August 2024

Today, Tomorrow, Long Ago and Years to Come

When yesterday we thought about tomorrow;
It’s strange to think that we just meant today.
Don’t look to days to wipe out stress and sorrow,
The calendar and clock refuse to play.

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When I was young these summer days meant cricket
From morning till collapsing into bed.
I’d strive to score some runs or take a wicket
Today I watch professionals instead.

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In days to come my grandkids may be players
And I’ll be cheering them with every shot.
But whether they are shooting stars or stayers,
I’m sure that they’ll have talents I have not.

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But look at days or years the same thing’s strange
The more things change the less things seem to change!

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by Anonymous

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Thursday 1st August 2024

Northants District U15 Triangular Tournament

@Kettering Town CC

In the first match (where I wasn’t umpiring) Kettering & Corby U15 lost to East Northants U15. In the following two games:

Northampton & South U15 (won toss) 111for 4 (20 overs)

defeated

East Northants U15 101 for 8 (20 overs)

by 10 runs

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Northampton & South U15 (won toss) 139 for 1 (20 overs)

lost to

Kettering & Corby U15    140 for 5 (16.5 overs)

by 5 wickets

Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown

Kettering & Corby U15 won the tournament on a better run rate.

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This is Benfleet’s first season at step five after winning The Eastern Counties League Division 1 South title last season and gaining promotion to The Essex Senior League. One week ago, they lost their opening league encounter, also against Woodford Town, on this ground (Woodside Park) by a single goal. They have returned to their own ground after sharing with Canvey Island for several seasons. A new one hundred seater stand, two small covered areas, hard standing on three sides and floodlights, have improved the ground to a degree and there is a bar and catering facilities, too. The official attendance looked a tad suspect. Several hoppers counted well over 400. The hosts scored three first half goals in a fifteen minute spell and thoroughly deserved their victory and revenge for last week’s defeat. With John Main.

Wednesday 7th August 2024

West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division

FC Darlaston 4

Connor Garrett 46, Rhys Horton 62, 88, Number Rashad 84,

Gornal Colts 2

Alistair McCue 76, Zak Wadley 78,

Referee: Josh Lee.                                                        Attendance: 64

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                              Programme: NONE

A free cheese ‘cob’ on entry to this evening’s match at The Rec where impressive Darlaston continued their successful start to the new campaign. Their ground is basic, a (mostly) fenced in field with dugouts and some steep terracing behind them. A small covered area behind one goal, but no hard standing – although the materials are there, donated by a local builder – there are also plans to install floodlights as the club hopes to move forward. This evening, after a goalless first period, the hosts gained a two goal advantage, only to squander it and then regain it with two goals in the final ten minutes. Good game!

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Note the terracing behind the dugouts, it used to have a roof over it!

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The only cover at the ground is this shed behind the near goal.

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Saturday 9th August 2024

Tony Barnett Memorial Trophy

(@ Workington Town RLFC)

Maryport Athletic 2

Ethan Weir 87, Ciaran Booty 90+1,

Northside 1

Max Litt 28,

Refere: Tommy Linford.                                                    Attendance: 129

Admission: £3.00.                                                             Programme: NONE

Workington Town’s impressive Derwent Park was the backdrop for this memorial match between the champions of The Cumberland County League and the champions of The West Cumberland Sunday League. Tony Barnett was a longstanding player, manager and administrator in Cumberland football and he passed away on 7th March this year. His family were here to present the trophy. Northside, the Sunday league team team scored midway through the first half and were very unlucky to lose to two strikes in the final five minutes of the match to the Saturday league side.

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Saturday 10th August 2024

Professional Development League

@Poolfoot Farm, Butts Road, Thornton Cleveleys FY5 4HX

Fleetwood Town U18 1

Harvey Currie 90+1 (pen),

Cardiff City U18 3

Dan Ola 22, Mannie Barton 58, Jake Davies 73,

Referee: Sam Orritt.                                                Attendance: 25

Admission: F.O.C.                                                   Programme: NONE

With John Main, Andy English and Richard Livall.

