While we have been enjoying England’s passage to the semi-finals, Scotland’s first World cup appearance for some years it is the coming new season that excites me more. Today is one of those landmark days, like the winter solstice which heralds longer daylight hours and a creep into spring. It is the publication of most of the remaining Non League fixtures. We have had the Premier League, EFL and National League fixtures in orchestrated reveals but today it is the turn of the grass roots. True the preliminary rounds of the FA cup, Trophy and Vase have already crept out but todays are the ones that mark the start of my new season now being able to plan new adventures to new teams and destinations. Why we have to wait so long, giving the smaller teams a shorter time to prepare than the bigger clubs with more resources, I do not know, in todays AI world the excuse that this is delayed because of ground sharing has to be worked out is baffling. Any way we are here and a season unfolds.
First Published in 2010 by Luath Press Ltd. Edinburgh
I looked in an old 1931 edition of Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary, also from Edinburgh, for a definition of Stramash, A noun, scottish, for a tumult, disturbance and as a verb to beat or to destroy.
Daniel Gray is one of my favourite writers, particularly about football, and is also editor of Nutmeg,
This early book of his is a tour round some of Scotland’s less fashionable football league teams. Not only is it about the clubs, and a specific game, but a more a travelogue around the history of place, people, culture and industry. For example he visits, Arbroath, Ayr, Dumfries and others on his journey. His chatty, informative style, that fully captures the fans, makes you want to visit those towns too.
Only 211 pages long, made shorter by pictures, it is very easy to read quickly and get the enjoyment that he obviously gained through his trips.
I look forward to reading some other books of his on my shelfs, in between many others I have lined up.
A couple of weeks ago I visited The Church of St Columba in Crosspool, Sheffield.
Crossool is a neighbourhood to the West of Sheffield City centre just before you reach countryside and the edge of the Peak District. It is an area of residential houses whih those living there having a strong attachment to their community.
It is also the home of Hallam FC, recognised by FIFA as the second oldest football club in the world playing at the oldest ground. The Football Club share the ground with the local cricket club.
The community rooted Church of St Columba had given up their church for an open meeting for local people, fans and supporters of the club to discuss their future. Ideas and options were presented by the Football Supporters Association with regards working towards Hallam becoming a fan owned community club. Hallam is currently ‘Unincorporated’ which puts an incredible onus and strain on those running the club and its future.
The congregation were told that there are currently 42 cubs operating on a fan owned basis under the guidance of the Football Supporters Association of which Wimbledon and Exeter are the highest ranked clubs in the league system. There are two more just coming on line. The two people presenting were fan members of Bury F.C. and Lewes F.C.
There are different models and constitutions and these have been circulated by the Hallam team. The journey was said to have 5 stages which could take as long as it takes with Hallams journey likely to be about 6 months to a year.
What was interesting was that in discussion it was pointed out that there was considerable interest from abroad, particularly the USA, to take over Non League clubs with the Wrexham rise being the catalyst. The Supporters Association pointed out that this is not sustainable for all with costs doubling each time promotion is gained due to e.g. rises in wages, ground grading, travelling. These costs are not covered by a doubling in the gate or total income. A club could end up with owners soon reaching their willingness to financially support it and not be part of the community who had enjoyed and supported it for many years.
Those attending unanimously voted to move forwards to make Hallam community led, fan owned, and that this action was the first step in five steps to achieve the goal. One poignant message was that Hallam like all clubs should address a plan that looked to the future and realistically set the level that was sustainable to achieve and compete in.
If you visit Sheffield and South Yorkshire in general this summer, you will be surrounded by a pride of lions and their cubs. They are all part of a fundraising trail in support of the Sheffield Children’s Hospital. This year the Children’s Hospital marks 150 years since it was founded in the heart of the city.
Also in the city centre, just off the Winter Gardens, is the Millenium Galleries and there you will find a free exhibition, donations welcome, The Football Art Prize. It runs from the 11th June to the 13th September.
