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!

My Football Year 2023, looking forward to 2024.

Looking back at 2023 made me realise how lucky I am and what a year. I ended up going to 50 games.

It started at Melbourne just off the flight plan of East Midlands Airport to see Derby Singh Brothers win in the cup. Both teams ended up being promoted but Singh Brothers had off field problems in looking for a new ground.

Seeing Aston Villa lose to Stevenage in the FA Cup was no surprise when you have watched many of their games in the last 35 years. Can you believe the turn round of 2023 which they ended second in the Premiership, the Unai Emerey effect, amazing.

Walking off with the car keys at Southwell caused me to miss the first goal, increase my heart rate and get a flea in my ear.

Bishop Aukland didn’t disappoint and nor did the Totty Cup. The Totty Cup final for youngsters was not just good football on a poor day but real family happiness.

Then in between some ex miners teams my first island hopping trip. The first to Guernsey to see a long term friend which gave me the chance to see the trend setting Guernsey FC. Jersey and the Isle of Man have followed them and our football is better for it. Perhaps in the future an island team may get to Wembley in the FA Vase final, let’s all hope.

The other islands I visited were Eriksay to stand on one of FIFA’s most iconic football grounds in the world. Harris to enjoy the Jock Stein Cup Final, Anglesey to see Llangefni prepare for a new season and sneaking away from the hotel on Madeira in the heat to the stadium where Ronaldo first played.

In July I finally made it to ‘The Stanks’ the Berwick Charities Cup and watched football by the ramparts of the first Elizabethan era with the sea as a further back drop. Where else in the world. It was all I had hoped for, I’ll be back some day.

Kings Lynn on the way back from holiday was disappointing both in the game and the cost, a bit of an illusion shattered, however positivity was restored when visiting Wombwell Town. This new club to the Northern Counties East League were table toppers to start the season, although drifting down a little since, with a developing set up that looks good for the future. It is also unusually a ground with a Go Kart track at one end.

I love some of the names in football and on a dry Saturday afternoon where else could you relax better than at Oughtibridge War Memorial Sports Club FC.

A Friday night at Dearne and District, where the Totty Cup final was played, saw the strides this club are making to not only to gain promotion through their football but their facilities too. Next season in the NECL will be an early season visit.

Breaking from Non League I attended a trilogy of game at Mansfield FC in the League Cup and EFL Trophy. I thoroughly enjoyed the games and found everyone welcoming which by reputation I didn’t expect.

The end of the year found me visiting the two teams in Newark and seeing Retford United score 4 on Boxing day. I saw United play on three occasions and in total they sored 13 goals, including the most exciting game of the season the 4-4 draw at Beverley.

As always I should thank all the players, officials, fans and helpers that made my year so enjoyable.

I also learnt in 2023 to let go of some of my fixed view on football grounds. I have never been sure of synthetic pitches always favouring grass. I now realise their true worth in that there are few postponements, the ball reacts consistently, players seem to try more skilful play, the facilities around the pitch are upgraded at the same time as the new surface is laid and mostly of all that they are a true resource for the community at large and the development of football for all ages. To counter this I have decided to re-visit Gresley Rovers one of those iconic patched together grounds with a real sense of history.

2023 fizzles out.

After some exciting journeys and games I ended the year on a damp Saturday drifting down the A1 to Collingham. I made the journey to see Newark and Sherwood United FC play Skegness Town FC in the United Counties Premier Division North. N&S are ground sharing with Collingham this year. Collingham is a village to the East of Newark and East of the A1 where the football ground is in the village behind the COOP and surrounded by houses and a school.

It was a grey overcast day with the car telling me it was 10 degrees but my body saying it was a lot colder than that with a biting wind cutting right through me.

