Saturday 3rd February 2024

Mayfield Stadium, Thornton Heath CR7 6DN

Balham v Tooting and Mitcham United 

The things we do for football.

Today started as a nicely planned train to Wimbledon then a leisurely tram to Therapia Lane and a stroll to Mayfield Stadium. Alas a train incident removed the option of getting to Wimbledon, so a diversion via Clapham Junction and an unplanned suburban walk was the order of the day.

Found myself in Norbury, which has an eclectic mix of unique shops and businesses, so bit of a result to find a Costa. Fuelled by my standard caffeinated beverage I was able to reach the ground in good time despite earlier delays.

Quite a circuitous walk through housing estates and across fields to arrive at the ground. A slight frustration at the end of the walk is you can see the stadium nestling across from a graveyard but there's a fence to stop you going from that pathway, so had to do an about turn over a mud bank and across a field.

Now I'm going to be polite and say this place has seen better days. Pretty basic set up , a main stand, a path around three sides with a couple of little cow sheds to keep your dry on the touchline either side of the benches. The main stand does however offer excellent sight lines with no pillars to obscure viewing. Classic cantilever.

'These Days' quite unusual to see such a 'Rudimental' fence around the pitch and I think the first time I've been to a ground with zero advertising hoardings.

The match itself is a local derby 7th v 12th , with a very enthusiastic away following from the Lavender Army. Attendance must be approaching 3 figures, looking back at programme that would make it the biggest of the season to date.

Tooting took the lead midway through the first half with a disputed goal, potentially offside; 0-1 at the break.

Second half the home side got their deserved equaliser direct from a corner on 73 minutes. Then came they defining point in the match on 85 minutes, a breakaway from the visitors and the ball turned in for what looked to be a good goal but was ruled out for offside. From the dead ball,straight away Balham long pass up to the other end for a tidy finish.

A unique post match walk through the imposing Croydon Cemetary and I managed to achieve my hoped for tram ride.

Another enjoyable adventure, super friendly folk. Maybe not necessarily the journey I planned but you gotta love an away day.

[Final Score: BFC 2 TMU 1]