looking forward to 2021

Having reached my 150th blog in just over two years and slowly seen the number of people who read them grow from all over the world it’s a good time to reflect and look forward.

I have enjoyed passing on my current football experiences and sometimes looking back to explain what has moved me to be curious about football. What surprises and excites me is that it is not just a match that gains my interest but the journey of the club, its ground, players current and past, facilities and fans. Those who have read my match reports will know that I also have an interest in the chips which is a different angle on football ground food rather than pies which have had millions of words written about them. I have been contemplating also writing about tomato soup as this was the mainstay food for my son and I to eat with white bread rolls filled with luncheon meat before a Villa game. We did this for nearly 15 years (10 as season ticket holders) in the Holte End. This was brought back into focus as for a pre Christmas present my daughter presented me with a cache of different branded and supermarket tinned tomato soup. So far working through them I am impressed with Morrison’s value range. If I start to include tomato soup as well chips it will become a food blog rather than a football one.

So looking forward to 2021 the world is holding its breath hoping that the vaccines now becoming available world wide will stem the Covid 19 pandemic and reduce the disheartening death toll.

I cannot get entrance to watch a game at the moment which could last for a few months and expect the season, especially for Non League clubs to be extended to fulfil all of the fixtures.

Luckily I have built up a horde of football books and films to read and watch to sustain my passion along with a few televised games.

I look forward to creating more blogs in the coming year. I wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope you all stay well and achieve your own goals.

With having to self isolate due to a case of Covid in the family there was no festive football for me this year although with the tier restrictions it would have been difficult.

In the last few years I have seen the Boxing Day derbies between Buxton and Matlock, always a hard fought game with a good crowd and friendly banter.

Boxing Day derby between Matlock and Buxton 2019 with Ryber Castle looming out of the mist.

The first festive football match I really remember was Tottenham v Chelsea December 30th 1961.

Using a rover ticket with my Dad we took the number 84 from St Albans bus station to Arnos Grove and from there other buses to White Heart Lane Tottenham. What I remember as a 11 year old were the turkey sandwiches we had and being bought some blue stars with the pictures of Chelsea players in them. My particular favourite was Bobby Tambling but it ended in a 5-2 defeat. My Dad had watched Chelsea when he had worked in London and always retained an interest in their results. I also remember games being played on Christmas day which often seemed to end in some high and unpredictable scores.

One unusual match I attended was on Christmas Eve 1979 when Portsmouth played Wimbledon in a FA Cup second round replay at Fratton Park. The game ended 3-3 after extra time with Portsmouth going on to win the second replay at Wimbledon. It was unusual for a match to be played on Christmas Eve and the 7.30 kick off was queried in the local press with fans from the Isle of Wight having to leave early to catch the last ferry back to the island or miss Christmas Day. For me it seemed like a great start to Christmas.

A few years later I attended Luton v Watford on Boxing Day (26th December) 1986 when Watford won 2 nil. The interesting thing here was it was the first match I had taken my son to but he only lasted till half time and we spent the second half on the top floor of a multi storey car park with him on my lap steering the car around for amusement while I drove until his Grandfather met us from the game.

It would be a shame if these fixtures are eventually stopped for a mid season break or to give the players more rest time between games. If you research some of the highlights of games at this time of year you will find a great depth in iconic moments.

The one most written about is the football match between the trenches of the Germans and English at the first Christmas of the 1914-18 war. I was reminded of it again this year through a Christmas card that was sent to us. Whether it ever happened or not, it was a fact that at certain areas along the lines of conflict soldiers of both sides wanted to mark the time of year and demonstrate their friendship for each other in contrast to those who wanted the war.  

An amazing game took place on Boxing Day 1920 at Goodison park where circa. 53000 fans attended a women’s football match between Dick Kerr Ladies and Preston Rangers. This friendly was to raise money for wounded soldiers but was not unusual for women’s football to get such great attendances as their football had become very popular during the war. It has been thought for some time that the popularity was seen as a threat to the men’s game that was just getting going again and the FA banned women the following December supposedly because the game was “quite unsuitable for females”.

The women’s game also features in another key Boxing Day match when in 1917 a game was played on that day in Belfast between teams from England and Ireland. The crowd here was an amazing 20000 but because it was not recognised by the official governing body.

