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.
Back in January 2019, I wrote about the passing of Hugh McIlvanney, one of the greatest sports writers of his time and an inspiration to me to read and write on football. The last few days have seen the passing of Brian Glanville, another colossus of writing on football. He was a prolific writer who didn’t hold back on his views and criticisms of players, officials, administrators, the game, and more. He had earned this rite and admiration of fellow soccer alumni through a career that included writing for Corriere Dello Sport, living in Italy, and most notably for the Sunday Times. A prolific writer of books, he also wrote the screenplay GOAL! the official film of the 1966 World Cup that won a BAFTA.
With McILvanney, he was at the pinnacle of his profession, and his passing perhaps represents the passing of the last greats of the written word on football. Now replaced by YouTube and Pod Casts, which I am sure he would have stood astride of those media if they would have been available in his era.
Of those that didn’t have chips, the National Award Winning ‘Great Northern Pie Company’s’ pie with mash and mushy peas at Stockport Town was outstanding. Having watched my grandson play at Everton’s training ground in the morning, I needed some food, and I could have eaten two of them. Really well served in a large comfortable area, Stockport Town should be congratulated. Gretna’s Scotch pie with gravy changed my mind on Scotch pies,’ I suppose in Scotland they know just how to cook them.
Retford FC’s pie and peas were good, but Appleby Frodinghams’ Cheese Burger with bacon was better. Thank you to the ladies who persuaded me to buy one. I think their reprieve from relegation was due to the food!
Sandiacre impressed me in that they had returnable and reusable plates.
The chips as usual were a mixed bag, both at TNS and St Albans, they were good but the seasoning ruined them, and with real potatoes at Gainsborough Trinity, I thought they had cracked it but they were only warm. I had chips three times at Hallam during the season, and twice they were up there near the top, but one time, they were close to the bottom, which shows they can be variable and subjective on the day.
The chips at Clay Cross were good and enhanced by the very thick Bovril, which you could almost stand your spoon up in. Second during the season was Coleshill under the Gazebo in the rain, but the winners by a fair margin were at Hednesford where not only was the game one of the most entertaining I have ever seen but the chips were hot, crispy. golden, but most of all, tasty.
I wasn’t sure that I would carry on with my chip league, but I’m ready to sacrifice my body again for another season.
payonthegate 2024/25 chip league
Club Score Comments Hednesford 82 Really good taste. Coleshill 74 Tasty under the gazebo. Hillsborough Stadium 73 Tasty, golden, soft inside, if they had been hot would be higher Hallam 72 Hot and Tasty South Leeds 72 Freshly cooked, good Friday night out. Clay Cross 72 Good taste. Very thick Bovril. Matlock 70 Big portion Hallam 69 Hot Crispy and Tasty Clifton All Whites 67 Enjoyable Sheffield FC 67 Good texture St Albans City 65 Good Chips but seasoning ruined the taste Gainsborough Trinity 62 Real Potatoes but dry and only warm Basford 62 Greasy background taste, good food hut. Worksop 60 Gone backwards since last times improvement Pinxton 59 Chips were limp and over cooked Mansfield 58 Only ate half, greasy, why chips in away end not main stand? Knaresborough 56 Warm , little taste Sandiacre 56 Lingering, greasy taste, served on a reuseable plate TNS 55 Chips were great but the seasoning ruined them. Hallam 55 Warm and soggy, not up to usual standard Albion Sports 55 Lasting greasy taste Brigg 54 Too greasy, friendly club house. Wombwell 52 Taste of burnt fat. Wembley 40 Cold, limp, dry, + Burger was horrible, the FA should be ashamed Fakenham Town 0 No Chips Club Thorne Colliery 0 No Chips Wolves 0 No Chips Kiveton Park 0 No Chips Gretna 0 No Chips but the Scotch pie was great. SJR Worksop 0 No chips, packet of Quavers instead. Sheffield Union 0 No Chips, didn’t go to the club house. Keswick 0 No Chips Retford FC 0 No Chips but pie and peas were delicious Appleby Frodingham 0 No Chips, very good Cheeseburger with bacon Wakefield FC 0 No Chips, good beef pie and gravy Ansty Nomads 0 No Chips and the burger was tasteless Bradfordn City 0 No Chips, enormous food queues, atmosphere electric Stockport Town 0 No Chips, Award winning, Great Northern Pie Company, WOW Loughborough Stnts 0 No Chips, sausage roll dry. Ilkley 0 No Chips, but had my favourite crisps ‘Seabrooks’ Chesterfield 0 No Chips Aston Villa 0 Couldn’t get to the food kiosks, too busy Shrewsbury/TNS 0 No Chips
Another season of sheer joy watching all levels of football, seeing one of the best games I have ever seen, an abandoned game, promotions, pitch invasions, nostalgia, re-birth, disappointment and a little boredom and much more.
