To Autumn
Season of Mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit that round the thatched-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.
by John Keats (1795 – 1821)
Friday 1st October 2021 k.o.: 7.45pm
Scottish Lowland Football League
Bo’ness United 3
Matty Flynn, 29, Devon Jacobs 43, Nick Locke 67,
Civil Service Strollers 1
Robert Cole 44,
Referee:- Stewart Luke. Attendance:- 507
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- £2.00
On a wild, wet, windy night, these two teams served up a rip roaring contest, full of thud and blunder and not a little skill. Newtown Park for all its name suggests is a quaint, old fashioned stadium with steep terracing on three sides, cover down one side, but bereft of seats! There was a good crowd strengthened by the invading hoppers and a good start to the three day Scottish event.
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Saturday 2nd October 2021 k.o.: 11.15am
East of Scotland League Division 1 Conference A
Dalkeith Thistle 8
Ryan Weston 28, 60, Darren McTernan 50, Darren Leslie 57, Greig Callaghan 66, Rhys Dixon (og) 70,Danny McFadden 76, Jack Burrows 89,
Tweedmouth Rangers 2
Michael Robinson 6, 33, (sent off 47,)
Referee:- Frazer Bushell. Attendance:- 309
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- £2.00
Leading 2-1 at the interval, the visitors had the scorer of both their goals dismissed for violent conduct very early into the second period. Thereafter, the hosts struck mercilessly and secured a resounding victory!
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Saturday 2nd October 2021 k.o.: 2.00pm
Scottish Lowland League
Bonnyrigg Rose 2
Lewis Turner 17, Kerr Young 59,
Dalbeattie Star 1
Lewis Todd 46,
Referee:- Graham Grainger. Attendance:- 517
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- £2.00
The rain threatened, but rarely affected this close tussle on a fairly sharply inclined pitch from corner to corner. The hosts could only garner a single goal advantage at the interval and come the second period, back stormed Star to equalise in the 46th minute. However, on the hour mark, Rose snatched what turned out to be the winning goal and hung on comfortably until the final whistle.
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Saturday 2nd October 2021 k.o.: 5.00pm
East of Scotland League Division 1 Conference B
Easthouses Lily 2
Lewis Sives 60, 63,
Glenrothes 5
Graeme Walker 9, 55, 90, Reece Brown 78, Lea Schiavone 89,
Referee:- Stuart Broadfoot. Attendance:- 228
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- £2.00
A small ground with a recently added seated stand for about 100, but with otherwise steep banking, was the venue for the third match of the day. The hosts were thoroughly outplayed and yet at one stage managed to pull two goals back and get on level terms. However, that would have been a travesty and three late goals sealed an emphatic victory!
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Saturday 2nd October 2021 k.o.: 7.45pm
East of Scotland League Premier Division
Newtongrange Star 2
Chris Robertson 27, 37,
Tranent Juniors 2
Sean Wringe 31, Craig Stevenson 61 (pen),
Referee:- Ryan Lee. Attendance:- 401
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- £2.00
A pretty impressive entrance to a stadium which boasted a covered terrace down one side and not a whole lot else (there were a dozen or so seats in front of the covered terrace). The hosts are enduring a challenging season and presently prop up the division. The visitors, meanwhile sit atop the league, but found themselves trailing 2-1 at the interval. It took a penalty on the hour mark to square the match and the draw was a fair result.
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Sunday 3rd October 2021 k.o.: 12.15pm
East of Scotland League Premier Division
Broxburn Athletic 0
Dundonald Bluebell 1
Elliot Ford 61,
Referee:- Will Pare. Attendance:- 278
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- £2.00
Broxburn’s new build stadium (about ten years old, now), looks very impressive, with extensive offices, changing rooms and bar facilities, although, sadly, with a plastic pitch. On a wet, wild and windy morning, however, they coped less well with conditions than their opponents, who scored the only goal of the game after 61 minutes.
