Chertsey Town 2-1 Marlow
Alwyns Lane
10/01/12
att 89 (we counted 87!)
I'm forever blowing bubbles
I posted this on twitter and I will stick by my word. To me there is nothing better than a mid week game at the obscurity under floodlights. Nothing. This game saw the 3 of us with 86 other people who seemed equally happy to spend there money watching to lower end of the table teams (whom many will never have heard of) battle it out against each other in a league very few venture into to watch each week. We were going to go lower, but with traffic we found ourselves closer to home. Chertsey was a re-visit for Phil but new grounds for Matthew and ourselves.
Coming off the M25 into Chertsey you see two sets of floodlights. Today we were off to the furthest pair. Situated near the centre of Chertsey Alwyns lane tucks into it's surrounding. Not making itself known to the locals, even the lights appeared to be on the lowest settings. So in we squeezed. Into the car park all ready full by the time we arrived and into the turnstiles. To the Right as you enter is a small covered terrace behind one goal. This has a single step and a gap in the middle leading out to refreshment hut. Continuing round you get an added step before having to duck down. Along the side is the lowest roof in Non-league football (not true (I think!)). Continuing round to the opposite goal is an open terrace containing a single step (and in the first half the single Marlow fan with his flag). The final side was the most developed. Straddling the half way line was a small step about a rows high. It appeared to be mainly made out of wood and was in a rather ramshackle condition. The seats were a mix between new plastic, wooden and a plastic/wood hybrid. The aesthetics were ruined by the fact the were 3 separate areas devoted to officials and press. There were also 3 pillars in the way. Either side were 4 steps of terracing. One side was the Club house whilst the other were the changing rooms. Phil was telling us that when aldershot first played here in the Ryman league days there were over 2000 Aldershot fans. the were housed on 3 sides with Chertsey having the main side. Aldershot also arranged a special train direct from Aldershot to Chertsey. He couldn't believe how much the ground had aged. The covered end wasn't even covered when he went and that was the worst for wear!
The game itself was really enjoyable. Chertsey took an early lead against the team bottom of the league. They then went down the end and forced a neat save from the Chertsey goalie. In the second half Marlow really upped the pressure and were rewarded not long after with a sweet strike. Their number 11 went on to miss about 8 sitters before losing all hope. Chertsey managed to find a winner. This was bizarrely greeted with a rendition of forever blowing bubbles of west ham fame.
With finishing like we witnessed it's no wonder Marlow are bottom.
Coming off the M25 into Chertsey you see two sets of floodlights. Today we were off to the furthest pair. Situated near the centre of Chertsey Alwyns lane tucks into it's surrounding. Not making itself known to the locals, even the lights appeared to be on the lowest settings. So in we squeezed. Into the car park all ready full by the time we arrived and into the turnstiles. To the Right as you enter is a small covered terrace behind one goal. This has a single step and a gap in the middle leading out to refreshment hut. Continuing round you get an added step before having to duck down. Along the side is the lowest roof in Non-league football (not true (I think!)). Continuing round to the opposite goal is an open terrace containing a single step (and in the first half the single Marlow fan with his flag). The final side was the most developed. Straddling the half way line was a small step about a rows high. It appeared to be mainly made out of wood and was in a rather ramshackle condition. The seats were a mix between new plastic, wooden and a plastic/wood hybrid. The aesthetics were ruined by the fact the were 3 separate areas devoted to officials and press. There were also 3 pillars in the way. Either side were 4 steps of terracing. One side was the Club house whilst the other were the changing rooms. Phil was telling us that when aldershot first played here in the Ryman league days there were over 2000 Aldershot fans. the were housed on 3 sides with Chertsey having the main side. Aldershot also arranged a special train direct from Aldershot to Chertsey. He couldn't believe how much the ground had aged. The covered end wasn't even covered when he went and that was the worst for wear!
The game itself was really enjoyable. Chertsey took an early lead against the team bottom of the league. They then went down the end and forced a neat save from the Chertsey goalie. In the second half Marlow really upped the pressure and were rewarded not long after with a sweet strike. Their number 11 went on to miss about 8 sitters before losing all hope. Chertsey managed to find a winner. This was bizarrely greeted with a rendition of forever blowing bubbles of west ham fame.
With finishing like we witnessed it's no wonder Marlow are bottom.