How to Score Goals
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(1)
Approach with ball
Point left
Say, ‘Ooh, look – a bunny rabbit!’
Shoot right
Goal
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(2)
Approach with ball
point right
Say ‘Ooh, look – a fiver!’
Shoot left
Goal
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(3)
Approach with ball
Say, ‘sorry about all this trickery
I never saw any rabbit’
Offer to shake hands
shoot
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(by Allan Ahlberg 1937 – )
Tuesday 2nd October 2017
Future Lions United Counties League Division 1
Harrowby United 1
Tyrell Shannon Lewis 77,
Anstey Nomads 4
Tindai Chitiza 24, 28,
Ash Day 49, (penalty saved 36,)
James Hick 90+2,
Referee:- James Marsden. Attendance:- 51
Admission:- £5.00. Programme:- none
Some quite extensive improvements to Harrowby’s Dickens Road ground with green, heavy duty wire fencing on two sides and a new turnstile and club logo (although the old logo still adorns “Stan’s Stand”). On the field, they were comprehensively defeated by an unbeaten Anstey Nomads!
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Wednesday 3rd October 2018
Future Lions United Counties League KO Cup 2nd Rnd
Blackstones 0
Melton Town 5
Robbie Parsons 6,
Michael Reeves 32, 35,
Sam Thorpe 49,
Joe Lindley 88,
Referee:- Sam Anderson. Attendance:- 71
Admission:- £5.00 Programme:- £1.00
The floodlights illuminating the rustic, Autumnal trees present a lovely backdrop to the Blackstones ground opposite the stand. Mirrlees Blackstones as they used to be known after the Stamford engineering works from where the team originated, were given a stern examination this evening by Melton Town, the unbeaten leaders of the 1st Division. The result was a fair reflection of the action!
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The Western ‘Hop’ 5-7th October 2018
Friday 5th October 2018
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Brislington 2
Clarke Taylor 41,
Connor Biggins 76,
Odd Down 3
George Lloyd 7. 82, 86,
Referee:- Andrew Sheppard. Attendance:- 262
Admission:- £6.00 Programme:- £1.00
A good match to start the Western Hop with, at Brislington’s tight Ironmould Lane ground which had cover on all four sides and a fine, warm welcome! Odd Down deservedly took the points and the victory, but only after a tremendous struggle and a couple of lengthy stoppages for injuries.
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Just before the match at Brislington, Michael Squires, made the following observation as I was waiting to join the coach from our hotel.
“I am often accused of being very unkind to Eddie McGeown for showing photos of him asleep. To redress the balance I attach one of him at our hotel where he is clearly working hard on his crossword. The fact his eyes are closed and he was snoring merely shows the seriousness with which he takes his crossword puzzles! Indeed, John Main insisted I keep quiet to help Eddie think!”
Saturday 6th October 2018
Toolstation Western League Division 1 – k.o.:- 11.00am
Longwell Green Sports 2
Connor Britton 2
Courtney Charles 35,
Welton Rovers 3
Lewis Hunt 27,
Aaron Saviour 53, 77,
Referee:- Gareth Dunn. Attendance:- 213
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- included
On a cold, chilly morning with rain coming down like a grey slate wall, top of the table, Welton Rovers had to fight hard for their victory, eventually subduing spirited resistance from the hosts. There was not an awful lot of protection from the elements – a couple of Meccano stands – but there was plenty of cover before the match and refreshments including a lovely slice of fruit cake!
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Saturday 6th October 2018 2.15pm
Toolstation Western League Premier Division k.o.:- 2.15pm
Clevedon Town 1
Alex Camm 12,
Buckland Athletic 3
Charlie Johansen 30,
Ryan Bush 72,
James Richards 86,
Referee:- Martin Peters. Attendance:- 213
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
It was cold and bitter with a blustery wind at The Hand Stadium, the very impressive home of Clevedon Town. There was terracing all round the ground and a full length seated stand with complete covered standing on the far side of the pitch. On the field, the hosts started brightly, took the lead and then were gradually worn down by the persistence of the better side. Some interesting refereeing decisions contributed to the home fans frustrations!
