Bishop Auckland v Whitley Bay to many would not seem a top match but this was a game I had looked forward to.

Both teams play in the Northern League and were in good positions to win the league but have in recent weeks fallen away. Why then my title, well both have an illustrious history that can’t be matched by any others at their level of football.

Bishop Auckland appeared in eighteen FA Amateur Cup finals during its 80 odd year run, winning ten, before that competition became the FA Vase of which Whitley Bay have won four, three in a row in 2009, 2010 and 2011. No other teams has won as many.

Bishop Auckland’s ground is modern on the edge of a large retail park that is growing in size across the already busy main road. The centre of Bishop Auckland has that very run down feel which has new grant money to try to regenerate it. One idea currently up for consultation is to build a new multi million pound bus terminal to help turn things around. I think the money would be better spent on increasing affordable busses to serve the expanding and ultra busy retail park which might help to take some of the cars away.

The afternoon was grey with a cold bite in the air at 3.5 degrees which had not put off the 346 who had made it to the match. The ground has good facilities with a large seated stand on one side, more uncovered seating behind one goal and covered terraced standing behind the other. There is a food kiosk with a good range of food and drink, tarmacadam parking area and a hospitality area which I did not look into. The club also have their own shop in town in the cultural quarter, an area that boasts the refurbished town hall/theatre, Mining Art Museum, Spanish Art Gallery, Auckland Tower, El Castillo tapas restaurant, Auckland Castle, grounds and gardens and soon to be opened Faith Museum, mostly part of the Auckland Project that has been driven by the philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer. The football shop has all types of historical artifacts and information about this important club and if time had permitted I could have spent much longer there.

Bishop Auckland trace their history back to 1882 when theological students studying at the castle formed a team called Bishop Auckland Church Institute but a dispute meant a break away club, Auckland Town, was crated in 1886 and from this Bishop Auckland Football Club. Their iconic quartered shirts of light and dark blue represent the colours of those original students from Oxbridge. Auckland Town were founder members of the Northern League but it was as Bishop Auckland that they were members from 1893 to 1988 and 2006 to date. They spent the other years in the Northern Premier League which at that time was only one league away from the Football League. They moved to their current ground in 2010 after nearly a decade of ground sharing. This is a very brief history that touches the very surface of their many cup and League triumphs and the players who represented their country or went on to play for clubs at the highest level.

The present Whitley Bay team was formed in 1950 named Whitley Bay Athletic as members of the Northern Alliance League and joined the Northern League as Whitley Bay FC in 1958. Like Bishop Auckland they can boast many cup and League successes but it is those FA Vase wins that set them apart from others.

Bishop Auckland FC 3 Whitley Bay FC 0

Saturday 4th March. 15.00 kick off. Northern League. 3rd v 4th. Bishops v Seahorses

Heritage Park, Stadium Way, Bishop Auckland, DL 14 9AE.

Bishop Auckland, Shirts, bark blue and light blue quarters with dark blue shorts: Whitley Bay, shits have black shoulders and neck that graduates into yellow with black shorts.

There was 1 minutes silence for ex manager, Tony Lee before the game who had served the club for many successful seasons in the past.

The 1st 15 minutes were edged by the Seahorses who gained the upper hand in midfield and down the left and should have had a penalty when Elliot Day was tripped but somehow kept his balance to tamely shoot at goal. I’m sure that if he had gone down the referee would have had no alternative but to point to the penalty spot.

The home side did have the ball in the net just after but this was ruled as offside. Bishops now came more into the game but what struck me most was the best long ball passing I have seen anywhere all season from both sides, great to see it successfully executed rather than some of the pedestrian crab like playing out of defence that is the current trend.

With the game poised for half time in the 4th minute of added time Marcus Giles received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and his shot was cruelly deflected past the away goalkeeper who was going the other way for 1.0.

Bishop Auckland kicked down hill in the second half on the undulating good grass pitch and took control from the start. They doubled their lead after 67 minutes when some neat inter-passing on the left corner of the penalty box gave Lewis Johnson the space to cut inside and hit a right foot curling shot round defenders and the goalkeeper into the right hand corner of the goal.
It was all over ten minutes later when substitute Callum Patton was put through and he drew the keeper and tapped the ball to his left where Dean Thexton was free to stroke the ball home for a three nil win.

