The football season has finally ended with Manchester City deservedly winning the Champions League and the trebble.
Their achievements and the money involved is a long way away from many of the games I have seen and enjoyed often 11 and twelve leagues away from their exultant heights.
My season started last July on a very warm evening at Wells-Next-To-Sea where the long hot weather had made the grass dry, yellow and crisp making me fear for the pitches in the season ahead. I was wrong as those magician groundsmen found ways to present and maintain some great surfaces for football to flourish.
The end of my season was in May at my 46th game in Stornaway, Isle of Lewis, to watch the Jock Stein Cup, won by Back FC on a cool evening peperred with drizzle.
Early in the season I witnessed with my daughter, Quorn being bullied into defeat by Heanor but the home side had the last laugh eventually being promoted by the play offs after coming second in the United Counties league North thanks to an own goal by the League winners goalkeeper in the final minute of the final game of the league season.
A few games later I watched Worksop Town win in their relentless assault of the Northern Premier League East. What a turn around when only a few years ago I attended what could have been their last game when a financial crisis was only just averted at the last minute.
My favourite trip was again to Loughborough Students which I will see again next season. They were riding high but poor form after Chrismas meant they dropped down to third. The black cloud that hung over them they finally managed to remove after the FA agreed that the club was detached from the University and could be promoted. Too late by then as some of the spirit had been exhausted at the club. Why not have University teams competing in local football at all levels anyway. The diversity of different types of clubs makes up our game. We allow teams at the highest level to be owned by entities wanting to promote themselves so what is wrong with Universities.
Football on Christmas Eve was a hit with me and the large crowd that turned out at Dinnington where Retford United earned three points on their way to promotion to the Northern Counties East League where they will join Retford FC formed when the clubs split in 2015. A must watch game next season.
Early in the New Year with my son and grandson I wrote ‘You have to deal with disappointment following the Villa’. My grandson was not impressed despite me buying him his first football scarf which he put away and stated he didn’t want to see them again. What a turn around under Unai Emery with Villa gaining entry to European Football, next season, on the last day of their season.
Bradford Park Avenue beckoned, not their iconic old ground unfortunately, but a well run club, great experience and winners of my chip league. This would have been no consolation to them as they were relegated. Football wise the writing was on the wall that day.
The most stupid event of the season was me keeping the car keys in my pocket and having to walk into Southwell from the out of town ground to rescue my wife and make a lot of apologies.
Loved Bishop Aukland for its history and set up. A return in the future.
An impromptu visit to Long Eaton just west of Nottingham saw them see off Hebburn Town in the race for the playoffs and although they both made it, it was the Notts team that gained promotion.
A miserable grey afternoon and a dash to the Dearne valley to see the 100th anniversary of the Totty Cup competed for by local schools. What a great family affair with proud parents turning out in good numbers to watch the children. The hospitality in the club house was just warm and friendly, everyone having a great time.
My end of season was a rush but incredibly worthwhile. Burton Albion totally outplayed Sheffield Wednesday but it was the Owls in a comeback thriller in the second leg of their playoff semi final against Peterborough who made it to Wembley where they met Barnsley who I saw not put up much resistance at home in their final game. Barnsley were already in a playoff position and joined the Owls in the final only to lose out.
Sandwiched between this incursion into League One football was a trip to see a long standing friend who joined me to watch Guernsey FC. Although they lost they are still the beacon and inspiration to other islands who have joined the national non-league ranks.
I thought my final game would be between Dodworth and Swinton to see who won the Sheffield and Hallamshire County League. Over 300 turned up on a gloomy night that could be better in the future if Swinton get permission for floodlights despite local objections. Although Swinton won they were not promoted due to ground grading despite some real progress at their stadium.
Having started in North Norfolk it turned out that my last game would be in Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides for the Jock Stein Cup Final.
What an amazing year of mainly local football that left me with sincere memories for football and enhanced admiration for the people who make it possible for the matches to take place at this level. Please continue your amazing work.
Many of the games I watched this year were at grounds that were part of a mining community and it was heart warming to see how the community spirit once so strong has been preserved. Those mentioned here are a snap shot of the 46.
Disclaimer: No chips were hurt in the making of this blog except perhaps the one’s left behind at Burton.
payonthegate 