A tale of two Cities

Chichester City v Winchester City. Matchday #9 for Miss and I of Season 2024/25 and we haven’t seen a competitive game yet!

We set off at lunchtime with Uncle Mike joining and we picked up Hannah on the way. Hannah is a friend of Uncle Mike and Daddy and she works on the bar at Winchester City - so Miss knows her very well!

We arrived at Oaklands Park at around 130pm. Daddy knows the area very well having been to University in Chichester, graduating in 2008. So although it was a long time ago, back on familiar soil!

We pulled up at the ground only to be told that we couldn’t park there, despite all three of Daddy, Uncle Mike and Hannah being involved with the football club and on the committee list. So we had to park away from the ground in a local pay and display car park and walk back to the ground.

When we arrived back at the ground, the stewards apologised after turning us away and we were admitted into the ground through a gate so Miss could get through in her pushchair.

Oaklands Park has changed a lot since Daddy used to walk through the derelict old ground on the way to University every day. A modern 3G pitch with a couple of new stands, and the home team even have ice baths!

Miss had a good roam around the ground and had a play in the players tunnel as well as on the camera scaffolding, whilst playing with a tennis ball that Hannah found outside.

Miss played with the tennis ball along with Milly, the Balmer family dog who is also a regular at Winchester City matches.

Miss had a great time saying hello to all of her friends - and there were hi-fives and fist pumps all round for Gaffer, Coler, Pete, Jo and CM - who Daddy hadn’t seen for a loooong time!

Daddy also caught up with Ian, his University lecturer, before the game, who is involved at Chichester City FC. A lovely catch up after several years!

As for the game, City won 3-0 with an impressive display and some excellent goals. The performance and result bodes well for next weekends’ trip to Marlow as the league gets underway.

A visit to the bar after the game and Miss made herself at home behind the bar itself 🤦‍♂️ thanks to all the staff and volunteers at Chichester for being so understanding and accommodating of Miss!

Fair play to Chichester - Baby Changing Facilities accommodated into Disabled toilet. Nicely done! A lift available as well to go up to the bar for the pushchair and also for wheelchairs.

For Miss - great access, great facilities, shame about the lack of parking - but that said, the pay and display car park is close by. Well done Chichester for looking after us 👏