The win for The Bishops keeps their League title hopes alive and I saw a competitive, skilful game, thank you. My man of the match was Whitley Bay’s Elliot Day who created chances on the left, defended well, was vocal in marshalling his colleagues but was subbed off around 70 minutes when he seemed to injure his leg after an awkward tackle.

The officials had a good game and they say that when policemen look young you are getting old well the girl running the line looked like she could have been my granddaughter. However she took some stick from the home fans for offside decisions. not her age or sex and was confident to hold up play for an off ball incident that gained a player a booking.

Finally the chips, of which I am embarrassed to comment, they were cold and soggy and I threw most away. A score of only 33. Perhaps I was given the end of a batch that had been cooked sometime before I bought them.

,

A journey down the M1 gave me the chance to see a United Counties South League game having recently watched a number of North games.

Bugbroke is a village to the North West of Northampton not yet swallowed up by the behemoth that is this fast growing town. If you stand still for long on the outskirts of Northampton for long you risk being part of a roundabout, housing estate or one of the large sheds that keep growing and growing.

A team named Bugbrooke United started in 1910 but only lasted until 1927 and two years later Bugbrooke St Michael’s FC were formed. They played local Northampton football including in the intriguingly named Central Village League. Bugbrooke joined the United Counties League in 1985 gaining promotion to the Premier League in 1999. Since then they have developed as a Community Chartered Standard Club being voted the best in Northamptonshire in the past. The club now run teams of all ages and levels for men and women.

Their football foundation grant in 2006 to build a clubhouse shaped the ground, ‘the sett’, to what it is today. The brick built clubhouse runs for much of one side of the ground incorporating, changing rooms, bar, food hatch, reception area and function room. They also cleverly incorporated a seated spectator covered area to meet ground grading parameters.

The rest of the pitch area is surrounded by hard standing and new railings and fencing supplied with the support of the FA make this a very tidy and compact ground. There are other football pitches around for their other teams and training and they merge into Rugby and Cricket pitches all with their own clubhouse facilities.

The visitors Rothwell Corinthians like many clubs started as a church side and played local football on the ‘rec’. However in the 1980’s a move to the local cricket ground and the subsequent purchase of their current ground cemented their future. Winning the East Midlands Alliance Premier League on two occasions gave the club the confidence to apply to and join the United Counties League in 1995.

The club have cemented their status in the United Counties despite a few ups and downs and have been set in the United Counties Premier League South since the FA reorganisation. The Corinthians have assumed the senior role in Rothwell after Rothwell Town’s demise from the Southern League just over a decade ago.

Bugbrooke Town 2 Rothwell Corinthians 1

Saturday 25th February 2023. 15.00 pm kick off. United Counties Premier League South.

The Sett, Camp Hill, Bugbrooke, Northampton, NN7 3PH

13th v 17th. Badgers v Corinthians

Bugbrooke, White shirts with black shorts: Rothwell, Red shirts with black vertical stripes on the front with red shorts.

The very flat grasss pitch looked good even though it was wearing in a few places. The day was cold, 5.5 degrees, windy with grey skies that were begining to turn blue in places.

Rothwell were the more possitive team at the start with more possession, more running with the ball and more movement up front. Bugbrooke did have a few moments of opportunity and converted one of these into a goal on 39 minutes when Tom Simmons stole in at the back post to tap the ball into the net after it was headed on after a free kick from the right. Half Time 1.0

The game reverted to the previous halves pattern with Bugbrooke becoming more adventurous which was rewarded in the 70th minute when they were awarded a hotly contested free kick just on the right line of the penalty area. The free kick was whipped in for Joe Malkin to run in and make it 2 nil to the home team.

The Corinthians did not give in and pressed harder resulting in a free kick from the left being met by the soaring Aaaron Healey who headed it past the keeper to set up a frantic final 6 minutes. They continued to press but wasted a series of free kicks that went harmlessly to the goalkeeper or out of play. When the final whistle blew you could see the relief of the home team who celebrated their win with some vigour.

The crowd of only 60 was disappointing for this level of football.