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Sunday 3rd October 2021 k.o.: 4.00pm
Scottish Women’s Premier League 1
Motherwell Ladies 3
Leanne Crichton 27, Lori Gardner 45, Jemma Hughes 66,
Hamilton Academical Women 0
Referee:- Conor Greenan. Attendance:- 128
Admission:- OMGDS £5.00 (£10). Programme:- NONE
Alliance Park is home to Caledonian Braves of The Scottish Lowland League … and … Motherwell Ladies. Today’s match was a real basement battle. These two teams have played four games each and only the visitors had registered a win, although on the basis of this afternoons contest, the hosts looked the better equipped side as they battered Academicals and really ought to have struck more than three times. For long periods of the game, the home team, skilful, positive and determined, were encamped in their opponents half, and it looks likely that the visitors will struggle, this season, to maintain their top flight status.
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.Tuesday 5th October 2021
Uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division South
Lutterworth Town 2
Craig Maisiri 29, Keenan Marshall 52,
Bugbrooke St Michael’s 0
Referee:- Gary Lord. Attendance:- 54
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£6). Programme:- £2.00
On a filthy night, with wind and incessant rain and very slippery conditions, it was no surprise that the game was not a classic and, indeed, deteriorated into a petty, niggly second half. The visitors missed a first half penalty before a goal either side of the interval, wrapped it up for the hosts. With John Main and Lee West.
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Thursday 7th October 2021
From Gretton Village hall, a long walk down “The Dusty” and across the fields to Kirby Hall, still open, this late in the year. It was overcast, yet warm as we crossed the Kirby road and found ourselves in the midst of the groundworks for the next phase of building development. It was difficult to locate the path, but eventually, through the woods and on to Deene, where the famous teapot topped monument still stood serene and ripe pumpkins adorned a garden in the village. Onwards across the marshy fields to cross the A43, and on much firmer ground, to complete the walk to Bulwick and the church of St Nicholas. The Pickled Village was open and we enjoyed frangipane and coffee before continuing our journey out of Bulwick and across to Harringworth Lodge, crossing over a surprisingly quiet A43. The fields were freshly ploughed and the going was quite challenging, but eventually, we reached Gretton and adjacent to the village hall, the building development continued apace! With Alison, Harry and Maureen, twelve stiles and 10.67 miles.
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Kirby Hall
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Pumpkins in the garden!
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The church of St Nicholas, Bulwick.
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The Pickled Village, Bulwick
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Thursday 7th October 2021
FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division
Loughborough Lightning 0
Derby County Women 3
Ellie Gilliatt 11, 13, Megan Tinsley 22,
Referee:- Guy Thrower. Attendance:- 128
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£4). Programme:- £2.00
Loughborough Lightning are an amalgamation of Loughborough Foxes and the University BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) women’s team. Sadly, things have not gone well this season for the students. They occupy third bottom place in the division, whilst their opponents are third from the top. There was a gulf in class and three first half strikes emphasised the point. However, a second half determined performance from the hosts ensured that no further damage was done. With John Main.
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Saturday 9th October 2021
Essex Senior League
Little Oakley 0
Ilford 0
Referee:- Leigh Ballinger. Attendance:- 110
Admission:- OMGDS £4.00 (£7). Programme:- £1.00
The sun burned down from the azure firmament, but in the shade it was a chit billy! Little Oakley’s small neat ground has hard standing on two sides, a seated stand for fifty spectators down one side, and a small covered area for, maybe twenty souls behind the near goal. Both these teams are struggling in the bottom five of the league and this match was no classic. Indeed had they played until midnight, the score would probably have remained the same. Very friendly and a pleasant bar and huge filled rolls for £2 and … the weather helped! With John Main.
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Sunday 10th October 2021
A lovely morning for a short walk from East Carlton Country Park to Cottingham and back to the park via Middleton and the many antlered reindeer. No stiles and 3.42 miles.
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Tuesday 12th October 2021
Uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division South
Desborough Town 1
Finlay Shorrock 66,
Hinckley Leicester Road 3
Matt Langham 1, 31, Sam Munton 68,
Referee:- Andrew Cuthbert. Official Attendance:- 89
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
Always a pleasure to visit one of my favourite UCL venues. It is over two years since my last visit, but I was here on this day in 2010 and 2003. Tonight’s visitors are the current form team in this division. They have won all ten of their league games and tonight made it eleven wins in a row! They held a 2-0 interval lead, but the second half saw a much more determined Ar Tarn side pull a goal back, but the visitors regained their two goal advantage and held on comfortably for the victory and the points.
