New Year

What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That’s not been said a thousand times?
The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.
We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.
We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.
We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead.
We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that’s the burden of the year.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850-1919

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Friday 5th January 2023

FA Cup 3rd Round

Fulham 1

Bobby De Cordova-Reid 24,

Rotherham United 0

Referee: Dean Whitestone.                                    Attendance: 15,083

Admission: OMGDS £15.00 (£20).                     Programme: £3.50

By train from Corby to St Pancras and then tube to Putney Bridge. The District Line was particularly busy and is apparently experiencing difficulties due to engineering works. I have not been to Craven Cottage since I went there to see a friendly International match on 3rd May 2014, where Italy and Republic of Ireland drew 0-0. The new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage is not yet in operation, but looks impressive. Kids got in for £1 for this match which pleased my grandsons. Dad and mum were there, too. The match itself was nothing to write home about. A severely depleted Fulham side dealt economically with The Championship’s bottom club and progress to Round 4.

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Craven Cottage

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from the front :- Sonny, Kingsley, Jim and Cora

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The new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage  …. was not in use for this match  ….. or is it not yet completed?

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Sunday 7th January 2024

FA Cup 3rd Round

Luton Town 0

Bolton Wanderers 0

Referee: Andrew Madley.                                                                         Attendance: 10,739

Admission: Hospitality (£85 adults and £35 for children).              Programme: incl. (£3)

I love trains and football days – even when the first train is cancelled when you get to the station! We had a wee spot of hospitality at Kenilworth Road in a packed stadium, creaking and groaning, and seriously in need of replacement. Despite the lack of goals, it was a pretty tense and exciting encounter and Wanderers fully deserved to fight another day.

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Freddie and Ed

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Freddie, Kingsley and Sonny

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Monday 8th January 2024

Premier League 2

Leicester City U21 2

Harvey Godsmark-Ford 18, Oliver Ewing 90+3

Newcastle United U21 2

Dylan Stephenson 2, Ben Parkinson 74,

Referee: Abigail Byrne.                                       Attendance: 199

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                     Free team sheet

It looked like it was going to be another defeat for Leicester after Newcastle took a second minute lead. We were all thinking if it was a question of ‘how many?’. The Foxes fought back, however, and were level by half-time. In the second half it was just a question of when Newcastle were going to regain the lead – and they did, midway through the half. A scrambled goal deep into injury time at the end of the match, allowed the hosts to grab a draw from what seemed certain defeat!

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Tuesday 9th January 2024

Nathaniel MG Welsh League Cup Semi-final

Guilsfield 0

Iwan Matthews penalty saved 84,

The New Saints 2

Jordan Williams 42, 74,

Referee: Huw Jones.                                            Attendance: 296

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£7).                      Programme: £1.00

Locating the floodlights was fairly straightforward, but finding an entrance to the ground was a tad more fraught – at one point, I ended up in a farmyard. Pleasant ground, seated stands on both sides and hardstanding all round, the bell ringers, from St Aelhaiarn’s church in the town, kept up a cacophony of campanology, but it didn’t help the host’s players. They were well beaten on the night, but their’s was a spirited defeat. They never gave up. However, TNS progress to the final and a prize of £10k plus a place in next season’s Scottish FA Cup at stake.

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Saturday 13th January 2024

Wessex League Division 1

Millbrook 6

Krysiek Krysztofowicz 9, 11, 22, 30, Mark Barker 69, Jamie White 74 (pen),

Frimley Green 1

Ronan Smith 52, Ben Harris s/o 73

Referee: Jack Hussey.                                   Attendance: 53

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£6).               Programme: £1.00

Millbrook – the Southampton variety – are comparative newcomers to the football fraternity having been formed (by amalgamation) in 2021, but they can trace their antecedents back as far as the formation of Bush Hill FC in 2002. They play at The Test Park Sports Ground, part of the Solent University sports complex. They are currently riding high in the play-off places, whilst their opponents are flirting with relegation. Four first half goals for the unpronounceable Krysiek Krysztofowicz set the tone for the match, but the visitors scored first in the second half, before having a man dismissed and conceding two further strikes.

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Tuesday 16th January 2024

Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1

Walsall Wood 2

Joshua Mansell 28, Alec Bradley 72,

Corby Town 4

Jack Keeble 35, 45, 52, Connor Tomlinson 36,

Referee: Richard Walker.                                 Attendance: 136

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£6).                    Programme: £2.00

Ten years since my last visit to Oak Park, the neat and tidy home of Walsall Wood and quite surprised at how reasonable the entrance fee (my grandson was charged just £1). The game was full of goals. The hosts scored first, but found themselves 1-3 down at the interval. In the second half, The Steelmen scored a fourth and then attempted to shut up shop, not a wise decision. The hosts pulled one goal back and could easily have had two or even three more goals, but in the end Corby hung onto and took the victory and the points. With grandson, Freddie.

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Belgium 2024

The 05.35 train from Corby to St Pancras to link up with Jim, Jonny Crane and Mark Sumner for the 09.01 Eurostar train to Brussels. Once in Brussels Midi-Suid, we caught a local train to Ghent.. Lovely city (and we walked a great deal around it, even our apartment was over a mile from the station). It was VERY COLD – much colder than in England – and there was ice and snow all around, but not recent. Lunch, then onto the apartment, I had a room to myself, but they had left the windows open and it was very cold!

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Friday 19th January 2024

(Belgian) Erste Klasse A

KAA Gent 1

Julien De Sart 60,

KV Mechelen 2

Daam Foulon 26, Bill Leroy Antonio 83,

Referee: Jonathan Lardot.                 Attendance: 12,696

Admission: €20.00.                            Programme: NONE, free teamsheet

If you think it’s cold in The UK, it’s Baltic in Belgium, with the temperature never rising above freezing and footpaths treacherously icy. Third placed Gent were out thought and undone by tenth place Mechelen, who attacked well on the counter and made the most of their few opportunities. For all their possession, the hosts carried little threat. With Jonny Crane and son, Jim.

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We heard, early on Saturday morning, that our second game – Erste Klasse B: FC Dender v FC Seraing – had been called off. Postponed due to the icy conditions. So, we entrained for Bruges and spent the afternoon looking round the city, visiting the Club Brugge shop and dining at Delaney’s Irish bar. In the central square, a procession in fancy dress was taking place with horse drawn carriages, but we never did find out what it was all about!

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The main square in Bruges

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The main square in Bruges.

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Naturally, we sampled the local brews

Jonny, across the table!

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Saturday 20th January 2024

(Belgian) Erste Klasse A

Club Brugge KV 3

Thiago 37, 65 (pen),Antonio Nusa 80,

KVC Westerlo 0

Arthur Piedfort s/o 90+1

Referee: Nicolas Laforge.                               Attendance: 18,583

Admission: €35.00.                                        Programme: NONE

Our earlier match at FC Dender having fallen to the icy conditions, tonight’s encounter in sub zero temperatures was our only match of the day. Westerlo started brightly, the little club from the sticks with average crowds of around 6,000 were up against the mighty Club Brugge in their fine stadium and it was the mighty Brugge who eventually prevailed with a first half goal from Thiago, a second from the same player, just after the hour and, ten minutes from time, Antonio Nusa struck the third. The visitors also had a player dismissed right at the end for a second yellow card. With Mark Sumner, Jonny Crane and son, Jim. We had a taxi pre-booked to take us back to the station in time to catch the very last train of the day back to Gent.

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Jonny Crane, Jim and Mark Sumner

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Jonny Crane

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Sunday 21st January 2024

(Belgian) Erste Klasse A

Royal Antwerp 4

Sporting de Charleroi 1

Referee: Eric Lambrechts.                                      Attendance: 12,444

Admission: €35.00                                                  Programme: NONE

The awesome approach to the ground belies the work in progress to bring it up to standard. An entire stand down one side is out of action and in need of replacement. Much has already been achieved, but much still needs to be done! The ground is, apparently, privately owned and there is some discussion about the best way forward to bring it up to modern standards. On the field, the hosts had little difficulty in dismantling the visitors defence, the only surprise was that Charleroi managed a very late consolation goal. With Mark Sumner.

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                                                       Yours Truly, Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 21st January 2024

(Belgian) Erste Klasse A

RWD Molenbeek 0

KAS Eupen 1

Edmond Renaud 58,

Match abandoned after 85 minutes.

Referee: Nathan Verboomen.                                Attendance: 3,500

Admission: €5.00.                                                   Programme: NONE, free team sheet

The match was on special offer at five euros at Molenbeek’s tired Edmond Machtensstadion, but the match was poor entertainment, no shots on target until the visitors struck in the 58th minute and no sign of the drama to unfold. With ten minutes to go and not a single home team shot on target, the faithful became restless and bangers – loud ones – were thrown around and onto the pitch. The referee took the players off for around twenty minutes and then restarted the match and almost immediately, another firework was hurled onto the pitch. That was that. The match was abandoned and riot police confronted angry fans whilst we were kettled in behind them, but eventually let out through a side gate. Fireworks were still being thrown at police as we hurried to catch the tram back to Brussels MidI-Zuid.

In accordance with Belgian FA and league rules, the final six minutes were played out at Molenbeek the following Wednesday. There were two further bookings, but no further goals and KAS Eupen won the match 1-0.

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No spectators allowed behind the goal, but the people in the flats had a good view!

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Riot police facing angry fans at Molenbeek

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The author, martialling his facts on the train from Antwerp to Brussels

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And that was the end of our Belgian sortie. Jonny Crane and my son Jim went to a different afternoon game: Belgian Erste Klasse B – Zulte Waregem 1 Jong Genk 1 (attendance: 5,539). After their match, they made their way to Brussels Midi-Zuid to catch the evening Eurostar back to London. Mark Sumner and I had booked into Appart’City hard by the station for one night, in order to catch the Molenbeek match, and met up with John Higgins who had been at Union St Gilloise for a match in the afternoon, whilst we were at Royal Antwerp. The following morning, we, too, boarded Eurostar for the trip back to London. It had been an exhilarating – but very cold – weekend, highly enjoyable, but also quite demanding.

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Tuesday 23rd January 2023

Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division

Aylestone Park Reserves 5

Lewis Turland 27,Aaron Preston 45+2 (pen), 66, Daniel Henry 63, Marley Spencer 72,

Thurnby Rangers 3

Connor Dixon 9, Colby White 47, 78,

Referee: Simon Fradley                                  Attendance:- 44

Admission: OMGDS £2.00 (£4.00)            Programme: NONE

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Tuesday 30th January 2024

Vanarama National League North

Banbury United 2

Manny Maya 10, Charlie Waller 32,

Darlington 1

Mitchell Curry 69

Referee: Eugene Robinson.                                      Attendance: 534

Admission: OMGDS £11.00 (£15).                         Programme: £3.00

Very impressed that 76 Darlington fans made the 400+ round mile trip to Banbury for tonight’s match! The Quakers are seemingly doomed to relegation! The Puritans, meanwhile have just strung two wins together to give themselves a realistic chance of escaping the drop. After Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Hereford, the visitors arrived with positive intent, but they lack a cutting edge and posed little threat until a comical error in the home defence presented them with what turned out to be a consolation goal. Two first half strikes won the game for Banbury..

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Like rain it sounded till it curved

And then I knew ’twas wind –

It walked as wet as any Wave

But swept as dry as sand –

When it had pushed itself away

To some remotest Plain

A coming as of Hosts was heard

That was indeed the Rain –

It filled the Wells, it pleased the Pools

It warbled in the Road –

It pulled the spigot from the Hills

And let the Floods abroad –

It loosened acres, lifted seas

The sites of Centres stirred

Then like Elijah rode away

Upon a Wheel of Cloud

by Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886)

Wednesday 1st November 2023

United Counties League Division 1

Blackstones 4

Birstall United 0

Referee: Ryan Allison.                                               Attendance: 94

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6).                            Programme: £2.00

The floodlights glowed down from the treetops and leaves scattered the field like a golden harvest of poppies. Blackstones have an atmospheric ground which stirs the spirit and, tonight, their team were electric, too. Both of these teams are there or thereabouts in the play-off places and it was the hosts who leapfrogged their rivals with a stunning and decisive victory.

