It was thrilling to make our way over the pedestrian railway bridge to enter Clarence Park via the York Road entrance to see St Albans City FC, second in the National League South, take on Forest Green Rovers FC, clear leaders of the English League two in the first round of the FA Cup. Although over an hour before kick off the ground was more than half full in anticipation of the game and to join in the carnival atmosphere that the club has worked so had on with the brightly lit food and drink kiosks. The light at ‘The Park’ seemed brighter than usual and it was soon evident that a giant mobile temporary flood light has been installed to bathe the ground and ensure that the cameras who were there from BBC 2 can catch the whole game in clear quality. This is the first time that St Albans had appeared on prime time TV sports coverage and there was a tingle of excitement that you could tangibaly feel.

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St Albans have never beaten a professional League team in the FA Cup so a win against Forest Green would be an exceptional achievement. There was more at stake in the encounter though as older fans rememember the FA Trophy semi final of the 1998/99 season. St albans having drawn the first leg at home 1-1 were two nil up in the away fixture at Forest Green and went in at half time leading 2-1. Forest Green eventually won 3-2 and went to the final after referee Andy D’urso disallowed St Albans a third on 72 minutes, those that played and were there are still mistyfied today and footage on You Tube will increase the confusion. That goal would have put St Albans ahead before the home side scored on 82 minutes. St Albans then threw everything at it and were pessing confidently when full time was blown which seemed not to have been the right amount of added time. This was another semi final St Albans had not won having been previously involved in dissapointment in the old Amateur Cup at the same stage.

Since that semi final Forest Green have strived on with the backing of Dale Vince OBE (Ecotricity) and are now world leaders in running a football club to the least detriment to the environment and climate. St Albans have remained at around the same level and are pushing via their energetic Chairman, Lawrence Levy, to relocate the club to enable it to expand its fan base, profile, ameneties , communituy involvement and youth football development.

Forest Green Rovers will further their green credentials when they move to a new wooden stadium near to the M5 which now has planning permission. St Albans though have their own wooden stand that will celebrate its 100 years next year in 2022 and some of the ground features have been recycled form elsewhere, one turnstile at the York Road End came from Old Trafford, seats in the wooden stand have previously watched games at Rochdale as did the segregation barriers and the crush barriers are from the Old Plough Lane, Wimbledon.

St Albans City 3 Forest Green Rovers 2

A small band of Forest Green Rovers made the trip having returned some of their allocation but theses were soon snapped up to give a full house of 4150. The tension before the start was hightened by the playing of the last post before kick off with rememberence day the following week.

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Forest Green started strongly playing down hill and their speed and witdth of play caused the home team trouble. An example of this was that John Goddard the St Albans wide right player was unable to get forward as he had to hold back to defend. City did have an early chance when Jeffers shot was blocked and cleared away. On 17 minutes though Stevens put the visitors into the lead as he swept home Nicky Caddens cross. Forest Green continued in the same vein and St Albans did well to clear numerous chances and hold on.

John Goddard had switched to try his luck on the left and his cross found Mitchell Weiss whose slight headed touch was enough to guide it into the net at the far post. The Clarence Park crowd could not believe it and their emotions were hightened when long serving Zane Banton received the ball on the left and skipped past three defenders before hitting a perfect shot under the goalkeeper. Scenes of delirium on and off the pitch ensued but Forest Geen came back and created good chances that on another day may well have gone in.

As added time ticked away Ebou Adams placed a beatifull ball through the St Albans defence and Aitchison swept it into the net at an angle across Johnson.

A half time score of 2-2 was good for St Albans athough they had conceded just at the break passing the momentum back to the visitors.

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St Albans were now playing down hill for the second half and if you have stood at the corner post at the York Road end by the turnstile and looked diagonally down the pitch you will know that it is a slope.

