Rayners Lane

Rayners Lane FC is a non-league football club based in North West London in the Borough of Harrow. The club was formed in 1933 and entered local league football. The Tithe Farm Social Club was formed, with the football club being absorbed into it.

In 1951, 'Lane' became Middlesex League champions before moving into the Spartan League in 1957. Unfortunately, they failed to be re-elected in 1971 and returned to the Middlesex League. Lane soon returned to the higher status, but when the league amalgamated, it meant another step back.

A new challenge was sought, and Lane joined the Hellenic League in 1978. They were successful and remained there until the ground graders came in and enforced higher standards for Premier League clubs. The club was demoted a division and remained there for a couple of seasons before dropping back down to the Middlesex League to regroup.

Lane applied to join the Chiltonian League on a couple of occasions before that league amalgamated with the Hellenic League to become the new Division One East, with Lane becoming a founder member in 2000.  

After several aborted attempts, Lane was given planning permission to erect floodlights in May 2011. Lane won the Division One East title in the 2012-13 season, but the club was denied promotion owing to ground grading issues at Tithe Farm.

Floodlights were erected in 2013, with a Watford side playing in the official match to commemorate the occasion. Lane continued playing their trade in Division One East of the Hellenic League until the FA moved them to the Spartan South Midlands League from the 2017-18 season.

Lane ended their debut season in new surroundings in thirteenth position, which was improved upon by one place in the 2018-19 campaign with Dave Fox as team manager. By then, a new 3G pitch had been installed with a new clubhouse and facilities opening in June 2019.

Ben Hanley and Warren Gaddy were appointed as joint managers in October 2021 after the club had been transferred to Division One of the Combined Counties League. The side reached the playoffs in 2021-2,2, going down to Wallingford Town in the semifinals.

Scott Patmore came in as manager as the Lane started making signings that made other clubs sit up and notice. Playoff victories over London Samurai Rovers and then Langley resulted in promotion to Premier Division North of the competition before Patmore was replaced by Gary Meakin in July 2023. 

Further signings were made as the team reached the playoffs for a third consecutive season. This time, Holyport and then Bedfont Sports were seen off as Rayners Lane were promoted to the Isthmian League South Central Division.

The playing budget was cut back in 2024-25, leading to Meakin departing and being replaced by Mark Dacey just into the new year. Lawasere moved laterally to the Central Division One of the Southern League for the 2025-26 campaign with a returning Patmore as manager. 

He was replaced by Gary Pitt in April 2026 as the side was relegated to the Combined Counties League Premier Division North.

Rayners Lane FC will compete in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North in the 2026-27 season.

My visits

I travelled on the tube to have a look at the Tithe Farm ground one day after working on the underground in 2006 and to take some snaps. I was impressed by the neatness of the arena with the tall trees surrounding the pitch on three of the sides, with the social club and facilities down the other touchline.

Rayners Lane 3 Thame United 3 (after extra time). Thame won 5-4 on penalties (Saturday 29th January 2011) Hellenic League Supplementary Cup Round Two (att: 34)

I was on night shift for the week at work, so I looked for somewhere quite local where I hadn't previously watched a game. After I made enquiries as to kick-off time, I got the good news that the game would start at 1.45pm, to allow for the possibility of extra time and the lack of floodlights. 

I reasoned that this would allow me to get to the second half of Harrow Borough v Margate, which was only a fifteen-minute walk away.

I took the train, and clumsily took the wrong Metropolitan line service heading to Watford rather than the Uxbridge one I needed. Not to worry, as it turned out, because when I alighted at Pinner, I found out the H12 bus passed at the bottom of the road and stopped right outside Tithe Farm.

I soon arrived at the ground and found my way into the clubhouse, which was normally for members only. A very welcoming barman told me that I'd get the programmes outside, and I'd be hunted down as it also acted as the ground admission. 

I watched some of the Everton v Chelsea FA Cup tie in the excellent room with a very reasonable pint of Reverend James as company.

I went outside before kick off and was liberated of £3 for admission and an excellent programme. The gentlemen were very hospitable and were delighted I'd chosen their game after initially having me down as a Thame supporter. 

The last time I had seen Thame in action was in a pre-season friendly against Brentford around the turn of the millennium at their impressive old ground, when Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was serving behind the bar.

The match was in the Supplementary Cup, which I was told was for teams knocked out in the first round of the League Cup.

