A trip to Worsborough was to see two teams from former mining communities, Worsborough Bridge Athletic FC v Glasshoughton Welfare FC.

The Worsborough Bridge pitch is seen from the bridge over the river Dove that feeds the lake that in turn feeds the nearby Worsborough Mill. This is a picturesque setting and is next door to the park and shares the clubhouse with the local cricket team.

The pitch slopes down from one end to the other and rope and some crampons could be of help in tackling the hill. The ground looked claggy as the teams warmed up and two local fans were discussing how the pitch sometimes floods at the lower end of the field and with the recent rain were pleased the game was going ahead.

Unfortunately there was no program as the person who creates it was away and again it falls to a band of amazing volunteers to keep this institution going. Only 79 people had turned up on this grey day and the one lady manning the food area was coping brilliantly on her own despite a steady queue. The F.A. hierarchy should have a clause in their contract that states they should help out at Non-League club once a month to really understand the amazing work that people do to keep these clubs afloat.

Worsborough Bridge Athletic were formed in 1923 as Worsborough Bridge St James changing to the current name in the 1940’s and having an interlude as Worsborough Bridge Miners Welfare Athletic from 1959 to 2006. They played local football in Yorkshire until 1982 when they were founder members of the Northern Counties East League where they still play today.

Glasshoughton’s is a younger club but whose history is similar, playing local Saturday football from 1974 until 1985 when they joined the Northern Counties East League. They have fared better that Worsborough having played in the premier division for some years but have been playing in Division 1 since relegation 2015.

Worsborough 1 Glasshoughton 2

Worsborough played down hill in the first half and there was plenty of passion on show as the two teams could be heard chanting in their dressing rooms before taking to the pitch. This passion boiled over after 12 minutes when the referee booked the Worsborough Manager for swearing at him and the on field chat subsided after this. I was surprised to see that the sloping pitch didn’t affect the play and it was Glasshoughton’s Nathan Perks who on 24 minutes appeared to lose control of the ball but was able to place it past the defender and goalkeeper to score. A lady sat near me had a baby with her that was in some sort of backpack. The baby, only 7 months was definitely following the players running around on the pitch.

The second half was only 3 minutes old when Worsborough were back in it when Kyle Wordsworth scored from a corner. The home side followed this with a 15 minute period of domination but Wordsworth despite his efforts could not repeat his earlier feat.

As the game wore on Glasshoughton gained control and but for heroics from Joseph Thornton between the sticks would have retaken the lead earlier than the 81st minute when substitute Lewis Pickering ran past the fullback to slide the ball under the keeper. One of the local fans said that Joseph was an outfield player who had taken over the gloves due to no goalkeeper being available. Glasshoughton’s win meant they leapfrog Worsborough down at the wrong end of the table and the home team are looking in trouble second from bottom.

The chips were although tasty not hot and a bit soggy. There were plenty of them for their £1.50 price score 62.

Coast to coast, this week in Cleethorpes, last week in Workington. It’s not the journey that confused me but the teams in North East Lincolnshire. It is a pub quiz question, which league football team never plays at home? – answer: Grimsby Town because they play all of their home games away in Cleethorpes, now I find that Cleethorpes Town play in Grimsby. I managed to get a shot of the Grimsby district sign as we sped to the game and this was just before the ground. To be sure I asked a friendly official at the ground and he confirmed we were just over 100 meters within Grimsby.

The facilities here at Clee Road are excellent. The clubhouse is shared with the cricket team and has a bar, food kiosk and an area as a club shop also selling the program. The club house was lively with away fans good humouredly singing and chanting whilst watching the early televised game.

The pitch is one of the finest I’ve seen for some time, flat with lush close cut grass. There has been a lot of money spent here on new railings, perimeter walkway and stands. There are also up to date advertising hoardings all around the ground. It seems like a club going somewhere.

After sailing to the match along the M180 the weather had broken to sunshine, blue skies, some billowing white clouds and a temperature of 16 degrees.

Cleethorpes Town and Frickley Athletic are both in the Betvictor Northern Premier League South East Division but today it’s the F A Trophy.

Frickley Athletic come from the former mining village of South Elmsall in Yorkshire where  the first mention of a football team was in 1905 with Frickley Colliery Athletic Club formed in 1908. The team played in Yorkshire and Midland Leagues until 1979/80 when they were promoted to the Alliance League (Now the National League) and had their best 7 years at this high level. They have since dropped down the pyramid system but are hoping this season to steady the ship.

