70 years in the making.

Having navigated storm Amy from north of Inverness to Glasgow, I was able to go to Firhill to watch Partick Thistle. Partick Thistle have always been a team I have had a soft spot for because as a small child learning to read, I thought they were called Patrick Thistle, Patrick being my name. I eventually realised my mistake, but they have been my Scottish team for 70 years.

After the last two wet games I thought I was in for another. However, the grey clouds parted in places, and the rain stopped. The wind, however, was blowing hard, forecast for 50 mph during the game. The wind made it feel much colder than the forecast 12 degrees.

The ground is in a housing area which are mainly high rise, some of which are for students. Parking seems to be ad hoc around the ground and unlike many stadiums right outside.

It was a lovely flat green grass pitch surrounded at one end by an area that is currently not developed, with no access, opposite which is a covered seated stand where home supporters sit and it also houses the Partick Ultras, a group of about 150 who with a megaphone and a drum kept up a constant support. Along one side is a large covered seated stand where home and away fans are segregated. Opposite this is ‘The Colin Weir Stand’ that is only in use if there is a very large attendance. Part of this is also some hospitality boxes.

Partick Thistle are a fan owned community football club in Glasgow. They are non sectarian, unlike their mega rivals Celtic and Rangers who have dominated Scottish football. Originally started in 1876 in Partick, they moved to Firhill in 1908, where they play today.

Their biggest early success was beating Rangers in the 1921 Scottish Cup Final, and just over 50 years later in 1972, they beat Celtic in the League Cup Final. They have never won the Scottish Premier League and have been a bit of a YoYo club up and down divisions. perhaps their biggest win was in 1998 when, despite being declared bankrupt, they were saved from extinction by their loyal fans.

Arbroath were formed two years after Partick in 1878, initially playing in local and regional leagues. They joined the Scottish Football League in 1921 and have been up and down the leagues on many occasions currently enjoying the higher level of the Championship.

Partick Thistle FC 1 Arbroath 1

Saturday 4th October 2025, Scottish Championship, kick off 15.00 pm
Partick Thistle, 80 Firhill  Road, Glasgow, G20 7 AL
The Jags v The Smokies/The red Litchies, 2nd v 4th, attendance 3128.

Partick, red and yellow vertical stripes with black arms, black shorts,  goalkeeper all green.
Arbroath,  white shirts, claret shorts with white trim,  goalkeeper all grey.

Partick started the match attacking the ‘Ultras’ end with the wind behind them and dominated from the start and they opened the score with 5 minutes gone when Aidan Fitzpatrick made a mazy run from left to right across Arbroath’s penalty area to find Chalmers who curled the ball inside the far post to the right of the keepers hand. The home team kept up the pressure with some tricky play and crosses by Chalmers but were unable to increase their lead.

After 30 minutes, Aidan MacAdams, Arbroath’s keeper, needed a long period of treatment to stem a bleeding nose. Partick continued to press until the last 10 minutes of the half when the away team looked more dangerous.

The second half seemed windier than the first and Arbroath took advantage with more attacking intent and a cross from the right was not dealt with by the Jags defence and the ball was spilled by the goalkeeper, Josh Clarke, into the path of Finlay Marshall who steered it into the net for the equaliser.

Thistle made various substitutions, and they came back at Arbroath, although both teams had chances. Chalmers who had scored for Partick in the first half failed to connect cleanly with a cross at the far post and hit his shot just wide.

The draw was a fair result with the conditions having played a part in some poor control and overhit passes. Having travelled in the poor weather Arbroath must have been the happier team.

I have now watched football in Scotland at four levels, and I have seen good skill levels and commitment, and it leaves me to wonder why the national team does so poorly. one aspect that has struck me is that I have not seen an old fashioned centre forward?

No chips but the iconic Scotch pie, which was hot, the edge was crusty, the rest of the pastry was doughy, and the filling was tasty but not as spicy as some I’ve tried.  It was very enjoyable.

Inverness Clachnacuddin whether Kilwinning and the rain.

The A9 in Scotland just seems to go on and on. Luckily, I was only going as far as Inverness to see Clachnacuddin play Kilwinning in the Scottish F.A. Cup, first round. Kilwinning were making a four hundred mile, near eight hour, round trip to play their opponents who play in one level of football above them.

Clachnacuddin’s ground is in a working class area, surrounded by housing, just off the city centre. Unlike their nearby neighbours, Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s very modern stadium on the banks of the Moray Forth. It was 16 degrees as I entered the stadium with a grey overcast sky and a forecast that said 90 per cent chance of rain.

The thick grass pitch  slopes end to end and is surrounded mainly by a block built wall. There is good concrete tiered covered standing behind one goal , snack bar, toilets, turnstiles, shop, and a boardroom behind the other. A large area of tiered covered seating on one side,  which is charged at £2 extra. Flat standing behind the other goal and side complete the ground.

Clachnacuddin is Gaelic for “The Stone of the Tubs,” a  landmark in Inverness. Women would rest their washing tubs on the stone after cleaning their clothes in the nearby  River Ness. 