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Atmospheric as the moon glows behind the giant triffids rising above the trees to light the game!

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Tuesday 7th November 2023

Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1

Spalding United 1

Jordan Graham 21,

Corby Town 2

Connor Tomlinson 33, Daniel Gordon 73,

Referee: Dan England.                                     Attendance: 279

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£10).                 Programme: £2.00

On a mild November evening at the well appointed Sir Halley Stewart Field, something had to give. Five home wins for the hosts in second place in the table, five away wins for the mid-table visitors. It was the Steelmen who took the honours, coming from behind to take a winning lead from a free kick in the 73rd minute following the dismissal of the offender for a second yellow card. With grand son, Freddie.

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A large contingent of Corby Town supporters cheered their side on!

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Saturday 11th November 2023

West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1

Wyrley Juniors 0

Wellington Amateurs 2

Rune Corinaldi 32, Joshua Wycherley 50

Referee: Mark Owen.                                       Attendance: 34

Admission: £5.00.                                           Programme:- NONE

Barely a hundred yards away, across the road and over the railway bridge from Sikh Hunters’ Long Lane Park, is … Long Lane, home of today’s hosts, Wyrley Juniors, sadly struggling in this division, with only one league win all season. Their opponents, sit proudly atop the league, with a couple of games in hand. A goal in each half was enough to garner a regulation victory for the visitors, but they really should have scored more!

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Monday 13th November 2023

Birmingham FA Senior Cup 2nd Round

Coleshill Town 0

Redditch United 0

(Coleshill Town won 4-2 on penalties)

Referee: Lewis Smith.                                   Attendance: 144

Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£10).             Programme: NONE

An eminently forgettable game on the Pack Meadow 3G surface, where defences dominated and chances were extremely thin on the ground. The visitors had two spot kicks saved, the hosts scored all of theirs! With John Main and Lee West.

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Tuesday 14th November 2023

Northants Senior (Hillier) Cup 2nd Round

Kettering Town 4

Will Mellors-Blair 65, 76 (pen), Huw Dawson 81, Kieran Dawes 87,

Corby Town 2

Daniel Gordon 4, Toby Hillard 48,

Referee: Harry Price. Official                                 Attendance: 183

Admission: OMGDS £10.00 (£15).                      Programme: NONE

A pricey night out at Kettering Town’s shambles of a stadium in Burton Latimer. The visitors were good value for a half-time lead which they doubled at the start of the second period. They then gave away a silly goal from a custodian’s error and shortly afterwards, the referee intervened to award the hosts a dubious penalty. It was more than the visitors could bear and two late strikes sealed the victory for The Poppies.

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Wednesday 15th November 2023

Eastern Counties League Division 1 North

FC Peterborough 3

Holbeach United 1

Referee: Rhys Taylor.                                          Attendance: 162

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

The last time I was at Chestnut Avenue, Peterborough Northern Star (now defunct) were the hosts and FC Peterborough were plying their trade in the lower echelons of the PDFL. This evening, I was gifted a club badge on entry and accosted (in good heart) by a batsman I’d given out LBW last May! The hosts were clearly the superior side and it was only after they introduced a plethora of substitutes that the visitors were able to claim a consolation strike.

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Saturday 18th November 2023

Southern Counties East League Premier Division

Hollands & Blair 2

Dean Grant 12, Frankie Griffin (pen) 48,

Rusthall 1

Jesse Hammond 3,

Referee: Kristian Kaczala.                                      Attendance: 115

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£8).                         Programme: on line

Not a fan of 3G, but this small, cramped ground with hardstanding all the way round, cover behind the near goal and covered seating down each side, was quite attractive, despite black being the dominant background colour. These two teams occupy places in the bottom half dozen of the division yet, surprisingly they produced a competitive and evenly matched contest. A goal apiece at the interval, the hosts scored from the spot almost immediately after the break and just about deserved the victory and the points. With John Main.

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The penalty, just after half-time which sealed the victory for the hosts.

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Tuesday 21st November 2023

Southern Combination League Premier Division

Crawley Down Gatwick 3

Sam Clements 30, Oli Leslie 56, 59,

Shoreham 0

Referee: Patrick Joliffe.                                           Attendance:- 61

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                          Programme: NONE

Fine repast at The Duke’s Head, prior to the match, then onwards to the ground hidden behind The Haven pub cum cafe in the village of Crawley Down. There is a substantial seated stand down the near side, covered standing behind one goal and hard standing all the way round the pitch. The visitors are rock bottom of the division and the wonder is how they managed to escape with a mere 0-3 defeat! The hosts were profligate and wasteful and that piece of tautology is nearly as bad as the title of the competition.

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Number 4 for the away side is: Tom Bold.

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Wednesday 22nd November 2023

Norfolk FA Senior Cup 2nd Round

Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers 0

Heacham 1

Nathan Davies 8, Nathan Davies s/o 39. Charlie Royle s/o 78,

Referee: James Sneddon.                             Attendance: 106

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).               Programme: £1.00

The hosts play their home matches at “The Nest”, a community hub and sports centre close to Norwich airport. There are two floodlit 3G pitches and a host of other sporting facilities and opportunities. Dussindale are newly arrived in the Eastern League, whilst Heacham, in only their second season, are already a division above them. A single goal separated the sides, the visitors had a player dismissed in each half, yet were still able to keep the hosts at bay and defend an eighth minute lead to proceed to the next round. With John Main, Paul Proctor and Chris Garner.

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Saturday 25th November 2023

Isthmian League South East Division

Broadbridge Heath 0

Burgess Hill Town 0

Referee: James Kerten.                                       Official Attendance: 228

Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£10).                    Programme: £2.00

The hosts moved into their purpose built stadium just four years ago. Previously, they had been playing at the athletics stadium adjacent to their present new ground. There is an extensive club house with changing rooms and social/catering facilities, a stand with a hundred seats on the opposite side of the ground, and a small covered area behind one goal. The game was competitive and entertaining, but chances – never mind goals – were few and far between!

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Tuesday 28th November 2023

NCEL League Cup 2nd Round

Louth town 5

Sam Swinn 45+1, Bailey Wright 74, Harry Crawford 79, Reece Southwood 84, Harry Jacklin 86,

Armthorpe Welfare 0

Referee: Robert Nunn.                                                   Official Attendance: 105

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                                 Programme: £1.00

The last time I saw Louth town play was at Park Avenue, back in 2009, when a crowd more than twice the size of tonight’s gathering saw a thrilling FA Vase tie which Sleaford Town won, after extra time, by the odd goal in seven. It is quite a story how Louth United went out of action in 2007, reformed and continued to play at Park Avenue, lost their ground and reformed again to play at their present location. When I first came to see them, I happened on this ground before being directed to their then ground! Tonight was Louth Town’s first match under floodlights at their new ground, which, sadly, is not even in Louth, but down the road at Saltfleetby. In a lacklustre first half they laboured against relegation threatened Welfare, but four second half strikes sealed the tie decisively. Nice touch in the urinals in the men’s loo!

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The only available seating was in a 50 seater Meccano stand down one side.

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Improving accuracy in the loo!

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Originally, when I asked at the turnstile for a programme, they told me programmes were “on line only”. Then I discovered this sitting behind the bar and purchased the official matchday programme for £1.00. Free team sheets were also available.

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[…]

October Poem

The month of carnival of all the year,
When Nature lets the wild earth go its way,
And spend whole seasons on a single day.
The spring-time holds her white and purple dear;
October, lavish, flaunts them far and near;
The summer charily her reds doth lay
Like jewels on her costliest array;
October, scornful, burns them on a bier.
The winter hoards his pearls of frost in sign
Of kingdom: whiter pearls than winter knew,
Oar empress wore, in Egypt’s ancient line,
October, feasting ‘neath her dome of blue,
Drinks at a single draught, slow filtered through
Sunshiny air, as in a tingling wine!

by Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885). She was a poet, a novelist and an activist who campaigned on behalf of native Americans. Her “Calendar of Sonnets”, offered a sonnet for every month of the year, accompanied by illustrations.

 Francis Lee (29th April 1944 – 2nd October 2023)

When I were a lad, I were a big supporter of Bolton Wanderers. They got relegated from th’ old First Division around 1964 and, that season, Franny Lee were Bolton Wanderers’ top scorer. It were also round about then that they had these two wingers. “Tiny” Taylor on the left wing and Franny Lee on the right wing.

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I think I first saw him play in an FA Cup 3rd Round replay against non-league Bath City at Burnden Park on 6th January 1964 . There were a big crowd that night (26,500) and Franny scored a penalty in Bolton Wanderers 3-0 victory.

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Wednesday 4th October 2023

EFL Championship

Leicester City 3

Kiernan Dewsbury Hall 60, 90,, Kelechi Iheanaco 76, 

Preston North End 0

Referee: Darren England.                             Attendance: 30,380

Admission: OMGDS £32.50 (£40).
Programme: £3.50

After a torrid yawn of a first half, the hosts woke up and smote three past a very defensive and lacklustre North End side, to take The Foxes back to the summit of the EFL Championship.

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Saturday 7th October 2023

LeicestershireSenior League Premier Division

Burbage & Huncote 9 

Tom Mason 11,22, Cameron Atkinson 32, 64, 65, 70, Liam Pescott 41, 51, 81,

Barrow Town 3

Tramaine Byron 17, Dean Hopewell 28, Joe Smith 57,

Referee: Martyn Jarvis.                                             Attendance: 35

Admission: F.O.C.                                                      Programme: NONE

A warm Indian Summer’s afternoon at well equipped Huncote Sports Club which has a cricket pitch and two football pitches, one railed and with substantial dugouts – and a large bar and refreshment area and equally large changing rooms. The visitors used to grace The United Counties League and The Midland League, but are now languishing in the lower reaches of the LSL Premier Division. There were six goals in each half. The first half was the more evenly balanced, with the hosts taking a 4-2 lead, but after the break, they ran in five more to one in reply to claim a stunning and deserved victory.

Wednesday 11th October 2023

United Counties League Premier Division South

GNG Oadby Town 2

Lamar Parkes 48, Tyrel Francis 90+6

Lutterworth Town 5

Benjamin Adomako 3, Nick Reeves 17 (pen), 47 (pen), Ben Bradshaw 36 (pen), Luke Wilson 65,

Referee: Adam Crosby-Smith. Attendance: 68

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£6). Programme: £2.00

A new seated stand has appeared at Narborough Road since my last visit, and seeing as Oadby Town no longer really exist – even their ground has apparently been taken over by Leicester Tigers – I think the time has come for GNG to revert to their original status. Tonight they were well beaten by a side struggling and fourth from bottom in the league. Three unanswered first half strikes, including two penalties, were followed by a third penalty immediately after the restart. The visitors added a fifth before the hosts redeemed some pride with the final goal deep into added time at the end of the match.

Saturday 14th October 2023

Northants Combination Premier Division

Heyford Athletic 0

Corby Strip Mills 4

Oak Mapson, 23, Bradley Marshall 48, Liam Brown 66, Louis Martin 71,

Referee: Nathan Japp.                                           Attendance: 16

Admission: F.O.C.                                                  Programme: NONE

A decided chill in the air in the Northamptonshire village of Nether Heyford and a fine repast at The Sun hostelry before repairing to the Heyford Playing fields (football, cricket, tennis, bowls, netball/basketball) for the afternoon match. There was a large club house with bar and refreshments and a railed field with hardstanding down most of one side, but precious little else, apart from a tiny covered area at the far end of the clubhouse. The match was fairly even until half-time when the visitors led by a single goal, but after the break, they ran riot, scoring three but missing many more gilt edged chances!

