The Football Posts that Dad Built (continued)
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They took ages to arrive
But we still played on the pitch
Late on Summer nights
And long on holiday afternoons,
All the kids round our way
bringing boots and trainers
To try and score against my Dad.
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By Paul Cookson (to be continued)
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The Western Hop
Friday 4th October 2019
Toolstation Western League Division 1
Lebeq United 3
Cameron Brown 10, 49,
Ibrahim Sarr 13,
Radstock Town 1
James Rustell 15 (pen),
Referee:- Adam Wilson. Attendance:- 192
Admission:- £5.00. Programme:- £1.00
The hosts are one of two teams who play here at The Gloucestershire County FA headquarters (the other being Roman Glass St George) on a 3G surface with a covered seated stand and some standing cover as well. The hosts were dominant early on and scored twice, but the visitors came back strongly and reduced the arrears by the interval. Early in the second period, the hosts restored their two goal advantage but then had to withstand substantial pressure from Radstock before securing the victory and the points!
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Saturday 5th October 2019
Toolstation Western League Division 1
Portishead Town 3
Mitch Osmond 52 (pen), 64 (pen),
Callum Eastwood 72,
Longwell Green Sports 5
Danny Carter 30, 53,
Lovejoy Mafini 59,
Sam Crumb 67,
Connor Britton 87,
Referee:- George Gross. Attendance:- 262
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
First impressions …. a large playing field with the home pitch surrounded by a green wire fence and a posse of pre-fabricated buildings for changing rooms and facilities. There is a small 50 seater stand and a larger covered standing area close to the entrance. Good match. End to end stuff with the visitors superior fire power eventually gaining the advantage, the match and the points!
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Saturday October 5th 2019 2pm k.o.
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Bradford Town 2
Tyson Pollard 40, 70 (pen)
Clevedon Town 0
Referee:- Brian White. Attendance:- 311
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
Bradford-upon -Avon is a lovely Georgian Town, but quite challenging to negotiate with a coach! The ground is a gem, even if most of the furniture is down one side! Today’s encounter matched 2nd against 4th in the league and in a fairly dour struggle, the result went the way of the second placed hosts.
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Saturday 5th October 2019
Toolstation Western League Division 1
Devizes Town 0
Ashton & Backwell United 1
Gerard Jones 49
Referee:- Ian Hawkins. Attendance:- 203
Admission:- £5.00. Programme:- £1.00
Nursteed Road is a vast sprawling expanse of a football ground with a fine stand seating perhaps 150 on one side of the ground and a large barn with two substantial bars on the opposite side, but not a lot behind either goal! This afternoon’s contest was a scrappy affair, won deservedly by the visitors with a single strike just after half-time.
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Saturday 5th October 2019 K.O. 7.45pm
Toolstation Western League Division 1
Warminster Town 2
Jack Miluk 30,
James Vincent 33,
Bristol Telephones 3
Luke Bamfield 14, 57,
Dhani Golding 48,
Referee:- Ian Tobin. Attendance:- 369
Admission:- £5.00. Programme:- £1.00
The rain came down heavily on Warminster – apparently, the UFO activity centre of Great Britain – and possibly blighted the chances of what should have been an easy victory for the hosts. The visitors, with six defeats and a single draw this season to their name are currently propping up the division – even after this backs to the wall victory! The sending off of a home player just prior to half-time for violent conduct may also have been a factor, but the visitors defended redoubtably for much of the second half after turning round a half-time deficit. They well deserved their victory!
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Sunday 6th October 2019 10.45am
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Bridport 0
Bridgwater Town 6
Dave O’Hare 11, 32, 33,
Mike Duffy 26,
Sam Tower 81, 84,
Referee:- Craig Scriven. Attendance:- 347
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
A fully enclosed ground with a substantial covered standing area down one side and plenty of covered (and uncovered) seats opposite. There was a goodly selection of refreshments and a large bar. Sadly, the hosts, languishing near the foot of the table, were no match for their distinguished rivals who currently occupy third place in the division. The visitors had dismantled Bridport by half time with four strikes and added a further two in the final seven or eight minutes to wrap up a comprehensive victory. Not a classic by any means!
