The new season is nearly there.

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

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

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

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

Llangefni Town 0 Chadderton FC 4/5/6

Saturday 8th July 2023 14.30 pm kick off

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

N.B.

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

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

Thank you Robert.

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

Non-League Club Directory 2023/24

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

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

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

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

My 2022/23 Season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2022/23 Chip League

Football ClubScoreComments
Bradford Park Avenue83Great Taste, could have eaten more.
Kiveton Park81Fresh and presented in a cone
Shepshed Dynamo801st of the season
Shirebrook Town79Friendly staff as always
Denaby Main79Unexpected
Hemsworth78Tasty , could have been cooked more
Arnold Town77just what was needed but a bit greasy
Bugbrooke75The grand children approved
Quorn74Warm welcoming club house
Aston Villa72Well organised
Harworth Colliery68Freshly cooked
Long Eaton69Slightly overcooked
Totty cup final68Unexpected bonus
Retford United66Average
Hanley65Centres let down what looked good
Gedling62Promised more than delivered
Wisbech62Under Cooked
Pinxton60Soggy, just warm
Hallam FC60Long, long queue
Ilkeston Town58Disappointing, previous winner
Bishop Aukland33What a disappointment on a great day
Burton Albion0Bland, sorry I left them on the terrace
Dearne and District0No Chips
Richmond Town0No Chips
Wells -next-to-Sea0No Chips
FC Stratford0No Chips
Horbury0No Chips
Loughborough Students0No Chips, great vegan sausage roll
Melbourne FC0No Chips
Sheffield Town0No Chips
Dodworth Miners Welfare0No Chips, hot pork pie and mint sauce!
Linby Miners Welfarw0No Chips, loved the club house
Chesterfield FC0No Chips
Swinton0No Chips
Prescott Cables0No Chips, amazing hot pot pie
Selston0No Chips, pie and gravy was amazing
Staveley Miners Welfare0Didn’t rank chips
Dinnington FC0Queue too long
Barnsley0No Chips
Guernsey0No Chips
Southwell0No Chips
Kimberley0No Chips
Stornaway, Goathill0No Chips
Swinton0Didn’t realise they had food this time
Dodworth Miners Welfare0No Chips

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chips at Bradford Park Avenue.

Football is alive and well in the Outer Hebrides.

My trip to the Outer Hebrides found that football is alive and well in this outpost.
I wrote about the iconic pitch in Eriksay and the Jock Stein Cup Final in Stornaway and on my travels saw some really good community football grounds.
Scotland like England are developing a good pyramid system although both in my view need to make it easier for more clubs to go up into the professional ranks each year.
The Hebrides are served by two Leagues the Uist and Barra Amateur Football League with 6 teams and the  Lewis and Harris Football League with 9 teams. They all come together for the Coop Cup and compete in the Highland Amateur Cup. For a group of islands with a population of just less than 30000 this is some feat when you consider the logistics and distance (130 miles from the Southern to Northern point including two ferries).
The competition is healthy amongst the community clubs with the facilities often reflecting a community hub.

The football I saw would grace Step 5 in England and apart from no floodlights, which are not needed for a summer league the facilities would be up there too.


The grounds I saw were:


Eriksay FC


Goathill Stornaway home to Stornaway Athletic and Stornaway United.


Back FC

Back is roughly 5 miles north of Stornaway and have a very neat pitch along with other community sporting facilities.


Ness FC

Ness is right at the top of the Island of Lewis only a literal stones throw from the lighthouse of The Butt of Lewis. A fan I spoke to at the Jock Stein Cup final said that they have a lively vibrant social club that supports the football team.


Point FC

Points ground is to the East of Stornaway just beyond the airport. The facilities look good but there was no one there to talk to.

A visit to Lews House and Museum there was strong reference to football in the Island life exhibits.

Scottish football has great roots on the Islands.

Driving into Back, just north of Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis you pass a modern sports complex that also houses Back FC. On reaching where we were staying I looked up Back FC to find that in 20 minutes time they were playing in the Jock Stein Cup final. I was off, but realised that they would not be at home so on checking it was Goathill Park Stornaway bound. Luckily the game was delayed by a few minutes with a queue of people at the gate.

