Saturday Ritual
It’s just a Saturday ritual my dear;
So have no fear
And let’s be clear,
I’m not gallivanting,
I’ve no bird in tow,
Think of it more
Like I’m off to a show;
I’ll be back before you know.
And yes the pub is also part
Of the ritual we must trek,
But please take heart
As I never really notice,
The barmaids so buxom
And breasts so pink;
I never ever touch them,
I just order the drink.
And when we lose,
I’m sorry if I swear;
It’s like when the junior stylist
Fucks up your lovely hair.
And that time I kicked the cat
I swear it was not meant,
But still you banished me that night
To the garden and the tent.
And you know I can’t go shopping,
We tried that once before;
Your brolly jab really hurt
When I tried to see the score;
And you know you can’t come with me,
Last time you caught the flu,
Your hands turned blue, your face to ice,
As the final whistle blew.
So help me with this ritual,
It’s generations old;
Just spare a thought for us poor souls
As we shiver in the cold.
by Phil Miles
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Thursday 1st October 2020
Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division
Ashby Ivanhoe Knights 1 Hathern 0
Referee:- Terry Simmons. Attendance:- 63
Admission:- OMGDS £2.00 (£4) Programme:- NONE
The visitors continued a sorry story which stretched their losing streak to four games from the start of the season, but they were unlucky, comfortably holding their high flying hosts and creating the better chances. The only goal came on the hour mark, a header at the far post from a corner after it seemed that a goal would never come! With Graeme Askham.
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Friday 2nd October 2020
Uhlsport United Counties League Division 1
Lutterworth Athletic 6 Burton Park Wanderers 0
Referee:- Stuart Lathan. Attendance:- 90
Admission:- OMGDS £2.00. Programme:- £1.00
This battle of the basement boys at Hall Park in pretty atrocious precipitation resulted in a heavy defeat for bottom of the table, Burton, and four of the six goals scored by Jess Adcock! Despite the conditions, there was a healthy attendance – the vast majority taking cover in the stand on the far side of the pitch. With John Main.
It poured down all the way through the match! The app on my phone told me that my car had been in a collision … in the car park? So I went out to look and couldn’t find any damage – in the rain and the dark. I never did find any damage, even the following day!
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Saturday 3rd October 2020
West Midlands Regional League Premier Division
Worcester Raiders 3 Bilston Town 2
Referee:- James Clements. Attendance:- 300
Admission:- OMGDS£3.00 (£5). Programme:- £1.00
The rain came down in torrents all day which made travelling difficult. This was not my first visit to The Sixways Stadium – I had previously been to see:- Worcester Warriors 14 Stade Francaise 23 on 10th November 2011. On that evening, the attendance was 8,121, which considerably dwarfed today’s gathering! The game was pretty good – in patches – there were two goals in the first quarter of an hour and two more in the last five minutes. The pitch held up really well considering the heavy and sustained downpour. Everything was vastly overpriced – a hotdog and two bags of chips cost £11.50, but the teamsheets were free! With Graeme Askham and an array of ‘hoppers’!
This is Sixways, the home of Rugby Premiership side Worcester.
Graeme Askham – contemplative!
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Monday 5th October 2020
Midland League Division 1
Chelmsley Town 1 Heath Hayes 2
Referee:- Charles Humphrys. Attendance:- 104
Admission:- £5.00. Programme:- F.O.C.
A second consecutive Monday evening match at Pack Meadow, but tonight, the tenants, Chelmsley Town were playing. The 3G pitch guaranteed the match would be on, whereas my first choice match at Hitchin was called off due to the weather! It was a fairly well matched contest, with both sides in the lower half of the table, but the visitors were the more composed and just about deserved the victory and the spoils!
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Tuesday 6th October 2020
Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division
Easington Sports 3 Windsor 2
Referee:- Paul Herbert. Official Attendance:- 116
Admission:- OMGDS£3.00 (£5) Programme:- on line
There was a good crowd for tonight’s match – nearly 50% more than attended last Saturday afternoon! The hosts comfortably ran up a two goal lead by half-time but ten minutes into the second half, the sides were level, and it took a fine goal some ten minutes from time to win this match deservedly for the hosts! With son, Jim.
I went with my son, Jim and grandsons, Sonny and Kingsley. I had been to see Kingsley at football training, prior to the match.
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Friday 9th October 2020
Abacus Lighting Central Midlands League
Premier Division Black Dragon North
Dinnington Town 2 Clay Cross Town 1
Referee:- Liam Vayro. Official Attendance:- 221
Admission:- £3.00. Programme:- £2.00
Eighty-odd miles up the A1 on a cold evening to a fairly Spartan venue with seating for around fifty down one side and further covered standing as well as covered standing behind one goal. A drum beat incessantly as the locals encouraged their team in a match with some needle – five bookings and a sending off! The hosts took the victory and the points courtesy of two first half strikes, but the visitors had the last laugh with a consolation goal four minutes from time.
