What a weekend, having spent Saturday at Burton Albion’s ground with my daughter I was on Sunday seated and awaiting Guernseys last Isthmian league home game of the season in the sunshine with a friend.

Guernsey Football club were formed in 2011 as a community club that would represent the island in the English pyramid football system. This was a bold move by the local Football Association in that it could have disrupted the islands own local league and still today has its distractors. It has however been a success and the club initially being members of the Combined Counties League have progressed to the Isthmian League Division One South-Central.

The pioneering of Guernsey has been copied by Jersey who look like just missing out on promotion from the Hampshire League this season and The Isle of Mann who play in the North West Counties League. The island teams have to pay for the visitors return journeys but there were fans there as well that hopefully add to the tourist industries income.

Guernsey play their games at the Footes Lane Stadium, St Peter Port, the home of Guernsey RFC who are also well versed with playing in the English rugby system.

We arrived at the ground in glorious sunshine and parked in the local sixth form college.

This modern stadium is also home to local athletics and will be used as the centre for the Bi-annual Island games to be hosted by Guernsey this year. Along with Guernsey F.C’s mascot Roary there was the Puffin mascot, Jet, for the upcoming Games.

The afternoon was glorious and the pitch looked flat and in great condition considering that it has been shared all season with the rugby club. You had to look hard to see where the rugby pitch markings had been painted over. The 5000 capacity is open on three sides but with a modern covered stand seating 720 and it was here that most people were sat. There were a few Basingstoke fans behind the goal who changed ends at half time as part of the crowd of 859.

Basingstoke as a club have been established since 1896 since a merger of two teams and have been as high as the National League South but were relegated in 2016 and further relegation sees them where they sit today. However they have a good chance to climb back up the ladder this season.

The six lane running track surprisingly did not detract from the view of the game and we settled down for the game with Guernsey already safe from relegation and Basingstoke wanting to maintain their push for promotion.

Guernsey F.C. 2 Basingstoke Town 3

Sunday 16th April 2023 14.00pm Kick Off

Footes Lane Stadium, St Peterport, Guernsey. Isthmian League Division 1 South-Central

15th v 2nd The Green Lions v The Dragons

The game had hardly started when in five minutes Dandre Brown collected the ball in the middle of the pitch and set of on a run that saw him past three home team defenders and hit the ball to the right of the keeper going into the net off the post.

Guernsey were all at sea and looked as if they were already ‘on the beach’ but Ross Allen making his three hundredth appearance for the home side did well to get the ball beyond the Basingstoke defenders and from the right made a pin point low cross for Sam Murry to tap in for the equaliser.

Basingstoke continued their superiority and after some fine saves by the Guernsey keeper they scored again on 25 minutes when Paul Hodges crossed from the right and Bradley Wilson dispatched it through a group of defenders to restore their lead. which they held with ease until half time.

Guernsey did put up a better fight in the second half and were rewarded when their hero Ross Allen scored his 284th goal for the club after 65 minutes. The fight back though was only temporary when four minutes later Paul Hodges restored Basingstoke’s lead by lobbing the goalkeeper and finding the back of the net. There was a hint of offside in the goal which did not endear the referee to the home fans who had made a few ironic cheers when decisions went their way.

Basingstoke held on to be set for a last day of the season must win game and hope that their rivals drop points. Guernsey will wrap up their season with some joy having made a very poor start to the season that looked at one time like a weary relegation fight was going to ensue.

No chips at the stadium but an enjoyable end of season game and a great few days on the Island with friends.

There is always a great choice of matches over Easter and with it being the final few yards in the marathon season some games gain my attention more than others. I chose to watch a local derby between two teams with mining backgrounds that held the two top spots in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County League.

There are two teams in Wombwell sitting 2nd and 6th in the League, but I ventured to Wombwell Main although Wombwell Town with a go kart track running down one side of their ground looks a must for next season.

Another journey down Dearne Valley way to Wombwells ground in bright sunlight with wispy white clouds littering a bright blue sky was a long way from the dreary weather that has greeted me at many recent games.

After only a generation there is no outward sign of the coal mining that dominated the area. Now there are enormous sheds for delivery companies and their ilk and grown trees that were planted to hide the scars. I’m sure there are still scars in the communities but what I notice is that it has not dampened the community spirit which I have seen on many of the grounds in this area and at the Totti and Montagu cup finals. The brutal closing of the mining, steel and shipbuilding industries in the UK was necessary in a changing world but could have been done with a bit more empathy.