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Saturday 6th October 2018 k.o. 5.00pm
Toolstation Western League Premier Division k.o.:- 5.00pm
Hallen 0
Shepton Mallet 3
Ashley Willmott 45
Tyson Pollard 59
Conrad Peck 78,
Referee:- Richard Lawrence. Attendance:- 218
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
Hallen’s ground is a thoughtful blend of the old and the new. The playing area has an olde worlde feel to it, but behind the goal is a modern new club house and changing rooms. The visitors, Shepton Mallet, in their rather fetching red socks, black and white, wide hooped shirts and black shorts with a wide white sash down each side were substantially lower down the league than their opponents, but they won this match with considerable panache!
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In the declining evening sunshine, this was the view behind the far corner of the ground.
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Saturday 6th October 2018
Toolstation Western League Premier Division k.o.:- 7.45pm
Cribbs 2
Ben Dowdell 6,
Sol Wanja-Smith 81,
Hengrove Athletic 1
Mark Fear 75,
Referee:- Craig Scriven. Attendance:- 227
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
It was a bitterly cold evening at Cribbs, which has a ground high up on a plateau with not a great amount of cover. Wonderful array of tempting repasts on offer and warm and cosy, but only in the bar! In a dour struggle, the hosts just about shaded the contest, but it took a late decider to clinch all three points!
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Sunday 7th October 2018 k.o. 11.00am
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Bridgwater Town 1
Tom Ellis 74,
Bridport 0
Referee:- Sean Rothwell. Attendance:- 371
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
On a beautiful sunny morning that grew increasingly warm, Fairfax Park, looked pretty impressive with cover on all four sides of the ground and seating along each side. All this however, was in the shadow of the monster stand of Bridgwater RFC! There was a pretty impressive array of refreshments, too, and it would have been churlish not to partake! Sadly, the menu served up on the pitch was pretty drab and it was a miracle that either side was able to score amidst the noisy squabbling of the players, the only goal coming after the visitors were reduced to ten men following an injudicious two legged lunge by a visiting defender and even that was hotly contested!
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Sunday 7th October 2018 k.o. 2.30pm
Toolstation Western League 1st Division
Bristol Telephones 1
Ben Griffiths 12
Keynsham Town 2
Harvey Purnell 28, 38,
Referee:- Graham Pearce. Attendance:- 310
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
A recent arrival to the league, Bristol Telephone’s Stockwood Lane BTRA Ground is a work in progress. Behind the far goal is the skeleton of a covered standing area. The turnstiles are almost complete, but enclosing the ground is still being worked on. On the field, the visitors, who only missed out on promotion, last season, by one point, were a class ahead of their rivals and their gifted number eight planted two first half free kicks precisely on target. The hosts pulled a goal back near the end, but Keynsham deservedly took the win and the points!
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Tuesday 9th October 2018
Eco-Stik Southern League Division 1 Central
Bedford Town 1
Corby Town 1
Referee:- Brian O’Sullivan. Attendance:- 276
Admission: OMGDS £7.00 (£10). Programme:- £2
It must be more than ten years since I last visited The New Eyrie and yet, the old place didn’t appear to have changed one jot! The host’s nosedive down the divisions over that period seems to have been halted and they are making some positive progress. Tonight’s match was somewhat unsatisfactory. The Steelmen were clearly the better side, but made a complete hash of several clear cut opportunities. The Eagles were somewhat fortunate to secure a lead midway through the second half. Corby fumbled an equaliser near the end. Both sides had a player sent off!
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Wednesday 10th October 2018
Essex Senior League
Leyton Athletic 2
Francesco Cicconi 61,
Dwade James 90+2
Clapton 4
Jason Ajoodha 12,
Steve Sardinha 33 (pen),
Hadi Habboushi 55,
Ryan Reed 59,
Referee:- Graham Swanton. Attendance:- 39
Admission:- £4.00. Programme:- £1.00
Interesting place, Wadham Lodge, home to Leyton Athletic and Walthamstow – and, indeed, to other clubs, mainly from The Essex Olympian League and very busy this evening with at least half a dozen caged 3G areas accommodating teams of players no strangers to the pie! There was extensive cover behind each goal and a 200 seat stand down one side, but all a bit tired and careworn. The two teams occupy the lower echelons of their league, but the visitors were comfortable winners with the host’s two goals coming fairly near the end!
