POTP '07 - Review, Day Two
Day 2 of Party on the Pitch started with breakfast for those who'd chosen to camp down at Manor Fields. Many of the people who had stayed overnight were volunteers from the club who were involved in the running of the show. they spent the morning organising the setting up of the kids' rides and general tidying up ready for the afternoon. Once everything was ready, some took the opportunity to relax with an early beer (even one or two of those due to play rugby an hour or two later!)
By midday everything was ready, and people were starting to arrive.
At this time of year it is common for clubs to play pre-season friendlies which are effectively trials games. The players get the opportunity to play in a meaningful game (a relief after weeks of summer fitness and skills training), and the coaches and captains get the opportunity to try out different combinations of players. For the Bletchley 1st and 2nd XVs, what had been organised was two matches against Olney, each game consisting of three 20 minute sessions. With more people down at the club than would be usual for this time of the year, there was even a decent crowd!
Bletchley won both games... The Firsts beat the Olney 1st XV 17-5 and the Seconds won 24-5 against their Olney equivalent. Match reports and more photographs can be found here: 1st XV / 2nd XV.
Ten solo acts and bands had been scheduled to play on the Saturday, kicking off with local act Kieran Durcan. With the rugby going on and the attraction of the CAMRA beer tent pretty strong, Keiran had plenty of competition, but he had a respectable crowd who appreciated his singing and guitar work.
Next up were two students from the Guildford Academy of Contemporary Music (Europe's leading school for rock and pop musicians), Bletchley's own Joe Garrett (former Junior player and son of ex-captain and club coach, Pete) and Sarah McLellan.
Another ex-Bletchley player, Todd Staniford was the next act on stage. Todd's show was reminiscent of that of Matt Stevens (England prop-forward) almost all-conquering performamnces on X-Factor: Battle of the Stars. A strong voice, belting out a handful of popular covers, could be heard two pitches away (only minor assistance from Marshall Amplification required!)
Another solo act followed Todd onto the stage. Watford based singer/songwriter Tom Craven. By this time the 1st XV match was over and the crowd around the stage was starting to build up. People were continuing to arrive all afternoon, the attraction of an afternoon's good entertainment, food and drink in the sun obviously being stronger than time in the shoppoing centre or doing bank holiday DIY! Like the other performers that performed at manor Fields that day, Tom didn't disappoint...
The only problem on the day was the running out of the first of the CAMRA real ales, Hopback's Summer Lightening... (For those reading this on the Sunday who are wondering whether to come down, don't worry, there are plenty of other real ales to choose from!)
The beer tent was acting as a bit of a magnet for people, and the club was pleased to welcome back a large number of ex-players who called by to say hello and sink a pint or two! Many had brought their children, grandchildren and friends down with them. The club is hoping that they, along with other people who came down to Manor Fields for the first time will return...
Chasing Black Aces had the tea-time slot (sorry, no photographs), and with the rugby now over the music fans and families were starting to congregate on the 1st XV pitch with a grandstage view of the stage and in good range to hear the music. 'CSB' were closely followed by Cutout Blonde, another local band. One of the aims for Party on the Pitch was to provide good quality of music from up and coming local artists - different styles and something for everybody. Who needs to go to the Reading Festival when Manor Fields is just down the road?!!
The weather had been great all day, but the drop in temperature as the evening fell was probably welcomed by the bands, the volunteers, and the people who had come to be entertained.
Symbo were the next band on. Like a number of the other bands that we've seen over this weekend, they came with their own troop of fans. One of the great things to see was that after their favourites had finished, they didn't leave - they stayed to party and enjoy the music that followed!
The tempo was building up as it got darker. More people were starting to arrive (handy hint for anyone planning to come Sunday night - stiletoe shoes are probably great for CMK venues, but they are apparently not very good on grass!) Wooden Casino followed Symbo onto the stage, and they gave a very strong performance that went well over their alloted 45mins (but there were NO complaints!)
The penultimate band for the evening was Stonebroke. This four-piece is another Milton Keynes outfit who provided ample evidence that it's not only multi-million pound acts and TV show winners who can produce good music.