My final festive football thoughts go to those fans in Bury who are strongly reviving football in that town and I hope Bury AFC manage to gain promotion this year. They can look back and dream of some time soon repeating their 1925 exploits when they beat Manchester City 6-5 at home on Christmas Day and won the reverse fixture 2-0 at Maine Road the day after (Boxing Day).

Lastly from a Christmas cracker this year: ‘How do you keep cool at a football match — Stand next to a fan.

Lets hope we all have a much happier 2021 and we can look forward to the 2021/22 season having few if any restrictions.

More than ten years ago I went to a local. evening game at Glapwell in Northern Derbyshire very close to the Nottinghamshire border. It is one of a cluster of town’s and villages in this part of Derbyshire that grew up due to local pits which are today almost impossible to find any trace of apart from symbolic statues or artefacts to a long lost hard, dangerous and often tragic life.

Glapwell is straddled on either side of the A617 midway between Chesterfield and Mansfield, It’s population today hovers around 1500 and like those other villages/town’s is coming to terms with proposed expansion of housing but without the increase in infrastructure and amenities to cope.

What’s this to do with football you ask. Well the local football team suddenly closed in 2009 and the ground, owned by the local Parish Council, has been sadly quiet since looking sadder by the day.

Glapwell football club had been a beacon for football in these parts rising in it’s history to the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League Division One South. No mean feat for the size of the village. This eminence was surprising due to the bigger local villages of this part of Derbyshire, Bolsover, Clowne, Barlborough and Cresswell having no teams that have competed to this level or at all. The oposite to this is nearby Mansfield where a thriving group of non league teams play within a few miles of the centre.

When recently passing the ground I was surprised to find a notice of activity and to my joy research showed that I had missed the fact that the community have reformed the football club and are trying to get it up and running for all ages in the face of a world pandemic.

Their senior team have in fact been elected to the East Midlands League Division 1 North and are undefeated this season having only played two games because of the retrictions.

It’s great to see this club and community fighting back particularly in these hard times and when I can again resume my passion for lower league football I will make sure I see a match there.

Although some parts of England will resume with varying levels of spectators in their football stadia, after lockdown 2, unfortunately I will be grounded because we are surrounded by Tier 3 restrictions and there are no local games in the area.

My season so far has been eight games which I have thoroughly enjoyed but I still fear for the many local teams that are unable to generate their usual income streams. There has been support some government but much of it is in the form of loans which if there is no income they cannot repay.

The positive note is that of the eight games it was a joy to see that volunteers had spent lockdown cleaning, painting and improving facilities. Some have laid synthetic pitches that will reduce postponements and can be used by youth teams and rented out for casual users. Like many businesses Non League teams have had to re-assess their payment of players and how to generate future income.

I have followed St Albans City mainly from afar for too many years and they have been a beacon of light to me this year. During the first prolonged lockdown their twitter feed kept me engrossed with some great clips of past games, history articles and updates on their volunteers work schedules. What was very interesting and perhaps a masterstroke was achieved before these pressing times hit them hard.

The well respected Ian Allinson was hired to manage the team in February 2016 after a strong career as a footballer and manager. He has made St Albans into an attractive side that has maintained their National League South status and this year are the only undefeated side in the upper levels of football. Their style of play has meant that even in defeat they have managed to maintain a good level of support that has been vital for income because their grounds position [Clarence Park] is in a very leafy housing area with limited parking which excludes them from generating a good income from the bar facilities that is the life blood of many of their peers. The owners have proposed two strong regeneration proposals to move the club and build housing to pay for the move but as yet they have not been able to get local council approval.

In July 2019 Ian was employed to update their commercial activities and what a transformation. Ian had not only gone into football management after his playing career ended but also carved out a successful commercial business career as well. There have been numerous new sponsorships and commercial activity and the masterstroke this season was their shirt sponsorship. The shirts have been sponsored by Enter Shikari the world famous St Albans based rock band. It has been fascinating to watch City’s twitter feed to see the football and band fans post their delight at owning the new strip, sometimes the second as well. Surely this must have generated good income.

Image copied from St Albans City Shop

To have the football manager also responsible for income generation makes good sense, their commercial achievements can be reflected in the squad that is assembled.

St Albans’ YouTube and match streaming activities have generated extra income that can continue well into the future and give those that watch from afar a chance to keep in touch.

With a vaccine program within reach hopefully I will be able to make a pilgrimage to Clarence Park.