The Football Art Prize celebrates the world’s most popular sport. Illustrating both glory and defeat, the shortlisted works show the passion, drama and unity that football inspires across the world. They also highlight the inventiveness of makeshift goalposts, the beauty and stillness of empty football fields, and the creativity of pitches built in unexpected places. Through an open call, artists from around the world were invited to submit work inspired by the beautiful game and how it shapes our lives, identities and communities. The final exhibition includes over 60 artworks and three prize winners selected by a panel of judges, in a wide range of media from painting and drawing to photography and film.
Just some of the art on display. if you are in the area it is well worth a visit.
This book continues my chip obsession and is written by Daniel Gray, a well known writer of books with a social or regional content. They are written well, enabling you to fully visualise what he is seeing, often in an amusing and informative style. Much of his writing is about football and his books are among my favourites. Daniel Gray is also the Editor of Nutmeg, ‘The Scottish Football Quarterly’, whose commentary on Scotland’s football scene cannot be missed.
The book is an investigation into the delights of fish and chips as he ventures across Britain. It explains the regional variations and the history behind their mass appeal. Telling the struggles of immigrants to bring this typically British food to our tables, or open, and how women’s emancipation was helped by them. The delights of the condiments that accompany them and scraps/sprinkles or none, I didn’t know that they had orange chips in Wolverhampton. This 176 page book is very easy and quick reading and is just right for a holiday or a journey read.
I have continued my chip league for another season and my waist line will prove that. Chips were available at just under 50% of the 44 matches I watched and some times the alternative was very good. The pork pie served on a football pitch serviette at Melton Mowbray was memorable, the two Scotch pies in Scotland were a positive experience, previously I was not so sure, and the meat pie at Tranmere Rovers was exceptional.
The chips started off at Berwick Rangers and set up the season, with a high score of 70, which was only beaten by three clubs. A 72 at Staveley Miners Welfare, I think was partially influenced by the superb club house and the friendly atmosphere. The 73 at Market Harborough where I even forgot to take a photo of them, I was obviously enjoying them,, and the winners, a 74, at Hallam FC. The Hallam chips were hot, golden, tasty, crispy with firm but fluffy centres. Having not eaten any lunch the large portion was what was needed but may have also influenced my judgement. The two highest scores were also when I was with family so again that may have influenced the outcomeThe two highest scores were also when I was with family so again that may have influenced the outcome.
As always I have to confirm that all of the scores are subjective and my own personal view.
With no football matches I looked for another football fix, and at the nearby Renishaw and Spinkhill Community Centre a Subbuteo fair was advertised. Just off the M1 at junction 30 it was a well placed venue. Parking outside I noticed two men chatting and exchanging boxes in the car park. Elicit Subbuteo trading?
I walked in to the Community Hall and was amazed at the number of people there, and the stalls that packed out the venue. Two of the stalls were from Italy and a man with a quiet accent from the South of Ireland was buying in font of me. He must have been out of the Eire plated car I had parked next to.
This little local hub had been turned into Subbuteo heaven. There were boxes of teams of clubs from all over Europe, women’s teams, boxes of individual players for you to find the one you needed to complete a set, floodlights, stands, supporters, officials and more, all in miniature. It was mainly men 40 plus in age and a chat with one revealed that he had recently found a friend who still had his old set and they had set up meetings to compete with each other.
This is not just a culture for collectors, I find out there are leagues and even International matches.
One stall was empty boxes for you to buy to keep you team pristine or on display. People will take orders for them to paint you a team in the colours you want and of the era you require. They turn out as miniature works of art. On one stall was a Subbuteo sticker book, who knew, and Subbuteo cricket and rugby.
It was totally fascinating to see theses roughly one inch figures are still so keenly traded, collected and played with. My next Subbuteo education will be to attend one of their competitions.
Unfortunately I did wonder how long the game will continue to draw such support with the attendees all being of a certain age. Their children and grandchildren will have been at home playing on a smart device.
I did buy a referee set and corner flags for my grandchildren to go with their fathers set. Let’s hope they get used.
In the Autumn of 2016 I met up with some old school friends and I asked one who was already retired what he did. “I empty the dishwasher” was his reply. My mouth dropped and I quizzed him to give me the real answer, but he didn’t change his words. My heart sank, not just for him but for my impending retirement in the following February. I had to find another answer and a purpose to move forward in a new chapter of my life.