As you enter the ground through a proper turnstile down the left hand side is a combined club house and changing rooms with executive viewing and other rooms above. The clubhouse was busy but only sold drinks, limited food being served from half time at a shed that doubles for a club shop. Beyond the clubhouse down the rest of the side is a covered seated stand. 181 brave souls were there, none of which seemed to be supporting the visitors who had made the 56 mile journey.There is a perimeter walk way around the other two sides and none behind 1 of the goals.

Chairman, Steff Wright in the programme notes dreamed of the future “We have been working hard with our partners on our longer term aims to create an ambitious community stadium which will inspire a generation of boys and girls from the town and district to dream big and work hard to achieve those dreams”.

Newark and Sherwood United set out in 1901 as A. J. Simpson an Co and at sometime prior to 1935 were renamed Worthington Simpson. From 1949 onwards they played in the Notts Alliance League and were a strong team in the league and local cups. Another name change to IDP Newark in 1998, they changed again to Newark Flowserve in 2001 and 3 years later joined the Central Midlands League. They were promoted to the East Midlands Counties League in 2018, changed their name again, this time to Newark in 2020 and were transferred to the United Counties Premier Division North in 20221 within the F.A.’s Non League reorganisation.

Their last name change came in May 2022 to Newark and Sherwood Unite FC and a groundshare with Collingham FC arranged having lost their ground to re-development.

Skegness Town AFC were formed in 1947 after the demise of Skegness United and Skegness Blue Rovers. After playing local football they joined the Midland Counties League in 1958 where they played until being founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 where they stayed for just one season. A move back to Lincolnshire football saw them dominate the Lincolnshire League for many seasons and returned to The NCE League again for a short while in 2018 before being moved to the United Counties in 2021 due to the re-organisation.

Newark and Sherwood United FC 1 Skegness Town FC 3

Saturday 30th December 2023 15.00 pm Kick Off.

Collingham FC ground, Station Road, Collingham, Newark, NG23 7RA

Highwaymen v Lilywhites 16th v 5th

Newark and Sherwood, Travis Perkins green shirts, navy blue shorts; Skegness, White shirts, Red shorts.

Skegness started like greyhounds after the hare on this very grey day that needed the floodlights on from the start. They went ahead after just 7 minutes when a great cross from the left along the ground was met by Declan Johnson to tap in.

As the sky became darker and darker it boded ill for the home team when Declan Johnson, again, ran past Newark’s high line from near the halfway line and drew the goalkeeper to narrow his angle on the goal mouth to be able to just roll the ball in for a second.

After not looking at all like scoring the home side pegged one backl on 34 minutes when after some neat inter-passing on the right Kian Sketchey fought of a challenge to score. After their goal Newark knocked Skegness out of their rhythm even though the away side were much stronger.

Gary King made it 3 .1 for the Lilywhites just before half time when his shot was deflected past the goalkeeper.

There were no goals added in the second half as Skegness kept pressing and if it hadn’t been for Arun Mitchel Jones in the home sides goal making some quite outstanding saves it would have been many more for Skegness. The wind was getting stronger and colder as the game went on and I was pleased when the referee blew for full time.

Not the best game to end an exciting year but it will be interesting to see where theses two clubs go in the future.

Unfortunately no chips just two coffees which was most probably good, keeping the calories count down at this festive time.

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.

Staveley set up a Happy Christmas.

Being Christmas I decided to stay local and went to Staveley Miners Welfare to see them play Selby.

What you get at Staveley is a warm feeling in the clubhouse that had a few decorations but most of all community.

The clubhouse is large, bright (painted in blue and white club colours), warm, 5 large TV screens, good bar, large food counter but most of all friendly. There were tables taken by Selby fans, a couple with tins of sweets on and a lot of noise that was the chatter of people catching up and anticipating the game.

This is a club that has taken league demotion in recent years to get the club rooted firmly in the community with many teams and a facility that they are proud of. The ground is spotless and tidy like your house when you are expecting visitors. They have also revealed plans for class rooms on the site for pupils to study at an Academy and announced that they have reduced their debt in two years from £240 000 to £160 000, everything is moving forward.

