7pm 14 September 2015
Under 21 Premier League
Derby County U21 2 Swansea City U21 1 (att 270)
I hadn't planned on coming to this game, until a fellow groundhopper I met at the day's earlier game told me it was definitely being played on "pitch six" at the FA's St George's Park football centre near Burton.
Last time I was at St George's Park it was to see a game on "pitch five", but the plush and landscaped surroundings mean that it's far more than just a line of open pitches. Number six is effectively the show pitch, enclosed, floodlit and with a seated stand running the length of one side.
My only complaint, given the amount of money the FA must have spent on St George's Park, was they couldn't design a stand without roof supports obstructing the view of those seated inside, especially when there's no option to watch from elsewhere.
Like the the day's earlier game at Leeds, this was another under 21 fixture with neat passing but little end product. A nil nil draw looked likely, but thankfully it came to life when Swansea took a second half lead.
The goal sparked Derby into life, and they struck back with a first goal that owed much to good fortune, and a second that owed much to good skill.
The result left the Derby fans in the crowd happy, but they appeared outnumbered by the many tracksuited spectators busy taking notes, perhaps as part of their homework while on FA residential coaching courses.
Under 21 Premier League
Derby County U21 2 Swansea City U21 1 (att 270)
I hadn't planned on coming to this game, until a fellow groundhopper I met at the day's earlier game told me it was definitely being played on "pitch six" at the FA's St George's Park football centre near Burton.
Last time I was at St George's Park it was to see a game on "pitch five", but the plush and landscaped surroundings mean that it's far more than just a line of open pitches. Number six is effectively the show pitch, enclosed, floodlit and with a seated stand running the length of one side.
My only complaint, given the amount of money the FA must have spent on St George's Park, was they couldn't design a stand without roof supports obstructing the view of those seated inside, especially when there's no option to watch from elsewhere.
Like the the day's earlier game at Leeds, this was another under 21 fixture with neat passing but little end product. A nil nil draw looked likely, but thankfully it came to life when Swansea took a second half lead.
The goal sparked Derby into life, and they struck back with a first goal that owed much to good fortune, and a second that owed much to good skill.
The result left the Derby fans in the crowd happy, but they appeared outnumbered by the many tracksuited spectators busy taking notes, perhaps as part of their homework while on FA residential coaching courses.
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