Where else in the world can you watch a semi-final of a football cup within the walls of an Elizabethan Castle with the sea as a backdrop, the answer is Berwick-upon-Tweed.

I ventured north to the border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed to see a game in the Berwick-upon-Tweed Charities Cup. This annual event has been on my radar for sometime but other commitments have intervened. This year I made it and having been I would like to go back.

The Berwick-upon-Tweed Charities Cup has been in existence since 1948 but there have been charity match competitions on the grounds since 1922. Famously Lowry, who spent some time in the town, painted a picture of a football match at the ‘Stanks’.

Hospital Cups were often annual events played in early summer to raise money for health care pre NHS. Many have fallen by the wayside but this has survived and flourished over the years and is now growing a women’s competition as well. There have been some hiccups and restarts along the way but the dedication of volunteers, officials, players and supporters means every year they come together to create this great tradition and fund raiser. The competition is also iconic as it is played part surrounded by the walls of the historic Elizabethan Castle. It’s nickname ‘The Stanks’ derives its name from it having been a ditch/moat and most probably the end of the latrines.

Teams enter from both sides of the borders continuing the rivalry of many centuries that has seen Berwick change hands from Scotland to England many times. Although in England today its most senior football team, Berwick Rangers, competes in the Scotish Lowland League, hoping to regain its position back in the SFL.

The competition raises between £5000 and £8000 each year and the benefitting charities this year are :

The Berwick and District Cancer Support Group.

North View Pensioners Club

Berwick and District friends of Dementia

The North Star Centre

Berwick Stroke Group

21 teams set off in the men’s competition in May from, pubs, sports clubs, companies and groups of friends.

Simpsons Malt v Murder on Zidance Floor

Tuesday 18th July 7 p.m.kick off.

Berwick Charities Cup Semi-Final

Simpsons, Light blue tops with red dark blue shoulder flashes  and dark blue shorts: Murder on Zidance Floor, red and black vertical striped shirt fronts with black backs and black shorts.

To start the match there were grey high clouds but no show of the forecast rain and little wind in this sheltered venue. The undulating grass pitch had little wear, only in one goal mouth.  I sat on a wall to casually watch the match along with a crowd of all ages that built to my count of 120. A local ice cream van was on hand to provide refreshments.

Simpsons started the game strongly looking the most physical side and very strong in the air. Their number 11 was booked early on for a crunching tackle and they created the best chance of the half when they hit the bar on 23 minutes.

Both teams though looked like they really wanted to win the game and Murder on Zidance Floor showed some neat moves and skilful running with the ball. The game ended 0.0 at half time and although there were no chants or shouting from the fans there was plenty of family and friends chat as to who was going to win. There was however an atmosphere at this amazing ground that has seen thousands of players and combatants over the years.

The game had hardly settled down in the second half when with about five minutes gone the ‘Murder’ defence failed to pick up Jack Cumming’s run and he managed to squeeze the ball into the net between the goal post and the keepers let hand.

Could ‘Murder’ respond, well their chances were improved around 5 minutes later when Simpsons number 11 was sent off for a second bookable offence which in fact was his third strong challenge of the game. The one man advantage was evident as they pushed forward constantly. I thought surely they would score but their shooting boots were not with them and their high balls into the Simpsons defence were always won by the defenders.

There was to be no late substitute of Zinedine Zidane off the bench or a sound track of one of Sophie Ellis-Bextors ‘Kitchen Disco’s’ to spur them on and the referee finally blew for full time and both sides looked exhausted in a game that could easily have been the final.

The final is on the 29th July at 18.30 pm between Simpsons Malt and Cheesy Waffles Project.

While staying in Berwick I visited Berwick Rangers ground and towering over it are the seed stores of Simpsons Malt, perhaps an omen.

Afterward: In the final Cheesy Waffles Fc defeated Simpsons Malt 5-1

Football’s Strangest Matches (Extraordinary but true stories from over a century of football). Written by Andrew Ward

First published in 1989, this book the 2004 reprint. Published by Robson Books from a imprint of Chrysalis Books Group plc.