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There is some suggestion (Rumour?) that the iconic stand is to be removed at the end of the season
… and be replaced with something a little more modern (probably a Meccano stand!!!).
Apparently, the structure is not stable and riddled with asbestos.
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.Wednesday 13th October 2021
Uhlsport United Counties League Division 1
Blackstones 3
Nathan Smith 45, 53, 74,
Barrow Town 3
Ethan Ballantine 10, 29, Tom Mangan 54,
Referee:- Ian Ruddock. Attendance:- 63
Admission:- £5.00. Programme:- £2.00
On a mild, balmy evening in Stamford, the hosts continued to struggle. The last time I was here three weeks ago, they shipped eight goals and by half-time tonight they were already two goals adrift and abject. The second half fight back saw them equalise within eight minutes and even after a third goal from the visitors, striker Nathan Smith was able to complete his hat-trick and Blackstones salvaged a point and a large measure of pride!
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Thursday 14th October 2021
The skies were rolling grey and there was a blustery breeze, setting out from Harringworth along the bank of the River Welland to Turtle Bridge and crossing it to enter Rutland and up to the track bed of the former railway line to Stamford. Across the fields and briefly into Barrowden where a couple of black sheep cantered towards the parish church. Onwards to Morcott, crossing the A47 and then re-crossing it at the far end of the village, down a steeply ploughed field with the mini viaduct for the Uppingham spur line just visible, and then the narrow footbridge under the spur line before the steep climb into Seaton, past The George & Dragon and the church of All Hallows. All down hill back to Harringworth, crossing The River Welland and under the impressive archways of the Welland Viaduct and back into the village and the church of St John the Baptist. With Alison Merrick’s and Maureen Owens, eight stiles and 7.51 miles.
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Saturday 16th October 2021
EFL League One
AFC Wimbledon 2
Nesta Guinness-Walker 68, Jack Rudoni 85,
Sheffield Wednesday 2
Lee Gregory 13, 61,
Referee:- Christopher Sarginson. Attendance:- 8,224
Admission:- Hospitality. Programme:- incl. (£3.00)
Top class hospitality with the family at The Cherry Red Records Stadium, home of AFC Wimbledon – BTPL (Back To Plough Lane) for the first time since 1989. The Wombles were not at their best today and for an hour or so, they seemed content to sleepwalk to defeat. The introduction of a couple of subs at 0-2, seemed to galvanise them into action and they purloined two excellent late goals and, at the death, a draw was just about the right result!
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Liam, Jim and Ed
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Cora, Sonny, Freddie, Kingsley, Mike
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Monday 19th October 2021
A gentle stroll through Kingswood Local Nature Reserve, this morning, and then around the outside of the Danesholme estate and across the A6003 into the fields beyond. There were several fields with small streams crossed by sturdy bridges before reaching the road that led down into Pipewell, where the Abbey Church of St Mary is, purportedly, the smallest church in Northamptonshire and where Mary Budd, daughter of Samuel Lloyd, is buried. Just inside the church gate there is a small statue of the Good Shepherd. Back across different fields through a farmyard – “the bull in the field is tame said the farmer”. “What bull?” We said! Some challenging styles but eventually back across the A6003 and up through Great Oakley, past Morrison’s and into Kingswood. With Norma Jarvis and Maureen Owens, eleven stiles and 6.39 miles.
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Norma Jarvis and Maureen Owens
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Monday 18th October 2021
The FA Premier League
Arsenal 2
Pierre Emerich Aubameyang 8, Alexandre Lacazette 90+4,
Crystal Palace 2
Christian Benteke 50, Odsonne Edouard 73,
Referee:- Michael Dean. Attendance:- 59,275
Admission:- hospitality. Programme:- incl. (£3.50)
Cracking game, not so impressed with hospitality – more Macdonalds that haute-cuisine (although Freddie liked his chicken burger) and they didn’t even hand out team sheets which I thought was penny pinching and they said it was for COVID-19 reasons. Arsenal started out like a house on fire. Scored on eight minutes, but then Palace ground them down and equalised early in the second half and with a quarter of an hour to go, Palace took the lead to the exuberance of their fans. Four minutes into added time, Lacazette smote a last gasp equaliser! With grandson, Freddie.