The frenetic pace of the game seemed to subside and although Forest Green had more possesion they were matched for chances. Johnson saved an effort and quickly unleashed a lonfg kick to the left where Mitchel Weiss controlled the ball and left the full back on the ground after slipping on the now dewy surface. Weiss cooly passed to Shaun Jeffers who chipped the ball into the net for St Albans to take the lead on 78 minutes.

Although Forest Green made strong efforts to level some brilliant tackles, blocking and saves kept them out and I didn’t feel any tension until the board for 5 minutes added time was shown. St Albans though saw out that time comfortably and finally defeated a proffesional League team and put to bed that Trophy semi-final horror of the past.

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The chips were large, cooked in a deep fryer. hot, tasty, not oily and scoring a good 80. The speed of service though was very slow.

The ELF Trophy may have a bad name as a nonsence competition but for those players and fans that get to Wembley it will be very special. It also gives young members of Premiership teams, their under 21’s, the opportunity to play against senior professionals who have points to prove. There is also the very young fan who gets the chance to visit his first large stadium game at a reasonable price. It was the latter that brought the three of us, grandson, father and me, grandad, to the Stadium MK to see MK Dons take on Aston Villa’s under 21 team.

Much has been written about how Milton Keynes Dons F.C. came about and how the old Wimbledon club ended up in this New Town, created in 1967. Changes of ownership, ground sharing and ground sale, clashes with the F.A. and an independent panel majority decission to allow the movement of a football team from one community to another was ended by Peter Winkleman helping to finace the administration and moving the club to play in the National Hockey Stadium in 2003. He then bought out the club from administration and with a backing group used the property company Inter MK to buy and develop the land where Stadium MK now stands.

What has been achieved struck me as very impressive as I drove up to the stadium on a dark Tuesday night in October, the hotel built into the ground with some rooms overlooking the pitch, the retail stores, national food outlets and people buzzing around. Rather than pay for parking I left the car at an ajoining Industrial Estate.

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The ground was extended to 30500 spectators in 2015 which can be raised to 45000 in the future. Views are excellent and the padded seats were a joy. The movement into, out of and around the ground is first class. This is definately a modern well thoughtout experience that needs to attract more fans, an average around 9000 a game so far this season is disapointing. With Milton Keynes being central to the spiders web conurbation developing between Oxford and Cambridge there is the potential. Unfortunately their is little history which needs to come in time. My view is that it is time to drop the Dons from the name and truly proclaim that this club is specifically Milton Keynes. This might also finally end the sore that is the link to Wimbledon who have themselves built a fine new stadium and risen locally from the past problems.

Evening games always seem more dramatic and the lights seem to give off a magical atmosphere. It was another mild evening with little wind with a billiard table pitch.

MK Dons 2 Aston Villa U21’s 4

No programme at this game but the excellent screens have good team details. Villa were allowed two over 21’s but chose to use only one, Keinan Davis who is recovering from long term injury.

It was Keinan Davis who turned and outpaced the MK Dons defence to easilly slot home a one nil advantage for the visitors. Troy Parrot a loanee from Tottenham Hotspur levelled soon after and the Dons ability to get beyond the Villa defence and provide disruption meant the home side went 2.1 up when Troy Parrot turned provider with a back heel to Max Watters to fire home. Davis though continued to harrass and a played a perfect cross for in form Cameron Archer to head home to level the scores just before half time.

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Villa’s at time lack lustre defence must have had a good talking to at the interval as they looked much more resolute and dealt with any threat until the tide changed when that man Keinan Davis again fired in a lethath long range shot that bounced off the cross bar for Aaron Ramsey to score from the rebound. Davis went off having been denied the chance to add to his tally and looked dejected as he walked round the pitch. It was finally seaed by Cameron Archer who flashed in a fourth near full time. Villa have won all three of their away games in some style and this crop of young tallent looks good for the future.

The important news was that my five year old son stayed engaged with the game for 80 minutes after which he became restless.

No chips at the food kiosk so my evening meal was a a very hot deep filled Pukka pie.

