Football Days

New Bucks Head - AFC Telford United

AFC Telford United 0-0 Walsall

24/07/12 - Pre-Season Friendly

Att: 652

After the summer break I was looking forward to getting back into match action and as I was staying in the West Midlands for a few days with a Walsall supporting mate, I couldn't help but get in the car and head to Telford for The Sadders' first pre-season friendly against AFC Telford United from the Blue Square Premier.

Getting there from Aldridge was easy enough, with it being just a 30 mile trip and we arrived in plenty of time. As we came off the motorway the ground was easy to find and parking in the club car park was just £3 per car, which seemed reasonable enough. From the outside the ground was quite impressive, clearly one of the better grounds in the Blue Square Premier. It was opened in 2003 and stands on the site of the original Bucks Head ground which had hosted the local football team for over a century.

The ground has a capacity of 6,300, with 2,200 seats and is a really tidy ground. The Main Stand is all seated and runs the length of the pitch, with the words "Telford United FC" written in the seats - Telford United were the original tenants, but went out of business in 2004 - It's an impressive stand and wouldn't look out of place in a higher league. At each end are identical covered terraces, which each house around 1,100 supporters, with away fans usually given the Frank Nagington Stand and a block of seats in the Main Stand. On the other side is the East Terrace, which is a bit of a let down, with a small open terrace running the length of the pitch. If they built a stand like the Main Stand on that side as well, it would be a superb ground and easily fit for the Football League.

After the original Telford United (formed in 1872) went out of business, AFC Telford United were formed and thankfully were able to keep playing at this impressive venue. They began life in their new guise in the Northern Premier League Division One and after a slow start to the season they rallied to finish 3rd, just three points off the top. They defeated Kendal Town in front of a league record crowd of 4,215 to clinch promotion and begin their journey back up the non-league ladder. After a disappointing 10th place finish the following season, The Bucks were again successful in the play offs the season after and gained a second promotion in three years. In their first Blue Square North campaign they once again reached the play offs, but this time their progress was halted by a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Barrow. In the 2008/09 season the club continued to progress, taking League One Southend United to a replay in the FA Cup, reaching the FA Trophy semi-final and also winning the Setanta Shield, following a penalty shoot-out win against Forest Green. In the league they reached the play offs yet again, but were defeated in the final 1-0 by Gateshead.

2009/10 was a disappointing season for AFC Telford and Andy Sinton was bought in as manager for 2010/11 and had an instant impact, with The Bucks finishing 2nd and once again qualifying for the play offs. This time they went all the way, with an injury time winner securing a 3-2 play off final victory over Guiseley to promote the club back to the level that Telford United played at for 25 seasons after being founder members of the Conference in 1979. In their first season back in non-league's top flight they stayed out of the relegation zone all season, finishing in 20th place. They'll hope to push on in the coming campaign.

We had a look around the ground, including a visit to the club shop where we purchased a programme and headed into the ground. £8 to stand in the away end didn't seem bad at the time, if only we knew what was to follow...

Once inside the ground the facilities are as impressive as I expected them to be, with a decent sized concourse at the back of the terrace, which included two of my favourite things at any ground - food and beer. Unfortunately what I really paid £3 for was a warm can of Stella poured into a plastic cup, which seemed a bit harsh, but the burger was okay. We found a spot on the terrace and had a flick through the programme, which was well designed but seemed a bit light on content for £2.50. It was a joint publication for all four friendlies being played at New Bucks Head, with extended articles on the new managers at Blues and Wolves, with minimal information about Chesterfield, Walsall or AFC Telford themselves.

As kick off approached there was a sparse crowd in the ground, with the Walsall support making up 261 of the 652 attendance. The teams entered the field and with the blast of the referees whistle, one of the worst games I've ever seen got underway. AFC Telford already had a game under their belts, following a 3-0 win over Welsh side TNS, but this was Walsall's first pre-season outing and following a lot of upheaval over the summer fielded a mixed team of first teamers and trialists. Febian Brandy was Walsall's biggest threat, showing flashes of class on the left wing. Meanwhile Steve Jones, once of Walsall and Northern Ireland, carried the biggest threat for the home side. It was goalless at half time and after wholesale changes at half time Walsall looked a bit brighter, but in truth the game never really got going. Walsall had the best chance to win the match in the second half, but with the goal at his mercy, the Walsall player (no idea who it was!) scuffed his shot. With no added time, the referee mercifully bought the match to an end and put 652 people out of their misery.

It was easy to get out of the car park and we were back in Walsall in good time. It was good to be back at a match and it's a very impressive venue - Certainly fit to host football at a higher level than it currently is. From a footballing perspective, it's good to know that it can only get better.