Last minute adjustment.

Having read the Central Midlands Alliance League’s Web Site about their team of the month (December), Kirton Brickworks FC, and that they played on a pitch next to a brick works, the delivery trucks and a stack of bricks, it was a must to visit.

I drove along the edge of Sherwood Forest through trees where some of the landscape was moulded by the detritus of past coal mining to Ollerton. Here I turned North towards the village of Kirton and the brick works now owned by Forterra the major UK brick company.

Driving through the gates of the company I could see the football pitch on my right but no activity. Checking the clubs X, formerly Twitter account the match had been switched to nearby Walesby Village Sports Club. Evidently Kirton had recently played their first game on their works pitch since September and it could not be made ready for this match.

A quick five minutes away, I found the venue in time.

A small sports club with changing rooms, toilets, good parking, a bar, meeting room and football pitches. The pitch sloped from end to end with great grass cover, a bit undulating but drained well considering our recent weather. It was a mild 12 degrees with a blue sky and white clouds but with ominous grey clouds coming from behind. It was great to watch a match with no icy wind and cold feet and hands. The locals had used the picnic tables for an impromptu seating area.

It was difficult to find much about the history of the two teams, Kirton were founded in 1965 and Long Bennington in 1920. They are both established members of the Central Midlands Alliance.

Kirton Brickworks 0 Long Bennington FC 2

Saturday 2nd February 2024 Kick off 14.00

1st v 9th Central Midland Alliance Division 1 East

Walesby Village Sports Club, Forest Ln, Walesby, Newark NG22 9PF

Kirton, Red shirts with Black shorts; Bennington, Dull gold shirts and shorts, (with the grey socks it looked like the whole kit had been put in the wrong wash and had come out ruined).

With Bennington kicking up hill it surprised me to see them dominate the start and they went ahead after 14 minutes when their number 4 was put through on the right, where he tapped in unopposed. Kirton tried to rally but were kept at bay only able to show any threat through individuals efforts.

The same pattern emerged in the second half and after the Kirton goalkeeper made two outstanding saves to keep them in the game Bennington scored from the resulting corner. The corner kick was perfectly delivered to Bennington’s number 5 , who unmarked, nodded it into the middle of the net.

It was all over from there, Kirton remain top of the League but others with games in hand now have the opportunity to pass them if they win those games.

No chips here as expected but after fathoming out the coffee machine, wasting my first pound, the coffee was hot and strong, tasting better than it looked.

An enjoyable game and it still leaves me with a trip back to Kirton to see them play in their unusual ground.

There were two players I need to mention, Long Bennington’s number 6 who just controlled the back line and seemed to always be there for a crucial interception, he should be playing at a higher level. Kirton’s number 4 also needs a mention in a game where he and their goalkeeper stood out in a lack lustre team effort, for his continual effort and skill.

Goole, on the way up.

After last week’s freeze I drove North to watch Goole AFC play Silsden AFC with an outside temperature of 9 degrees.

Luckily driving East on the M62 the Goole turning is just before the roadworks for the repairs to the Ouse Bridge. The bridge repairs are needed, but anyone travelling this way regularly will have endured the frustration of the 30 mph limit, that feels like walking pace and the bullying of some drivers through the roadworks. The estimated finish date has now been put back to the end of August, really!

Coming off the motorway, you immediately notice the vast swathes of new housing and tidy industrial premises. The ground is in the Old Town within post war and older terraced housing. I parked in one of the terraced streets where there were plenty of to let boards and houses being renovated. Opposite the ground entrance they are building some new modern terraced housing.

A friendly crew took my money for my entrance, programme and raffle ticket, I still have never won one but must have paid for a few new balls by now.

You immediately see why a portion of the money set aside for some regeneration of Goole is to be spent on this community asset. The pitch is surrounded by a running track that looks very tired, there aŕe panels off some of the covered standing, the hospitality is a small portacabin, food is provided by a mobile wagon and let’s not talk about the toilets. Firstly let’s say we’ll done to the fans and officials who have kept this club going and wish them well in their new all weather pitch with new, changing rooms, function rooms and new toilets. The club will be able to generate a renewed football focus for all ages and generate more income. Their youth team for instance will not have to play home games away in Snaith.

I have seen the ground before from the train passing through to Hull which is very visible from one corner. What is also visible are the salt and pepper pots as they are known locally, two much needed water towers for these flat lands of the Humber Estuary.

It felt colder than 9 degrees which could have been accounted for by the proximity of Goole Docks. I cold see the outline of the top of a moored cargo ship. The sky was a clear light blue, criss crossed by a few vapour trails, with the sun shining brightly. The grass pitch was flat and looked lush apart for some wear in the goal mouths. It was obviously muddy which showed up by the dirt kicked off the boots as the teams left the field after warming up.

