Dad And Lad: Around The Grounds - Broadfield Stadium

This might only be the second entry in the ‘Dad and Lad: Around the Grounds’ series, but it will take some beating. We were treated to hospitality at Broadfield Stadium, the home of Crawley Town, although our allegiance was with the away team, West Yorkshire’s Huddersfield Town. An entertaining match ended with a share of the points, however, the ninety minutes on the pitch was only the icing on the cake of an outstanding day out.

Saturday 9th November was a much bigger family affair than just Harrison and Myself, with a squad of seventeen of us in attendance, not including a couple of well-known celebrities we spent some time with in hospitality. More on that later.

The reason for the family get-together was to celebrate my nephew’s 18th birthday. Josh is a football fanatic and has an ambition to go to as many football grounds as possible in his lifetime, with Broadfield Stadium being number 62 ticked off his list.

Why Broadfield Stadium for the occasion? Well, two reasons, firstly, Josh supports Huddersfield Town (as do much of the family in attendance) who were Crawley Town’s opposition for the day, and secondly, my younger brother (Josh and Harrison’s uncle) Tom. Tom is the owner of Brick Borrow, who are one of the home team’s shirt sponsors, and were matchday sponsor for this fixture, with the rest of us their guests.

Normally more familiar with grabbing a Bovril and hot dog from the kiosk before running into our seats, Saturday’s pre-match experience felt like a treat. Upon arrival a couple of hours before kick-off, we were lucky enough to meet with Huddersfield Town’s most famous fan, Sir Patrick Stewart. The Hollywood actor was a true gentleman, posing for photos and spending time chatting about his love of the football club.

Sir Patrick shared stories of how he first attended a Huddersfield Town football match in 1947 and has supported the club ever since.

77 years later, Sir Patrick still had that skip in his step and childlike excitement that only watching your football team live can bring. A love affair that would be a fitting back-drop for any blockbuster movie.

The next couple of hours flew by with all the pre-match rituals that come along with being the matchday sponsors, including time for much laughter whilst sipping drinks and tucking in to a hot meal. As always though, everything else is just a warm-up act before the main event. Come 3pm, following an impeccably observed silence in honour of fallen heroes to mark Remembrance Day, everyone was in their seats and raring to go.

The first thirty minutes or so were forgettable, with very little action of note. The game was full of unforced errors and mistakes, with neither side able to take control. As the half was nearing a close, Huddersfield Town started turning their possession into chances and should have taken the lead. Following a flowing move down the left, Miller’s cross was perfectly weighted for the onrushing Ben Wiles, who somehow managed to hit it straight at the goalkeeper’s legs from just 6 yards out. Credit to the Crawley Town custodian, Trueman, for making himself big, endearing himself to the home fans on his home debut. Maybe today was going to be his show.

As is so often the case in football, a missed opportunity at one end is quickly punished at the other, and this was the case here. Shortly afterwards, a raking ball forward from midfield found winger Hepburn-Murphy advanced down the left. Avoiding a lunging tackle from Huddersfield’s International defender Brodie Spencer, Hepburn-Murphy moved in on goal and placed a beautiful finish inside the far post.

Crawley fans went wild, Huddersfield fans looked shocked. That’s how ended at half-time. 1-0 to the hosts.

The second half proved to be a much better match, and it was clear Huddersfield Town manager Michael Duff had given a team-talk which sparked an instant reaction. Healey replaced Marshall in attack for the visitors, who took control of the match straight from kick-off. The tempo increased with the excellent Herbie Kane dictating the play from the middle of the pitch. Chances came and went before substitute Rhys Healey flicked in a near post header from a Wiles corner. If Healey can stay fit, there is no doubt he will score goals at this level.

With the home crowd silenced, all signs pointed to Huddersfield winning the game from here. However, football rarely follows a script and against the run of play, Crawley went ahead again just a few minutes after being pegged back. Excellent work down the right by the energetic Forster, led to the ball arriving with Crawley’s captain and player of the match, Ronan Darcy, who played a delightful pass to Scottish midfielder Anderson, to slot the ball beyond the keeper to make it 2-1. A second assist for Darcy, a second goal for Crawley and the home fans again believed a scalp was on the cards against their lofty opponents.

