The best football team in Wales.

I headed west on a miserable, grey, drizzle ridden day with a temperature of just 6 degrees. I was headed for Shrewsbury, where ‘The New Saints’ were playing Panathinaikos in their latest European Conference League game. £16 had secured me a ticket, a lot less than other UK clubs playing in Europe. The game was being played in Shrewsbury due to the fact that their ground in Oswestry did not meet the UEFA standards, Shrewsbury FC is only 21 miles from TNS’s ground.

TNS are the first football team from Wales ever to reach a European Group stage of a European trophy and capped that achievement by winning one of their league games at home to Astana.

Others would argue that Swansea sitting 9th in the English Championship, Cardiff 22nd, Wrexham 2nd in League 1, Newport County 17th in League 2 and Merthyr Town top of the Southern League Premier Division South all play at a higher level. For me, these are just outliers as unless they spend billions of pounds, they are never going to compete in Europe when TNS are doing it now. The Cymru league offers a pathway that playing in the English Leagues never will.

The history of TNS goes back over 150 years when in 1860 Oswestry Town Fc were formed, but it was their merger with Llansantffraid that forged todays club. llansantffraid had been successful in climbing the Welsh Leagues to enter the Premier League and changed their name to Total Network Solutions in 1997 due to a worthwhile sponsorship deal. They first qualified for European football in 2000. The merger with Oswestry was completed in 2003, and the name of The New Saints was adopted in 2006 when the sponsors company was sold. They have stayed near or at the top of their league ever since. Although they have developed a very good ground with other sporting and leisure facilities it is not big enough for their European nights.

Panathinaikos based in Athens, were founded inn 1908 and throughout their history have been considered one of two leading teams in Greece having won numerous national leagues and cups and being European football finalists.

The New Saints 0 Panathinaikos 2

Thursday 12th December 2024, Kick off 20.00 pm. UEFA Conference League

The Crowd Meadow, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6ST

The Saints v Panathenians TNS 2nd in their League, Panathinaikos 4th in theirs.

TNS; Green and White hooped shirts with white sleeved shirts and green shorts. Goalkeeper in all orange.

Panathinaikos; Royal blue shirts and shorts that had a purple hue under the lights with a green dart on the shorts. Goalkeeper in all pink.

Panathinaikos had brought a good contingent of fans with them who kept singing and chanting all game.

The Shrewsbury stadium is modern with covered seating on all four sides with a flat grass pitch that has hardly been cut up at this point of the season. The drizzle of the day had luckily stopped for the game.

Panathinaikos played a very pleasing controlled game across the back of their defence, then suddenly trying to break the well drilled TNS defence. TNS suffered a blow after only 11 minutes when one of their central defenders had to be subbed for what looked like a leg injury. Four minutes later the TNS keeper Connor Roberts, made a fantastic left handed save but almost immediately he was called to save again, this time with an outstretched leg from point blank range, only for it to rebound to Duricic to knock it into the net. TNS looked like they would comfortably hold out until half time but Connor Roberts was again asked to perform heroics with a save at the near post just before half time. The half time score of one nil to the visitors meant the game was still all to play for.

Panathinaikos started the second half well and had good chances to increase their lead, which they did from the penalty spot on 61 minutes after one of their forwards was upended in the area. It was Ioannidis who coolly despatched the ball into the left hand side of the goal.

TNS showed a few flashes of attacking intent but never really threatened the Panathinaikos team that was sprinkled with a majority of international players.

A thoroughly enjoyable game for the 5716, and still the faintest chance of TNS staying in the competition if they win their last game.

Unfortunately no chips, but a great food offering.

N.B.

Football in Wales looks like growing in strength with the expandeded Cymru Premiership for the 2026/27 season sharpening competition next year. With more teams upgrading their facilities to be able to apply for the Premier League the supporters should get an enhanced experience.

Hallam overcome Wombwell and storm Darragh.

With storm Darragh battering the UK and many games postponed I was surprised that the FA Vase game at Wombwell was still on.

Arriving at the ground with the temperature of 4 degrees, and colder with the strong cold wind which was sending the grey clouds scuttling by, I found a flat grass pitch that looked as if it had soaked up all of the rain and could comfortably deal with more. Wombwell Town have made great strides in recent years both on and off the pitch. Entry to the Northern Counties League Division One in 2023 and now sitting third with games in hand on the two above. The ground has changed too with new club house, changing rooms, hospitality area and function rooms, new perimeter fencing and concrete concourses for spectators. One side also boasts a smart all seater stand and on two sides it is open bounded by the ‘South Yorkshire Karting’ facility who were enjoying their Christmas Weekend event noticeable by the constant buzzing as they whizzed by.