Goole has seen a football team for over 120 years, with Goole Town being famous for their efforts in the Midland League and cup exploits. Unfortunately financial problems forced them to close in 1996 but a Leeds Entrepreneur started a new club a year later. They immediately won the Central Midlands League and later were promoted to the Northern Counties League. Their rise continued to the Northern Premier League in 2005 but Administration difficulties halted the progress in 2009 and by 2017 they were back in the NCEL where they sit today.

A Silsden football team were formed in 1904 with the current senior team founded in 1996, similar to Goole. Having been successful in the Craven Amateur Football League they joined the North West Counties League in 2004, promoted to the Premier Division in their first season, but relegated in 2010 and promoted again in 2018 as champions. They were transferred laterally to the NCEL in 2019.

Goole AFC 3 Silsden 0

Saturday 27th January 2024. 17.00 pm kick off. Vikings v Cobbydalers, 19th v 10th

Victoria Pleasure Gardens, Marcus Street, Goole, DN14 8SL

Goole; Red and black vertical shirt fronts, red backs with black shorts.

Silsden; Lime yellow shirts with grey shorts.

The first fifteen minutes of the game were very equal except for a point blank save by the Goole goalkeeper. It did seem a long way away from the action, something the new ground will help to redress. What struck me in these first minutes were the foul throws that have entered into the modern game, not only here but in many games I watch. Perhaps FIFA could put this on their list of things to tighten up on.

Goole kept plugging away on the heavy pitch and a great bit of skill by their Lucas Robinson, who looked a class above most players, on 36 minutes, hit a pass from the left over the top of the away defence for the on rushing Liam Flannagan to collect and drill into the net past the advancing goalkeeper.

Eight minutes later with half time approaching it was Lucas Robinson again who beat the full back and from the by-line slid the ball along the ground for the unmarked Daniel Ward to tap in. Goole went in at the break good value for the 233 fans, one of Goole’s highest gates of the season, to contemplate a chance of victory.

Silsden put the pressure on in the second half but rarely threatened to reduce the deficit. Goole’s forwards, prominent in the first half, were pushed back into defending but Brice Ghussein who had been their main threat in the second half continued his unselfish running and with the 90 minutes up, raced down the right and supplied a inch perfect cross for Luca Grant to complete the three nil win. The referee checked with the linesman for offside but the goal stood.

A first win for Goole in 10 league matches which should have eased their relegation worries if all the other teams around them hadn’t won as well.

Great afternoon out and it looks like Goole is on the up along with Goole AFC who ended their poor performances and it looks heads up for the development of the new ground. Thank you to the Goole fan who updated me on what is going on in the club during the second half.

The chips were good too, being hot, tasty, cooked to order and a good texture. Having almost lost heart in my chip quest it was good to be able to give a score of 70. This may soon be the end of the current chuck wagon with Goole looking to organise their own food in the near future, before the ground update, to help generate income.

Hard work has its rewards.

With frozen grounds stopping me from visiting my 3 chosen games of the day, I decided to go to Ilkeston, whose game was on because of their artificial pitch.

An interesting approach to the stadium here, with traffic lights guarding single file access over the canal before you turn right into the large car park, £3.

It was still 4 degrees with a light wind before the forecast change from the last 7 days of freezing weather to an expected balmy 7 degrees but high winds of storm ‘Isha’.

There was a constant stream of fans entering the ground and it was no surprise that there was the highest home gate of the season, at 1360, for Ilkeston. This was just over three hundred more than the previous high.

Ilkeston should be applauded for this as they had been rewarded for their efforts.

Their social media had made a lot of noise over Derby County playing away along with Notts Forrest whose game at Brentford didn’t kick off until 17.30. Time then to get home and watch that on TV or stay and watch it in the clubhouse. As the day unfolded, more and more local games were called off, Notts County, Matlock, Heanor and othets all of which were reported on Ilkeston’s social media with calls to ‘come on down’.

There was a final reason for a larger than normal crowd and that was it was a local derby. According to Google Maps it is only 5.9 miles between Ilkeston Town FC, along the A610 and Basford (Pronounced Baseford).

The stadium is soon recognised by its clock tower in one corner where there is a large seated stand that extends at a lower level down one side broken by home and away dugouts that have seating that looks like it has come out of a luxury yacht. The opposite side is open low level standing with a large club house behind with two of the three food outlets in the ground, only one of which serves chips.

The two ends are covered standing, one with higher terracing than the other.

The all-weather artificial pitch seems to slope slightly from end to end and slopes away a few feet from the in play lines. This always looks a little worrying to me and last time I was here a player slid off the pitch into the perimeter fence. Its purpose though is to allow good drainage.

lkeston Town F.C. have only been in existence since 2017 taking up the local mantle from Ilkeston F.C. who had only been reformed in 2010. The current team having been elected to the Midland Football League won back to back promotions before results were expunged due to covid. The Non League reorganisation found them in the Northern Premier League – Division One Midlands Division which they won gaining the team automatic promotion but were reallocated for the 2022/23 to the Southern Football League Premier Division Central, now back in the Northern Premier.