I can’t wait for football to return locally but I hope that any restrictions that apply will be actioned by the clubs. It was patchy at the best with Frickley Athletic being my exemplar of those I experienced.

Missing the football experience I decided to watch a live streamed non league game. It was easy to chose one as St Albans City, unbeaten in the National League South, were playing away at the top team Dartford.

For £6.99 the game was good value although there were a few initial streaming issues. The fact that there was only one camera and no replays did need some adjustment. The commentary was also provided by Dartford supporters who didn’t seem to see the controversy of their penalty award midway through the second half although the disbelief from the St Albans players and a subsequent booking for arguing seemed to show a different side to the decision.

Charlie Sheringham’s penalty was magnificently palmed out by Michael Johnson diving to his right.

It all seemed to be playing out to a goalless draw when on 90 minutes Shaun Jeffers hit a 35 yard missile that hit the cross bar and bounced down and back into the net. This was almost identical to one he hit roughly ten minutes earlier that crashed back off the bar

There were four minutes more to play but two individual substitutes by the away team made this drift on to 6. St Albans retained their unbeaten start to the season but made little progress in the table having played less games than their near rivals.

Dartford had more possession throughout the game probing down the wings especially on the left. Throughout though St Albans were continually dangerous and often played some neat pretty passing moves that Dartford found hard to defend.

I would do this again and I can see this continuing when crowds are back. Particularly for fans like me who live a 130 mile drive away from Clarence Park.

I have seen on St Albans’ social media advertising that for their streamed home games you can also buy a digital program. Perhaps they can team up with a fast food company to deliver some food and coffee prior to the game and at half time, this would be the ultimate as long as there are chips.

Like many I sat down to watch the return of football but came away wondering why.

Villa and Sheffield United played out a dull goalless draw with technology being the only real talking point as Orjan Nyland crossed his line with the ball after catching an average free-kick cross under pressure from his own sides Keinan Davies.

The whole experience for me was soulless with what appeared little passion considering that both clubs had much to play for. The empty stadium meant no theatre with no opposing chants, no happy faces, no body language of despair, just nothing.

I have great empathy for the players who must be so mindful to protect themselves and their loved ones.

I still have the feeling that it is all about money and avoiding legal challenges.

Perhaps it will get better, the play off games should certainly be more competitive and the best news of the day was that Barrow have made a miraculous return to the Football League after being cruelly voted out of the League system in the 1970’s.

The light on the horizon is that I am sure that I will eventually be in a ground somewhere watching an exciting game of football, listening to the crowds sometimes strange comments, basking in the sun, being drenched or frozen to the core. What has been most abundant has been time to plan and the journey looks endless.

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You hear of Garage Finds of old cars but these are a few photos I have found in a major lockdown clearout. They were taken with a Kodak Brownie 127 at the famous England 9-3 win over Scotland on 15th April 1961. It has always been reported as the game where the Scotland goalkeeper Frank Haffey had a nightmare.

I remember it for the fact that England dominated the first half to go in 3 nil up at half time and that the group of Scottish supporters sat directly in front of us and who were out in party mood did not reappear for the second half. Perhaps the bright lights of the West End looked infinitely a better bet than the trouncing to come. But after 53 minutes Scotland were back at 3-2 and nothing looked certain, England though just ran away with it after that and my favourite Jimmy Greaves scored a hatrick.

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I believe this to be England 8 Mexico 0 from 1961 when I was collected from school and taken to the game. England were completely dominant scoring 4 goals in each half with a hat trick from Bobby Charlton. If it is not that game it is England 2 Sweden 3 from 1959 but I don’t think we had the Brownie then. My memory from that match was my father lifting me up to look over the wall at the top of the terracing to see the throng of supporters outside streaming in, no wonder I don’t have a good head for heights.

Public Health is the prime consideration for when football resumes and we will have to wait for that day.

My first football love was St albans City and still a go to on their excellent twitter feed for their scores when they are playing. Over this lockdown period I have been following some fascinating articles about the history of football in St Albans by the club historian David Tavener. I hope that he collates his depth of knowledge and great writing style into a definitive history one day.

Over the VE Day weekend the twitter feed published a copy of the program for the first game played at Clarence Park since the ending of the Second World War which was not played until September 1st. Hopefully St Albans will be playing their first home game by September if it is safe.

