New boys are proving hard to beat.

I drove past the NewYork Stadium where Rotherham United were playing Leicester City on the way to see Wombwell Town play.

Wombwell Town were promoted from the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League last season. They only finished 5th but were the team finishing highest from the league to apply with the correct ground grading. I visited the other team in Wombwell, Wombwell fc, last year, and although they finished second in front of “Town’ their open ground next to and part of a cricket club as many original teams grew from, prohibits them from rising up through the pyramid.

Wombwell Town’s ground is unusual in that one side is bordered by a go cart stadium. The pitch itself is surrounded by a defunct running track which makes the seated stand and clubhouse/changing rooms a long way away. Planned development is in hand with the impressive club house currently being extended to provide more income streams and are working with the NCEL for funding of new floodlights. There is room in the future for a whole complex of synthetic main and training pitches, should they wish.

There was lots of parking extended by the use of the the go-cart facility. The seated stand and large ground made the 123 supporters vanish in the vastness

There have been a number of Wombwell Town teams dating back to 1896 with the last renaissance folding in 2000. The current team were formed in 2018 and considering the thwarted Covid seasons they have done brilliantly to have achieved the development of the club both on and off the pitch.

Glasshoughton started life in 1964 in Sunday football later switching to Saturdays and gaining admission to the Northern Counties East League in 1985. They worked their way to the Premier Division in 1991 through promotion and league reorganisations. Having reached the Premier Division twice they have been back in Division 1 since 20015.

It was a warm 18 degrees, sunny but with white, grey and black clouds dotted around across the sky. A very flat pitch had great grass cover but as I said earlier the old running track made it all look a long way away.

Having last week bought a share in Kings Lynn this week I was shocked at how little I paid, £1 entrance, £1 for a program, £2 for chips, £1 for a coffee and £1 for a raffle ticket, a total of £6 against £28. Wombwell were even organised to post a team sheet on the window of their well equipped club house and copies of the team sheet were passed around the fans.

Wombwell Town 3 Glasshoughton Welfare 2

Saturday 26th August 2023 15.00pm kick off

Northern Counties East League Division 1

Wombwell Recreation Ground Station Road, Wombwell, S73 0BJ

4th v 17th. Wellers v Welfare

Wombwell Red shirts, Black shorts
Glasshoughton, Green hooped fronts to shirts with green arms, the back is green with two white hoops around the bottom. Green shorts.

I only had to wait for 3 minutes to see the first goal when Wombwell’s captain, Edward Agnew ran in unmarked from a corner to head the ball down into the net. Wombwell continued their dominance in the first 20 minutes of the half but after that Glasshoughton showed that they were not going to be push overs. Town kept their lead until half time but it was a slender one.

Welfare came out strong in the second half and with 8 minutes gone they equalised when Bolton Makwedza attacking wide ran through strongly to the by line and his superb cross was met by Harrison Rowley who nodded the ball home.

The game became more frantic and only 5 minutes later Wombwell were ahead again when the goalkeeper parried a shot which was pounced on by Gavin Allott who unopposed tapped it in. The home team now used Owen Birks long throw ability who created problems. Owen Birks had already impressed me with his aerial ability and strength in the back four and was my man of the match.

Glasshoughtons persistence paid off when they equalised after 33 minutes when the home keeper, Johnathan Davis, made a great right handed save which unfortunately fell to Harrison Rowley to score his second.

It looked like a draw but at the end of normal time ‘Wellers’ Gidhafi Kiwanuka was tripped by the away teams goalkeeper and Gavin Allott sent goalkeeper, Alfie Hayes-Daubney to his left and placed his kick in the left hand of the net.

Wombwell saw out the added 6 minutes to have now won 5 out of their 6 league games, a great start for the new boys to the League. Wombwell are a team to watch for the future with regards their results and the development of their stadium.

To the purist these were fries not chips. they were hot, just fried, tasty, crispy , golden, not greasy and had a good centre. The best this year to date and a score of 67.

Kings Lynn leave it late to salvage a point.

I visited King’s Lynn FC on Saturday on the way home from a holiday.

