EDGBASTON SPARTANS 2 - 2 FC PREMIER

             West Midlands Regional League, Division 2

              Hollyfields Sports & Conference Centre, Woodacre Road, 

                                    Erdington, Birmingham, B24 0JT

                              13th August, 2022       3:00pm Kick-Off

Due to the current problems with the train strikes, I have decided to keep my travelling fairly local today but with another new ground to watch Edgbaston Spartans play in their first league match at Hollyfields in Erdington.

I watched them  once last season in their first full season in the West Midlands League and after struggling initially they had an improved 2nd half of the season and finished in eighth place and I think reached the semi-final of their League Cup competition.

I was wondering this morning, if going to this match is a good idea as it will likely be very hot this afternoon, probably 33 degrees + ? Not my kind of weather at all but I decide to go while taking suitable precautions, like taking plenty of liquids and electrolytes as well as putting on sun lotion. 

I surprisingly have no problems travelling by bus to Erdington and have time to have a look around the shopping centre and have a good value meal at a local cafe. I even have a problem free bus ride which takes me close to the ground on the number 25 bus. I usually would have walked to the ground but it's just too hot today.

Soon I am in Woodacre Road and at the gates to this sports ground.

This ground is principally used by Hollyfields FC who run several junior football teams who play in the Central Warwickshire Youth and also the Midland Junior Leagues. I believe that until recently this ground was used for cricket but I don't know which team/teams played here.

I walk through the car park and the club house/conference centre is to my right with the main football pitch directly in front and the other pitch to the left, on which side is also where the changing rooms are located.

I have time to have a refreshing half-pint of cider before venturing back in to the heat outside. I notice that lying in front of the club house is a decking area with tables and chairs, for leisurely viewing of the sporting action.

When the 2 teams come out, Edgbaston Spartans are in a new looking kit, mainly white except for grey shirt sleeves and red socks. I think FC Premier (who have come up from the Birmingham & District League) are in their change strip, which consists of red & white striped shirts with black shorts and socks.

At the start it's the visitors who are generally on top, being awarded 3 corners but not creating any clear cut chances.

Edgbaston though go close after 20 minutes when awarded a free kick on the right and the subsequent shot goes skidding across the goal and just past the right hand post.

Then FC Premier have a header go over the bar from a free kick and then within the space of a minute, Spartans have 2 shots, one going wide of the post and the other in to the side netting. 

The home side are looking the more dangerous team and it's no surprise when their unmarked No.9, Ermand Kaloti, strokes the ball in to the net.

They have 2 more chances and should have scored at least one more goal too.

So it's looking more promising today for Edgbaston after their unfortunate defeat last Saturday when conceding a goal in the 7th minute of stoppage time away to the Stourport Swifts Development team.

At one point during the first half I talked briefly to a young guy who was stood close by and he told me that he is joining the Edgbaston team and hopes to play up front for them. He has played Sunday league football up until now.

During the interval I venture up to the far end of the pitch where there is some shade under the tall hedge at the back.

When play resumes, FC Premier score an equaliser early on following a mistake in the Spartans defence and the visitor's No.14 shoots home for an easy goal.

FC Premier are definitely upping their game in this half and after 75 minutes they take the lead through their N0.8 and captain when he neatly side-steps a challenge and drills the ball home.

 6 minutes later and Edgbaston should have equalised but instead this time, Kaloti, blazes the ball over the bar from close in.

The home side are rewarded with their late pressure in the 44th minute when that man Kaloti makes amends and shoots home for the equaliser.

So this contest ends in a 2-2 draw and maybe that's the right result in the end as FC Premier improved in the second half.

The set up at this ground is pretty neat, with a good clubhouse and decent pitch, although not so good for spectators in the bad weather, as there is no shelter, although there is a small covered area in between the dug-outs. I'm not sure if spectators are allowed in though as it may be just for the coaching and playing staff?

I realised when looking at a map of this area before I got on the bus, that this ground lies just around the corner from Paget Road Junior School, where many moons ago my late father had gone to in his young school days. I think he always had a bit of a soft spot for Paget Rangers FC too.

On today's showing I think Edgbaston Spartans have improved from last season and will be looking to finish in the top half of the table. Also I'm sure FC Premier will initially be looking for a season of consolidation.

Both teams did really well in very trying conditions today, no doubt helped with drink breaks provided in both halves and hopefully we have seen the last of this extreme heat this year.

Entrance Fee:                   £5

Match attendance:          Approx 10-15

Match Programme:        none available

Match entertainment:    7/10

 

 

West Midlands Regional League
 

EDGBASTON SPARTANS 1 - 1 WELLINGTON AMATEURS DEVELOPMENT

 

   WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE, DIVISION 2

  TSA Sports Ground, Eckersall Rd, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B38 8SR

                                  06/11/2021      2pm K.O.

