Preview – Bishop’s Stortford – The Vale – Mon 17 Apr

We welcome Bishop’s Stortford to The Vale tomorrow (Mon 17 Apr) for our latest Vanarama National League South fixture kick-off 15:00

Our visitors  have had a torrid season and have been  relegated (along with Margate). From the 39 games played they have won just 7, drawn 3 and lost 29. scoring 25 and conceding 95 goals.

The Stones management team and squad will be ready for another battle over the 90 + minutes, when the teams  met back on August Bank Holiday Monday it  was the Stones who ran out  3-0 winners that day courtesy of goals from Omar Koroma, Danny Green & Eddie Oshodi

Many thanks to our  Match Sponsor –  ProKit UK and to Peter Edwards for the match ball donation.

We are also holding an Epilepsy Action day at the Club tomorrow in association with the Epilepsy Action London branch.

A personal story: Daniel Bedeau, a keen footballer and currently works as a performance analyst for Watford FC. 

Sport is in his veins and he took part in the Ealing Half Marathon to raise vital funds for a cause close to his heart: Epilepsy Action and, in particular, the West London branch which Daniel has been attending for about 18 months. 

Daniel, 26, was first diagnosed with epilepsy when he was seven years old. He has a mixture of seizures, including tonic clonic where he falls to the floor and focal seizures. When Daniel was a teenager and his epilepsy was at its worst, he sometimes had five seizures a day. He had brain surgery in 2009 to treat his epilepsy and has seen a drastic improvement in their frequency since – but they still happen, unfortunately. 

He said: “My epilepsy meant that I missed a lot of school. I even had to redo a year of college. It had a huge impact on my life and this didn’t go away after my surgery – it meant my seizures were more controlled though. I think a lot of time people worry that epilepsy will limit their life.” “Attending the branch gave me the confidence to take up running which is something I’ve always wanted to do. I found that I didn’t have a seizure during my first run and it grew from there. Running really puts me in a good mood and this helps me to have fewer seizures. 

“I wanted to set myself a running challenge which I why I decided to take on the Ealing Half Marathon and to raise funds for the West London branch of Epilepsy Action. I have found the support of the branch so valuable that I wanted others to continue to be able to experience it too.” 

The West London branch meets on the first Monday of the month in the evening in Ealing and also, for a more informal get-together, on the third Tuesday of the month, also in Ealing  but during the afternoon. For more information you can contact the branch chairperson, Helen Lane, on 07932 774503.

Look out for the volunteer boys and girls who will be on hand to talk to you and offer advice – there will also be a bucket collection at full time as you leave the stadium.

Match day Admission: Adults – £13, Concession – £8 (over 65 & students with ID), Under 18s – £3 and Under 14s FREE.

Our Premiership/Championship Season Ticket offer applies to this game – just show your current ST at the Turnstile and gain entry to the game for just £8. Armed Services personnel can also gain entry to our League games for just £8 on production of their ID card at the turnstile.

With building work now underway at the top end of  the stadium there are some areas which will be out of bounds to ALL until works are complete,  fans will though be able to use the Couch Corner covered terracing on Monday.  Please follow instructions from the stewarding team and any announcements made over PA system.  Please also make sure you allow plenty of time to get into the ground ahead of kick-off.

Entry to the stadium is through the Turnstile block on the right as you enter The Vale which open from 14:00. If you arrive early you can purchase your Match-day ticket and programme  from the pop-up ordering point located just inside the Ruislip Social Club (you can also order your half-time refreshment from the Social Club).

Cash entry is through turnstile’s 1 to 3, turnstile 4 is for Season Ticket holders, Match-day tickets purchased in advance via the pop-up point and other official passes (players, scout, complementary etc.)  No entry to the stadium will be allowed through the metal gates adjacent to the turnstile block except for suitably badged individuals so please allow plenty of time to get into the ground prior to kick-off.

Parking is now available at the ground on the grass pitches adjacent to the stadium. If you elect to park in the street near the ground do not block driveways or access for emergency vehicles, especially within Grosvenor Vale and Cranley Drive.   Alternatively, use  one of the  pay & display car parks which are within 10–12 minutes walk of  the stadium (see map HERE for assistance). Please be aware the Local Hillingdon Traffic Enforcement Department will be out and about and if you happen to park your vehicle inappropriately in the one of the side streets you are likely to get a ticket. You have been warned

Public Transport – There is no service on the Metropolitan Line between Wembley Park and Northwood / Uxbridge tomorrow – a replacement bus service is running . The Piccadilly line will be operating a normal service to Ruislip Manor and Ruislip. The Central Line will also be running a normal service (alight at Ruislip Gardens and then a 12-15 minute walk to the ground or cross the road and catch the  E7 bus towards Ruislip) – Check TfL website for latest info HERE

Make sure you pick-up your match-day programme (£2.50) on your way-in to the stadium and your golden goals tickets (£1 a ticket, first goal wins £50 last goal wins £10).  Lynn Evans and her team will be serving hot food (burgers, chicken burgers, bacon and sausage rolls and fish finger rolls hot and cold drinks from the catering unit situated behind the WFC Megastore from 13.30 (which can be accessed by following the path at the side of the club house before the turnstiles open at 14:00) The Half-way line tea bar in the ground will also be serving hot and cold drinks as well as snacks.

Get behind the lads from the off, make plenty of noise for the 90+ minutes as we go in search of the 3 points on offer.

‘Website Admin’