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Monday 16th October 2023

MMP Central Wales League South

Knighton Town 2

Callum Stead 43, Declan Beddoes 64,

Aberystwyth University 1

Adam Carey 88,

Referee: Christopher Corfield.                          Attendance: 95

Admission: £3.00.                                              Programme: NONE

A quaint ground, with an air of genteel decline and a pitch that looked as if it had hosted a herd of cows earlier in the day! Despite all that, there was a friendly welcome a bar and catering hut that did a roaring trade and a cracker of a game with no time wasting, no feigning of injuries and no need for the physio and his wet sponge. The hosts led at the interval, doubled their lead just after the hour mark and the visitors consolation came with three minutes to go. Plenty of ‘hoppers’ there and a really enjoyable evening!

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Saturday 21st October 2023

Isuzu FA Vase 1st round

Hamworthy Recreation 4

George Deem 12 (pen), Chris Long 28, 43, 56,

Bovey Tracey 0

Referee: Lewis Ward.                                                Official Attendance: 82

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£6).                            Programme: included

Strange place, the BJM Stadium, wonderful clubhouse facilities (there was even a wedding reception going on all afternoon), we enjoyed a pre-match meal and could have watched the game from an outside balcony! However, access to the ground was haphazard – you could easily avoid paying an entrance fee – the ground itself was very open. There was a fifty seater stand on the far side but the only other cover was a small roofed terrace down the near side. The ground is shared with a cricket club. Hamworthy Recreation are enjoying an unbeaten season in the league and are comfortably top with twelve wins and a draw this season. Their only reverse came in the Wessex League Cup when they lost on penalties to more highly placed Moneyfields after a 1-1 draw. As for this match, no contest! The hosts led 3-0 at the interval, took their foot off the pedal after the break, but still ran out 4-0 winners to progress to the FA Vase 2nd Round. With John Main.

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Tuesday 24th October 2023

Vanarama National League South

St Albans City 3

Abby Akanbi 13, 79, Dylan Fage 18,

Slough Town 2

San Bayliss 60, Josh Jackman 74,

Referee: Michael Robertson-Tant.                             Attendance: 1,138

Admission: OMGDS £9.00 (£16.50).                       Programme: £3

Six years since my last visit to Clarence Park, but a first visit for son, Mike and grandson Freddie. Lovely old fashioned ground, with cover on all four sides, but the new-ish plastic dugouts just add to the restricted vision most of the way along the side of the main stand. Good match! Slough’s shambles of a defence let in two early goals, but after the interval, they came back strongly and had equalised with a scant fifteen minutes remaining, only for the defence to let them down again and, rather fortuitously, the hosts held on for victory!

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The view from the main stand was fairly badly obstructed. The ‘dug-outs” should have been below ground level

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Grand Dad and Grand Son – Eddie & Freddie

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Wednesday 25th October2023

EFL Championship

Stoke City 1

Wesley 80,

Leeds United 0

Referee: Paul Tierney.                                 Attendance: 25,871

Admission: OMGDS £20.00 (£30).        Programme: £3

A first visit to the Britannia Stadium for grandson, Freddie and he was mildly impressed with the ground, where before the match all sorts of tricks were played with the floodlights and other coloured lighting. The match itself, was enthralling. Two competent sides generally cancelling each other out, but the hosts had more ambition in attack whilst the visitors had clearly come for a share of the spoils and they were undone, ten minutes from the end by a flashing header from a rare corner kick. The goal and the result sent the home faithful into raptures at the end! Things might have been a little different had Patrick Bamford not missed a 75th minute penalty!

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ITALY 2023

This year it was the turn of my eldest son, Jim (and his friend Jonny Crane) along with grand sons Sonny and Kingsley to make the trip to Italy. We all flew out of Luton Airport on the 06.30 flight and landed safely at Milan Malpensa at 09.40 CET. Straight to Milano Central on the Malpensa Express and met up with Maggie (my sister), briefly, before entraining once again for Genoa. We stayed overnight in Genoa in an airbnb in the San Giorgios area of the city and returned by train the following morning to Milan.

Friday 27th October 2023

Italy Serie A

Genoa CFC 1

Albert Gudmunsson 35,

US Salernitana 0

Referee: Davide Massa.                               Attendance c30,000

Admission: €60.00.                                    Programme: NONE

Genoa Cricket and Football Club, the oldest club in Italy, originally founded as the English cricket team abroad, hence, the cross of England on the club logo. Neither of these two teams are enjoying successful seasons, with but two wins between them from their combined total of eighteen matches – both wins to the hosts, who made it a third victory, albeit a trifle fortunately, this evening, having scored in the 35th minute, they had to withstand a savage second half onslaught from the visitors. Excellent atmosphere with much coloured smoke, flag waving and continuous noise! Great evening!

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Saturday 28th October 2023

Italy Serie B

Feralpisalo 0

AC Reggiana 3

Janis Antiste 7, Luca Cigarini 44(pen), Edoardo Pieragnolo 55,

Referee: Antonio Rapuano.                                    Attendance: c1,750

Admission: OMGDS €10.00 (€15).                      Programme:NONE

Faded glory, genteel poverty, what once must have been a magnificent stadium looks tired and forlorn, great chunks of the running track have disappeared and who knows what happened to Piacenza, a strong member of Serie A in the 1990s but now plying their trade in Serie D after bankruptcy in 2012 and re-formation in 2019. In the meantime, newly promoted Feralpisalo are finding life tough in Serie B, currently occupying a relegation spot. Today, they were well beaten by a side also in the lower echelons of the league. The weather was so mild that many of the visiting faithful declined to wear anything above the waist! VAR was used to determine the penalty that led to the second goal.

We were very much indebted to an Italian friend of my sister Maggie (who lives in Milan). Mario Spizzico lives in Piacenza and he was very generous in driving us from the railway station to the stadium AND returning at the end of the match, to take us back to the station in time to catch a very tight connection back to Milan Rogoredo.

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Saturday 28th October 2023 k.o.: 6.30pm CET

Italy Serie C Girone A

AS Giana Erminio 1

Maguette Fall 54,

SSD Pro Sesto 1

Nicolo Bruschi 32,

Referee: Luigi Catanoso.                                 Attendance: c 2,000

Admission: €5.00.                                            Programme: NONE

Another lovely ground that has seen better days, and, despite the paucity of the attendance, we had to queue for half an hour, overseen by a strong carabinieri presence, for the privilege of purchasing a 5 euro ticket, but only after each of our passports had been scrutinised and the details entered on the computer. Once inside the stadium we were met with a three metre high metal fence and viewing high up in the stand was obligatory. This was the third tier of Italian football, but I doubt if any half decent Conference North or South team would have had much trouble in disposing of either side. A goal to the visitors before the break and an equaliser early in the second period, this match had 1-1 stamped all over it! The nearest Metro station was Gorgonzola, home of the cheese, I believe, and that took us back to Milano Centrale.

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Eldest son, Jim with my grandsons, Kingsley, left and Sonny, right.

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On the platform at Gorgonzola Metro and only seventeen stops from Milano Central!

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Sunday 29th October 2023

Italy Serie A

AC Monza 1

Andrea Colpani 27,

Udinese 1

Lorenzo Lucca 66,

Referee:- Alessandro Prontera. Attendance: c10,000

Admission: €30.00. Programme: NONE

A quite impressive ground, but with cover only down one side, the rest of the spectators were open to the elements like Feyenoord in the old days or La Romareda at Real Zaragoza. However, it is a relatively small stadium, accommodating only around 18,500 spectators. Today, it was barely half full. The hosts were the more impressive in the early stages and took the lead after 27 minutes, but Udinese were never out of it and had chances before their 66th minute equaliser. The draw was a fair result.

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Back on Monza Station after a two mile walk from the stadium, grandsons, Sonny, left and Kingsley, right, display their newly acquired Monza scarves.

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Tuesday 31st October 2023

Abacus Lighting g Central Midlands Alliance

Black Dragon North Division

Dearne & District 7

Glapwell 1

Referee:- Richard Trinder.                                 Attendance: 164

Admission: OMGDS £1.00 (£3).                      Programme: NONE

The Dearne Miners Welfare park in Goldthorpe, near Barnsley, is a work in progress. There is hard standing down one side and being constructed behind one goal. There are floodlights, of course and plans to build changing rooms behind the opposite goal. At present, the club house and bar are outside the ground, although alcohol and pies and peas are available inside the ground. They are an ambitious club and unbeaten in the league this season and with ambitions to gain promotion to The Northern Counties East League. At a recent match against second placed Doncaster City, which they won 1-0, there was an attendance of over 700. On a pretty miserable evening, the hosts scored seven, but the visiting keeper played a blinder and kept the score line down. Several hoppers were there and the Alliance president, Eddie Pearce, very optimistic about the future of the league and it’s ambitions.

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‘September’.

Lo! a ripe sheaf of many golden days
Gleaned by the year in autumn’s harvest ways,
With here and there, blood-tinted as an ember,
Some crimson poppy of a late delight
Atoning in its splendor for the flight
Of summer blooms and joys­
This is September.

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) is best-known for her classic novel for children, Anne of Green Gables, set in Montgomery’s own country of Canada (on Prince Edward Island). But Montgomery was also a poet, and in this short poem about September (quoted above in its entirety) she pays tribute to the ‘late delight’ of the month.

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After a superb repast at Bistrot Pierre, in the centre of town and next to a Steampunk festival taking place on the front, we repaired to The Oval, on Channel View Road, a well looked after arena with two seated stands and a standing covered area (all of the Meccano variety, but very suitable nonetheless) on a sunny and warm afternoon. There was confusion over the team lists, which bore no resemblance to the team board written up before the game and no-one, initially, appeared to know who the officials were. However, the stage was set for an FA Cup tie that was ….. underwhelming for the first hour, but which then produced three goals and a victory for the hosts. With Phil Evans and Giles Ashman.

Tuesday 5th September 2023

Vanarama National League North

Tamworth 2

Dempsey Arnott-John 21, Kyle Finn 32,

Chorley 1

Jack Hazlehurst 90+2

Referee: Darren Rogers.                                    Attendance: 921

Admission: OMGDS £14.00 (£18)                  Programme: £3.00

Eighteen years since my last visit and the obvious difference was the installation of a 3G pitch. Apart from that, it was the rip off prices that were charged! £14 for a concession to sit in the stand and that didn’t include £2.00 for the car park! Three pounds for the programme. A carton of curried chips was £4.50 and a cheeseburger was £6.00, not to mention the price of a pint of beer! The team sheets were free, however! As for the game, two early goals for the hosts rather settled the match but Chorley pulled one back in the 91st minute and were unlucky not to equalise a few minutes later.

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Wednesday 6th September 2023

FA Women’s National League Division 1 Midlands

Loughborough Lightning Women 3

Jessica Collyer 17, Hannah Plumb 21, Lauren Purchase 58,

Notts County Women 0

Referee: Charlotte Spalding.                                     Attendance: 126

Admission: OMGDS £2.00. (£5).                            Programme: on line

On a very warm and humid evening, a drinks break was taken in each half as relegated Lightning continued their fine start to the season with a convincing victory over Notts County Women, who have yet to record a victory. With John Main.

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Saturday 9th September 2023

Toolstation Western League Premier Division

Nailsea & Tickenham 0

Manager dismissed 38 mins (foul & abusive language)

Barnstaple Town 2

Billy Tucker (c) 38, Harry Foster 45+6,

Referee: Rebecca Halford.                                Attendance: 118

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£7).                    Programme: On Line.

