A football blog for the curious.
A human touch in a digital world, living at the speed of life.
Watching Non-League and other football since 1955 when as a 5 year old I was bitten by the bug at St Albans City.
A local trip to Kiveton was rewarded by a well contested game with lots of skill at this bottom of the table encounter. I also went to give a previous winner of my chip league a chance to regain their title.
The Kiveton Miners Welfare Club are very new only having taken over the reigns of Renishaw F.C. in the last few years. They are developing a community club that has already added youth teams to their set up.
Phoenix AFC on the other hand started life 100 years ago in the Sheffield and District Works League as Steel, Peech and Tozer. They adopted the Phoenix name in 1971 then playing in the Hallamshire County Senior League. They merged with fellow league members Ash House in 1995 to become Ash House Phoenix which ,lasted only two years before they disbanded and resumed as Phoenix. This lasted until 2007 when difficulties meant another reorganisation and a move to the Central Midlands League where they sit today.
Kiveton Miners Welfare FC 3 AFC Phoenix 1
It was a grey day with a gentle breeze that brought just over 30 people to the park on an afternoon dominated by rugby on the television. The end to end sloping pitch looked really well with the grass just lightly cut and rollered to give a pleasing striped effect.
Central Midlands League Premier Division North. Saturday 4th February, 14.00 pm kick off
13th v 15th (Last Place in the division)
Kiveton, red shirts and black shorts: Phoenix, yellow shirts and green shorts.
Kiveton kicked downhill in the first half and unlike the train that sauntered past on its way from Sheffield to Worksop they were soon in their stride. On 9 minutes they were ahead when a through ball was met by 7 who steadied himself and as defenders caught him up he moved the ball to his left foot and curled it into top left of net.
Some continuous attacks down the right were rewarded on 33 mins when the right back burst forward passed the ball on and the team mate took it to the byline and dragged it right across goal line to be tapped in at far post for 2 nil.
The home side were unlucky not to go farther ahead after 37 minutes when they hit the right hand post with a header from a corner. For all of Kiveton’s superiority four minutes later a Phoenix corner from the right was cleared to another Phoenix player who shot and after some pinball in the goal mouth was finally hit home by Chris Hopkins into roof of the net for 2.1 A good half of football that was really enjoyable for this level.
After 10 minutes of the second half a Phoenix player was sin binned for I believe inappropriate language which led to them coming under severe pressure and it was a surprise to all that the officials did not react to penalty appeals for Kiveton when on 17 minutes their centre forward was bundled down in the penalty area. Phoenix though settled themselves and started to have the best of play but they could not find an equaliser and Kiveton put the game to bed on 37 minutes when a ball was clipped over the Phoenix goalkeeper for a home player to nod it in for their third.
Phoenix finished the game on top and with minutes to go the Kiveton manager was red carded.
A really enjoyable game and there must be some good teams above this bottom of the table struggle as there was plenty of talent on show.
Finally the chips, these were cooked to order, McCains, were red hot, tasty, no greasy after taste and soft in the middle and presented superbly in a paper container. Unfortunately they were not as good as last weeks Bradford chips but scored a brilliant 81.
A last minute decision found me in Eastern Nottingham in the Radford district to see a United Counties Division One game between Radford and Barrow Town
Google maps led me down a cul de sac to announce I had arrived. I could see the lights but no entrance to the ground only three rough sleepers preparing for their night. After driving completely around the ground which is hidden behind shops and houses I abandoned the car and decided to find it on foot. Eventually I could see a small entrance and turnstile that opened up to the pitch.
Radford F.C. weren’t formed until 1964 as Manlove and Allotts. F.C. as a Sunday team, but when the company went to Scotland in 1970 they changed their name to Radford Olympic F.C. They changed to playing on Saturdays in the late 1970’s along with finding their current ground. The name Radford F.C. was adopted in 1984 then competing in the Central Midlands League. A step up to the East Midlands Counties League in 2009 has been followed in 2021 by being moved to their current league due to the F.A. re organisation. They have made great strides in developing the stadium with a club house at the entrance, a covered seating area at one end of the pitch, a tea bar and two covered standing areas on one side. Some high netting is required to try to stop the many balls that go out of the ground during a match. The playing surface is relatively flat but the grass is wearing badly in some areas I’m sure due to the poor weather conditions of the last year.
Barrow Town F C are based in Barrow upon Soar a small town south east of Loughborough in Liecestershire. There has been a team playing there since the 19th century when they played under the name of Barrow Rising Stars based in a local pub. They competed in local leagues and morphed into The Old boys and eventually Barrow Town around 1969 when they also moved to their Riverside ground.
