An unusual choice this week to see Hamworthy United Reserves play Bridport Reserves in the Dorset Premier League.

Partly due to a visit to see friends and relatives, partly to go to a ground I missed in the past and finally to see what happens when a club has to throw in the towell.

Over the last month I have read with interest the demise of Marske in the Northern Premier League, the wholesale departure of manager and players at North Shields to enable the club to stay afloat, a number of teams up for sale and Nuneaton’s ground and finance problems.

Hamworthy resigned from the Southern League Division One South last October 2023 due to financial problems, having started the season.

They have kept the club going by keeping the reserve team playing in the Dorset Premier League. They will be able to drop the reserves part of their name next season and start a new journey for the club to find their level in the football pyramid within their means.

Many clubs suffered large income loss due to covid restrictions which were followed by the harsh inflationary pressures, particularly from rising energy costs. Some problems have been where clubs have risen higher than their supporter base could sustain other than through external largess.

Player payments have also been a problem with Internet comments stating that a recent club in peril were playing players £800 a week. Anecdotal comments at games I have attended often say that one team is paying players an extra £200 per game compared with others. Some Step 7 players, that’s eleven leagues off the Premier League, have agents, is that real!

There are maybe some changes in the opposite direction. Players are deciding to play for their local club rather than one some distance away that pays more. This change is down to travel costs and travel time. People are valuing time more since their covid experiences.

Hamworthy are still going and here is my experience.

Hamworthy a distinct area is just West of Poole but to reach this archipelago you have to go over a bridge from that town. The ground is soon upon you behind some housing and separated from Poole Harbour by what appears to be a large electrical sub station. It has good parking available and once you enter the stadium you can see that it was remodelled when the 3G artificial pitch was laid around 6 years ago. The flat pitch, also marked out for training and junior use, is surrounded by good hard standing and there is a small covered stand to one side of a goal and a seated covered stand of metal construction on one side. The club house is large with a bar and snack hatch but was cold as the heating was not working. The TV had a terrestrial program running, no sky sports here and it looked like most people were opting for hot drinks and food rather than alcohol which could have been because of the 3 degrees outside and not much warmer in. The heating was fixed by half time and gave a welcome respite to the cold. On paying my entrance I asked if there was a team sheet or program but was quickly told we can’t afford those here.

I sat down to watch the game under a grey dull sky.

Hamworthy United FC Reserves 6 Bridport FC Reserves 0

Dorset Premier League, Saturday 13th January 2024, kick off 15.00 pm

The County Ground, Blandford Close, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, BH15 4BF

Hammers v The Bees

Hamworthy, horizontal claret and blue shirts with claret shorts; Bridport, Red shirts and black shorts.

The Hamworthy side was made up of youngsters and started the game with more possession and playing some neat pretty football, hitting the away sides post on 20 minutes. Bridport were no mugs and their older heads and greater physicality meant they they were a good match for their opponents. The first half continued in that way but on 40 minutes Bridport’s Thorpe, who had joined the game as a substitute early on, was red carded when he fouled the on rushing Williams on the edge of the goal area to prevent him scoring. At half time it was a well matched contest.

Within 8 minutes of the restart Hamworthy were ahead when the ball fell to Nemo Nixon on the right who shot, the ball deflecting off a defender over the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net. A quick loo break, after coffee before the game and at half time, meant that I missed the second goal again scored by Nemo Nixon just two minutes later.

The goals kept coming and on 58 minutes Tadgh Case scored a well placed goal after receiving the ball on the edge of the area after a well worked corner.

Hamworthy just kept taking advantage of the extra man, younger legs and the momentum of the game with Nemo Nixon securing his hat trick on 69 minutes when he ran on to meet a ball over the top and slot it into the net. Four became five 4 minutes later when the cultured Tymoteusz Famurat waited for the ball to drop out of the air and hit it on the volley to the right of the despairing goalkeeper.

With two minutes left a through ball found a home forward who drew the goalkeeper and slid the ball along the ground to Tadght Case to tap in. A well deserved second half performance by Hamworthy and if they can keep this team together they can only improve their performances and league position.

Hamworthy have started again and look to have cemented a new platform to grow from. The crowd which I estimated to be around 80 were fully behind the team and looked to enjoy their afternoon on and off the field.

The chips, started well, they looked good, French fries rather than chips, were golden , tasty, a good portion, were not greasy but as I continued to eat them they became harder and harder. The nut crackers that were put away after Christmas could have been of use here. a score of 53.

N,B. On the same day Hamworthy Recreation were being beaten on penalties away to Jersey Bulls in the last 32 of the FA Vase. Hamworthy Rec were once the company team of Hamworthy Engineering a local outfit who still have a small presence in the area but are now part of a larger company based in Hull. Hamworthy Recreations home is now 6 miles north of Poole.