Ground #408 - Bayliss Avenue

Date: 22nd March 2025
Location: Thamesmead, London
Ground: Bayliss Avenue

My first new ground of 2025 was on Saturday 22nd March at Bayliss Avenue in Thamesmead, London. The game was SC Thamesmead vs. Welling Town in Southern Counties East League Division One.

Bayliss Avenue is located in parkland with the edge of the residential area of Thamesmead to the west and the Crossness Pumping Station to the east. It has two pitches - a grass field for the main ground and a 3G pitch for the reserves next door to the east. The venue is 1.3 miles north-east of Abbey Wood station on the national rail network and Elizabeth Line. It has been home to SC Thamesmead since 2014 and prior to that the now defunct Thamesmead Town since the mid-1980s.

The eastern side is the key side of the ground. The sports complex is situated here with facilities on the lower level and access to viewing areas for two different grounds on the upper level. The primary arena is to the right at the top of the stairs, through the club bar with a secondary 3G arena used by the reserves to the left of the top of the stairs. Both open up to a balcony giving a good view of the respective pitches. This top level of the primary arena offers covered standing with additional picnic benches towards the northern end. It merges into the main stand which has 152 seats spread over 3 rows for the northern section and 2 rows for the southern section. The dugouts and a tunnel back to the player dressing rooms sits underneath the elevated stand at pitch level.

The opposite side is uncovered standing along a fairly thin space. The northern end has an all-seater stand directly behind the goal which can house 96 spectators and takes up around a quarter of this side of the field. The remainder of this end is uncovered standing. The southern end is hard standing though the middle half of this is covered.

The game saw Thamesmead enter the day sitting securely in 11th with Welling Town down in second bottom. The visitors were not mathematically relegated but given the points deficit there was little hope of moving up. The hosts started brightly, going close in the 10th minute when Welling keeper Cameron Sanghera denied Steve Karkari's close range effort. He could not stop Karkari a couple of minutes later when the Thamesmead striker headed home but fortunately for Welling, Karkari was stopped by the offside flag. A few minutes later Welling had their first chance as Archie Aldous palmed away Harry Mark's shot from the left of the box. The rest of the half was a very poor spectacle but this perked up in with the last action of the half when Welling's Sam Huckle gave away a free-kick by blatantly punching the ball. Luke Alliband whipped into the danger area and after bouncing around it fell to Karkari who turned and shot home. The second half was a much better affair for the neutral. Firstly, the hosts extended their lead in the 61st minute when a well-timed ball over the top picked out Matthias Broome who advanced on the keeper before squaring for Deshon Carty to tap into an empty net. A couple of minutes later the game was almost put to bed when Leaven Sullivan picked the ball up on the edge of the box, leapt over a challenge and smashed the ball off the near post. Welling got a foothold in the 77th minute when Casey Nolan-Samuels lofted a free-kick over the wall to Archie Aldous' right, into the net. In the 85th minute Thamesmead scored again when Matthias Broome smashed in from a few years out but two minutes later the lead was back down to one as Kimani Williams slotted under Aldous from close range. The home side went up the other end from the kick-off and a cross from the left fizzed across the goal line but with no-one there to poke over the line the game stayed 3-2. This is how things remained in injury time with Thamesmead running out 3-2 winners.

Result: SC Thamesmead 3-2 Welling Town

Division: Southern Counties East League Division One

Attendance: 52

Ground #329 - Eden Park Avenue

Date: 21st August 2019
Ground: Eden Park Avenue
Location: Beckenham, London

My forty-fourth new stadium of 2019 was on Wednesday 21st August 2019 at Eden Park Avenue in Beckenham, London. The match was Beckenham Town vs. Glebe in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.

Eden Park Avenue is in a residential area with housing flanking its eastern and northern sides. The western edges up to a second full-size pitch while the southern end is adjacent to the Charing Cross to Hayes rail line. The latter results in the stadium being a few hundred yards from Eden Park railway station. The venue has been home to the club since 1980 when they departed Stanhope Grove where they had played previously.

The venue is entered via the south of the ground via turnstiles next to a cosy clubhouse which was undergoing renovation work during my visit. In front of this is a grass area with picnic benches leading up to a concrete strip behind the goal. Completing this end are two small covered sections, one each side of the goal. The main stand is on the western side of Eden Park Avenue and it has 137 covered seats. The two dugouts are nearby and there is a separate covered section two-thirds of the way towards the northern end. The whole side has a strip of hard standing with a decent sized grass section behind.