If you are looking for a career move people often advise you to turn a hobby into a business. I wasn’t skilled enough in pottery, painting, woodwork etc to turn to one of those, yet one thing I have done all of my life is to enjoy watching football. I have a vague recollection of attending matches when I was five at St Albans City, then like now members of the Isthmian League, and in my first season finishing bottom. I remember that the terrace behind the York Road goal was of wooden sleepers, filled in with ash and at that time frequented by many fans who were smokers. It was fun to get some discarded cigarette ends on to which I piled some litter and managed to get some smoke. My fun was ended by a clip round the ear and I never did that again.
I had previously thought about writing a blog and Non- League football seemed a good place to start, but I lacked the computer knowledge and was fearful to get started. At school and in life my English, especially spelling, had always been an achilles heel, however spell check was now there to remedy this. If you knew me you would not be surprised how many times there are words underlined in red when I write each post. In depth computer knowledge was also not a strong point, however research soon led me to ‘WordPress’ which seemed to be the leader as a blogging tool and I found that it was not so daunting to set one up.
Wow, here I go I thought, but I needed a name and I spent days thinking of the most catchy name in the world, that didn’t materialise, and I couldn’t get ‘notonthepools’ out of my head. I finally managed to ditch that and landed with ‘payonthegate’. payonthegate to me is something that you do at Non-league games although even here pre-booked tickets are creeping in.
Fear was now my biggest obstacle and those first few blogs were daunting. Very few read what I had published at first which luckily didn’t kill my determination to continue, or reduce the number of games I was going to. What now took over was the enjoyment of the endless research, planning and watching matches. Obsesion, some close to me would call it, however it gave me purpose, a need to use my brain, travel to new horizons and a sense of community. Its not just the football, but, the history, the future, the place and the people. To go to football matches in the lower echelons of our national game you soon realise there would be no matches without the dedication of small groups who keep clubs alive. The lady who seemed to run the whole show at LLangollen, the groundsman at Baslow who found time to stop cutting the grass to explain who played there, the lady at Lancaster who facilitated me to get in the ground with no cash, and many more.
What has also been an eye opener are the friendly people I have met, ‘Miserable Les’, his stage name, at Esh Winning, who I chatted to for the whole game, shared a cup of tea at halftime, and I think I can remember the score was 1-1, it didn’t matter. In the away seats at Hereford two guys of a similar age sat with me and talked me through a whole history of Kings Lynn FC, the current team and why the club needed a shake up. We were then kept in the ground , with about 20 others, by the local police for our own safety? I was ambushed by a group of mature fans at CD National FC on Madeira, where I found that although there were no allocated seats they always sat where I was. How we managed to communicate this, with them not speaking any English, and me not speaking any Portuguese, was amazing. They decided to adopt me into their clan and at very goal they scored we hugged, high fived and laughed.
I always feel at home in the clubhouse of Staveley Miners Welfare FC, on a cold day its warm, the food ids good and most importantly there is real sense of community something you find in many clubhouses or on the terraces even when the crowd is only small. Travel is also one of the rewards, watching football next to the ruins of Berwick Castle with the sea as a backdrop, seeing the FIFA recognised pitch on the Isle of Eriksay, covered in sheep droppings, watching Clachnacuddin in Inverness and seeing if the support at Verona was as Tim Parks described in his book ‘My Year With Verona’, it was.
I have also, always enjoyed watching the trends of teams rising and falling within the pyramid system and how new teams are formed. Guernseys emergence in the Non – League pyramid has led to teams from the Isle of Mann and Jersey to follow suit, Loughborough Students have paved the way for more University teams to climb the ladder and the recent rise of teams based on Academies or Academy Colleges. Its also great to see some of the older clubs that have drifted down regroup and succeed such as Oldham, Rochdale, York and Bury. Some clubs have grown based on the income that they can make on hiring their artificial pitch and others through community. Clapton FC are well embedded in their locality, St Albans City, Dulwich Hamlet and Hallam, as examples, have made their games and grounds destinations to meet up with friends and family along with the match.