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Back to the football this week with a trip to Folkestone to see Folkestone Invicta play Kingstonians in the Isthmian League Premier Division. Folkestone went out of the FA Cup in mid week to Easleigh which ended an exciting run. They now need to catch up on League games that if they win their outstanding games it would put them well ahead of their rivals. Folkestone were trying to maintain their unbeaten league record and catch up Kingstonians.

The ground is on the edge of town tucked behind a recently re-built Morrison’s that has risen after being burnt to the ground. There are other sporting facilities next door which gives a good parking area.

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Again initially a mild afternoon in late October with high grey clouds stationary in the sky due to little if any wind.

The Build Kent Stadium is well cared for with good terracing behind both goals one of which is covered. Down one side is a covered seating stand and a fans area with bar, food and outside seating area, it was used well before and during half time by a large crowd of 884 which was made up of a good mix of ages and sexes. The green lush grass pitch slopes very slightly from one end but as a playing surface is one of the best I have seen recently.

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Folkestone Invicta FC has been around since 1936 and played their football locally in the East Kent Amateur League but in 1991 they moved to the Cheriton Road ground after the former Folkestone FC stopped playing. The old Folkestone club had reached the Non League heights of the Southern League.

Invicta embarked on their quest to gain a higher status and in 1998 were rewarded with a return to the Southern League and two years later reached the Premier Division but were back down again after a further two years. In 2004 they were transferred to the Isthmian League under one of the Non-League restructures but suferred relegation in 2008. Yet again they bounced back in 2010 but the next year were relegated once again. After some years of play-off heart ache they won outright promotion back to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League in 2016. This is truly some YO YO years but they now look well placed with a good team and manager, a strong organisation and fan base to perhaps make it next year to their highest level yet in the National League South. There they may lock horns again against their deadly rivals Dover FC who look favourites to be relegated to that Division.

Kingstonians history goes back 136 years with the current club being formed in 1919 after mergers, name changes and the demise of previous clubs such as, Kingston and SurbitonYMCA FC, Saxon FC, Kingston Wanderers FC, Kingstpn-on-Thames AFC, Kingston Town and Old Kingstonians. They initially played in the Athenian League but joined the Isthmian League in 1929 where they stayed until 1998 when they were promoted to the old Conference but they were back in the isthmian league a few years later where they too have seen demotion and promotion back to the Isthmian Premier. So the Isthmian League has been their home for the vast majority of their history but it is in the senior Non League cups that they are famous for, winners of the FA Ameteur Cup in 1933 and finalists again in 1960 and back to back winners of the FA Trophy in 1999 and 2000. They are a very respected club in their sphere.

Kingstonians home is now in a shared ground with Corinthian Casuals at King Georg’s Field in Kingston-upon-Thames.

Folkestone Invicta 5 Kingstonians 1

Invicta v The K’s

Kingstonian started well and were unlucky not to go ahead in the first minute when a well worked right wing pattern was bundled away at the near post by the Invicta defenders.

On five minutes the whole game was turned upside down when the Kingstonians goalkeeper rushed out to stop a clear through run by the lively left winger, Andy Paxman, and was adjudged to have used his hands to stop the ball and was sent off. It became worse for the visitors as their solid centre back Ollie Cook was substituted after what appeared to be a leg injury. Kingstonians had little time to re-group as Adam Yusuff was put through to give Folkestone the lead.

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With constant pressure and little organisation Kingstonians conceded a second when Mathew Newman headed in an uncontested corner after 26 minutes which he did again on 39 minutes. The goalkeeper and defence looked panicked at any high ball in the box.

Half time came as some releif to Kinstonians but it only held off the onslaught for a further 4 minutes when Folkestone made it number four, this time from a penalty by David Smith after a forward was tripped in the penalty area. David Smith made it 5 on 74 minutes when again the keeper missed the ball and although 3 Folkestone players could have scored he stepped forward to tap it in.

