Sticker

Sticker  1  AFC St Austell   4

South West Peninsula League – Premier Division

I had got myself a superb pass out for Good Friday, with the weather reaching tropical like standards, the Hatt’s wanted a day on the beach, and I don’t do beaches for medical reasons, so freedom was granted!

A double was very much on the cards, with the first port of call being just West of St Austell, not far off the main Truro Road, where Sticker were playing local rivals and indeed friends, AFC St Austell, or, ‘Snozzle’ as they were greeted on the board outside the ground!

Sticker Football Club was another of those venues I’ve taken a detour to have a look at in the past, but never seen a game at. Sticker is only a small village sitting on the South side of the main road to St Austell, but the ground is located quite a way out of the village to the North of the road, and without prior knowledge or a sat nav, you’d struggle to find it.

It's been a tough old season for Sticker, their second at Step 6, as they sit bottom of the Premier Division of the Peninsula League. They’ve secured just one win from thirty six games, thirty of which have been defeats. The goal difference is -109 with 135 conceded, and clearly they won’t be sad to be seeing the back of Plymouth Argyle Reserves who’ve beaten them 11-0 and 9-0 in the two games this campaign!

But credit to them, they battle on, and will remain at Step 6 next season when the top tier of the Peninsula splits into Cornwall and Devon League’s. The visitors though have already secured a top five spot this season, albeit some distance away from the title rivals Exmouth Town and Tavistock.

So, what’s the Sticker story?

An East Cornwall League side until 2011-12 season when they secured runner-up position, and with it promotion to the Western Division of the Peninsula. They finished fourth in their first two seasons, followed by a fifth and then a third before being crowned champions in 2016-17.

Last season saw them consolidate with a 15^th place out of 20, and at the same time carry out significant improvements to the picturesque Burngullow Park ground, namely floodlights and covered accommodation.

Burngullow Park is a real delight, and on a bright sunny morning, it’s hard to imagine a better setting for a football match. I managed to secure a parking space right by the entrance of the drive that runs up to the ground, ideally placed for a quick getaway at the end.

Once up the drive, a small pay hut and cheery volunteers wait to greet you and relieve you of your admission money. Once inside of bereft of a few quid, the dressing rooms and clubhouse sit behind the goal. It’s a modern looking and very smart structure, and with a good crowd in attendance of 230, a seasons best, the bar was doing an excellent trade.

All of the furniture to speak of sits on one side of the ground, where a small seated stand straddles the half way line, with more recently added covered areas sitting to each side of it, with the dugouts in between.

It’s the views though that really make it, along with the very rural setting, it’s a somewhat idyllic place, and perhaps even an unlikely location for Step 6 football. The whole ambience was of friendliness and helpfulness, this is a real community club who goes out of it’s way to welcome visitors. I would heartily recommend it to anyone yet to pay a visit.

I expected the game to be pretty one sided and I wasn’t wrong. Despite Sticker putting in a valiant effort, the visitors were always in control of proceedings. The first goal came after just five minutes through Liam Eddy, while Martin Watts added a second with a powerful header. It was 3-0 just before the break when Aidan Dingle slotted home with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Eddy got his second of the game and Snozzle’s fourth from the penalty spot before an own goal saw plucky Sticker get a consolation.

So that was Sticker, a great start to Good Friday, it was a gentle jog back to the car as the bulk of the crowd went in search of more Strongbow Dark Fruits. I had part two to make my way to…….