Ground of the week

Living in Bristol where there is a choice of two league teams to watch your football holds no appeal for Andy Harris.

He travels every Saturday to the village of Paulton to watch the team he has supported all his life - Paulton Rovers.

Andy was born just a stone's throw from the Winterfield Road ground and can't remember his first game as he was taken there regularly as a baby by his father who was involved with the club in the 1950s and 60s.

And now as a member of the club's general committee he is as proud of the awards received by the Social Club as he is of the team's excellent position in the BGB South and West Division 1 table.

Being a team from a village Andy and his fellow committee members are very proactive in trying to increase the attendances for the team and they have introduced kids in free matches and try to keep the cost of refreshments and programmes to a minimum.

In addition to being a committee member, the Insurance Broker edits the match day programme and shares with his colleague Tony Walsh press officer duties and the editing of the excellent Paulton Rovers official website.

For the website Andy writes the match reports for every game and this labour of love is appreciated by every 'ex-pat' Paulton fan.

On match days Andy helps out with the club's paperwork such as sending to the league, team sheets and the referee's match report.

As Andy said: "I'll muck in. I try and help the club anyway I can." For someone who has been watching Paulton for half a century his favourite games are quite recent.

In March 2007 he enjoyed seeing Paulton thrash Chesham, who were them managed by Luther Blisset, by 5-0 and this season knocking Blue Square South side Dorchester Town out of the FA Cup after a replay.

And not surprisingly for a supporter who loves his club, Andy doesn't have any favourite players.

He said: "I support the team not any particular player. But when things like our striker Ashley Barnes was transferred to Plymouth Argyle that makes me happy to see Paulton players progress."