Cleethorpes by contrast were only formed in 1998 and played initially under the name of  LSS (Lincolnshire Soccer School) Lucarly’s changing to their current name in 2008. They have risen quickly through the leagues from the Lincolnshire League to the Northern Premier South East Division in the 2016/17 season, a season in which they also reached Wembley for the final of the F A Vase when they lost 4 nil to South Shields.

Cleethorpes Town  1 Frickley Athletic  0

The crowd of 171 were expecting to discuss a somewhat dull first half when just before half time Cleethorpes scored after some neat interplay left  Scott Vernon alone and able to tap home.

Before that the game had been even with Frickley dominating midfield and Cleethorpes sending some accurate long balls  to the forwards along with some strong wing play down the left from their overlapping full back.

The second half again did not spark to life and each team continued to cancel one another out although Frickley became less and less effective upfront. However they nearly came away with a replay as with 5 minutes left Nathan Newell had a great shot across goal that seemed destined for the bottom corner until Theo Richardson managed a full length dive to finger tip the ball behind for a corner.

The final few minutes petered out and the Owls fly into the next round at home to Mossley.

Finally the chips, golden, hot, tasty, well priced, good portion a little greasy and a good overall score of 72.

What an amazing late September day in Workington. On 21st September my weather app said a temperature of 23 degrees and it felt like higher as the sun shone in clear blue skies. The pitch was looking lush and well striped on a mainly flat pitch that slopes gently down to each end from a central peak.

I had come to see the Northern Premier League North West Division clash between League leaders Workington Town AFC and Widnes FC. This is the first time these two clubs have met in a league game whilst their Rugby League colleagues are no strangers to each other.

Widnes FC were only formed in 2003 as Dragons FC which was changed to Widnes Dragons and developed a community base for players and teams from 6 years upwards. By July 2012 the club had achieved the FA Charter Standard Community Club award. In the same year they became involved with the Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club and gained new experiences of providing greater community involvement. This was not to last and in 2014 the club decided to forge its own identity and become Widnes Football Club. Along this road they have gained promotions to get them to their current level the same as Workington who have seen a double relegation.

Workington have a long and illustrious past, a team originally being started in 1888 and 30 years after their reforming they were elected to the Football league in 1951 replacing New Brighton. They managed 26 years and one promotion to the then Third Division before a poor run of results saw them being voted out of the league with Wimbledon replacing them. During the league years they had some illustrious managers, Bill Shankly and Ken Furphy to name but two. Their struggles saw them drop down to the North West Counties League and then rise again to the then Conference North. But recent years have seen a steady slide back down the pyramid.

On my way to the match I couldn’t believe that in a charity shop in Barnard Castle I found an old Workington Program from their League days for just £1, a coincidence and a bargain.

Workintons Borough Park Ground has seen better days but it is a credit to the officials and fans that it is clean, bright and has good facilities. The club house houses, bar/lounge, club shop and refreshment kiosk but it was once the base for a stand built in 1937. Please see the comparison with today and a page from ‘The History of Non-League Football Grounds’ by Kerry Miller published in 1996 by Polar Print Group. The images are from 1937, 1993 and 2019.

A proposal to build a new stadium to house both the Rugby League and Football teams has been put on hold by a newly elected council in May of this year. This would also have provided space for new offices for local businesses and a 3G pitch for community use.

Workington AFC, Workington Town Rugby League ground, proposed ground.

Workington AFC 2 Widnes 0

Workington controlled the first 15 minutes of this game but it was Widnes who came closest to scoring when on 20 minutes Michael Grogan hit the crossbar with a fierce shot which bounced down and was hooked away. Widnes continued to press but a mix up in the Widnes defence on 30 minutes allowed No.6 Brad Carroll the chance to outpace them and drift past Owen Wheeler to slam the ball home when only a touch would have done.

The rest of the half remained competitive but the home team went in ahead.

Workington upped their game to start the second half but were thankful for Dan Wordsworth’s scooped clearance off the line with everyone else beaten by Harry Brazel’s shot.

The sun was taking its toll of the players and the referee called a drinks break nearly 30 minutes into the second half. This seemed to to sap Widnes concentration and a well placed corner soon after from Conor Tinnion from the right of the goal was fumbled over the goal line by Owen Wheeler.

