Below I pick out some of the highlights of my travels during the season, reflecting on the usual wide range of experiences and emotions encountered.
Best game:
Looking back, I was lucky to have watched some really entertaining and thrilling games this season. Lingfield 4 v 5 Hailsham Town was most enjoyable, with plenty of goals and the threat of a late comeback as Lingfield fought back from 2-4 down. But the winner here would have to be Rye United 5 v 4 St Francis Rangers which was even more entertaining despite a very heavy and boggy pitch, and was a real see-saw affair, which really could have gone either way
Worst Game:
Again, I was quite fortunate not to have seen many shockers of games. The Sussex League Division One cup final between Crowborough and East Preston (0-1) was a typical cup final, that was more of a midfield battle and eventually won by a single goal. Oxford 0 v 1 Chesterfield gets my vote, probably because it was a game that promised much, with the game played between two teams who, at the time, were first and second in the division but delivered very little up a game of few chances, with the home team particularly poor. And to top it off - the ground was thoroughly uninteresting and bland.
Most pleasant ground:
This would have to be Saltdean United's ground, set in colourful rolling hills, and when I visited on a hot summer's day, the large steep bank along one length made for an absolutely relaxing, peaceful and joyful setting to watch football at.
Worst Ground:
This would have to be Hayling United - and that is even having visited on a warm, sunny afternoon. No entrance to the ground, which was completely open and devoid of any character or charm, the small stand was set far back from the pitch, which also meant one could not stand along the entire length of the pitch - a truly awful venue for senior football.
Worst Weather Conditions:
An easy choice this one, Hanworth Villa 2 v 7 Eastbourne United . The match started off in sunny conditions, albeit with a very strong gusty wind. However in the second half, the strong wind was joined by torrential rain and thunderstorms, which caused the game to be held up for about 15 minutes as players, officials and every single spectator ran for cover.
Highest Scoring games:
Ovingdean 3 v 8 Langney Wanderers and Hooe Sports 1 v 10 Ninfield United
Biggest Home Win
England Women 9 v 0 Montenegro Women
Biggest Away Win
Hooe Sports 1 v 10 Ninfield United
Best Comeback Win
Crowborough Athletic 2 v 3 East Grinstead United There only seemed to be one winner here when Crowborough went into the lead inside the first six minutes. But East Grinstead got a goal back just before half time before dominating the second half and in the end, deservedly won the match.
Best surprise
Amiens 4 v 2 Gazelec Ajaccio In almost all of my experience of French football, I have found it to be dull, defensive and cagey. This was anything but, with the home side showing great attacking flair that blew away their promotion-elect opposition. The Stade de la Licorne was also a very pleasant surprise, with its unique curved see-through glass grandstand roofs
Most welcoming:
In all honesty, no location particularly stands out, however I have always found Little Common to be extremely friendly and inviting and this season was no different on my visits. Worcester Park was also friendly enough.
Least welcoming:
This would have to be Hanworth Villa. The tone was set when being told on entry that I had to go to the clubhouse until about ten minutes before the game, which was only begrudgingly overruled once I complained, and in general, there was absolutely nothing welcoming or inviting about the place. But it seems that they are quite proud of this, as a large sign by the turnstiles shouts out, in army style print, "PROUD NO APOLOGIES"
Best programme:
Eastbourne Town's was very good - very informative and easy on the eye, and I particularly appreciated how they went to the effort of producing a four page insert updating results and league table from the Saturday games before this Bank Holiday Monday fixture. Rye United probably just scrapes my award though, which was informative, entertaining, and plenty of varied content. Too bad they no longer run a senior team after pulling out of the Sussex League in March.
Worst mismatch:
Hooe against Ninfield is a contender - Hooe should never have been allowed to play in the Premier Division of the East Sussex League, which was proven by failing to fulfil fixtures, hefty defeats and then being forced to resign by mid September. Ninfield didn't actually look that good today, and a better team might have doubled their tally - as Rock-a-Nore did the following week, winning 22-0 - and by the end of the game I saw, Hooe's players didn't even bother to attempt to close players down. Enfield Town against Beveren was also a gross mismatch, but it was only a friendly game. My award goes to Horndean against Calne Town as it was a competitive game between two senior teams that was a complete mismatch in the first half that threatened to become embarrassing, although the second half was a lot more even.
Most surreal game:
Two spring to mind for different reasons. The game between a displaced island inhabitants of a militarised island and a sea defence was unusual in the extreme. RWDM Brussels against Eendracht Aalst was bizarre in that it was an extremely dull game of few chances until the final three minutes, when the home team took the lead, the away team had two players sent off (Brussels also had a player sent off too)....but still somehow scored an equaliser at the death.
Best groundsman effort:
In what was a very trying winter for groundsmen in the south east of England, my award goes to East Grinstead, who managed to play their Boxing Day local derby against Lingfield despite persistent heavy rain in the area lasting several days which claimed most other local games.
Best bargain:
Compliments to Wigan for charging just £15.00 for Championship football - not just on my visit but the majority of their fixtures, also also to Derby, charging just £14.00 when I visited for a seat in one corner of the ground. No surprise that my team Charlton are also contenders here, with £5 tickets for one game and offering expired season ticket holders free entry to another. The additional £1 compulsory charity donation did not seem to be in the spirit of charity fund raising though, and so Dagenham and Redbridge wins the award, offering tickets for just £2.50 on their "Daggers against Racism" day.
Season Stats:
Games Seen: 101 (after Italy Ireland)
Goals Seen: 371
Average goals per game: 3.67 (not including penalty shoot-outs nor part games watched)
Goals seen in part games: 7
Home wins: 39 (43%)
Away wins: 37 (41%)
Draws: 15 (16%)
Neutral Games: 10
Home Goals: 181
Away Goals: 157
Neutral Goals: 33
Goalless Draws: 4 (4%)
Last Goalless Draw: 31/5/14 (0 games ago)
Longest run without goalless draw: 27/10/12 to 26/10/13 (87 games)
Foreign countries visited for football in the season: Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium.
Goals seen in part games: 7
Home wins: 39 (43%)
Away wins: 37 (41%)
Draws: 15 (16%)
Neutral Games: 10
Home Goals: 181
Away Goals: 157
Neutral Goals: 33
Goalless Draws: 4 (4%)
Last Goalless Draw: 31/5/14 (0 games ago)
Longest run without goalless draw: 27/10/12 to 26/10/13 (87 games)
Foreign countries visited for football in the season: Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium.
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