Welcome to the latest instalment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this chapter, we immersed ourselves in Hellenic League football. Fairford Town hosted Worcester Raiders, who were promoted to the league last season as a result of Walton Casuals' withdrawal from the league. The game took place on Cinder Lane, in the heart of Fairford.
Fairford is located in Gloucestershire, in the heart of the Cotswolds. Fairford is perhaps best known for its annual Air Tattoo, which is held at the town's RAF base. The air tattoo features various planes that have seen combat, followed by a performance by the Red Arrows.
It’s All In The Name
The nickname of Fairford is ‘Town.’ The story tells itself on this one.
A History Lesson With AFC Finners
Fairford Town were founded in 1891 and competed in the Cirencester and District league until the Second World War, when they moved to the Swindon and District League.
In the 1960s, they won the Premier Division and the Advertiser Cup twice, in 1965 and 1969. They went on to win the Hellenic First Division and the Division One Challenge Shield in 1972.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, they were successful, adding two Gloucestershire Challenge Cups to their cabinet. After spending a long time in the Hellenic Premier Division, they were relegated to the Hellenic Division One West, but were promoted back to the Premier Division in 2017. They remain in the Hellenic Premier League, where they finished 11th the previous season.
And here's a fun fact: the club has hosted a number of sporting evenings featuring high-profile guest speakers like Nigel Owens, Jan Molby, and Ray Parlour.
Honours
🏆 Hellenic Football League Division One (Champions: 1971–72)
🏆 Hellenic League Premier Division Cup (winners: 1978–79)
🏆 Hellenic League Division One Challenge Shield (winners: 1971–72)
🏆 Hellenic League Division One West (champions: 2016–17)
🏆 Supplementary Cup (winners: 2015–16)
🏆 Swindon & District League Premier Division (champions: 1964–65, 1968–69)
🏆 Advertiser Cup (winners: 1964–65, 1968–69)
🏆 Gloucestershire Challenge Trophy (Winners: 1979–80, 1998–99)
🏆 Gloucestershire Junior Cup (Winners: 1962–63)
An Interview With Fairford Town Director of Football: Jody Bevan
The Gloucester Groundhopper sat down with the Fairford Town Director Of Football, Jody Bevan, and asked him about all things Fairford Town.
GG: Hi Jody, thank you for your time. Firstly, what does the club mean to the community of Fairford?
JB: We want the club to be at the heart of the community. This is my sixth season at the club, and the first year we only had one adult team and struggled to get eleven players at times. Today, we have two thriving adult teams and an Academy with teams ranging from under 12s to under 16s. We hope to expand further in the next 12 months and to finish the setup with an under 18s team in 12 months, giving us a complete pathway.
GG: What are the club’s aspirations as a whole?
JB: Since 1970, we have been a member of the Hellenic League. We have excellent facilities that would be appreciated by the Southern League. That is the goal, to get into the Southern League, where I believe the club can compete. However, the Hellenic League is extremely competitive, and keeping up seems to become more difficult every season, as there are likely at least ten clubs with similar thoughts at the start of the season.
GG: Could you tell us a fun fact about the club?
JB: During the Royal International Air Tattoo, the club transforms into a massive campsite. Over 100 tents, caravans, and motorhomes are pitched at the club during the three days of the Tattoo, and everyone involved in the club pitches in for 3-4 days of exhausting work to ensure everyone has a good time.
GG: Could you tell us your favourite story during your time with the club?
JB: It's difficult to choose just one. During the last five years, there have been some spectacular, hard-fought victories. If I had to pick one, I'd probably go with the 5-4 win we had at Ardley after trailing 3-0 at one point in the first half. We scored a number of unbelievable goals in the second half, including a last-minute world is from 30 yards. I remember being completely exhausted after watching the game from the dugout.
GG: Who can you say has had the biggest impact on the club?
JB: Two people have had a significant impact on the club.First, let me introduce our chairman, Stuart Pike. Since joining the club, he has taken the club to new heights and has always supported the coaches and players.There was a real fear that we would struggle to stay afloat during the Covid lockdowns, but he worked his tail off at the club and saw Spikes Diner grow and grow within the local community.
