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It is perhaps befitting that one of the counties newest
Saturday football club's is located at one of the counties newest
educational facilities, Bilborough College. Renovated in 2005 at a cost
of �23m, the college's space-age design has won it a host of awards. The
football team which graces its field hope to do likewise.
Bilborough Town was formed thanks partly to a Father
& Son's ambition to try and run a football club of their own and partly to
bring a decent standard of competitive football back to Bilborough.
Colin & Steve Lee had previously ran the 3rd team for NAA side, Vernon
Villa's. However, Colin had played previously for a previous Bilborough
club, and was keen to see a local club prosper again. As a result, Bilborough Town were born.
A link up with the college's academy ensured that
Boro had a home. On the pitch Boro announced their intentions to
improve the standards of football by joining the Notts Senior League in
2008/09 following frantic efforts to have their pitch
ready
in time for the start of the season.
What really strikes you, even before you've reached
the venue, is how new everything is in the area. A new roundabout to guides
you towards the complex onto a new entrance
road, besides a new housing estate, where you'll find new college
buildings, new bike sheds, a new car park etc. etc. etc.
It's fair to
say that the appearance of the off field facilities at Bilborough College are as good as you'll
find anyway in the brand spanking new (that word again) sports hall. At present the
club can only offer vending machines for visitors, but everyone is more
than welcome to sample something a little more substantial at the nearby Strelley Oak Pub afterwards.
Disappointingly, what you'll find pitchside is
somewhat less
enticing. Boro basically playing on an open, though admittedly very
well kept, field. There is no cover for
supporters nor club officials, though you might just manage to grab a
seat from
a tiny covered area designed for the college's student smokers up the slope.
With room
for six only, you might be a bit of a competition to seek refuge on a
rainy day.
The pitch is not immediately apparent from the car
park, as it is tucked
in a dip behind the the grass bank where the new (that word yet again)
college bus stop stands. Whilst there's nothing really to shout about
pitchside, the magnificent college buildings raised above the pitch
provides an impressive
backdrop. It is also of note that the pitch is slightly raised above the
housing estate to the east. As a result, a plastic meshing fence runs
along three quarters of the Hanslope Crescent side to prevent a sharp
sliding tackle being followed up by a rather nasty tumble into the metal
fence that guards the entire college perimeter beyond. Just be careful
your not near the corner flag at the College End, as there's no safety
net to break ones fall.
The lack
of pitchside furniture is somewhat compensated by the wide open vistas
of the City of Nottingham to the east with one building in particular
catching the eye - Wollaton Hall. Standing on a small but prominent
hill, the recent �9m spent renovating this 16th Century masterpiece
merits a visit after the match. |
From Nottingham - Head out of the City centre on Derby Road
via Canning Circus Roundabout. Take the A610 Alfreton Road for 1.3 miles.
Passing over bobbers Mill Bridge, turn left at traffic lights onto
Aspley Lane B690. At the 2nd roundabout take the 2nd exit, continuing on
the A610. At next roundabout, take the first exit. very shoprtly after,
take the 2nd exit on the adjioing roundabout onto the B6004. After 0.8
miles, turn left at traffic lights onto Bilborough Road A6002. At
roundbaout, turn left onto College Way. Turn right into the college car
park, and turn right again to park near the sports hall. A path leads
down to the ground.
Nottingham City Transport -
No.28 (Nottm Victoria Centre - Bilborough) Disembark just before the
roundabout on Bracebrigde Drive . Walk north up Hanslope Crescent before
turning up the pathway on your LHS onto Bilborough College playing
fields. 
Nottingham - 4 miles