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The Bedfordshire County League ‘Hop’
Saturday 13th October 2018
Bedfordshire County League Division 1 k.o.:- 11.00am
Bedford Albion 9
Ryan Kelly 3,
Paul Babbington 17, 30, 44, 50,
Chris Wright 23,
Adam Lewis 35, 39,
Jessie Sidhu 63,
Sandy 0
Referee:- Laurence Mallett Attendance:- 149
Admission F.O.C. Programme:- £2.00
A sharp shower soaked us prior to the start of the match which was thereafter bathed in warm sunshine. Top v Bottom went according to form, but the match hardly got out of second gear!! Could have been a lot more!!!
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Saturday 13th October 2018
Bedfordshire County League Premier Division k.o.:- 1.45pm
Queens Park Crescents 3
Dominic Parella 32,
Danial Rasol 54 (pen), 90+1,
Caldecote 0
Referee:- Peter Parkins. Attendance:- 161
Admission:- F.O.C. Programme:- £2.00
A rock hard pitch and a swirling breeze did little to enhance the quality of this match, but the food was good (curry and rice and naan bread). Lord Squires of Edgbaston gently snoozed his way through the first half and generously described the match as uninspiring!
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Did I get my revenge and catch young Michael Squires cat-napping during this match?
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Saturday 13th October 2018
Bedfordshire County League Premier Division
Wootton Blue Cross 2
Lui Sarrington 53,
Antony Wright 64,
Marston Shelton Rovers 2
Nick Skolsky 25,
Jamie Cerminara 35,
Referee:- Jamie Bloom Attendance:- 137
Admission:- F.O.C. Programme:- £2.00
The last time I came to Wootton Blue Cross, they graced The United Counties League! They’ve built houses behind the far side of the ground and they have topped the trees surrounding the ground opposite the main stand, but otherwise, little had changed! This was arguably the best match of the day. The hosts found themselves two goals adrift by half-time and spent much of the second half pulling back the deficit. Neither side, however, was able to apply the killer punch and the draw was a fair result.
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John Main on his tour of the ground, with the dug=outs to his rear!
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Tuesday 16th October 2018
Essex Senior League
Hullbridge Sports 4
Rob Hodgson 14,
Luke Hornsley 23,
Jimmy Cox 45+2,
Nathan Scarborough 87,
Clapton 2
Eusiebo Da Silva 12, 39,
Referee:- Michael Scott. Official Attendance:- 104
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
The last time I came here, some years ago, the match was called off just as I arrived! This evening, kick-off was delayed because the visiting team were held up after an accident on The A13. Alan and Ken from Leicester were also at Lower Lane which is a modest stadium with precious little cover, but several more pitches surrounding the ground – a ground which has had recent upgrades in the form of new turnstiles and dug-outs. For much of a very good match, the hosts were on the back foot, but their greater fire power eventually brought a hard earned victory!
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Wednesday 17th October 2018
Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
London Lions 1
Adam Bolle 45+1
Park View 2
Ricardo Price 4,
Albert Ofori-Dumfeh 40,
Referee:- Giani Pop. Attendance:- 36
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£5). Programme:- incl.
The Alpha Stadium is pretty impressive and an advance on the previous 3G pitch down below. There is a two hundred seater stand and hard standing on three sides and all built within the last three years. On the pitch, two evenly matched sides fought out a feisty contest with the visitors from White Hart Lane just about deserving their victory. With Ian who had come down from Hull for the match!!!
