Seaford Town

Seaford Town FC is a non-league football club from the town of the same name, which is located in Sussex on England’s south coast. The club was formed in 1888 as Seaford FC, playing local football.

After World War I, the club joined the Mid Sussex League, where they played until the outbreak of more hostilities, from their home ground at The Crouch Recreation Ground. In 1952, the 'Badgers’ became founder members of the Sussex County League, playing in Division Two as Seaford Town FC.

Promotion was achieved to Division One in the 1963-64 campaign. Town remained at that level until they were relegated to the second tier of the competition after the 1970-71 season.

The club made the decision to leave the Sussex County League in 1978 before rejoining as founder members of Division Three for the 1983-84 season. Town went on to lift the Division Three title in 1985-86.

Further success followed as Seaford won the Division Two championship in 1988-89. After two seasons in Division One, the team were relegated at the end of the 1990-91 campaign. Further demotions in 1992-93 and 1996-97 saw the club drop out of the Sussex County League once again.

The club joined the East Sussex League before dropping ‘Town’ from their title after merging with the youth sides of Seaford Seagulls. The club returned to the Sussex County League for the 1999-00 season.

A runners-up finish in 2000-01 saw the club promoted to Division Two, before the club opted to become Seaford Town once again in 2005. Sixth-placed finishes were achieved in 2004-05 and 2006-07.

A fifth-place league ending came in 2010-11 as Town continued to ply their trade in the Sussex County League Division Two until the league was retitled to the Southern Combination, with the old Division Two becoming Division One in the summer of 2015.

Two lower mid-table finishes came in 2015-16 and 2016-17 at The Crouch under manager Scott Osbourne. Richard Brannigan was appointed to replace him in August 2019 during the difficult period for all non-league clubs during the worldwide pandemic.

Brannigan was replaced by Paul Wise, who celebrated 200 games in charge in February 2025. His side reached the playoffs in 2021-22, where Shoreham ended dreams of promotion in the semifinal. In 2023-24, Selsey were defeated before Wick won the final on penalties at The Crouch in front of a crowd approaching 1,000.

Seaford made no mistake in 2024-25, lifting the Division One title to win promotion. Ben Dartnall was given the manager's job in February 2025.

Seaford Town will play in the Southern Combination Premier Division in the 2026-27 season.

My visit

Monday 24th July 2017

My day in East Sussex was underway as I took the train from Victoria down to Lewes. The journey took place with a constant irritating noise as a woman just up the carriage did an excellent Sybil Fawlty impression.

She was hammering the poor bloke opposite into submission as it was time to change trains for Seaford. I’m sure they mentioned they were sailing from Newhaven, so I wasn’t too upset to find peace and tranquillity further up the connection.

Having arrived in Seaford, I found myself wandering through the maze of small streets in the pretty little town by the sea, using my Google Maps App. The only problem with that method was that I didn’t realise some streets were little more than alleys.

Eventually, I found myself on track and entering The Crouch, which was a public park with a football ground. The gates were open on all sides; an old couple were even walking across the pitch, taking a shortcut with their shopping.

It was a neat and tidy set-up with the club buildings containing a small overhang by the entrance in the bottom corner. A neat stand with seats was over on the far side. The rest of the ground was open, flat grass and concrete standing areas.

When I say flat, I mean without any big elevated slopes. However, there was a huge slope across the pitch from the stand side. I could imagine that could have been a bit of an advantage to the home side?

I completed a full lap of the ground to take photos. Three local youths were occupying the home bench, smoking something a tad stronger than the average fags. Once done, I departed from the top gate and caught the number 10 bus on Sutton Road towards Newhaven.

Newport (IOW)

Newport (Isle of Wight) FC is a non-league football club that represents the Isle of Wight county town of Newport; having been formed on January 27th, 1888, and beginning life in Well's Field, which would later be renamed Church Litten.

The 'Port’ became a founder member of the Isle of Wight League in 1898, going on to become champions in 1907-08 before retaining the title for the next two seasons to make it three in a row.

A further championship was won in 1924-25, leading to a move to the East Division of the Hampshire League, followed by spells in the Central and South sections as the league was restructured. After being placed in Division One of the competition, Newport lifted the title in the 1929-30 campaign. 