Their next move was to become founder members of the East Midlands Counties League in 2008 and when that league was disbanded in the non-league re organisation of 2021 they were placed in the United Counties League Division 1.
Radford, claret shirts and light blue shorts: Barrow, yellow shirts and blue shorts.
6th v 18th. The Pheasants v The Riversiders
Radford started the game by being quicker and mobile in defense which enabled them to push forward at any opportunity. They missed their best chance of the first half when the away keeper parried out a free kick that had been swung in from the right and the attacking number 15 missed a great heading chance. Barrow stayed very strong to see out the half.
Radford resumed their stronger activity level but with 6 minutes gone into the second half Barrow’s number eight headed on the ball for Tom Mangan to loop head it over the stranded goalkeeper to take the lead.
The home side thought they had drawn level with 18 minutes gone but the goal was ruled offside. Two large shouts for handball in the penalty area were turned down to the groans of the fans.
The crowd of 60 became more and more vocal towards Barrow’s time wasting and their frustration at not being able to break down their dogged defence.
Barrow saw out the onslaught and went away with a hard earned 3 points.
An enjoyable game that I felt all the players left a lot of sweat and endeavour out on the pitch.
The chips were hot, all sizes, with some black bits on the top. They were squidgy in the middle and had a greasy taste as I ate more which also had a burnt fat after taste. Such a disappointment after those at Bradford on Saturday, score 56.
After missing a game at Carlisle City the week before, due to frost, I traveled to Bradford not to see City whose Valley Parade ground dominates the Skyline but to see Bradford Park Avenue. Unfortunately they no longer play at their historic Avenue ground, now a sports centre, still home to the cricket club and was until 1996 a venue for some Yorkshire Cricket Club games. Still I had wanted to visit this club for a long time and here I was.
For those with a long memory you have to go back to the 1969/70 season to remember them playing in the football league. It was in 1970 that they were voted out to allow Cambrdge United to take their place.
Bradford P.A. now play at Horsfall Community Sports Ground to the South of the city where they move to in 1994. They share the Bradford Council owned ground with an athletics track and West Bowling ARLFC with whom tthey will jointly experiment in a few weeks when Bowling will kick-off in a Challenge Cup match in the morning to be followed by a Bradford P A game in the afternoon. One interesting fact about the ground is that the seats in the main stand once watched cricket at Lords.
Bradford started life as a rugby league club in 1863 and were very successful in being finalists in the Challenge Cup twice, one of which they won in 1906 and were winners of the league in 1904. However all changed when a vote in 1907 was narrowly won by those wishing to change to association football in a move that was known as “The Great Betrayal”. They had started playing football in 1885 as part of the rugby club but were disbanded after a few years.
When they were reformed they first played in the Southern League but were elected to the Football League in 1909 and during their over 60 year stay their highest ranking was 9th in the top tier of English football and reached as far as the quarter finals of the F.A. Cup. Their voting out of the football League was the start of a downhill slope that eventually led to them stopping playing in 1974. The supporters would not give in and restarted the club playing in Sunday football where they gained promotions in the local leagues and in 1988 Saturday football was resumed. The Sunday club eventually stopped as everyone through themselves into the Saturday side which went through a nomadic period of ground shares and League changes as they clawed themselves back up the football pyramid. They have been in the National League North since 2012 where they sit today. perhaps in a few years and two more promotions it will bring them back to the football League.
Chorley like Bradford started life as a Rugby club switching in 1883 and played at the highest level of Lancashire football with many ups and downs. They were founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968 but yoyo’d between leagues having one short two season spell in the Football Conference. In 2014 they were again promoted upwards to the Conference North later to be named the National League North and made it to the National League by the playoffs in 2019. People in the Non-League family will agree that they were harshly relegated in 2021 back to the National League North during the Covid curtailed season.
Bradford Park Avenue 0 Chorley 0
January 28th 2023 15.00pm kick off at the Horsfall Community Stadium
National League North
Bradford, peppermint shirts with white shorts: Chorley Black and White vertical striped shirts with black shorts.
There was easy parking at the ground where the car said it was 6.5 degrees and this temperature matched the grey overcast sky which just hung due to no wind. The football pitch is within a synthetic running track and is very flat being a modern 3 G surface. I am not a lover of this type of set up and like Newcastle Towns pitch I visited last year it gives me a feeling of disconnect. The 491 who turned up, Bradford City season ticket holders were allowed in for half price, did make some atmosphere from the back of a large seated stand which hold 1500 and runs for the full length of the pitch on one side. All other parts of the ground are open apart from a small covered standing area behind one goal. There is an old, what looks like a cricket pavilion, in the middle of the open side where the teams change and in one corner a group of facilities for the fans. There is a hospitality suite, warm friendly club house, club shop, the green army cafe and a program shop with old books and programs, all of which were being well used.