This book was a filler after reading Peter May’s trilogy about a policeman who returns to Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and see’s life changing events unfold as he sets about solving three different murders all of which are tied in to his past and future.
I thoroughly enjoyed the books as I did this one.

It’s 66 short stories were quick easy reading that made you think and smile. It was often some of what seemed daft experiences at the time that shaped the game as we know it today. The content ranges from 1895 to 2000 and I was at one of the events set out in a chapter. In January 1961 Luton were at home to Manchester City in the FA Cup and I saw them go 2 nil ahead only to be pegged back by 6 goals all scored by Dennis Law. But the game was abandoned on 69 minutes due to the rain making an already muddy pitch unplayable. When the game was replayed although Dennis Law scored it was Luton who ran out 3-1 winners and progressed to the next round. It’s strange how your memory pales as I always thought it was abandoned because it was too icy.

There are tales about a hypnotist, a game where they wore gas masks, a penalty kicking elephant and 227 more.

An easy to pick up and put down book that’s worth a look.

It’s only July 8th but I’m lucky to be seeing my first game of the new season albeit a pre season friendly between Llangefni of the Ardnal NW League and Chadderton of the North West Counties League.

Llangefni can be considered the capital of Ynys Mons with the administrative buildings all being located here and roughly 5200 inhabitants.The ground is on the northern edge of town boasting a large car park at the front. It was only £1 entrance and walking through the gate revealed a large ground with seated stands on both sides, one much larger than the other and covered standing at each end.

To the left as you walk in is a large clubhouse and bar and behind this a food kiosk. I took a plate of chips and a coffee and sat at the back of the main stand to admire a flat grass pitch that had been cut short very recently giving off a yellow glow that will turn a vivid green by the time the season starts with the rain that comes to this part of these Isles. Beyond the football ground were fields edged with hedges and a farmhouse where a tractor was being used to create a neat store of silage. Others sat in the stand with their teas, coffees and food, reacquainting their taste buds with football food.

The sky was grey but the warm day felt Muggy and the 19 or so who had travelled from Chadderton on a luxury coach were sweating already under the warm up games and runs inflicted by the coaches. Llangefni seemed more relaxed and only 13 were on the pitch.

Llangefni Town 0 Chadderton FC 4/5/6

Saturday 8th July 2023 14.30 pm kick off

Llangefni of the Ardnal NW League (The third tier of the Welsh football system) v Chadderton of the North West Counties League Premier Division.

Llangefni in Royal Blue shirts and shirts v Chadderton in Red shirts and shorts with faint white diagonal lines across the shirts.

The game soon settled into a pattern of Chaderton having most of the ball but in the first 15 minutes they only found the target once when the home keeper did well to tip the shot over. Some of their sighting problem may have been because the training goal and net had been left next to the real goal which was removed after complaints by Chadderton forwards and the goalkeeper.

There were some lazy passes and sweaty brows  as 30 minutes had gone by leading to
sloppy play. On 33 minutes in the goal area the Llangefni defence gifted the ball to Chadderton. They took full advantage, the ball being rolled across the goal to be tapped in for the first goal.

A few minutes later a ball rebounded off a Llangefni player to give no. 11 a run on goal for quarter of pitch.  He took the ball to the keeper and squeezed it in by the post.

The score stayed at 0.2 at half-time and I reflected on my own lethagy in the first half having just sat relaxing in my back row seat for the whole of the time.

Chadderton made a few changes at half time and immediately some flowing passing resulted in a goal.
Then after 20 mins the referee booked no. 3 for what seemed to me to be enthusiasm. This didn’t put him off when after Chadderton had numerous chances he attacked on the left placing a ball just ahead of an advancing forward who hit it just beyond the Llangefni’s keeper for a 4 nil lead.

Just 3 minutes later it was five as the llangefni defence couldn’t keep back the tide as they tired and after another 5 mins a through ball was siezed on to be tapped past the keeper. I thought it was 6 but Chadderton’s twitter said 5 and Llangefni’s said 0.4.

