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(This article was originally published in the WFC Programme in the 2001-02 season. It has not been changed, and may no longer be fully up-to date)
Distinguished drinker, Paul Allison, on his favourite clubhouses
One thing that strikes me as I follow the Rebels around is the amount at which other clubs capitalise on their clubhouses, using them to generate the majority of their income. How else would Yeading survive on gates of 50-70? The self-same Yeading were able to put on not one, but two Christmas Cabaret dinners, and also host a number of Sportsman’s Dinners, in addition to taking advantage of their industrial estate location to pull in workers for midweek lunches and evening meals.
There is no doubt that having a clubhouse used for more than just matches does a great deal to add to the atmosphere, and helps to give the bar a more “lived-in” feel. Even Thame United’s shiny new clubhouse feels like a pub should, due to it’s life and busy-ness (with darts and pool teams). Tooting & Mitcham’s old bar at Sandy Lane, stretching a good distance underneath the stand, is perhaps one of the more extreme examples of this.
For me, I like a comfortable clubhouse, with a big enough bar (and enough staff) to get served relatively quickly, and enough seating to go around. A decent choice of beers is also appreciated, immediately ruling out Walton & Herhsam’s shack (ask for a Guinness or a Stella and you’re given a can). Far too many clubs underestimate the value of selling Real Ale – Grays Athletic (Ryman Premier) are a constant entry in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, despite the bar effectively being the upstairs of a sports centre, overlooking a five-a-side hall and Grays’ pitch. As a result, Grays bring in a steady trickle of real ale buffs, both on matchdays and weekdays, and they easily sell enough to make it worthwhile (real ale being notoriously temperamental, needing to be properly stored and sold within a few weeks of the barrel being tapped).
I also like a clubhouse to be part of the ground, actually inside the enclosed area, or at least with direct access, none of this messing around with re-admittance passes – and this is where clubs in newer stadia (Thame, Aylesbury) and some older ones (Carshalton, Whyteleafe) fall down.
So, all in all, I would have to nominate Thame as the most comfortable clubhouse (with its new plush red velvet seating), although the trek round to the turnstiles loses it marks. Bognor’s clubhouse is pretty good in terms of seating and space (trust me, we don’t see it at it’s best when we play them!), and Harlow’s is up there in terms of atmosphere, no doubt helped by the self-proclaimed “cheapest beer in the division” and the regular “Gentleman’s Evenings”. As for the perfect clubhouse – my search continues, at least for the rest of this season and onwards – who knows, maybe it’s just around the corner?
7th Feb 2004