The football was unfortunately not inspiring with Chorley taking control of the first 20 minutes attacking on both flanks with Bradford getting back into the game with their own forays down the wings. Chorley could have gone in at halftime one ahead as on 44 minutes they hit the corner of the crossbar and upright with the home defense well beaten.
Chorley again came close when within 5 minutes of the restart they headed just over from a corner. Chorley maintained the pressure but in the last 15 minutes the home side came to life and put the visitors under constant pressure. Bradford’s manager was booked for comments about the referee’s decisions after he felt they should have been awarded two penalties in the space of a few minute. Chorley hung on for a point each which helped neither side with Chorley vying for a play-off place and Bradford trying not to get dragged into a relegation scrap.
My player of the match was the home sides goalkeeper, not for spectacular save but competent catching of many high crosses and his marshaling of his defense. He just seemed calm all afternoon.
Well onto the chips and they made the journey all worthwhile, cut from real potatoes, hot, tasty a good consistency and a good portion. They were very slightly greasy but who cared they had just scored 83 to go top of my seasons chip league. The chips still had skins on and they were delicious, something that the judges on ‘Master Cheff’ get sniffy about. The football was dull but the afternoon was one to savour.
Disappointing this season so far with only 40% of the grounds doing chips. Hopefully this will be rectified in the next few months. This may be the last season of the chip league as I may rank the catering in general next year.
Continuing my journey to some ex mining football clubs I ventured to Harworth Colliery F.C. in the northern corner of Nottinghamshire very close to the South Yorkshire border.
I recently attended a talk at Worksop Library about the history of Harworth Colliery and its interesting history by David Amos a Nottinghamshire mining historian. The pit had an chequered past having been developed by a German company in 1913 and at the outbreak of war caused a lot of local intrigue. Some locals were convinced that the owners were going to install surveillance and disruption on the A1 which is very close. The German sinkers were interned and the pit was nationalised during the war and sold to Eastwood based Barber Walker Co after it. They ran it until nationalisation and was latterly developed as a super pit which never lived up to its promise, being closed in 2006 when under the ownership of UK Coal. The football club was started in 1931 playing locally but rising to the prestigious Yorkshire League in 1946 where they stayed for 4 years before droping back into local South Yorkshire Football.
By the 1980’s they had progressed well to the Northern Counties East League but were relegated after a short while droping back to the Central Midlands League but were again promoted back into the NCEL in 2018 after 32 years. This uplift was only to last one year and they have stayed in the Central Midlands League since being proud to develop young talent in the Under 21’s, reserves and senior team.
What is noticeable is the development of the ground over recent years, situated off Scrooby Road along with other sports pitches and not far from the modern Bircotes Leisure Centre, the large tarmacked parking area is exceptional.
The land around here is very flat and on entering the ground this is continued with a lovely thick grass covered pitch. There are new LED floodlights, Toms tea rooms, a Shaft Side bar with outside fan zone, a small 50 seat covered stand on one side of the pitch mirrored by a similar standing area opposite. I’m sure the facilities go a long way in attracting the 118 hardy souls who were there to watch. You had to be hardy as the car temperature said 6 degrees but the biting strong wind blowing straight down the pitch cut you in quarters not half. This was despite the sunshine and clear blue skies.
I have written about Staveley Miners Welfare before having visited the ground more than once. They have been going for over 100 years.
Harworth Colliery FC 2 Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves 2
Saturday 14th January 2023. Kick off 15.00 pm
Central Midlands League North Division
5th v 7th, Colliery v Miners
Harworth Colliery orange shirts, black. shorts: Staveley blue and white vertical stripes shirts with blue square on the back, blue shirts.
Immediately it was noticeable that it was two young teams and both displayed some good skills in a well matched first 10 minutes despite the windy conditions. It was however the home side who scored first when with 13 minutes gone a Staveley defender turned in his penalty area and lost the ball to Bailey Lowe who made no mistake in finding the net.
Staveley did not lose heart and they drew level on 22 minutes when a ball was chiped over the top of the defence for Charlie Bingham to run on and score placing the ball across the goal keeper.
The pitch was drying with the wind and 1.1 at half time was a fair reflection of play.
8 minutes into the second half the Staveley substitute for the centre back, who had been injured through a tackle in the first half that had resulted in a booking, brought down a Harworth player, Mason Laws, in their penalty area. It seemed to me a soft penalty but it was dispatched easily by Bailey Lowe , sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Harworth were now on top but the visitors equalised on 65 minutes when the Harworth defence momentarily stopped appealing for a free kick. Staveley kept going and the ball was put through to Reece Clegg who fired it into the top of the net.
