I had seen football in Wales before but never a Welsh League game so it was with anticipation that I drove along the A55 North Wales dual carriageway. The road is a pleasure except on those manic holiday weekends when queues can often cause frustration. There are some huge vistas, castles, sea views, on a late April day Bluebell and yellow splodges of gorse and to finish off Snowdonia.

Llandudno F.C.’s ground was on the edge of an industrial estate behind the town centre and the game was against Llangefni in the Cymru North League which is the second tier of Welsh football. Only one team is promoted from the Cymru North League along with the winner of the Cymru South League. The game was the last of the season for both teams Langefni sitting near the bottom table and Llandudno in second place but with no chance of catching runaway leaders Airbus UK.

There was ample parking just outside the ground and on entering the brightness of the synthetic pitch hits you first. The pitch was mainly flat with a few undulating areas. The pitch was heavily sanded evident by the amount being kicked up by the players warming up. The weather was glorious with blue skies and a few grey clouds but unless you could shelter from the strong coastal wind it felt chilly.

The OPS Wind Arena has low level seating on three sides with hard standing behind one goal and along the areas where there is no seating. There are one strorey buildings behind the goal and on the sides for changing rooms, administration, bars, food, shop etc. Three of the floodlight poles are also telecommunication antennae which may add to the clubs income along with the multipurpose pitch. The crowd was a good mix of all ages and almost 50/50 males and females.

There is recorded evidence that there was a team in Llangefni in 1882 which like many of the time was born out of religious attendance. The Llangefni Town Football Club was founded 5 years later in in 1897. They initially played in the newly formed Anglesey Football League formed in the same year. nearly 100 years later in 1988 they were promoted to the Gwynedd League. There stay here was nowhere near as long as only two years later after a very successful two years they joined the Tyn Lon Volvo Welsh Alliance League. Their success at this time was emphasised when in 1992 they won the Welsh Intermediate Cup, the only Anglesey club to do so. Keeping up their rapid change saw the advent of the new millennium bring a new ground and another move this time to the Cymru Alliance.

The next highlight for the club was in 2008 when they were promoted to the Welsh Premier league but unfortunately having reached the summit of Welsh football they were relegated the a year later. After nearly getting back into the Premier League by 2012 they were relegated back to the Welsh Alliance and due to organisational problems had to start the 2013 season in the Anglesey league back to where they started. By 2015 their efforts had lead them back to Welsh Alliance Division 1 and 4 years later they went up to the Championship North. So after some very static early years you have to say that more recent times have been quite a roller coaster.

Football in Llandudno started 1878 4 years earlier than Llangefni with a club believed to have been called Gloddaeth Rovers formed out of a cricket club.

A Llandudno team were founder members of the Welsh National League (North) in 1921 but the current team were started in 1988 as Llandudno F.C. moving to their current location in 1991. Since then the team have managed to improve the ground with the seating, covered areas, the floodlights and buildings with disabled access all to Cymru Premier League criteria. All in all a herculean effort topped off in 2014 with the addition of the 3G pitch and a year later promotion to the Welsh Premier League for the first time. The dream continued with a first season 3rd place finish and qualification to the Europa League. Unfortunately ups are often followed by downs and they were relegated to the Cymru North in 2019 where they currently play.

Llandudno F.C. 6 Llangefni F.C. 1

Saturday 22rd April 2022 Kick Off 2.30 pm Last League game of the Cymru North Season

With Snowdonia as a backdrop the teams kicked off and it soon seemed obvious that Llandudno were well on top of the conditions Within 1 minute they were ahead when the Llangefni defence were static appealing for offside that left Toby Jones on his own to easily score past the rooted goalkeeper. I hardly had time to settle in my seat and it was two nil after 9 minutes when Mark Williams deflected a ball into the net despite vociferous appeals from the Llangefni goalkeeper for hand ball.

Players had difficulty taking free kicks or goal kicks as the blustery wind refused to let it stand still. Llandudno showed some skill with long pin point passes often from one side of the field to the other and their defensive dominance enabled their right back to threaten as an extra wide player. On the half hour Llangefni were on the score sheet when Phillips curled a glorious ball into the top left of the net from outside of the goal area. However the home team cemented their dominance when Danny Hughes cut back the ball to the back post for Guto Williams to restore the 2 goal lead. which was maintained until half time.

Llandudno playing against the wind in the second half continued the scoring when 10 minutes into the half their captain stalwart Lee Krusty Thomas who was playing his last game for the club ran on to a pass to smash the ball home. Although

Landudno were already assured of finishing second in the league but they did not sit back and made it five with 15 minutes left when another plyer, Neil Ashton, also making his last game for the club used his left foot to volley a good goal.

