It's been a while...!

Handsworth FC had no game at the weekend so we decided to have a look at our "2nd Club" Dronfield Town. I was quite surprised to see from my diaries and photo album logs that it's been 2 years since we went to watch a game at Stonelow Road so the visit was long overdue.

We first started watching non-league football around 2006 when a friend signed for Belper Town and we went to watch one of his early games. We got hooked on the whole non-league experience and have been devotees ever since.

Our involvement with the Sheffield & District Junior Sunday League meant  we knew of Dronfield Town's junior sides and their Club Secretary who was Darren Bradwell. As registrars, Sheila and I looked after their Junior section's player registrations. I also worked at the same company as Darren so we were in day-to-day contact outside football too.

Since formally becoming Dronfield Town around 2000, they have risen through the ranks of non-league and now play in the NCEL Division 1. We started watching the odd game when possible. Stonelow is only a stone's throw from our house (see what I did there?!?). It's just a 10 to 15 minute drive.

For me, one of the most notable things about the Club is the way their volunteers have worked hard on the ground and spectator facilities. In the past, the pitch used to get waterlogged fairly frequently. It slopes from one touchline to the other and the top touchline is at the bottom of another slope from the cricket pitch above. Rainwater draining from the top of that slope used to make the area along the top touchline particularly boggy during wet weather.

The hard work that has gone into sorting out drainage and improving spectator facilities is obvious and the results impressive. The playing surface is good despite the slope and there's a compact, seated stand, a play area for youngsters to enjoy in safety and a small but adequate clubhouse and snack bar. It's a good club with nice people and well worth a visit if you're at a loose end.

On Saturday, Dronfield drew 1-1 with Beverley Town and so secured their first point of a difficult season opening schedule. A draw was about the right result I reckon. Beverley scored first but the Dronfield No 9, Max Rhodes, scored on debut to earn a point for the home side

It wasn't a classic by any means. A strong, gusty wind and some very heavy showers made life difficult for the players. Both sides battled hard against the elements (and each other!) and both managed to play some good football when they got the ball down and passed it around. It also meant I had to shoot most of the game from the back of the stand although I managed decent shots of both goals and some nice action shots too if I do say so myself!

My match album is here if you want to look:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/62126085@N04/albums/72177720310445480

We really enjoyed our visit to Dronfield and it won't be another 2 years before we're back there. Although our Handsworth commitments will probably rule out most Saturdays games, Dronfield play their midweek fixtures on a Tuesday evening whereas Handsworth play on Wednesdays.

Best keep the camera batteries well charged then!!

⚽📸⚽