Workington saw out a dull period of the game to win and keep them on top of the league. Despite them having played more games that many of their rivals they have the points in the bag. Can they hold on and regain some league status, most of the 389 supporters in the ground hope so.

The Workington Club house was friendly and alive and the chips were what I have been waiting for all season. Hot, thick, tasty, golden and a good portion. Not much more to say but a highly recommended score of 85.

Having driven down the winding Lees Lane through the chicanes of parked cars you arrive in the South Normanton Athletic FC. Car park.

It’s FA Cup day and South Normanton AFC are at home to Coalville Town FC in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

The first thing that hits you as you pass through the turnstile is the lush green pitch that slopes down from one end to the other. It’s warm in the sun but some dark clouds look ominous as they rush past.  The ground is on the edge of town, with open views from its hilltop position and breezy aspect.

South Normanton are nicknamed the Shiners and Coalville the Ravens. This dates back to the fact that Coalville were first formed in 1926 as Ravenstone Miners Athletic and played in the village successfully in local football. as their progress continued a dispute with the local Parish Council about the erection of floodlights meant a decision was made to move the whole team from the small village to nearby Coalville in 1995. The erection of the floodlights at their new ground meant that they could make further advances up the leagues and today play in the Premier Central Division of the Southern League at Step 3 level.

South Normanton AFC play in the Premier Division of the Midland Football League two levels lower than Coalville. Like Coalville South Normanton were formed in 1926 as South Normanton Miners Welfare which they changed in 1990 to South Normanton Athletic FC. Following a fire, lack of money and an ageing committee they were forced to fold but since a new start they have been able to steady the ship and have settled into their current level.

South Normanton Athletic FC  0 Coalville Town FC  1

The game took some time to establish a pattern where Coalville showed their higher status through some neat interpassing in midfield. Coalville didn’t cause any direct threats in open play but a series of corners caused problems for the home team with the visitors taller defensive players coming forward to attack outswinging balls. Jack Duggan (No5) should have done better when he headed over with a strong header. However he was my man of the match with a command of the defence and a near perfect game. South Normanton were pleased to go in at half time level having played against the wind in the first half.

The Shiners midfield gained the upper hand at the start of the second half but Coalville were still the most dangerous again from corners. With it looking like the tie would go to a replay some neat interpassing between substitute Leandro Browne and Tom McGlinchey in the penalty area gave McGlinchey the chance to roll the ball past Curtis Hall on 87 minutes.

Jubilation for the few travelling Coalville supporters but some consolation for the home team in that they had held their own against a higher placed club in the football pyramid system.

South Normantons food facilities were good with a friendly club house and a food stall that had outside tables and chairs . the kiosk was being run by one man who was doing a sterling job as his usual helper was working. As the queues lengthened some reinforcements arrived. The chips were deep fried but mine came from a tray in the oven which meant they could have been hotter. Great value and the best so far this season with a score of 60.

N.B.

The nickname ‘Shiners’ derives from the mid-1750s when South Normanton was at the heart of the ribbed stocking industry. The people involved in this craft worked long hours sitting at their windows on wooden stools, so much so that the backsides of their trousers became very shiny making them instantly recognisable as coming from the South Normanton area; since then local people have been referred to as ‘Shiners’.    Taken from

The mornings rain had stopped giving way to blue skies ,and billowing clouds with strong blustery winds that were made worse with the ground being on top of a hill.

The game I had come to see was an FA Vase First Round Qualifying game between Swallownest FC of the North East Counties league Division One and Vauxhall Motors FC from the North West Counties league Division One. An intriguing comparison between two similar level teams on opposite sides of the Pennines. A disappointing crowd of only 75 was in attendance.

Swallownest FC have only been going since 2006 when they started as Aston FC and in 2010 changed their name to Swallownest Miners Welfare a name previously used by a local team in the 1960,s. The club have come a long way in a short time and shortened their name in 2016. The ground is alongside the Swallownest Miners Sports and Social Club and is a credit to the local supporters with a friendly atmosphere, small covered areas, pitch side hard standing and a good refreshment kiosk. A very lush green pitch slopes slightly side to side and a few dotted sand patches are testament to the continual battle against some local rabbits.

