Mark Johnson reports:
Departure Time: Preparations for the journey didn't go entirely to plan with Cambridgeshire's burgeoning collection of potholes forcing an unscheduled visit to the car doctor the day before the game. But thanks to the good auspices of a well-known Cambridge Saab garage, the transport was in fine fettle in time for the big day.
If only my travelling companions had been so fortunate. First one had vehicle problems of his own that meant he wouldn't be ready at the appointed time so had to make his own way, then another fell foul of the traffic nightmare that is Norfolk and had to call it a day after sitting in virtually static traffic for an hour and a half.
So, esteemed Club Photographer Gordon McMillan and I set off, with rather more room in the car that we'd anticipated, at about 2.40pm.
Arrival at Ground: After all the problems leading up to the trip at least the journey was straightforward enough, and after a leisurely coffee stop en route we arrived in the capacious car park at the ground by about 5.50pm.
At The Ground
The Ground: Our last trip to Priory Lane had been on December 5th and Eastbourne had hosted just one match since our last visit, so there was an air of relief at having another home match to play when we arrived. And rarely have I come across such a friendly and helpful group of people as there are at Eastbourne. From stewards to club officials, no one could have made us feel more welcome; it's a shame more clubs don't have that attitude toward their visitors.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the ground hasn't changed tremendously since we were there last. Admittedly, it was somewhat darker and colder - much colder! The main entrance is between a warm and welcoming social club and a two-storey building containing dressing rooms and corporate areas. The main turnstiles are in a corner of the ground.
As you enter here, to your right a low, covered area of terracing almost fills the area behind the goal. As the dressing rooms are at this end of the ground, the flow of the terrace is interrupted by the moveable walls of a metal cage that marks the area where the players emerge from the dressing rooms in that two-storey building. The upper storey of this building peeps out over the roof the terrace.
Continuing around the ground, a short stretch of uncovered terrace leads to a point about level with midway inside the main entrance end of the pitch. Here it meets the end of the main stand.
The only area of seating in the ground, eight rows of flip-up seats continue to a point about level with the edge of the penalty area at the other end of the ground. The low, red brick wall that runs along the front of this stand is punctuated at regular intervals to allow access from a concrete walkway at the front. A couple of glass windows are cut into the back of the stand, behind which directors and other guests are entertained at half time.
The well-appointed press area is at also the back of this stand. Fortunately, there are no windows behind the press area, which meant that Steve Line and I could stand with impunity to commentate towards the end of the match as we tried to force some warmth into frozen feet. Indeed it was so cold that I'm sure I saw a penguin wandering past in search of an overcoat.
The final stretch along this side of the ground consists of a small section of covered terrace that turns the corner and continues behind the goal and back along the remaining side of the ground until it reaches a point where it faces the start of the main stand. After the wafting steam from a catering outpost, the looming shape of a Nissen hut is illuminated by the red glow of an electronic scoreboard in the corner of the ground close to the main entrance.
Did I mention it was cold? The pitch was starting to become frosty even before kick-off and a layer of frost formed on Gordon's camera bag during the match.
United Fans: The match was an unsegregated one, but the consensus was that 80 or so had made the trip and they were in good voice and fine spirits. This was particularly the case when the large proportion of Eastbourne fans that filed out with about ten minutes to go were regaled with a chorus of 'Is there a fire drill?'
View from Away End: As the match was unsegregated, there was no away end as such, but the majority of the U's fans congregated behind the goal opposite the main entrance. Here, the view wasn't too bad … and neither was it from the main stand. Mind you, given the size of the crowd, there was hardly a problem moving around to find a decent viewing position.
Club Mascot: I didn't see the Eastbourne mascot when we visited in December, but it was there this time: an owl - for some inexplicable reason … and a wise one at that judging by the university gown and mortar board it was wearing. Wise too, as its feathers ensured it was insulated against the cold.
Programme: 40 unnumbered photocopied pages for £2.50 - although there was no price on the front. A reasonable amount to read though in a programme that has kept the feel of its non-league roots, concentrating on substance rather than style.
Food/Drink: Chips (£1.70) went down well as did the tea and coffee, which were used as much as hand warmers as they were as sustenance.
State of Toilets: Basic facilities were available at one end of the seated area and just inside the main entrance. These were clean enough and, given the low attendance, didn't have too much of a queue outside.
Afterwards
The Journey Home: A late evening journey along the highways and byways of England just wouldn't be the same with road works, and the M25 duly obliged with a rash of lane closures.
Mileage: 254.6 miles
Total Distance for Season: 2,707.6 miles
Mark Johnson, with additional reporting by Gordon McMillan
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