Luckily it didn’t matter and but for numerous flagging for offside it could have been many more.

A great run out for both sides as the season looms. I also shook off my lethargy with two laps of the ground in the second half. I also reflected on my good fortune having seen 3 games on the outer Islands of the British Isles in the last 90 days.

As for the chips that were cooked to order, they were hot, crispy but soggy in middle and a taste of grease. Where do you start scoring for a new season, unfortunately a low 60.

N.B.

My friend in Guernsey contacted me to let me know that Ynis Mon have made it to the semi-final of the Island Games football competition being held there. They will play Bermuda for a place in the final.

Their squad has 5 players from Llangefni FC which explains the lack of competitiveness in the game I saw on Saturday.

Thank you Robert.

Ynis Mon beat Bermuda in the semis but lost to Jersey 5.2 in the final.

Yes I know the football season is getting nearer when they announce that you can pre-order The Non-League Club Directory 2023/24 for August delivery. Well you can now, at a discounted price of £19.99 (£25.60 R.R.P.) plus £3.75 p&p.

This over 700 page of delight always hits the mark in informing and delivering new ideas as to who and where I would like to visit.

This year I will not order it myself but leave it to be given as a Christmas present, I was told off last year. Can I wait, yes I can, but others won’t.

Thank you again the father and son team who put this together. I look forward to the 50th publication.

The football season has finally ended with Manchester City deservedly winning the Champions League and the trebble.

Their achievements and the money involved is a long way away from many of the games I have seen and enjoyed often 11 and twelve leagues away from their exultant heights.

My season started last July on a very warm evening at Wells-Next-To-Sea where the long hot weather had made the grass dry, yellow and crisp making me fear for the pitches in the season ahead. I was wrong as those magician groundsmen found ways to present and maintain some great surfaces for football to flourish.

The end of my season was in May at my 46th game in Stornaway, Isle of Lewis, to watch the Jock Stein Cup, won by Back FC on a cool evening peperred with drizzle.

Early in the season I witnessed with my daughter, Quorn being bullied into defeat by Heanor but the home side had the last laugh eventually being promoted by the play offs after coming second in the United Counties league North thanks to an own goal by the League winners goalkeeper in the final minute of the final game of the league season.

A few games later I watched Worksop Town win in their relentless assault of the Northern Premier League East. What a turn around when only a few years ago I attended what could have been their last game when a financial crisis was only just averted at the last minute.

My favourite trip was again to Loughborough Students which I will see again next season. They were riding high but poor form after Chrismas meant they dropped down to third. The black cloud that hung over them they finally managed to remove after the FA agreed that the club was detached from the University and could be promoted. Too late by then as some of the spirit had been exhausted at the club. Why not have University teams competing in local football at all levels anyway. The diversity of different types of clubs makes up our game. We allow teams at the highest level to be owned by entities wanting to promote themselves so what is wrong with Universities.

Football on Christmas Eve was a hit with me and the large crowd that turned out at Dinnington where Retford United earned three points on their way to promotion to the Northern Counties East League where they will join Retford FC formed when the clubs split in 2015. A must watch game next season.

Early in the New Year with my son and grandson I wrote ‘You have to deal with disappointment following the Villa’. My grandson was not impressed despite me buying him his first football scarf which he put away and stated he didn’t want to see them again. What a turn around under Unai Emery with Villa gaining entry to European Football, next season, on the last day of their season.

Bradford Park Avenue beckoned, not their iconic old ground unfortunately, but a well run club, great experience and winners of my chip league. This would have been no consolation to them as they were relegated. Football wise the writing was on the wall that day.

The most stupid event of the season was me keeping the car keys in my pocket and having to walk into Southwell from the out of town ground to rescue my wife and make a lot of apologies.

Loved Bishop Aukland for its history and set up. A return in the future.

An impromptu visit to Long Eaton just west of Nottingham saw them see off Hebburn Town in the race for the playoffs and although they both made it, it was the Notts team that gained promotion.