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Cup triumphs ensued before becoming Hampshire League champions once again in 1932-33. In 1935-36, the team reached round one of the FA Cup, defeating Yeovil & Petters United before crashing out 8-0 away leading amateur side Southall in round two. The Port celebrated their third league title win in 1938-39.

The 1945-46 FA Cup run saw a win over Leyton Orient before a huge 12-0 aggregate defeat in the second round against Aldershot. In 1949-50, Newport won their fourth Hampshire League championship. The 1950s were a decade of success at Church Litten. 

The team was league champions in 1952-53, as well as reaching the first round of the FA Cup, going down against Swindon Town. The same opponents inflicted another defeat at the same stage of the competition in 1953-54, with the league crown being retained. In 1954-55, Newport lost 4–3 at Hinckley Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup.

A fifth Hampshire League title in ten years arrived in 1956-57. FA Cup first-round defeats followed in 1957-58 and 1958-59 to Hereford United and then Shrewsbury Town. However, the run came to an end as the team broke up.

In 1968-69 Newport were relegated to Division Two of the  Hampshire League before winning back their Division One spot in 1970-71 to win back their Division One status. A runner-up spot was followed by another championship in 1978-79.

The good times were back at the club as further league triumphs came in 1979-80 and 1980-81 before becoming founder members of the Wessex League in 1986. In the summer of 1988, Newport left their town centre home for St George's Park.

A Wessex League runners-up place in 1989-90 saw the club promoted to the Southern Division of the Southern League. A first FA Cup first-round appearance since the 1950s came in 1994-95 with Aylesbury United leaving the island with a win.

Enfield inflicted defeat at the same stage of the competition after a replay in 1995-96. After being transferred to the Eastern Division in 1999, the Port lifted that title in 2000-01 to win promotion to the Premier Division.

However, the step up proved too steep as Newport were relegated twelve months later. Following the re-organisation of non-league football, the club was placed in Division One of the Isthmian League in 2004.

A  further move to the Southern League Division One South & West came for the 2006-07 season before Newport dropped back down to the Premier Division of the Wessex League after finishing bottom of the table in 2007-08.

The team generally finished around the mid-table with a couple of sixth places the best showings, until relegation to Division One came in 2017-18. Andy Sampson was appointed as team manager for a third spell at the club in May 2018.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, plans were passed for the ground to build a new home ground by the Racecourse roundabout on Fairlee Road, a couple of miles north-east of the town, after the owners of St George's Park wanted to build a retail park on the site.

Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes Victoria Athletic FC

Newport's home as tenants again from the 2023-24 season

Steve Brougham and Stewart Shepherd took over as joint managers during the 2020-21 season, while the club became tenants of East Cowes Victoria Athletic at Beatrice Avenue while awaiting their new ground.

In 2021-22, the Port reached the playoffs, defeating Folland Sports before losing the final to Laverstock & Ford. The following season, promotion dreams were extinguished in the semifinals of the playoffs to Petersfield Town after finishing as Wessex League Division One runners-up. This was while tenants at Ryde Saints’ Smallbrook Stadium.

A return to Beatrice Avenue followed, a year before Joe Butcher and Martin McDonough were appointed as joint managers for the 2024-25 season. Construction on the new stadium at the Racecourse in Whippingham got underway in October 2024. The club announced that they would become tenants of Cowes Sports from the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Newport (IOW) FC will play in the Wessex League Division One in the 2026-27 season.

My visit

Thursday 5th September 2019

My first ever day on the Isle of Wight was going alright. I’d taken a bus from Ryde to visit the Beatrice Avenue temporary home of the Port before a good walk into town. I’d been disappointed that the Westwood Park ground of Cowes Sports was locked up, but never mind.

The scheduled number 1 bus didn’t turn up, meaning a long wait, when two inevitably turned up at once. It was soon apparent as to why the timetable was in a mess, as we soon encountered road works.

The journey took far longer than anticipated, before another smaller hold-up on the outskirts of Newport. I jumped out on St James’ Street so that I could have a look at the town centre, which seemed decent enough to me. England’s lethargic bowling during the Ashes Test kept me company in the meantime. 

I wandered along High Street to the main road at the end, which caused me temporary confusion before getting on the right track for St George's Way. It took a further ten minutes before I arrived at the fenced-off entrance to the car park of the football ground. It looked like I was going to be denied any photo opportunity. I don’t give up that easily!

