Sidlesham vs Saltdean UnitedThe start of March is always a pivotal moment in the football calender. It’s what’s known in the game as the business end of the season. It was also a pivotal time for Nomad. As with ten weeks left of the season, he still has 18 grounds in the newly formed Southern Combination Football League to tick off.
In a bid to discover the vital “m” word, momentum, Nomad took the start of March as a chance to tick off a few of the furthest flung sides in the division.
And so with Mrs N spending the day in Portsmouth, it was time to flick through the fixture list to find some games out west. Nomad was in luck – with Sidlesham kicking off at 1 30pm in the Divison One cup.
Nomad was well aware of the village, having driven through it on the way to their next door neighbours, Selsey. Not that you’d mention that towns name in these parts.
For those who haven’t ventured that way, think English country garden with thatched roofs, crawling ivy and tweeting birds. It was all very delightful. That was until Nomad pulled into the entrance to the Rec Ground, the home of the yellow and greens of Sidlesham.
It was a neat little set up with a makeshift hut forming a turnstile at the entrance where a steward munched on his sandwiches. On the right was the ground while directly in front was a 1960s clubhouse. The only problem was the very debatable music being played out the loud speaker – Now That’s What I Call Music is clearly an unknown entity out this way.
A stroll into the clubhouse was a revelation. It was like stepping back in time in terms of decor while efforts to bring it into the 21st century looked to have stopped at the ripping out phase.
A walk down the corridor to the bar felt very long – as was the barman’s face when Nomad asked for a cup of tea. Turning about rather sharpish, fortunately the welcome from the tea shack which opened onto the pitch was a lot warmer.
The man inside fumbled about it for some money so I perched in a slightly moth-eaten armchair and waited for the brew to be served. At less than a quid it was a bargain.Then it was on to flicking through the programme and wait for the two teams to emerge down the gated tunnel.
On to the match and both sides are struggling towards the bottom of Divison One. Sidlesham were a tidy outfit but just lacked the ability to score goals, hence why they sat fourth bottom. The visitors, from Saltdean, just outside Brighton, we’re in the bottom two and in danger of relegation. With this match being in the league cup, Nomad was hoping for the league woes to be set to one side for an afternoon.
Kick off came at 1.30pm (all the teams out west seem to favour early kick offs for some reason – it must be the time zone….).
A few of the locals gathered as the teams came out – “it’s bumpy out there. I’ve rolled it twice this week already and it nearly threw me off the tractor…” He wasn’t wrong.
The game was largely uneventful but the home side had the better of things in the first half. Joe Jefkins on the left looked a dangerous attacker. And despite the visiting Tigers having a few long range shots in the early exchanges, towards the end of the opening period they began to look tired and a little long in the teeth. Th home side got one before the break and it was no surprise that into the second half the green and golds took advantage of some awful defending to bag four.
With 30 minutes left Nomad had seen enough. He went and got a cup of tea from the bloke in the tea shack – this time he was leaning out of the window overlooking the goal Saltdean were trying to defend – and then spent a little while admiring a nice looking stand on the right hand side of the pitch. After another 10 minutes it was time to hop in the car on the way to another game to tick off along the way.
On reflection, it was a nice little trip, not the greatest football, the most well kept clubhouse and a bumpy pitch; but the return to Manhood was full of charm. And with the sun shining it was more uplifting than one could ever imagine.
THE ESSENTIALS
Sidlesham FC
The Recreation Ground,
Selsey Road,
Sidlesham,
West Sussex.
PO20 7RD
From the A27 Chichester bypass, take the B2145 (Hunston/Selsey) and head towards Selsey. On entering Sidlesham, pass the large garage and the ground is on the right between houses.
Nearest Station: Chichester (six miles)
The number 51 bus takes about 20 minutes from Chichester and costs £2.
Clubhouse
Very much of the 1960s mould, the bar area was just like stepping back in time. And the bar man looked like he hadn’t smiled since England lifted the world cup. It may be outside but the welcome very the tea shack was decidedly warmer.
Programme
Not much content inside it but there was enough to give you a background on the club and the committed bunch who keep the village side running.
Food and drink
A cup of tea was cheap as chips – 60p – and it came in a mug. There was food available but Nomad gave it a miss.
Toilets
Located inside the clubhouse they were bog standard.
MATCH FACTS
Sidelsham 4
Attendance 25
Sidlesham
Subs
Saltdean
5. Matt ScillickSubs
Carry on up the Combi 