Just south of Bristol across the Avonmouth bridge and into the North Somerset villages of Tickenham (pop 900) and Nailsea (pop 15,500), although Tickenham has the more impressive parish church of SS Quiricus and Julietta and right on the edge of Nailsea is the football ground, formed as recently as 2015. Most of the facilities (changing rooms, bar, toilets, refreshment areas) are housed in portakabins and the only stand (and covered area) is a scaffolded structure with maybe fifty seats. The club has done well to reach these dizzy heights in just eight years, but they were undone today by a club who recently graced The Southern League. Two first half goals and the dismissal of the home manager for foul and abusive language was enough to clinch the victory for the visitors in desperately hot and humid conditions which necessitated two drinks stoppages in each half! With John Main.

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Monday 11th September 2023

Pitching-in Southern League Premier Division Central

Hitchin Town 3

Stan Georgia 48, Finley Wilkinson 58 (pen), Daniel Idiakhoa 80,

Nuneaton Borough 0

Referee: S Kyle. Attendance: 435

Admission: OMGDS £9.00 (£13). Programme: £2.50

It’s Monday, so it must be Hitchin and around 35 other hoppers joined me for this step three clash at their iconic Top Field stadium. The first half was fairly evenly matched and Borough maybe even shaded it, but they ran out of steam after the break and conceded three times to a rampant Canaries.

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Tuesday 12th September 2023

Servio Hampshire Senior Cup 2nd Round

Alton 3

Nasim Regragui 10, Luke Perkins 19, 33,

Aldershot Town 2

H. McKenna 58, Tommy Willard 61,

Referee: Ant Cross.                              Attendance: 562

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

15.08 train from Corby to St Pancras (16.22)and then Waterloo (17.25) to Alton terminus at (18.31). The ground is a short (ten minute) walk from the station.

Not a fan of plastic surfaces and this one looked a tad worn. It played well, however, and a large crowd were treated to a well fought local derby in which the underdogs ran their visitors ragged in the first period and took a three goal advantage into the interval. After what must have been a tough half-time altercation, a far more determined Aldershot side came out for the second half, laid siege to the hosts goal, pulled two goals back, but, in the end, couldn’t manage to draw level. Excellent game, big crowd!

The reverse journey was a tad more complicated. 21.44 from Alton to Woking (22.21) and was there, supposed to transfer to a non-stop faster train to Waterloo. When I got to the platform, I found that it was eight minutes late! Hence I got into Waterloo five minutes later than if I had stayed on the original train! A fifteen minute wait on the platform at 23.15 for a Piccadilly line tube to St Pancras, but I got there in time for the 23.54 to Corby from which only two passengers alighted (including myself) when it arrived at 01.40.

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Wednesday 13th September 2023

Nottinghamshire Senior League Division 1

FCV Grace Dieu 2

Emiriu Hafeez 19, Danield Brooks 45,

Hucknall Town Reserves 2

Bradley Evans, 28, Kieran Orange 43

Referee: Dave Southern.                                   Attendance: 59

Admission: F.O.C.                                             Programme: NONE

Named after a local 12th century Augustinian monastery close by (but sadly, now, no more than a ruin), this was the host’s first league match at their new home, in their first season in The NSL. By the end of a feisty opening session, all the goals had been scored and the second half was a bit of a let down. There was a goodly smattering of hoppers in attendance, John Main, Martin Hayden, Peter Abbott, Greg, the pencil man, and Kizz Everard! Quite why FCV chose to play in the NSL when they are a Leicestershire side, isn’t known, except that they may have been offered a higher status in The NSL than they might have achieved in The Leicestershire Senior League. The ground is very basic. Two good sized “dug-outs” on the far side and a metal barrier with mesh surrounding the pitch, with viewing down (mainly) one side, but plenty of scope for development for someone with deep pockets.

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Friday 15th September 2023

Premier League 2 League Cup Group G

Leicester City U21 3

Wanya Marcal 31, Amani Richards 56, Silko Thomas 90+4

BurnleyU 21 4

Joe Wesley 45, 80, Basilio Sokoliche 61, Lewis Richardson 64

Referee: Dale Baines.                                               Attendance: 253

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                           Free team sheet

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Saturday 16th September 2023

Velocity Wessex League Premier Division

Bournemouth FC 5

Joe Freak 12, 30,James Stocker 22, Cam McMonagle 85, Jayden Medcraff 88, 

Lymington Town 1

Mati Grybowski 90

Referee: Catalin Tanage.                                            Attendance: 104 (official attendance – 83)

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                             Programme: £1.50

Victoria Park, the quaint home of The Poppies, Bournemouth’s “other” team, is situated in a quiet residential area and is relatively open on three sides, with the fourth side housing a stand to seat around 200 souls, a bar and clubhouse with minimal food options and changing rooms. Today, they were playing bottom of the table Lymington Town, recently of the Southern League. 3-0 at half-time and 5-0 until the ninetieth minute when, belatedly, the visitors pulled one goal back. With John Main.

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Tuesday 19th September 2023

Northants Senior (Hillier) Cup 1st Round

Desborough Town 2

Archie Elmore 74, Rico Duggan 81,

Bugbrooke St Michael’s 2

Johnny Carey 13, Eddie Panter 49,

Desborough Town won 5-3 on penalties.

Referee: Ben Bright.                                                  Attendance : 76

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                            Programme: £1.00

Lovely evening with a cooling breeze at The Waterworks Field as Desborough Town who had taken the visitors apart on their own ground by 5-1, just three weeks ago, found themselves 0-2 down with but half an hour left! They clawed their way back into the match scoring two late goals and then despatched all five of their penalties, whilst the visitors missed their fourth! Good to see Stuart Long at the game. Won a box of chocolates in the raffle, but came out to a flat tyre on my car and had to summon the assistance of the RAC. Didn’t get home until 12.30am!

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The impressive old style floodlight pylons at The Waterworks Field

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Desborough Town Programme – priced at £1.00

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Friday 22nd September 2023

Cymru South

Ammanford 0

Goytre United 1

Ben Cripps 39,

Referee: Alex McInch.                                         Attendance: 208

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£5).                      Programme: NONE

It is the rugby club that dominates in Ammanford, but the football club has the handsome stand with seating for around 300. There were a couple of hundred spectators there, this evening, with but a single portakabin toilet to service them all! There was no programme, this evening, but they do provide programmes more often than not. The hosts sit fourth in the table, but this evening, they were easily contained by visitors from the other end of the table, who snatched the victory and the points with a solitary 37th minute strike.

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Saturday 23rd September 2023 (11.00am)

Macron West Wales Premier League

Pontaddulais Town 1

Ash Johns (og) 36,

Rockspur Fords 6

Kian Griffiths (og) 2, Harry Price 19, Daniel Williams 24, Sam Keefe 45+3, 65 (pen), Colin Harris 54, Ryan Morgan s/o 70,

Referee: Gareth Williams.                       Attendance: 260

Admission: £5.00.                                    Programme: included

The entrance to Coedbach Park from the small but bustling town of Pontaddulais has the atmosphere of Hansel and Gretel wandering into the woods. The ground, at the other end is very basic. A railed pitch and some changing rooms. The match was very one-sided. The visitors led 4-1 at the interval and should have added more than their two second half strikes. There was a red card for the visitors after 71 minutes and, unusually, a sin-binning for the home goalkeeper!

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Saturday 23rd September 2023 (2.00pm)

Macron West Wales Premier League

CK Swiss Valley 1

Thomas Lewis (og) 65,

Garden Village 6

Calem Rees 2, 5, Nathan Logan 38, 54, Tobias Jones 39 (pen), Jack James 56,

Referee: Pascal Neale.                               Attendance: 169

Admission: £5.00.                                    Programme: included

A field with a rail around it, not much more to add to that, except to say that the quality of the refreshments was less than expected from previous ‘hops’ when clubs made a real effort to put on a ‘spread’. The hosts were never in this match. They conceded two goals in the first five minutes and two more before half-time. Even the lone score for them was a gift from the opposition!

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Saturday 23rd September 2023 (4.45pm)

Macron West Wales Premier League

Dafen Welfare 0

Joshua Morgan s/o 29,

Ynystawe 8

Casey Coughlin 5, 54, Can Owens 14, Ben James 25, 33, Michael Morgan 45+1, Ryan Gibbons 69, James Towell 90+1,

Referee: Paul Jones.                                Attendance: 252

Admission: £3.00.                                   Programme: £2.00

Another field for this third match of the day and another game where a bottom half of the table team were thrashed by a top half side. The hosts had a player dismissed on the half hour mark which made an uphill task even more difficult, but, by then, they were already three goals adrift, with two more to come before half-time. The second half was an anti-climax with a mere three further strikes as the visitors eased their foot off the accelerator!

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Sunday 24th September 2023 (11.00am)

Macron West Wales Premier League

Bryn Rovers 3

Adam Campbell 45+2, 53, 62, missed penalty 69,

West End 1

Dale Griffiths 29,

Referee: Robert Fulford.                                      Attendance: 153

Admission: £5.00.                                                 Programme: included

High up in the valleys of South Wales, Bryn Rover’s small ground has no cover and a portakabin changing rooms and toilets. Heavy, unremitting, wind driven precipitation accompanied this contest on a mudbath of a pitch, and at times it was all spectators could do to gain some respite from the rain. For all that, it was a good match. The hosts took the lead in the first half, but were pegged back by the interval and Adam Campbell, the scorer went on to claim his hat trick in the second half, but also smote the bar with a penalty.

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Heavy, unremitting precipitation!

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Adam Campbell’s 69th minute penalty hits the crossbar!

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Changing rooms and toilets, the only furniture at the ground!

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Sunday 24th September 2023

Macron West Wales Premier League

Cwm Wanderers 1

Harvey Ranford 63,

Clydach 4

Ryan Thomas 28,72, Cam Jones 63, Zahid Islam 90+1

Referee: Ryan Kenny.                                   Attendance: 280

Admission: £5.00.                                        Programme: included

Park Afon Twrch is considerably superior to several other grounds in this league. There is a stand with seating for around 200 souls and an extensive clubhouse with bar and a wide range of food and drink available including helpings of the local Welsh broth. It was a good match, too, but the hosts were, eventually, well beaten. However, the score line, maybe, flattered the visitors.

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Monday 25th September 2023

Premier League 2

Leicester City U21 1

Amani Richards 87,

Miiddelsbrough U21 3

Calum Kavanagh 19, Nathan Simpson 54, Max Howells 77,

Referee: Aji Ajibola.                                     Attendance: 216

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).              Free team sheet

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Tuesday 26th September 2023

Combined Counties League

Premier Challenge Cup 1st Round

Yateley United 2

Tom Rudall 75, Fin Scott 90+8

Camberley Town 4

Mason Taylor 37, 45+2, 47 (pen), Stan Jones 78,

Referee: Matthew Childs.                       Official Attendance: 427 (ground record)

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

Very friendly welcome at this relative newcomer to Step 6, Sean Devereux Park was heaving for this first match under floodlights. They have yet to install seats, but the club house is substantial and with hard standing on two sides of the pitch and a small corrugated covered terrace behind one goal, the club is moving in the right direction, one suspects there is a sugar daddy in the background! Tonight, they were taking on a side from Step 5, same league, but a division higher. The visitors achieved a comfortable victory, but the hosts put up strong resistance and were not disgraced. Several hoppers in attendance.

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The teams were displayed on a screen adjacent to the entrance to the club house – an excellent innovation that I’ve not seen elsewhere!

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Wednesday 27th September 2023

United Counties League Premier Division South

Rugby Borough 1

Sam Lockley 90+3

Cogenhoe United 0

Referee: Daniel Haywood.                             Official Attendance: 106

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

A bit of wind and a bit of rain, but these two teams provided an entertaining encounter that could have gone either way with both sides unleashing regular shots on goal, but with time running out a nil-nil draw seemed inevitable. It took a ninety-fourth minute strike to settle the contest! With John Main.

