When I initially planned this trip (as a stop off point en-route to Everton's capitulation at Southampton) it was supposed to be a Hertfordshire derby versus Royston Town, but their involvement in the FA Trophy meant a hastily re-arranged league game. Thank goodness for that!
The club are based at Gaywood Park, which has been their home since 1997 after the spent nearly two decades ground sharing at various clubs after their original ground, Home Park, was sold off for housing development in 1980. The ground was named after Graham Gaywood, a well-known benefactor of the club who died soon after the stadium's completion. The ground is also used by Watford Ladies, so there are plenty of images of the Hornets badge dotted around the ground.
This season the ground has been renamed the CRY Community Stadium in tribute to Cardiac Risk in the Young. The club launched a marketing campaign to give local businesses the chance to pay £1,000 for a ticket to enter a draw for naming rights at the stadium. Clement Estate agents won and decided on the name in tribute to Dale Tennent-Butler, the son of a supporter who died from cardiac arrest while playing football in 2007, aged 18.
The past few years have been heady days for Kings Langley as they achieved three successive promotions taking the club from the Spartans South Midlands League Division One to the Southern Premier League.
The ground has been brought up to the required standards necessary. There are two pre-fab stands, one along the side of the pitch and a small seated one behind the goal.
There is a large seated stand on the other side of the pitch, which was built by supporters with the blue and red seats coming from Nene Park, Rushden & Diamonds now demolished old ground. Today the club was re-opening the clubhouse after refurbishment. There were some excellent Jolly Boys Brewery beers on tap this afternoon which went down a treat!
The game ended goalless as the home side defended resolutely against the King's Lynn attack. Despite enjoying most the possession the Linnets rarely troubled Martin Bennett in the Kings Langley goal. Michael Gash had an effort hit the post in the first half but that was as close as there was to a goal in opening 45 minutes.
It was more of the same in the second half as King's Lynn pressed forward but they could not find that elusive goal. With a few minutes remaining Josh Coldicott–Stevens could have won the game for the home side when he dispossessed Linnets goalkeeper Alex Street, who was outside his area attempting to clear a long ball, but the Kings Langley man failed to hit the open goal, the ball drifting agonisingly wide.
There was still time for one more chance for the visitors but Bennett produced a superb fingertip save to deny Ryan Hawkins, whose effort appeared destined for the top corner. In my opinion a draw was a fair result and, despite the lack of goals, an enjoyable afternoon's entertainment.
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