As the third part of my rambling pilgrimage around Lincolnshire football clubs I visited Spalding United FC on the 23rd March 2024 to see them play Harborough Town FC, from neighbouring Leicestershire, a top of the table clash between Harborough in first place and Spalding in third.
Spalding, a small town of around 31,000 inhabitants is situated in the south of Lincolnshire, the football team was formed in 1905 and has been playing in regional leagues ever since that date. You might think that their nickname ‘The Tulips’ lacks a little aggression (it is hardly a Tiger or a Wolf!) but really it shows great pride in the town and the area as it was the centre for English tulip growing and it still has an annual Tulip festival.
Spalding United play at the Sir Halley Stewart Field which is a small ground close to the centre of town, so close that a wayward shot at goal may end up in B&Q!
There is a small grandstand and a covered terrace behind the ‘home’ goal and a small shed that may be for the away supporters. The rest of the ground has no seats but the boundary of the pitch has handy advertising boards and a rail which makes standing and leaning almost comfortable! It cost me £10 to enter the ground but with concessions at £5 it is certainly a cheap way to spend an afternoon watching football.
You can get chips and burgers and tea from a friendly food stall but for fans of EFL and Premiership clubs there is the unusual sight of beer being available in the ground and to be drunk pitchside, or indeed anywhere in the ground you fancy!
The atmosphere was good, even though there were only 605 supporters they were obviously proud of their team and plenty of cheering and applause at appropriate time with just the occasional groan at a mistake. Opposition supporters mingle with home supporters and there seems to be no ill feeling which again might come as a surprise to those used to the ‘robust’ attitudes found in the top tiers of football.
The great thing about grounds like this is that you are very close to the players and the coaches and managers, you can easily hear what is being shouted and a hard tackle has added impact on the spectators when you can hear the contact and see the marks left on legs!
And so on to the match, as usual, I live texted to my family and here is how it went:
Kick off
A nice sunny afternoon but a tricky wind, I’m leaning on the barrier close to the coaching team
An end to end match so far, plenty of commitment, the ball is getting plenty of air time
Early pressure from Harborough, the Tulips are being forced back
1st corner for the Tulips comes to nothing
A bit of long high ball tennis, both sides a bit wary of being caught in possession
Ref is doing well, looks young
Good football now from Spalding, created an excellent chance
Harborough relying on balls over the top. The pressure is all from Spalding now, playing good football
Harborough’s number 6 is huge and looks villainous
Another shot on target for Spalding but not enough power to trouble the goalie
Harborough defence make a mistake and Riley (everyone here knows his name!) nips in steals the ball and scores , 1 nil to Spalding they deserve it
Half-time report: On a good flat pitch with a smooth carpet of grass, the team that is playing the most football is leading. Harborough are very physical and are relying on that but Spalding are brave and keeping the ball increasingly well. 1-0 is a deserved score but in a game of swift counter attacks we are only a mistake away from more goals from either team. I'm enjoying it, a great feeling and it is nice when the players apologise to the spectators personally for hitting them with a cleared ball!
Second Half
Still all action, it is a good watch.
It can be confusing for me as a deaf person, come on Spalding sounds like come on baldy to me! I thought they were shouting at the goalie
Harborough free kick just outside the area
Into the wall
Change of tactics from Harborough, they are keeping it on the grass and playing passing football, it has opened the match up. Defenders still hoofing it though, as is right and proper
Pretty even now, both teams still highly committed, some robust challenges going in!
The players are touching distance away at throw ins
Spalding's manager is looking tense, shouting at the team to move up the pitch, they are being pressed back.
Spalding defender injured, subbed
Lots of late pressure from Harborough
They're committing everyone forward
Corner Harborough, straight out
Corner Harborough, cleared
In to added time
Another Harborough corner, the keepers up!!!
And they score.... 1 - 1
It's all over, final score 1 - 1 a good match of football, very enjoyable
So what did I think about my afternoon watching football in Spalding? Well firstly and most importantly it was a good football match between two evenly matched teams. These are players who are playing because they love football, they play with pride and commitment and that is worth everything. Compared to EFL or National League there are a few more mistakes and the tactics seem to be more straightforward but that doesn’t take anything away from the spectacle. It is true community football as well, the two teams really do seem to represent their respective towns and you have a sense that the spectators are all the more devoted because of that. I think the Tulips can be proud of their club and I would certainly recommend it as a club to visit if you are ever in the area.
Big thank you to Steve Boatright for another excellent blog on his Lincolnshire adventures and we look forward to the next one!