REFLECTING on two more of my varied groundhopping adventures embracing FA Sunday Cup action recently.
This exciting national knock-out competition dates back to 1964 and features players who appear in a good standard of Saturday senior football…
Match Information Part 1
-
Brook Athletic 1-3 Market Hotel
-
When: Sunday 10th December 2023
-
Kick-off: 2pm
-
Where: Pitch 1, Parsloes Park Hub, Terrace Walk, Dagenham, Essex RM9 5PU
-
Competition: The FA Sunday Cup Third Round
-
Attendance: 71
I had been really looking forward to visiting Parsloes Park as it is a newly opened £13 million grassroots football hub providing three artificial pitches.
One of these has been equipped with spectator facilities and will eventually become the permanent home ground for May & Baker FC in the Eastern Counties League First Division South at Step 6 of the National Non-League Pyramid.
I understand May & Baker could move in during January once opaque screening around the external fencing is installed to prevent supporters watching games free of charge from outside.
Ground Description
The FA Sunday Cup tie was scheduled to be staged on Pitch 3 at Parsloes Park because Pitch 1 had been booked for a morning match.
But when that preceding fixture finished on time, Brook Athletic were told an hour before their 2pm kick-off they could use the main arena. This suited me since it was raining heavily on my arrival in Dagenham and therefore the plentiful sheltered areas surrounding Pitch 1 would be very much appreciated!
There are two prefab grandstands proving 80 seats each alongside two covered terraces accommodating 50 people apiece. In addition to the football amenities, Parsloes Park also contains a gym, a community room and a well-stocked café in the main building.
There are abundant parking spaces too. Funding for the entire project incorporated the Football Foundation’s £6.2 million grant plus a £6.1 million investment via Barking and Dagenham Council. The complex is operated by charitable trust Leisure United.
Programme Details
A four page colour production. The managers of both sides wrote welcome columns and respective team line-ups were included.
The Match
Brook Athletic are members of the Essex Sunday Corinthian League. Travelling up from Kent, the opposition were Ashford & District Sunday League champions Market Hotel.
I had already seen Market Hotel play in the First Round when they recorded a resounding 6-2 victory at Mid Day Sun FC in Croydon.
I am sure football betting odds would list Market Hotel amongst the favourites to lift the 2023/24 FA Sunday Cup. On this occasion though, Brook Athletic took the lead through Jayden Hocking-Rising on 12 minutes.
Even so, Market Hotel duly recovered for a 3-1 win courtesy of strikes by Luke Burdon two (34 mins, penalty, 42 mins) and Ronnie Dolan (72 mins).
Match Information Part 2
-
FC Bapco 2-0 East Christchurch Sports and Social Club
-
When: Sunday 19th November 2023
-
Kick-off: 2pm
-
Where: The Royals Academy, Select Car Leasing Stadium Complex, Biscuit Way, Reading, Berkshire RG2 0FL
-
Competition: The FA Sunday Cup Second Round
-
Attendance: 128
The tie was originally due take place on Sunday 12th November at Alfred Davis Memorial Ground – home of Marlow FC. However, it was postponed after the grass pitch there became waterlogged.
In order to get the game played seven days later, FC Bapco hired this 3G synthetic surface at The Royals Academy.
Ground Description
Situated directly behind Reading FC at the top end of the car park. There is an imposing indoor training dome with the 3G pitch beyond it.
I had often seen the dome whilst parking up to cover Reading matches for TV and radio reporting yet I had never previously caught sight of the 3G as it is almost hidden away.
Programme Details
An unusual effort consisting of seven A4 single side pages stapled together. Quirky but a decent matchday souvenir for the groundhoppers in attendance.
The Match
The Reading & District Sunday League hosts entertained Bournemouth Sunday League visitors. Early exchanges were even prior to FC Bapco growing stronger throughout the second half.
Liam Ferdinand subsequently settled matters dishing up two nicely taken goals on 60 and 86 minutes. Ferdinand has a fine pedigree in Non-League circles currently playing his Saturday football for Basingstoke Town in the Southern League Premier South.
I can vividly remember seeing him grace the 2021 FA Vase Final at Wembley Stadium where he scored twice for Binfield FC in their 3-2 defeat against Warrington Rylands. Ferdinand is therefore always worth backing for any live betting.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