The ground hadn't changed much from my previous call, save for two small stands on the far side. The near side had picnic tables and benches, which I guess would be perfect on a warmer day. It really was cold. So bad, in fact, that I turned down the invitation to take a beer out with me.

I had a walk around to the far side and sat for a few minutes in one of the stands, but the weather necessitated constant movement. The game was an absolute cracker. Play flowed from end-to-end on a decent surface and a very wide pitch. I went back around to the clubhouse side in time to see Lane go ahead too much from players and supporters alike. 

There weren't many there, but those who did attend really got behind their sides, even if the majority of the away support remained in their cars looking out towards the pitch and using their horns to salute something they enjoyed.

United levelled before half time when I bid a retreat for a small malt for medicinal reasons! I saw the visitors take the lead with a free kick through the clubhouse windows. The game ebbed and flowed with Lane dominating for long spells despite being a division below United.

They drew level but then lost momentum. An old Lane stalwart resplendent in his club woolly hat came for another chat. We agreed that what a good choice I'd made. He then insisted on getting me the previous week's programme so I could read all the league statistics. 

He was a smashing chap who patrolled the touch line, yelling encouragement and acting as a ballboy. I really liked the way he welcomed and had a word for everyone, regardless of age. It's something officials of certain other clubs would do well to follow.

The game went to extra time, much to the amusement of fellow fans who had heard of my Harrow Borough plans. I thought about it for all of a second before deciding to stay put. It really was too good to leave. Lane went ahead, and it looked like a giant killing of sorts was in store. 

However, Thame equalised and sent the game to penalties. Just like the previous hundred and twenty minutes, the shootout went from one team to the other. Lane had the fifth kick to go through, but the visiting keeper remained in form as he pulled off a great save. He had a brilliant game all the way through. If it hadn't been for him, I'd have definitely seen the second half down the road.

Lane's sixth penalty was missed, but the visitor made no mistake, winning the game in sudden death. It had been a superb exhibition from both sides and amazing value for money.

The club was to attempt to overturn a previous refusal for the erection of floodlights in February 2011 at the council hearing, so that they could be promoted to the Premier Division of the Hellenic League. They can guarantee they'll be seeing me again if they succeed.

Oh, and Harrow Borough against Margate ended scoreless!

Rayners Lane 0 Enfield Borough 2 (Saturday 12th August 2017) Spartan South Midlands League Division One (att: 41)

It had been too long since my previous visit to Tithe Barn. Being located at Ruislip Manor on the early shift meant that I would struggle to get to many venues. This fitted the bill nicely, especially after my relief didn’t turn up until 2.40pm.

From the tube station, I caught a bus a bit too far down Alexandra Avenue. It should only have been one stop, but I went to the second one, meaning a walk through the rural Newton Farm Ecology Park, around to the ground.

The teams were out on the pitch as I peered through the gaps in the trees. The match was just underway after I paid my £5 admission, along with another quid for a decent enough programme.

The ground had been slightly upgraded since my last visit. Floodlights were now installed, and the two small covers on the far side had been joined up in the centre to give it a continuous feel. The trees on three sides looked as stunning as ever and no doubt benefited from the recent rain.

The match was Lane’s first ever in the SSML. They had expressed surprise in the programme at being moved from the Hellenic League by the FA, as they hadn’t applied on this occasion. Borough had been promoted after a third-place finish in Division Three in 2016-17.

It was Dave Fox’s first competitive game in charge of the home side, as his team took a step into the unknown. The match quickly developed into an intriguing contrast of styles. Lane was the more direct of the two, while Enfield was generally calm on the ball and preferred a passing game.

The hosts missed a glorious chance in the first goalmouth, but the free header at the back post was squandered. They looked to play centre forward Bruno Tavares whenever possible, and he caused a bit of panic on occasions.

At the other end, the visitors came close on several occasions. Home keeper George Hall had to deal with a series of crosses, while the flag of the linesman saved Rayners Lane. Surely there were going to be goals in this one?

The Borough centre-backs soon gained control before their side went ahead with a quality goal. Forward Thomas Opoku picked up the ball in the left-hand channel and turned on the afterburners to outpace two defenders and slot home past Hall.

It was a pleasant afternoon sitting in front of the clubhouse on the picnic benches, especially so when news of Chelsea’s capitulation was coming through. At the interval, I bought a decent pint of Robinson’s Trooper for £3.