Staveley took the initiative for the rest of the game partly helped by a 10 minute sin binning of Harworth’s number 10 who appeared to argue with a linesman and the fact that he had been booked in the first half for kicking the ball away. Despite his return to play and some substitutes Harworth were on the back foot and the woodwork saved them in the last few minutes.
The end to end game had helped to fight off the biting wind along with the facilities that gave some shelter and the opportunity for warming food and drink. With players as young as 16 you have to say that there is luckily some great future talent coming along.
The chips were cooked for me and they were hot, crispy, tasty with no oily after taste. A good score of 68 would have been higher but sor a soggy inside.
After my first game of the year with my daughter I followed it the next day by driving south in rain, again, to meet my son and one of my grandsons in Birmingham. My Grandson thought he was going to see me to give me a Birthday card for an impending Birthday. We met in a local car park and walked through redeveloped streets to Villa Park, where we told him he was going to see Aston Villa. His face beamed.
The rain had stopped luckily and even in the damp gloom of early evening the stadium looked magnificent. A walk around the ground lead us to the Villa shop where we joined a long queue to get in and another one to pay. Here I bought him his first scarf as I had his Dad at a similar age. This end of the ground will be re-developed next year along with a new shop. The shop had at least 10 pay stations and was doing brisk business. Villa like many Premiership clubs have upped their game over recent years and must now generate large incomes from merchandise. We showed him the statue of William McGregor regarded as the founder of the League systems in the UK and probably worldwide.
Tickets for the FA Cup third round game we had come to watch were £20 everywhere and we had chosen to sit high up in the Trinity Road Stand. Villa Park is now so different in that everything shines in its cleanliness, even the toilets. The last time I visited Villa they had no chips but this time they were there and with a Balti Chicken pie were today’s Sunday lunch as I would not be back home till 20.30. The large queue for food was soon dealt with and the pie was hot, full of filling and tasty and the chips were a delight too, hot, golden, thick, soft in the middle and tasty for a score in my chip league of 72. If the centre had been a little harder they would have been the best chips for years.
The grandson had previously been to Milton Keynes, Northampton and Sielby Rangers and complained about the seats at Villa that they were not padded like Milton Keynes, a stadium worth visiting if you get the chance.
Aston Villa have won the FA cup more than many but in recent years they never get beyond this early round. The 29000 Villa fans thought that this year the omens were good as they had been drawn against Stevenage who were second in their league, three divisions lower. They also had their new manager Uni Emery considered to be a cup specialist.and came into the game on the back of beating Spurs two nill only days before.
The game started with supporter enthusiasm but the side to side, crab like football by the home team soon dulled the fans excitement. The missed shots by Phillipe Courtinho, the balls last seen in Sutton Coldfield and the completely off form Leon Bailey were a portent of what was to come. Often Villa players had twenty to thirty yards in front of them that they could have easily run into but chose to knock it sideways to team mate who would knock it sideways again until it came all the way back to where the ball had started. The deadlock was broken on 33 minutes when Morgan Sanson received the ball on the right side of the penalty area and showed some class by coolly slotting the ball past the diving goalkeeper. Sansons goal was good to see as his time a Villa seems to be coming to an end having been overlooked by three managers and it gave Villa the half time lead.
The home side continued their domination of the ball but never came close to adding to their tally as the home crowd became more and more restless. It seemed that simple footballing skills had deserted Villa and this came to haunt them on 85 minutes when Dendonker dallied and failed to clear a ball in the centre of the penalty area and then grasped the shirt of Stevenage’s Campbell to stop him from shooting. After an age, 3 minutes of VAR review, Reid stepped forward to send the Villa goalkeeper the wrong way to level the score and Dendonker was sent off..
Worse was to come within 2 minutes when Stevenage were awarded a corner after the momentum had swung their way and Villa were still reorganising after Dendonker had left the field and their two full backs had been replaced due to injury. The corner on the right was quickly passed along the ground to the totally unmarked Campbell who had all the time in the world to run on and fire the ball past the Villa defenders and under a despairing Olsen. Stevenage lasted out the added time for a famous giant killing and deserved the win. The Villa Park faithful half-heartedly booed their team off but they didn’t have the energy to protest, worn down by a second rate performance.
Stevenage supporters rightfully stayed to savour every second of their magnificent win as the Villa fans streamed out. There was no grumbling as the fans walked away just a resignation as to their defeat brought on by an inept lacklustre performance by those on the pitch and perhaps Unai Emery’s first major mistake in fielding 8 changes from their previous game and not taking the FA Cup and lower positioned teams as serious as they should have been.
