Where are you going?

Miles off with the new intake. Missing Saltash United, Barnstaple, Mousehole, Helston Athletic, Millbrook, Falmouth Town, Ilfracombe Town, Torpoint Athletic and Nailsea and Tickenham. 

Ha. No.

Mainly sly. You can do things cheaply if you’re clever enough and can work around things.

Still read this thread, despite my recent break from non-league football. Considering returning this Saturday to watch our overpromoted (to the Conference South) local team Cheshunt FC lose to Havant & Waterlooville (didn't they have a big 3rd round cup run once?), if the ticketing starts working. cheshuntfc.ktckts.com/event/chn2223hlm08/cheshunt-vs-havant-waterlooville
'There are some errors with your selection:
There is no inventory available - this means the last few items are being purchased.' No idea what that means.
FAO Uncle Eppers and others who've been. It's disappointing how unpleasant and abusive some Essex and Lee Valley non-league experiences have reportedly been: is it worse around here than when you watch non-league football in the West Country? Just interested.
Incidentally, our Cheshunt went out of the cup to Kidderminster Harriers, whom I still remember as a league side I always used to go away to visit from Bristol to watch Rovers. I don't know about mighty, but clearly fallen.

Tough times for Cheshunt! Struggling at a higher level. I actually drove past Theobald's Lane on the way to Wormley FC a few weeks back, and saw a fair few Kidderminster fans outside the Wheatsheaf.
Maybe in my advanced years I'm getting increasingly sensitive to foul and abusive language. I'd say maybe a quarter of the time it takes away from what should be an enjoyable afternoon. The main offenders are the players and coaches. I just find it very frustrating that these small grass roots clubs are trying to attract families and children when grown men are swearing at each other and the officials like chavy teenagers for 90mins. The Leagues seem to have campaigns (eg. Spartans South have "delete the expletive" and "respect the ref"), but this doesn't seem to be working. At step 5-7 the referee can sin-bin players for 10 mins for dissent. I've never seen them use this though. To be fair Cockfosters in the Spartans South, my first game in this league, was a 'good experience'.  
I've only seen Bath, Yate, Paulton and FGR (pre-league) in the west country non-leagues. From my limited experience, these players and coaches behave better than in Essex/north east London.  
I think @chewbacca might have a more informed opinion.  
Enjoy the Cup game, if you can get passed the on-line ticketing...

Romford FC 1 West Essex 1 (Essex Senior League step 5). Romford were formed back in 1876, and have led a nomadic existence in east London playing at 17 grounds. They've gone bust and been resurrected a few times, the last time in 1992. They currently share with Barking FC at Mayesbrook Park. Colourful character Glenn Tamplin owned/managed/invested in them after stepping away from Billericay. I drove past Glenn's mansion in Abridge on the way to the ground. It looks all boarded up now and apparently he's in Marbella, some fall-out with the council after allowing illegal tipping in his vast grounds. He is no longer involved with Romford. Romford were relegated in bottom place the previous season from the Isthmian North, along with Barking. Romford appeared in the FA Amateur Cup Final in front of 100,000 back in 1948-49. Another historic Club finding times hard. Picked up my mate Watford Dave en route. A slightly dis-enchanted hornets fan in search of some grass roots football. Easy parking. Decent Clubhouse and set up and as usual, friendly bar staff and a welcoming environment. A decent choice of draft beers, San Miguel £5 a pint though. A plastic pitch, but a good one. Romford in all blue, West Essex in white with black trim (sort of Wimbledon vs Fulham). Within 5-10 minutes you could see both sides were keen to play 'properly' and the referee was having a decent game. Limited chances in the first half. Romford came closest to scoring with a shot from distance rattling the cross bar. Romford No.11 was often in acres of space, but his team mates refused to pass to him. San Miguel at HT and walked back to the terrace in the Autumnal sunshine, 20c at the end of October. Global warming eh? West Essex took the lead a little against the run of play. Nice work down their right flank, a cut back and a goal. Romford (they had looked a bit lightweight) brought on a bigger target man and their attack had more focus. Romford finally decided to pass to their No.11, he cut back inside, encouraged a clumsy challenge in the box and penalty given. West Essex accepted it, and Romford didn't surround the referee and wave imaginary yellow cards. The game went end to end for the last 15-20 minutes or so, but without a goal. 1-1 a fair reflection of the game. No trouble for the officials, apart from after the final whistle when there was a bit of a melee, no idea what prompted that. A very good advert for the Essex Senior League from the Clubs, players and officials. A fine afternoon out.
Result
Romford: FC £25 (£8 entrance, very good £2 programme, 3 pints of San Miguel)
Attendance: 80

