Ilkeston Fc
Graham - Matchday 6
This weekend's trip to Ilkeston Town FC at the New Manor Ground, which plays home to what many consider to be the best artificial surface in the league, is one we have been looking forwards to for a while. The battle of the Robins is always a friendly, if boisterous atmosphere, and a it is a great place to watch non-league football.
As we have found on several occasions throughout this season, unbeknownst to myself, we were greeted by and conversed with Graham several times as he kept a watchful eye on the main gate whilst the spectators filtered in. Eventually, after asking the right people the right questions, I was introduced to his son, who kindly took us to the main gate and got the chance to have a chat with him. It was great to see the responsibilities and pride being shared down the generations!
Graham has been involved at Ilkeston Town FC for 27 years and has been looking after the ground since way before the artificial surface was laid, having cut and maintained a grass pitch at the Manor Ground for a number of years, before continuing his work on the new pitch. He told us the reason he has continued to put the hours in that he does is for the love of the club, the love of the game and a love of non-league football and everything it stands for.
Now some may perceive this as a rather generic answer on these posts, as we hear it so often, but I know it is more the case that this is a mutual feeling across all of the volunteers in non-league football and once we love to hear about it.
We briefly caught up for a pint in the social club following a hard-fought draw between the two sides, and everyone here at Ashton United FC Supporters Club, Ashton United Football Club and Ashton United in the Community would like to wish Graham and all involved at Ilkeston the very best for the rest of the season. We look forward to hosting you at Hurst Cross in February!