Inverness Clachnacuddin were formed in 1885 after local rivals, Inverness Caledonian, and Inverness Thistle.
The club experienced most of their success in their early years, winning 15 of their 18 league championships before the Second World War. Their post-war team of 1947/48 season won everything they entered.

Grant Street Park has been their home from their beginning, but it was nearly lost in 1990 when liquidation of the club was averted at the eleventh hour. Locals managed to save the club. Their successes have been thinly spread since then, but they did win the League in 2004 and the League Cup in 2013.

Kilwinning Rangers started out fourteen years later than Clachnacuddin in 1899. They played junior football in Ayreshire, winning national glory in 1908, winning the Scottish Junior Cup.

Over the years, they played mainly in Ayrshire and Leagues in the west of Scotland and, with a major re-organisation of Scottish football in 2020, were founder members of the West of Scotland League Premier Division. This meant a leap out of junior football after over one hundred years. Although they were relegated to Division One in 2023, they bounced back two years later. They are newcomers to the Scottish Cup competing in it for the first time in 2022.

Inverness Clachnacuddin FC 2 v Kilwinning Rangers FC 1

Saturday 27th September 2025, 15.00 pm kickoff. Men’s Scottish Cup, first round.

Grant Street, Wyvis Place Inverness, IV3 6DR

Liilwhites v The Buffs.

5th in the Highland League v 13th   in the West of Scotland League.

Clachnacuddin, white shirts with black shorts,   goalkeeper in all grey
Killwinning,   blue and white hoops shirts, blue shorts, blue and white hooped socks. goalkeeper in  all luminous lime yellow.

Good start by Killwinning  who put balls behind the home sides’ defensive line and ran on to be able to cross  but no one was able to connect. They were also playing some neat triangles that Clachnacuddin could not deal with. Kilwinning, playing down the hill, seemed to want it more and kept up the pressure, clipping the bar with a curling shot on 37 minutes. The half ended with the away team having had the best of the game, which was now being played in constant rain after earlier drizzle.

At half time, the raffle winner was announced, number 2841, I had 2842, yet again a near miss.

Clachnacuddin became more engaged with the start of the second half and, going forward, drew a good save to his right from Glen Cameron in the Kilwinning goal to keep it level.
Kilwinning’s efforts were rewarded after 26 minutes when a hard hit cross from the left was met by, they influential,  Murray MacKintosh who volleyed it to the right of the despairing keeper.

The home side responded within 4 minutes  with a shot from the edge of the box that was paried out to the goalkeepers left. They kept up their renewed attacking and were rewarded with eleven minutes to go when fom a corner on the right James Anderson headed in the equaliser when he was not challenged in the centre of the goal.

A few minutes later, the Lilywhites had turned it round when Troy Cooper collected a through ball, beat the left sided defender, and buried it into the right corner of the net underneath the outstretched keeper.

So, having been the poorer side  Clachnacuddin now found themselves in front and held out for the win despite 10 Kilwinning players, including the goalkeeper, attacking a corner in the dying minutes.

The game had a high level of skill and commitment, and if Kilwinning are in the middle of the West of Scotland League, then there must be some very good teams above them. They must have felt very deflated on they’re 200 mile coach journey back home


No chips, so in Scotland and Scotch pie and Bovril.

The Colliers enjoy the rain.

I travelled up the M1 in constant rain and reduced speed limits to Ossett, a town in West Yorkshire on the opposite side of the motorway to Wakefield. Ossett United’s ground is on the northern edge of the town centre opposite the bus station. I parked in a public car park next to the bus station and hurried across the road to the ground, dodging as much rain as I could. Through the turnstile, I turned right to the food kiosk, which sat in a corner of the ground.

Seated behind one goal, sheltering from the rain, I contemplated the sad ground. This, though, was only due to the miserable conditions, and I’m sure on a different day it wouldn’t have looked so depressing. It was cool, too, with the temperature of 12 degrees feeling colder in the damp conditions as the rain swept across the pitch. The grass looked a bright green, but the goal mouth was already muddy, and I was surprised they were making it worse in the conditions by practising in it before kick off. The pitch was up and down in parts and looked like it sloped slightly from end to end.

The warming coffee and chips were welcome as I waited for the match to start. The ground shows it’s age but there are some strong signs of renewal with new floodlights, also used as phone masts and perimeter fencing. The informative program also had an article about the fundraising and plans to update the club house.

The ground is basically open with level and a small tiered area of open standing on three sides. There are two small areas that are covered on opposite sides of the centre circle. Fans mainly congregate in the large seated covered end with standing behind the seats.

Ossett United has only been in existence since 2018 with the merger of former Osset Town AFC and Ossett Albion. The previous teams were formed in 1936 and 1944, both achieving a high standard of football in the one town. Despite the headaches of merging two teams, a very costly court case against them by an opposing player and the disposal of one ground they have pulled through and maintain their Northern Premier, East Division status.

