Sunday - FA Cup Funday

Miss’ last four game had all been at the Charters Community Stadium so it was time to hit the road again and this match, her 76th game, was in the Third Qualifying Round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup - Bitton AFC v Winchester City Flyers.

A first hair cut can be a traumatic experience for little ones (so I’ve heard…) before we set off to Bitton, Daddy went for a quick trip with Miss as a spectator - she was not a fan! Usually Mummy comes with us as well, but I thought I’d brace it on my own this time - epic fail! 🤦‍♂️

So we set off for Bitton, just outside Bristol, and Miss had calmed down thanks to a lollipop and Daddy’s phone for company in the car.

We stopped at Sutton Scotney services for some “go go juice” (thanks Mummy!) and I must have still felt guilty for the haircut ordeal so caved and let Miss play in the service station…

It was a shame the baby changing facilities were a joke there - a broken toilet in the cubicle and the changing ‘bed’ was leaning towards the floor so Miss slid down it! Anyway, moving on and we headed off along the M4.

The journey took roughly 90 minutes, so we made good time and got to the WDS Associates Legal Services Stadium shortly before kick-off (I hope the ground is sponsored, otherwise that is an interesting stadium name… 🤔)

There was limited parking - especially as there was lots of youth football taking place, the venue was a hub of activity, great to see! So we parked on the main road.

There is a nice, relatively new club house, but no baby changing facilities which was disappointing - so it was a nappy change on the cubicle floor - something we do on a regular basis sadly 😔

Inside the ground there is an old stand opposite the turnstile with wooden benches and on the near side there is a small tiered terrace that Miss explored pre-match (with her Pringles of course).

We watched the match behind the goal, changing ends in each half. Apart from this being a non-league tradition, it was only behind the goals where there were no open fences, so to keep Miss from Pitch invading, we had no choice.

There was a lot going on to keep Miss entertained - hot air balloons, a steam train behind the goal and low flying aeroplanes!

Flyers won the match 3-0, in truth it should have been more. That said, great display with a weakened side due to injuries and unavailability, and they now reach the First Round Proper - so we eagerly await the draw, hoping for a glamour tie 🤞

A smooth journey home and a stop at Leigh Delamere services - again lack of baby changing facilities - this time it had been removed from the wall altogether 🤦‍♂️

A great day out but not the best for Miss - limited parking, no baby changing facilities and fences that couldn’t prevent a young pitch invader. That said, a traditional ground and the steam train every 30 minutes keep things entertaining! And the enormous slope on the pitch too! Well done Flyers 👏