Friendly
It was while stood in the queue at the chemical toilet
disposal point that I began to think about my very purpose in life.
I’m no existentialist, but, there is something quite
endearing about a gaggle of men carrying their plastic boxes and waiting
patiently to head behind closed doors to empty the previous days waste into a
large basin. Very few words are said, and crikey, so many could be in jest, but
decorum remains and like faithful servants of the great God of the Caravan
Community, we go about our tasks and trudge back, knowing that we’ll be doing
the same thing at the same time, the following day.
It was while in the longer than usual queue on the Monday
that I began to ponder the day ahead, and of course the evening’s football fayre
at nearby Crediton United. Life is relatively simple, I like it that way, work
hard, make sure the family are safe and get the best I can give them, while aside
from that, I only really have one interest and that’s travelling to different football
matches and taking advantage of the amber nectar opportunities as and when they
present themselves.
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| Devon At It's Finest |
So, from a planning point of view, we had a full day ahead.
First of all it was to be a drive onto a misty and damp Dartmoor, before then
dropping into Princetown and having a look around the superb Dartmoor Prison
Museum. Thereafter it was a short drive to the beautiful little town of
Tavistock for some lunch, and then on the way back visit a garden so Mrs H
could enjoy one of her passions. The Hatt’s would be looked after, fed, watered
and returned to base camp safely, and then I could go about my business safe in
the knowledge that all was indeed good in the World.
The original plan was to go to watch nearby Teignmouth but
that game got moved to the following evening and also switched to their
opponents ground, but not to worry, just the other side of Exeter, a mere
nineteen miles away, former Western League outfit Crediton United were taking
on neighbouring Southern League side Tiverton Town.
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| Scenes |
Crediton are now a Step 7 side plying their trade in the
Eastern Division of the South West Peninsula League, but it hasn’t always been
the case. For an eight year period in the Nineties they were indeed a Western
League side, with a best finish of eleventh in the Premier Division. But in
1998 they dropped into the Devon County League where they remained and indeed
struggled overall until becoming founder members of their current league in
2007, where they have remained.
Life has had its ups and downs since, but I can’t help
feeling that a town the size of Crediton, with the facilities they have, which
I’ll come onto in a moment, should be at least playing at Step 6, if not
higher?
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| Tucked Away In The Trees |
I didn’t arrive at the ground until a few minutes before
kick-off, and parking wasn’t easy. The ground is located in an industrial estate
on the outskirts of the town, and forms part of a larger sports complex and
leisure centre. Known as Lords Meadow, the football ground is a real gem.
You enter alongside some smaller sized football courts and
once through the gate to your right is the tea bar, a hospitality area and the
dressing rooms, while to the left is an area of covered terrace, with a
separate seated stand next to it. On the opposite side of the ground is some
additional cover, while the ground itself is lined with trees on three sides,
and of course it’s floodlit. It’s a cracker and you’ll not find many better at
Step 7, I’m certain of that.
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| Buildings |
On the field, the hosts put up a good fight but were
ultimately undone by a strong Tiverton side who had plenty of potency in front
of goal. Jordan Rogers netted a hat-trick, while goals from Ben Mammola, Josh
Key and Harry Evans saw them win 6-0. Five of the goals came in the second
period as Crediton tired, but no shame in the performance, they look to have a
side that might just be able to challenge for something this time around.
A decent sized crowd watched the game, while Crediton did
look to be blessed with a decent number of helpers and officials which is
clearly vitally important in the lower reaches of the non-league game.
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| In The Middle Of An Industrial Estate? |
A thoroughly enjoyable evening at a fantastic venue, and a
very friendly club to go with it. Should the opportunity arise then I’ll happily
tell all of my fellow chemical brothers in the queue that a trip is highly
recommended should they get the opportunity. That’s one way to break the
awkward silence…….
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| Great Facilities At Lords Meadow |
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