At the Abingdon Town football ground this afternoon, the home team Abingdon Abbotts lined up before the game for a two minutes silence. The last post was played over the loudspeakers.

Many of the team have a military background, and the Oxford Graffiti Crew decorated the stand with a mural to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. There are plans for another larger graffiti along the front fence with a footballing theme.

There is a game most Saturdays, either the first team or the development team. The first team compete in the Oxfordshire Senior Football League. The club website and fixtures can be found at https://abingdonabbotts.wixsite.com/abingdon-abbotts-fc 

They still have some challenges after what happened to the previous owners. They are UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT and are looking for people’s support in football and in events promoting good causes like good mental health.

The club closed in 2017 and has re-opened in 2022 with a gym at Abingdon United Football Club.

The Abingdon Bridge charity set up a meeting back in January and got all interested people together. The club has been reconstituted since then and has the new venue, coaches, sponsors, and equipment.

An open day was held today so people could look around the new facilities and talk to the coaches. Young people could have a go at speed target practice and other activities.

There was a queue to sign up for training.

The ribbon was cut by David Jeffries, a former club chairman for twenty-five years. He is seen with Rob Southey, a coach and lifetime club member. David was involved with the club from the 1970s and remembered all the boxing shows that used to take place at the Guildhall. He talked about John Joyce, who took over as chairman after him. The case of pictures is dedicated to John, who David said ‘would give his last penny to the club’.

The club is affiliated with England Boxing, the official body for Amateur Boxing in England, previously called the ABA. The club is dedicated to keeping children and young teenagers safe and fully engaged in their community.

Today’s visitors at the Abingdon Vale Cricket Club were Ajax Cricket Club from Holland. The association between the two clubs began at least 63 years ago.

Dirk and Jaap have been touring Abingdon since the 1989 tour.

Jaap explained that Oxford and Leiden in Holland have been twinned for 75 years and sports exchanges are part of the twinning. The Ajax cricket team came over and played local teams, and the first verified competition between Ajax and an Abingdon team was the Ox Public House team, from Abingdon, on 3rd July 1960. There could have been earlier matches that nobody can recall.

Then the cricket team started touring alone. Ajax would tour Abingdon one year, and Abingdon would tour Ajax the following year. It is now every two years, so Ajax visits Abingdon every four years, and it is as much about friendship as cricket. They stay with host families.

The name Ajax comes from the mythological hero in Greek legend. The club was established in Leiden in 1892. Ajax Amsterdam, the football club, was founded in 1900 and must have asked permission to use the hero’s name, but Jaap said no letter can be found in the club archives. The club now plays in Oegstgeest (nearby Leiden) and has the name Ajax Sportman Combinatie, as it has cricket and football teams.

The tourist strip in 2022 has 63 on the back to represent the anniversary,

and Dirk on the front, possibly after their legendary player Dirk.

After the game, there were speeches and a time to eat, drink and socialise.

The Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool opened today for six weeks. The pool normally opens in May but due to the increased cost of heating the pool (*) the council took the decision to reduce the season to what should be the most popular time, the summer holidays.

The timetable of hours can be seen at https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/vale-of-white-horse/abbey-meadows-outdoor-pool/timetable.

Prices are up on last year but annual inflation generally is running at over 9%.

Adult is £5.35 (£4.90 in 2021)
Child is £3.30 (£3.10 in 2021)
1 Adult and 1 or 2 Under 3’s is £5.35

* A VWHDC press release said heating costs for the pool were expected to be around £107,000, compared to £47,000 in previous seasons. Presumably that is for a full season.