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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To March

by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Dear March, come in!
How glad I am!
I looked for you before.
Put down your hat —
You must have walked —
How out of breath you are!
Dear March, how are you?
And the rest?
Did you leave Nature well?
Oh, March, come right upstairs with me,
I have so much to tell!

I got your letter, and the birds’;
The maples never knew
That you were coming, — I declare,
How red their faces grew!
But, March, forgive me —
And all those hills
You left for me to hue;
There was no purple suitable,
You took it all with you.

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Thursday 2nd March 2023

Spartan South Midlands League

Gladwish Trophy Quarter Final

Stotfold 1

Mason Spence 55 (pen), penalty saved 90+1,

Leighton Town 1

Daniel Griffiths 74

Referee:- Sam Laidler. Attendance: 161

Admission: OMGDS £3.50 (£7). Programme: £1.50

Stotfold won 5-4 on penalties

These two heavyweights of the Spartan South Midlands League are likely to fight it out for the championship, with Leighton Town the slight favourites. Tonight’s finely balanced encounter saw a goal to each side in the second half and a penalty saved by the visiting custodian in the 91st minute. In the penalty shoot out, each side missed one of their first five penalties, but then the visitors also missed the sixth and exited the competition on a brutally cold evening in Bedfordshire.

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Saturday 4th March 2023

Wessex League Premier Division

Cowes Sports 1

Mark Taylor 14, 

Bemerton Heath Harlequins 2

Oscar Johnston 48, Greg Peel 55,

Referee: Neil Hussey.                                              Attendance: 109

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£8).                         Programme: £1.50

John Main and I had long discussed visiting The Isle of Wight for a match and today, we met up at Blisworth for the 130 mile trip to Southampton, to catch a ferry across to West Cowes.

Twenty minutes on the ferry and a steep-ish fifteen minute walk up to Westwood Park, the neat and well-kept home of Cowes Sports. There is a substantial stand (maybe 200 seats) alomg one side with a raised, covered terrace adjacent to it and a good sized bar and food outlet, on the opposite side of the stand. Neither of these sides are achieving much this season and the first half was comfortable for the hosts, who led at the interval. Whatever was imparted to the visitors in their half time team talk produced the desired effect. They were level within three minutes of the restart and ahead, two minutes later, courtesy of a rather dubious penalty decision. Thereafter, they fended off the hosts and garnered the victory and the points.

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John Main, outside the main entrance to the ground.

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Main stand

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Tuesday 7th March 2023

North West Counties League Division 1 North

Atherton Laburnum Rovers 1

Danny Warburton 23,

Bacup Borough 2

Toby Wright 13 (pen), Michael German 40,

Referee: Lewis Atkinson.                            Attendance: 91

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

A quite tidy ground with a very impressive main stand and a covered area on the far side of the pitch. The welcome was warm and free printed teamsheets were available in the bar. Both these sides were in the lower half of the table, but both were on good winning sequences and it was the five match winning sequence of the hosts that was broken. Playing down the slope in the first half as the trains trundled past behind the goal, the visitors took a decisive lead into half time and defended it comfortably in a goalless second half! With John Main, and good to see Johnny Holland there, too!

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The club was founded in 1956, as an under 14s side, by Joe Riley. The side then entered senior competition in The Bolton Combination. Jack Crilly succeeded Joe Riley as club chairman and oversaw promotions to The Cheshire League in 1980 and then to the newly formed North West Counties League in 1982. In 1991/92, they were NWCL champions for a second time and were promoted to The Unibond Northern Premier League. Financial problems meant that the club were relegated back into The NWCL.

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Saturday 11th March 2023

Southern League Premier Division South

Poole Town 1

Wesley Fogden 90+3

Metropolitan Police 1

Conor Lee 64,

Referee: Iain Parsons.                                  Attendance: 337

Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£12).            Programme: £3.00

The BlackGold Stadium must be the least attractive arena in the Southern League Premier Division! There is metal terracing (some of it covered) behind one goal and seating for, maybe, 300 souls down one side, but the whole gives the impression of a mishmashed hotchpotch and car parking is provided by a local school. The team are riding high in the play off places for promotion to National League South, but today, they underperformed against a determined Police side, who took the lead just after the hour mark and then conceded an equaliser in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the contest. It was a dour struggle in murky, drizzly conditions.

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Monday 13th March 2023

Friendly

Hitchin Town 1

Finley Wilkinson 41,

Luton Town u21 1

Millar Matthews-Lewis 52,

Referee: T. Hood.                                              Attendance: 232

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£8).                  Programme: NONE

Teamsheet: £0.20

Only managed to catch this match after consulting Brian Buck’s A1 corridor fixture list. Brian issues a newsletter each Sunday which has reports – and, more importantly, – a fixture list for the coming week of matches on the A1 corridor up from London to Stamford. Entry to the ground at Hitchin has to be paid for, on line, prior to the match and that was the case, even for this friendly. The hosts posted ten substitute and used eight of them, including four at the start of the second half, when they were deservedly a goal to the good! It didn’t help them much. The visitors equalised after 52 minutes and looked by far the better side after that. Good game!

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Tuesday 14th March 2023

Hunts FA Junior Cup FINAL

Peterborough Rangers 1

Dwayne Rankin 36,

Fenstanton 0

(@ Warboys Town FC)

Referee: Mark Simmons.                                   Attendance: 140

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

Huntingdonshire ceased to exist as an English county more than fifty years ago, but the football authorities survive and administer several cup competitions in the area. Warboys Town (where tonight’s match was played), used to play Eastern League Premier Division football, but now grace The Peterborough & District League, where today’s winners also play. The runners up come from the Kershaws Cambridgeshire County League. In a noisy, raucous atmosphere, Rangers just squeezed through in a game littered with missed chances. With John Main.

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Scottish Hop

This year, the Scottish ‘hop’ took place over the weekend of 17 – 19th March 2023. John Main and I went up to Scotland in his car on the Friday morning – a fairly leisurely trip – and arrived at Bathgate Premier Inn for 4.00pm. En-route, we had a meal at Gretna Services, just over a hundred miles from our destination. The Ground hop coach apparently, started its journey in Cardiff at 05.00 and arrived at the Meggetland Stadium, the home of Tynecastle FC (and Boroughmuir RUFC) around an hour before kick-off. There was beer in the bar but it was ice-cold (I like my beer at room temperature), and Chilli and rice was my choice from the food menu (I should have had stovies!).

Friday 17th March 2023

East of Scotland League Premier Division

Tynecastle 2

Gary Hamilton 45+3, 74,  Jack Blaney s/o 12,

Sauchie Juniors 3

Ross Hutchison 1, Sam Columbine 60, Brian Morgan 67, Ross Hutchison s/o 4,

Referee: Mark Harris.                                   Attendance: 448

Admission: £8.00.                                        Programme: £2.00

Meggetland Stadium and sports complex is a pretty impressive venue, with a five hundred seater, space age stand, down one side and terracing down the opposite length and behind one goal. The match was a cracker, too, with two sendings off in the first twelve minutes (one to each side), and the early bath candidate in the fourth minute had already opened the scoring (after a mere 23 seconds) for the visitors. The hosts equalised before the break, but conceded a couple more strikes in the second period before pulling one back with around 15 minutes to go. Excellent entertainment for the first match of the Scottish ‘hop’.

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After the match we were surprised, when we got back to the hotel to find that The Toby Carvery next door to our Premier Inn, was closing at 10.00pm! We were unable to get a drink. Fortunately, I had come prepared. I had a half of whisky amongst my luggage! The next morning, we drove the fifty odd miles to Dunbar on the coast, east of Edinburgh. Before the match, we took a stroll down to the waters edge……

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Saturday 18th March 2023

East of Scotland League Division 1 11.15am

Dunbar United 0

Michael McFarlane s/o 25, Willis Hare s/o 90

Coldstream 1

Stuart Briggs 73,

Referee: Lewis Hogarth.                                          Attendance: 553

Admission £7.00.                                                     Programme: £2.00

Dunbar United’s New Countess Park, in the shadow of the main line express railway route from Scotland to England, is a neat, compact arena bordered on three sides by a solid brick wall and with a community sponsored stand along one side of the stadium.  Runaway leaders, Dunbar, had their wings clipped by relegation threatened Coldstream. The hosts had a man sent off after 25 minutes and thereafter, the visitors fended them off pretty effectively. Then with barely fifteen minutes left, Coldstream struck to win the match and the points and that, despite a penalty chance for the hosts, brilliantly saved by the visiting custodian!

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Excellent headgear available as modestly modelled by Lord Squires!

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Saturday 18th March 2023

East of Scotland Premier Division  2.00pm

Haddington Athletic 1

Guy McGarry 75,

Dundonald Bluebell 3

Keiron Hall 11, Scot Cameron 32, Regan Lumsden 87 (pen), Regan Lumsden s/0 90+3

Referee:- Will Pare.                                   Attendance: 462

Admission: £7.00.                                    Programme:- £2.00

Considering that they are gracing the premier division of this league, this is a pretty basic stadium. Most of the perimeter is of grass with a minimal amount of hard standing at the entrance and in the covered terrace, but there is virtually no seating. A small chimney overlooks the ground on the far side. These two sides are becalmed in mid-table and it fell to the visitors to make the early running with two first half strikes. The hosts huffed and puffed and eventually retrieved a goal before Bluebell finished them off with a penalty at the death, followed by a melee resulting in a dismissal (Bluebell) and a caution (Athletic).