The opposite side of the field has a concrete pathway for the whole length though with a smaller grass area behind. There is a covered section towards the southern end while a second all-seater stand by the halfway line adds another 59 to the covered seating capacity of the venue. Beyond this to the north are seven additional uncovered seats bolted to the floor. A similarly strange set-up is in place behind the northern goal where four uncovered seats are bolted to the eastern side of the goal. Other than this the northern end is uncovered standing with a slim grass section at the back.

Beckenham were looking to extend their good start to the season with a third consecutive win while Glebe were looking for their first points after defeat in their opening two matches. The hosts went close in the 7th minute when a curling effort from 20 yards went just wide of the goal. Glebe's best fashioned opportunity of the opening period of the game came in the 14th minute when a long punt up field by the keeper found a visiting attacker to the right of the goal and his first time half-volley dipped just over the bar. Beckenham took the lead in the 24th minute - a nice lofted ball to Shameek Farrell found him in lots of space on the left side of the area and his first time half-volley across goal ended in the back of the net via a touch from the keeper and the post. The score should have been level 31st minute when a home defender miscontrolled the ball and kneed it straight to a visiting attacker. Clean through on goal he managed to shoot straight at the home keeper though. However, Glebe were not to be denied for long and did equalise one minute before the interval. A free-kick on the edge of the box was laid off for Matt Parsons who curled a brilliant shot into the top corner from 25 yards. Into the second half a quick Beckenham attack in the 51st minute finished with a defender drilling a shot just the wrong side of the post while the hosts went close again during a penalty area scramble with 20 minutes left as a close range shot was blocked on the line and cleared. The game swung back to Glebe in the 78th minute when a free-kick was clipped into the area and landed at the feet of Scott Kinch who lifted the ball into the top corner from 12 yards. As Beckenham chased an equaliser they conceded again with five minutes to go - a free-kick from the left was nodded towards the goal line for Jack Harris to knock in from a yard out to secure three points for Glebe.

Result: Beckenham Town 1-3 Glebe
Division: Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Attendance: 195

Ground #227 - Central Avenue

Date: 15th April 2017
Ground: Central Avenue
Location: Billingham, County Durham

My eleventh new ground of 2017 was on Saturday 15th April at Central Avenue in Billingham, County Durham. The match was Billingham Synthonia vs. Willington in Northern League Division Two.

Central Avenue Stadium is part of the Synthonia sports grounds located opposite the former site of the ICI chemical plant. The northern end of the ground is bordered by a rail line with local rivals Billingham Town the other side of the line. The town's railway station is half a mile north towards the centre of the town. The venue was home to Billingham Synthonia from 1958 until April 2017 with this being their final game at the ground.

The ground's focal point was an impressive cantilever stand which ran the entire length of the pitch on the eastern side of the ground. This stand consisted of ten rows of concrete with the southern and northern thirds given over to standing and the middle third to seating. This middle third had benches attached to the concrete floor and included a media box at the back of the stand. In front of the stand was a flat concrete standing area with two rows of barriers - the two dugouts were in front of the furthest forward set of barriers.

Within the stand there was a large bar containing a club shop and a separate small lounge room. There was also a tea bar which faced out towards the flat concrete area between the stand and the pitch. In April 2017 Billingham Synthonia released a statement referring to the maintenance costs of this stand as a key factor behind the decision to leave Central Avenue. The remainder of the ground was uncovered standing. There was a gravel track encircling the pitch meaning the viewing areas were oval shaped. A strip of concrete ran round almost all of the rest of the venue - these were designated spectator areas. The steep grass banks behind both goals had signs discouraging supporters from climbing to get a better view of the action.

The opening few minutes was an even affair with Willington going close in the 5th minute when the ball was crossed into the area from the left and Will Preston steered the ball just the wrong side of the post. In the 8th minute it was Billingham's turn to go close after Steven Huggins dispossessed Adam Cromby in midfield and laid off the ball for Chay Liddle who's shot was cleared off the line. The hosts spent more time in the attacking final third but their tame efforts didn't really test the goalie. In the 55th minute Synthonia took the lead - the ball was clipped over to Chay Liddle on the left side of the area and he smashed the ball across the keeper into the bottom corner. There was almost another goal in the 67th minute when Nathan Steel stroked the ball inches wide after a scramble in the area. The key moment came just after this in the 71st minute when Billingham broke down the left, squared the ball for Liddle who saw his shot saved only for Nathan Steel to knock in the rebound. The visitors offered little in the final few minutes so it meant mixed emotions for Billingham who clinched promotion from the league in their final game at their Central Avenue home.

