Thursday 13 October 2011

Ground #80 - Chadfields

Date: 12th October 2011
Ground: Chadfields
Location: Tilbury, Essex

My sixty-seventh new ground of 2011 was on Wednesday 12th October at Chadfields in Tilbury, Essex. The match was Tilbury vs. Romford in Ryman Isthmian League Division One North.

Chadfields is located just under a mile from Tilbury Town railway station in a residential area on the northern outskirts of the town. It has been home to Tilbury since 1946.


The ground has two all-seater stands which differ greatly in style. Running alongside the pitch on the east side of the venue is the larger of the two stands, a two-storey structure which holds the changing rooms on the bottom floor and just over 160 seats on the upper floor. This stand is unusual due to the numerous supporting struts which give the impression that you are looking out of large windows.


On the west side of the ground is the smaller all-seater structure with just over 110 seats. This brick stand was built in the late 1990s and is much more modern looking than the 40-year-old stand which sits on the opposite side of the pitch. The remainder of the west side of the venue is taken up with covered standing on raised concrete steps. These steps extend round to the area behind the goal on the north side of the ground although a large metal fence sits directly behind the goal meaning it is not a popular vantage point. A wire-mesh fence behind the goal on the south side of the ground has a similar effect. Apart from a tea bar inside the ground the club facilities are located just to the left of the entrance on the outside of the ground.


The game did not take long to produce the first goal with Tilbury netting after just 6 minutes when a striker snuck in front of the goalkeeper to head a cross into the goal. Romford then reacted to going behind well and in the 18th minute levelled the scores after the home side failed to clear their lines while the ball was in their box with Romford rifling home from close range. The visitors continued to be on top but just before the interval switched off during a Tilbury corner which was headed over the line to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. In the second period Romford had lots of chances but when they missed an open goal on the hour-mark it looked like it wasn't going to be their night, and sure enough not long after a mix-up in the Romford box allowed Tilbury to deliver a clinical finish into the corner of the net to increase their lead. As the visitors streamed forward in the closing minutes they again failed to clear the ball from their box on a rare Tilbury attack and a scuffed shot bounced over the goalkeeper to make it 4-1 which is how it finished.



Result: Tilbury 4-1 Romford
Division: Isthmian League Division One North
Attendance: 107

1 comment:

  1. A good ground and has a bit of character. However, the surrounding area is grim to say the least.

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