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Saturday 18th March 2023

Scottish Lowland League 5.00pm

Tranent Juniors 1

Nicholas Reid 90,

Bo’ness United 1

Lennon Walker 49,

Referee:- Andy Gamble.                                  Attendance: 607

Admission:- £9.00.                                          Programme:- £2.00

Not the greatest stadium for viewing, especially if you try to use one of the thirty or so seats, a largely innocuous arena painted in maroon with minimal facilities and large queues. The game itself, was pretty dour and occasionally frenetic. The visitors opened the scoring immediately after half-time and the hosts equalused, somewhat fortuitously, in the ninetieth minute! Considering that this was the highest placed team from the Scottish Pyramid on this trip, the ground and the facilities were very disappointing. I know that many other hoppers felt the same way.

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Saturday 18th March 2023

East of Scotland League Premier Division 7.45pm

Musselburgh Athletic 0

Broxburn Athletic 4

Jordan Wright 14, Errol Douglas 45, 67, Gary Brass 69,

Referee:- Brent Falconer.                         Attendance:- 557

Admission:- £8.00.                                   Programme:- £2.00

The Oliverbank Stadium in the coastal town of Musselburgh, is an impressive arena with a covered standing area down the far side and terracing on the opposite length – and, indeed, the only club today with a bar! Despite being far superior in terms of League position, the hosts were not at the races today and two goals in each half saw the visitors deservedly and decisively, take the match and the points.

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Sunday 19th March 2023

East of Scotland League Premier Division 12.15pm

Penicuik Athletic 0

Andy Mair s/o 39,

Lothian Thistle HV 1

Joe Viola 80,

Referee:- Andrew Strang.                        Attendance:- 398

Admission: £8.00.                                   Programme: £2.00

A ground with plenty of cover against the elements, but precious little seating, except for scattered individual chairs, but there was hardstanding on the two sides with cover. This was a poor match, not helped by the 39th minute dismissal of the home side no.16 for a second bookable offence.. Thistle gained the upper hand, but seemed unable to clinch a winner. Then, ten minutes from time, the pressure, eventually, paid off and the visitors struck to win the encounter by the narrowest of margins.

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The very impressive Penicuik Athletic programme.

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Thus ended the Scottish Hop 2023 and, interestingly enough, there was not a single home win amongst the six matches! The long journey home started immediately after the final match and I was back in Gretton for 8.30pm. Excellent weekend!

Tuesday 21st March 2023

North-West Counties League Division 1 North

FC St Helens 2

Liam Houghton 35 (pen), Jack Ball 90,

Atherton Laburnum Rovers 2

Danny Warburton 4, Connor Ikin 83,

Referee: Ryan Bostock.                              Official Attendance: 98

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

Windlesham Park is a fairly basic ground with hard standing all round the pitch, a small, maybe 50 seater, Meccano stand along one side and some covered standing behind the far goal. There was also a substantial club house and bar where free team sheets were handed out and the official attendance, whilst not announced, was readily available. The match was played in very wet conditions in the first half, but the precipitation relented after the break and the game vastly improved. Promotion chasing FC St Helens were shocked by an early Rovers strike, level by half time, but, towards the end of a rumbustious second period, they conceded again and it took an accurate, edge of the area, 90th minute free kick to save their blushes an rescue a point.

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Wednesday 22nd March 2023

Northern Premier League Midlands Division

Corby Town 1

Cain Noble 83, Toby Hilliard s/o 89

Spalding United 0

Referee: Lee Hartley.                                   Attendance: 659

Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£12).            Programme: £2.00

Always have a soft spot for Corby Town. I have visited all three of their stadia and I was a Corby Councillor when the present arena was sanctioned by the borough. Tonight’s encounter was a dour affair with little between the teams, but an 83rd minute strike from the hosts, won the match and propelled them into the play-off places.

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Saturday 25th March 2023

Wessex League Premier Division

Brockenhurst 3

Harvey Woods 5, 11, Silvano Obeng 58 (pen)

Pagham 2

Stan Bridgman 50, Connoe Geoghegan 53,

Referee:- Lewis Ward.                                      Attendance: 144

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

The tiny Hampshire village of Brockenhurst (population: 3,552), hosts a pretty impressive football arena, with hardstanding all round and a fine stand for maybe 100 souls.  Before the match, John and I dined in The Commoners Wine bar in the town centre. Visitors, Pagham, transferred from the Southern Combination this season, and are struggling in the relegation zone, but only two points behind the hosts, whom they demolished 5-0 a few weeks ago in the reverse fixture. Brockenhurst dominated the first half and took a 2-0 lead into the interval, but this was wiped out within ten minutes of the restart, only for them to regain the lead with a soft penalty decision before the hour mark. There was no further scoring and the hosts recorded their first victory in fifteen games. Good match! With John Main.

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Tuesday 28th March 2023

North West Counties League Division 1 South

Ashville 2

Rocester 0

Referee:- David Copper. Attendance:- 87

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

Right at the tip of the Wirral peninsular, with St Hilary’s church brooding on the skyline and even a lighthouse peeping around the clubhouse, Villa Park – no, not THAT Villa Park, but the home of Ashville, newly promoted to The North West Counties League – sits in the grounds of Wallasey RUFC. There is viewing on two sides; behind the near goal and along one side which has a cantilever stand to house around 100 spectators. There is also a substantial clubhouse. The visitors are rock bottom of the league and keen, apparently, to get back to the Midland League. Tonight, they were always second best to the hosts, who scored twice in the first half, but despite several promising opportunities, were unable to add to their total, even after the dismissal of a Rocester forward after 75 minutes. With John Main.

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Thursday 20th March 2023

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1

@North Kilworth FC

Lutterworth Athletic 0

Burton Park Wanderers 2

Match abandoned at half-time – floodlight failure.

Referee:- Liam Jackson.                                   Attendance: 28

Admission: OMGDS £2.00 (£5).                   Programme: £1.00

The game started twenty minutes late when an errant floodlight eventually agreed to shine at half-power, but at half-time the power in a different pylon failed and that was the end of the match, even though many of us felt that there was adequate lighting to complete the game. This encounter was played at North Kilworth’s ground because Athletic are having problems with their 3G pitch. New railings around the ground since my last visit came courtesy of Athletic, but on the night, they were decidedly second best and were lucky to be only 0-2 down when the encounter was curtailed at the end of the opening period.

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The players standing around waiting to see if the floodlight can be repaired and the game can commence!

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The offending floodlight pylon at the top of the picture

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Other Matches:

Saint Valentines Day Massacre

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What did I ever do to Dorothy Prewitt?

She sent me a heart with an arrow right through it!

So … if she wants war (well I didn’t begin it)

I’ll draw her a heart with an axe buried in it!

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by Philip Waddell

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Friday 10th February 2023

Deutsch Regionaliga Nordost

BSG Chemie Leipzig 1

Manasse Eshele 63,

FSV 63 Luckenwalde 2

Phil Butendeich 30, Christian Flath 35 (pen),

Referee: Florian Butterich.                                 Attendance:- 3,321

Admission: OMGDS €13.20 (€15).                   Programme: €2.00

A vast sprawling mass of a ground with soft earth underfoot and high fencing around the pitch, this eccentric stadium had a real charm and the fervid home fans behind the goal kept up the noise and chant all the way through the match. The home side started brightly and looked nailed on certainties for victory until two quick strikes, on the break, around the half hour mark, seriously jolted their ambitions. In the second period, they attempted to redeem the mess, but only managed a consolation, just after the hour mark. It didn’t, however, dampen the enthusiasm of the faithful. With sons, Jim, Mike and Liam in a party of twelve hoppers on a weekend in Germany.

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Hallescher is a away to the west of Leipzig, perhaps an hour by train, followed by a tram ride to the ground. Once again, the train tickets and transport were co-ordinated, which made it a cheap journey to The Leuna Chemie Stadion. Interestingly, I got talking to a woman seated next to me and I asked her about the re-unification of Germany. She said that she had been born and brought up in Cologne and came out to live in the former East Germany long after the re-unification. She said that she didn’t feel any difference between east and west, which was in sharp contrast to the woman I spoke to this evening at RB Leipzig, who hated the unification and wished she was back in the old DDR (German Democratic Republic). The other issue that both raised was the perception of Red Bull Leipzig. At the afternoon match, RB Leipzig was a hated team (and equally so last night at BSG Chemie Leipzig). They were the only team in Germany who were run by an outside company (Red Bull), all the other teams in Bundesliga are run by the supporters. In sharp contrast, the woman at the evening match argued that RB Leipzig were the ONLY eastern team in The Bundesliga. Other great names from before re-unification, like Karl Zeiss Jena and Dresden or Magdeburg, were down in Bundesliga 3 or lower. She felt that West Germany only accepted the east on sufferance and resented the huge amounts of federal monies that had been used to bring it up to West German standards.

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Saturday 11th February 2023

Deutsch Bundesliga 3

Hallescher 1

Jonas Nielfeld 28,

SC Frieburg II  3

Andi Hoti 35, Vincent Vereij 55, Lars Kehl 72,

Referee: Patrick Alt.                                              Attendance: 5,067

Admission: (seated) OMGDS €25.00 (€30)    Programme: free newspaper and teamsheet.

