Our first away day of the season is a bit of a groundhoppers delight, with a very first visit to the Snows Stadium, home of newly-promoted AFC Totton.
Totton is a town in the New Forest district of Hampshire, approximately seven miles west of Southampton. It was once the largest village in England before being designated a town in 1974.
AFC Totton achieved promotion from Southern League Premier South through the play-offs having finished runners-up, three points adrift, of Merthyr Town. In the final they beat Gloucester City by a single Ethan Taylor goal, 20 minutes from time, but nothing compared to the drama of their semi-final success against Dorchester Town. As the clock ticked past 90 minutes and into added time, the home side trailed by 2-0 before Scott Rendell scored from the spot in the 92nd minute to give them a bit of hope which they maximised to the full, leading after 13 minutes of added time through two goals from Tony Lee. Amazingly, enough time remained for Dorchester to find a 15th minute equaliser to take the game into extra time. With both sides absolutely out on their feet, it took a 119th minute winner from the veteran Charlie Austin to break the Dorset side’s hearts.
Since that momentous day, Austin and Taylor have left the club, but the 38-year-old, well travelled Rendell remains, looking to add to his plentiful haul of 60 goals in 100 appearances for Totton.
AFC Totton have a number of players in their squad who you may be aware of from following football at this level or higher.
They have one ex-Angel in Christie Ward who ended last season with us on loan from Wycombe Wanderers; Craig Tanner was playing National League football with Ebbsfleet United, as was defender Tyler Cordner, while Gillingham followers may remember full-back Ryan Jackson.
Striking options in addition to Rendell are Malachi Linton, formerly of Taunton Town and Weymouth, and most famously, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who played championship football for Queens Park Rangers and Ipswich Town.
AFC Totton’s debut National League South fixture got off to a dream start as they romped into a three goal half-time lead at Dover Athletic with goals from Christos Batzelis, Brandon Haunstrup and Ralph Vigrass. Dover pulled back two goals in the last 15 minutes through George Nikaj but the Hampshire club held on to put their first points on the board. Vigrass was named in the National League South team, while our observers at the game picked out wing-back Batzelis.
Craig Nelson looked forward to his first road trip as Tonbridge Angels manager: “Travelling to Totton, we know it’s going to be a tough test against a side who have started the season with a strong away win against Dover last weekend, so their tails will be up. Our focus is on taking the positives from recent performances and showing the same togetherness, work rate, and add the quality in the middle to final third. Away games are about character, and I’ve got full belief in this group to stand up to the challenge and play our game. We want to give our travelling supporters something to be proud of on the journey home.”
The Snows Stadium has been home to the Stags since 2011 when they moved into a newly constructed stadium that has a capacity of 3,500, of which 500 are seated and covered. There is also covered seating below the television gantry on the side opposite the main stand. The rest of the ground is uncovered but does have terracing including two areas in both corners on the main stand side that is several steps high.
The clubhouse and bar is available to visiting supporters and there are additional bars and food stalls around the ground serving the usual footy fare of burgers, pies and chips.
To set your sat nav for the journey the address is Salisbury Road, Totton SO40 2RW. There is no supporter parking at the ground and AFC Totton suggest that use is made of free parking available at the Calmore Industrial Estate, Brunel Road, which is a five minute walk away.
Totton Railway Station is a near two mile walk from the football ground, heading north-west on Commercial Road before following the A36 Salisbury Road through to the stadium. Trains will depart from London Waterloo for Southampton Central, changing there for Totton.
Admission prices are, online and in advance: Adults £15 Concessions £11 Youths (5-17) £6 and Under-5’s Free and can be booked HERE and on the turnstiles: Adults £17 Concessions £13 Youths (5-17) £8 and U5’s Free.