Further up behind one end, I saw the newly raised level Asda Superstore. I could get into the field between there and the ground by climbing over a wooden fence. My dodgy knee could have done without it, but this was an only chance opportunity. St George's Park was a really decent non-league venue, but probably too large, if truth be told. 

It had a covered terrace over large sections of three sides and a large clubhouse and other facilities backing onto a good-sized seated stand. The playing surface looked massive and was now becoming overgrown. It looked a sorry sight, as do any abandoned venues. I carefully retraced my steps through the wild natural bush and scrub.

As I walked back around to the entrance, the number 2 bus was approaching. I got on board, just about fitting into a seat next to a local who wasn’t the most helpful on the top deck in offering me any space. Despite that, I enjoyed the scenery on the ride to Shanklin, where I grabbed fish and chips before a siesta at the friendly Victoria Lodge Hotel. 

I then got ready for a walk and a few beers on the seafront and in town. I really enjoyed my first-ever visit to the Isle of Wight. Maybe I’d return one day to see some local football action?

Biggleswade Town

Biggleswade Town FC is a non-league football club from the town of the same name in Bedfordshire that was formed in 1874 as Biggleswade FC before changing its name to Biggleswade & District FC, playing friendly games.

In 1902, the club became members of the Biggleswade & District League, becoming champions in their debut season. Biggleswade played at Fairford Road, sharing the facility with Biggleswade Cricket Club.

In 1920, ‘The Waders’ became members of the Northamptonshire League, which changed titles to the United Counties League in 1934. Following World War II, the club changed its name to Biggleswade Town FC and joined the Spartan League.

Town returned to the United Counties League for the 1951-52 season before joining the Eastern Counties League in the 1955-56 campaign. Biggleswade went back to the United Counties League for a third spell from the summer of 1963.

A further change of competition came in 1980-81 as the club became members of the South Midlands League as a team in the Premier Division before being relegated to Division One in 1982-83. Town restored their Premier League status in 1986-87.

In 1997-98, Biggleswade became a founder member of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division North. The following season, the team were placed in the Senior Division following league re-organisation, winning promotion to the Premier Division at the first attempt.

In the summer of 2006, the club left their Fairford Road home to share with Bedford FC while its new ground on Langford Road was under construction, and the board of directors appointed Chris Nunn as team manager in November of that year.

Nunn led the team away from relegation at the end of the season before taking them to a third-place finish in 2007-08. The new ground was named The Carlsberg Stadium in a sponsorship deal for the start of the 2008-09 campaign.

Town went on to lift the Spartan South Midlands League title in their first season in their first ever owned ground and were promoted to the Southern League Division One Midlands, which was renamed Division One Central for the 2010-11 season.

A fourth-place finish saw the Waders reach the play-offs, where they went down to Daventry Town in the semi-final. The following season saw the team fall away in the latter stages and just miss out on a play-off spot.

In 2012-13, the club appeared in the first round of the FA Cup for the first time before going out 4-1 to Stourbridge at Amblecote, as well as reaching the play-offs once again. Wins against Godalming Town and Rugby Town saw Town promoted to the Premier Division.

Nunn’s team faced a couple of tough seasons in their new elevated status as they finished in nineteenth and fourteenth place before the 2016-17 season saw the team end up in seventh position, just missing out on a play-off berth.

Former Waders midfielder Lee Allinson took over from Nunn in May 2018 as the club was moved to the Premier Division Central after league reorganisation. The side finished seventh and went on a good FA Trophy run, knocking out Wealdstone en route before falling to eventual winners AFC Fylde.

One of the other beaten sides during the run was Hendon, who recognised Allinson's talents as he left Biggleswade to join them in November 2019, with Nunn taking back the reins. Town were fifteenth and then sixteenth when the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns were both ended early owing to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The team was relegated to Division One Central in 2021-22 as Robbie O'Keefe took over as manager. He was replaced by Danny Payne, who took the side, joined by Jimmy Martin, to the league title and promotion back into the Premier Division. Payne then stepped back, giving Martin full control.

The step up proved too severe as the Waders were relegated once more, twelve months later. They regrouped to reach the playoffs in 2025-26, which ended in semi-final defeat to Biggleswade FC, the Town's former under-21 side, who went their own way.

Biggleswade Town FC will play in the Southern League Division One Central in the 2026-27 season.