The second half followed a pretty similar pattern. Referee Lee Randall had warned players several times for indiscretions before brandishing the yellow card on several occasions, mainly for pulling back opponents or their shirts.

Tavares continued to try his best to break through, but he didn’t have the pace to get past the excellent Reiss Gabriel and Richard Emin. Borough doubled the lead with around twenty minutes to go through  Issac Stevens.

Borough never looked like relinquishing their lead. I’d been impressed by the way that all of their players looked to play football, and didn’t panic in possession. It had been a reasonable game throughout, and it would be interesting to see how the season panned out.

I walked back to the station and took the train home to watch the majority of the Brighton v Manchester City game, chuckling my head off at the Billericay result. There was a football supporting God after all!

Broadfields Utd 0 Oxhey Jets 3 (Thursday 20th February 2020) Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division (att: 68)

Click here to read about the game when Tithe Farm had been redeveloped and was used by Broadfields United before they became permanent tenants.

Leighton Town

Leighton Town FC is a non-league football club from the Bedfordshire town of Leighton Buzzard, which was the opening point of the Grand Union Canal and was the nearest town to where the Great Train Robbery took place.

The 'Reds' were formed in 1885, playing local league football before changing their name to Leighton United and becoming founder members of the South Midlands League in 1922. Thirty years later, the club were also a founder member of the Hellenic League, but they reverted to their previous league after just two years.

In 1963, the club reverted to becoming Leighton Town, going on to be crowned league champions four years later. They joined the United Counties League for the 1974-75 season, but after two years, they re-joined the South Midlands League.

The 1991-92 season saw Town being crowned champions of the Premier Division, which led to promotion to the Isthmian League. A couple of divisional titles followed in the ensuing campaigns before the reorganisation of non-league football saw the club placed in the Southern League. 

From the 2009-10 season, neighbours Aylesbury United shared an agreement to share Bell Close after they were evicted from their home ground. Craig Wells was given the onerous task of managing the team for the 2013-14 season, as the club decided not to play its players in a bid to correct the financial troubles and debt. 

He lasted a full season before being replaced by Craig Bicknell. Former Town boss was put in charge for the 2015-16 season, but he departed in October, with Stuart Murray taking over team affairs as Town were relegated to the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League a few months later.

Paul Burgess had a short spell in charge of the side before being replaced by Scott Reynolds. The new boss led the team to fourth place in 2016-17 before the appointment of Danny Nicholls. His side reached the last eight of the FA Vase in 2017-18, before going out to 1874 Northwich.

The management team of Joe Sweeney and Paul Copson were appointed in October 2018. 2019-20 saw another vase quarter final appearance, this time bowing out to Corinthian. The same stage was reached twelve months later, when Walsall Wood ended any dream of a Wembley appearance.

 

Lee Bircham arrived as manager before the commencement of the 2021-22 campaign, leading the Reds to fourth place in the league, before they went on to become crowned champions in 2022-23. Bircham left to take the Bedford Town job, to be replaced by Gary Flinn.

Leighton consolidated on their return to Step 4 football in Division One Central of the Southern League. Flinn departed in September 2024 to be replaced by Paul Reed, who led the side to seventh place in the league a few months later. This was followed up by a title-winning season in 2025-26 as the team went up to the Premier Division Central.

Leighton Town FC will play in the Southern League Premier Division Central in the 2026-27 season.

My visit

Aylesbury United 0 Kidlington 2 (Sunday 14th October 2012) FA Vase Round One (att: 159)

I entered Bell Close for the first time, not quite sure what to expect. What I found was a decent enough, homely old old-fashioned ground, which was now looking a little tired. A lick of paint and the repairs of one or two of the fences would have made it look good, but I guess it must have been extremely frustrating if vandals undo the previous good work.

The near end had a couple of steps of terracing and the clubhouse and changing rooms behind. The snack bar had its own little roof for diners. The left-hand side of the pitch bordered the town's cricket club, with spectators only having access down a third of the pitch. 

Opposite this was a mixture of open flat hard standing and grass, with a neat seated stand straddling the halfway line. At the far end stood a long cover with a couple of steps of terracing, with an exit and turnstiles in the centre, which were out of use.

It wasn't the best stadium I'd ever visited, but give me something traditional close to the town centre every time, like Bell Close, rather than a soulless out-of-town site with plastic and metal stands.

For a description of my day out and a match report, please click here.

