Hinckley Leicester Road

Leicester Road Stadium, De Montfort Park, home of Hinckley Leicester Road based in Leicestershire and play their trade in Step 5 in the United Counties Premier Division South. Nicknamed the “Knitters” after the town’s association with knitting over the years. This ground was the former home of ‘Hinckley United’ and were one of the teams who founded the league we now know as the National League North!! How’s that for History!?

In 2013 though the club were relegated from Step 2 and sadly folded… But they weren’t dead for long! Not one but two teams were formed which were: Hinckley AFC and Leicester Road FC. Leicester Road FC managed to keep the Leicester Road ground whereas Hinckley AFC have been groundsharing to this day and play their home games currently at Barwell FC. At the start of this season, Leicester Road FC added Hinckley to their name making them “Hinckley Leicester Road FC”.

It’s a ground that’s been on my hit list for a while after Hoyland John showed me around on the way to watching his beloved Barwell FC back in December 2021 and today is the day I set foot inside as Eynesbury Rovers visit De Montfort Park. Hinckley battling at the top end of the league whereas Eynesbury languishing in mid table… A potential banana skin for Hinckley…?

But first!! The journey down to Leicester for my first Leicester night out!! With Broseph in his first year at the University of Leicester it would be rude not to and it’s great to be joined by a few of his friends and course mates along with the Super Stag, Curtis and Barker!! Nandos + Bar crawl + Mosh = Sore head in the morning… But it was a great night out to say the least!! If Topliss rated nights out…

The Night Out League!!

Place	City/Town	Atmosphere	Club/Bar	Expense	Overall Experience	Score
1)	Leicester	10	9	5	9	33

But now for today!! The first half of Liverpool Vs Watford now and Diogo Jota heads one in to give Liverpool the lead at half time! And now it’s time for me to make the short journey over to Hinckley from Oadby. Until next time Bro!! 1 hour to kick off and here I am! £7 + £2 for parking making this £9 to get in here! Not bad! A free programme with that as well!

“Topliss at the Turnstiles” I’ve been recognised!! Am I famous now!!? Not quite but another groundhopper has spotted me here! Great to meet Sheffield United fan Stuart here today!! As time flies by talking about all things groundhopping, it’s time for today’s game! Out come the teams! “Will Number 1! Will Will Number 1!” It seems that Hinckley have a one man ultra here!!

Kick Off! “Leicester Road Leicester Road Leicester Road!” The one man ultra is in fine voice so far! Can he keep it up throughout the game? 6 minutes in and Hinckley come forward, a chipped ball into the middle towards Langham who plays it across… He should’ve gone for goal! The ball rolls out for a goal kick.

1 minute later and Eynesbury come forward down the left, it’s crossed in and here’s Ducket at the far post… Wide! Big chance there! 13 minutes on the clock and Hinckley play forward now, they get it into the box on the left and play it across… It’s fallen for Jordan Burrows to shoot… Keeper saves but the rebound falls to Dominic Brennan… He couldn’t miss!! Hinckley have the lead!! 1-0!!

21 minutes now and Hinckley play a long ball forward, Eynesbury don’t deal with it and Jordan Burrows gets to it and he gets into the box, he squares it… Eynesbury get to it… Why didn’t he shoot…? But wait there Liam Read has won it back in the box, he crosses it… It’s rebounded back off of him and it’s out for a goal kick.

1 minute later and Eynesbury have the ball at the back… But they give it away cheaply and Hinckley get it back on the right, it’s played across and it comes to Matt Langham… Good save!! The keeper manages to scramble over and tip it wide for a corner, in it comes… Cleared by Eynesbury.

Eynesbury are certainly competing here!! It’s not the walk over that me and Stuart thought it might be after the first goal. Hinckley are certainly being made to work for this game! Could there be a sting in the tale in Hinckley’s promotion push…? 39th minute and… The sprinkler on the far side has come on… Oh dear!! Not a problem for long though as it’s off now. The game goes on but at half time Hinckley remain in the lead.

Second half… That Chicken Burger was DELICIOUS!!! 52 minutes on the clock and Eynesbury have it at the back, it’s played across to Luke Knight who heads it back to the keeper… But here’s Matt Langham running in… The keeper gets there first just in time… It could’ve been a mountain to climb for Eynesbury then!

A game of not too many chances sadly but it is a competitive game! You feel that the longer the score stays the same, the more chance that Eynesbury can steal an equaliser late on! 69th minute and Hinckley have a free kick in the Eynesbury half on the right, it’s played in to the box, Eynesbury get a head to it… It’s set up beautifully for Matt Langham to volley… Tipped onto the bar by the keeper and it’s a corner… No it’s not! The Referee has given a goal kick… Definite corner there! He definitely saved that!

74th minute and Eynesbury come forward, Hinckley force them out to the right… The Eynesbury man goes down but was that inside the Penalty area…? No! A free kick is given right on the by line just outside the box on the right for Eynesbury, it’s played in low for Tom Hitchcock to shoot… Good block! And Hinckley clear the danger.

80th minute and Hinckley play down the left wing, it’s worked into the box for Callum Earls who’s running in… He’s hit the post… And it doesn’t fall Hinckley’s way and Eynesbury clear. So close!! 3 minutes later and Hinckley come again, it falls to Joe Lyne on the edge of the box to strike… Wide! Eynesbury piling on the pressure now in the closing stages of the game… The Referee blows for full time!! A massive win for Hinckley! Step 4 is looking a real possibility for them next season!!

FT: Hinckley Leicester Road 1-0 Eynesbury Rovers

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 2/10 – It was dead in all fairness but the one man ultra was passionate to say the least!!
• The Ground: 9/10 – This ground doesn’t get talked about enough by groundhoppers! It is a hidden gem in my book!! A fantastic ground! Definitely fit for the National League I think! It just lacks something at the far end to make it a 10/10 ground! It does have a gym attached to the seated stand too! I guess groundhoppers have already done this ground as Hinckley United maybe?
• Expense: 9/10 – £9 is fine!! Just wish there were more goals…
• Overall Experience: 8/10 – Great to meet Stuart here today!! And great to finally get this ground ticked off!!

28/40