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Saturday 30th September 2023

EFL Championship

Watford 2

Vakoun Bayo 19, Wesley Hoedt 52,

Middlesbrough 3

Riley McGree 5, 12, Josh Coburn 64,

Referee: Oliver Langford.                                Attendance: 18,446

Admission: hospitality.                                    Programme: incl. (£3.50)

Youngest grandson’s ninth birthday present and both he, his brother and dad were cheering a Middlesbrough victory after the hospitality failed to live up to their expectations! The visitors were clearly the better side, but two goals in the opening 12 minutes had been cancelled out by the hosts barely five minutes into the second half! There was still gas in the tank for a winning strike with twenty-five minutes to go, to earn a deserved victory.

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From left:- Kingsley, Ed, Sonny and Jim

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CRICKET:-

Sunday 3rd September 2023

ESCA (English Schools Cricket Association)

U-15 Schools T20 Finals Day at Arundel Castle

1st Semi-final:

Sedburgh School 115 for 8 (20 overs)

lost to

Trent College 116 for 0 (13.1 overs) by 10 wkts.

2nd Semi-final:

Whitgift School 164 for 4 (20 overs)

lost to

Kings College Taunton 168 for 2 (18 overs) by 8 wkts

FINAL:

Kings College Taunton 178 for 4 (20 overs)

defeated

Trent College 142 for 8 (20 overs) by 36 runs

An excellent day’s cricket at an iconic venue!

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picture courtesy of the Arundel CC Twitter page

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picture courtesy of the Arundel CC Twitter page

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picture courtesy of the Arundel CC Twitter page

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The score box, where a lot of recording of the day’s events took place

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Sunday 10th September 2023

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League

Division 2 South (at Nassington CC)

Nassington Women (won toss) 184 for 8 (35 overs)

lost to

Market Overton Women 185 for 3 (24.0 overs)

by 7 wickets

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

In a match affected by heavy rain, and thunder and lightning, at Nassington’s tight little ground on the banks of The River Nene and not too far from Peterborough, the visitors eventually cruised to victory against the plucky hosts, for whom Sophie Lawrence posted a not out score of 112 off 96 balls which included 16 fours.

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Sunday 17th September 2023

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League

Division 2 South (at Nassington)

Nassington Women 262 for 4 (35 overs)

defeated

Shepshed Women (won toss) 80 all out in 12.2 overs

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

Last game of the season at Nassington and last week’s hero, Sophie Lawrence smote another ton, this time scoring 117 off 73 balls with 19 fours and one mighty six! Her opening partner and team captain, Holly Hammond-Lewis, scored an unbeaten half century off 99 balls with 4 fours as she watchfully carried her bat throughout the innings after the opening stand, between the two, of 188. The visitors subsided dramatically, to 80 all out. Last match of the season!

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Holly Hammond-Lewis and Sophie Lawrence beneath their respective individual scores!

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The Lake Isle of Innisfree

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I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made.

Nine bean rows will I have there and a hive for the honey-bee,

And live all alone in the bee loud glade

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And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings,

There midnight’s all a glimmer, and moon a purple glow,

And evening full of linnet’s wings.

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I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore,

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I heat it in the deep heart’s core.

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William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939)

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Friday 11th August 2023

Premier League 2

Aston Villa U21 0

West Bromwich Albion U21 3

Rayhan Tulloch23, Jamie Andrews 69, 83,

Referee: Andrew Humphries.                                    Attendance: 298

Admission: £5.00.                                                        Free Teamsheet

The opening game of a strangely structured Premier League 2, with twenty six teams seemingly in one division. Villa were swept away by a powerful Albion side, but were not helped by a two yellow card dismissal just after the hour mark. With John Main.

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John Main at Bodymoor Heath

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Monday 14th August 2023

Premier League 2

Leicester City U-21   2

Amani Richards 34, Zach Booth 45+7,

Derby County U-21  1
Owen Oseni 82,

Referee: David Richardson                 Attendance: 201

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5)       Free Team Sheet

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Tuesday 15th August 2023

Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division

Cuffley 0

Hinton 2

Cameron Hough 32, Fabian Brown 87,

Referee:- Les Moody. Attendance:- 56

Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE

These two teams are barely five miles apart, the hosts near Potters Bar and the visitors from Enfield. The rivalry is intense, but there was only one winner and with a goal in each half, the visitors, comfortably, took the victory and the spoils!

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Wednesday 16th August 2023

Noerthern Premier League Division 1 Midlands

Corby Town 0

Shepshed Dynamo 1

Reece Morris 89,

Referee: Harley Hetherington. Attendance: 570

Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£10). Programme: £2.00

A large gathering watched the hosts striving mightily to make an impression on this game and they kept the visitors penned in their own half for long periods without ever looking likely to score. Smash and grab in the 89th minutes and the visitors went away considerably the happier!

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Saturday 19th August 2023

Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round

Stockton Town 2

Adam Nicholson 73, Kevn Hayes 90+6,

Ashington 1

Jordan Summerly 53,

Referee: Sam Ross. Attendance: 321

Admission: OMGDS £7.00 (£9). Programme: £2.00

A modest 3G caged arena that nonetheless boasts two seated stands down one side and a hospitality suite as well as a small covered area behind one goal. Two cans of beer/lager/cider for a fiver was a bonus! Today, the hosts were a tad fortunate. They fell behind to a 53rd minute strike which looked likely to win the game, huffed and puffed to equalise with ten minutes remaining, and scored the winning goal in the 97th minute after their opponents had been reduced to ten men.

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Thursday 24th August 2023

Anglian Combination Premier Division

Aylsham 0

Yelverton 2

Jack Watson 13, Dan King 81,

Referee: Leon Howard.                                              Attendance: 94

Admission: F.O.C.                                                      Programme: NONE

Aylsham first played at their new home – Youngs Park – in the 2016/17 season and already plans are afoot for a £1.25 million 3G stadium to be constructed adjacent to the present site. After tonight’s performance and a pointless three game opening to the season, they may have been relegated from the premier division when they take possession of their new arena! Paul Proctor, Martin Hollands and mxhornet were also in attendance for this league match, unusually played on a Thursday.

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Saturday 26th August 2023

Isuzu FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round

Sutton Athletic 1

Jack Kirby 27,

Pagham 1

Dan Simmonds 57,

Sutton Athletic won 4-3 on penalties

Referee: Bruno Marques. Attendance: 59

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£10). Programme: £2.00

Unusual to find such a rustic arena so close to the capital and just over the Thames crossing at Dartford. There was a small scaffolded covered area down the near side and seating (also scaffolded) for around 100 souls on the far side. A small club house, (with changing rooms)and bar completed the amenities. Not a great advert for teams from The SCEL and The SCL, this was a dour contest of few opportunities and the penalty lottery shoot-out was won by the hosts!

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Monday 28th August 2023

Hellenic League Division 1

Tytherington Rocks 1

Kyle Head 43,

FC Bristol 2

Rick Davis 14, Kristian Miller 77,

Referee: Simon Turner. Attendance: 88

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6). Programme: On line

Tytherington, a small village in south Gloucestershire of less than a thousand souls, does very well to support a step six club. The ground, visible from the M5, is situated at the end of a very narrow single track road, with a moderate stand of maybe 50 seats and a small club house with changing rooms and a bar behind the far goal. Today’s visitors, FC Bristol, we’re formerly known as Lebeq and play at the Glos FA HQ in Almondsbury. Today, they had the measure of the hosts and won more easily than the score suggests. The referee added on a total of 25 minutes added time!

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John Main at the entrance to The Harwicke Playing Field

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Tuesday 29th August 2023

Peterborough & District League Premier Division

Stanground Sports 5

Louie Venni 14, 38, 48, 75, James Stainsby 72,

Ramsey Town 0

Referee: Neil Smith.                                                    Attendance: 52

Admission: F.O.C.                                                       Programme: NONE

A railed pitch with substantial dug-outs and a minimum of cover from the persistent precipitation. The hosts were in total command throughout with three second half strikes to add to their 2-0 half time lead. With John Main.

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Wednesday 30th August 2023

United Counties League Premier Division South

Rugby Borough 1

Sam Lockley 58, Max Proudlock (c) s/o 38

GNG Oadby Town 5

Camen Bhanda 33, Mussa Bham 62, 75, 80, Lamar Parkes 73.

Referee: Daniel Miller.                                           Attendance: 88

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£7).                          Programme: £2.00

On their 3G pitch on the night of the super moon, the hosts were given a footballing lesson from a very composed GNG side. The 38th minute sending off, for a second yellow card, of the home captain contributed to the heavy defeat, but in truth, the visitors were always the better side. With John Main.

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CRICKET

Tuesday 1st August 2023

District Pathway Cricket at Wellingborough Old Grammarians CC

Kettering & Corby U-11 211 for 7 (35 overs)

defeated

East Northants U-11 (won toss) 61 all out (17.4 overs) by 150 runs

Umpires: Colin Samuels & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 2nd August 2023

District Pathway Cricket at Rushden & Higham Town CC

East Northants U13 (won toss) 77 for 6 (20 overs)

lost to

Kettering & Corby U-13 78 for 4 (16.1 overs) by 6 wickets

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

In a rain affected match reduced fro the original 35 overs per side, East Northants U=13 were worst affected as the had already completed 10.1 overs when persistent rain showers reduced the match overs.

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Wednesday 2nd August 2023

Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League

Geddington Women  125 for 2 (Caitlin Connelly 50 no) (20 overs)

Brixworth Women (won toss) DNB – match abandoned, RAIN.

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

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Friday 4th August 2023

County U-15 Match at Oundle School

Buckinghamshire U15 101 all out (35.1 overs)

lost to

Northamptonshire U15 (won toss) 104 for 4 (23.4 overs) by 6 wickets

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 6th August 2023 (at Burton Latimer)

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Premier Division

Burton Latimer Women 174 for 7 (45 overs)

defeated

Welbeck Women (won toss) 90 all out (32.1 overs) by 84 runs

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 7th August 2023

County Development Match (at S&L Corby)

Kettering & Corby U-11 (won toss) 100 all out (28.2 overs)

defeated

Northampton & South U-11 50 all out (14.1 overs) by 50 runs

Umpires Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 9th August 2023

County Pathway matches at Oundle School

1. T20

Nottinghamshire U-13  Girls (won toss) 95 for 5 (20 overs)

defeated

Northamptonshire U-13 Girls 92 for 5 (twenty overs) by three runs.