Basford started life in 1900 as The Old Pear Tree Inn playing in local Notts football Leagues until they resigned in the 2005/06 season only to restart the following year. They changed course in 2010 joining the East Midland Counties League and in 2012 were promoted to the Northern Counties East league which they rose through only to be transferred to the Midland League in 2014. They immediately won that being promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One South and in 2018 were promoted as champions to the Premier Division. 2022 saw them transferred to the Southern League Premier Central Division and a year later back to the Northern Leagues’ Premier Division. So after a long period of Notts football they have changed leagues continually due to promotions and league re-organisations making great upward progress.

Ilkeston Town FC 4 Basford United FC 1

Saturday 20th January 2024, Kick Off 15.00 pm. Northern Premier League, Premier Division.

12th v 18th Robins v The Lions New Manor Ground, Awsworth Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 8JF

Ilkeston, Red shirts with white stripe down side and white shorts; Basford, Yellow shirts and shorts.

Basford had a good sprinkling of ex Ilkeston players but within only 2 minutes they may have wished they hadn’t returned with the home team scoring through James Walker. His shot was deflected by a defender past the despairing, diving, goalkeeper.

Basford then had a period of more possession but their laboured build up from the back often broke down in midfield and did not trouble the Robins. Ilkeston threatened through long throws and corners and James Walker put them further ahead with a great header at the far post after a brilliantly delivered ball after 31 minutes.

To add to the away sides gloomy afternoon, six minutes later, Declan Eratt-Thompson looked to scoop the ball with his hand near the half way line, on the blind side of the referee and ran forward. Some of the Basford players stopped but Declan continued onward and hit a fine shot into the back of the net from 20 yards. The three goal advantage at half time was well deserved as despite a lot of Basford possession they never managed a clear scoring opportunity.

Immediately from the restart Ilkeston scored again but after the linesman intervened it was ruled out for offside. Basford tried to get into the game and made substitutes but their firepower was blunted continually.

Ilkeston made it 4 with 10 minutes to go when Walker completed his hattrick taping the ball in past the goalkeeper after receiving a defence splitting pass.

Basford scored a consolation goal as time ran out. Jack Lewis, who had hit a free kick from the same spot well over the bar 2 minutes earlier, this time hit the cross bar and the ball fell down onto the goal line and bounced out but Tyson’s follow up shot that was hooked out was adjudged to have crossed the line.

More sorrow for Basford when Owen Betts was sent off for a second bookable offence in the dying embers of the game.

Not a classic for a local derby but Ilkeston were happy to gain the three points, an improvement to their goal difference and their largest crowd of the season.

I expected a lot of the chips as Ilkeston have been a previous winner of my Chip League. There are three kiosks selling food at the ground with only one selling chips. I joined a long queue and eagerly received my quest. they were hot, golden, crispy, not greasy, tasty on the outside but bland and dull in the centre. I’m having a bad chip season and they only scored 63.

N.B. In my last post I talked wrote about Hamworthy and Marske having to resign during the league season. Unfortunately Nuneaton have sadly joined them.

Hamworthy show there is a road back.

An unusual choice this week to see Hamworthy United Reserves play Bridport Reserves in the Dorset Premier League.

Partly due to a visit to see friends and relatives, partly to go to a ground I missed in the past and finally to see what happens when a club has to throw in the towell.

Over the last month I have read with interest the demise of Marske in the Northern Premier League, the wholesale departure of manager and players at North Shields to enable the club to stay afloat, a number of teams up for sale and Nuneaton’s ground and finance problems.

Hamworthy resigned from the Southern League Division One South last October 2023 due to financial problems, having started the season.

They have kept the club going by keeping the reserve team playing in the Dorset Premier League. They will be able to drop the reserves part of their name next season and start a new journey for the club to find their level in the football pyramid within their means.

Many clubs suffered large income loss due to covid restrictions which were followed by the harsh inflationary pressures, particularly from rising energy costs. Some problems have been where clubs have risen higher than their supporter base could sustain other than through external largess.

Player payments have also been a problem with Internet comments stating that a recent club in peril were playing players £800 a week. Anecdotal comments at games I have attended often say that one team is paying players an extra £200 per game compared with others. Some Step 7 players, that’s eleven leagues off the Premier League, have agents, is that real!

There are maybe some changes in the opposite direction. Players are deciding to play for their local club rather than one some distance away that pays more. This change is down to travel costs and travel time. People are valuing time more since their covid experiences.

Hamworthy are still going and here is my experience.