The chips which were freshly cooked were very hot, had the skins on, tasty, crispy but were a bit greasy. A good score of 75.

While many watched on TV as Real Madrid gave Liverpool a roasting I made my way to Arnold F.C. which is situated just north of the town which is itself just north of Nottingham.

It was pitched dark as I drove into an enormous car park with the lights of the ground burning in the distance. There are at least two other pitches on the complex but it was too dark to see any more detail.

Parking in the huge car park the ground, lit up, looked magical, they may call it ‘field of dreams in other locations’ but this looked just as good. The large brick built building houses all you need to run and manage local football. The huge lounge with bar and ‘snackery’, their name, is great for match days and use for any function.

Outside there was a good sized seated stand with a small covered terraced area between the two dugouts and some hard standing all around a very flat grass pitch that looked in good condition.

The night was cool with a wide clear sky as I sat down in the stand. An elderly gentleman approached us to buy raffle tickets but his telling all that his deafness was getting worse didn’t stop him from succeeding. After his efforts I looked down at the program to see that it was dedicated to fan Bob Bethell who had died over the weekend. A regular at home games and some away he was a true supporter and a quote by Mick Gretton, program editor, says it all…..”I know how much Bob loved his football and his genuine affinity for Arnold backed up by regular sponsorship throughout the season- barely a week went by without him thrusting a £20 note in to my hand”…..

The teams lined up and a minutes silence was observed which made me reflect on the local football communities. How had Mick Gretton put together the program in a few days, who had put the nets up, taken the money on the gate, manned the bar and ‘snackery’, mowed the pitch, administered the club, coached and managed the many teams. Where had the players traveled from to play after a day’s work, where had the officials come from. Just a few of the many that keep these local clubs going, not to forget the fans who turn up, around 50 for this game.

Don’t you just love Non-League football at all level, I know I do.

Arnold Town 0 Mickleover Royal British Legion 2

21st February 2023, 19.45 kickoff

Central Midlands League South Premier Division

Eagles v Legion. 11th v 4th

Mickleover took control of the game from the off with particularly good progress down the wings. The home defense stood firm but often played long balls out which only came straight back. There were times when Arnold could have carried the ball forward before making decisions of where to place the ball. They seemed static, where their opponents were running into spaces. It took until just on half time for Arnold to have their first corner against many for the visitors. Nothing came of it and the sides went in all square at 0.0.

The referee had controlled the game well playing the advantage rule and explaining decisions to disgruntled players.

The second half was delayed as a repair to the net fastening needed to be made.

Arnold came out with more intent in the second half which will have helped them keep warm as the temperature dropped. Their better play was undone after ten minutes when a defenders back header gifted the ball to Sam Vickers who lifted it into the net. Ten minutes later and Arnold hit the post during their most positive spell, all to no avail as a few minutes later another poor clearance gave Sam Vickers the chance to run beyond the rest of the defense and slide the ball across the goal for Jordan Lee to tap home.

The game was now over and both teams blanked each other out leaving Mickleover to walk away with all three points. A thoroughly good evening of football and I reflected that this was two levels below the match I had seen on Saturday but there was not a great deal of difference in skill level.

The Chips were hot, crinkled, crispy with a firm centre, but had a bit of a greasy after taste and scored 77 in my chip league. After pancakes perhaps this was not the best thing to eat.

After some United Counties League games I returned to see a Northern Counties East League game at Hemsworth, south e8ast of Wakefield.

I have seen Hemsworth play at home before but they actually played away in an F.A. Cup game because their ground was not available at the time. Now it is a modern flat synthetic pitch with picturesque white fencing around the pitch.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare were playing Handsworth F.C. from Sheffield who have also had a 3G pitch fitted in recent times. Whereas in the past playing at home on a 3G pitch could be an advantage there are so many now that this has disappeared.

It was a very grey day with a hint of rain in the air that turned to drizzle by the start. The ground is next to a cricket pitch reached through a housing estate where you find ample parking. The neat ground has hard standing all round and on the side with the dugouts there is a seated covered stand. On the other side are a brick built changing room and hospitality facilities that have a bar and cafe, next to this is a modern building of offices and rooms to hire.

