The Grove Northern Premier League Tuesday October 28th 2014
The Grove
I’d already seen Halesowen this season in their game at Tividale but had never been to the Grove for a game. Hell, if Dad even called it “a tidy little ground” then it must be alright (as he’s the first to slag anything off for being tinpot and raggy arse rovers)
At the Tividale game, Nick and I had been stood chatting to Craig, a Halesowen fan , for the 2nd half and after the game he recommended that we see a game at Halesowen. Well, thanks to half term, the opportunity arose to see a game.
The Yeltz had a slow start to life back in the Northern Prem but have gradually picked up and this game against 2nd bottom Witton provided a useful opportunity to cement their place firmly in the mid table.
Halesowen’s ground is best served by Old Hill station, about 1.5 miles north of the ground (Halesowen station is now a shopping park sadly) and would require changes at New Street and Smethwick Galton Bridge for me. Craig had recommended getting a bus from the station or from Birmingham but not having a clue where to go and being rush hour, I didn’t fancy it. Sadly, rush hour trains in the area can be very tricky. Although I got into New Street on time, I could not find the train I wanted on the timetable. Nick then rang to say he was delayed and as he did this I overheard an announcement saying the train to Wolverhampton was reinstated, so I got on it. I got to Smethwich and negotiated my way around a tricky little station (it has high and low level platforms) but luckily Nick was delayed by 20 minutes.
He only just got in before our train to Old Hill got in. It was only a short hop (8 mins) and we arrived at about 6:45pm. From there, I was not relying on the JoshJosh map but the google map on my phone and as we headed downhill, we were meant to edge right onto a road which I swear didn’t exist. As it was we took a small detour but having gone to the bottom of the valley, we had to go back out to get to the ground. Cue a punishing hill of Buxton-standards but eventually we made out way to the ground, just after 7:15.
Dugout side terrace
The ‘away’ end
The covered end where most home fans went
The main stand
Nick got in for free and I paid a tenner, which was, for me, better value than Redditch, where I went the previous night and paid the same fare. I got a programme for £2 (sadly when I got home I discovered it was from the previous game versus Rushall!) and the food was cheap. £4 for a pie, chips and cuppa.
First half we stood on an open terrace down the side with the dugouts. To our left was an identical terrace, with its own turnstiles (segregation I persume for away fans when needed). These 2 terraces probably held 2,000 in total. Opposite us was the main stand. Quite small but it ran most of the length of the pitch and had an announcers box and press facilities. To our right was the tunnel and an elevated terrace which was covered and made of tin, so an atmosphere could be made. Definitely a ground capable of being in the Conference. The home support are also quite a committed bunch. They’ve been averaging around 450 this season, with a bumper gate for non league day (nearly 800) versus Workington. Tonight there were 352 of us there and the home support got behind their team regularly, although their range of songs perhaps needs some work!
Halesowen started brightly in the drizzle but looked a bit more suspect at the back and Witton, who had lost 10 straight league games before this, had a few openings themselves. A couple of home set pieces flew narrowly wide of the goal but Matt Sargent had to be on his toes at the other end to deny Ben Harrison & Jamie Rainford.
The only goal came on 29 minutes, when Neil MacKenzie was given time to pick his spot with a neat finish from the edge of the box to Daniel East’s right hand side. Joe Hull also saw a header well saved by East shortly after after a long throw.
The 2nd half was a different story. Occasional Halesowen attacks punctuated large spells of Witton pressure. Amazingly, they couldn’t convert any of their really good openings and Sargent made some excellent saves and Michael Powell couldn’t quite get on the end of one late move to get the goal Witton deserved.
Halesowen were able to counter as the visitors pushed forwards but were not able to kill the game off, but fortunately the whistle ended the anxiety around the Grove and a win which took them 5 points clear of the drop zone was in the bag.
We then got a taxi to Rowley Regis (1 stop closer to Smethwick than Old Hill but better served) and actually had 20 minutes to wait for the train to Smethwick. Once there, my train was delayed and we had 15 minutes of coming up with amusing and ridiculous team names based on local stations.
Rowley Regis station looking west
Never before has Dynamo Dorridge sounded so cool, or Wacker Warwick. And who can forget Tennis Borussia Bordesley or Smethwick Galton Bridge Railway Mechanics Institute???
Luckily, before things got too out of control, my train arrived. I then discovered my programme was the wrong one. Luckily Halesowen were keen to sort it out so I can expect the right one to come soon.
Definitely a non league ground to recommend. A nice clubhouse, relatively cheap food, tidy ground which attracts a crowd which get behind the team… if only that Longbridge to Walsall Line lived on and Halesowen had its station, the 8 mile journey would be much shorter for the mortals without cars!
Witton Albion: East; Gardener, Moyo (Corbett 86), Harrison, Shaw, Dawson, O’Brien (Koral 65), Powell, Rainford, Titchiner (Karanlang 82), Andrews. Unused Sub: Speare.
Referee: Robbie Dadley
Booked: Andrews (32), Powell (75), Griffiths (88)
‘The Big Pet Store’ HTFC Match of the Match, selected by Spencer Signs: Joe Hull
Next up- Boston take a trip to Chorley in a big playoff clash in Conference North. My first visit to Victory Park and after our win over AFC Fylde, there is much needed optimism among the BUFC faithful.
Thanks For Reading
Josh
Under The Floodlights 
Dad was right then……..Chorley is respectable too.
He was! Chorley looks decent, though I think down 1 side there’s not much there. Should also be a 4 figure crowd there