Match Information
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Nailsea & Tickenham 5-0 Cheddar
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When: Tuesday 27th September 2022
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Kick-off: 7.30pm
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Where: Fryth Way, off Pound Lane, Nailsea, North Somerset BS48 2AS
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Competition: Western League Division One
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Attendance: 149
It was such a huge personal honour when I was unexpectedly asked by Nailsea & Tickenham to perform the official floodlight opening ceremony before this match.
So I set off on a 310 mile round trip to Nailsea which is a Somerset town containing 15,600 inhabitants.
N&T FC are newly promoted to the Western League Division One this season at Step 6 of the national Non-League Pyramid as champions of the Somerset County League.
Therefore the installation of floodlights was essential to meet stringent ground grading requirements for this standard of football.
Half an hour before the 7.30pm kick-off, I stood in front of the growing crowd with a microphone in my hand to announce a countdown from ten down to one before the lights were dramatically switched on and Fryth Way became illuminated for the very first time.
I've had some amazing experiences in my 50 years as a Non-League football enthusiast but this was something completely different for me to undertake. A moment that will always be mentioned in the club’s history annals for years to come.
Ground Description
It is a work in progress. The foundations have been created to erect a new seated grandstand and some seats are on site ready for installation.
In the meantime, N&T currently have a charming homemade covered enclosure that houses some individual chairs for spectators who can enjoy a slightly elevated view on top of grass banking.
Programme Details
A very nice souvenir programme sold at £1. The editorial content put this historic occasion into context by including details about the new lights plus an update on N&T’s future plans.
The Match
The first half was scoreless and quite sterile. In fact, the match had 0-0 written all over it which is always bitterly disappointing for a visiting groundhopper like me.
However, N&T stepped things up completely after the break and rattled home five goals from Jack Thorne, Callum Dunn 2, Joe Berry and an own goal at the very end to seal a resounding victory.
N&T are already pushing for promotion to the Western League Premier Division at Step 5.
The club have certainly come a long way since their formation as recently as 2015 from the merger of two well-established local teams - Nailsea Town FC and Tickenham United FC. In fact, they haven’t looked back since then.
The People
I received a very warm welcome from all the hard working matchday volunteers...
At half-time, I took the microphone again to introduce the spectators to N&T chairman Rob Gregory, club treasurer John Murray MBE (who worked very closely alongside the Football Foundation to secure extensive funding for the floodlights) and former Bristol City captain Geoff Merrick.
All three exuded resounding enthusiasm about the continuing aspirations of N&T on and off the field of play as well as the vital importance that Non-League clubs hold within their adjacent communities.
Like many other people of my age, I fondly remember Merrick as one of eight noble and altruistic footballers (the famous ‘Ashton Gate Eight’) who saved Bristol City from financial ruin in 1982 by ripping up their contracts.
He is 71 now and I found him to be a humble man with a deep love of football at all levels having finished his career in the Non-League ranks. As for N&T, I quickly realised that the club’s prospects look very bright indeed.
Their ambition is to provide the best standard of football and facilities for the surrounding catchment area.
They are attracting increasing support and sponsorship from nearby businesses whilst providing a great platform for young local players to perform on.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 26th October 2022
