Becoming aware of Ware

Wodson Park glistened prettily in the early Autumn sunshine, and anticipation hung in the air. It was a beautiful day for football; but then recently, if you’re a Ware supporter, every day has been a beautiful day for football.

Wodson Park isn’t your classic old English football ground. Built relatively recently- indeed the Blues didn’t move in until 1995- it’s part of a sports complex, although luckily the athletics track is around the pitch next door, used by Wodson Park FC, so Isthmian supporters are right on top of the action. A large stand, in good repair with good views, is accompanied by a long covered terrace, and two uncovered terraces where today you could top up your tan. The pitch, since last season, is plastic. The clubhouse is very good, too, and- of course- those inside it were very friendly. It’s the Non-League way.

If you’re a long-time supporter of the side, then you undoubtedly had your fill of nostalgia at the club’s former ground, Bury Field. It had such a name because it was either built on or adjacent to a former plague pit, the unfortunate resting place of some of those who succumbed to the black death in London and were then brought to the area by boat- and we say ‘on or adjacent to’ because, depending on which source you read, nobody seems to be quite certain. This was in 1665/1666, so around the time of the Great Fire of London, which makes it rather unsurprising that there seems to be a shortage of records to give a definitive answer to that question; chroniclers of the day were too busy staying alive, trying not to burn to a crisp, or buying oranges from Nell Gywn. Or, if you happened to be Samuel Pepys, digging up the cheese you buried to save it from the flames whilst trying to keep your diary from prying eyes- unsurprisingly, given how often he seems to have tried it on with the serving girls and then recorded his failures- and successes. If Mrs Pepys had got hold of the evidence he might have joined his parmesan in the hole.

Images of the old ground- and there are a few- show something that should be sepia-tinted, and will strike a chord with anyone who has reached the kind of venerable age where they always want to take a few years off when asked. We attach one such image, found on the internet and taken by Steve Daniels, which shows the home side playing on a pitch which looks rather short of grass in places, ramshackle grandstand behind them, and floodlights which resemble the microphone used by Terry Wogan on Blankety-Blank. For anyone under forty who wants to know what Blankety-Blank is, Google is your friend- although occasionally your enemy, if you find an episode starring Gareth Hunt or Lorraine Chase.

Where Bury Field used to be, there is now a car park. It is often the way with old football grounds that they vanish beneath a sea of concrete, and the former home of Ware is no exception- although at least it was planned that way. Wodson Park was built with cash from local pharmaceutical giant Glaxo, who also built said car park for their workers.

It must be said that, on the field at least, Wodson Park hasn’t been very kind to Ware. There have been exceptions to that statement; an FA Cup run in 2007/08 saw them win five ties to get to the First Round Proper, where a packed house saw them lose to Kidderminster Harriers- and there was a promotion season in 2006, and several near-misses at the right end of the table. But one quick look at the Non League Directory, which shows the record for the last ten years, tells a story; 19th, 14th, 21st, 19th, 21st, 10th, 11th, 22nd, 20th. And then there’s a bit of a blip. For last season, their first in the newly formed Isthmian South Central Division, the record states 7th. That, in itself, is a departure- but what the record doesn’t show just how entertaining the Blues were in reaching that position- only runaway title winners Hayes & Yeading United and runners up Bracknell Town scored more goals.

A look at the table for this season would show them in ninth place. It would also show a big fat zero in the defeats column. If you then moved to look at the entire season record so far, it would demonstrate four victories and four draws from eight games in all competitions. And it would show that, last weekend, the Wodson Park crowd watched in awe as their side walloped Step Three side Leiston by five goals to one in the FA Cup. Perhaps- whisper it- we were at the start of something rather special.