Ashington, by contrast, has a long history being formed in 1883. After  playing in North East Leagues, they were elected to the Football Leagues Third Division North in 1921 but only stayed for 8 years until they were not re-elected in 1929. Their return to North East Leagues was interrupted in 1958 when it’s demise saw them transfer to the Midland League, but travelling costs forced a decision to join the North Regional League. Further financial  problems meant in 1970 they played in the Northern League. Their Northern League life saw many ups and downs, and they  had to move from their Portland Park ground. Their first opponents at their new ground were Ossett Albion. Again, highs and lows on and off the pitch were stabilised in 2018, resulting in a golden period resulting in promotion to the Northern Premier League in 2024.

Ossett United FC 1 Ashington AFC 2

Saturday 20th Septemner 2025, 15.00 pm kickoff. Prospect Road, Ossett, WF5 9HL.   Attendance 218

Northern Premier League, East Division.  17th v 22nd (bottom).

Ossett United F.C. nickname “The Ramicorns” or “The Sheepicorns”, Ashington The Colliers.

Ossett in all blue with a light blue dart on the sides, goalkeeper purple/pink
Ashington in all green with some yellow vertical stripes on chest, goalkeeper in all light blue.

After 10 minutes, Ashington were moving the ball much cleaner despite the continual rain, which was blowing almost horizontal across the pitch. Only Yorkshire Water Company must have been happy as their depleted reservoirs were filling up. Although the away team had shown the best attacking intent, it took a good save to his right for their goalkeeper to beat out for a corner, Ossetts only strong shot on goal of the half. Six minutes after this and four before the break, the deadlock was broken when a beautifully flighted ball in from the left was met by Jish Gilcrist, who unopposed headed it past the keeper for Ashington to lead.

Ossett tried to counter with some pressure before half time to no effect.

The rain continued as the second half started, and Ashington continued to be the side most likely to add to their total. This they did in the 71st.minute when Liam Henderson nipped in to score after the home defence failed to clear.

As in the first half the goal galvanised the home team and their renewed efforts were rewarded when Jack Crook moved into the goal area on his own and placed a great shot into the right corner of the net to the right of the diving keeper. Although there were only a few minutes of added time left, it was not enough for Ossett, and Ashington returned home with the three points and a lift off the bottom of the table.

It would be difficult to predict the season for either of these two teams after a game that was definitely influenced by the conditions. I should return on a sunny, dry day when I’m sure I will get a different view of Ossett.

The Chips were hot,  crinkle cut, golden,  crispy, and tasty with  soft centres but slightly greasy gaining a score of 64. The chips and coffee were a great comfort as I waited for the game to start.


Sheffield-Home of Football

During Heritage week, I joined the end of a tour of Crosspool, the area of Sheffield where Hallam FC is situated. We then moved into the clubhouse to listen to some facts about ‘The Oldest Football Ground’ in the world.

Looking across the football pitch you see the cricket ground bordering the open side. The Sandygate Road  cricket pitch dates back to 1804 a year before the ‘Battle of  Trafalgar ‘  and like many emerging football teams Hallam FC were partly born from the cricket club in 1860.

The Sheffield Home of Football group are forging ahead to promote Sheffield’s football Heritage being the birth place of the oldest team in the world, the oldest ground, the first cup and competition, the publishers of many of the original rules and many more firsts.

I had arrived at Hallam via Sheffield Town Hall where three cabinets of items relating to the history of Sheffield were on display. ‘Home of Football Group’ now have enough to display many more cabinets as they move towards a permanent museum in the city. One item in a cabinet was one of their latest blue plaques that are being put up all over the city in conjunction with the council to identify football/social history places that pioneers, events or places frequented. There is now a trail of these shown on ‘Home of Football’ web site.

Interesting in the cabinet are two pictures of the women’s game in the early years of the sport.

Some unusual facts that came out of the Hallam talk were:-

Football shirts in the beginning were either in a block colour or hoops as a loom to make vertical stripes had not yet been invented.

Hallam’s famous pitch slope is 1 in 26 but FA rules will allow up to 1 in 40.

The Youdan Trophy, the first football cup in the world, was not a cup but a ‘Coffee Jug’ bought off the shelf, because the designed cup was not ready in time for the competition.

The football club and cricket club have only 67 years left on their lease.

The exhibition goes on at Sheffield Town Hall until the 2nd of October and pilgrims to see the Hallam ground are always welcome.

Look up sheffieldhomeoffootball.org for all of the many interesting programs and projects that are going on.

Doncaster derail Harrogate.

After visiting a Sikh Gudwara in Leeds, part of Heritage Week. I journeyed north to watch Harrogate Railway Athletic FC.  I recently watched Harrogate Town and was looking forward to see their Non-League rivals just up the road. The sunny day was still a bit cool with a breeze that came across the pitch, which looked a bright green. The grass pitch sloped from side to side and was very thick, considering our very dry summer.

The ground is near the railway line within some housing on the northeast side of Harrogate, less than 3 miles from rivals, Knaresborough Town. There is a car park by the side of the stadium and other parking in the street. Walking through then turnstile you see an open arena that has a very small seated covered stand between the dug outs on one side and covered seating behind one half of one end which also has standing next to it which is closed off at the moment. Around the rest of the pitch is flat standing apart from a small tiered area on the side. The teams change outside the ground in a modern club house, which is next to a local rugby pitch.

