God Bless The Combined Counties
Hillingdon Borough 2 v Brook House 3
Combined Counties Football League, Division One (Step 6)
Monday 29 August 2022
Northwood 2 v Southall 0
Isthmian League, South Central (Step 4)
Monday 29 August 2022
God Bless the Combined Counties. I learn that they regularly schedule Bank Holiday games for 11:30. At one stage, it looked like I might have a four game day in the offing. To include Barnet kicking off at 5:15, and a 7:45 game. But, as it all settled itself down, the distances & logistics didn't hang. So, I was just left with this lovely Double Header. Ticking my #401 & #402 grounds in the process.
I was somewhat disappointed at Hillingdon Borough. Sure, times are hard. Fence panels, concreting, corrugated roofs. Cost a bomb I bet. But, fair play to Hillingdon on their carbon footprint. As they're letting trees grow up through the floor of the stand now. The fella along my row was picking blackcurrants between the seats. You see, those sort of spruce the place up activities - remove the weeds on the terracing, empty the fucking bins, cost nothing and make it look like a football club.
They'd also gone in for the "lady comes around the ground with a tupperware box" method of collecting the money. Rather than someone do it at the gate. Round and round she went. Shouting over to the cabin for the card machine if someone didn't have folding cash.
There was a clubhouse. Looked to me like one of those multipurpose events jobbies. Maybe it's the club's. Maybe it's someone else's. Either way, it was shut. Despite an obvious outdoor bar, with a well appointed terrace overlooking the pitch. The Brook House firm were up there. With the bottles of Bud from the petrol station at the end of the road.
Spicy first half. The Ref and the two managers in the centre circle at half time. That looked all rather civilised. Thank heavens.
Brook House were cruising at 3-0. But, Borough made a late dash. I think their second was just on 45+3, and no time left for any final heroics.
The Woodman
Breakspear Rd, Ruislip HA4 7SE
Is a) in the CAMRA Beer Guide and b) right opposite the ground. It's a nice enough place. One of those suburban places with roughly the same four handpulls on all the time. London Pride, Timothy Taylor's. You get the picture. I noticed the Brook House firm were in there after the BP Buds ran out.
Rebellion Beer Co, IPA on Cask at 3.7%
I've had that before. And, happily, this one didn't disappoint. Good condition. A copper coloured, easy drinking beer. English Fuggles & Goldings hops in the copper.
Late addition Styrian Goldings in the hop-back. A great Greene King buster.
Then. It was a rural 45 mins past Ruislip Lido, through Ruislip Woods, and skirting Northwood Golf Club - Forrrrrre - to Northwood Park.
Great set up there. Everything spic n span. Another multi events purpose clubhouse. Buzzing in there. I saw Camden Pale (off) and Camden Hells (couldn't get near it).
Step Four, and noticeably better quality than earlier in the day. Some good gameplans on display. Channel running & coming deep for the ball. Both defences organised and drilled. And, of course a lot of fucking swearing if you got something wrong. I'm sure Northwood were worth that win.
Trip out, beer guide pub, rural walk, two games, great day.
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