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos FC is a non-league football club from the county town of Buckinghamshire, who were originally formed as Stocklake FC in 1930, who were formed by the workers of the Negretti and Zambra company, playing in local league football. 

The club played on the Stocklake Industrial Estate and became members of the Chiltern League in 1988.

Another local club, Belgrave FC, began life in 1983 under the guidance of Jim Sullivan of Belgrave Road for his two sons, along with his neighbours. By 1990, the club consisted of five youth teams and six years later it added two senior sides, all playing in local competition.

Both clubs merged to form Haywood United FC for the 2000-01 season after Haywood Way, where their ground was located. The club joined the Spartan South Midlands League and continued to develop by installing floodlights and gradually improving their home. Promotion to the league's Premier Division was achieved at the end of the 2003-04 season.

At the start of the 2005-06 season, the club changed their name to Aylesbury Vale FC to enhance its identity within the town and further afield. At the end of the 2008-09 season, the club changed to Aylesbury FC with the aim of promotion and ground improvements. A proposed merger with Aylesbury United fell through.

The team reached the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, where they lost out to Wealdstone in front of a record crowd of 682 at Haywood Way. Joy was to follow at the end of the season as the Spartan South Midlands League title was lifted with promotion to the Southern League as a reward.

After a good debut season in their new surroundings, 'The Moles' struggled the following campaign. Former Football League striker Craig Faulconbridge was appointed as player-manager for the 2012-13 season. He departed in October 2013 to be replaced by Steve Bateman, who led the team to the play-offs in 2014-15, where the Moles lost 2-1 to Bedworth United in the semi-finals. 

Bateman resigned after an eighth-place finish the following season. Aylesbury appointed joint-managers Danny Gordon and Gareth Risbridger, who remained in place until January 2017, when they were succeeded by Davis Haule, whose team avoided relegation at the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

Kevin Poole replaced Haule in March 2018, remaining in the post until May 2018, when Scott Reynolds took over the role. Reynolds lasted just a few months, with Paul Bonham stepping up from a coaching position.

The club announced that they would be taking a relegation regardless of their final league position, owing to not being able to comply with new regulations over the size of the changing rooms at Haywood Way in January 2019. In the end, the gesture mattered not, as the team finished in the relegation places at the end of the 2018-19 campaign to drop down to the Spartan South Midlands League. 

Aylesbury merged with Bedgrove Dynamos to become Aylesbury Vale Dynamos FC. During the 2019-20 campaign, the duo of Phil Granville and Ben Gill were appointed as managers.

They were replaced by a returning Bateman in September 2021, remaining in charge of the team until November 2022, when Jordan King and James Green were given the job. 

Paul Batchelor became Vale manager in June 2023, leading the side to another midtable finish in his first year at the helm. King returned as team boss in October 2025.

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos FC will compete in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division in the 2026-27 season.

My visits

Sunday 14th October 2012

It was a beautiful autumnal day, and I was off work. I was suffering from a backache, but determined not to waste such good weather. A scan at the fixtures showed that Aylesbury United were at their shared home at Leighton Town in the FA Vase. I decided that, as well as wanting to see their derelict Buckingham Road stadium, I could also have a good bracing walk and visit Aylesbury as well.

After an elongated train ride, when I later found out that I'd paid more and taken more time than I really needed to, I got out at Aylesbury station and set out on a walk of around two miles to Haywood Way. It took me on busy dual carriageways, which reminded me of older versions of Crawley or Stevenage. 

The amount of traffic shocked me. I was of an age to remember when the local shop would close at midday on a Sunday, and it was a day of rest. Now everybody was heading to retail estates on the edges of towns. I was not convinced it was an improvement.

Eventually, I found Jackson Road, and a few minutes later, I was along the small cul-de-sac that was Haywood Close with the clubhouse at the end. Lots of junior players were coming out of the ground after collecting their gear following matches of their own. The gate being open gave me all the opportunity I required to pop inside for a look.

The ground was relatively basic with a seated stand in front of the clubhouse and a covered standing area at the near end. The rest of the ground consisted of flat open standing. There was room between the fence keeping the fans in and the actual metal-tailed perimeter if demand or the money became available.

My timing was sublime as no sooner had I left and was taking my clubhouse photos, a gent came out and locked the ground for the day. I went on my way to the former home of 'The Ducks', feeling sorry and empathising for the now homeless club, watching their junior rivals becoming the towns highest ranked side.