The program had a Christmas theme and an updated team sheet was available in the clubhouse.

Staveley Miners Welfare F.C’s. current incarnation was formed in 1962 as a Sunday team, known as the Nags Head playing in Barrow Hill and started playing on Saturdays in 1989. There have been previous clubs playing at the ground since 1919. They have since risen to their current step 5 level and despite difficult times in 2007 a new Chairman in Terry Damms has with his team made it into a successful community club with feeder teams of all ages.

Selby Town have also been in existence since 1919 although a team of the same name and nickname has been dissolved nearly 10 years before. They were once in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division but have spent most of their time at their current level.

It was a dry, bright, windy day at 10 degrees making the synthetic pitch shine out and ready for action.

Staveley Miners Welfare v Selby Town

Saturday 24th December 2023, Inkersall Road, Staveley Chesterfield Derbyshire S43 3JL

15.00 pm kick off; Trojans v Robins; 11th v 15th; Northern Counties East League Division 1

Staveley, Royal Blue and white vertical striped shirts with royal blue shorts: Selby, All white strip with red short sleeves to the shirts.

The game started with each team getting used to the windy conditions when controlling the ball. Staveley were gaining the upper hand and went ahead after 18 minutes when a free kick was defended, the ball going back to the freekick taker who lobbed it back in the goal where Kian Tansley rose to glance head the ball over Alfie Burnett, Selby’s keeper, to nestle in the far corner of the net.

Selby reacted with more attacking but were again beaten by a freekick on 31 minutes when Kian Tansley bent the ball round the left of a small wall into a gaping opening. At two nil Selby must have been thinking that half time could not come soon enough, however their plight was worsened when just on half time Kyle Fish was dismissed for a reckless tackle on Jack Deakin’s shin whose cry could be heard everywhere in the ground. The resulting mele led to two Staveley players being booked although the referee could have booked even more of both teams players.

The second half gave no respite for Selby who went 3 nil down on 58 minutes when from a corner Dustyn Grierson was unmarked to send a bullet header into a bulging net. Just after half time Daniel Davison for Selby was sin binned for arguing with the referee, playing against 9 men Staveley used up all of their substitutes to rest player for the Boxing Day fixture.

Back to 10 players Selby did have a last hoorah and forced two good saves in the last five minutes by Zac Walker in the Staveley goal.

A very competent win for Staveley and a game for Selby to forget.

An amazing sunset at Staveley, 40 years ago the sky would have been this colour from the Chemical works and heavy industry.

Chips are always on the menu at Staveley and at £2.50 they were a good quantity, hot, great texture but unfortunately greasy, that didn’t stop me eating them though, a score of 64. At half time in the Christmas spirit I had a mince pie with my coffee from a cake stall that had been set up just inside the club house entrance, it was delicious.

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.

Square Peg, Round Ball.

Square Peg, Round Ball – Football, TV and Me

Written by Ned Boulting.

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC in 2022. My copy was the 2023 edition.

Borrowed from Worksop Library.

I found this book on a visit to Worksop Libray by chance as I was leaving and I’m pleased I did.

This book is Ned Boulting’s personal journey through football. From observing his father’s and families support for Chelsea he finally finds his first team personal to him, St Pauli, Hamburg. Returning from Germany he needs to get a career and thanks to his sister he gets an interview and a job with Sky Sports in 1997 on the then fledgeling ‘Sorts Saturday’. Ned’s exploits to find different angles find him trailing all over the UK in his beat up car and finding unusual aspects to interview people about. His time at Sky leads him to an offer from ITV Sport in 2001 to cover football, mainly Champions League games.

What follows are many humorous stories often at his own expense and some confrontations with managers. running through the book though I feel a disenchantment with footballs detachment from the public domain due to officialdom, personalities, regulations, corporatism, money, and it was almost a relief when his contract was not renewed in 2016. Ned had already moved on to becoming a major reporter of the Tour de France and other sports.