A miserable grey afternoon and a dash to the Dearne valley to see the 100th anniversary of the Totty Cup competed for by local schools. What a great family affair with proud parents turning out in good numbers to watch the children. The hospitality in the club house was just warm and friendly, everyone having a great time.

My end of season was a rush but incredibly worthwhile. Burton Albion totally outplayed Sheffield Wednesday but it was the Owls in a comeback thriller in the second leg of their playoff semi final against Peterborough who made it to Wembley where they met Barnsley who I saw not put up much resistance at home in their final game. Barnsley were already in a playoff position and joined the Owls in the final only to lose out.

Sandwiched between this incursion into League One football was a trip to see a long standing friend who joined me to watch Guernsey FC. Although they lost they are still the beacon and inspiration to other islands who have joined the national non-league ranks.

I thought my final game would be between Dodworth and Swinton to see who won the Sheffield and Hallamshire County League. Over 300 turned up on a gloomy night that could be better in the future if Swinton get permission for floodlights despite local objections. Although Swinton won they were not promoted due to ground grading despite some real progress at their stadium.

Having started in North Norfolk it turned out that my last game would be in Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides for the Jock Stein Cup Final.

What an amazing year of mainly local football that left me with sincere memories for football and enhanced admiration for the people who make it possible for the matches to take place at this level. Please continue your amazing work.

Many of the games I watched this year were at grounds that were part of a mining community and it was heart warming to see how the community spirit once so strong has been preserved. Those mentioned here are a snap shot of the 46.

Disclaimer: No chips were hurt in the making of this blog except perhaps the one’s left behind at Burton.

Football Club	Score	Comments
Bradford Park Avenue	83	Great Taste, could have eaten more.
Kiveton Park	81	Fresh and presented in a cone
Shepshed Dynamo	80	1st of the season
Shirebrook Town	79	Friendly staff as always
Denaby Main	79	Unexpected
Hemsworth	78	Tasty , could have been cooked more
Arnold Town	77	just what was needed but a bit greasy
Bugbrooke	75	The grand children approved
Quorn	74	Warm welcoming club house
Aston Villa	72	Well organised
Harworth Colliery	68	Freshly cooked
Long Eaton	69	Slightly overcooked
Totty cup final	68	Unexpected bonus
Retford United	66	Average
Hanley	65	Centres let down what looked good
Gedling	62	Promised more than delivered
Wisbech	62	Under Cooked
Pinxton	60	Soggy, just warm
Hallam FC	60	Long, long queue
Ilkeston Town	58	Disappointing, previous winner
Bishop Aukland	33	What a disappointment on a great day
Burton Albion	0	Bland, sorry I left them on the terrace
Dearne and District	0	No Chips
Richmond Town	0	No Chips
Wells -next-to-Sea	0	No Chips
FC Stratford	0	No Chips
Horbury	0	No Chips
Loughborough Students	0	No Chips, great vegan sausage roll
Melbourne FC	0	No Chips
Sheffield Town	0	No Chips
Dodworth Miners Welfare	0	No Chips, hot pork pie and mint sauce!
Linby Miners Welfarw	0	No Chips, loved the club house
Chesterfield FC	0	No Chips
Swinton	0	No Chips
Prescott Cables	0	No Chips, amazing hot pot pie
Selston	0	No Chips, pie and gravy was amazing
Staveley Miners Welfare	0	Didn’t rank chips
Dinnington FC	0	Queue too long
Barnsley	0	No Chips
Guernsey	0	No Chips
Southwell	0	No Chips
Kimberley	0	No Chips
Stornaway, Goathill	0	No Chips
Swinton	0	Didn’t realise they had food this time
Dodworth Miners Welfare	0	No Chips

As I have always said my chip league is very subjective and could be influenced by the day, the journey or the food consumed earlier. However another successful season of sampling the chips for the blog, sacrificing myself in the process.

This years winners, Bradford Park Avenue, were worthy winners but I’m sure they would have rather lost this league and not been relegated.