Some history of Vauxhall Motors (Ellesmere Port) was posted last year when I attended one of their home games and they currently await what Brexit might do to the viability of the factory. By contrast in the distance of the Swallownest ground you can see the Advanced Manufacturing Centre on the Rotherham/Sheffield border that houses such names as Boeing, Rolls Royce and McLaren.

Swallownwest F.C, 0 Vauxhall Motors F.C. 2

Vauxhall were the quickest off the blocks and played some neat football but after a foul and fracas which brought home team trainers and subs onto the pitch Swallownest commanded the rest of the half. Oliver Grady should have done better when driving the ball wide from close range for Swallownest. Despite the advantage of the wind Vauxhall had not taken advantage and they must have been the happiest to go in all square at half time.

On a half time walk around the perimeter on this last day of meteorological summer I saw one House Martin in the sky and no Swallows. With autumn beckoning perhaps the flight south has already begun.

Swallownest again dominated the start of the second half and should have scored but  Michael Burkey replaced Karl Noon for Vauxhall and he went wide to the right and gave Aaron Statham at left back a torrid time with some neat footwork and direct runs.

One of these led to Statham bringing Noon down in the box on 76 minutes and Ben Holmes placed the ball along the ground to the left of Richard Watson,s dive to give Vauxhall the lead. Only minutes from the end Joe Brandon burst into the penalty area latching onto a long ball and was immediately brought down by Alfie Smith for penalty number 2. Holmes replayed his previous penalty, this time sending Watson the wrong way.

Vauxhall played out the game for their 2 nil win which was perhaps not to the liking of their manager, Mick McGraa, who had said at the start of the season that a run in the Vase competition can be a distraction from the main aim of promotion.

What a difference two weeks make, after the monsoon in Northampton to see an extra preliminary round of the F.A.Cup I found myself in Walthamstow for the next round on a glorious sunny day with the car registering 35 degrees as we drove away.

I had come to see Walthamstow F.C. of the Essex League take on Great Wakering Rovers of the one step higher Isthmian League North.

The ground is part of a bigger complex that has artificial pitches and is for use by the community  throughout Waltham Forest. That community spirit seems to be flourishing with deeds not words and youngsters from Ryan F.C. were in force to watch the team and come out onto the pitch with the players. The crowd was the most diverse I have seen at local football for a long time in sex, age and ethnicity.

Football has always been strong locally here and the famous old team of Walthamstow Avenue won the F.A. Amateur cup twice in their existence in 1952 and 1961 and Leyton FC in 1927 and 1928.

Walthamstow F.C. have a history which the program calls not straightforward and they claim to be the second oldest club in London.

• As Leyton Fc (1868-1894)
• As Matlock Swifts (1887-1895)
• As Leyton FC (1876-1904)
• As Leyton FC (Professional) (1904-1912)
• As Leyton FC (1919-1976)
• As Leyton-Wingate (1976-1992)
• As Pennant FC and Walthamstow Pennant FC (1965-1995)
• As Waltham Forest FC and Leyton Pennant FC (1995-2018)
• As Walthamstow FC 2018

Definitely not straightforward and more complicated than Handsworth FC I visited on Tuesday.

Great Wakering Rovers by contrast were formed in 1919 and still bear that name. Their football was mainly locally based but since the turn of the century they have flirted with a higher status in the Isthmian set up.

Walthamstow F.C. 2 Great Wakering Rovers F.C. 0

The pitch was yellowing, hard and the surface slightly uneven as the teams kicked off. Long balls were the order of play and neither side made any inroads.

Then on 13 minutes Walthamstow’s captain Vinny Murphy clashed strongly with the tall Wakering striker Brandon Diau. They faced up to each other and the resulting physicality gave the referee no option but to send them both off.

Probing by both sides threatened but didn’t result in clear chances or goals and the teams remained level at half time. The referee stopped the game around 35 minutes for a well deserved drinks break, a good decision by the officials.

The second half saw Walthamstow’s  Mc Cullock and Gebrai continue to threaten with direct runs but on 51 minutes Bennett was brought down in the box and Dwade James casually converted the penalty to the goalkeepers left. Within 2 minutes Walthamstow had another penalty when Samarai Gebrai was fouled on one of his runs. Dwade James casual run up did not suffice this time as he blasted the penalty over via the crossbar.