Five minutes later Lee Thomas, wearing number 99, was substituted for the last time before his retirement and was clapped off by the crowd of 308.

Marc Williams made it 6 with a few minutes left to end my Welsh League experience.

The chips were cooked to order and were hot, golden and fluffy inside but had a neutral taste gaining a score of 70.

There is always an amazing football program at Easter and to choose one is like picking sweets in a sweet shop. This year I chose to travel to Mexborough Athletic’s ground to see the Mexborough Montagu Hospital Charity Cup Final. The significance of this was that it was the 125th Anniversary of this cup which is believed to be the oldest football competition still played at its original venue. Affectionally known locally as the “Mont” it has been played on Easter Monday with an 11.00 a.m. kick off.

This competition was first played in 1897 and was one of the first Hospital Cups. Prior to our beloved NHS local hospitals were dependent on local benefactors and fund raising. Charity football matches were a popular way of raising funds and Mexborough were one of the first, supporting the Montigu Hospital that served the Dearne Valley with its mining and industrial workers high incidence of accidents and disease. The money that is raised these days is donated to the Montagu Hospitals Comfort Fund.

The first Hospital Cup was the East Lancashire Hospital Cup of 1883 and examples of others are the West Ham, the Ipswich and the Isle of Mann Hospital Cups. The “Mont” was open to teams within a seven mile radius and the most successful clubs have been three who have won the trophy seven times, Swinton, Wombwell Main and Mexborough Main Street.

Before the game a reception was held for previous players and one of the finalists was 94 year old Albert Burrows. All of this could not have happened without the dedication of Chairperson Linda Carlton and Secretary Steve Poole of Mexborough Athletic Football Club founded in 2002. They keep the sports ground going and in the magnificent condition it is today. There are two football pitches, a cricket square and pavilion along with clubhouse facilities. The football pitch has concrete banking on three sides interrupted by a small covered seated area and the fourth side is open to the cricket ground.

The whole atmosphere was family, all ages, sexes, children in prams, dogs on leads, children kicking balls into the goals at the half times. Hats off to our hosts of whom Linda Carlton walked around the crowd encouraging fans to have photos with the 125 year old cup and hold as if they had won it. 1700 turned up to help the charity and see an anticipated final between two well matched local teams of which I perceived Scawthorpe to be the favourites.

The sky was light grey with fluffy clouds scurrying by, interspersed with sunshine. A little cooler than Easter Sunday due mainly to a good breeze that swept down the pitch which sloped side to side and gently end to end and was covered by a lush green carpet of grass.

Dog Daisy United 3 Scawthorpe Athletic 4 after extra time.

The game was off to a pulsating start with Dog Daisy United opening the score within five minutes when Josh Moore rose to head a corner into the back on the net at the near post. Three minutes later Dog Daisy’s Jake Ford was put through and he coolly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to double the lead. Surely it was de ja vu when three minutes later the same tactic and the same player did it again to make it 3 nil to Dog Daisy United. The game was over, and the crowd were wandering how many they were going to score in total. Dog Daisy continued with confidence and should have added to their tally but on 34 minutes the ball was flicked on from a long ball to Scawthorpe’s Lee Tilley who pegged one back.

Scawthorpe’s goal gave them more confidence and it was them that ended the half pushing forward.

Dog Daisy had the advantage of kicking down hill in the second half but there was no quick goals for them in the second period, in fact Scawthorpe continued to make the running especially down the left side. With 8 minutes gone the Dog Daisy goalkeeper made a reaction save to his left to deny a goal but 4minutes later he had no chance as Adam Watson met the ball from a corner with his head to bring the deficit down to 1. At 23 minutes it should have been level when Scawthorpe missed to the right but their captain, Gary Mundy, met a freekick from the left with his head and planted the ball in the net. Three all, what a come back and who could grab another before full time.

Dog Daisy’s legs seemed to tire, their two goal hero was replaced because of a hamstring injury and two others went down with cramp. More Dog Daisy substitutes were made to try to inject some momentum but full time soon crept up and extra time was upon us.

Dog Daisy did show some more attacking threat but the continuing momentum of Scawthorpe led to a winner that looked impossible when they were 3 goals down after 12 minutes. The goal came when a ball was flicked through to the advancing Sam Corner who didn’t hesitate to bury it in the bottom right hand corner. The game didn’t produce any more chances so it was Scawthorpe Athletic who won this amazing game and their names on the cup on its 125th Anniversary.