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Sunday 6th October 2019 k.o. 2.30om
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Wellington 0
Exmouth Town 2
Jordan Harris 31,
Aaron Denny 43,
Referee:- Martin Peters. Attendance:- 315
Admission:- £6.00. Programme:- £1.00
The hosts share their ground with the local cricket club and at the end of each season, they have to dismantle the four floodlight pylons on one side of the ground. Presently, Wellington are propping up the division and on the evidence of this scrappy, petulant affair, they will be hot favourites for relegation. They were two down by the interval and after 72 minutes, they had a player dismissed for spitting – some said at the referee! Exmouth were comfortable winners!
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Stuart Long describes his experience
MIXED FEELINGS DON’T EVEN DESCRIBE IT!!
Four years at the Western League Groundhop have come to an end. Before my first one in 2016 I didn’t know what this was all about, but thanks to the skills and persuasion of Chris Berezai and Laurence Reade I have visited twenty-eight amazing clubs and rubbed shoulders with fellow, like minded people from across the UK 🇬🇧 and Europe. No BREXIT here we are all one family 👪 and long may it continue.
This year 1,999 people attended 7 games, saw 28 goals, 2 home wins 5 away, visiting some fantastic hosts clubs from Lebeq (Almondsbury) to Bridport on the South Coast via Portishead, Bradford, Devizes, Warminster and finally Wellington.
I like everyone else felt emotional on the way home with so many wonderful memories. I will definitely be back to complete the remaining dozen or so clubs I need to complete the league hopefully with the help of the Western league and GroundhopUK.
It’s been a pleasure.
#groundhopping #neverendinghobby
Craig Dabbs, Stuart Long and Chris Berezai
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Tony Morehead, Jack Warner and Stuart Long
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Stuart Long with John Main and Tony Morehead
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Stuart Long with Jack Warner and Laurence Read
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Tuesday 8th October 2019
Uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division
Loughborough University 1
Ronan Silva 5,
Leicester Nirvana 1
Ilyaas Hussein 7,
Referee:- Lorraine Impey. Attendance:- 145
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£6). Programme:- £2.00
My first visit of the season to the beautifully appointed Holywell Sports complex of Loughborough University. The students have done well (especially as the BUCS – British Universities and Colleges Sport – season only starts tomorrow!) and they sit in second place in the division. However, this evening, they were smothered by a street wise Nirvana who kept nine players behind the ball and after two goals in the first seven minutes, played out the rest of the contest, content to take a point!
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Wednesday 9th October 2019
Bet Victor Southern League Division 1 Central
Corby Town 2
Jordan Crawford 60,
Gary Mulligan 64,
Barton Rovers 1
Connor Vincent 40,
Referee:- Matthew Jackson. Attendance:- 280
Admission:- OMGDS £6.00 (£10) Programme:- £2.00
On a cold, showery evening, The Steelmen made very hard work of this victory. Unbeaten in the league this season, they trailed visitors Barton Rovers 0-1 at the interval and early in the second half had a man dismissed. However, two quick strikes (60 + 64 minutes) gave them a lead that they clung on to tenaciously for a deserved win!
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Thursday 10th October 2019
Stratford Hospital Cup
FINAL
FC Wickhamford 2
Matt Irons 30,
Louis Brown 48,
Inkberrow Academy 0
Referee:- Warren Ayers. Attendance:- 59
Admission:- £3.00. Programme:- included
This match was played at the newly replaced and refurbished Home Guard Club in Tiddington, near Stratford. The Hospital Cup is mainly a pre-season, midweek competition and the final used to be played each Boxing Day! These days, it is buried in the opening weeks of the season. On a rainy evening, Wickhamford, who ply their trade in the top division of The Stratford and District League, easily conquered their youthful rivals and really ought to have scored more goals in a fairly innocuous match!
