Kirton Brickworks didn’t disappoint.

I finally made it to watch a football match in Kirton Brickworks, which I have tried to do on two previous occasions. One match was moved to a local park and another totally postponed due to the brickworks pitch being unplayable due to drainage issues. After the very dry summer I thought that if I was to see a game there then catching an early season game was the best idea.

Prescott Cables, Swindon Supermarine, Preston North End, Penistone Church, Sheffield Wednesday, give you a clue about the club and Kirton Brickworks is no different.

Forterra Kirton Brickworks is just outside Ollerton in Nottinghamshire. The works were bought in 2025 by the international company that make bricks all over the country. The football team. Kirton Brickworks FC were formed in 1965 associated with the brickworks.

The club originally played in the Nottingham leagues until joining the Central Midlands Alliance in 2023.

The pitch is in front of the works but entry is by driving further down the lane to a large car park and not via the main gate. Walking past huge stacks of bricks a picturesque pitch is revealed within the brickworks. The grass was a lush green with the pitch sloping slightly from end to end. Trees make up two sides, the brickworks entry road another and one side a line of blue brick trucks. I paid  to watch in what seemed like an all purpose company meeting room, canteen, etc. The player changing rooms were also in this building. What struck me, and was no surprise were two immaculate pitchside dugouts made of bricks.

There is no cover here and only pitchside standing, but I found a park bench, dedicated I believed to a former player. There were about 20 friends and family watching the game in the warm sunshine that was only occasionally interupted by some passing clouds.

Kirton’s opponents were Appleby Frodingham Saints FC the development squad for the main team from Scunthorpe who I have writteabout before.

Kirton Brickworks FC 5 Appleby Frodingham Saints FC 1

Saturday 19th September 2026.  16.00 pm kick off.

Central Midlands Alliance League Division One

Kirton Brickworks, red shirts with two small black stripes on front and back, black shorts.Goalkeeper in white top with green sleeves and black shorts. 
Appley Frodingham, orange shirt with black shorts,  goalkeeper in all light blue.

Kirton Brickworks kicked off with the advantage of the slope in first half and after just
5 minutes a long ball through to no.7 alowed him to run on draw the keeper and make it one nil to the home team.

After 25 minutes Appleby had forced their way back into the game. But some sloppy passing and lack of stature proved hard for them to dominate.
However, some good quick play and passing allowed no 9 to have time to pass the ball to the right for the winger to cut in and place the ball across the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net.

With Appleby now showing some good football they went behind against the run of play with 35 minutes gone.

When half time came with the home team leading 2.1, it seemed anyone’s game.

The referee having kicked the game off early, organised a quick tun round.

The second half was more fiercely contested with a few niggles creeping in.
Half way through the second period a beautiful piercing ball to Kirton’s no.7  allowed him to casually beat the goalkeeper for 3.1

A Brickworks player left the field after an argument with the referee but this did not stop them finishing strongly. They increased their lead after 41 minutes when quick movement from the back and two passes in the  box allowed a player to line up ball and place it past the stranded goalkeeper. With the game almost over it was 5 goals  when from a free kick the ball was rolled along ground to right and was whipped into the box, again along the ground, to be slid over the goal line.

Kirton Brickworks ran out worthy winners although Appleby Frodingham pressed them for most of the game. Appleby’s youthfulness showed but you could see that some will have a good career in senior football. I was particularly impressed by the away teams goalkeeper despite letting in 5.

Goal scorers –  Kirton Brickworks; Archie Ward 4, Harry Stevenson 1. Appleby Frodingham; Declan Southern 1.

No chips but at £3 entrance fee  including a cup of tea it was a bargain.

Accrington Stanley, definitely a friendly club if not the Number 1.

Last year during Heritage Week I was lucky enough to go on a tour of Hallam FC so this year being away and seeing a chance to go round Accrington Stanley I jumped at it.

I couldn’t have been so lucky. About 20 of us assembled in the club shop and were welcomed by Robert Houseman . From then on the passion, enthusiasm, the wanting the club to succeeded, just oozed out of him.

Accrington we’re one of the founder members of the football league but dropped out early on due to the cost of travel etc. They have had an interesting history which has been written about in some detail.

My interest on the day was the ground. we were told that Accrington Stanley are the smallest club in the EFL system with home crowds hovering around 2000 passionate fans. Sitting midway between Blackburn and Burnley, two clubs who have reached the heights of English football they have always struggled to have a huge fan base. Because of their name, their footballing exploits and a famous milk advert they have always had a warm place at the heart of english football.