There have been a number of Wombwell Town teams dating back to 1896 with the last renaissance folding in 2000. The current team were formed in 2018 and considering the thwarted Covid seasons they have done brilliantly to have achieved the development of the club both on and off the pitch. They were promoted into the Northern Counties East League Division One in 2023 and have established them selves as a top team in the competition.

There is much to write about Hallam FC’s history but here are a few highlights, they are officially the second oldest football club in the world, playing at the oldest ground and holders of the Youdan Cup presented to the winners of the first ever football competition. Hallam also played in the first ever match on Boxing Day 1860, against Sheffield FC a British football tradition still kept today. They played in local leagues with some interruptions when although not playing, kept up their affiliations to the local Football Association. In 1982 they were founder members of the Northern Counties East League where they still play today, now in the Premier Division.

Wombwellm Town FC 0 Hallam FC 4

Saturday 7th December 2024, Kick off 15.00 pm, FA Vase Third Round.

Wombwell Recreation Ground, Station Road, Wombwell, South Yorkshire, S73 0BJ

The Wellers v The Citizens. Wombwell, third in Division one of the Northern Counties East League Division One, Hallam 7th in the Premier League of the same competition.

Wombwell; Red Shirts, Black Shorts, Goalkeeper in Pink. Hallam; Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts, Goalkeeper in Purple.

Hallam played with the strong wind behind them in the first half and its influence was immediate as a speculative through ball wasn’t intercepted by the Wombwell defence and they were luck that the shot hit the post. The wind was so strong that the Wombwell keeper couldn’t kick the ball as far as the half way line as it just drifted backwards on the wind. Hallam’s pressure didn’t have any effect as high ball often went through for the keeper to pick up or for a goal kick. With 23 minutes gone, out of the blue, Hallam’s Brodie Lichfield riffled the ball from 30 yards on the right, and it sailed into the left hand corner of the net after clipping the post. Hallam missed a great chance 13 minutes later and the half time talk must have been about their missed chances with the advantage of the wind.

Wombwell were unlucky not to get level after just 9 minutes of the second half when Josh Nodder hit a rocket from further out than Hallam’s opener but the ball hit the crossbar bounced down on the goal line and out for the goalkeeper to collect.

Football is often cruel as after pressure by the home side, Jack Brownell played a ball in from the right which was brought down and laid off to Brandon Bradbury who beat the goalkeeper to give Hallam a two goal cushion. Hallam put the game beyond a Wombwell rally when James Cadman bamboozled the Wellers defence with a great run on the left by line and placed the ball along the ground to a colleague who passed it on to Rio Allen at the back post to tap in.

With 20 minutes left the rain increased its ferocity again but it didn’t stop Hallam’s progress as they continued to press forward having changed from a first half of high balls to keeping the ball on the ground. Leon Howarth drove into the Wombwell penalty box and was fouled to gain a penalty. After a delay, Rio Allen’s penalty hit the crossbar and was cleared away on 75 minutes but 5 minutes later Hallam had their fourth when Brodie Litchfield ran through the midfield and fired the ball through defenders into the bottom left hand corner.

Callum Ward came on for Hallam and within minutes was sin binned for dissent, but despite Wombwell not giving up and continuing to keep trying for a goal Hallam saw out the game to progress to the next round.

Despite the atrocious conditions I was amazed to have witnessed a very competitive and skillful game.

The chips were warm, crispy outside but mushy inside with a taste of burn fat that left a greasy after taste. A low score of only 52.

Another great program.

Clay Cross finally grind down Ashbourne.

Having not been to a match at the weekend, I saw that Clay Cross. Town were playing Ashbourne in the third round of ‘The Derbyshire County F.A. Senior Challenge Cup.

I hadn’t been to Clay Cross since bonfire night in 2019 and I understood that there had been many changes since last there. As I pulled up outside, I noted that it was just 1.5 degrees on a very still night. Fully wrapped up, I entered the ground to immediately see that my expectation was rewarded. A new clubhouse, new café, new seated stand behind one goal, which was still being kitted out, new changing rooms and work on the pitch that had suffered badly in the previous season. The pitch itself had a good grass cover over the undulating surface, which slopes slightly from end to end.

It is suggested that there has been a football team in Clay Cross since 1881 with the current clubs inspiration taken from the team of 1909. It played in local football in different guises until in 2012 when a new ‘Town’ club was reinvigorated. Disappointment in missing out on promotion was finally forgotten when they made it to the Northern Counties East League Division One in 2023 and moved to the United Counties League Division One for this season following a regional reorganisation. They are third in the league with games in hand on the two teams above them.

