Like most of my adventures, today was no different and it all kicked off at New Milton train station. The decision to visit Winchester, and their wonderful Denplan City Stadium home, had only come about as a plan B. Originally, I couldn't decide between Winchester and fellow Wessex League Premier side Blackfield and Langley. Following some Twitter conversation, and the toss of a coin, Blackfield and Langley's Gang Warily was to be my destination for the first Saturday of the 2014/15 campaign. A couple of days ago however, the club confirmed to me that the game wouldn't be going ahead, and my decision was made for me!
Having finished work at 1, I jumped on the 13:37 train which would get me to Winchester in about 35 minutes or so. Having hunted down some walking directions earlier in the day, I had a vague idea of where I was to be going, but the feeling of excitement at exploring a town i'd never previously visited still engulfed me. A brief 15 minute walk later in the rain, and I found myself in the club car park. As a student, I felt my £4 admission was very reasonable, but no programme was on offer. I know it's pre-season, and you'll be extremely hard-pushed to find a club that will offer a programme at friendlies, but I always feel a slight tinge of disappointment nonetheless.
Winchester were originally formed as Winchester Swallows FC in 1891, and it wasn't until 1907 that they became the Winchester City that we know them by today. The ground itself is very modest, but it had a nice feel to it. The clubhouse and changing rooms can be found immediately in front of the turnstiles, in the near corner of the pitch. Along that touchline, a snack bar, club shop, and some seated terracing are available. Behind the near goal is some standing terracing, as there is on the halfway line on the far touchline.
My first port of call, as it is with every new ground I visit, was the club shop. One of the average sized cabins along the near touchline, it's a good place to be. Shirts were on offer down one side, as were your typical badges and programmes from 30 years ago. I've started to amass a number of club pin badges now and Winchester are the newbies to my collection. I was even able to pick up a second one, for my friend Peter all the way out in Sweden. The gentleman in the shop was a really top bloke, and we were soon chatting away football as is often the case. He told me of his short stint doing a bit of groundhopping, as I clocked his Portland Timbers baseball cap and St. Pauli t-shirt. Clearly the phrase 'Go hard or go home' is one he very much likes to adhere to!
I took my seat in the seated terracing for the first half, and on switching on my camera to snap a few photos, it decided to implode in my hands. Another decision made for me - time to buy a camera. The first half was dominated by the Sutton side, who asserted their dominance from the very first minute. Within the first 3 minutes, the Winchester 'keeper had already been forced into a good reaction save following a flick on from Sutton's Rwandan centre forward (Trust me guys, I was reliably informed he hails from Rwanda).
The first half stayed very much the same for the most part, with Sutton controlling the ball and creating the odd half-chance. That was until the 40th minute, when the home side took the lead very much against the run of play. Winch centre forward Zach Glasspool came deep to collect the ball as the Sutton defender dived in, and expertly spun him before releasing the number 10 on the near side, who drove at the goalkeeper before squaring the ball to his team-mate for an easy tap in.
My second half perch was in the standing terrace behind the goal at which the home side would be attacking, but unfortunately for me, almost all of the action was up the other end. It took just ten second half minutes for Sutton's big African to equalise, and another four for him to turn the game around. A flurry of substitutes followed, and it was Sutton's number 12, having only just joined the field, that caught my eye. He tore the Winchester defence apart, and I must say, he looked a very good talent. In the 65th minute, it was the number 12 who tapped home to make it 3-1, having already provided the assist for the second goal. Goals four and five duly followed, as the Blue Square South side capped off a good performance, although Winchester can certainly take a lot of positives from the way they played.
Full-time: Winchester City 1-5 Sutton United (Attendance: 181)
Undoubtedly, the finest moment of the afternoon was meeting ex-Southampton and Everton man, James Beattie. A local lad, he was to be found around the ground and when he walked past me, I jumped at my opportunity to meet the man I'd once watched on Match of the Day. I'd spent the second half with a Sutton fan and a Winchester City official, and it was the official who caught me staring at James. To confirm my suspicions, his line 'Good to see James Beattie at local games' had me jumping. In hindsight, my cry of 'JAMES!' as he strolled past may have made him jump a little, but I was already in child excitement mode, at least on the inside. A quick chat and an autograph later, the twinge of disappointment returned as I realised I wouldn't be having my picture taken with him, but he came across as a genuinely nice guy and that's good enough for me.