What a fantastic family football event that not only raised money for the local hospital but gave fun and a community time out on a Bank Holiday.

The impromptu often turns out for the best. With an evening free I noticed a football match in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League between North Gawber Colliery F.C. and Wakefield A.F.C.

North Gawber play at the cricket club ground in Darton between Barnsley and Wakefield. The kick off time was 6.15 because there are no floodlights and it was easy to find the ground a few miles off junction 38 of the M1. The car park was full and everyone else was parking half on the verge and half on the road.

The football pitch is in the distance beyond the cricket pitch but I first went in the club house that has an upstairs bar vantage point to watch the cricket. No chips or coffee here so it was a bottle of water.

I walked around the cricket field towards the football ground but the outfield was boggy to say the least which also seemed partially true of one end of the football pitch. The pitch was flat and apart from the softness underfoot looked great for this time of the season. There is a railing around the whole of the playing surface with some grass banking on two sides. There s no hard standing but tufted grass in places and on one side a well tiered stand. The seats have been taken out some time ago but people were happy to sit on the concrete or the bench at the back of the stand. The view from the back was as good as any.

When the game was underway I had time to count the crowd which I believe was at one time over 120. People walking their dogs, families out for a walk or youngsters just kicking a ball wandered over to chat to fiends and relatives. There were a small contingent of Wakefield fans and all in all a very happy atmosphere. The turnout may have been partly due to the glorious evening sunshine but it was heartening to see. The draw of English teams playing in the Champions League Quarter Finals on the television did not register here. It was also interesting that there was no payment to see the game or collection.

There is little history for North Gawber that I could research but I understand they were formed in 2011. They moved to the Sheffield and Hallam League in 2013 from The South Yorkshire Amateur League. They have since then won promotion from Division 1 and won the Premier League Pre-Covid. Where they play was previously the home of Wooley Colliery Road who reached the Northern Counties East League before folding.

It would be wrong of me to look at the history of previous Wakefield teams that have been littered with failed aspirations in this large Yorkshire town. The Wakefield infont of me were only formed in 2019 by a group of local businessmen but a controlling interest was bought out in 2021 by VO2 Capital, a Connecticut based company. VO2 Capital have also taken control of Wakefield Trinity Ladies F.C. to create a women’s team, Wakefield F.C. Wakefield have plans to share Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Club’s, ground when a current upgrade is complete.

North Gawber Colliery F.C. 0 Wakefield A.F.C 3

With both teams still in with a chance to win the League there was some healthy rivalry in the football.

Wakefield started by defending the goal with the sun in their eyes but this didn’t seem to deter them as they looked likely to take control with some fast play from the wings. They had more time on the ball and ideas and should have been ahead on 35 minutes when they hit the bar. The goal did come three minutes before half time when Mason Rubie outpaced the defence on the left and cut the ball back along the ground for Owen Kirman to tap in for a one nil lead at half time.

The half time turn round was only 5 minutes but time enough for the managers to give their views. Just in front of the stand the North Gawber manager urged his team to give greater efforts in the second half. The reply from one of the team was they train two times a week, we go to the boozer.

But the talk had a good effect because for most of the second half the home team rallied and kept puting continual pressure on the Wakefield defense. With time running out a Wakefield corner deflected to the far post for Brad Swaine to head a good goal. This seemed to drain North Gawber’s resistance and just as time was up they added a third through Bruno Baggi who took advantage of a ball that rebounded after some Valliant stops on the line with the goalkeeper stranded.

Wakefield’s 3 points mean they are up to second, 5 points behind Swinton with a game in hand and a meeting between the two before the season closes. Too close to call.

For me and the good crowd this was football at its best in the evening sun.

With five minutes left a bus ‘ luckily with no passengers could not get down the road with vehicles parked on both sides. He had to wait but as I drove away he was going back with ‘not in service’ on his head board. Perhaps he just wanted to see the end of the game.

A journey to Carlton in East Nottingham to see what looked like a fascinating encounter between the Northern Premier Leagues Midland Divisions 5th and 6th teams. If Belper Town won it meant that they would almost book their place in the play offs but if the home team could prevail they would be only 4 points behind and still in the hunt.

The ground is reached from a turning off the A612 dual carriageway oposite a large out of town retail park. You immediately can pull into a large car park and walk across it to the turnstile. It was a bit disconcerting to be greeted by two security guards but there must be a reason.

