For our latest Ground Hop we decided to make the short trip on Easter Monday to Rotherhithe in South London which is situated on a peninsula of the South bank of the River Thames to watch Fisher FC take on Holmesdale FC in their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division match which is at Step 5 of the Non-League pyramid.
After a short train ride to London Bridge and then 2 stops on the tube we walked 20 minutes from Canada Water (as Rotherhithe station was closed) to the ground with a quick pit stop in one of the very nice river side pubs 🍻 en route and arrived in good time to take a look around.
After going through the turnstile paying the reasonable entrance price of £8 for adults, £5 concession & £1 u16 (free if accompanied by an adult) we was greeted by the very friendly volunteers where we bought the obligatory programme (very good quality) and pin badge!
Fisher FC’s origins lie in the Fisher Catholic Club for Boys, founded in 1908 by Mr Norman Potter, aided by Michael Culliton, headmaster of the Dockhead School in Bermondsey, to provide sporting and recreational facilities for underprivileged youths. It was named The Fisher Club in memory of St John Fisher.
The first football match on record was also against St. Patrick’s, a 2-1 win for Fisher at Norbury, though a fascinating transcript of an earlier fixture also survives:
It was the very first football team “The Fisher” put on a football field,……It was a very good team. Its defence I would describe as reliable and clever, and its forward line would never have been arrested for loitering or hanging about near the goal, as the game very early in their career against Mauzi’s (Manze) shows when the lads won 29-0. Mauzi’s were the far-famed eel merchants and meat pie manufacturers of Tower Bridge Road and Blue Anchor Lane…
Sadly on 13th May 2009, Fisher Athletic were wound up due to accumulating massive debts, but on 28th May 2009, a supporters trust was formed to take control of all club matters and they become a fan owned club and renamed as Fisher FC.
They continued to play at Dulwich Hamlet until they returned to a new community football facility at the St Paul’s playing fields site, just over the road from the old Surrey Docks Stadium on Salter Road and began the 2016/17 season back in their spiritual home of Rotherhithe!
Once inside the ground you are immediately struck by the stunning backdrop of the Canary Wharf development with the skyscrapers rising behind one end of the pitch, at the other end of the pitch is a covered terrace called 'The Dockers End' and along one half of the side of the pitch is another seated stand.
With kick off fast approaching between the two sides who both sit mid table in the league with Fisher 11 points better off than Holmesdale FC we just had enough time to grab another drink from the very nice well equipped little clubhouse which was situated right next to the pitch.
Kick off!
We took our place up along the side of the pitch and watched what was a very close first half between two evenly matched sides, clear cut chances were few and far between but both teams were giving their all and it was end to end in a very entertaining first 45 minutes, it was great to se quite a few young players on show and the Fisher left winger , 16 year old Sam Sene-Richardson on loan from Chatham Town immediately caught the eye with some excellent deliveries from a series of corners and a calmness on the ball which led to making the right decisions under pressure with good use of the ball.
Half time
It was time to soak up the beers and cider so we headed to the little burger van situated in the car park next to the ground and was treated to one of the tastiest burgers of our ground hops this season... The Sharpie! served by the two lovely ladies behind the counter.
After almost slipping into a food coma we had quick pit stop in the club house to get some more beer and cider and took our place on the opposite side of the ground ready for the second 45 minutes, as always at non league football you find yourselves chatting to other fans and we met two lovely fellas who follow Fisher in the crowd of 179 who told us a bit about the club and the history.
Second half
The second half saw the home side on the front foot trying to get back into the game but chances were still at a premium and when fisher did look like equalising the Holmesdale keeper pulled off an excellent finger tip save to direct the ball onto the bar, their was another goal to come in the match, and what a finish it was!
Full time
The referee blows the whistle and brings a good game to an end!
The highlights of a very enjoyable day were many, the 16 year old Fisher left winger, the wonderful Holmesdale away kit, the mammoth Sharpie Burger! an excellent volley and some good football from both sides.
We can highly recommend a day out down at Fisher FC, a very welcoming club in the heart of the community and a place you are made to feel at home!
We finished they day off sampling the delights of a couple of local pubs including The MayFlower and The Ship and looked back on a fantastic day out and all agreed we would definitely be paying another visit!
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