The book was an easy read with real humour. It felt very self deprecating considering he never mentioned the awards he has won.

I would happily read this book again.

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.

‘Grass Roots’ football is thriving.

The title to this blog is a bit of a dichotomy, the grass roots refer to the organisation of a football club that has a strong growing web of teams of all ages, abilities, sexes, and not to the pitch itself. In Dinnington the pitch is a modern artificial surface that allows all weather and all day play. It also has multi lined out pitches with 14 mobile goal mouths of all sizes. The senior team is benefitting from the money and effort that has been put in, with perhaps their stars of the future developing in the many junior teams.

I was last here on Christmas Eve last year and returned to see the finished ground with the new covered seated stand. With the stand finished and all of the other improvements I believe that Dinnington Town now meet the grading requirements to enable them to go up to another level.

You enter the ground via the Dinnington Resource Centre which was opened in 2000, a new building on the site of the old Colliery Institute. This is a self financing centre at the heart of the community which offers, function and meeting rooms, a FIFA approved 3G football pitch, a library (Rotherham Borough Municipal Council), a community cafe , home to Dinnington Pre-School group and a Post Office. There can’t be many football clubs that have such an association with a Post Office.

It was an amazing sunny day with clear azure blue skies, no wind but a cold 3 degrees. Parking right outside for a quick get away, was a bonus. I bought a coffee and took a seat in the new stand which looked like it could seat 100, overall the crowd looked to be getting on for that figure.

I have written before on Dinnington Towns’ history which goes back to 1908, with the current club reformed in 2019. They are looking to move up to their highest ever level.

The opposition Elite AFC were only started in 2020 as a Junior Academy with teams of all ages, last year entering the Central Midlands League gaining promotion to the Premier Division.

Dinnington Town FC v Elite AFC

Saturday 25th November 2023 Kick off 15.00.

Central Midlands League Premier Division North.

3rd v 7th Dinnington, bright yellow shirts black shorts; Elite, white shirts blue shorts.

The young Elite team were under pressure from the start but did cause some problems with quick counter attacks. Dinnington though did take the lead on 21 minutes when a player burst into the box to see his shot parried by the Elite keeper only for Ben Bertram to tap it in. Only 5 minutes later the Dinnington Manager was sent off for not agreeing with the referee over a potential penalty appeal and he walked off and sat next to me in the stand.

The day was so bright that the floodlights were not switched on until 33 minutes and a short while later a ball swung in from the right was met by Justin Circuit who headed it straight into the net. The goal was a que for some noisy boisterous fans to let off a flare. Dinnington played out the rest of the half and went in at halftime in command.

Elite had not given up and after some close play Jacob Tupling scored for them shooting from the edge of the goal area into the roof of the net. The home side restored their two goal lead on the hour when Ben Bertram scored.

With 71 minutes gone Elite, who had kept pushing, scored their second when Tommy Pallett ran through to hit the ball across the goalkeeper, hitting the post and rebounding into the net. The game was now any bodies except that a ‘worldy’ from 30 yards out on the right by Josh Baxter ended up in the top left hand corner for a 4.2 lead. Elite didn’t give up but Dinnington eased their way to the win and retained their third spot in the League.

Great to see the development of Dinnington’s facilities and their team responding to investment. Elite too showed that with some more experience they could well challenge for the title in the future.

I had a coffee to start the game and at half time queued up while some fresh chips were cooked. They were really good, crisp, golden, tasty, no after taste of oil and therefore a great score of 69.

Scunthorpe’s Stadium woes are resolved.

I know the M180 from a previous life but this time it was to see Scunthorpe United play Darlington in the FA Trophy second round. These two ex English Football League clubs have been on a downward trajectory but have now steadied their ships and look to move higher.

It was a grey day with full cloud cover that luckily gave no more rain. It almost seemed a balmy day at 13 degrees and even the breeze didn’t feel cool.