It all started at Fakenham, one holiday evening in July when the football was relaxed and the burger cooked on a barbeque outside was the highlight. 38 games later at my penultimate game I would be there to see Bradford City fans, players and officials joy in gaining promotion, 40 years after the fire at the ground that claimed the lives of 56 people.
On the way, I saw Hallam reel in Selsden’s huge points advantage but just failed to pip them in the quest for automatic promotion. They managed it via the playoffs.
A visit to St Albans, 70 years on, saw them win, although they still suffered relegation from the National League South. Ian Culverhouse, Paul Bastock, and the rest of the team have agreed to stay on for next season. They were hired too late for St Albans to avoid the drop, in the end, by only 1 point after at one time looking completely doomed at Christmas.
I always enjoy an evening of football at Matlock, but a poor showing in their FA Cup replay was only a portent to their relegation at the end of the season.
Wakefield failed again in the playoffs to get out of NCEL Division One, and I watched them play at home, this time at Fatherstone Rovers ground. Last year, it was at Wakefield Trinity’s. This nomadic romp may soon be over as they try to secure a permanent home at Brook Farm. In the Dearne Valley, there continues to be a resurgence, and it is Wombwell Town that has developed an impressive ground and gained promotion.
From visiting Premier grounds at Wolves and Villa to watching Sheffield Students in the 12th tier, I have been impressed at the quality of football. Talking of Students I again visited Loughborough Students, one of my favourite haunts, but this was soured by a £70 parking fine over a £1 parking fee. This was eventually squashed after the usual battle.
A stop off at Hackney Marshes to reminisce and nearby ‘The Old Spotted Dog’ to see the oldest ground in London was a happy event. Not so happy was the trip to North Leicester to see an abandoned game at Ansty Nomads, I still haven’t dried out.
European football was provided by TNS at Shrewsbury, and I later visited their true home ground near Oswestry. This is a very well run club that deserves its status as the best Welsh team. Competition in the Cymru leagues will be fierce in the coming season with a new structure looming and being based on this seasons placings.
I finally made it to Appleby Froddingham in Scunthorpe after a few re-routed journeys due to bad weather. The friendliness made up for the average facilities, and I am pleased to see that they have been reprieved relegation and remain allocated in the 10th tier. The facilities were not extensive at Keswick, but, ‘Oh’, what a scenic ground in the park, with the Lake District Hills as a backdrop.
Great to have seen a Bury victory as they make their slow but sure come back through the leagues. What marvellous support they have both home and away. A mention of support brings me back to St Albans, where despite relegation, they still hosted the 5th highest average attendance in the National League South.
County cups are often forgotten by clubs, yet on a cold evening I saw Ashbourne nearly upset Clay Cross, a team who won the United Counties Division One, in my view one of the hardest leagues to get out of anywhere in the country due to its competitiveness. The oldest derby in the world drew a crowd well over 1500 at Hallam to see them beat Sheffield Fc in ‘The Sheffield and Hallamshire County Cup’. The final of the cup where Worksop just beat Hallam was my final game of the season.
I have saved the highlights and lowlights to last. Visiting Gretna and watching some surprisingly skilful football and some skilful parking and a tasty scotch pie. A visit to Wembley to see Aston Villa not turn up and be humiliated by Crystal Palace and experience the worst football food of the season, the FA should do better. Biggleswade were down and out at half time at Coleshill in the cup, but turned it round, eventually winning 4,5, especially pleasing for their Chairman whom I went to school with. Another 4.5, this time on penalties after 4.4 after extra time, saw Gainsborough Trinity beating Hednesford after also looking to have no way back. This game was one of the most exciting I have ever seen in my long history of watching football.
For sheer emotion, the joy of the fans of Bradford City, when their 95th minute winner and promotion clincher went in, was my highlight of the season. To have been their and experience it was tingling.
2416 fans turned up at Hillsborough to see the final of the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Cup final and no one was disappointed. It was a cold evening, only 11 degrees, yet it was a pleasant walk to the ground from parking the car just outside the ground, something you couldn’t do when ‘Wednesday’ are at home.
Fans of both teams mingled in the bars and food kiosks before taking their seats. I was able to get one of the padded seats, so I sat back waiting for the players of Worksop Town FC and Hallam FC. Both have had successful years coming second in their respective leagues and both gaining promotion by way of the playoffs. Worksop Town will be leaving the Northern Premier League and returning to the National League North after an 18 year absence. Hallam FC will be leaving the Northern Counties East League, Premier Division, next season, and moving up to The Northern Premier League, East Division a level they have never before played at. Despite these moves there will still be two level between the clubs, Worksop at the 6th level of English Football and Hallam at the 8th level.