When thinking about football in Ashbourne thoughts are immediately drawn to what’s known as the ‘Ashbourne Game’. This game that has been played since 1667, on Shrove Tuesday, and may be longer, between large groups of players from two areas of the town, has been promoted as one of the fore-runners of the modern game. The team on show was only formed in 2009 with the merger of Ashbourne United and Ashbourne Town. They have made it to the Premier Division of the Staffordshire County Senior League despite being based in Derbyshire and currently sit in seventh position.

Clay Cross Ton FC 2 Ashbourne 0

Tuesday 3rd December 2024, The Derbyshire County FA Senior Challenge Cup, third round.

Clay Cross Town FC Mill Lane, Tupton, Derbyshire.

The Millers v The Shrovetiders

Clay Cross; Blue and white vertical stripes to front of shirts with white backs and dark dark blue shorts. Ashbourne; Red and white vertical striped shirts and red shorts.

I heard before the game started that the home team had made changes to their line up with an FA Vase game looming on the following Saturday.

Clay Cross playing down hill in the first half had most of the play in the but it was Ashbourne who came closest when against the run of play they grazed the bar with a long range shot. Both teams left the field with it 0.0 at half time with the Millers unhappy with their performance.

Ashbourne’s goal keeper kept making good saves as his outfield players made a defiant rear-guard performance with occasional break aways. This pattern of play continued throughout the second half with the small band of away supporters making the most noise and giving the most encouragement.
But with 85 minutes gone a long ball was latched on to by a player on left who clipped it in and at the second attempt Reece Clegg hit it to the right of the Ashbourne goalkeeper to give Clay Cross the lead.

Ashbourne threw everything forward now and with their previously rigid backline now out of shape, and minutes later Ross Duggan was left on his own to run on to place the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net for 2 nil.

Ashbourne were disappointed, but considering they play at a lower level than Clay Cross they performed brilliantly, for me their number 6, Logan Cuthbert, was the man of the match, he left everything out there on the pitch like all of his colleagues.

The chips were really good, hot, golden, crispy on the outside, tasty, thick and with no greasy aftertaste, a great score of 72.

At half time I decided another hot drink was needed to try to thaw out. I chose a cup of hot Bovril which did the the trick regarding warmth but it was so thick that it seemed more like Bovril soup.

A big shout out to Clay Cross for producing a really magnificent program for a match that was never likely to draw a major crowd. Thank you, others should take note.

The Bromley Boys

The Bromley Boys – The true Story of Supporting the Worst Football Team in Britain.

Written by Dave Roberts , Published by Portico in 2008

Another charity shop find and relevant on many levels, a planned visit to Bromley, a potentially interesting football book and a period when I watched St Albans City who were in the same League as Bromley. I had also read one of Dave Robert’s books before, ’32 programmes’ and enjoyed it.

The book is about Bromley’s 1969/70 season which was a disaster for the team but an extraordinary adventure for the adolescent Dave. The book is just fun and would remind any adolescent of their hopes, fears, views on life, just growing up.

New season expectations soon evaporate into despair, and a mind blowing adventure unfolds. The story of his life and Bromley are a must to read in a book that you will not put down.

The book was later made into a film and Brimley have gone on to greater heights, this season playing in League 2.

Chesterfield weather the storm.

Storm Bert ruined my plans but I was lucky to take up a Community ticket offered by Chesterfield FC through a local school.

The continual rain and wind battered me as I walked down a hill from where I had parked, but at least it had removed all of the snow. I still had to wrap up despite the temperature changing from freezing the day before to 13 degrees.

I have to own up to this being my favourite modern stadium. Despite all of the quirks and history of the old Saltergate ground, which was iconic, I still prefer the newer incarnation. I bought a program from a couple who stand there in all weathers and hurried into the North Stand. My cheap ticket was brilliant, last row, at the back, next to an aisle. It also meant that the sweeping rain lashing across the pitch didn’t touch me in this all seater stadium.

Chesterfield and Barrow, their opponents, both seem to have found their feet in League 2 and I hope neither drop back into the National League in the near future. Chesterfield sat 11th and Barrow 12th after 16 matches with 22 points each.

Chesterfield formed in 1866 claim to be the 4th oldest league club still in existence. A chequered history of league status and liquidation led to their reincarnation when they re-joined the football league in 1921. They have been up and down the leagues in their history but reached a low point in 2018 being relegated to the National League. Off the field problems were resolved by a take over in 2020 by a Community Trust who with great local support have steered the club to a new era of major ownership by local Paul and Ashley Kirk. Now back in the EFL they look to rise up the leagues again.

