Saturday 4 May 2024

Borden Village - Borden Playstool


Borden Village FC
Borden Playstool
Wises Lane
Borden
Sittingbourne
Kent 
ME9 8LP









Ground Number: 1305
Saturday 4th May 2024
Borden Village 5-1 Ide Hill
Kent County Premier









BORDEN VILLAGE FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

Borden Village Football Club is reported to be one of the oldest in the county of Kent having been affiliated to the Kent County Football Association since the 1920's. For the majority of their history, they played in local football, mostly the Rochester & District League. They won Division 3 there in 2001. By 2004, they had progressed enough to join the Kent County League. They started in Division 2 East, winning the title in their first season. Despite a promising 7th place finish in their bedbut season in Division 1 East, results declined over the following seasons and by 2007, they were back in Division 2 East. They would struggle at times, but that changed in 2013 when they were promoted again, this time as runners-up to Sevenoaks. This prompted a sharp upturn in club fortunes and the following year, it was another promotion when they finished as runners-up to Guru Nanak. They've been in the Premier Division ever since, finishing 3rd in their debut season. They have been highly successful and since joining, they've finished all but one season in the top half. In 2019, they were runners-up to Staplehurst & Monarchs United. Last season was their best yet with them winning the title.


They are now the second most senior club in Sittingbourne after Sittingbourne FC who play in the Isthmian League. Others include Gillingham Town who play at Sittingbourne's old ground, Bourne Park. Borden is a village situated immediately southwest of Sittingbourne, from which it is separated by a small area of rural land. The population is around 2,500. The history of the name could be questioned. It may be derived from bor (hill) and then either from denu (valley) or denn (woodland pasture). It may also derive from "boar" "den", as it was known that the wild animals were found in the surrounding areas. Borden was first recorded in the twelfth century as Bordena. However, it is more likely to stem from Sir Francis de Bourdon,(variations today also include Borden/Burden/Bourdon) who descended from the de Bourdons of Bayeux, in Normandy, France. Francis de Bourdon became Lord of the existing castle and surrounding lands, granted to him by William the Conqueror, as a gift to his vassal after the great Norman victory in 1066, at which time became known as Bourdon. The lands were previously lorded over by the Saxon Ethelwolf of Kent, who perished at the Battle of Hastings (1066), Over the next few generations the name had become more English to reflect the Saxon population and became known as Borden.