There have been different guises of football in Accrington with the current name due to a merger with Stanley Villa. Their most controversial period was in the 1960’s when due to financial problems they had to resign from the league, but only a few day after they were given enough money to carry on, but the Football League would not let them back, the Chairman of the football league at the time was Bob Lord, the chairman of Burnley.

Seemingly the end they re-emerged in 1968 and fought their way through the non league system to get back into the Football League where they rose to League 1 but have now dropped back to league 2.

More recently they have been owned by Andy Holt and it is one of his brands ‘Wham’ that adorn the front of the shirts and the stadium.

We entered the ground at the home end where a time-line on the walls show the history of the club and this is a feature all around the ground where pictures of ex players, managers, teams and past games are evident.

Immediately standing on the covered terracing behind the goal you are hit by the beautiful playing surface, they win accolades for that, and the view in the distance of the Lancashire countryside hills. Behind the goal is a fixed drum where the ultras stand. Down both sides is covered seating and at the far end the open away standing end although often teams also are given extra space on one side because their supporter base could be larger.

There are food and drink kiosks built into the stands with one offering being the local butter pie. on a trip to the nearby Clitheroe market I spied an apple pie but in the same shape you would get a traditional steak pie at a football match, it would be interesting to see how many of those would be sold as an alternative on match day!

We visited the changing rooms and an upstairs lounge often used by the players and guests on match days unless a sponsor had booked it. Next was the amazing Coley’s bar, a venue for Accrington fans, special events but also away supporters who are welcomed to join the home fans to this well specked, spacious area.

Open from 10 am before Saturday !5.00 pm matches it is an example as to how everyone should be treated. This would be an eye opener to some of the clubs where I have experienced almost cattle like facilities for away supporters. The visit moved on through the Chairman’s lounge and a quick peek into another function room which was to be used for a funeral party that afternoon.

At the end of the visit we viewed a recent mural painted on the end of the Crown Pub and were offered a free ticket to Saturdays’ home fixture which unfortunately I couldn’t take up.

The ‘Wham’ stadium is amazing for such a small club. It is so clean, tidy, organised, and just shouts out to you Accrington Stanley, I would be proud to be a fan every week. I will be back to see a game as soon as possible, in fact every football fan should diary a trip.

Kivo rally too late.

With very little time to spare I managed to get to Kiveton Park to see a football match. This must now be the nearest ground to my house now that Glapwell are playing in Sutton in Ashfield.

I have been to Kiveton Park a few times and it is always a great venue to watch a game at because of the large covered seated stand. This is surprising because they play in the 11th tier of English football. Like others in the region their roots of being supported by a miners welfare organisation speaks of past glories like others.

But there is still great enthusiasm in these parts as they move forward,  with the following statement posted on their website this summer.

“From matchdays to community events, this clubhouse is at the heart of everything we do — and now it’s time to give it the upgrade it deserves.”

Kiveton Park Football Club and Kiveton Park Cricket Club are coming together to transform our shared clubhouse into a space everyone can be proud of.”

I didn’t get chance to pop in but will do in the future. A crowd of above 40 appeared from nowhere, but I expect from the clubhouse at the end of the large carpark which was full, partly with the players and supporters of the cricket match in play on the adjacent pitch.

The club run many football teams, with the youngsters playing at an all weather facility in nearby Wales, but the senior men’s pitch is a thick vibrant green grass. The fencing and railings looked as if they had been repaired too.

Kiveton Park 2 Oughtibridge War Memorial FC 3

Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League

Saturday 12th September 2026.  14.00 pm kick off.

Kiveton Park Miners Welfare, End of Stone Close, Rotherham, S26 6SQ

1st v 10th,   Attendance 40 plus, mainly friends and family of the players.

Kiveton, Light blue and black vertical striped shirts with light blue shorts , goalkeeper in a black top with a yellow stripe on the shoulders and darker blue shorts.
Oughtibridge, Red shirts with black sleeves and two black lines at front and back of the shirts and black shorts. Goalkeeper in all light blue.

Kiveton took advantage of the slope from end to end in the first half, which kicked off with grey skies, a temperature of 14 degrees but quite windy.

Neither team imposed themselves on the other at the start, the difference being that Kiveton looked like a team of individuals whereas Oughtibridge were playing more like a team

But it was a piece of individuality that gave the away team the lead when Lucy’s Metzgar Edwards recieved the ball on the  right side of the edge of the goal area and placed it in far left hand top corner. The remaining 11 minutes were uneventful giving time to trainspotting passing ‘Northern’ trains journeying between Sheffield and Worksop.


