Cheap Brut

Redditch United 1-0 Stratford Town (Southern League Central Division)

Yesterday I was at Lords watching Middlesex v Sussex from one of the most iconic and impressive state-of-art press boxes in the country, today I’m in Redditch, watching seventh tier football on a plastic seat facing a plastic pitch with an obstructed view of plastic dugouts whilst getting hit in the head by some woman’s (probably plastic) handbag which is dangling down from a ladies shoulders who’s stood behind me.

It’s a local derby though, in cricketing terms Worcestershire v Warwickshire, as just 20 miles and an imaginary border line separates both Redditch United and Stratford Town’s football homes. My first trip to the Valley Stadium is the second game of the 25/26 campaign for both these middle England non-league sides, Redditch losing 2-0 at Sudbury on Saturday, whilst Stratford lost 3-0 at home to Banbury United.

It’s been on my ‘to do’ list a while is Redditch (who often play on a Monday night), the town 15 miles south of Birmingham is odd and ugly, as I enter through a rather confusing ringway that takes me into the centre, eerily quiet as I head up then down the Unicorn Hill and back up the Bromsgrove Road towards destination.

The Venue

The car park is full tonight (£3 a car), so I’ve parked on Edward Street and walked the last remainder, the route that centres Redditch is in fact, a National Cycle Route (No 5) and starts a leafy suburban climb out of town until a signpost on the right directs you towards the venue.

The walk down the single track to the stadium is peaceful before the loudening noise of the tannoy and the smell of chip fat has you in more familiar football surroundings, a quick scan of my pre-purchased mobile ticket (£11 entrance) and I’m through the gates, in the corner of this old styled fabulous home with unfortunate modernised surface, my second league match of the campaign and my second synthetic flooring thus far, it seems that these days, fake grass is very much the ‘go to’ in lower league football.

The 3g surface might pay the bills, but it’s that ‘seeking surface perfection’ that has impurified this otherwise imperfect venue, it’s a bloody great ground ruined, by yet another pitch which is exactly the same as the last pitch I saw on Saturday just gone, and will probably be the same as the pitch I’m going to see tomorrow night, no character, no quirks, just same old 3g, fenced off in green plastic, spare goalposts irritate in the background, pitch with a slight slope that has been levelled further since the removing of the grass.

Around the perimeter, however, is still thankfully offering your traditional aesthetics of ‘proper’ old skool soccer ground of the UK. The biggest stand is iconic, red roofed with a bit of seating down below, glass windows high up for those in suits, whilst opposite, the place I’ll be sitting, is a long roofed terraced area, with one row of seating, so the people behind you can stand, it offers a slightly elevated view, all be it obstructed by the dugouts in front.

Either end, down the bottom, is nothing but open end standing wide enough for a couple of rows of fans, but at the top is a fabulous terrace, set back, partially roofed, on the hill, the home end, is where the noisy young supporters go.

The Game

As I’ve sat down I’m met with an influx of locals edging nearer to my behind for kick off, I’m hearing every conversation as the smell of cheap brut hits my nostrils, it’s a really powerful smell, I don’t dislike it, reminding me of the days when I was 18 and going out ‘down town’ on Friday nights out with ‘the lads’.

Not dis-similar to Saturday at Hemel Hempstead, this game goes front to back rather quickly, not much time on the ball for either side who play their percentages under the grey sky, Stratford clear it long, Redditch do the same, but there are some chances, each team getting a big one in the first half, first Flanagan curls an emphatic attempt towards goal for Redditch on eleven minutes, Weaver stood still watches the ball hit his left post and flash past him across the goal and away from danger to a series of ooohs and aaahs, whilst on 34, a miss-placed pass is intercepted and Ty Deacon runs through on goal, his effort denied by the athletic looking goalkeeper Tyrese Warmington who’s a youngster on loan from Birmingham City.

That save proves critical as up the other end centre forward Alex Cameron is right place, right time, to head down and home a lovely left footed cross by Dexter Dudley-Toole, the home side have the lead and it’s probably what they deserve.

The Score

I’m expecting more from Stratford in the second half, but they don’t really trouble Warmington enough to take anything from the match, if anything indeed, Redditch grow in stature the longer game goes on, in defending what they have, they enjoy the battle against their opponents, the centre halves committed, the midfielders gutsy, the forwards working hard to close down because that’s what they do at this level, by minimum non-league standards they are requested by fans and coaches just to put a bloody good shift in.

All subs are used, a couple of injuries are feigned, there’s six minutes of added time, the loudest cheer of the night arguably is when substitute Billy Fielding crashes into two consecutive tackles on half way, he injures himself in the process, but gets up to warm applause to continue with good work ethic which in the end helps secure the win, a first of the season for Redditch, they’ll be pleased with that, whilst Stratford’s few fans in attendance might be feeling a little underwhelmed by their opening weekend of the new season. Two losses from two.

The Stars

Not really one for the purists, Danny King on the right side of attack shown some good quality and positivity in his play at times, Tyler Bruck likewise, opposite flank, shown good feet, whilst behind him on the left, Dexter Dudley-Toole was very good at full back, but it was out of possession, where both teams probably impressed more, good shape, good leadership, from the likes of Roberts, Flanagan, Warburton, their best player was perhaps their on loan goalkeeper Warmington, who is small in size, too small for league football I would guess (still only 18 with time to grow), but he held everything he needed to, he made one smart save, and was really good with his feet, I also noted he was fabulous in defeat against Sudbury on Saturday.

For Stratford, no such stars in my eyes? Ty Deacon at least imposed himself as a threat in that number nine slot, he never gave the centre halves a clean header to win, and battled well, but should have scored when through one-on-one. AJ George was handy when he came on, defensively however without anyone standing out, they were organised and hard to break down, just edged by a slightly better side with slightly more quality in depth.

The Verdict

Redditch United finished last season a place and just three points above the relegation zone, whilst Stratford ended their Southern League Central campaign in eighth, not a million miles outside the playoffs. If anything, I see roles reversed this time around? I fancy Redditch to do ok, and Stratford perhaps to struggle, but early days are so, remember leagues aren’t decided in August, there’s still an awful long way to go.

The Teams

Redditch United: Tyrese Warmington, Joel Shambrook (Harry Eden 76), Dexter Dudley-Toole, Robbie Bunn, Joe Hull, Aaron Roberts, Reece Flanagan (Billy Fielding 76), Matty Warburton (Morgan Owen 71), Tyler Bruck (Omari Brown 84), Danny King, Alex Cameron (Max McNulty 66).

Stratford Town: Jake Weaver, Brad Burton (Brad Stretton 84), Josh Hawker (AJ George 64), Alex Collard, Korey Roberts, Henry Landers, Lewis Ludford-Ison, Ty Deacon (Cyrus Bruce 64), Dan Lafferty, Jourdain Masidi, Harry Reilly (Fin Brennan 46).

7:45pm Kick Off. Monday 11th August 2025, The Valley Stadium, Redditch (att 656).