Both teams entered the arena to some vocal fans and a drum beat by the Hallam contingent. The grass surface looked like it was starting to be prepared for the close season with patches of sand all over the pitch. After the customary introduction to the supporters and each other the teams stood in the centre of the centre circle with everyone standing and observing a minutes silence on this 80th Anniversary of VE Day.
The Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA Senior Cup is the 5th oldest in the world and next year it will be 150 years old, having been first played for in 1876.
Worksop Town 2 Hallam 1
Friday 8th May 2025, 19.30 kick off. Hillsborough Stadium.
Tigers v The Countrymen
Worksop; grey shorts and shirts the front of which had a vertical black panel on one side, the goalkeeper had an orange top and black shorts.
Hallam; All royal blue strip with the goalkeeper in a pink top and black shorts.
Worksop looked in control from the start but Hallam were letting them come to them and counter attacking with some quick breaks down the wings particularly down the right. Hallam were also controlling the tempo of the game with slow goal kicks, throw ins and set pieces, this was something they continued with all match.
It was Worksop who took the lead when with 16 minutes gone, a cross from the left was beaten out by the Hallam keeper but only onto the head of Aleks Starcenco who directed it down and into the bottom right corner of the net. The game now ebbed and flowed and despite the difference in League levels Hallam held their own to only trail by the one goal at half time.
The floodlights were turned on at half time with it coming over gloomy, and Worksop should have made it two with only 4 minutes gone from the re-start when the ball was blasted over the bar from very close range. A few minutes later, Warhurst in the Hallam goal kept them in the game with a reflex point blank save.
The Worksop dominance continued with the Hallam break aways, and one of these lead to an equaliser when a cross in from the left found Rio Allan, unmarked, and he cleverly dinked it over the goalkeeper into the net. Que celebrations by the players just in front of their fans. Rio Allen had played some skilful football all night and deserved the goal.
This set up a nerve wracking 20 minutes for both fans with the pattern of play resuming as before. Both sides made numerous substitutions, and it seemed destined for penalties to decide the tie, when with a minute to go Worksop struck again, when after a higher tempo attack the ball was received by Aleks Starcenco on the right corner of the Hallam goal area and he blasted it into the top right hand corner of the net. Hallam could not come back in the final 4 minutes of added time but all of their team gave their all. Worksop will have known that they had been in a hard won game, just deserving to edge it on the night.
Football Food
Great to have chips again, they were a good portion, tasty, golden, firm to soft inside, and but for the fact that they were only warm they could have been the chips of the year, score 73.
It seemed lest than 2 months ago that I bought a ticket to see Bradford City’s last game of the season. Little did I know at the time that Bradford would be sitting 3rd in the League 2 table, and in the last automatic promotion place needing to do better than Walsall, playing at Crewe, to go up. I have seen Valley Parade set on the side of a hill overlooking the city many times as I passed through, with its huge stands, and I couldn’t understand why I have not been before. I approached the ground and found parking a problem with the large crowd like me getting there early. Driving past Grosvenor Road, a throng of fans were swaying and chanting their way to the stadium under a haze of orange smoke from flares. Eventually, I found a space and abandoned the car, half on the path, near the top of one of Bradfords many hills. A 23-minute walk initially downhill but then the steep ascent to the ground. People were swarming in, in a happy mood. Inside the ravenous hall entrance to the Morrisons stand, I was greeted by long queues for food and drink, so I made my way up numerous steps to the top where my seat was near the back. Wow, what a view of Bradford and hills beyond with spires and domes illustrating the multicultural life of the city.
Bradford is our ‘City of Culture’ for 2025, and in the ground, I was experiencing one of the events that shape some of our country’s culture. After a week of temperatures in the mid 20’s it had dropped today to 14 degrees, with grey overcast clouds giving way to some blue skies and sunshine. The pitch shone a bright green with the flat grass surface cut in stripes. All parts of the stadium have seated stands but those behind one goal and down one side are immense, part of the redevelopment that followed the disastrous fire in 1985 that cost the lives of 56 fans on that fateful day, being remembered today, close to the May 11th anniversary. The atmosphere was all consuming with a deafening noise and the brilliant orange and claret. The day was all about Bradford, but a group of Fleetwood fans made themselves known as they stood and chanted.
The teams entered the arena like gladiators and lined up for introduction. They then moved to the centre of the pitch to observe a minutes silence in remembrance when you could have heard a pin drop. Raucous applause, and the teams were ready for the contest.
