2008 Season
Old Wilsonians **
Another shower facility that failed to deliver on temperature. Push button operation did'nt stay on for long either.
Lenham **
Disappointing effort with only a couple of showers delivering luke warm and poor flow of water.
Old Elthamians ***
A good number of showers (due to being a rugby club) delivered good flow and temperature. Showering area was a bit grubby with a lot of equipment lying around.
Blue Bell Hill ***
New showerheads, with adjustable height, temperature and power greeted our return to Blue Bell Hill. A definite improvement to the old ones.
Sutton III ***
Four fixed-head showers produced a good, hot spray in a tiled walk in area. Although there was no temperature or shower head control the temperature was perfect. Well it was for me - apparently the hot water ran out.
Carshalton Athletic **
As with most of the facilities at Wallington Sports, the showers were in need of a bit of 'TLC'. The showers were in a communal area which was accessed by walking through the toilets and consisted of a about six fixed head dispensers. They were adequate in both temperature and flow, but the area was dark and unwelcoming (I am still talking about the showers and not the opposition).
Norwood ***
A tiled walk-in area with two showers that provided both good spray and temperature. Also had a seperate disabled shower for the elderly and infirm - there was quite a queue. Only disappointment that there was only two showers and that the shower head was in a fixed position, which meant you had to get close in to get wet.
Fulbeck ****
Excellent line of 5 power showers dispensing good volume and fully adjustable temperature. Also had five position shower head. Failed to get the full Silver Fox 5* marking only for poorly finished decor in shower room.
Cudham Wyse ***
Cudham Rec provided a walk-in tiled facility with four showers and a privacy curtain for the more retiring showerer. Water temperature was good as was the power, though the jet was concentrated rather than giving a wide spray. Similar to Hayes the showers seemed designed for rather tall sportsmen. All in all this was a pretty good effort for what has been a disappointing season for the Silver Fox.
Herongate - Fox Rating *
More doom and gloom. If Steve was disappointed last week he would have been distraught this week. Two showers pushing out a tepid dribble and only working reasonably when one was off.
Hayes - Fox Rating **
The Silver Fox made his first appearance of the season especially to scrutinize facilities at Barnet Wood Road - alas he was sadly disappointed. The shower area was a tiled walk in facility with six dispensers.
Flip-flopped and with what looked like a new toiletry bag he made the following observations. 1. Water temperature - luke warm. As a sun-worshipper Steve likes his water to be hot. 2. Flow - insufficient power. After the rigours of 40 overs in the field water with massaging power is a must. 3. Shower height - are these showers designed for a visit from the Harlem Globetrotters. Hayes offered some defence regarding the heat issue, with a tempermental boiler to blame.
Addington 1743 - Fox Rating *
Unless you were a dwarf and had a strange liking for cold showers, there was nothing positive to report. Manjit and Chand fitted the dwarf role but declined on temperature, whilst only Don braved the cold for a lower body shower.
2007 Season
Addington 1743 - Fox Rating *
Unless you were a dwarf and had a strange liking for cold showers, there was nothing positive to report. Manjit and Chand fitted the dwarf role but declined on temperature, whilst only Don braved the cold for a lower body shower.
Belhus - Fox Rating ***
Two cubicle affair with adjustable power showers and wooden duck boards. Not a bad effort. Fell down on cubicle size - not for the more amply sized and a horrible clingy shower curtain. The showers though fine on temperature also lacked power in the spray.
Hillingdon Manor - Fox Rating ***
Walk-in enclosure with six push button showers. Floor was a non-slip tiled number and dignity from the outside world was covered by a pull across curtain. Fantastic power and good heat, initially had these pushing for 4* status, but disappointingly you had to hold the shower button in to maintain the water supply. The button was also positioned too high, so I was unable to use my arse cheeks to depress the button. Danglers complained that his shower was luke warm, but it was taken half an hour after everyone else so his opinions have been ignored.
Dartfordians - Fox Rating ***
Another walk-in tiled communal shower. Showers were of good temperature, but lacked in power and did not stay on long per push. Added disadvantage of walking through toilet area to access.
Old Victorians - Fox Rating **
A single cubicle with push button shower lacked both in power and substance. Fine if you are the batting side, but not good if eleven sweaty fielders descend on the facility after a hard afternoon in the field.