Rovers kept pressuring for an equaliser but their strength was further sapped with Henry Fisher being sent off for a foul on Danny McCullock.

Tiredness soon told and and a through ball to Jack Folan was neatly collected and curled in past the keeper.

A great afternoon that I hope will encourage some of the junior fans to return. Good luck Walthamstow in the next round.

No chips here just a small refreshment offering.

I went through this turnstile last season to see Worksop Town but this year it was to see Handsworth FC. Handsworth are buildings a new 3G pitch at their long term home at Oliver’s Mount in Sheffield and hope to move there as soon as possible. Their very impressive youth set up is already based there.

So how did they end up in Worksop 13 miles away.

• 1936   Works team of F Parramore & Sons, Sheffield, Parramore F.C.  established and existed until 2013.
• 1986 Handsworth Junior Sporting Club was formed.
• 1998 Handsworth Juniors took over running of Oliver’s Mount Sports Ground having expanded football sections for many ages.
• 2008 Paramore Sports F.C. played in Sheffield at the now demolished Don Valley Stadium.
• 2011 Parramore F.C. manager Peter Whitehead bought Worksop Towns disused ground of Sandy Lane Worksop. Worksop Town having their lease terminated by previous owners in 2008. Parramore moved the team from Sheffield to Worksop and became Worksop Parramore.
• 2013 Merger between Handsworth and Worksop Parramore taking up Worksop Parramore’s higher league placing as Handsworth Paramore F.C. and playing at Sandy Lane, Worksop.
• 2018 Women’s team join Sheffield and Hallamshire Women’s County League under the Handsworth banner.
• April 2019 Peter Whitehead who bought Sandy Lane resigns as Chairman of Handsworth Parramore F. C.
• 2019 renamed Handsworth F.C.

So what started in Sheffield will return to Sheffield after an interlude in Nottinghamshire. Quite a journey but I’m sure it won’t be the last as they continue rising up the non-league pyramid.

Barton Town F.C. are also an amalgamation of two clubs. Barton Town were formed in 1880 becoming a successful club in North Lincolnshire. However they hit bad times after 111 years and eventually merged with Barton Old Boys who were 33 years their juniors. So Burton Town Old Boys F.C. was formed in 1995 and they have enjoyed rising 2 steps in the pyramid system since then.

Handsworth F.C. 3 Barton Town 1

Tool station Northers Counties East League Premier Division.  Sandy Lane Worksop Tuesday 20th August 2019

The pitch was in excellent condition after the summer rest and dark clouds drifted by on a dry night.

The Handsworth under 17 side warmed up on the pitch with the seniors to get valuable experience ahead of their own season and the game was underway to a goal after only 3 minutes for Barton as Ben Townsend in goal for Handsworth lost all positional sense to allow Ben Hinchliffe to tap home. Barton remained on top but a beautiful hit ball landed at just the right height for Jamie Austin to head home at the near post to draw level.

It should have been 2-1 at half time but Ben Townsend made amends for his earlier error by saving a penalty diving to his left just before the referee blew for the interval.

Handsworth looked stronger in the second half and a direct run into the goal keepers area drew a foul and a penalty that Leon Howarth placed well to Harry Cartwrights right hand for them to take the lead.

Leon Howard made it 3-1 when he glided past three defenders before slotting the ball home from an acute angle inside the goalkeepers right hand.

Barton pressed hard to get back in the game but strong aerial control by the centre backs, two outstanding saves by Townsend and the bar kept them at bay.

The summer rain was by now back again to dampen Barton’s  homeward journey and the result means they have lost their first three league games that makes the season ahead look gloomy .

The chip league made a disappointing comeback with the chips warm and soft. This was despite them being fried in a fryer, the fact that they are then kept in a bowl covered with metal foil ready for serving had an effect. They gained only a lowly 50.

Like last season my first game was an F.A. Cup Extra Preliminary round match and this season the same but between Northampton O N Chenecks and Godmanchester Rovers. The FA Cup has been competed for since the 1871/72 season and in the first 14 finals an old boys team featured 8 times but not since. Could Old Northamptonians Chenecks  go all the way.

You would expect that the the summers day of the 11th August would not be a miserable grey day with heavy black clouds and torrential rain. The roads to the ground were far from coping with the heavy downpours but the beautiful green pitch was doing fine. The teams did not warm up but came strait out and immediately the referee called them together and we were underway.