Bradford City 1 Fleetwood Town 0
Saturday 3rd May 2025. 17.00 kick off English Football League Division 2 University Of Bradford Stadium, Valley Parade, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, BD8 7DY. 3rd v 14th. Bantams v The Cod Army or the Fishermen
After the first 15 minutes, the Bradford fans had quietened due to the tension, and just 8 minutes laterit was Fleetwood who had the first real chance of the game, which was blocked and cleared by defenders. Play was continually interrupted with injuries, and on 35 minutes, the teams took advantage with a drinks break.
Although Bradford retained most of the possession, neither side looked like they were going to break the deadlock as the teams left the field at hal time.
A cold wind blew up at the interval, hopefully not a portent of a cooling second half. Bradford continued to press forward, but their high balls were easily dealt with by Fleetwood’s big back four. Some wing play, particularly from the left and long throws from their right back, did cause the most angst for Fleetwood. Halfway through the half news came through from Crewe that Walsall had scored and the crowd groaned, knowing that only a win would see them up. A few ripples hope we’re extinguished when information of a Crew equaliser were unfounded. Could the introduction of substitutes galvanise the team to score.
It seemed unlikely, although the board saying 6 minutes of added time gave hope. Halfway through this, a shot hit the post, but the crowd continued to believe, and Bradley Halliday strode over from the right to deliver his last long throw. It reached the penalty area and was headed down for Antoni Sarkevic to get a foot to it. Somehow, it caught a slight deflection and ended up in the right-hand corner of the net.
Pandemonium broke out, and people from all around the stadium invaded the pitch. Most realised that time was not up and booed the interlopers. Stewards, police, officials and loudspeaker announcements finally cleared the pitch but an ill timed announcement of the goal scorer, with the words Bradford one Fleetwood nil only provoked another invasion as they only heard ‘Bradford won’. Another frantic effort again cleared the pitch for the referee to play one minute and blow the final whistle. Que pitch invasion and Bradford City were promoted in the Year of Culture. Just down the road Leeds too were celebrating their winning of the Championship. No one cared here. It was all about their local sister city that is starting a fight back after so many years in their shadow. I was out of the stand like a shot and sailed down the many stairs reflecting on an amazing finish to a game and a season. How lucky was I to be part of it.
Football food.
The queues were so long that I didn’t have anything. There were, however, no chips on the food menu anyway.
An early start to head south to watch a grandson’s under 6 game in Northampton and then on to Wembley.
A Wembley trip is an occasion as well as a football match, and for me to go with two grandsons made me reflect on my first visit. Then there were twin towers, and England lost 2.3 to Sweden in 1959. This was only England’s second loss to a team other than a Home Nation on the hallowed turf. Just six years after the thrashing by Hungary and only 7 years before England’s World Cup triumph. Bobby Moore’s statue, with reference to the rest of the team, stands proud outside the entrance.
There have been other changes, too, even since a visit to see Aston Villa lose in a Championship Playoff final in 2018. On my first visit, my father showed me the decaying buildings left over from the British Empire Exhibition of 1924/25, and I showed what was left to my son in 1994 when Villa beat Manchester United. None of that now , the area has been transformed into a modern high-rise city of its own with the tiered walkway that was Wembley Way replaced by a flat pathed area to complement the new living style.
The organisation was fantastic, with the turnstiles and security opened, all of the queuing fans were whisked into the stadium. Inside the concourse offers food and drink and toilets to befit a national stadium.
The vastness of the red seats hit you as you walk into your seating area brought smiles to the grandsons. The immaculate pitch gleamed a bright green despite the grey overhead cloud, and there was no wind or breeze in this bowl.
Strangely, the Villa fans, so vociferous at home and away, seemed subdued, but a ripple of applause broke out as Stan Collymore was spotted standing above a ‘Villa Cannock’ flag.
Crystal Palace 3 Aston Villa 0
Saturday 26th April 2025, FA Cup Semi-final, 17.15 kick off.
Eagles v Villians.
There was little intensity to the start of the game, and Villa looked as if they were playing walking football out from the back as Palace didn’t press them but crowded out the mid field and defence. Palace fans were in ascendancy when 31 minutes Pau Torres made a mistake to let Ismail Sarr cross the ball for Ebrechi Eze to hit a fierce shot into the roof of the net past Martinez’s right hand.
Villa tried to get into the game and, with much of the possession, didn’t create a worthwhile chance despite some hard work by John McGinn.
Villa briefly looked a little sharper at the start of the second half but conceded a penalty . Jean-Paul Mateta stepped forward and placed the ball to the diving Martinez’s left, but with it clipping the outside of the post and going wide Villa fans thought this could be a sign of a come back.