MY VISIT

This game was decided around a week ago. I was hoping that Essex-based due Daniel & Richard might offer me something, but it wasn't to be. Clutton looked like a lovely ground but pre-match options were very limited if you went by car. Another, Caldicot Town, had limited options. In the end, they opted to do their own thing at South Normanton where I'd already been. As ever, Futbology was my guide and it was a fairly easy choice. I was well on my way to completing the Kent League and so Borden Village was a decent choice. It required a bit of work as I had been to Sittingbourne before and so I planned to stop off at Rainham. I also considered visiting Borough Market beforehand but opted to have a lie-in instead. It certainly indicated the standards that I expect from a groundhog. Firstly I only did down to step 4, then step 6. I then looked for any enclosed ground with a stand, then anything with a rail around the pitch. Ever since Futbology introduced step 7 to the app, it's a case of anything goes. I do prefer something such as a sign and a clubhouse to let you know that the club plays there and Borden Village had that. The pitch area was very basic though but it was pleasant-looking enough for me to look forward to it.
I awoke at 5 am on Thursday, tired and listening to the sound of thunder and rain and the flashes of lightning. I'd heard that the weather was going to be dodgy and couldn't believe I might need to make backup plans for a game in May. However, upon further investigation, it was not going to be so bad. Thursday was generally a positive day with me finding a potential Friday night game in AFC Walcountians v Battersea Ironsides although it seemed strange scheduling, so I wasn't getting my hopes up. I was right not to as it was moved to Cobham with a later kick-off. It wasn't for me having been there earlier in the season. I started this blog and my research that evening. Having read a couple of other blogs, I noted that the game would possibly moved for cricket. However, the Kent County League seemed pretty on the ball and communicative and the club hadn't said anything when I announced my intention to go. It'd be a Friday night in with a few drinks to wind down after a week at work. I'd already worked out the ticket cost, which I thought was not the greatest value. It was £26.80, up over £3 from a couple of years ago. However, it was further than I thought, an 182-mile round trip so under 15p a mile. I hadn't realised it was quite so far but I was determined to relax and have a decent day.
Friday was a hard day at work and it was disappointing not to have a game to go to in the evening. Instead, it was a few cans at home looking at potential future plans. It was a fairly early night and as a result, I awoke at my normal work time. I got ready and killed time until I left at 8.30. I purchased my train ticket on my phone and it was not a good start. I'd opted to take the later train in the hope that there would be more space on the slightly slower service. But the platform was still busy and as well as having to mess about printing tickets, the train was delayed by 8 minutes. This was reduced to 6 eventually but I'd still be tight for time. By the time I got to Marylebone, another three minutes had been made up. It was all a bit more comfortable now but I didn't hang about. In the end, I was 13 minutes early for my train to Ramsgate from St Pancras. The train was more or less on time to my planned pre-match destination of Rainham. There, the Railway Wetherspoons was full of revolting families making lots of noise. I got shawarma wrap, chips and a bottle of Kopparberg Sweet Vintage Pear for £8.67. Soon, the family with a screaming infant left and it was far more pleasant for everyone. With it not being especially decent and people making a racket again, I decided to stick at one drink and head early to Sittingbourne. There were delays aplenty, so it was a decent decision. I got some stuff from Lidl on the way. The route was a varied one, the grubbier bits of Sittingbourne, some residential areas and pleasant open countryside before I reached the village and ground at 2.20. Everyone was very welcoming but surprised I'd come so far.
It was a top-of-the-table clash with Borden Village in 3rd and Ide Hill in 4th. The two sides had only met last week, Borden Village winning 3-1 in the reverse fixture. They'd only lost once in eleven games. Ide Hill had lost three in a brown and only one in five since I'd seen them beaten 6-1 at Hawkinge Town. It was an even start. Ide Hill took the lead on ten minutes, a well-worked move and the ball was in the bottom left corner from on the right. The scores were level on 21 minutes. A free kick was repelled but won back. A smart move and a neat low finish came after Ide Hill had started to dominate. On 29 minutes, the hosts led 2-1, drilling home after a left-sided corner. They were dominant now and Ide Hill were starting to fall apart. On 31 minutes, it was 3-1 when a cross was headed home from ten yards. Not deterred, Ide Hill smashed a shot against the bar soon after. They then forced a great save out of the home keeper. It was all for nothing though as on 42 minutes, Borden went further ahead, capitalising on sloppy defending to make it 4-1 from close range. From then on, it was one way traffic. A bullet header met a corner from the right to make it 5-1 on 64 minutes. That was it as far as scoring was concerned despite Ide Hill having a late rally. The goals were credited to Ricky Gundry (2), Joe Loft & The Lord. Borden Village secured a credible 3rd place finish with this result.

At half-time, I'd popped up to have a look at the village. Like the ground, it was pleasant and peaceful. I retreated to the far side in the second half, the trees giving some protection from the rain. It gave me the taste for random villages. Whilst I'm busy at work, the Village Cricket Cup is played out. I can take or leave that sport but the thought of somewhere in Herefordshire, Somerset or Gloucestershire alongside a local pub selling obscure cider really appeals. 26 were in attendance at the game, mainly locals but a few had made the 30-mile journey from Ide Hill who are near Sevenoaks but play at Tonbridge Angels. The game finished at 4.32 amid the weather's favourite backdrop of rain. I put Five Live on my phone and with a bit of pace, was able to make the 5:15 train and get half an hour ahead. I was due back in London at 6.20, the last train to Wycombe that allowed me to get the last bus was 8.37 from Marylebone. I'd decide what to do on the fly, but it had been a decent day whatever happened.
THE GROUND

BORDEN PLAYSTOOL is a pleasant venue but very basic. The club building is the main focus, in here you can get a basic range of drinks and snacks. Car parking is quite tight, so street parking is needed. The pitch is partially roped with some metal barriers on the far side as well as pop-up dugouts. The village is up the slope at the far end of the pitch, this has a church and a pub within easy distance. Occasional buses run, otherwise it's under 45 minutes walk from Sittingbourne Train Station.
 