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Saturday 20th October 2018
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division 1 East
Morpeth Town 5
Jack Foalle 33, 43,
Ben Sayer 57,
Tom Potter 66, 90+3,
Gresley 1
Martin Smyth 59,
Referee:- Jonny Irwin Attendance:- 411
Admission:- OMGDS £4.00 (£6) Programme:- £1.50
Mighty Morpeth 2016 FA Vase winners are now proud members of The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League. Hard work during the close season saw two new stands erected and a covered stretch along one side moved to behind the goal. Spindly floodlights survey the arena like giant triffids gazing down on the human ants. Morpeth are not content to be also rans this season. They thrashed poor Gresley and could easily have added half a dozen more to their impressive total
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Tuesday 23rd October 2018
West Midlands Regional League Premier Division
Pegasus Juniors 0
Wednesfield 3
Jammall Pinnock 37,
Harry Cunningham 48,
Brad Sharman 49,
Referee:- John Toskelly. Attendance:- 39
Admission:- OMGDS £2.00 (£5) Programme:- £1.00
What a contrast to my last visit, some ten years ago. The ground is now enclosed and has a 120 seat stand with a cantilever roof. There is hard standing on three sides of the pitch and a couple of Asda bus shelters – one on each side of the ground – to provide additional cover from the elements. It is a very welcoming club. I had a teamsheet specially printed for me and we had chocolate biscuits with our coffee! Sadly, on the pitch, the hosts are struggling. This was their tenth league defeat of the season (from 13 games) and Wednesfield were good value for their comfortable victory. With John Main.
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Wednesday 24th October 2018
EFL Championship
West Bromwich Albion 1
Jay Rodriguez 83,
Derby County 4
Jade Marriott 10,
Tom Lawrence 15,
Harry Wilson 51,
Scott Malone 71,
Referee:- Robert Jones. Attendance:- 22,848
Admission:- OMGDS £17.00 (£23) Programme:- £3.50
On my last visit to The Hawthorns, Derby County knocked WBA out of the FA Cup in January 2017. Tonight, the visitors were superior in every department and made Albion look a very ordinary side. Two goals at the beginning of each half and most of the home fans had left by the time West Brom snatched a late consolation! With eldest son, Jim.
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Thursday 25th October 2018
EUFA Europa League Group L
Chelsea 3
Ruben Loftus-Cheek 2, 9, 54,
BATE Borisov 1
Aleksei Rios 79,
Referee: Paolo Mezzoleni. Attendance:- 37,799
Admission (nominally)£20.00. Programme:- £3.50
Another Premier League ground for my grandson to chalk off, although Stamford Bridge is one of my least favourite venues. Tonight, the magic of Ruben Loftus-Cheek shone brightly from his first goal inside two minutes. Chelsea spent the entire match probing away at The Borisov defence, but the stadium lacked atmosphere and I couldn’t imagine say, Anfield being as quiet as that! With sons, Mike and Liam, and grandson, Freddie.
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Ed and eldest grandson, Freddie outside Stamford Bridge before the game!
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Mike and son, Freddie, enjoying the match!!!
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Freddie gets his first taste of Stamford Bridge – and of European football!
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Saturday 27th October 2018
Leicester & District League Premier Division
Northfield Emeralds 3
Mitchell Birt 7, 51,
Gonncarlo Santos 90,
Braunstone Trinity 5
Quentin Thomson 1,
Macauley Parnell 28, 67,
Ryan Charles 81,
Kieran Thomson 83,
Referee:- Richard Robertson. Attendance:- 19
Admission:- F.O.C. Programme:- none
On a miserable freezing, rainy afternoon in The East Midlands, these two teams from Step 9 served up a real cracker! The hosts, and current champions, had won all of their games and, not surprisingly, were on top of the league. The visitors were in second place with only one defeat. The Emerald Centre has a modicum of cover against the elements, a railed off pitch and floodlights. Cups of tea were on offer and the referee was most accommodating with the team sheets. The visitors scored in the first minute, led 2-1 at half-time and seemed to get stronger as the game progressed. At least two of the goals were comical custodial errors and both sides had numerous chances to add to the score. The visitors were worthy winners! With Graeme Askham.