Kiveton wished they had taken advantage of the first half slope because 12 minutes into the second half a long ball from an Oughtibridge freekick allowed Joshua Bark to evade all of the defence and tap in a goal by the far post.
Only 7 minutes later when another  Oughtibridge freekick to the centre of goal area, was hooked into the net. but it was given off side.
The away teams dominence was further advanced when with
27  minutes of the second half gone a break away fed theit  striker who ron in from the right to see his shot saved. It was unfortunate that the goalkeeper couldn’t keep the ball in his outstretched hand and Edwards was on hand to tap the ball in for a 3 goal lead.
Kiveton Parks attack looked toothless with  individuals trying to beat beat everyone.

After 34 minutes Kiveton finally amalgamated team work with individuality when a player out on left played an accurate along the ground cross for Ismael Lammy to swing his left foot and guide the ball into the  top left hand corner of the net.  A few minutes later and they made it two after some passing around the area the ball fell to Connor Banton to score.

Although Kiveton tried hard to get the equaliser they didn’t create another clear chance and Outibridge held on for a deserved win.

No chips or other refreshment at the ground but there will have been somewhat the clubhouse at the far end of the car park.

They’re singing on the southside of the bridge.

Another drive up the M18, but this time down the M180 to get to Barrow upon Humber to see the replay of Saturdays drawn FA Cup game.

It was a beautiful clear night but the temperature at 14 degrees hadn’t changed all day. The ground is north of the centre near the Humber estuary with a railway line, housing and an industrial estate nearby. They are also next door to a cricket pitch. The large car park was full, but parking was easy, on the road by the industrial estate.

This was the first time that Barton Town had played at their home since February due to pitch works to remedy a long standing water problem. You could still see some lines on the flat grass pitch where the work had been completed. The ground is not as well developed as their opponents but has two small  covered areas  behind one goal,  open on the other, with a seated stand in the middle of one side. The other side housed the turnstiles,  clubhouse, snack bar and changing rooms with hard standing along the pitch.

The players entered the pitch to different weather conditions to their draw on Saturday, then it was a bright sunny day, now with the sun disappearing there was gloom, a temperature of 11 and a biting westerly wind made to feel cooler coming off the water.

Barton Town 2 North Ferriby 0

Tuesday 8th September. 19.45 kick off.

FA Cup First qualifying round replay

The Swans v The Villagers

Northern Counties East League Premier Division  v Northern Premier League East Division

Attendance 547 (considering there were Champions League games on TV and Hull were playing in the League Cup I thought this a good turnout).

Barton Town; all sky blue shirts and shorts,  goalkeeper in all washed out green.
North Ferriby; white shirts with dirty green sleeves. Dirty green shorts. Goalkeeper in all purple.



In the first 15 minutes North Ferriby looked up for it, pushing forward much quicker compared to the previous game. It was Barton Town though that came closest to taking the lead when they hit the right hand post with 19 minutes gone. This prompted them to take control with  quick attacking from accurate through balls.  Good goalkeeping and missed chances kept Barton at bay until 36 minutes when a long range shot by 11 was parried by the goalkeeper into the path of the following up Thomas Waudby, who cooly scored.

Barton Town were now well on top,  by far the better team with good skill, passing and quick transitions into attack that caused all sorts of problems.


The Villagers had more of the ball and greater endeavour in the second half and looked like they really wanted to stay in the cup, but they had no cutting edge.

The away team kept attacking down the wings but just didn’t have the fire power to trouble the home teams goalkeeper or defence.

Still trying to press forward, while playing out from back, a lose ball meant Danny Earl was able to run on goal from 30 yards, and through on his own calmly put ball to the right of the goalkeeper to double the lead. With that goal in added time it was the killer punch for Barton and a passport to a home game in the next round.

The crowd cheerily left the ground, leaving a group of younger fans behind the goal to sing of their success.

The chips, (skin on fries) were very hot  golden, crispy, tasty and fluffy inside Along with being a good portion they were good value at £4.50 with a coffee, a score of 60.

The club had also arranged for two other food sales points in the ground who were doing well with pizzas, pork sandwiches and burgers.

Also well done to barton Town to have published a programme at such short notice. Take note others.

The bridge is the only thing dividing them.

North Ferriby was the destination for me to catch an intriguing FA cup derby  between them and their close rivals from just over the Humber bridge, Barton Town. There is not just the Humber, between them but one level in the English pyramid system, North Ferriby playing in the Northern Premier League, East Division and Barton Town in the Northern Counties East League, Premier Division.

I had intended to approach the ground across the bridge but a serious accidents on the M1 North meant a detour amongst other strugglers, so it ended up being quicker dashing down the M62. North Ferriby is just west of Hull, a leafy suburb by the sea.

The large car park was full because of the cricket match taking place in the adjoining park. Along with many others I parked in a very pretty tree lined street and was surprised to see that the crowd was declared at only 558.