My visit

Biggleswade Town 3 Slough Town 0 (Wednesday 8th March 2017) Southern League Premier Division (att: 190)

While Wednesday nights were the main evening for midweek football in my youth, Tuesday’s had now taken over. Therefore it was often difficult to find a match to excite; especially one at a previously unvisited venue.

My fellow cricketing and non-league watching pal Tony Foster wasn’t sure, but then called me at lunchtime to see if I was up for a trip to Bedfordshire. I didn’t need a second invitation, so we met at 6pm at Stanmore station ready for my mate to take on driving duties.

The often awkward M1 behaved itself with us arriving just before 7pm. Biggleswade had looked a pretty little town, and definitely a throwback to how many English towns once looked in scenery and demographics.

We purchased our programmes and then went to sit in the roomy clubhouse where a collection was taking place for Mark Scott, the Slough goalkeeper who’d suffered a terrible spine injury a week or two before.

Admission to the Carlsberg Stadium was £10. Programmes cost a further £2. The venue was fairly typical of a new build, with a low main seated stand down the clubhouse side, a covered area for standing fans opposite and an additional small cover behind one goal.

The pitch was immaculate, and definitely flatter than the pot holed car park, which was in a shocking state for something relatively new. An artificial small sides floodlit pitch completed the facility.

We had seen Slough play twice already in the season. They had looked a very decent side in a home win against Leamington and then one on the road at Dunstable Town. Their defence looked dominant, although results had dipped of late. The hosts were in a mid table position before play.

Both teams had shouts for penalties turned away in the early exchanges before the Waders took the lead on thirteen minutes. Rhys Hoenes was fortuitous as his shot took a big deflection to leave Paul Strudley stranded in the visitors net after the keeper had made a fine double save.

Robbie Parker and then Hoenes had efforts go close for the hosts. The Rebels looked at their most dangerous from set pieces. Home keeper Ian Brown saved well from Slough’s James Dobson before Hoenes didn’t quite get enough height on a lobbed attempt on goal.

We grabbed a warm drink at the interval before retaking out position in the standing area on the far side for the second period. The visitors came out a determined bunch in their attempts to grab vital points for their promotion push.

On the hour mark Dobson saw a curling effort crash back off the crossbar. Just a couple of minutes later Brown made a fine point blank stop from a Callum Bunting header before Dobson smashed the rebound against the bar.

The away fans were exasperated along with the managerial bench as their side’s dominance was going to waste. They were made to pay for missed chances on eighty one minutes as Hoenes took advantage of a slip by a Rebels defender to race away and score.

A shocking error at the back between two Slough defenders allowed Hoenes in to complete his hat trick in the dying embers to the delight of the locals. Credit to Bggleswade. They had ridden their luck and taken their chances. I’d have been most dischuffed as a Slough fan.

We got back into the car to hear the remarkable news that Barcelona were somehow turning round a 4-0 away leg to Paris St Germain to go through in the Champions League. We couldn’t believe what we were hearing as the Catalans won the game 6-1.

It summed up all I loved about football. Both games at the Camp Nou and Carlsberg Stadium mattered just as much to the fans and participants; probably more so at Biggleswade. It was the same sport but a million miles apart.

Tony dropped me at Stanmore before I headed to my local to listen to the phone ins and take stock over the evenings action with a pint.

Yeading

Yeading FC was a non-league football club from West London, whose roots could be traced back to 1960. They amalgamated with Hayes FC to become Hayes & Yeading United FC in 2007.

Yeading played many seasons in intermediate and junior football for many years before they were granted senior status in 1984, when they became members of the London Spartan League and moved into The Warren at the bottom of an industrial estate on Beaconsfield Road near Southall.

In 1987, 'The Ding' were promoted to the Isthmian League. In 1989-90, they won a promotion as well as winning the FA Vase against Bridlington Town in a replay at Elland Road after a scoreless draw at Wembley, with future Football League star Andy Impey in their lineup. In 1991, they reached the Isthmian League Premier Division, where they lasted for seven years.

They were back in the top division by 2004 when Johnson 'Drax' Hippolyte took over the reins as Yeading, with future Premier League star DJ Campbell in the team, drew Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round. 