Hamworthy a distinct area is just West of Poole but to reach this archipelago you have to go over a bridge from that town. The ground is soon upon you behind some housing and separated from Poole Harbour by what appears to be a large electrical sub station. It has good parking available and once you enter the stadium you can see that it was remodelled when the 3G artificial pitch was laid around 6 years ago. The flat pitch, also marked out for training and junior use, is surrounded by good hard standing and there is a small covered stand to one side of a goal and a seated covered stand of metal construction on one side. The club house is large with a bar and snack hatch but was cold as the heating was not working. The TV had a terrestrial program running, no sky sports here and it looked like most people were opting for hot drinks and food rather than alcohol which could have been because of the 3 degrees outside and not much warmer in. The heating was fixed by half time and gave a welcome respite to the cold. On paying my entrance I asked if there was a team sheet or program but was quickly told we can’t afford those here.

I sat down to watch the game under a grey dull sky.

Hamworthy United FC Reserves 6 Bridport FC Reserves 0

Dorset Premier League, Saturday 13th January 2024, kick off 15.00 pm

The County Ground, Blandford Close, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, BH15 4BF

Hammers v The Bees

Hamworthy, horizontal claret and blue shirts with claret shorts; Bridport, Red shirts and black shorts.

The Hamworthy side was made up of youngsters and started the game with more possession and playing some neat pretty football, hitting the away sides post on 20 minutes. Bridport were no mugs and their older heads and greater physicality meant they they were a good match for their opponents. The first half continued in that way but on 40 minutes Bridport’s Thorpe, who had joined the game as a substitute early on, was red carded when he fouled the on rushing Williams on the edge of the goal area to prevent him scoring. At half time it was a well matched contest.

Within 8 minutes of the restart Hamworthy were ahead when the ball fell to Nemo Nixon on the right who shot, the ball deflecting off a defender over the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net. A quick loo break, after coffee before the game and at half time, meant that I missed the second goal again scored by Nemo Nixon just two minutes later.

The goals kept coming and on 58 minutes Tadgh Case scored a well placed goal after receiving the ball on the edge of the area after a well worked corner.

Hamworthy just kept taking advantage of the extra man, younger legs and the momentum of the game with Nemo Nixon securing his hat trick on 69 minutes when he ran on to meet a ball over the top and slot it into the net. Four became five 4 minutes later when the cultured Tymoteusz Famurat waited for the ball to drop out of the air and hit it on the volley to the right of the despairing goalkeeper.

With two minutes left a through ball found a home forward who drew the goalkeeper and slid the ball along the ground to Tadght Case to tap in. A well deserved second half performance by Hamworthy and if they can keep this team together they can only improve their performances and league position.

Hamworthy have started again and look to have cemented a new platform to grow from. The crowd which I estimated to be around 80 were fully behind the team and looked to enjoy their afternoon on and off the field.

The chips, started well, they looked good, French fries rather than chips, were golden , tasty, a good portion, were not greasy but as I continued to eat them they became harder and harder. The nut crackers that were put away after Christmas could have been of use here. a score of 53.

N,B. On the same day Hamworthy Recreation were being beaten on penalties away to Jersey Bulls in the last 32 of the FA Vase. Hamworthy Rec were once the company team of Hamworthy Engineering a local outfit who still have a small presence in the area but are now part of a larger company based in Hull. Hamworthy Recreations home is now 6 miles north of Poole.

A Muddy start to 2024 at Garforth.

I started the New Year with a visit to a new venue for me, Garforth Town.

Garforth is 5 miles east of Leeds, within the Leeds conurbation. Its agricultural background was shattered like many villages/towns in this area by coal. With coal gone Garforth at the end of the M1 where it meets the A1M is now well placed for the industrial estates that spring up near these arterial roads. As you drive into the town from the motorway, the ground is immediately on your left within some modern housing. A sign on the main road says the car park is full and directs you to an overflow.

The overflow is an industrial estate on which is the Ginetta factory, the sports car company favoured by many as an initial route into motor racing. The estate unfortunately is hilly and having parked near the bottom the uphill walk was finally greeted by a long queue at the turnstile where Garforth’s largest crowd of the season 385 have turned up. Their opponents. Frickley Athletic is only a short drive away up the A1 and there are some of their fans in the queue.

Getting in with 2 minutes to spare I noticed the snack bar just to my left and bought some chips. This delayed me further and I missed the first 2 minutes.

The pitch sloped slightly from end to end, the surface was undulating and muddy in parts with patches of sand to help soak up the constant rain of the past week.

It was still overcast with some blue sky poking through the grey wispy cloud. The stillness of the day meant the cold air seemed to grip you.