Barrow Fc were founded in 1901 playing in local Lancashire Leagues where they stayed until the First World War. Restarting after hostilities they won the Lancashire League and were welcomed into the football League’s Third Division North where they were mainly in the bottom half up to the Second World War. They struggled again and were placed in the newly formed Fourth Division in 1954 but in 1967 they finished a magnificent third and gained promotion to Division three. But this rise only lasted two years and by 1972 had to seek re-election to stay in the EFL. They were beaten by Hereford in the ballot with many complaining that the logistics of travelling to the outpost that is Barrow being the main reason for their defeat.

Initially playing in the Northern Premier League they were able to be accepted into the newly formed equivalent to todays National league in 1979 but only a few years later they were back in the Northern Premier League. From 1983 to 2020 they went up and down the Northern Premier and the National Leagues until in 2020 via the play offs they finally made it back into the Football League system, finally writing the wrong of 50 years previous being voted out. During their years in the Non-League system they did find cup glory when in 1990 and 2010 they won the F.A. Trophy at Wembley.

Chesterfield 1 Barrow 0

English Football League Two, Saturday November 23rd 2024, 15.00 pm kick off.

Chesterfield; Royal blue shirts white shorts… Barrow; Yellow and Black vertical stripes to front of shirts with black backs and shorts. Spireites v Bluebirds

Mr Blue Sky blared out as teams came on to the pitch, which seemed like a joke considering the conditions, but that is their normal entry music.

The rain just kept pouring down and after Chesterfield’s initial spurt it was Barrow who were on top. In fact on 33 minutes a long ball by Farman, the Barrow keeper was flicked on by Dallas past the home defence and goalkeeper Ryan Boot to somehow only hit the post and roll along the goal line as everyone seemed to stand still. Finally a Chesterfield player regained their composure and cleared. That was the only real chance of the half where effort and skill were being tested by the conditions.

The second half not only saw the teams change round but also the sway of the game as Chesterfield started to dominate. Early on the Barrow keeper tipped a well hit shot onto the bar and over. The rain stopped and started throughout the game but Chesterfield kept up the pressure and from their second corner in a row, this one from the left, Jamie Grimes, the club captain, soared above everyone to head the ball into the centre of the goal and the net with 88 minutes on the clock.

The 263 Barrow fans who had made the long journey in terrible conditions looked desolate and must have felt miserable on the way home having being so close to earning an away point. The remaining 7438 saw Chesterfield creep into the last play off spot and create dreams for the future.

One thing that does disappoint me at Chesterfield is that there are no chips!

Waders have to dig deep.

I decided to keep up my recent run of cup games by heading to see Coleshill Town play Biggleswade Town in the FA Trophy. I also wanted to say hello to an old school friend, the Chairman of Biggleswade Town.

Having left home with clear skies I was surprised to see the banks of black clouds as approached junction 24 of the M1 and then the resulting rain. My next surprise was that Google maps took me down a narrow lane and the entrance to the driveway of a private house. I was pleased that it wasn’t my poor navigation skills as another fan, from Brackley, had the same problem. We could see the lights beyond the house and eventually found the ground.

Coleshill Town FC is located on the southern edge of Coleshill, in the countryside. After turning down a lane, you find a large flat car park with a turnstile in one corner.

It was a grey day, and the low cloud and rain gave a dullo appearance to what looked like a large area. It was an all weather artificial pitch open at both ends with large conifers behind one.

One side was open all bar a small covered seated stand and other side had a low seated stand, a small coveted standing area and the players changing rooms.

Over in one corner was a club house/bar, a hospitality (directors) building and a food kiosk.

Coleshill have gone through three names since being formed in 1885. Their first season in a league was 1906 when they joined the Birmingham Youth and Old Boys league. They carried on in local regional leagues until 1969 when they were promoted to the newly formed Midland Combination.

They had to wait until 2008 to move up again, this time to the Midland Alliance. When the league merged with the Midland Combination to form the Midland League in 2014, they moved again. Four years later, they were promoted to The Southern League Division One Central but were later transferred laterally to The Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, where they now play.

Biggleswade’s history goes back to 1874 but it wasn’t until the new century that they joined local football leagues. They played in Biggleswade and Bedford football leagues before joining the Northampton league which ,morphed into the United Counties League in1934. They joined the Spartan League in 1945 when they changed their name to Biggleswade Town. Back to the UCL in 1951 they moved again in 1955 to the Eastern Counties League but 8 years later they were back in the UCL quite some nomads. Their nomadic life continued with a switch to the South Midlands League in 1980, and league re-organisations saw them being founder members of the Spartan South Midlands League in 1997. 2008 saw promotion to the Southern League and 2013 promotion to the Southern Premier with another re-organisation placing them in the Premier Division Central of the Southern League from which they were relegated from in 2022 but bounced back up as champions of Division One only one season later. What an amazing journey, ground hopping through the leagues like rivals Coleshill.

