I’m not familiar with Brighouse (though I once changed trains here) and use the satnav to take me through town, up a hill and down a lane to the ground. I’m early, so enjoy a prime parking spot outside the Heffernan Utilities Stadium (!), even turning my car around. I’m all about the quick getaway today. Down an even smaller lane is the car park (pretty full already, presumably of players’ and officials’ cars) and I’m through the turnstile, down the side of a giant portacabin which acts as social club and refreshment kiosk.
You enter in one corner of the ground. I had no expectations, but this place is basic to say the least. A reflection of their relatively poor crowds for this level? The touchline to my left has a propped roof and a couple of rows of seats virtually the length of the pitch. (Wikipedia tells me there’s 100 seats, 200 covered, so that shows you how small this stand is.) The far goal is tightly enclosed by a fence, but you’re not allowed to stand here, so no circumference of the ground for me. Still, I can see trees and what looks like a new housing estate being built. The far touchline is bare, save for a football pitch behind, down a small bank. So every time the ball is kicked this side, someone has to run down the hill to fetch it.
The final side houses the social club, as well as the changing rooms, some 50 metres or so further away. Metal barriers have been placed to allow the players an unfettered walk to the pitch. Quite grand, in a way (a very small way). Most fans seem to stand at this end, with easy access to a pint or a burger. Today’s game has been billed as ‘Gilly’s Game’, I think in memory of a former player, so the crowd is up on usual – to 349. Still, small steps.
Today’s visitors are Sherwood Colliery, struggling and almost certainly heading back to where they came from. However, it’s an incredibly windy day and Colliery use the elements to race into a three goal lead within 25 minutes. I watch the first half from the far touchline. It might be windy, but at least it’s not raining. However, by half time I’ve had enough and spend half-time in the social club to warm up. Sadly, there’s no beer I like the look of so my money stays in my pocket.
Second half, I go in the covered stand. At least it acts as a windbreak as I watch Brighouse struggle to make use of the strong breeze being in their favour. Brighouse are never in it, and even concede a 4th on the break. The Colliery centre forward is simply too strong, and too good for a poor defence. The wind holds throughout and Brighouse bag a consolation in the last minute direct from a corner. They are slowly being sucked into a relegation battle that’s entirely of their own making based on this performance.
The Damage:
£10 ent
£2 prog
= £12
No comments:
Post a Comment