Sunday 3rd September 2023

Imperial Fields, Morden SM4 6BF

Kingstonian v Lydd Town

Ground shares are a hoppers friend.

Today I am privileged to travel by several different trains to the South London suburb of Morden.

The Imperial Fields Stadium home of landlords Tooting & Mitcham United and tenants Kingstonian FC.

Today it's an FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie against Lydd Town enjoying a first ever FA Cup campaign and biggest game in their 130+ year history.

Arrival at Mitcham Junction station you are greeted by a lovely looking golf course. Plan your day well and there's time for 9 holes before kick off! 

You've got the option of a tram to the ground or a rather grubby 15 minute walk through a 1960s industrial estate that wouldn't look out of place in Steptoe & Son.

The ground itself is not near any pubs or cafes so maybe plan ahead for a diversion into the town of Mitcham. I've chosen to use the bar and stadium facilities today.

Decent club house, not massive but has all the necessaries. Shout out to The Shak food outlet inside the stadium, for lovers of Jamaican cuisine - it's worth the queue! Jerk chicken with rice and peas - reminiscent of downtown Ocho Rios.

Inside the stadium itself and it's very much a wow factor for what I was expecting given the step of football.

Two big partially covered terraces at each end and a main grandstand seating around 500, with a nice little balcony adjoining the upstairs bar area. Pitch is grass but doesn't look as lush as the fairways at the golf course. Along the side opposite the stand is mainly pitch level hard standing with a couple of raised steps.

The match itself was an end to end affair. The visitors from two steps below had chances before the K's took a 2-0 lead in the first half.  The hosts had a myriad of chances to kill the game, but The Lydders struck back with a wonder strike with 20 minutes to go. Ultimately it proved to be a consolation as the home side sealed their win with (Wake Me Up Before You) Andy Somo claiming a hat-trick to put a Lydd on proceedings.

All in all a very enjoyable typically tropical suburban Sunday.

[Final Score: K's 4 Lydd 1]