AFC Hornchurch 2 Wingate & Finchley 0 (Isthmian League Premier Division, step 3). 40 minute drive through the leafy back roads from Epping to Hornchurch, which is actually nearer Upminster. AFC Hornchurch (the Urchins) can trace their roots back to 1881 and follow the regular path of Clubs in this area of (usually) going under and renaming themselves. Hornchurch Wanderers, Hornchurch & Upminster, Hornchurch FC and lastly AFC Hornchurch in 2005. Notables - FA Trophy Winners in 2020-2021 (beat Hereford) and appeared in the FA Cup 2nd round 2003-04. Wingate & Finchley (founded 1991) are another Club with a complicated history. The original Wingate was formed in 1946 with an aim to create a Jewish club with the aim of fighting anti-semitism. They have a star of David on their badge. Wingate merged with Leyton FC (not Orient) to briefly form Wingate & Leyton in the 1970's. Finchley are a slightly older Club (1877) and reached the FA Cup 3rd Round in 1952-3. Margaret Thatcher played a key role in the formation of Wingate & Finchley in 1991. The only Club to give a 1 minutes silence after her passing 2013.
Hornchurch are (now) top of the league and Wingate & Finchley (W&F) struggling near the bottom of the division.
Managed to get the last of the spaces in the relatively small car park. Hornchurch has a large, well fitted out bar area that is elevated and looks over one end of the ground. On cold days it must get rammed. Friendly staff, friendly supporters. The ground has a good mix of covered seating and terracing. Grass pitch (good) that unfortunately sits inside an athletics track (bad). Decent 1st half ended 0-0 with defences on top. Both teams played in good spirit with the referee having a decent game. The centre-mid Hornchurch No 7 looked to be the stand out player. A rare dining experience at HT delivered a burger and a bottle of Redchurch IPA. 2nd half Hornchurch were getting on top and W&F were soaking up pressure. Hornchurch No 7 got subbed off (what do I know?) The dam finally burst when the Hornchurch No. 9 broke through, had his initial stop saved and the sub scored from the rebound around the 65min mark. W&F didn't really look like getting back into the game. Nearing FT made my way to the exit via the gentleman's washroom facilities. Washing hands and, Goal! (89th min). Bloody hell. That always really annoys me. Left just before the final whistle to escape the car park, which looked like it was going to get log-jammed. Very good afternoon. Recommended.
Up to 100 grounds now (watched Rovers at 63).
Result
AFC Hornchurch: £25.30 (£12 entry, very good quality programme £2.50, pint of Madri £4.80, burger £3.50, bottle of Redchurch £2.50)
Attendance: 520