Second, I'd like to recognise our club's president, Mike Tanner. This is his 49th season with the club, and I know he is looking forward to reaching 50 with pride.
Again, he has been extremely supportive throughout my time at the club and is someone to whom you can turn when things get tough.
GG: Finally, why should people come down and watch a game?
JB: You should come to Cinder Lane because we have a fantastic little ground tucked away in the Cotswolds and you will be greeted warmly. On top of that, we have two bars where you can get a great pint and, of course, Spikes Diner. A better burger will not be found at a non-league football stadium! After all, I'd like to think the football isn't too bad either!
Matchday: Fairford Town 1-5 Worcester Raiders
The stadium is located in the heart of Fairford, but it is difficult to find as you approach Cinder Lane. There is free parking on the ground floor. We gorged ourselves on the food served at Spikes Diner. I treated myself to a Spike Burger and macaroni bites, along with a butterscotch milkshake, and it is without a doubt the best food I have ever had at a football match. It was also not overpriced, demonstrating that football clubs can provide decent food at a reasonable price. It was a lovely experience because the people there were lovely and attentive.
In my opinion, the ticketing system had a minor flaw. To park in the overflow car park, you must drive past the turnstile, which gives you the option not to pay if you so desire. We are truthful people who paid the entry fee. However, it is entirely possible that some people will choose to forego the entry fee. I believe the club should implement a system that shows who has paid. I understand they can't change where people park, but if they gave people a ticket stub or a stamp on their hand that showed they'd paid, they might make a few extra pennies.
We performed our standard ground circuit. There are a couple of stands with seating for around 100 people. There is also a clubhouse where people can purchase drinks and socialise. There are several signed shirts on display in the clubhouse, which were fun to look at.
The atmosphere was a little lacklustre, but that was to be expected given the level of football on display. There are numerous quirks to be found at Fairford, such as sofas to sit on while watching the game- you can't say they don't make you feel at ease here. We chose to remain on the halfway line as usual.
Teamsheets
Fairford Town
Manager: Jamie Reid
Joe Wright
Callum Preece
Robbie James (c)
Matt Williams
Kyle Parker
Luke Jones
Tyreese Briscoe
Rowan Doyle
Ross Langworthy ⚽️
Danny Gudger
Jamal Lawrence
Substitutes
Miles Arnold
Aaron Basford
Josh Swales
Biag Mazzotta
Martin Hall
Worcester Raiders
Manager: Karl Gormley
Ryan Young
Samuel Carey ⚽️
Syrus Warren-Paul ⚽️
Harry Stratford
Jay Sauntson
Jamie Timmins
Jade Ferron
Cameron Walker ⚽️
Richard Smith ⚽️
Joe Billingham
Isaac Cooper ⚽️
Substitutes
Harrison Yates
Roland Krol
Vanylson Silva
Chad Farnsworth
The game got off to a fast start when Fairford scored through Ross Langworthy on their first attack after a flowing move down the right. But it was only a matter of seconds before winger Isaac Cooper scored from close range to tie the game after eight minutes. After a long ball forward, Richard Smith showed his class with a delicate chip over the onrushing keeper to turn the game on its head. After Richard Smith's cut-back, Cameron Walker finished to make it 3-1. Worcester Raiders quickly added a fourth goal when left-back Warren-Paul thumped one home after the ball was ricocheted around the box. At the halftime break, Worcester Raiders led 4-1.
The home side appeared to be sitting back in the second half, and neither side created many real chances. There was still time for one more goal as James Timmins sent a free-kick forward and Sam Carey met it with his head, with it looping into the top corner to give Worcester Raiders the perfect start to the season. If they continue in this vein, they could have a very successful season, whereas Fairford appear to need to add some experience to their squad if they are to compete.
Scores On The Doors
Atmosphere: 3/10
Food and Drink: 9.5/10
Stadium: 3.5/10
Welcome: 9/10
Overall Experience: 7/10
GG
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