Coleshill Town 4 Biggleswade Town 5

Saturday 16th 15.00 pm kick off. FA Trophy 2nd Round

Packington Ln, Coleshill, B46 3JE

13th Northern Premier League, Midland Division, v 22nd (last) Southern League, Central Division Colemen v The Waders

Coleshill, white shirts royal blue shorts; Biggleswade. All grey strip.

Biggleswade had the better chances to start the game when they pushed forward down the right, but as is often the case, it was Coleshill who scored first.

After 9 minutes, a positive run down the right, including a stepover allowed the player to deliver a ball along the ground for Alex McSkeane to steer it into the net at the post. It was two nil 9 minutes later when a corner from right headed was headed out to edge of box and Nathan Kabeya volleyed ball down into ground and its bounce deceived everyone and sped into left hand corner of net.

Biggleswade missed a glorious chance on 33 minutes when when a mistake by the keeper gave 10 a great chance to reduce the deficit but he blazed the ball wide.

With half time approaching the low cloud drifted lower and the rain kept up its miserable drizzle and it was more misery for the away team as Coleshill score their third goal. This was a copy of their first with a quick burst down the right meant the ball was delivered along the ground to allow Bassit Mandey to direct it into the net. Coleshill had been rampant, outclassing Biggleswade with fast breaks, the gloomy weather also did nothing to give the travelling fans anything to be happy about.

The second half started in similar fashion but Biggleswade seemed tighter at the back and had switched from high ball and play down the left to keeping it on the ground and pressing down the right where they had initial success at the start of the game. The away team pulled one back 14 minutes into the new half when a ball was cleared by the Coleshill defence to be curled back into the far post where it was nodded back for Cyrus Babaie-Gumbs to score. Just 3 minutes later the 185 Hardy fans were stunned when the away team scored again. What looked to me to have been a shot was hooked in by an attempted overhead kick by the post.

The mayhem continued when only a minute layer Cyrus Babaie-Gumbs rushed through and placed the ball into the centre of the net for 3.3.

The unthinkable happened with 75 minutes gone when Biggleswade’s comeback was completed when they took the lead. A cross from the left saw Cyrus Babaie-Gumbs leap higher than anyone else to head home and achieve a great hattrick.

Biggleswade’s joy only lasted 9 minutes when their defence gifted the ball to Bassit Mandy to calmly slide the ball underneath the despairing away goalkeeper.

The 90 minutes were up and in added time The Waders were awarded a free kick 25 yards out in the middle of the attacking half. Josh Steele kicked the ball straight down the middle and somehow the ball went between the goalkeepers head and the cross bar. The Biggleswade players celebrated with joy as the home goalkeeper was inconsolable.

An improbable victory for the visitors after their abject performance of the first half but one they deserved with a change of tactics and energy for the final 45 minutes.

I didn’t think I would see such an exciting game as the recent one between Hednesford and Gainsborough but this had certainly tried hard to compete.

A great day for my old school friend whose club were rewarded with a home tie to Totton in the next round.

Coleshill we’re back in action on Monday and put the cup defeat behind them with a home league win against Corby.

I queued up for chips sheltered from the rain by a gazebo. They were cooked separately and the very large portion was presented to me hot, hot. hot in a cardboard carton. They had a crispy golden outside and a soft inside. They were very tasty and slightly greasy, scoring a brilliant 74.

Great informative program.

Grey day, grey match but Hallam warm their fans.

I made my way up the A57 in Sheffield to Sandygate Lane to watch Hallam FC play. I make sure I do this every year and I am usually lucky to find they have been drawn at home in at least one round of the F.A. Vase. In the last few years I have seen them go out to AFC Bury and Lincoln United.

This ground, as the oldest in the world, just exudes life. The birth of football to the boisterous knowledgeable large crowds of today. You can’t miss that this is a Cricket ground with a football pitch at one end which is how many original teams started well over 150 years ago.

I recently saw the following text about how history is important to football with context to when Aston Villa recently played Bayern Munich.

‘Football clubs are all about history – a club’s history is one of the main reasons why their fans care so much about it. Villa’s history weighs heavier than most. Specifically, for modern Villa players, there is 1982, an achievement that fills their supporters with pride, but sets a mighty yardstick by which their successors are matched.’
Matthew Howarth, BBC Sport journalist. Brilliant comment Mathew and so true with regards to Hallam.