Huddersfield quickly wrestled back control of the match and a third goal in 10 second half minutes made it 2-2. Spencer made up for his earlier mis-timed lunge, knocking down Miller’s cross to the day’s best player Kane, who calmly placed the ball in to the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

A flurry of substitutions from both teams followed; Huddersfield now with the momentum and still plenty of time to find a winner. As the game came to a close, it was clear that Crawley would be the happier of the two sides with a well-fought point, and they were to get their deserved draw, as despite the pressure from the away side, a winner eluded them.

A thoroughly enjoyable half of football ended in a 2-2 draw, which given the day’s festivities and mixed loyalties in the family, was probably the best outcome.

Post match in the hospitality area, we met with my brother’s new friend and fellow Crawley supporter, Shane Richie, of Eastenders fame. Shane kindly gave us his post-match thoughts on an improved Crawley Town performance, in the video clip below:



Dad’s View (Scott, aged 43 & ¼)

I cannot speak highly enough about the matchday experience we had at Crawley Town on Saturday, and a huge thank you for their hospitality. A down to earth setting, with friendly staff and a packed-out lounge, made for a superb atmosphere pre-match. Not a prawn sandwich in sight, as whether club directors, families, children or even Sir Patrick Stewart, everyone mingled together in a fun and friendly environment. The drinks were flowing and the food was plentiful. If that had been our lot, then it would have been more than enough.

Photo: Crawley Town Photographer

However, the day was made even more special thanks to my brother, Tom and his company Brick Borrow for sponsoring the match and putting us all at the centre of the day. A signed strip was presented at the side of the pitch, before Harrison and his cousin Jack both got to be mascots for the day, walking out of the tunnel with the players. The birthday boy, Josh, received a Crawley Town shirt with his name on the back and was asked to choose the Crawley Town player of the match, before presenting the award post-match in the lounge to his choice, Ronan Darcy.

Perhaps my favourite memory of the day, was when Shane Richie presented Josh with his birthday cake, whilst singing happy birthday to him.

As you can imagine, for an 18-year-old, this was both amazing and embarrassing in equal measure!

For anyone who enjoys an away day as a football fan, I highly recommend a trip to Broadfield Stadium. I have been twice now, once in hospitality and once not, and both times it has been an absolute pleasure. It was great to have my wife, Pam, and our daughter, Paige, at the match too, making a rare appearance at a football match. Although I think Pam was more excited about meeting Shane Richie than watching the match! This was Harrison’s first taste of football hospitality…now to remind him next match we will be back to our usual seats…and to be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Photo: Scott Newby

Lad’s View (Harrison, aged 8 and ¾)

I loved my first experience in hospitality! Before the match and at half-time we got to sit indoors and eat cakes and sweets. It was also cool being mascot for the day, especially staying in the tunnel with the players. It was fun even though I walked out with a Crawley player and not a Huddersfield player! It was nice getting to do this with my cousin Jack.

I really liked being able to go on to the pitch, which was a very slick surface, although I was sad I never had chance to kick the ball or score a goal!

It was a good even match in the first half, and Crawley scored a good goal. In the second half, Huddersfield scored an equaliser with Healey scoring a header into the goal. I was gutted when Crawley scored again as I thought Huddersfield were going to lose the match, but straight afterwards we scored to make it 2-2.

Huddersfield finished the match the stronger team but sadly didn’t get a winning goal. After we equalised again, I thought we would win the game, so was a bit disappointed the game ended in a draw.

My player of the match was Herbie Kane, because he scored a goal and did great passing all match. I hope he stays in the team for our next matches.

It was a great day with my family and I want to say thanks to my Uncle Tom for organising it.

Food – 4.5 hotdogs (rating out of 5)
Matchday Fun – 5 stars (rating out of 5)