The ground is not far off the centre of town and could be reached from there mainly through a leafy park. I struggled to park near the ground as next to it was a local fun day which had drawn other cars. The stadium is bounded on two sides by a park, one side by houses and a main road on the other.

The bright sunshine made the colours of the trees, grass and sky look vibrant on the summers day with the temperature at 24 degrees. There was little wind , what there was helped to bring in the sound of the fun fare that blared away as a background tune to the game. The grass pitch was immaculate and had a slight slope from end to end.

Attending many lower level games I fully appreciated their value for money as here I was charged £18.50 for a concession entrance, £5 for chips and a coffee and £3.50 for a programme. It seemed a lot as it is some way to the Premier League and if a family of four were attending it would have been close to a £100 cost including travel.

There has been organised football played in Kings Lynn for over 150 years and there is a mention of a Lynn Town in 1879 which lasted a few seasons until Lynn FC were formed in 1881 keeping that name until it was changed to Kings Lynn in 1953. Playing locally initially they were founder members of the Eastern Counties League where they stayed until 1958 apart from a two season move to the United Counties League. A short four year stay in the Midland league saw them elevated to the Southern League and a year later promotion to the Premier Division. During the 1960’s Kings Lynn had good success in the FA Cup and defeated Football League teams. A move to the Northern Premier League in 1980 was a stepping stone to the Conference North but were demoted for ground grading issues the season before their financial problems and demise.

The current club, Kings Lynn Town were formed in 2010 being admitted to the Premier Division of the United Counties League form which they gained promotion to the Northern Premier league Division One South after two years. In their first season in that league they were champions and promoted to the Premier Division. The team were then moved laterally into the Southern League which they won in 2019 to be where they are today in the National League North. Quite a journey in such a short time.

There has been a football team in Gloucester since 1883 with the City tag first appearing in 1902. That team folded in 1910 and at the same time a team called Gloucester YMCA was formed who 15 years later adopted the Gloucester City name that is used today. The club played local football in Gloucester, Bristol and Birmingham but in 1939 gained entry to the Southern League in which they stayed for 70 years. A promotion by the play-offs was secured in 2009 to the Conference/National league North where they have stayed except for one season when they were moved to the National League South due to boundary changes. More recently (2007) they had to vacate their home due to floods and lead a nomadic life until they were restored into a brand new home at the old address.

Kings Lynn Town FC 1 Gloucester City FC 1

Saturday 19th August 2023, 15.00 pm kick off.

Vanarama National League North.

The Linnets v The Tigers. 19th v 22nd

The Walks Stadium, Tennyson Road, Kings Lynn, PE30 5PB

The notes that I made about the first half of this game were, 1st 15 minutes dull, 2nd 15 minutes dull, 3rd 15 minutes dull. I should really have asked for my money back and driven home. The whole half was played down the centre of the pitch with each team cancelling out the other. If anything Gloucester just shaded the first half.

Kings Lynn made two changes at half time and the introduction of Joshua Barrett made an immediate difference. He’s energy, tactical awareness and accurate long passes upped the tempo of the game and created a shooting chance early on.

It was Gloucester though who took the lead on 72 minutes when the dangerous Danny Wright beat the home defence to flash a ball in from the right to be met by Elliot Durrell who made no mistake when he lashed it into the net. Gloucester did not initially fall back and kept attacking but Kings Lynn applied more and more pressure. When the board was raised to say 8 minutes of added time I expected them to see it out but right at the death two shots on goal were blocked but not cleared and at the third attempt Ben Stephens found space amongst a crowd of players to riffle the ball past the Gloucester goalkeeper to salvage (steal) a point.

So by the end it was the away side that felt they had lost two points rather than gain one on the road, the Tigers couldn’t eat the Linnets. Kings Lynn have now played 4 league games this season only picking up 3 points from 3 draws while Gloucester only have two points from their 2 draws. It looks like a long hard battle for these two teams this season.

The Chips were hot, crispy on the outside but very floury in the middle. A good portion but they left a taste afterwards of the oil that they had been cooked in. A score of 64.

Heacham have work to do.

A trip to North West Norfolk gave me the opportunity to visit Heacham FC. A first for me and a first to see an Eastern Counties League Premier Division game. Heacham have had an incredible run of eight successive promotions getting to Step 5 for the first time in their history.