Harrogate Railway Athletic FC have been in existence since 1935 when it was started by the employees of The London and North Eastern Railway Company, initially playing in a local league. they moved to the West Yorkshire League in 1945, and five years later, after a successful season, they were promoted to the Yorkshire League. Some ups and downs in the league divisions resulted in them dropping back to the Harrogate and District League in 1973. Back into the Yorkshire League in 1980 and league mergers saw them become founder members of the Northern Counties East league in 1982. More promotions and relegations in this league eventually meant they moved up to the Northern Premier League in 2007, but 9 years later, they were back in the NCEL where they play today.

Doncaster City by contrast were only formed in 2022 initially playing in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County League but soon moving to the Central Midlands League which they won and have this season started their journey in the Northern Counties East League. They are currently sharing the Armthorpe Welfare ground but are looking to find their own home.

Harrogate Railway Athletic 2 Doncaster City 3

Saturday 13th September 2025, Northern Counties East League, Division One. 15.00 pm kick off

Harrogate Railway Athletic FC, Station View, Harrogate, HG2 7JA. 2nd v 18th, The Rail v Not known. Attendance 183.

Harrogate; Red and green quartered shirts with green shorts, goalkeeper in all green.

Doncaster City, Sky blue shirts with black shorts, goalkeeper in all pink.

Harrogate soon took control of the game, bringing their number 7 continually into play on the right as he beat defenders and delivered balls into the goal mouth. With ten minutes gone he beat the defender again and chipped the ball into the path of Alex Burton, who tapped the ball into the goal for the home side to lead. Within two minutes the same thing happened again with the winger running on to an expertly placed pass and slipping it across the goal for Alex Burton again to place the ball beyond the away keepers diving left hand to nestle in the corner of the net. Harrogate were the stronger and first to the ball, with Doncaster finding it hard to put together an effective attack. The home side should have gone further ahead when, on 35 minutes, they hit the bar twice, Despite their domination, Harrogate left the field at half time only the two ahead.

The second half started with grey clouds scuttling over due to an increase in the wind, which brought a few rain showers. Harrogate continued to be in charge, although their number 7 was now operating on the left and was having no success against the defence.

Out of the blue, Doncaster won a corner with 65 minutes gone, which was headed against the post but then cleared. This was a wake-up call for the away team who at last pushed forward more. With just 6 minutes left on the clock, the referee blew for a penalty after he adjudged that the Doncaster forward had been fouled in the penalty area, a bit dubious in my eyes. Reggie Waud made no mistake, and Doncaster were suddenly in the game as they pressed forward.

With time up on my watch, they were level when a cross from the right was not cleared, and a mele in the goal mouth saw the ball trickle over the goal line. No one was sure who scored, Doncaster City Facebook page said, Kenzie Dillon, the League’s site says, Reggie Wau,  but I thought it came off a home dedfender.

Unbelievably after 4 minutes of added time a free kick on the left for Doncaster was hit into the area where Reggie Waud controlled the ball , moved to his right and his shot was in the back of the net after taking a deflection from a despairing home defender. The away team celebrated in the corner, and Regie Waud, who had received abuse from some of the home crowd, had made them eat their words.

An unbelievable turn around by Doncaster who were without some of their first team line up. For Harrogate, they must have rued their missed chances of the first half and must review why they ran out of steam as the game progressed.

There was a refreshment kiosk in one corner of the ground, and they sold chips. They were hot, crispy, tasty, not greasy, with soft centres but a little limp, a score of 61. The coffee, though, did not match the chips, although being hot, it was very weak.

Barnard Castle FC, improving in plain sight.

Barnard Castle became notorious during covid due to Boris Johnson’s right hand man, Dominic Cumming’s excuse that he broke the travel regulations due to needing an eye test in the town.

However, it is much, much more than that. The Town is always alive, the Castle adjacent to it and the amazing Bowes Museum a short walk from the centre.

It also has an improving local football team. It seems difficult to find a history of football in Barnard Castle. A team was in existence in 1889 and appear to have been founder members of the Northern League. Since then, there were many short-lived teams. The team I had gone to watch, who came to my attention in 2021 playing in the Wearside League Division 2, but now, a few years later, playing in the Premier Division.

Based at Tensfield behind the Bowes Museum, and within housing, it has been transformed. There is a good grass pitch, like all suffering from this summers lack of water. The pitch slopes slightly, diagonally from corner to corner, there are modern dugouts and the pitch is surrounded by metal railings, with a good perimeter fence securing the whole ground. The new clubhouse/changing room is set back, with a small practice pitch between it and the main pitch. As well as Barnard Castle’s rise off the pitch, the on pitch developments are also quite remarkable.

Silksworth Colliery Welfare FC, like the home side have been around, on and off, in different guises for the last 100 years. The current team have been playing in the Wearside League since 2013.

