Aveley 5 v 3 Maldon & Tiptree Isthmian League Division 1 North
After a pretty crap week, I decided to get myself out today (Friday) and be more proactive, so I spent the morning volunteering at a local community surplus hub offering free food, home essentials, clothes, toys without assessment or referral to anyone that needs it. I normally help out on a Wednesday but put an additional shift in today.
It is a very simple idea, to ensure surplus foods are distributed to the community. We collect surplus foods from local supermarkets, bakers etc and distribute it to anyone who calls at our sites. Additionally, we often have food from large distribution companies, toiletries, 2nd hand clothing etc.
No one is means tested. There are no hoops to go through and clients can choose what they like, unlike most foodbanks which give clients pre-prepared packs whether the client wants or needs the foods.
It is very cathartic to help out at a place like this and to provide help to those who find themselves in need. It is also heartening to speak to our clients and see how much they appreciated the help given.
So that was my morning and early afternoon taken care of. Arriving home, I did something I have been putting off for a while and cleaned my bike and the chain. I’m not sure why I have been avoiding doing this task. It seems to be the story of my life – putting things off for no good reason.
This evening saw me attending a Friday night football match for the first time in ages. I cannot go tomorrow as I am doing something with the community surplus hub, so for my weekend football fix, it was down to Parkside at Aveley to watch then host Maldon & Tiptree in an Isthmian League Division 1 North game.
Parkside at Aveley is a venue I have visited many times since Aveley moved there a few years ago. However, most times I have been there has been to watch either Grays Athletic or May & Baker who groundshare there.
Aveley moved to a new ground 4 years ago after selling their old ground nearby for housing. I always loved the main stand at their old ground, but the whole ground had become rundown.
The new ground has been very well designed. As well as the main pitch, there is land around it used as other football pitches. The main pitch is a 3G pitch, which enables it to be used as a home by 3 sides.
The ground is rather effective but also very simple. It has a main stand which has a clubhouse available for hire and also a smaller secondary bar at the other end of the stand. On the opposite side of the ground there is a small, seated stand and behind each goal there are two small covered terraces. The rest of the ground is simply hard standing around the 3G pitch. There is plenty of space to redevelop the ground if necessary if Aveley were to move up the leagues.
The idea of having two separate bars in the main stand is proving to be a money earner for the club. Tonight, for example the main bar was booked out for a private function. I presume this was booked before the game on the Friday night was arranged. By having the second smaller bar it meant that Aveley were still able to earn an income from those going to the game who wished to have a drink.
The game itself is between two sides that were doing very well prior to the lockdown. Three seasons ago Aveley had a run in the FA Trophy reaching the quarter final stage. Maldon and Tiptree two seasons ago had a stunning win over Leyton Orient in the FA Cup. But there were four divisions between the two sides. Maldon deservedly won the game.
This season however neither side are doing as well as could be expected. Both sides are in the middle of the table. From this I was not expecting a particularly exciting game. However as there are no other local games on tonight this was Hobson’s choice.
Arriving at the ground and paying my £10 admission I noticed they now have a new scoreboard at the ground. That was a cause for surprise as the scoreboard showed that Aveley were playing Uxbridge tonight. I could have sworn they were playing Maldon. Eventually somebody realised this, and the scoreboard was corrected. Being a Friday night game there were quite a few groundhoppers at the game and this was a chance to catch up with people I haven’t spoken to for some time and make plans for future games.
The first half of the game showed Maldon take a three-nil lead. You may think that this was a one-sided game. It wasn’t the difference was Aveley took the three chances they had and scored them whereas Maldon wasted every chance they had. If the score had been level at half time it would not have been an unfair reflection on how the game had gone.
Second half of the game saw Maldon score early on to make it 3-1. Was a comeback on the cards? After more Maldon pressure, Aveley scored again to make it 4-1. Then another Maldon goal made it 4-2 before Aveley added a fifth. Act 5-2 the game was surely over. However, with virtually the last kick of the match Maldon scored again to make it 5-3. That last girl was so late that I had already taken a photograph of the scoreboard showing the score 5-2 with 90 minutes on the clock.
A thoroughly entertaining game with eight goals and my first local non-league fixture for some time. It was good to get out and to meet up with fellow groundhoppers. It was also far more enjoyable than most premiership or England games I have seen for some time. Both sides were committed played with passion rather than playing simply for money. It is good to get and watch live football.
Bobby Shaftoe's Gone to Sea 