Down south for plenty of goals

Saturday 19 October 2019, Charlton Athletic Under 18s 3 Ipswich Town Under 18s 3 - Development League, Sparrows Lane and then onto:
Crowborough Athletic 2 AFC Croydon Athletic 5 - Crowborough Community Stadium, Southern Counties, East Football League, Premier Division.

Double game day, south of the Thames and I was rewarded with 13 goals!

The youth game at Charlton had six goals and a penalty save - a game Ipswich should have won but they were not helped by a ref, who was keen to book as many players as he could then add on an amazing amount of injury time- fortunate for Charlton as they scored in injury time in both halves!

A sort drive then into East Sussex, surprised to find that we were the only people in the clubhouse, but all was explained when entering the ground as in the corner of the ground was the Crow Arms, also selling the excellent Harvey's beer!

The whole ground had character, from the small seated strand, the view over the forest and the covered terrace behind the goal which included the changing rooms and a tea bar.

Football wise neither team are on a great run but I saw enough from both teams to think they should be on the move upwards and in particular, Croydon seemed to have a great attacking threat.

Trams outdone by the Rams

Wednesday 5 October 2016, Croydon 0 AFC Croydon Athletic 3 - Southern Counties East Football League, Premier Division, Croydon Arena

The Croydon Derby match - 'The Trams' v 'The Rams', but only a small crowd in a vast athletics arena - not great atmosphere  and a cold windy night but we did some goal mouth action! In fact it could have ended up 5-5, the score certainly did not reflect the football played.

The visitors actually used to share this athletics arena, bet they are glad they are back at their own ground - even if the lights occasionally fail!

So Athletic stay top and am sure there will be plenty more good football this season, but even if many of the games are against close neighbours it does not seem to attract the crowds you would expect.

And the lights went out!

Wednesday 28 September 2016, AFC Croydon Athletic 2 Beckenham Town 0 - Southern Counties East League, Mayfield Stadium (Keith Tuckey Stadium)

A trip to South London, and a strange drive down a number of narrow lanes- then you reach a great little ground. Friendly welcome from a club sitting on top of the table.

An early goal made me think it would be a great night of football, but the visitors failed to buckle and it ended up a scrappy game - then the problem!  The floodlights failed after 68 minutes, but after a break of 20 minutes the club officials , sorted out the problem.

A second goal gave Croydon the win, their 8th league win on the trot as they stay on top of the table.