Kent County Cricket Club gate, Beckenham

Well well well… funnily enough, that’s exactly where I play my football: Kent CCC, Worsley Bridge Road, Beckenham, Kent. There are four football pitches dotted around the grounds – three well within a Pietersen/Flintoff smash of the wicket, and one on the other side of a hut (also probably within range). We’re often told off for scampering on to the cricket pitch itself while playing; the groundsman is understandably keen.

As for the gate, I’ve never really noticed it before, it’s usually open when I arrive. The bar is covered in cricketing memorabilia: Derek Underwood is probably the most famous son of the area. There are plenty of photos and signed bats. But I know it as a football ground – the facilities are, for a Saturday league football club at least, excellent. Nice changing rooms, very hot showers. The lovely Fleur runs the bar/food – her daughter is, well, lovely.

Incidentally, Crystal Palace FC’s training ground is next door; in fact on all sides of the ground is either a football, rugby or cricket pitch.

Never actually seen a cricket game there though.

I love your cricket-photo-trawling around, Will. There’s some good stuff you dig up, and this is one of them. Coming after a few drinks I had last night with an Englishman who makes it a point to watch a county macth when he returns to England(“because the feeling of a county match is something else”), this was even nicer.
I must make it to a ground in England once, and watch a ‘quaint’ cricket match…
and, interesting to read nick’s stuff as well..