The Beast from the East

In the week prior to Prescot Cables' game at home to Goole, we had been frustratingly inactive due to a weather system called the Beast from the East, with temperatures well below freezing postponing games against Everton and Bamber Bridge. We had been active off the field, with a successful, if cold, AGM, with Doug Lace addressing us for the first time as Chair, generally encouraging ground and financial reports, and a good question and answer session with Brian Richardson.

Elsewhere, the situation was more critical. Dulwich Hamlet received notice their ground tenancy had been withdrawn for breaches of onerous conditions the club accepted under duress a few months previously. There are also accumulated bills from when the landlords, Meadow Residential, were running the club as the agent of the majority shareholder, including back rent they had carelessly omitted to pay to themselves. In a further effort to intimidate the club, the landlords registered trademarks relating to the club name, a move that brought down widespread derision on their heads. Building crowds and community work has paid dividends, as the club now has the support of the local council, Members of Parliament, the Mayor of London, community and football organisations. Amongst the political support, Lord Kennedy of Southwark has been patrolling Westminster armed with a pink and blue scarf, the resulting tweets spreading news far and wide.

Many clubs find themselves in difficulties, but Dulwich's situation could affect any club that does not own the freehold of their ground. A viable club (treat anything you hear to the contrary with a large basin full of salt), part of whose site can be used for social or affordable housing, retaining the club and still producing a return on investment, is being forced out to make a larger profit for the landlords and their hedge fund owners. If they get away with it, it could be your club next.

Turning to the game I was attending, I had been delayed by traffic for Anfield so kitted myself out with waterproof trousers and hi-vis on the bus. I arrived in a dead heat with the teams coming out, and took up position by the side of the pitch. I am not sure if we have renewed the bulbs on the floodlights, but the pictures on my monitor were better illuminated than usual, even at the other end of the pitch.

Ben Barnes

James McCulloch returned from suspension. When I started watching the game, a card that would attract a three match suspension in the Football League attracted 35 days at our level. This was addressed some years ago, but in the recent bad weather, the three games worked out to 28 days, the gap between the card and his next opportunity to play adding up to 45 days.

James McCulloch

Harry Cain had an also weather delayed return from surgery.

Harry Cain

The visitors opened the scoring after 10 minutes, with Josh Klein-Davies replying 10 minutes later.

I swapped sides about half way through.

Valter Fernandes

For the second half, I used the new gate to access the pitch. It was resisting opening, and Dave "The Monster" was trying to attract my attention. Having squeezed through, I stopped to listen to what Dave was trying to tell me. He pointed out I was trying to open it the wrong way.

I stopped for a few minutes behind the goal, and was able to get a few pictures, which I have generally not been able to do, which turned my attention again to floodlight bulbs.

Chris Almond

Josh Klein-Davies secured the result with a second goal, just at the moment I was having a spot of bother with damp air condensing on the front of the lens. I had cleared it in time to catch the celebration.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 2 (Klein-Davies 2) Goole AFC 2