The ON’s Association was established in 1919 in memory of the 94 members of staff, sixth former and leavers who had lost their lives in the First World War. Initially as a cricket club a football section was started in 1946 to allow former pupils of Northampton Grammar to play football. They started playing as Chenecks in local football and progressed to join the United Counties League in 1969. With the recent ground improvements they have progressed to the Premier Division and have developed a very good men’s and women’s youth team set up.

Godmanchester Rovers have been around since 1919 playing in local Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire football. But a speculative application to the Eastern Counties League in 2002 saw them step up and have since won promotion to the Premier League.

Neither team had won their opening games so an even game was anticipated.

Northampton ON Chenecks 2 Godmanchester 3

Godmanchester looked the better side in early play but it was Chenecks who went ahead on 8 minutes when a ball from the right flashed across the wet surface for Nathan Burrows to slot home.

The play evened out but Godmanchester equalised on 32 minutes with a move similar to Chenecks goal when a Chandler cross from the right was tapped in by James Hall.

The rain kept falling for all of the first half and the teams went in all square at half time although Godmanchester had a goal ruled offside. VAR would have helped here.

There was no respite at half time from the rain and a warming coffee under the umbrella kept spirits up. There were no chips here so this seasons chip league was postponed. Water had started to puddle in the goal mouth as play was restarted.

Godmanchester kept up their superiority and as the rain stopped they went ahead on 63 minutes when number 5 Ross Munro neatly struck a low free kick through the wall past the outstretched hand of the keeper to find the back of the net just inside the left hand post.

The away team were 3-1 up on 79 minutes when my man of the match Josh Dawking skilfully evaded defenders to slot the ball past the goalkeeper.

It seemed all over at this point and the crowd were distracted when the Air Ambulance landed next to the pitch and three paramedics ran off to a nearby emergency.

Despite Godmanchesters continued pressure Chenecks were able to make a late rally and saw Ben Diamond deliberately place his shot past the keepers right. A bit of extra pressure from the home side came to nothing and the referee blew to give Godmanchester a  home derby against St Neots Town in the next round. The referee, Joseph Larkin booked a player from each side for tackles that perhaps would not have been made in better conditions but his actions meant that both teams settled down and in the main it was a pleasure not to notice the referee.

The 90 people wadded off as the rain came down again but must have felt it was well worth getting wet for this entertaining match. The dream of an Old Boys team at Wembley was over but a new season ahead still beckons.

The Far Corner ‘A Mazy Dribble through North-East Football’ by Harry Pearson – published by Little Brown and Company 1994.

When on holiday you have the time to catch up on those books you have in store. This was another charity shop find and turned out to be an absorbing read.

Harry Pearson is a Middlesbrough supporter and  also a Football Supporter. The book is about Harry’s 1993/94 season and all of the matches he watched. It is not just about each match he attends but also detail on football clubs, leagues, players and fans in the North East.

The book has inspired me to visit some new teams as there are reviews of games including such teams as Billingham Synthonia, Seaham Red Star, Esh Winning Albion, Easington Colliery to name a few.

There is some good humour and colourful detail about players such as Hughie Gallagher and in depth comment on the history of the Northern League.

The humour and idiosyncrasies of football fans shines through, who else would try to find where the Charlton brothers were born and succeed. The holiday was made better by my suppressed laughter.

‘Back Lanes and Muddy Pitches’ by Robert Rowell:  Published by Zymurgy Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne 2004

This is a fascinating and funny insight into Robert Rowell’s footballing and general life. Like many he dreams of becoming a famous footballer and like most he doesn’t achieve it in the professional game but has outstanding ability at the level he plays. That level is in the street, the park, school playing fields, Sunday League and he has an international career due to jobs in Italy and France.

There is a poignant passage when he realises that there is a better player at school. He manages to survive the harshness of Sheffield Sunday League football which he loves and can play a blinder after the blinder of the night before. He is fated in Italy but it all turns to dust.

Robert luckily has a relative who becomes a professional and international footballer and he is able to reach heady heights through him.

To say a lot more would be to spoil the book for someone else. This £2.49 copy from  an Oxfam Book Shop was a joy and I would recommend it to anyone. It is easy to read but not to put down.

Thank you Robert it certainly made me feel a footballing star.