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Wednesday 1 May 2024

Larkspur Rovers - Lord Halsbury Memorial Playing Fields


Larkspur Rovers FC
Lord Halsbury Memorial Playing Fields
Priors Farm Lane 
Northolt 
Middlesex
UB5 5FE

07383 965181





Ground Number: 1304
Wednesday 1st May 2024
Larkspur Rovers 1-5 Pitshanger Dynamo
Middlesex County Premier






LARKSPUR ROVERS FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club was established in 1950 and is based in Northolt in Middlesex. Larkspur Rovers F.C. derived its name from two road names near to where its founder lived; Larks Road and Spur Road and he created the club logo to signify both the Lark and the Larkspur (Delphinium). The black and white stripes are the Club’s colours and the three swords in the fourth panel (a modernisation introduced at the turn of the 1970s) derive from the Heraldic crest of Middlesex. They are primarily a youth side and have teams from under 4's up to the open age team. They started as an Under 15's side, playing friendlies at first before joining the Ealing Youth League where they stayed for nine years. A second team started in 1962. Club founder Herbert Hern was made president of the Club while his son Trevor Hern became Secretary and Manager of the First Team. The team joined the Dauntless League which later merged with the Uxbridge and District League and later became the West Middlesex Combination. In the 1970's  Larkspur acquired a permanent home in Rowdell Road, where its Clubhouse remains to the day but the first team plays at the Lord Halsbury Memorial Playing Fields. They have played in the Middlesex Counnty League since 2014 and they won Division 2 in their debut season. They remained in Division 1 West until 2018 when they won that league. The club finished 4th & 3rd in the two interrupted seasons, last season's 5th place finish was their best in terms of completed seasons.


Northolt is a town in West London, spread across both sides of the A40. It is 11 miles northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the seven major towns that make up the London Borough of Ealing. It had a population of 30,304 at the 2011 UK census. The Grand Union Canal from Hayes to Paddington passes through Northolt, opening on 10 July 1801. The Great Central Railway Line (now the Chiltern Line) opened in 1906, passing through Northolt on its way from Marylebone to High Wycombe. However, it wasn't until 1926 that a station opened at Northolt Park. Jimmy Canning, The IRA member, lived undercover in Northolt from 1991 to 1993; he had wooed local Audrey Lamb and moved into her house at 15 Islip Gardens, using it as a weapons and bomb storage depôt. He and Lamb were arrested in 1992 following police surveillance.Steve Perryman, footballer with Tottenham Hotspur, was born in Ealing and grew up in Northolt. A faux documentary titled Ghostwatch, broadcast on Halloween in 1992, was filmed in Northolt. It was the tale of a single mother haunted in her Northolt home by a mysterious figure called "Pipes".


MY VISIT

Larkspur Rovers had been on my hit list for a while as it was near where I was born at the now-defunct Perivale Hospital, right near Hanwell Town FC. In terms of home up until I was five, although I was not into football for many more years, I lived not far from Viking Sports FC, later Viking Greenford which suffered financial problems before dissolving in 2003. The ground was later used by London Tigers when they played semi-pro football before they led a nomadic existence, eventually dropping down to step 7. I did have connections with Northolt too as it's where my Dad worked, ironically in Rowdell Road where Larkspur Rovers are listed as having some premises on. At Gallaher, a tobacco manufacturing firm which later decamped to the Hoover Building, I went to 'help' my Dad on some Sundays, although in truth it was just an excuse to take advantage of the drinks machine, canteen and any freebies I could wangle. I remember my 'pay' being packets of Mexico 86 football stickers, long before I liked football. The security guard seemed to have a cushy job that appeared to be watching TV all day while occasionally letting people through the entrance. I would later sell the completed album in the early days of eBay, netting a tidy sum of around £40 but not as much as I'd have got had I waited until the modern day and listed it properly.