Garforth Town were established in 1964 as The Miners Arms, playing Sunday League Football switching to Saturday Football in 1976. A move to the Yorkshire League in 1977 saw a name change to Garforth Miners an after progressing through the Divisions they were paced in the Northern Counties East Division one in its formation in 1982. Three years later they adopted their current name and moved to division 2 after another league re-organisation but immediately gained promotion back to Division 1. They achieved promotion to the Premier division in 1998 after some impressive seasons but were back ion Division 1 in 2003 after relegation. Their yoyo existence continued with promotion back to the highest division in 2006 and even higher the next season to the Northern Premier League Division 1 North. They were however back in the Northern Counties East League in 2013.

There is mention of Frickley Colliery Athletic Club as far back as 1908 but with the demise of the coal industry the Colliery name was dropped in the 1970’s. Evidence of the mining roots can be seen from the stand as it overlooks an old mining spoil tip that has been contoured and is now used as farm land with the hay bales in the fields which acted as seating for some people to overlook the ground and watch the game. Frickley ‘s best performance in the F.A.Cup was in 1985 when they reached the third round only to lose at home to local rivals Rotherham United. At that time they were playing their football in the highest level of Non League Football and were founder members of the Football Conference the following year. Since then they have slipped down some levels but are a well run and established club.

Garforth Town AFC 4 Frickley Athletic 2

Saturday 6th January 2024; 15.00 pm kick off. Miners v Blues. 7th v 10th

Bannister Prentice Community Stadium, Cedar Ridge, Garforth LS25 2PF

Garforth light blue shirts and shorts; Frickley green shirts and black shorts.

Garforth took the initiative from the start and deservedly took the lead on 11 minutes when Mathew Antcliff parried shot came back to him, he followed up to slot it home.

I took a seat high up in the stand and could see for miles. The stand was very impressive down the centre of one side but apart from a
small corrugated coverd structure one end all other areas were open to the elements.

Frickley countered after this set back and on 27 minutes were back on level terms when Garforth’s attempts at clearing a cross fell to Alhassane Keita who composed himself with his shot beating 4 defenders and the goalkeeper to level.
Only one minute later Garforth re-took the lead when Charlie Marshall received the ball on the edge of the goal area, turned superbly and slammed the ball into the bottom of the net to the right of the goalkeeper.

A bit of luck and skilful play enabled Frickley to level 6 minutes before half time when after some neat passing play Richard Collier shot which deflected off a defender looping over the goalkeeper to nestle in the goal. It stated at two all at half time.

With the light fading badly the home team did not put on their floodlights until 2 minutes into the second half. Electricity saving I presume. Despite the sapping conditions it was a very open game but Garforth regained the lead on50 minutes when Charlie Marshall collected an overhit ball on the left, ran to the by-line and Cleverley slotted the ball past defender for a 3-2 lead.

It continued a great battle when five minutes later Frickley hit the base of the post with a long shot. Charlie Marshall missed three chances in the next 10 minutes as the conditions worsened.

Frickley’s efforts became harder when just over three quarters through the game Alhassane Keita was sent off for kicking out after a strong challenge.

That man Charlie Marshall completed his hattrick with ten minutes left putting the game beyond the away teams reach with a tap in that was made by Sam Barker. Sam Barker seemed to be the player best suited to the conditions skipping over the mud all the game.

The game was a que for both sides to send on numerous substitutes to rest some weary legs.

A very competitive game in poor conditions but which entertained for the full 90 minutes.

Unfortunately the chips for me were warm, soggy and limp a score of 44. My scores are very subjective though as talking to family the next day I found that some liked chips that way!

Boxing Day Derby Delight.

Having been to see Retford United FC play Retford FC in their local derby back in September when 1202 turned up I chose the reverse fixture on Boxing day.

I had been to Retford FC a few years ago when this junior, only in age, Retford team were getting ensconced in the Northern Counties East League Division 1. Much has changed, covered standing down one side, a temporary, open, seated stand behind one goal, a large tent/marquee to house a bar and concrete footings for something else new. What also had changed was the fact that the ground called ‘The Rail’ that has the East Coast Main Line running down one side was empty with no trains running at all. Strange way to run a railway!

Retford FC were looking to reverse the drubbing, 1-6 that they recieved earlier in the season but United wanted to get on track to try to get back in with a real chance of the play offs.

I had read that this was set to be the warmest Christmas on record but the 7 degrees would have felt colder if it hadn’t been for the 5 minute walk from where I had parked. It was dry with little wind and wispy clouds and the pitch looked a little worn with muddy goalmouths.

Retford FC 1 Retford United 4

Tuesday 26th December 2023, 13.00 pm kick off. The Rail, Bagworth Road, Retford, DN22 7 NJ.

Northern Counties East League Division 1, 13th v 6th, Choughs v Badgers

Retford FC, Dark blue shirts and shorts white dart under arm. Retford United FC, Red shirts and shorts with white flashes on the bottom of the shirts.

