Staplehurst Monarchs (3) 4 Kakari 30 Cuttress 38,45+1, Lee 78
Northumberland Heath (0) 1 65
Attendance: 62
Admission: Free
Mileage: 2/376
PITCH ENVY
Gazing across the parched, straw coloured grass towards the rising fences of the cage that will house Staplehurst’s new 3G pitch, begged the question why was it being laid outside of the main stadium of Staplehurst Monarchs. It’s been a question to which I’ve sought an answer since I became aware of its location and got varying explanations, some of which did’t actually hold water.
So after an afternoon, watching two teams provide an entertaining preseason friendly on a bone hard pitch, I sought the definitive answer from Facebook and, from people closely associated with both the football club and the parish council, I now have the answer.
The Jubilee Sports Ground has always housed pitches beyond the senior club and the Monarchs have a thriving youth programme that is the envy of many clubs in the area. At the time of the inception of the 3G, the senior and youth sections of the club were separate entities but that it no longer the case.
Primarily, Staplehurst Parish Council wanted the 3G pitch for the youth section rather than the senior club and, at its planning, a full-sized pitch was envisaged. In the true tradition of local authority bureaucracy and funding, the project took several years to break ground and, in that time, rising costs meant the pitch size needed to be reduced to what is titled “a full size recreational pitch”. So, from the football club’s point of view, it would have been pointless it being laid inside the stadium as step six football could not be played on it.
Staplehurst Monarchs will see benefits as they have priority bookings for their training days and their youth team games, but it is understood that their Under-18’s in the Kent Youth League would need to play inside the stadium.
It is a shame, because whilst we stare at the parched grass today, mid-winter will almost certainly bring postponements for waterlogging that has been endured ever since my first-ever visit, after moving to the village, 11 years ago.
A drive around the South and North Circulars to Wingate and Finchley was less than attractive and, apart from being less than a mile from my house, the Monarchs preseason visitors, Northumberland Heath, were an attractive proposition. What’s not to like about a visit from a touring team from the footballing hotbed of the north-east? Those illusions were rather dashed when, after an internet search, it was discovered that they hail from Erith, in south London and compete in the Kent County League, Division 2 West!
The early exchanges were competitive with Staplehurst having the better of the play with a first minute effort that saw the visiting goalkeeper make a brave block, but one that would see him leave the pitch after 25 minutes, to be replaced by, from the reaction of the cluster of Heath supporters, Sean, who had come totally unprepared to play needing to take not only the goalkeeper’s jersey, but also his boots!
Sean made his first save on the half-hour but after his parry had then seen the ball come back from the crossbar, Steve Kakari was on hand to tuck home from close range.
The game threatened to run away from the visitors as further goals were added with a deft lob from Manny Cuttress and, in first half added time, taking advantage of a missed clearance, Cuttress ran clear to make it three, but in the second half Northumberland Heath showed resilience and made a very decent game of it.
Whilst Sean was doing very well with his role as stand-in keeper, making several good saves, on 65 minutes, the number 14 seized on a poor back pass to round the goalkeeper and reduce the deficit.
Staplehurst had the final say, 12 minutes from time, when Jerome Lee was sent clear to make it 4-1.
There appears to be quite a bit left to do before the 3G surface is ready to receive the appropriate footwear, but when it is, no doubt a Kent Youth League game will catch my eye for a second Staplehurst ground tick.
