Match Information
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Hamworthy Recreation 2-1 Totton & Eling
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When: Saturday 1st October 2022
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Kick-off: 3pm
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Where: The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Canford Magna, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3AP
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Competition: Wessex Football League Division One
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Attendance: 45
I always like attending matches in the Wessex League because it embraces some beautiful places stretching from the Isle of Wight and Hampshire into nearby counties Berkshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.
Indeed to mark the league being founded 37 years ago, I decided to take in a fixture on their historic opening day of Saturday 6th September 1986.
I witnessed the now-defunct Wellworthy Athletic FC defeating Bournemouth FC 1-0 at the Ampress Ground in Lymington (attendance 43).
Bringing my interest up to date, Hamworthy Recreation FC were newcomers in the Wessex League Division One during 2022/23 having gained promotion to Step 6 of the national Non-League Pyramid as Dorset Premier Football League champions.
But before visiting them, I needed to double check I had not already been to Hamworthy Rec’s ground since it sounded really familiar.
I am forever cautious of the catastrophic groundhopping conundrum ‘Accidental Re-visit Syndrome’ where you inadvertently go back to a ground you have previously ticked off without realising. The situation could happen if a venue changes name for example.
So I meticulously perused my records and discovered I travelled to The County Ground in Hamworthy on Sunday 5th March 1995 when it was used on a temporary basis by Poole Town (a Southern League fixture ending 1-1 versus Bury Town, attendance 121).
This the Dorset County Football Association headquarters nowadays and is also Hamworthy United FC’s home in the Southern League.
However, I needn’t have worried about anything though as Hamworthy Recreation actually play seven miles north of Hamworthy in a village called Canford Magna near Wimborne.
So I set off on my 280 mile round trip safely aware it was definitely a new ground for me.
Even so, the journey was particularly arduous due to severe delays on the M25 and M3 motorways but I still arrived 40 minutes before kick-off.
Ground Description
A large car park leads to the imposing main Hamworthy Club two-storey building incorporating an array of leisure and social activities.
Overall, the expansive 17 acre site hosts football, cricket, squash, racket ball, golf, petanque and axe-throwing.
The football arena was spruced up to meet Wessex League Division One ground grading requirements. A 50 seater prefab stand sits adjacent to one touchline whilst there is covered standing opposite for another 50 spectators.
Panoramic elevated viewing is available from two balconies outside the upstairs bar. Hard standing extends around two and a half sides of the pitch. One end is sectioned off to protect the cricket square.
Incidentally, The Hamworthy Club is located half a mile along Magna Road from AFC Bournemouth’s under-21 and youth team home ground at Canford Park Arena.
Programme Details
Included with admission at the main pay hut. Sixteen pages containing club honours, histories of both teams, league tables, stats and match reports.
In addition, up to date line-ups were displayed on a matchday white board inside the ground.
The Match
A mid-table affair where 13th opposed 10th. After seeing an early penalty saved, Totton & Eling opened the scoring on 47 minutes.
It came via the head of Bermuda full international Tokia Enrique Zidane Russell, who was on loan from their next door club AFC Totton.
By the way, when Russell was born his father gave him the delightful middle names Enrique and Zidane in recognition of legendary soccer superstars Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane.
Nevertheless, homesters Hamworthy Recreation roared back to win the game through strikes from Jack Satterley (71 mins) and Christopher Long (75 mins).
All this action took place against the unusual backcloth of an energetic axe-throwing club session in full flow behind the football stand.
*Credit for photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