Inside a crowd of getting on for 300 had made it a great feat considering that Back’s opponents were Ness FC an hour and a half away right at the Northern tip of the Outer Hebridies. I spoke to a Ness supporter who filled me in on who was who and that Back were favourites having beaten Ness in a recent Highland Cup game.

Back and Ness play in the Lewis and Harris League.

Back are a volunteer run community club playing at the local Community Centre which along with their grass pitch has a community gym, indoor sports hall, 3 G pitch and golf range. The football club runs teams of all ages and abilities. The club have been going since 1933 and won numerous cup and league titles.

Ness FC were formed in the same year and have perhaps a more successful past winning many trophies.

Back FC 3 Ness FC 1

Friday 19th May 2023 19.00 pm

Goathill Park, Stornaway, Lewis. Jock Stein Cup Final.

Back FC, Yellow shirts blue shorts, Ness FC, White shirts and shorts with light orange stripe down shirt sleeves and side of shorts.

My was car abandoned in a side street, like everyone else’s. I rushed to the ground for my first ever Scottish football match. The teams kicked off as I found a space on the perimeter fence at Goathill. The ground is on top of a hill as the name says and the moist wind blew across the pitch. Grey clouds scuttled past with the wind moving them on quickly so each rain burst was only small. The grass had been cut very short but still some daisies poked through and overall the playing surface looked good with a slight slope from end to end.

Back were off to a fast start watched by a lone soaring seagull who seemed like a drone filming the game. It was no surprise when after 8 minutes they went ahead when some skillful running òn the left by Joel Martin produced a cross goal ball that was deflected in off a Ness defender, Cailean Macleod. They kept up the pressure playing some slick, quick passing and dribbling.

The referee and linesmen were miked up and well on top of the game. The referee stood for no swearing or arguing and even blew up for a foul throw, something you so rarely see even though it happens more than once in most games I watch.

There were no more goals by half time and a large contingent of children invaded both ends for shooting practice into the goals.


Rain greeted the start of the second half but again only in small showers as Ness seemed to be getting stuck in more. Their tenseness of the first half had disappeared but the game drifted into a dull midfield battle. The Back forwards were still getting themselves into good positions but their shyness to shoot and Ness’s very competent goalkeeper kept the score at 1 nill.

The pressure started to build on the Ness goal and on 68 minutes Back went two ahead when a corner from the right was expertly met by Chris Macleod as his bullet header hit the net.

Ness now tried hard to get back in the game and after Back’s goalkeeper, Peel, had made two point blank saves Ness were awarded a penalty.
Unfortunately for Ness, Lee Johnson’s penalty was saved. This didn’t stop their pressure and with 10 minutes left of the game they had their reward when a through ball was miss headed backwards over the advancing keeper for an own goal, this time to Ness.

Their efforts came to nothing though as Back wrapped the game up on 88 minutes with a goal fro Joel Martin. Joel Martin had looked quick all night and ran past a defender on the left cut inside and slammed the ball home for a deserved 3.1 win.


This was a great game of football, competitive to the end with some really good skills on show.

Eriskay where football meets the Ocean.

On a trip to the Outer Hebrides one of the stopping points had to be the home ground of Eriksay FC. It’s fame was cemented when in 2015 the FIFA World Football Museum featured the pitch along with other world gems in their visual display ‘Planet Football’ showcase.

To reach the pitch you drive past ‘The Politician’ bar, bistro that serves good food being named after the SS Politician that ran aground here and its resultant story that was the basis for the film ‘Whiskey Galore’. Having parked I made my way up a hill with the Barra Ferry and the Atlantic behind me. Eriksay’s nearest rivals west are in North America.

I reached the pitch with a blustery wind behind me as rain started to fall. Yes this is an iconic pitch which you would just love to play on. It is bumpy, has scattered animal droppings, a few patches of exposed sand and a rolling surface that goes up in one corner but the view just takes your breath away. It was well worth the drive and climb just to stand there. I wasn’t sure I was in awe of the players or just jealous.

Eriksay FC have been in existence since the 1950’s keeping going with a small and at times diminishing population. Let’s hope they keep going. They are definitely there this summer season being unbeaten after 5 games and only 2 points off the top of the Uist and Barra Football League.

Shame I was not around to see them play.

South Yorkshire Football Communities at their best.

Wednesday evening was Champions League semi final night between AC Milan and Inter Milan, a match that the media said had 2 million people wanting tickets to go and see.