2. The Hundred

Nottinghamshire U-13 Girls (won toss) 82 for 5 (100 balls)

defeated

Northamptonshire U-13 Girls 78 for 7  (100 balls) by seven runs

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

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Saturday 12th August 2023

Northants Cricket League Division 8

at Great Bowden

S&L Corby II (won toss)  240 for 8 (45 overs)

defeated

Great Bowden 157 all out (34.5 overs) by 83 runs

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 13th August 2023

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League

at Nassington

Houghton & Thurnby Women 160 for 6 (35 overs)

defeated

Nassington Women (won toss) 106 for 9 (35 overs) by 54 runs

Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 14th August 2023

District Development Match

at Rushden & Higham Town CC

Northampton & South U13 239 for 8 (35 overs)

defeated

East NorthantsU13  (won toss) 90 all out (24 overs) by 149 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

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Thursday 17th August 2023

District Development T20 Matches

at Wellingborough Old Grammarians CC

Kettering & Corby U-11 119 for 9 (20 overs)

defeated

Northampton & South U-11 104 for 5 (20 overs) by 15 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

East Northants U-11 76 for 5 (20 overs)

lost to

Northampton & South U-11 77 for 5 (16.4 overs) by 5 wkts

Umpires Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 20th August 2023

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League 

at Thrapston CC

Ockbrook & Borrowash Women  92 for 9 (40 overs)

lost to

Thrapston Women   93 for 0 (17.4 overs) by ten wkts

Umpires: Bob Inchley & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 21st August 2023

U-15 T20 Festival 

at Burton Latimer CC

Kettering & Corby U-15 133 all out (18 overs)

lost to

East Northants U-15 137 for 4 (18.4 overs) by six wkts

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

Northampton & South U-15 94 all out (19.2 overs)

defeated

East Northants U-15 78 all out (16.5 overs) by 16 runs

Umpires:- Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

Northampton & South U-15 139 for 2 (20 overs)

defeated

Kettering & Corby U-15 131 all out (19.2 overs) by 8 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

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Tuesday 22nd August 2023

County U-14 Match

at Saffron Walden CC

Essex U-14 (won toss) 227 for 9 (45 overs)

defeated

Northants U-14 145 all out (36.4 overs) by 79 runs

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 23rd August 2023

U-10 County Match

at Rushden & Higham Town

Warwickshire U-10 117 all out (29.2 overs)

lost to

Northamptonshire U-10 118 for 8 (33 overs) by 2 wkts

Umpires: Steve Dickinson & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 23rd August 2023

Northants Midweek Women’s Cricket League Plate FINAL

at Kettering Town CC (6.00pm)

Geddington Women (won toss) 116 all out (18 overs)

lost to

Brixworth Women 117 for 2 (17.1 overs) by 5 wkts

Umpires: Nick Beesely & Eddie McGeown

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Barby is on the Northants and Warwickshire border, and their main team play in The Warwickshire League Division 2. They do, however, amongst their many other teams, have a side in Division 13 of the Northamptonshire League. It is a lovely ground with two full sized pitches separated by a line of trees, a club house with changing rooms and a bar and a substantial score box. Today’s matches were played by enthusiastic sides from Herts and Northants and it was fitting that each team had a victory. Better than that, it was good to see so many talented and enthusiastic young cricketers!

My heart aches and a drowsy numbness pains

My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,

Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains

One minute past and Lethe – wards had sunk.

Tis not through envy of thy happy lot,

But being too happy in thy happiness,

That thou, light winged Dryad of the trees,

In some melodious plot

Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,

Singest of summer with full throated ease.

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from “Ode to a Nightingale” by john Keats (1795 – 1821)

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Tuesday 11th July 2023

Pre-Season Friendly

Lutterworth Town 5

Nuno Gomes 21, 32, 48, 65, Bruno Capella 79,

Nuneaton Griff 0

Referee: Sam Anderson.                                             Attendance:- 64

Admission: F.O.C.                                                        Programme:- NONE

Lutterworth gave away free admission to this match, calculating that the bar receipts would cover expenses. Down one side of the pitch, the covered standing area had its roof removed and new hard standing installed in preparation for an extension. On the field, the step five side predictably dismantled the step six team with four goals from Nino Gomes, but it was a very entertaining tussle with the interjection of a half-time monsoon!

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You can just see the outlines of the covered area that is being re-developed

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Thursday 20th July 2023

Pre-Season Friendly

Thurlow FC 1

Aidan Leach 73,

Thaxted Rangers 0

Referee: Stuart Watson                                                            Attendance: 26

Admission: F.O.C.                                                                     Programme: NONE

Thurlow’s Wratting Road ground in Great Thurlow, is actually just inside Suffolk, but they play in The Cambs County League. Last season, they were undefeated in the fourth tier and won promotion as champions to the third tier, whilst tonight’s rivals play in the second tier of the same league. Despite the paucity of goals, this was a good game and the hosts fully merited their narrow victory.

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Saturday 22nd July 2023

Pre-Season Friendly

AFC Stoneham 1

Jake Thompson 57, 

Camberley Town 1

Charlie Oakley 79,

Referee: Derek Pratt.                                                                       Attendance: 54

Admission: £5.00.                                                                           Programme: NONE

Heavy rain fell on the 3G surface all the way through this public practice game at The home of Hampshire FA. In an evenly contested match between Wessex League Premier and Combined Counties League Premier, the spoils were shared.

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Tuesday 25th July 2023

Pre-Season Friendly

Desborough Town 1

Adam Randall 86,

Kettering Town 0

Referee: Kevin Seckington.                                               Attendance: 250

Admission: £4.00                                                               Programme: NONE

Back to one of my very favourite grounds for the first time in two years. A truly traditional and magic ground. However, gone is the graceful old stand and, in its place a 100 seater Meccano replacement. Tonight’s match was to mark the official opening of the new stand (it has actually been in situ for a season!). To be fair the new stand is perfectly functional and the old one was riven with asbestos. Pretty good match, despite the paucity of goals and the hosts were good value for their win against a side two divisions higher in the pyramid, the only goal arriving in the 87th minute.

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Thursday 26th July 2023

Pre-Season Friendly

Whitchurch United 3

Ash Neal 15, Harry Long 60, Louis Wilson 73,

Newbury 1

Jamie Goddard 86

Referee: Neil Hussey                                                         Attendance: 64

Admission: F.O.C.                                                             Programme: NONE

Longmeadow Sports Centre contains this small ground with character. A hundred seater wooden bench stand and a mini covered area in front of the bar (but none of the bar proceeds benefit the club). A slight slope from right to left and lots of additional pitches beyond the ground on the far side. It was an easy victory for the hosts, one step higher than their visitors in the pyramid. Good game!

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Saturday 29th July 2023

Southern Counties East League Premier Division

Snodland Town 2

Ben Davisson (pen) 12, and an own goal on 29,

Stansfield 0

Referee: Simon Cutler.                                                       Attendance: 239

Admission: OMGDS£6.00 (£8).                                     Programme: £2.00

A first ever match for Snodland Town at step 5, after entering The SCEL in 2015, at their neat little Potyns Field ground. We were welcomed like royalty by some very friendly officials and, early though we were, we decided to enjoy the tea bar offering rather than repair to a local hostelry. There is a hundred+ seater stand and an extensive bar, hard standing on three sides and (sadly) plans to install 3G. They won today’s match at a canter without really extending themselves! With Paul Proctor and John Main.

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CRICKET

Saturday 1st July 2023

T20 Competition at Peterborough Town

Peterborough Town 161 for 8 (20 overs)

defeated

Burton Latimer 144 for 8 (20 overs)

by 17 runs

Umpires: Chris Dunn & Eddie McGeown

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Stony Stratford (won toss) 165 for 5 (20 overs)

defeated

Burton Latimer 130 all out (19.5 overs)

by 35 runs

Umpires:: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

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Stony Stratford 177 for 6 (20 overs)

defeated

Peterborough Town 46 all out (11.4 overs)

by 131 runs

Umpires: Simon Clark & Chris Dunn

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Saturday 8th July 2023

T20 Competition at Horton House

Horton House 97 for 3 (13 overs)

lost to

Kettering 98 for 2 (11.1 overs) by 8 wkts

Umpires: Trevor Finch and Eddie McGeown

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Weekley & Warkton 120 for 3 (15 overs)

lost to

Kettering 121 for 2 (13.3 overs) by 8 wkts

Umpires: Jeff Beal and Eddie McGeown

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Weekley & Warkton 85 for 9 dec. (18.5 overs)

defeated

Horton House 69 all out (17.5 overs) by 16 runs

Umpires: Jeff Beal and Trevor Finch

A day of unpredictable weather and rumbling thunder at Horton House’s beautifully appointed arena, just outside Northampton, saw rain affected matches, but also, some powerful batting and determined bowling.

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Sunday 9th July 2023

Development Pathway County Match

at Wellingborough Old Grammarians CC

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Surrey U-12 Girls 105 for 0 (16 overs0

defeated
Northants U-13 Girls 78 for 5 (16 overs)

by 27 runs

Umpires: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

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Surrey U-12 Girls 111 for 2 (16 overs)

defeated

Northants U-13 Girls 84 for 7 (16 overs)

by27 runs

Umpires: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

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Adlestrop

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Yes, I remember Adlestrop –

The name because one afternoon

Of heat the express train drew up there

Unwontedly. It was late June.

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The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.

No one left and no one came

On the bare platform. What I saw

Was Adlestrop – only the name

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And willows, willow-herb, and grass,

And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,

No whit less still and lonely fair

Than the high cloudlets in the sky.

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And for that minute blackbird sang

Close by, and round him mistier,

Farther and farther, all the birds

Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

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Edward Thomas (1878 – 1917)

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CRICKET:-

Thursday 1st June 2023

Player Pathway Match at Burton Latimer

Northampton & South U13      224 for 7 (40 overs)

defeated

Kettering & Corby U13      117 all out (30.4 overs)

by 107 runs

Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown

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Friday 2nd June

U12 County Match at S&L Corby

Essex U12      110 all out  (28.5 overs)

defeated

Northamptonshire U12      97 all out  (32.3 overs)

by 13 runs

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

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Saturday 10th June 2023

Northants Cricket league Division 1 (at Thrapston)

Thrapston (won toss) 118 all out in 34.5 overs

lost to

Haddon 123 for 4 in 23.4 overs

by six wickets.

Umpires: Chris Dunn & Eddie McGeown

Thrapston CC share their ground with Thrapston Town FC, as the floodlights bear testimony. On a pitch with a bit of softness in it, the toss was a difficult choice and, perhaps, the hosts paid the price. 74 for three after 21 overs, 102 for five after 28 overs and 118 all out ten overs later. Haddon polished of the target in 24 overs, finishing with a big six into the woods.

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Thrapston Town Football Club

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Umpires: Chris Dunn & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 11th June 2023

Northants Player Pathway Fixture

(at Weldon – Northampton & South U11 won the toss)

Northampton & South U11 230 for 5 (35 overs)

lost to

Kettering & Corby U11 231 for 6 (32.2 overs) by 6 wickets

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 14th June 2023

Northants Women’s Cricket Midweek League

(At Guilsborough CC – Haddon won toss)

Haddon Women 149 for 3 (20 overs)

lost to

Thrapston Women (Green) 150 for 2 (19.3 overs)

by 6 wickets

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

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Saturday 17th June 2023

Northants Cricket League Division 1

(at East Haddon Memorial Playing Field – Haddon won toss)

Old Northamptonians IIs  138 all out (44.4 overs)

lost to

Haddon 144 for 2 (35.2 overs)

by 8 wickets

Umpires: Martin Field & Eddie McGeown

Cricket at Stamford School

Friday 23rd June 2023

Stamford School 236 all out (47.5 overs)

defeated

Kings School (Sydney) 147 all out (42.5 overs)

by 89 runs.

Umpires: David Tress & Eddie McGeown.

Saturday 24th June 2023

Bedford School 162 all out (42.4 overs)

lost to

Stamford School 165 for 6 (37.4 overs)

by 6 wickets

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown.

Couple of good games this weekend at Stamford School, the first a mini Ashes fixture, the second a tight, tense and cagey encounter between two evenly matched local rivals. The sun shone heartily on both matches!

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Sunday 25th June 2023

U13 Girls County Match

at Great Oakley (Bucks U-13 Girls won the toss)

Bucks U-13 Girls 189 for 4 (30 overs)

lost to

Northants U-13 Girls190 for 6 (26.3 overs)

by 4 wickets

Umpires: Kiran Mackwana and Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 28th June 2023

Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League

at Dallas Burton Cricket Ground, Brixworth (Brixworth won toss)

Brixworth Women 117 for 4 (20 overs0

defeated

Thrapston Women (Green) 101 for 6 (20 overs)

by 16 runs

Umpires: Eddie McGeown and Martin Batchelor

Tall Nettles

Tall nettles cover up, as they have done

These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough

Long worn out, and the roller made of stone:

Only the elm butt tops the nettles now.

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This corner of the farmyard I like most:

As well as any bloom upon a flower

I like the dust on the nettles, never lost

Except to prove the sweetness of a shower.