The Leuna Chemie Stadion is a smart, neat, new arena (built 2012 on the footprint of the old ground) and holds 15,000. It was just over a third full today, but, unsurprisingly, not a single away supporter – see photo. The hosts (second from bottom) opened the scoring, but were always second best to third placed Freiburg II, who equalised by half-time and popped in two more in the second half for a convincing victory. Once again, the defeat failed to deter the ultra faithful behind the home goal. Good game for the travelling English contingent, including sons, Jim, Mike and Liam.

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The away end at Hallescher, with not a single supporter in it, not surprising, really, when the SC Frieburg first team were at home the same afternoon. They won 2-1 after going a goal down to VFB Stuttgart in the first half.

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The Red Bull Arena was a fifteen minute tram ride from Leipzig Hauptbanhof (railway station), once again, free of charge with your football ticket. This was the biggest crowd of the weekend, but well marshalled and organised so that there was relatively little queuing either before or after the match. Compared to our country, Germany is light years ahead in transport organisation and infrastructure. Trams, buses and trains are co-ordinated and all of them are fast, cheap, clean and punctual – all the things lacking in our own transport system. It made me ashamed to be British.

Saturday 11th February 2023

Deutsch Bundesliga

RB Leipzig 1

Benjamin Heinrichs 25,

FC Union Berlin 2

Jannik Habegär 61, Robin Knochen 72 (pen),

Referee: Daniel Schlager.                              Attendance: 47,069

Admission: OMGDS €35.00 (€40)            Programme: NONE

The ”wow” factor at The Red Bull Arena is massive. As soon as the tram stops, it fills the horizon, and it continues to impress all through the match. These two clubs are locked in 4th and 3rd place respectively and Red Bull could overtake Union with a victory. In the first half, a thunderblaster from the hosts put them comfortably in front. The second half was a different kettle of fish. Firstly, another shot from outside the area equalised for Union. Then, VAR handed Union a penalty which they converted and finally, an RB equaliser was ruled out by VAR for offside and Union hung on, deservedly, in my opinion, for a significant victory. Jammed like sardines in a tin on the tram back to Leipzig Hauptbanhof. A fine bottle of red wine to round off the evening.

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The roving camera scoured the pitch capturing every possible angle and suspended on four wires high (and low) above the playing area

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A lunch time “ICE” train (the German High Speed train), took us from Leipzig to Berlin Hauptbanhof in just under two hours and we had time to decant our bags at The Hotel Amano, just outside the station, before catching the tram (once again, free with your football ticket) to Olympiastadion, the massive amphitheatre that Adolph Hitler built for the 1936 Olympic games. Nearly one hundred years later, it is still a very impressive stadium, a little tired and in need of some TLC, but, nonetheless, a fine arena. There were drinks stops on the (short) way from the tram station to the ground, but with Hertha not enjoying a particularly good season, the ground was just over half full (official capacity just under 75,000). Despite their lack of success this season, the crowd was in full voice and blue and white were the dominant colours.

Sunday 12th February 2023

Deutsch Bundesliga

Hertha Berlin 4

Borussia Monchengladbach 1

Referee: Christian Dingbert.                                Attendance: 40,973

Admission: €25.00.                                               Programme: NONE

The vast, sprawling , but still very impressive Olympiastadion, built for the 1936 Olympic Games, is a vast cauldron of waving flags and scarves despite being dated and weary. Today, the hosts, next to bottom in the league conceded an early goal to mid table Gladbach, equalised after half an hour, took the lead with a classic thunderblaster on 51 minutes and finished strongly with two more goals in added time at the end of the match. Brilliant atmosphere, especially under floodlights, and no hurry to get the tram back to Hauptbanhof!!!

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Large swathes of the stadium were empty!

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Our party consisted of Gary Miller, Jim McGeown, Mike McGeown, Liam McGeown, Matt Miller, Phil Miller, Adam Valance, Kevin Nolan, Alan Eathorne, Rory Clarke, Daz Bibby and yours truly, Eddie McGeown

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Thursday 16th February 2023

Spartan South Midlands League

Gladwish Trophy 3rd Round

Potton United 0

Arlesey Town 0

Referee: Sophie Dennington.                                     Attendance: 95

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£8).                              Programme: NONE

Arlesey won 5-4 on penalties.

This was my seventh visit to The Hollow, but the first since December 2018. There is a large car park at the ground and a fine clubhouse, but there was no hot food, this evening, and Potton United no longer produce programmes. They were playing Arlesey Town from maybe six or seven miles away and there was a considerable Arlesey supporter presence. Arlesey might be considered a larger club, having previously grace The Southern League, but on this evening’s showing, they were less effective than the hosts, who really ought to have won the tie. In afractious, niggly match with frequent stoppages for minor injuries and a couple of handbag melees very little was achieved. Add to that some atrocious finishing and eventually the match, thankfully, drew to a close with nothing on the scoreboard. Arlesey won the penalty shoot out, despite having been behind through most of it  and advanced, somewhat fortuitously,  to the next round.

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Wycombe Wanderers v Bolton Wanderers

Saturday 18th February 2018

Sky/Bet EFL League One

Wycombe Wanderers 1

Lewis Wing 45+8,

Bolton Wanderers 0

Referee: Andy Woolmer.                               Attendance: 6,544

Admission: Hospitality.                                Programme: NONE

footballhopper.com sponsored this match and our party was splendidly looked after in a private hospitality suite. All my sons and grandchildren were there and the only downside was the result! Bolton and Wycombe were evenly matched, and it took a wonder strike from Lewis Wing eight minutes into added time at the end of the first half to win the match. Bolton huffed and puffed mightily in the second half, but couldn’t find the equaliser.

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Lydia, Freddie and Tess

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Chris Berezai, Eddie McGeown, John Main

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Freddie McGeown

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Daz Bibby with daughter, Lydia and niece, Tess

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John Main & Eddie McGeown

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from left: Rob Hardcastle, Ian Widdowson, Mike McGeown, Alan Eathorne, Gary Miller, Ed, Lewis Wing (man of the match and winning goalscorer, Jim McGeown, Daz Bibby, Aman Singh, Liam McGeownJohn, Main, Chris Berezai, Jonny Crane. in front, the children, left to right: Sonny McGeown, Freddie McGeown, Tess McGeown, Kingsley McGeown, Lydia Bibby-McGeown

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Tuesday 21st February 2023

Northern Counties East League Division 1

Wakefield 1

Jake Morrison 90 (pen)

Nostell Miners Welfare 2

Joe Wood 3, Nicky Laloulis 9, Rhys Westcarr-Toft GK, s/o 88,

Referee: Joshua Drake.                                     Attendance: 242

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

Wakefield may not be staying much longer at Featherstone Rover’s Millennium Stadium, so it was an opportunity to take in the match and the ground. In a disastrous start for the highly placed hosts, they conceded two goals in the first nine minutes and for the rest of the half, they looked distinctly second best to their lowly opponents. They were better in the second period, but it was not until the visiting custodian conceded a penalty, two minutes from full time – and got himself sent off – that the hosts found some hope, but it was too little, too late.

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Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Central Midlands League Premier Division North

Retford United 1

Jon Froggatt 69,

Kiveton Miners Welfare 3

Ben Harriot 4, Connor Chapell 34, Alex Moth 39,

Referee: Lee Clarke.                                     Attendance: 134

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

This was a seismic result! Seventeen victories and one draw in their eighteen league matches this season, with opposition from the bottom three in the table, the hosts were stunned by a fourth minute opener and two further clinical strikes in the first half. After the break, they did, at least, provide more sustained pressure, but their only consolation was a strike on 69 minutes. They were comprehensively dismantled by a determined Kiveton side who thoroughly relished their unexpected victory!

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Saturday 25th February 2023

Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1

Stonehouse Town 2

Nick Humphreys 6, Finley Fowler 15, 

Clanfield 85. 0

Dylan John GK, s/o 45+1

Referee: Roger Smith.                                Attendance: 54

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).            Programme: £1.50

This was a pretty well equipped ground for this level of football, there was a seated stand down one side and a substantial covered terrace behind one goal. Next to the seated stand was a small clubhouse with bar and refreshments. The hosts scored two first half goals playing up the slight incline and, on the stroke of half time, the opposition had their custodian dismissed for handling the ball outside the area. The second half was a non-event and the ten man visitors, now playing up the slope, had the better of the exchanges with nothing to show for it!

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Tuesday 28th February 2023

Emirates FA Cup 5th Round

Leicester City 1

Kelechi Iheanacho 67,

Blackburn Rovers 2

Tyrhys Dolan 33, Sammie Szmodics 52

Referee: Tim Robinson.                          Attendance: 23,379

Admission: £20.00.                                Programme: £3.50

There was a good atmosphere inside The King Power Stadium for tonight’s FA Cup 5th Round tie. The hosts had rested half of their team, but the visitors had also given opportunities to fringe players. It was a fine match and the visitors deserved their victory and a first visit to the 6th round in eight years. The hosts were woeful, outplayed for long periods and missing the spark that could have given them some inspiration. A goal in each half for the visitors, with the hosts only response just after the hour mark and even a late introduction of mainstream players could not make any impression on the Rovers well drilled defence!

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How like a winter hath my absence been

From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year!

What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen!

What old December’s bareness everywhere!

