Small Beer

Seaton Town v Beer Albion

A trip to South East Devon, but a very surprising daybreak in Swindon as a decent amount of snow had fallen.

A few checks revealed the intended game was still on as the snow appeared to be very localised.

By the time we had got to Westbury, the snow had cleared.  We passed Pathfinder's Mendip Mariner railtour, about to depart to the exotic destination of Avonmouth National Power Coal Silo.

I was on the unit down to Weymouth.

A few minutes to grab some food from the worst punning cafe I can imagine.

I was on an endurance bus journey, this being the X53 Bournemouth - Exeter service, which I got from the promenade.

It goes right along the Dorset and East Devon coast, seen here rising away from Chesil Beach in the background.

An hour and forty minutes later, and I was into Seaton.  The town was originally an agricultural community but was developed by the Romans as a port.  However, by the Middle Ages, its importance diminished, and this remained the case until the Victorian era when it became a holiday resort.

I headed to the GBG King's Arms which had a number of local Branscombe Vale's on.

Seaton Town 1 v Beer Albion 1, Devon & Exeter Football League - Premier Division

Seaton were founded in 1919, adding the town suffix in   1952 when it joined the Exeter and District League.

Beer Albion were founded in 1919, they too moved to the Devon & Exeter League in 1952. 

The match details were anonymous, but the programme revealed the match sponsor was the local live fishing bait supplier.

Uniquely, the ground is situated in the centre of a caravan park.




This means that the spectators wander amongst mobile homes, behind a very substantial pitch side fence.

The closest caravans have additional protection over the windows, giving a good impression of a council estate off licence.

Seaton's first ever game was against Beer, and it has been the local derby ever since, ensuring the best crowd of the season.

Beer took the lead halfway through the first half.

The only structure was this cover on the half way line.

The Devon and Exeter league has a long history, being formed in 1900.  In recent years, its seniority has diminished, with the creation of the Devon County and then the South West Peninsula league.

I don't know what the holidaymakers think of having a non-league game going on outside their window during the summer months.

Seaton had a very alliterative representation from the Hancock family; Matt, Mike, Mark and Martyn.

I was resplendent with this new bag made from Ritta sport wrappers.  Until I realised it made me look like Tinky Winky.

Right at the death, the home side equalised.

My onward bus went from right outside the ground.

So I watched injury time from the bus stop.

I took the bus onwards to Axminster station.  It is branded the 'Jurassic Coaster', as this stretch of shoreline is famous for its dinosaur fossils.

From Axminster, it was a South West Trains 159 to Salisbury, for a move back to Swindon via Bath.