I decided that I would go and watch Derby Singh Brothers again over the weekend.
They were at home to Pinxton but were playing the match at Pinxton because they are looking for a new ground other than their previous home at the old Rolls Royce ground in Derby. I had previously watched them playing away at home in the League Cup at Melbourne earlier this season.
Pinxton’s ground is very near Junction 28 of the M1 and you can see the stream of vehicles pass in the distance. It nestles amongst a housing estate with little parking except outside the houses. It is a picturesque ground on the side of a hill overlooked by St Helens Church and graveyard and looking out over the house rooftops to countryside.
The layout is slightly unusual, the changing rooms are away from the pitch in the left hand corner, a food hut is in the right hand corner half the way up a high banking at one end of the ground. The pitch sloped from end to end with an undulating playing surface that was well covered in grass with no weeds to be seen.
There is a small covered seated area on part of one side and a small covered standing area near the café.
I have tried before to find out about the history of Derby Singh Brothers and have again failed. Pinxton only started in1994 playing local league football. By 2004 they made it to the Central Midlands League where they have stayed in different divisions ever since and in the different reorganisations of that competition.
Derby Singh Brothers 0 Pinxton 0
Monday 1st May 2023. 14.00 pm 6th v 5th
Central Midlands League Division South
Pinxton; Yellow shirts black sleeves, black shorts’ change strip as playing at home. Derby Singh Brothers ; Sky blue shirts and shorts white stripe down the arms.
I sat back in the stand for the first half in the sunshine and a 17 degree temperature watching the blue skies being crossed by blocks of white and grey clouds. The game being home away meant there was no program or team sheet which you would normally get at this venue.
What struck immediately was there was no end of season blues on show here as both sets of players showed that they were pleased to be there and wanted a win. The crowd of about 70 were entertained but neither side bothered the respective goalkeepers. Fans either played football behind the goal, drank a few cans by the refreshment hut or chatted about the season just gone or the proposed changes that might be made to the league next season. The first half closed with ‘DSB’ having played the best more pressing football but with Pinxton coming closest to end the deadlock.
At half time with it being the last game of the season some local children were on the pitch shooting into the goal living future exploits in the game. I went to get a KitKat but all food except chips were sold out which seemed reasonable as the Pinxton catering lady did not want to take stock into the summer recess.
For the second half I sat on the high earth banking behind one goal looking out over the countryside just enjoying the view, game and life. I counted the crowd which I estimated to have been about 70.
Still no goals but this half Pinxton gained the advantage playing down hill with a breeze behind them. Derby didn’t looked troubled until around 65 minutes when a player hooked it off the line when a clear goal seemed the outcome. The line official waved away the appeals and his good positioning meant that he had a good view of the ball. The battle continued and the nil nil score line showed two very well matched teams.
Lets hope that Derby Singh Brothers find a ground share for next season and in the long term a permanent home.
The chips were very tasty, medium hot but a bit soggy. If they would have been hot they would have been up there near the top of this years chip league, a score of 60.
Payonthegate 