Match: v Kidderminster Harriers - Nationwide Football Conference

Date: Monday, April 17th, 2006

Result: Kidderminster 1 Cambridge United 0

THE JOURNEY

Departure Time: 10am

Arrival at Ground: I had to call in at St Ives on the way and, as I drove into town, I thought I'd taken an a wrong turn and ended up on the Serengeti when I passed a zebra grazing in a field. Fortunately it turned out to be with a circus that was in town, as getting from the African plains to Kidderminster in time for kick-off might have been asking a little too much - especially through Easter Monday traffic!

Actually, although the major routes were a little sticky, they weren't nearly as bad as they might have been. The route planner I'd used, via the Away Travel page of the club website, suggested taking some scenic roads through Bromsgrove into Kidderminster, rather than the M5, and it proved a good plan as it was on this final stretch of motorway that people were delayed.

The dire warnings in the Good Friday programme of likely traffic problems in Kidderminster proved unfounded, so I was able to park close to the ground at about 12.45pm.

AT THE GROUND

The Ground: Set between a partially hidden road that runs parallel to the main road through town and the Severn Valley Railway, with a car park at either end, Aggborough Stadium still feels new enough to be one of the better venues in the Conference.

On one of the higher points in the town, the fact that the stands were each completely separate and placed some distance from the pitch meant that the playing surface looked extremely dry.

The low Main Stand ran virtually the length of the pitch and comprised of about ten rows of red seats. You could catch glimpses of executive areas through windows set high into the back of the central section of this stand, but their elevation ensured that anyone in these areas could have a clear view of the pitch without having to look at the hoi-polloi who occupied either end of the stand.

I hope these windows were sound proofed, as the delicate ears of those inside might have struggled to cope with the extraordinary output from the giant speakers that were bolted onto the walls of the stand. When the p.a. started, it was as if you'd blundered into a Monsters of Rock show at Knebworth by mistake. And, in case those huge speakers hadn't shaken all the fillings from you teeth, yet more were propped up along the side of the pitch to finish the job off.

The stand on the other side of the pitch was almost a mirror image - almost, because there were no executive windows and because it wasn't quite as long. Imposing metal fencing could be seen between this stand and the terrace to its right, over which plumes of smoke appeared at regular intervals as another train puffed its way along the railway line behind.

A low, covered terrace stood behind either goal. Again these almost mirrored each other with the only difference being the scoreboard that stood on top of the one housing United fans.

United Fans: If the volume of supporters had decided the match, United would have claimed the three points at a canter. Flags and banners seemed to have increased in number at recent away games and, this week, a 'One Tel Fleming' banner - something he claimed, after the match, not to have made himself - joined the Yorkshire U's flag!

View from Away End: With no pillars in the way, the view was excellent from all areas of the ground.

Home Fans: Almost 1,000 seemed to have melted away since we last visited Kidderminster and those who were there struggled to make themselves heard... even when the p.a. was switched off!

Police/Stewards: Stewards were very friendly and helpful while any Police in the ground kept a very low profile.

Programme: At £2.50 for 52 pages, 'The Harrier' was certainly a league standard programme. Full colour throughout, well designed and with a number of readable articles, this was one of - if not the - best in the Conference.

Food/Drink: In among the usual football fare, there was a good range of pies to be had, although it was suggested that the cottage pie was smaller than when we visited last season. As it had been the size of an actual cottage last time, this wasn't necessarily a problem. Service was good, with the tea being sugared and stirred if required, prior to a lid being put on for you, while this year the famous Aggborough soup was red.

State of Toilets: Basic, but plenty adequate enough, a paint tin was being used as a bin. As there were no paper towels to put in it, it didn't need emptying too often.

AFTERWARDS

The Journey Home: Although we were later than most leaving the ground, our avoidance of the M5 meant we soon made up time and found an unexpectedly easy straightforward journey back. Now what's all this fuss about Easter Monday traffic?!

Mileage: 260.8 miles

Total Distance for Season: 6,222.5 miles

Mark Johnson, with additional reporting by David Gray, Paul Johnson, Ryan Johnson and Gordon McMillan

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