Once through the turnstile I was greeted with a lush green football pitch that sloped slightly from side to side It was one of the best playing surfaces I have seen for some time.   

The facilities were also great, everything was clean, tidy and looked loved. The two ends are open with flat standing. One side is taken up with the turnstiles,  shop, food kiosk, clubhouse and changing rooms which have standing in front of them. The other side is mainly covered seating apart from a small area of covered standing at each end. There is also an extra drinks hut in one corner.

The weather was friendly too, 24 degrees with a bright blue sky dotted with white fluffy clouds although in the distance there were some large grey ones.

Beyond the ground you could just see the Humber bridge and a new housing estate, all with solar panels that was creeping up on the stadium.

A previous North Ferriby United FC crashed and burned in 2019 after having risen from village football in 1934 to the National League. Along the way  winning the FA Vase in 1997 and the FA Trophy against Wrexham in 2015. A reformed club were placed in the Northern Counties East League which after two promotions meant that they were back to their current level.

Barton Town can trace football history back to 1880. It was in 1995 though that the club merged with Barton Old Boys to ensure their local future.They initially had success in the Lincolnshire League, switching to the Humber Premier League and then immediately to the Central Midlands League. Quick promotion and winning the top division enabled the club to move up to the Northern Counties East League and the top division in 2011 where they sit now.

The kick off had been brought forward so that any traffic would be away before Hull City’s premier league game scheduled for 17.30 against Aston Villa.

North Ferriby 0 Barton Town FC 0

Saturday 5th September 2026,  14.00 pm kick off.
F.A. Cup first qualifying round.
North Ferriby 10th Northern Premier League East Division v
Barton Town 4th in Northern Counties East League Premier Division

The Villagers v The Swans

Battle of the Humber said the  programme
North Ferriby; white shirts with some green edging and green shorts, goalkeeper in all gold.
Barton Town; grey shirts, dark blue shorts, goalkeeper in all pink with some black edging.

Both teams cancelled each other out for the first quarter of an hour, however the away team’s speedy breaks, often down the right drew two fine saves by the home keeper within 20 minutes.

Although North Ferriby had the most possession Barton were the bigger threat. Barton were also pressing higher up the field causing Ferribys midfield no chance to work any magic.

The same pattern just kept continuing and nil nil at half time was a fair score.

I had expected the home team to change their approach in the second half and perhaps impose themselves on their opponents considering they play at a higher level.

However it was Barton who although facing a stronger performance from The Villagers forced more great saves from the home keeper. On one occasion he made one close range save to recover to tip the ball over the bar from a header.

It was no surprise at the end that Johnathan Dash was given the man of the match award and the teams will have to replay on Tuesday. The game will be the first at Bartons home ground since February where they have been working to improve drainage.

It was still only the bridge that was between the two teams after the nil nil score.

There were chips, that were thick  golden but soggy, only warm due to having been cooked batch ready. Unfortunately bland and chewy, a score of 45, if only they had been freshly cooked.

The freshly baked cookie  choc chip, with something gooey in the middle was outstanding. I would come back for another one of them.

Continuing the great presentation at the club was the programme which at 40 pages long was full of stats, information and staff notes. This is how to present and help fund your club.

Matlock inflict another loss on Lichfield.

After the dry sunny days it seemed that Autumn had arrived early in late August. It was only 15 degrees and the rain didn’t  stop as I drove south on the A 38, but at least the thunder and lighting of the previous night was gone. I was on my way to Lichfield, a city I had been to many times before but never to Litchfield City FC.

The city has a beautiful Cathedral that was started in the  early 1300’s which is the only  medieval cathedral  in the UK with three spires. It has a vibrant interesting centre but the ground was on the north east outskirts of town, slowly being swallowed up by a large housing development.

I drove into the large car park but even 35 minutes before kick off it was full. The way out though was blocked by a large amount of water so some chaos ensued. Once out I found a parking space on a nearby road. Walking in you notice the ground is tree lined and a railway line must be nearby noticeable with the noise of trains rushing past.

Immediately through the gate you notice the all weather pitch that was sprinkled with a lot of black crumb. A club house with bar and cafe, including some alfresco covered outside seating, and changing rooms,  toilets and admin offices make up one end of the ground, with flat standing in front of them. The other end has flat standing and a small covered area immediately behind the goal with some grass banking behind. The main side has a small covered seated area with the rest covered standing,with the far side having the team dugouts and flat standing.

A good contingent of away fans had made the trip but overall the crowd was  disappointing.  When the teams took to the field the rain had stopped but the grey skies threatened and kept the temperature down to 15 degrees.