And yet this time remov’d was summer’s time,

The teeming autumn, big with rich increase,

Bearing the wanton burthen of the prime,

Like widow’d wombs after their lords’ decease:

Yet this abundant issue seem’d to me

But hope of orphans and unfather’d fruit;

For summer and his pleasures wait on thee,

And thou away, the very birds are mute;

Or if they sing, ’tis with so dull a cheer

That leaves look pale, dreading the winter’s near.

by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

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Brilliant day out with the family at The Bescot Stadium. The hospitality was good value and the match improved significantly as it wore on. The hosts doubled a half-time lead only two minutes into the second period. Once the visitors pulled a goal back, however, the final twenty minutes were pretty hectic, but at the death, it was Walsall who prevailed! With sons, Jim, Mike and Liam and grandsons, Freddie, Sonny and Kingsley and also, Gary Miller!

Tuesday 3rd January 2023

FA Premier League

Leicester City 0

Fulham 1

Aleksandar Mitrovic 17,

Referee: Darren Bond.                                Attendance: 30,814

Admission: OMGDS £35.00 (£40).         Programme: £3.50

The Foxes weren’t at the races tonight. In the early exchanges, Fulham were sharper and more incisive and scored through Mitrovic after 17 minutes. Thereafter, Leicester huffed and puffed, but never really looked liked scoring. A disappointing result.

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Saturday 7th January 2023

United Counties League Division 1

Hucknall Town 3

Harrowby United 2

Referee: Wayne Mason.                                              Attendance: 392

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

This was the first official, competitive match on Hucknall’s idiosyncratic, new ground. There was cover behind one goal, adjacent to a containerised hospitality box and cover and seats down the near side, although acces was eccentrically controlled! Despite their relative League placements (Hucknall were in the play-off places and Harrowby flirting with relegation), this was a pretty even contest. The visitors led at the interval, conceded three goals in a home purple patch in the second half and scored the final goal three minutes from the end. There was a visitation of hoppers including John Main, John McClure, Craig Dabbs and Chris Berezai!

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Photograph courtesy of John Main

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Photograph courtesy of John Main

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Photograph courtesy of John Main

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Monday 23rd January 2023

Northern Premier League Midland Division

Coleshill Town 0

Corby Town 0

Referee: Alan Cox.                                 Official Attendance: 148

Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£10).     Programme: £2.00

Coleshill sits at the junction of The M6, The M42 and The M6 Toll. Its ground, with a 3G pitch is also home to Chelmsley Town of The Midland League. Tonight’s clash pitched together two teams just outside the play-off spots and separated only by goal difference. In a dour match, neither side was able to put their stamp on the encounter, though I suspect that the visitors went home more happy with their point than the hosts! With sons, Jim and Mike and grandsons, Freddie, Sonny and Kingsley.Gary Miller and John Main also there.

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Belgium 2023

Jon Crane, Mark Sumner and Jim and me travelled to Brussels on the 13.01 Eurostar on Friday 27th January for a weekend of Belgian football. Train from Brussels to Liege, a pretty dirty city with a coal mining history and a pretty bog standard stadium. Jon had hired an apartment for the overnight stay. I am not a fan of Belgian food but I had one of the giant hot dogs (€7.50) before the match outside the stadium on a very cold evening. To get to the stadium from our apartment, we had to cross The River Meuse. The following morning, Saturday, we got a bus to the train station and entrained for Heist-op-den-Bergen. I had booked the accommodation for this evening, but unfortunately it was near five miles outside the town and there were very few taxis available. It cost us €60 to go there and back just to drop our bags off before catching the bus to Westerlo.

Friday 27th January 2023

Jupiler League Erste Klasse A

Standard Liege 3

William Balikwisha 30, Philip Zinckernagel 35, Stipe Perica 59,

KAS Eupen 1

Regan Charles-Cook 11,

Referee: Nathan Verboomen.             Attendance: 16,623

Admission: €23.00.                             Programme: free teamsheet

The Stade Maurice Dufrasne is a pretty impressive arena, so I was surprised to find that it held a mere 30,000 spectators. Three tiers behind each goal and two ties along each side, all steeply banked, with plenty of food outlets, but no programmes, although free teamsheets were available if you asked nicely! The game was very open, with highly placed Liège going a goal down early on, but pulling back to lead 2-1 at the interval, adding a third, midway during the second preiod. Eupen fought well, but it was Liège who deservedly took the spoils. With Son, Jim and Jonny Crane and Mark Sumner.

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From left: Jim, Jon and Mark

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Saturday 28th January 2023

Jupiler League Erste Klasse A

KVC Westerlo 2

Kyan Vaesen 23, 56,

KV Mechelen 0

Referee: Brent Staessens.                            Attendance: 8,035

Admission: €20.                                           Programme: free teamsheet

Such a small town seems unlikely to support a top League side, but there was a healthy attendance for this encounter, probably one of the highest of the season. The ground was out in the country and the faithful crowded in, mostly by car. Mechelen brought a strong cachet of support, but, in an entertaining game, it was the hosts, with a goal in each half, who deservedly took the spoils. With son, Jim and Jonny Crane and Mark Sumner. It was a chit billy, so I bought a Westerlo hat! After the match we caught the bus back to Heist-op-den-Berg, had a drink in a bar, and sauntered down to the ground.

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The author transcribing teams from the teamsheet prior to the match

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From left: Eddie, Mark and Jim

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From left: Mark and Eddie

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Jimbo, stuffing his face!

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The Westerlo mascot

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Mark Sumner

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Saturday 28th January 2023

Erste Nationale

KSK Heist 1

Nicholas Orye 67,

RFC De Liège 1

Jesse Mputu 45,

Referee: Ruben Calluy. Attendance: c750

Admission (seated) €20 (€15). Free teamsheet.

Quite why this match was categorised as high risk, with a substantial police escort for the 350 or so visiting supporters, was something of a mystery. We were initially barred from entering because we didn’t have tickets for this all ticket match, but were eventually given clearance and by the end of the match we had been invited into the supporters club and plied with drink and, late in the evening were given a lift back to our hotel by the club physio. It was another good match in a stadium, capacity 10,000, which was virtually empty! The visitors scored first on the stroke of half time and the hosts equalised just after the hour mark in the second period. After that, in a feisty encounter, either side could have grabbed the victory, but, on a very cold evening, a draw was the fair result. With son, Jim, Jon Crane and Mark Sumner.

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Jim (sitting) and Mark Sumner

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The B&B Hullebrug was probably the best accommodation of the weekend, but it was awkwardly situated and it was a lift from the proprietor’s brother-in-law, the next morning that enabled us to catch the train fromHeist-Op-Den-Berg, the following morning, for the train back to Brussels.

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Sunday 29th January 2023

Jupiler League Erste Klasse A

RSC Anderlecht 0

Royal Antwerp FC 0

Referee: Eric Lambrechts.                        Attendance: 18,000

Admission: €45.00.                                   Free Teamsheet.

Lotto Park, the mauve home of RSC Anderlecht is well hidden in plain sight. Indeed if the mauve daubed home fans had not been there sipping Jupiler, you could have been forgiven for overlooking the stadium. This was a pretty poor advertisement for Belgian football, the visitors in 3rd place easily fending off the eleventh placed hosts. The only highlight of the first half was a sonic boom which severely tested my eardrums and emitted a black cloud of smoke. In the second half, there was a melee around the hour mark which resulted in a sending off for Antwerp and two yellow cards and the hosts, too, had a player dismissed fifteen minutes from the end, but goalscoring opportunities where at a premium and the result clear, well before the final whistle! With son, Jim, Jon Crane and Mark Sumner.

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A very grumpy looking author and Jon Crane on the right at The Anderlecht match

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Sunday 29th January 2023

Jupiler League Erste Klasse A

KRC Genk 4

Paul Onouachu 7 (pen), 60, Mike Tresor 14, Joseph Paintsil 64,

RFC Seraing 0

Referee: Wesli de Cremer.                            Attendance: 13,267

Admission: €24.00.                                       Free Teamsheet.

On a very cold evening, top of the table, Genk, demolished bottom club Seraing quite comfortably and should probably have scored more than the four they harvested. The ground is fully seated, holds around 20,000 spectators and was barely half full this evening. The locals blamed the late kick-off at 9.00pm CET, live television and the visitors were hardly a top attraction. Nonetheless a couple of their players, one, who rejoices in the name: Junior Marconi Sambu Mansoni, was a quick and tricky winger, the other, Mustapha Mbow was a sound central defender. The home mascot was a coal miner! With son, Jim, Jon Crane and Mark Sumner. The hotel we stayed in, is run by a former Belgium goalkeeping international, Ronnie Gaspercic!

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From left: Jim, Jon and Mark

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From left: Mark and Jim

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From left: Eddie and son, Jim

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From left: Mark, Eddie and Jon

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from left: Jim and Jon

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We were staying at the Hotel De Venne, and, on the following morning, the other three had to shower in my room because there was no hot water in their room. The manager discounted the cost of their room and we all four shared the cost of my room! Then it was a taxi down to Genk railway station for the train to Brussels Midi and a transfer to the Eurostar hub for the 12.56 to London (ten minutes late leaving). At St Pancras … we dispersed and I caught the 14.45 East Midlands Train to Corby, where Charlotte collected me after an exhausting weekend!