The match was switched to Loftus Road, where a crowd of over 10,000, plus millions watching live on TV, saw the Geordies end the dream. The Isthmian Premier League championship was secured as the club was promoted to Conference South.

In 2005-06, Yeading were soundly beaten 5-0 by Nottingham Forest in the first round of the FA Cup. Talks had been progressing regarding a merger with near neighbours Hayes for some tim,e with the plan to use The Warren. The merger finally took place on 18th May 2007 as Hayes & Yeading United FC were formed.

The Warren was demolished, although the cover behind the goal remained in place for several years, later in what became the car park of the newly constructed SkyEx Community Stadium.

Yeading 0 Aylesbury United 5 (Saturday 27th October 2001) FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round (att: 340)

I had passed The Warren at high speed on many occasions, as it could be viewed from the main Great Western line out of Paddington station, and I thought it was about time that I attended a match.

My drawing of The Warren, along with some former team kits.
Click on the image to enlarge it.

The ideal opportunity came in the FA Cup. The round was given increased coverage on the radio for a change, and I had quite a selection, but I really fancied the game at Yeading against their Buckinghamshire opponents, who were a level above in the pyramid.

I caught a bus from Willesden to Acton, where I got on board a bus that travelled through the heavy traffic of Uxbridge Road through Ealing and Southall before I got off at the top of Beaconsfield Road. It was a good ten-minute walk down the desolate and windswept road to the stadium.

The Warren was a tidy enough venue, but nothing spectacular. There was a small cover behind the goal at the near end. The entrance side had a covered seating and standing area with the clubhouse on the second tier offering a splendid view. Unfortunately, the blinds were drawn at kick-off to satisfy FA rules. The rest of the ground was open, hard, and grass standing with the dugouts on the far side.

I had a couple of pre-match beers before going out to join the large away following, who brought flags and balloons to give the game a real atmosphere. Any chance of an upset was soon dispelled as the Ducks were simply far too good for their hosts. 

They ran out easy 5-0 winners, with veteran forward Dwight Marshall bagging a hat trick. Stuart Maynard and Dwain Clarke added further goals for the side managed by former playing hero Cliff Hercules.

I went back upstairs at full time and got chatting to some jubilant visitors who were waiting for the draw for the first round, which was to be screened live at the end of Grandstand, while the excitement built in the room.

I was somewhat less enthralled, as it transpired Scarborough had gone down 3-1 in their local derby at Whitby Town. Reports were bad, and my dad later described it as the worst Boro display that he'd ever seen.

The Ducks fans weren't overjoyed at being drawn away to Port Vale, but I reasoned with them that it was better than not being in the Cup! I left and walked back and reversed my journey home. I needed a few beers to try and cheer myself up, but the result was still the same the next morning!

Friday 20th October 2006

I had a day off work, so I decided it was time to update my photo collection and get around to visiting some West London grounds. I took the tube to Uxbridge and then caught a bus before walking down Beaconsfield Road.

It was a pleasant enough day, and I was happy to find a gate open past the stands. Another pitch behind the ground, which was later transformed into a 3G training pitch, looked in decent condition, as did the ground and clubhouse of another amateur club further up the road on the way back.

Hayes

Hayes FC was a non-league club based in the suburban town of West London, who were formed in 1909 and continued until 2007, when they merged with nearby Yeading FC to form Hayes & Yeading United FC.

The club were original known as Botwell Mission FC and were formed by a lady called Eileen Shackle, who wanted boys to enjoy sport as well as their religious studies. The team originally got changed at a small church and stored their kit there.

The club changed their name to Hayes FC around 1930 and went on to join the Athenian League for the 1930-31 season, in which the side were also runners up in the FA Amateur Cup, losing 1-0 to Wycombe Wanderers at Highbury. 

'The Missioners' remained in the same competition, where they ended as runners-up in 1949-50 and then were crowned champions in 1956-57 prior to joining the Isthmian League in 1971. 

Star players over the next decade included Robin Friday and Cyrille Regis. The club gradually progressed with the help of players such as Jason Roberts and Les Ferdinand, before finally lifted the league title in 1995-96 under the management of Terry Brown to gain promotion into the Football Conference.

Although Hayes finished the 1998-99 season in third place, it was a struggle for the club, not least attracting crowds. In 2001-02 they were relegated back into the Isthmian League, although they were only there for a couple of seasons as the Conference South was created in 2004.

