Essex Senior League
Premier Division (Step 5)
Wednesday 9 March 2022
I warmed up in;
Signature Brew, Haggerston
Railway Arches, 340 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA
as the address reveals, another railway arch bar. In "the East" rather than Bermondsey this time. A well appointed single arch room. Bar on the left hand side. A small stage, where they were setting up for a Wednesday night gig. The staff were helpful, but in that slightly detached, always doing a thousand other things way, that is becoming the norm in London craft bars.
One of three Signature Brew outlets around these wood necks. In case you didn't know, Signature are a "music themed" brewery. So, you've got Roadie, Studio, Backstage Pass beers in their core range. Today, they had ten of their own & one guest.
Signature Brew, Compressor, New England IPA on Keg at 4.4%
The "word play" is that they've compressed a big flavour NEIPA into a sessionable 4.4%. Yeah, right. That worked OK. Nice n smooth, without the harshness you sometimes get lurking in the Gloop. Bitterness comes into the back of your mouth. Lots of orange, leaning irn bru.
Sporting Bengal's Mile End Stadium was my Ground Tick 389. And, get this, I've played on it an' all. Well, when I say played, I mean I've been part of a two person kickabout on it. Well, when I say it, I mean on the site of it, in 1983, in Mile End Park, when I lived in Bow, and seven years before the stadium as it is now was built. But, you know, still counts.
Blur played a concert at Mile End Stadium in 1985 to 27k people. I head counted the attendance tonight at 35!!!
While we're on the subject of who has graced the hallowed turf at Mile End. Tonight, two foxes, different foxes, put in appearances. How can I be so certain they were different foxes, I hear you ask? Maybe it was the same fox twice. Mate. I used the Carrier Bag Firm tried and trusted Fox Identification System. Fox Two, ran the wrong way down the back straight, (Mile End is a athletics stadium). Fox One ran across the pitch, roughly along the 18 yard line. Fox One ran on THREE legs, it's fourth stuck out at an unhealthy angle. Fox Two was correctly legged (four if you're wondering). The CBF Fox Identification System, right there, infallible.
Sporting Bengal went ahead after 31. The keeper kept his feet in the area, but when he caught the ball, the lino felt his hands & the ball were outside. An edge of the box free kick & a booking for the keeper. The United player has run up, banged it, slipped over on his arse - and it's gone in like a screamer. The whole incident - Classic Non-League.
While we're on the subject of Mile End having an athletics track. Farce man. From that 31st minute goal on, NO SBU player fetched a ball. (No Ballboys). A Saints player would hit the ball hard, high & wide. It would sail over the discus circle & 3,000 metre water jump. The keeper would just fucking stand there. And, eventually one of the Saints lads would have to sprint over there and retrieve it. Time after time, all over the pitch.
In the second half, a Sporting Bengal player wouldn't run 20 yards to pick the ball up for his own attacking throw level with the box. A St Margaretsbury kid went and fetched it. And effectively threw it in his face - have that.
Anyway, it all bit them on the arse on 83 minutes when St Margaretsbury equalised. Yay. That set up a good finish as both teams went for the winner.
Facilities, in the shape of plausible clubhouse & bar, there were none. A vending machine in the reception was it. The players, officials & staff get over that problem by a simple approach. A local Fried Chicken shop delivered boxes & boxes & a load more boxes of produce to the changing rooms 21 minutes into the second half.
Urban Foxes, Fried Chicken Shops & Craft Beer Bars. Welcome to today's East End.
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Stats
I have now Blogged from 1,077 games in 2,759 days
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