Whitton United 1 Lakenheath 0 - Eastern Counties League, Premier Division
Whitton is an area of Ipswich,
although it was once a separate village. It is now a ward of Ipswich Borough
Council. The old village was centred on what was the main Ipswich to Norwich road.
Some old buildings remain including the Whitton Maypole, a popular local pub.
There was a second pub, The Crown, but this was demolished in 1994 and was
replaced at the time by a Landrover sales garage. The remains of a Roman villa
were excavated in 1931 and again in 1949 before residential building started.
Coins were found along with a mosaic floor which is on display in Ipswich
Museum.
Although a Whitton United
football club existed in the late 19th century, the modern club was established in
1926 and initially played on a pitch behind the Crown pub. Initial success was
achieved by winning the Suffolk Minor Cup in the first season. The club won the
Ipswich & District League in 1946-47 and 1947-4, when they also reached the
final of the Suffolk Senior Cup, losing 3-1 to Lowestoft Town at Portman Road
in front of 8000 spectators. Success in this competition came in 1959 and 1960,
on both occasions beating Bungay Town. A third success came in 1992 with victory
over Long Melford. Promotion to the Eastern Counties League was secured in 1995
and further Suffolk Senior Cup finals were won in 2011 and 2012.
There were no trains from between Liverpool Street and Colchester to Ipswich which would
have meant catching Central Line services to Newbury Park and then a bus to
Colchester. Accordingly, I opted for an alternative route of train from
Cheshunt to Cambridge followed by a train to Ipswich via Bury St Edmunds. The entire days travel cost £5:00 (thanks again Martin) with
a discounted rail voucher. The distance from Ipswich station to the King
George V Playing Field is around three miles.
The most direct walk takes you
along Portman Road and then in a straight line along Norwich Road until you
reach Whitton. There are not that many public houses along this relatively busy
road. My refreshment stop was for a late breakfast at a café at a shopping area just as you enter Whitton. The floodlights are visible before you reach the
ground and access is via narrow road leading to the spacious car park. When I
arrived lots of cars were leaving following a junior match on an adjacent pitch
outside the main ground.
I was
able to gain access to the ground for a photo opportunity on arrival. The main
covered seated stand is situated behind the near goal and it is at this end
where the refreshment kiosk is also located. On one side of the pitch there is
a small covered standing area. On the opposite side where the dug outs are
located is an older covered area spanning the majority of one half of the
pitch. The changing rooms are located just outside the ground. The far end of
the ground is not in use for spectators. The clubhouse (bar, satellite TV, toilets etc) is situated across the car park from the ground entrance and was a welcome retreat on a cold afternoon. By contrast there was a warm welcome throughout the afternoon from the Whitton officials and volunteers.
Both the hosts and visitors,
Lakenheath, were in mid table prior to this match with the latter just two
points ahead. Therefore, a close match was anticipated. The conditions were not
suitable for good flowing football with a strong wind throughout the contest.
Lakenheath, will have been disappointed not to have made the most of the first
half when attacking down the slope with the wind at their backs. The solitary
goal for the hosts in the second period came from a mistake and was enough to
clinch the points, taking them above the visitors.
Ruel Fox (remember him?) is part
of the set up at Whitton United, having started out there as a youngster, I met
him briefly before the match and informed him that I been present at every
competitive match he had played for Tottenham Hotspur. His immediate response
was to offer me a refund! The walk back to the railway station was slightly
quicker being predominantly downhill and it was good to be able to board the warm
18:20 to Cambridge early.
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