I had seen several other hoppers visit and it looked like a decent venue with a club sign. It was only a short drive away and so I pencilled in a visit for the 1st May. I chose Pitshanger Dynamo as the opponent as they had a fairly reliable Twitter compared to the sporadic updates from Larkspur Rovers. I did all my research on Monday night, this was harder as the FCHD did not have any information. But with the use of the Internet Wayback Machine for some information from an old version of the club website and the modern-day Middlesex County League page, I was able to put a few bits together. Originally, I planned to visit the Greenwood Hotel, a Wetherspoons in Greenford. However, I soon shelved this when I realised it was a 35-minute walk away. I did pencil in a visit to the Sun-Wah Chinese takeaway but with fellow hopper Colin low on money and likely to take his own food, I might not even bother with that. Indeed, I opted to take my own food in the end, some chicken wings as it was pointless getting a takeaway on my own and it wasn't the best for parking.


The day of the game came and I'd not had the best nights sleep as is often the case after a day off. Work went like a breeze and I was out by 12. I got a huge tray of chicken wings which did me for lunch, taking to football and some in the freezer once they had cooked. I finalized my research and was glad to see Pitshanger confirm the game. I had been reading a great 'Only Fools And Horses' book and noticed that 78 Pitshanger Lane in Ealing was used for a filming location in the episode ' Go West Young Man. In 1981, it was a butcher, in 2014 it was a pantry and is currently back as a butchery. It was also a final chance to research the form of tonight's teams. It was an afternoon of relaxing before leaving at 5. I arrived at Colin's at 5.20 and had to call him around ten times before he woke up. He then kept me waiting another fifteen minutes and another load of phone calls while he messed about getting ready. Compared to the dreadful roads yesterday, thankfully today's were far better with only a small delay. We were there by 6.10 by which time Colin had apologised. It was par for the course, not much of a brain, but a heart of gold. It was nice to get some pictures of the impressive clubhouse.
Larkspur Rover sat 9th in the table but had ten games in hand over some teams and were playing catchup. Saturday was their first win in five games as they won 7-2 at Indian Gymkhana. Pitshanger Dynamo were in 3rd place in what was a keenly contested title race. It was all all their hands. Their form was a little patchy though, since I'd seen them at Feltham, they had won two and lost three of their last five. Their last game was a 2-0 win over Camden United. In the reverse fixture on 16th September, the two sides drew 0-0. It was a lively start, with both sides having chances. After 7 minutes, the visitors took the lead, a finish from within the box. Larkspur soon equalised on 15 minutes, a diagonal low shot into the bottom left corner. Pitshanger retook the lead on 26, a shot from the edge of the area that went in off the right-hand post. It was 3-1 on 38 minutes, a finish from within the six-yard box. The destination of the three points was confirmed on 42 minutes, a ball from the left was poked home at the near post. There was just one further goal in the second half on 51 minutes which came from a corner. Both sides had chances and the scoreline was slightly harsh on Larkspur who had a sloppy 15 minutes.
That said, Brentham clearly deserved their win. It was the third time I have seen them this season and I have seen them hit the net sixteen times. That was just one less than the 17 supporters who turned up. That included Hertfordshire Hopper who I gave a lift back to Denham station for nowt and another hopper that I dropped at the end of the road. Colin pointed out that Braintree Daniel would have been on the earhole for petrol money despite the short distance. He was soon back to praising him though when Dan got him a ticket for the Braintree playoff final as well as some other hoppers. There was much consternation as many genuine Braintree fans missed out. I dropped Colin off at 8.50 and got in myself at 9.05. I typed up my blog and tried to get an early night with a 5 am alarm.
THE GROUND

LORD HALSBURY MEMORIAL PLAYING FIELDS gave me a great first impression. A spacious private clubhouse with lots of memorabilia and a large car park. The pitch area could be better though, a bit scruffy and unkempt. It did have a lot of potential though, with space to expand should finances permit. It's a bit isolated but overall, it was well worth a visit.
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