The Hemsworth Miners Welfare Club is relatively new having been founded in 1981 from the disbanded Hemsworth Colliery F.C. They initially played in local Barnsley and Doncaster Leagues but moved up to the West Riding League around 1996. They made progress into the Northern Counties East League in 2008 after considerable ground improvements. They have maintained that level of football but increased the facilities adding to the hospitality area, a 3G pitch and teams in all ages and categories of the game as well as a tech academy school. A true community club through a community effort.

Handsworth are an even younger club evolving into existence in 2014 after the merger of Hansworth F.C. and Worksop Parramore. The new club started life at the Northern Counties East level which Worksop Parramore had previously inhabited. 2019 was another major landmark in the clubs history when they returned to their Olivers Mount location in Sheffield which has seen a new 3G pitch installed along with pitch side facilities. These facilities are now being used by the many teams that the club run or hire their facilities to.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare F.C 1 Handsworth F. C. 0

Northern Counties East League Premier Division

Saturday 18th February 2023 15.00pm kick off

The Wells v The Ambers 6th v 11th

Hemsworh in all blue v Handsworth in all red.

Hemsworth just edged the start of the game as the drizzle turned to rain and the wind blew down the pitch behind them. Their pressure built and after hitting the post two point blank saves by the away goalkeeper stopped them taking the lead.Handsworth though did have some chances with one opportunity hit straight at Hemsworths keeper. The two goalkeepers continued to shine in the gloom and were the reason it was all square at half time.

Both clubs continued their endeavours after the break as the rain stopped and the wind eased. Shortly after the restart the Handsworth number 9 was sin binned for what seemed to be arguing with the referee. This didn’t change the to and fro of the game which despite the competitive play lacked a spark to ignite the 140 spectators.

With 7 minutes left a cross from the home sides Washington caught Handsworth completely out of shape and of the three Hemsworth players that had found uncontested space it was Ben Gelder who rose to head the ball into the net for a one nil lead and the win.

Hemsworth had gained the three points in a contest that was destined for a draw. Perhaps it was the dull grey day that had dulled my appreciation of the football.

The chips were hot, chunky, tasty, not greasy but a bit anaemic scoring a good 78. Unfortunately the coffee was very weak but it was at least hot and welcome on the blustery day.

Dropped off by my wife at Southwell City F.C.’s ground early I was drinking a coffee in their new immaculate club house when my phone went. It was my wife to say that when I left the car I had taken the keys with me and she was now parked outside Southwell Minster on double yellow lines and couldn’t restart the car. Initial panic turned into let’s get this sorted but a quick check on Google showed me she was 1.7 miles and 33 minutes by foot away.

Southwell had moved to their new out of town site in the Autumn of 2021, 18 months ago. A taxi would be the answer but after 4 calls and the only chance of collection was by a firm in Newark and they were 30 mins away my decision to start walking was vindicated. 25 minutes later, I reached her, not too much talk of my stupidity, as we quickly drove back to the ground to have only missed a minute. The loo unfortunately called me and coming out of the clubhouse I found that Sothwell had taken the lead. Time to relax and watch the football.

As I said earlier the Centenary Sports Ground is new and still being developed and it certainly looks the part with good car parking space, lovely club house incudingva large TV showing the West Ham v Chelsea game and hard standing for fans. Evidently a seated stand should be erected soon. It’s a shame that only 91 people had paid to see the game and see the home team take on the league leaders, Aylestone Park. Aylestone had only lost three games in the league and their free scoring antics had created a 99 goal difference.

The pitch has a slight slope from side to side and being so new the grass was wearing and the surface caused the ball to bobble. A few years cutting and the use of rollers will create a good surface.

Aylestone Park are a relatively new club being formed in 1980 as a Sunday League club and soon added Saturday football in local Leicestershire Leagues. Things took off from 2010 with a new ground and two years later promotion to the East Midlands County League. The recent national reorganisation has brought them to their current league where if the run in to the end of the season goes as well as results so far should see them move up a step to match their improved facilities.