There were plenty of ‘hoppers’ there, including Peter Miles, Chris Berezai, Dave Wooding and Joanna Baroudi
Social distancing?
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Saturday 10th October 2020
Buildbase FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Silsden 3 Guisborough Town 5
Referee:- Abdul Hakimy Attendance:- 215
Admission:- OMGDS£3.00 (£5). Programme:- £1.50
Let the train take the strain from Peterborough and at Steeton & Silsden Station, it was but four hundred yards to the ground. Extensive renovations were taking place, new entry turnstiles, clubhouse and refreshment building all well on the way to completion against a very pleasant backdrop of Yorkshire moors. Sadly, on the field, the hosts were outclassed. Down 1-3 at the interval, it was 1-5 shortly thereafter and only the dismissal (for foul and abusive language) of a visiting substitute allowed Silsden to notch two late consolation goals.
Very impressed with Silsden’s ground and the improvements being made. The backdrop of Yorkshire moors, capped with brooding clouds, helps to make it picturesque! I also enjoyed a meal at “The Robin Hood” inn in the centre of Silsden about ten minutes walk up the road from the ground..
After the match, I had to hurry back to the train station. The train was due at 16.57 and I had to really push myself to make it to the station in the bare eleven minutes after the match finished. A helpful conductor saw me and kept the train waiting as I panted down the steps to the platform! The train took me back to Leeds, to change for Doncaster and change again for Peterborough where I had left my car!
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Monday 12th October 2020
Midland League Premier Division
Romulus 2 Coventry Sphinx 0
Referee:- Tom Palmer. Official Attendance:- 141
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- £2.00
Romulus have returned to the 3G at Castle Vale After years of ground sharing on the 3G at Sutton Coldfield Town. They have also moved to the Midland League from The Northern Premier League. Tonight’s encounter was full blooded with both sides putting every ounce of effort into every challenge, but sadly, there was precious little skill on display. The hosts scored early in the second half – an own goal decisively bludgeoned into his own net by a Sphinx defender – and wrapped matters up in added time with a second strike – this time from one of their own players!
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Tuesday 13th October 2020
Midland League Division 1
Stafford Town 2 Chelmsley Town 2
Referee:- Mark Billingham. Attendance:- 62
Admission:- OMGDS£3.00 (£5). Programme:- £1.00
Stafford Town’s Evans Park is a smaller version of last night at Castle Vale, except that here, the pitch was screened from the main stand by a huge length of netting! At half time you wouldn’t have given the home side a prayer, 0-2 down and a complete shambles. However, they were a team transformed in the second half and remorselessly ground down their opponents, scoring two quite breathtaking goals in the process! Probably a draw was a fair result. Good match!
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Wednesday 14th October 2020
Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division
Godmanchester Rovers 1 Newmarket Town 0
Referee:- Thomas Beresford. Official Attendance:- 70
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£5). Programme:- NONE
These two teams may be lurking in the lowlier echelons of their division, but tonight’s clash at Bearscroft Lane was truly titanic. The two sides were pretty evenly matched and amongst the abuse the ball received and the powerful and determined challenges, there was not a little skill on display. The hosts won with a goal on the hour mark and just about deserved their victory – and the parade around the pitch at the end of the match!
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Saturday 17th October 2020
Northern Counties East League Division 1
Hall Road Rangers 2 Swallownest 0
Referee:- Adam Shimmin. Official attendance:- 76
Admission:- OMGDS£2.50 (£5). Programme:- £1.50
Hall Road play in the grounds of what was formerly Haworth House and the main building can still be seen behind the far goal. There is enough room surrounding the ground for a further three full sized pitches and in the ground, a balcony from the club house overlooks the pitch and there is also a seated stand for perhaps a hundred spectators. The hosts won this match comfortably in the end, but the visitors gave a good account of themselves and a penalty saved, ten minutes from time, cost them a much closer finish! With Graeme Askham.
This was not our first choice of match. We had driven up to Hull specifically to see East Hull in their match against Rossington Main. We had lunch first of all in a pub called “The Ships Quarters” in Dunswell, which was a stone’s throw from the ground. When we went to the ground, we found that there was a game already in progress, but it wasn’t East Hull v Rossington Main! Apparently, the owner of the ground had banned them from using it and their match was played fifteen or more miles away at Goole Town (East Hull 1 Rossington Main 2). The match at Hall Road Rangers was the next nearest match (I’d already been there, but Graeme hadn’t) and it was well worth the visit!
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Tuesday 20th October 2020
Uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division
Rugby Town 3 Quorn 3
Referee:- Steven Swan. Attendance:- 174
Admission:- OMGDS £4.00 (£8). Programme:- £2.00
Butlin Road is arguably the most impressive stadium in this league with cover all around and seating along each side. Tonight, the hosts were comprehensively outplayed in the first half conceding three goals and looking pretty abject. The second half was a completely different kettle of fish! An early goal brought a modicum of hope and several good chances went begging before a second goal arrived with seven minutes remaining. The equaliser duly arrived in the second minute of added time, courtesy of the home custodian, who rose majestically at the far post to head home and was ecstatically mobbed by his team mates!
