ABBEY HEY 1 ALTRINCHAM 6.....H/T 0-3
ABBEY STADIUM, GORTON
ATTENDANCE....149
ADMISSION....£5
PROGRAMME....28 PAGES £1
DIFFERENT GROUNDS = 223
TOTAL GAMES = 2,301
First game of the new season for me took me over the Pennines to Gorton and the Abbey Stadium, home of North West Counties Premier side Abbey Hey.
Their opponents were Altrincham, fresh from their Promotion back to the Conference, and managed by Football journeyman Lee Sinnott, formerly of, among others, Watford, Crystal Palace, Oldham and Bradford.
The 48 year old former Defender with over 500 Football League appearences behind him, is ably assisted by 40 year old former Oldham, York and Southend midielder Neil Tolson, and these 2 were to provide me with my first autographs of the season.
A bright but sometime breezy Abbey Stadium became my 223rd different Ground, and arriving at 12.20 I was the first spectator there, the goalposts still hadn't been put up, and the grass was being mowed.
I paid my £5 admission money later as the gate was unmanned at this time and I went upstairs into the social club for refreshments.
As you can see from my photo's it is very well kept, clean and spacious in there, with Abbey Hey memorabilia scattered all over the 4 walls, plus a signed Man united shirt and a pictorial tribute to Man City legend Colin Bell....obviously trying to appease both sets of supporters from the areas mega clubs.
Beer and Lager was on sale at £2.80 a pint with soft drinks at 80p per can plus Tea and Coffee also available at 80p.
A very kind Gentleman brought me 3 programmes from downstairs after I enquired about them, and for just £1 each, it offered a decent and updated read.
After a couple of beverages and a small but very tasty Steak and Kidney pie priced at just £1.30 I went back outside to take the photo's you can see below.
I met up with a Man City supporting Groundhopper friend Tony, and got a decent pog down one side and awaited the kick off of match number one for 2014-2015.
My first goal of the season was well worth the 25 minutes it took to break the deadline as former FC Halifax player, Sean Williams curled a low 25 yarder to the left of the home keeper to make it 1-0.
The star of the day however, turned out to be Striker Damien Reeves, formerly of Leeds United and Barnsley, who netted 4 times today to more than seal the victory for the visitors.
Reeves, who failed to make the grade at Elland Road or Oakwell, netted 43 goals in 2011-12 for Altrincham plus 22 for the promoted side last season, so he definitely has an eye for goal.
The other Altrincham goal came from former Port Vale player, Kyle Perry.
Abbey Hey's consolation goal which came as the scoreline read 4-0 came from Martin Pilkington.
Total domination from Altrincham throughout, and the 3-0 half time scoreline was kept down by some outstanding saves from the Abbey Hey keeper John McIlwaine during the first 45 minutes.
7 goals in my first outing this season and a good day out spent in excellent company.
Next stop Scotland and Greenock Morton v Millers next Saturday.
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