As you continue writing and presenting your blog you make changes to style and layout which is often driven by the research you do. One inspiration has been ‘The Scottish Football Quarterly’, Nutmeg. This is a fantastic read if you want to know what is going on in all aspects of their game, it is not centred on the top teams as you would expect but everyone. It is also so well written and edited that it inspires and gives me confidence to continue. Talking of continuing, I set a goal of 500 blogs or ten years to finish and now reaching the first of those, and with just over a year to go to ten years, I have decided to hang on in there. It’s much more rewarding than emptying the dishwasher.
At the end of each of my match posts I report on the chips, if they are available. People in football talk about the pies, so I decided to review chips. This may not have helped my waist line or health but often they were enjoyable, except for those left on an EFL grounds terrace after just 3 chips, sorry about leaving them on the terrace but there were no bins.
So finally I have to thank my dishwasher emptying friend who spurred me on to gain so much enjoyment as documented by my 500 posts.
My start to the season was in England to see Berwick Rangers play in the Scottish Lowland League. They were playing Cowdenbeath (the blue Brazil), like Berwick a team not long relegated from the senior Scottish League system. A great start at such a friendly club with good facilities. The day was made better by the fact that I went from there to outside the ramparts of the Elizabethan castle to see the final of “The Stanks’, The Berwick Charities Cup.
With an Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup in between, I was in Llangollen for a Welsh League game where I witnessed what is so fantastic about lower league football, where a lady was definitely in charge, went round the crowd collecting donations towards the evenings game, very few didn’t contribute.
A few games later an evening trip to Crowle in the Isle of Axholme in Lincolnshire where a young club were coping with a higher league on and off the pitch.
September found a culinary delight at Melton Mowbray, it had to be a pork pie, in their 5 star club house. Following on was a trip to Barnard Castle a team I had been watching climb the leagues, it didn’t disappoint.
Yorkshire football at Harrogate and Ossett was followed by a trip to see Clachnacuddin in Inverness. Scottish football always surprises me with its skill, energy and commitment, why does the National side never seem to match this. Perhaps this forthcoming World Cup will finally be their time.
Into October and after a 70 year wait I was at Partick Thistle. The game didn’t really get going and it was surprising that only three sides of the ground are developed. The intriguing thing here were the group of young ‘Ultras’ all dressed in black behind the goal creating an atmosphere.
I had battled storm Amy from Inverness to Partick and the continual rain and grey days seemed to last into the New Year, disrupting life and football.
My usual trip to Market Harborough each season, again saw some dull football but a vociferous crowd of their Spanish supporters, flow in for the game, kept up a continual noise. Harborough went on to gain another promotion.
November started in a trough with St Albans being thumped 6 nil in the FA Cup at Burton Albion After their management team left prior to the game to take up similar positions in a higher league. A new management team were installed who I have confidence in getting them instead top 5 of their league next season. The next day i took in another FA Cup game at Gainsborough, who took their EFL opponents, Accrington Stanley, all the way but lost out in the end.
Of the seven games watched in November FC Grace Dieu v Clipstone was the stand out. Three goals each and torrential rain before and during the match that was kept alive by the ground staff sweeping and the water off the all weather pitch before and at half time. Interesting venue, Grace Dieu houses a private football academy. All the facilities here were not finished and will be worth a revisit on a dry day in the future.
The rain continued to cause havoc with my football plans in December yet I was able to watch a competitive festive West Nottingham Derby between Stapleford and Sandiacre. This was at the recently redeveloped ground where facilities for everyone are first class. Stapleford’s 4-2 victory was impressive.
Into a New Year where I saw Mansfield make a smash and grab raid at Sheffield United in the FA Cup with a well deserved 3-4 victory. Two visits to Sandy Lane to watch Worksop Town, the second to claim my winnings for second place in their previous games 50/50 draw. The first time I have won anything after many years of entering competitions at ground around the country.
With the league positions now taking shape a February visit saw Dinnington keep up pressure to move up a tier. Unfortunately yet again by the end of the season they failed again. The organisation and facilities are all there. they will keep trying.