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Saturday 24th October 2020
West Midlands Regional League Division 1
Allscott Heath 6 Old Wulfrunians 1
Referee:- Alex Richards. Attendance:- 42
Admission:- OMGDS £1.00 (£3). Programme:- NONE
Under grey, lugubrious clouds, the heavens discharged vast quantities of water on the sports ground across the road from the former sugar factory, now being turned to housing. The hosts and visitors looked well matched for the first half and a 2-1 interval lead looked a little generous to the home side. The second half could not have been predicted. Four unanswered strikes sent a shell shocked and demoralised old boys team packing and catapulted Heath into the top four in the division! With Graeme Askham.
Pretty wet and miserable all day. We got there early and the home team manager directed us to a pub some four miles away called “The Wickets’, where we dined before the match and returned, still in plenty of time for the match!
Graeme, sat in solitary splendour, but it wasn’t so during the match as a crowd gathered on the hard standing to Graeme’s right and largely obscured sight of the far goal!
Scoring from the penalty mark!
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Monday 26th October 2020
There was rain early in the morning, but it cleared up. Kings Wood was looking particularly Autumnal with thick beds of leaves carpeting the sward, but the two fields on the other side of the A6003 were both ploughed and sapped the energy in ancient fetlocks and withers! Thereafter, the walk was quite pleasant with a coffee break at East Carlton Country Park, where the rusty remnants of Corby’s steel era were on display, followed by the return journey and the dreaded ploughed fields, which caked the mud onto walking boots like a plaster cast! Three stiles and 8.21 miles with Alison Merricks and Maureen Owens.
The ploughed fields which caked mud onto boots in copious quantities.
The church of St Peter in East Carlton
0-6-0 Saddle tank from the old steel works in Corby
Kings Wood
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Wednesday 28th October 2020
Hellenic League
Banbury Litho Floodlit Challenge Cup
Southam United 3 Banbury United Development 1
Referee:- Aaron Clayton. Attendance:- 122
Admission:- F.O.C. Programme:- NONE
Southam United’s smart new arena was well attended this evening – and with a fair smattering of hoppers. The ground is fairly basic with a Meccano seated stand for around 200 spectators on the far side of the pitch, hard standing all round and a large club house which is still something of a work in progress, but there were sixteen padded seats on the balcony to view the match! On a cold evening, it was good entertainment value, with a well drilled home side taming a young Banbury Development team – and a hat trick from home striker Levi Steele. With son, Jim and two grandsons!
The original ground was situated to the left of the stand above and well set back from both floodlight and stand.
There were sixteen padded seats up on the balcony in the club house and changing room area and, naturally, we made use of them. Behind was a large open space, still not finished off or decorated, but it might be worth a later visit to see how it turns out!
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Saturday 31st October 2020
Buildbase FA Vase 1st Round
Frimley Green 0 Flackwell Heath 2
Referee:- Callum Peter. Attendance:- 94
Admission:- OMGDS £4.00 (£6). Programme:- NONE
Travelling by train can leave you open to disappointment! I heard that my match had been called off whilst still travelling – and a further match close by, as well, but Frimley was only 1.5 miles from Farnborough Station and I had enjoyed my previous visit! Corned beef and onion baguettes revived the weary traveller and bright sunshine and mild conditions were just right for a Vase encounter. Hellenic League triumphed over CoCo League as the visitors comfortably and effectively dismantled the hosts with a very workmanlike performance and a goal in each half to take them into round two! Sadly, my son and his two sons were not able to make the match after a serious incident on the M40.
Jim and grandsons, Sonny and Kingsley were due to join me, but whilst travelling in the fast lane of the M40, the saw a car in front of them, stationary, and also in the fast lane!! James only just managed to stop – as did the car behind him, but other cars were not so lucky and there was a minor pile up. Sonny and Kingsley were shaken up, so Jim took them straight home after sharing details with other motorists involved.
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Other Matches
Wednesday 7th October 2020
Uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division
Quorn 3 GNG Oadby Town 3 Attendance:- 171
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Friday 16th October 2020
Doncaster Rovers League Premier Division
Bawtry Town 2 GCT Doncaster ‘B’ 3 Attendance:- 50
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Thursday 22nd October 2020
FA Youth Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
Kettering Town 1 Solihull Moors 3 Attendance:- 108
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Monday 26th October 2020
Everards Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division
County Hall 3 Blaby & Whetstone 2 Attendance:- 42
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Tuesday 27th October 2020
Midland League League Division 1
Kirby Muxloe 3 Cadbury Athletic 2 Attendance:- 77
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