The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: Bowers & Pitsea FC v Waltham Abbey FC: FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay: 23 August 2016

After watching Saturday’s enjoyable 2-2 draw at Waltham Abbey I   decided to make my 15th game of the season at Bowers for the replay.

I went to Bowers a number of times at the end of last season, watching them in a couple of FA Vase ties as well as at least one league games. Bowers won promotion from the Essex Senior League (level 9) to the Rymans League Div. 1 North (level 8) despite having to cope with an incredible fixture backlog and a very heavy pitch. Bowers showed great resilience and fitness last season to win promotion. I enjoyed my visits to Bowers and they were clearly a club rooted in the local community and with a big clubhouse that did more than open on match days.

THE GOOD

There were several good things about my trip to Bowers. This first thing being how good the pitch looked compared to the end of last season. Clearly the groundsman has done a lot of work and he can be proud of his efforts.

The ground itself seems to have had a bit of a tidy up. The whole ground looked clean and smart. It is a very small ground with only a small bit of terracing. The main covered standing is behind one goal and consists of converted shipping containers with part of the side cut off. These have had lighting added. A simple, cheap and effective solution to the problem of providing the required covered standing.

The main stand at Bowers houses, the PA announcer, the seats, the director’s box, and the food hut. It consists of 4 rows of seats and runs 1/2 to 2/3rds of the length of the pitch. Simple, low rise but effective. Again a good value for money solution and far more attractive than the metal stands seen at many grounds.

However, the main item under “the Good” for me had to be the game which was a feisty, hard fought but entertaining cup tie. Very early on, Waltham Abbey took the lead with a goal after around 2 minutes. After 8 minutes, Waltham Abbey were 2 up. Bowers seemingly caught cold and were facing a hammering.

Bowers, like last season showed their fighting spirit and fought their way back into the game. Going forward and in midfield, Bowers looked decent, but every time Waltham Abbey attacked the looked like they would score. Credit should be of course given to the Waltham Abbey forwards for their effort and skill.

Bowers pulled a goal back before half time with a penalty for handball. A silly penalty to give away.  So 1-2 at half time.

Midway through the second half, Bowers equalised with a lovely strike. Before I had time to tweet that goal, Waltham Abbey went straight up the pitch and scored. 2-3 now.

Bowers kept plugging away, but late on were caught by a quick counter attack and at 2-4 it was too much for them to do. After all the hard work in the 1st tie at Waltham Abbey, Bowers let themselves down with some sloppy defending and failing to pay attention.

The game was a feisty affair and the referee did well to avoid having to send anyone off. 

The game was played with the passion and commitment sadly so often lacking at the higher levels of the game.

Another good thing was the use of the Bowers & Pitsea youngsters as mascots. The encouraging of families and children to the game is something that is to be praised, which makes the matters under the heading below of THE UGLY even worse. 

THE BAD

The cruel people would say the bad should be the Bowers defence. I think that would be harsh. They were simply lacking experience at a higher level and sadly lost concentration at times.

For me, the bad was the admission price which at Bowers this season is £9. This is a 50% increase on last season and makes Bowers one of the highest charging clubs in the Rymans League Div 1 North. For example Waltham Abbey charge £8 as do Romford. Although Aveley are charging £10 this season. 

I appreciate that Bowers have gone up a level, but a 50% increase to be one of the most expensive sides to watch is a bit steep.  Obviously it is up to Bowers what they charge, but being so expensive relative to other clubs will put off the ground hoppers and infrequent visitors.

At a time of stagnant price rises, a 50% increase is excessive. The moving up a level will not increase the travelling of the club significantly as the Essex Senior League has a large geographic footprint as well.

On a positive note, the programme at £1.50 was cheaper than many other clubs are charging this season.

THE UGLY

No, not the female sat near me. (She was actually rather attractive, not that I noticed). The ugly for me was the language of one of the Bowers & Pitsea officials who sat at the press desk at the back of the Directors box and proceeded to berate the referee with foul and abusive language. His language was inappropriate per so, but even more so when he was sitting immediately behind women and children. 

He was wearing a Bowers & Pitsea training top and proceeded to take his frustrations out on the referee with his abuse. Now, as a regular football fan, I understand and appreciate the passion involved in the game. There is a huge difference between passion and abuse. 

Its rather ironic that at the ground there are signs advertising the FA Respect campaign when a club official is clearly showing no respect to the referee. There is also a big advert for RESPECT on the front of the match programme.

It would  perhaps have been slightly less obvious and slightly less ugly if the foul mouthed male had not chosen to position himself at the back of the Director's box immediately behind women and children. I am not sure what sort of example this is presenting to those young players who were mascots or to anyone else at the game.

It leaves a sour taste in the mouth and makes me less likely to want to return to watch football at Bowers.It is a shame that the behaviour of one individual should let down all the other friendly welcoming volunteers at Bowers.

Bowers are a club that have made massive steps forward and I am sure will continue to do so. 

Waltham Abbey are at home to Wingate & Finchley in the next round of the cup on 3rd September 2016.

Late Late Late: Barkingside FC v Takeley FC: Essex Senior League: 22 August 2016

Its definitely a case of the Late Show tonight.

LATE 1

When I left work I was still in 2 minds about what game to attend. I thought I had the choice of 3 games:

1. West Ham U23s v Newcastle U23s at Dagenham & Redbridge
2. Tower Hamlets v Ilford
3. Barkingside v Takeley

The West Ham game was a 1900 ko and the other 2 were 1945 ko. By the time I had cycled the 13 miles home from work, had a shower and stuffed my face there was not time to get to Dagenham for kick off in that game. So you could say I was late for that game.