A Heacham team was formed in 1907 playing most of its football in North West Norfolk being most successful locally in the 1960’s and 70’s, but their real rise started in 2016 with promotion to the lower reaches of the Anglian Football Combination. Eight promotions later they now play in the Eastern Counties Premier Division.

Heacham FC were playing Kirkley and Pakefield FC based south of the river Waveney and Lowestoft centre. K&P had to travel for 2 hours from North East Suffolk right across the whole of Norfolk. Organised football has been played in the Kirkley area since the 1880’s and with progress in local leagues merged with Lowestoft in 1908. Unfortunately disagreements meant for a short term alliance and Kirkley were again looking for a new home. On going financial and organisational problems forced other mergers and alliances to bring about the team name that prevails today. This colourful history has been dulled in more recent times with Kirkley and Pakefield now enjoying their 19th straight season in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division.

The temperature was 22 even though the sun was hidden by thick cloud rushing in from the Wash. Some of the clouds looked threatening and their speed was matched by a breeze that whipped down the ground.

You walk through a large car park to an entrance that reveals an open stadium. To the left is a brick built changing room and club house, on the right is one side of the pitch that has a small covered stand with two rows of seating with a row of safe standing on the third tier. Although there is a perimeter path around the pitch three sides are open with fencing complete each end. What has been achieved to get to the ground grading standards to the higher levels is brilliant. The pitch was relatively flat with a thick grass cover looking vibrant green after the recent rain.

Heacham FC 1 Kirkley & Pakefield 2

Saturday 12th August 2023

Eastern Counties League Premier Division

Heacham: black and white vertical striped shirts black shorts. K&P: Royal blue shirts and shorts with white shoulders.

Heacham with wind behind them had the best of the 1st 15 mins and an away defender cleared off the line with the keeper beaten.

There was no real pattern to the second quarter but Kirkley & Pakerfield came more into the game.

With the game coming up to half time the clouds cleared to bright blue skies but a threatening black cloud was sneaking up from offshore.

A black cloud also overcame the home goalkeeper when he did not come out positively enough and the ball sailed over his head and defenders to fall to Caleb Geib who took the ball wide and slotted it into the net evading the scrambling back home players.

So against the overall run of play Kirkley and Pakerfield went in one nil to the good.

Kirkley & Pakerfield showed more guile, strength and organisation in the second half and easily picked off Heacham’s through balls as they lacked an effective wide approach.

With 29 minutes of the second half gone Declan MacIlvoy’s free kick from the right again sailed over the goalkeeper and ended up in the net. The away side were deservedly in the lead dealing easily with Heacham’s Huff and Puff.

In overtime Heacham were awarded a free kick 10 foot outside the goal area and Gibson stepped up to craft a superb curling shot over the defending wall and into the top left hand corner. The referee blew for full time and the 110 fans drifted away disappointed by their teams one win in three to start the season.

Most people who have read my blog over the last few years will know that I am very supportive of referees. In this game though he was the man of the match for the wrong reasons. He seemed to be taking Heacham players names like people used to collect train numbers and sent off both Heacham”s number 10 and a touchline official. Most offences seemed to me to be for disent which in my view seemed only minor except one strong swear word.

I think Heacham will need to make some major improvements if they want to get anywhere near another promotion.

There were no chips although a good menu of food was available. This was surprising in that the match was sponsored by North Beach Fish Bar.

29 free kick from right declan macilvoy, cross is missed by everyone and sails into far corner.
Referee collecting Heacham names including manager instead of train numbers. Whistle happy.
In overtime sent a Heacham official off Ted card. Usually supportive of referees.
Sent 10 off . A complete shocker. Think querying a nonsense decision.
18 Gibson free kick 20 metres out to right hand s

Match sponsor north beach fish bar.

Derby Shrovetide Football

In mid-week I ventured to Alvaston Library on the outskirts of Derby to see Ian Collins talk about his recently published book ‘The Derby Game’. The talk was very professional outlining the rivalry in the City over Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, its start and eventually demise in the 1750’s. What was most interesting was how he brought to life some of the characters involved. I bought the book afterwards and look forward to reading and reviewing it in the future, although it is in a queue

We were enthralled twice in the evening when a relative of the scorer of the goal in the 1949 Asboure Shrovetide Game produced the actual ball. It was an honour to hold it.