At one time there had been talk of developing their Church Road home, but it was now rumoured the club were looking to sell it. Finances were still an issue and talks began between Hayes and Yeading about a possible merger and a move to Beaconsfield Road. The clubs eventually joined together on the 18th May 2007.

My visits

Sunday 15th January 1984

I was a student at college in Borehamwood on London's northern outskirts and ready to start visiting the clubs featured in my Non League Annual. It was all very exciting at the time being able to actually see the places I'd only ever read about. It went a long way to develop my geographical knowledge.

I wasn't even aware of all day travelcards, so I was going from ground to ground by paying for seperate bus rides, which were thirty pence a go if I remember rightly. It was a frosty but bright winters morning and I'd just left Earlsmead, the home of Harrow Borough. 

I was stood by the bus stop when remarkably, a college mate Steve Austin, pulled up in his car after seeing me. He was heading to Heathrow Airport to pick up a relative, so he kindly dropped me off at Church Road on the way.

The ground was locked when I arrived, but I was determined that wasn't going to stop me, despite it being surrounded by high wire fences. I was a lot more adventurous back then so I climbed over the gate.

My drawing of Church Road, club crests, and former Hayes playing kits.
Enlargement is possible by clicking on the image.

Church Road was quite an impressive venue. The Main Stand wasn't very big, but it had a seating deck raised behind a brick wall, with a few steps of terrace in front. This continued on either side of the stand in the open. 

The rest of the ground had open terracing around it, with curved away behind the goals. It had flat bits at the back. The side opposite the stand had a decent sized cover. The paintwork at the time was amber as Hayes spent a spell in those colours away from their traditional red and white stripes and black shorts.

I clambered back over the fence to be met by the caretaker. I had left my leather gloves inside the ground, so I had to explain what I was doing. He felt pity for me and opened the gate. The large car park had a separate clubhouse building, which was open throughout the week.

I went across the road to wait for the next bus heading down towards Hounslow and my next venue.

Hayes 0 Scarborough 1 (Tuesday 11th April 2000) Football Conference (att: 503)

By now, I was in London and working at Lord's. Over the season, I'd met other Seadogs based in the south, so I travelled on a damp evening to the match with other friends. We had met at Kings Cross before heading to Paddington, where we had a few beers before taking the train to Hayes and Harlington station.

At the ground I bumped into work colleagues Ray and Stuart Wetherhead who I sat with in the Main Stand. The ground hadn't changed too much, but it had been tidied up with crush barriers and a new high perimeter fence.

Boro deservedly won 1-0 with a Darren Roberts goal. I had to laugh when the Hayes substitute turned out to be Neil Trebble, who had a very poor spell as a Scarborough player.

I was given a lift back to the station at full time so I could make a quick getaway, as I had to start at work early the next morning.

Hayes 1 Scarborough 2 (Saturday 16th March 2002) Football Conference (att: 631)

Boro were slowly digging themselves out of a seemingly impossible task when manager Russell Slade took over the managerial reigns and enthusiasm was high. Karl was down from Scarborough for the weekend and we met up with Dave Cammish and his mate from the casino, Craig as well as Carl Ellis who I was putting up.

We had a beer at Paddington before catching the train in the nick of time. We were meeting Simon and his mates from Gillingham in The Botwell Inn for a pint before heading to the ground to give the club some trade in the clubhouse.

There was a good turnout of Seadogs who watched a comfortable 2-1 win with Karl Rose netting twice, which went a long way to secure our safety after a midweek win at Stalybridge. Hayes were relegated at the end of the season.

We returned to town and went for beers in the city centre at a pub near Oxford Street. Carl and I headed back to Willesden, while big Karl went night clubbing in the city with the rest of the crowd.

Friday 20th October 2006

I set out to take photos at grounds around West London. I particularly wanted to visit Church Road as the rumour mill suggested the ground wasn't going to be around for much longer.

I arrived after a call to The Warren, home of Yeading to find the gates locked and a huge market on the car park. There was no way I could climb the gates as they were very much more secure than on my first visit, even if I was athletic enough to try.

I basically wandered around and grabbed any views I could, many from through the gap at the bottom of the new fencing, attracting some attention from bemused traders.

It was the last time I went to Church Road before Hayes and Yeading United was created, and the club moved out for good at the end of the 2010-11 season.