Broadfield Stadium

Crawley Town 3-1 Tranmere Rovers

4th May 2019

I generally attempt to avoid these “dead rubber” end-of-season matches, but the opportunity to tick-off both Crawley and Brentford from my '92 list in a single weekend was too convenient to pass up . 

An early flight from Caledonia to Gatwick forded me time for a leisurely wander around Crawley beforehand, and I particularly enjoyed the High Street and its eclectic collection of historic buildings of varying degrees of antiquity.

Just off High Street can be found the Crawley Museum, and I spent a most entertaining hour-and-a-half or so in there.

There was loads of great stuff to see, and I took pics of my top three.  Number three: A gratuitously gory depiction of some early Crawley residents butchering and eating-raw a rhinoceros.  The painting resembled a cross between a poster for an early George A Romero movie, and those bloodthirsty Civil War News cards I used to collect as a kid.

My second favourite artefact was a poster produced by the wonderfully-named Crawley Society for the Apprehension of Felons, Thieves &c.  This was a bunch of local worthies whom, I assume, had clubbed together to create a pot of money from which rewards could be offerred to aid in the investigation of crimes committed in the area.  The rewards ranged from twenty guineas for murder or arson, down to one guinea for assault.  All very laudable you may think, until it is noted the rewards would only be put up for crimes committed against any of the members of the club.  The remainder of the populace could look after themselves, it appeared.

And at Number One: a penny farthing bike.  I have always a fancied a ride on one of these things, even though they look like Death-on-two-wheels.  And the close up examination of this one – particularly the braking system which seem to rely mainly upon hope - did not change my view on their fatality-producing potential one bit.  Still, it would be a great way to go.

Crawley Museum.

And so to Broadfield  - sorry, I refuse to use the corporate name – it is just too silly.  The stadium lies a brisk twenty minute stride south of the town centre.  There do not appear to be too many hostelries in the immediate vicinity, but thankfully, incorporated into the East Stand of the stadium may be found the welcoming Redz Bar, where I enjoyed a pint of Guinness whilst watching Spurs fuck up against Bournemouth.

I know Gareth Southgate grew up in the town, but to name a GP Practice after him seems a bit excessive!

A big red and white ball on a roundabout.

OK, I WILL say it:  The people's pension stadium"

I do find it so intimidating when folks stare right into my camera (as this chap in the blue top is doing).
I often wonder if a sore face is going to follow.

As stated before, there was little tangible rewards at stake this afternoon, beyond three points.  Visitors Tranmere Rovers already had a play-off place secure; but had pretty much fallen over the line, having won just once since March.  I found it slightly odd therefore that manager Mickey Mellon would choose to send out what was really a reserve side this afternoon.  His was a team clearly in need of a pre-playoffs boost to its confidence, I would have thought.  

Crawley for their part, had flirted with relegation during a ropey four defeats on the trot sequence recently, but a couple of fine wins on the road at Yeovil then Exeter had eased concerns in that direction.


We had an odd incident half an hour into the match, when visiting keeper Scott Davis was clattered to the ground by a teammate.  The ref initially decided to play on, as there clearly was no head injury, but then, inexplicably chose to stop the game, just as Tom Dallison was lining up to shoot.  Dallison's attempt was, in the event, headed clear by a covering defender, but it did seem as if, as ever, the goal-keeper was the recipient of the sort of preferential treatment an outfield player would never receive.

But there was no capricious official to come to Davis' aid a few minutes later, when he spilled Matt Willock's shot, allowing Ashley NATHANIAL-GEORGE to tap in the opener for Crawley.

I had noted that, for their first few corner-kicks the Crawley lads had brought three players out to the corner, and had attempted to pass their way through the outnumbered pair of defenders Tranmere utilised.  But this unusual ploy had come to naught.  Nevertheless, it was another well-rehearsed corner-kick move which led to the home side's second goal, three minutes before the break; Panutche CAMARA tapping in Joe McNerney's powerful goal-bound shot.  Filipe Morais was credited with the goal on most media, but my pic below shows the Portugese was nowhere near getting the last touch.

Tranmere pulled a goal back via a James NORWOOD's spot kick five minutes after the restart, but in truth the Wirral lads never looked like equalising.  Nor, when I think about it, did they really seem to care much about doing so until very late on. 

In stoppage time, and with the visitors finally deciding to push for an equaliser, a home counter-attack turned into a straight race between the sprightly Panutche Camará and Tranmere's 35-year old captain Steve McNulty - a race that was only ever going to have one winner.  CAMARA did well to round Scott Davis, and poke the ball into the empty net as he tumbled over.

Crawley's First Team Coach these days is Craig Brewster, whom I recall with
some fondness from his days at my local club Dunfermline Athletic. 

Tranmere Captain and elder-statesman of the squad, Steve McNulty.

Crawley's Ashley Nathaniel-George has an attempt blocked in the first half.

None of them realise the fact yet, but every single on of these guys are going to miss this cross.

The ball will fall to Joe McNerny

who has what would have been just his second league goal of the season pinched by Panutche Camara

The Mexican branch of the Tranmere Supporters' Club brought an inflatable watermelon with them...

...which deflated, rather like their team, when Crawley went two up.

Crawley's Philipe Morais bashed this free-kick into the Tranmere wall...

...or to be more accurate, into the chest of Adam Buxton.

James Norwood scores for Tranmere from the penalty spot.

Camara (on the floor) makes it 3-1 in stoppage time.

Joe McNerney enjoyed Camara's late goal.

Crawley v Tranmere  - May 2019

The Main Stand - Crawley Town FC.

It had not been an unentertaining match, but, in all truth, hardly a memorable one either.  Due mainly to the fact, I feel, that Rovers clearly regarded this match as distraction to be gotten out of the way before the play-offs began in midweek.

As for Crawley, they had been well worth their win, with the strong running Matt Willock my Man-of-the Match (for what that is worth). 

Panorama of Broadfield Stadium - Crawley Town FC

Broadfield Stadium East Stand.

Panorama of Broadfield Stadium, Crawley Athletic FC

As both sets of fans shared a small smoking area, I was able to wander from the main stand to
the away terracing at half-time.  My main motivation for doing so, being an attempt to get out of the
bone-chilling wind which was sweeping through the main stand.

The East Stand has a temporary feel to it...

...and a LOT of pillars.