2006 Season
Rating 1-5*
Old Rutlishians - Fox Rating **
Initial signs were promising with overhead showers which stayed on by pulling a lever across (always a bonus when you don't have to continually press buttons to operate). They were in a bath style enclosure, which required a modicum of athleticism to gain entry. Having shown little athletic prowess on the pitch, it was a little disappointing to have to burst into life in order to wash. Furthermore the large showerheads failed to deliver both on quantity and temperature. No matting in the shower area and a very cold grimy floor, added little to the experience.
Charlatans - Fox Rating **
Normal push button operated, but flow was not great and temperature ranged from 3rd degree burn hot to temperate. An engineer was summoned and managed to build up some pressure and adjust heat to a more acceptable level. Nice walk in shower room with no acrobatics required to gain access. Has potential to raise it's Silver Fox rating.
West Peckham - Fox Rating - not applicable
Unfourtunately the one thing lacking at West Peckham are the amenities and as it was not raining, we were unable to stand under a leaky shed roof in order to take a shower. The Swan more than made up for it.
Linden Park - Fox Rating **
Magnificent effort from Linden Park to have a shower at all, given the clubhouse fire, but they managed to slip a cubicle into the portacabin and provide functional washing facilities. No room for sentiment from the Silver Fox though and only a two star rating.
Old Colfeians - Fox Rating ****
Top effort from the Old Boys, with two large areas providing an ample number of quality showers. Push button, they stayed on a good while and provided a high power stream of hot water. The Silver Fox would have got himself into a rare old lather. Only down side the unsavoury stone floor that had to be negotiated back to the dressing room. Flip-flop wearing Steve may have given these facilities, but as a barefoot showering amateur I could only award four stars.
Meantime Brewery - Fox Rating ***
A good effort from the Royal Parks with reasonable powered showers delivering a fair volume of hot water. A bit dark and dingy in the shower room and a cold grimy stone floor slightly diminished the overall appeal.
Orpington - Fox Rating *
No sour grapes considering we had just been on the wrong end of a nine wicket thumping, but a push button shower that stayed on for five seconds and delivered a spray of icy cold water really was rubbing it in.
Dartfordians - Fox Rating ***
Reliably informed by Danglers that facilities were good. Water was hot, but shower didn't stay on for long.
Hurst Green - Fox Rating *
The only downside - other than spectating while their opener scores 192* - of playing at Hurst Green has always been the changing/shower facilities. A single shower distributing an inconsistent dribble of water is never likely to find it's way on to Steve's top shower listing. Fortunately the fantastic (if you are a batsman) track and splendid pub more than make up for it.
Downham and Bellingham *
Another disappointment. A broken thermostat meant that the three chain-pull showers delivered only cold water. The set back failed to pour cold water on an excellent victory however.
Earlswood Strollers **
Our only 'home' game of the season found us in the familiar confines of the YMCA, without the usual shower temperature problems. Temperatures that normally fluctuate between third degree burns and frost-bite depending on how many showers were in use, for once behaved, dispensing a reasonable flow of water.
Theydon Bois **
Crossing the border into Essex brought no relief to the season long search for quality showers. Theydon Bois had four that dispensed a reasonable flow of water at a decent temperature, but their position adjacent to the urinals did not make for a pleasant experience.
Blue Bell Hill **
With hot and cold controls it was easy to adjust to desired temperature, but unfortunately they lacked any power or decent flow. Also a bit dark and dingy with cold concrete floor. Now I know why the Fox always comes with flip-flops.
Catford Wanderers ***
A particular favourite over the years, Catford's shower was a little under par. The push button did not stay on quite as long (complaint from Slightly) and the temperature fluctuated depending on the number of users. Despite these minor faults it remains a high flying facility on our circuit.
Old Wilsonians **
The Living Legend of showering graced us with his presence, so for the first time the opinions expressed here are of the 'great one' himself. Resplendent in his 'flops' and protecting his modesty with the smallest of flannels the Silver Fox examined the facilities and alas was not overly impressed. In their favour was a nice covering of non-slip matting and showers that remained on. Against this was insufficient hot water, if like the Fox and I, you were involved in a last wicket bore out for the draw and all your team-mates had already indulged in their shower and poor flow and power from the heads.