Ground #221 - Westhumble Playing Fields

Date: 11th March 2017
Ground: Westhumble Playing Fields
Location: Dorking, Surrey

My fifth new ground of 2017 was on Saturday 11th March at Westhumble Playing Fields in Dorking, Surrey. The match was Dorking vs. Staines Lammas in Combined Counties League Division One.

The Westhumble Playing Fields sit at the bottom of Box Hill giving the site a dramatic backdrop. The football ground is part of a sports area situated between the A24 road and the railway line which links the area to London. This railway line borders the ground to the west with a cricket pitch to the north, a football pitch to the east and trees to the south. The nearest railway station is Box Hill & Westhumble half a mile north. The venue has been the home of Dorking Wanderers since 2007 with Dorking currently groundsharing until both sides move to Meadowbank Stadium for the 2017/18 season.

The west side of the ground has two all-seater stands. The larger of the two is a metal and concrete stand level with the half-way line which has 104 seats. The smaller stand is made of wood and metal and has 50 seats including 20 seats designated for officials. Next to this stand is another wooden structure containing a food outlet, boardroom and a small clubhouse. The northern and southern end of this side of the ground are uncovered standing behind a wooden fence which extends around three sides of the venue.

By comparison the eastern side is very sparse - there are no spectator areas with a green fence blocking off the area to signify the divide between this and the football pitch behind which is home to Dorkonians FC. The only structures are the dugouts either side of the half-way line. The northern end is entirely uncovered standing as is most of the southern end though there is a small metal terrace of 4 rows which sits just to the right of the goal. Behind this stand there is a grass area which leads back towards two dressing room buildings (one for home players and medical staff and one for away players and officials).

The first half-hour was a quiet affair with nothing of note occurring. However on the half-hour mark Staines broke into the box and the ball was laid off to John Nunn who shot in off the post from 12 yards. In the 41st minute the visitors went 2-0 up when the ball was played from midfield over to Tim Hayden on the right hand side. Hayden had no Dorking players anywhere near him allowing him to take his time before slipping the ball past home goalkeeper Charlie McTigue. This was a little hard on Dorking as it they had been competitive up to this point but Staines took their two clear-cut chances to lead at the break. In the second half the away side looked pretty comfortable. Dorking came close to scoring in the 82nd minute when a ball into the box was clipped over the goalkeeper but a Staines defender was able to clear off the line. In the 87th minute the visitors struck again when substitute Aaron Fraser dispossessed a Dorking player in his own half, advanced towards goal and lofted the ball over McTigue to round off a 3-0 win.

Result: Dorking 0-3 Staines Lammas
Division: Combined Counties League Division One
Attendance: N/A

Ground #130 - King George V Playing Fields

Date: 3rd September 2013
Ground: King George V Playing Fields
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk

My nineteenth new ground of 2013 was on Tuesday 3rd September at King George V Playing Fields in Ipswich, Suffolk. The match was Whitton United vs. Waltham Abbey in the F.A. Cup Preliminary Round.

The King George V Playing Fields is a complex of football pitches located in the Whitton area of Ipswich in the north-west outskirts of the town. The venue is located 2.5 miles from the Ipswich railway station.

The ground has one small all-seater stand which sits behind the goal at the northern end of the venue. This covered structure has a total of 112 seats.This end of the ground also contains a food outlet with wooden benches positioned in front of it and a small hospitality area. The player dressing rooms are located just outside the ground along with the clubhouse.

The west side of the ground has a covered standing section known as The Shed which sits towards the northern end of the venue. This side of the ground also houses the dugouts which sit level with the half-way line. Opposite this is another small wooden stand which provides shelter for any standing fans on the east side of the ground. The remainder of the ground is uncovered standing although the area behind the nothern goal is off-limits due to the fact the this area sits very close to the A1156 road.

The game was an F.A. Cup Preliminary Round Replay between Eastern Counties League Division One side Whitton United and Isthmian League Division One North side Waltham Abbey. The two sides had met three days earlier with Whitton salvaging a draw after going behind in the first half. The visitors looked intent on stamping their authority on the tie and didn't take long to start hammering at the Whitton goal. In the 18th minute they hit the bar from the edge of the box and just a few minutes later got the opening goal of the game. The opener came from a fast counter-attack from a Whitton corner - Waltham Abbey broke away and had three against two approaching the home goal. The ball was played to Ayrton Coley on the right wing and he struck low into the bottom corner. The away team doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Darelle Russell struck a low shot from the edge of the box which just went out of the goalkeeper's reach and nestled in the far corner. Waltham were comfortably the better team for the rest of the game. The closest the home side came to netting was in the 67th minute when a well struck free-kick which clipped the crossbar. Any hope Whitton had of getting back into the tie evaporated when a defensive error resulted in Tom Bruno being let into the area and in a one-on-one encounter with the goalkeeper Bruno tucked the ball into the goal to make it 3-0. Waltham did have another effort chalked off for offside late on so they had to settle for a three-goal victory en-route to the F.A. Cup 1st Qualifying Round.

Result: Whitton United 0-3 Waltham Abbey
Competition: F.A. Cup
Attendance:  102

Ground #30 - Imperial Fields

Date: 19th March 2011
Ground: Imperial Fields
Location: Morden, London

My seventeenth new ground of 2011 was on Saturday 19th March at Imperial Fields in Morden, London. The match was Tooting & Mitcham United vs. Harrow Borough in the Ryman Isthmian League Premier Division.

Imperial Fields is a short distance from the Mitcham tram stop and on a warm and sunny day it was a fine ground to visit. The stadium is quite new having been developed in 2002 and has one large seated stand of good quality. Behind the goals are terraces which are partially covered in the middle giving the venue a slightly odd look, but on the whole I liked the ground.

The game was an entertaining one which started with a bang when Harrow scored very early on through Rocky Baptiste. Tooting & Mitcham however, fought back well and scored the next three goals to take a commanding 3-1 lead into the final minutes. A late penalty for Harrow made it an edgy finish for the home side but they were able to maintain their lead for a 3-2 win.

Result: Tooting & Mitcham United 3-2 Harrow Borough
Division: Isthmian League Premier Division
Attendance: 235