I had planned to go to Derby again for a match but a look on my weather app put me off as it indicates rain there this afternoon. Instead I am staying in Birmingham and ticking off my first West Midlands League game for this Blog.

In the four years since I was last here in the West Midlands, there have been many clubs moving over from this league to be incorporated in to the Midlands Football League and I have been wondering what the future holds for this historic competition?

Anyhow I want to go to a game with an earlier kick-off time and so I have plumped for the 2nd Division home game of the splendidly named 'Edgbaston Spartans', who I find play at an old haunt of mine, the TSA Sports Ground, formerly the home of the now defunct Pilkington XXX and then Cadbury Athletic. I used to occasionally take photos for Pilkington for their programme but it looks as if they may have disbanded in 2017.

My journey by train to Kings Norton goes as planned and I give myself enough time to get a snack at a local cafe in nearby Cotteridge before setting off for the 20 minute walk to the ground. I am feeling a bit more optimistic about the weather as the sun has come out now and again this morning.

When I get to the ground, some of the home side players have been limbering up but there don't seem to be many spectators about and there is no-one to take money for the entrance fee. I stand by the goal at the changing room end of the ground and I ask a guy (whose face I saw on the website) if it's OK to take photos? He turns out to be the young Chairman of the club, Giani Ntente and he tells me yes that's fine. He informs me that The Spartans are a very new club (formed in 2020) and so this will be their first full proper season in action.

A bit later, another guy comes over and tells me that the entrance fee is £3 and when I pay up I get a match ticket! I later find out that he is the friend of Giani and co-founder of the club, Dimitros Ampatzidis.

The match starts a bit later than planned, with Edgbaston taking to the field in a red and white strip while Wellington are in blue and white. It looks as if Wellington have mainly young players with a few older hands thrown in.

In the early minutes it's the hosts who start off on the front foot and have several attacks on the Wellington goal but then the visitors start to launch attacks of their own and are the more dominant team in this half.

Their generally younger's players speed is causing The Spartans defence some problems and they take the lead after 18 minutes with a scrappy goal. They have a corner from the right and the Edgaston keeper and one of his fellow defenders get in each others way and the ball drops for Lewington to stab home from close in.

15 minutes later and Wellington break away when they get the ball from a Spartans corner and their No.20 shoots across goal while under pressure from a defender and sees his shot drift just wide of the right hand post.

Half-time arrives with the visitors still a goal to the good and Edgbaston will have to up their game to win this match. Both teams find themselves both near the foot of this division and have plenty to play for in the next 45 minutes.

During the first-half a spectator asks me if I can send him some photos that feature his son, Elliott Hadley and I agree to this. It turns out that he needs some photos for his portfolio as he is looking to take up a sports scholarship at a College in the U.S.A. and he is funding it himself.

When the teams come out for the second period I notice that the weather is not improving and because of the dwindling light levels I give up on taking any more photos for today. Indeed for the last 25 minutes I take shelter in the stand when it starts to rain.

An unfortunate incident takes place after just 6 minutes when the young No.11, Souleiman Adamu I think, for Spartans bursts through the middle on goal to be met by the on-rushing Wellington keeper and comes out 2nd best from the collision and eventually has to hobble off the field. A shame as he looks to be a useful player and I hope he recovers quickly.

This half sees an improvement from The Spartans and it's much more of a contest now.

The home side equalise in the 58th minute when a great through ball sends Eddie Foweather through to slot home. 

It's a very competitive game now with the play switching from end to end.

Both sides go close to scoring again and at one point I think Wellington have got the winner when one of their defenders has a header that seems destined for the right side of the Spartans goal only for it to be cleared. 

In the last few minutes Wellington finish the stronger but cannot get that 2nd goal. It ends 1-1 and I think that's a right result. Edgbaston showed great character to come back strongly and will hope to build on that.

I am glad I came to this game and it's good to see this ground still being used. I find out later that the 'Spartans' part of the club's name is due to the Greek connection as the co-founders Messers, Ntente and Ampatzidis both hail from that country and only started the club in January last year. I would have realised quicker maybe if they had been named something like 'Edgbaston Olympiakos' or AEK Edgbaston !

They are promoting the Greek and Cypriot sporting community and are also busy developing players from different cultural backgrounds. That's good to see and I wish them well in this venture.

Wellington played well and seem to have to some good young talent coming through.

 

Match Attendance:         Approx 30

Entrance Fee:                           £3

Entertainment Level:              7/10 

Match Programme:  None Available