United showed the greatest endeavour from the start and hit the crossbar in the first 15 minutes after continual forceful play on the right. This dominance was rewarded when a through ball was headed on by Liam Owen who ran on to it and scored hitting the ball across the keeper inside the far post with 21 minutes gone. Just 3 minutes later United were 2 ahead when a high ball across goal was headed back for Jake Chapman to riffle home.

The away team continued to show more endeavour and skill opening up the home defence at will. Retford United went 3 up on 33 minutes when another good cross from the right gave Jake Chapman the chance to just tap the ball in.

Whether this lead relaxed United I don’t know but a minute later they seemed to go to sleep and allow Hayden Covill a free shot at goal with no one near him. He didn’t miss and the goal did perk the home team up for the rest of the half.

The second half was a bit of an anti climax with Retford United controlling the game. The last ten minutes did see Retford FC put some pressure on but the goal they sought to set up a grandstand finish didn’t happen and it was United who sealed the game on 90 minutes when tired defenders let the ball fall to Joshua Batty who took it wide and slid it back across the goal to score the away teams fourth.

Retford United looked sharp and confident in this Boxing day derby, deserving the points.

The other winners on the day were the 1247 (45 up on the reverse fixture) fans of all ages and sexes who turned out to be thoroughly entertained and enjoy meeting up with many friends, family and colleagues at this very local encounter.

Unfortunately no chips so I settled for a very dry sausage roll, I should have waited for the left overs when I got home.

It looked like someone had missed some mistletoe on a nearby tree.

Santa at Newark Town but it’s ‘Ho Ho Ho’ for Dunkirk.

Having missed football for a few weeks I journeyed to Newark-on-Trent to enjoy all that is good with the game.

It didn’t start well as Google maps took me to ‘Valley Prospect’, research had prepared me though, this had been their ground and teams still play there with the Senior men’s team now playing at the YMCA Community and activity Village.

The YMCA Community and Activity Village is an amazing new facility with a wide range of sports, education, training, hospitality, childcare and social gathering space. There is ample tarmacked parking with a specific area for football, cricket and Athletics. The entrance to the football via a gate and past the wooden hut is not auspicious but you enter a new ultra flat synthetic pitch area that has been developed for Newark Town to play at their current level and above, with scope to go further if necessary. There is hard standing all round the pitch with a covered seated stand on one side and a smaller one on the other just offset from the dugouts. A small shelter near one corner of an end would keep you dry in a down poor but you may also catch a bus as it looks like a bus stop.

The catering facilities are ‘POSH’ as they are part of a central hub for other activities. No chips here so I settled down to read my programme with an Almond Croissant and a coffee, I told you it was posh. The facilities were well used before the game and at half time.

Also just inside the ground was ‘Santa’ and I wandered which team had been naughty or nice to get his help once the game started. Santa gave out presents to some of the junior team and at half time there was a hit the cross bar competition for juniors. There is certainly an all inclusive feel to the club.

The ‘Bring a Mate to Double the Gate’ promotion had only produced 148 fans which Is at Newark’s average gate. Disappointing perhaps but with all of the competing family activities at this time of year I thought it was a result. The weather was also kind with clear blue skies with the occasional wispy white and grey cloud, no wind and a temperature of 10 degrees.

I sat in the stand near what turned out to be the local ‘Ultra’s’, a group of about 15, mainly teenagers who chanted, shouted through a megaphone and beat a drum.

Saturday 16th December 2023; Kick off 15.00 pm. United Counties League Division One; 3rd v 10th

YMCA Community and Activity Village, Lord Hawke Way, Newark-on-Trent, NG24 4FH

Newark, Sky blue shirts with black shorts. Dunkirk, All red.

Newark Town FC 2 Dunkirk FC 5

No one gained the initiative in the first 15 minutes with the pattern of play mainly long balls and lots of verbal comment. This was broken only a minute later when the away team slotted a through ball to Jack Thatcher on the left of goal who drew the keeper and despatched it into the right side of the net. Newark did not give up and equalised on 23 minutes when Ryan Smith who was unmarked took the ball forward for most of half the pitch and just riffled it into the far corner.

Dunkirk responded positively and took control of the game and it was no surprise that on 41 minutes, a minute after the floodlights came on, that after some neat inter-passing on the right the ball found its way to Jack Thatcher whose shot deflected upwards and into the goal despite despairing attempts to keep it out by defenders. It didn’t stop there as within 2 minutes that man Jack Thatcher completed his hattrick when his pace defeated the defence and he was able to slide the ball along the ground into the back of the net.

HT Newark 1 Dunkirk 3

Newark came out for the second half fired up and competed at some pace but were denied three good chances by Dunkirk’s goalkeeper.