Other Matches:

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                                                           Ozymandias

                                    I met a traveller from an antique land
                                    Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
                                    Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
                                    Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
                                    And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
                                    Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
                                    Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
                                    The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
                                    And on the pedestal these words appear:
                                    "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
                                    Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
                                    Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
                                    Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
                                    The lone and level sands stretch far away.

by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822)
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Saturday 5th November 2022

Wessex League Division 1

Fleet Spurs 0

Downton 1

Shaun Prentice 74,

Referee: Lucas Bomela.                                                       Attendance: 45

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

We travelled in the monsoon conditions, more in hope than anticipation, and were pleasantly surprised to find the match ON and the pitch in pretty good nick. There is a substantial club house and changing rooms, several additional pitches behind the clubhouse, hard standing on all four sides and seating for maybe fifty to the front of the club house. Apart from that, it was pretty bleak. This was the host’s fourteenth consecutive home defeat (7 from last season)and fourteenth consecutive defeat (home and away) this season. Bottom of the league and twelve points adrift of safety, whilst Downton are in second place, but it was pretty difficult to tell which was the better team! The visitors got a lucky strike fifteen minutes from time in a drab game and that was that! Basic and very expensive refreshment on offer! With John Main.

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Thursday 10th November 2022

Dry and overcast with a stiff breeze meandering past the almost finished new housing where horses used to roam and then, out along the farm track, catching up with the crumbling boundary wall leading to Harringworth Lodge ( the house, and not the lake, where, today, the heron was about). On the way to Spanhoe, a magnificent specimen of horned cattle was, fortunately, separated by secure barbed wire fencing and down in the valley, the viaduct dominated the landscape. On the downward slope the viaduct loomed closer as Turtle Bridge hove into view, and closer still as the track negotiated the parish church of St John the Baptist in Harringworth, itself. Next, along the route, was the village of Thorpe-by-Water and then across the river and the gentle climb to the railway line and, at last, the welcoming tower of St James’ Church. Nearly there, the Baptist Church was understatedly, yet tastefully, adorned for Remembrance. Five stiles and 12.06 miles.

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Saturday 12th November2022

Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Round

Laverstock & Ford 2

Russell Jones 52,Chae Sykes 90,

Falmouth Town 1

Jack Bray-Evans 76,

Referee: Nicholas Whittington.                                       Attendance: 268

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

A beautiful day in Salisbury under an azure sky and the hosts had organised a special menu for this encounter between two teams from parallel leagues (Wessex Premier v Western Premier). The visitors brought flags and drums and a Karaoke player and in truth, they should have won, but they missed so many nailed on chances, and were killed off with a late winner in the 90th minute!

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Monday 14th November 2022

Southern League Premier Division Central

Hitchin Town 2

Diogo Freitas Gouveia 51, Bradley Bell 80,

Coalville Town 2

Timothy Berridge 7, Eliot Putman 74 (pen),

Referee: A Cresswell.                                                           Attendance: 293

Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£13).                                    Programme: £2.00

Teamsheet: 20p

On a dank, misty evening with a heavy shower of rain at the end of the first half, these two sides served up some rattling good entertainment at Top Field. The ground has been substantially refurbished without losing its olde worlde character, but you can’t get in without buying your ticket in advance, on line. Coalville struck first and were good value for their half-time lead. The hosts came from behind twice in the second half and just about deserved a share of the spoils.

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Tuesday 15th November 2022

United Counties League Division 1

Barrow Town 4

Tom Mangan 62, 88, Callum Parsley 80, Wade Ball 82,

Dunkirk 2

George Harrison 76, McKenna Parton 83, Jake Want s/o 27

Referee: Paul-Valentin Mihalache.                                Attendance: 40

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                                   Programme: F.O.C.

It is always wet when I visit Riverside Park and this evening was no exception. The ground is basic. A substantial clubhouse and changing rooms, but very little in the way of pitch side furniture – but it does have the extended high level footbridge behind the far goal! Tonight, Dunkirk must have travelled with high expectations considering the relative League positions of the two clubs. The 27th minute dismissal of their custodian for handling the ball outside the area, considerably evened things up. The hosts scored first after an hour, but then five more goals were scored in the final fifteen minutes, with Barrow taking three of them for victory and three points! Good to see Chis Berezai and Dan.

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Wednesday 16th November 2022

Lincolnshire Senior Trophy Quarter Final

Blackstones 2

Ryan Lennon 55, Jordan Niell 74,     Louie Venni s/o 85

Deeping Rangers 3

Will Bird 5, Spencer Tinkler 58, Sam Fielding 90+5

Referee: Peter Brothwell.                                          Attendance:- 123

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

Lincoln Road, home of Blackstones is an atmospheric ground best seen in Autumn and at night, but perhaps not with the increasingly intense downpour that occurred this evening! These two local rivals (the visitors are a step higher at step 5), entertained a sizeable crowd and the match was only won with a strike five minutes into added time at the end of the second half. In the first half, the visitors should have been four or five goals to the good, but managed only one. The second half was much more even until the 85th minute dismissal of the home number 11, after a melee. Deeping deserved their victory, but the hosts gave them a fright!

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Until 1991/92, the club were known as Mirrlees Blackstone, after the former engineering company in the town

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Saturday 19th November 2022

Wessex League Premier Division

United Services Portsmouth 5

Luke Richards 15, Lamin Jatta31, Danny Burroughs 69, Dan Sibley 80, Cam Quirke 90+2,

Alresford Town 0

Referee: Ethan Grainger (whose father and grand father-in-law were both there to see him officiate)

Attendance:- 46.      Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5)       Programme: £1.00).      Car parking: £5.00.

Very heavy traffic meant slow progress through Portsmouth, then there was no parking at the ground! It was a pretty impressive ground for step 5, just across the road from the former Hampshire CCC headquarters, (before they moved to The Rose Bowl). Neither of these teams are setting off fireworks this season and, predictably, 16th placed USP thrashed bottom of the table, Alresford, but it wasn’t a classic on a mild, autumnal, sunny afternoon after the recent persistent rain.

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Tuesday 22nd November 2022

United Counties League Premier Division North

Loughborough Students 5

Anthony Lynn 8, Ethan O’Toole 22, 28, Matty Bowman 58, Dylan Edwards 86

Heanor Town 1

Jack Dando 46,

Referee: Daniel Haywood.                                      Attendance: 138

Admission OMGDS £2.50 (£5).                            Programme: £2.00

Another visit (my 34th) to the very impressive Holywell Sports Stadium at Loughborough University and an equally impressive display by the unbeaten leaders of the division who thrashed visitors, Heanor Town in very entertaining encounter and really should have added to their score! With John Main and Martin Hayden.

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Saturday 26th November 2022

Vanarama National League North

Banbury United 3

Jack Stevens 46, Alex Babos 82,  Giorgio Rasulo 86,

Chorley 0

Referee:- Jonathan Maskrey.                                Attendance:- 803

Admission: OMGDS £11.00 (£15).                      Programme: £2.00

The Spencer’s Stadium now has fan segregation following some idiotic ‘hooligan’ incidents earlier this season. There was also a WW2 bomb discovered in a waterway close by the ground! After a very even first period, the hosts scored immediately after the break and the goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors, who subsided tamely to a pretty emphatic defeat. With son, Jim and grandsons, Sonny and Kingsley.

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Grand son, Kingsley enjoying the match AND the result against Grandad’s team!

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Monday 28th November 2022

The early morning was misty, dank and dreary. The village hall was closed and still, the pathway pitted with puddles all the way down to the Harringworth Road, where the monument to Fanny Blaydes, the vicar’s wife, killed when thrown from her carriage 138 years ago, with a smaller stone – “hic obit – here died” – alongside, whilst further down the road are the remains of a burnt out vehicle, before crossing the fields with the colossus of the Harringworth Viaduct disappearing into the hazy mist. The Welland was close to bursting its banks and two stately swans glided where the path across the field ought to be. In Seaton, the church of All Hallows loomed out of the mist, the steps took the path to Bisbrooke, crossing the former spur railway line to Uppingham and past the church of St John the Baptist and, further on, two roses in bloom in late November. Uppingham at last, where a group of school children were being given a lesson in the esoteric intricacies of religious edifices in the church of St Peter and St Paul. Beautiful golden leaves adorned the path out of the town, before the greedy pig, nuzzling amongst the grass and UCC, where my grandson enjoys his education. Onwards to Lyddington and the church of St Andrew, with the remains of the monks Friday fish ponds en route. Gretton Weir was riding high and the sight of St James’ Church, asserting itself above the Autumn branches, was welcome, indeed. 12.25 miles and only one stile

           

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All Hallows, Seaton.

The steps in Seaton leading to the path to Bisbrooke.

The site of the railed of the former Uppingham Spur.

I have actually walked the length of the spur line,

but it is difficult to negotiate in parts,

very overgrown and there is no official pathway!

St John the Baptist, Bisbrooke.

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Church of St Peter & St Paul, Uppingham.

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Uppingham Community College.

St Andrew’s Church, Lyddington (and, below the former monks’ fishponds.

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Gretton Weir.

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Monday 28th November 2022

Pitching-in Southern League Premier Division Central

Hitchin Town 2

Jack Snelus 30, Ashley Hay 67,

Redditch United 1

Ryan Woollacott 44,

Referee: J. Perry                                         Attendance:- 276

Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£13)          Programme: £2.00

On a pretty dank, miserable evening I travelled down to Top Field and met up with Mark Sumner who had travelled up from London on the train. This was my fiftieth visit to the ground – and I hadn’t realised it! Hitchin are in the middle of a good run and this was an excellent victory against a team only two places above them in the table. Drove Mark back to Hitchin Station after the match.