Southwell City were formed in 1893 but early records are sketchy with the club believed to have played in the Newark area. The team was devastated through casualties in the Great War and although football was played in Southwell it wasn’t until its reformation in 1955 that the current club truly emerged. They joined the Notts Football Alliance in 1957 where they stayed until the end of the 2002/03 season, when a move to the Central Midlands League was completed. On their journey the football club merged with Southwell United Youth Football and Southwell Amateurs and have created a Community Charter club that caters for all grades of the game. This has been achieved through developing their old and new grounds. Winning the Notts Senior League last season gained them promotion to the United Counties Division One.

Southwell City 3 Aylestone Park 4

Saturday 11th February 2023. 15.00 p.m. kick off

14th v 1st. Zebras v The Park

Southwell, black and white verticsl striped shirts, black shorts: Aylestone Park, red shirts and red shorts.

I missed the first goal in just 3 minutes scored by George Cudwell to put Southwell ahead. This jolted Aylestone into action and they exerted maximum pressure for an equaliser especially down the left through Aaron Nuttall. Within 10 minutes Nuttall was brought down for a penalty which Tendai Daire took. The goalkeeper dived to his left and kept the ball out but Daire’s momentum kept him running on to blast it home for 1.1.

Within ten minutes Nuttal had scored when the ball had fallen to him after some heavy pressure in the goal mouth 1.2.

Aylestone’s quick skillful forwards kept pressing but it was the home team who hit back on 33 minutes when a long throw caused panic in the visitors defense and lead to a corner that was taken by Oliver McCourt . The corner sailed over everyone straight into the net to put both sides level 2.2. The all out attacking football continued to half time and it looked like any one could win it in the second half.

Aylestone looked sharper immediately after the restart and within 3 minutes they were ahead when Tendai Daire rose above everyone to place a strong header into the net from a corner 2.3. The away side made it four on 66 minutes when Mathew Laugham scored by heading over the advancing goalkeeper into the net after a beautiful cross from the right 2.4.

Aaron Nuttall continued his harassment down the left and drew a yellow card for Edward Munton who had replaced his previous marker.

This superiority was not capitalised on when at the other end a balll in from right caused indecision by the away defense and the Zebras forward, Morgan Shevlin ghosted in to place the ball along groud between many legs for 3.4.

It was now end to end and Aaron Nuttall, referred to as ‘nutter’ by away fans drew another foul from Edward Munton and a red card.

Aylestone held out and despite the difference in league placings there was little between the sides. What a great game and a further example to me that the United Counties Leagues are getting stronger and stronger.

Alas no chips but a coffee instead having forgone the four varieties of pies on offer due to yet another weight loss program.

I saw that there was a hurriedly rearranged fixture between Kimberley Miners Welfare and Anstey Nomads who are bearing down on league leaders Loughborough Students with a hat full of games in hand. So I journeyed south with the anticipation of a good competitive game. Even the program was online because Kimberley didn’t have time to get it printed. Luckily the game was on despite the early morning frost but there was still a chill in the air on a clear night.

Kimberley’s ground is very close to the town centre and is just off the main street surrounded by housing. I found my way to the entrance past the Stag Inn, the sponsors of Kimberley, down two alleys whilst all along being able to see the brightly light stadium.

The facilities are ample for this level but look like they could do with some updating should they progress. There is a club house, changing room and an outside bar, not open for the evening, along with some low level covered seating one side and a covered standing area behind one goal with signs on the floor saying don’t stand in this area. The pitch slopes slightly from end to end and side to side in the far corner and the grass covering is beginning to show the effects of the playing season.

Kimberley Miners Welfare have been in existence for nearly 100 years having been formed in 1926 by the Miners Welfare. They played in different leagues around Nottinghamshire until 2014 when they joined the East Midlands Counties League. The league was disbanded 7 years later and they were placed in the United Counties League Division One, due to the Non-League reorganisation, which they won at their first attempt. They now play at the highest level of football they have ever achieved.

Anstey Nomads were started 20 years after Kimberley, being born out of a Methodist Church team and adopted their current name just after. They have mainly played in local Leicestershire Leagues moving up to the East Midlands Counties League in 2008 and the United Counties League in 2018 where they gained promotion to the Premier Division that was split into North and South in 2021. They too have reached their highest league level so far.

Kimberley Miners Welfare 1 Anstey Nomads 1

Tuesday 7th February 2023, 19.45.p.m kick off. United Counties Premier League, Division North.