Carlton Town have only been at the Bill Stokeld stadium for 30 years and are steadily improving the facilities. There is a small seated area behind one goal otherwise there is flat standing around the rest of the ground. On one side there is a brick changing room with a small kiosk selling hot drinks and snacks. On the same side there are some portakabins that have been made into a club house and a few other rooms. During the coming closed season plans are in place to create some tiered standing behind the goal.

It was a sunny day with a few threatening black clouds which was spoilt by the cool strong wind that blew down the ground towards the stand which chilled the air below the 10 degrees that were registered on the car. It needed a scarf, gloves and hat to feel comfortable.

The pitch here was flat but had some undulating patches which were partly hidden by a good grass cover.

Sat a few seats away from me was a man noting down all kinds of patterns and numbers on an A4 sheet. I had to ask what he was doing and he told me that he was from Stamford FC, who have already qualified for the play offs, and they were sending people to visit all potential rivals for the next few games. This showed me the dedication of team seven at this level to try to gain any advantage to progress up the pyramid system. Good luck to Stamford for showing such enterprise.

I wrote about the history of Belper United earlier in the season when I visited their ground so I will not mention it again.

The Carlton Town name was adopted in 2002 at their current location having previously been known as Sneiton where they played on the Sneiton Cricket Club ground. Starting in 1904 as amateurs in local Nottingham leagues they were in their first decades at the pinnacle of Nottingham football. Disruptions by the wars meant that they were reformed in 1947 when they merged with another local team, Trent Rangers. They had performed well in the FA Amateur cup in those early years reaching the third round on 4 occasions each time going out to much stiffer opposition.

The team didn’t leave local football until 1995 when it joined the Central Midlands League and they were able to gain promotion to the Northern Counties East League despite previous ground grading issues. By 2007 they again gained another promotion to the Northern Premier League and have been moved in the geographical changes to now play in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division.

Carlton Town FC 2 Belper Town 1

Belper Town soon took control of the first quarter of an hour with Sam Muggleton launching throw ins longer than any I have seen for years, coupled with their exceptionally quick number 11 sprinting past a static Carlton defence and providing good crosses gave them scoring chances. This dominance continued but a through ball by Carlton nearly led to the first goal but for a brave stop from Belper’s goalkeeper. Carlton had a good appeal for a penalty waved away and their number five hit the upright with a header which he then took out his frustration on the perimeter fence. How Belper did not lead at half time bemused the 155 crowd of which it seemed half were from the away team. The crowd seemed small compared to their other games this season despite the importance of the game. It may have been because Nottingham Forrest were at home in an equally important game to reach the play offs.

As often happens despite Belper’s dominance it was Carlton who took the lead within 4 minutes of the restart when Aaron O’Connor ran on to a through pass and coolly hit the ball along the ground past Moore.

If I was the Stamford scout I would have reported that Belper’s threat of the long throws from their left back to their forwards often supported by their centre backs leaves them open to sudden direct attacks. Saying this Belper were level 4 minutes later when one of those Muggleton missiles was not cleared and it passed to Tom Wilson to head home.

Belper kept up the onslaught but Carlton came back in the last 10 minutes and both sides made numerous changes with Belper taking an age over each of theirs. Just in the final minutes there was a a five minute stoppage for a injury to Belper’s keeper. He managed to resume but could not move about and Carlton took the advantage. Well into the stoppage time, this time a Carlton throw in came back to Tom Maddison who chipped it over the defence to Tyler Blake to head over the static keeper to give the home team a win that they did not look like getting for much of the game.

I could not understand why the goalkeeper was not substituted when injured but this may have been because they had not used all of their subs earlier.

Great excitement from the home fans and a narrowing of Belper’s advantage in the race for the last play off place.

The chips were an immense quantity that were not greasy, hot and soft inside. They could have been cooked a little longer and scored a good 69.

Skin on chips though would not have been a favourite of John Torode of MasterChef fame who always complains if a contestant presents them. A nutritionists delight though because of the fibre.

On a cold afternoon I made the short journey to see SJR Worksop F.C. play Harworth Colliery F.C. in the Central Midlands Black Dragon Premier Division North League.

The ground is adjacent to Sandy Lane in Worksop just a quarter of a mile down the lane from Worksop Town’s ground.

It was a cold windy afternoon interrupted by a few sleet and rain flurries decending from the dark grey sky. The car temperature gauge had shown 3.5 degrees as I entered the ample car park. I had no idea that the game would up the temperature and boil over later.

The pitch is set apart from the clubhouse and changing rooms, another pitch being in between. I had a coffee to warm up but there were no chips here for my chip league.