Football has been played in New Mills since 1865 when the local team was an early adopter of the new FA rules. The club officially started in 1903 as New Mills St George after a near by church. Following several moves they ended up at Church Lane in 1922 where they still play today. Financial constraints meant they dropped out of their league in 1982 but two other local teams merged, Birch Vale and Thornsett FC, and continued the New Mills name. Having previously played in local and county football leagues they were in 1982 able to join and be founder members of the North West Counties League, their current home.

There are buildings down one side of the ground including a seated covered stand, changing facilities, club house, terraced standing, and food and drink bars. At one end is a covered standing area which stretches half of the distance and behind the other goal some flat standing and some cricket nets. The final side is completely open to the vast cricket pitch. The whole ground is surrounded by a leafy vista in this affluents side of Sheffield. The sloping pitch was not as muddy as usual and the grass was looking good after our mild, grey, autumn. It was another grey, grey day like so many recently with the temperature only reaching a cool 7.5 degrees.

Despite both teams being in existence for well over 100 years with only the peak district separating them, this was the first time they had ever met at Sandygate Lane. A two minutes silence was observed for ‘Remembrance Day.

Hallam FC 1 New Mills FC 0

Saturday 9th November 2024, FA Vase Second Round, 15.00 pm kick off. Countrymen v Millers

Hallam 6th Northern Counties East League, Premier Division v New Mills 7th North West Counties League, South, Division One.

Hallam: all royal blue kit. New Mills; All grey with small black edging.

Hallam kicked down hill in the first half and although neither side dominated it was Hallam who had the better chances. On 26 minutes New Mills put a shot just wide of the post after a rebound from a defenders clearance and New Mills ended the first half with 3 close shots. Reflecting on the half my only relevant thought was uneventful.

The second half saw Hallam exert a little more pressure and on 55 minutes, Leon Howarth, who had been tricky, switching to either wing, was brough down in the penalty area. Howarth collected the ball and sent it to the right of the keeper who dived to his left.

Hallam were now in charge and didn’t look like conceding until the last 5 minutes, they saw out the game though and went through to the next round.

A disappointing game that never really got going but as usual a big crowd of 701 enjoyed their afternoon at this famous stadium. Everything is well organised here, from the informative program to the handing out of coloured, sponsored, team sheets.

A pleasure that for the second week running I have been served good chips. These were tasty, crispy on the outside, good central texture, hot and not greasy, getting a score of 72.

You couldn’t blink, you would miss something.

A quiet drive down the A38 and a snack in Lichfield didn’t prepare me for the mayhem to follow.

I was heading for the 1st round F.A. Cup game between Hendsford Town and Gainsborough Trinity. The Hendsford social media suggested parking at the Hendsford Hills Raceway, park and ride, which I found only had a few takers and only 1 coach to ferry fans on the short 6 minute journey. I think that I would have been better abandoning the car on any available space like everyone else.

You could see the ground at the bottom of the hill from the coach on what was a grey dull, overcast day with the temperature not getting much above 12 degrees.

There were queues to get in the ground, not surprising when 3886 were let into the ground. It could have been more as in my queue an adult and four children, a pensioner who swore he would never go again and a lad of about 12 clutching a £5 note with tears in his eyes were all turned away because the game was all ticket. How many more were there? Not everyone has access to the Internet or may not realise to check. I understand for security and safety reasons but perhaps there can be a way of accomadting everyone or a large banner/board at the entrance to inform.

Entering the ground, you are immediately impressed. A large, seated, cantilever stand sits in the middle of one side with changing and other facilities. All other sides are covered standing areas, one side and one end are well banked. The flat grass pitch set the whole arena off and all in all could accommodate a much higher level of football. The ground is reached through a housing estate on the edge of a park.

I had always wanted to visit Hendsford, a team that I have watched become one of the best teams in Non-League football, even winning the F.A. Trophy in 2004. Hensford were also the lowest placed team left in this seasons competition.

Hendsford Town F.C. 4 Gainsborough Trinity 4 (AET). Gainsborough won 5.4 on penalties.

Saturday 1st November 2024.

F.A.Cup 1st round. The Pitmen v Holy Blues.

16th inNorthern Premier League, West v 20th in Northern Premier League, Premier Division

Hendsford; black shorts white shirts with red and black piping on shoulders and down sides of the shirt. Gainsborough; All royal blue kit.

Witin 4 minutes of the start, a Gainsborough attack broke down
and 3 passes later, Manny Duku was put through to slide the ball home to give the home side the lead.

