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.

Still on the Road: Romford FC v Hullbridge Sports FC: FA Cup Preliminary Round: 21 August 2016

Game 13 for me and my third FA Cup tie of the weekend. Thanks to Romford and their landlords Thurrock, both being drawn at home in the FA Cup this weekend, Romford had to move their game from yesterday.

The 13:30 kick off meant that I had to meet my friends earlier than normal for breakfast today. As usual, I was late setting off to cycle to the cafe, so had to push myself. Why is there always a head wind when you are in a rush cycling? Anyway after chewing the cud over breakfast and putting the world to rights and slaughtering the FA for everything it does or doesn't do, it was time to race home, get changed and head down to Thurrock's Ship Lane ground.

Romford are now in the Rymans League Div. 1 North. This is the third incarnation of the club. The last incarnation went bust after trying to get into the Football League. The club history can be found here.

Romford now play their home games outside of Romford. They ground share with Thurrock FC some miles from Romford. The ground at Ship Lane is one of the best non league grounds in Essex. Possibly second best now Dagenham & Redbridge have been relegated into the National League.

Photo of ground# "borrowed" fellow ground hopper Dan Wilson @essexfootie 

The ground reflects the fact that Thurrock had several seasons in the Conference South. There is covered terracing behind both goals, the main stand in the picture above down one side and on the far side is a covered stand running the length of the pitch, incorporating seating at one end and terracing at the other with a TV gantry straddling the halfway line.

I saw Hullbridge in the FA Cup last season when their run was ended by Grays Athletic at Millfield. That was a day remembered  by me for the foul and abusive language from the Hullbridge bench and their team for the whole 90 minutes. They were a disgrace to the game that day. I have had clients prosecuted for less abusive language.

As the teams lined up today, I wondered what sort of game we would encounter. Romford this year have changed from yellow and blue stripped shirts to hooped shirts. These look more like rugby shirts. As Hullbridge warmed up, Romford looked as though they were practising scrummaging.

Hullbridge Sports are from the Essex Senior League, a division below Romford. You would not have realised it from the way the game started. In the first minute, Hullbridge were unlucky not to be 1 up when a great move resulted in a shot beating the keeper but striking the post.

Hullbridge continued to pile on the pressure and after 2 minutes they were a goal up. They continued to look lively. Romford seemed to be out of sorts. A lack of commitment ? Caught cold by the attacking nature of the Hullbridge play?

Ronford got back on level terms on 8 minutes  and from then on gradually took control of the game. They got a second goal midway through the first half and then on the stroke of half time they were awarded a penalty. 

Romford deserved to be ahead, but 3-1 flattered them and was a  bit harsh on Hullbridge. The second half started with Romford scoring again. 4-1 up. Game over and an easy win for Romford. Would this be another hiding like last season up the road at Millfield?

Clearly Hullbridge had not read the script and kept on battling. It didn't look like they were going to score, then with around 15 minutes to go, they scored a second goal. 4-2 down and  surely too little too late, it was a consolation goal to make the score look respectable.

The right at the end, Hullbridge scored again to make it 4-3 and cause a few squeaky bum moments for Romford. Then just to keep the excitement going, a Hullbrige player was sent off, I believe it was for something he said to the referee.  Said play left the field and game continued, but despite the clear FA rules the player did not go to the dressing room, but walked round the pitch behind the barrier and watched the game stood next to the home dugout. Surprisingly no official seemed to notice this. If referee was aware of it, then an FA charge could well follow for the player.

A thoroughly enjoyable cup tie with lots of twists and turns to keep the crowd, including many ground hoppers happy. At £8 for admission and £2 for the programme it was excellent value and a good way to spend a Sunday lunchtime;


One thing that did amuse me was one of the  advertising hoardings around the pitch. I have never seen an advert for "Explosive and Narcotic Search Dogs" at a football match before. I wonder what call there is for these amongst the spectators at Romford or Thurrock games.

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.