Until The End

Ludgvan   0  Wadebridge Town  5

South West Peninsula League – Division One West

It was when Mrs H asked to have a quick look at the programme that a sense of nervousness took over me.

You see, Mrs H is quite happy to travel the length and breadth of the UK watching football with me, but she has certain criteria. I won’t go into all of the specifics regarding seating, availability of food and drink etc etc, but one thing that she does like to see is a competitive game.

“Oh my God, they’ve lost every game, in fact, they’ve been hammered most weeks, what have you bought me to see?” – was the cry once she got to the results page.

Ludgvan Football Club, on the pitch this season has been something of a horror show, but before I go into the specifics, it would be wrong if I didn’t point out the fact that this is a club that almost resigned from the league on the eve of the season, and even then, when they did start the campaign, very few expected to see them finish it.

The Impressive Clubhouse

So, when I pencilled in the Easter Saturday game, right at the beginning of August when Phil Hiscox released the fixtures, I was utterly convinced it wouldn’t be taking place, probably like many others. 

But the club deserve huge credit because they are still around, despite the hammerings, and with just two games left to go, they were going to soldier on and see the season out.

Clearly they won’t be in the South West Peninsula League next season, restructuring has pretty much seen to that, the destination the Cornwall Combination I would expect, but just what has happened on the field this season?

The record reads as follows, 26 played, 26 defeats (albeit two were forfeited), and as a result they sit on minus six points. Goals scored are 11, goals conceded are 189. Double figures has been conceded seven times, with the record being a huge 20 at champions Liskeard Athletic, although, the week prior to today’s game, Liskeard were only able to score once in the return fixture.

From Atop The Bank

You can kind of see Mrs H’s concern really, but I did point out that recent defeats haven’t been quite so heavy, she seemed mildly appeased!

It was another glorious day in Cornwall that started with a game of golf at Hayle, before a fruitless drive around trying to find a pub that did lunch, we finished up with a Tesco Meal Deal! To be fair though, if you are going to pick any part of the Country to drive round aimlessly, then Cornwall would be it.

Ludgvan is a pretty village just a couple of miles outside Penzance, just off the main A30, and the ground is effectively the village community centre, but the first thing that strikes you as you drive into the car park is the large and impressive facility that’s been built. Incorporating dressing rooms and the like, it has a very smart bar area with balcony on the top floor. I suspected more people were in the bar watching the live sport than had come to watch Ludgvan v Wadebridge Town.

Stand

In front of the building is a perfectly placed grass bank behind the goal, with the pitch down below. A small wooden shelter sits between the dug outs to provide cover, but otherwise it is a large open expanse that’s shared with the local cricket club.

The game had attracted a few members of the travelling fraternity, Lee West from Southam, Lee Vaughan off of Shrewsbury, Andy Langford from Surrey and the absolute bloody legend of football ground photography that is Bob Lilliman had chosen to grace us with his presence. We managed a bit of a gathering at half time, but on a day like today it was about keeping out of the sun and keeping topped up with liquid!

Cricket Side

Ludgvan, who had a player aged sixty in the side, battled hard throughout the game but inevitably fourth placed Wadebridge managed to find the net five times, and even with that they had chances to have scored double. Two quick goals around the tenth minute from Kyle Flew and Dan Jennings set the tone, while in the second period Matt Lloyd, Neal Kinsman and Sam Gerken added to the tally.

Massive credit must be given to Ludgvan though, the club officials were friendly and helpful, they charged admission when it may have tempting not to bother (which I have seen happen before), and they did a neat programme as I mentioned which to be fair I wasn’t expecting.

But ultimately, they’ve survived the season, when many thought it simply wouldn’t happen, and for that they deserve our admiration and respect. Hopefully now they can rebuild at a lower level, and who knows, maybe one day find themselves back in the Peninsula.

I actually think Mrs H quite enjoyed it as well, but I think the sunshine might have had something to do with that!

Lilliman / Vaughan / West / Laughlin / Langford @ Ludgvan