Although it was a cloudy day it felt very warm with a temperature of 24 degrees. The light breeze became stronger in the second half to need me to put on a jumper.

Barnard Castle FC 4 Silksworth Colliery Welfare 0

Barnard Castle FC,  Tensfield 21 Kalafat, Barnard Castle DL12 8LP.

Saturday September 2025 14.00 pm kickoff.  Wearside League,  Premier Division. Attendance 73

8th v 12th. Barny v The Welfare

Barnard Castle; Blue And yellow vertical striped shirts with blue backs, blue shorts. Goalkeeper in black and grey.

Silksworth Colliery Welfare;  black and red vertical striped shirts with red back and red shorts. Goalkeeper, orange top black shorts.

The home side looked very strong, with their back four dominating. Although they were on top in the first 15 minutes it was their goalkeeper who kept them from going behind with a fingertips save to his left.

By 24 minutes, Barny took the lead, when a freekick from their number 11 on the left was met in the centre of the goal to be headed in.

Silksworth responded but were unable to get back on terms by the break.

The second half started with the temperature cooling by a stronger breeze.

Silksworth came much more into the match, but it was Barnard Castle who doubled their lead within 68 minutes when a chest high cross from the rightbby number 7 was met by a diving header which flashed just inside the left hand post.

11 minutes later a speculative cross was dropped by the goalkeeper to allow Dan Hull to take advantage and connect his left foot with the ball and steer it into the net.

Both teams at this point looked tired after a very competitive game in the heat and Silksworth’s woes were completed with time up another accurate cross from number 7 was met again by Dan Hull to make it 4. This was after they had hit the bar two times in the previous 5 minutes.

Barnard Castle looked like their first season in the Premier Division is going to be a happy one.

Silksworth may well have been slightly demoralised by the score but in reality they were not far off the winners all match.

I was amazed at how far Barnard Castle have come in a short time and pleased that I have been able to follow their journey so far. Good luck on their continual growth.

Drinks and a few snacks were available in a small room in the club house so a coffee and a Mars bar sufficed.

There was more than one winner at Melton Mowbray.

I travelled south to Melton Mowbray to see a United Counties Premier North game between Melton Town and Hucknal Town. I did so with some trepidation because knowing that it was a new modern ground at a sports complex, I expected a bland arena.

The ground is in the Melton Sports Village on the south side of town. There is an exercise suite, sports hall for badminton, 5 a side football, basketball. Table tennis, roller disco and more. Outside are all weather pitches for tennis, football, hockey and a rugby pitch that I could see. As I turned up, the car park was full and a large crowd were watching the rugby. Luckily, there was enough parking for all, and I walked down to a new turnstile entrance that revealed a 3G pitch, which appeared to have a slight slope from end to end. Also, a fantastic new clubhouse called ‘Pitch side’ that had plenty of space and seating a well stocked bar, two large TV’s, a juke box and  the toilets were immaculate too. Next to this is a changing room. These facilities cover one end with some seating on the veranda of the’Pitch side’. The other end is open with flat standing. On one side, there is a small, ample seating area, and on the opposite side, a small covered standing area. This is made of wood and gives a feeling of having some history, but I’m sure it’s not that old.

The temperature was about 19 degrees with a grey overcast sky, with some fluffy clouds, with a few blue chinks and a damp feeling in the air.

History

Melton Town FC have had a few reincarnation to get to where they are today. Formed in 1894, they only lasted two years in the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire League. Reborn again for two years in 1910 in the Leicestershire Senior League, they didn’t surface again until 1945 and this time spent 9 years. Back again in 1972, they were able to gain promotion to the Central Midlands League in 1986 and move up to the Premier League Two seasons later.

However, by 1992, they disbanded when planning problems with their floodlights were the last straw. Reformed again in 2004 as Melton Mowbray FC they played in Leicester leagues until their promotion to the UCL in 2016. 2016 also saw a move to a new ground and a change of name to Melton Town. Since then, they have moved up to the UCL Premier North, changed to a 3G pitch and built a new clubhouse. A fantastic journey  that has now grown deep roots.

Hucknall Town FC were formed in 1943 as Hucknall Colliery Welfare FC and changed its name to Hucknall Town 44 years later. By 1999, they were playing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Despite finishing as Champions in 2004, they were refused entry to the then Conference because of ground issues. Despite this, they nearly won the FA Trophy 2 years later, only losing on penalties to Greys Athletic in the final. After this, they went through a disastrous time being relegated 5 levels by 2013 to the Central Midlands League. Strenuous efforts to rectify financial problems worked, and the club won their League in 2019. After a short stay in the East Midlands League, they were moved to the United Counties League and are now in the Premier Division.

Melton Town FC 1 Hucknall Town FC 2

Saturday 30th August 2025, 15.00 pm kickoff.  United Counties League, Premier North.  Attendance 167.

The Pork Pie Army v The Yellows/The Town,  14th v 13th

Melton were in all red, the goalkeeper all grey with black shoulder flashes.

Hucknall; Yellow shirts with black shorts, the goalkeeper in all orange.