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Tuesday 19th October 2021
Specsavers Surrey Senior Cup Preliminary Round
Abbey Rangers 1
Jack Watts 90+2 (pen)
Farnham Town 1
Daniel-Lloyd Stewart 48, (2-4 on penalties)
Referee:- Derek Laing. Attendance:- 31
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- included
0.9 miles from Addlestone station (twenty minutes on foot) is the small neat ground of Abbey Rangers at Addlestone Moor. A couple of superior Meccano stands down one side with seats for maybe 100 in each and an extensive bar, refreshments and changing rooms behind the nearest goal. These two teams occupy parallel divisions in the same league. For much of the match, the visitors had the upper hand, scoring within five minutes of the restart after the interval. The hosts equalised in the last minute of added time with a penalty and then threw away the penalty shoot out. Entertaining match with Jonny Crane, who generously gave me a lift to Woking Station after the match ended!
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Wednesday 20th October 2021
Middlesex FA Senior Charity Cup 1st Round
Park View 2
Felix Kouassy 45+2, Raymond Agyemang 68,
Spelthorne Sports 1
Dan Lewis 90+5,
Referee:- Sebastian Fraser. Attendance:- 18
Admission:- £7.00. Programme:- £2.00
There were hundreds of young children covering every inch of the 3G pitch when I arrived an hour before kick-off, so it was no surprise that the game only kicked off at 8.05pm. A fine covered stand beside the athletics track, but the view was obscured by a huge crane placed in front of it! No turnstiles – an official toured the stand collecting entrance and disbursing programmes. Spelthorne looked the more likely, but the hosts scored on the stroke oh half-time and when the second half commenced in monsoon conditions, it was the hosts who adapted the better and doubled their score just after the hour mark. All that the visitors could now muster was a consolation goal in the fifth minute of added time. One of their players spent most of the second half receiving treatment at pitch side in the torrential downpour!
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The view of the main stand with the tractor in front of it!
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The injured player lies on the touchline for a good half hour in the second half in the pouring rain
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Saturday 23rd October 2021
Buildbase FA Vase 1st Round
Fisher 1
Michael Sarpong 57,
Badshot Lea 2
Tane Caubo 29, 60,
Referee:- Kevin Steele. Attendance:- 162
Admission:- OMGDS £5.00 (£7). Programme:- £2.00
The last time I was here, some thirty-two years ago, it was Fisher Athletic and the ground was just across the road. That club folded in 2009 and today’s reincarnation still carry the name of the bishop executed during the reformation, nearly five hundred years ago. Today’s opponents top the Combined Counties League and, in all fairness, were a cut above their mid-table SCEL opponents. They led 1-0 at the interval, but conceded to a spirited home side midway through the second period before regaining the lead minutes later. For a match on plastic this was a pretty good contest.
Train from Corby Station to St Pancras. Victoria line Tube from St Pancras to Highbury & Islington. London Overground from Highbury & Islington to Rotherhithe. Then a 0-7 of a mile walk toSt Paul’s Sports Ground on Salter Road (SE16 6NT).
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Tuesday 26th October 2021
Pitching-in Southern League Premier Division Central
Royston Town 1
Dan Newton 30,
Banbury United 3
Chris Wreh 14, Morgan Roberts 65, Jack Stevens 75,
Referee:- Jack Whitmore. Attendance:- 311
Admission:- OMGDS £6.00 (£10). Programme:- on line
Royston were entertaining the team most likely in this division. Banbury are unbeaten in the league this season and look a really strong contender for advancement to Vanarama. They brushed aside a sturdy challenge from the hosts, who had six men booked, and swept in three goals and, maybe, should have had one or two more. Probably half of the crowd came from Banbury.