Kingstonians despite the pressure did show why they are in the top half of the division with some neat interpassing triangles all over the pitch. Their number 2 was particularly impressive all game but it fell to number 8, Gus Sow, to gain a consolation goal with 13 minutes left when he scored from the penalty spot having himself been fould after a strong run at goal.

It definately looks like the local dery with Dover could be on for next season and Kingstonian can go away knowing thatthey can’t surely start so badly in their next game. Invicta remain unbeaten in the league.

The chips were very hot, crispy, well cooked, no oily taste and were on their way to a very good score of 85 when as I made my way through the good portion I noticed the pre seasonning made them saltier and saltier so I have reduced my score to 80.

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On Friday night I checked on watching the FA Vase game between Quorn AFC and Nirvana where I was to meet my daughter but I found that they had played the game the night before (Thursday) for some reason! Quorn going through 2-1.

Change of plan, I noticed a Northern Counties East Division 2 game between Rainworth Miners Welfare FC. and Hallam F.C. having both been knocked out of the F.A. Vase in an earlier round.

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This was a rearanged match after a previous encountr had been abandoned on 14 August at half time with the score at 1-1. It was abandoned due to one of the Assistant Referees falling ill on the touchline as the players and officials resumed the field. As the players realised the gravity of the situationte the Hallam physio and other trained people took control and with the help of the Defrillator, a first responder, an ambulance crew and the Air Ambulance, Andrew Jarvis was flown to Derby Hospital where he was operated on. His recovery meant that he was again back at Kirklington Road and able to start the match from the touchline.

My journey to the ground was held up twice as I queued to pass queues for fuel as the UK supply chain for many goods and services seems to be tuning upside down and increasing in price

The game was at the unusual kick off time of 2pm due to floodlight maintenance which will not be completed for a few weeks.

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The temperature was 20 degrees the same as last Saturdays game, crazy for late September, the air felt sticky and the sky was very grey with fluffy clouds.
The pich was undulating and sloping slightly end to end but giving no great advantage to either side and to emphasise the unusual climatic conditions the pitch was yellowing badly due to lack of rain.

Rainworth is South East of Mansfield, an ex mining village like many in the area. The club was formed in 1922 and spent most of its life in the Nottinghamshire Alliance League, sometimes known as Rufford Colliery F.C. Their greatest achievement in the last century was reaching the FA Vase final in 1982 where they lost to Forest Green Rovers who were at the start of their major climb from almost obscurity to the Football League.

Being accepted to the Central Midlands League in 2003 was the start of a swift promotion succession to the Supreme Division, The Northern Counties East Division One and Premier before reaching their peak with entry to the Northern Premier League Division One South in 2010. This elevated level was not to last and they find themselvesm two steps lower today.

I have written about Hallam before being one of the oldest teams in the worl and playing on the oldest, still in use, football pitch in the world. I was interested to see them play as after a shaky start to the season they seem to now be knocking goals in for fun and atracting big crowds that would grace a much higher level. Whether it was the fuel problems, the early kick of, or something else the attendance of 80 was very disapointing.

Rainworth Miners Welfare F.C. 0 Hallam 4

The Wrens v The Countrymen

Hallam immediately showed their recent form and dominated play. It was no surprise that they took the lead on 7 minutes when Chris Salt’s downward header found the net after a beautifully delivered free kick from the right. Chris wood then put the game out of reach of the Wrens with a simple tap in to make it 2 nil on 11 minutes and a minute later made it three guiding a left foot shot into the right hand side of the goal after some pretty interpassing by his team mates.

The game though was held up on 15 minutes when Carl Fielding in goal for Hallam jumped to catch a cross but fell badly on his knee. After a long period of treatment he was unable to continue and was carried off and the substitute goal keeper Daubney-Hughes took over.

This seemed to unsettle Hallam and they let Rainworth more into the game and no other goals were added by half time.

