GROUNDHOPPING
Clive Hayward
@Byehorse
Clive looks back over his trip to Gloucester
TRURO/GLOUCESTER (A)
It’s often better to travel in hope than to arrive.
I’m a big fan of that mantra. It helps me get up at silly o’clock for dubious away trips. Although we all know that the hope will kill us in the end, it has sustained us through seasons of despair.
If I’m honest, hope was in short supply on Monday afternoon. As I started the car for the journey to Cheltenhamshire I felt a considerable sense of resentment towards Torquay United, Truro City, the weather, climate change, the National League and the continuing commitment my son shows for the worst professional football club in England. These factors had conspired to require us to drive 126 miles through rain and spray in a quest for an away win in a season where they have been as rare as rocking horse droppings.
But arrive we did. I managed to drive past the road to TigerTurf Stadium twice before locating it, despite the twin assistance from Sat Nav and Matty screaming “There, Dad, there!” in my left lughole.
First impressions weren’t great. The car park had pot holes big enough to drown a Gloucester Old Spot and the main stand appeared to consist of shipping containers and plywood.
I hadn’t researched hostelries but we struck lucky. Nestling in the shadow of Sainsbury petrol station was the High Orchard, a well run pub and eaterie with a nice line in comfy leather sofas.
Michel and Robin from the Supporters Trust came over for a chat. Everyone I know is on tenterhooks waiting to see if the community bid will persuade the administrators. If there is any justice their hard work so far will pay off.
We couldn’t put it off any longer. We walked back across the dual carriageway to the ground. Aaron Jarvis was outside, enjoying (I expect) an evening away from the physio’s table. He mentioned a knee injury and showed us a limp. It would be great to see him in yellow one more time.
We flashed our phones at a female steward (as one does these days) and walked up a wooden fenced slope which for some reason reminded me of entering the Model Village.
Gloucester City are doing Truro and Taunton a good turn by lending them their plastic facilities to finish the season before winter floods are superseded by hosepipe bans, and the ground is functional.
TigerTurf is- who knew- a Kidderminster based AstroTurf firm. It seldom makes for a good game of football but needs must. Is plastic in Plainmoor’s future? I would hope not, but today’s financial realities might lead us down that track.
After Aaron Downes aborted Mr Acheampong’s kamikaze mission Torquay took control for the rest of the first half. A thoroughbred strike from Arkell was followed by a second goal of the sort that gave Brad Ash and poachers everywhere a good name and we were pretty much in dreamland.
Swapping ends at halftime has become the norm at away games. The small covered terraces were perfect for singing, drumming and bouncing. Young George also kept us entertained with some top notch waste disposal. All bins were respectfully left in place, although somewhat less respect was shown in vocal challenges to the limpet-like Edwards, his former boss and a suspended defender.
Three points on the road. Shout outs to Matty, Sam Lardner, Tom Diamond and Will Taylor for being very good company and- particularly in Will’s case inventive lyricists.
I’m so glad we arrived!
COYY – CLIVE
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Classic reporting….excellent😋
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