Wombwell Main’s ground is next to a beautiful cricket pitch that is manicured, ready for the impending summer season. There is a well furbished club house for the cricket that opens for football matches. The TV was on, tuned to the early Premier League game disappointingly though there was no coffee or food here. I passed a chip shop near the ground and one of the crowd passed me with a box of fish and chips just before the start of the game, which did tempt me. The changing rooms are in one corner of the football pitch that is on the far side of the cricket ground. The playing surface was of grass that was in great condition for the end of season. It sloped from side to side and wasn’t flat, seeming to mirror the tree clad hills in the picturesque backdrop.

There is no cover here and one park bench to sit, although many were making use of a retaining wall for this purpose. There were a few crush barriers to lean against.

The kick off time was confusing, 15.00 on the F.A’ s League website and on both clubs social media until the morning of the game when it was changed to 14.00 pm. I have learnt with this league to check, check and check again. I even rang the club house at noon to check with them. Perhaps this confusion was why there were about 20 spectators to start the game but 70 plus, of all ages, by the time it ended and Uncle Les’s Ice Cream Van. The van turned up with about 30 minutes left and on the warm day I thought he was there to put his music on and sell ice cream. Instead he parked, locked the van and watched the end of the match.

Wombwell Main 1 Dodworth Miners Welfare 0

Houghton Lane, Wombwell, South Yorkshire S73 8PW

Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior County League 14.00 pm kick off: 2nd v 1st

Wombwell, orange shirts and shorts; Dodworth, royal blue and black vertical striped shirts with black shorts.

Dodworth were the more organised and dominant in the first half but their finishing was wasteful as they hit four shots over the preventative netting behind the goal into the next field only for the Wombwell subs to chase off to retrieve the ball.

The second half saw much of the same with constant attacks down the wings by Dodworth, especially down the right. Wombwell though responded occasionally and their defence stood firm against aerial attacks.

But as is often the way when one team doesn’t take its chances the other does and on roughly 70 minutes the ball was hit long and just evaded the Dodworths number 5’s attempt to clear, giving him no chance to turn and challenge Wombells’ number 11 who controlled the ball on the left, drove infield and passed across the goal for Ryan Wingrove to score. Dodworth continued to press to the end of the game but their efforts were of no avail and the home side threw open the league title chase to be one of five when if Dodworth would have won they would have looked in a very strong position to prevail. A great afternoons football for free although one of Uncle Les’s ice creams would have topped off the day.

A drive to the Potteries gave me the opportunity to visit Hanley Town to see them play 1874 Northwich. A bright clear drive through the Peak District had given way to a grey overcast sky with it registering 8.5 degrees on the car dash board.

Hanley’s ground is in a housing estate with other pitches to one side and parkland surrounding most of it. Cars were parked and abandoned outside the housing although there was a car park next to the ground which for some reason was locked up.

The facilities are being added to, a small seated stand on one side has been recently been extended and there is a small covered standing area to the left of one goal. The club house and café are clean and tidy with happy helpful staff.

The pitch was grass and flat but was wearing badly after our wet March. It was muddy in patches all over with the goal areas and corner flags suffering the most.

There was an original Hanley Town FC formed in 1882 but it lasted only until 1912.

The current Hanley Town FC came into existence in the Mid Sixties as a Sunday League team and soon decided to try their luck playing Saturdays. They progressed in local leagues being promoted to the Staffordshire County League and by 1976 joined the Mid Cheshire league but by 1994 after some poor seasons they went down to Junior football. They were soon back and promotions and league mergers meant they were asked to join the North West Counties League Division One, a goal that they had coveted for some time. They won that Division in 2016 and after their good performances in the reduced covid seasons, in then the Midland league, they were placed in the re-organised Northern Premier League Division One West where they play today. Quite a journey in a short time.

1874 Northwich’s history is even shorter having been started in 2012 after supporters of Northwich Victoria broke away to form a new democratically run, supporter owned club. The 1874 coming from the founding date of Northwich Victoria. They started footballing life in 2013 in the North West Counties League Division One. Despite only finishing third in their first year they were promoted to the Premier Division because of the demise of Formby. By 2018 they reached the Semi Final of the FA Vase but were defeated and only two years later went up another league with the then reorganisation to the Northern Premier League Division One West. An even quicker rise in such a short time.

Hanley Town 4 1874 Northwich 0

Potteries Park, Abbey Lane, Bucknall, ST2 8AJ Northern Premier League West Division

Saturday 1st April. 15.00 pm kick off 16th v 12th. The Blues v The Greens

Hanley, Royal Blue Shirts with thin vertical lines and royal blue shorts; 1874 Northwich Emerald green shirts with green shorts.