Two previous winners were in the top 5, Kiveton Park once again excelled in their presentation and Shirebrook who just keep producing good chips every season.

It was great to see the food available at Dearne and District for the Totty Cup final. It was really appreciated by the families who had turned up to watch their sons and daughters compete.

If I had been comparing non chip food I would have had a really difficult decision to make between the hot pork pie and mint sauce at Dodworth Miners Welfare and the pie and gravy at Selston. The pork pie would just have won.

The best clubhouse must go to Loughborough Students, turn up early, there is little chance of much food but you can just relax in a soft chair and wait for the game.

Chips at Bradford Park Avenue.

Earlier in the year I saw that there was a touring exhibition about the contribution that the Chinese ethnic population have made to the UK’s culture at a local Library. There have been few footballers emerging into the highest level from a Chinese background but with an expected increase in their ethnic grouping due to the expected immigration from Hong Kong we perhaps could soon be at the start of a few emerging stars.

What interested me was the reference to Frank Soo.

Born in Derbyshire my home county for the last 25 years, I thought our paths had crossed before.

Frank Soo I had believed was the manager of St Albans City FC when I was born in January 1950. Born on a Saturday my father was not there but watching his beloved ‘City’. More importantly a week later my mother had to stay in hospital for an extra day because he was watching St Albans again this time playing Stork FC in the FA Amateur Cup. Her antipathy to football may have been strongly influenced by this event. Further research though shattered my belief as Frank Soo didn’t become the Manager of St Albans City until the start of the 1950/51 season.

Reading about Frank Soo though soon made me realise that I had come across one of the greats of English football. He was born in Buxton to a Chinese father and English mother.

His footballing career was at Prescott Cables, Stoke City, Leicester City, Luton Town and Chelmsford City and a managerial career that included clubs in England, Scandinavia and Italy. Perhaps his overseas work meant his exploits were lost to a UK press. he even managed the Norwegian National Team at the 1952 Olympics in Finland.

He played as a midfielder and was reputed to be a very accurate passer of the ball which would unlock defences as well as a dead ball specialist.

Frank Soo’s career started at Prescott Cables, which I visited last year and from there moved to Stoke City in 1933. He played 173 times for Stoke scoring 5 goals and captained Stanley Mathew’s during his stay there which ended in 1948.

1932–1933	Prescot Cables
1933–1945	Stoke City	173	(5)
1945–1946	Leicester City	0	(0)
1946–1948	Luton Town	71	(4)
1948–1950	Chelmsford City
Total		244	(9)

​ Frank Soo was the first non-white person to play for the England national football team and still is the only player of an Asian background to reach that level for England. He achieved this in May 1942 at Ninian Park, Cardiff, against Wales and played for England a further 8 times all of which were deemed to be unofficial matches. His England career was limited by the Second World war when he turned out for many top teams as a guest in morale boosting games.

I was privileged to have come across such a pioneer in English football and hope that he gains more recognition and inspires others in the future to help our multi cultural game.

Much of the above information has come from ‘The Frank Soo Foundation’ http://www.thefranksoofoundation.org.uk the Chinese Cultural Exhibition at Mansfield Library and

St Albans City historian, David Tavener’s research for a Jake Ellacott article ‘From Clarence Park to Padova. The Story of an International Pioneer.’ http://www.stalbanscityfc.com

With games being called off again through Covid and the feeling that we have been here before I chose to watch the highest level of football in Northamptonshire on Saturday. Hopefully this will not be the last for a while.

It was grey, wet, still, cold and foggy as I walked across the large car park to Steel Park to watch Corby Town play Bedworth United in the Midlands Division of the Northern Premier League. Steel Park is a modern arena opened in 2011 with great facilities including a large seated area and good banked covered terracing behind one goal. The playing surface is flat but the grass is beginning to wear and there are some muddy areas.

Contiuous Christmas songs sung out to lift the gloom but the fog was thickening.

Corby have been struggling recently and have parted company with 5 of their players in the last 7 days.

