Mile Oak vs Langney Wanderers
Southern Combination Football League Division One
September 23
The club is Mile Oak – a set-up that was established in 1960 when the estate was created on the then Mile Oak farm, north of Portslade village. And now, more than 50 years after being founded, it remains owned and financed by the people who live in the area. Even Barcelona can’t compete with that.
With light a little lacking, finding the concrete slope which leads in to the ground was a little difficult. Finding the tea hut was even more of a mystery. But once I found it – hidden within the labyrinth of the nursery , while the welcome was warm the tea most definitely wasn’t. And the absence of food also made Nomad more than a tad disappointed – with a KitKat no substitute for a plate of chips or hot dog. Now I know things are hard at this level with some clubs only surviving because of the commitment of a few volunteers, but the lack of hot food or even a hot drink on an evening after most have been at work really does nothing to get people in through the turnstiles.
On to the match. And it wasn’t a classic bit it was a fair contest stocked full of commitment but lacking a little bit of quality. The home side – kitted out in a very smart strip of orange and black – were full of endeavour. But the hard pitch made it a little difficult to keep the ball under control. As for the opponents, their greater experience meant that when the did have the ball, they made the most of it.
Half-time came and keen to keep warm but even keener to avoid another poor cup of tea, I asked for a hot chocolate. Then a coffee. But neither were in stock. So tea it was. I passed on another KitKat. One highlight of the half-time break though was seeing the visiting officials tuck into their plate of biscuits at a table and chairs created for four-year-olds. A surreal sight which they definitely don’t get at Old Trafford.
Onto the second half and Mile Oak came out looking as if they were keen to get back in to the game. But 90 seconds after the restart and a long throw from the right hand side wasn’t dealt with and it was bundled in by Adam Byrne. They added a third with about 30 minutes to go. And while Mile Oak did pull one back through a penalty, they never looked like adding to it.
With the game petering out it was somewhat of a shock then at full time when the game erupted. Despite winning the match 3-1, Langney somehow thought it would be wise to confront the officials about a few decisions he took.
Their manager intervened – with the result being a scuffle between boss and his own players. Thankfully,the home officials intervened and made it clear that such behaviour was not welcome at Mile Oak. On such a note I realised that while they may not do a decent cup of tea, this was a club that did things the right way but more importantly in the right spirit. And for that reason, I wish them well.
THE ESSENTIALS
Mile Oak FC
Mile Oak Recreation Ground,
Chalky Road,
Portslade,
BN41 2WS
http://www.mileoakfc.co.uk
@mileoak_fc
Getting there and away
Car: Travelling west on the A27, turn off on to the A293 (signposted Shoreham), then right at roundabout into Fox Way. Fox Way joins Chalky Road, and the ground is located on the right hand side opposite the Community College.
Nearest station: Portslade (30 minute walk)
Programme
A mammoth 56-pager all for £1. A black and white affair, it was full of everything you need to know about the club and local area, with plenty of adverts. As if you needed more proof of their community focus,  the front had a picture of Matt Grimstone, the former Mile Oak player who died in the Shoreham Airshow disaster.
Food and drink
Not great. Coming straight from the office, Nomad was in need of some sustenance. However, all the kitchen could provide was a cup of mildly warm tea and either crisps or chocolate. No beer, no chips, not even a Bovril. At half time I thought I’d be a bit more adventurous and ask for a hot chocolate. “Sorry, we havn’t got any”. Coffee. “Sorry, we’re out”. So it was back to the tea which this time round was closer to ice than boiling.
Clubhouse
Being a community club, you’d expect Mile Oak to have multi-purpose facilities. And so it was that their changing rooms and clubhouse also doubled as a nursery. It had an odd feel to it, particularly at half time when the visiting officials ate biscuits while sat on some very low chairs. Odd but utterly charming.
Toilets
Probably the cleanest I’ve been to yet. Once I found them in the nursery.
MATCH FACTS
Mile Oak 1
Jamie Watts 75
Langley Wanderers 3
Gianluca Del-Gaudio 35;
Adam Byrne 49; Paul Rogers 60
Attendance 33
Mile Oak
1. Aaron Stenning
2. Karl Gillingham
3. Jude McDonald
4. Chris Pulling
5. Asa Turley-George
6. Joe Hall
7. Lloyd Skinner
8. Jamie Watts
9. Adam Dine
10. Eric Wedge-Bull
11. Jack Arnold
Subs.
12. Stuart Garrod
14. Luke Pullinger
15. Dominic Shepherd
16. Ben May
17. Joe Whiting
1. Lee Darney
2. Marcus Allen
3. Kyle Fenners
4. Steve Hickman
5. Adam Byrne
6. Sam Bunn
7. Wayne Wilkinson
8. Simon Catt
9. Shane Saunders
10. Paul Rodgers
11. Gianluca Del-Gaudio
Subs.
12. Mark Warren
14. Sam Berry
15. Jamie Bucket
Scouting report
With their roots firmly grounded into the local community, Mile Oak have to be applauded for giving young players in the area a platform to perform. Combined they were industrious and full of energy even if the quality is not always there. Their youthfulness also means that mistakes are likely. Of the starting 11, Asa Turley-George and Jamie Watts were probably the stand outs, keeping going from start to finish.
As for the visitors and ultimately it was their experience which saw them through to the end. They were well marshalled at the back with Adam Byrne a real lieutenant, leading by example. Up front, Wanderers’ front pair of Shane Saunders and Paul Rodgers were a handful, combining strength, good technique and a real never say die attitude which Oak couldn’t control. You do wonder though if Langney’s aggressive approach will see them come up short against the more skilful teams in the league.