I must go and see this spectacle next year.

Sport has put down strong roots in Sheffield

I own up to attending some events at the World Student Games in Sheffield in 1991 and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Games came up in conversation recently with Sheffield City Council just paying off the loans and debt that paid for them.

There are those that felt it was all a waste of money but it did put Sheffield on the sporting map at a time when the city was trying to find a new pathway following the post industrial strategy that had caused so much depression.

It was already known for housing the World Snooler Championship since 1977, which will see out its 50th anniversary in 2027 and hopefully more years after that as well as two high ranking football teams, a long standing boxing tradition and many more.

The 1991 Summer Universiade saw the opening of the Don Valley Stadium, the Sheffield Arena, Ponds Forge Olympic standard swimming pool and other regional sports centres. The City have announced that they are to borrow money again to upgrade and rebuild some of those regional centres.

The Don Valley stadium that was used for the opening and closing events and the athletics was demolished in 2013 as part of a budgetary cut back. It had hosted athletics, was the home of Sheffield FC and Rotherham United for a while, concerts including Michael Jackson, indoor sports training to mention a few of its uses.

Out of the ashes of the stadium and other attached land and venues has grown a world class sports and cultural campus. Some of the inspiration has come from the legacy of the 2012 Olympic funding driven by local people and organisations.

Don Valley Sports, Research and Entertainment Complex.

Sheffield Arena opened 1991 hosts all types of entertainment and shows.

Don Valley Bowl for outdoor films, music concerts, fairground and many more.

English Institute of sport opened 2006 is the largest single provider for sports science, technology and engineering to everyone up to Olympians and prospective Olympians.

University Technical Colleges opened in 2016 is the campus for computing, health sciences and social care it works with local Universities, Colleges and employers to give education up to A level standard for students to progress.

Ice Sheffield opened 2003 houses an ice rink for all abilities as well as home to elite Ice hockey teams. There are two Olympic sized ice pads to enable the training of top competitors and can home competitions.

Sheffield Hallam University Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre campus opened in 2020 that researches how physical activity can improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing in society.

The Park Community Arena, nearly completed, will house a 2000 seat arena for Basketball for Sheffield Sharks (Men’s) and Sheffield Hatters (Women’s) both playing at Britains highest level. Sheffield netball teams will also be able to play competitive games here a sport that is growing its profile. Part of the building will also house a state- of-the-art medical diagnosis centre for elite sports people and NHS patients.

Added to all of this development has been the recent opening of the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park which is now the home to Sheffield Eagles who are a second tier English Rugby League team. This permanent home will transform their chances of gaining Premier status in the future. The all weather pitch/facility is not just for Rugby League, all outside sports can hire all or part of the facility for training or competitive games.

It was this stadium I went to see as it is also the new home of Sheffield City FC who were advertising a walking football event.

Both were new to me, the stadium and its other pitches are first class and a great credit and addition to the sporting venues in the City.

This was the first time I had seen walking football which was invented in nearby Chesterfield and has now spread throughout the world. The competition I saw was for over 60″s, 6 teams entering the competition for £50 each for which they gained pitch hire, referees and a trophy to be presented to the winners. The enthusiasm was infectious but the crowd was only 2, me and the wife of a player.

It’s certainly a great game and a way of people who are no longer as athletic as they once were to keep playing competitive sport. I was surprised that the opening goal was scored at more like a trot. A player recieved the ball in midfield ghosted past a defender and drilled the ball along the ground to the left of the bending keeper and into the corner of the net. In my mind I queeried the pace he passed the defender but it is very difficult to judge the difference between walking and slow running.

It was great to see the players thoroughly engaged and enjoying themselves. Being lunch time and no food available I walled up to the nearby tram stop (still called Don Valley Stadium) and went two stops for IKEA meatballs and chips. The tram stop is near the canal and near where the scene in The Full Monty where they try to steal some steel. Times have changed with Sheffield investing heavily in sport and leisure for the good of all and it deserves to keep on getting a world class response.

