Geordie Al's Groundhopper Scrapbook: Carshalton Athletic 0-0 Guernsey, Saturday 24th March 2018

Sunday, 25 March 2018

Carshalton Athletic 0-0 Guernsey, Saturday 24th March 2018

Carshalton Athletic 0-0 Guernsey (att. 405)

This way...

I’m starting to like ‘international weekends’. A chance to ignore England in some meaningless friendly or other, the avoidance of watching another defeat for my team, Barnsley, and a chance to go somewhere new – in this case Carshalton Athletic. An old work colleague is a Vice President (‘how do you get to be vice-president?’ ‘Pay an extra 60 quid on top of the season ticket’) and I’d been meaning to visit.

Turnstiles, looking uncannily like containers.

Actually, this was also an international fixture of sorts, as Guernsey were today’s visitors to the War Memorial Sports Ground. They’d also brought a fair few too, the best part of 100. Chatting to one of their big cheeses in the executive lounge (friends in high places: see earlier), it seems many were ex-pats now living here. He’d made the return flight – he was from Bermondsey.

The green of Guernsey FC.

I hadn’t initially planned on going to Carshalton. I was going to take pot luck and go wherever Dulwich Hamlet were playing, ‘unless it’s Needham Market.’ It was Needham Market, about 3 hours from London Liverpool Street by train. No thanks. Instead, it was Peckham Rye to Carshalton (one change) and an easy stroll to the stadium nearby.

The teams, like caged tigers.

I entered the social club to find about 30 Guernsey having a sit down meal. Little did I know, Carshalton possess TWO social clubs. I went through a door and found another bar, with fans milling and a match on the big screen (I forget who). Apparently it was all brand new and available for wedding bookings, etc. Between the social club(s) and the renting of the plastic pitch, the future looks rosy for Carshalton. Good luck to them. I grabbed a pint awaited my mate.

Carshalton team photo, 72-73; an actual tiger.

Phil (and the missus: she was in charge of making hot soup for the away officials) arrived and we chatted the usual rubbish. However, I did learn that Dulwich Hamlet, who’ve presently been evicted from their own ground, were offered Carshalton’s, but chose Tooting’s instead, mainly cos the latter had a lot more parking. Shame, as otherwise, Carshalton’s facilities were excellent.

I should bloody think so!

For a start, there was cover on all four sides*; behind one goal the cover extended the length of the pitch, the opposite end covered maybe half. The far side terrace though was quite considerable, as well as roofed. Perfect for Hamlet’s bigger support, even if the terrace is a little lop-sided. The stadium is completed with a small, smart, seated stand on the halfway line. We stood by the fence encircling the pitch.

*when telling this to a couple of Arsenal mates, days later, one said 'big wow', till the other one pointed out even Highbury didn't have cover on all 4 sides. (Well, not till later years, and even then not much.)

Some Guernsey fans behind the goal.

What I hadn’t realised was how far up the Bostik 1st Division (South) Carshalton were, up there challenging for promotion and 6 wins in 6. Guernsey, without a win in 16, were lambs to the slaughter. Only it didn’t happen quite like this, with the Islanders holding out relatively comfortably, despite being camped in their own half. Afterwards, the Guernsey officials apologised; ‘we’re very sorry. That wasn’t meant to happen.’ Oh well. I hadn't seen any goals, but it was a decent enough game, helped by the artificial pitch.

Speaking of which, it's time for the pub.

Full time and, while Phil and Jane were off to line dancing somewhere in Surrey, I was told to have a beer in The Hope, near the station. A glorious pub and a worthy CAMRA award winner. I’m coming here (the Memorial Ground) again. I just wish The Hamlet had decided to play their games here too..

The Damage: £10 ent
£3.80 Amstel (x2)

Programme? I asked. Apparently, the league wanted a club to volunteer to go digital with their programme. To no-one at Carshalton’s agreement, the owner volunteered them. What this means is that the very people most likely to watch Carshalton (old blokes) are the least likely to want to read a programme on their mobile. Whothehell would?

The Tunes:
Favourite Worst Nightmare (Arctic Monkeys)
Fading Frontier (Deerhunter)
Fabric 84 (Mathew Jonson)