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The Bedfordshire ‘Hop’
Saturday 12th October 2019
Bedfordshire County League
Three matches from Division 3
10.45am Real Haynes 7
Ali Buckhall 18
Aaron Lumsden 30, 32, 61,
Mas Ahmed 53,
Josh Pearson 78,
Blunham 0 Referee:- Derek Osborne Admission F.O.C.
Programme:- £2.00 attendance: 196
1.40pm. Stopsley United 2
Ashley Prospere 9,
Sean Downey 90+1
Callum Frater s/o 61,
Harlington Juniors 3
Alex Frantezelli 7,
Kevin Lambert 40, 77,
Rhys Thompson s/o 61 Referee:- Kelvin Thompson Admission:- F.O.C.
Programme:- £2.00 attendance: 128
4.15pm Lancot Park 5
Peter Wilson 39, 75,
Jamie Nolan 42,
Costy Iancu 61,
Dean Wrench 89,
Luton All Stars 1
Nick Katombe 34, Referee:-Matt Borg Admission:- F.O.C.
Programme:- £2.00 attendance: 118
Real Haynes were on Radio 5 just before 9.00am this morning, previewing their match, which they won with relish – and also provided the best organised event of the day! Stopsley United were a little bit adrift of proceedings, but at least the rain stopped half way through the match and we did see a double sending-off! The best performance of the day was Lancot Park’s demolition of high flying Luton All Stars at their impressive home where AFC Dunstable started their footballing journey!
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Monday 14th October 14th 2019
Leicestershire Senior League
Beacon Hill League Cup 2nd Round
Rugby Borough 5
Josh Turton 13, 17, 56,
Charlie Cook 72, 85,
Friar Lane & Epworth 0
Referee:- Jack Weeks. Attendance:- 33
Admission:- OMGDS £1.00 (£3). Programme:- NONE
The rain came down in biblical proportions but Borough play on a 3G pitch. Both these teams are unbeaten in the league this season (although both have suffered Vase defeats), but this evening, the hosts were rampant and certainly missed more opportunities than the ones they took! With John Main and Rob Campion.
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Tuesday 15th October 2019
Bet Victor Southern League Premier Division Central
Peterborough Sports 2
Jordan McLeod 11,
Mark Jones 73,
Nuneaton Borough 1
Paul Malone 5 (og),
Referee:- Oliver Mackey. Attendance:- 216
Admission:- OMGDS £6.00 (£10) Programme:- £2.00
The new stand at Lincoln Road is taking shape and The Turbines are slowly making their mark in the top divisions of the Southern League. Nuneaton, meanwhile, have problems off the pitch. Their ground has been bought by the rugby club who play next door and there is the possibility that they may find themselves homeless! This evening, however, they opened brightly, scored early on and ran the home side ragged in the first half. They went in all square and as the second period progressed, their energy flagged and with fifteen minutes to go, the hosts took a decisive lead.
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Wednesday 16th October 2019
Balcan Lighting Supplies Lincolnshire League Cup
Quarter Final
Horncastle Town 3
Andrew Bullivant 29, 56,
Luke Biondel 59,
Louth Town 2
Bailey Right 16,
Edward Addison 77,
Daniel Stevens s/o 58
Alex Aldrich s/o 86
Referee:- Craig Patrick. Attendance:- 87
Admission:- F.O.C. Programme:- NONE
The Wong, the eccentrically named home of Horncastle Town, hosted a rip roaring cup tie between two teams maybe ten miles apart and the hosts came out on top, but only after a stirring contest which saw the visitors reduced to nine men! The ground is fairly basic, but there is a new club house and changing rooms and plenty of parking. No food available this evening, but the bar was open and hot drinks could be had. With Chris Garner and Paul Procter – who had a long drive back to Hampshire!