LATE 2

Tower Hamlets v Ilford FC was postponed tonight with some players already at the ground.  It was realised  that the ground had been double booked with an athletics event, so the game was postponed at the last minute. 

Only in Essex, only in Essex.

A very late postponement. 

LATE 3

Fortunately I had already decided to go to Barkingside v Takeley instead of Tower Hamlets. I did not know the Tower Hamlets game had been postponed until I saw in the ground at Cricklefield Stadium,one of the regular Essex ground hoppers who had said yesterday that he was going to Tower Hamlets tonight.

I chose Barkingside for the second Monday in a row mainly because it is nearest ground to my home. Its always a friendly club and its a shame that they do not get better attendances. Its only £7 admission and that includes a programme. If you are a season ticket holder at a league club, then its only £5 to get in. You can't go wrong at that price.

Tonight's visitors Takeley were top of the table. Barkingside were not far behind, despite a heavy defeat on the opening day of the season and a 7-2 defeat on Saturday in the FA Cup.

Taking my seat in the stand just before kick off and Takeley attacked from the outset and with their second effort they took the lead, with only 28 seconds on the clock. That beats yesterday's 2 minutes at Romford for the visitor's there, Hullbridge.

The early stages of the game looked like Takeley were going to dominate. They were on top and seemed comfortable. However, as the half went on, Barkingside played themselves back into the game. Hard work rather than great skill it seemed, but that was rewarded when Barkingside scored a great equaliser with an unstoppable, well placed effort. 

Half time, after decent first half saw the score still 1-1. Takeley attacked at the start of the second half, but were unable to score in the first 28 seconds of this half. It took them all of 3 minutes of this half to take the lead. Like the first half, Takeley dominated the first part of the half with Barkingside coming good later on. Right at the death, Barkingside were attacking and there was a coming together of 2 players just inside the penalty area. The referee immediately whistled and gave a free kick outside the area. I think this was a double error by the referee:

1. The coming together in my opinion was not a foul
2. The coming together was definitely inside the penalty area. At this point we were stood square onto the incident.

So, a last minute direct free kick to Barkingside, and again a great strike resulted in a goal as you will see  from the video before

A get out of jail card for Barkingside and Takeley will be disappointed, but they failed to press home their advantage when ahead.

A very late goal to earn a point for Barkingside

The crowd of 101 certainly got value for money. 4 goals and 2 sides playing with passion and commitment. All this for only £7 including programme. Why would you want to pay from £20  to £60+ for a professional club game?

Hopefully tomorrow I will get to the Bowers & Pitsea FC v Waltham Abbey FA Cup Replay. The result of Saturday's 2-2 draw at Waltham Abbey

The Long & Winding Road: Waltham Abbey FC v Bowers & Pitsea FC: 20 August 2016 FA Cup Preliminary Round

 A new ground for me today in my 12th game of the season. This was another FA Cup tie. This was between 2 Rymans League Div 1 North sides. Bowers & Pitsea were promoted last season from the Essex Senior League and narrowly lost in the semi final of the FA Vase to eventual winners Morpeth. I had enjoyed watching them and their never say die spirit last season, so it was an easy choice to pick this game.

Waltham Abbey is I am told the burial place of King Harold, you recall him of the arrow in the eye fame. The ground itself is next to a cemetery. and between allotments. 

 Arriving at the ground, there is plenty of parking, all for free. On one side of the car park is the football ground and on the other is the club house. From the outside, the club house is not the most inviting of buildings, but inside it is a decent sized bar which can be used to hold functions. The TVs were showing live football - from the lunch time English & Scottish league games. 

I ordered a pint of IPA and at £2.80 one could not complain at the price. It got even better when I was given a free scratch card and won a second pint of beer. Even better was the printed team sheets on every table in the bar. A nice gesture and the sort of thing that makes non league football my preference these days.

 Leaving the bar and walking across the car park to the ground, it seemed that the turnstiles were still closed at 5 minutes to three! See the first picture above. Getting closer to the ground, I found the white minibus was parked in front of two  signs. One on the gate said not to park in front of the gate and the other was directing spectators where to go. Great parking!

 Round the corner was another set of turnstiles that were open. Admission was £8 and a programme £2.

Once inside the ground I was confronted by a rather tidy little ground. Down one touchline was a lengthy seated stand, and alongside that a covered terrace. Behind the far goal was open standing and a gate into the allotments!

The far side of the ground housed the dug outs and again open standing. Finally, the goal to the left of the turnstiles housed 2 covered terracing, behind these were the toilets. 

 The signage for the toilets appeared to suggest they were open air toilets, i.e. pee on the grass.

 The ground was very tidy  and the pitch itself was flat. That is a great credit to the club, because the area around the ground is on a large slope. The open touchline is far higher than the seated stand side.

The game itself was a lively hard fought affair. Waltham Abbey scored an early goal on 7 minutes to lead. That lasted about 2 minutes before Bowers equalised. On 27 minutes  Waltham Abbey scored again and this time the lead lasted a whole 7 minutes.

Half time and the score remained 2-2. The second half was as entertaining as the first half, but unfortunately there were no goals in the second half.

There seemed to be confusion over the replay date. The tanoy announced it was on Wednesday night, but the Bowers fans said it was on the Tuesday night. Could be interesting this week! The reality is the game is on Tuesday and with a bit of luck I may be there.

Simple thing please simple minds and I was amused to see the sign at regular intervals saying that players and match officials were not allowed on the pitch.

So, to sum up, a very friendly little club. Its a shame they only got a gate of 97 for an FA Cup tie. The friendliness of the club to me was summed up by the sign below which was over the turnstiles.