The stadium is just off the motorway into town and just behind a retail park. There is plenty of hard standing parking, don’t park there if there is an alternative, I queued for 25 minutes to get out and then had to navigate those leaving the Retail Park.

Once inside you can see that Scunthorpe have been at a higher level. There are three sides with covered seating and one covered standing terrace all linked with the same roofline. Only two and a bit sides were open for the crowd of 1977. The leg space on the seats was great, not like having to be a contortionist to recently sit at Mansfield. An amazing ground for a National League North side. It did look a bit shaby but not surprising after recent times and the greyness of the day didn’t help.

The vibrant green grass flat pitch stood out against the grey sky.

1899 saw the start of Scunthorpe United, 11 years later merging with North Lindsey United and adopting the name Scunthorpe and Lindsey United, a name they kept until 1958 when they dropped the Lindsey. After formation their success in local football was rewarded with entry to the Midland League in 1912. Their success in that league spawned applications to the Football League which was finally rewarded in 1950.

The highest level they reached was 6 years in the Second Division in the late 50’s and early 60’s. and again in the Championship in 2007 and 2010. They then yo-yoed in leagues One and Two until relegation to the National League in 2022 and lower still the following season to where they are today.

Uncertainty at board level over the last few years has seen them teetering on extinction but they were bought by a local business person in early October 2023 and just a few days ago it was announced that their Glanford Park ground has been saved too, is this the start of a come back.

Darlington were founded even earlier in1883, after playing locally they were founder members of the Northern League in 1889 and of the Third Division North in 1921. They too have been in the second tier of the Football League but were relegated to the Conference in 1989 only to bounce straight back. With the turn of the millennium they were financed by a George Reynolds and they moved to an amazing new stadium. Unfortunately loans, previous personal problems and little chance of filling the stadium led to their first administration in 2003. Despite a charity match by famous footballers raising £100000 and being sold on they again went into administration in 2009 but again survived. They were relegated to the Conference in 2010 and sparked a mini revival when they won the FA trophy at Wembley in 2011. 2012 saw another administration and a relegation. Darlington was wound up in 2012 and placed in the Northern League with the new name Darlington 1883. They duly won the Northern League in 2013 as a fan/community owned club and further back to back promotions from the Northern Premier League in 2015 and 2016. They did change their name back to Darlington FC in 2017 and developed their new ground and after 4 years looked set at their new level until this season languishing near the bottom.

Saturday 18th November 2023 Kick off 15.00 pm FA Trophy Second Round.

Glanford Park, Scunthorpe Iron v Quakers also ‘Darlo’

3rd in National League North v 22nd in National League North

Scunthorpe; claret shirts and shorts with light blue shoulders and sleeves, Darlington Black and white horizontal hooped shirts with black shorts

Scunthorpe United FC 2 Darlington FC 0

Darlington started the game on the back of an eight nil drubbing at Chorley in mid week and things didn’t look good when on only 8 minutes Connor Smith of Scunthorpe was left alone to run through to receive a perfect pass to let him clip the ball along the ground across the goal keeper into the far corner of the net. Scunthorpe dominated play and added a second on 28 minutes when some individual brilliance from Jacob Butterfield saw him unleash a 25 yard shot into the net.

It took until 34 minutes for Darlington to have their first shot but with no avail and by half time the home team were well on top with from my estimate over 65% of possession.

The dullness of the second half did not improve as I watched a train meander by on an embankment behind the goal rather than the football. There was a burst with 6 minutes left when Darlington finally had a shot cleared off the home team’s line and another that just clipped the post.

All in all a dull game after last weeks 4.4 in Beverley although the home fans were happy as their revival continues.

Unfortunately no chips or hot drinks other than coffee although some fans in front of me were expecting a return of a better food offering now that the ground ownership has been secured. Instead I had a sausage roll that was delicious but not good for the waist line.

There was also no program!