The British weather has not been good to sports clubs this winter. Many have suffered from flooded or just sodden pitches which have been unplayable for months. This has led some having to have to play their home fixtures away from home or at other venues. It has been financially disastrous for some losing much needed income at a time of high inflation, particularly fuel costs and at a time when they were just recovering from the ravages of Covid.

One club to be hit hard is Ashby Ivanhoe F.C. who are having to play their games at nearby Quorn F.C. Speaking to a few of their fans they said that they had not played a home game since mid November. Ashby managed to buy their ground in 2021 and are making plans to develop the stadium. Quorn’s ground is 15 miles (28 minutes drive) from Ashby’s and is an all weather pitch and the future of the game at this level. I have been here before and the facilities are impressive. Apart from the pitch, which is snooker table flat, there is a very large car park, a well appointed and spacious club house that has just been upgraded, a large seated covered stand and good hard standing all around.

The ground is reached either from the village or from the nearby A6, nestled in a housing estate apart from one side that is open to the countryside. The ground is sheltered by fir trees at either end but these are dwarfed by a ‘Mobile’ mast near the club house. Despite Ashby playing at Quorn they had produced a very impressive program for the game.

It was a grey afternoon with the temperature saying 11 degrees which it certainly wasn’t if you were in the wind. Luckily as we sat down to watch the game the sun came out and you could feel some early spring warmth. I had watched Skegness play late last year and they had impressed me so I expected a competitive game as Ashby were only three positions below them in the league.

Ashby Ivanhoe F.C. started a year later than Skegness Town F.C. in 1948 playing for many years in the Leicester senior Leagues until 2014, when they were promoted to the East Midlands Counties League. Two years later they entered the F.A. Cup for the first time. Further progress was made in 2019 with elevation to the Midland Premier League Division 1 in 2019 and up to the United Counties Premier Northern Division for this season.

Skegness Town AFC were formed in 1947 after the demise of Skegness United and Skegness Blue Rovers. After playing local football they joined the Midland Counties League in 1958 where they played until being founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 where they stayed for just one season. A move back to Lincolnshire football saw them dominate the Lincolnshire League for many seasons and returned to The NCE League again for a short while in 2018 before being moved to the United Counties in 2021 due to the F.A. re-organisation.

Ashby Ivanhoe F.C. 2 Skegness Town AFC 2

Saturday 9th March 2024; Kick off 15.00 pm; 8th v 5th; The Knights v The Lilywhites

Ashby Ivanhoe F.C. – Lower Packington Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, LE65 1TS, played at Farley Way, Quorn, Loughborough, LE12 8RB

Ashby; Royal blue shirts and shorts, shirts have a red stripe on the shoulder. Skegness; Yellow and green vertical striped shirts with green shorts.

The game started at a quick pace with both teams making chances, but it was the home team who scored first when Samuel Grouse was put through on the right corner of the penalty area where he took one stride and hammered the ball along the ground into the corner of the net. Ashby were playing with ten men due to their number 5 being sin binned and Skegness took advantage on 19 minutes, attacking down the right a cross was met by a fierce shot which was parried by the keeper only for McCauley Parker to chip the ball back over the goalkeeper into the left hand side of the goal.

This all action competitive game kept delivering and with 30 minutes gone Skegness hit the bar twice and saw a header go inches over the bar in an attack. They were not to be denied though when 6 minutes later they took the lead when Luke Rayner-Mistry riffled the ball into the net after the headed clearance fell to him. Skegness left the field at half time leading 2.1, having just shaved the first half.

The game resumed with Ashby pressing hard and with 7 minutes gone, Chris Aycott, who was back on the pitch, having been sin binned in the first half, collected the ball in his own half, headed down the left wing and managed to cut the ball back across the goal, along the ground, for Will Groocock to tap in.

Back down the other end Skegness were awarded a soft penalty on 65 minutes but the kick to the left of the goalkeeper was saved. The game now seemed to relax as the teams batteries must surely have been running out.

A final score of 2.2 was fitting for the endeavour and commitment of the two teams and for the 200 fans who enjoyed the contest. Well done also to Quorn who allowed their near neighbours to complete their fixtures. I still have a visit to Ashby to come in the future.

The Chips were hot, golden, crispy on the outside, soft centre, tasty with only a slight greasy after taste. They scored a worthy 66.