3g | The Novice Groundhopper

Rugby Town 1 Atherstone Town 3 Att: h/c fluctuated between 20 and 40 throughout the game

This game was originally planned to be played at Atherstone’s Sheepy Road ground, however after what has felt like biblical amounts of rain in this most British of Summers, this game was switched to Rugby due to a waterlogged pitch.

There were very few pre season fixtures to pick from this week, with most clubs starting their programmes next weekend, and the plan for a while had been to get to Atherstone. However due to the small number of options available I went along and felt that although I had previously been to Butlin Road, that was in the main stadium and on real grass, the 3G pitch is adjacent and therefore, in my eyes, a new ground to scoop!

As I approached the pitch, it soon became apparent that this would be a freebie. The 3G pitch is enclosed in a cage-like enclosure, with no dugouts and only coaching staff and players within the perimeter. No programme either. I took residence high on the banking behind one of the goals and waited for the game to start.

Rugby playing in light blue against their visitors in red and white stripes settled the most quickly out of the two teams and seemed to be playing attractive free-passing football. Fazel Koriya, a new signing from Long Buckby, who I had seen a couple of times last season, was making most of the early running for Rugby who took the lead on about 10 minutes.

It was shortly before this that I had noticed that the Linesmen for today’s offering were actually drafted from the subs of the playing teams, instantly evoking memories of my school days, when such practice was commonplace. Both linos were in full kits of their clubs, but also wearing bibs. The Atherstone man running the half that his team were defending and obviously likewise for Rugby. I began to wonder if there might be a conflict of interest here. Shortly after the 1st goal the Atherstone linesman ruled a Rugby one-on-one attack with the keeper offside. I was too far away to see if that conflict of interest was tested.

After 28 minutes the ref blew for half time! WTF! It might be pre-season but shortening the length of the game!?! It later transpired that in fact an agreement had been struck to play 3 30 minute periods. So it was only third time!

In the 2nd half (sorry third) a Rugby player was brought down in the box and to save the lino the trouble the ref immediately gave it. Atherstone’s ‘keeper saved. Shortly after the visitors equalised and that was the score at the end of the 2nd third (sound’s so wrong).

In the third third (now this is just stupid), Atherstone started to take control of the game. At one corner the Rugby lino threw off his bib, shouted to one of his team mates and a quick substitution was made. I must say I have never seen a linesman being used as a substitute to defend a corner. All to no avail, the corner came in, it was met by a powerful header and the ‘linesman’ failed to clear off the line!

Atherstone continued to press and in the dying moments a back-pass was being chased down by an Atherstone striker. The Rugby ‘keeper sliced his clearance straight upwards, the striker and keeper waited for the ball to drop … until the keeper lost patience and wrestled the striker to the ground in a move that Kendo Nagasaki would have been proud of. Both players lay spread eagle in the 6 yard box … the ball bounced down and into the net. 3-1 to Atherstone.

Seconds later it was full time. It may have been unorthodox, but it was my first game in nearly 8 weeks and at last the 2012 / 2013 groundhopping season had begun!