However, Villa players looked like they had tired legs and were often picked off by some strong defending in mid field by Daichi Kamada and Adam Wharton. The Londoners doubled their lead on 58 minutes when Sarr dispossessed Tielemans and surged forward to power a drive along the ground into the left hand corner of the net. Villa made changes and could have reduced the lead but for their own player, Torres, blocking a powerful shot that looked destined to score.
With the minutes ticking away and the Villa fans drifting out, Sarr raced clear of the Villa defence and made it 3 nil, game well and truly over.
Although Villa had over 70 per cent of possession, it was Palace who outplayed them again this season, their defensive tack ticks and fast breaks, capitalising on Villa mistakes.
Palace had a game plan to disrupt Villa’s flow, they made the referee and Villa wait at the start as they held a long huddle, they made very long celebrations for each goal, Eze strutted back to the half way line after his goal celebrations at a crawl, Place came out in dribs and drabs to start the second half with a pause to wait for their 11th player and Henderson , who had a great game in goal should have been penalised by the referee for his time wasting. But despite this, you could not take it away from Crystal Palalce, who very much deserved to win and make Villa look second best.
Hopefully, the long season has not proved too much for Aston Villa and they can win the remainder of their games.
Football Food
The food at our magnificent football stadium was less than magnificent.
I was told I couldn’t just have chips to review for my annual chip league unless I had it as a meal deal with a burger. However, the chips were priced separately. Why not sell them separately then. The burger in what I think was supposed to be a Brioche Bun was awful. It was limp tasteless, just warm and made a McDonalds basic burger seem like a gourmet meal.
The chips were the worst I have had all season and sit bottom of my chip league, a score of 40 was generous. They were cold, dry limp, with no taste, and unfortunately, I left most of them under my seat for someone to clear up, sorry. I won’t ever buy anything inside this stadium again.
N.B. The heading to this post has been used before in my blog. However, it doesn’t reflect the enjoyment fun and smiles that Aston Villa have given me.
Back to football with a trip to see the Retford derby. Parking was easy in the nearby school’s car park, close to the ground and a short walk in the rain with a cool temperature of 10 degrees.
I bought a ticket for this showdown when both still had a chance of winning the United Counties League Division One. By the time I entered the ground, the title had been won by Clay Cross and Retford FC, and Retford United already knew that they were in the playoffs.
I had been notified that I should enter by a specified turnstile that turned out to be a gate where two officials sat in the back of a car sheltering under the tailgate.
This club have done wonders in their ten years in existence and have just announced that they have purchased their ground and adjoining land. There is also a brand new fan area in one corner of the ground since I was last there. The ground works were underway on my visit on Boxing Day in 2023, and now a Scandi styled wood clad, club house, food kiosk, and toilet block stand there.
These facilities add to the two tiered covered standing down one side, open standing on the other with the same behind one goal with a small covered area. Behind the other end is the fan area, a low seated area, and some tiered open seating behind the goal. This seating looks like it was originally some temporary structure behind a green at a golf tournament. With the heavy rain, it was not a popular place. The pitch was of grass, a good covering except for muddy patches in the goal mouths. It was mainly flat but a bit undulating.
Retford FC 2 Retford United 0
Monday 21st April 2025, kick off 15.00 pm. United Counties League Division One. 2nd v 3rd.
The Rail Stadium, Backworth Road, Retford, Notts, DN22 7PN. The Choughs v The Badgers
Retford; All navy blue with white flashes on the shoulders and down the sides of the shirts, goal keeper in all yellow kit with a green tinge with some patterning on the front.
Retford United; All red strip with some white striping at the bottom of the shirt, goal keeper in all yellow.
On their way out
Both teams were tentative with their start, with Retford using the right side of the pitch to attack the away teams goal.
With only 9 minutes gone, a high ball to the United goal area was weakly headed out and Ainsley Finney, playing his 50th game for the club, controlled the ball and drilled it into the net to the right of the goalkeeper. Retford United came into the game more and pressed for an equaliser but didn’t create any clear chances. The game lacked the intensity I have seen at two previous meetings of these two teams. Retford just about deserved to go in at the interval in front at half time.
We were entertained at half time as the two fans ultras, (Average age looked like 12) faced off in one corner of the ground. The home fans eventually prevailed after they outflanked their opponents by joining the banter from their position behind the other goal. The united fans retreated to behind the other goal and a parent rescued their flag which was about to be taken as a spoil of war. As the Retford United fans passed us a lady shouted I’ll see you in school tomorrow.
This half, it was only 8 minutes into the re-start that Retford made it two, when two missed tackles in mid field enabled the ball to be passed to Jacob Priestnall who drew the keeper, moved to the right and slipped it back from the angle to score.
The continuous rain meant that the lights were needed as the gloom that had come over United became worse. Retford had two more glorious chances when a ball was headed down but unbelievably bounced over the cross bar and, with the keeper beaten the shot across the goal, went wide.