Result: Billingham Synthonia 2-0 Willington
Division: Northern League Division Two
Attendance: 315

Ground #168 - Avenue Stadium

Date: 21st March 2015
Ground: Avenue Stadium
Location: Dorchester, Dorset

My third new ground of 2015 was on Saturday 21st March at the Avenue Stadium in Dorset, Dorchester. The match was Dorchester Town vs. Frome Town in the Southern League Premier Division.

The Avenue Stadium was built on the southern tip of Dorchester next door to a retail park. The venue is bordered by a Tesco store to the north, the A35 to the south and a railway line to the east. This line splits off to Dorchester South and Dorchester West railway stations, both approximately 1 mile from the ground. The venue has been home to the club since 1990 when it replaced their nearby former home, also called 'The Avenue', where they had resided for the previous 61 years.

The ground is dominated by the main stand which is raised above pitch level on the western side of the venue. This 710 seat structure is split into 10 small seating blocks across two levels with the interior of the stand including the club reception and ticket office. Either side of the stand there small sections of uncovered concrete terracing.

On the opposite side of the pitch there are two sections of covered terracing split in the middle by additional turnstiles and a small club shop. Similar covered terracing takes up the entirety of the southern side of the ground and there is also a food outlet in the south-west corner. The northern side of the ground has the same level of concrete terracing but there is no roof in this area.

Both sides went into the game in the bottom third of the table and it was not difficult to see why after a desperately poor first half. Frome edged the early passage of play but the best chance of the half fell to the home side when Ben Watson's close range shot was tipped onto the crossbar by visiting keeper Darren Chitty. The second half was a little better but the game didn't spring into life until there was a quarter of the game left to play. In the 74th minute the hosts grabbed the lead as Bradley Tarbuck showed good strength to loop a seemingly lost ball back into the danger zone and Ben Watson was able to nod over the keeper into the top corner. Frome came back at Dorchester and in the 85th minute levelled the game up at 1-1. Shortly after having a shot cleared off the line the visitors kept sending it back into the area and with the hosts unable to gain control the ball fell to Mark Cooper on the left. Cooper whipped the ball into the six-yard box for Lewis Haldene whose saw his first effort parried by Alan Walker-Harris but then reacted quickest to the rebound to send the ball over the line. The final few minutes saw end-to-end football but with no clear cut chances Frome were able to rescue a point.

Result: Dorchester Town 1-1 Frome Town
Division: Southern League Premier Division
Attendance: 425

Ground #153 - Crown Avenue

Date: 29th July 2014
Ground: Crown Avenue
Location: Pitsea, Essex

My thirteenth new ground of 2014 was on Tuesday 29th July at Crown Avenue in Pitsea, Essex. The match was Bowers & Pitsea vs. Maldon & Tiptree in a friendly.

Crown Avenue, also known as the Len Salmon Stadium, is located on the outskirts of Pitsea with trees and fields on three sides and housing on the other. The venue is 1.5 miles from Pitsea railway station.

The south side of the ground has a covered all-seater stand at the centre of it with room for around 180 people. To the east of the main stand is a covered area containing a food outlet and to the west of it is a small uncovered concrete terrace. The rest of this side of the ground is uncovered hard standing.

As the northern side of the ground is hemmed in by trees there is only room for the the two dugouts with nothing in the way of spectator areas. The remaining areas for fans to view from are behind the two goals - there is a covered terrace behind the goal at the eastern end of the ground and uncovered hard standing behind the goal at the western end of the ground.

The game was a friendly match between Essex Senior League side Bowers & Pitsea and Isthmian League Division One North side Maldon & Tiptree. There was a dramatic start to the match as the visitors went 2-0 up in under 2 minutes. After 50 seconds the ball was lifted over the top to a Maldon striker who lobbed the advancing keeper and just 55 seconds after this Bowers failed to clear their lines and a 25 yard strike found its way into the net. The home side were really struggling and only some good fortune prevented the visitors from extending their lead until the 24th minute when another 25 yard effort was shot into the bottom corner. In the 27th minute it was 4-0 as a corner was whipped into the box and nodded home by a Maldon player. In the 32nd minute the hosts grabbed one back after the Maldon goalkeeper lost possession on the edge of his box and the ball was squared for a Bowers striker to tap in. The respite did not last long though as Maldon then scored another 2 goals within a minute - the first from the edge of the box and the second when a ball was sent across the box and with all the defender missing it the midfielder at the back post was able to slot home. The hosts saw out the 10 minute before the break but went in 6-1 down. Having being torn apart in the first half the home side re-organised at the break and put on a significantly better display in the second 45 minutes. On the hour mark there was an unsavoury incident when a visiting player appeared to headbutt a home player who then raised his arms in retaliation. The referee sent both for an early bath. In the 66th minute Maldon had a chance to notch up their 7th goal of the game when they were awarded a penalty but the goalkeeper was able to palm the ball away. Bowers were able to dig in and stop the score getting any worse which, after their first half display, must have been a big relief.

