Brixham 4 Newton Abbot Spurs 2
South West Peninsula League – Division One East
As I was trotting towards the tea bar to fetch Mrs Hatt a
cup of coffee during the first half of the game at Brixham, it occurred to me
that it was the first time we’d attended a game together since the infamous day
back in May when we finished up on the pitch at Forest.
When I first met Mrs H, I knew she was a football fan, she
was a regular at Belper Town and did make the occasional trip to see Forest. It
felt to me as if it were my duty to expand her horizons.
Mostly, it’s been successful, we’ve had some great days out
at places like Conwy Borough, Barry Town United, Llangefni Town and Penrhyncoch
(we like Wales), plus overseas trips to the likes of Derry City, Bangor,
Waterford United and Cork City.
However, it’s not always gone quite to plan.
We were at Cobh Ramblers on a suitably cold evening where
she never left the bar, but probably my crowning glory came in the very early
days when I suggested an Anglesey League game. What I’d failed to mention at the pre-match
stage of proceedings, is that it was probably at a significantly lower level
than she’d been used to. In short, it was a field, and to access it we had to
walk about a quarter of a mile from the dressing rooms, in a force whatever
gale, through scrubland to a venue that offered fine views of the ferry
terminal at Holyhead.
The volume button was set to mute, she sat on an adjacent
swing as the players warmed up (had a piss and a fag), and it was only going to
be a matter of time before I was beckoned.
I never saw the game kick off, we were back in the car and
heading back to our base to watch the Play-Off Final on telly, my lesson had
been learned.
But, whenever we go to the South West, be it Devon or
Cornwall, we do make every effort to get to matches together, because for me,
there is no better part of the World to be watching football. We’ve been to
Plymouth Argyle, Totnes & Dartington, Perranporth, Weymouth (ok, it’s
Dorset), Stoke Gabriel and Newton Abbot Spurs, all of which were great trips
out, not least because of the company.
It’s all about managing expectations though. If it’s not an
Executive Box at the Emirates, don’t try and paint a day out at a South West
Peninsula League ground as like being in an Executive Box at the Emirates!
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| The Executive Boxes - Mrs Hatt Would Approve |
That said, research is all important. Things like food,
drink, shelter and seats make a difference, do your homework, explain your
findings and the day should run smoothly, and it invariably does, except perhaps
for a time when we were at Whitehawk and I miscalculated the walk from Brighton
Marina!
We like Brixham, and of all the games on offer today it
ticked the boxes. I did think about Teignmouth but felt that given the harbour
and the attractions the Torbay town has to offer, it was the better option. It also
had a Wetherspoons, and let’s be honest, if you don’t like a Spoons then
clearly you need some form of frontal lobotomy.
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| Brixham From A Bench |
The ground at Wall Park is close to the centre of the town,
but it’s probably also at its highest point, so on a dry Autumnal day it was
somewhat blustery, and the wind was helping carry the noise from nearby Brixham
Rugby Club who were beating Hornets in the South West Premier League.
A friendly welcome at the gate lead to a small car park, adjacent
to which all of the facilities at Wall Park are contained. A clubhouse with
adjoining dressing rooms have what is effectively a conservatory built in front
of it, so you can watch the game in warmth and comfort, a bit like an Executive
Box at the Emirates maybe?
A row of bench seats extends from the far side of the
clubhouse towards the corner flag, and it was on these benches that we took our
seats to watch the game. The rest of the ground is just open standing, with a
rail but no floodlights, and given the fact it’s located in a residential area,
I’m not sure how easy it will be to get permission?
I liked it, it was well cared for, it was neat and tidy, and
the facilities were very good, as you would expect in a league that sets and
demands such high standards.
Visiting Newton Abbot Spurs sat second in the league before kick
off, Brixham were below half way, but as often happens, the game didn’t reflect
the standings.
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| From The Same Bench |
Brixham got a grip on the game early on and found themselves
with a 2-0 lead, but Spurs battled back to reduce the arrears.
Just after half time the hosts got a third, only for Spurs
to restore the one goal deficit with a well taken diving header. Undeterred
though, Brixham continued to push forward, when the temptation may have been to
drop deeper and protect what they had. It was through this positive approach
that a fourth goal finally arrived, it was to be the last goal of the game, and
it was a much deserved three points for a Brixham outfit that inflicted only
the third defeat on Spurs this season.
It had been a very enjoyable day out in the town of Brixham
and at Brixham AFC, but most importantly, Mrs Hatt had equally enjoyed the
experience.
Now then, I’ve got a 4G lined up in a cage in Bradford on
the 11th November, what are the chances of…..in fact, no, quit while
you’re ahead Bob, remember Anglesey?
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| Stood By The Corner Flag - Ready For A Getaway |
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