The pitch is surrounded by a white fence and the playing surface sloped slightly end to end with a good thick grass cover.

I would normally write a few paragraphs abut the clubs but this was all about the game.

St Josephs Rockware Worksop 1 Harworth Colliery F.C. O

Central Midlands Black Dragon Premier Division North: Kick off 3.00 pm

Glassworks Pitches, Sandy Lane Worksop.

This local derby, 10 miles apart by car and less as the crow flies started with SJR playing down hill and the grey skies had cleared and now bright blue skies meant you could see planes making their decent into Doncaster Sheffield airport. Harworth took complete control and had most success attacking down the right, they even clipped the post after 7 minutes with the ball rebounding into the keepers arms. For all of Harworth’s pressure it was SJR who took the lead on 15 minutes when from a corner the ball was worked back to no.22 who from just over 20 yards out took down the ball with his right and curled it with his left into the top right hand corner of the net.

Worksop now took control but were pegged back to 10 men when one of their players was sin binned five minutes later for continual arguing with the referee’s decisions. Harworth did not take advantage of this but had a further chance to take the upper hand when the referee sent off Worksop’s number 4 for a second yellow card received for two strong fouls just 5 minutes from half time.

At this point I was thinking of another coffee or even a hot OXO came to mind as I could see an OXO factory in the distance.

A few minutes after the dismissal the referee approached the SJR bench to get them all to vacate the touchline and some ensuing verbal’s resulted with a yellow card for one of their management team which turned red when further words were exchanged. The referee then blew his whistle and shouted that the game was abandoned as he had been threatened by the home team.

The referee gathered the other officials and walked back to the changing room leaving the players bemused on the pitch. The crowd of circa 70 were stunned too and one of them said that someone had threatened the referee to sort him out in the carpark later! The players eventually trooped off and as it was just on half time the crowd stayed hoping that the game would resume for the second half. However the players started to come out of the club house having changed and the crowd drifted back to their cars. I overheard one of the Worksop players say, that was an easy win and an early finish too. Unfortunately I think it will be the Central Midland League’s committee that decide the result of this one in the future.

England U 19’s 2 Portugal U 19’s 0

Chesterfield Technique Stadium kick off 7.30 p.m.

UEFA Under 19’s Qualifier

6005 turned up for this England qualifier and filled two sides of the 12000 all seater stadium.

After a few glorious days fans were pleased to have dressed for a wind that was quickly reducing the temperature. Chesterfield’s pitch is perfectly flat and against local reports I was pleased to find that only the immediate goal areas were sanded on what looked a green thick turf.

A win for England would ensure them a place in the finals in Slovakia from the 18th June to 1st July.

The game started fast with Portugal pressing with two quick forewords in Diago Trevasson and Joleson testing the England back line. It was England however who took an early lead when Brooke Norton Cuffey of Arsenal made a great overlap on the right to cut the ball back for Dave Scarlett to place the ball along the ground between a defenders legs.

The pace kept up and just before half time on 40 minutes Devine was brought down by the Portugal goalkeeper and Dave Scarlett stepped forward to take the penalty. Scarlett placed the ball to the keepers right to give England a comfortable lead at the break.

England only had one scare in the second half when a Portugal defender was free at the far post after a great cross from the left. How he ballooned the ball over the bar when almost on the goal line baffled everyone in the stadium. Portugal made numerous changes to try and gain a foothold in the game and were shown 6 yellow cards to England’s 1 mainly due to their frustration at the home sides controlled play. England ran our competent winners to progress to the summer finals. In a fast and furious game the two Aston Villa players of Charney Chuckwuemeka and Tim Iroegbunam stood out as they were effective but seemed to have time on the ball that appeared almost casual.

There are no pictures of the match as UEFA asked that there should be no autographs, selfies or pictures taken of the players.

On a mission to see Keele University play I checked on the journey to find the game postponed, so looking at other games locally I found that Newcastle Town were playing Glossop North End in the Northern Premier league West.

Parking in the centre of Newcastle under Lyme I decided to take the 18 minute walk to the game because the weather although hazy was a beautiful 19 degrees with no wind. With 50 minutes to kick off it seemed a cinch looking at Google maps. I decided to take a short cut through the cemetery but as I entered the cool I lost signal. It was peaceful walking through in the tree lined paths but totally disorientating. After being sent the wrong way by a helpful passer by my signal returned and I found that I had gone totally off piste. After finding my way back to where I started I was running out of time so I quickened my pace and eventually walked through the gate to the ground with a minute to spare.