The final show of the night came from the three girls and two guys who make up the rock band Sirenide.
Given the quality of the acts that had come before, Sirenide would have to be good to live up to the promise for the last show of the night. They didn't disappoint!
By midday everything was ready, and people were starting to arrive.
At this time of year it is common for clubs to play pre-season friendlies which are effectively trials games. The players get the opportunity to play in a meaningful game (a relief after weeks of summer fitness and skills training), and the coaches and captains get the opportunity to try out different combinations of players. For the Bletchley 1st and 2nd XVs, what had been organised was two matches against Olney, each game consisting of three 20 minute sessions. With more people down at the club than would be usual for this time of the year, there was even a decent crowd!
Bletchley won both games... The Firsts beat the Olney 1st XV 17-5 and the Seconds won 24-5 against their Olney equivalent. Match reports and more photographs can be found here: 1st XV / 2nd XV.
Ten solo acts and bands had been scheduled to play on the Saturday, kicking off with local act Kieran Durcan. With the rugby going on and the attraction of the CAMRA beer tent pretty strong, Keiran had plenty of competition, but he had a respectable crowd who appreciated his singing and guitar work.
Next up were two students from the Guildford Academy of Contemporary Music (Europe's leading school for rock and pop musicians), Bletchley's own Joe Garrett (former Junior player and son of ex-captain and club coach, Pete) and Sarah McLellan.
Another ex-Bletchley player, Todd Staniford was the next act on stage. Todd's show was reminiscent of that of Matt Stevens (England prop-forward) almost all-conquering performamnces on X-Factor: Battle of the Stars. A strong voice, belting out a handful of popular covers, could be heard two pitches away (only minor assistance from Marshall Amplification required!)
Another solo act followed Todd onto the stage. Watford based singer/songwriter Tom Craven. By this time the 1st XV match was over and the crowd around the stage was starting to build up. People were continuing to arrive all afternoon, the attraction of an afternoon's good entertainment, food and drink in the sun obviously being stronger than time in the shoppoing centre or doing bank holiday DIY! Like the other performers that performed at manor Fields that day, Tom didn't disappoint...
The only problem on the day was the running out of the first of the CAMRA real ales, Hopback's Summer Lightening... (For those reading this on the Sunday who are wondering whether to come down, don't worry, there are plenty of other real ales to choose from!)
The beer tent was acting as a bit of a magnet for people, and the club was pleased to welcome back a large number of ex-players who called by to say hello and sink a pint or two! Many had brought their children, grandchildren and friends down with them. The club is hoping that they, along with other people who came down to Manor Fields for the first time will return...
Chasing Black Aces had the tea-time slot (sorry, no photographs), and with the rugby now over the music fans and families were starting to congregate on the 1st XV pitch with a grandstage view of the stage and in good range to hear the music. 'CSB' were closely followed by Cutout Blonde, another local band. One of the aims for Party on the Pitch was to provide good quality of music from up and coming local artists - different styles and something for everybody. Who needs to go to the Reading Festival when Manor Fields is just down the road?!!
The weather had been great all day, but the drop in temperature as the evening fell was probably welcomed by the bands, the volunteers, and the people who had come to be entertained.
Symbo were the next band on. Like a number of the other bands that we've seen over this weekend, they came with their own troop of fans. One of the great things to see was that after their favourites had finished, they didn't leave - they stayed to party and enjoy the music that followed!
The tempo was building up as it got darker. More people were starting to arrive (handy hint for anyone planning to come Sunday night - stiletoe shoes are probably great for CMK venues, but they are apparently not very good on grass!) Wooden Casino followed Symbo onto the stage, and they gave a very strong performance that went well over their alloted 45mins (but there were NO complaints!)
The penultimate band for the evening was Stonebroke. This four-piece is another Milton Keynes outfit who provided ample evidence that it's not only multi-million pound acts and TV show winners who can produce good music.
The final show of the night came from the three girls and two guys who make up the rock band Sirenide.
Given the quality of the acts that had come before, Sirenide would have to be good to live up to the promise for the last show of the night. They didn't disappoint!
Labels: POTP07
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