There are still seven unbeaten sides in the South Central Division, but were anyone to win today’s match there would be one less. The visitors to Wodson Park, Chalfont St Peter, were losing to Chichester City at the same time as the Blues were despatching Leiston- but that has been their only defeat so far this season. Since moving back to Step Four in 2012 the Saints have been only slightly more successful than their opponents, one sixth place season in the Southern League Central Division apart- but they have started this campaign in wonderful form. Finlay Johnson, who took over at the helm in the summer after relinquishing his role in charge of Hendon Under 23’s, brought many of his youthful charges with him, added additional strength, and seems to have shaped a side which has already surprised many in this campaign- including their manager, as he admitted before the match. It’s early days, but the outlook seems very promising indeed.

The visiting players, sitting in the main stand ninety minutes before kick-off, were full of confidence. Discussing today’s match- and indeed this feature, which they’d noticed advertised on social media- they were quite assured of victory. The optimism of youth, and an optimism born from success.

The home team was in the club bar, watching Liverpool versus Newcastle on the big screens. In truth, it might be more accurate to say that they laughed, joked and stared at their mobile phones whilst Liverpool v Newcastle was occasionally a diversion; but just like the side sitting in the sunshine there was nothing but positivity from those in blue. It boded well for what was to come.

Saints, in green and red quartered shirts, got us underway, kicking right to left as viewed from the back of the stand (down to up if you were behind the goal!). It was the home side who took early control, however, although not unduly troubling Dan Purdue in the Chalfont goal. Purdue, by the way, first came to our notice as a rookie goalkeeper for Hendon when they were still as Isthmian club, making a number of penalty shootout saves on his debut as the Greens knocked Slough Town out of the cup. Please keep that quiet though, as his manager says that Dan doesn’t like to talk about it unless strictly necessary. It apparently becomes strictly necessary around three times a week.

Saints were the first to come close, in the fifth minute, Daniel Williams jinking and then firing in a shot which took a terrible deflection, wrong-footing Calum Kitscha in the Ware goal but dropping onto the roof of the net rather than into it. The home side had much of the possession in the early stages, but again it was the visitors who came closest, a shot from Callum Doyle deflected wide and another effort from David Pitt curling past the far post.

In the 18th minute the home side had the best chance of the match so far. Alaa Oujdi made progress down the right, and the ball seemed to strike the arm of Ricky Brennan. The full back was struck from behind and can’t have known too much about it, but whilst shouts of handball continued Oujdi took the ball, turned his man, and delivered an excellent cross which Olu Akinsanya aimed towards the right hand post, but his shot went wide of the upright. Saints then charged up the other end whilst the debate about the penalty continued loudly, and fashioned a couple of chances of their own, one of which forced a save from Kitscha. An injury to Riccardo Alexander-Greenaway then gave both sides the chance to take on some fluids and get their breath back.

In the twenty eighth minute Ware had another chance to get their noses in front. The ball was played forward and Akinsanya chased it, along with Luke Elliott for Chalfont. This was a physical mismatch, and the Ware forward left the defender flat on his back, charged into the box and laid the ball back to Jordon Watson, but his shot curled just over the bar. The other number seven, Daniel Williams, had the next chance at the other end, and again the keeper wasn’t troubled- but he was certainly troubled a moment later, as Arash Ubdullah controlled well at the corner of the Ware box before firing a shot which Kitscha had to dive and parry.

The match desperately needed a goal- and in the fortieth minute, it got one. A sustained spell of home pressure hadn’t really tested Purdue, but the ball came to Leigh Rose twenty yards out. He fired the goalwards, and a wicked deflection off Jordan Payne saw the ball curl into the corner of the net, despite the best efforts of Purdue to keep it out. Rose didn’t celebrate at all, and shrugged off the congratulations that came his way. There was nothing that defender nor goalkeeper could have done in the circumstances, but Ware were ahead. It was a particular shame for Payne, who had been having a fine game.

Like a London bus, once we had a first, we soon had a second- and once more it came to Ware. This one was more conventional, and arrived as we entered the second minute of added time at the end of the half. Oujdi was found in the box, showed excellent movement and composure, and fired across Purdue into the net. It was cruel for the Saints, as although the hosts had undoubtedly had more of the ball, Chalfont had created the most chances- but you have to take them, and only one side had done that, even if they’d had a little luck.