Corby Town were founded in 1948 and have developed well since moving from local Leagues through the United Counties, Midland League. Southern League and now Northern Premier League (Midland Division) through promotions, relegations and F.A. reorganisations. Floodlights were added to their Rockingham Triangle ground in 1958 when they stepped up to the Southern League and their current modern stadium was opened in 2011.

Bedworth United are based in Bedworth, between Nuneaton and Coventry and were formed in 1968 due to the demise of Bedworth Town. They joined the Southern League in 1972 and have switched between the Southern and Northern Leagues on numerous occasions partly due to their location on the border of League territories and on going Non League reorganisations..

Corby Town 0 Bedworth United 2

Steelmen v Greenbacks Saturday 18th December 2021 3.00pm

Bedworth Town were off the blocks quickly and caused problems for the Steelmen.

It was no surprise that they took the lead when a very long throw in from the right was headed out to only fall at the foot of Bedworth’s No9 Brian Nesbitt who hit it into the top corner of the goal for the lead. Bedworth pressed on and Brian Nesbitt was on hand to meet a very good cross from the right with his head and the ball rocketed into the top left hand corner of the net.

Bedworth continued to cause Corby problems with long balls beyond the Corby defence but the home team settled and stemmed the tide but had little in the way of an attacking edge.

By half time the fog was getting thicker and colder and after 15 minutes of the half it was nigh impossible to see end to end. The local crowd were calling for an abandonment and there were two chants for the Manager to resign but after 20 minutes more the fog cleared a little. The fact that you could only just make out what was going on did not disguise the fact that I cannot remember one near miss for Corby in the whole game.

Everyone was pleased when the referee blew for time and the 389 fans could make their way to some warmth.

Perhaps it was the weather but the chips from the Steelmen Refreshment Bar were the worst I have tasted since AFC Mansfield a few seasons ago. They were cold, limp and soggy and even a covering of tomato sauce could not induce me to finish them. By contrast the very hot coffee and free mince pie from Baxters at half time certainly helped to revive me.

I shouldn’t have said that it was amazing how mild it had been at recent football matches this autumn. My trip to Burnley was wet but Saturday’s visit to Mansfield Woodhouse to see Sherwood Colliery play Knaresborough Town was almost monsoon like. Getting out of the car to avoid puddles was the first hurdle and I made my way through the club house to the ground behind in gloomy light at only just before three in the afternoon. The 50 brave souls were able to take cover under the two covered areas on opposite sides of the pitch.

Sherwood Colliery were reformed in 2008 and they moved into Debdale Park at the same time. Fate took a turn for the better for the club when in 2012 local ex builder Gareth Bull won on Euro millions and he has helped guide the club through successive promotions to now play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. However they are developing sustainably and money is not being thrown around for the sake of it. The pitch has been dug out of a hill and is quite flat with a few undulations. The grass is beginning to cut up and there were some mud patches on the sides. The rain just kept falling and the 3.5 degrees felt colder in the breeze.

The opponents Knaresborough Town FC have a long history going back to 1902 and although they have played local Yorkshire Leagues football they are enjoying their highest level of competition having been promoted to The Northern Counties East League Division One in 2012 and to the Premier Division in 2017.

Sherwood Colliery FC 5 Knaresborough Town FC 3

Wood v The Boro Saturday 4th December 2021 Kickoff 3.00 pm

Sherwood dominated the start of the game taking complete control and it was no surprise that they scored first on 20 minutes when Gareth Curtis steadied himself after a blocked shot and shot home from close range. Eight minutes later Ryan Ingram ran onto a through ball and when he reached the penalty spot side footed the ball into the net to the right of the advancing keeper. Another 8 minutes and it was three nil when Will Norcross, who was a skilful dynamo all game, sold the Knaresborough defender a dummy to pass him and pass the ball across the goal for Kiernan Wells to side foot home.

A walk out of the ground to the clubhouse in the pouring rain was greeted by an enormous function room with as many people watching the two TV’s as watching the game. The deccor was plush with a good bar and I ordered my coffee and Chips from a friendly bar staff.