Result: Bowers & Pitsea 1-6 Maldon & Tiptree
Friendly
Attendance: N/A

Ground #152 - Colston Avenue

Date: 26th July 2014
Ground: Colston Avenue
Location: Carshalton, London

My twelfth new ground of 2014 was on Saturday 26th July at Colston Avenue in Carshalton, London. The match was Carshalton Athletic vs. Leatherhead in a friendly.

Colston Avenue, also known as the War Memorial Sports Ground, is part of a green space in the middle of a built-up area. The ground is bordered by a mixture of trees, allotments and parkland on three sides with a secondary school on the other. The venue is just a third of mile from Carshalton railway station and has been the home of the club since 1921.

The single all-seater stand is located on the southern side of the ground. This stand, which can hold 240 fans starts from the half-way line and extends towards the western side of the ground. Attached on the eastern side of the structure is the walkway leading back to the player dressing rooms and further towards the eastern end of the ground there is a clubhouse and food outlet.

The northern side of Colston Avenue consists of a covered concrete terrace which extends the whole lenth of the pitch. There is plenty of space for fans here with the roof providing protection from the elements. The two dugouts are positioned directly in front of this stand. The eastern end of the ground also consists of covered concrete terracing although it is much smaller than the area on the northern side. The western end is mostly uncovered standing though there is a small covered section directly behind the goal.

The game was a friendly match between Isthmian League Division One South side Carshalton Athletic and Isthmian League Premier Division side Leatherhead. The hosts almost took the lead in the 28th minute when Nassim Dukali dispossessed a Leatherhead defender and struck the ball towards goal from 20 yards. With the keeper beaten the ball came back off the post and away. Just a couple of minutes later it was the turn of the visitors to hit the woodwork when a corner was swung in to the back post and looked to be going in. Carshalton defender Ricardo Panto reacted quickly to head the ball off his own crossbar and it was scrambled away. In the 43rd minutes Leatherhead did grab the lead as Kiernan Mason-Hughes drew the home defence out with a positive run and when the ball found Ashley Miller he was able to clip the ball into the bottom corner. The away side continued their play into the second period and should have stretched their lead on a couple of occasions. In the 79th minute they were punished when Jason Henry ran down the wing before laying the ball off to Kingsley Aikhionbare to slot home to make it 1-1. In the final two minutes both sides had excellent chances to win the game - first Mason-Hughes split the defence to go clean through but was denied by a good save by Jack Eden. Just after this Jason Henry then found himself one-on-one with the Leatherhead keeper but his weak shot was easily stopped as the referee blew the final whistle.

Result: Carshalton Athletic 1-1 Leatherhead
Friendly
Attendance: N/A

Ground #149 - Bellmount Wood Avenue

Date: 22nd April 2014
Ground: Bellmount Wood Avenue
Location: Watford, Hertfordshire

My ninth new ground of 2014 was on Tuesday 22nd April at Bellmount Wood Avenue in Watford, Hertfordshire. The match was Sun Postal Sports vs. Welwyn Garden City in Spartan South Midlands League Division One.

Bellmount Wood Avenue is the site for the Sun Postal Sports & Social Club which sits right on the very outskirts of Watford. To the south and east is the residential Cassiobury area of the town with woods to the north and west. The venue has been home to the club since 1937.

There is one all-seated structure which sits level with the half-way line on the western side of the venue. This stand is a concrete terrace with 96 seats bolted to the middle section. There is space on either side of the seating for standing and it is covered by a metal roof. The rest of the ground consists of uncovered standing, some concrete, but the majority is grass.

The eastern side of the ground has the dugouts positioned by the half-way line and the social club is located to the south-east of the pitch. This social club contains a large hall including a bar as well as the other club facilities such as player dressing rooms.