When my Grandson made it home he responded to his Mum’s “did you enjoy it” with “I don’t want to go to Villa again”. looks like that was a wasted scarf.
Sunday 8th January 2023 16.30 kick off AstonVilla 1 Stevenage 2
Having missed Kimberley Miners Welfare for my first match of the New Year due to a waterlogged pitch I planned to meet my daughter to see Derby Singh Brothers at home in the semi final of the Derbyshire Cup against Melbournre Dynamo. A day before the game was switched to Melbourne and the drive there was through driving rain until 20 minutes before the end. Even driving over the river Trent made me feel apprehensive as the level was near the top of the banks. Walking towards the distant pitch you had to dodge the sodden grass but when we reached it the surface was drained and looked ideal for football. Infact the sky had cleared to a bright blue and with a little wind it was the ideal day. The pitch with a very slight slope from end to end was covered with thick undulating grass and to add to it there was a great view over some of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, the Trent valley as well as planes from East Midlands Airport taking off over you.
This is the Melbourne Sports Complex which is home to Melbourne Town Cricket Club, Melbourne Tennis Club, Melbourne Rugby FC and Melbourne Dynamo FC with a central modern two storey changing rooms and bar area that is open 7 days a week. A brilliant community venue.
While the rugby players chanted motivational chants Derby Singh Brothers kicked off against Melbourne Dynamo FC in the DerbyshireFA Divisional Cup South 2022/23 Semi-Final.
I had noticed Derby Singh brothers last year as they were promoted to the Cebtral Midlands League 1 South but missed a visit for some reason.
Derby Singh Brothers FC 2 Melbourne Dynamo FC 2
Derby Singh Brothers go through to the final 3.2 on penalties.
Saturday 7th January 13.30 pm kick off.
Derbyshire Divisional Cup South – Semi Final played at the Melbourne Sports Complex
Derby Sing Brothers from mid table of the Central Midlands League South Division v Melbourne Dynamo from second of the Central Midlands League Division One (West)
Derby Singh Brothers, Dark Blue shirts and shorts with white collars, Melbourne Dynamo, Blue and Black vertical shirts with black shorts.
Derby Sing Brothers started the game the strongest but it was Melbourne who took the lead when Jack Goodband received the ball on the right of the penalty area, moved forward, drew the goalkeeper and lifted the ball into the net.
It fell to Derby Sing Brothers’ number 9, Darnell Smith, to equalise on 17 minutes when he took the ball wide and slipped the ball between the goalkeeper and his left post. But it was Melbourne who went in at half time in the lead when on 37 minutes Carl Allsop rose above the rest from a free kick to head goal wards. The Singh Brothers keeper seemed to have it covered but the ball slipped out of his hands into the net. Melbourne had taken their chances whereas Derby had created more but not made the best of them.
Melbourne held out under pressure for 22 minutes in the second half until Derby Singh Brothers number 7 played a beautiful cross along the ground which was met by Tyla Johal who squeezed between two defenders to score. having equalised they now put on more pressure and stout defending, great goalkeeping and the woodwork kept them out.
With a draw at the final whistle the dreaded penalties took place and when both teams missed their first attempts it looked like a long shoot out. Derby however took the lead on the next round and two great saves by the Derby goalkeeper, making up for his earlier mistake, saw them through eventually 3.2.
This was a great game for the level of football, good facilities and great footballing weather. Melbourne although they lost could be proud of getting the game on considering the recent weather and that they had held a team a division higher than themselves. derby Singh Brothers showed some good skills at time s but must know that their poor finishing nearly cost them the game. 60 plus fans were on hand to see an exciting game that seemed over in a flash. It turned out to be a great start to the season and one worth waiting for.
As always I looked forward to a great year of watching football but it didn’t start well with a very dull 0.0 draw between Heanor and Selston. The cobwebs were however blown away at Hucknall where they scored 10.
The following week I found myself in Spennymoor along with some long distance fans from Plymouth who at half time had smiles on their faces as they led one nil.Unfortunately they were reduced to tears and a long miserable drive home as the home side swept to an FA trophy win in the last ten minutes of the game. The mid winter month of January ended in a warm clubhouse in Rossington who lost the match but won the tie as heir opponents had played an ineligible player. It was also a night to remember for a tasty chicken and mushroom pie, mushy peas and gravy.
