FOLLOWING THE SALTMEN

Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division

22 November 2025. Attendance: 110

In yesterday’s match preview, I suggested this game would be a stern test. Well, I didn’t expect it to be one that would be failed in such dramatic fashion.

The afternoon started well enough. As this week’s designated driver FTS collected passengers, Don Judley and Jihadi G (names changed to protect the innocent) and we set off for the M5. It was raining.

The journey into Gloucestershire was uneventful although there was a lot of spray. In accordance with knowledge gained on my recent speed awareness course, I moderated my speed and we were soon turning onto the Cirencester Road. It was still raining. Those who know the A417 will be familiar with the construction project taking place at the bottom of Birdlip Hill. To put the scale of the works into perspective, it makes the HS2 project look like a single storey kitchen extension. We were held up in traffic but not for long. We had arranged to meet up with some fellow Saltmen at The Golden Farm pub. After a pleasant diversion around the suburbs we arrived. Nice pub. Open fire, stone floors and £6 a pint. We only stopped for one and headed for the Corinium Stadium. It was still raining.

The stadium itself is easy to find and just a short distance from the town. On arrival we found a capacious car park with plenty of spaces. An excellent addition to the parking facility is a car wash where you can apparently get a hand job for £6! Unfortunately, I’d just had a pint at the Golden Farm so I can’t vouch for their service. Still, it seems to be good value. Anyway, it was still raining.

Entry to the excellent Corinium Stadium is via one of a cluster of five turnstiles in a row. Only one was open but that was plenty and there was no queue. The ground is all in very good order. The 4G pitch is surrounded on all 4 sides by hard standing. On the clubhouse side, there is the smaller of two covered seating areas. It has unobstructed views due to a column free cantilever type roof. The opposite touchline houses the larger covered seating area. While it has a larger capacity, the view is partly obstructed by the presence of four roof supports. One of the goal ends (the Shed End) has a cover stretching approximately half the width of the pitch. Its shelter was very welcome during the first half as Droitwich attacked this end. Because it was still raining.

The other end of the ground has no cover and is known as the No Shed End, probably.

The ground has a capacity of 4500. This has not been tested yet as the club record attendance is a still admirable 2600.

The large clubhouse is clean and very comfortable. The staff, officials and supporters were all very welcoming. If I was being hyper-critical, I would like to see some team photos or other club memorabilia on display. The Centurions have an illustrious history and it would be good see some of it on display.

We ventured out into the weather just before kick off and set up camp under the Shed End cover. The first half went quite well. Spa rode their luck a little but were very much in the game when the ball fell to Sam Hurdman on the edge off the box on 24 minutes. The young midfielder elegantly guided his first time side foot volley just inside the post and Spa had the lead. That they kept the lead until halftime had a lot to do with some very profligate finishing from the Centurion. One close range effort from close range looked harder to miss than score. But miss they did and the Saltmen took a 0-1 advantage into the break.

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Walking past the Home changing room at halftime, it was audibly clear that their coaching team were unhappy. Some of the words I heard can be found in the bible. Some of them cannot!

Whatever was said, it did the trick as the Centurions drew level with seconds of the re-start. Spa looked very uncertain at the back and lacking in ideas going forward. The hosts appeared energised while our heroes looked strangely leaden footed. It came as no surprise when our hosts took the lead.

Stung by their reversal of fortune Spa fought back and a trademark Alex Dugmore header appeared to have restored parity. The referee, who had enjoyed a pretty good game up to this point, took leave of his senses and the goal was chalked off. Certainly wasn’t anything Duggers did!

This proved pivotal. Cirencester went on to pick up three more goals after working out Spa’s Achilles heel. I’m not going to say what it is on here as there’s still a couple of teams in the division we haven’t played yet. If they want a scouting report they can send someone to watch us. Enough to say it is the same weakness we have displayed for at least two seasons.

Had it not been for a string of fine saves from Dom Rogerson, Cirencester could have run up a rugby score. Sadly, bad luck struck the Spa stopper again. Late in the game Dom got down smartly to turn a goalbound attempt round the post. In doing so, it looks like his boot got stuck in the playing surface and he suffered a twisting injury to his knee. After being helped from the field, the luckless goalkeeper was taken to hospital. FTS has no further information on Dom’s condition but it looked like the injury could keep him out of the side for quite a while. Ironically, it had stopped raining.

With no reserve keeper on the bench, Liam Livesey put the green shirt on for the remainder of the game.

The final whistle blew and the, by now, rather damp Spa Faithful applauded the lads off the field. It had been a bad day at the office but that’s going to happen from time to time. We’ve come a long way in a short period of time.

This week’s Following The Saltmen Man of the Match award goes to Dom Rogerson. This is not a sympathy vote; Dom made a series of excellent stops in conditions which were far from ideal for glovesmen. Good luck Dom. We look forward to seeing you back in action as soon as you are back to full fitness.

If you think it strange that a goalkeeper gets an MOTM vote after his side loses 5-1, I should point out that I once got MOTM after conceding nine! (For the record, it was an under 10s game in the Garforth League, 1979-80, Methley Owls 9-0 Nostell Miners Welfare). We got better.

To show we can be gracious losers [And like beer – Ed] we returned to the clubhouse after the game for some provisions before our arduous journey back to our Mid-Worcestershire haven. it was good to chat with our equally gracious host and learn a bit about their club.

A quick word to the wise: Don’t bother with the 0% alcohol lager. It is also 0% taste. If you are a designated driver like me, have a glass of pop instead.

We took our leave just in time to witness the great fire of Cirencester. Huge plumes of acrid smoke billowed from what I think must have been the snack bar. Fortunately, it stopped as abruptly as it had started. Unlike the rain, which had started again.

An uneventful journey home was punctuated by a stop to witness the Haunted Service Station Toilets of Strensham. Fortunately, there were no goolies on view but I am reliably informed by a reliable source that they were present on Tuesday evening!

Overall, a good day out, despite the result. I can certainly recommend a visit to Cirencester Town FC if you’re looking for a game to watch, if the Saltmen aren’t playing.

Tuffley visit Kingys next Saturday to face the wrath of the wounded Saltmen.

See you there

Cheers

FTS