Aylesbury P AFC Rushden & Diamonds P (Saturday 9th December 2017) Southern League Division One East

I’d looked at visiting Haywood Way for a game on several occasions. It was the last day of my week of annual leave, and my first choice of Nuneaton Town against Harrogate Town had been postponed because of a frozen pitch at a sensible hour. I spent the next ninety minutes mulling over a replacement. I wanted somewhere not too far away, but awkward to get to midweek. 

I was also very wary of the possibility of a postponement. I was down to Aylesbury v AFC Rushden & Diamonds or Banbury United v Royston Town. Aylesbury won the day after their Twitter account said at 12.16 that there was no need for an inspection. I caught the tube to Harrow-on-the-Hill before taking the Chiltern train to Aylesbury Vale. It was cold and getting colder.

Fifteen minutes later, I cut through a park on the other side of the River Thame and behind the back of the stand before entering the clubhouse in search of a beer and to see the end of the West Ham v Chelsea game. I was alerted to what I saw.

Footballers were eating food and going on about there being no game. I whipped off my earphones and asked the bloke by the bar if the game was on. Apparently, it had just been postponed by the referee as the pitch was frozen in parts.

It’s fair to say that I was pretty miffed. A lady was heading to the bar from the turnstile. I asked her why it was off after the club’s previous Tweet. She claimed it was “my” manager who influenced the referee to postpone the game.

I saw three young fellas coming away from the ground, and they confirmed that they were the officials. They said that they had no option with their decision. A local told me that Thame United was the nearest club. I walked away, still fuming, to try to plan my journey, which can be read about here. Some of the Twitter exchanges that followed probably didn’t do anyone much credit, but emotions were high. 

It is a thankless task in the winter as volunteers try to run football clubs and get games on.

Perhaps leagues and the FA should offer some kind of definitive guidance and insistence on inspections from qualified referees, putting the weather forecast for the following few hours into consideration?

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 4 North Leigh 5 (Saturday 24th August 2019) FA Cup Preliminary Round (att: 113)

It was time to try again to tick a match off my list at Greenfleets Stadium to give Haywards Way its new sponsored title. Night shift at work meant I wanted somewhere relatively accessible. The weather was set fair. What could possibly go wrong?

I’d made my way to Harrow-on-the-Hill in good form, even bumping into Jeff Cards and his daughter Maia, who were on their way to Uxbridge to watch some T20 cricket. I got a seat on a very busy two-carriage Chiltern Rail train. All was good.

The company even had a Wi-Fi system on board that actually worked; unlike Virgin the week before on the way to Manchester, so I could listen to the Ashes, albeit in less excited mode than seven days previously, owing to an England collapse the day before.

The walk was familiar and a good exercise for my recovering left knee. It really was a glorious day as I walked towards Aylesbury past rapidly growing housing developments from the station before cutting across the park to the ground entrance.

Admission was £6, including a thin programme, which was also available to download for free via the club's website. Some youngsters sold me a raffle ticket for £1 once inside. The welcome was nice, and it was good to see them involved with their club.

It was half an hour before kick off, so I went inside the bar where I opted for a sports drink. I’d not had a beer for a few days and was feeling the benefit. Going outside, I grabbed a tea from the little catering hatch at the back of the seated stand.

The friendly old girl asked if I wanted the tea bag taken out or left in, which was a nice touch, while her younger colleague worked on the hot food. I took up a pew to enjoy my cuppa and finish my Subway sandwich bought on the route.

I was looking forward to the game. It looked like the merger and rebrand were working for Aylesbury, at least off the pitch. Another reason I selected the game was because of the man who’d be wearing the number nine shirt for the visitors.

Tyriq Hunte had spent most of the previous season at my local club, Hendon. He was a smashing lad and trier but not quite up to that level. His move to the Oxfordshire club seemed to have worked out as he’d scored the goals to help keep them up at the end of the 2018-19 season.

The teams came out in front of a healthy crowd, including a few families with the young volunteers behind the goal, making a noise with horns and vuvuzelas. England were starting a resolute battle in the cricket, which was also helping my mood.

The hosts nearly went ahead in the opening minute when Harry Scott nearly converted at the back post, but his volley went into the side netting. Carl Tappin saw a shot deflected behind for a corner as the side from the division lower continued to press.

The weather was hot, and referee Nicholas Fuller sensibly allowed a water break midway through the half. Play had been scrappy up to then, with mistakes aplenty as players miscontrolled the ball and overhit passes on the firm playing surface.