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OTHER MATCHES:-

I won’t be watching

the World Cup this year, Because,

Well it’s obvious ~

Qatar 2022

Haiku by Paul H Tubb

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Tuesday 6th September 2022

Cherry Red Records premier Challenge Cup

1st Round

Penn & Tyler’s Green 0

Gary Lines s/o 37, serious foul play

Spartans Youth 1

Kyran Kellman-Fisher  28 (pen),

Referee: Anjah Merza.                                                Attendance:- 44

Admission: OMGDS £3.50 (£7).                             Programme: on line

Well hidden in deepest Buckinghamshire, the ground is Spartan, with only one small covered area, but a beautifully manicured pitch and a very modern club house. This was a bruising encounter with no quarter asked or given. One sending off and four bookings in a game where the referee just about kept control. The only goal came just before the half hour mark … from the penalty spot!

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Wednesday 7th September 2022

Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands

Corby Town 4

Daniel Collins 35, Hilton Arthur 67, 83, Curtis Burrows 76,

Yaxley 1

Ethan Johnston 59

Referee: Ian Jackson.                                        Attendance: 480

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

Corby Town under new management are unbeaten this season in the league. Yaxley have yet to find a win in their first six games, five of which have been lost! Tonight, the visitors matched their opponents for over an hour, equalising the hosts first half strike in the 59th minute. Three more goals for Corby in the final twenty minutes, were, perhaps, a little flattering!

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Tuesday 13th September 2022

South West Peninsular League Premier Division West

Launceston 3

Ben Harrison  29, Mark Elvridge 67, Tom Bullock 87,

Bodmin Town 3

Levi Landricembe 2, 59, 72,

Referee: Aiden Madden.                                                  Attendance: 44

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                                  Programme: F.O.C.

Hidden away in the middle of an industrial estate and overshadowed by a huge wind turbine, Pennygillam Way, home of Launceston,is not immediately prepossessing. There is cover on one side, with about 200 seats and a huge club house and refreshment kiosk and the officials were more than friendly and helpful. The game was a cracker. The hosts gleaned only their second point of the season (in their ninth league game), but they fell behind three times to the more impressive visitors and it took a goal three minutes from time to garner a point!

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Wednesday 14th September 2022

South West Peninsular League Premier Division East

Torrington 0

Oakhampton Argyle 2

Luke Mortimore 80, 85,

Referee:- Liam Chick.                                             Official Attendance: 78

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

Torrington’s ground has a fine stand down one side, but also, al fresco seating on the opposite side. There was no programme, but team sheets were freely available at the bar … sadly, no numbers were attached! The parish church of St Michael and All the Angels overshadows the ground. In 1645 following an English Civil War Roundhead victory, the captured prisoners were locked in the church. Sadly, the Royalists had left 80 barrels of gunpowder in the church, which exploded, damaging church and killing prisoners. Tonight, the fourth placed visitors eventually secured the victory against fourth from bottom hosts, who were using their new changing rooms for the first time. It was a tough tussle. The hosts fought well, but two goals in the last ten minutes won the match for Argyle.

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This was the team sheet for the match, but the players on the team sheet had no numbers!

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The Church of St Michael & All the Angels, blown up in the English Civil War in 1645.

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Note the ‘al fresco’ seating in this picture on the far side of the pitch!

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The new changing rooms … but only for the home team!

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Saturday 17th September 2022

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

Gosport Borough 1

Dan Wooden 82, 

Paulton Rovers 1

Will Harvey 90+1,

Referee: Iain Parsons.                                          Official Attendance: 419

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

Down in deepest Hampshire, high flying Gosport were expected to defeat opponents from a division below them at their well appointed stadium. Seating along each side of the ground and a fine club house and refreshments with team sheets available and football wall to wall in the bar! The match was feisty and entertaining, but goals were at a premium. The hosts scored first, eight minutes from time, but plucky Paulton equalised, direct from a corner, in the second minute of added time at the end! In the replay, the following Tuesday, Paulton Rovers triumphed by 2-1.

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Tuesday 20th September

Kershaws Cambridgeshire County League Division 4A

FC Kennett 4

Will Earl 23, Connor Adams 60, Robert Haydon 51, 65, 

Sawston United Reserves 2

Edward Carter 68 (own goal), Vito D’Ambrosia 83,

Referee: Paul Norman.                                 Attendance: 36

Admission : F.O.C.                                       Programme: NONE

FC Kennett, mainly teenagers with a couple of older players, are enjoying their first season in the league – and their first win this season – They play at The Sporting Pavilion on Station Road in Kennett, and the ground, little more than a field with very worn patches, is floodlit. There was a cheering of seasoned hoppers in attendance, Martin Hayden, Peter Miles, Lee West, Laurence Reade and John Main, to name but a few. The game was a good one and Kennett deserved their first success!

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Notice how worn the pitch is!

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Not the easiest team sheet to read!

Fortunately I had downloaded the team squads from “Full Time The FA”

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Wednesday 21st September 2022

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1

Rugby Borough 7

Ethan Flaig 6, Asam Shaw 19, Dale Linton 38, Gez McGahey 42, 83,Ash Piper 60, Ryan Palmer 79,

Wellingborough Whitworth 1

Remy Brittain 55,

Referee:- Angus Neil                                          Attendance:- 95

Admission: £5.00.                                             Programme: £1.00

These two teams are new to the Spartan South Midlands League, having transferred from The United Counties League (Wellingborough Whitworth) and been promoted from The Leicestershire Senior League (Rugby Borough). The ground is 3G but there have been quite a few improvements made – new seated stand, access along the far side of the pitch, to mention but two!. Both teams are languishing, but it was the hosts who looked more likely to rise up the table as they thrashed Whitworth. Four unanswered strikes before the break and three more in the second period in a scintillating Borough performance with a solitary reply in the 55th minute. With John Main.

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This magnificent photograph is the centre piece of a display at the entrance to the club house.

Behind the cups is the club house area, and the second pitch, right at the top is considered a different arena by Futbulog!

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Saturday 24th September 2022

Witney & District League Division 2 k.o.: 11.00am

Brize Norton 0 

Cassington Rangers 1

Jason Blackman 3,

Referee: Callum Jordan.                                      Attendance:- 168

Admission: £4.00.                                               Programme: included

A fine Indian Sumner’s morning, and the volunteers were out in force for the groundhoppers’ visit to Brize Norton. Breakfast baps of all shapes and sizes, ice creams and sumptuous slices of a wide variety of cake. Would that I could wax so lyrically about the match, but no, it was settled in the away team’s favour after a 4th minute penalty award. Having said that, a free kick was awarded to the home side in the 93rd minute for an offence clearly committed inside the penalty area! John was driving today and we missed the rest of the ‘hop’ games and travelled to ……

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Saturday 24th September 2022

Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round k.o.: 3.00pm

Hartpury University 0

Clanfield 85 FC 0

Hartpury won 4-2 on penalties

Referee: Liam Brace.                                       Attendance: 86

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

A newish (2017) university, specialising in agricultural and equine studies, but also with a very good sporting record, Hartpury, near Gloucester, play in The Hellenic League Division 1, as do today’s opponents. The ground is a railed off pitch with floodlights and standing cover for about 50 spectators. The contest was moribund from the first minute, chances were few as both defences dominated, but at the end it was the hosts who took the penalty shoot-out decisively. No programme (on line), but free team sheets. With John Main.

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A solitary John Main at half-time by the only covered portion of the ground!

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Monday 26th September 2022

Pitching-in Southern League Premier Division Central

Hitchin Town 1

St Ives Town 1

Referee:- T. Whay.                                               Attendance: 303

Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£13).                   Programme: £2.00

Team sheet: £0.20

I love the timelessness of Top Field, even though the old wooden terracing has recently disappeared, the ground has lost none of its charm. It really is a lovely setting for a game of football! Tonight, both teams had enjoyed mixed fortunes at the beginning of the season, with the visitors the better placed in the table. Two first half strikes were the only bright spots in an otherwise fairly tepid encounter, and a draw was the fairest outcome.

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Tuesday 26th September 2022

United Counties League Premier Division South

Lutterworth Town 2

Long Buckby 1

Referee: Aaron Lloyd.                                                Attendance: 66

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

It was cold this evening and for the first time this season, I was glad of my coat! Struggling Lutterworth Town with only one win this season, battled hard for this victory against another lower echelon side. They were ahead at half-time, pegged back with twenty minutes remaining, lost their goalkeeping captain to injury and still managed a deserved late winne. With John Main.

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Thursday 29th September 2022

FA Women’s Super League

Everton 1

Kirsty Levell (og) 90+3,

Leicester City 0

Referee: Cheryl Foster.                        Attendance: 1,900

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£8).      Programme: F.O.C.

Teamsheet: F.O.C.

Walton Hall Park, the headquarters of The Liverpool County FA, has been used by Everton Women for the last two seasons, since their first match there in February 2020. This evening, despite the early (6.30pm) kick-off, there was a good crowd to welcome the teams. Everton were the better of two poor teams in the first half, and, indeed, continued their dominance after the break. The visitors, however, stuck to their task with gritty determination and it took an own goal in the third,and final, minute of added time at the end of the match, to, finally, clinch victory for the hosts and thoroughly dampen Leicester’s spirited and determined rearguard action!

OTHER MATCHES.