What a February, criss crossing the country from Poole where penalties were the difference to an evening game on top of Emley Moor. It was windy up there but that didn’t stop Emley putting 4 past Knaresborough. I didn’t win the meat raffle or all of the others I entered in 2022. A few days later I was back in the North East to watch Esh Winning who lost. But this is one of those iconic grounds to visit but it was the troubadour ‘Miserable Les’, a local poet and folk singer, who talked me through all things local for two hours and made it one of the highlights of the season. The chips at the local coal fired fish and chip shop added to the enjoyment.
March started with ‘WOW’ a visit to Loughborough Students. The facilities here within the University campus are amazing for this level of Non League football, well worth a visit.They also have a great team on and off the field that has a very progressive attitude.
I traveled next to nearby Eastwood which also have good facilities but an unusual sloping all weather pitch. The teams performance didn’t match the set up. This was followed by a visit to one of my favourite grounds in Belper but this time to see Belper United not Town who play on the same pitch although I have heard gossip that they will not be there next year. Belper beat Hinkley in a very competitive match. Onward to Mansfield Hosiery, you have to go just for the name, where I found a very homely, friendly club in a housing estate. There were no chips here but the hot chocolate on a cold evening was a warming sensation. Mansfield Hosiery’s win eased their relegation worries. March continued in Newcastle-under-Lyme on a beautifully hot clear day that would have graced mid summer.If only the football would have been as joyous. Still more in March which closed at Chesterfield where England’s under 19 team beat Portugal to qualify for the European finals which they went on to win in Croatia. I was impressed by the silky skills of Tim Iroegbunam who will be a full England star sometime soon.
The showers in April were turned on at half time in the match I watched at St Josephs Rockware Worksop when the referee abandoned the match due to a touch line altercation. However the full 90 minutes were played at Carlton in Nottingham where the home team beat Belper Town in a scramble for play off places. Easter Monday found me in Mexborough for the 125th Montagu Cup the oldest of its kind still being played. The game was between Dog Daisy United and Scawthorpe Athletic which the away team won 3.4. A very exciting game but I will remember the day as a great family fun event that must be visited again. The organisers even went round the ground with the cup letting fans have their photo taken with it. The large crowd was down to their dedication and commitment. April ended with a Welsh experience, first to see Llandudno’s last game of the season where although they beat Llangefni 6.1 they still finished second in their league.On the way back home I was lucky to get a ticket, via Southend, to visit the up and coming Wrexham who were pushing to get back in the Football League. This is the oldest ‘International’ ground still in use where their current high profile owners have big plans for the future. Wrexham won 1.0 but later failed in the play offs. One negative was the poor conditions I experienced in the away section. Their goal of redeveloping the ground cannot come soon enough.
May was perhaps the highlight of the year when I visited Barrow-in-Furness where I met my daughter completing the full current 92 Football League grounds, I was there at the start and the finish. Brilliant achievement but the drama of Northampton winning three one away and so achieving automatic promotion was bettered by Bristol Rovers incredulously winning seven nil to pip them by goal difference. It is a very strange game at times.
No football in June but in July I watched a UEFA womes Euro’s game which France beat Italy 5.1. France’s first half performance was out of this world and I expected them to go on and win the competition easily. Up stepped England and blew everyone away.
I sneaked a pre-season friendly later in July at Wells-next-to-sea where the rock hard ground and crispy grass seemed to inhibit the football and it became the first ever game I have left before the end. However if I am in that area again I would like to go to see a competitive game.
So a new season and the month of August found me at Shepshed Dynamo for an early round of the FA Cup. No goals meant a replay in a poor game. Shirebrook next as I gave them a chance to regain the Chip league, they won the game but the chips lost. Richmond in North Yorkshire next to see them play in a Weirside League game, new to me. Disappointing as they had moved to a school 3G pitch from their iconic ground under the castle, progress.
A much more traditional ground at Quorn and a a friendly warm clubhouse. They unfortunately lost to Heanor by three goals with the shouting and language of the visitors leaving much to be desired.
September started with an M1 trip to Selston a village in Nottinghamshire on the Derbyshire border where the ground shares facilities with the cricket club. The moon shining brightly couldn’t help them in their 3.1 defeat by Belper United. After a complete lack of organisation I found myself getting to Denaby Main late but enjoyed the football in what was the start of a longer dive into the Sheffield and Hallamshire League. Ilkeston up next for an evening game where I again gave a club the chance to regain their chip league top status but again a disappointment. What had changed was a 3G pitch and a digital program.They won competently 2.1.