On thirty three minutes, the visitors took the lead through that man Hunte. His naturally heavy touches up to then had been inconsistent, but his lobbed finish over home custodian James Weatherill when fed with a lofted through ball was sublime.

The lead lasted just four minutes before Dynamos restored parity. Alfi Touceda saw his shot parried by hefty keeper Eddie Cavanagh into the path of lively forward Keith Mupfuruirwa to put away into the net.

On the stroke of half-time, Aylesbury went ahead. They were the beneficiaries of a soft free-kick decision. Harry Scott floated in a free kick towards the six-yard box. Cavanagh flapped at the ball; completely missing it as it went into the goal just inside the back post.

The action wasn’t over. In the third minute of stoppage time, North Leigh equalised after a header came back off the bar from a cross before the rebound crept over the line before being cleared by a defender. The ref conferred with his assistant to confirm a goal for Aaron Woodley.

I enjoyed the weather before grabbing another cuppa as the second half commenced, before watching for a while from the cover behind the goal. Three minutes after the restart, Weatherhill denied Hunte as he tipped his low shot round the post.

Touceda restored the hosts' lead with a twenty-five-yard shot that Cavanagh should have done a lot better with. The big stopper really was poor with his judgment of the ball when it came towards him through the air.

Yet within ten minutes it was all square with sixty-five minutes on the clock. I was chatting in the shade with a couple of visiting subs going through their stretching exercises. Hunte brought down a lofted pass before firing low into the corner from outside the box.

A bout of handbags broke out following a rash challenge from Leigh’s full-back Ekow Elliot in the middle of the park. The home bench screamed for a red card. The ref sensibly took his time and consulted the nearest linesmen before giving yellow cards to the offender and a player from each side who had got involved in the ensuing push and shove.

On seventy two minutes, a ball from Scott went towards Mupfuruirwa. The forward shrugged off a weak challenge from Jordy Ngathe to go on and slot the ball past Cavanagh with ease. The locals were jubilant, including the youths who supported their team throughout from behind the goal.

With around seven minutes remaining, I went through a gate behind the goal to head for my 5.13 train back to Harrow. This is where the fun and games were about to begin.

There was no concern as I timed my stroll back perfectly to not put too much strain on my knee. England were fighting back well in the Test, and I was in decent form despite my bets going down. I checked Twitter to see how my game had ended up. I couldn’t believe what I read.

North Leigh had equalised going into stoppage time through George Seacole. Then Hunte had made it 5-4 to complete his hat trick in the fifth minute of additional time before he missed a penalty before the full-time whistle. What a finish I’d missed.

By now, I was beginning to become a little concerned as to the whereabouts of my train. Around another half dozen customers were waiting at the terminus. The indicator board simply said “delayed” and then “train fault”.

The station was unstaffed. A couple, with the gent blind, managed to get the intercom for information to work. It was faulty and required shouting into the speaker to be heard. The woman on the other end was in a call centre in India!

She told us that our train had departed. She was offered advice in return before she came back to tell us that the next service would be a rail replacement bus service to Aylesbury at 6.25, over an hour away. At this point, a large cab deposited customers who’d come from the broken train at Aylesbury.

We got him to wait and then take us to Aylesbury station, where we gave the fella on the information desk the lowdown on what had happened and enquired as to why nobody was going to help us at Vale station. It was a shambles.

To make matters worse, the 5.48 train was cancelled towards Harrow. It’s fair to say that I was not particularly happy, especially with my upcoming night shift predominantly on my mind. The gate attendant said he could take me to someone in charge.

I walked to the waiting room area, and there was hat-trick hero Tyriq, smiling as ever. In all my dealings with him at Silver Jubilee Park while with Hendon or Edgware Town, he’d always been the same. Smiling, keen and polite. The game could do with a few more like him.

The station assistant was trying to be helpful and introduced me to a couple of fellas in the control room. There was nothing that they could do; even if they were extremely sympathetic and in agreement with the state of customer service of late, since profits came first.

It wasn’t a particularly brilliant situation, but it wasn’t going to change. I used up my time getting some shopping at Morrison’s across the car park. My crap journey still had additional pain once I got aboard the empty air-conditioned train.

Nodding off in the deliberately selected Quiet Coach, I was awoken by a Dad out with two infants who he let scream and generally run amok. It rounded off the journey perfectly. I eventually arrived home at 7.45, just in time for a snooze before heading to work.