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OTHER MATCHES:

Friday 2nd September 2022

FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round

Aylestone Park U18 1 St Andrews U18 1

St Andrews won 4-3 on penalties.             Attendance: 352

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Thursday 22nd September 2022

U21 Premier League 2 League Cup Group Stage

Peterborough United 2 Blackburn Rovers 3            attendance: 102

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Ode to Everton

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When at Thy call my weary feet I turn
The gates of paradise are opened wide
At Goodison I know a man can learn
Rapture more rich than Anfield can provide.
In Coulter’s skill and Geldard’s subtle speed
I see displayed in all its matchless bounty
The power of which the heavens decreed
The fall of Sunderland and Derby County.
The hands of Sagar, Dixie’s priceless head
Made smooth the path to Wembley till that day
When Bolton came. Now hopes are fled
And all is sunk in bottomless dismay.
And so I watch with heart and temper cool
God’s lesser breed of men at Liverpool.

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Michael Foot (1913-2010), himself a famous Plymouth Argyle fan, sent this poem into The Liverpool Daily Post in January 1935 following an FA Cup tie he witnessed at Goodison Park, where Everton, the hosts, defeated Sunderland 6-4 after extra time. It was said to be one of the greatest  games ever staged at Goodison Park, and Michael Foot  – lucky enough to have been there – called his poem “Ode to Everton” (Courtesy of “The Guardian”).

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Trent Bridge 2nd August 2022

Brilliant day’s cricket in The Royal London One Day Cup, where Nottinghamshire Outlaws defeated Sussex Sharks by 65 runs, with sons, Jim, Mike and Liam and grandsons, Freddie, Sonny and Kingsley, and, the icing on the cake, was a chance meeting with …. Joe Root. Great day Out.

Nottinghamshire Outlaws (won toss) 290 for 6 (50 overs) defeated Sussex Sharks 217 all out (43 overs) by 73 runs

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Grandsons, Sonny and Kingsley with Joe Root, former England Cricket Captain.

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Grandson, Freddie, with Joe Root. 

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Wednesday 3rd August 2022

Pre-Season Friendly

Milton 2

Tom Blake 10, Ethan Collett 24,

Cottenham 1

Jack Leeks 70,

Referee: Richard May.                                 Attendance:- 47

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

A pleasant evening in Cambridgeshire, a flaxen coloured pitch, hard as concrete, the home team looked the better side, but could have been undone at the end! With John Main, Peter Miles and Brian Buck.

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Friday 5th August 2022

EFL Championship

Birmingham City 2

Scott Hogan 5, Przemyslaw Placheta 45,

Huddersfield Town 1

Danny Ward 61,

Referee: Gavin Ward.                                     Attendance: 17,065

Admission: OMGDS £10.00 (£15)               programme: NONE

A rare visit (and a first in seven years) to St Andrews Stadium for a meeting between the hosts and Yorkshire rivals, Huddersfield Town. Much of the stadium – the lower tier on three sides – was out of commission and the arena looked in need of a healthy dose of improvement. Birmingham bossed the opening period and deserved their two goal interval advantage, but they had to dig deep to hold out against a spirited second half riposte from the visitors.

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The lower tier of accommodation out of use!

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Saturday 6th August 2022

Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Abbey Hey 0

Congleton Town 4

Daniel Needham 21, 45+2, Darren Chadwick 49, Thomas Pope 57, Paul Taylor s/o 40,

Referee: Daniel Sims.                                Official Attendance: 131

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

A first visit to The Abbey Stadium in East Manchester, a neat arena with cover and minimal seating and an upstairs bar and downstairs refreshments (tea/coffee and cheese and ham rolls). Today, the visitors were Congleton Town, a division higher and the gulf in class showed. The visitors went into the interval with a one goal lead and one man short, the player having been dismissed for violent conduct. It made no difference, the ten men struck three more times in the second period for an emphatic victory. With John Main and Chris Berezai.

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Sunday 7th August 2022

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League

Division 2 South (at Houghton & Thurnby)

Houghton & Thurnby (won toss) 283 for 1 (40 overs)

defeated

Bowden 56 all out (15.3 overs) by 227 runs.

Umpires: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

This was a battle of the basement teams and the hosts made the most of it, posting a challenging total with Elizabeth Page notching an unbeaten century (102no). She then proceeded to demolish the visitors batting, taking five wickets and playing a hugely influential part in her team’s emphatic victory!

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Tuesday 9th August 2022

United Counties League Division 1

Aylestone Park 3

Matt Langham 26 (pen), Louis Samuels 30, 53,

Saffron Dynamo 0

Referee: Matthew Basterfield.                              Attendance: 180

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

Aylestone continued their impressive start to the season with a regulation victory over their mid-table rivals, and this, despite the dismissal of defender, Justin Peace, just after half-time! Good to see Rose Askham and her daughter Kate and grand daughter, Nova. With John Main and Jack Warner.

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Saturday 14th August 2022

Eastern Counties League Division 1 North.

Heachem 3

Nathan Davies 24, 49, 59, 

Great Yarmouth Town 1

George Couzens 81,

Referee: Andy Wilson.                            attendance: 141

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

A strong Heacham team started their home campaign with the visit of once mighty Great Yarmouth Town. The ground is a work in progress, but lacks floodlights and any seating of note. On the pitch, the newcomers easily dominated the match with a hat trick from Nathan Davies, seeing off The Bloaters, whose only response came from an 81st minute George Couzens strike. With John Main and Cliff and Margaret.

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John Main, trying out the Heacham dug-outs!

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Sunday 14th August 2022

Rutland League Division 2. (at Market Deeping)

Werrington (won toss) 322 all out (45 overs)

defeated

Market Deeping 181 all out (34.3 overs)

by 141 runs

Umpires: Pete Burrell & Eddie McGeown

On a boiling hot day in Lincolnshire with a flaxen playing surface, this top of the table clash saw a decisive victory for second placed Werrington over table topping Market Derping. The visitors won the toss and smote their way to a formidable total which included a last wicket stand of 62. The hosts were never in the hunt, losing wickets regularly, and fell far short of the required target!

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Monday 15th August 2022

Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands

Coleshill Town 2

Liam Molesworth 45, Kai Tonge 49,

Gresley Rovers 0

Referee:- Richard Walker.                                  Attendance: 206

Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£10).                    Programme: £2.00

A plastic pitch, an early season match, that got better as the game wore on, and the hosts came out comfortably on top after two defeats to their opponents in their last two encounters. With John Main.

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Tuesday 16th August 2022

Midland League Division 1

Droitwich Spa 3

Connor Collins24, 70, Haydn Morris 88,

Cradley Town 1

Jake Crackett 19,

Referee: Alex Shaw.                                   Attendance:- 510

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

Nobody in the large shirt-sleeved crowd, who had come to welcome back their home team after a four year absence, could have expected the monsoon conditions which dominated much of this match. Unrelenting, heavy precipitation from early in the first period right through until the final whistle and after, made for difficult conditions for players – and spectators, for whom there was very little cover! The hosts fell behind, but equalised by the interval and dominated proceedings in the second period, with Haydn Morris rounding off the scoring in the 88th minute.

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Saturday 20th August 2022

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counries League premier Division

Harleston Town 1

Nathan Stone 13,

Ely City 1

Jordan Foster 59,

Referee: James Ludlam.                                      Attendance: 107

Admission: £5.00.                                                Programme: £1.00

On a warm sunny afternoon in Norfolk, the hosts, who had opened the season with four victories (three away from home), lost their 100% record in a tense dual with mid-table Ely City, who came from a half time deficit to garner a well deserved draw and, maybe should have taken all three points. Heather Hughson, an artist from British Colombia was at the match. Her father, Ken Dean, played for Harleston Town in the 1960s, but then emigrated to Canada with his family. This was Heather’s first visit to Harleston in almost sixty years!

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Sunday 21st August 2022

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Division 2

at Houghton & Thurnby

Kettering (won toss) 162 all out (39.1 overs)

Houghton & Thurnby 74 all out (24.3 overs)

Kettering win by 88 runs

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

Hard by the A47 Leicester to Peterborough main road lies the host’s cricket ground screened by a high fence to keep the cricket balls in! Champions elect, Kettering won the toss and posted a relatively challenging total, that was eventually beyond the host’s batting capabilities. Competitive match played in a good spirit.

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Monday 222nd August 2022

Midland League Division 1

Hinckley AFC 2

Joe McNulty 50, James Reid 54,

Paget Rangers 1

Harry Jackson 90+3,

Referee: Harry Organ.                                 Official Attendance: 196

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6).              Programme: £1.50

Sadly, Hinckley are reduced to playing their home matches on the 3G surface at Barwell’s ground after the major upheavals of recent years. Tonight, however, both teams put on an entertaining encounter which the hosts won, narrowly, after seemingly cruising at 2-0. There was raucous comment in the stand and the referee bore the brunt of it. It was unnecessary but didn’t spoil a good game! With John Main.

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Wednesday 24th August 2022

Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands

Corby Town 1

Daniel Collins 70, 

Cambridge City 1

Ryan Sharman 52,

Referee: Matthew Jackson.                              Attendance: 548

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

A balmy evening in Northamptonshire and these two teams were unbeaten in the league this season. The hosts dropped their first points, whilst the visitors manage a third draw in a row! It was a run of the mill match and Cambridge were marginally the superior team. They opened the scoring via a penalty, shortly after half time and the hosts equalised with twenty minutes remaining. With son, Mike and grandson, Freddie, Gary Miller and Paul Beatty.

