Any Given Sunday

Greendale Oak  5  Langold Old Boys  1

Worksop Sunday League – First Division

This Sunday League stuff is ok you know?

After doing a cheeky little double the other week, taking in games in the Burton and Alfreton varieties, it was time to head a little bit further North and try the Worksop version.

Of course, the idea behind it was to pick up one of the grounds being used on a Saturday, without using a Saturday so to speak. Having been alerted of the fact that newcomers to the Central Midlands League, St Josephs Rockware of Worksop, were playing on the same pitch that Greendale Oak used and indeed seemingly were joint custodians of, it all made perfect sense.

St Josephs themselves were a Sunday side up until the start of the season, and having made the decision to move into Saturday football they needed a home, and that home was to be on the Sandy Lane ground that is also the home of Worksop Town Juniors. Prior to this season, it does look as though St Josephs played at a school. I suspect the sponsorship tie up with Rockware had something to do with it, as the ground is actually referred to as the Rockware Sports Ground.

Names, grounds and sponsorship aside, it was a new venue for me, despite the fact I’ve probably driven past it dozens of times as it sits just a few hundred yards further back up the road from Worksop Town’s ground, and upon arrival, via B &Q for some bulbs and batteries, I was pleasantly surprised.

Firstly, parking wasn’t easy despite there being a car park on site. Various junior games were also taking place on the Sunday morning so cars were strewn up and down Sandy Lane. Secondly, once down at pitch side, Steve and I were delighted to see that the bar was open….

When we say bar, it was 10.45am, and it was actually a tea bar, not a real bar, you would need to go down into Worksop to Wetherspoons for that, or simply get some cans and stand pitch side. We did think about it, but we’re both married and all of that, it wouldn’t have been well received…..

So, with a warm cup of coffee on a wet but muggy morning, we surveyed the scene. The adult pitch rang length ways just under the main road side, while in the centre of the arena was a protected cricket square. Beyond the cricket were a number of small sized pitches being used by the kids, while a number of portakabin style buildings sat at the side of the ground and were used as either storage or changing facilities.

A very new looking building, incomplete though, sits at the very top of the complex, adjacent to the edge of the nearby factory, and this looks like it may be a new cricket pavilion, but I couldn’t say for absolute certain what the intentions are with it.

What about the game though, between two sides who’ve started the season with two wins from two?

To be honest, Greendale Oak looked a very good side, and I’m not sure how many of them play on Saturday’s and at what level, but this was a class above what we saw the other week. The pitch was in superb condition and that clearly helped, but some of the football, and indeed the finishing was very good indeed.

After Langold had a player sent off, Greendale scored two first half goals to set them on their way, and then a further three came in the second period, one of which was akin to a Dennis Bergkamp turn and finish. Langold did pull a goal back, but to be fair, they were always second best to a very good outfit.

Chris O’Grady (not the ex Forest and Wednesday player) got one as did Nathan Sherwood, Leigh Warriner who was superb also netted one, while Daniel Wiltshire got a brace.

Is that Sunday League done for me now? Well the other week after the first two, I said one more, but now I’m looking at Barnsley next weekend, that could be quite special you know?