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Tales
From A West Country Touchline
by Lawrie Harries
 Having
forsaken the leafy avenues of London suburbia and decamped for leafier
Devon (via Pembrokeshire, Leeds and Bromsgrove - hopefully my suitcases
will catch up soon), some important decisions had to be made. Do
I tell ‘er indoors?!
No
- more importantly, do I go to Exeter City, Nationwide Division
Three, Exmouth Town (Screwfix Western League, Division One), or
even sedate Budleigh Salterton Westward Developments Devon County
League.)?
I
thought I would start with a bit of class.
A
20 minute train journey brought me virtually to the turnstiles at
St. James’s Park, Exeter. At the time of my first visit, Exeter
City were just coming out of a crisis when
they were clearly heading for the Conference. A change of manager
seemed to improve things.
St.
James’s Park is a ground which has been partially redeveloped.
A new stand down one touchline and new terracing for home supporters
behind one goal but away supporters get no more room than would
be found behind the goal at most Ryman Premier grounds. A few seasons
ago, Aldershot took 2,000 supporters to a cup game and were grossly
overcrowded.
There
are plans to finish the development but Exeter, like most football
clubs in the English League are in financial difficulty.
An
old wooden stand fills half the other touchline with the remainder
being completed by wooden huts which appear to be the admin side
of the club. Present capacity is less than 10,000.
As
for the football, it was dire. Full-time pros but who have difficulty
controlling and passing the ball. Jan Molby’s Kidderminster,
the opposition, looked as if they would try and play a bit of football
but once they conceded a goal they lost their way.
Although
I have only seen five sides, there is a pattern. Every team has
a tall striker and every side had two central defenders built like
brick outhouses - and about as
mobile. Mind, the players are fit and run for 90 minutes.
Any
resemblance to the game played by the likes of Zola, Bergkamp, Di
Canio and Veron and the stuff played in the Third Division is limited
to playing with a round ball with eleven players on each side.
That
said my spirits were lifted considerably on Boxing Day when Swansea
City visited St. James’s Park - despite the indignity of being
searched, as an away supporter.
Forgetting their off the field problems the Swans played with great
spirit and no little skill, eventually winning 3-0. Defenders brought
the ball down and passed it!. The Swans defence included Neil Sharp
who two seasons ago was at Boreham Wood.
Up
front a sensational display by Mali-born Mamady Sidibe - six foot
four and ten stone - who ran the ponderous home defenders ragged.
Will he join Boro’s Keita Karamoko
in the Mali squad for the Africa Cup, I wonder?
Overall,
I have not been greatly impressed by the Third Division - I keep
on thinking I’ve caught them on a bad day - and the gulf with
the Premier League is now huge.
A
decent Ryman Premier side - Canvey or Aldershot - would not look
out of place skillwise. Although they might find it hard to compete
with the sheer running power and
physical presence of the full-time sides.
One
big plus was the glossy, full colour programme which for £2
was an excellent read.
Next
time, a trip to Exmouth.
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