New local rivalry doesn’t disappoint.

After hours of rain it finally stopped as I pulled up in the large grass overflow carpark at Shirebrook Town FC for their game against local rivals Clay Cross Town. Both come into the match with differing recent form and circumstances. Clay Cross were promoted this year to the Northern Counties East League and step 6 of Non League football for the first time whilst Shirebrook were reprieved relegation despite being in the drop zone.

With two league games already played Clay Cross had won two whereas Shirbrook had lost two. The momentum certainly looked on Clay Cross Town’s side.

Once in the ground I was immediately surprised by the changes. The club must have bought a job lot of paint and gained an enthusiastic team of helpers as everything has been painted and cleaned, it looks fantastic. The thick green grass of the pitch would be welcomed on any golf course fairway although the slope might test a few of the golfers.

The dull grey cloud didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for my start to a new season and a large crowd of 221, swelled by away supporters who had only travelled 12 miles, anticipated the start.

The Clay Cross team seemed to look much bigger than their opponents but Shirebrook looked energised with the return of their manager from holiday.

Shirebrook Town FC 5 Clay Cross Town 1

Saturday 5th August. 15.00 pm kick off

Northern Counties East League Division One

Shirebrook: Red and black vertical striped fronts to shirts with red backs and black shorts. Clay Cross: Light grey shirts with sky blue trimming and dark grey shorts.

There was intent by both teams in the first ten minutes but Shirebrooks impressive play on the right flank brought a goal on 12 minutes when Carlton Carty beat the defender again with skill and pace to swing over a pinpoint cross met by Kiyani Clayton whose looping header sailed over the goalkeeper into the net for an early lead.

The game continued to be competitive but fair and it took till the 31st minute for the referee to show a yellow card against Clay Cross for a crunching tackle in midfield. The referee up until then had been anonymous letting play flow.

As halftime approached the thick black skies dropped their predicted rain but the shower only lasted for a few minutes and held off for the rest of the match. Clay Cross’s efforts were not dampened and just before the break a free kick from the left was headed down and amongst a group of players Gracjan Klimczak squeezed it into the net to equalise. Halftime 1.1

Within 5 minutes of the restart Shirebrook, now playing down hill, were attacking when another superb cross by Carlton Carty was nodded down for Nathan Watson to beat the keeper to his right.

20 minutes from half time with Clay Cross being continually pegged back another ball from the right was headed down and after some neat inter-passing the ball was tucked away by substitute Liam Hardy for 3.1.

Clay Cross were trying hard to get back into the game and with less than 10 minutes left they forced the Shirebrook goalkeeper to make a diving save to his left. Being stretched after attacking, the ball sailed down the other end for a forward to be up ended in the box after he had chances to put the ball in the goal net. The penalty that was awarded was dispatched with ease by Liam Hardy, sending the keeper the wrong way.

A shaken Clay Cross conceded a 5th with minutes remaining when another cross by Carlton Cardy was met by Sam Geeves who smashed it home.

My man of the match was Carlton Cardy whose pace and skill tore the heart out of the visitors. In second place was the referee who kept the game flowing only blowing his while on rare occasions.
If both of these teams stay in this league, which I predict they will, then this could become a must watch duel each season between these local rivals.

Unfortunately having won my chip league twice in the past I was disappointed by the chips being soggy with a greasy taste and only warm. A score of only 60.

NB. I have not mentioned any history of these two teams as I have in past blogs.

The Silence of the Stands

The Silence of the Stands (Finding the Joy in Football’s Lost Season). Written by Daniel Gray

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2022

When my subscription to Nutmeg was renewed I was sent a free copy of the above book.

Harry Pearson writes for Nutmeg as well as other publications and has written football books of which ‘The Farther Corner’ was the last of his that I read and thoroughly enjoyed. It is his use of words and observation that gets my attention and the opening paragraph in the introduction to this book says it all.

‘The Durham City midfielder wore the resigned look of a man trying to find a jar of harissa in Farmfoods. Up front for Jarrow, a centre-forward darted around frenetically, as if chasing a kite during a hurricane.’