After watching my grandson play I went with them to watch Northampton Town. A good crowd, despite the Cobblers recent form, and their flirt with the relegation places. The stadium here now looks great after completion and the team looked good in their win over Stevenage. At that point no one knew that this heralded a disastrous run that would see them end up bottom of the League, relegation and an impending take over.
After many years I finally made it to Ashbourne for their annual Shrovetide football match, a must for football enthusiasts to see what some feel was a forerunner to the modern game. Great to have been there but is it really anything to do with our modern game? The speech to start the proceedings saying outsiders were not welcome didn’t endear me to go back even to look round the town.
With games being cancelled all over I watched my football wherever was available. My abortive trip to Baslow led me to near Derby and Graham Street Prims. A very strong side but the facilities seem to have fallen on hard times.
By late march I spent a Sunday afternoon watching a Women’s League game in the fifth tier. What a friendly bunch of people and I was pleasantly surprised at the skill level, speed and commitment of the game. I noted to make sure I watch another women’s game next season.
Still in March a trip to Baslow resulted in watching a game in the Sheffield Friendly League. Not in the FA structure and played on Saturday mornings I saw an absolute worldie scored in the last minute to win the game and to go past the young goalkeeper who was my , ‘one to watch’ for the future, player of the season.
Despite moaning about the weather a visit to Ashby Ivanhoe was finally achieved after postponements over the last few seasons.
With final league positions being decided the local derby between Retford United and Retford FC looked a must. An exciting game that ended all square and meant Retford FC were promoted and gained local bragging rites. United were also promoted via the play offs and then both Nottinghamshire teams were put into the Northern Counties East Premier League when everyone expected them to be in the United Counties League. The NCEL next season looks exceptionally strong and these two will compete strongly.
A Play Off game at Sheffield FC saw Tadcaster triumph after a penalty shoot out. Again here an unexpected lateral movement of Sheffield to the United Counties League for next season, although perhaps not so because they play their games in Derbyshire. Their new owners certainly have the star quality to move the club forward.
Looking to squeeze in games before the season ended, Sheffield’s Steel City Stadium threw up a game not to be forgotten.Dinnington won away 2-3, with almost the last kick of the game, to Burngreave. But it was not the frantic all action football that caught the eye but the ill discipline of Burngreaves players and officials. There were more sending off for the home team in this game than I had seen all season elsewhere. I commented that if they could control this they would be a team to watch. Indeed they did, and went on a run of wins when finishing up their backlog of fixtures. If they keep this squad together then they will be strong promotion challengers next season.
Like the end of last season i took in a final game in the English Football league Two and visited Tranmere Rovers, a great ground and friendly people. The draw meant that the home side avoided relegation and Grimsby reached the playoffs.Not the same excitement as at the last game of the season last year at Bradford.
One last game was sneaked in on a very cold May gloomy evening in Worksop. Not that it was a gloomy game with 6 goals and it certainly hadn’t been a gloomy season. The abiding reflection on the season was the weather
The highlights of the season were the almost three games in Scotland, Berwick Rangers (honorary Scottish), Clachnacuddin and Partick Thistle a very relaxed sunny autumn evening at Llangollen, finding football in a picturesque park in Baslow, and seeing how grounds can be redeveloped well with artificial surfaces at Melton Mowbray and Stapleford.
At the end of the season it was great to see the two Retford teams gain promotion, the rivalry continues.
An interesting season for some community clubs I watch out for. When I lived near Market Harborough it was a Rugby town with little football activity, after this years promotion they will next year be in The National League North, what a transformation. Clapton Community FC have not only brought the club back but also ‘The Old Spotted Dog’ ground, they too gained promotion and next year will play in a league with rivals Ilford and Romford who were in the top Isthmian League when I first watched St Albans City in the 1950’s. Finally Hallam FC, where the fans fought off a take over and have a meeting in June on how to change their constitution to be fan lead. Fans count and it is great to see.
But I have waited for the day after Aston Villa’s triumph in the Europa Cup in Istanbul. If you follow my blog you will have seen four posts that say ‘You have to deal with disappointments to follow the Villa’, well not now, although even at 3 nil up I was still cautious to believe in victory until the final ten minutes. What delightful football they played to win this European Trophy and what a fitting recognition for the owners, players, fans and the incredible Unai Emery. Up the Villa.