The game I had gone to see was an FA Trophy first qualifying round tie between  Lichfield City FC and Matlock Town. Matlock were previous winners of this cup but that was now over 50 years ago.

Lichfield are a relatively new team having been formed in 1970 and played in the West Midlands League. They changed their name to Lichfield City FC in 1994 but in 1995 having worked their way up to the top Division decided to switch to Sunday football. After securing the lease of their current bome in 2007 they reverted back to Saturdays the year after.

They steadily climbed to the Premier Division of the Midland League and they won it in 2025 to enable them to progress to the Northern Premier League West.

Lichfield City FC 0 Matlock Town 5

F.A . Trophy 1st qualifying round.  Saturday 29th August 2026.   15.00 pm kick off.

Brownsfield Road (off Eastern Avenue), Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6AY.

City or Spiremen v The Gladiators

Northern Premier League West, 22nd (no wins in 4 to start the season) v Northern Premier League East, 4th (3 wins in five games).

Lichfield all royal blue, goalkeeper in all light blue.

Matlock in all pink, goalkeeper in all light yellow.

Matlock started the game the brightest but it was Lichfield who hit the post and forced the away goalkeeper to make three saves. As the game moved on it continued at pace with Matlock now having more of the play. The home keeper tipped a shot over the bar after one of the gladiators fast counter attacks.

Despite Lichfield matching possession Matlock looked most likely to score, and they did, with 46 minutes gone. Another fast break and cross in from the left was defended but the ball landed for Brandon Bradley to smash home. One nil to Matlock didn’t reflect the game, all square would have been fairer.

Within 4 minutes of the restart Matlock’s quick movement of the ball told when a ball from right, along ground to centre of goal, allowed Manasse Mampala to slide in and place the ball high up into net.  Only 4 minutes more and it was 3 nil when the away teams quick break gave Jedd Abbey the chance to lace the ball into an open right side of the goal. This was after a beautifully delayed pass from the left.

Lichfield did not fold and tried to get back into the game but on 75 minutes Matlock made it four with Zak Gordon tapping in after receiving a pinpoint pass that resulted from another break.

Before the end Matlock made it five through Jed Abbey again after some more tricky wing play, this time from the left.

A resounding win for the away team who look very comfortable on the ball and in quick transition to create goal scoring chances. They await a new manager to keep this talented group together.

Lichfield suffer another loss but must surely have better luck and a win soon.

No chips so I had a small pie which was tasty with moist hot pastry but had more gravy than meat.

No programme but a QR code on the gate, disapointing.

Glapwell look to be making strides on and off the pitch.

Black in December 2020 I noticed that the nearest club to my house had reopened at Hall Corner Glapwell and in the following May I was happy to watch a game there. My blog at that time ‘Glapwell have more than other teams to overcome’ said it all, and with the redevelopment of housing and other sports facilities for locals the club had no long term future there. I was surprised to see that there was a Glapwell team entered this season in the Central Midlands  League North. Their new playing home though  was at Mansfield Hosiery Mills Sports club utilising its facilities that are available because they have not entered a team in this League this season.

The good good news was that after speaking to some of Glapwell’s officials they are close to announcing a new permanent home, with a club house, not too far from Hall corner. I look forward to making a trip there when it is up and running.

In the meantime I had journeyed south on the M1 to reach the game on the western edge of Sutton in Ashfield. You drive into a modern housing estate down Mill Lane and on your left is a turning into the sports club. There is a good car park here but with the cricket club having stated earlier it was full. On the sunny day, with a few billowing white and grey and a temperature of 22 degrees they were playing cricket on a magnificent pitch showing off what some would call the quintessential British summer. My quest was to the right and what was the home of Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC now temporarily Glapwell FC. This is a fantastic stadium for what is the 11th tier of English football and is kept in very smart and clean condition. It boasts floodlights, a seated stand behind one goal, hard standing around the rest and a clubhouse and changing room on one side. The pitch slopes from side to side and from one end to the other with good grass cover, only yellowing in some patches.

I have written about Glapwell’s history before having once reached the Northern Premier League in their history. AFC Bentley were only formed 10 years ago in 2016 and have developed a local community club with teams of all ages. they have successfully continued to maintain a strong showing in the Central Midlands League and this season after one winand one loss have started well. Glapwell’s start has been somewhat of a contrast, losing all three of their opening games but have only a goal difference of minus 4.

Glapwell FC 4 AFC Bentley 0

Central Midlands Alliance League, Premier North. Saturday 22nd August 2026 !5.00 pm kick off.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills, Sports facilities, The Fieldings, Sutton in Ashfield, Notts, NG17 2TF.