The book chronicles that depressing time when we knew that football would soon be closed down, the period when you could watch only on TV, the opening up of the game out of the darkness with those lucky fans observing it only through social distancing, watching as a reporter and finally the renaissance and joy of the football community.

It’s depressing time and how football fans coped is told with great empathy and fun.

If you want to laugh but feel humble that football for many was a rope to hold onto in scary times then just go and buy this book.

Thank you Daniel Gray, I look forward to the follow up to ‘The Farther Corner’ and your Nutmeg contribution.

The season gets nearer.

I drove two junctions down the M1 to Alfreton for their home pre-season friendly against Notts County.

Until this season there was only one division between these two teams, Alfreton playing their football in the National League North with Notts County in the one above, the National League. That was until the play off final at Wembley in May against Chesterfield which Notts won and are now back in the English Football League Two.

Many were disappointed with their demise from the EFL but a drop down to the National League has led to a strengthening at all levels of the club and they have regained their status as the oldest professional football club in the world. Their birth in 1862 predates the Football Association and they were one of the twelve founder members of the Football League.

Alfreton’s ground is located in a housing estate not far from the centre of town. A small car park was full early and local residents were dealing with parked cars in the side streets which were not obstructing driveways or the highway.

It was busy getting in due to the crowd of 1077, the majority Notts County fans making the short journey on what appeared to be a pleasant evening. The ground has open seating at one end and down one side, with covered seating and standing opposite. One end has a partially covered standing terrace which was not well used as most people were casually sat down. A few of the County fans were wearing their new blue away kit rather than their traditional vertical black and white stripes.

Alfreton were In all red and were eager to get under way on the sloping grass pitch that at this time of the season looks like a glimmering green carpet. The blue skies were scattered with some ominous looking black clouds and the breeze was turning to a wind which for the second half of July was cold.

Alfreton Town 0 Notts County 5

Tuesday 25th July 2023. 19.30 pm kick off

Pre season friendly.

From the first minute Notts County took control of the game with a slow build up from the back which sometimes seemed almost casual. A team pressing harder against them would have turned over a few balls.

From what seemed lethargic football resulted in Notts County hitting the post and seeing a shot go millimetres wide in the first 30 minutes. 3 minutes later Langsett received a neat through ball from the right which he scooped into the net for the lead. Langsett made it 2 nil 5 minutes later when he latched on to a ball from the other side delivered by Adam Chicksen (Chico).

Not long before half time Langsetts made it a hat-trick with a second attempt goal after a pass from the perious McGoldrick. It did look though that the ball touched a defender on its way into the net.

Notts continued their dominance after the restart and both teams started to make changes with some at a 15 minute drink break. A few minutes later one of the substitutes Scott tapped home a beautifully cross from ‘Chico’.

The best goal was the last, with 11 minutes left on the clock. McGoldrick made acres of space and time for himself and let fly a curving shot from roughly 8 meters that flew into the top corner of the net past the outstretched left hand of the Alfreton goalkeeper.

The game fizzled out and at the end of the 90 minutes the teams , stadium and fans had all had a good run out for the new season.

Bring it on.

Unfortunately I had to queue for 25 minutes for chips which although were a good quantity left a greasy taste in the mouth afterwards. A score of only 60 for my chip league.

Where else in the World.

Where else in the world can you watch a semi-final of a football cup within the walls of an Elizabethan Castle with the sea as a backdrop, the answer is Berwick-upon-Tweed.

I ventured north to the border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed to see a game in the Berwick-upon-Tweed Charities Cup. This annual event has been on my radar for sometime but other commitments have intervened. This year I made it and having been I would like to go back.

The Berwick-upon-Tweed Charities Cup has been in existence since 1948 but there have been charity match competitions on the grounds since 1922. Famously Lowry, who spent some time in the town, painted a picture of a football match at the ‘Stanks’.

Hospital Cups were often annual events played in early summer to raise money for health care pre NHS. Many have fallen by the wayside but this has survived and flourished over the years and is now growing a women’s competition as well. There have been some hiccups and restarts along the way but the dedication of volunteers, officials, players and supporters means every year they come together to create this great tradition and fund raiser. The competition is also iconic as it is played part surrounded by the walls of the historic Elizabethan Castle. It’s nickname ‘The Stanks’ derives its name from it having been a ditch/moat and most probably the end of the latrines.