P.S. sorry to all the matches I have not mentioned in this review.
I found a game on Tuesday night which was my last of this season, 2025/26, SJR Worksop v Teversal. Some might say really, but to me a true reflection of football in the 11th tier of English football. I had been there before, it survives as a sports club recreation ground for football and cricket and has not been sold to put up a warehouse or housing.
You can luckily park next door in Asda for three hours free and a walkway has been made through the hedge to get to the ground. Not aware of this I parked in the wrong part and took the long way round.
Many clubs at this level have fallen behind in their fixtures due the the heavy rains and postponements we had around the start of the year. Some have not finished all of their games within the time agreed and have forfeited the points. This game was on even though it had no bearing on the league, with the teams being placed seventh and eight in the league. With no lights at the venue the kick off was at 7pm and on the Teversal social media they suggested it might start early because of the light.
This ground is open one side to the cricket pitch and surrounded by fencing on the other sides. There are two small areas under cover one of which has some banking with paving slabs to sit on. An umbrella was at hand in case the very dark clouds, which made it very gloomy, decided to drop their rain. It was also a chilly 8 degrees.
The pitch slopes slightly to one corner and the grass cover was recovering well in the spring weather.
These two clubs had played the previous Saturday where SJR had won 3 nil.
As I have said on a previous visit the best way to explain the history of the club is to show a board that is displayed by one of the corner flags. The name St Josephs Rockware indicates the previous background to the club having been born out of St Joseph’s’ Catholic Church and the Rockware sports club. They have developed into a multi age and sex club with their women’s team playing in the English 5th tier of womens football.
Teversal have been going since 1905 and had the words Miners Welfare in the name for many years, reflecting the two local pits of Teversal and Silverhill. The miners influence, but not the heritage, ended in 1989 when the local district council took over the complex and still run it today. They maintained a period of stay in the Northern Counties East League despite a few ups and downs but were relegated to the Central Midlands League.
SJR Worksop 3 Teversal FC 3
Tuesday 5th May 2026, 19.00 pm kick off
Central Midlands league-Premier North Division
SJR Worksop, Rockware Glass Sports and Social Club, Sandy Lane’ Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
SJR; Blue and Black vertical striped shirts with all blue backs and black shorts, goalkeeper in grey top and black shorts.
Teversal; Red and black vertical shirts with all red back and white shorts, goalkeeper in all green.
Despite this game having little significance in the league at this stage of the season both teams seemed up for it with the home team dominating in mid field in the early stages. SJR lifted the gloom first when Joe Bean headed in a beautifully accurate cross from the right. Playing on the left he continued to harass the Teversal defence with his fast pace and tricky footwork. However it was Joshua Parfitt for Teversal who levelled the scores with three minutes remaining until half time when he took the ball down from mid air and turned to hit the ball across the goalkeeper.
The half time whistle went and the referee, the other officials and the Teversal players initially remained on the pitch expecting a quick turn round to beat the darkening skies but the SJR team marched off to the dressing room. To make thing more difficult in the fading light the games restart was held up by a loose dog. Once the game was underway Teversal took full command and scored after 8 minutes when a cross from the right was hooked over the home keeper by Alex Ferraday. Two minutes later Teversal made it three when Joshua Parfitt scored his second after making space for himself.
Teversal looked comfortable at this point but Joe Bean continued to cause problems and finally with 74 minutes gone he collected the ball on the edge of the centre circle and ran free to round the goalkeeper to get SJR back in the game. Again, only eight minutes later, he was terrorising the Teverwal defence when he took the ball to the dead ball line and cut it back for Tom Mullen to roll it along the ground into the net for the equaliser.
Expecting the home side to push on for the winner, it was Teversal who pushed hardest at the end and nearly avenged their defeat of the previous weekend. A quick retreat from the ground to the car to warm up and a reflection that even end of season non matches can be enjoyable. Well done to both teams.
No chips but a good, strong, hot coffee, it was needed.
payonthegate 