What do you know - its Good Friday again and what better to do than a traditional Easter 'Gong ground hop? Pop into an early church service if you wish but grab your anorak and head off to the Illawarra for an Easter treat!
The well run Illawarra Football Association again laid it all out for us - a suite of games on Good Friday - with season 2010's Round 1 games set out in the afternoon (including Youth, Reserves). This time all 1st grade games started at 3pm so we had to chose our single ground to target!
The essence of these 'hops' is to get to a far-flung ground, especially if public transport can be involved, and extra cachet can be gained for a new ground for a member/s of the hop! If you can move between grounds, as we did in 2008, then that is a real hoppers delight!
As you can see from the photo at top, it is a lovely trip, with the changing vista of the southern suburbs of Sydney giving way to bush, and then after Helensburgh the coastal scenery is breath-taking; plus the back-yards of Wollongong evoke the working people who made football a great game in the Illawarra.
A few NSW based members of the BOTN writing team put their hand up for this one. This time alas City Rail was ready for us - track work knocking out the train for us northerners, from Hurstville to Waterfall so we made our various ways to all meet up on the edge of a bushy lane near Waterfall station, and on to the train south.
(Walking to the ground - BOTN photo by Chris Dunkerley)
There is a still laid-back and working class (in the best sense of the word) feel about Towradgi, and it also has a real beach-side feel as you walk to the ground. Walking to the ground is of course a vital part of the hop experience. Builds camaraderie, heightens expectations, aids the hunger, and more importantly raises a thirst!
(Towradgi Park Bowls & Recreation Club - BOTN photo by Chris Dunkerley)
Our first stop was the Towradgi Park Bowls and Recretation club. This is a 'bowlo' of the modern variety, although it retains 3 greens. It is obviously doing well as there has been a modernisation and several enlargements over the past 5-6 years. As the following photos show it serves solid food, and has a surf-side location.
(Some of the BOTN team hard at 'work' - BOTN photo by our waitress with Mark's camera)
(New club premises and view south to the coast - BOTN photo by Chris Dunkerley
(Surf beach view - BOTN photo by Chris Dunkerley
The game we had chosen was Fernhill Foxes versus Albion Park White Eagles. Both sides had some glory in the last few seasons but Fernhill's playing roster has had a complete turnover so the game was one where we had no expectations, other than a 'start-on-time', 'get up your not injured' type of game well known in the 'gong!
After our hearty lunch we strolled next door to the community feel Ray Robinson Field for our game of choice.
(Ray Robinson Field - BOTN photo by Mark Taylor)
(The excitement was palpable as we approached the gate - BOTN photo by Chris Dunkerley)
(After a little persuasion, we obtained a match program; to add to other souvenirs - BOTN photo by Chris Dunkerley)
The game? Well there is full match report and lots of photos on BOTN at: Fernhill 0 - Albion Park WE 3
The result: Fernhill Foxes FC 0 lost to Albion Park White Eagles 3
(Josh Beech 14', 25', Jimmy Kerr 92').
(The teams lineup - BOTN photo by Ray Sandell)
(Game action- BOTN photo by Ray Sandell)
(More game action - BOTN photo by Ray Sandell)
Any threat of rain held off, the cooling sea-breeze kept us from baking in the early April sun (though a bit of sun was felt on unprotected parts) but alas this time the ground canteen held no delights or surprises for us.
We expected to enjoy the game, and with 8-0 and 1-7 on the scoreboard it had looked like goals were to be aplenty. Indeed with the aid of the on-shore wind and a dozen or so corners to Albion Park in the first 10 minutes it was not unexpected when they were two up by 25 minutes. The change of ends and some tired legs meant that the final scoreline didn't match the more youthfull endeavours, just 0-3 to APWE.
Good times ... dissecting play and commenting on the tactics ... whether we knew what we were talking about or not! Hey, we are football writers, not experts, and certainly not sports journalists.
So reluctantly with notes and photos taken we made our way out of the ground and strolled chatting back toward the station - another good day out indeed! Hopefully, more to come!
(Back to Towradgi Station to wait for the northbound train - BOTN photo by Chris Dunkerley)
See you at a ground near, or far from, you - at our next outing?
2 April 2010
See also Peter Rowney's report on the game and photos ...
[ Match Report & photos ... ]
See also A Day Out in Dapto 2009 ...
[ Opinion Article ... ]
See also Easter 2008 Ground Hop in the 'Gong ...
[ Opinion Article ... ]
IFA web site