Teams enter from both sides of the borders continuing the rivalry of many centuries that has seen Berwick change hands from Scotland to England many times. Although in England today its most senior football team, Berwick Rangers, competes in the Scotish Lowland League, hoping to regain its position back in the SFL.

The competition raises between £5000 and £8000 each year and the benefitting charities this year are :

The Berwick and District Cancer Support Group.

North View Pensioners Club

Berwick and District friends of Dementia

The North Star Centre

Berwick Stroke Group

21 teams set off in the men’s competition in May from, pubs, sports clubs, companies and groups of friends.

Simpsons Malt v Murder on Zidance Floor

Tuesday 18th July 7 p.m.kick off.

Berwick Charities Cup Semi-Final

Simpsons, Light blue tops with red dark blue shoulder flashes and dark blue shorts: Murder on Zidance Floor, red and black vertical striped shirt fronts with black backs and black shorts.

To start the match there were grey high clouds but no show of the forecast rain and little wind in this sheltered venue. The undulating grass pitch had little wear, only in one goal mouth. I sat on a wall to casually watch the match along with a crowd of all ages that built to my count of 120. A local ice cream van was on hand to provide refreshments.

Simpsons started the game strongly looking the most physical side and very strong in the air. Their number 11 was booked early on for a crunching tackle and they created the best chance of the half when they hit the bar on 23 minutes.

Both teams though looked like they really wanted to win the game and Murder on Zidance Floor showed some neat moves and skilful running with the ball. The game ended 0.0 at half time and although there were no chants or shouting from the fans there was plenty of family and friends chat as to who was going to win. There was however an atmosphere at this amazing ground that has seen thousands of players and combatants over the years.

The game had hardly settled down in the second half when with about five minutes gone the ‘Murder’ defence failed to pick up Jack Cumming’s run and he managed to squeeze the ball into the net between the goal post and the keepers let hand.

Could ‘Murder’ respond, well their chances were improved around 5 minutes later when Simpsons number 11 was sent off for a second bookable offence which in fact was his third strong challenge of the game. The one man advantage was evident as they pushed forward constantly. I thought surely they would score but their shooting boots were not with them and their high balls into the Simpsons defence were always won by the defenders.

There was to be no late substitute of Zinedine Zidane off the bench or a sound track of one of Sophie Ellis-Bextors ‘Kitchen Disco’s’ to spur them on and the referee finally blew for full time and both sides looked exhausted in a game that could easily have been the final.

The final is on the 29th July at 18.30 pm between Simpsons Malt and Cheesy Waffles Project.

While staying in Berwick I visited Berwick Rangers ground and towering over it are the seed stores of Simpsons Malt, perhaps an omen.

Afterward: In the final Cheesy Waffles Fc defeated Simpsons Malt 5-1

Football’s Strangest Matches

Football’s Strangest Matches (Extraordinary but true stories from over a century of football). Written by Andrew Ward

First published in 1989, this book the 2004 reprint. Published by Robson Books from a imprint of Chrysalis Books Group plc.

This book was a filler after reading Peter May’s trilogy about a policeman who returns to Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and see’s life changing events unfold as he sets about solving three different murders all of which are tied in to his past and future.
I thoroughly enjoyed the books as I did this one.

It’s 66 short stories were quick easy reading that made you think and smile. It was often some of what seemed daft experiences at the time that shaped the game as we know it today. The content ranges from 1895 to 2000 and I was at one of the events set out in a chapter. In January 1961 Luton were at home to Manchester City in the FA Cup and I saw them go 2 nil ahead only to be pegged back by 6 goals all scored by Dennis Law. But the game was abandoned on 69 minutes due to the rain making an already muddy pitch unplayable. When the game was replayed although Dennis Law scored it was Luton who ran out 3-1 winners and progressed to the next round. It’s strange how your memory pales as I always thought it was abandoned because it was too icy.

There are tales about a hypnotist, a game where they wore gas masks, a penalty kicking elephant and 227 more.

An easy to pick up and put down book that’s worth a look.