There was however a ceremony taking place on the pitch which I found out was unfortunately a tribute to Newcastle’s late Chairman, Paul Ratcliffe who had recently passed.

The ground is in a very large park with other sports pitches and facilities and it is unusual because it has a velodrome all around the perimeter and therefore feels spacious but I did not feel that this made it a bit removed from the pitch. The pitch was very flat and green and all around there is hard standing at different heights depending on the curve of the cycling track. In the middle of one side behind the dugouts is a covered standing area and there is a seating area on the other side.

The Newcastle club is believed to have been started in 1964 in the local Sunday League but its present incarnation started in 1986 with the merger with another local club, Parkway Clayton. Initially playing in local Cheshire Leagues they soon progressed the the North West Counties League and as Champions in 2010 were promoted to the Northern Premier League. Newcastle have developed a very strong youth set up and have even been able to create their own multi pitch facility in the area.

You would need a book to describe the history of Glossop North End who were founded in 1886 as an amateur club but turned professional just a few years later and soon climbed the Leagues to be invited to join the English Second Division in 1898 and a season later played for one season in England’s most senior league. Some poor seasons meant that in 1915 they were not re-elected to the League and have since spent many seasons in Non-league football. There have been ups and downs but their most recent success was when they reached the F.A. Vase final in 2015 only to lose to North Shields 2-1 and also win the North West Counties League and gain promotion to the Northern Premier League where the realignment of the Non League structure now finds them in the Northern Premier League West Division.

Newcastle Town F. C. 0 Glossop North End A.F.C. 0

Saturday 26th March 2022 3.00pm kick off: Attendance 211

Northern Premier League West Division: 17th v 13th: The Castle v The Hillmen

Blue shirts with white stripe across the chest and sides, blue shorts v Orange shirts, black shorts.

After 15 minutes I was wandering why the ball had spent so much time in the air with little effect. Newcastle did force 3 corners in a row exerting some pressure but the game soon reverted to kick and rush. Glossop did have the ball in the net on 34 minutes but is was ruled offside and they again came close 3 minutes later with a header.

Both sides remained level at the break and a walk round the pitch to see the rugby match on an adjoining pitch raised the tempo. However the football did drag on with both teams cancelling themselves out. Glossop did up their tempo in the last 15 minutes and Jordon Scott hit the base of the right hand post from 30 yards with 10 minutes to go. Glossop pressure nearly paid off with another shot that grazed the corner of the upright and crossbar just at the end. The referee’s whistle was a relief to the crowd who had enjoyed the sunshine.

Newcastle’s point keeps them just one place outside the play off relegation zone.

A small bar and adjoining food area served up a very large portion of chips ( I asked for small ). They were hot, not greasy, with a little crunch and a good texture earning a score of 73.

Mid-week I made the journey to see a team whose name has intrigued me for some time. Leaving the M1 at the A38 junction No. 28 you drive through the large industrial estate, Huthwaite and a housing estate to the carpark for Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC. for a Central Midlands League, South Division, game against Long Eaton United Community. A game that pitted the third placed team against the bottom club Mansfield Hosiery Mills. You would have to win 11 leagues to play in the Premier League yet that in no way diminished this competition. The football club is part of a larger sports and social club and the cricket clubs bar facilities shone out as I crossed the car park.

The evening was still, dark, dry and warm for the time of year. The pitch slopes from side to side and there is a steep slope from end to end which has a good grass covering with some wear in the goal mouths. The ground was compact with a barge board fence around the ground, a small seated area to one side of the goal, a club house on one side and hard standing fully around the pitch. Considering this is one of the smaller clubs I have visited I have to say they are some of the cleanest toilets I have ever been in.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC were formerly known as North Notts FC but have been playing under their current name in 2002. They reached the Northern Counties East League Premier Division before dropping back down the League structure and disbanding for ground problems before re-forming in the Nottingham Leagues and rejoining the Central Midlands League only three years ago.

Long Eaton United Community are an off shot of Long Eaton United who play in the United Counties League.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC 2 Long Eaton United Community 1

Wednesday 23rd March 2022 7.45 pm. 17th (Bottom) v 3rd, The Millers v The Blues

M.H.M. payed in change kit, yellow shirts and black shorts: L.E.U.C. red and black vertical shirts and red shorts.

With the clocks changing this weekend it was great to get in one of the last games fully under the floodlights which always seem more exciting. This game re enforced this as Long Eaton took immediate control with their number 11 proving a handful. It was on one of his fast tricky runs that the home sides right back brought him down in the goal area for the referee to have no doubts about awarding a penalty. The away teams number eight placed the ball well along the ground into the left hand corner of the net to give Long Eaton the lead.

