The Road to Wembley Part 2: Aveley FC v AFC Hornchurch FC: FA Cup Preliminary Round: Friday 19 August 2016

So, the second round of the FA  Cup competition takes place this weekend, or as the FA logically call it the preliminary round. Instead of calling the rounds of this cup competition rounds 1- 12, followed by the semi-final and final, the FA decide in their wisdom to call the rounds as follows

1. Extra Preliminary Round
2. Preliminary Round
3. 1st Qualifying Round
4. 2nd Qualifying Round
5. 3rd Qualifying Round
6. 4th Qualifying Round
7. 1st Round
8. 2nd Round
9. 3rd Round 
10. 4th Round
11. 5th Round
12. 6th Round
13. Semi-Final
14. Final

It would make far more sense to call the rounds exactly what they are with the League 1 and League 2 clubs entering at the 7th Round and Premiership and Championship Clubs entering at the 9th Round. This would show that football is one big family and show that the FA value clubs at all levels of the game. However as we football fans know the FA care not one jot for non league football. This was made very clear last year when the FA scheduled an England game to clash with the finals of the FA Vase and FA Trophies. 

If this was not bad enough, the FA then drew the 1st qualifying round draw last Monday, i.e. 5 days before the first of the Preliminary Round ties had taken place.Why? The only answer I can see is the FA seem to like devaluing its cup competition or they have no regard for non league clubs at all. They wouldn't draw the  11th round of the competition before the 10th round was scheduled to take place.

Anyway, tonight, Aveley were at home to AFC Hornchurch. Why? Well, Aveley ground share with Grays Athletic. Aveley are the landlords, but Grays are in the higher division. It is an FA rule that the club in the higher division must have priority when there are fixture clashes. This on the face of it makes sense. However, tomorrow Grays Athletic are at home in a Rymans League game. The FA rule that Grays should have priority in a league game over a game in their own competition. This again acts to devalue the competition in my opinion.

Almost exactly a year ago, Aveley hosted AFC Hornchurch FC in a Rymans League game on a Friday night. It was an experiment to see if they would get bigger crowds playing on a Friday night rather  than playing on a Saturday. The logic being there would be less competition and neutrals would be attracted to the game. That game drew a crowd of around 250 which was more than double Aveley's normal home gate. The experiment was not repeated, but I am not sure why not.

Tonight, being an FA Cup tie and there being no other local football on, I was expecting another big crowd, The attendance tonight was 171, a considerable drop on the league game last season. Why the drop? I am not sure whether it was a lack of publicity of the Friday night game or the fact there was a Premiership game live on TV tonight. I hope its not the latter as this would be another nail in the coffin of struggling non league clubs.

This is supposed to be the last season at Millfield for Aveley (and Grays) as they are moving to a new purpose built ground elsewhere in the village. You may recall last season that I had chronicled the decline in the ground, especially after the storm destroyed a lot of fence panels. The fact that the ground only had a short time left meant that repairs were limited. I therefore expected to find the ground even more rundown than before.

The first thing I noticed was the clubhouse sign. As it was at the end of last season, it is suggesting Aveley are in the Diadora League. The Rymans League sign having come down in the storm and never been replaced.

This ground has traditional turnstiles, and a wonderful main stand. It will be a shame to lose these when the ground goes. You can see photographs of the main stand in my previous reports on this ground. Three sides of the ground consist of a couple of steps of terracing and to be fair few people use them. Most people remain on the other side which consists of a big terrace and the large main stand with its blue and white wooden seats.

There was a large turnout of ground hoppers tonight. For some it was the first time  they had seen others this season and a chance to exchange recent experiences and a chance to discuss where to go in forthcoming weeks.

The pitch itself looked in better condition than last season, although it looked very dry. It did not appear to be as uneven as in the past, but that may just be my perception.

The one noticeable thing when the teams came out was the assistant referee on the near side of the ground was female! Its still relatively rare to have female officials. They are getting accepted by the crowd and I have to say that I never heard any sexist comments about her or her decision making

The game itself was lively, but still goalless at half time. Aveley had started the brighter, but Hornchurch probably had the better of the latter part of the first half.

The second half continued on where the first half ended, with Hornchurch having the better of the exchanges. Just when it was looking like the game would be goalless, a mistake from the Aveley goalkeeper in dealing with a back pass led to  a goal for Hornchurch. That mistake cost Avely £1925 in prize money and gives a welcome financial boost to Hornchurch.

Surprisingly, given it was a cup tie, Aveley did not seem to try to an equaliser. The remainder of the game was dominated by Hornchurch, I am told that Hornchurch had 9 corners to Aveley's 1 during the game.

I have to confess to liking visiting Millfield, whether to see Aveley or Grays. The main stand and the large terracing on that side are something rarely seen at non league grounds and will be sadly missed when it is eventually replaced.

Admission £10

Programme £2

Car Parking £0

Catering - No idea, I never visited the snack bar

Crowd 171

Result: Aveley FC 0 AFC Hornchurch 1

The reward for AFC Hornchurch is an away time on 3rd September at AFC Rushden & Diamonds or Northampton Sileby Rangers. For Aveley, its  the league or the FA Trophy to look forward to. Hornchurch can continue to  dream of drawing a premiership team in a later round.

Hornchurch overall deserved their win. At least there was no drummer there.

