Stirabout

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With Bury vs Oxford cancelled by 9am due to our infamous inability to thaw Gigg Lane out between November and May, I decided to stir out to Oadby Town. By chance I had a cheap camera in the car and a toddler in the back.

I gave the blokes on the gate £4 (which compares very favourably with Prem prices) and stuck my car in the end that Oadby were attacking. My spider senses told me it was warmer in the car than out, so we stayed put for ten minutes (with a pretty good view)before braving the cold.
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An action shot of the Stratford Town goalkeeper clearing his lines. My best action shot was of a free kick about ten minutes in, as it rasped into the top corner past the despairing dive of the goalkeeper. It was about that point that I realised I had no memory card in the camera.

Lad was getting a bit cold so I pointed the pram towards Brocks Hill, delighting in the ability to choose any vantage point we wanted.


Another thing I love is the high tech PA system, together with audible announcements - again, unlike some grounds I could mention.

Not a lot going on here. Oadby's goal keeper has just cleared the ball after a promising Stratford attack. The photo is significant in that while I was taking it Oadby swiftly countered and scored their second. Not sure exacctly what happened but I got the impression is was a speculative shot by this guy from about where he is here, after being clattered while scoring.

Fire engine with siren going appears at the far end. Probably my lad's favourite moment.
With a few minutes to go before half-time we headed for the clubhouse. It's been done up, and not to my taste. The carpet's been replaced by grey lino, for a start. It's while taking in these developments that I glance outsife and see the ball lobbing gently into the Oadby net to make it 2-1. If you are going to see the opposition scoring, it might as well be when you're clutching a freshly pulled pint of Guinness.

Another thing they've done is put the door at the front, just behind the goal, which is daft cus this bloke's in the way! While I'm trying to see round him, Stratford score again - but from my ideal vantage point (at the bar) the chap who nodded in the header was clearly offside.

The rugby's just about to kick off - though I don't like where they've put the telly either!

Lad plays with train.

Oadby kick off for the second half and we brave the cold again.

We head for the stand, which proves to be a wise decision. We sit next to the "Press Box" - which is a couple of breeze blocks, with a chunk of wood on to p and a sign that says "Press." You'll have to imagine it as the camera died as I was trying to get a picture.
Two lasses I take for girlfiends of turn up(if they weren't girlfriends of then they were perversely interested in the local football disciplinary panel). Since I've not been since the days of Tyrone Mintus, I no longer know any players by name- so I'm glad of observations like "Here comes Miller to ask the lino how much time is left so he knows how much energy to use up"

Fantastic bit of banter between the Stratford press bloke and the assistant referee. The former is not the most articulate bloke I've ever met (F*ing pass the f*ing ball! What did you shoot for, you can't f***ing shoot!). The latter is a big bald bloke who occasionally obscures my view, but I'm not gonna complain.
Flashpoint is the arrival as a substitute of a guy called Bailey, who moves well for a lad who I am sure I saw necking a pie in the bar at half time. He's been on for about 38 seconds when he chops a guy off at the knee and gets a straight red.

As he's walking off (No 16 in picture)I listen with glee to this:
Stratford Press Guy: Lino, you are a disgrace.
[Lines man turns menacingly to face the gobshite. He was 30 yards from the decision and did not flag}
Lino: How am I a disgrace?
SPG: You're all part of the same team. I'll have to write all this up now.
Lino: What do you want me to do, tell the ref to bring him back on?
SPG: Yeah, you do that.

By that time, though, the guy had walked. Stratford's no 10, pictured being compassionate and concerned, had been the only one of their forwards to battle for the ball. So he'd been booked. And as the game wore on, he was beaten to the ball and chopped his opponent in revenge - then walked off before he could be shown his second yellow.
Couple of smart counter attacks from Oadby. One lad surged forward and smacked the post. Another rounds two men, then rounds the keeper, then walks into the bar for a round - well he might as well have, he certainly ran out of pitch.
Despite the bad-tempered closing stages, Oadby hold out against the nine men.
Oadby Town 2 Stratford Town 1
Probably about 78 people - I didn't count