Norwich United 1 Mildenhall Town 1 - Eastern Counties League, Premier Division
Norwich is a city in Norfolk, about 100 miles
north-east of London. Located on the River Wensum, Norwich is the county town
of Norfolk. The site of modern Norwich was settled by the Anglo-Saxons between
the 5th and 7th centuries, near the former Iceni capital and Roman town of
Venta Icenorum. Norwich became fully established as a town in the 10th century
and developed into a prominent centre for trade and commerce in East Anglia.
Norwich Cathedral and Norwich Castle were built soon after the Norman Conquest
in 1066. Norwich was granted city status by Richard the Lionheart in 1194. The
city greatly benefited from the wool trade throughout the Middle Ages and
prospered as a port with the status of a staple port; until the 18th century,
it was the second-largest city in England (after London). Norwich holds the
largest permanent undercover market in Europe. Each year the Norfolk and
Norwich Festival celebrates the arts, drawing many visitors into the city from
all over eastern England. The Norwich Twenty Group, founded in 1944, presents
exhibitions of its members to promote awareness of modern art. Norwich was home
to the first arts festival in Britain in 1772.
The football club was founded in 1903 as
Poringland and District, initially playing in the Norwich & District
Business House League. In 1965 progression was made in joining the third
division of the Anglian Combination, winning the league at the first attempt.
In 1979 Norwich United won the Norfolk Junior Cup and repeated the feat in
1981. In 1987 the club was named Norwich United. In winning the Anglian
Combination Premier Division in 1988, the club was promoted to the Eastern
Counties League. In 2016 the club was promoted to the Isthmian League. A first
ever Norfolk Senior Cup win in 2018 also saw the club return to the Eastern
Counties League.
The journey by train was made
from Cheshunt via Audley End, and Norwich to Brundall. I used a discounted rail
voucher resulting in a return fare of £5:00 (thanks again Martin). Before the
last leg of the journey, I adjourned to The Glass House (J D Wetherspoon) for
breakfast and a pint of Reedlighter (4%), a pale ale from Woodforde’s. This
final leg of the journey was a walk of just over a mile and half from Brundall
station taking you through Blofield, the adjacent village. A very pleasant
stroll through a quiet part of the county.
The approach to Plantation Park
is without pedestrian walkways and this was highlighted by a stream of cars
passing me as I was arriving, not a problem in daylight but less so in the
dark, as I was to find later! The ground is well appointed and typical of many
in this league. The main stand area is the only covered spectator accommodation,
but is cleverly split into three sections. Bench seats at one end, standard
seating in the middle and a decent terraced area at the other end. One end of
the ground is completely open and backs onto an agricultural field.
The side opposite the stand is also completely
open, the only furniture being the dugouts. This side also backs on to an
agricultural field although the trees between the two areas are taller, giving
a more enclosed feel. The remaining end of the ground houses virtually all the
club facilities. There is a smart separate turnstile block. The main building
houses the changing rooms, licenced bar and function room, spectator toilets
and a separate refreshment bar for hot and cold food and drinks. There is also
another separate structure housing a gym.
I have often been impressed by the friendliness of this league and once again the folk I met lived up to my expectation. The two sides had met in the opening match of the season, sharing a 0-0 draw. Visitors Mildenhall Town were above their hosts in the table but had played more matches. All indications were that another close match would ensue. However, it was the visitors that impressed early on and it was no surprise when they took the lead through Kieran Twinn. The second period saw a resurgent home side taking the game to the visitors. This change of emphasis was rewarded with ten minutes remaining when Alby Matthews levelled the scores. Despite a red card for the visitors, they managed to hold out for a draw and this neutral believes that to be a fair outcome for this match, played in a good spirit by both sides. For me, the previously mentioned Kieran Twinn and Jordan Buttle were players that contributed greatly to their respective team performances.
As expected, the walk back to
Brundall station was not as straightforward as the reverse before the match.
Leaving the ground at the same time as so many cars meant hugging the side of
the road for much of the time. However, what was not expected was the complete absence
of any street lighting in Blofield! Mobile phone torches were utilised by the small
group of pedestrians, as you are also obliged to negotiate footpaths
disappearing and appearing again on the other side of the road. Brundall by
contrast is better equipped and it was nice to reach that area. Connections at
Norwich and Cambridge North were good and I arrived back at Cheshunt shortly
before 9pm.
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