SUCCESSFUL DAY IN BEDS

Bedfordshire County League

 

For the past three seasons, Craig Dabbs has organised the Bedfordshire County League Day Hop in October, it has always been run well and Craig deserves the praise that he gets, the crowds were decent at this seasons Hop, but it would be great to always see some more hoppers there like all hops.

 

As Hazel was in Preston with her daughter Sarah, her brother Colin offered to take me, so I could set up the Charity Stall, he arrived at 5.40am and after loading the car, we headed to Bedford and arrived at the first ground in Shefford at 8.15am to find Terry Hall and the gates locked, but at 8.30am, someone arrived to let us in and the club kindly allowed us to set up in their smart new clubhouse. This match saw the best crowd of the day and a new crowd record for the Bedford County League of 189, where Shefford Town & Campton beat Pavenham 4-2. The bacon cobs were lovely and a very good progressing club.

 

We then headed about 7 miles down the road to the Wilstead, where the sat nav took us off the Bedford Road and then took us back on it via a de-tour of the village, on arrival at this club, they were ready with Burgers/Hot Dogs, massive portions of cakes, which I couldn't have, but Colin insisted on telling everyone how good the Chocolate cake was, before tucking in to a apple cake later in the game. Here I set up and sold the clubs programmes as well in front of a crowd of 147(I think). Very friendly club that really did well and on the pitch they beat Ickwell & Old Warden 5-2.

 

It was only 4 miles to the next ground so we followed Terry Hall to Meltis Albion, a nice ground with a nice committee, this was the only club to do a raffle and I won a tarot card/book set, whilst Colin won a box of chocolates. We set up here in the pavilion and also sold the clubs programmes. Here food department was Cottage pie which I tooked in to before the Hoppers arrived and nearly went back for seconds, but did think of my diet, so polished it down with a nice cold pint of cider. On the pitch, the homesters didn't do that well, as they lost to Marabese Ceramics 2-1 in front of a crowd of 141.

 

The charity stall did well and we raised £64 on the day and also sold 27 more Advanced Tickets for the Notts Senior League Groundhop, so a Big Thankyyou to everyone and to the cubs for allowing me to set up, but a great thankyou to Craig for all the work he puts in, I know at first hand how difficult it can be organising a event like this for it to go like clockwork.

 

Any enquires about the Notts Senior League Hop, please contact me(Rob Hornby) on 01623 486678 or on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk  or for information and booking form, please click HERE