The Stag Ground, Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, Miners v Nomads 8th v 2nd

Kimberley, red and black vertical striped shirt front, all red at back with white shorts: Anstey, all navy blue shirts and shorts.

With the flood lights glowing in the clear sky it was difficult to make out the referee from the away team but those on the pitch seemed to have no problem as he controlled this pulsating game from the off.

Anstey stamped a superiority on the first 25 minutes though they were repulsed by a committed home defense with their number 3 being heavily involved in vital tackles and blocks. This pattern of play continued, with some very fast breaks by the home side, until the 34th minute when an Anstey free kick from the left corner of the penalty area by Corey Armeni was whipped in. The Kimberley goal keeper looked to be about to pluck it from the air when the ball appeared to be deflected passed him, the stunned look on his face said it all. The to and fro football went on until half time when I retired to the club house for another coffee and to calm down.

Anstey Nomads returned to their dominance in the second half but some well placed balls to the wings meant the fast Kimberley forwards exerted continuing pressure but their lack of a clinical last touch near goal restricted their chances. The continued pace, particularly from Kimberley’s number 7 now caused the Nomads more and more problems and this resulted in more fouls.

When a Kimberley player burst into the box on 80 minutes he was up ended before his shot was put away. You could feel the tension as James Shaw coolly waited and struck his penalty to the left of the goal keeper to make it all square.

Although there was much endeavour the game ran out a draw on what turned out to be a pulsating game that deserved to be a level in the end. The players must have been exhausted after total commitment by both sides and a pace that left me breathless if not them. What an enjoyable game that was watched by only 108 spectators, for those who stayed away they missed a great game.

Unfortunately no chips at Kimberley, I was jealous when two girls left half way through the first half to nip to the local chip shop and then came back and ate them near me. The smell was torture.

A local trip to Kiveton was rewarded by a well contested game with lots of skill at this bottom of the table encounter. I also went to give a previous winner of my chip league a chance to regain their title.

The Kiveton Miners Welfare Club are very new only having taken over the reigns of Renishaw F.C. in the last few years. They are developing a community club that has already added youth teams to their set up.

Phoenix AFC on the other hand started life 100 years ago in the Sheffield and District Works League as Steel, Peech and Tozer. They adopted the Phoenix name in 1971 then playing in the Hallamshire County Senior League. They merged with fellow league members Ash House in 1995 to become Ash House Phoenix which ,lasted only two years before they disbanded and resumed as Phoenix. This lasted until 2007 when difficulties meant another reorganisation and a move to the Central Midlands League where they sit today.

Kiveton Miners Welfare FC 3 AFC Phoenix 1

It was a grey day with a gentle breeze that brought just over 30 people to the park on an afternoon dominated by rugby on the television. The end to end sloping pitch looked really well with the grass just lightly cut and rollered to give a pleasing striped effect.

Central Midlands League Premier Division North. Saturday 4th February, 14.00 pm kick off

13th v 15th (Last Place in the division)

Kiveton, red shirts and black shorts: Phoenix, yellow shirts and green shorts.

Kiveton kicked downhill in the first half and unlike the train that sauntered past on its way from Sheffield to Worksop they were soon in their stride.
On 9 minutes they were ahead when a through ball was met by 7 who steadied himself and as defenders caught him up he moved the ball to his left foot and curled it into top left of net.

Some continuous attacks down the right were rewarded on 33 mins when the right back burst forward passed the ball on and the team mate took it to the byline and dragged it right across goal line to be tapped in at far post for 2 nil.

The home side were unlucky not to go farther ahead after 37 minutes when they hit the right hand post with a header from a corner. For all of Kiveton’s superiority four minutes later a Phoenix corner from the right was cleared to another Phoenix player who shot and after some pinball in the goal mouth was finally hit home by Chris Hopkins into roof of the net for 2.1
A good half of football that was really enjoyable for this level.

After 10 minutes of the second half a Phoenix player was sin binned for I believe inappropriate language which led to them coming under severe pressure and it was a surprise to all that the officials did not react to penalty appeals for Kiveton when on 17 minutes their centre forward was bundled down in the penalty area. Phoenix though settled themselves and started to have the best of play but they could not find an equaliser and Kiveton put the game to bed on 37 minutes when a ball was clipped over the Phoenix goalkeeper for a home player to nod it in for their third.