Gainsborough looked nervy at the back as their midfield was being overwhelmed, but their number 11
hit the cross bar intersection with the left post from distance.

10 minutes later, though, Hendsford doubled their lead on
21 mins when Omar Holness from 25 yards out on the right placed a curling shot into the top left hand corner, which the keeper just couldn’t get to. A wonderful strike.
Hendsford seemed to be first to the ball, harrying for everything and very competitive, whereas Gainsborough were just not settled and were in panic mode and must have been glad when half time came.

Gainsborough made changes at half time but their nightmare continued in the second half. In the first minute the ‘Pitmen’ hit the post and a few minutes later made it three nil when a cross from the left was headed across his own goal by a defender which the ball falling to an attacker whose pass was latched onto by Dominic McHale and he buried it into the net. Hendsford were in heaven, three up on their opponents.

With 64 minutes gone Trinity cleared the ball upfield after a strong hand ball shout and Javelle Clarke ran half the length of the pitch to pass to Declan Howe who volleyed the ball along the ground right across the goalkeeper to reduce the deficit. 12 minutes later, Javelle Clarke again skipped forward and passed to Declan Howe, who slotted the ball underneath the keeper to maybe set up a thrilling finish.
It looked like Hendsford had survived but deep into added time Will Lancaster, Trinity’s centre back, picked up the ball in the centre circle and purposely strode forward. From 30 yards he just thumped the ball against the cross bar and it bounced down onto the ground and into the net to make it 3.3.
The Gainborough team celebrated in front of their fans who were in a corner of the ground. A few spilled over onto the pitch, which seemed to be a cue for a group of home fans to invade the pitch and head for the away fans. The referee immediately took the players off, having previously removed a can thrown into the Trinity goal mouth and had smoke bombs dealt with at the start of the match.

The stewards soon calmed the situation and the referee restarted the game for a few minutes to complete the 90 minutes. Trinity had their momentum slowed but they did come closest to score.

Already exhausted from the 90 minutes the 30 minutes of extra time kept up the excitement.

Omar Holness put Hendsford ahead again after just 5 mins of extra time when a cross from the left was not dealt with and he put the ball into the net when it squeezed through to him.

Into the second period of extra time and Gainsborough came back again when Javelle Clarke raced through to latch onto a low cross from the right and place it into the corner of the net. Clarke had seemed lost in the first half when high balls up to him, playing as a lone striker, were easily dealt with by Hendsford. With the ball played to his feet in the second half, he was electric, getting two assists and the final goal.

So all square at 120 minutes we moved to penalties and it was still equal after 8 each. Then Dylan Wharton saved his third penalty in a row to give Jordon Helliwell the chance to put Gainsborough through. He calmly scored and although the tie was over the buzz from the game took ages to calm down.

Hendsford were distraught after being so close to winning but had played their part in one of the best cup games ever.

Almost an anti climax talking about the chips, which were hot, crispy, good texture, bit greasy but a realy good taste good taste. A very high score of 82.

The 44 page program was one of the best I have seen.

Not all the football is at United or Wednesday.

I ventured to the 12th level of English football to the University of Sheffield (Norton Playing Fields) to so see their team, Sheffield Union play Athersley Recreation Development team in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1.

It was a sunny afternoon with multicoloured grey and white clouds in the sky as I drove to the match on the last day before the clocks were put back from British Summer Time. I joined a queue off the Bochum Parkway which I realised wasn’t for the match but to park for Graves Park, a popular venue for families.

The University of Sheffield, Norton Playing Fields, is some complex, but I only needed the first car park to find my match. It is built on the side of a hill, like most of Sheffield, and I could see cricket, football and rugby pitches cut into the hill, sloping down to floodlight pitches and a large new building.

The pitch was of grass which was undulating and sloped slightly from end to end. A strong breeze added to the autumn conditions highlighted by the browns, yellows and orange of nearby trees.

Sheffield Union joined the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League from the Sheffield and District Fair Play League in the 2018/19 season and immediately gained promotion to Division One. Sheffield Union’s reserve team still play in the Fair Play League in Division Three

Athersley Recreation Development are the reserve team of the team that plays in the Northern Counties East League and are based just north of Barnsley. I have given information about their history in a previous blog.

Sheffield Union 2 Athersley Recreation Development 2

Saturday 26th October 14.00 pm kick off. Norton Sports Park, Warminster Road, S8 8PS. Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Division 1. Both teams in the bottom 4.

Shef Union: Black and white vertical stripes on the front of shirts with white backs and black shorts.
Athersley Development : Full fluorescent orange strip.

