Clanfield ‘buzzing’ for first Hampshire Premier League game on Havant & Waterlooville’s new 3G pitch against unbeaten Paulsgrove

Clanfield are ‘buzzing’ for this weekend’s first Hampshire Premier League home game on Hawks’ new £500,000 3G pitch.
Owen Milne, right, came off the bench to score Clanfield's second goal at AFC Petersfield. Picture: Chris MoorhouseOwen Milne, right, came off the bench to score Clanfield's second goal at AFC Petersfield. Picture: Chris Moorhouse
Owen Milne, right, came off the bench to score Clanfield's second goal at AFC Petersfield. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

Field take on high-flying Paulsgrove and are hopeful of attracting the 300 crowd they are allowed under Covid guidelines.

Boss Lee Blakely is delighted that his club, from the 12th tier of English football, will be playing home league games at a ground which is capable of staging EFL matches.

‘Everyone’s buzzing,’ he said. ‘We’re all really excited.

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‘We trained there for the first time last week and when I set foot on the pitch I thought ‘this is the sort of semi-pro feel I want at the club’.

‘It’s a big pitch, so we’ll need to up our fitness levels.

‘We would have liked a few more training sessions on it before a game, but we’ve got our foot in the door and we’ll enjoy the moment.’

Clanfield’s groundsharing agreement means they are now in a position to apply for promotion to the Wessex League.

The quality of pitches is improving in the HPL top flight, with Infinity and Bush Hill having recently moved to Hythe & Dibden and Test Park - home of former Wessex Leaguers Solent University - in recent months.

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‘The standard has massively improved from last season,’ said Blakely. ‘Long may that continue.’

Asked whether he is a big fan of artificial pitches, the boss added: ‘Yes and no.

‘I guess I’m a bit old-fashioned, I do like a grass pitch.

‘But if I’m all for it if these pitches help non-league clubs and help local communities.

‘There’s a lot of interest in this weekend’s game, we’re allowed 300 people in and I’m confident we’ll get near that.’

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It’s a tough first game on 3G for Clanfield with Paulsgrove unbeaten.

‘They will be physically strong and technically good,’ said Blakely. ‘It will be a good encounter to see what are the levels we need to get to.

‘They are miles stronger than last season, they will definitely be top three and possibly challenging for the title.’

Clanfield warmed up for playing on a 3G carpet by beating lower division AFC Petersfield on a ‘bobbly’ pitch in the HPL Cup.

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Striker Mauro Morais headed in a 17th minute Kian Hampshire cross with sub Owen Milne adding a late second.

Clanfield now host Fleetlands in the second round.

‘It wasn’t our best performance,’ said Blakely. ‘We didn’t control the game as I wanted us to, but we did what we needed to.’

Skipper Billy Ashmore should be back from injury to face Paulsgrove, while Milne - last season’s top scorer - could be in line for a return to the starting XI.

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