With the away team continuing the pressure it was a surprise when Mansfield equalised only 3 minutes later. A long ball in from the left was totally misjudged by the goalkeeper and Liam Walker accepted the dropped ball, swiveled round and tapped it home.

Long Eaton should have retaken the lead on 21 minutes when the goalkeeper ventured out of his goal to stop an attack leaving an open goal that was missed as the ball sailed over the cross bar. Long Eaton dominated play for 35 minutes of the game but let Mansfield gain their composure and start to take control. With only 2 minutes to half time Mansfield were awarded a free kick for a high tackle and the ball was swung in from the left which again caused havoc in he air. Liam Walker was there again to give the home fans some cheer at half time.

Mansfield Hosiery played down hill in the second half and played with more composure. Their right back who was under pressure in the first half took control of that dual and even ventured forward at times. For me their man of the match was their number 5 who played with some maturity considering what looked like a young age.

I noticed that the Mansfield goalkeeper placed a camera behind his goal to record his game, good dedication this to review his strengths and weaknesses.

Mansfield’s win moved them off the bottom of the League and up two places. Two wins out of three now must surely mean they are finding the right blend in their team although too late this season to progress much higher.

No Chips here so I went for a hot chocolate served by very friendly helpers.

I made the journey back to Belper for the second time this season to The Raygar Stadium in Christchurch Meadows but not to see Belper Town but Belper United who rent the ground off their neighbours. United moved here in the 2013/14 season but moved away to return in 2018.

I must go to Belper sometime to visit Strutt’s Mill that gained UNESCO World Heritage Status over 20 years ago and was a major cotton spinning Mill in the Derwent Valley. I also need to go if I am to go back to watch football again to work out the best parking places as I have on both occasions ended up walking a long way (good for me in reality).

It was a pleasant evening of 12 degrees with a stillness in the air and very black skies that made the floodlights shine brightly. I was greeted by a friendly team at a table selling tickets and programs and there was a crowd of 168. Belper United’s biggest league crowd of the season.

The pitch here slopes slightly and the grass cover is very good considering two teams are playing on this ground regularly. There was a very good programme (The Green Army Review) and one of the support staff walked round the ground handing out team sheets.

There is photographic evidence that Belper United came into existence around the early 1920’s and were active for around 20 years. A merger in 1969 between Milford Sports and Belper Park Rangers created the current club. They have played in the Midland Regional Alliance, the Central Midlands League, East Midlands Counties League and in the reorganisation of the Non-League structure now find themselves in The United Counties League.

Like Belper there are two teams in Hinkley, Hinkley LRFC who play in the United Counties Premier Division South and Hinkley AFC who are one division lower, both were formed with the demise of Hinkley Town. Hinkley AFC are a community club playing in Barwell just to the north of Hinkley. They initially played in the Midland League and were place in the current League this season,

Belper United 2 Hinkley AFC 0

Tuesday March 15th 2022, 7.45 p.m. kick off.

United Counties league Division One – Division Position: Third v Top.

Kit – Belper United, Green and Black vertical stripe shirts and shorts v Hinkley AFC away kit Purple shirts, shorts and socks.

Hinkley were on a thirteen game unbeaten run and top of the table with Belper third and seven points behind. The game started immediately in a competitive. combinative tone which continued all match. The home team playing against the slight slope had the best of the first 15 minutes but it was Hinkley on 28 minutes who had the best chance to take the lead from a corner when Curtis Hall made a stunning save low down. Hinkley again looked dangerous when awarded a free kick on the left edge of the area for a foul on the dangerous Isa Abraham who had an intriguing tussle with Belper’s Jake Dodds all night. The free kick was wasted and half time came with Belper still looking the strongest team.

Belper kept up the pressure and as the bells tolled nine from the next door Christ Church it seemed that an exciting goal less draw was on the cards. Six minutes later the energetic Kieran O’Conell was sin binned for decent and what looked like arguing with the referee.

Hinkley should have made the extra man count but it was O’Connell’s return 2 minutes earlier that made the difference when with ten minutes remaining he was put through on the left by substitute Ben Ollett and after drawing the goalkeeper curled the ball across him into the right hand corner of the net to take the lead.

With Hinkley pushing for the equaliser Belper broke away leaving Ben Ollett on his own to beat the keeper, Mathew Hill, to put the game out of sight for Hinkley. The referee blew the final whistle one minute after the re-start and Hinkley’s run was over.

One of the best games I have seen all season and my man of the match was Belper’s whole back four who were steadfast all game.