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Welsh Hop 2022

This year marks the twentieth year of ‘hopping’ in Wales and once again, we were staying at The University of South Wales at the students accommodation in Treforest, with its steep climb up the hill and the excellent beer at the bottom in The Otley Arms. John Main and I had decided to go “off piste” for three games, so that we could take in three games in The JD Cymru South, which is the second tier of football in Wales. Each morning, we left the student accommodation and had breakfast at ‘The Hollybush”, some five miles away! The first of the matches was ………..

Friday 26th August 2022

JD Cymru South k.o.: 7.45pm

Cambrian & Clydach Vale 3

Liam Eason 17, Josh Bull 63, Ryan Prosser 70,

Ammanford AFC 1

Matthew Fisher 83,

Referee: Jordan Harman.                         Attendance:- 221

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

Lee Trundle, who started his career at Chorley and went on to become a star player for Swansea City, captained the visitors this evening at the ripe old age of forty-five! Nestling in a valley with hills all round, the hosts play on a 3G surface with substantial cover and seating, although not all of it is in use! Tonight, they were too strong for their opponents and garnered three strikes before an Ammanford consolation on 83 minutes from … not Lee Trundle, but Matthew Fisher! With John Main.

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Saturday 27th August 2022

Highadmit South Wales Alliance Division 2 k.o.:11.00am

Fairwater 2

Jack Coles 31, Jonathan Jeffries 68,

Penygraig 3

Keiran Tann 14, 63 Ashley Langford 25,

Referee: Charles Thomas.                            Attendance: 201

Admission :- £3.00.                                      Programme: £1.00

On a very warm morning, these two teams served up an entertaining encounter which the hosts were a tad unfortunate to lose. There was not much by way of furniture, and out of the shade, the sun beat down mercilessly. Round the corner at the back was a club house with food, drinks and even second hand books! Good game of football!and A minute’s silence before the match to remember club players, staff and supporters who died due to COVID-19.

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Saturday 26th August 2022

JD Cymru Premier League k.o.: 2.30pm

Pontypridd United 2

Owain Jones 26, Benjamin Ahmun 74,

Aberystwyth Town 1

Alexander Darlington 85,

Referee: Thomas Owen.                                  Official Attendance: 311

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£8).                  Programme: £3.00

Newly promoted Pontypridd play at the University of South Wales Sports Centre, a soulless cage with a 4G pitch and a couple of hastily erected Meccano stands. The game was almost as bleak as the stadium, but it picked up in the final quarter of an hour, when the hosts added a second and then Aberystwyth pulled one back. Interesting colour scheme for the officials! With John Main.

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The officials were bedecked in a rather fetching purple for this match!

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Saturday 26th August 2022

Highadmit South Wales Alliance Premier Division k.o.:5.00pm

Bridgend Street 1

Callum Taylor 90+8 (pen)

Cardiff Corinthians 1

Aaron Davies 80,

Referee: Andrew Wallen.                       Attendance: 264

Admission: £3.00.                                  Programme: £1.00

Formed in 1889, the club have long outlasted the street in Cardiff that they were named after! Today, they endured a bruising encounter with Cardiff Corinthians, seemingly heading towards 0-0, until the visitors snatched the lead with a scant ten minutes remaining! It took until the eighth minute of added time for the hosts to grasp an equaliser from the penalty spot!

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Sunday 27th August 2022

Highadmit South Wales Alliance Premier Division k.o.: 11.00am

Merthyr Saints 1

Andre Maia 38 (pen)

Aber Valley 5

Nathan Radzimierski 3, 45+1, 63, Jacob James 22, Tom Neville 81,

Referee: Mark Boucher.                            Attendance:- 302

Admission: £3.00.                                     Programme: £1.00

The beautifully appointed ICI Rifle Ground is enjoying its first full season, having moved across the field from the former stadium which is still extant. Sadly, The Saints are enduring a tough start to the season and this was their fifth consecutive league defeat. It could have been much worse, but Valley spurned several acceptable opportunities.

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Sunday 27th August 2022

Highadmit South Wales Alliance Division 1 k.o.: 2.00pm

Aberdare Town 6

Kian Johnson 12 (pen),Owen Jones 15, 62, Evan Olsen 19, Cory Thomas 22, Shay Welch 68,

AFC Penrhiwceiber 0

Referee: Graham Evans.                          Attendance: 305

Admission: £3.00.                                   Programme: £1.00

Seven devastating minutes from the fifteenth to the twenty second minute decided this contest. In that time the hosts scored four times without reply. Two further strikes around the hour mark were academic, the match was already won and several further straightforward opportunities were spurned by the hosts in a match somewhat eccentrically officiated.

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Sunday 27th August 2022

Highadmit South Wales Alliance Division 2 k.o.: 5.00pm

Nelson Cavaliers 0

Cwmbach Royal Stars 3

Matthew Jones 19, Jenson Price 43, Liam Price 50,

Referee: Daryl Jenkins.                               Attendance: 254

Admission: £3.00.                                       Programme: £1.00

Top of the table Royal Stars won this game at a canter at Wern Field, the site of a former coal mine and now a country park near Treharris. There was little to see in the way of football furniture, a field with a metal rail round it, set in a natural bowl and a couple of plastic “dug-outs”. The visitors were impressive and quickly established a two goal advantage. A third strike early in the second period was the icing on the cake!

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Monday 29th August 2022

Highadmit South Wales Alliance Division 1

Maesteg Park 2

Lewis Kingdon 26, Paul Evans 42,

Vale United 2

Daniel Hanson 39, Arran Jeffries 67, Steven Gauci s/o 53,

Referee:- Keith Redford.                                      Attendance: 302

Admission: £3.00.                                                Programme: £1.00

A lovely morning with a cooling breeze at Tudor Park, where memories of the host’s former glories are somewhat scarce and (in the case of the stand), roofless following a mini tornado! Vale looked the better side early on, but then conceded a bizarre goal and found themselves 1-2 down at the interval. Early in the second half, they were a man down, too following a DOGSO offence. They recovered to equalise and a draw was probably a fair result.

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Monday 29th August 2022

JD Cymru South

Taffs Well 0

Swansea University 0

Referee: Michael Ford.                                  Attendance:- 161

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

A very pleasant rural ground, with a couple of raised, seated stands, one to each side of the pitch. Today’s match saw two sides cancel each other out in a dour encounter which had little to recommend it! it was all the more surprising, because the hosts were joint top of the league and the visitors were one place off the bottom!

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Monday 29th August 2022

Highadmit South Wales Alliance Division 1

Clwb Cymric 4

Rhys Withers 18, Aled Hughes 61, Thomas Roberts 77, 90+2,

Grange Albion 0

Referee: Michael Ford.                                Attendance: 226

Admission: £3.00.                                       Programme: £1.00

A metal cage painted green, a 3G pitch, with viewing behind one goal and along one side with two seated Meccano stands. Despite the unappetising surroundings, the welcome was warm and this from a club organised for Welsh speakers in Cardiff. The hosts started slowly, but grew into the game scoring three goals after the interval to add to an initial strike in the first period. The last match of a very successful “hop”!!!

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Other Matches:

Monday 1st August

U11 Girls T20 Matches at Kettering CC

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

Leicestershire 68 all out (17 overs)

Northamptonshire 71 for 4 (12.2 overs)

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Northamptonshire 99 for 7 (20 overs)

Leicestershire 98 for 9 (20 overs)

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Monday 8th August 2022

FA U21 Premier League 2 Division 1

Leicester City 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2              attendance: 310

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Wednesday 10th August

Under 18 Girls “Hundred” Tournament at Northampton Saints

Umpires: Steve Dickinson & Eddie McGeown

Worcestershire 99 for 4 (100 balls)

Warwickshire 96 for 8 (100 balls)

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Northamptonshire 125 for 4 (100 balls)

Worcestershire 126 for 5 (97 balls)

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Thursday 11th August 2022

County U-14s match at Oundle School

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

Northamptonshire (won toss) 189 all-out (35.2 overs)

Middlesex 190 for 5 (42.5 overs)

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Friday 12th August 2022

County Girls U-15 match at Oundle School

Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown

Middlesex (won toss) 182 all out (38 overs)

Northamptonshire 162 all out (30.4 overs)

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Thursday 18th August 2022

U-11 District Development Match at Wellingborough Old Grammarians

Umpires: Roger Barker & Eddie McGeown

Kettering & District (won toss) 42 all out (22.2 overs)

East Northants 44 for 3 (11 overs)

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Friday 19th August 2022

FA U21 Premier League 2 Division 1

Leicester City 3 West Ham United 1        attendance:- 338

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Tuesday 23rd August 2022

U15 Girls T20 Matches at Oundle School

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

Northamptonshire 74 for 9 (20 overs)

Middlesex 76 for 1 (9.1 overs)

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Middlesex 106 for 7 (20 overs)

Northamptonshire 107 for 8 (19.3 overs)

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Wednesday 31st August 2022

Northants U-11 Development T20 at Burton Latimer CC

Kettering & District U-11 123 for 4 (20 overs)

Northampton & South U-11 101 for 7 (20 overs)

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Kettering & District U-11 98 for 3 (16 overs)

East Northants U-11 87 all out (13.4 overs)

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