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Edward Thomas 1878 – 1917

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Thursday 4th May 2023

Coventry Alliance Premier Division

Whitnash Town 4

Tommy Clarke 42, 47, Aaron Whitmore 43, Ryan Butler 89,

Coundon Court OB 1

Connor Haynes 83,

Referee: Michael Kalisz.                                    Attendance:- 42

Admission: F.O.C.                                              Programme: NONE

Nothing happening at The Heathcote in Whitnash, when I met up with John Main. Eventually, we discovered that the match had been switched to Ajax Park, home of Central Ajax of Midland League Division 3, some five miles away in Warwick. We got there with minutes to spare. Top of the table Whitnash swatted away second placed Coundon, as if despatching a troublesome bluebottle and took the points and the League title.

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Wednesday 10th May 2023

Nottinghamshire Senior League Division 3

Trent Vineyard 1

Rory Lewis 90+5,

The Rossoneri 3

Tizi Maninga 78, Adam Ahmed 86, Michel Locko 90+7,

Referee: Chris Jackson.                                 Attendance: 12

Admission: F.O.C.                                          Programme: NONE

Down by The river Trent in Beeston, Nottingham, even the changing rooms,adjacent to the pitch are on stilts in case the river floods right by the weir. Indeed, for much of this match, watching the river would have been far more exciting than following the football. Despite a myriad of opportunities, it took the visitors 78 minute to open the scoring. A second arrived after 86 minutes followed by a goal to each side, deep into added time at the end. With John Main and Dave Wooding.

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Thursday 18th May 2023

Coventry Alliance Division 1

Fillongley 0

Bedworth Liberal 4

Adam Woods 16, 21, 77, Ryan Jones 59,

Referee: Dave Gibbons.                      Attendance: 15

Admission: F.O.C.                               Programme: NONE

These two clubs are maybe five miles apart in North Warwickshire and almost within spitting distance of the M6 motorway. Nigel Winterburn, the Arsenal and England defender, started his football career here and his mother, Mavis, takes care of the club’s kit and has done so for the last seventy-three years! Paul Cashmore, club Secretary, is part of a small, hardworking committee who ensure that football continues in this tiny village, but none of the players are actually from here. Tonight, with nothing at stake, the visitors dominated with two goals in each half and scored a resounding victory.

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The church of St Mary peeps through the trees and overlooks the children play area adjacent to the pitch

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Saturday 20th May 2023

Herts Senior County League Division 3

Croxley Green 4

Harry West 22, Alex Hilton 27, Alex Morgan 54, Henry Hindley 71,

Sun Sports 1

Stephen Such 79

Referee: Les Moody.                                                      Attendance: 39

Admission: F.O.C.                                                         Programme: NONE

Fine repast with Phil Evans at The Harvester close by The Croxley Danes School, where the match was supposed to be played, but, of course, it wasn’t and it was Phil, a native of the metropolis, who tracked it down via knowledgeable grandson to St Joan of Arc School in Rickmansworth. It was a pretty new 3G pitch inside a cage! The hosts had an eight point advantage at the top of the table, the visitors were in second place and comprehensively dismantled by the rampant champions elect.

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Tuesday 23rd May 2023

Herts Senior County League Premier Division

Belstone 3

Joel Bell 12, Louis Lobjoit 88, Ryan Hope 90 (pen),

Cuffley Seniors 1

Dan Jones 43,

Referee:- Robert Poole.                                   Attendance: 60

Admission: F.O.C.                                           Programme: Not today! However, there usually is a programme on match day, and previous match programmes were available, free of charge.

Medburn Sports Ground, just outside Radlett, is pretty impressive with hard standing on three sides, a small covered stand and a pitch you could play bowls on! The hosts lie third in the league, started impressively, scored and then, just before the interval, gave away a howler of a goal. The second half looked particularly frustrating for the hosts, but two goals in the 88th and 90th minutes gave them the victory and the points. A goodly gathering of hoppers included Andy English, Andy Smith, Martin Hayden, Alan Pople, Russell Cox and John Main amongst others.

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John Main outside the small stand at Belstone, prior to the match

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My train to Radlett at Corby Station!

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Wednesday 24th May 2023

Herts Senior County League Premier Division

Ware Sports 0

Michael Appiah s/o 26,

Bush Hill Rangers 5

Rocheim Stewart 26 (pen), 60, Michael Akin 39, Jordan mcKenzie 43, Hamza Abdulle 67.

Referee: Andy O’Brien.                                               Attendance:- 65

Admission: F.O.C.                                                       Programme: NONE

We had hoped that this evening might have brought the third of Wodson Sport Centre’s pitches into action, but it was not to be and instead, it was a revisit to the ground where Wodson Park used to play. With this victory, Bush Hill took the Herts Senior County League Premier Division championship. It sounds a thumping victory – and it was – but it all started with a penalty after 26 minutes and a home player dismissed. 0-3 at half-time and the hosts suffered a further loss when their goalkeeper went off injured and there were no substitutes left. The Rangers Ultras kept up a vibrant support for their team, and they were not disappointed. With Martin Hayden and a host of hoppers!

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26th minute penalty scored by Rocheim Stewart.

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One of the many aeroplanes coming into land at Luton airport.

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Wednesday 31st May 2023

Herts Senior County league Division 3

Allenburys Sports 4

Chris Wells 45, Jordan Gill 50 (pen), 89 (pen), George Lacey 90+5,

Harpenden Colts 1

Charlie Ashard-Weldon 26,

Referee: Phil Gardner.                                         Attendance: 15

Admission: F.O.C.                                                Programme: NONE

On a chilly evening at Allenburys Sports & Social Club in Ware, these two teams played out the last fixture in this season’s Herts Senior County League. It was cold and miserable in the shadow of the thunderous A10, but the hosts could conceivably gain promotion if they won by five clear goals. The final score flattered them. 1-1 at the interval and 2-1 going into the final minute, the hosts grabbed two extra time goals, but it wasn’t enough to complete a successful promotion challenge! With Brian Buck and Chris Collins.

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Other Matches:

Tuesday 9th May 2023

Leicestershire & Rutland FA Saturday Trophy FINAL at Holmes Park

Community FA 1 Rogue Elite 1 (Rogue Elite won 4-2 on penalties) Attendance: 202

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Cricket

Sunday 7th May 2023

Rutland League Division 1 (at Barnack 12.30pm start)

Peterborough Town 66 all out (22 overs)

lost to:

Barnack (won toss) 69 for 3 (14.5 overs)

by seven wickets

Umpires: Andy Watson and Eddie McGeown

It was a pity that the weather was so lovely this afternoon, this match deserved to go the distance, but it was not to be, a combination of penetrating bowling and some curious batting lapses led to an early Peterborough demise and the hosts cleaned up in less than fifteen overs!

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Saturday 13th May 2023

Northamptonshire Cricket League Division 1

at Loddington Playing Fields 11.00am start

Thrapston 200 all out in 45.3 overs

defeated

Loddington & Mawsley 151 all out in 49.3 overs

by 49 runs.

Umpires: Pankaj Gurruani & Eddie McGeown

The wicket was damp and soft, especially down my end, but it played quite well with no uneven bounce and not an awful lot in the way of spin or turn. The hosts rather threw the game away, Thrapston’s modest total should have been overhauled, but by the time they were 64 for 5 and then 87 for 7, they decided to try and shut up shop and played for the draw, but even that they couldn’t achieve.

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Sunday 14th May 2023

Rutland & District League Division 1

(at Burghley Park 12.30pm start)

Burghley Park 214 for 8 (45 overs)

lost to

Barnack (won toss) 215 for 9 (43.4 overs)

Umpires: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

A titanic struggle in the grounds of Burghley House, home of the famous Burghley Horse Trials, and a cracking game of cricket in Stamford. It was a shame that there had to be a loser!

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Burghley House in the background built by William Cecil, Lord Burghley in the 1570s

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Wednesday 17th May 2023

National U15 Girls T20 Competition

at Stamford School 1.30pm start

Abbotsholme School (won toss) 179 for 0 (20 overs)

defeated

Stamford School 111 all out (18 overs)

by 68 runs

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 17th May 2023

Northants Women’s Midweek League

at Geddington 6.00pm start

Geddington 104 for 1 (18 overs)

lost to

Kettering (won toss) 105 for 4 (16.1 overs)

by six wickets

Umpires: Eddie McGeown & Simon Clark

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Sunday 21st May 2023

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Division 1

at Thrapston 1.00pm start

Kettering Women 163 all out in 36.2 overs

defeated

Thrapston Women 136 all out in 33.0 overs

by 27 runs

Umpires: Kate Marshall & Eddie McGeown

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Thursday 25th May 2023

Down the right hand arm of “The Dusty”, crossing Corby Road, and the field opposite, to enter the gloom of The Plantation, emerging into an avenue of hawthorn, flanked by brackish pools of water before espying a birdwatch (or maybe a deer watch) shelter ……. and, there, in the distance, a small muntjac unawares, about to beetle off into the undergrowth. More brackish pools and a “pepperpot”, a tower taking air into the railway tunnel 150 feet below. Up on the escarpment, a wonderful view across the valley to Caldecott and then, emerging halfway down Rockingham hill, a castle entrance, whilst next door, the church of St Leonard points it’s tower heavenwards, with the battlements of Rockingham Castle behind it. Onwards, briefly skirting Great Easton, to the church of St John the Evangelist in Caldecott (always open) and then back across the verdant fields, rich with sheep and buttercups, towards Gretton Weir, running quite low and then, the climb back up into Gretton, passing the parish church of St James. Eight stiles and 10.33 miles.

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Caldecott

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St John the Evangelist, Caldecott

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Pippa’s Song

The year’s at the spring,

And day’s at the morn,

Morning’s at seven,

The hillside’s dew-pearl’d,

The lark’s on the wing,

The snail’s on the thorn,

God’s in His heaven  –

All’s right with the world.

Robert Browning (1812-1889)

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Monday 3rd April 2023

Spartan South Midlands League Division 2

AFC Caddington 1

Callum Moore 6,

Sarratt 2

Dan Ormsby 31, Richard Vercesi 77 (pen)

Referee:- Connor MacKay.                                 Attendance:- 59

Admission : F.O.C.                                              Programme: NONE

On a chilly evening, just outside Luton in the Bedfordshire village of Caddington, with aeroplanes, low flying overhead, coming in to land at Luton airport, and a goodly gathering of hoppers, these two sides from the lower echelons of the division, played out a fairly feisty encounter on a cow field of a football pitch. The hosts, newly arrived back in The SSML this season, scored first, but were pegged back before the interval and then undone by a 77th minute penalty.

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Tuesday 4th April 2023

Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 2 South

Letcombe 3

Josh Fowler 18, 78, Jordan Davies 52,

Farringdon Town 0

Referee: Michael Cofie.                                Attendance: 41

Admission: F.O.C.                                        Programme: NONE

Letcombe Regis in darkest, deepest Oxfordshire (population: 578), hosts a quite scenic recreation arena with cricket and tennis and far out at the back, a football ground with a fifty seater stand, hard standing and access to the rustic club house with a couple of excellent real ales available. Tonight, top of the table Letcombe, were taking on local rivals, Faringdon Town, who were themselves occupying third place with a game in hand, but it was no contest. Farringdon never really looked like scoring, whilst the hosts bagged a couple of second half strikes to add to their eighteenth minute opener. It was pretty dark at the end!

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Thursday 6th April 2023

Spartan South Midlands League Division 2

Sarratt 4

Connor Wagner 66, 76, 81, Richard Vercesi 80 (pen),

Buckingham United 3

Ashley Urquhart 39, 56, Matt Cruse 70,

Referee:- Mark Bowring.                                   Attendance: 23

Admission: F.O.C.                                              Programme: NONE

The King George V playing Field (Sarratt) was drenched by heavy rain prior to this encounter, but the pitch, whilst greasy remained bumpy and uneven. The hosts, becalmed in mid-table were lacklustre for much of this match. They went into the interval a goal down and wih ten minutes remaining, were 1-3 down and third from bottom Buckingham had hopes of a rare victory. Three goals in a rousing final five minutes retrieved the situation and consigned the visitors to yet another defeat.