Chalfont came close immediately from the restart. Pitt was sent on a race with two defenders, and although he couldn’t shake them off managed to get the second ball and set up the onrushing Abdullah, but the shot was taken slightly off balance and couldn’t find the target. A fabulous crossfield ball then found Andre Odetola, who fired over and cursed his luck. The Saints were still creating the lion’s share of chances, and still failing to make them count- Pitt the next to come close, shaking off two challenges to cross from point-blank range put finding only the legs of Kitscha.

The visitors made the first change ten minutes after the restart, bringing off Payne and sending on Danny Wickenden. But before the substitute could have any kind of an impact Ware should have been three goals to the good, Akinsanya only able to fire wide from the edge of the box with the goal gaping. Another Ware shot, this time from Tom Bruno, was followed by another Saints change, Bruno Tavares coming on for Williams.

A run from the second substitute saw Louis Rose become the first player into the book just before the hour, and gave Chalfont a dangerous free kick. The ball eventually fell for Brennan twelve yards out, but not kindly, and his connection was too weak to trouble Kitscha.

Ware weathered the storm, and had the next chance, a half-volley from Leigh Rose that was walloped over the bar from the edge of the box. They made a change, too, Olu Adekunle entering the fray in exchange for Watson. There were twenty four minutes left to go- was it time enough for Saints to still get something from the game? They made their final change, Kofi Quartey coming in for Pitt.

We entered the last twenty minutes. Elliott, who apart from losing that physical battle with Akinsanya in the first half hadn’t put a foot wrong, put a second foot wrong with a late tackle and found his way into the book. Ware couldn’t capitalise from the free kick, and made their next change, Akinsanya coming off for Sam Chaney, with the scores unchanged. The game had lost a little of its intensity, rather unsurprisingly given quite how warm it was, but there was still lots of noise on the pitch even if there was less action. Not all of the noise was coming from Blues skipper Louis Rose, but if sleeping babies in Harlow were awoken, you’ll know who to blame.

With seven minutes remaining Saints had their best chance for some time. A free kick was awarded right at the corner of the box, and Abdullah stood over it. Could this be his moment? He curled it wide of the wall, but also wide of the goal.

With two minutes to go, Chalfont got the goal they undoubtedly deserved. Abdullah fired it home, and the silence around the ground was deafening. Only the away bench were animated, and with good reason. Could they still take something from the game? More pressure followed, but a foul on Louis Rose by the corner flag- which looked a little soft, to be honest- allowed Kitscha to calm things down a little and relieve the pressure. A long kick, the final whistle, and Ware had the points- points which saw them climb to seventh place.

Before the match, wandering down Ware High Street in the sunshine, there had been a number of children wearing football shirts which didn’t resemble the usual Premier League fayre. Upon closer inspection, these shirts bore the legend, ‘Ware Youth.’ Upon arriving at the ground, the 3G was full of similar pint-sized footballers, charging around the place and having a marvellous time. Club Secretary Bill explained that it was like this “seven days a week,” whilst leaflets in the bar promoted a new initiative for girls, the “Soccerettes,” taking place every Tuesday afternoon.

Ware is quite a small place, and it has many Premier League giants within easy reach, but it is quite clear that the football club is important to the town despite the competition. They may not all turn up to watch the first team play, more’s the pity, but for many hundreds more Wodson Park is an integral part of their lives. The community in recent years has become more and more aware of Ware. Tomorrow will be another special day for the club as it will host an Alzheimer’s Charity Match- which you can read more about HERE- and which they expect will bring in a bumper crowd; and that’s not the first charity match to be held there this year.

Ware FC may never reach the heady heights of our national game. They may never even get higher than the Isthmian League- although there’s every chance they might be challenging for a place in our Premier Division in the near future. But that’s not really the point of their existence. A football club should be at the centre of its community- and in a world where money seems regularly to be more important to the game than people these days, that seems to be quite a rare occurrence.

It isn’t rare in Ware. And for that, those who love the game should be truly grateful.