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Saturday 19th October 2019
North West Counties League Macron Cup 1st Round
Garstang 1
Alan Coar 63,
Stockport Town 1
Jordan Depeiazza no extra time – Garstang won 4-2 on pens
Referee:- Matthew Clarke. Attendance:- 65
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£5). Programme:- £2.00
Garstang have a very impressive sports complex which caters for rugby, tennis, cricket and bowls as well as the football arena which is shortly to be upgraded with a two hundred seat stand behind the dug outs down one side of the ground. This is their second season at step six and after a very creditable seventh place last season, they are struggling somewhat this season only two off the bottom of the table. Today’s match was poor in the first half, but livened up considerably in the second period which saw a goal to each side and the hosts take the tie after a tense penalty shoot-out!
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Sunday 20th October 2019
Immense thanks and gratitude to The Royal Blackburn Hospital and The East Lancs Ambulance Service for their superb care and attention when I was taken in with severe chest pains on Saturday evening. They performed every test under the sun, only to find that my heart was sound – much to my extreme relief – and it was a chest X-ray that finally revealed that I had Pleurisy. Rest and recuperation and plenty of painkillers required!
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Tuesday 22nd October 2019
North West Counties League Premier Division
Irlam 3
Liam Pollitt 6,
Connor Martin 43,
Jordan Kely 89
Barnoldswick Town 2
Richard Seear 22,
Joseph Noblet 52,
Richard Seear s/o 63
Referee:- Matthew McQuillan. Attendance:- 82
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£5). Programme:- £2.00
Probably not the best decision after the ossipal alarums of the weekend, but I couldn’t resist a first visit to Silver Street and it was very worthwhile. Their neat little ground has a brand, spanking new club house and standing cover behind the near goal, whilst seating is provided down part of one side. There is a large car park and another pitch adjacent to the arena. Tonight’s match hinged on the dubious dismissal of the visiting striker with some twenty minutes to go at 2-2. Until then, it had been an even game. However, in the ninetieth minute, the hosts made a decisive, if a tad fortunate, strike to take the victory and the points!
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Wednesday 23rd October 2019
North West Counties League Division 1 North
Chadderton 1
Jordan Butterworth 39,
Shelley 1
Craig Billington 37,
Referee:- Matt Howarth. Attendance:- 145
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£5). Programme:- £2.00
Chadderton’s smart Andrew Street Ground is a quiet oasis in the midst of east Manchester’s sprawling motorway mayhem. A well kept arena with cover down one side (which included around 150 benched seats) and a fine club house bar with refreshments at pitch side. There was a good crowd for this match between two teams becalmed in mid-table and after a goal to each side, late in the opening session, the second half petered out into a tame draw. Good to see Johnny Holland and Graeme Holmes there!
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This last picture, courtesy of Graeme Holmes, who was also at the match!
Saturday 26th October 2019
Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division
Fareham Town 7
Luke Slade 12, 47, 78, 87,
Josh Benfield 52, 81,
Will Harris 84,
Alresford 1
Mike Gosney 9,
Referee:- Robert Walczak. Attendance:- 93
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£5) Programme:- £1.00
On a hideous day of rampant rain, we weren’t sure even if the game would be on! However, the pitch played extremely well and Fareham’s quaint ground with excellent views from main stand and access to the club house through arched recesses which lead, Tardis like, to the main bar gave easy viewing despite the precipitation! The visitors – unbeaten away in the league this season and sitting pretty atop the league – scored first and at half time the scores were level. In the second half, Fareham decisively blew their opponents away, scoring six unanswered goals, with Man of the Match, Luke Slade, helping himself to four of them!
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Monday 28th October 2019
Midland League Division 1
Chelmsley Town 3
Liam Norris 9,
Luke Barlone 32,
Kye Dryden 90+1,
Rocester 1
Elisio Francisco 18,
Redd fed were:- Kurt Bartlett. Attendance:- 64
Admission:- OMGDS£3.00 (£5). Programme:- included.