It was also Super Wednesday evening in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior Football League with Swinton Athletic at home to Dodworth Miners Welfare in the last game of the season in a winner take all match. This was however complicated because if the game was a draw then Wombwell Main FC would win the league as they were playing Ecclesfield Rose 1915 who had only won 2 games all season. The winners of the League would only have another ten leagues to win and all of the rounds in the Champions League to be where the two Milan giant sat.

I journeyed back to Swinton and there had been some changes, the barriers around the ground were mended, the new stand now had a floor and there appeared to be more advertising boards around the perimeter. Swinton are trying hard to up the standard of the Recreation Ground to meet future ground regulations should they be able to progress from this level. Unfortunately I had recently read that their initial planning application for floodlights had been turned down due to an objection by one of the local residents. The nearby social club was this time offering food but I had already eaten having been disappointed at this venue before. There was no charge to get in and there was a friendly atmosphere amongst the over 300 people who had been lured by this crunch match.

There were dark cloud overhead but the rain had cleared although the air still felt damp. The gloomy skies echoed the 14 degrees. The rain had contributed to the muddy goal mouths but overall the undulating long grass pitch looked well.

Swinton Athletic 4 Dodworth Miners Welfare 3

Wednesday 10th May 2023 Welfare Ground Swinton Kick off 18.00 but didn’t start until 18.14

Swinton; Black and white vertical striped shirts with black shorts. Dodworth; Red and black vertical striped shirts with red shorts.

The female referee got the game underway and was soon barking orders to make sure two competitive teams knew she was in charge.

There were no fancy coloured boots here but plenty of passion as Dodworth were the more enterprising team early on. Swinton’s number 7 and Dodworth’s number 11 looked the most dangerous and it was a through ball to Swinton’s danger man that led to the first goal. He received it on the right and his fast pace left some defender in his wake as he hit a low cross. the ball bobbled along the ground illuding defenders and the goalkeeper ending up in the back of the net. It looked all over in the first half as on 37 minutes when the home sides number four chested down the ball, took it to his right avoiding defenders and scored past the advancing goalkeeper. Dodworth did not give up and 3 minutes later from a free-kick on the left their number 6 rose at the far post to head towards goal. It was as if every one froze and time stood still as the ball finally went over the goal line to make it 2.1. Dodworth hit the cross bar with a minute to go to half time in this pulsating match. The news came through that Ecclesfield had surprisingly taken the lead so there was definitely all to play for as the teams regrouped at half time.

Swinton exerted sustained pressure to start the second half but a very strong penalty appeal at the other end could have resulted in an equaliser. The Swinton pressure produced results when with 24 minutes gone a Swinton player ran through to tap the ball to the right of the keeper to restore their 2 goal advantage.

Dodworth seemed to draw on untapped reserves and kept themselves in the game when a few minutes later there was mayhem in the goal mouth after a corner and a Dodworth player manged to get a clear shot at goal for their second. News came through that Wombwell were now leading and they must have thought it would be their title when on 35 minutes a reckless sliding tackle meant the referee awarded a penalty to Dodworth. A long injury treatment on the penalty spot and some over the top protests to the referee and a linesman did not put the penalty taker off as he made it 3.3.

What now for this exhilarating game, well within 2 minutes Swinton’s number 11 ran in from the right to latch on to a through ball and hit it across the goalkeeper into the net to regain the lead.

There were no more twists and the Swinton team were jubilant at the referees whistle.

What a finale to the season, a great game to watch. I can’t wait for the start of next season.

Peterborough are in Heaven.

With most of the Non-league matches competed, apart from play offs and a few minor league games being caught up, I pre bought tickets to see Barnsley v Peterborough on the final League One games day of the season.

Barnsley is a hilly town and the Oakwell ground sits at the bottom of one below the town centre. An early arrival meant nearby parking in what turned out to be for Peterborough supporters. Parking near the entrance meant a prospective quick get away but also a steep walk down to the stadium.

Sitting high up in the East Stand you overlook the distant Town Hall and you could see many of the 14000 plus crowd streaming down the hill in time for the mid-day kick off. The 20 degrees shown on the car computer seemed believable as summer clothes were on show. The sunshine, blue and white skies and a beautiful green grass pitch made for a colourful tapestry.

