Cycling and Football - Seven Tiers Tour.

I'm into football - as much as cycling. Covid has constrained both. I wondered how I could re-connect?

I was inspired by non-League amateur club Marine's FA Cup recent heroics against Spurs. Based in Crosby*, north Liverpool, (around the corner where I grew-up), they are eight tiers below Premiership football clubs. Could I explore in a bike ride where south-west London teams in different levels of football's pyramid are based?

Knowing where clubs are located helped to pinpoint places on my cycle route. Especially the minows. (http://www.myfootygrounds.co.uk/AreaMap.asp?view=LONDON). I aimed for a broadly circular route of around 40 miles, in-line with lockdown local, with some scenic off-road riding. I ended-up with clubs from 7 tiers of English football, not eight, spread evenly around 7 adjoining London boroughs. My route. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/49255002

First-up was Wimbledon AFC, League 1, reached from the Wandle Trail. The old Plough Lane ground was a dump. but a well-loved dump! The new stadium, opened last year, further along Plough Lane on the old dog-track, is unfortunately hidden behind high-rise housing, still being constructed.

The Dons new stadium entrance.

         From Plough Lane, the Wandle Trial is well-surfaced to Colliers     Wood, but after Merton Abbey Mills it's a bit of a mud-bath. Cycling south of Morden Park I passed through swarms of tiny insects - likely brought about by the sudden mild weather. 

Then it was to Tooting and Mitcham's ground - grandly named TM United Campus Society Stadium, located next to the Wandle Trail. (T&M are in the eighth tier of the Football League).

Tooting and Mitcham, Bishopsford Road.

Into Sutton, via St Hellier, and along the cycle path in Collingwood Road Rec. is the home of Sutton United, established in 1898, and in the 5th tier of the English Football League. I left along Gander Goose Lane.

The modest entrance to Sutton United F.C.

Entering Kingston, Kingsmeadow is on the A2043 Kingston Road, and home to Kingstonian of the Isthmian League, (7th tier) as well as Chelsea Ladies. (Liverpool played AFC Wimbledon there in 2015 when Wimbledon were homeless!). 

Kingsmeadow - home to Kingstonian.

My route then led me through Kingston town centre, and a very quiet market place, over the bridge, and past Hampton Court on the way to Hampton. First, needing a coffee, I nipped across the Thames to the Molesey Lock cafe, before returning back into London, and following the Thames west.

Station Road, a residential backwater in Hampton, is home to Hampton and Richmond FC. They play in the 6th tier, National League South, in the neat Chris Sweet Bevervee Stadium.

The Covid-mothballed Bevervee Stadium.

Cycling into Twickenham I was on my way to two better known football clubs, like Wimbledon, both undergoing major change and redevelopment. These were Brentford and Fulham.

Through Isleworth and into Syon Park, I bumped into Tony Hopkins, returning from a cycling errand. It was then into Brentford, and Griffin Park, the old ground of Brentford F.C. Hidden away, surrounded by dense terraced housing, its difficult to find, (but over the next few years it will be redeveloped to emerge as an eco-village).

Brentford's splendid new Community Stadium, is very visible when crossing Kew Bridge or from the west along the elevated Great West Road. It also has dedicated cycle access, from the Ealing to Kew cycle route, and even covered bike racks! It's also right next to Kew Bridge Station - very sustainable. Hopefully Brentford will escape the Championship (second tier) to the top-flight Premier League next season and justify this new home.

The old Griffin Park

The new Brentford Community Stadium.

It was a bit tricky navigating the temporary cycle lanes through Chiswick and Turnham Green to Hammersmith, but once on the Thames Path it was an easy ride to my last football ground, Premiership Fulham's Craven Cottage. A massive new stand is emerging, looming over the Thames and surrounding affluent housing, like a crane from a Clyde shipyard. Let's hope Fulham can continue in the Premiership and fill this new Riverside Stand.

The new Riverside Stand, Craven Cottage, from Bishops Park.

Wednesday's ride was rather different - and somewhat slower, than an normal A Wayfarer outing. But in these abnormal times why not mix cycling with football.

* (Crosby is a smart suburb of Liverpool, which has Carlo Ancelotti, manager of a lesser known club, acting as an unofficial Minister of Tourism, https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1655069/ancelotti-on-beautiful-merseyside-his-cooking-passion-and-favourite-tv)