The away team did look better in the last 20 minutes after multiple substitutions, but their under par performance had been jumped on by the home team who were worthy winners.
Both teams now face play-off games that if they win it would mean they will meet again at The Rail in a winner takes all encounter to decide promotion. That could be a tasty match, but I already have plans and a ticket for another game. The good crowd of 1009 will be surpassed if that comes about, and a full house may beckon.
No Chips, so a meat pie and peas was eagerly consumed that was hot and tasty. It was eaten in the new club house, out of the rain, that will certainly be an asset to the club as they progress.
N.B. I have not included any club histories as I have done that on previous blogs.
With the end of season fast approaching, I decided to get a game in before some time away, will stop me from watching some football. I headed south, two junctions down the M1 to Pinxton. Pinxton was a ground I had visited before but to watch a Derby Singh Brothers game when they were homeless and playing games there.
This is an ex mining village. You park in the car park of the Pinxton Miners Welfare and walk up the hill to the ground. Considering the pitch is on the side of a hill, it only has a slight slope from end to end and side to side. The surface is grass but a little bumpy. The facilities are unusual. There is a small covered two stepped seated stand that holds roughly 50 people in the corner of one side and built into the hill at the back is a food hut which you climb up to past a small covered standing area.
After a day that was beautiful , clear blue sky with the temperature rising to 18, the evening was cooling quickly with a cold breeze. 126 fans had turned up to see Pinxton play Staveley Miners Welfare with both teams on the edge of the play-off places with only a few games left.
Football Histories
Pinxton FC were started in 1994 and played in the Mansfield Bitter League for their first years, gaining promotions and moving up to the Midlands Regional Alliance League in 1997. Some solid seasons in this league gave them heart to join the Central Midlands League in 2004. They made their way to the highest division and won it in 2024 to be promoted to the United Counties Division One.
Staveley Miners Welfare F.C‘s. current club was formed in 1962 as a Sunday team, known as the Nags Head playing in Barrow Hill. There had been a football team in Staveley since the early 1880’s. They started playing on Saturdays in 1989. In 1991 they joined the Sheffield and Hallamshire County League and two years later moved to the Central Midlands League. They were constant members of that league until 1997 when their second place finish in the highest league gained them entry to The North East Counties League.
Their time in the NCEL wasn’t without ups and downs, semi-finalists in the FA Vase in 2012 masked their off field problems. In 2020 they secured grant money to install an all weather pitch and have continued their facilities development in tandem with community involvement. In 2022 the club took a voluntary demotion by one Division to reset a 5 year sustainability plan. They were moved to the United Counties Division 1
Pinxton FC 2 v Staveley Miners Welfare FC 2
Tuesday 8th April 2025 19.45 pm kick off
United Counties League, Division One, 8th v 5th, The Miners v The Trojans
Wharf Rd, Pinxton, Nottingham NG16 6LG
Pinxton; All Royal Blue shirts and shorts with some white chequered images on the lower front of the shirt. Goalkeeper in light lime green with some yellow stripes on the front of the shirt.
Staveley Miners Welfare; All fluorescence orange kit. Goalkeeper in all light green.
Pinxton were the more dominant team in the first 15 minutes, hitting the crossbar and being foiled by a point blank save by the Trojans keeper. They took the lead on 17 minutes when a ball cleared by the Staveley defence was controlled by Kane Hempshall who volleyed a rocket of a shot just to the right of the goalkeepers hand.
The home side were only ahead for eight minutes when Staveley equalised. A ball swung in from the right went over all those in the penalty area it was kept in out on the left, crossed back, where Dan Grierson outfought a defender at the right hand post and headed it down and over the goal line.
Pinxton returned the pressure and but for some great goalkeeping by xxx and a strong Staveley defence could have gone in ahead at half time.
Pinxton played downhill in the second half and, for the first 15 minutes, looked the most likely to take the lead. The game then settled down, and as it progressed into the last 15 minutes, it was Staveley who looked the most likely to score. With the final whistle approaching it looked like the away side had stolen the win when a long throw was headed on for Jack Deakin to riffle the ball along the ground, through defenders legs and into the net.
The game drifted into added time, and with three minutes added, Pinxton were awarded a corner from the right, which their goalkeeper went forward for. The over hit ball was chipped back in where Josh Wright headed the ball into the goal for a draw. The referee blowing for time only a minute later.
A good competitive game, with a draw being a fair result that leaves both teams with a chance of reaching the playoffs with two games left, although Pinxton’s is a slim one.
Football Food
I was happy to have some chips, but although being hot were a bit limp and some were overcooked. A good quantity and a good taste but a score of only 59.
