15/11/22 - Fisher FC v Bermondsey Town - SCEFL Cup
The Battle of Bermondsey
Morning. It’s raining. A lot. I’m late out of the flat because I’m faffing around trying to find the Fisher FC scarf that I bought at the last game I attended at St Paul’s Stadium, a 3-0 loss to Welling in FA Cup Qualifying. Fisher FC, my local team1, gave a good account of themselves that day despite the score line. Today, it’s derby day in Bermondsey, and that seems as good a game as any to kick off this blog.
I’m going to caveat this now - I’m making no attempt to write match reports here. The clubs I watch put up great match reports themselves, and I’ll make every effort to link those where I can. I want to capture what I see and how I feel going to the game and maybe, for myself, get a handle on why I enjoy going to football so much (if it was just about the action on the pitch I’d only ever want to watch my beloved Chelsea, but here I am, salivating at the prospect of a local derby in front of a sub-200 crowd in the pouring rain). And I want to start writing again, even if it is just for myself, even if it’s not written ‘well’ or ‘properly’. I certainly won’t be digging out my old copy of the New York Times style guide. So this is a glorified matchday diary. Onwards…
F, a good friend of mine who I convinced to come with me to the game with the promise of prematch pints in the Mayflower (a cosy little boozer that sits right on the Thames) now can’t come because she’s feeling rough. I‘m sure the torrential downpour is playing its part too and I can’t say I blame her - I briefly consider having a night in watching telly instead. Sod that. I resolve to go to the game on my own, as I have on my previous two visits.
Lunch time. The monotonous spreadsheets and calls at work are beginning to take their toll and my thoughts turn to the match. Let me warn you, a clash of the titans this is not. Fisher FC sit bottom of the SCEFL Premier (albeit with a useful four games in hand on Canterbury City above them) and Bermondsey Town are rock bottom of the SCEFL First Division, having lost their last five league games. A chance to regain some form and a healthy dose of local pride then. I look out of the window and the skies are actually rather pleasant. The forecast is not.
I spend some of the afternoon catching up on Fisher’s unfortunate exit from the FA Vase at the weekend. A 94th minute goal for Jersey Bulls to knock them out. Painful stuff. Even though it was a home tie I’m fascinated by the idea of playing a team from the Channel Islands away. What a trip it’d be. Do Sark have a team? I hope so.
On the way back South after work I wrestle with the idea of still stopping in the Mayflower. Probably best not on a weeknight three days before payday. Then again, the rain has stayed away so far… I’ll decide when I get to Canada Water.
I’m listening to Daniel Avery’s Ultra Truth on the tube; the album evaded my radar until a friend sent me a track yesterday. My favourite song is the title track, the Aphex Twin-esque drums and wistful synth lead just do it for me. Avery’s music always nails a very particular vibe for me - one that’s equally as uplifting in the height of summer as it is making you feel cosy in the pissing rain.
The packed Jubilee train arrives at Canada Water and as I’m about to head up to the exit the overground pulls in, next stop Rotherhithe. It’s a sign. The Mayflower is calling. Emerging from Rotherhithe station I find that it’s still not raining. Result. At the pub I don’t fancy any of the tap options so I go for a Brockley Brewery Pale Ale on cask. It does a job. It does more than a job. It’s gone in five minutes. Wow. Tough day at work! Thirst suitably quenched, I start off on the walk to the ground along the Thames path…
It’s two nil to the Fish at half time. First was a fantastic run down the right that was eventually tapped in by Fisher’s towering centre-forward who has just a shade of Crouchy about him. I’m later told he’s also the assistant manager. Second was a pen, which, while lacking in placement, certainly made up for it in power. Shortly afterwards the Bermondsey Town right back tried to have a scrap, got booked, was skinned by a Fisher winger five minutes later and got subbed off after 30 minutes. Well played lad. This game is spicier than the hot sauce on my double chicken burger (£4.50, very spicy, 7/10, would recommend).
Things don’t improve for the Town. Fisher score a magnificent back heel off a ball across the box that nestles in the bottom left corner. Not long after, the Town defence gets itself into trouble playing out from the back (not for the first time) and it leads to another one in the back of the net.
Bermondsey Town do eventually get a goal, and it’s a fantastic long range effort. At least, that’s what I’m told. I missed it as I was in the toilet. I did catch the scorer frantically shepherding his teammates back into their half, eager to crack on with the comeback. They looked a bit forlorn to be honest.
Fisher’s fifth goal is rather unfortunate for the Town number 16, who channels his inner Scott Sterling by blocking an initial shot with his face only for the rebound, hit with real venom, to hit him in the face again and deflect into the roof of the net. The video is well worth a watch:
Poor bastard.
I got talking to a couple of lads about ground hopping while standing on the terrace at St Paul’s Stadium’s Western side. I deliberately stand here for the incredible backdrop of Canary Wharf. We had a laugh as each goal rolled in, Fisher eventually cruising to an easy 5-1 win over their ground-sharing local rivals. ‘You’ve been battered by the Fish’ cry the home support, much to the amusement of me and the two lads standing at the back of the terrace. We join in. It’s funny.
Town’s keeper was a good sport and took the traditional non-league ribbing one gets in these games on the chin, even indulging in a healthy discussion with the home support over a Town goal ruled out for a foul in the build-up despite initially being given. I give him a thumbs up at full time. He gives me one back. Better than staying in and watching the telly, eh?
Thanks for reading.
If you’d like to read the official match report you can do so here: http://www.fisherfc.org/fixture_and_result/scefl-challenge-cup-2nd-round-5/
If you’d like to read more things like this you can subscribe below:
Technically Millwall are closer to my flat but you know, fuck that.
Love it Chaz look forward to reading your next instalment