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Saturday 10th August 2024

North-West Counties League Division 1 North

Thornton Cleveleys 1

Jordan Beavers 33,

Daisy Hill 3

Jake O’Brien 49, Krisel Prifti 53, Ryan Talbot 83,

Referee: Jamie Law.                                                   Attendance: 145

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                            Programme: £2.00

Gamble Road, home to the newly promoted Champions of The West Lancashire League, is a work still in progress. They hope to have the floodlights installed by the end of September and there are plans for a hundred seater stand and cover behind one goal. Very friendly club who supplied team sheets free of charge and a weird referee who somewhat distorted the match when he sent off a home defender after half an hour for two bookable offences. At that time, the hosts were leading 1-0 and it was a lead they clung onto until the break. Ten minutes after the break, the were behind and the visitors killed the game off with a third goal five minutes from time. With John Main and Andy English.

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Sunday 11th August 2024

Rutland League Division 1 (@Burghley Park)

Barnack (won toss) 279 for 7 (45 overs)

lost to

Burghley Park 280 for 1 (42.2 overs)

by nine wickets

Umpires: Mallie Bandaranaike and Eddie McGeown

Lovely day, the wicket was a batsman’s paradise and Burghley Park, with the horse trials due to start next week, was resplendent with Burghley House itself just visible about a mile away across the park. Keyan Gace was the man of the match with his imperious 157 no and Barnack’s challenging total was overhauled with comparative ease.

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Monday 12th August 2024

Cricket @Finedon Dolben CC

East Northants U15 (won toss) 219 for 7 (40 overs)

defeated

Northampton & South U15   66 all out (21.2 overs)

by 153 runs

Umpires: Bob Inchley & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 14th August 2024

Peterborough & District League Premier Division

Deeping United 0

Reece Driscoll penalty missed 48,

Wittering Premier 3

Dougie Zimbango 57, 65, Ben Roberts 75, Harry Whittington penalty saved 37,

Referee: Jonathan Clayton.                                              Attendance: 33

Admission: F.O.C.                                                              Programme: NONE

The Werrington Sports complex in Peterborough has four football pitches, one of which is presently the home of Deeping United. Both teams turned up with the same colour of shirts, so the visitors had to wear training bibs. Nobody had thought to unlock the changing rooms and the hosts, having held Premiair to 0-0 at half-time, were comprehensively dismantled in the second period and succumbed to a heavy home defeat. Simon Barton from Norwich was also there.

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Thursday 15th August 2024

Cricket @Rushden & Higham Town CC

Northants U11 110 all out (21 overs)

defeated

Yorkshire Central U10 (won toss) 78 all out (29 overs)

by 32 runs

Umpires: Jeff Beal & Eddie McGeown

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Friday 16th August 2024

Banbury Cricket Club hosted an u-11 ‘Hundred’ tournament, with teams from Buckingham, Witney and Chipping Norton also taking part. A beautiful arena with a spacious clubhouse, impressive nets, a large array of benches and trees accompanied by heartfelt commemorations and some enthusiastic play from all the teams involved, combined with plenty of budding talent. Have to confess an interest, as two of my grandsons were playing in the Chipping Norton team and the pictures include them batting and bowling! Banbury won the tournament with Chipping Norton being runners up, Witney third and Buckingham 4th.

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Kingsley batting

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Sonny scores a boundary with this shot.

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Kingsley batting ““` and “`out!

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Sonny bowling, dad, Jim umpiring.

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Sonny bowling, dad umpiring.

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Sonny bowling and his dad umpiring

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Jim with his Chipping Norton U11 team.

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Kingsley bats!

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Saturday 17th August

Northants Cricket League Division 7 (at Brigstock CC)

S&L Corby II(won toss) 332 for 3 (45 overs) Dinesh Rodrigo scored 183no, Mike McGeown 22no.

defeated

Brigstock II  195 all out (39.1 overs)

by 137 runs

Umpires: Jamie Stewart & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 18th August 2024

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Division 1 (@Kettering Town CC).

Kettering Town CC Ladies(won toss) 132 for 9 (40 overs)

defeated

Thrapston CC Women  101 all out (32 overs).

by 31 runs.

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Tuesday 21st August 2024

Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division

Comberton United 0

West Wratting 3

Brandon McKay 56, Callum Harrison 70, Spencer Sykes 85,

Referee: Oliver Humphreys.                              Attendance: 78

Admission: F.O.C.                                               Programme: NONE

Deep in the heart of Cambridgeshire, the tiny village of Comberton hosts maybe 2,000 souls and a football team who play at the Recreation Ground which also hosts the village cricket team. This evening they were professionally dismantled by an efficient visiting team who kept the game scoreless until the interval, but then unleashed three devastating second half strikes and could have had more! Tea, coffee and biscuits available at pitch side!

