Saturday 7th March 2015 @2.30pm
EOFL Premier Division
M&B CLUB 0-0 HAROLD WOOD ATHLETIC
May & Baker Social Club, Dagenham Road. RM7 0QX
Admission: Nil
Programme: None
Attendance: 13 h/c
Refreshments: Guinness, £3.35
Needed a cheap day out so chose this fixture as I had heard good things about the club and the expectation of a programme. I drove from home in under an hour and after driving the 250yds from the road entrance before arriving at the large car park. As well as the well maintained clubhouse, there are changing rooms for several sports. There are squash courts, a cricket square and scoreboard, a rugby game in progress on the right sports pitch and the football pitch had a rope and post for all 4 sides although only the 2 touchlines were roped off. The clubhouse had the Bradford v Reading FA Cup match on TV and there is an impressive eatery called Jo's Kitchen with hot drinks and meals available until 5pm. I had brought my own lunch with me so didn't partake. There was no sign of a programme and the barmaid had no idea either. It transpires that the MK Publication sponsored programme for 10 EOFL clubs has ceased from lack of interest and feedback.
I stood on the halfway line opposite the 2 benches and there are fences on 2 sides of the pitch to semi enclose the pitch. Next to me was an old 'un with his early teen grandnephew. He is an Essex groundhopper now and the conversation flowed nicely throughout the match. The game however was poor, and the language from both sides, especially the home side was appalling. One player was booked for calling the 18 year old linesman an f*king spotty c*nt. I can't see 3 officials in this league for much longer if the referee and linesmen have to deal with this abuse every week. There was a couple of bright points in the second half when a shot heading for the top corner was superbly saved by the home keeper and another shot pushed beyond the post. The play in general on a bumpy dry pitch was difficult to maintain ball control and too much whinging puts this down as the worst game so far this season for me.
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