The demands of National League North have impacted upon the Needham Market squad. Last years’ Southern league Premier Central Champions racked up 50 points at home and 85 points in total. Attackers McGrath and Ingram scored 30 between them. This season, the Marketman have gathered a miserable 5 home points out of 30 while their previous hotshots have only one goal each. Not many clubs have a left back and a central defender as their joint top scorers (with two each). You wonder with 8,500 miles to travel whether privately club officials would not be unhappy with relegation. Visiting distant Step 2 venues once is a novelty, to do so twice is hard work.
As we know to our cost, Needham are better at points gathering on the road (11 so far). A midweek win at Leamington followed by a home draw against Scarborough last Saturday offers some kind of platform to potentially move up the League. That’s not very likely given their overall goal scoring record (14 goals in 20 fixtures). Even Rushall have more yet we must expect a disciplined scrap. We both needham points. The key as per last Saturday is to score first.
Being a new ground will interest more of our regulars even though we’re talking a 400-mile round trip. On the plus side, moving the fixture forward from a nonsensical February night match to a Saturday makes sense. The roads are fast with Bloomfields (IP6 8DA) being just 3 miles off the A14. Patient Hereford train buffs are served too, just about with 4 changes and 5 hours of travel each way. Much easier for the London Bulls to travel up by rail of course. Expect you there, folks. –
We’re talking a pretty modest host, a club where their biggest ever crowd was 1,700 with an advertised imaginary 4,000 capacity. Average gates are 530, 49% up on last season who presumably are still enjoying the silky-smooth Step 2 ‘ballers on display. Plus admiring the seven (count ‘em) goals from the home side, 3 of them in one match v South Shields. Needham are considered to be very welcoming hosts. A groundhopping acquittance of mine told me how much he enjoyed his visit “watching the match on an old settee with beer and a sandwich in hand.” Admission is the standard £15/ £10 with the concessions starting at 60. Advance tickets can be bought online but no need. All away fans must have a ticket:
Our squad looks a little healthier than before. Tate Campbell remains suspended but happily Robinson and Chapman could be available. Willo too if he overcomes his “hammy” injury. New boys White, Mitchell and Decky the Yank feel positive additions. Imagine! Competition for places..
If you can’t be there for points searching, Radio Hereford will be broadcasting live. Keith “call me Lazarus” Hall is back with interjections by me and Ruth running text interference.
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Simon Wright
