WEEKEND PREVIEW - A RARE TRIP SOUTH OF THE RIVER

From North to South - Looking across the Thames at the Woolwich Ferry

Enfield Town make a rare trip South of the River this weekend when they journey to Bayliss Avenue to play Thamesmead Town. It's the only occasion Enfield Town supporters will get to go on a ferry this season as travelling in luxury aboard the Woolwich Ferry in one of the many ways you can travel to Thamesmead. Granted it's a long walk (if your on foot??) from Woolwich but you can always get on a bus...the best bet if your without the car is to go to nearby Abbey Wood station (served well from London Bridge) and hop on a bus number 244 where if you get off at Crossway the walk to Bayliss Avenue is about 5 to 10 minutes. If your in the car lets hope the Blackwall Tunnel is clear and free of traffic!!

Some facts about the area and Thamesmead Town -

1) Southmere Lake in South Thamesmead was used in the filming of cult classic movie A Clockwork Orange.

2) Stella English, winner of The Apprentice in 2010, was born and raised on a council estate in the Town.

3) As the crow flies the distance between Bayliss Avenue and Goldsdown Road is 12.5 miles which is just about the same distance at it from Town's current home to Wodson Park where Town played last week. So is that two local derby games in a row???

4) Thamesmead Town FC came into being in 1985 when Thamesmead FC changed names and relocated from the Meridian Sports Ground in nearby Charlton to Bayliss Avenue. The club were formed in 1969 as Thamesmead Youth FC and merged with local side Southlake FC to become Thamesmead FC.

5) Bayliss Avenue was officially opened in 1988 against the Wimbledon who were holders of the FA Cup at the time in front of a crowd of over 400.

6) The club was granted Senior Status in 1987 after playing in the London Spartan Intermediate Divisions. They joined the Kent League in 1991. After winning the Kent League in 2008 they joined the Ryman League Division One (North).

7) Crowds at Bayliss Avenue have been low this season with only Waltham Forest's league average of 54 below The Mead's current figure of 56. Their top league crowd this season came when AFC Sudbury visited on the 6th November and 92 people watched. Last season they averaged 61 with a top crowd of 108 on the Boxing Day derby game versus VCD Athletic.

8) Work has begun on the £4m redevelopment of their ground which will see the completed Sporting Club Thamesmead main arena boast a 500 seat stand with balcony overlooking the pitch from the pavilion. The main arena pitch will be surrounded by covered terracing with the rest of the ground comprising of a second sports pitch, indoor sports hall, gym and multi use outdoor sports facilities available seven days a week to the local community. This should be ready for the 2010/11 season.

In their last six games The Mead have only hit the back of the net twice being beaten five times and drawing once. Form since the turn of the year has seen only one victory come against bottom side Waltham Forest (1-0, 12/2/2011) in nineteen games. A victory for the home side will see them do the double over the Town following their 1-0 victory at Goldsdown Road on the 7th September.

The midweek fixtures saw Romford win 1-3 at Redbridge (see footballcraft.blogspot.com for a report on this one), Wingate and Finchley beat Needham Market 2-1 and Grays Athletic thrash Cheshunt 9 (NINE!!)-0 on Wednesday night.

Full Ryman North Fixture list for Saturday 16th April 

AFC Sudbury          v Great Wakering Rovers 
Cheshunt             v Redbridge 
East Thurrock United v Brentwood Town 
Harlow Town          v Heybridge Swifts 
Ilford               v Grays Athletic 
Maldon & Tiptree     v Romford 
Thamesmead Town      v Enfield Town 
Tilbury              v Ware 
Waltham Abbey        v Waltham Forest 
  

Following Needham's defeat they can get to a points total of 91 should they win all of their remaining three games meaning East Thurrock United could all but seal the title with a victory against Brentwood Town putting them on 91 points themselves.