The Football Pitch that Dad Built (continued)
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The goals we scored were okay,
may even have been good,
may occasionally have been brilliant
but they were nothing compared to the goals
they would have been with real nets.
Following that path of the ball
and seeing the net billow with the shot
would always be more spectacular
and would always be more like Match of the Day.
Plus the fact that we wouldn’t have to run
twenty yards to get the ball back afterwards
which always took away the thrill of the goal.
by Paul Cookson
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Saturday 2nd November 2019
Vanarama National League
Barnet 2
Jack Taylor 62 (pen),
Mauro Vilhete 80,
Chorley 1
Marcus Carver 30,
Referee:- James Durkin. Attendance:- 1,048
Admission:- Hospitality. Programme:- online only
The heavens opened, and the wind swirled – especially in the second half at The Hive as my two elder sons – James and Mike – and I, remembered back just over thirty years to March 1989 and Chorley’s first visit to Underhill (as it was in those days) and a famous 4-2 victory. Sadly, it was not to be today. Chorley struck first for a half time lead, but were undone by a dubious penalty and a late strike despite an awesome display by central defender, Courtney Meppen-Walter! Also there today, youngest son Liam who was but a babe thirty years ago and grandsons, Sonny and Kingsley (and mother, Cora) along with Phil Evans!
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Jimbo with Kingsley and (nearest the camera) Sonny.
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Monday 4th November 2019
Bet-Victor Southern League Division 1 Central
Coleshill Town 1
Lewis Rankin 5,
Thame United 0
Referee:- Richard Cattell. Attendance:- 89
Admission:- OMGDS £7.00 (£10). Programme:- £1.50
Same ground, different team, last Monday it was tenants, Chelmsley Town, tonight, the landlords were playing some two divisions higher than the tenants. A good, open game deserved more goals than the fifth minute decider which saw the hosts take the victory and the spoils.
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Tuesday 5th November 2019
Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 Cup 2nd Rnd
Hillingdon Borough 4
Hamza Miezou 11, 70,
Ash Hunt 16,
Bilal Sanchez 45,
Park View 3
Francis Williams 8,
Kofi Appiah 82,
Edmond Kojo Sampong 87,
Referee:- Yasha Yekta. Attendance:- 17
Admission:- F.O.C. Programme:- Free
It may be called The Middlesex Stadium but it is a tired, dilapidated edifice. Conversely, the club house was an eye-opener with chicken and chips on the menu and big screen choice of European Champions League games! The match was a cracker, too. The visitors opened the scoring, but were 4-1 down with less than ten minutes left. Two goals late on gave them hope, but the hosts held on for victory! A paltry attendance, but the fireworks all around suggested alternative entertainment! With Graeme Askham and John Main.
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Saturday 9th November 2019
Emirates FA Cup 1st Round
Mansfield Town 1
Nicky Maynard 83,
Chorley 0
Referee:- Savvas Yianni. Attendance:- 2,418 (250)
Admission:- Hospitality. Programme:- included (£2)
I never knew that Field Mill laid claim to being the oldest football ground in the world – since 1861. Considering the recent weather, the pitch was immaculate, but this match will not go down as one of The Stag’s finest. They struggled to break down a solid Magpie defence and it was only seven minutes from time that they managed the breakthrough. Chorley defended well but showed little in attack. Thoroughly enjoyable day with son, Mike and grandson, Freddie!
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Tuesday 12th November 2019
Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup 2nd Round
Quorn 2
Jack Henchcliffe 4,
Nathan Dale 44,
Warstone Wanderers 1
Connor Forrester 36,
Referee:- Najim Nagy. Attendance:- 33
Admission:- OMGDS £5 (£?) Programme:- NONE
If the hosts had played their strongest side then this match might have been out of sight for the visitors from very early on. As it was, the Wanderers (who play in The West Midlands Regional League Division 2) went a goal down after only four minutes. They drew level ten minutes before the interval, but found themselves adrift again to a goal on the stroke of half-time. There were several chances to both sides in the second half, but no further goals although the visitors squandered a penalty opportunity to equalise on the hour mark!
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Wednesday 13th November 2019
Lincolnshire Senior Trophy Quarter-Final
Bourne Town 0
Holbeach United 3
Spencer Tinkler 37,
Joe Braithwaite 50,
Jonny Lockie 76,
Referee:- Ashley Baldock-Smith. Attendance:- 97
Admission:- £5.00. Programme:- NONE
Abbey Lawn is one of the gems of The United Counties League – even though they had to suffer enforced relegation to Division 1 because the ground is not fully enclosed. They are struggling this season and in the bottom three. On the other hand, a division higher, Holbeach are in the top four, but tonight’s team contained a fair sprinkling of occasional first team players. They won fairly easily on a cold evening, with the pitch white with hoar frost!