Phoenix finished the game on top and with minutes to go the Kiveton manager was red carded.

A really enjoyable game and there must be some good teams above this bottom of the table struggle as there was plenty of talent on show.

Finally the chips, these were cooked to order, McCains, were red hot, tasty, no greasy after taste and soft in the middle and presented superbly in a paper container. Unfortunately they were not as good as last weeks Bradford chips but scored a brilliant 81.

A last minute decision found me in Eastern Nottingham in the Radford district to see a United Counties Division One game between Radford and Barrow Town

Google maps led me down a cul de sac to announce I had arrived. I could see the lights but no entrance to the ground only three rough sleepers preparing for their night. After driving completely around the ground which is hidden behind shops and houses I abandoned the car and decided to find it on foot. Eventually I could see a small entrance and turnstile that opened up to the pitch.

Radford F.C. weren’t formed until 1964 as Manlove and Allotts. F.C. as a Sunday team, but when the company went to Scotland in 1970 they changed their name to Radford Olympic F.C. They changed to playing on Saturdays in the late 1970’s along with finding their current ground. The name Radford F.C. was adopted in 1984 then competing in the Central Midlands League. A step up to the East Midlands Counties League in 2009 has been followed in 2021 by being moved to their current league due to the F.A. re organisation. They have made great strides in developing the stadium with a club house at the entrance, a covered seating area at one end of the pitch, a tea bar and two covered standing areas on one side. Some high netting is required to try to stop the many balls that go out of the ground during a match. The playing surface is relatively flat but the grass is wearing badly in some areas I’m sure due to the poor weather conditions of the last year.

Barrow Town F C are based in Barrow upon Soar a small town south east of Loughborough in Liecestershire. There has been a team playing there since the 19th century when they played under the name of Barrow Rising Stars based in a local pub. They competed in local leagues and morphed into The Old boys and eventually Barrow Town around 1969 when they also moved to their Riverside ground.

Their next move was to become founder members of the East Midlands Counties League in 2008 and when that league was disbanded in the non-league re organisation of 2021 they were placed in the United Counties League Division 1.

Radford F.C. 0 Barrow Town F.C. 1

Tuesday 31st January 2023. 19.45. pm kick off.

United Counties League Division One

Oakfield Arena, Speldhurst Street, Radford, Nottingham.

Radford, claret shirts and light blue shorts: Barrow, yellow shirts and blue shorts.

6th v 18th. The Pheasants v The Riversiders

Radford started the game by being quicker and mobile in defense which enabled them to push forward at any opportunity. They missed their best chance of the first half when the away keeper parried out a free kick that had been swung in from the right and the attacking number 15 missed a great heading chance. Barrow stayed very strong to see out the half.

Radford resumed their stronger activity level but with 6 minutes gone into the second half Barrow’s number eight headed on the ball for Tom Mangan to loop head it over the stranded goalkeeper to take the lead.

The home side thought they had drawn level with 18 minutes gone but the goal was ruled offside. Two large shouts for handball in the penalty area were turned down to the groans of the fans.

The crowd of 60 became more and more vocal towards Barrow’s time wasting and their frustration at not being able to break down their dogged defence.

Barrow saw out the onslaught and went away with a hard earned 3 points.

An enjoyable game that I felt all the players left a lot of sweat and endeavour out on the pitch.

The chips were hot, all sizes, with some black bits on the top. They were squidgy in the middle and had a greasy taste as I ate more which also had a burnt fat after taste. Such a disappointment after those at Bradford on Saturday, score 56.

After missing a game at Carlisle City the week before, due to frost, I traveled to Bradford not to see City whose Valley Parade ground dominates the Skyline but to see Bradford Park Avenue. Unfortunately they no longer play at their historic Avenue ground, now a sports centre, still home to the cricket club and was until 1996 a venue for some Yorkshire Cricket Club games. Still I had wanted to visit this club for a long time and here I was.

For those with a long memory you have to go back to the 1969/70 season to remember them playing in the football league. It was in 1970 that they were voted out to allow Cambrdge United to take their place.