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Monday 29th October 2018
FA Youth Cup 1st Round
Rugby Borough 2
Sean Doyle (og) 19,
Husama Noma 32,
Sutton Coldfield Town 6
Louis Monaghan 14, 38, 68, 74, 82,
Samual Yankson 45,
Referee:- Gareth Davies (Leicester) Attendance:- 158
Admission:- OMGDS £1.00 (£3.00) Free team sheet
Rugby Borough have enjoyed a good run in this season’s FA Youth Cup, but this evening, they met their Waterloo in the form of Louis Monaghan, the Sutton Coldfield Town striker who terrorised them all evening and helped himself to five of his team’s six goals!
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Tuesday 30th October 2018
Spartan South Midlands League Challenge Trophy
2nd Round
Biggleswade United 1
Kane Farrell 72,
Hadley 0
Referee:- Panos Fellas. Attendance:- 51
Admission:- OMGDS £4.00 (£6). Programme:- on line!
On a distinctly chilly evening these two sides slogged it out with thud and blunder and remarkably little finesse. The only goal was a long time coming (72 minutes) and for much of the game the main interest was the partisan banter between the two sets of fans in a sparse gathering. With John Main.
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Thursday 1st November 2018
FA Youth Cup 1st Round
Peterborough Sports 0
Barnet 1
Dimeji Adeniran 9,
Referee:- Brian O’Sullivan. Attendance:- 145
Admission:- £3.00. Programme:- £1.00
This enthralling encounter was settled in the first ten minutes! Firstly, the hosts broke through and a gilt edged chance was rifled just wide of the near post. Then the visitors took the lead with a goal from a corner which was smashed into the roof of the net! Thereafter, the visitors held out and though both sides had chances, it was that one early strike that settled the tie. Good to see a programme for the match and a healthy attendance!
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Other Matches:-
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Monday 1st October 2018
Premier League 2 Division 1
Leicester City U-23 1 Arsenal U-23 2 Attendance:- 495
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Thursday 4th October 2018
FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Nuneaton Borough 8 Halesowen Town 9 Attendance:- 92
Wow! I have never seen a match with the scoreline of 8-9. in fact, I don’t think I have ever seen seventeen goals scored in one match! This evening, the hosts led 4-1 at half time and were 6-2 up after an hour. The visitors bounced back with seven goals in the final twenty-nine minutes and deservedly won the tie!
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Monday 8th October 2018
Thurlow-Nunn Youth League – Cambridge Division
St Neots Town 6 Newmarket Town 1 Attendance:- 45
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Thursday 11th October 2018
Thurlow-Nunn Youth League – West Division
Peterborough Sports 4 Holbeach United 0 Attendance:- 42
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Monday 15th October 2018
FA Youth Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
Rugby Borough 3 Solihull Moors 1 (aet – 90 mins 1-1) Attendance:- 121
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Wednesday 17th October 2018
Northern Premier Football League Academy – Traider Division
Loughborough Dynamo U-19 4 Carlton Town U-19 2 Attendance:- 14
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Thursday 18th October 2018
FA Youth Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
Peterborough Sports 3 Walsham-le-Willows 2 Attendance:- 83
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Sunday 21st October 2018
FA Women’s Championship
Leicester City Women 1 Aston Villa Ladies 1 Attendance:- 315
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Monday 22nd October 2018
Northants Senior Youth League – East Division
Corby Town U-18 9 Rothwell Corinthians U-18 0 Attendance:- 58
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Wednesday 24th October 2018
BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Premier Division North
Loughborough University 0 Stirling University 3 Attendance:- 54
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Friday 26th October 2018
Premier League 2 Division 1
Leicester City U-23 3 West Ham United U-23 0 Attendance:- 254
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Sunday28th October 2018
Women’s National League Premier Division South
Leicester Foxes 6 MK Dons Ladies 0 Attendance:- 88
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Wednesday 31st October 2018
Northern Premier League Academy – Traider Division
Loughborough Dynamo U-19 4 Widnes U-19 3 Attendance:- 10
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