Warwick

Elston United  2  AFC Top Valley  6

Nottinghamshire Senior League – Division Two

There was a tragic irony in the fact today was the first time in over thirteen years that I’d been to watch a football match in Newark.

It would have been 2005 when I made my one and only visit to watch Newark Town play, and since then the opportunity has simply not arisen, despite at the time being somewhat bemused by the Antideluvian Order Of Buffaloes that met in the clubhouse! 

The opportunity did arise this season when it came to light on the eve of the campaign that Elston United, a club from a village near the town, who were originally scheduled to play their games at Cotgrave, would be playing at the Balderton Sports Ground on the outskirts of Newark.

Today was always planned to be the day I was going to be making a visit, with fellow newcomers AFC Top Valley due to be the visitors, but currently Newark is a town mourning the loss of one of its Sons.

It was the previous Saturday that I found out on social media that Warwick Lane had passed, losing a very brave battle with leukemia. Warwick, who was only 25, and also known as Rick, had beaten the disease once, but it came back very recently. I was shocked to hear of his passing because since his diagnosis he had been prolific and very upbeat on his Twitter account, and nowhere did he give a clue as to the sheer graveness of his situation. A mark of the man, clearly.

I knew Rick to speak to, but I know his Father, Richard much better. I’ve been bumping into Richard for years at various games, for Richard is a huge follower of local football, and the Central Midlands League in particular where he is the Press Officer.

He’s helped me out over the years with snippets of news, and was always good for getting the programmes from the new clubs that I sought. Invariably always at Richard’s side at games was Rick, and I remember speaking to Rick at Harworth earlier in the year where we discussed his recovery from his first bout of the dreadful illness. He looked well, he was on good form and was about to embark on a programme to both highlight and raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Anthony Nolan Trust. Running the Newark Half Marathon being one of the events he had planned, but his second diagnosis just prior to the race meant he had to withdraw.

Rick’s passing is an absolute tragedy for the family, but clearly it was felt within the local community, where Rick worked as a reporter for the Newark Advertiser, as well as doing stints on the local radio station. Tributes flooded in, minutes silences were observed at games, Rick was remembered fondly.

A huge credit to Richard though, because the day after Rick left us, like clockwork, he produced the CMFL round-up and had it posted on the various outlets as promptly as he always does. Incredible really under the awful circumstances.

So, there was a sense of tragic irony as I drove into the small but pretty town on a damp September afternoon. The route from the A46 took me into the centre of the town, and then back out on the road to Balderton, before turning left at the Retail Park and onto Coronation Street where the Sports Ground sits at the end.

I was early, but after parking up and checking the game was on (along with what seemed to be a crucial cricket game) I made my way to the nearby Grove pub for sustenance. Suitably sustenanced (a word I’ve made up), I had a gentle stroll back to the ground to have a look at the facilities.

It was very nice. A community hall sat at the end of the car park with the dressing room block bolted next to it, serving the various pitches that were available, of which I counted at least three football pitches of the full sized variety, and also the aforementioned cricket field. Next to the changing rooms was a very pretty café that also served as a children’s craft centre. It looked to be a busy place, with young families taking advantage of some entertainment and creativity for the kids, while lunch or coffee could also be taken.

The pitch Elston play on is at the very far side of the complex and runs lengthways to some adjacent houses. It is enclosed in part by trees, but otherwise it is open, but due to being at the edge of the site, it does have a slightly secluded feel about it.

Elston had yet to win this season but Top Valley had made a better start to the campaign, however the hosts did take the lead through Euan Sweeting not long after the game kicked off.

By half time though the visitors had clawed their way back into the game and had reversed things by moving into a 2-1 lead. Top Valley continued to have chances in the early stages of the second period but then we had a potential game changing moment when the referee decided to give Elston a penalty for pushing in the area, despite the ball not actually being in play!

Sweeting made it 2-2, and despite being rattled for a period, the visitors quickly restored the advantage, and that seemed to deflate Elston who then went on to concede three goals in quick fire succession to win the game 6-2. The goals coming from Tom Cowling, Luke Gregory and the impressive Kane Pearson who found the net four times.

That was Newark again, and I’m not sure when my next visit will be, hopefully not another thirteen years. But what I do know is the Rick would have enjoyed that game, just like he enjoyed every game he went to with his Father and his best friend, Richard.

Why do the worst things always seem to happen to the nicest people? There but for the grace of God go I……