The Glappy v No nickname found. 15th v 11th, Attendance 21

Glapwell; Black and white vertical Striped shorts with black shorts, goalkeeper in all pink. AFC Bentley; Navy blue shirts with royal blue shoulders and green shorts, goalkeeper in all grey.

The first 15 minutes were equal with Bentley just having the edge but on 20 minutes Glapwell showed some promise hitting the crossbar from a free kick and a few minutes later their defender throwing his body at the ball prevented the visitors from going ahead.

Glapwell did take the lead on 29 minutes when striker Callum Price took advantage of a spilled ball to slot the ball into the corner of the net. Against the run of play Glapwell scored again with 40 minutes gone when Oliver Parfitt took advantage of Bentley players standing still and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle on the right.

Glapwell went in at half time two up slightly against the run of play.

Bentley’s day was made worse only 11 minutes from the restart when Callum Price scored a great goal, taking the ball down outside the goal area he looked up and lobbed the keeper for three nil. with the game almost up it was four nil when the Glapwell number 3 beat two away defenders on the buy lien to cross the ball for Kyle Collins to touch in at the far post.

An emphatic first win for Glapwell and good news that they will in the future have a permanent home.

No chips here so I had a Bovril which was again offered with pepper. This time I tried it and it did seem to change the taste slightly taking away some of the saltiness. I was also told that some people add paprika, a culinary delight for the future?

I attended the match with my daughter who as a Northampton Town season ticket holder watches the matches with her nephew. He is still at junior school and they measure his growth by him laying on the seats. with just a small crowd at the game i was measured.

Tigers have to get their claws out to see off the Bucks.

Needing a football fix after returning from a holiday I was able to go locally to watch Worksop Town v Telford.

With some pitches currently unplayable after such a long period without rain, and some junior football and rugby union leagues delaying their start, I was assured of a game on the all weather pitch.

After street parking, like most others, I strolled across Sandy Lane to notice some changes. A new set of turnstiles have been introduced which I think are for away supporters although even the officials were not sure. Then queuing up there was a problem, the WiFi signal was not reaching the card terminals. Luckily I had some cash, although it was a £50 note. People don’t like accepting these due to past forgeries, but the official was only too pleased to accept and move the building queue along. Why do cash machines issue £50 notes when it can be hard to use them.

Also new was that the stadium is now the KC Sofas stadium, taking over from long term sponsors Windsor Food Services. Windsor Foods had been a long term great supporter of the club but a takeover by a Nottingham firm, Hopwells, has seen ,it end.

The fantasy of sofas as seats in the covered stand soon disappeared when I sat down.

I have written about Worksop Towns history in the past with their recent rise up the leagues following a near extinction a few years ago.

Telford too have a chequered history with historians placing the original starting point in 1872 as Parish Church Institute. They took the name of the area, Wellington, 7 years later. Wellington retained its identity until placed within the New Town area of Telford in 1968. The name Telford United was adopted in 1969. They have played in local, Shropshire, Cheshire and West Midlands Leagues until progressing to the Southern League, North West in 1958 and promoted to the Southern Premier League in 1959.

They established themselves as a very competitive side, losing in the FA Trophy final in 1970 and winning it the following season. Their rise continued when in 1979 they were founder members of the Alliance Premier League.

During the next decade they were known for their giant killing exploits in the FA Cup and made three more FA Trophy appearances winning twice. Further cup exploits were achieved but in 2004 they folded with heavy debts. The fans rallied to form a new team playing in the Northern Premier League from where the club have been as high as the National League and back as low as the Southern League and now back in the National League North.

It was a cooler day 24/25 degrees which was welcome after the recent heat while we waited for the game to be delayed due to the backlog at the entrance.

Worksop Town 2 AFC Telford United 1

Saturday 15th August 2026. !5.00 pm kick off

National League North, 7th v 15th, Tigers v The Bucks

Worksop Town FC, Babbage Way, off Sandy Lane, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 1UJ.


Worksop, yellow shirts with black diaganol stripes, black shorts, goalkeeper in all purple.

Telford. Pink shirts, white shorts, goalkeeper in all green.

Both teams started with speed and passion but it was the tigers who went ahead when on 18 minutes some fast tricky play on the left meant a perfect ball was delivered to Kian Barrett’s head who glanced it over the telford keeper into the far left hand corner of the net. The whole team rushed to celebrate and took some time to restart. Worksop kept up the pace yet only had one other shot on goal before half time whereas Telford looked dangerous in the quarter of an hour before the break, orchestrated by the skilful Jamie Meddows.

Telford kept up the pressure at the restart and with it only 4 minutes old they equalised. Charlie Williams controlled a pass, shrugged of a defender and hit a 20 yard screamer into the top right hand corner of the goal.