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Hallam settled in the second half and took control but did not look like adding to their tally and it was Rainworth who came closest hitting the bar on 53 minutes. However Hallam’s continual pressure paid off when Josh Scully curled a sublime free kick round the Rainworth wall from outside the penalty area. The ball curved seriously to end up in the top right hand corner of the net.

Two minutes later there was an injury this time to the Rainworth goalkeeper who was replaced by an outfield player for the rest of the game.

Hallam’s stand in goalkeper looked very sound and could be in for a long spell in the first team with the injury to Carl Fielding looking serious.

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As I said the crowd of only 80 was disapointing even more so whe I overheard two fans talking about the record crowd for an FA Vase semi final having been at Kirklington Road.

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Unfortunately there were no chips at Rainworth so a sausage roll with mushy peas and mint sauce was a great substitute. Mint sauce on mushy peas seems to be a Nottinghamshire delicacy.

Being on holiday for the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup meant I joined the fun at Belper for a Preliminary Round game. This year is the 150th anniversary of the first ever FA Cup game and I am dreaming of a smaller Non League club having a miraculous run this season.

Belper Town’s ground is on the very edge of town near the river Derwent and close to Strutt’s Mill one of the industrial icons that make up the World Heritage listing of the Derwent Valley to mark it’s importance to the birth of the Industrial Revolution.

Not knowing the area I had difficulty parking and a 5 minute walk down hill from where I parked looked like a bad idea when I realised it would be 10 minutes up the steep incline at the end of the match. The rain, grey skies and clammy warm weather did not help the mood but WOW what a fantastic ground greeted me. A long covered seating area down one side, cover for standing fans behind one goal and two refreshment bars. The floodlights are state of the art and the pitch was flat with thick very green grass. I asked if I could get a program and was directed to the woman in red on the corner although it turned out it was the woman in black next to the woman in red who was selling them. I was lucky there were only two left and I’m not surprised, 20 glossy, coloured pages packed with info. The program would grace many a National League side.

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Belper Town are nicknamed the ‘nailer’ very obviously because nails are manufactured locally. They have played in local and Midlands Leagues and the highest they have reached was the Northern Premier, Premier Division but lasted only one season and returned to the level they currently play at in 2016.

Belper started back in 1883 and reached the first round of the FA Cup in 1887 narrowly losing to ‘The Wednesday’ so their involvement in today’s competition goes back over 130 years.

Whitchurch Alport situated west of Stoke and east of Wrexham play in the Midland Football League Premier Division. This border country club have punched above their weight for some years considering the size of the local population. Formed in 1946 they have played in many local leagues progressing to the North West Counties League and now the Midland League with the recent restructure.

Belper Town F.C 3 Whitchurch Alport 1

Belper started the day as favourites, playing at home and at a higher level of football but it was Whitchurch who scored first in the slippery conditions as the rain became a constant. A corner from the left by Joe Minishall was pounced on by No.6 Alex Hughes who smashed it in the net for a very early lead in the 3rd minute. Whitchurch were close to adding a second but on 7 minutes the Belper No.6 equalised after the Whitchurch defenders failed to clear a cross from the right.

Within a further 3 minutes Belper were now in front when No.6 again (Tom Wilson) scored this time with his head. Whitchurch pressed hard to get back in the game but we’re left with a lot to do when Belper scored their 3rd minutes before half time through Johnathan Margetts.

The second half started with the local church, which backs onto the ground, sounding its bells at 16.00 which also signalled the rain to stop. Belper should have taken this as an omen and put the match out of Whitchurch’s reach when awarded a penalty on 53 minutes. Margetts gamely stroked the ball to Mason Springthorpes left and he comfortably saved.

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Whitchurch didn’t give up and pressed hard but never looked like overcoming a robust Belper defence.

Belper’s good win has been rewarded with an away tie in the next round to local rivals Matlock which is just 10 miles away, a true Derwent Valley derby.

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Not only did I enjoy the football and the facilities but the chips were fantastic,hot, tasty, golden, firm, no fatty after taste and a score of 85. Best this season so far.

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