Sheffield Students started the match strongly but Athersley soon countered. Unions number 11 had a series of shots one of which drew a great save from the Athersley goalkeeper. With half-time just minutes away, Bailey Wright burst through against the run of play and his two shots hit either post. The let off was rewarded for the home team when their number 4 picked up the ball in the centre circle, strode forward and unleashed a fierce shot straight down the middle of the goal beating the diving keeper.

The Students half time lead only lasted 4 minutes when a cross from Bailey Wright was turned into the net by a defender.

Sheffield regained their lead on 62 minutes when their number 9 cut in from left to the centre of the D and his shot was deflected over the goalkeeper for 2.1.
Athersley’s keeper denied the number 11 again with two great saves to the disappointment of the approximately 40 fans.
The Students dominance was to no avail when a long kick up field was not dealt with by their number 4, who in my opinion had been the class player all afternoon, and Bailey Wright seized on the ball, rushed forward to round the keeper to level at 2.2.

Right at the end Union’s number 11 had another chance but it just went wide of the left hand post.

A great game for this level of football and there were some players on show who could undoubtedly play at a higher one.

Thank you.

No food or drink although there may have been something at the otherblevel of the sports ground.

N.B. The Sheffield & District Fair Play League (SDFPL) was set up in 1998.

Ten (9,8) man SJR Worksop suffer last kick defeat.

Last time I visited SJR Worksop the match was abandoned at half time when the referee refused to continue after being threatened by an official of the away team. So on a day of bright blue skies with some building cloud I tried to park where I had before but the gates were closed. Luckily the new ASDA next door had three hour parking. Having parked I walked to the signed gates to find no way in, but I could see in the far distant corner a new wooden hut. I was at this stage joined by the referee who had dashed from near Nottingham and was also trying to find his way in. We made it to the hut and he made it onto the pitch to start the game on time.

SJR is only 800 meters down the road from their senior local rivals Worksop Town F.C. who were also playing at home. It is on a large open site, the main grass pitch adjacent to the main road with other grass pitches leading on to changing rooms and hospitality areas. There are two small covered areas, one behind a goal and the other adjacent to the dug outs. The pitch was in very good condition and slightly sloped from one end to the other.

The best way to explain the history of the club is to show a board that is displayed by one of the corner flags.

There have been football teams in Hatfield, Doncaster, for over 100 years with Hatfield Main being formed back in 1913. That club was disbanded in 2012 after nearly 100 years, playing in various football leagues, Doncaster Leagues, Yorkshire League, Northern Counties East League, Central Midlands league and several Sunday Leagues. Hatfield Town F.C. are now the highest placed team competing from that area.

St Joseph’s Rockware of Worksop F.C. 1 Hatfield Town F.C. 2

Central Midlands Alliance, Premier Division North. Saturday 19th October 15.00 kick off. SJR Worksop, Rockware Glass Sports and Social Club, Sandy Lane, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 1TL. 10th v 7th

SJR: Blue and black vertical striped front to shirts, with all blue back. Black shorts. shirts black. Hatfield: Canary yellow shirts with navy blue shorts.

Hatfield kicking down hill in the first half started quickly and within 4 minutes they won a corner from the right that was delivered to the centre of the goal and headed down and in by Jack Bonser

Hatfield did not continue the pressure as the game became open. On 16 minutes a home team player delivered a huge long throw into the opposing penalty area which was not dealt with by the defenders and the ball fell to Cole Starkey who back heeled it into the net, just to the right of the despairing keeper’s hand.

The contest was disrupted after 30 minutes when a Worksop player was sent off for two yellow cards after it appeared that he continued to argue with the referee.

Despite being down to 10 men SJR competed well up until half time and there was little between the two sides.

To start the second half Hatfield began to take advantage of their extra man and gained the ascendancy. It looked like it was all over after 20 minutes into the re-start when a Worksop player was sin binned for 10 minutes for disagreeing with the referee and only a few minutes later another was also banished to the side lines. Unbelievably Hatfield wasted their 3 man advantage and SJR played some attacking football. They even created a great chance when a player was clean through one on one with the keeper only to put his shot just wide of the right hand post.

With their numbers restored to 10 Worksop looked to have held out but in added time Hatfield had five attempts from close range on goal, two were saved by the home goalkeeper, one hit the bar and on the fifth attempt the ball was rammed home with a strong shot along the ground.

There was little time to restart before the final whistle blew. SJR Worksop were disappointed that their great efforts were not even rewarded with a draw but they had created their own downfall with some indiscipline. Hatfield were very lucky to get the win despite all of the ace cards that they held during the match.

There were no chips but a cup of coffee and some Quavers were great.