For me, the Denplan City Stadium is an excellent ground, particularly for the Wessex League. The club seem to be heading in the right direction, and with some great people behind the scenes now, they are going about things in the right manner.
Cheers Winchester!
Sheridan
Having finished work at 1, I jumped on the 13:37 train which would get me to Winchester in about 35 minutes or so. Having hunted down some walking directions earlier in the day, I had a vague idea of where I was to be going, but the feeling of excitement at exploring a town i'd never previously visited still engulfed me. A brief 15 minute walk later in the rain, and I found myself in the club car park. As a student, I felt my £4 admission was very reasonable, but no programme was on offer. I know it's pre-season, and you'll be extremely hard-pushed to find a club that will offer a programme at friendlies, but I always feel a slight tinge of disappointment nonetheless.
Winchester were originally formed as Winchester Swallows FC in 1891, and it wasn't until 1907 that they became the Winchester City that we know them by today. The ground itself is very modest, but it had a nice feel to it. The clubhouse and changing rooms can be found immediately in front of the turnstiles, in the near corner of the pitch. Along that touchline, a snack bar, club shop, and some seated terracing are available. Behind the near goal is some standing terracing, as there is on the halfway line on the far touchline.
My first port of call, as it is with every new ground I visit, was the club shop. One of the average sized cabins along the near touchline, it's a good place to be. Shirts were on offer down one side, as were your typical badges and programmes from 30 years ago. I've started to amass a number of club pin badges now and Winchester are the newbies to my collection. I was even able to pick up a second one, for my friend Peter all the way out in Sweden. The gentleman in the shop was a really top bloke, and we were soon chatting away football as is often the case. He told me of his short stint doing a bit of groundhopping, as I clocked his Portland Timbers baseball cap and St. Pauli t-shirt. Clearly the phrase 'Go hard or go home' is one he very much likes to adhere to!
I took my seat in the seated terracing for the first half, and on switching on my camera to snap a few photos, it decided to implode in my hands. Another decision made for me - time to buy a camera. The first half was dominated by the Sutton side, who asserted their dominance from the very first minute. Within the first 3 minutes, the Winchester 'keeper had already been forced into a good reaction save following a flick on from Sutton's Rwandan centre forward (Trust me guys, I was reliably informed he hails from Rwanda).
The first half stayed very much the same for the most part, with Sutton controlling the ball and creating the odd half-chance. That was until the 40th minute, when the home side took the lead very much against the run of play. Winch centre forward Zach Glasspool came deep to collect the ball as the Sutton defender dived in, and expertly spun him before releasing the number 10 on the near side, who drove at the goalkeeper before squaring the ball to his team-mate for an easy tap in.
My second half perch was in the standing terrace behind the goal at which the home side would be attacking, but unfortunately for me, almost all of the action was up the other end. It took just ten second half minutes for Sutton's big African to equalise, and another four for him to turn the game around. A flurry of substitutes followed, and it was Sutton's number 12, having only just joined the field, that caught my eye. He tore the Winchester defence apart, and I must say, he looked a very good talent. In the 65th minute, it was the number 12 who tapped home to make it 3-1, having already provided the assist for the second goal. Goals four and five duly followed, as the Blue Square South side capped off a good performance, although Winchester can certainly take a lot of positives from the way they played.
Full-time: Winchester City 1-5 Sutton United (Attendance: 181)
Undoubtedly, the finest moment of the afternoon was meeting ex-Southampton and Everton man, James Beattie. A local lad, he was to be found around the ground and when he walked past me, I jumped at my opportunity to meet the man I'd once watched on Match of the Day. I'd spent the second half with a Sutton fan and a Winchester City official, and it was the official who caught me staring at James. To confirm my suspicions, his line 'Good to see James Beattie at local games' had me jumping. In hindsight, my cry of 'JAMES!' as he strolled past may have made him jump a little, but I was already in child excitement mode, at least on the inside. A quick chat and an autograph later, the twinge of disappointment returned as I realised I wouldn't be having my picture taken with him, but he came across as a genuinely nice guy and that's good enough for me.
For me, the Denplan City Stadium is an excellent ground, particularly for the Wessex League. The club seem to be heading in the right direction, and with some great people behind the scenes now, they are going about things in the right manner.
Cheers Winchester!
Sheridan