Dunkirk’s right back, Andrew Tsolakis, had been receiving some verbal’s from the crowd, singing ” No2 we’re taller than you”, went forward after 60 minutes and from the centre of the goal just outside the goalkeeping area thumped the ball home for a 4.1 lead for the visitors. At this time of year I’m sure he was thinking ‘Ho Ho Ho’ as he ran to the abusing fans with his hand cupped to his ears.

With 68 minutes substitute Elliot King reduced the arrears with a tap in after some very neat play all the way from the back. Newark now exerted some real pressure and should have been awarded a penalty for a foul that appeared to be in the penalty area but which both officials deemed to have been minutely outside.

As time ran out and with no reward for their efforts Newark were caught out again with Declan Brown racing through, his fierce shot gave the goalkeeper no chance to stop Dunkirk’s fifth.

A great game and venue which lived up to my hope of seeing football at its best, thank you everyone. Perhaps you can help the home team next time Santa.

It’s posh at Wakefield.

An hours trip up the M1 to Wakefield with snow forecast and an initial temperature of 2.5 degrees brought me to the Be Well Stadium home to Wakefield Trinity Rugby league club and this season Wakefield FC. The car park is in front of the club, looked after by attendants and is free, with some of it still being prepared for tarmacking. You walk to the entrance that is above some steps which is to use a word, ‘Posh’, with a Christmas tree twinkling in a corner.

Unfortunately I’m informed that the program has not arrived from the printers so I walk through a door into a large room with round tables and a bar and snack bar, one side of which is all glass that looks out on the pitch and stadium from height. The stadium looks amazing and is nearly finished, the major revamp being mainly resourced by the community. One side is a magnificent all seater covered stand that could hold 2600 people that is nearly ready, one end is a block of hospitality units of which the entrance room is in, one end is a large standing covered terrace of which the centre core is completed but the wing still have some crumbling areas, and a majorly open terraced area down the other side. I will have to come back when I can sit in the stand although the crowd of 348, which was good for the level of football, was lost in the facilities.

Unfortunately Wakefield Trinity were relegated from Super League last season and will hope to bounce back. They have just been bought out in October this year with assurances as to new money available for the club and team building. There are 350000 people in the area of Wakefield which should be supporting a football team at a higher level and over the years different groups have tried to achieve this. Today’s club looks to have started a new journey that is bearing progress, a promotion to the Northern Counties East league two years ago has led to consolidation at the new level and they now sit top of their league although others have games in hand. I’d like to think that progress will be made but there are many teams jostling for the same success.

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 in font 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. After winning promotion to the Northern Counties East League Division One they are now trying to go higher.

There have been teams in Shirebrook for over 100 years with the current club dating back to 1985 when it was formed as Shirebrook Colliery. It changed its name to Town in 1991 when the colliery closed and has played in the Northern Counties East Leagues for nearly 20 years but recently has found it hard to progress further with a limited amount of resources. This season has seen a resurgence.

Wakefield AFC 2 Shirebrook Town FC 2

Tuesday 28th November 2023; 19.45 kick off.

Northern Counties East League Division 1

The Be Well Stadium, Doncaster Road, Wakefield, WF1 5EY

1st v 4th

Wakefield, White shirts with red and dark blue thin vertical stripe down front and navy blue shorts.

Shirebrook, Black and white vertical stripes shirts with black shorts.

The game was off to a competitive start with the visitors showing no desire to defend. After just 16 minutes Shirebrook took the lead When a neat back heel allowed Kieren Watson to run through and slide the ball under the goalkeeper.

Wakefield replied only 2 minutes later when some neat one touch football was rewarded as Mason Rubie fired the ball across the goal into the left side of the net.

Wakefield now took charge, however 10 minutes later they were behind again when a headed clearance fell to Lewis Murr who rifled it into the goal from outside the goalkeepers area.

Wakefield played out the rest of the first half with a lot of tip tap football across the back against Shirebrook’s more direct approach.

Wakefield came out for the second half with a more positive attitude and made it all square on 55 minutes when an Oliver Green shot was deflected over the despairing keeper.

Wakefield took control of the last 35 minutes but couldn’t find a winner as Shirebrook seemed to run out of steam. Shirebrook did cause the home side problems with their number 11 the stand out player for me with good pace and skill.

Whether a draw was a good result for both teams will only be known in a few months. I would predict that both of these teams will be in the mix for promotion at the end of the season. I hope so.

Great to see chips on the menu, but what a disappointment, they were warm to cold, soggy and bland. In such great surroundings I expected better, a score of 48.

I needed to lay down!

Beverley is a lovely town set in East Yorkshire, with its Minster, busy historic shopping area, large open parkland and an up and coming Non-League football team.

It was a flat walk from the town to a small narrow lane that leads down to the cricket, tennis, squash, racket ball and football club.