As I sat down for the second half I wandered how many Sherwood would score but Knaresborough seemed to have found some fight and they scored on 57 minutes when Jack Carr scored a classy goal when from the right he turned and kicked the ball across the goalkeeper into the top left hand corner.

Sherwood’s domination was resumed when Charlie Taylor came forward for a corner and dominated the ball to head it into the net. Only three minutes later with the rain still lashing down Carter Widdowson was awarded with a goal after a goalmouth melee which I thought had been helped in by a Knaresborough defender.

Knaresborough had made some substitutions and the rain stopped as they suddenly took control and scored two goals in the last 4 minutes. in fact I felt that if there would have been another 10 minutes they may well have drawn the game. Both goals were scored by Mitchel Hamilton the first following a mistake by the Sherwood keeper and the second right at the end of play.

It was great that there were eight goals as it kept you well entertained in the miserable conditions.

The chips were a good quantity, hot, large, crispy and tasty with a score of 69.

A foray back into the Central Midland Premier North Division this week found me at Kiveton Miners Welfare to see them play Collingham.

The ground is reached through a modern housing estate and a gate leads to a very large car park with the ground and other pitches beyond.It was a grey overcast day with very little wind but still mild for mid November. The scarf and had to be dispenced with as the game began. The pitch here slopes from goal to goal and slightly side to side with the pitch looking really good and as if a lot )of nitrogen had been put on it because of its vibrant green colour. The Worksop to Sheffield railway line runs down the end of the pitch.

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Kiveton Miners Welfare are a recently formed team not to be confused with the very long established Kiveton Park. They are trying hard to develop their new ground with water ground works underway and planned floodlights as a future goal. The seated stand is very good for this level of football and if friendlyness and enthusiasm is anything to go by then they will surely suceed.

Collingham are from near Newark and were formed over 100 years ago (1887) but concentrated mainly on Youth and Sunday football until forming a senior Saturday team in 1994. They have since then played their football in the Central Midlands League.

Kiveton Miners Welfare 2 Collingham 2

Saturday 12th November 2021 kick off 14.00

A two minutes silence was observed before the start of the game.

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Kiveton were steadily gaining confidence when against the run of play Collinham forced a corner and some continuing attacking football led to the ball falling to Gary Clarke on 21 minutes who cooly rpolled the ball along the floor, bouncing over the goalkeepers outstretchd arm to end up in the bottom left hand corner of the net. Kiverton continued their pressure but were unable to equalise before half time as their aerial assaults were amply dealt with by the Cottinham defence.

Kiverton must have had a talking to at half time because they started keeping the ball on the ground and after 10 minutes some good work on the right was rewarded when the resulting low cross was headed into the net with some force by Dan Neath. The home side playing up hill in the second half deservedly took the lead 15 minutes later when some good work on the left was rewarded when the ball fell to Elliot Fox to place home.

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Collingham didn’t give up and fortune helped when a misplaced back pass was picked up by Olly Presley who took the ball wide to the right of the goalkeper to then find the net from an accute angle.

This equalising goal seemed to invigorate Collingham and when the Kiveton stand in goalkeeper rushed out of his area to upend the on rushing forward there was no other outcome but a sending off. Collingham failed to trouble the new keeper and it was Kiverton’s 10 men who finished the game the strongest. In the dying minutes of the game in the increasing gloom the away teams goalkeeper picked up a back pass and a free kick was awarded on the penalty spot. With their team lined up on the goal line Collingham faced down the freekick and the game was ended a minute later.

Great end to end football and a good advertisment for this improving league in terms of football and facilities.

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Finally to the chips which I was not expecting. A food stall was available but the generator was getting up to speed to fire up the deep fryer. I paid my money for chips and a coffee and took my place in the stand and when I saw people with coffees I went back but still the fryer was not up to power. Sitting in the stand watching the start of the game the chips and coffee were delivered to me. You wouldn’t even get that at Tottenham in their new mega bucks emporium. The chips were hot, golden long, delicious, no oily taste and served in a cardboard carton that could be recycled. I have to score them an 85.