A trip to beautiful Wharfedale, nearing the end of another enjoyable football season.
A stop off on the way at Five Rise Locks at Bingley to see the steepness of the canal boat locks, and a coffee in the café where a new to me, Bakewell tart flapjack, had to be tried. Then on to Ilkley Moor and pass the Cow and Calf, rocks of millstone grit, before dropping down to Ilkley itself. The self-indulgence continued with a Yorkshire Cream Tea at Betty’s, well you have to don’t you. Finally, on to Ilkley Town F.C. where they luckily for my waist didn’t have any chips. The problem being that the insurance to fry chips would be too high. Oven chips, maybe?
Ilkley’s ground is part of a modern sports complex on the Eastern edge of town. It is very modern with an artificial pitch and the facilities to pass the ground grading for the league they play in
It is beautifully flat with fencing all around. There is a small seated stand offset to one goal and a small covered standing area in the middle of one side. There is a path way around 85% of the perimeter. The pitch and facilities allow the club to run various youth and senior teams and generate income from pitch hire.
The character of the stadium is enhanced by Ilkley Moor as a backdrop and the Cow and Calf Rocks.
The game I had come to watch was between Ilkley and Yorkshire Amateur. Ilkley needing a win to ensure a playoff place, and Yorkshire Amateur already condemned to bottom position and awaiting the end of season league review to see if they are relegated.
Football Histories
Ilkley Town was formed in the 1960s but disbanded in the early 90s. Reformed in 1994 as Ilkley AFC they played locally and renamed that Club back to Ilkley Town after previously joining the West Yorkshire League. They were elected in 2021 to the North West Counties League and transferred to the Northern Counties East League for this season.
Yorkshire Amateur ẁere founded in 1918, and two years later, we’re founder members of the Yorkshire League, only staying for a few years. They were reunited in 1930. Just two years later, they were losing semi-finalists in the F.A. Amateur Cup.
Skipping to 1952, they were relegated to the second division starting an amazing yoyo period, promoted the next season, relegated in 1956, promoted 1959, Relegated 1962, promoted 1972, Relegated 1975. In 1977, they reached a low point, being relegated to Division 3. In 1978, back to div 2 and with a League reorganisation in 1982, they were founder members of the Northern Counties East League Division Two. 1984 promoted, relegated 1986, 1991 promotion due to league reorganisations, 2018 promoted to the Premier Division, 2021 promoted to the Northern Premier but demoted back to the NECL the following year due to ground grading problems. In 2023, they were relegated to Division I, and this year, they have finished bottom and await their fate. Some journey I for their fans, I apologise if I have made any errors.
Ilkley Town 4 Yorkshire Amateur 1
Saturday 5th April 2025, 15.00 pm kick off Northern Counties East League Division 1
Ben Rydding Sports Club, Leeds Road, Ilkley West Yorkshire, LS298AW
5th v 22nd The Baht’atters v Ammers
Ilkley; Faded Yellow shirts with black shoulders and sleeves, dark blue shorts, goalkeeper all green. Yorkshire Amateur; All red kit with goalkeeper in all orange.
The game started in beautiful sunshine with clear skies although a wind whipping across the pitch made it feel colder than the 11 degrees. It was both teams penultimate game of the season and Ilkley’s last home game.
In the first minute, the referee seemed to bottle it when he put his whistle to his mouth over a hand ball in the away teams penalty area but didn’t blow . threatening with some quick breaks.
Ilkley looked the more assured team with some neat passing moves, but the Ammers looked solid at the back as they competed with passion and energy. By 26 minutes, the game had become scrappy, and my attention was drawn by the planes on their flight path to land at Leeds Bradford Airport and the circling overhead of a Kite. Ilkley looked half the team I had seen recently at Wakefield, and Yorkshire Amateurs looked occasionally threatening with quick breaks. The teams left the field at half time with neither side having left an imprint on the match.
All changed within 4 minutes of the restart when after a home side attack the ball was cleared to Harry Abson who from 20 yards out hit a curling shot with his right foot that broke the back of the left hand side of the goal net with the goalkeeper motionless.
The joy lasted only 10 minutes when from an Ilkley corner from right that was overhit one of their players chased the ball and crossed it from other side for Joshua Parker to run in and head it across goal onto post and in.
Ilkley now upped the tempo but Yorkshire Amateurs doggedly held on for another 10 minutes when a ball along the ground from the left was placed into the right-hand corner by Eliel Maville-Anku. This was a reward for Anku, who had harried all the game. The away side were now losing heart when, on 77 minutes Ilkley’s number 2 beat the defenders with a crossed ball for Kevin Gozales to run through and tap it home. Shouts for offside and some abuse to the linesman had no effect on the officials.
