Bristol Manor Farm v Newport XI

Bristol Manor Farm v Newport XI, The Creek, 26th July 2016

This was my first visit to the Creek, Bristol Manor Farms home since 1965. I'd been aware of Manor Farm for some time and had vaguely noticed their ground a few times when I worked near by a couple of years ago. It was only towards the end of last season that I felt the urge to pay a visit, in part due to reading Partizan Bristle's joyous account of his first game there: http://partizanbristle.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/2-creek-bristol-manor-farm.html
It is also only a 15 minute drive from home, so here I found my self on a Tuesday night after work, with my mate Barry, ready to take in a friendly against a Newport Development XI.


The Creek's setting is picturesque. Set back from the main road, the Portway, it is snugly sandwiched between the river Avon and river Trym and also has a raised train track that runs the length of the pitch just a few metres from the touchline, giving commuters what must be a great, if brief, vantage point on match days.

Temporary stand

Opposite the train tracks and the dug outs are the club house, along with the grounds main stands, the Geoff Sellek stand, an all seated affair, along with a couple of other small seated stands and one bit of covered terracing.

After paying £3 to get in, I bought a cup of tea for 80p and took my seat in the stand next to the club house. Marvelling at the price and wondering when I last paid so little to attend a football match... I over heard a regular who wasn't happy to pay at all. "At least Dick Turpin wore a mask" he quipped, seemingly only half in jest to a senior official. To be fair I got the impression that Manor Farm had a loyal group of volunteers and supporters who kept the club going, of which I'm sure he is one.

To the game, as the team's came out it was clear Newport had bought a development team, age wise they all looked between 16 and 18 whilst Manor Farm had out what I presume, was a strongish first team. As you'd expect the youngsters looked a bit shorter and in some cases a bit less round than some of their opposite numbers.

The match was entertaining from the off, it didn't have the feel of a meaningless friendly and both teams seemed well up for it and keen to win. Newport were quick out the blocks and had a couple of decent forays in the opposition final third before Manor Farm slowly started to establish themselves, going on to dominate and gain a two goal lead courtesy of Aaron Robbins and Pete Shepherd. The ref was kept busy in the first half, Newports number 8 flew in to a poorly timed two footed tackle, getting away with a talking too when in a league game you felt he may well have seen red. A Manor Farm player also got a ticking off for descent, no shortage of commitment from both sides.

In the second half we set off on a lap of the pitch. Newport came out strong and were on the front foot looking for a way back. After a period of sustained pressure they were awarded a penalty for a trip in the box. By this time I had made it round to the terrace between the dug outs. As the penalty was given I suddenly realised that Newport's Development manager was retired centre back Byron Anthony (he of 150 odd appearances for Bristol Rovers fame). Whilst I was blinking at him trying to work out if it really was him or not I missed the penalty. It went in - 2-1 to the Farm.

Byron Anthony gets his point across

Although the pace of the game was not typical of a friendly, the number of substitutes was. They came thick and fast, with Farm manager Lee Lashenko making an effort to coordinate his subs with Newport's to slow down the flow as little as possible. "Mate, Mate, Mate" he shouted to his opposite number Anthony, finally getting his attention and agreeing to make subs at the same time. "Mate"! Did he not know he was addressing a Rovers legend?
Controversy wasn't far away, with ten minutes or so to go, Manor Farm had used all the subs on the bench when one of their players hobbled to the side complaining of a bad back. Lashenko improvised and called on his bemused looking number 10 who had just come off to go back on again. The young linesman consulted the ref, who rolled his eyes somewhat and said the opposition manager would need to be asked for permission. Lashenko was more deferential this time:
"Sir? Sir?" Once Anthony consented, Lashenko turned his wrath on the ref, saying he couldn't believe he made him ask such a question in a pre season friendly, and enquired why he was being such a ''geek'' about it... Who would be a ref.

Lashenko prowls the touch line.

Manor farm went on to score a third at the end, capitalising on a defensive mistake that saw Anthony and his assistant kicking water bottles in to their dug out.

Final Score: Bristol Manor Farm 3 Newport Development XI 1.

A very enjoyable game. Manor Farm didn't miss out on promotion by much last year and I am sure they will be pushing hard again this season. The ground and the infrastructure around it, including a very big car park, could easily cope with the Southern league. I look forward to coming back this season for more.

Bath City v Bristol Rovers, Twerton Park. 12th July, 2016

Britain, mid July 2016. The country is in turmoil. Post Brexit vote, the prime minister has resigned, the population is divided and the Labour party is busy ripping itself apart. On the football pitch Roy Hodgson has fallen on his sword after England's humiliation at the hands of Iceland.

I'm on my way to my first game of the pre-season in need of some much needed familiarity. Turning on the radio there is yet more upheaval, TalkSPORT have been bought out by News Corp, broadcasting stalwarts Murray and Collymore have already gone along with who knows else to follow.

In a rapidly changing world, welcome relief was to be found at Twerton Park.
It's 20 years since Bristol Rovers left their rented accommodation after a decade as Bath City's tenants. It is safe to say, very little has changed in the intervening years. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Twerton Park is a thing of beauty.

Prior to the game I enjoyed a drink at the Locksbridge Inn, just across the river, supping on the locally brewed Electric Bear IPA. Nice drop.

After paying £8 to get in, I wondered over to the covered terraced stretching the length of the pitch. Looking around it is hard to believe that for three heady years in the early 90's, Twerton Park hosted second tier (championship in new money) football. As recently as 95/96 I can remember a raucous west country derby with Swindon and the visit of premiership West Ham, captained by Julian Dicks.

The ground has a capacity of almost 9,000 with approximately 1,000 seats, all of which are located opposite the covered terrace in the Main stand behind the dug outs along with the family stand which is the lasting legacy of Rovers tenure.

Family and Main Stands

Bath City are currently playing in the National League South. Although their ground may not have changed much, their have been exciting things happening, or at least threatening to happen, in recent times. Last summer the 'Big Bath City Bid' was launched. Endorsed by celebrity backers Ken Loach and Eric Cantona, it was an effort to raise funds through community shares enabling the club to be purchased from the current owners.

More details: https://thebristolcable.org/2015/09/fair-play-fan-ownership-at-bath-city/

Unfortunately the £400,000 odd raised fell short of the £750,000 deemed necessary to achieve lift off. They have not given up though, and hopefully Bath City becomes supporter owned before too long. There is no doubt that a city the size of Bath is capable of sustaining a professional football club at a much higher level. Those behind the bid are hopeful that with community ownership will come increased interest and a much needed boost to attendances. 


To the match. It was good to see ex Rovers keeper Steve Phillips in goal for Bath as well as former youth prospect Shaquelle Hunter on the bench. Rovers put out a strong starting XI though in truth the game was a little dull from start to finish. Rovers appear to be between kits, having recently changed their suppliers. This meant they took to the field in blue training t-shirts, with numbers hastily slapped on the back. This seemed to add to the one paced, training exercise feel of the game.

There were a couple of chances in the first half though if I'm honest I wasn't paying close attention and was busy looking out for familiar faces and chatting to old friends. I also left for the bar a few minutes before half time, emerging a few minutes after the restart, missing the 8 changes that Rovers had made.

View from the Bristol end.

The game would eventually be decided by defender James Clarkes headed goal with 20 minutes to go. This was his second goal in a week and also the second goal in his whole career. Hopefully this rich scoring vein continues.

Goal scorer Clarke receives treatment

A very enjoyable trip to a lovely traditional ground. Nice way to start the season. Best of luck Bath City for the coming season and to the supporters succeeding with the Big Bath City Bid.

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