point onwards it was a game you felt could go either way.
And that's how it proved.....two goals in quick succession meant Porthleven led 3-2 with fifteen minutes to go....an 88th minute equaliser and an injury time winner gave the game to St Austell 4-3. Pound-for-pound it was probably the most gripping game I've seen in ages decided when - as the Sunday Independent memorably put it - "Nancarrow headed home with the last kick of the game".
Nancarrow, how's that for a Cornish name? Looking at the programme there was also a Penhaligon and a Laity as well as some footballers of yesteryear: W Brown; L Bradd; m Day. And, speaking of familiar names, I noticed the Costcutter in Porthleven is dedicated to the memory of Vaughan Williams? Surely not the famous composer?
Ralph Vaughan Williams was a noted collector of English folk songs which makes you wonder what he'd have thought of the cacophony of sounds emanating from the mouth of the Porthleven goalkeeper throughout the afternoon: "Right shoulder, Jamie!"; "Left shoulder, Jamie!"; "Big Winners!"; "Big and strong!". What do these calls mean? Do they help or hinder Jamie's efforts? Or does Jamie think his keeper is a mouthy prick? There's a whole history of footballers' shouts waiting to be written in my opinion. For instance why don't you hear the shout of "Squeeze!" so often these days?
Gala Parc is a modest but tidy little ground which does the job for the hundred or so people who watch the team. It's about half-a-mile inland set amongst one of those 1960s suburban estates you find dotted along the Cornish coast. Worth a visit if you're ever in the area and - should you be in West Cornwall on Good Friday - there's the big one against Penzance to savour.
Here's some more pictures form Pyramid Passion together with a small souvenir:
