Gresley Rovers

The Moat Ground, home of Gresley Rovers based in Church Gresley, Derbyshire and compete in Step 5 of the non league pyramid in the United Counties Premier Division North. Nicknamed the “Moatmen” named after their home ground.

Believe it or not but back in 1997 this club was in what we now know as the National League North and they even won it… But sadly like Glapwell and Hucknall Town they were wouldn’t be allowed into the Conference as their ground was not up to standard… Such a terrible shame! The club folded in 2009… But they weren’t dead for long!! They came back as Gresley FC and very recently became Gresley Rovers once again!!! Can this club reach the heights it once hit!?

The original plan for me today was to drive to Lancashire for the North West Counties Groundhop but after the Merry Miller decided on watching Rotherham vs MK Dons and me driving alone, Plan B being Gresley Rovers sounded to me like a better option! The club are moving grounds which has made it a must visit this season before it disappears! Also one of Mike Bayly’s 100 which should make it a good one!!

Currently second in the League behind leaders Long Eaton United and today they face Quorn FC who are languishing in the bottom half. Home banker? Off I go from Shirebrook to the M1 and onto the A42 which sees me here with an hour to spare before kick off! In I go… But I’m up to my old tricks again… Remember: “Always bring cash to non league!” No they don’t take card here… But I have been very kindly let in to pay my entry fee at the club bar! A very nice touch from the people of Gresley Rovers! £7.50 to get in here! Marvellous!

At first glance I have to say wow!! What a lovely looking ground! Which led me to ask the club committee why are they moving when you’ve got a fantastic ground? But sadly the ground is being sold to a housing company… Just like Bootham Crescent… But hey! I made it here in time at least! Let’s hope we get a cracker today!!

Kick Off! A few Gresley fans behind the goal are banging their drum!! Let’s hope they make some noise too!! It’s a poor game so far with both teams enjoying spells of possession but no real cutting edge from either side at the moment. Quorn do look the better of the 2 teams so far but are yet to test the Gresley keeper. Gresley on the other hand just haven’t got going yet.

28 minutes in and Quorn win a corner, in it comes… Headed away but it comes to Jack Samples who gets it under control and he shoots from 20 yards… Well wide… Woeful! Just like the game so far unfortunately… The pitch has certainly not been anyone’s friend today…

31 minutes on the clock and Gresley have a corner, in it comes… Danny Munday with the header… Blocked! Quorn clear but it comes to Michael Williams who plays it out to the right, the cross comes in, it’s flicked on to Michael Williams who takes a touch and gets his shot away… Good defending from Quorn and it is another corner, in it comes… It comes to nothing and Quorn have a goal kick.

37th minute and Gresley come forward down the right wing with George Clark, he gets into the box, some great skill there from him and he manages to get the cross in towards Kane Lee at the back post… Good save by the keeper!! Corner, in it comes… Cleared by Quorn. Brilliant work there by George Clark to get that cross away I have to say!

“Da da dadada dadadada Gresley!” That’s more like it from Gresley!! Not much for them to shout about this half sadly. Stoppage time in the first half and Gresley have a free kick on the left side, it’s played into the middle… It’s headed across goal… Quorn clear and that is half time with the score still stalemate… Not today! Not this year please!!

Second half, 52 minutes on the watch and Gresley have a corner, in it comes… Quorn clear and they break forward, Moussa Cisse is played through down the right, he beats his man and gets into the box and he plays it across goal to David Assuncao with the goal gaping… OH NO! The ball has bobbled and he’s missed what should have been a certain goal… Gresley clear the danger.

Gresley are starting to grow into this game and are looking the more likely to score from their long throw ins and the crowd are starting to get involved a lot more!! The pitch is certainly not helping anyone…

69 minutes now and Gresley come forward, it’s worked through to Danny Munday who runs into the box, he’s got a defender on him… He gets a shot away… It’s kept out by the keeper! It’s cleared for a throw in, it’s played into the box… Quorn clear.

It’s looking very likely that no nil nils in 2022 is coming to an end already sadly… I’m never going to see this ground again and I’ll have never seen a goal scored in it with the way this game is going unfortunately… Surely Gresley can score from a throw in or Quorn from a break away!

It’s the last 10 minutes now and the 81st minute if the game and Gresley are chasing the goal to keep them close enough to Long Eaton! Another long throw is played into the box… It’s headed away and Quorn break forward, Ben Gowing has it and he carries it forward and gets to within shooting range… But it’s wide and not going to trouble Gresley.

84th minute and Quorn win the ball back in the Gresley half, Moussa Cisse gets onto it and gets into the box, he plays it across to Chib Chilaka, he makes space from the Gresley defenders coming in and gets a shot away… It’s somehow off the line!! And Gresley live to fight another day! 1 minute later and Gresley have a free kick in the Quorn half, it’s lumped into the box, Danny Munday wins the header… Parried away by the keeper!

88th minute now and Gresley come forward… They’re dispossessed… It’s not going to be my day is it…? But the Quorn man has lost possession thanks to the bobble on the pitch and Gresley win it back, it’s played in to Danny Munday on the right of the box, he goes for goal… It comes to James Harrison at point blank…… YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!! GRESLEY HAVE WON IT SURELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The roof has come off this place!!! A bit of time wasting from the Quorn manager earlier on has cost him dearly in the end and Gresley lead!! 1-0!!

“RED ARMY! RED ARMY!!” Gresley in fine voice now!! “Let’s all have a disco! We’ve got Louis Briscoe!” The former Mansfield man on the books at Gresley! Into stoppage time and Michael Williams drives forward and shrugs off his men, he’s dispossessed by Leavi Oshungbure and he drags him down… Tempers are flaring… Williams booked earlier on in the game… He could be in trouble here… He is!! A second yellow and he’s off!

Gresley hit the ball long towards the left wing, Quorn dispossess and clear… The full time whistle blows!! A massive win for Gresley… But oh no! There’s trouble in the stands… Moussa Cisse has gone into the stand to confront the Gresley fans… He’s back… The Referee has a word but no cards are shown. The Gresley fans are not happy as they think he should get a Red Card! Jack Samples is squaring off with a fan now… Drama! Non league is the best!! Did I make the right decision missing the Groundhop today? YOU BET I DID!!!

FT: Gresley Rovers 1-0 Quorn

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 5/10 – Not the loudest from a chanting perspective but they are one of the most passionate non league fan bases I have come across!! And a fantastic fanbase at that!!
• The Ground: 9.5/10 – The Merry Miller said it’s an 8.5/10 but I disagree I really love this ground and I’m gutted it will be demolished soon as I absolutely love it!! Lots of character but the one thing that stops it being a 10 for me is that the one goal is inaccessible behind it… So close! But it’s still a fantastic ground!!
• Expense: 10/10 – £7.50 is no problem! It was a poor game but with the late drama, red card and post match scenes, it shows that you only need 5 minutes in football to get your money’s worth! And I certainly did today!!
• Overall Experience: 10/10 – Great to meet a groundhopper from Luton today along with Nick who is a local here but the late drama, passionate fanbase and friendliness of the club made it for me today!! Very touched by the club today! A truly lovely fanbase and I wish them all the best!!! As good a fanbase in non league as FC United of Manchester and Buxton in my opinion!

34.5/40