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Wednesday 21st August 2024

County Pathway Fixture @Wellingborough Old Grammarians

Derbyshire U13 Girls   88 all out (30.2 overs)

lost to

Northants U13 Girls (won toss)   90 for 3 (13.5 overs).

by 7 wickets

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 25th August 2024

Rutland League Division 2

(@Stamford)

Stamford Town (won toss).  226 all out (45 overs)

defeated

Uffington     157 all out (36.2 overs)

by 69 runs

Umpires: Bob Inchley & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 26th August 2024

Spartan South Midlands League Division 2

Milton Keynes College 1

Matthew Haworth 75,

Newport Pagnell Town Dev. 6

Chris Carter 5, Ash Harris 45+2, Josh Bird 61, Euphrapy Kalonga 68, Nat Edmond 70, Jack Turner 90,

Referee: Luke Damon.                                   Attendance: 64

Admission: F.O.C.                                          Programme: NONE

A cage with a plastic pitch on the inside, a club house outside for alcoholic refreshment (and tea/coffee), but NO viewing inside the cage. The match had to be observed through the wire mesh. There was no cover, no seating and precious little hard standing and yet … and yet … there was a comparatively healthy gathering of spectators between the cage and the main railway line from Euston to Scotland. The students had already lost their opening four league fixtures, so it was no real surprise when they succumbed to yet another heavy defeat. I don’t think I’lll be returning any time soon!

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Tuesday 27th August 2024

Central Midlands League North Division

AFC Phoenix 5

Josh Bennett 40, Chris Cook 63, Joel Bradshaw 66, Tanga Chiba 78, Cameron Beer 85,

Glapwell 0

Referee: Michael Gilvarry.                     Attendance: 36

Admission: £3.00.                                   Programme: £1.50

The Phoenix Sports Complex occupies a generous chunk of territory in the Brinsworth area of Rotherham, but football, the poor relation, is tucked away in a far corner of the empire. Enjoyed a fine repast in the generously proportioned pavilion before adjourning to the ground which was surrounded by a meshed fence and a metal railing round the pitch. There was shelter from the showers and a refreshment hut with tea/coffee and snacks. There was also an excellent programme. This was a contest which stuttered into life. The hosts carried a 1-0 lead into the second period, but then stamped their authority on the match with four unanswered strikes for a convincing victory.

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Wednesday 28th August 2024

Pathway Development Match (@Wollaston)

Northants U13 Girls (won toss) 252 for 3 (35 overs)

defeated

Oxfordshire U13 Girls 114 all out (32.4 overs)

by 138 runs

Umpires: Simon Clarke & Eddie McGeown

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Friday 30th August 2024

Premier League 2

West Ham United U21 1

Josh Ajala 64,

Norwich City U21 0

Referee: Jamie Oldham.                                Attendance: c200

Admission: £5.00.                                          Programme: NONE

The Hammers acquired this ground at Rush Green, formerly the home of Ford United, in 2016 and turned it into their training facility. There were plenty of very helpful and cheerful staff to welcome the fans, both outside and inside the ground. Spectating was all down one side where the fine stand stood and half way behind the near goalmouth. The match was keenly contested and the hosts just about deserved the victory, aided, however, by a very one-sided referee!

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Saturday 31st August 2024

Southern Combination Football League

Premier Division

Wick 1

Josh Irish 19,

Eastbourne United 1

Mason Creese 62,

Referee: Darren Eaton. Official                       Attendance: 101

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                    Programme: £2.00

Crabtree Park is a scruffy little ground adjacent to the railway line in Littlehampton. Foundations are laid for a new stand, but the rest of the arena would benefit substantially from a touch of TLC. The clubhouse has an extensive bar area upstairs and a refreshments kiosk by the entrance downstairs. Adjacent to the upstairs bar is a shrine with candles to commemorate a popular and well loved chairman, Dave Phillips, who died very recently aged only 62. On the pitch, the visitors, who have yet to win a league match this season, fell behind before the break, but equalised around the hour mark and could easily have taken all three points.

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The memorial to Chairman, Dave Phillips who died a couple of weeks previous to the match aged 62.

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