 

 

Looks like it was an exciting game but the notations on the program look as if the person watching was not too impressed.

Yes The Non-league season of 2019/20 should have ended yesterday with the final league games being played,  leaving only the play offs and Wembley finals to be concluded. There was no jubilation, celebration or despair as promotions, playoff spots and relegations were not decided. All games from step 3 and below have been deemed not to have taken place and the season became a mirage that certainly was there but disappeared in the world created by the Covid pandemic. There are still positions to be worked out in the National Leagues and perhaps some legal issues to be sorted on the way to a new season whenever that may start. Some mystics are predicting that Non-league games will not start until January 2021 but no one knows. My fear is that some teams will not survive the shutdown or the new normal to follow, a quote from John Betjeman seems apt: “It’s strange that those we miss the most/ Are those we took for granted.

However for me  the season was not a mirage and it gave me a great deal of fun, enjoyment, entertainment and chips.

It started for me on a very very wet Sunday afternoon in September at O N Chenecks in Northampton. The FA Cup qualifier was spoilt by the rain but it had the excitement and cut and thrust of this grand old competition.

The stand out events of the season were:

Hearing two young men talking about their futures in the Athersley Recreation Club House eating my chips prior to an entertaining evening game.

The excitement of the home supporters at Clay Cross as they sneaked a deserved cup win on a foggy November 5th. The fireworks were not just in the sky nearby.

The A6 derby on Boxing day is always a goalfest and vocally supported. This is a Christmas highlight.

Being warmly welcomed in the club house at Workington and seeing this club resurrecting itself from a disastrous few years.

My 70th Birthday celebrations that saw me visit Hellas Verona for a Serie A match on Sunday, Aston Villa’s league Cup semi-final win on Tuesday and finishing the week with a trip to Everton on the Saturday. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

A trip to F.C. United (A must for all football fans) which really restored my faith in the future of Non-League football. They have so many ideas here that should be looked at by other clubs.

But my best memory was a visit to Walthamstow FC where on a beautiful sunlit Saturday afternoon I was privileged to see a real community atmosphere of all sexes, ages and ethnicities enjoy their afternoons football. Keep it up Walthamstow I’m sure you will achieve your promotion next season.

Of course I must mention the chips and that Shirebrook Town again won my chip league despite having a poor season on the pitch.

I look forward to next season whenever it starts and have already started my list of must see games.

 

 

Footnote: The Lockdown has found many of us the time to tidy, computers, homes and gardens and I’m sure a few gems have been turned up. I have found the three bricks I was given by the demolition men as they tore down the old Holte End, an amazing reminder of some great times.

My son has some as well as some of the mosaic bricks from the old Lion emblem that used to adorn the stand that the Doug Ellis Stand replaced. I believe that the vandalism that wrecked the mosaic and the stained glass windows keeps haunting the Villa and they should be recreated in the new North Stand when it is finally built and the good times will then come back. I hope the current owners Mr Nassef Sawiris and Mr Wes Edens take note.

 

 

Football at Christmas and New Year is always welcomed as a distraction from eating and other festivities but for me it is the Easter fixtures that I look forward to. Often promotion or relegation is decided over the long weekend and those teams that you have been watching in the Non League pyramid who have played many less games due to postponements for bad weather and or long cup runs catch some up and you see if their many fixtures are too much or they are good enough to climb into a promotion or out of a relegation battle. You also say farewell to the season and look forward to the new.

This year we cannot look forward as we wait to see how and when this terrible pandemic leaves us. Already there are some teams who have disbanded and others will follow not able to financially survive. Are local football teams going the way of the local pub, post office, store and church, hopefully not and communities will realise their worth in providing, exercise, entertainment, competition, hope and dreams.

The new season when it arrives will surely be the toughest yet, not on the field but in the committee and boardrooms trying to balance the books with diminished sponsorship, advertising and maybe volunteers.

All is now dependant on the Premier League as to when or if they restart and finish this season and how they conduct themselves. Wrong moves could dent footballs place in our sporting psyche. Having pops at young footballers to give up 30% of their income seems cheap when as Gary Lineker said they are not asking this of all high earners. But the League and Clubs must conduct themselves with dignity and with a conscience if it is not to be perceived that everything was actioned for greed.

I hope next Easter that the message of renewal will once again be in our thoughts and also for a new football season.