Hanley were off to a great start when with just 5 minutes gone their no 11 Jones made it to the by line to cut the ball back for Jack Twyford to strike it home to the left. Hanley did not slow down and continued to dominate and scored a second on 18 minutes when the Northwich centre back miss timed his interception leaving Kieran Brown to run on and curl the ball across the away teams goal keeper and into the far right hand corner of the net.

Northwich did come more into the game but by half time, which was reached with no added time , they had not had a shot on goal.

Two half time changes did inject some more positiveness for Northwich but it was Hanley who scored again when Jack Twyford stepped forward to volley the ball into the net after a goal mouth mele on 62 minutes.

It was all over when on 80 minutes Jack Marrow handled the ball on the line to stop a definite goal and was sent off. A minute later Kieran Brown made no mistake from the penalty spot for a well deserved four nil win.

From my point of view I did not see one shot on goal by Northwich all afternoon and with all three teams in the relegation spots and Hanley winning they have been sucked into a massed battle.

The chips were hot, tasty, not greasy but the centres were a bit powdery gaining a score of 65.

Recent rain led me to target three games to visit and luckily my first choice was deemed fit to play whereas the other two both failed pitch inspections. I made my way across North Nottingham in the traffic to Mapperley Plains and the home of Gedling Miners Welfare FC.

The ground is just off a main road to the right of a main stream gym and other community facilities. There is a large car park at the front and an overflow one at the back. I had layers on to counter the 6 degrees and a wind which was whipping down the ground.

Going through the turnstile I was greeted with a flat pitch that is showing wear all over. The ground felt hemmed in with some low roofed terracing with some having a single line of seating. Despite the clocks going back a few days ago it was dark and overcast by some heavy dark clouds.

The club was born in 1919 after the first World War playing in local football changing its name to Mapperley St Judes in 1930. They took on their current name during the Second World War continuing in senior local football and become ever present Amateur Cup entrants setting ground attendance records in the 1950’s against heavy weights Pegasus and Bishop Auckland. These heights were not maintained and by 1999 they were relegated down a Division bouncing back the following year. Gedling were accepted into the Central Midland League five years later and soon gained promotion to the Supreme Division. In 2008 they became founder members of the East Midlands Counties League where they stayed until its demise in the League restructuring. At that point they were placed in the United Counties League Division One.

St Andrews FC started senior life in 1985 in the Leicestershire Senior League gaining promotion to the Premier Division after 2 seasons. Their progression reached a high point when they reached the semi final of the FA Vase in 2014. Their rise meant joining the United Counties League getting to the Premier Division only to be relegated to where they are today, Division One. They are based in Aylestone near Leicester playing at their Canal Road home.

Gedling Miners Welfare 2 St Andrews FC 3

Tuesday 28th March 2023 19.45 kick off.

Plains Road, Mapperley, Nottingham 19th v 20th

Gedling, Yellow Shirts Blue Shorts: St Andrews, Black and White Vertical striped front of shirt, white on back with Black Shorts

The ball skidded fast off the wet surface to start as both teams found it hard to control and within 6 minutes Gedling were ahead when Courtney Hastings was put through and he calmly stroked it under the diving goalkeepers left arm.

St Andrews responded immediately with some good wing play and crosses that tested the home defence. From an overlap on the right and a brilliant cross Jurelle Philip made it all square on 19 minutes. Jurelle Philip was again on the score sheet 6 minutes later when taking the ball in the centre of the goal he volleyed it home. Sitting in the stand in line with the St Andrews player I was surprised that the official did not give off side.

St Andrews forwards continued to look lively but were dealt a blow just before half time when the impressive Mangondoza was sent off. Although St Andrews led at half time they looked to have a mountain to climb in the second half.

The second half started with a mist like a sea fret swirling down the pitch towards the St Andrews goal and despite constant pressure on it the away team scored again. A static square defence didn’t cover the runs from the St Andrews forwards after a free kick and allowed Shim Thompson -Isac to sneak in to glance the ball with his head past a wrong footed keeper.

The home side rallied with more and more attacks and pulled one back on 69 minutes when Hasting rose to head the ball home off the underside of the cross bar after a beautiful curling cross from the right. With Gedling leaving space at the back as they pressed forward St Andrews scored again on 78 minutes but this time it was ruled off side.

The home team had three penalty shouts turned down by the referee and some of the tackles became tasty as both teams showed how important this bottom of the table encounter meant. A touch line scuffle with most of each team neared the end of the game.