It was a beautiful clear blue sky day but a bit cool at 8 degrees. You pass a small fans car park before the entrance and the clubhouse that is used for all sports.

You come to the football pitch last, which was flat with thick quite long grass. There are trees and shrubs on three sides with houses behind and the sports facilities on the other. You can only walk round half of the pitch, the rest being blocked off. Down most of one side was a small covered seated stand flanked by two covered standing areas.

Beverley Town have been going since 1902 playing in local East Riding football and merged with Beverley Rangers in 1948 and Beverley United in 1954. They moved to the new Humber Premier League in 2000 and were ever present winners or runners up in the Premier Division enabling them to be invited to join the Northern Counties East League in 2021.

Retford United were formed in 1987 and have played their football in as high as the Northern Premier League but disappointing seasons and restructuring saw them fall to the Central Midlands league. Now under new management they won the Central Midlands League North at a canter last season and are now in the Northern Counties East League Division One.

Beverley Town V Retford United

Saturday 11th November 2023 15.00 pm kick off: Norwood, Beverley HU17

Northern Counties East League, Division One: 3rd v 7th; The Beavers v The Badgers

Beverley, Red shirts with some white angled stripes on the bottom with red shorts: Retford, sky blue shirts with black shorts.

There was a period of reflection before kick off with the game being played on rememberance day.

Retford won the toss and changed ends meaning that the low sun would be in the home team defenders’ eyes. Retford immediately pumped high balls at Beverley causing the desired problems but it was the home side who took the lead after 11 minutes when a mistake by Retford’s central defender let in Benjamin Hinchcliffe to run through and place the ball under the exposed keeper.

Retford kept creating chances at one end and making silly defensive errors at the other. They drew level on 28 minutes when a strong cross from the right was hit back from the left for Liam Owen to head in unopposed. Within a few minutes the badgers were ahead when Owen nodded down a ball in the path of James Eyles to sweep home. Retford made it 1.3 on 39 minutes when a long throw was headed on by Spencer Clarke who looped it over the advancing keeper Tom Nicholson. They kept their advantage until halftime but must have wondered what it could have been if they had taken all of their chances.

HT 1.3

The floodlights were on for the second half as the sun disappeared behind local housing.

Beverley came out in full flow and they hit the post within 5 minutes and then missed a free header at the far post. After a lot of pressing a quick long ball out of defence, on 23 minutes. rolled along the ground for Scott Phillips to run on to and clip it across the goal into the corner of the net to reduce the deficit.

Just 3 minutes later, Beverley were equal when a cleared ball fell to Grant Tait who curled it in for all square.

Beverley now had the momentum, but they seemed to back off and both sides had chances. A long throw with 1 minute of normal time left from Retford was headed on to the far post where it was bundled out only to fall to Lewis Macaskill who squeezed it in. With time up it looked like Retford who had stolen all the points but with one minute left of 9 minutes of added time a Beavers forward bore down on goal to be met by a diving goalkeeper and two defenders. The referee stepped forward to the pile of players on the ground and pointed to the penalty spot. Two Retford players were then booked for I think decent. Scott Phillips steadied himself and hit the ball hard into the goal for 4.4. The referee soon blew for full time. What a game, I needed to lay down in a dark room to take it all in but for a walk back to the car. I’m sure the large crowd of 310 felt the same but with everyone knowing they had seen a great game that epitomises football at this level.

The defensive mistakes by both sides were wiped out by all out attacking. The cricket score board could have been used to keep track.

Beverley Town 4 Retford United 4.

I had to feel sorry for Retford’s young goalkeeper drafted in for the day for their Under 21’s, his performance didn’t warrant letting in four goals.

Great to have chips again, provided by ‘raise the roof’ of Hull who support the homeless. The food van was very busy and the chips were hot, crispy, a good texture that was let down by a burnt after taste. So a score of 61.

The great Sheffield City FC mystery!

Saturday 4th November I made my way to The Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park for a 14.00 pm kick off for the game between Sheffield City and Caribbean Sports as shown on The FA website.

There were some people using the all weather pitch but they finished in time for kick off.

It seemed confusing that there were only 3 of us there and when a man came with a bunch of keys to lock up the whole stadium my worst fears were realised. He told us that Sheffield City were not playing at the stadium but 10 minutes away but he didn’t know where. I squelched off to the car and off to a warm home and the football scores on the TV.

The FA website stated that they were playing at the Olympic Legacy Stadium but there was no social media for either team telling of a change.

To be fair on such a miserable wet day it turned out better to be at home.

Later in the day I looked at the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior Football League results to find that Sheffield City had infact played and beaten Caribbean Sports. I don’t know where.

I emailed someone who I believed helped run Sheffield City but he replied that he had moved on and had no involvement.

Oh well, if I find out in the future, I might try again.