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Friday 15th November 2019
Danske Bank Irish Premiership
Carrick Rangers 1
Guillaume Keke 14,
Crusaders 3
Ross Clarke 56,
Jordan Owens 90+3
Jamie McGonigle 90+5
Referee:- Evan Boyce. Attendance:- 644
Admission:- OMGDS £8.00 (£12). Programme:- NONE
The Loughshore Hotel Arena didn’t really live up to its name. It had a quaint Victorian appeal with the vast stand down one side, but the ground was dowdy and careworn. Sad to see, there were no programmes, but we managed to snaffle team sheets from the press box. The hosts started brightly and went a goal up early on. Thereafter, however, they were under the cosh as the visitors increased the pressure, equalised around the hour mark and then right at the death and deep into added time, they pinched two further goals to give them a deserved victory! With Graeme Askham!!!
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Saturday 16th November 2019
Northern Ireland National U-14 League Group A
Linfield 2
Liam Burns 48,
Jay McDowell 51,
Ridgeway Rovers 0
Referee:- Gerard Thornton. Attendance:- 44
Admission:- F.O.C. Programme:- NONE
New ground number 1,600. Matches:- 4,259
It was good to see Linfield’s stadium considerably improved since my last visit and just across the car park – and part of the regeneration – is Midgley Park, a new fully enclosed 3G ground with covered seating for around 170 spectators. The game was not of the highest quality as Linfield battered their opponents, and yet, it was midway through the second half before they scored – and that was down to an elementary goalkeeping error! The second strike was a delightful individual effort, but, really, they out to have won by double figures!!!
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Saturday 16th November 2019
Danske Bank Northern Irish Premiership
Dungannon Swifts 0
Larne 1
Martin Donnelly 47,
Referee:- Tim Marshall. Attendance:- c600
Admission:- OMGDS £8.00 (£12). Programme:- NONE
Stangmore Park is a delightful, neat and well kept facility with cover on all four sides and seating down one side and behind the far goal. None of the matches this weekend provided programmes – there is no demand, we were told – but team sheets were freely available at all of them. The Swifts are not enjoying much success this season and even the dismissal of of an opposition player after only 25 minutes, failed to ensure parity in this match. The only goal came very early in the second half and there was precious little chance of the hosts ever recovering. The large visiting support cheered their ten men off the pitch at the end of the match!
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Saturday 23rd November 2019
Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Rayners Lane 1
Ronnie Blagden 7,
Winslow United 0
Match abandoned after 41 minutes – floodlight failure.
Referee:- Josh Burns. Attendance:- 53
Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£5). Programme:- £1.00
Rayners Lane FC, in the Harrow area of north London, has recently taken possession of a substantially upgraded stadium on more or less the same footprint as their former home. The pitch is 3G and there is a very luxurious club house (and covered seating on the opposite side of the ground). Today’s game in the rain was between 5th place and visiting 2nd place, but was sadly curtailed when the floodlights failed at the end of the first half! With Graeme Askham.
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Tuesday 26th. November 2019
Uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division
Rugby Town 12 (twelve)
Ryan Seal 5,
Danico Johnson 13, 24, 34, 55,
Dylan Parker 17, 69, 78, 89,
Charlie Evans 20,
Fazel Koriya 37,
Jazz Luckie 84
Desborough Town 0
Referee:- Seth Galia Attendance:- 129
Admission:- OMGDS £4.00 (£8). Programme:- £2.00
Rugby Town’s impressive Butlin Road Stadium had an immaculate pitch despite the recent and prolonged precipitation. The team were on fire, too, coming off the back of an 8-0 demolition of Sleaford Town at the weekend. Danico Johnson, a recently returned crowd favourite, helped himself to four before being taken off just after the hour mark. Dylan Parker also notched four as a bewildered Ar Tarn we’re knocked for double six. Good to see Chris Roberts there and Mike Dean!
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Saturday 30th November 2019
Bet Victor Southern League Premier Division South
Walton Casuals 2
Rene Howe 5,
Wayne Brown 89,
Salisbury 1
Warren Bentley 88,
Referee:- Daniel Simpson. Attendance:- 248
Admission:- OMGDS: £6.00 (£12). Programme:- £2.00
On a cold, clear and frosty afternoon at Walton Casuals impressive Xcel Stadium, the high flying visitors found themselves a goal behind after five minutes. Thereafter, they showed that they were the better side but it took them until the 88th minuted to fashion an equaliser. Within a minute, the hosts had regained the lead and there had been more excitement in the final five minutes than in the previous eighty-five minutes. Free team sheets were available and a spacious club house to warm the cockles at half-time. With Graeme Askham.
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Other Matches:-
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Monday 18th November 2019
Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division
Rugby Borough 1 Sileby Town 2 Attendance:- 47
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Tuesday 19th November 2019
Smedley Crooke Memorial Trophy 2nd Round
Loughborough University 3 Barnet Green Spartak 1 Attendance:- 118
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Monday 25th November 2019
Barclays Premier League 2 Division 1
Leicester City u23 4 Derby County u23 1 Attendance:- 232
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Wednesday 29th November 2019
British Universities and Colleges Sport Northern Premier Division
Loughborough University Women 2 Team Durham 2 Attendance:- 288
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Matches:-
This month:- Games:- 16 New Grounds:- 5
This Season:- Games:- 97 New Grounds:- 47
TOTAL:- Games:- 4,267 New Grounds:- 1,603
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