St Andrews overtook Gedling in the league and must have been very happy to have journeyed home south to Leicester with the three points despite the conditions, a man being sent off and the competitiveness of the encounter.

Two coffees and some chips were needed to stem the cold, the chips were tasty, hottish, soft and not greasy with an overall score of 62.

The stand out game of the day to me was at Long Eaton just West of Nottingham. Long Eaton United were at home to Hebburn Town in a promotion chasing game.

Long Eaton vie with Grantham as to who is the most southerly in the Northern Premier League East and play at Grange Park with a 3G pitch and other grass pitches on the site. As I pulled up players were leaving the NJD Community Arena after playing junior games on the 3G pitch, vacating the large car park for the Senior game to follow.

The car was showing a heady 13.5 degrees even though there were light grey clouds covering the sky. The ground was very tidy with a big seated stand on one side, a terraced covered area on the opposite side and good hard standing around the rest of the pitch. The refreshment kiosk greets you as you go through the turnstiles alongside the club house. I was disappointed to find that with such an interesting game and good facilities there were only 248 there.

I sat high up at the back of the stand and behind the goal to my left I could see the cloud machine you pass on the M1, the Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal fired power station. The grass pitch looked very flat but was beginning to see the scars of a long season.

Hebburn Town were started in 1912 as the ‘Reyrolles’ works team plying local football in Jarrow. Having moved within leagues they eventually changed name to Hebburn Reyrolles in 1986 and two years later to Hebburn when they joined the Northern League. They yoyoed up and down leagues for some years having added the “Town’ name in 2000. They continued steady progress and highlighted with an FA Vase win at Wembley in 2020 against local rivals Consett. They were promoted to the Northern Premier League East, their current location, after the recent league reorganisation in 2021.

A team called Long Eaton St Helens played in the Derbyshire Alliance in 1907 and played in local leagues for around 20 years before disbanding. Long Eaton Town were established in July 1949 and spent many years in the Central Alliance, before moving to the Midland League in 1961.

In 1982 they were founder members of the Northern Counties East League, with the merger of two leagues. They stayed there for 7 years before opting to move to the Central Midlands League but by 2002 they were back in the Northern Counties East League.^[9] They moved up to the Premier Division before changing leagues again in 2014 to the newly formed Midland League. Their nomadic days continued when reorganisations moved them to the Premier Division North of the United Counties League in 2021 which they won and were promoted to The Northern Premier League East where they sit today. They now hope to move up again via the play offs

Long Eaton United 3 HebburnTown 2

Saturday 18th March 2023. 15.00 pm Northern Premier League East. 4th v 2nd

Grange Park, Long Eaton, The blues v The railwaymen

Long Eaton, Royal Blue and black vertical stripes on the front of shirt, all blue on the back with black shorts: Hebburn Light blue shirts with white shorts.

Hebburn were a disappointment, sitting second in the league they had no answer for Long Eaton’s quick inter passing forwards with Fearon continually causing trouble on the right and setting up chances with good crosses.

It was no surprise that a cross led to long Eaton’s first goal. It was nodded down by walker to Cursons who appeared to miss kick the ball but it came back to him to just tap in with no one challenging.

Long Eaton continued to make chances and converted one just on half time when a flick header put Jamie Walker through who drew the keeper and slid the ball along the ground into the net for a two nil lead for the home side.

Hebburn had made one positional change by switching a different defender to marshal Fearon and when Long Eaton’s centre back went off with a shoulder injury and the away side subbed on two forwards the game changed. Hebburn took control and hit the bar, sent free kicks just over and scored on 70 minutes when Daniel Moore rose above everyone else to head the ball down into the goal. The ball was cleared off the line but the linesman who was in the correct position gave a goal as it had crossed the line.

Hebburn kept pressing and were awarded a penalty on 83 minutes when a player was tripped in the box. Olly Martin sent the keeper the wrong way as he hit the ball just inside the left post.

With the clock ticking over into added time Hebburn conceded a freekick to the right of the goal and Jamie Walker left footed stroked the ball past the Hebburn wall just inside the post for the winner. Hebburn after completely turning it around in the second half had themselves to blame for defending the free kick sloppily and coming up against a superb strike from the Long Eaton. If these two sides meet in the play offs it will be anyone’s game.

Great refreshments bar with a good variety on offer served in a helpful manner. The chips were red hot, crispy, golden, great taste and not greasy. If anything slightly overcooked but still a very good score of 69.