Hucknall Town had the better of the first 15 minutes coming closest to scoring. Both teams looked lively, showing good skills at a fast pace in an increasing wind. By the end of the half, the home team had turned it round and were looking most likely to score.

Melton created good runs on the wings, particularly the right, but crosses were missed or blocked by the visitors. It was a run through the middle by Toby Fura  from 30 yards out that broke the deadlock when he steadied the ball,  moved forward, shot along ground to the goalkeepers right, into bottom right hand corner. Despite the goalkeeper getting his fingertips to it,

Melton were in front. They weren’t ahead for long, 4 minutes later, a high ball in from a freekick on the left gave Lewis Belgrave a free header into the right side of the goal.

The game became free flowing with the home side missing chances again created from the right wing. Melton rued their chances when in the final minutes a copycat free kick, from the left, presented Taylor Jaine, with another free header at the far post which he looped over the rooted keeper for a 2.1 lead.

There was little added time for the home side to respond, and Hucknall were joyous in their win.

For me, though, Melton Town won as well with their great facilities, friendly atmosphere, and attacking football. This combination can only grow their fan base and increase the income for the club.

There were no chips, but in Melton Mowbray, the home of the pork pie, what else could you have. It was delicious and served on a football pitch serviette, amazing. Great staff, four behind the bar, meant the large queue at half time was dealt with in a flash.


Feisty M180 Derby

The first junction off the M180 brings you to the Isle of Axholme. It’s not an island now, but before the marshland was tamed and drained local flooding made it appear as one.

The destination was Crowle, a new member of the Northern Counties East League Division One, having been promoted from the Lincolnshire League.

Past peat cutting and the draining of the bogs have resulted in roads that are above field level and are undulating and uneven.

The road to Crowle I took has straight sections, sharp bends, a manned level crossing, through which trains bound for Drax Power Station carrying imported wood pellets from the Docks at Immingham pass, and a bridge over drainage canals.

Crowle’s football ground is in the outer South Western tip of the town. On entering the tarmacked car park, you can see a modern football set up surrounded by fencing. The clubhouse and changing rooms are large and run for half of one side of the pitch. Apart from a small covered standing area in the far corner, there are no other buildings. There is no seating and only a path round two sides of the ground. The pitch is basically flat but with undulating areas and some tussock grass that has been left due to the lack of rain and the yellowing of the rest of the playing area. This is a ground in progress as they upgrade the facilities to compete at this level since their elevation.

It was 22 degrees, blue skies with some white straight lined clouds. The sun faded fast, making watching difficult to see, but produced some good coloured skies. The floodlights were on from the start but didn’t make a difference until the sun went down on the big sky.

Crowle United Junior Colts was formed in 1997 after various teams had represented the village, joining the Scunthorpe League. They changed their name to the current one the following year.

They stayed in that league until 2018 apart from 3 seasons in the Gainsborough and District League. In that year they joined the Central Midlands league where they had immediate success and after competing in the premier Division for 3 years, they moved to the Lincolnshire League in 2022. After just 3 seasons by finishing second in the premier league in 2024/25 they moved up to the Northern Counties East league, Division One, for the first time.

Brigg Town can trace a history back to 1864, one of the earlier teams in the country. Playing for a long time in Lincolnshire Leagues, they moved up to the Midland League in 1976, and in 1982, when League mergers created the Northern Counties East League where they were founder members.
Their highest league status was reached in 2004 when they were promoted to the Northern Premier League, but 11 years later, they were back in the NCEL. 2017 saw a further fall back into the Lincolnshire League, which they bounced back from the following year and have stayed there since. Briggs Cup exploits have been amazing winning the FA Vase on two occasions in 1996 and 2003.

Crowle Colts 3 Brigg Town 2

Northern Counties East League, Division One, Tuesday 26th August 2025, 19.45.pm kick off. 14th v 16th, The Colts v The Zebras. Windsor park, Godnow Road, Crowle, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN17 4EE

Crowle; Red shirts with white trim and black shirts, goalkeeper in all purple.

Brigg; All royal blue, goalkeeper in all yellow.

There is only 25 miles between these two teams along the M180 so the competitiveness in this feisty duel was not surprising. The good crowd of 241, many from Brigg, were stunned that within 13 minutes Crowle were two nil ahead. Crowle were far more at home with the uneven hard pitch and the uneven fast bounce it created along with a dust flurry with most kicks. It was lee Ridley who put them ahead after just 8 minutes when he rose to head home a curled free kick from the right with the away keeper stranded off his line. Only 5 minutes later a very low corner from the right was met at the near post by a Crowle player who flicked it on for Henry Cook to steer into the net. both sides now put in a lot of effort and intent as Brigg came more into the game. They were rewarded with just minutes left before half time when a Brigg corner was not properly cleared and after some attempts to score Joshua Jordon took control and guided it into the net.

With just seconds left before the referee blew for half time the Crowle keeper tipped a certain goal over the bar for the home team to go in leading at half time.