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Thursday 28th October 2021
Some twelve miles west of Gretton is the village of Thorpe Langton, where The Bakers Arms is open occasionally during the week. Behind the pub, the path leads down to a ford in the river, and then begins the long and increasingly steep upward climb to the top of The Caudle, a mound some 400 feet in height with a trig stone at the top. The other side leads down to Stonton Wyville, where fresh eggs are for sale, mushrooms grow in the churchyard of St Denys and Kezia Norton, who died in 1713 at the age of 63, is buried. She could have shaken hands with Oliver Cromwell! Onwards to Glooston and the church of St John the Baptist, the strange ladybirds and where the pub is for sale. At Cranoe (pronounced cray-no), along the straight road, the church of St Michael sits on the hill. On the way back, The Caudle looks barely more than a pimple … until the climb starts, and then, back in Thorpe Langton, the church of St Leonard’s sits, raised up, behind the village. With Alison Merricks, seven stiles and 7.56 miles.
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The Langton Caudle
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Friday 29th October 2021
EFL Championship
Queens Park Rangers 1
Lyndon Dykes 45+5,
Nottingham Forest 1
Jack Colback 90+1,
Referee:- Andy Davies. Attendance:- 15,089 (2,885)
Admission:- OMGDS £28.00 (£36). Programme:- £3.50
The neat and compact Kiyan Stadium has seats which challenge the knees of golden mouldies like me and we had difficulty locating our entrance turnstile (no help from the stewards), but a gratefully received (free) teamsheet! This was a regulation 1-1 draw. The hosts took the lead at the end of a drab first period and were more energetic after the interval, but a resurgent Forest snatched a point with a goal in added time right at the death! Perhaps, a little hard on the hosts
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Mike and Freddie
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Freddie and Ed
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Saturday 30th October 2021
FA Premier League
Burnley 3
Chris Wood, 4, Matthew Lowton 32,Maxwel Cornet 34,
Brentford 1
Saman Ghoddos 79,
Referee:- Jonathan Moss. Attendance:- 18,821
Admission/- (£35.00). Programme:- £3.50
The rain stopped, the rainbow arched over the stadium and the sun blessed the view across the moors and, today, Burnley were in the mood. They were ahead after four minutes and three up at the interval, not that Brentford were awful, more that Burnley were slick and determined, at least in the first period. After the break, the visitors came out more resolute and determined, but their only reward was a consolation strike some ten minutes from time. With Daz and Craig Bibby and Jonny Crane.
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Jonny Crane, Daz Bibby, Graig Bibby, Ed
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Other Matches:-
Monday 11th October 2021
FA Premier League 2 Cup Group C
Derby County U23 2
Luke Plange 45, Louie Watson 66,
Charlton Athletic U23 1
Ben Dempsey 76, attendance:- 113
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Monday 25th October 2021
Midland Floodlit Youth League: Joel Richards Memorial Cup 1st Round
Rugby Town 1
Leo Stone 83,
Bedworth United 1
Luke Alsop 85,
Bedworth United won 5-3 on penalties. attendance:- 116
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Wednesday 29th October 2021
BUCS Womens Premier Division
Loughborough University Women 6
Sophie Domingo 2, Emília Wilson 47, Ella Powell 59, Abbie Bensted 61,
Toni Williams 86, Katrena Morrison 90,
Leeds Becket University Women 1
Elisha Hardcastle 66, attendance:- 41
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Wednesday 27th October 2021
Pitching-in Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands
Corby Town 3
Curtis Hartley 16, Elliot Sandy 18, Jordan O’Brien 90,
Sporting Khalsa 1
Gurjit Singh 78, attendance:- 374
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Thursday 28th October 2021
Leicestershire Midweek Floodlit Youth League Central Division
GNG Oadby Town Youth 0
Aylestone Park Youth 10
Kaide Gibson 9, 37, Joe Oliveira 15, 17, 74, Joe Ball 35, Kaden Stokes 59, 72,
Stanley Rossell 73, Henry Beeby 90, attendance:- 46
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