Date: Saturday Aug 28th 2010
Ground: A2B Worthing Stadium
Comp: FA Cup Extra Premilinary Round
Match: Worthing 6 Arundel Town 0 HT: 3-0 ATT: 313
Additional: Entrance £9.00, Programme £2.00, Coffee/Tea £0.80
A2B Worthing Stadium in pictures
It was FA Cup time again and this time I was down on the south coast to see Ryman South (step four) club Worthing take on Sussex League Division One (step five) club Arundel Town. It was a gorgeous August day, typical for FA cup early rounds.
Worhting FC started as Worthing Association in 1886. They were founder members of the Sussex County League in 1920, which they won eight times.
Their ground, the A2B Worthing Stadium is about a fifteen minute walk from the town centre, nestled in amongst housing. It’s in a good surburban location. The ground looks smart inside and out; I was surprised at its size and quality for step four of non-league.
It has a large stand down one side, a good height above the pitch, offering excellent views. There are small covered terraces behind both goals and a covered terrace down the other side. You can if you want sit atop the grassy knoll that strectes down the other side, but your view will be filtered thorugh the protective netting that prevents the balls flying into back gardens.
The game was a bit one sided right from the off. I was expecting quite a close encounter with the lower division Arundel providing stern opposition and maybe providing a shock. As it was Worthing completely rolled over their neighbours in a way which was completely unexpected. The Rebels made it look like they were at least three divisions above them, if not more. 6-0 was about a fair result as Worthing produced some fine finishes. It was a great day’s entertainment in the sunshine, despite the slight disappointment of the lack of a contest. Judging from some of Worthing’s play I would have them as top of the table contenders in the Ryman One South – I’m sure I’ll be proved wrong as the season progresses as non-league football is very fickle.
A fine ground to add to anyone’s collection.
The Groundhog 