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Germany April 2023

Another foreign visit and the second to Germany this year! Son Mike and grandson Freddie were joined by Mike’s brother-in-law, Alan Eathorne and his son, Albie, and  Gary Miller, perennial and brilliant organiser of these German trips. Me? I just tag along for the ride and enjoy getting to as many grounds as possible!. Our flight left Stansted at 07.25 and we were in Cologne for 9.30am (CET). The first day was split up. We were all staying at The Mercure Hotel in Dusseldorf, but the rest of them were going to see Bayer Leverkusen. As I had already been there, I chose to go, instead, to Duisburg, despite the fact that the match in Liga 3 was against Borussia Dortmund seconds! So, when they got off the train at Dusseldorf to go to the hotel, they took my bag with them, but I stayed on the train to Duisburg.

Saturday 8th April 2023

Deutsche Bundesliga 3

MSV Duisburg 0

Borussia Dortmund II 5

Antonio Papadopoulos 25, Nijnmah 57, Michael Eberwein 67, Marvin Senger (og) 70,Franz Pfanne 75, 

Referee:- Jonas Brombacher.                                 Attendance:- 11,073

Admission:- €27.00.                                                Programme:- NONE

Quite an impressive stadium, though barely a third full and only a small gathering of away fans, maybe a little over a hundred. Lots of BVB fans at Duisburg station going to their home match with Union Berlin! Neither of these two teams are proving successful, this season, though the hosts are higher in the table. However it was the visitors who stole the show, started slowly, a single goal to the good at the break, but a stunning second half saw them strike four more times and, at the end, they ran to their fans in the away end, ecstatic and pretty well pleased with themselves. Many of the home fans did stay, but many also left before the end!

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The away contingent at MSV Duisburg

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Sunday 9th April 2023

Deutsche Bundesliga

Borussia Monchengladbach 2

Nathan Ngoumou 34, Marcus Thuram 63,

VfL Wolfsburg 0

Referee:- T Gerach.                             Attendance:- 51,127

Admission:- €31.90 (re-sale).           Programme:- NONE

The usual German efficiency, free bus service to and from the Hauptbanhof to the stadium. However, after the match, whilst I enquired which bus went back to Hauptbanhof, the rest just jumped onto the first available bus and it WAS NOT GOING to Hauptbanhof! They had a merry ride before being dropped off somewhere nearer the station, whilst I was already back in Dusseldorf! Magnificent arena, plenty of legroom in this ground, less than 20 years old and a victory for” Die Fohlen” – the foals, named after the very successful young team of the seventies.

I was sat next to Joachim Gnatzky, who was from Monchengladbach. He to was a football hopper, though perhaps not on the grand scale, but he was knowledgeable and he mentioned an U-19 tournament taking place in Dusseldorf over Easter, and suggested that I might go and see one of the matches.

Today’s game was cat and mouse. The visitors had by far the better possession, but went in a goal adrift at the interval. The hosts, who rarely squandered more than three players in attack, stole another breakaway goal midway through the second half and strode away with an unlikely victory!

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From the left: Albie, Freddie, Gary, Mike and Alan

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Freddie treated himself;f to a “Bucket Hat’, courtesy of his Dad!

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Monday 10th April 2023

Das Osterturnier U-19 Championship

Second Semi-final

Borussia Monchengladbach U19 1

Tony Reitz 47,

Red Bull Salzburg U-19 1

Gabriel Zaic 20,

Referee:- Erich Leichy.                          Attendance: 446

Admission: OMGDS €10 (€12).           Tournament Programme: €10

Neat little ground, impossible to find on Futbolog, but sporting a 500 seater stand down one side with terracing adjacent. This tournament is reaching its climax, but I had another match in Dusseldorf, so I didn’t stay for the final. Gladbach, much the weaker side, equalised three minutes from time, but Salzburg won the penalty shoot out by 6-5.

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Monday 10th April 2023

Oberliga Nuderrhein

Turu Düsseldorf 0

SF Baumberg 2

Robin Homig 29 (pen), Milan Burovac 33,

Referee:- Thibaut Scheer.                              Attendance:- 215

Admission: OMGDS €6.00 (€10).              Programme: FREE

Lovely little ground nestling in the lee of the main line railway to Dusseldorf and with a large seated stand down one side (space for 800?) and terracing down the opposite side. Poor old Turu are third bottom of this league and it looks like five to be relegated. Their mid-table opponents had secured the victory with both goals by half-time and simply played out the second half for a comprehensive victory.

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from left: Gary Miller, Alan Eathorne, Mike McGeown, Albie Eathorne, Freddie McGeown with the Steelmen on Tour flag!

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And that was the last game. I was the only hopper to do all four games, and the rest of the gang went to see Beyer Leverkusen whilst I was at Duisburg. It was a superb weekend, staying for two nights at The Mercure Hotel in Dusseldorf and even finding time to take in some of the pleasant sights of Dusseldorf itself, including coffee on the banks of the Rhine! After the last match, the train back to Cologne Bonn airport was, uncharacteristically, 35 minutes late and then, due to French air traffic controllers’ industrial action, our flight back to Stansted was delayed by an hour, but none of that detracted from the weekend!

from left, Mike McGeown, Freddie McGeown, Albie Eathorne, and dad, Alan outside the Beyer Stadium in Leverkusen

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Freddie, feeding his face!

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Deutsche Bundesliga: Beyer Leverkusen 3 Eintracht Frankfurt 1 attendance: 30,210

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Sightseeing in Dusseldorf: Freddie and Dad Mike McGeown

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Sightseeing in Dusseldorf, Grandad, Ed and Grand son Freddie McGeown (a rare picture of the author!)

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Famous German poets and writers!

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The banks of The Rhine in Dusseldorf.

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Wednesday 12th April 2023

Spartan South Midlands League Division 2

The 61FC (Luton) 2

Wayne Polson 23, Rayvon Bintuuka 25

Tring Corinthians 0

Referee: Jonathan Brown.                                  Attendance: 16

Admission: F.O.C.                                                Programme: NONE

A railed pitch in a public park with a small stand in one corner of the pitch, now bereft of its seating, and a clubhouse behind the near goal, is all there is to The 61FC. This season has been disastrous for them. They sit bottom of the league, fifteen points adrift and this evening was only their second victory of the season (their first came quite recently in the revsrse fixture!). This evening, they grabbed two early goals for a half-time advantage and clung on for dear life, after the break, for a rare success!

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Thursday 13th April 2023

Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 2 West

Meadow Park 0

Feckenham 1

Ben Cox 17,

Referee: Ben Goode.                                        Attendance:- 53

Admission: F.O.C.                                            Programme: NONE

The hoats play at The Harris Brush Works in Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove. Their ground is a field with a rope fence and a club house with changing rooms and a small refreshment facility. Tonight, they faced the team immediately (and five points) above them in fourth place and it was the visitors, with an early goal who took the victory and the points, and John took a vicious ball in the face whilst spectating. Very dark towards the end of the match. With John Main and Martin Hayden.

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Saturday 15th April 2023

Wessex League Division 1

Fawley 1

Kyle Joryeff 63,

Petersfield Town 1

Connor Hoare 45+2 (pen)

Receree:- Stephen Fall.                              Attendance:- 127

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£6).            Programme: NONE

A ramshackle ground largely made up of former lorry containers (players changing rooms, club house, toilets and refreshments), but with a sizeable stand by the near side goal, with seating for around 100 souls and two covered standing areas on the opposite side of the ground. It was quite quirky and appealing. Petersfield (the Rams) and in the play-off spots, should have won this game handsomely. After spurning several gilt edged first half chances, they scored with a penalty in the second minute of added time. Fawley, (the Oilers), who rent their ground from Esso for £1.00 per year, equalised spectacularly in the 66th minute, It wasn‘t the best of games, but, in the end a draw seemed about right.

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The main stand at Fawley, on the left hand side of the near goal.

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Tuesday 18th April 2023

Northern Premier League Midland Division

Daventry Town 0

Corby Town 7 (seven)

Tristan Thompson-Matthews 27, Toby Hillard 34,Daniel Gordon 41 (pen), 56 (pen), 74 (pen), Michael Jacklin 43, Tsaguim Florian 77,

Referee:- Ryan Williams.                                            Attendance: 135

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£10).                            Programme: on line

Elderstubbs was not looking at its best this evening. The pitch would have benefitted from a mowing and the whole ground had a sense of faded glory. The hosts look likely to be departing the NPL for pastures new, and tonight’s thrashing did them no favours in that regard. The visitors forlorn hopes of a play off place were fanned by a match where they took full advantage, 4-0 to the good by the interval and taking the foot off the accelerator in the second period, they still managed to claim a three further strikes.

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Thursday 20th April 2023

FA Women’s Northern Premier League

Loughborough Lightning 1

Georgia Stevens 44,

West Bromwich Albion Women 2

Mikayla Wildgoose 28 (og), Phoebe Warner 48,

Referee:- Lee Markwick.                                  Attendance:- 150

Admission:- OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                 Programme: on line

The last home game of a miserable season for Lightning who are rooted to the foot of the table without a win in the league all season. An own goal in the first half didn’t help matters, but an equaliser before the break was richly deserved. However, an early second half strike by Albion drained away all the home sides confidence and they sank to an eighteenth league defeat out of twenty-one games.

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Wednesday 26th April 2023

Spartan South Midlands League

Division 1 play-off Ssmi-final

Rugby Borough 4

Robbie Parsons 24, 44, Halim Halim 56, Sam Lockley 81,

Amersham Town 0

Referee: Zach Cunningham.                                       Attendance: 261

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                              Programme: £1.00

Just a few short weeks ago, a rampant Amersham Town visited Kilsby Lane and gave Borough a 4-1 thrashing. Tonight, the boot was firmly on the other foot as Borough overwhelmed their opponents with two goals in each half, to advance to the play off final at Northampton ON Cheneks.

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Thursday 27th April 2023

Hellenic League Division 2 West

Feckenham 4

Kian Davies 37, 45+2, Aaron Bunn 78, Ben Cox 85,

Shipston Excelsior 2

Ashley Bunn 34 (og), Joe Godson,

Referee: Stuart Parker.                                  Attendance: 22

Admission F.O.C.                                           Programme: NONE

There was one minutes silence before the match to commemorate three Shipston sixth form students killed in a car crash on their way home from school last Friday. The match, at Feckenham’s tight little ground, was a celebration of the host’s championship win and Shipston gave them a good contest in persistent precipitation. The hosts from a tiny village (pop: 670), had an early goal disallowed because the ball, having crossed the line, bounced out off a low stantion and back into play. The referee thought it had hit the post! The contest was decided by two goals in the final ten minutes, both in the host’s favour which gave them the win and the points.

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Other Matches

Monday 17th April 2023

FA U21 Premier League 2 Division 1

Leicester City U21 3  Manchester United U21 2           attendance: 316

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Wednesday 19th April 2023

Northants Combination Division 3

Woodford Wolves 3 Corby S&L Reserves 2                  attendance: 26

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Monday 24th april 2023

FA U21 Premier League 2 Division 1

Leicester City U21 1 Everton U21 4                               attendance 291

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Cricket:

Saturday 22nd April

Friendly at Stamford School:

Oundle II 184 for 7 (40 overs)

defeated

Stamford II 113 all out (31.1 overs)

Umpires: Henry Roberts & Eddie McGeown

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Saturday 29th April 2023

Cricket at Stamford School

Felsted School 1st XI 163 for 9 (50 overs)

lost to

Stamford School 1st XI 166 for 3 (25.3 overs)

by 7 wickets

Umpires: Henry Roberts & Eddie McGeown.

A beautiful setting and an easy victory for the hosts!

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