For me, its a trip to Waltham Abbey tomorrow for another FA Cup Tie and a chance to watch Bowers & Pitsea again

The Manor at the Forest: Waltham Forest FC v Eton Manor: Essex Senior League: 17 August 2016

Game number 10 of the season saw me making my first visit of the season to Wadham Lodge, the home of Waltham Forest. However its not my first time seeing Waltham Forest as I saw them in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup on 6 August when they won at Redbridge.

Tonight was a league game in the Essex Senior League. Before the game Waltham Forest had won all three league games they had played this season and Eaton Manor had won two and lost one of their three games

Wadham Lodge is an interesting venue. It must be one of the best venues at Step 5, certainly in the Essex Senior League and has hosted Rymans League Football before. The ground has covered standing at either end and a main stand that runs 2/3rds of one side. This has several rows of seats. The other side of the ground has the dugouts and in between them a few steps of uncovered terracing.

The ground is situated in a sports complex with 3g pitches and a main clubhouse which is situated immediately outside the ground.

Admission is now £7, a reduction from £8 according to the sign on the turnstiles. I never saw the programmes on sale and never bothered to ask for one. They were in existence as others had them.

There were several ground hoppers at the game. Quite a few were ones I had seen on Monday at Barkingside. 

After Monday's game kicking off early, tonight we reverted back to  Essex Senior League time and the game kicked off late. It didn't take Waltham Forest long to have the first real effort. This was a shot just over the bar.

The early stages were dominated by Waltham Forest, and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 20 minutes. 

The game was hard fought and always threatened to boil over. Both sides looking for opportunities to square up to each other. Eaton Manor did have a glorious chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty. A very poorly struck penalty was easily saved.

In the second half it was again Waltham Forest on top. Things then got worse for Eaton Manor when they had a man sent off for  a 2nd yellow card after a foul. From the resulting free kick Waltham Forest scored a second goal.

Strangely enough from this point on Eaton Manor played better than at any stage before. They eventually pulled a goal back and kept taking game to Waltham Forest, but were unable to add to the score.

Right at the death, Waltham Forest missed a gilt edged chance to make it 3-1, but it mattered not as they got all three points anyway.

The good points about tonight's game were:
1. There was no bloody drummer(s)
2. The game was played by players with passion and commitment for the love of the game
3. The game and company were so good, I forgot to check on the Newcastle score until I heard the result on the radio as I left the car park. The night got better then when I learned they had won for the first time this season and by 4-1. Hopefully that kick starts the season.

Tomorrow there is no football for me as I have other commitments. The weekend is hopefully three FA Cup ties in three days for me.

Oriental Football: Leyton Orient v Stevenage: Football League Div 2 :16 August 2016

After last night's trip to Barkingside v Redbridge a game at the 9th level of English football, Tonight was a trip to Leyton Orient v Stevenage a game at the 4th level of English football.

The routine was the same as it has been for the last 15 years, meet friends in the Royal Cafe in Leyton High Road for a pre-match fry up. Grease numbs the pain of the football apparently.

Walking to the ground, and heading into sight of the pitch, there is nothing  like the roar of the crowd and the excitement of the crowd to get the hairs on the back of your neck standing up. The atmosphere at Orient tonight was nothing like it. The ground appeared very empty and there were less than 2000 in the ground at kick off time.

The crowd were silent. There was a lack of atmosphere. The crowd did increase in size and by the end, the crowd was given as 3779. This however includes those season ticket holders who did not attend as they were on holiday or for other reasons.

Even the Prawn Sandwich Brigade In The Gallery Stayed Away

A Not Packed Brisbane Road

Look Closely & You Can See a Fan in the East Stand

The game started with Stevenage making all the play and they should have been at least one up early on. However, their finishing was shockingly bad. 

With virtually their first attack, Orient did to Stevenage  what sides usually do to Orient and scored against the run of play. Mind you it did take about 4 attempts to finally get the ball into the net.

A second goal followed on 37 minutes when tiny Cox scored with a header. This seemed to completely deflate Stevenage. They did start the second half trying to put pressure on Orient, but with little real threat to the Orient goal.

It came as no shock when Orient added a 3rd goal near the end for their first win of the season. A 3 goal win should be exciting but this game was rather flat. A good win without ever playing particularly well is about the best that can be said. Hopefully it may give the O's some confidence and kick start their season.

There was a small Stevenage following 309 fans, but I have to say they were some of the most irritating fans I have come across. OK, lets be honest one of them was. That person with that bloody drum should have been refused admission and in fact he deserves a banning order simply for bringing an instrument to a football match. 

On the subject of banning orders, not related to tonight's match, people who paint their face and people who wear anything half and half scarves, shirts, hats etc should all be banned from football for life along with anyone bringing a musical instrument to a football match.

As for clubs that insist on blaring out music over the tannoy when goals are scored, they should be thrown out of all competitions immediately. If fans cant make noise, then drowning out any noise they try to make is not going to make them any noisier.

Another thing about Modern Football is the poor treatment of the fans. The 309 Stevenage fans apart from the drummer were no problem and gave their team great support. There was not a hint of trouble, so one may ask why the last few minutes of the game were played with a cordon of stewards standing in front of the away fans. It shows a rather poor attitude towards football fans.

Stevenage Fans facing a line of Stewards. why?

Right rant over. Its back to proper football next and not Modern Football until ...quite a while, possibly not until October...



Admission: Free ( ok, the cost of a fry up in the cafe)
Programme: No idea, not bought one at Orient for at least 10 years
Food & Drink: No idea of prices as never buy in a professional football ground