The home team did manage to regain the momentum and advantage with a string of corners, but regained the lead when on 67 minutes Aleks Starcenko unleashed his own 20 yard bullet which grazed the post and the goalkeeper.

An injury to the influential Meddows interrupted Telfords style with neither team able to get clear chances. Worksop’s Ryan Viggers was sent off near the end for putting his arm across a defenders face after a foul. Despite 7 minutes of added time neither team were able to add to their score and the Tigers had won a tough battle. They certainly needed their claws out in this tough battle.

I have always been surprised that the chips at worksop were not great considering that they were sponsored by a food service company. Has there been a change because the chips were golden, tasty, not greasy and enjoyable, a score of 54.

Armthorpe win a hard fought battle.

The heat doesn’t seem to end, with 27.5 degrees registering on the car display as I turn off the M18 at 19.00 hrs to go to Armthorpe to see an evening game.

Armthorpe is a village north east of Doncaster, which is slowly encroaching on its borders. An agricultural village that was tubo charged by coal mining at the  Markham Main coal pit now closed for 30 years. The old pit area is now a large expanding new housing area.

The ground is in the centre of the village behind a Morrisons and Aldi and close to other retail shops.Google tells you that there is a car park, don’t believe it, so I found a space on a local road.

Armthorpe Welfare FC are celebrating their centenary and played their football in Doncaster and Sheffield Leagues, mostly Doncaster, until 1983 when they joined the Northern Counties East League. After just 4 seasons they gained promotion to the Premier Division where they stayed for 32 seasons only to be relegated in 2017. The club have stayed at that level since, and now share their ground with Doncaster City FC who are trying to find a place to develop there.

On entering you are immediately faced with two pictures of Kevin Keegan, lost to us only recently, who was born in Armthorpe and started his professional career just up the road at Scunthorpe United.

Their opponents on the evening were Athersley Recreation, from just north of Barnsley. Relative newcomers to Armthorpe tracing their history back to only 1979. They played local Barnsley and Sheffield football until 2012 when they were promoted to the Northern Counties East League Division One. A further immediate promoting to the Premier Division lasted until 2022, since when they have been playing in Division One.

There is a small clubhouse on the right of the ground entrance, serving drinks and food. A covered seated stand stretches down half of one side and there are two wooden shelters on either side in case of rain. A small corrugated tiered stand area behind one goal was out of bounds on the night. A concrete walkway goes round the pitch which is dominated by four old style floodlights stanchions. These could be removed shortly with six new modern sets of lights have recently been installed. One of the old stanchions may well be kept as it also houses local mobile phone masts.

The pitch was flat with some undulating areas but the hot summer has taken its toll on the grass which is yellowing in patches. It was also baked hard causing an unusual bounce and a surface I wouldn’t have liked to play on. Although most of the sky was light blue with large fluffy clouds, some darker ones were forming in the distance and the wind was getting up.

Armthorpe Welfare FC 2 Athersley Recreation FC 0

Northern Counties East League Division One,  Tuesday 4th August 2026, 19.45 kick off.

Armthorpe Welfare FC,Church Street, Armthorpe, Doncaster, DN3 3AG.

9th v 8th, The Wellie v The Penguins. Attendance 210

Armthorpe, Navy blue shirts and shorts with yellow stripes down side,  goalkeeper in all pink.
Athersley,  all orange with black shoulder yolk,  goalkeeper in all yellow.



The first 10 minutes were frantic, and even with the home sides speed looking menacing. That speed created a goal when Regan Fish outpaced the Athersley defence forcing their goal keeper to block the shot with his knee. The ball spun up and back towards the goal and a desperate attempt by a defender to keeping out failed.

Armthorpe were then on top, but ‘The Penguins’ should have equalised 6 minutes later when an unposed header went over the bar. Armthorpe had their big miss on 38 minutes when a forward blasted well over with an open goal awaiting.

Armthorpe ahead at the break but Athersley had their spell of pressure in 15 mins before end and were not out of it

With all the players out on the pitch we had to wait a further 3 minutes before the three officials were out and ready to start.

The second half was a different matter with the ‘Wellies’ putting pressure on their opponents from the start. The conditions changed with very dark black clouds all around and the wind turning more blustery. This didn’t deter Ryan Elison whose mazy run left the Atherstone defence flat footed and allowed him to place the ball to the right of the goalkeeper to double the lead. Armthorpe dominated the game after this goal on 71 minutes and were in the end comfortable winners.

The black clouds did eventually burst, giving a 5 minute downpour, scatering the crowd to any cover they could find.

An impressive start to the season, two wins from two, for the home team.

