So come on lads The golden rules – remember? Hold your positions Run into space Call for the ball Play to the whistle Pass only to members of your own team. Last of all NEVER GIVE UP Thirteen-nil Sounds bad, but it’s not the end. We can turn it round We can get a result […]
This is the place. Stand still, my steed, Let me review the scene, And summon from the shadowy Past The forms that once have been. The first verse of “A Gleam of Sunshine” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) Tuesday 16th April 2013 Chromasports & Trophies United Counties League k.o.:- 7.45pm Premier Division […]
(from) The Winter Freeze by Tari Mazenenga EARLY MORNING rush, crowds buzzing like honeybees, Ironically enough, nothing’s sweet about this icy winter freeze. The cold blues bring back memories framed in my mind, Monday 10th December Evo-Stik Southern League k.o.:- 7.45pm Premier Division Hitchin Town […]
Autumn Avalanche After the North Berks hop, you might have thought that the mad football hopping world might wind down from the crazy merry-go-round, into calmer waters. Not a bit of it; it seemed that games far and near continued to fly past with machine gun rapidity. Even so, I fell one short of fifty […]
The Great Welsh Hop of 2012 OR RAIN, HEAVY RAIN, FINE, HEAVY RAIN Friday 24th – Monday 27th August 2012 Chris had forecast rain, indeed, his quote was “heavy rain – rain – heavy rain – rain” for the four days of the hop. He wasn’t far out, but at least we got a fine […]
Ahhhh! Slowly, slowly, the drug begins to take effect! Meaningless little friendly matches at first, but very early on a new ground to add to the list speedily followed by four more. It is only the silly season really, still warm, sunny and light in the evenings. Wait till it’s Winter and the gales howl […]
First and foremost, if you were reading my last post “April Showers’, you will know that I was less than pleased with Chorley’s defeat in the Northern Premier League Premier Division Play-Off Semi-final to FC United of Manchester! It almost made up for the disaster of not achieving Blue Square Bet North status to […]
After the Baris Northern Counties East(er) Groundhop, there was barely time to draw breath before it was Bank Holiday Easter Monday and the enticing prospect of three games in a day! Three games in a day used to be pretty easy as teams scattered kick off times like confetti at a white wedding, but of […]
This Easter’s groundhop brings back memories of Easter 1969 when, good Catholic son that I was, I had the temerity in the teeth of my mother’s strong and heated opposition, to go and watch my local team, Chorley, playing a Northern Premier League match at home to great rivals Morecambe. It was as much to […]
After all the excitement of Spain and Wales and The Central Midlands League Bonanza, the last few days of March were a quiet period when dogs lie low and expectation rises in anticipation of the next big hop and before you know where you are……………..the cricket season! Already, I have got upwards of fifty cricket […]