October saw a run of three Sheffield and Hallamshire clubs. First Sheffield Town who were playing their first game at the newly agreed ground share at Kiveton. This was followed by visiting Dearne and District near Goldthorpe, this is a progressive community club running numerous teams. With future ground improvements this is are a team to watch. Then finally to Dodworth Miners Welfare where a true entrenched community spirit still thrives. Staying with the ex mining community theme I visited Linby Miners Welfare in this pretty Nottinghamshire village. A great history packed club house here, I wish I could have stayed for the after match curry and rice. I ended the month in Stratford on Avon to see ‘A Christmas Carol’ at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and a visit to Stratford Town’s ground where FC Stratford play in the Hellenic League. Again a 3G pitch and an improbable late comeback for the home team to win.
An unbelievably wet journey and biblical rain through the match as I visited Horbury just off the M1 south of Wakefield.
Just promoted to the Northern Counties East League their facilities just meet requirements but they look to make forward strides in the future and definitely one to go back to on a drier day in the future. Hallam drew Bury in the FA Cup which Bury won on a replay so when they drew each other in the FA Vase I decided that it was one to see. Again a large crowd turned up in the Sheffield suburbs and again it was tight with Bury winning on penalties to go through. The rain had continued but Worksop Town’s game on their 3G pitch was on as they tried to maintain their top spot in the Northern Premier League East, this they did with some style under the lights. The following week back to Loughborough Students to see if they could remain unbeaten in the League and top of the United Counties League. They did that in style winning 5.1 against Heanor. Finally a trip to Prescott to see ‘A Christmas Carol’ again but this time at the Shakespeare North Theatre meant I could see Prescott Cables take on high profile and high flying Macclesfield. Macclesfield edged it but it was Prescott’s 10 man display for 70 minutes that caught the eye.
So into December and the end of the year I finally made it to Swinton which again is in the Sheffield and Hallamshire League and making changes to their ground to hopefully progress in the future. It was here on top of the hill that I finally decided that winter was with us. Mid month I watched Chesterfield FC go out of two cups on consecutive nights. Monday at Staveley Miners Welfare’s ground to Belper United in the Derbyshire Senior Cup and Tuesday at home to Coalville in the FA Trophy. The end of my football year was on Christmas Eve when I watched Dinnington Town lose to unbeaten table toppers Retford United. Great crowd of 390 at this redeveloped 3G ground.
Another fantastic year and I can’t wait for 2023 hopefully it will be as exciting and enjoyable as 2022.
With very little football scheduled in England for Christmas Eve the Central Midlands League, 10 promotions from the Premier League, gave their clubs the choice of playing or not. Dinnington Town and Retford United agreed to play and were well rewarded with a crowd of 269, much, much higher than normal. There was the fact that Dinnington had won five in a row and were third, at home to Retford United, who were top and so far undefeated in the league although they only just maintained that record last time out when they equalised in the 90th minute against Haworth Colliery.
The large mainly male crowd may also have been helped by getting a pass out with the children to be out of the way. It may have been because after the torrential rain that swept across the UK the day before, Christmas Eve was a beautiful sunny day, with clear blue skies but with a chill wind. There also seemed to be a good many groundhoppers taking advantage of visiting Dinnington where the midday kick off didn’t disrupt the day too much.
I decided to go to see if Retford could maintain their record against in form opposition and because the ground had been majorly updated since I was last there. A new 3G pitch has been installed with new floodlights and tarmacadam hard standing on three sides. Gone are the covered areas but I’m sure that is a future priority not only for the fans but to achieve ground grading criteria. What has been achieved is outstanding and gives the club a firm financial base to progress.
They have also updated the facilities by the fact that you now enter the playing area via the resource centre which provides food an drink before, during and after the game. This was not available before and is a great idea to bring together two community assets. There is also unusually a Post Office in the building. The bowls club is also next door.
The new pitch does appear to slope slightly from end to end and is covered with multi coloured lines marking out various smaller pitches for juniors.
Dinnington Town 1 Retford United 3
December 24th 2022, kick off 12.00 (Midday). Central Midlands League North Division
Dinnington Yellow shirts with black edging and fading with black shorts. Retford United Grey shirts with darker grey vertical stripes and grey shorts.
Dinno v The Badgers
The game was very competitive as expected but it was Retford who created the best chances. They had a disallowed goal on 20 minutes and hit the cross bar 7 minutes later when the rebounding ball was just scrambled away only to be hit back in but only into the side netting. Dinnington had their own period of pressure and were denied by a point blank save by the goal keeper on 32 minutes.
Retford though went ahead on 41 minutes when a cross in from the left was met by the number nine Joe Froggat who tapped in. This seemed to coincide with the sun disappearing behind some cloud which certainly increased the chill factor. It was soon colder for the home side when in the last minute of the half a Retford player was fouled in the penalty area and Mark West took charge and dispatched the ball into the net for Retford to lead 2 Nil at half time.
