Kirkley & Pakefield 4 Long Melford 3 - Eastern Counties League, Premier Division
Kirkley is a district within the town of Lowestoft in Suffolk. It is located south of the centre of Lowestoft and the town's Bascule Bridge and north of Pakefield and Kessingland. Kirkley was originally an independent village and still retains its old fashioned village feel by the seaside but after centuries of urban sprawl and development of the harbour area, is now part of the urban conurbation of Lowestoft. Kirkley is also the site of Britten House, a large Victorian house in Kirkley Cliff Road where the composer Benjamin Britten was born in 1913. Pakefield is a village, located around 2 miles south of the centre of the town of Lowestoft. Bloodmoor Hill, between Pakefield and Carlton Colville, was the site of settlement in the 2nd and 3rd centuries and the 7th and 8th centuries. In the Doomsday book Pakefield is called "Pagefella", the name probably coming from the Pagan settlement name of Pagga's or Pacca's field. Pakefield later developed as a fishing community. The former terminus of the Tram Service from Lowestoft is located in the centre of Pakefield and is now the site of the Tramway Hotel.
The
modern Kirkley FC came into being in 1975 when Anglian Combination club
Brooke Marine, who were linked to the Brooke Marine shipbuilders and
playing at the Kirkley Recreation Ground on Walmer Road, applied to
change their name to Kirkley Football Club. As the name was owned by
Lowestoft Town, the club had to take the name Kirkley United in 1978.
Under the new name they were Division Two champions in 1978–79, earning
promotion to Division One. The following season the club won Division
One and was promoted to the Premier Division. However, after finishing
second-from-bottom of the Premier Division in 1983–84 they were
relegated back to Division One. After winning the Division One title in
1988–89 the club returned to the Premier Division. Kirkley were Premier
Division champions in 1999–2000 and won the Suffolk Senior Cup the
following season. In 2001–02 they claimed a treble, winning the Premier
Division title, the league's Senior Knock-out Cup, and the Suffolk
Senior Cup again, beating Haverhill Rovers 4–3 after extra time. In
2002–03 they won the Premier Division title for a third time in four
years, and were promoted to Division One of the Eastern Counties League.
The club were promoted to the Premier Division after finishing third in
Division One in 2004–05. In 2007 the club merged with Pakefield
Football Club, adopting the current name.
The
journey by train was made from Cheshunt via Cambridge and Norwich. I used a discounted (£5:00) rail voucher (thanks again
Martin). Immediately opposite Lowestoft Station is The Joseph Conrad (JD
Wetherspoon). At this establishment, this Pieman enjoyed a couple of
pints of Encore from the local (Great Yarmouth) Lacon’s Brewery (3.8%).
This award winning Amber Ale was just the right accompaniment for the
fish and chips, which went down a treat after the long journey.
To reach Walmer Road on foot from the railway station takes around 35-40 minutes and much of the route is one straight road. I was informed that the stations at Oulton Broad are slightly nearer, but using Lowestoft Station provides options of travelling via Ipswich or Norwich, rather than one or the other. The ground is part of the larger Kirkley Community Sports and Social Club and you pass other pitches as you approach the main ground.
My immediate impression on entering was of a well-run community club. This was reinforced as the afternoon progressed. The clubhouse has recently been refurbished and is smart with a mixture of functional and comfortable seating. There are numerous TV screens and the Merseyside derby was being shown at the time. Opposite the clubhouse on the far side of the pitch is a covered seated stand. Behind one of the goals is a wooden covered area, which was populated more in the second half when the home side was attacking that end. There is a separate building containing the changing rooms and I believe this facility also serves the outer pitches. Adjacent to this is another covered area for spectators.
Prior to the match, the home side had won five of their nine matches and were 3rd in the table. Long Melford were next to bottom with one point from 4 matches. However, it was the visitors that impressed during the first period and were a constant threat going forward. It was a surprise when the hosts took the lead with a well-taken strike. Long Melford did well to rally and deservedly were level at the break.
The second half saw a much better display from the home side and with both sides looking to attack a very lively contest ensued. It was hard to predict who would score as things evened out. Each time Kirkley & Pakefield scored, Long Melford came back. At 3-3 I felt we had the right result only for the hosts to snatch the points near the end. The result was harsh on Long Melford, as they are clearly a far better team than their current position suggests. The previous Tuesday, the home side had won 4-3 and this result was repeated today. An enjoyable sunny autumn day at the coast!
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