FA Vase 2nd Round
Ely City 0 v Welwyn Garden City 0 *(After ex. time)Unwin Stadium
Downham Rd,
Ely Cambridgeshire,
CB6 2SH
FootballFans.eu
Admission : £6
Attendance : 147
Club Badge : £3.00
Cheese and Red Onion Roll : £1.20
Weather : Dull and overcast
Game Number : 70 New Ground Number : 50
Before we embark on this weeks adventure, I would like to thank Gary Creak and the "Butler" for their warm welcome to Unwin Stadium - home of the "Robins". Their kindness helped to make for a fantastic day out.
Club History
Ely City was established in 1885 by members of Ely St.Etheldreda Football and Cricket Club, and are the oldest senior football club in Cambridgeshire.
In season 1956–57 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup after winning five qualifying rounds. They were drawn at home to Torquay United, but lost 6–2 in front of a crowd of 4,223.
In 1958 the club moved to the Central Alliance, and two years later were elected to the Eastern Counties League. In 1993 the club was relegated to Division One of the Eastern Counties League. They returned to the Premier Division as Division One champions in 1996–97, and the following season finished runners-up. However, they were relegated again at the end of the 1998–99 season.
They made an immediate return to the Premier Division as runners-up, also winning the Division One Cup. In 2002 they won the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup, beating Histon 1–0 at the Abbey Stadium in Cambridge. At the end of the 2002–03 season they were relegated again after finishing bottom of the league.
In 2007–08 the club once again won the Division One Cup and finished runners-up in Division One, returning to the Premier Division again. In 2011–12 the club finished as runners-up in the Premier Division and won the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup for a third time. They retained the Invitation Cup in 2012–13 with a 3–0 win over Cambridge City in the final.
Pre match build up
Ely is a fine city full of culture and quality ales, so lets see what we've found for you this week.
First stop readers is, Ely Cathedral (in full, The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely) which is the principal church of the Diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, England, and is the seat of the Bishop of Ely. Construction of the cathedral commenced in 1083 under William the Conqueror, with completion in 1189 some 116 years thereafter.
Displayed in the grounds of Ely Cathedral is a cannon captured during the Crimean War, which was gifted to Ely by Queen Victoria in 1860. The inscription reads "Russian cannon captured during the Crimean War presented to the people of Ely by Queen Victoria in 1860 to mark the creation of the Ely Rifle Volunteers. The Ely Rifle Volunteers, formed in 1860, became part of the Cambridgeshire Regiment during 1914–1918 then subsequently part of the Royal Anglian Regiment until being disbanded in 1999.
We then stumbled across this lovely couple outside St Mary's Vicarage, better known locally as Cromwell House which is a Grade II listed building. A plaque on the front of the house records that Cromwell House, was the residence of Oliver Cromwell from 1636–1647 (pre his New Model Army Days) when he was collector of Tithes Ely "Office" (a religious tax - a bit like Income Tax). Between 1843–1847, the house served as the Cromwell Arms public house and it was restored in 1905 when it was given its "timbered appearance". The house was opened as a re-creation of seventeenth-century living and a tourist information centre on 6th December 1990.
Ely Masonic Lodge to the left, and masonic "aprons" drying on the washing line below.
Here is the pièce de résistance readers - "The Prince Albert" Public House - spiritual home of the Butler and Glyn the "The World Famous Football Programme Collecting Barman" - relaxing on the "other side" of the bar for a change (see below).
Welcome to the Battle of the Two Cities - Ely v Welwyn
The clubhouse and main stand - If you look closely you will see the "Butler" somewhere along the line - and I'm not referring to train lines this time.
Welwyn's tricky winger gave Kenny and Co. a hard afternoon.
Midfield action
Welwyn go close with a shot over the bar - note Ely Cathedral in the background.
Post Match Analysis
Both teams produced battling displays, and this was a full heartened cup affair. A good advert for non league football and by no means a "bore" draw. Both sides had some good chances, and only some fine goalkeeping and the woodwork prevented goals. The replay is scheduled for Wednesday the 21st November (kick off 19:45hrs) at Herns Lane. Lets hope Ely have some better luck in front of goal.
This is what I mean by "full heartened" - here an Ely player receives treatment following a collision which unfortunately resulted in a broken nose for him.
The End or Is it ?
Post Script
I nearly forgot, here is the Butler acting as master of ceremonies at the official opening of some new toilets. He offered to christen the latrines, but club officials wisely declined his kind offer on the grounds of health and safety. If he and the Drummer use these new facilities the local sewers will be doing overtime.
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