It was an action-packed game from the start as the visitors took the lead in the 4th minute - after a shot was blocked in the Sun Postal box the ball ricocheted off Welwyn's Perry Stellon and ended up in the back of the net. The hosts responded quickly and levelled in the 11th minute when Colin Wilson's free-kick was met by Dan Tomkins who slid the ball in on the goal line. Just a couple of minutes later they were awarded a penalty when a handball was spotted in the area. James Armstrong tucked away the spot kick to complete the turnaround. Around the half-hour mark Sun Postal put the visitors under pressure with a series of corner and finally one got through as Ashley Lewis headed home to make it 3-1. There was still time for Welwyn to reduce the deficit before the break as Jason Caswell's drilled shot from the edge of the box went in off the post to end an entertaining first 45 minutes. Sun Postal restored their two goal lead in the 53rd minute after Craig Lynskey slammed home from close range and any hope of a Welwyn comeback was dashed in the 67th minute when they were reduced to ten men for a second bookable offence. It was surprising it had not happened earlier as the game had been an extremely bad tempered one. This quietened the game down a bit though Sun Postal added a 5th through Ashley Lewis late on to run out 5-2 winners as they continued on their way to the Spartan South Midlands Division One title.

Result: Sun Postal Sports 5-2 Welwyn Garden City
Division: Spartan South Midlands League Division One
Attendance: 67

Ground #88 - Hornchurch Stadium

Date: 29th November 2011
Ground: Hornchurch Stadium
Location: Hornchurch, London

My seventy-fifth new ground of 2011 was on Tuesday 29th November at Hornchurch Stadium in Hornchurch, London. The match was AFC Hornchurch vs. Hendon in the Ryman Isthmian League Premier Division.

Hornchurch Stadium (also known as Bridge Avenue) sits in a residential area just under half a mile from Upminster Bridge tube station on the District Line, although Upminster railway station is also of a similar distance. The ground has been home to AFC Hornchurch and its previous incarnation Hornchurch FC since 1953.

The ground is shared with an athletics club with a running track encircling the pitch. Because of this the viewing areas are along the length of the pitch with just walkways behind the two goals. The west side of the ground holds two stands - a 180-seat structure level with the half-way line and a smaller 150-seat stucture towards the goal at the southern end of the ground.

The east side of the venue has three stands - an all-seater stand able to hold just under 250 fans which sits towards the goal at the southern end of the ground, a 40-seat directors enclosure stand which sits level with the half-way line and a covered terrace stand which sits towards the goal at the northern end of the ground. The club also has an excellent clubhouse on the south side of the venue behind the goal as well as a club shop and gym facilities for the players on site.

The game was rather quiet to begin with in terms of action with no meaningful shots on goal until the 21st minute when Hendon hit the Hornchurch crossbar. Three minutes later the away side took the lead with a drilled shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net. Hendon continued to press and looked the more likely to score again as the half ended with the visitors on top but only by a single goal. The home side had some decent chances in the second half but rarely threatened the Hendon keeper. The visitors themselves went close to scoring after a couple of goal-line scrambles but ultimately neither side could get the ball in the net and so Hendon went away 1-0 winners.

Result: AFC Hornchurch 0-1 Hendon
Division: Isthmian League Premier Division
Attendance: 187

Ground #37 - Dellwood Avenue

Date: 12th April 2011
Ground: Dellwood Avenue
Location: Felixstowe, Suffolk

My twenty-fourth new ground of 2011 was on Tuesday 12th April at Dellwood Avenue in Felixstowe, Suffolk. The match was Felixstowe & Walton United vs. Debenham Leisure Centre in the Ridgeons Eastern Counties League Premier Division.

The ground at Dellwood Avenue is less than half a mile from Felixstowe railway station with the venue sitting behind a row of houses on Dellwood Avenue itself. It is part of a larger green area and is adjacent to a cricket pitch with fencing separating the two pitches.

The ground has two stands, both on the west side of the ground. The first is a small all-seated one, able to hold around 100 people and the second is an even smaller all-standing one with raised steps to accommodate fans. As the venue backs onto a residential area and has low fences, wayward passes often ended up going over into people's gardens.

One unusual feature of the venue is the collapsible floodlight pylons which are only lifted up when required, as they were for this evening game. At all other times they remain down presumably for the benefit of the surrounding houses. The east side of the ground also features two of the smallest team dugouts I can ever remember seeing.

The game was a good one for the neutral as well as Felixstowe & Walton fans. Less so for any Debenham supporters present as their team was completely outplayed by the hosts. The first half was a story of missed chances for Felixstowe and they probably should've been five or six goals in front by the interval, but they had to settle for a two-nil lead. In the second half they continued to break down Debenham and scored a spectacular third before adding a fourth less than a minute later. With ten minutes remaining I had to head off in order to catch the last train home, and somehow another four goals were scored in the closing moments of the match with Felixstowe & Walton running out 6-2 winners.

Result: Felixstowe & Walton United 6-2 Debenham Leisure Centre
Division: Eastern Counties League Premier Division
Attendance: 72