Bradford P.A. now play at Horsfall Community Sports Ground to the South of the city where they move to in 1994. They share the Bradford Council owned ground with an athletics track and West Bowling ARLFC with whom tthey will jointly experiment in a few weeks when Bowling will kick-off in a Challenge Cup match in the morning to be followed by a Bradford P A game in the afternoon. One interesting fact about the ground is that the seats in the main stand once watched cricket at Lords.

Bradford started life as a rugby league club in 1863 and were very successful in being finalists in the Challenge Cup twice, one of which they won in 1906 and were winners of the league in 1904. However all changed when a vote in 1907 was narrowly won by those wishing to change to association football in a move that was known as “The Great Betrayal”. They had started playing football in 1885 as part of the rugby club but were disbanded after a few years.

When they were reformed they first played in the Southern League but were elected to the Football League in 1909 and during their over 60 year stay their highest ranking was 9th in the top tier of English football and reached as far as the quarter finals of the F.A. Cup. Their voting out of the football League was the start of a downhill slope that eventually led to them stopping playing in 1974. The supporters would not give in and restarted the club playing in Sunday football where they gained promotions in the local leagues and in 1988 Saturday football was resumed. The Sunday club eventually stopped as everyone through themselves into the Saturday side which went through a nomadic period of ground shares and League changes as they clawed themselves back up the football pyramid. They have been in the National League North since 2012 where they sit today. perhaps in a few years and two more promotions it will bring them back to the football League.

Chorley like Bradford started life as a Rugby club switching in 1883 and played at the highest level of Lancashire football with many ups and downs. They were founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968 but yoyo’d between leagues having one short two season spell in the Football Conference. In 2014 they were again promoted upwards to the Conference North later to be named the National League North and made it to the National League by the playoffs in 2019. People in the Non-League family will agree that they were harshly relegated in 2021 back to the National League North during the Covid curtailed season.

Bradford Park Avenue 0 Chorley 0

January 28th 2023 15.00pm kick off at the Horsfall Community Stadium

National League North

Bradford, peppermint shirts with white shorts: Chorley Black and White vertical striped shirts with black shorts.

There was easy parking at the ground where the car said it was 6.5 degrees and this temperature matched the grey overcast sky which just hung due to no wind. The football pitch is within a synthetic running track and is very flat being a modern 3 G surface. I am not a lover of this type of set up and like Newcastle Towns pitch I visited last year it gives me a feeling of disconnect. The 491 who turned up, Bradford City season ticket holders were allowed in for half price, did make some atmosphere from the back of a large seated stand which hold 1500 and runs for the full length of the pitch on one side. All other parts of the ground are open apart from a small covered standing area behind one goal. There is an old, what looks like a cricket pavilion, in the middle of the open side where the teams change and in one corner a group of facilities for the fans. There is a hospitality suite, warm friendly club house, club shop, the green army cafe and a program shop with old books and programs, all of which were being well used.

The football was unfortunately not inspiring with Chorley taking control of the first 20 minutes attacking on both flanks with Bradford getting back into the game with their own forays down the wings. Chorley could have gone in at halftime one ahead as on 44 minutes they hit the corner of the crossbar and upright with the home defense well beaten.

Chorley again came close when within 5 minutes of the restart they headed just over from a corner. Chorley maintained the pressure but in the last 15 minutes the home side came to life and put the visitors under constant pressure. Bradford’s manager was booked for comments about the referee’s decisions after he felt they should have been awarded two penalties in the space of a few minute. Chorley hung on for a point each which helped neither side with Chorley vying for a play-off place and Bradford trying not to get dragged into a relegation scrap.

My player of the match was the home sides goalkeeper, not for spectacular save but competent catching of many high crosses and his marshaling of his defense. He just seemed calm all afternoon.

Well onto the chips and they made the journey all worthwhile, cut from real potatoes, hot, tasty a good consistency and a good portion. They were very slightly greasy but who cared they had just scored 83 to go top of my seasons chip league. The chips still had skins on and they were delicious, something that the judges on ‘Master Cheff’ get sniffy about. The football was dull but the afternoon was one to savour.