As the teams walked off the pitch the Dinnington Manager walked over to argue with the ref and was shown a yellow card, unfortunately this added to one he had collected earlier for the same offence and he was red carded and sent off.
Dinnington came out in the second half with renewed vigour and deservedly pegged a goal back after ten minutes of the restart when Brad Sedgwick collected the ball near the penalty spot and struck it straight into the top right hand corner of the goal. They continued their pressure and for a while Retford looked a little rattled.
With 21 minutes left Retford’s impressive Mark West was put through on goal and running on to the ball he clipped it across the home keeper, Best, into the top right hand corner. This goal steadied Retford and they kept control of the game until full time.
Retford went home with their unbeaten league run intact but Dinnington played well and showcased their great new facilities that will surely improve the game of football for the community in the future.
The officials should also be commended keeping very tight control of the game and the referee was quick to explain any of his decisions on the pitch. All in all a happy start to Christmas.
Tuesday 20th December 2022, Technique Stadium Chesterfield, FA Trophy Kick off 19.45pm
Having been to see Chesterfield FC bow out of the Derbyshire Senior Cup the night before I thought I would give myself an early Christmas present and watch two games in two days.
I don’t know why turning up for an evening game is so magical, but it is.
Chesterfield’s FA Trophy match against Coalville Town FC had been postponed on Saturday due to the hard ground and to ensure that fixture congestion would not build up it was quickly rescheduled for Tuesday night. The draw had already been made for the next round and each team knew that a win would bring them an away tie with the winners of Banbury v Bognor Regis which was being played on the same night.
The evening was so different from the night before in that there were now clear skies and the temperature had dropped by 7 degrees.
This stadium, one of the newly relocated grounds of the past 10 years, is one of the best, which was amplified by the fact that England under 19’s have played here in the last 12 months. Those who will remember Saltergate will have loved its homely charm, but it’s cramped near town centre location could not survive and the housing that has replaced it gives no indication of football’s cultural loss. The Spireites have not had a good time in the new stadium having dropped down to the National League but the club is now more focused locally and on a much steadier foundation.
Coalville Town play in the Southern League Premier Division Central which is two levels below Chesterfield. They have been a successful Non League Club for some years since originally establishing in 1926 and have been known as Ravenstone Miners Athletic, Ravenstone Swifts and Coalville Town from 1998 when they moved into the Town after having local difficulties in being able to install floodlights.
When I looked at the program and heard the teams over the sound system I had that eerie feeling that I’d seen this before, in fact at Staveley the night before. Chesterfield were not playing their first team but their second stream squad which when I compared it to who had featured in their league games this season there was little comparison. There was a place for Lawrence McGuire, brother of the England centre back who I had seen previously play for Illkeston Town.
Chesterfield FC 1 Coalville 3
Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round Proper
Chesterfield, Light Blue Shirts , White Shorts: Coalville Town, White and back vertical stripes to front of the shirts, plain white back with black shorts.
This seemed familiar as Chesterfield stroked the ball across the back finding no outlets for a final pass while Coalville buzzed around as if their life’s depended on it. Coalville also played quick tempo direct running and passing that unnerved the Chesterfield defense. All the same as Belper the previous night.
It was no surprise that Coalville took the lead on 10 minutes when their number 2, Alex Dean, took the ball past defenders and crossed it beating the goalkeeper for Ashley Chambers just to tap in. This brought some response from Chesterfield who seemed stung by the visitors and they drew level 8 minutes later when a curling free kick from the left was met by George Wilkinson at the far post.
The night was getting colder and I thought that Chesterfield would now show their dominance and take control of the game. They did however fall back into their previous lethargic pattern and Coalville renewed their lead on 22 minutes when a poor clearance by the home defense meant the ball fell to Tom McGlinchey who curled the ball across the keeper into the far corner of the net. Again the goal sparked a Home response but Coalville looked well prepared and organised and little came of some shots from long range.
Coalville were worth their 2.1 lead at half time and within 5 minutes of the restart were 3.1 up when Ash Chambers again scored with a deflection after some good interplay with McGlinchy after Banks sloppily gave the ball away.
Chesterfield and Coalville made changes but there was little change to the pattern of play and the outcome. Many of the Chesterfield fans had drifted away before the final whistle but the away fans stayed to celebrate. Coalville are off to Banbury in the next round but Chesterfield’s two matches highlighted that they have little in depth beyond the first team. Hopefully at the end of the season they will be in with a shout of promotion otherwise these two games will be seen as a waste.
There were 2107 fans there with 287 from Coalville but listening to the reaction in the main stand when they scored I think there were a few more away fans than identified.
payonthegate 