Brigg made two substitutes to start the second half and both teams continued their frantic hit and run football often slowed by some fierce tackles. Brigg managed to draw on 73 minutes when the referee awarded them a penalty for a contested hand ball decision. Harry Parr for Brigg converted it into the bottom left corner of the goal with the home keeper just getting his finger tips to it. It was now anyone’s game, but only five minutes later Crowle were awarded a free kick to the left of the ‘D’. Henry Cook restored their lead with a neat shot past the wall and into the top right hand corner. A very good strike which turned out to be the winner as the final 12 minutes became even more competitive with some daft antics on and off the ball by both sides. Crowle will build on this result to survive in their first season in the league and Brigg with their competitiveness should soon get the results to climb the league as well.

No chips in the big club house, so just a coffee.

Chesterfield win the Battle of the ‘rites’.

On my way back from visiting the impressive Locomotion, I called in to the Wetherby Road ground to see Harrogate Town play Chesterfield  in the EFL Two.

Although there was high grey clouds cover it was dry and  warm with the temperature hitting 22 degrees. This is a stadium shoe horned into a piece of land next to the main road and surrounded by houses. Because there isn’t a  car park, the residents have to endure supporter parking outside their houses and slow moving traffic before and after the game. A move to an out of town site would most probably benefit everyone.

The stadium has 3 covered seated stands down one side, covered, half standing, half seating behind one goal with all covered standing at the other end. The other side of the ground is all covered too with a small seating area, the rest standing apart from some portacabins in one corner. A lot packed into the space.

The pitch was a brilliant green flat expanse of grass.

Having been impressed with what has been achieved here, I was shocked to find my seat was behind a floodlight pylon. This not only affected me but also others around me. I put up with it for the first half but moved to standing behind the goal for the second half.

In comparison to Chesterfield, Harrogate Town didn’t form until mid 1919 but only a year later they were one of the teams to start the Yorkshire League but remained in the West Riding League before moving that team to the Midland League and folding it soon after. concentrating on the Yorkshire League they became champions in 1927 but moved again to the Northern League but disbanded in 1935. The use of the Harrogate Town name was first used with a resumption of a team after the Second World War then playing in the West Yorkshire League and a move back to the Yorkshire League happened in 1957.

With the re-organisation of local Leagues in 1982 Harrogate town were inaugural members of the newly formed Northern Counties East and just five years later were founder members of a new League again, this time the Northern Premier League, First Division. In 2002 they were promoted to the Premier Division as league champions of Division 1 and continuing their innovations were founder members of the Conference North in 2004.

2011 was a transformative year for the club with the take over by Irving Weaver father of Simon Weaver, the manager. After the club changed to full time contracts in 2017 they went on to win the league play-offs. Covid now played a part in their rise when with the season curtailed and with an average points per game of 1.78 were put into the play-offs where at Wembley in 2020, they eventually overcame Notts County to claim a place in the English Football League. They have remained in the EFL League Two ever since, an amazing rise.

Chesterfield formed in 1866 claim to be the 4th oldest league club still in existence. A chequered history of league status and liquidation led to their reincarnation when they re-joined the football league in 1921. They have been up and down the leagues in their history but reached a low point in 2018 being relegated to the National League. Off the field problems were resolved by a take over in 2020 by a Community Trust who with great local support have steered the club to a new era of major ownership by local Paul and Ashley Kirk. Now back in the EFL they look to rise up the leagues again.

Harrogate Town 1 Chesterfield 2

Saturday 22nd August 2025, English Football League Two. Kick off 15.00 pm.  9th v 4th.   Town/Sulphurites v Spireites.

Harrogate Town FC Wetherby Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 7SA

Chesterfield looked sharp from the off, playing long balls out wide for a speedy front 3 and overlapping full backs. It was the left back who swept forward after 5 minutes with the ball eventually being passed to Ronan D’Arcy who changed direction 5 times before slotting the ball along the ground into the right hand corner. Chesterfield’s three front runners continued to put pressure on the home defence and caused them continual problems. At the other end Harrogate came more into the game but apart from one shot that whizzed by the right hand post didn’t look like scoring. Duke-McKenna playing out wide on the left was Harrogate’s main threat and managed to whip in some good crosses, but no one was there to connect with them. The Chesterfield supporters, 1050 out of a crowd of 3276, continued to make the most noise as the teams left the field at half time.

Something in the waters in Harrogate they say, and Harrogate must have drunk some at the interval because they looked a different team. The back four started to tie up Chesterfields front runners after an early burst and push forwards themselves. The home crowd silenced the away fans when on 50 minutes Duke-McKenna collected a pass on the edge of the goal area and drilled it past Hemmings in the Chesterfield goal.

Harrogate kept up the pressure and gained the initiative which Chesterfield tried to stem with substitutes. On 80 minutes Harrogate substituted Bradbury, who looked like their tallest defender, and only two minutes later from a corner on the left the ball came to Dunkley, the tallest player on the pitch, who unopposed headed in from the centre of the goal to give the away side the lead for the second time. Chesterfield played out the game for a good win on the road to move them up to second in the league.