The game was over with 7 minutes left when an Ilkley player was fouled in the penalty area, and Alfie Dean stroked the ball into the left-hand corner, just evading the goalkeepers finger tips. Ilkley saw out the final few minutes on top and made their way to the play offs. It was very disappointing that only a crowd of 70 had turned up.
Football Food
As I stated earlier, there were no chips but a packet of Seabrooks Crisps (the best), and a coffee sufficed. The food wagon was good, and the lady serving was very helpful, she hid whilst I took the photo.
An early start from North East Derbyshire down the M1 to Loughborough to my daughters, who then drove us to my son in Northampton. Change cars again, and we were on our way to St Albans to see them play Farnborough.
We parked within Clarence Park, next to the cricket pavilion, in front of which in the past lines were drawn for an inter schools sports day once a year. The reason for the visit was to watch St Albans City 70 years after my first ever visit. I saw my first game here in 1955 when St Albans were in the Isthmian League, and the stadium looked a little different.
Back then the terrace was made of railway sleepers with ash infill and I remember getting a clip behind the ear when on one visit I covered some light cigarette ends with rubbish, and managed to get some smoke slightly billowing upwards. Smoke back then also used to waft across the pitch as a steam train passed as it sped by or slowed for the nearby station. A steam shunter would often be visible at the Hatfield Road end as it moved wagons in and out of the station siding, and the driver would shout over to find out the score. The terracing was concreted in the late 1950s, and as far as I remember, floodlights were added in 1970 when Charlton visited for an opening game.
Some of the terracing was covered, but throughout the old wooden seated stand built in 1922 has soldiered on, with a small part repurposed for hospitality and officials. Behind this stand, you used to be overwhelmed by the smell of wintergreen during match days that has disappeared today.
There is now temporary cover behind each goal, and at one end, this replaces one of the iconic oak trees that became diseased and cut down after offending the Conference League. The glossy programme was only on sale at the club shop and wouldn’t have been found if we hadn’t done a tour of the ground. It’s pleasantly different to the old foolscap folded sheet with the teams printed in the middle. I also seem to remember that the club was known as ‘City’ and not ‘Saints’.
The greatest change is food. Back in the 1950s, at half-time, fans would troop round to the cricket pavilion, when open, to get a cup of tea in a china cup, with maybe a KitKat or a wagon wheel. The club house seemed only used by a selected few. Today, Wow, there is hospitality in the form of food and drink at all four corners.
Football at St Albans has become an experience, to be watched by 1785 fans whose chatter droned out the shouts and commands of the players.
St Albans are fighting a relegation battle which at one point looked impossible until Ian Culverhouse and Paul Bastock (a hero in these parts, who played nearly 300 games for ‘The Saints’ in his world record club appearances of 1286) took over, but now looks like they may only just survive if results go their way. The club is going through an administrative management change that the programme says will free up the owners to pursue their dream to relocate to a new stadium. The size that the city has now grown to, approaching 80000, with the continued support, could in the future maintain an EFL club. I will be sad to see it go, but the new planning laws may finally be the catalyst for change.
St Albans City 1 Farnborough 0
Saturday 29th March 2025, 15.00 pm kick off
National League South, 21st v 11th, Saints v Boro
St Albans; Yellow shirts with dark blue shorts, goalkeeper in fluorescent Pink.
Farnborough; All white with a red stripe down the front of the shirts with the goalkeeper in all black.
It was a very sunny afternoon with clear skies and the temperature rising above 15 degrees. The all grass pitch which famously slopes from one end to the other looked in great condition apart from some sanding in the goals.
What can I say about this game. I will leave it up to a quote from Paul Bastock, ‘A game that was as ugly as me, but nice to come out with 3 massive points, the boys dug in deep and a clean sheet, now let’s bounce onto next week’.
St Albans started with some forays down the wings, but no end product and Farnborough’s favourite and most effective tactic was a long throw into St Alban’s penalty area. These were well dealt with by the Saints defence and Michael Johnson in goal, who was my man of the match with a no-nonsense, competent game.
The pattern was broken on 39 minutes when Johnson kicked a ball from his hands that bounced over Farnborough defenders who had let Alex Wall, playing only his third game for St Albans get behind them and chip it into the net.
Could this have been the prelude to an exciting game? No. We continued back in the original pattern with everyone relieved in the end that the home side gained three points. Although not overtaking any of their relegation rivals, they crept nearer, and with 5 games left, anything could happen.
Football Food
The chips, From ‘Chicken George’, were hot, golden, crispy, soft in the centre, tasty, but the more you ate, the more the seasoning that had been added ruined the experience. Why don’t hey let you add your own salt. What could have been a winning score in my chip league for this season was reduced to a disappointing 65.
payonthegate 