Keep away from the drummer!

Wednesday 25 August 2021, Woodford Town 2 Saffron Walden Town 2 - Essex Senior League, Ashton Playing Fields

Woodford are back home - new ground, no fan like an athletics track round the pitch but you need to make the best of what you have and Woodford have done that - good clubhouse, plenty of helpful stewards and even a drummer!

Football wise, it was bottom v top but there was enough on show to make you think Woodford will get a winning run soon. Best bit? Size of the crowd and many of them locals, over 300 again at Ashton.

You can survive

Saturday 2 November 2013, Saffron Walden Town FC 2 Debenham Leisure FC 2, Thurlow Nunn League Division 1 - Catons Lane

This week we saw Cornard possibly having to stop playing and I heard also that Woodbridge Town may be without a home next season, worrying times for non league clubs - but there is a way back and a visit to West Essex yesterday highlighted that. Saffron Walden had to take a break from Senior football but are now back in the Thurlow Nunn, playing well a youthful team and best of all and to give hope to others- playing in front of some of the largest crowds in Division One.

I took in the game yesterday v Debenham, both teams played decent football which was hard on a slippery, sloped and not the greatest playing surface in the area.

Walden took the lead and no surprise as it came from a corner - where they dominated and Debenham played nice football but seemed to struggle in the final third.

The second half then came as a surprise, as Debenham got in front, a nice team goal followed by a stunning individual effort. Walden got back on terms - no surprise as it came from a corner! Walden then dominated for the last 15 minutes with their substitutes giving them fresh impetus, but Debenham held on for a point.

Walden have a fine balance with ex QPR man Stuart Wardley at the back a few more experienced players and a number of promising youngsters in the squad.

But where a town like Woodbridge need to take hope is the crowds Walden get and also the money spent in the bar and on food, a town like Woodbridge should be able to do the same but the problem in Suffolk is that Woodbridge may be losing their ground.

But if you get a chance visit Catons Lane, some great non-league stands and some good football.

Thank you twitter

Saturday 27 July 2013, Ely City 2 Saffron Walden Town 1, Pre-season friendly, Unwin Ground

Two senior Suffolk grounds to visit and today I thought I would tick one off and visit Mildenhall but lucky for me, I checked twitter just before I set off and found the opponents could not get a team and that match was called off late in the day.

Quick check of the web and found that just over the border in Cambridgeshire that Ely City were playing a home friendly. So I got a game in, a new ground and what a view- the Cathedral can been seen in the distance making it seem more like a setting for cricket, the weather also was more suited for cricket!