There were some chips, which were served quickly, were hot, not greasy, golden, crispy (too much) but a bit dry. A score of 54.The coffee though was one of the best I have ever had at a football match.

At the match I met Acker Shaw, dressed as a pirate, who tirelessly visits local football clubs, shaking his bucket for donations to Weston Park Hospital. He has been doing this since 2000 to show gratitude for the care they gave to his wife, Brenda, in her battle against breast cancer. Sadly Brenda lost her battle but Acker has honoured her with raising £176 000 he told me. He said he was approaching 3000 matches and raised £64 on the night as he presses on to hopefully reach £ 250 000. What an amazing achievement and a heartfelt thank you.

Don’t park in the official Walsall FC car park.

They say that ‘Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun’. That seems to have changed with our hottest time of the day now seeming to have moved to mid or late afternoon.

I set off for Walsall, near to 4pm, with the temperature at 27 degrees, to drive south to Walsall.  The quest was to meet my son and one of my grandsons to go and watch Aston Villa. Not the best of timing with an estimate of journey time rising from 80 minutes to 100 with people making theirvway home from work. 

We met in the official Walsall FC car park, behind the retail park and walked to a nearby Mc Donald’s for a snack. It was packed with Villa fans, queuing out of the door, chatting and relaxed in the warmth and sun.

Villa and Walsall have a long history of collaboration and always start the pre-season with a game against each other. However this time they were playing Real Sociedad having played Walsall the previous week. Villa Park is not available with the rebuild of the North Stand and other infill areas to increase the capacity to over 50000.

Real Sociedad beat Wolves 2.1 a few days earlier all part of their pre season preparations with games in Toulouse and two in Koln to follow before returning home to San Sebastian in Northern Spain.

Walsall’s Bescot Stadium was built at the end of the 1980’s all part of a redevelopment that included the adjacent retail park. It has seated covered areas on all 4 sides. Three of which are the same height and the fourth, at one end, is three tiers heigh. We sat in the third tier of the stand which gave us a good view of the stadium but not of the goal below us. It also gave a prominent view of the elevated M5, where a continuous stream of traffic whizzed by. During the game it was a bit disconcerting focusing on the game with the traffic as well.

The pitch looked a magnificent green and was being watered before the game, no shortage of water here. it was set off against a hazy blue sky with very few white clouds to be seen.

9269 settled down to watch the game.

Aston Villa 2 Real Sociedad 4

Tuesday 28th July 2026, 19.30 pm kick off.

Bescot Stadium, Bescot Crescent, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 4SA

Premier League – England (fourth 25/26) v La Liga (tenth 25/26)

Villains v Erreala

Aston Villa, Claret shirts, light blue shorts, goalkeeper in all yellow. Real Sociedad, Black and white vertical striped shirts with white shorts, goalkeeper in black.

The game started at walking pace and a lot of tip tapping at the back from both sides with the game feeling very much like the practice it was.

Villa did start to exert some pressure and were rewarded on 14 minutes when hemmings found space on the left hand corner of the goal area and expertly curled the ball inside the far post for the lead. This only lasted 8 minutes before Real levelled when Soler gifted the ball by the home team defence scored at the second attempt after Bizot had saved.

With the restart it was the spanish team who took the lead when a free in from the left was deflected by a Villa player into the path of Oskarsson who just tapped in at the far post. Almost immediately Villa levelled after Buendia eluded 3 players to pass the ball to the 17 year old, Madgo, who showed considerable strength in holding of a defender and slotting the ball under the goalkeeper into the middle of the net.

This heralded changes by both sides with what looked like 8 or 9 for Sociedad. These changes also changed the game and the visitors took control. It was though good to see Pau Torres back on the pitch and looking his imperious self.

Sociedad went further ahead on 66 minutes when Carrera surged into the goal area and struck the ball along the ground past Bizot. They made it 4 right at the end when a cross was knocked up in the air by Bizot to fall to Ruperez to bundle home.

Madgo impressed with his physicality, speed and ball control, Cisse reminded me of a very young Ugo Ehiog and Pau was calm.

Villa are now off to the Far East with most of their more senior players and new recruits.

There were chips but having just had some in Mcdonalds I couldn’t face any more.

Then the fun started The game finished at 21.15 and we were back in our cars in two minutes but didn’t leave the stadium until 58 minutes later, even behind the two Villa team coaches and the two Spanish registered ones taking them of on their journey towards Toulouse. What must it be like on a Saturday when the Retail Park is closing too? Added to that the A38 was closed for resurfacing, good to see, and with that detour was home 3 minutes before midnight.

It was however great to see my son and grandson, see the Villa and enjoy the continuing start to this seasons journey.