The chips looked great and were real chips, red hot, just cooked, crispy on the outside but hard in the middle. What started as potentially the best chips of the season ended up a disappointment and a score of only 45.

N.B. I have always considered the United Counties League a bit of a Cinderella League but the recent restructure has ended up with a better quality of football across a wider region. This shows up in that a team from each of their Premier Leagues have made it to the semi finals of the F.A. Vase. Loughborough Students and Newport Pagnell. The games in the League this year have all showcased some very good talent.

A morning ground inspection put paid to my planned game so looking back to the previous weeks game at the incredible Loughborough. University I had read that their opponents Eastwood Community had an all weather pitch and good facilities.

So it was a change of plan and Google Maps to get me there. The lady on Google maps I call Betty, a long story, often she confuses me and this was no exception. Being told my destination was on my left but all that was there was a fire station belied the fact it was hidden by this building. Turning off google and driving around the block I eventually found a large sign directing me in.

Easy parking, although it was nearly full, led to a short walk past a large park to the ground. As I expected this is a good facility for this level of football.

An artificial pitch that when laid there was an attempt made to even the end to end slope which has resulted in a slope from one end to the centre and the other half being flat which initially looks a little odd. One side has a very large and well appointed club house, a steep comfortable seating area and a food bar. There is hard standing on all of the three other sides with cover at both ends and a very small covered seating area on the far side where some of the seats are smashed.

The view from near the top of the stand is really good as I looked out on the grey clouds that were building on this relatively cold, still day.

Eastwood Community FC have only been in existence since 2014 when they took on the mantle of football in the town after Eastwood Town folded. Eastwood Town had reached as high as the Northern Premier League. Community play at Haltbrooke Stadium, a modern facility with a 3g pitch. The Stadium also has great hospitality rooms to allow for a good income stream from off pitch activities. They have risen through the Central Midland League and are now placed in the United Counties League. They look certain to be contenders in this league in the future.

Newark FC have had a chequered career starting life as A. J. Simpson in 1901 in the Ironmonger’s League and the next mention of the club is as Worthington Simpson in 1935 in the Nottingham Spartan League. After fourteen years they moved to the Notts Alliance where they had some success and further name changes to IDP Newark and then Newark Flowserve in 2001. By 2004 Newark Flowserve joined the Central Midland League but lased only 5 years before joining the Notts Senior League. The senior team was reformed in 2013 and successive promotions saw them playing in the East Midlands Counties League where they soon achieved promotion to the Midland League. They had to drop the Flowserve name in 2020 at the request of the F.A. due to their sponsorship rules and with the Leagues restructure now play in the United Counties Football League. The team play at Basford United’s ground after their leased Lowfields ground in Balderton was subject to a plan to build housing. Long term this ground sharing 25 miles from their base will be difficult to sustain and efforts are being made to try to move back nearer to their roots.

Eastwood Community 1 Newark FC 2

Saturday 5th March 2022 Kick Off 3 pm

United Counties North Premier Division

Badgers v Highwaymen : League Position 14th v 15th

Attendance 197

Eastwood, red shirts and white shorts – Newark, royal blue shirts and shorts.

Eastwood initially looked as if they would take charge of the game but on 12 minutes the Newark forward, Josh Mundell, who had been a hand full, passed the defenders to the byline and cut back the ball where the striker, James Berrett was checked and the referee had no choice but to award a penalty. Mason Rowley stepped forward and hit the ball into the centre of the goal with the goalkeeper diving to his right. Both teams created chances but the defences were well up to it and the score remained at 0.1 at Half Time.

Eastwood did not seem to have the same confidence of the previous week but that appeared to be because the opposition were not letting them play.

Eastwood pressed at the start of the second half but on the hour a long ball forward was chased by Newark’s Richemone Sylla who controlled the ball and took the defender and goalkeper to the right of the goal and then crossed the ball for Nyle Blake to simply tap in.

As the game neared the end the heavens opened and a biblical deluge that had threatened all afternoon lasted for only five minutes.

Eastwood now took control and forced successive corners but could not beat the resolute Newark defence until on 80 minutes when Ben Henderson received the ball on the left, strode forward past lunging defenders and hit a powerful shot past Sam Andrew from range. Eastwood pushed for an equaliser but had no clear chances and Newark went home happy. My man of the match was Dean Freeman Newark’s centre back who marshalled his line and never missed a tackle or header.

The chips were crispy, fluffy inside, golden, tasty, an amazing amount for £1.50 but disappointedly a little cool but a good score of 81.