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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2011 8:33:27 GMT
Bedfont Town? I’m getting confused with the Bedfonts, Bedfont Greens and Bedfont Sports of this world. I think Bedfont Town are the old Bedfont Green playing at the ground of the now-defunct Bedfont (as suggested by Bedfont FC being displayed on both the stand and team board). Bedfont Sports are another entity and going strong in the lower division of the Combined Counties.
Bedfont Green were in Taunton’s division last season when they were listed as playing at Windsor and Eton having previously played in Ashford and next to the Western Avenue near Greenford. As Bedfont Town they’ve now been switched to the Southern’s other section which takes them as far as Bedworth and Atherstone (as opposed to Bideford). That’s the fate of a club in those parts where, at times, the boundaries of four of the country’s six leagues at level 4 have come close to touching each other around Heathrow Airport.
An attendance of 48? That seems to be par for the course for football at that level in the Greater London area. Indeed, is it always 48?
Wayne O’Sullivan, ex-Argyle?
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Post by chrish on Apr 9, 2011 9:33:12 GMT
Bedfont Town? I’m getting confused with the Bedfonts, Bedfont Greens and Bedfont Sports of this world. I think Bedfont Town are the old Bedfont Green playing at the ground of the now-defunct Bedfont (as suggested by Bedfont FC being displayed on both the stand and team board). Bedfont Sports are another entity and going strong in the lower division of the Combined Counties. Bedfont Green were in Taunton’s division last season when they were listed as playing at Windsor and Eton having previously played in Ashford and next to the Western Avenue near Greenford. As Bedfont Town they’ve now been switched to the Southern’s other section which takes them as far as Bedworth and Atherstone (as opposed to Bideford). That’s the fate of a club in those parts where, at times, the boundaries of four of the country’s six leagues at level 4 have come close to touching each other around Heathrow Airport. An attendance of 48? That seems to be par for the course for football at that level in the Greater London area. Indeed, is it always 48? Wayne O’Sullivan, ex-Argyle? Yes, their chairman Doug White (think a cheeky chirpy little Alan Sugar) told me that he changed the name back in 2010. 48 seemed to be a bit low, although I wonder just how many people were watching the Chelski-ManYoo game in the clubhouse. They got 137 the match before but they posted quite a number of flyers advertisting cheap admission. They are expecting 200 for the next home game against Rugby Town. They've installed the second small stand recently and the Chairman seems fairly ambitious. He told me that apart from the new small stand he's spent a decent amount of money trying to get the pitch up to a good standard. As far as non league London area clubs go in the 8th tier (Zamaretto League One and Isthmian League one) the attendances seem to be around the 100-150 mark. Though Bognor Regis are getting 600 "gloryhunters" at the moment. Slough Town are pulling in decent-ish crowds of around 250-300 odd. Once you go up a level crowds can be quite decent. Wealdstone are getting 350-450, and teams like Sutton are getting very good crowds as they march towards the Conference South where their crowds of 600 and 700 will compete very nicely against Blue Square South and even some Blue Square Premier teams. I would imagine that they'll get crowds around the 800 mark next season and even over 1,000. I don't think it's the Argyle Wayne O'Sullivan, according the gospel of truth (wikipedia) he's in Australia. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2011 21:47:29 GMT
The match was hard fought but won by a late penalty for Bedfont Town against the run of play as Barton pushed for the win. The last 8 or 9 minutes was like The Alamo but Bedfont hung on to the 3 points which keeps them in contention for a play off to go up to the Premier Division where Truro City are currently top of the pile and Tiverton are struggling to stay up. And, after Saturday's results, neither Truro nor Tiverton might be playing Southern Premier football next season for very contrasting reasons. I was at Tiverton on Saturday for the Weymouth game which saw Tivvy turned over by a pretty ordinary-looking Weymouth side: 4-0; three of the goals from corners. No Kevin Hill for Tiverton - one of his periodic suspensions - Ed Palmer playing for Weymouth. Luke warm applause for Martyn Rogers - now Weymouth manager (he deserved more) - from the crowd of 472 which included a dozen unfortunates from Dorset who looked rather desperate clad in fancy dress. I rather fear dressing up in this way to go to football has had its' day (and about time too). Michael Nardiello came on as sub for Tiverton which was the first time I've seen him. A couple of nice touches but he had that "what am I doing here?" look about him. Hardly surprising when you consider his career history as explained in this Guardian article: www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/aug/10/michael-nardiello-manchester-united-torquay-united Am I right in saying his younger brother has been offered youth terms by Torquay United for next season? As for Tiverton, maybe that's the end of their time in the Southern Premier for now. Rising from the Devon & Exeter League to the Southern League in less than thirty years was no mean feat but you do wonder where they're now heading. Buckland may fancy their chances in the Devon St Luke's. |
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Post by chrish on Apr 12, 2011 7:10:07 GMT
The match was hard fought but won by a late penalty for Bedfont Town against the run of play as Barton pushed for the win. The last 8 or 9 minutes was like The Alamo but Bedfont hung on to the 3 points which keeps them in contention for a play off to go up to the Premier Division where Truro City are currently top of the pile and Tiverton are struggling to stay up. And, after Saturday's results, neither Truro nor Tiverton might be playing Southern Premier football next season for very contrasting reasons. I was at Tiverton on Saturday for the Weymouth game which saw Tivvy turned over by a pretty ordinary-looking Weymouth side: 4-0; three of the goals from corners. No Kevin Hill for Tiverton - one of his periodic suspensions - Ed Palmer playing for Weymouth. Luke warm applause for Martyn Rogers - now Weymouth manager (he deserved more) - from the crowd of 472 which included a dozen unfortunates from Dorset who looked rather desperate clad in fancy dress. I rather fear dressing up in this way to go to football has had its' day (and about time too). Michael Nardiello came on as sub for Tiverton which was the first time I've seen him. A couple of nice touches but he had that "what am I doing here?" look about him. Hardly surprising when you consider his career history as explained in this Guardian article: www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/aug/10/michael-nardiello-manchester-united-torquay-united Am I right in saying his younger brother has been offered youth terms by Torquay United for next season? As for Tiverton, maybe that's the end of their time in the Southern Premier for now. Rising from the Devon & Exeter League to the Southern League in less than thirty years was no mean feat but you do wonder where they're now heading. Buckland may fancy their chances in the Devon St Luke's. They might indeed. A shame for Tiverton though. I like to see as many south west clubs as possible as far up the league structure as possible. Still I guess this means a local derby or two next season in the South West Division and I think they'll save a bit on away travel, although Gosport is still a bit of a trek. As for Bedfont Town. They got stuffed 5-1 away at Hitchin Town on Saturday which saw second placed Hitchin pass the 100 goal mark for the season. They are hanging onto Arlesey Town (just north of Letchworth and Hitchin) who are currently top. Arlesey also being the home town of ex Torquay players Bill Kitchener and Pat Kruse. It's tight as hell up the top in the Premier Division. Truro are currently in the driving seat but they've got competition from Salisbury City, Hednesford Town, Cambridge City (the form team) and Leamington. |
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