Really Friendly in Dorset

I have been to a number of matches in the South West recently but not had a great desire to blog many of them,this changed however at Sherborne Town on Wednesday when I arrived at one of the friendliest clubs I have ever visited
I had been in touch in advance to check that photography was ok and received a prompt and pleasant response from club chairman Steve Paradise,on my arrival at the ground I asked for Steve and he gave me a warm welcome,in addition when he found that I had already paid my entrance fee he got it refunded and gave me a complimentary pass.I had neither sought or expected this,after all I was just another Non League fan but this was as I was to discover typical of this club

As I wondered around the ground getting a few scene setting shots many people exchanged pleasantries ,maybe the balmy evening had something to do with this but it was something you often don't experience

As I am trying to control the size of my finely honed physique  it was  just a coffee from the pleasant little refreshment facility although I was sorely tempted to find out what a Sherborne Whopper

As match commenced and I wondered around the ground looking for different angles I got chatting to a lovely guy (Who's name I failed to get) who showed a real interest in what I did and spoke very highly of the Groundhoppers they get in this lovely part of the world.At half time he introduced me to club media officer martin Blatchford who continued the pleasant welcoming feel of the club.

The match itself was an interesting affair that got better as the night drew on and ended with a comfortable 4-1 victory for the hosts,not my greatest set of shots ever but hopefully some that will do credit to Sherborne and Bitton.

So can I wish all success to Sherborne for the rest of the season and thank them for one of the warmest welcomes I have ever had,if you are ever in the area pay them a visit,I guarantee you will enjoy the experience although I'm not sure Steve is always so generous with his complimentary passes

A Great Day Out In Finchley

About 3 years ago  came across the work of a photographer called Martin Addison on Flickr who it turned out was club photographer at Wingate and Finchley FC in the Ryman League,as I admired Martin's work I took the opportunity a few months later to pop along to a match and meet Martin.The meeting was very pleasant but as I only had very basic kit with me the photos were not much cop and I promised myself I would return there in better conditions,that opportunity presented itself last Saturday

Luckily I chose not only a fabulous day weather wise but also a day when the club were hosting a community event so there was plenty going on,at the gate another stalwart of the club Mike Bayly who I had come across in a Non League Facebook group but this was the first time we had actually met,what I did find out was that on match days Mike was a very busy man so our chats were short but also sweet

So before the game i got a chance to have a good look around the ground,the stand above is in fact the oldest cantilever stand in the country, and the fans make sure that you know where you are and who they are supporting

Taking a break in the very pleasant bar i got chatting to a guy who turned out to be a mega groundhopper,Chris Mcann  is a Chesterfield fan who was down for Sundays JPT final and chose W&F for his saturday entertainment,talking to him I found out that he travel's all over the world with England visiting local Non League in the process,a very friendly and interesting bloke

Todays opposition Hornchurch were well supported and a good friendly bunch of fans who took no exception to some visiting midlander pointing his camera at them

And so to the match and sadly although a very enjoyable match W&F stayed in danger of relegation succumbing to a 3-0 defeat in a very open and entertaining match that certainly I as a neutral thoroughly enjoyed.

So although Martin,Mike and the rest of the Wingate fans were left disappointed I had thoroughly enjoyed my day at a very hospitable club ,one with an interesting ground and a great bunch of fans who are a credit to the ryman League Premier,I hope that they survive because they are the sort of club who deserve success.I think that this will be an annual pilgrimage to keep in touch with the lovely people of Wingate and Finchley

PS,this is Martin sneaking away to stop me taking a photo of him