2pm 17 November 2012
Surrey Elite Intermediate League
Reigate Priory 3 Bookham 3 (att 12)
I'd long wanted to visit Reigate Priory's ground. The club are among the oldest in the world, and they still play at their original ground, albeit primarily a venue for cricket rather than football.
They were among the entrants for the first ever FA Cup, although withdrew without playing their opening fixture against the Royal Engineers, and competed regularly during the Cup's early years.
Presumably back in the 1870s parking wasn't much of an issue at the Park Lane ground, but it is now. The prime pitchside parking spaces are reserved for Reigate Priory Hockey Club, who guard them with signs sternly warning off anyone connected with the football from using them.
With no parking allowed on the main road, and Reigate Priory Tennis Club's car park clearly marked "private", it took a couple of laps of the sports ground before I was finally able to squeeze my car into a space. Thank goodness the "crowd" was just a dozen.
Despite its long history, the football facilities are basic, although overall I liked the ground. The sloping pitch is roped off on the car park side, with dugouts on the opposite site backing onto tennis courts. A hedge encloses one end, with the cricket pitch beyond the other.
The game was terrific. Going into the game Reigate were bottom but one, while Bookham were second, but you wouldn't have guessed that from the 90 minutes. That Bookham escaped with a point was largely thanks to luck, and the referee's eccentric display.
Reigate had taken a fourth minute lead with a terrific goal. Bookham's equaliser was a controversial penalty, although from where I was standing I couldn't tell if it was a foul or a good tackle. Moments later, Reigate's left back, who'd given away the penalty, sliced a clearance beyond his own keeper to put the visitors in front.
But Reigate came back strongly after the break, scoring two good goals to edge in front. They looked to be heading for an important, and deserved win, but in stoppage time the referee awarded Bookham a very soft free kick on the edge of the area, from which they equalised.
Surrey Elite Intermediate League
Reigate Priory 3 Bookham 3 (att 12)
I'd long wanted to visit Reigate Priory's ground. The club are among the oldest in the world, and they still play at their original ground, albeit primarily a venue for cricket rather than football.
They were among the entrants for the first ever FA Cup, although withdrew without playing their opening fixture against the Royal Engineers, and competed regularly during the Cup's early years.
Presumably back in the 1870s parking wasn't much of an issue at the Park Lane ground, but it is now. The prime pitchside parking spaces are reserved for Reigate Priory Hockey Club, who guard them with signs sternly warning off anyone connected with the football from using them.
With no parking allowed on the main road, and Reigate Priory Tennis Club's car park clearly marked "private", it took a couple of laps of the sports ground before I was finally able to squeeze my car into a space. Thank goodness the "crowd" was just a dozen.
Despite its long history, the football facilities are basic, although overall I liked the ground. The sloping pitch is roped off on the car park side, with dugouts on the opposite site backing onto tennis courts. A hedge encloses one end, with the cricket pitch beyond the other.
The game was terrific. Going into the game Reigate were bottom but one, while Bookham were second, but you wouldn't have guessed that from the 90 minutes. That Bookham escaped with a point was largely thanks to luck, and the referee's eccentric display.
Reigate had taken a fourth minute lead with a terrific goal. Bookham's equaliser was a controversial penalty, although from where I was standing I couldn't tell if it was a foul or a good tackle. Moments later, Reigate's left back, who'd given away the penalty, sliced a clearance beyond his own keeper to put the visitors in front.
But Reigate came back strongly after the break, scoring two good goals to edge in front. They looked to be heading for an important, and deserved win, but in stoppage time the referee awarded Bookham a very soft free kick on the edge of the area, from which they equalised.
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