Chelmsley Town are the tenants of Coleshill Town at Packington Lane on a small pocket of land where the M6, M42 and M6 Toll all converge. Tonight’s contest was, very much, a bottom of the table affair with the visitors starting seven points ahead of their hosts who were languishing precariously two places from the bottom of the table. It was a good open game and a real surprise to see the visitors 1-2 down at the interval having largely bossed the opening session. There were no goals in the second period until the hosts wrapped up the match in added time.
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Tuesday 29th October 2019
Carabao EFL Cup 4th Round
Burton Albion 1
Liam Boyce 52,
Leicester City 3
Kelechi Iheanacho 7,
Youri Tielemans 20,
James Maddison 89,
Referee:- Darren England. Attendance:- 6,186
Admission:- OMGDS £16.00 (£25) programme:- £3.00
The Pirelli Stadium was only 314 shy of capacity for this match which The Foxes won, but not as easily as the score suggests. Two fine strikes from blistering breakaways in the first half saw the visitors to a comfortable half-time lead. The hosts came out fired up after the break and pulled one back inside seven minutes, thereafter, there were good chances for each side, but all were spurned until Leicester City struck a third in the final minute!With Graeme Askham and John Main!
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Wednesday 30th October 2019
DFB Pokal
Hertha BSC 3
D. Lukebakio 48
O Duda 85 (pen)
J Torunavigha 120,
SG Dinamo Dresden 3
M Kone 36
P Ebert 90 (pen)
L Stor 107 after extra time, Hertha BSC won 5-4 on penalties
Referee:- T. Stieler Attendance:- 70,429
Admission:- Programme:-
My grandson Freddie and his dad, Mike went to this game during school half-term.
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Other Matches:-
Wednesday 2nd October 2019
FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Hitchin Town 8 Peterborough Sports 4 Attendance:- 66
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Thursday 3rd October 2019
FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Wellingborough Town 2 Rugby Borough 5 Attendance:- 69
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Monday 7th October 2019
Midland Floodlit Youth League Birmingham FA Joel Richards Cup 2nd Round
Rugby Borough 4 Solihull Borough 2 Attendance:- 49
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Wednesday 30th October 2019
BUCS Midland 1
Loughborough University 2nd 1 De Montfort Leicester University 1 Attendance:- 16
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Matches:-
This month:- matches – 26 new grounds:- 16
This season:- matches – 81 new grounds:- 43
TOTAL:- matches – 4,251 new grounds:- 1,598
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Walks
Thursday 3rd October 2019
Directly opposite the semi-submerged Normanton Church is the finger of the Hambleton peninsular which juts out into Rutland Water. This morning in quite cool weather, we walked a circular route around the peninsular. The footing was generally good despite the recent heavy rain and we added a bit at the start by walking to the very edge of the water before striking inland back to the path. 6.4 miles with Alison Merrick and only one style.
Monday 14th October 2019
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The recent heavy rain meant that Pitsford Water with its firm tracks was the only comfortable place for walking this morning! Even so, it grew increasingly wet as the morning wore on, but we were well equipped to withstand the monsoon! We even managed an unintended detour which opened up possibilities for future walks to take in Scaldwell, Hanging Houghton and Brixworth! No stiles and 7.2 miles with Alison Merrick and Maureen Owens.
Thursday 17th October 2029
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On our way to Rutland Water, we passed through the flooded Welland Valley after the recent heavy precipitation. The walk round the Hambleton finger was generally flood free, but soft in parts underfoot. The water itself was calm and serene and we encountered giant toadstools along the way, until we came to the end of the walk where the road disappears into the water and the former village of Nether Hambleton! With Alison Merrick and Harry Hamill, 6.17 miles and two stiles!