Barnsley had already booked their place in the League One play offs but their opponents, Peterborough, needed to win and Derby away at local rivals Sheffield Wednesday needed to lose to book their place.

Barnsley are a long standing club having been formed in 1887 and located at their Oakwell home since a year later. They won the FA Cup in 1912 and been in two other Cup finals. They have reached the highest league in England but have spent most of their time going up and down the lower leagues.

In contrast Peterborough are juniors starting in 1934 and not being elected to the Football League until 1960. They too have spent most of their times since their elevation yo-yoing up and down the leagues with the Championship being their highest level achieved.

Barnsley 0 Peterborough 2

Sunday 7th May 2023 Midday kick off.

The Tykes v The Posh. 4th v 7th

Barnsley; Crimson red shirts, white shorts. Peterborough; Royal Blue shirts, black shorts.

Peterborough’s need to win showed from the off with a more direct approach and they scored on just 6 minutes when Harrison Burrows launched a curling left foot cross into the goal mouth which sailed over the Barnsley defence to the unmarked Jonson Clarke-Harris who chested it down and slammed it home.

Barnsley settled after this but made little impact on the visitors backline, they did score but it was ruled offside. Peterborough kept probing on the wings but neither side made a clear cut chance. The Peterborough fans erupted on 41 minutes as the news came through that Derby’s Curtis Davis had been sent off and a penalty awarded to the home team. A short while passed and ‘The Posh’ fans made more noise as Sheffield Wednesday scored. So with Peterborough on top at the break and Derby behind there was a buzz from the away end.

The second hand started with Peterborough needing to hold on and hope that Derby would not equalise. Barnsley did start in a more positive mood plying a much higher line and competing for the ball. They had more goal attempts in the first 20 minutes than the whole of the first half. As the game drifted on Peterborough forced a corner from the right and the right footed outswinger was met by Jack Taylor’s head as he glanced the ball into the left side of the net. Peterborough fans erupted knowing that they were going to win but were still nervous of the score from Hillsborough. Both ended about the same time and the Peterborough fans were ecstatic with the performance, the results and making the play offs. Their singing and chanting put a damper on the end of season parade for Barnsley fans. Both clubs are now in the play-offs so you would expect that if they meet again the match will be more competitive.


No chips just Pukka Pies and I chose a Pukka Sausage Roll which if I kept a table of scores for them rather than chips this version would surely be bottom.

In A League Of Their Own – The Dick Kerr Ladies 1917-1965

In A League Of Their Own – The Dick Kerr Ladies 1917-1965

Written by Gail J Newsham. 2018 Edition. Signed by Gail Newsham

Having parked we saw a café called Bookcase on the way to Carlisle Cathedral and popped in for a lunch time snack. From the café you could see some book cases but when we went to leave we walked past them into a large second hand bookshop. Not having a great deal of time I didn’t go upstairs or rummage through the many books. There is even an upstairs and by the stairs were some sport books which is where I found one of the best football books I have ever read. The second-hand book was £9.99 which was a lot more than I normally pay but totally worth every penny and more.

The research that Gail Newsham has put into this book is phenomenal as she has bought to life the exploits of this amazing team, their unbelievable record, their shabby treatment by the FA but most of all the bringing to life of the ladies who made up the team.

The one thing that jumps out of this book and hugs you is love. Gail meets and makes everlasting friends with past players and brings to life those no longer with us. She does not duck the issue of where they used by others for financial gain.

If you read the book you will realise that some of these ladies were by far the best in the world and which men’s defence of then and now would not squirm if they had to stand up to the indomitable Lily Parr. Gail also chronicles the efforts, many of them hers, to get long term recognition for the team and carry on their memory up to today.

Having read the book you can only conclude that the FA put back the development of Women’s football by decades and hope that the current explosion in the game is nurtured properly.

This book is a treasure.

N.B. The FA again did a disservice to Women’s Football in 2013 when on April 26th they demoted Doncaster Belles from the top division to make way for a more high profile club in the WSL. Despite appeals by many involved in the game they were unsuccessful and the team that had been synonymous with the spirit and excellence of the game were cast adrift. Doncaster continue to fight on in lower divisions and we all hope that next season they can start to regain their status. They were a club who in just over a decade were never out of the top flight, won the FA Cup six times and the League title twice. Nowhere near the influence of the Dick Kerr Ladies but up there in the vanguard.