Śląsk Wrocław and Górnik Zabrze? Pah!
Chelmsford City 0 Dover Athletic 0 (Conference South, step 2). A rainy windswept Monday evening in November. Only one place to go, the Melbourne Stadium in the county town of Essex. Would not normally be out mid-week and a 40 minute drive from Epping, but an old Gashead friend was working out this way and suggested a meet up. He used to be an avid Rovers fan, now spends time at Wick and ticking off grounds around the country on his working travels. Was expecting a relatively small crowd and easy parking. Wrong. Ended up a 10 minute walk from the ground with the car park full by 7:20pm. Swift beer and headed out to the other side of the ground - alongside the halfway line and out of the wind. Another "grass pitch good, athletics track bad" experience. Chelmsford playing with the wind behind them. A good opening 10 minutes in the wind, but even early doors we agreed the conditions made it likely to be 'good 0-0'. Chelmsford refused to shoot from distance with wind assistance and it was actually Dover who had the better opportunities, breaking with pace up front and getting onto balls that held up in the wind. HT 0-0. The Chelmsford 'posse' changed ends at HT and claimed the rickety small terrace standing between the running track and behind the goal. Seemed to be giving the Dover keeper grief all game. Second half Chelmsford were getting on top, and now finally shooting from distance into the wind - resulting in shots ballooning over the bar. Dover didn't threaten much and looked like they just wanted to wind the clock down and take a point. Which they did. Home fans left disappointed. Chelmsford stay 4th and Dover 12th. Good officiating and players doing well in testing conditions. Further up the pyramid (well steps 2-4) the players seem to be a bit more respectful. It's some of the step 5 and 6 where I guess you notice the bad language and back chat more, with less people in attendance.
Result:
Chelmsford £22 (£15 entry, pint of Heineken, diet coke)
Attendance: 1000ish, will update later.
** Attendance 881 **

Redbridge 4 Southend Manor 2 (Essex Senior League, step 5). A second visit to Redbridge as I was short of time (was planning to go to Billericay / Bath City in the FA Trophy). Redbridge can trace their roots back to the delightfully named Briggs Motor Bodies in 1934. A merger with Ford Sports (Dagenham) in 1959 produced Ford United. In 2005 they re-branded as Redbridge. Southend Manor are currently bottom of the ESL and winless. The Clubhouse is actually pretty decent, clean and tidy, but sadly still no draught beer. No programme, but took a photo of the team sheet. The rest of the ground is basically falling down. There was a banner asking for donations to help redevelop the stadium. It was kind of hidden away behind the dug-outs though. It was only because I walked round the dilapidated ground that I saw it. A pudding of a pitch and the goal area near the Clubhouse end looked like something out of the WWI trenches. Kick off. Manor hoofed it straight to the Redbridge goal-keeper. Oh dear. Not promising. Redbridge took the lead as their No.10 (Solomon Ogunwomoju) danced through 3 or 4 challenges and slotted it home from out-side the box. 10mins later a Redbridge ball was lumped into the opposition box and a glancing header deceived the Manor keeper, 2-0. Manor No.7 (Enock Sogenile) was their best player and very unlucky not to score from distance as a shot of his ricocheted of the beaten keepers post. HT. Bottle of Pironi. Now up to £3.50. Up 50p from last year. There's proof of a cost of living crisis - right there. Redbridge shooting towards the quagmire of a goal in the 2nd half. Best move of the day saw good wing play down the Redbridge left flank, a great cross, and a diving header to make it 3-0. Later on Manor unexpectedly scored from a corner. Another Manor aerial attack saw the game brought back to an unlikely 3-2. Although played in a good spirit up to that point, the Redbridge bench took exception to a few decisions made by the officials and a foul-mouthed tirade at the referee and linesman ensued. It led to two yellows for the manager and coach. Totally unnecessary and uncalled for abuse. Not for the first time an afternoon spoilt by the management of a side that behaved liked ignorant chavs. At this point I was willing a Manor equalizer to shut up the morons in the dug-out. Sadly Manor were caught on the break, Redbridge scored with the last kick of the game. 4-2, game over.
I'm not a prude. I use industrial language on occasion. But seriously people on the Redbridge bench need to grow up and get a grip. They are ultimately destroying their own Club and grass roots football. Yes, I am writing to the Essex Senior League!
Result
Redbridge £10.50 (£6 entry, free e-programme (yuk), £1 coffee, 1 over-priced bottle of Pironi £3.50)
Attendance: 54. Pathetic.
Advice: You are not going to grow a Football Club if you allow yobs to manage and coach your side. This was not a suitable place for families or children.