This was an enjoyable game and a friendly ground with good facilities apart from the floodlight post. One of Harrogate’s nick name is the Sulphurites and Chesterfield The Spireites but neither of their fans would chant that. However you could say that Chesterfield won the battle of the ‘rites’.

Unfortunately no chips but there was a really good food selection. I chose a free ice cream, an Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich. Not a fan of Orio’s although I know they are very popular and have not changed my mind after this.

At half time I had a coffee and a KitKat at the Hydration Station, a nice touch that.

The mascot was an alligator? I have since researched that they are Harri-gator, I should have guessed that.

The programme was £5 and was packed with 70 glossy pages, very informative. It was the same one for all Harrogate’s home games in August, a novel good idea, maybe stats a little out of date by the time of this game.

A4 size was great as a magazine but a little large to put in a pocket

Speedy South Normanton Athletic.

A check at lunch time about my planned visit to Rotherham United soon turned to dust as I found that the game against Burton Albion, for which I had bought a ticket, had been postponed. Evidently, Burton’s lights had failed in a league Cup game, and the replay of this took preference over their league game.

A quick search for a substitute brought up South Normanton Athletic at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare in Division 1 of the United Counties League. South Normanton had been promoted to this league at the end of last season as champions of the Central Midlands League South, whereas Rainworth had finished just above the relegation zone of the United Counties Division 1. The season had started differently for these two clubs, only 10 miles between them, with South Normanton 2nd and Rainworth bottom of the league.

I had not been to this ground for 6 years. It is only a short distance from Junction 28 of the M1, and after driving through some houses, you come to a very large car park. Unbelievably, after 3 official heat waves this summer and droughts proclaimed in some areas, I arrived with the sky overcast with some very dark clouds. There was some faint drizzle in the air, and the new floodlights since I was last here were on from the start. Surprising for mid-August. The temperature had also dropped to 15 degrees and felt colder in the strong breeze, and with the stadium being on top of a hill, I was glad I had put on extra layers. There are good views over distant Derbyshire hills.

My first impressions were how much tidier it was with the new floodlights and a new seated stand in the middle of one side. This seated area complements the two others behind one end with the rest of the ground surrounded by a wide perimeter path. The grass pitch slopes slightly from end to end, with the grass looking stressed in some areas. The club house in one corner is large and well decorated with what looked like newly updated toilets. Outside the clubhouse is a very tidy food kiosk, which did not open until 15 minutes before kick off.

South Normanton AFC were formed in 1926 as South Normanton Miners Welfare, which they changed in 1990 to South Normanton Athletic FC. Following a fire, lack of money and an ageing committee they were forced to fold in 2008 but since a new start they have been able to steady the ship and move back into the United Counties League this season.

Rainworth is South East of Mansfield, an ex mining village like South Normanton. 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. More recently, their fortunes have faded.

South Normanton Athletic FC 7 v Rainworth Miners Welfare FC 0

Tuesday 19th August 2025 17.45 pm Kick Off, United Counties League, Division 1,

The Shiners v The Wrens, 2nd v 23rd

South Normanton: Kit all Royal Blue, the goalkeeper in dark pink top with black shorts.

Rainworth: White shirts with a black stripe on the shoulder, the goalkeeper in all purple.

South Normanton played the first half down the slight slope and immediately showed their pace on both wings. It was no surprise that with 19 minutes gone, Billy Whitehead passed retreating defenders to slip the ball along the ground for Archie Brown to find the back of the net.

Rainworth kept battling, mainly defensive, but out of the blue on 27 minutes George Morris hit a fierce shot from outside the goalkeepers area into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. This was after some neat inter-passing to create the space. Neither side added any other goals before half time and at the away team must have been pleased to be only 2 goals behind.

The ‘Wrens’ continued to stand firm until with 13 minutes of the second half gone, Marc Bright showed his speed, once again, racing on to a long ball over the top of the defence to whip it past the goalkeeper. Rainworth did now apply a little pressure but going forward left further gaps at the back and a ground pass to Billy Whitehead was despatched with ease past the outstretched legs of the keeper. At four nil this prompted mass substitutions by the home team and the flood gates opened , a fifth being added 6 minutes later by Josh Pickering, a substitute, again a home player outpacing the Rainworth defence.

Only a few minutes later and it was six when Albie White rose to head the ball down and into the net from a corner on the right. To add the icing on the cake Billy Whitehead made it seven on 84 minutes after another pacy run presented him with the ball to tap in.

Rainworth were pleased that it was soon all over, and even this early in the season they are rooted to the bottom of the table with no points after 7 games, with a goal difference of -27. It’s a long time until next May, lets hope they re-group and find some form soon. It may seem silly to say but with a seven nil loss I though their goalkeeper looked a good player.

The Shiners on the other hand went joint top after their win and look a very speedy team that will be a handful for any of their rivals in the league.

The Chips were good too, as first in the queue I received a hot portion, which were not golden but crispy, tasty, no greasy after taste and a nice texture. A score of 69. I nearly gave them one more for the serviettes available on the counter.